The 2023 Draft The 2019 NBA Draft is considered to be a clear top-three pick, namely Zion Williamson, Morant, and R.J. Barrett. However, as time went on, we found that this draft was not that simple, with some players performing above expectations and others underperforming.
What would happen if we were to re-evaluate it now?
Original selection: Cam Reddish Eagles.
Poole's original draft pick: 28th pick (Warriors).
Poole's start with the Wizards wasn't ideal, but he spent several big seasons with the Warriors and played an integral role in the 2022 Golden State Warriors' championship win. As a shooting guard, Poole is known for his excellent range and athleticism, his ability to shoot from any position, while also having the ability to break through and pass.
However, Poole has deficiencies in defense and consistency. He is often challenged defensively by opponents and his ability to help defend needs to be improved. In addition, his shot selection is sometimes questionable and his turnover count is relatively high. In order to reach his full offensive potential, Poole will need to work on improving his defensive and decision-making abilities.
Original Choice: Hachimura Wizards.
White's original draft pick: 7th pick (Bulls).
White is finally in his peak season in his fifth season, averaging 173 points and 47 assists. His accurate three-point shooting is remarkable, and he has shot 42 percent from three-point range this season6%。In addition, he has significantly improved his decision-making skills and learned how to better control his blistering speed. White averaged 14 points per game in his career5 points, 37 three-point shooting8%, and his passing ability is also quite good, averaging 3 assists per game9 times.
While White's 6-foot-5 arm span can sometimes be risky on the defensive end, his defensive performance is still commendable. As the core of the Bulls' defense, he can often be found in key positions in the help defense. White has shown the potential of an All-Star player, and if he can improve further in terms of defense and consistency, he could be an even more outstanding player.
Original pick: Jaxson Hayes Pelicans.
Dort's original draft pick: Draft-out.
Dort's performance on the defensive end has long since outgrown the good and he has become an outstanding elite defender. His combination of strength, speed, agility and a strong defensive will allows him to take on some of the league's top scorers, with Damian Lillard even hailing him as one of the best defenders in the NBA.
However, for Dort, the main problem he faced was how to improve his shooting ability on the offensive end to avoid becoming a burden on the team in the offense. Although his shooting ability has developed slowly, he has shot nearly 40 percent from three-point range this season. If he can continue to improve his shooting ability, then he will become the 3-and-D player that every team can only dream of.
Original selection: Kobe White Bulls.
Cameron Johnson's original draft pick: 11th pick (Timberwolves).
Cameron Johnson successfully signed a four-year, $94.5 million contract in the offseason. The contract was made possible solely by his all-round skill set, which allows him to make an impact on any team.
Cameron Johnson is a nimble three-point shooter who has shot 39 percent from the field so far in his career2%。At the same time, he is 6'8" tall and displays excellent positional sense and instinct on the defensive end. This quintessential 3-and-D starting striker has always been highly sought after, and Johnson is the best of these forwards.
Johnson's downside is his limited creativity and attacking variety, and he is rarely able to create attacking chances on his own, relying instead on passing from his teammates. His athleticism isn't particularly outstanding either, and his performance under the basket isn't too outstanding. He needs to improve his ball handling and breakthrough ability to increase his threat.
Original selection: Jarrett Culver of the Timberwolves.
Barrett's original draft pick: 3rd pick (Knicks).
Although Barrett's evaluation has never been particularly prominent, he has a unique advantage on the field as a tall player. When the game is favorable, he is able to defend from beyond the three-point line and defend multiple positions. There's no denying that Barrett has the best potential of any rookie in the class.
Over the course of his career, Barrett averaged 181 point, 34 three-point shooting3%。At the same time, his rebounding and assist ability is also quite good, averaging 54 rebounds and 28 assists.
However, Barrett leaves much to be desired in terms of efficiency and consistency. He shot just 41 percent from the field in his career6%, and the free throw percentage is only 709%。In addition, his choices and decisions in the game are sometimes incomprehensible, and he has a relatively high number of turnovers, averaging 2 turnovers per game1 time. In order to make the most of his talents, Barrett needs to further improve his skill and basketball IQ.
