Fansided

2019 NBA Mock Draft: There’s movement in the top 5

By Brendon Kleen

CHARLESTON, IL - JANUARY 17: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers brings the ball up court during the game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Lantz Arena on January 17, 2019 in Charleston, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHARLESTON, IL - JANUARY 17: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers brings the ball up court during the game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Lantz Arena on January 17, 2019 in Charleston, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 12: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders holds the ball away from Courtney Ramey #3 of the Texas Longhorns at The Frank Erwin Center on January 12, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 12: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders holds the ball away from Courtney Ramey #3 of the Texas Longhorns at The Frank Erwin Center on January 12, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

Texas Tech. Jarrett Culver. 8. player. 64. . G/F

Since the last edition of this mock draft, Culver is averaging 19.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game as Texas Tech hits a cold streak in conference play. The Red Raiders lost both of those games and fell to No. 14 in the nation. That hurts their NCAA tournament seeding and championship odds but not Culver’s draft stock. Not one bit.

We know the Red Raiders’ chances were better last year and Culver choosing to come back helped them but won’t be the difference for the athletic wing in the draft. As long as he keeps putting up huge numbers — making his teammates better — and stays healthy, Culver is a clear-cut top-10 prospect.

In Detroit, Culver would slide in to replace the Pistons’ grotesque wing rotation. Detroit’s bench is not a pretty sight. From Stanley Johnson to Langston Galloway, years of mistakes cost the Pistons depth and versatility every night. Detroit did, however, grab some interesting players in last year’s draft, Khyri Thomas and Bruce Brown, who help in this area. Culver would become the best option of the group.

The version of Blake Griffin we’ve seen in Detroit — a brilliant passer and shooter in addition to solid finishing even in his late 20s — needs more defense and shooting around him than the Pistons front office has given him. They can’t solve every roster problem this summer, but using a high draft pick to upgrade the team’s talent on the wing is a good start.