2019 NBA Mock Draft: March is here

We can only hope Michael Jordan, Mitch Kupchak and the Hornets are daring enough to go for a West Coast Conference stud rather than their traditional Blue Blood targets. Clarke is a bona fide two-way star in college and his game only projects to be more valuable at the NBA level. The junior has already been likened to Shawn Marion and Jordan Bell, to give two examples of why his game is expected to transport beautifully with NBA spacing and skill.

If Charlotte is able to retain Kemba Walker, Clarke becomes an exciting young playmaker in the frontcourt to help bring the team out of the 1990s. Should Walker bounce in free agency, Clarke is still a piece worth investing in. He could easily become a secondary playmaker on the short roll and in transition like Bell. His athleticism is also better than someone like Draymond Green, so Clarke should have an easier time scoring the ball in the halfcourt. He is a lob threat and can get past defenders driving to the basket with an above-average handle for a big man.

There are parts of Clarke’s game that are questionable. He is not a great shooter, similar to Bell, meaning he probably has to play center offensively but will take a while to adjust as an NBA defensive focal point. These growing pains are normal, but few players bring the combination of intelligence, athleticism and skill that Clarke does.