2019 NBA Mock Draft: Murray State’s Ja Morant is rising

One would imagine this pick would flip over to the Pelicans in any Anthony Davis trade between now and the Feb. 7 NBA trade deadline. This would put New Orleans in a very similar situation to that of the Clippers last summer after trading for Blake Griffin, armed with two picks in the early-to-mid teens. That led to much speculation as to whether the Clippers would be aggressive combining both picks to move up in the draft, with Michael Porter Jr. expected to be the target. In the end, they became enamored of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and took the fast-rising Jerome Robinson as well but the Clippers created a blueprint for New Orleans should the Pels look to jumpstart their rebuild.

In a weaker 2019 draft, getting closer to the top of the first round will be much more valuable for New Orleans than grabbing multiple players. Rather than taking, say, Hachimura and Alexander-Walker (who I believe to be very close to the best players available and two guys who will rise as their teams see more success), the Pels would be better suited offering both picks to a team like Washington, Memphis or Charlotte — teams in desperate need of young talent. This would allow the Pelicans a crack at a better player to add to whatever pieces they get in an inevitable Davis deal — assuming it’s the Lakers in the next few weeks.

Alexander-Walker feels somewhat like the Kevin Knox of this draft, someone with pedigree entering the year playing a big role on a great team who will find his way back into the lottery conversation at the combine and in workouts. Anyone with size who can handle the ball and provide elite floor-spacing will be highly valued in the NBA. Alexander-Walker brings those attributes as well as experience in an NBA-type system at Virginia Tech the past two seasons.