2019 NBA re-draft: A way too early look
The 2019 NBA draft was a tale of Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, but little did we know, the class was loaded with hidden gems.
Darius Garland, Tyler Herro, and Jordan Poole have exceeded expectations, proving themselves as steals. Then you have a few undrafted players like Lu Dort, Max Strus and Caleb Martin who have become consistent contributors.
There haven’t been many major busts in that class, either, outside of No. 6 pick Jarrett Culver.
Below, check out our re-draft for the 2019 NBA draft class.
No. 1 pick: Ja Morant
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Actual position: No. 2
Career earnings: $27,500,400
Career stats: 22.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 7.3 apg, 47.3 FG%, 32.5 3P%
Scouting Report
The actual No. 2 pick of the 2019 NBA draft goes No. 1 overall in our re-draft, as Ja Morant has had the best career of anyone in that class thus far, proving to be one of the most explosive and exciting point guards ever. Morant has been tested in both the regular season and playoffs and has had much better availability than the next player on this list. The one concern is that his play style may not be super conducive to a really long career, as Morant is smaller in stature and prone to taking some big falls from high places.
No. 2 pick: Zion Williamson
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Actual position: No. 1
Career earnings: $30,736,320
Career stats: 25.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.6 apg, 60.5 FG%, 34.3 3P%
Scouting Report
Zion Williamson did make this decision a tough one, as the former Duke standout is a freakish talent in his own right, a hyper-efficient scoring big man who resembles a modern Shaquille O’Neal with his finishing ability down low. Williamson has good skill for his size, too, capable of taking foes off the dribble and setting up teammates with smart passes. Williamson now owns the record for the highest scoring average for a player prior to turning 21, an impressive feat for the phenomenal talent.
No. 3 pick: Darius Garland
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Actual position: No. 5
Career earnings: $20,162,520
Career stats: 18.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 6.5 apg, 44.4 FG%, 38.0 3P%
Scouting Report
There was some uncertainty about Darius Garland coming out of the draft, primarily due to the fact he was only able to play five games in college prior to his prep career ending. Still, Garland has made the Cleveland Cavaliers look quite savvy to take him Top 5 that year anyway, as he has already developed into an All-Star guard with savvy three-level scoring and fun playmaking.
No. 4 pick: Tyler Herro
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Actual position: No. 13
Career earnings: $11,466,720
Career stats: 17.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.4 apg, 44.1 FG%, 38.6 3P%
Scouting Report
There were some concerns about Tyler Herro as a draft prospect, too, due to his size and mediocre wingspan, but the former Kentucky Wildcat silenced the critics quickly, blossoming into a high-scoring 2-guard for the Miami Heat with fiery bucket-getting ability and deep scoring range. Herro’s next step is to show he can perform in the playoffs, though, as his last couple of postseason runs for Miami have been disappointing.
No. 5 pick: Jordan Poole
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Actual position: No. 28
Career earnings: $6,189,480
Career stats: 15.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.2 apg, 41.9 FG%, 33.4 3P%
Scouting Report
One of the steals of the 2019 draft (and we’ll see another one in the next slide) was undoubtedly Jordan Poole, a player similar to Herro in his game, with crafty scoring ability, slippery ball-handling ability and likewise deep shooting range. Poole’s defense is nonexistent and he can be streaky from the outside, but that he was able to contribute to a Golden State Warriors championship in 2021-22 speaks to what a great pick he was at No. 28 that year.
No. 6 pick: Keldon Johnson
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Actual position: No. 29
Career earnings: $6,144,360
Career stats: 15.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.0 apg, 46.4 FG%, 37.3 3P%
Scouting Report
A still-blossoming swingman/4-man type, Keldon Johnson has a smooth face-up game, strong slashing ability and a solid outside jumper. In Johnson, the San Antonio Spurs have at least one potential franchise cornerstone for their next great team.
