2019 NBA mock draft 5.0: First and second rounds

NBA comp: LeBron James in young Rodney Rogers' body

What more is there to say about Zion? He's the best prospect since at least Anthony Davis. He's the most physically gifted athlete we've seen enter the NBA since LeBron James. His play at Duke suggests he has a brilliant basketball mind as well. What more could you ask for in a prospect? Hustle plays? Yes, Zion does that, too. Perhaps his greatest skill is his energy. He brings it nightly. It'll be interesting to see if Zion can replicate that intensity every game like Russell Westbrook or if he'll learn to harness it a bit to avoid hitting the wall over the course of an 82-game season. 

NBA comp: Dennis Smith Jr. with more point guard savvy

This pick may be as certain as Zion to the Pelicans. The Grizzlies reportedly are going to move Mike Conley and make Jaren Jackson Jr. their centerpiece. This couldn't have worked out much better for Memphis' rebuild. The Grizzlies might still kick the tires on RJ Barrett, but point guards with Morant's upside only come around every so often. Take Morant, and don't think twice about it. He's the second-best player on most draft boards. Morant will scare the heck out of teams on pick-and-rolls with Jackson for the next 10 years. 

NBA comp: Lefty DeMar DeRozan

The Knicks probably won't be 100-percent certain they'll get Kevin Durant in free agency before draft night. Because of that uncertainty, New York will take the best available player. Knicks fans will love Barrett, the consensus No. 1 player in the draft class heading into the college season. He has the tendency to put blinders on when he drives to the basket, and his shot selection is questionable at times. However, this kid is special in the open court and an excellent rebounder for his position. Barrett, a forward, can develop into a top-notch scorer in the half court. He’s an alpha-dog and maniacal worker. He's also a building block the Knicks can point to when recruiting free agents this summer. He'll contribute as a scorer and eventually a wing defender early in his career. 

NBA comp: Damian Lillard with less polish

Since Garland left the NBA Draft Combine early, many assumed he has a promise from a team in the top half of the lottery, likely the Suns or Lakers. If the Lakers keep this pick, the best fit is Garland. He can play alongside Lonzo Ball or replace him as primary point guard if the team moves him. Garland, who also happens to be a Klutch Sports client, was the No. 1 point guard prospect in his class but missed most of the season with a torn meniscus. Assuming he'll return to full health, this kid has a game modeled after the likes of Trae Young and Lillard. His pretty shot and unlimited range jump off the screen. Garland's shot mechanics are reminiscent of Lillard's. He clearly played shooting guard growing up because he's also a good cutter without the ball. 

NBA comp: Jeff Green

The Cavs dreamed of Zion Williamson and ended up with Cam Reddish! Although Cleveland will definitely consider Jarrett Culver and De'Andre Hunter here, it wouldn't be shocking if Reddish is the choice come draft night. Despite his alarming inconsistency in college, Reddish probably crushed his workout for the Cavs and flashed the potential to be a superstar. He is everything you could ask for from the neck down in a modern-day NBA wing. He could end up being the next Paul George. He could end up being the next Rudy Gay. Instead, he'll probably end up being the next Jeff Green. If he develops into the elite prospect scouts were expecting a year ago, he could be the steal of the draft. 

NBA comp: Jamal Crawford

This is what you get for running your franchise into the ground, Robert Sarver. Enjoy the sixth pick. His team should probably get a point guard one of these years, so why not snag the frenetic White? For any podcast listeners out there, White plays basketball like the 1.5x speed setting: fast. He could become a great score-first pick-and-roll player. Or Mr. White could end up in the coach's doghouse for turning the ball over too often. My sense is that White will excel if Devin Booker handles most of the Suns' play-making duties, allowing White to build confidence by doing what he does best: score.

NBA comp: Jeremy Lamb with better playmaking skills

The Bulls should count their blessings if Culver is still on the board. He was a strong title game performance away from being a consensus top-four pick just months ago. The 6-foot-6 play-making wing can elevate to get his jumper off in the toughest of spots on the court. The hope here would be that Culver can eventually hit those same tough jumpers, only three-pointers, at the end of the shot clock in the NBA. Culver's ability to handle the ball and to distribute it also appeal to the Bulls. 

