2019 NBA Mock Draft: Learning from the playoffs
RJ Barrett. 2. player. 156. . G/F. Duke
It can sound overly simple but teams can’t win in the playoffs without getting scoring from multiple players on the roster. It’s why guys like Gerald Green and Daniel Theis will stay on the court deeper into the playoffs than we ever would expect based upon talent or consistency. In the halfcourt, when things are bogged down and teams haven’t scored in three minutes, someone needs to be able to take the ball and create a good shot. Barrett may not look very polished yet after hijacking several games during Duke’s disappointing season, but he’s a walking mismatch who will be extremely valuable as an NBA scorer.
Cavs fans are concerned Barrett is too much of a chucker to fit alongside last year’s first-round pick, Collin Sexton. It’s too much of a risk, however, to go safe with someone like Jarrett Culver or De’Andre Hunter who might make you feel more comfortable from a fit standpoint but may never provide above-average production on offense. The chance to draft and develop a talented and hungry competitor like Barrett rarely comes along. You do it when you can.
Despite apparent evidence in college that suggested Sexton would struggle to score in the NBA early on, he exceeded expectations. Sexton was above-average as both a pick-and-roll playmaker and spot-up shooter as a rookie, according to Synergy, despite major questions about his jumper. He made it work.
That has to make Cleveland feel better about his ability to pare down his shot attempts, work his spots and make way for another scorer like Barrett. No matter where Barrett lands, he will need to adjust to a system that is not focused on him getting shots. Cleveland needs him badly and shouldn’t be afraid to be the team that works with him to bring out better habits late in games and reap the benefit.