No. 7 pick: Luguentz Dort
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Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $3,456,249
Career stats: 13.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 39.8 FG%, 33.4 3P%
Scouting Report
From undrafted to the No. 7 spot in our re-draft, Lu Dort has done a fantastic job of developing into one of the best guard defenders in the league, an energetic two-way player and a much-improved offensive player. It’s rare for an undrafted player to go Top 10 in one of our re-drafts but Dort has done more than enough already in his career to earn this distinction.
No. 8 pick: RJ Barrett
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Actual position: No. 3
Career earnings: $24,695,640
Career stats: 17.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.9 apg, 41.9 FG%, 35.3 3P%
Scouting Report
RJ Barrett still has star potential considering he remains just 22 years old, but he hasn’t quite taken that step to this point, remaining lacking in near-rim finishing, outside shooting and playmaking. There’s still plenty of time for him to hit another level but so far, he remains an overall work in progress.
No. 9 pick: Cameron Johnson
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Actual position: No. 11
Career earnings: $12,705,600
Career stats: 10.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.4 apg, 44.0 FG%, 39.2 3P%
Scouting Report
The Phoenix Suns were panned for taking Cam Johnson No. 11 in the 2019 draft due to the fact he was already 23 years old at the time. But concerns about Johnson’s age and perceived lack of upside (which he has yet to totally disprove) were overblown, as the former Tar Heel is an excellent outside shooter with good size on the wing.
No. 10 pick: Kevin Porter
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Actual position: No. 30
Career earnings: $4,791,562
Career stats: 14.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.9 apg, 42.8 FG%, 35.1 3P%
Scouting Report
Kevin Porter was a lottery-level talent who fell to the last pick of the first round due to concerns about character and maturity, which weren’t totally invalid considering he lasted just one season in Cleveland before being traded to the Houston Rockets. Still, Porter has tons of ability as a three-level scorer with a quick first step and explosive bounce.
No. 11 pick: Brandon Clarke
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Actual position: No. 21
Career earnings: $7,808,640
Career stats: 10.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.4 apg, 59.9 FG%, 29.0 3P%
Scouting Report
The Memphis Grizzlies have killed it in recent years with first-round picks outside of the lottery, and Brandon Clarke is just one example of that, as Clarke has carved out a nice role for Memphis as a bouncy big man with shot-blocking and switching ability and a decent spot-up jumper.
No. 12 pick: Nicolas Claxton
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Actual position: No. 31
Career earnings: $4,198,912
Career stats: 8.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 68.0 FG%, 15.4 3P%
Scouting Report
If we do another 2019 re-draft in five years, there’s a chance Nicolas Claxton finishes even higher on the list, as he is only just now starting to break out as an explosive big man who finishes everything around the rim and can block shots on defense or switch when asked to. One of the league’s best shot-blockers already, Claxton has a lot of upside to keep growing for the Brooklyn Nets.
No. 13 pick: Grant Williams
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Actual position: No. 22
Career earnings: $7,496,400
Career stats: 6.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.1 apg, 46.1 FG%, 37.9 3P%
Scouting Report
Grant Williams’ impact goes beyond the stat sheet. That Williams was an important role player on a Boston Celtics team that made it to the Finals in 2021-22 goes to show just how impactful he can be without averaging double-digit points. Williams has developed into a reliable threat from three and he can legitimately defend multiple positions thanks to his size, strength and quick feet.
No. 14 pick: De'Andre Hunter
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Actual position: No. 4
Career earnings: $22,265,760
Career stats: 13.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.5 apg, 43.7 FG%, 35.7 3P%
Scouting Report
He may not be a complete disappointment but his slow development, in part due to injuries, have caused De’Andre Hunter not live up to the level many expected when he was taken fourth overall in the 2019 draft. Hunter has great size and length on the wing and performs well on both ends, he’s just not consistent enough and hasn’t shown much of a star-level gear of yet.
No. 15 pick: Coby White
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Actual position: No. 7
Career earnings: $16,717,560
Career stats: 12.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 41.3 FG%, 36.4 3P%
Scouting Report
Injuries and inconsistency have plagued Coby White’s career to this point, as although he is lightning quick and can light it up from the outside from time to time, he doesn’t do it consistently enough for the Chicago Bulls. Even in Lonzo Ball’s absence this season, White hasn’t taken the reigns at lead guard for the Bulls. It shouldn’t be a surprise that White has been in trade rumors a lot over the past couple of seasons.