NBA comp: Jae Crowder (Celtics version)

The Hawks will do back flips if they land one of the safer picks in the lottery. Hunter is the type of high-end role player you want to complement Trae Young, Kevin Huerter and John Collins. Hunter doesn't bring a lot to the table in terms of play-making or athletic upside. Thus, the Hawks don't have to worry about getting him pick-and-roll reps or isolations. He has an NBA body (6-foot-8, 220 pounds, 7-foot-2 wingspan) and the three-and-D aspect to his game on lock (44 percent from three last year). He'll be a valuable starter for years.

NBA comp: Willie Cauley-Stein had he left after his freshman season

I have compared Hayes to his Texas brethren, Jarrett Allen, but a better comparison is Cauley-Stein. Hayes, like Cauley-Stein, was a football player first until he hit a huge growth spurt and became too tall and athletic to not play basketball. Hayes has the frame and athletic ability to eventually be a great rim-runner and defensive menace. The Wizards need to start stockpiling high-upside players at every position, and Hayes fits that mold. If John Wall ever gets back to close to what he was pre-Achilles injury, he'd probably make Hayes one of the more prolific rim-runners in the NBA. 

NBA comp: Tyrus Thomas, the prospect coming out of LSU, not the NBA player

Although his wingspan surprisingly matches his height (6-foot-8), Clarke projects to be an excellent wing defender and rim protector. Clarke, who has a 40.5-inch vertical, averaged more than three blocks a game last season. He's not a good three-point shooter, so the Hawks can use him as a pick-and-roll rim-runner for now and hope he develops a better jump shot. (Who's a better dunker? Clarke or Jumpin' John Collins?) Although he's 23, Clarke has a lot of upside. Getting two defensive menaces at eight and 10 would be awesome for the Hawks. 

NBA comp: Pascal Siakam before he made The Leap

The Timberwolves must sell hope to their fans, which means adding a high-upside player who can complement Karl-Anthony Towns. The Wolves can sell Doumbouya as the next Siakam, a player who took three years before he paid dividends for Toronto. This strategy sometimes fails, but it's the type of move that gives a front office breathing room to put a long-term strategy into place. Besides, if Doumbouya becomes even 75 percent of what Siakam is now, this will be a great pick.

NBA comp: Thon Maker if he played more like his high school mixtape

If the Hornets offer Kemba Walker the super-max this summer, it sounds more and more like he'll re-sign with the team, which means they'll be competing for the No. 8 seed the next five years. (Nice work, Mr. GOAT.) That is, unless they land a superstar at the end of the lottery. So why not swing for the fences here at 12? Bol Bol is the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in this draft because of his unique skill and body combination. At 7-foot-2 but only 220 pounds, he will enter the NBA as one of the skinniest players in league history (much like his late father, Manute Bol). Also like his father, Bol Bol's insane height and wingspan make him an elite rim-protector. But unlike his father, Bol Bol is an excellent offensive player who can score from three levels. That was on full display in his nine games with Oregon, where he averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds with scintillating 56-52-76 shooting splits. On raw talent alone, Bol deserves to be a top-five pick, but scouts have cooled on him lately because of his nagging left foot injury. 

NBA comp: Marvin Williams

Does this guy scream Marvin Williams or what? Little definitely picked the wrong school to attend. He spent the entire season behind Luke Maye and Cameron Johnson. I remember this guy going toe to toe with Zion and Barrett at the high school all-star games last year. What happened to that guy? Who is the real Nassir Little? Did Roy Williams hold him back, or is he just a really good athlete with average skills and a limited basketball IQ? He's going to be a bit of a project in the league. But it's time for the Heat to develop draft picks into stars. At this point in the draft, why not take a shot on a former top prospect? 

NBA comp: Iman Shumpert 

A team with a great reputation for developing prospects might talk itself into picking Langford, who has a reputation as a scorer and a decent touch around the rim. Plus, he played through a thumb injury most of last season and just looks like he was born to play two-guard in the NBA. But Langford doesn't really have any elite skills. His shooting mechanics are disjointed, and he doesn't have great handles or much creativity on drives.

