2019 NBA mock draft: Sixers take young wing known for intensity

Levick's first-round mock draft
With the draft a little over two weeks away and the Sixers in the thick of working out prospects, it’s time for another first-round mock draft. In case you missed it, here’s Paul Hudrick’s first-round mock.
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1. New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson – F – Duke
We’ve never seen a player like Williamson. You can nitpick about his shot or his defensive lapses or what position he’ll play in the NBA, but he’s the obvious No. 1 pick in this draft. His athleticism at 285 pounds defies logic and he has a tremendous, intuitive understanding of the game at 18 years old. He’s special.
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2. Memphis Grizzlies
Ja Morant – G – Murray State
Morant is the kind of player you want to build a team around. The 6-foot-3 point guard is an elite passer with spectacular speed, and he’s liable to dunk over or through you at any moment. There are a few areas of concern at the next level, namely the funky mechanics on his jump shot, his high turnover numbers and whether he can be a capable NBA defender. Morant was set to have a minor surgery on his right knee Monday, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
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3. New York Knicks
RJ Barrett – G – Duke
Barrett has a knack for scoring. As The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor writes, Barrett “uses a bevy of herky-jerky maneuvers like Euro-steps and hesitations to get to the rim.” Though he’s not yet a great shooter (30.8 percent from three-point range and 66.5 percent from the foul line), Barrett averaged 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists in his single season at Duke. ESPN’s Jonathon Givony reports that Barrett declined the Grizzlies’ request for a private workout and “would be excited about landing in New York.”
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4. Los Angeles Lakers
De’Andre Hunter – F – Virginia
There are a few different directions the Lakers could go with this pick. Hunter, a Philadelphia native and Friends' Central product, makes sense as a player who could contribute immediately in a complementary role alongside LeBron James. Worst case, he’s a solid, long wing defender who can knock down open threes — Hunter shot 44.6 percent from NBA three-point range last season, per The Stepien’s shot chart. Best case, he keeps improving his game off the dribble and his ACC Defensive Player of the Year credentials eventually translate to him being able to guard the opposition’s best scorer in the NBA.
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5. Cleveland Cavaliers
Jarrett Culver – G/F – Texas Tech
Unlike his former teammate Zhaire Smith, Culver stayed at Texas Tech after showing glimpses of his NBA potential as a freshman. It paid off for him this year as he averaged 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the national runner-up Red Raiders. Culver did struggle with his shot in the final three games of the NCAA Tournament, shooting 13 of 53 (24.5 percent), but that didn’t shake the impression that he has a future as a legit, long NBA wing.
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6. Phoenix Suns
Darius Garland – G – Vanderbilt
The Suns won’t be able to pass on Garland’s potential if he’s there at No. 6. The 19-year-old played only five college games before tearing the meniscus in his left knee, so there’s some risk inherent in drafting him, but it’s one worth taking for Phoenix. Garland is a versatile, creative offensive player with a pretty jumper and plenty of range. Though he’s undersized and his defense is a concern, Phoenix needs a point guard and Garland would be an attractive option at this spot. ESPN’s Mike Schmitz thinks he could become an All-Star.
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7. Chicago Bulls
Coby White – G – North Carolina
Like the Suns, the Bulls should be searching for their point guard of the future. That’s exactly how White sees himself — as a point guard. The speedy 6-foot-5 freshman told NBC Sports Washington’s Ben Standig he sees himself as “a scoring point guard,” noting he developed as a playmaker under Roy Williams. White, who broke Michael Jordan’s freshman scoring record at UNC, is fun to watch in transition and is excellent at putting pressure on the defense.
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8. Atlanta Hawks
Cam Reddish – F – Duke
A highly talented, 6-foot-8 wing, Reddish entered Duke with plenty of hype and high school accolades — among them being named Mr. Pennsylvania Basketball. He had a somewhat disappointing, inefficient season, shooting just 35.6 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from three-point range. The rebuilding Hawks have every reason to bank on his upside with this pick.
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9. Washington Wizards
Jaxson Hayes – C – Texas
Given the fact that senior vice president of basketball operations Tommy Sheppard is expected be in charge of this selection as the interim general manager, according to NBC Sports Washington’s Chris Miller, it’s difficult to know how Washington will approach the draft. The 7-foot Hayes has the potential to be an elite NBA rim protector, though he is on the skinny side and can’t do much else at the moment besides block shots and throw down lobs. In just 23.3 minutes per game, the freshman finished third in the Big 12 in blocks per game at 2.2.
