As a draft community it seems that we’re all just a little bit sleepy.
For the past year we’ve heard over and over again that this draft is “top heavy” or “one of the weakest classes in a decade” and so forth. But I think it’s time we all wake up. This class isn’t just heavy at the top, it’s heavy with talent throughout the lottery and beyond.
There are a couple of game changing talents in this class in Zion and Ja and a handful of future NBA All Stars after that. The freshman class has really stepped up in recent weeks, filling out the depth of this class, and the competition to land in the first round has gotten fierce.
Truth is we won’t know until a few years from now how good this class really is. But you can imagine some of the projected mid to late first round picks, guys like Coby White or Tyler Herro, becoming stars down the round. And veteran guys like Cam Johnson, DeAndre Hunter, Brandon Clarke and Rui Hachimura will be impact players sooner rather than later.
And then there’s the big upside players. Guys like Jaxson Hayes, KZ, Bol Bol, Porter Jr., Nickeil, Romeo and more. Some of these guys will go bust but there will be many All Star games played as well. I’d put my money on Hayes, Nickeil and KZ. These guys have All-NBA potential.
Teams drafting at the top of the draft will be in position to add true superstar talent to their roster, while teams in the late lottery and mid first round will be in position to get star players as well. This isn’t a one or two player draft. Or a top heavy draft. This is a draft that is deep and talented and looking better and better as the season goes on.
Late lotto teams like the Lakers and Timberwolves will be in position to get impact players to set them up for playoff runs in the 2019/20 season. Or for the Lakers to make a run at Anthony Davis this summer, using that valuable lottery pick as part of the package.
So let’s put this 2019 draft class into a better perspective. I think we all got a little bit spoiled by the 2018 draft class, but the 2019 class is nothing to sleep on. So it’s time for us all to wake up. It might not be a super-draft like the 2018 class but there’s plenty of big-time NBA talent on the board.
Here’s our full 2019 NBA Mock Draft