NBA comp: Whichever Morris twin is playing better 

Hachimura has the skills, athleticism and pedigree to be a good NBA player. At 6-foot-9 and a stout 235 pounds, he can bang with most bigs in the post. But he also has the ability to blow past them or knock down a face-up jumper if given too much space. His offensive potential will likely hinge on whether he can consistently knock down three-pointers and spread the floor for his teammates. Do not be surprised if Japan's first basketball prodigy winds up going in the top 10. If he slips, a team like the Pistons should be happy to swoop in and take him.

NBA comp: Associate's degree version of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 

Despite DJ Augustine's Game 1 playoff heroics against Toronto, the Magic desperately needs a franchise point guard. Luckily for Orlando, Alexander-Walker should be available. You may have noticed Alexander-Walker has a lot of Gilgeous-Alexander in his game — that's because the two are cousins! He's tall (6-feet-5), long (6-feet-9 wingspan), ambidextrous and plays at his own pace. He's not a great athlete, but his feel for the game and high skill level make up for it. He will need a year or two to develop into a legitimate play-maker, but that's why you keep a veteran like Augustine around. Alexander-Walker projects to be a multi-positional defender.

NBA comp: JR Smith

JR Smith-Nick Young-Jordan Crawford. All three of those guys were talented, athletic and inconsistent in their play and behavior. Smith's ceiling made him a worthy gamble if your team had the right infrastructure. Young's ceiling made him kind of worth the gamble. Crawford's ceiling was not worth the gamble. When you watch Porter's highlights and see him making athletic plays and tough shots off the dribble, he looks like a future star. By the same token, when you look at the inconsistent game logs and read about his maturity issues, it makes you wonder whether he's worth the headache. Fortunately, the Nets have proved that they do, indeed, have the right infrastructure to take on a high-risk, high-reward player like Porter. Look no further than what they did with D'Angelo Russell.

NBA comp: Kevin Huerter

This seems like a match made in heaven. The team that routinely wears Hickory High jerseys gets its own version of Jimmy Chitwood. Although he sometimes struggles to create his own shot, Herro will be a dynamic shooter in the NBA. He's the type of player who could shoot up draft boards during pre-draft workouts if he tests well and shows signs of improvement with his ball-handling. Some scouts believe he has the ability to run pick-and-rolls in the league, which would really raise his draft profile after the success of Kevin Huerter last season. The Pacers need scoring pop and shooting (as seen by their playoff performance against Boston), and Herro could be part of that solution.

NBA comp: The Ante Zizic Celtics fans told you about

Bitadze would be a lottery pick if he came up in the league 10 or maybe even five years ago. He has power around the basket, a nice touch from the outside and solid all-around game. His problem is going to be — you guessed it — his ability to play defense when he gets thrown into a bunch of pick-and-rolls and must switch onto the James Hardens and Steph Currys of the league. He's a little slow. His ceiling has been described by some experts as Jusuf Nurkic. If any team can help an international talent reach his potential, it's the Spurs. 

NBA comp: A poor man's Peja Stojakovic

Every year players fall in the draft because of their age, lack of athleticism or whatnot. Then they become immediate contributors on playoff teams and front offices wonder how they missed on them. An early candidate for the "Hiding in Plain Sight" contributor is 6-foot-9, fifth-year senior wing Johnson. He is an elite shooter, posting 51-46-82 (FG-3FG-FT) shooting splits last season. The 23-year-old seems like an ideal plug-and-play, three-and-D wing for a playoff contender. You can teach a lot of things in basketball, but height and a sweet stroke aren't among them. Expect Johnson to be a late riser on draft night or a late-first-round steal for a smart playoff team with a good eye for talent. 