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10. Atlanta Hawks (from Dallas)
Brandon Clarke – F – Gonzaga
Clarke is another player who could be an excellent defender at the next level. At 22 years old, though, he’s much more of a sure thing than Hayes. Clarke’s 84.0 defensive rating and 116 blocks this season were the best in Division I. Even though he’s only 6-foot-8, he has the athleticism, intelligence and effort level for those skills to correspond to the NBA, and his versatility should be an asset.
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11. Minnesota Timberwolves
Sekou Doumbouya – F – Limoges CSP
There are a lot of intriguing parts of Doumboya’s game, but none of them are refined yet. Since he’s 18 years old and has been playing basketball for only six years, that’s very understandable. He’s a fluid, 6-foot-9 player who excels in transition and has a shot that looks promising. Perhaps it will all eventually come together.
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12. Charlotte Hornets
Kevin Porter Jr. – G – USC
Porter thinks he’s “one of the most talented” players in the draft, and he has a solid case. The lefty models his game after James Harden and his ability to break down defenders in isolation with a variety of moves and changes of pace is indeed very Harden-esque. He has an odd shot with a low release point. His shooting splits were odd, too — he made 41.2 percent of his threes and 52.2 percent of his free throws at USC. Porter played in only 22 games because of a suspension for “personal conduct issues,” which could cause him to slip in the draft.
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13. Miami Heat
Romeo Langford – G – Indiana
A top recruit out of high school, Langford is an adept scorer who averaged 16.5 points per game in his season at Indiana. One major weakness is his jumper — he shot just 27.2 percent from three — although it’s difficult to know how much of his shooting struggles can be attributed to a torn ligament in his right thumb that he played through.
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14. Boston Celtics (from Sacramento via Sixers)
Bol Bol – C – Oregon
The most unique player in this draft, Bol is 7-foot-3 and just 208 pounds, with a 7-7 wingspan, legitimate three-point range and guard skills. His college career ended after nine games when he suffered a navicular fracture in his left foot. Boban Marjanovic’s inability to stay on the court against certain opponents highlights a pertinent question for Bol: Can a player his size be a regular part of a rotation in the modern NBA? He’ll need to get stronger, stay healthy and commit to defense to have a positive-impact NBA career. If he can check off those boxes, his potential is exciting.
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15. Detroit Pistons
Nassir Little – F – North Carolina
At 6-foot-6, 220 pounds with a 7-2 wingspan, Little has excellent physical attributes. He performed below expectations at UNC and was a bench player for Roy Williams. Little is absolutely correct when he says, “In the NBA, a lot of guys just score the ball but I think my defense is what can help separate me from everybody else.” As Mirin Fader detailed for B/R Mag, Williams demanded a lot from Little on that end of the floor and often called him out when he missed rotations or failed to grasp the nuances of the game. Little knows now that becoming a defensive stopper in the NBA won’t be as simple as leaning on his athletic gifts.
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16. Orlando Magic
Nickeil Alexander-Walker – G – Virginia Tech
A well-rounded player, Alexander-Walker seems destined to have a long NBA career. He can play both guard spots, make open threes and facilitate for his teammates — all skills that NBA teams always desire. The Magic would have plenty of flexibility in how they choose to use him.
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17. Brooklyn Nets
Grant Williams – F – Tennessee
While combine drills and tests are of course only valuable in context, Williams’ 20 bench-press reps of 185 pounds jump out. That was the most of any player at the combine, and it’s consistent with the strength Williams displayed at Tennessee. He was masterful out of the high post for the Volunteers, averaging 18.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 blocks in a point forward-like role. Since he’s on the shorter side for that job in the NBA at 6-foot-7, his three-point shot (32.6 percent last season) and passing will be key. His maturity and innate sense for how to use his strength would allow him to help Brooklyn as a rookie.
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18. Indiana Pacers
PJ Washington – F – Kentucky
Washington jumped from shooting 23.8 percent from three-point range as a freshman to 42.3 percent as a sophomore. He’d be a solid addition offensively for the Pacers’ bench as a power forward who can score both inside and on the perimeter.
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19. San Antonio Spurs
Rui Hachimura – F – Gonzaga
The 21-year-old Hachimura made massive improvements during his three seasons at Gonzaga, with his scoring averages moving from 2.6 to 11.6 to 19.7 points per game last year. Like Grant Williams, Hachimura is excellent playing in the high post/elbow region, though he was mainly a threat as a scorer. He could become a very good NBA player if he continues getting better and expands his range.
