The Step Back 2019 NBA Draft Big Board: Post-Tournament Edition
With the last meaningful college basketball action finished for the year, here are the top 60 2019 NBA Draft prospects as we head into draft season.
The NCAA Tournament has come and gone. It provided us with an entertaining last three rounds, culminating in Virginia’s victory over Texas Tech in one of the best title games in years. Our last vestiges of the college basketball season will be Jarrett Culver taking over late in three straight late-game situations; De’Andre Hunter taking over the title game; and of course, Duke’s collapse against Michigan State.
Now we shift gears into draft season. The early entry deadline is on April 22nd, and that will be our first major landmark in determining which talented underclassmen will be in the 2019 NBA Draft pool. Over the next two weeks, players will slowly trickle into the pre-draft process, and we should start to get a better idea of where things stand. For now, though, here’s our current top 60 prospects as they stand after the NCAA Tournament.
Tier 1
The man stays the man. Duke could have lost to a No. 16 seed and Zion would still be number one.
Tier 2
Culver and Barrett both had up-and-down tournaments. Culver’s bright spots were bright, like his explosion of points at the end of the Michigan State game that put Texas Tech in the title game, but he struggled to score against length for most of the tournament. Meanwhile, Barrett showed significant growth as a playmaker in the tournament and had a couple of big scoring games. But he also almost gave up a game-winning offensive rebound against UCF in the second round, and his defense remains deeply problematic. I value Barrett’s offensive value slightly higher than Culver’s defensive value and slim scoring upside, but there’s not a bad choice between the two at the number two spot.
Tier 3
White seemed to improve with every game this year. His offensive ceiling feels highest of every point guard in this class, and he has the best defensive upside among the crop’s elite talents.
He had a triple-double and a 28-point game, but Morant still looked like the same awkward finisher, passive defender, and questionable game manager he’s been all year. He remains behind Garland despite what he did to Marquette in round one.
Hunter will be riding high on his title game performance into the combine. He is the best defender of the many three/four hybrids in the class, and probably has a higher offensive ceiling than he gets credit for.
The more tape I watch on Clarke, the further and further he climbs in perceived value, despite being 22. His dominant performance against Baylor was the single most impressive game of the tournament.
Tier 4
It’s put up or shut up time for Nassir Little, who has gotten a lot of benefit of the doubt for his UNC performance, but really needs to impress in workouts to earn a lottery draft slot.
Like Little, Reddish has significant leg work to do in draft season to prove his Duke performance wasn’t the whole story. His benching in the Michigan State game was not a good look.
Porter’s second ACL tear puts his entire career in jeopardy, but I can’t in good faith drop him below where I had Harry Giles in 2017, given that Porter seems like a better NBA fit. He needs the right front office and rehab team, but Jontay is still salvageable.
Tier 5
The demarcation between tier 4 and 5 represents the end of the players I feel confident will have good shots at becoming rotation guys and the more risky tier. After Bitadze, I am not confident any of the players below make a second contract with their draft team.
Another member of this draft’s surprisingly deep “So the college season wasn’t helpful, time to prove how actually good you are” class.
Thybulle showing jumper improvement is vital to his draft stock. He should be in tier four, but his shooting holds everything back.
“What is Keldon Johnson good at?” is the hardest question to answer in the draft class.
This is a public plea for Queta to test the waters and declare. He probably won’t, but he could probably earn a first-round selection if he does.
Brazdeikis and Zoosman, the “International forward with high-level skills and low-level athleticism” tier.
Starting center on the “So the college season wasn’t helpful, time to prove how actually good you are” team.
Tier 6
As always, the last tier on the board is about 45 players deep. There are 10-15 guys who could be on here as potential second-round picks in addition to the names listed below.
Okeke was a huge riser through the conference tournament and NCAA Tournament, despite tearing his ACL. He’s a versatile defender with shooting upside, and his skill set is still worth a draft pick despite the injury.
Naz Reid and K.Z. Okpala, the “I wish you were just five percent more fluid” tier.
Nick Claxton and Talen Horton-Tucker, the “Draft Twitter darlings I’m not totally sold on” tier.
Cam Johnson, Ty Jerome, and Jon Teske, the “I wish I could put your brain in Nassir Little’s body” tier.
Johnson probably won’t declare in favor of being a potential lottery pick next year.