NBA comp: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Johnson is a 6-foot-6, 210-pound bulldog. His physical playing style, combined with his tenacity and effort, make him an ideal prospect for a playoff team looking to solidify its depth at wing. He could be a high-level role player in the NBA. While his offensive abilities are a little behind his defensive abilities, he should be able to at least attack closeouts with powerful drives to the rim and knock down open three-pointers. With a little discipline and the right coaching, Johnson could turn into an excellent wing defender, much like KCP was early in his career for the Pistons.

NBA comp: Taj Gibson

Instead of focusing on things Washington can't do (like shoot free throws), NBA teams would be smart to notice the little things he does extremely well. He's always around the ball, whether he's getting offensive rebounds, tip-outs, blocked shots or loose balls. That's an intangible trait that only good basketball players possess. He's a gamer and always seemed to show up big in Kentucky's toughest games. (Check out his stats in the tournament during his career at Kentucky.) He won't be a star in the NBA, but he projects to be a great role player. If Boston trades for Anthony Davis, its roster will be a little depleted. Washington could contribute immediately.

NBA comp: Deonte Burton

What is it with super-"thicc" power guards at Iowa State? First it was Deonte Burton, and now it's Horton-Tucker. He's 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, but with a 7-foot wingspan, Horton-Tucker is unique from a physical standpoint for a guard. He's powerful and has broad shoulders, so once he gets a step on a defender, he's tough to slow or block. As one might expect, he's comfortable around the basket and has a nice face-up game with an array of up-fakes and step-back moves. He can pass, too. Although his shot needs work, he's an intriguing talent who could be used in small-ball lineups. Let's give him to Quin Snyder and see what he can get out of him.

NBA comp: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist pre-hitch in his jump shot

Would prime Tony Allen have a place in today's NBA? If so, Thybulle could be a steal for a team drafting near the end of the first round. He's the best wing defender to enter the NBA in years. Thybulle averaged an absurd 3.5 steals and 2.2 blocks this past season but only nine points and three rebounds. The odd thing is that his jump shot isn't broken, and there's some belief that he could eventually develop into a Danny Green-type player on offense. Hey, if you're getting that type of player at this point in the draft, he's a steal. The 76ers need more help at the wing. What better way to start than to take the best wing defender in the draft?

NBA comp: Robert Covington

Okeke would be another high upside pick for the Cavs, who could use another stretch-four if they decide to ship Kevin Love to a contender. As long as his knee checks out (no long-term damage), it's worth it for a team in rebuilding mode like the Cavs to take a flyer on him. At 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, Okeke can defend threes, fours and small-ball fives and stretch a defense with his 39 percent shooting from three-point land. He can also beat big men off the dribble. Okeke is an ideal modern forward. 

NBA comp: Anthony Randolph with a pass-first mentality

Claxton popped off the screen if you ever found yourself watching a Georgia game. It wasn't that he was dominant or had some elite skill, but it was more that he was 6-foot-11, lengthy as hell and possessed a guard's game. Yes, he can handle the ball and played some de facto point guard for Tom Crean last season. He has  three-point range. He's most impressive, however, when he grabs a rebound and pushes the ball up the court. He'd be a great low-risk, high-reward guy at the end of the first round.

NBA comp: PJ Tucker with more offense and less defense

Williams' stock was at its apex heading into March Madness,  Although the SEC Player of the Year put up solid numbers and had a few big moments during the tournament, he took a back seat to Admiral Schofield and Tennessee's guards when it mattered the most. Thus, his stock probably dipped back into the late-teens, early-20s range. Williams won't be a bust, but he must knock down threes and master switching onto perimeter players on defense. He was never really asked to do that in college, but it'll be mandatory in the NBA. He'd be a nice player for Kenny Atkinson to groom into a quality offensive big man off the bench.

NBA comp: Current Jae Crowder

Schofield is a man with a name to match his game. He's a senior and looks like he's a Big Mac away from being too heavy to play wing in the NBA. But man, this guy competes and brings it every night. Look no further than his second-half performance against Purdue in the NCAA Tournament. He can knock down threes consistently and is strong enough to guard in in small-ball lineups. I'd be shocked if he isn't a rotation player in the NBA for seven to eight years -- that's a tremendous value for this late in the first round. Because their roster is so top-loaded, the Warriors could use help at wing and depth behind Draymond Green.

