Grading the Top 5 Picks from the 2019 NBA Draft
5th Pick — Darius Garland (CLE)
A
Darius Garland will presumably become an ‘A+’ selection after a few more years of consistent greatness, but for now, this will do. Darius Garland seems to be the complete package when it comes to a floor general. Garland currently ranks in above the 90th percentile for every single advanced playmaking statistic, including an absurd 20.8 assists per 75 possessions. The Cavaliers point guard has significantly improved in almost all categories, such as PPG, APG, TRB, FT% and FG%. Having gotten his first all-star nod this year, there is much more to come from the 22-year-old.
4th Pick — De’Andre Hunter (Drafted by LAL, but eventually traded to ATL)
C+
De’Andre Hunter has become the Atlanta Hawks’ default choice for who is assigned to guard the opposition’s top player, as well as becoming a reliable option from three. Unfortunately though, Hunter’s role does not extend much beyond a prototypical 3-and-D player. This being said, Hunter ranked in the bottom quarter of the league for his ability to get to the rim unassisted last season, as well as just finishing these kinds of shots. For a top-5 pick, you’d surely want more from such a versatile build.
3rd Pick — RJ Barrett (NYK)
A-
In stark contrast to De’Andre Hunter, RJ Barrett has become excellent at creating his own shots. As a result, Barrett’s PPG has increased by about 3 between each season. This is mainly thanks to his elite slashing abilities, where he got to the rim about 14 times for every 75 possessions last season. Subsequently, Barrett’s offensive gravity opens up an abundance of playmaking opportunities for his teammates. Even though he is not always the direct contributor to points scored by his peers, his growing offensive game opened up about 4.5 open shots per 100 possessions last year for his teammates. Barrett doesn’t hustle as much as he probably should on defense, considering he is usually guarding a top option, but as his confidence grows, his coverage should become more overbearing.
2nd Pick — Ja Morant (MEM)
A+
Coming off an incredible Most Improved Player campaign, as well as an elite regular season record, Ja Morant’s sophomore slump seems to no longer be a concern. If RJ Barrett has reached the upper-echelon of cutting to the basket, then Morant has reached the pinnacle of it. Ja Morant is the best in the league at manufacturing his own shots near the basket, where 91% of such attempts are not even assisted. Corresponding to this is the estimated 13.4 (!) open shots he creates for his teammates every 100 possessions because of necessary defensive scrutiny he attracts. Morant’s stature also allows him to catch his matchups off-guard by instigating various loose-balls, alongside his career-best 1.2 SPG last season. Ja Morant is already on the precipice of becoming a superstar in just his 4th year.
1st Pick — Zion Williamson (NOP)
A-
As frustrating as the health concerns have been for Zion Willamson, his production from the 2020–2021 season is undeniable. Within that season, Zion was quite literally the best close-range scorer with his league-best 14.4 shots per 75 possessions at the rim. Much of Zion’s offensive plan was to bully his defenders in isolation within the paint, and it definitely worked. Executing almost 7 isolations per 75 possessions, Zion also rarely turned over the ball in these situations, ultimately leaving the fate of these plays in his hands. Zion’s defensive rebounding was quite lackluster, but his offensive boards compensated heavily for those shortcomings, as he was a monster at putbacks in addition to his 2.7 ORPG. The largest concern is how his defensive game will develop after returning from such a severe injury, as Zion was mediocre at contesting shots at the rim, most likely due to his height discrepancy in comparison to most players at his position. It’ll be interesting to see how the former first pick bounces back.