2019 NBA Mock Draft: Re-evaluating the top prospects
3. player. 27. . G/F. Duke. RJ Barrett
Watching back the Duke-Auburn game from the Maui Jim Maui Invitational during non-conference play, Barrett didn’t look great.
Some notes from an up-and-down performance from the presumptive top-three pick:
- After five early points in transition with Duke controlling the game flow, Barrett started to unravel. He showed great shake on a couple half-court drives but failed to convert the open layups he created for himself, a frustrating pattern that showed up all season for the Canadian freshman.
- This game did, however, show the menace Barrett could be in transition right away. He just plays with such momentum — every motion strong, each point of contact explosive. He got back on track later in the first half with an aggressive and-one layup, again on the fast break.
- Auburn’s wild offense (as Bruce Pearl put it on the ESPN broadcast, “We take some bad shots, but we make some bad shots”) tripped Barrett up. The same can be said for the whole Duke roster. Barrett got embarrassed reaching in on Bryce Brown after several pull-up 3s from the Tigers and Brown got an easy layup. Barrett also fouled Austin Wiley at the rim after Marques Bolden over-played an entry pass in the post.
- When Barrett can overpower smaller guards, his on-ball defense is solid. But he’s not a particularly interested or instinctive helper, nor does he display much functional length or athleticism guarding wings.
The learning curve is steep for all rookies who enter the league having been the focal point of every team they’ve played with. That inexperience fitting into a larger puzzle manifested at Duke and surely will in the NBA.
However, Barrett checks every box from a skill perspective that I want offensively from a player like him. The defense will need to improve, as will the decision-making, but let me put it this way: Barrett is good enough to survive on a playoff team with someone like Kevin Durant next season. He will learn and get better if he buys in. I think he can.