The NBA Draft is always one of my favorite things to watch in the NBA. Even though it is no action or game being played, I love the thought and curiosity where the top college basketball players and top overseas players will go in the NBA. Every year I also enjoy figuring out who the Celtics will take in the draft. I would probably say the NBA teams got the guy they wanted in the draft on their team, but some teams got players who they didn’t think they would be available when it came to their selections.

I think that there is a lot of good young talent in the draft, even the players in the second round, but my favorite player in the draft is Zion Williamson. Some personally think that Zion is an overhyped player in the draft, but this guy can actually play. Zion can seriously be a dangerous player in the post, he is one of the strongest guys in the NBA. He is a guy who is crazy athletic for his size, can get up and down the floor, and a guy who can finish at the rim. I think that Zion can have a bright career in the NBA. Which leads me to one of the first teams that won the draft.

Winners: New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans definitely won this draft, Zion Williamson will be a huge franchise player and a guy you will look to build around. The Pelicans were suppose to have the 4th pick of the draft, but they traded away the 4th pick, the 57th pick, a future second round pick, and Solomon Hill in exchange for the 8th, 17th, and 35th pick. The Pelicans ended up drafting Texas center Jaxson Hayes, Virginia Tech shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Brazilian forward Marcos Louzada Silva. I think the trade with the Hawks was a brilliant trade as they turned that 4th pick to get three other draft picks in the draft.

Winners: Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks might’ve lost the trade with the Pelicans, but they are still one of the winners of the NBA Draft. Before the draft, they were trying to decide who take at the fourth pick between Virginia forward DeAndre Hunter or Duke forward Cam Reddish. They ended up taking Hunter at the 4th pick, but Cam Reddish fell all the way to the Hawks at the tenth pick. The Hawks got two good players in the draft who both had potential to be in the top five of the draft. That is a great steal as the Hawks are continuing to make this team back to playoff contenders.

Winners: Memphis Grizzles

The Grizzles I think added two players who can really help their team. They added the #2 pick in the draft, Murray State guard Ja Morant and Gonzaga forward Brandon Clarke at the 21st pick. Ja Morant was a pick that didn’t come up as a surprise for the Grizzles when they traded away veteran point guard Mike Conley. Ja Morant is a guy who can light it up on the floor as we saw last year in the NCAA Tournament, and Brandon Clarke will be a great role player of the bench as he was a big part of Gonzaga’s run in the tournament last year.

Who was the Losers of the Draft?

Losers: Washington Wizards

The Wizards were one of the losers of the draft this year. They had the 9th pick of the NBA Draft and they took Rui Hachimura from Gonzaga. I haven’t heard much about this player, but they passed on the chance on selecting Cam Reddish, Cameron Johnson, or Tyler Herro. People were saying that this guy shouldn’t have gone so high in the NBA, but they took a risk at taking him. I don’t see this guy helping turning the Wizards around, but we never know.

Losers: Boston Celtics

I hate to say this, but I think that the Celtics might’ve been one of the losers of the drafts. They took Romeo Langford, a guard from Indiana, who at first I had no idea who this guy was when I heard his name called. So I looked up this guy on Youtube, and he can actually be a good player. But besides him I didn’t really like the other picks they had. They selected Grant Williams from Tennessee who is a guy that shouldn’t have been drafted that high. They selected a good player in Ty Jerome from Virginia, but sent him and Aron Baynes to Phoenix. So I am not sure what to really think of this draft selections, but with some of these moves they are looking to free up more cap space this summer.

Who were the steals of the draft?

1. Bol Bol- Oregon center- who was drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Miami Heat (traded to the Denver Nuggets). He is a guy who was suppose to be a potential lottery pick somehow fell all the way to the second round. He is a 7 footer, a skilled big man, not very strong, but can have potential to be a decent player in the league when given the change.
2. Nassir Little- North Carolina forward- was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers with the 25th pick. Little was one of the top players at North Carolina and he was another player that could’ve been a lottery pick. He is a guy that will be a big key role with the Portland Trailblazers.
3. Kevin Porter Jr-USC forward- was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 30th pick. He is a guy who will get a lot of minutes for the Cavaliers next year who can be a good prolific scorer.

All in all, this was a great 2019 draft, lots of trades for draft picks, but the NBA teams I think got the players they wanted. As a Celtic fan, I still am shaking my head after their draft choices, but Danny Ainge has something up his sleeve that maybe could bring in a good free agent for a max contract. I am excited to see what this offseason will bring.

Last quick thing, unfortunately Maine native Nick Mayo from EKU did not get drafted tonight, but I am still hoping to see him play in the Summer League or joining a G League team in the future.

The Warriors blew a 3-1 lead, Go Celtics!

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