With the 2019 NBA Draft Combine now over, ESPN’s Mike Schmitz and Kevin Pelton discuss the 2019 NBA Draft prospects whose stock rose or fell over the weekend, beginning with Croatian forward Luka Samanic, whose performance in his first game at the combine was good enough for him to shut himself down and put his name squarely within the first-round conversation.
The other players who impressed scouts and improved their stock include Florida State’s Terance Mann, Georgia’s Nicolas Claxton, Nebraska’s Isaiah Roby, and LSU’s Tremont Waters. Pelton was particularly impressed by Waters’ ability to knock down the NBA-three-pointer from off the dribble, an important skill in today’s NBA for a point guard.
As for those prospects who may have lowered their value, the list begins with two very productive All-American college big men – Tennessee’s Grant Williams and Kansas’ Dedric Lawson. Per the ESPN scribes, both may have put too much emphasis on their developing outside games during 5-on-5 action.
Additionally, Western Kentucky big man Charles Bassey and Utah State big man Neemias Queta both underwhelmed, with Schmitz saying both need improvement in different areas of the game (e.g. skill, fluidity, motor) before being ready to contribute at the NBA level.
There’s more from the lead-up to this year’s NBA Draft this afternoon:
- If the Wizards are interested in a high risk-high reward option with the No. 9 overall selection, Oregon’s Bol Bol may be an intriguing pick, writes Ben Standig of NBC Sports Washington.
- Despite struggling at the combine, Grant Williams does not regret playing in the 5-on-5 sessions, telling Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer that he’s “not just trying to show I can shoot, I’m showing I can defend… Be out there and be that guy who was there to win, and cheering on his teammates… I know that defensively I could have been a little better contesting shots. Being analytical — like I normally am — I play different guys certain ways, and that bit me a little bit.” Williams was dinged a bit for only measuring in at 6’6” and potentially being caught up in the “tweener” label.
- The Celtics have three first-round picks, and while they may not end up keeping all of them, one prospect to keep an eye on for one of their selections is Kentucky guard Tyler Herro. Herro spoke with Boston brass at the combine and said they will be among the handful of teams he will workout for leading up to the draft, per A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston.
- LSU freshman guard Javonte Smart is withdrawing his name from the 2019 NBA Draft and returning for his sophomore season in Baton Rouge, tweets Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
At #9 Bol Bol will be a real steal!!!
People said that about Porter at 14 too. Just cause he is hurt does not mean he will turn into Joel Embiid. It is super risky to use a top 10 pick on an injured player. Especially for Washington, when you already have a big portion of your salary cap going to a player not likely to play next season. They need someone that can step in and play immediately. Otherwise they are going to have Beal and a bunch of vet minimum guys trying to compete. And Washington’s owner has been adamant about not tanking.
I was thinking of MPJ too. He is another steal in the draft, a potential #1 picked at #14. When the season starts all will see he was one of the biggest steals ever in the draft.
Seriously about Grant Williams? A lot of teams are putting smaller 4s out there. GW is a guy you want hanging around the lane taking advantage. I was going to say sniffing around the paint for the ball.
Speaking of hilarity, I know it’s just semantics, but Dallas should take that Luka Semanic. That would make them bilukal.
That’s a really bad dad joke dude… I’d be lying if I said I didn’t stifle a titter.
Not even a joke, more like Loopy Semanics.
Actually I like the name and will be hunting youtube to see what the fuss is about. Terance Mann had a fine game in the tournament. Waters can operate very fast while upright on the dribble but he seemed kind of scattered to me.