The bad news is there won’t be any college basketball to watch for the next six or seven months. The good news is the draft is right around the corner. Many of the best players will walk across the stage on June 20th and then play in the summer league shortly after. So there will be plenty more opportunities to watch Zion, RJ Barrett, Ja Morant, Jarrett Culver, and many of the other stars that will be headed to the league before the start of basketball season next winter.
Zion is still a lock to go 1 and after the tournament performances of Ja Morant and RJ Barrett, they look like locks to be 2 and 3 in either order. Culver and Reddish still look like potential top 5 picks, but they are trending in the wrong direction. Jarrett Culver helped lead Tech on a stellar tournament run, but did not finish as strong as many GM’s probably hoped and anticipated. Reddish was banged up and unimpressive throughout Duke’s tournament run. He could likely very well fall out of the top 5 in the weeks to come, but will still be a top 10 pick without a doubt.
As the NBA season comes to a close, we have a better idea of what the draft order will look somewhat like. With the lottery odds changing for this draft, there could be some lucky teams moving up to claim a better pick than where they were slated, and some unlucky teams moving back in the lottery. It all just depends on how the cookie will crumble on lottery night May 14.
1) New York Knicks – Zion Williamson
Forward, Duke, Freshman
2) Phoenix Suns – Ja Morant
Point Guard, Murray State, Sophomore
3) Cleveland Cavaliers – RJ Barrett
Guard/Small Forward, Duke, Freshman
4) Chicago Bulls – Jarrett Culver
Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Texas Tech, Sophomore
5) Atlanta Hawks – Cam Reddish
Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Duke, Freshman
6) Washington Wizards – Brandon Clarke
Forward, Gonzaga, Junior
7) Atlanta Hawks (from Dallas) – Rui Hachimura
Forward, Gonzaga, Junior
8) New Orleans Pelicans – DeAndre hunter
Small Forward, Virginia, Junior
9) Memphis Grizzlies – Coby White
Point Guard, North Carolina, Freshman
10) Minnesota Timberwolves – PJ Washington
Power Forward, Kentucky, Sophomore
11) Los Angeles Lakers – Darius Garland
Point Guard, Vanderbilt, Freshman
12) Miami Heat – Keldon Johnson
Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Kentucky, Freshman
13) Sacramento Kings – Jaxson Hayes
Center, Texas, Freshman
14) Charlotte Hornets – Nassir Little
Forward, North Carolina, Freshman
15) Detroit Pistons – Sekou Doumbouya
Forward, France, 19
16) Brooklyn Nets – Romeo Langford
Shooting Guard, Indiana, Freshman
17) Orlando Magic – Ty Jerome
Guard, Virginia, Junior
18) Boston Celtics (from Clippers) – Carsen Edwards
Guard, Purdue, Junior
19) San Antonio Spurs – Bol Bol
Center, Oregon, Freshman
20) Indiana Pacers – Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Guard, Virginia Tech, Sophomore
21) Oklahoma City Thunder – Cam Johnson
Small Forward, North Carolina, Senior
22) Boston Celtics – Tyler Herro
Guard, Kentucky, Freshman
23) Utah Jazz – Goga Bitadze
Power Forward/Center, Georgia (the country), 1999
24) Philadelphia 76ers – Bruno Fernando
Power Forward/Center, Maryland, Sophomore
25) Portland Trailblazers – Naz Reid
Power Forward/Center, LSU, Freshman
26) Cleveland Cavaliers (from Rockets) – Grant Williams
Power Forward, Tennessee, Junior
27) Brooklyn Nets (from Nuggets) – Mfiondu Kabengele
Power Forward/Center, Florida State, Sophomore
28) Golden State Warriors – Kevin Porter Jr.
Shooting Guard, USC, Freshman
29) San Antonio – Admiral Schofield
Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Tennessee, Senior
30) Milwaukee Bucks – Chuma Okeke
Power Forward, Auburn, Sophomore
