2019 NBA Mock Draft: Tankers beware
211. . G/F. Duke. R.J. Barrett. 3. player
Barrett is the guy who will suffer least from Duke’s overpopulation problem, having a patient feel for the game and solid shooting touch that will lift him above any of the spacing or “Whose ball is it?” problems that may arise.
He’s the prospect teams will have the most intel on heading toward next year’s draft, having played in the U16 Americas, the U17 World Cup and the U19 World Cup. Barrett also shot 10-14 for 26 points in this year’s McDonald’s All-American game, as well as 22 points and 8 rebounds in the Jordan Brand Classic in 2016.
Playing under a bright spotlight at Duke next year, he will just have a greater opportunity to shine.
Barrett is smooth, if perhaps a lesser athlete than the likes of Zion Williamson or Nassir Little in this class. He is a willing passer and he can finish through contact better than the other scorers in this class.
In a year where the best prospects are all wing scorers, Barrett stands out. Generally, it’s tough for specific players to stand out in a class full of similar players. We saw this play out in yesterday’s draft when the bigs in the top five and the guards in the back half of the lottery were in flux until the moment they were selected.
Memphis can find what it thought it was getting from Chandler Parsons in 2016.