NBA Mock Draft 2019: The Pelicans are in the driver’s seat

In this week’s 2019 NBA Mock Draft, we give a final breakdown of how things stack up heading into draft day.

Dive in for final scouting notes on Romeo Langford, Sekou Doumbouya, Kevin Porter Jr. and more.

Do it to ’em:

We went back to watch Maryland’s Jan. 11 showdown against Indiana and came away excited about Fernando as a potential Greg Monroe type with better stretch ability:

• Fernando is an awesome rebounder (20.2 rebounding percentage as a sophomore) who boxes in or out on every single loose ball and tracks misses expertly.
• Passing from the post is strong and accurate but if you pressure him, his handle can get sloppy and he can turn it over.
• Runs the floor in a hurry when he wants to get out in transition, but not all the time.
• Post-scoring is a huge question mark as he has basically no left hand and thus can’t create space easily for himself to get a good look, as teams can overlap his right.

Schofield has lingered on the fringes of the first round of most draft analysts’ big boards all year, and it will only take one team who wants a more NBA-ready prospect to pull the trigger on him. The Spurs need wing shooting, so they could identify him as a solution.

You would understandably be hesitant to get excited about a bench unit of Quin Cook, Jacob Evans, Alfonzo McKinnie, Windler and Damian Jones next season for Golden State, but Windler can certainly help this team space the floor and survive with smaller lineups.

This pick comes via the Nuggets, giving Brooklyn a young, versatile big man whose ceiling is far higher than that of Jarrett Allen.

Check out our full scouting report on Goga Bitadze.

Cleveland needs to focus on building a two-way wing rotation around Collin Sexton with two picks in this draft, and Johnson, a former five-star recruit thought to be Kentucky’s best prospect heading into the season, is a solid bet should he fall into the late 20s.

Check out our full scouting report on Keldon Johnson.

Think of Dort as Marcus Smart with less ball skills and perhaps an even more inconsistent jump shot, but he can probably defend 1-3 in the NBA right away.

We’re not moving off of this one until Philadelphia proves they’ll pass up on a guy who fits so perfectly next to Ben Simmons.

Williams is a player in the top-10 on a lot of draft boards and the Grizzlies should be thrilled if he’s still available here. He would make a potent defensive frontcourt duo with Jaren Jackson Jr. and help unlock his floor-spacing at the other end.

Check out our full scouting report on Grant Williams.

Our scouting notes on Thybulle from Washington’s win in the Pac-12 tournament over USC in March:

• Shooting motion is inconsistent, the release is out in front of his face, and his dominant hand is far too involved, leading to different trajectories in air from one shot to the next
• Thybulle is difficult to screen and he stays engaged to disrupt seemingly open plays from behind
• Has the potential with his length, athleticism and low center of gravity to become an envelope of an on-ball defender, just below the level of Kawhi Leonard or Andre Iguodala
• However, the defensive aggressiveness leaves him out of position on occasion after gambling for steals or charging too hard on a closeout

A few trade partners who might make sense for the Thunder if they want to use this pick to move off expensive players like Andre Roberson, Steven Adams or Dennis Schroder: Sacramento, Atlanta, Phoenix or Cleveland.

Any rebuilding team that can offer the Thunder salary relief and take another crack in the 20s should be in conversation with Sam Presti.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski continues to report that the Celtics do not intend to draft three rookies, yet we believe unless a trade to get a future pick (the 2020 draft is shaping up nicely) or a good player materializes, Boston should just hold pat.

Check out our full scouting report on Bol Bol.

Horton-Tucker is about as divisive as they come — incredibly young, far more of a theoretical player than an actual fully formed product — but surprisingly fits with how San Antonio has built its roster through the draft the past few summers.

Nate McMillan deserves a ton of credit for shaping a roster of question marks into a playoff competitor this year, and earned the benefit of the doubt to sculpt a good modern player out of Hachimura.

Check out our full scouting report on Rui Hachimura.

Until we know more about how Atlanta plans to attack this draft, expecting them to grab more shooting feels like a safe bet.

A last batch of notes on Porter Jr. from USC’s loss to Washington in the Pac-12 tournament in March:

• Shot form improved over the course of the year. By the spring, it was much more compact and efficient, with less of a backward lean then early in the season.
• Works harder on defense than perception would lead you to believe. He is a decent weak-side helper and has the length and athleticism to recover back out to shooters.
• Going to be a fantastic transition playmaker. Great shake to create space with a head of steam, smart hit-ahead passer, can finish athletically.
• A constant putback dunk threat on the offensive glass when engaged.

Check out our full scouting report on Kevin Porter Jr.

If Alexander-Walker makes good on the modern guard skills he showed as a sophomore at Virginia Tech, he could help stabilize the Detroit backcourt.

Check out our full scouting report on Nickeil Alexander-Walker.