2019 NBA Mock Draft: March Madness is NBA Draft crazy season
player. 170. . G. Kentucky. Tyler Herro. 12
This is not us getting ahead of ourselves. Herro has a claim as the best shooter in the country, making 36 percent from deep on 161 attempts as well as 94 percent from the line. He plays hard on defense and moves well off the ball on offense. Perhaps his ceiling is slightly lower than others in the lottery, he looks like the next player in a long lineage that includes Kyle Korver and JJ Redick — wouldn’t a guy like that be nice on this Hornets team?
Charlotte is 18th in 3-point percentage this year and none of its young players project to be great spot-up shooters. But if the Hornets manage to keep Kemba Walker around by selling him on the way it will change the team around him, Herro would be a big help. Add him to the starting lineup of the future alongside Miles Bridges with Malik Monk and Devonte Graham off the bench and you could see that iteration coming together better than the Al Jefferson-led group that made the playoffs when LeBron James was still in Miami.
Herro showed us something new Saturday morning in the second round. He earned the assignment of guarding Fletcher Magee, the NCAA all-time leader in made 3s. It required keen off-ball focus for Herro defensively and Herro answered the call. At 6-5, his wingspan is probably only slightly longer than his height and he’s not incredibly strong, but he plays smart, focused defense and should become neutral on that end in the NBA.
The freshman will likely be compared to Devin Booker coming into the draft, but it’s unlikely he becomes that type of playmaker. Regardless, he should be firmly in the lottery conversation at this point.