NBA comp: Patty Mills

Edwards' Kemba Walker impersonation during March Madness certainly did his draft stock favors. Instead of being viewed as a chucker, like he was for much of the Big Ten regular season, Edwards is now seen as a player who carried an average Purdue team to the cusp of a Final Four. He showed off unlimited range and impressive shot-making ability in the NCAA Tournament, solidifying his stock as a late-first-, early-second round pick. Every team could use a spark plug guard off the bench, and Edwards fits that mold. He'd be an ideal long-term replacement for Mills.

NBA comp: Norm Powell

Dort is a "thicc" guard with a lot of two-way capability. He seemed to play up to the competition when Arizona State faced a tournament-level opponent, a trait scouts like. His shooting must improve, especially from three-point range. He could easily develop into the Bucks' version of Norm Powell, one of the Raptors' most important role players in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

The less exciting, younger brother of Michael Porter Jr. may have been drafted ahead of his brother had he entered last year's draft. Unfortunately, he chose not to enter the 2018 draft and suffered a torn ACL twice in six months. Porter has gone from being a fringe lottery pick to a late-first, early-second round pick due to the injury concerns (a Porter family tradition). If Porter heals properly, he's a center with above-average touch from the perimeter and good play-making skills. He's a solid value pick for the Nets at 31.

Notice a trend here for Phoenix? With their second pick in the draft, I see them going with another guard, but a pass-first one this time. As anyone who watched March Madness can attest, Jerome is a nice playmaker and good all-round guard. Jerome is a high-IQ player who can pass and shoot at an NBA level, but he's limited athletically and probably destined to be a solid backup. With his ability to play on and off the ball, he'll fit in nicely with Devin Booker and shouldn't stunt the development of any point guard the Suns take at No. 6.

Okpala isn't your typical Stanford prospect: He's an athletic, raw wing with three-and-D upside. He is 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and is comparable to a young Trevor Ariza. Despite averaging 17 points and six assists, he was inconsistent last season, especially against the more athletic PAC-12 and non-conference teams. Assuming he stays in the draft, he'd be a nice wing for a team like the Sixers to stash in the G-League until he's NBA-ready in a year or two.

Here's a staggering fact: Joel Embiid's on/off rating these 2019 playoffs were a net plus-41.3!!! That means when Embiid was on the court, the 76ers scored 41.3 more points per 100 possessions than when he was off the court. When he was off the court, the Sixers gave up 122.1 points per possession, which would have outpaced the highest-scoring team this season by nearly five points. If Dikembe Mutombo's shot-blocking nephew Mfiondu Kabegele is still available here, he'd be a nice selection and a rim-protector for the Sixers when Embiid sits. 

Atlanta's is on the rise, but it's a team that should still be taking the best player available instead of the best fit. McDaniels has a lot of upside if he develops a reliable three-point stroke. He's almost 6-foot-10 with a seven-foot wingspan. He's a good defender and has solid perimeter skills. He could easily go in the 10 to 15 picks before this if a team thinks his free throw stroke (75.8-percent) will be indicative of a good three-point shot.

You know MJ couldn't go too many picks without snagging a highly productive, winning player from the college ranks. Kidding aside, Paschall is a good choice here as he's a strong, switchable big who is also comfortable on the perimeter on offense. Interestingly, the best NBA comp for him is his former college teammate at 'Nova, Omari Spellman, who went in the late-first round to the Hawks in last year's draft and figures to be a good rotational player for years. 

Fernando is an absolute physical specimen who should be drafted in the first round on his potential as a rim-running and rim-protector center. He is 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and big-league hops. His highlight reel of huge dunks and blocks is reminiscent of prime Dwight Howard or DeAndre Jordan. But he's raw and inconsistent in all other facets. You draft him hoping he figures it out and surprises people, like Andre Drummond, but you know that the chances of him being a plus-player in the NBA are a coin flip at best. At pick No. 37, why not get Luka Doncic a nice rim-runner with upside?

