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2019 NBA Mock Draft: Latest Top Prospects' Stock Watch and 1st-Round Predictions
June 2, 2019
Even though the 2019 NBA draft isn't set to get underway until June 20, we have a good idea of which players will land in the top few picks.
But once you get past the top three selections, there appears to be plenty of opportunity for prospects to work their way up the first round through workouts and pre-draft meetings.
Depending on the reports that are circulating, the top two picks might be the only ones set in stone, but that depends on team evaluations in the buildup to the event.
Other players predicted to go further down the first round can make moves up the draft board as well, and if a team believes one of those players is a better fit for the organization, we could see some people taken higher than expected.
2019 NBA 1st-Round Mock Draft
1. New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, PF, Duke
2. Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant, PG, Murray State
3. New York Knicks: R.J. Barrett, SF, Duke
4. Los Angeles Lakers: De'Andre Hunter, SF, Virginia
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jarrett Culver, SG, Texas Tech
6. Phoenix Suns: Darius Garland, PG, Vanderbilt
7. Chicago Bulls: Coby White, PG, North Carolina
8. Atlanta Hawks: Cam Reddish, SG, Duke
9. Washington Wizards: Nassir Little, SF, North Carolina
10. Atlanta Hawks: Sekou Doumbouya, SF, France
11. Minnesota Timberwolves: Brandon Clarke, PF, Gonzaga
12. Charlotte Hornets: P.J. Washington, SF, Kentucky
13. Miami Heat: Jaxson Hayes, PF/C, Texas
14. Boston Celtics: Romeo Langford, SG, Indiana
15. Detroit Pistons: Kevin Porter Jr., SG, USC
16. Orlando Magic: Rui Hachimura, SF/PF, Gonzaga
17. Brooklyn Nets: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG, Virginia Tech
18. Indiana Pacers: Ty Jerome, PG, Virginia
19. San Antonio Spurs: Goga Bitadze, C, Republic of Georgia
20. Boston Celtics: Tyler Herro, SG, Kentucky
21. Oklahoma City Thunder: Bol Bol, C, Oregon
22. Boston Celtics: Grant Williams, PF, Tennessee
23. Utah Jazz: Talen Horton-Tucker, SF, Iowa State
24. Philadelphia 76ers: Keldon Johnson, SG, Kentucky
25. Portland Trail Blazers: Carsen Edwards, PG, Purdue
26. Cleveland Cavaliers: Nic Claxton, C, Georgia
27. Brooklyn Nets: Luka Samanic, PF, Croatia
28. Golden State Warriors: Cameron Johnson, SF, North Carolina
29. San Antonio Spurs: Matisse Thybulle, SF, Washington
30. Milwaukee Bucks: Dylan Windler, SG/SF, Belmont
Stock Watch for Top Prospects
Jarrett Culver
Jarrett Culver cemented himself as a top-10 pick during Texas Tech's run to the national championship.
While it may seem impossible for the Texas Tech guard to break into the top three, there might be a chance he surpasses Duke's R.J. Barrett on the draft board come June 20.
According to Sean Deveney of Sporting News, rumors have popped up regarding the New York Knicks weighing Culver as one of their options at No. 3.
Deveney also reported the Atlanta Hawks would have focused on Culver had they earned the No. 2 draft pick in the lottery.
The tidbit about the Hawks is interesting because of a report from ESPN.com's Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz in which they were told by a source that the Knicks could consider trading down from No. 3 in exchange for No. 8 and No. 10 from the Hawks.
Atlanta has a better opportunity than most teams to move into the top three because of the extra first-round pick it possesses from the Luka Doncic trade on draft night a year ago.
Even if the Knicks stand pat and take Barrett at No, 3, Culver might not have to wait long to hear his name called.
Culver worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers, who have the No. 4 pick, Saturday with LeBron James in attendance, per Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times.
The visit to the Lakers facility is a part of the typical pre-draft process, but it is interesting that James was present for the workout.
If the Lakers covet Culver and his shooting ability, they could go after him at No. 4. And if he is not selected there, the Cleveland Cavaliers should swoop for him at No. 5 to provide Collin Sexton with a complementary scorer.
Coby White
The Chicago Bulls are one of a few lottery teams in need of improvements at point guard.
Although there are three solid point guard prospects in the draft class, there is a chance only Coby White from North Carolina is available to the Bulls at No. 7.
According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, two league executives told him White received a promise from the Bulls that they would select the UNC point guard.
The rumored news makes sense from Chicago's standpoint, as it would be able to add a relatively cheap point guard instead of spending a ton of money in free agency.
White is not receiving the amount of hype as Murray State's Ja Morant or Vanderbilt's Darius Garland, but he could end up as a solid contributor at a position of need for the Bulls.
In his lone season at North Carolina, White averaged 16.1 points and 4.1 assists per game and shot 42.3 percent from the field and 50 percent from two-point range.
By taking White, the Bulls would be able to improve other parts of their roster through pricier avenues while already having another building block in place.
Since the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns are expected to land Morant and Garland, respectively, the natural fit for White seems like the Bulls. But if he does not go at No. 7, he could experience a bit of a drop.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Sports Reference.