No. 16 pick: Naz Reid
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Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $4,198,912
Career stats: 9.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.0 apg, 50.1 FG%, 34.9 3P%
Scouting Report
One of the 2019 draft’s great stories, Naz Reid, like Dort, goes from undrafted to being a first-round selection in our re-draft, an honor he has more than earned. Reid has developed into a solid scoring big man who can shoot it from the outside, face off up opponents and finish down low craftily with either hand.
No. 17 pick: Bol Bol
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Actual position: No. 44
Career earnings: $4,298,960
Career stats: 6.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.5 apg, 55.9 FG%, 38.5 3P%
Scouting Report
It took a while for Bol to prove doubters wrong, as he didn’t truly break out until this season. Still, it’s clear why Bol was a superstar recruit, as his blend of size, length, shooting ability and overall skill are downright scary.
No. 18 pick: PJ Washington
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Actual position: No. 12
Career earnings: $12,070,560
Career stats: 12.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 45.0 FG%, 37.0 3P%
Scouting Report
It would be harsh to call PJ Washington a disappointment in the NBA considering he was drafted as a role player and that’s basically what he has been thus far for the Charlotte Hornets. He can face-up, he can shoot threes at a solid clip and he can defend intelligently. It’s just a bit of a letdown that he hasn’t developed into more, as various players drafted after him have become stars or above-average starters, a level Washington hasn’t quite hit yet.
No. 19 pick: Max Strus
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Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $2,395,844
Career stats: 10.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, 43.1 FG%, 37.4 3P%
Scouting Report
Another undrafted-to-drafted story in this piece, Max Strus even overcame a torn ACL early on in his NBA career to become a solid rotation piece for the Heat, a three-point threat with some transition scoring ability. He may not have star potential and is pretty limited on defense but if nothing else, he can provide scoring and shooting.
No. 20 pick: Jaxson Hayes
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Actual position: No. 8
Career earnings: $15,315,480
Career stats: 7.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.7 apg, 62.6 FG%, 32.3 3P%
Scouting Report
Jaxson Hayes showed some flashes early in his career but since then, it’s been pretty downhill for the former Texas Longhorn due to injuries and off-court transgressions that have hurt his playing career. Hayes is still just 22 so he does have time to turn things around, as his athletic ability in his impressive near-7-foot package is very impressive, but he’s going to have to start putting consistent games together – and soon – for the Pelicans to want to re-sign him this summer.
No. 21 pick: Cam Reddish
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Actual position: No. 10
Career earnings: $13,373,880
Career stats: 10.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.2 apg, 39.3 FG%, 32.3 3P%
Scouting Report
One of the bigger disappointments from the 2019 draft, Cam Reddish is currently out of the rotation entirely for the Knicks, his second team already in his brief playing career. Reddish has shown flashes of ability as a three-level scorer but that he has now failed to break through under multiple coaching staffs is probably telling.
No. 22 pick: Matisse Thybulle
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Actual position: No. 20
Career earnings: $8,133,600
Career stats: 4.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.0 apg, 44.7 FG%, 32.4 3P%
Scouting Report
A multi-time All-Defensive Team member, Matisse Thybulle has become a solid rotation player thanks to elite help defense and decent on-ball defense, with the Australian wing capable of jumping passing lanes and picking pockets with the best of them. The issue is, he provides very little – if anything some nights – on the offensive end.
No. 23 pick: Terance Mann
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Actual position: No. 48
Career earnings: $4,300,602
Career stats: 7.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.9 apg, 49.5 FG%, 37.3 3P%
Scouting Report
A two-way wing who plays lead guard in stretches, Terance Mann has gone from second-round pick to decent rotation player on a very good Los Angeles Clippers team thanks to his effort on both ends of the floor and ability to score. He’s also developed as an outside shooter, which was a weakness of his coming in out of Florida State.
