2019 NBA Mock Draft: A crazy lottery throws everything into question
. F/C. Kentucky. PJ Washington. 11. player. 86
Though Rui Hachimura skipped the draft combine, he was the focus of widely reported buzz based on Minnesota’s purported interest in the Japanese-born scorer. It is believed that the Timberwolves, led now by Gersson Rosas and Ryan Saunders, are extremely interested in Hachimura and have made it a focus to draft him here at 11.
Here’s what Sports Illustrated wrote:
“The buzz at the combine was that there is very little chance Hachimura slips out of the lottery, with Minnesota generally thought to be a soft landing spot for him.”
Indeed, this was backed up by Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, who tweeted that he believed Hachimura received a promise from Minnesota:
Heard Rui got a commitment in the lottery (Minnesota was the buzz at the Combine) — usually when you take a commitment you shut down workouts and meetings with teams. https://t.co/uCOe1wtILs
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) May 19, 2019
Color us extremely skeptical that Rosas, who made his career in Houston under Analytics Godfather Daryl Morey, would draft Hachimura. The junior made more boneheaded mistakes this year as Gonzaga’s lead creator than any high-level pick in recent memory on offense. It’s rare a perimeter player is afforded so much responsibility as a scorer who cannot make simple passing reads and refuses to shoot 3s.
Instead, P.J. Washington, an equally fascinating fit alongside Karl-Anthony Towns who brings more defensive upside and offensive versatility, should be the Timberwolves’ pick.