Original selection: Darius Garland Knight.
Claxton's original draft pick: 31st pick (Nets).
Although Claxton is yet to be on the All-Defensive Team, he has shown potential in that area, and he even received some votes last year. He's tall and well-rounded, and he's excellent at perimeter defense and basket protection.
So far in his career, he has averaged 18 blocks, a statistic that leads the league. At the same time, his defensive efficiency is also quite high, conceding just 103 points per 100 possessions in his career7 points, well below the league average.
On the offensive end, Claxton has been relatively limited. He barely attempts a jump shot, but he's a powerful under-the-basket attacker and offensive rebounder who can contribute consistent scoring to the team. He is considered one of the league's leading starting centers and is able to provide consistent interior support to any team.
Original selection: Deandre Hunter Eagles.
Herro's original draft pick: 13th pick (Heat).
Herro has his shortcomings, especially on the defensive end, but he is a gifted scorer and an excellent shooter. In his third season, he was named Sixth Man of the Year, after which he transitioned to a starting role with the Heat. He averaged 16 points per game in his career1 point, including 37 three-point shooting5%。He also has good ball control and passing ability, averaging 4 assists per game in his career2 times.
Please don't misunderstand Hiro just because he often appears in trade rumors. In fact, many teams would benefit from having Herro, whether he is a starter or a substitute. He's an All-Star with potential, and if he can improve his defense and consistency, he'll be even better.
Original pick: R.J. Barrett Knicks.
Garland's original draft pick: No. 5 (Cavaliers).
In that year's draft, Garland was seen as a high-risk option because he played only five games at Vanderbilt University. However, he put on an impressive performance in this short period of time, finishing at 47It is no coincidence that he made 23 three-pointers on 8 percent shooting.
Garland is shooting 38 career three-pointers4%, which was a highlight of his career. But more importantly, he's capable of much more than that. He averaged 6 assists per game in his career7 times, showing much better strength than is widely believed. He has excellent vision of the pitch and exceptional ability to patiently keep the ball and wait for the best attacking opportunity.
While Garland isn't all-around defensively, his efforts can't be ignored. He's already earned an All-Star appearance and is expected to add more accolades and accomplishments in the future.
Morant's original draft pick: No. 2 pick (Grizzlies).
Morant is a natural leader and playmaker who can lead the Grizzlies to a great record. He quickly rose to prominence in his first season and won the Rookie of the Year award. Then, in the 2021-22 season, he was named to the All-Star Team and NBA All-NBA Team for the first time, and won the Most Improved Player Award
Morant's speed and athleticism make him nearly unstoppable to defend, and he's one of the most exciting players we've seen in a long time. Not only is he able to break through and make layups with ease, but he can also shoot amazing three-pointers and even pull off some amazing dunks. He is also very good at passing, averaging 7. assists per game in his career4 times, ranked at the top of the league. His defense has also improved, and while his size is not dominant, his awareness and effort are commendable.
Concerns about Morant are coming from off the court. He has twice been banned from the league for 25 games due to the uproar caused by gun incidents, and we hope he can get back on track because he has the potential to be one of the faces of the NBA.
Zion's original draft pick: No. 1 (Pelicans).
There is no suspense in this selection, and Zion remains the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. While his career has been plagued by injuries that have resulted in limited playing time, his performances on the field have been impressive. He's a super scoring machine averaging 25 per game in his career3 points, leading the rookies of the same class with an absolute advantage.
Zion is also very efficient at scoring, shooting 60 percent from the field in his career8%, including 32 three-point shooting6%。Not only can he break strongly, but he can also make flexible jump shots, and even show some ball control and passing ability. His rebounding ability should not be underestimated, averaging 6 career rebounds per game8, second only to Nick Claxton.
Of course, Chain isn't perfect, and his defense, fitness, and shooting consistency all need to be improved. His injury problems are also a huge concern that could affect his professional longevity and development space.
However, we cannot ignore his immense potential and talent because of these problems. He's only 23 years old and still has a lot of time to learn and improve. He's proven himself to be one of the most dominant players in the league, and if he can stay fit and fit, he'll become a legend.