Bazley, who famously skipped college and an opportunity to play overseas this past year to complete an internship with New Balance that paid him $1M, will almost certainly be drafted. He is a 6-foot-9 wing with good perimeter skills and NBA athleticism. It remains to be seen, however, whether Bazley has NBA skills. (If he definitely did, he'd be a first-rounder.) The Bulls got screwed by the lottery this year, so they should be swinging for the fences with their second-round pick. Then go with Bazley!

A team with Zion Williamson (and Anthony Davis or whatever he's traded for) will want to space the court as much as possible to give him room to operate. What better way to spread the court than to draft arguably the best three-point shooter in college basketball history in Dylan Windler? Windler's game resembles Bojan Bogdanovic's: He can bomb from outside, but also handle the ball and pass well enough to run pick-and-rolls and attack closeouts. Nobody would have given a small-school guy like this a chance in the NBA five years ago, but he could even jump into the first round depending on his workouts. The Pelicans would be wise to grab him at 38 if he's still available. 

Cheatham, an athletic 6-foot-8 big man, doesn't shoot often from the perimeter, but he's a good passer. The guy plays his tail off and should be able to earn a rotation spot on an NBA roster. He'd fit in nicely running the break with De'Aaron Fox in Sacramento.

With five picks, the Hawks have an opportunity to fill out their roster with role players around their core of Trae Young, John Collins and Kevin Huerter. In today's NBA, it's important to have a rim-running, rim-protecting big man in your rotation to make your opponent think twice about going small. Gafford could be that big man for Atlanta, which would get good value if he falls to No. 41. He was a projected first-round lock after his freshman season. Gafford is huge -- he is 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan -- and a fluid athlete who should make a living cramming home lobs off pick-and-rolls.

Philly also has five draft picks, including four in the second round (where it's easy to draft and stash players). Expect the Sixers to either consolidate some of their picks and move up, or draft at least one overseas player. Samanic impressed scouts at the NBA Combine with his perimeter game and defensive potential. He's a perfect player for the 76ers to leave in Europe for a season if he's not ready to contribute in the NBA.

Before the NBA Combine, Roby wasn't even sure if he would keep his name in the draft. After testing well and crushing it in scrimmages, Roby is all but guaranteed a spot somewhere in the second round. Surrounding KAT with more versatile, athletic forwards should unlock his potential and hide his occasional inattentiveness on defense. Roby, Andrew Wiggins and Josh Okogie would be one of the more athletic sets of wings in the NBA. (If only they could shoot!)

Norvell was a specialist for Gonzaga, but that speciality -- shooting -- should make him a coveted prospect late in the draft. He must be a better ball handler and defender, but his improvement from freshman to sophomore year helped his draft stock tremendously. Not only did Norvell shoot 37 percent from three on more than seven attempts per game last season, he also made 87 percent of his free throws. That kind of efficiency makes him a perfect wing off the bench for the Hawks.

Davis is one of those players with a funky game who are difficult to project in the draft. If a team falls in love with him, he might go in the early 30s. Or he could fall into the 50s. His shooting fundamentals are a little herky-jerky and he leans back on a lot of jumpers, but the ball goes in (he hit 37.1 percent of his threes last season). He's a good athlete, plays hard on both ends of the court and projects to be able to guard ones, twos and threes in the NBA. 

For teams competing for the playoffs, the mid-to-late second round is all about finding rotation players, especially three-and-D wings. Jeffries is a 6-foot-5 wing with a 6-foot-11 wingspan and some bunnies (aka "hops"). He's a good defender who can guard multiple positions. Jeffries should contribute off the bench.

King should have stayed in college another season or two. He has battled injuries since high school and may have been worried about hurting his stock. The Kings, who could use more floor spacers around De'Aaron Fox, will have a chance to develop the 6-foot-8 wing into a solid player. Luckily for them, he's an excellent jump shooter (39 percent from three last season). 

I don't understand why Lawson isn't a surefire pick in many mocks. The 21-year-old was a somewhat inefficient volume scorer for the underachieving Jayhawks last season. But he averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds and shot 39 percent from three and 82 percent from the line. He also has the measureables that make him intriguing at this spot. 