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20. Boston Celtics (from L.A. Clippers via Memphis)
Talen Horton-Tucker – G – Iowa State
Horton-Tucker is a fascinating player. Let’s start with his measurements at the combine: He’s 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds with the wingspan of a typical power forward or center at slightly over 7-1. On the court, he has a deft, crafty handle and knows how to use his body to shield off defenders when driving to the rim. His defense and outside shooting are currently weaknesses.
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21. Oklahoma City Thunder
Matisse Thybulle – G/F – Washington
Thybulle is a 3-and-D prospect with the emphasis on the “D” part of that description. A four-year college player, Thybulle led the country in steals as a senior, though his three-point percentage dropped to 30.5. He didn’t participate in the combine and he’s been linked with Oklahoma City.
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22. Boston Celtics
Cameron Johnson – F – North Carolina
Sometimes a prospect’s shooting form doesn’t align with their stats. That’s not the case with Johnson, who has a beautiful shot and made nearly 46 percent of his threes as a redshirt senior. Johnson is widely considered the best shooter in the draft (see profile).
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23. Utah Jazz
Tyler Herro – G – Kentucky
Herro is another very good shooter, though he’s an example of the numbers not being quite as impressive as you’d except when you watch him — he shot 35.5 percent from three in his one college season. He’s already well accustomed to the intricacies of running off screens and is a proficient mid-range scorer. Herro also doesn’t seem like someone you’ll have to hide on defense (see profile).
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24. Sixers
Keldon Johnson – G/F – Kentucky
The Sixers have been up front about saying they’re targeting players who can contribute right away, so why would they pick a 19-year-old one-and-done player? Johnson fits the Sixers’ criteria of someone who can shoot the three and has "a defensive mindset." He’s known for his intensity and relentless effort, thrives in transition, and is built for the NBA at 6-foot-6, 216 pounds. Though Johnson shot 38.1 percent from three in college, ESPN’s Mike Schmitz noted that he was only a 32 percent three-point shooter in high school, so Johnson still needs to prove himself as a shooter. He has a tendency to tilt his head back and fall backwards when he shoots. That said, Johnson’s athletic ability and attitude would allow him to help the Sixers regardless of whether his college three-point production carries over to the NBA.
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25. Portland Trail Blazers
Luguentz Dort – G – Arizona State
As Sixers senior director of scouting Vince Rozman said Monday, “there’s a lot to be intrigued about” with Dort (see story). His strength and attacking mindset jump out offensively, and he’s a disruptive defender (1.9 steals per 40 minutes). Dort worked out for the Blazers on Friday and told reporters he thinks he would “fit pretty well” in Portland.
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26. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Houston)
Goga Bitadze – C – Mega Bemax
There’s a good chance Bitadze doesn’t last this long. Sports Illustrated's Jeremy Woo calls the Georgian center “pretty clearly the most polished big man in the draft.” Bitadze isn’t a great athlete, but he does a lot of things well offensively and could form a nice pick-and-roll partnership with Collin Sexton.
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27. Brooklyn Nets (from Denver)
Mfiondu Kabengele – F – Florida State
Kabengele played 71 college games and didn’t start once, meaning he won’t have to make any adjustment to coming off the bench in the NBA like many top prospects will. At 6-foot-10, Kabengele can knock down jump shots (37.4 percent from three in college) and play interior defense (2.8 blocks per 40 minutes). Whatever happens for the Nets in free agency, Kabengele would fit in well as a complementary piece.
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28. Golden State Warriors
Carsen Edwards – G – Purdue
At a shade over 6 feet tall, Edwards is, by a good margin, the shortest player who might be drafted in the first round. That’s the case because he’s a fantastic scorer with deep range. He had no problems finding his shot against high-level competition in March Madness, dropping 42 points on both Villanova and Tennessee. The Warriors obviously don’t need much, but Edwards would be a welcome addition as an electric player who can single-handedly go on scoring runs off the bench.
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29. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto)
Jontay Porter – C – Missouri
Porter — whose brother Michael was taken 14th by the Nuggets last year — has already torn his ACL twice, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he drops into the second round. He’s a skilled, smooth big man who can shoot from the outside. The Boris Diaw and Nikola Jokic comparisons are understandable. If they’re satisfied with the results of Porter’s medical testing, the Spurs’ track record suggests they’d be willing to wait for Porter to return to full strength and further develop his game.
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30. Milwaukee Bucks
Dylan Windler – G/F – Belmont
Windler is one of the best shooters in the draft. He’d be a sensible choice for the Bucks, who attempted the second-most three-pointers in the league this season and want to surround Giannis Antetokounmpo with long-range shooters. Over his last two years at Belmont, Windler shot 42.8 percent from three on six attempts per game.
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