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This summer will be one of the biggest offseasons for the NBA in years.
Superstars such as Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and several others will be hitting the free agent market, and many of them will likely find new homes.
But before free agency begins, the 30 teams across the league will turn their attention toward the incoming rookie class.
The 2019 NBA draft may be headlined by former Duke star freshman Zion Williamson, but there are numerous young players in this draft class who could step right in and contribute almost immediately.
Leading up to June 20, I will be breaking down the top guards, wings and big men in this year’s draft.
First up are the guards.
Ja Morant, PG, Murray State
If it weren’t for Williamson’s presence in this draft class, Morant would be drawing a lot more buzz. The 6-foot-3 point guard put together a fantastic season at Murray State, averaging 24.5 points on a 49.9 shooting percentage, along with 10.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. Morant showcased his athleticism during his time with the Racers, using his explosiveness and great speed to cruise by defenders with relative ease.
Morant’s game does come with a few holes. While he shot nearly 50% from the field this past season, his jump shot could still use some work. However, the 19-year-old has shown enough to have scouts confident that his outside game can improve considerably if he makes a few necessary changes to his shooting mechanics. Pairing an improved shot with his superb shot-creation ability and his elite ball-handling skills would lead to a long, successful career in the NBA for Morant.
In most drafts, Morant would be the first player selected. With that honor belonging to Williamson this year, Morant will have to settle for hearing his name called second.
Darius Garland, PG, Vanderbilt
Garland made history last year as the highest-rated recruit to ever commit to Vanderbilt. Unfortunately for the Commodores, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound point guard was only able to suit up for five games before suffering a season-ending meniscus injury. Luckily for Garland, the injury did not affect his draft stock, as the score-first point guard is still expected to be a top-five pick in this month’s draft.
Garland thrives in the pick-and-roll, when his elusiveness allows him to create space to make plays. He has shown the ability to make shots everywhere on the court, shooting 53.7% from the field and 47.8% from the 3-point line in his limited action at Vanderbilt. He isn’t the best athlete, and considering his lean frame, he may run into some trouble on the defensive side of the court. However, his playmaking abilities far outweigh the downsides to his game, making Garland one of the top players in this year’s draft.
Jarrett Culver, SG, Texas Tech
While the first two players on this list thrive with the ball in their hands, Culver has made a name for himself for his all-around play. Listed at 6 feet 6 inches, 195 pounds, the former Red Raider has a high basketball IQ. He moves extremely well without the ball, filling in lanes on fast breaks, and has proven to have a nonstop motor. Culver’s game took a big step in his sophomore season, as the guard averaged 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 46.1% from the field.
Culver isn’t the best ball handler on this list. His turnovers increased from 1.5 per game as a freshman to 2.7 this past season, and he doesn’t show the same great first step as Morant or Garland. But his size and versatility give him an advantage as a defender, as he can defend multiple positions and showed a strong ability to successfully go for steals this season (averaged 1.5 steals per game).
Culver’s game is far from polished, but with the right development, the guard out of Texas Tech could become a future All-Star.
Coby White, PG, UNC
White put together an impressive freshman campaign for the Tar Heels this past season. Appearing in 35 games, the 6-foot-5, 190-pound point guard averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. More important than his stats, though, was White’s fearlessness on the court. White is likely one of the fastest players in this draft class, and the point guard uses his speed to blow by defenders with a quick first step. Additionally, White's ability to create space off the dribble, leading to open step-back jumpers, highlights his potential as both a scorer and a facilitator.
White’s speed and lateral quickness make him a complete defender who should have no trouble guarding opposing point guards at the next level. And while that elite agility led to plenty of open shots for the point guard on the offensive end of the court, White will certainly have to work on his shooting if he wants to succeed in the NBA. He could also stand to add some muscle to his lean frame.
There is a lot to like about the 19-year-old out of UNC. While his game does have some flaws, White has shown enough to solidify himself as a top-10 pick.
Romeo Langford, SG, Indiana
Langford did not have himself the best season at Indiana. While he averaged 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 34 minutes per game, the freshman’s shooting did not live up to the expectations that were set for him when he arrived in Bloomington. Langford shot 44.8% from the field but was only able to muster a shooting percentage of 27.2 from the 3-point line and 72.2% from the free-throw line. But even without a strong freshman campaign, Langford was able to show evaluators his upside as a natural scorer.
One of the things going for Langford is his defensive potential. At 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Langford shouldn’t have much difficulty switching on screens. His size and athleticism should allow him to defend multiple positions, but he will have to start showing more effort on that side of the court. Additionally, Langford will have to improve on his off-ball skills, as his spot-up game was not nearly as good as one would expect from the talented guard.
Langford was one of the top recruits out of high school last season. In the right environment and with the right coaching, the guard should be able to reach his full potential, something we did not see at Indiana.
Kevin Porter Jr., SG, USC
You can’t talk about players who were unable to fulfill their true potentials this past season and not mention Porter. The 19-year-old guard out of USC showed flashes of stardom with the Trojans but was not able to perform at a high level on a consistent basis. Porter averaged 9.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in only 22.1 minutes per game last season while shooting 47.1% from the field and 41.2% from long range. Measuring in at 6-foot-5, 213-pounds, Porter has a strong, physical frame that will benefit him in the NBA.
There is no denying that Porter's maturity, or lack thereof, is one of the biggest red flags surrounding his draft stock. He was suspended indefinitely in the middle of the USC’s season due to an undisclosed off-court reason. And while he shot well from deep, he struggled mightily at the free-throw line, shooting an abysmal 52.2% from the charity stripe.
Porter has a ton of holes in his game, but his upside as a scorer should be enough for a team to take a chance on him somewhere toward the end of the lottery.
Just missed the cut: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG, Virginia Tech; Tyler Herro, SG, Kentucky; Keldon Johnson, SG, Kentucky, Carsen Edwards, PG, Purdue