The 6-foot-8, 190-pound skinny wing from Lithuania won't play in the NBA anytime soon. His 46-percent three-point shooting is eye-opening. In typical Spurs fashion, we won't hear about Sirvydis for a couple of years...next thing we know, he'll be burying treys off the bench for the immortal Gregg Popovich.

Reid just looks like an NBA player. He's a hair under 6-foot-10 and has a wingspan over 7-foot-3. He's strong, skilled and not yet 20. If he was entering the NBA a decade ago, he'd probably be a lottery pick. However, because he's not an explosive athlete who can throw down lobs and protect the rim like, say, Daniel Gafford, he might not have a huge role in today's NBA. Even still, a team like the Pacers, who have developed the likes of a similarly skilled player in Domantas Sabonis, should take a chance.

No, this isn't Gerald Green reincarnated, but from an athletic standpoint, Lecque is pretty damn close. He turned heads at the NBA Combine with his 43-inch max vertical, confirming what his prep school highlight tapes indicated. Lecque probably should have attended North Carolina State for a year and developed his game. If he remains in the draft, he's the type of player who could greatly benefit from the coaching of Brad Stevens. The Celtics do an excellent job developing prospects.

Because draft night is before the NBA free-agency period begins, the Hornets won't know if Kemba Walker plans to re-sign with the franchise. So Charlotte should probably snag a point guard with one of its three picks. Ponds' aggressive playing style is comparable to Walker's, but he's nowhere near as good as Kemba. Ponds averaged 20 points and five assists as a junior for St. John's last season.

Bone was a testing marvel at the NBA Combine, finishing first in many categories. I knew he was quick and fast from watching him play at Tennessee -- his leaping ability (42.5-inch vertical) is eye-opening. But he's not known as a huge dunker or fantastic finisher. He could be a nice backup guard behind Donovan Mitchell. 

Weatherspoon projects as a prototypical three-and-D guard/wing with his 6-foot-9 wingspan and 40-percent three-point shooting. With JJ Redick, Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler hitting free agency this summer, he could be the scorer the Sixers need. Weatherspoon, who averaged 19 points last season, should be an able defender in the NBA. 

With their second pick of the draft, and big plans in free agency, the Knicks will likely use this pick on a developmental player. Who is Obiesie? He's a 6-foot-6, rangy combo guard from Germany who can attack the basket and make plays for his teammates. If he can develop a better jumper, he could be a high-upside choice as a draft-and-stash player.

A 7-footer, Queta is a gigantic human being -- he has a 7-foot-4 wingspan and a 9-foot-3.5 standing reach. He can protect the rim and dunk lobs with the best of them, but Queta is one of the rawest prospects in the draft. The Clippers don't have any rim-protectors on Queta's level, so why not take a gamble on a boom-bust prospect late in the second round?

Fall may have been the only player Zion Williamson didn't dunk on last season, so why not grab him at the end of the draft? At 7-foot-7, with an 8-foot-2 wingspan, Fall is probably the tallest human who will play in the NBA. It's unlikely he'll play more than 10-15 minutes a game without getting pick-and-rolled off the court, but he could be a situational backup big man. That's decent value from the 57th pick.

Mann has prototypical NBA wing size and enough defensive intensity to be a pro. He even made close to 40 percent of his threes his senior year (though it was only on 79 attempts). He'll fit in nicely with the Warriors.

Only 5-foot-11, Waters has great feel for the game as a playmaker. He can score and set up teammates, abilities on display at the NBA Combine. With next season potentially in flux with Kawhi Leonard's free agency looming, Waters could be a good, young point guard to build the second unit around should Kyle Lowry or Fred VanVleet leave or get traded.

Willie Cauley-Stein probably will leave in free agency and Marvin Bagley and Harry Giles are the frontcourt of the future in SacTown. So the selection of a defensive-minded big man with the last pick of the draft would be a smart for Sacramento. Konate is slightly undersized at 6-foot-8, and he is extremely raw on offense. But he's an elite shoot-blocker. His timing, power and tenacity at the rim are reminiscent of Ben Wallace.