2019 NBA Mock Draft: Getting familiar with the top of the 2019 class
G. Duke. R.J. Barrett. 2. player. 27.
In a year in which the No. 1 pick is all but solidified with Zion Williamson at the top, it will be fun to have Barrett dominate the conversation and set the stage for the rest of the class. He came in with an astounding pedigree, the frontrunner for the top selection even amid a class on his own team that threatened to overshadow him. And while he’s played like a guy shouldering massive potential and expectation within a group that has championship hopes this year, Barrett has sunk below Williamson in doing so.
His ability to fit into a team context has suffered as a result. Arguably the most vital traits for wings at the NBA level are defense and shooting, both of which are question marks for Barrett at this stage. He is shooting just 32 percent from deep and 65 percent from the line. Despite Barrett’s length, he has three games this year with zero steals and Duke’s defense is nearly four points worse when he is on the floor.
As Barrett makes his way through conference play, simplifying things will boost his production and likely cement him as the No. 2 pick in June. The version of Barrett shooting above the national average on 3s, tossing assists left and right and locking down shooting guards and small forwards defensively is a can’t-miss prospect on his own tier below Williamson. The version of Barrett we’re seeing now looks like a project.