As expected, the projected top 3 draft picks of this year’s NBA Draft went as planned.
Young phenom and high-flying forward Zion Williamson from Duke was formally selected by the lottery winner New Orleans Pelicans who started their roster reboot by trading the want-away star Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three other draft picks.
Selected number 2 in the order by another rebuilding team Memphis Grizzlies was Murray State’s wonder point guard Ja Morrant. This is after they dealt long time franchise player Mike Conley to the Utah Jazz for three players (Kyle Korver, Grayson Allen and Jae Crowder plus two other draft picks). They will be refreshing their franchise with youth and athleticism.
Going number 3 is Williamson’s Duke teammate and best friend RJ Barrett who is poised to join the New York Knicks to give them some long term satisfaction and could possibly the pillar to catapult the team back to playoff contention in the Eastern Conference.
Here is the order of 2019 NBA Draft First Round:
- New Orleans Pelicans – Zion Williamson (Duke)
- Memphis Grizzlies – Ja Morant (Murray State)
- New York Knicks – RJ Barrett (Duke)
- Los Angeles Lakers (Traded to Atlanta Hawks Via New Orleans Pelicans) – De’Andre Hunter (Virginia)
- Cleveland Cavaliers – Darius Garland (Vanderbilt)
- Phoenix Suns (Traded to Minnesota Timberwolves) – Jarrett Culver (Tecas Tech)
- Chicago Bulls – Coby White (North Carolina)
- Atlanta Hawks (Traded to New Orleans Pelicans) – Jaxson Hayes (Texas)
- Washington Wizards – Rui Hachimura (Gonzaga)
- Atlanta Hawks – Cam Reddish (Duke)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (Traded to Phoenix Suns) – Cameron Johnson (North Carolina)
- Charlotte Hornets – PJ Washington (Kentucky)
- Miami Heat – Tyler Herro (Kentucky)
- Boston Celtics – Romeo Langford (Indiana)
- Detroit Pistons – Sekou Doumbouya (Guinea)
- Orlando Magic – Chuma Okeke (Auburn)
- Brooklyn Nets (Traded to Pelicans Via Hawks) – Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Virginia Tech)
- Indiana Pacers – Goga Bitadze (Georgia)
- San Antonio Spurs – Luka Samanic (Croatia)
- Boston Celtics – Matisse Thybulle (Washington)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (Traded to Memphis Grizzlies) – Brandon Clarke (Gonzaga)
- Boston Celtics – Grant Williams (Tennessee)
- Utah Jazz (Traded to Oklahoma City Thunder) – Darius Bazley (United States)
- Philadelphia 76ers (Traded to Phoenix Suns Via Boston Celtics) – Ty Jerome (Virginia)
- Portland Trailblazers – Nassir Little (North Carolina)
- Cleveland Cavaliers – Dylan Windler (Belmont)
- Brooklyn Nets – Mfiondu Kabengele (Florida State)
- Golden State Warriors – Jordan Poole (Michigan)
- San Antonio Spurs – Keldon Johnson (Kentucky)
- Milwaukee Bucks (Traded to Cleveland Cavaliers via Detroit Pistons) – Kevin Porter Jr. (USC)
