NBA Draft 2019: Winners and losers

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 20: Ja Morant looks on after being selected second overall by the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20, 2019 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Melanie Fidler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 20: Bol Bol speaks to the media after being drafted forty fourth overall by the Miami Heat during the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20, 2019 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Matteo Marchi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Loser No. 3: Bol Bol’s chances of sticking in the NBA

Once considered a top-five prospect for the 2019 NBA Draft class, Bol fell all the way to pick No. 44, getting picked up in a trade by the Denver Nuggets. Interestingly, it’s the second time in as many years that Denver has drafted a player on the shelf with injury, and Bol will be joining Michael Porter Jr. on the training table next year.

The slide for Bol was surprising given the positives of his draft stock. He is still probably a top-three shooting prospect in this class, with elite touch at the rim and all of that length that should help him block shots even if his instincts are very poor in space. He probably can’t be played as a traditional big at his frame but there’s probably a spot for him as a pseudo-wing on the right team.

But going in the second-round probably significantly limits the investment that he’s going to be given to develop, especially by Denver in particular, a team with legitimate title hopes that doesn’t even have a G-League team for him to be squirreled away with. He also has to get healthy, which is probably the reason he fell in the first place. There’s a shot his medicals were worse than anticipated, and that could cripple his ability to get on the court in a meaningful way.

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