NBA Mock Draft 2019: The Pelicans are in the driver’s seat
Jarrett Culver. 4. player. 69. . G/F. Texas Tech
Buckle up. This is the pick you’ve all been waiting for, and we’re here to guide you through the latest rumors on what the Pelicans will do with the No. 4 pick after acquiring it in the Anthony Davis package over the weekend.
Here’s the latest from Jonathan Givony:
"“If the Pelicans keep this pick, it will likely come down to Culver, Darius Garland or Coby White — guards who can play on or off the ball and complement Jrue Holiday and the unorthodox style of Lonzo Ball(someone New Orleans general manager David Griffin is extremely high on). The Pelicans are considering the possibility of trading the No. 4 pick to Atlanta for Nos. 8 and 10, per sources. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls are three more teams that are looking at the possibility of trading up to the No. 4 pick, with Garland in mind.”"
If Minnesota perked your interest there, you’re not the only one. Despite having Jeff Teague on the final year of a monster contract and Tyus Jones entering restricted free agency, the Timberwolves can’t feel great about their point guard situation entering the first year of Karl-Anthony Towns’ new deal. They’re an interesting wildcard with new President Gersson Rosas in place.
In addition, we know from Givony the Knicks met with Darius Garland this week, perhaps to create leverage in a possible trade-up situation to allow teams to scoot past the Pelicans. In our opinion, New York should take R.J. Barrett and roll their assets (and Kevin Durant) over to the summer of 2020, but as a value play, it puts New Orleans in a tougher spot.
Altogether, Culver clearly makes the most sense in our opinion considering the presence of Ball and Holiday, but perhaps Culver complicates the already concerning lack of floor-spacing ability for New Orleans’ new young core. This one will go down to the wire.