No. 24 pick: Rui Hachimura
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Actual position: No. 9
Career earnings: $14,078,160
Career stats: 13.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.4 apg, 47.9 FG%, 35.9 3P%
Scouting Report
Another major disappointment from the 2019 draft, Rui Hachimura hasn’t developed into the star some thought he could become coming into the NBA. His outside jumper remains lacking, his feel for the game is poor and he doesn’t move the ball nearly enough for the inefficient level of scorer he is. Hachimura doesn’t even really shine on defense, an area thought to be a potential strength of his coming out of college.
No. 25 pick: Caleb Martin
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Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $9,366,762
Career stats: 7.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, 45.9 FG%, 38.9 3P%
Scouting Report
Another good find by the Heat, Miami snatched Caleb Martin away from the Charlotte Hornets, which at least partly changed Martin’s career for the better (just look at his twin brother Cody Martin’s progression over the past two seasons compared to Caleb’s), and helped develop him into an athletic wing who plays some small-ball power forward, can shoot threes quite well and finish athletically in traffic while providing very sturdy defense on the other end.
No. 26 pick: Jalen McDaniels
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Actual position: No. 52
Career earnings: $4,198,912
Career stats: 7.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, 46.9 FG%, 35.3 3P%
Scouting Report
A solid two-way wing, Jalen McDaniels was a good find by the Hornets in the second round, giving the team a promising slashing 3-and-D wing with some higher-level skills.
No. 27 pick: Daniel Gafford
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Actual position: No. 38
Career earnings: $4,198,912
Career stats: 7.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.7 apg,1.3 bpg, 70.3 FG%
Scouting Report
The Wizards may have gotten ahead of themselves a bit agreeing to such a big extension with Daniel Gafford (he’ll be making $14.4 million in 2025-26) but the former Arkansas Razorback is a solid role-playing big man who can block some shots and finish out of the pick-and-roll, if nothing else.
No. 28 pick: Chuma Okeke
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Actual position: No. 16
Career earnings: $6,398,160
Career stats: 7.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.8 apg, 38.8 FG%, 32.3 3P%
Scouting Report
Injuries have caused Chuma Okeke’s development to be much slower than expected, though the Orlando Magic had to know that was a possibility considering he came into the NBA coming off of a major injury in college. Regardless, Okeke has some potential as a defender with some face-up scoring chops.
No. 29 pick: Talen Horton-Tucker
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Actual position: No. 46
Career earnings: $11,916,291
Career stats: 8.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.6 apg, 42.9 FG%, 26.9 3P%
Scouting Report
He may not have become the stud lead guard some had hoped he might become after early flashes with the Los Angeles Lakers, but Talen Horton-Tucker is still just 22, so it’s too early to give up on him, even if he has been in out of the rotation in this, his fourth NBA season already. Horton-Tucker’s got a decent first step and some finishing ability around the basket while giving good effort on defense.
No. 30 pick: Oshae Brissett
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $3,086,654
Career stats: 7.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.8 apg, 42.3 FG%, 36.1 3P%
Scouting Report
The Indiana Pacers have been one of the more impressive teams of the 2022-23 season, a campaign many expected the franchise to bottom out in their efforts to tank. Part of the reason for that has been the play of Oshae Brissett, who is a fine role-playing finisher who can score around the cup on slashes and spot-up from three.
Biggest risers
Luguentz Dort: From undrafted to No. 7
Naz Reid: From undrafted to No. 16
Max Strus: From undrafted to No. 19
Caleb Martin: From undrafted to No. 25
Oshae Brissett: From undrafted to No. 30
Bol Bol: From No. 44 to No. 17
Jalen McDaniels: From No. 52 to No. 26
Terance Mann: From No. 48 to No. 23
Jordan Poole: From No. 28 to No. 5
Keldon Johnson: From No. 29 to No. 6
Kevin Porter: From No. 30 to No. 10
Highest picks not listed
Jarrett Culver: No. 6
Romeo Langford: No. 14
Sekou Doumbouya: No. 15
Nickeil Alexander-Walker: No. 17
Goga Bitadze: No. 18
Luka Samanic: No. 19
Darius Bazley: No. 23
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