2019 NBA Mock Draft: Is R.J. Barrett right for the Knicks?
. G. Vanderbilt. Darius Garland. 12. player. 64
Garland was the first projected lottery pick to be declared out for the year with injury and perhaps the most electrifying entertainer of the bunch, but NBA teams will surely still key into his incredible skill set. But let’s get some more info about the injury for the record.
The 18-year-old freshman suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee that required surgery at the end of November. “He will be better than ever when he comes back,” his coach, Bryce Drew said at the time. Garland is expected to make a full recovery that would put him back on the court at the end of the college season, in time to begin preparation for the draft.
Shortly after, an ESPN mock draft noted, “Execs from NBA teams that ESPN consulted with say they typically don’t get overly concerned with an injury of this nature, as many players suffer meniscus tears at some point during their careers and it’s a fairly straight-forward injury to manage.”
That story also included a quote from an NBA general manager expressing little to no concern about Garland’s long-term health:
“As long as we can see him at full strength in workouts, and our doctors don’t express concern with the long-term prognosis of his knee after evaluating him, I don’t see this having much impact on his draft stock,” the general manager said.
The elite scoring touch Garland displayed will be his standout skill, something Detroit greatly needs at point guard going forward.