2019 NBA Mock Draft: Is R.J. Barrett right for the Knicks?

Doumbouya remains intriguing for a building team like the Nets because he is the youngest prospect in the draft but also potentially one of the best fits for the direction of the NBA more broadly. Put him next to a big man like Jarrett Allen with playmakers all around and Doumbouya could really flourish in a 3-and-D big man role.

Analyst Ricky Scricca of The Stepien put it best in his preseason writeup (go read Ricky and the rest of the folks, such as ESPN’s Jonathan Givony who have seen Doumbouya more extensively to truly understand him as a prospect). Here’s what Scricca wrote: “What we can say confidently is that Doumbouya projects ideally as a small-ball power forward or center that can defend multiple positions, attack closeouts, hit 3s with his feet set and add value off the ball by playing gaps and effective help defense.”

That’s certainly an enticing modern player. Brooklyn is relatively short on those, at least ones with the ceiling Doumbouya possesses. He could be an ideal fit at the four next to Allen long-term, a floor-spacer who makes smart decisions on offense while switching and limiting mistakes on defense. Brooklyn certainly needs more bigs than guards at this point.

Finally, the Nets’ player development machine is just about the best place Doumbouya could land for the sake of his own career, coming from lower leagues in France straight to the NBA.