With the 27th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks select…

Blue Route is bringing you draft coverage leading up to the NBA draft on June 20th, 2019. The Philadelphia 76ers are slated to select 24th pick in the draft. The NBA draft often sees movement, trades and drama, so to prepare you for various potential outcomes, the Blue Route will be giving you draft profiles for the all of the likely top picks, as well as our very own mock draft.

2019 NBA Mock Draft Results
  1. New Orleans Pelicans – Zion Williamson
  2. Memphis Grizzlies – Ja Morant
  3. New York Knicks – RJ Barrett
  4. Los Angeles Lakers – Jarrett Culver
  5. Cleveland Cavaliers – DeAndre Hunter
  6. Phoenix Suns – Coby White
  7. Chicago Bulls – Cam Reddish
  8. Atlanta Hawks – Sekou Doumbouya
  9. Washington Wizards – Bol Bol 
  10. Atlanta Hawks – Jaxson Hayes 
  11. Minnesota Timberwolves – Nickeil Alexander-Walker
  12. Charlotte Hornets – Darius Garland
  13. Miami Heat – PJ Washington
  14. Boston Celtics – Brandon Clarke
  15. Detroit Pistons – Rui Hachimura
  16. Orlando Magic – Goga Bitazde
  17. Atlanta Hawks (via trade with Brooklyn) – Nassir Little
  18. Indiana Pacers – Bruno Fernando
  19. San Antonio Spurs – Cam Johnson
  20. Boston Celtics – Talen Horton-Tucker
  21. OKC Thunder – Tyler Herro
  22. Boston Celtics – Romeo Langford
  23. Utah Jazz – Matisse Thybulle
  24. Philadelphia 76ers – Kevin Porter Jr.
  25. Portland Trail Blazers – Grant Williams
  26. Cleveland Cavaliers – Dylan Windler

Current State of the Nets

Fresh off an opening round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, I had to answer this question:

Are the Nets 1 or 2 pieces away from going deeper into the postseason?

Prior to the draft, Brooklyn traded Allen Crabbe, the 2019 17th pick, and 2020 lottery-protected pick to the Hawks for Taurean Prince and a 2021 second round pick. That’s one piece, but this guard-heavy team needs some size up front to pair with Prince.

The Selection – SF Keldon Johnson

Sadly, I predict the Nets will pick the best available talent instead of filling a need. There is just a large drop off from the top of the draft to the second tier, I don’t see Brooklyn trying to force a draft pick. However, Keldon Johnson is available at 27. This selection allows the Nets to move Hollis-Jefferson into a starting role, and Keldon will bring some much needed energy off the bench.

Keldon also brings a winner’s mentality from his time at Oak Hill Academy and Kentucky, which is important if the Nets want to move past the first round of the playoffs.

Just look at him flying around from this hype video:

One of Calipari’s guys!

Buyer Beware

Brooklyn should be concerned over his size for the next few years. Johnson will not be rookie of the year, he may not even turn into a starter in 5 years, but I could see him being a role player for the Nets right out the gate. If Keldon adds muscle to his frame over the next couple of years, I could see Johnson’s per 48 average being close to what we saw him average in college (13.5 PTS / 6 REB).

At the end of the day this pick is meant to be a low risk move for the Nets as they attempt to woo Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. But Johnson brings in that winning mentality and scoring punch, so this could turn into a high reward pick to pair with Brooklyn’s future superstar(s).

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