After researching the 2019 NBA draft class for the last six months, you’ll forgive me if I take a brief respite. Between the conclusion of this terrible draft – and my Toronto Raptors winning our first championship! – my basketball brain has been exploding like Rasheed Wallace in the playoffs.
Breathe. 1, 2, 3.
Okay here we go.
The Key Points Of The NBA Draft
- Let’s start with my public proclamation that new Pelicans GM David Griffin is Jesus. He died for our sins, he is born again, he turns water into wine. After completely hosing NBA pariah Rob Pelinka in the Anthony Davis trade, Griffin decided to assassinate another NBA general manager on this day that will clearly live in infamy… Flipping the #4 pick into Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaxson Hayes and a 2nd rounder is an offense punishable by death. NBA GMs beware: Do NOT trade with David Griffin. Oh, and he also took some guy named Zion. Jewish maybe?
- The Phoenix Suns really are that stupid. Much has been made about the ongoing incompetence competition between Suns owner Robert Sarver and the perennial favourite: New York Knicks owner James Dolan. If the 2019 draft was any indication, Sarver may have taken the lead. In a series of absurd moves, Phoenix gave away talented swing TJ Warren for literally no other players coming back, abandoned their chief team need for a PG at #6 overall (passing on Coby White), reached on Cam Johnson at #11 overall (who was predicted to be a late first/early second rounder), absorbed Aron Baynes’ contract via trade for absolutely no reason, and acquired the overrated Ty Jerome via trade with the 24th pick of the draft. Oh, and they gave up a first rounder in the loaded 2020 draft class for their troubles. I think I’d rather join Dolan’s band than work in the Suns front office.
- Back in the good draft variety, Memphis seems to have completely rebuilt themselves in one season. They took franchise PG Ja Morant at #2 (as expected), then traded up to #21 and took the most underrated player in this entire draft class: Gonzaga’s Brandon Clarke. With historical numbers on both sides of the ball, Clarke is going to make many GMs look incredibly stupid for letting him fall this low. The Ja Morant/Clarke/JJJ core is surely one of the brightest in the NBA moving forward.
- Since we’re talking falls, somebody is going to need to rescue Bol Bol from the pits of hell. Not sure how many GM’s wives he’s slept with, but this projected top five pick (only a few short months ago) fell to Denver at #44. Porzingis upside as a mid-2nd rounder. That just doesn’t happen. With glowing reports of Michael Porter Jr recently, Denver is stashing major talents. They are also going to be good for a very, very long time…
- STEALS: Nickeil Alexander-Walker at 17, Brandon Clarke at 21, Nassir Little at 25, Kevin Porter Jr at 30, Carsen Edwards at 33, Bol Bol at 44
In summation, this year’s NBA draft was, as predicted, completely unpredictable. While the triumvirate of greatness (Zion/Ja/RJ) were drafted as expected, the wild wild west began at #4. A series of illogical trades also created some good punchlines for us bored basketball writers following the draft live on Twitter. But ultimately, one of the worst draft classes in NBA history resulted in one of the worst sets of lottery picks you will ever see. With that said, there were some great deals post-lottery. There should be a smattering of strong NBA careers in the mix of mediocrity. Expect most of these guys to fade away into the ether ad infinitum. But they’ll also will be some hidden gems too. In this draft, they’ll be a sea of busts, but beauty emerges when you least expect it.
Except in Phoenix. Ironically, it appears the sun doesn’t shine there.
Bobby Del Rio
