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
- New Orleans Pelicans – Zion Williamson
- Memphis Grizzlies – Ja Morant
- New York Knicks – RJ Barrett
- Los Angeles Lakers – Jarrett Culver
- Cleveland Cavaliers – DeAndre Hunter
- Phoenix Suns – Coby White
- Chicago Bulls – Cam Reddish
- Atlanta Hawks – Sekou Doumbouya
- Washington Wizards – Bol Bol
- Atlanta Hawks – Jaxson Hayes
- Minnesota Timberwolves – Nickeil Alexander-Walker
- Charlotte Hornets – Darius Garland
- Miami Heat – PJ Washington
- Boston Celtics – Brandon Clarke
- Detroit Pistons – Rui Hachimura
- Orlando Magic – Goga Bitazde
- Atlanta Hawks (via trade with Brooklyn) – Nassir Little
- Indiana Pacers – Bruno Fernando
- San Antonio Spurs – Cam Johnson
- Boston Celtics – Talen Horton-Tucker
- OKC Thunder – Tyler Herro
- Boston Celtics – Romeo Langford
- Utah Jazz – Matisse Thybulle
- Philadelphia 76ers – Kevin Porter Jr.
- Portland Trail Blazers – Grant Williams
- 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:
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).