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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 are likely to 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, forwards and big men in this year’s draft.
Next up are Williamson and the class of forwards, which is dominated at the top of the class by the ACC.
Zion Williamson, Duke
What can I say about Williamson that hasn’t already been said? The soon-to-be 19-year-old has the makings of a generational talent, with the all-around skill set to quickly become one of the league’s biggest stars. While he arrived at Duke with an established following (Williamson had over 1 million followers on Instagram out of high school), his sensational freshman campaign quickly made him college basketball’s biggest star and easily solidified his spot as the top player in this year’s draft.
USA TODAY Images The 6-foot-7, 285-pound forward will immediately enter the NBA as one of the league’s biggest players. With some polishing of his game, it shouldn’t take long for Williamson to bring the Pelicans, who own the top pick and are widely expected to take him, back into relevancy.
RJ Barrett, Duke
Knicks fans may still be bitter about losing out on the Zion sweepstakes, but New York will still get a very talented forward if they end up using the No. 3 pick on Barrett. Playing in Williamson’s shadow at Duke, Barrett put together a strong freshman campaign himself. The 6-foot-7, 202-pound forward from Toronto averaged 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for the Blue Devils, and helped carry the load when Williamson missed a few weeks due to injury.
As good as he was this past season, Barrett still has some glaring holes in his game that need work. Despite shooting 45.4% from the field, the forward struggled from the 3-point line (30.8%) and the free-throw line (66.5%). Barrett also showed a tendency at Duke of forcing contested shots, along with a seeming discomfort of using his off hand. But known for his great work ethic, Barrett can easily work on these aspects and become an All-Star caliber player at the next level.
He may not be quite as talented as his Duke teammate, but Barrett should have little trouble acclimating to the NBA’s style of play. Give it a year or two, Knicks fans, and you will be very happy with this young man.
De’Andre Hunter, Virginia
Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Images Hunter shot an impressive 52% from the field last season, but it was his shot from long range that really helped him stand out. After shooting 38.2% from the 3-point line in his freshman season, Hunter saw his production from outside improve to a strong 43.8%, making him a reliable spot-up shooter. In addition to his shooting, Hunter excels on the defensive end of the court, which gives him the potential to become a successful 3-and-D wing in the NBA.
Hunter is by no means a flashy player. If he works on his explosiveness and can establish a quicker first step, he will make whatever team drafts him very happy they did.
Cam Reddish, Duke
Next up is the often-overlooked freshman out of Duke. There is no denying that Reddish is possibly the most polarizing prospect in this entire draft class. The 19-year-old showed flashes of brilliance during his one season in Durham, finishing with 22 or more points in eight of his 36 games. However, the young forward also had as many games with seven points or less this season. That sort of inconsistency is why Reddish, once considered a top-three pick, now finds himself toward the bottom of the top 10.
Reddish averaged 13.5 points this season but did not shoot the ball well at all. The 6-foot-8, 208-pound forward finished the year shooting 35.6% from the field and 33.3% from deep, hardly the numbers you want to see out of a prospect with such a high ceiling. His lack of production can partly be attributed to playing third fiddle on a talented Duke team, but Reddish will need to put in significant work in order to reach his true potential.
One thing going for Reddish is his long wingspan (7 feet) which should help him on defense. Reddish will need to land with an organization with great player development to make it long-term in the NBA.
Sekou Doumbouya, France
Likely to be the first international player selected, Doumbouya is a bit of an unknown after playing just one season for Limoges CSP in France. The versatile forward is a completely unpolished prospect, having just turned 18 in late December. While his numbers last season were far from great (6.7 points, 3.0 rebounds in 19 minutes per game), Doumbouya has the physical tools to become an absolute force in the NBA.
Standing in at 6 feet 9 inches and 230 pounds, Doumbouya is a physical specimen with tremendous athleticism. He doesn’t have the strongest fundamentals on the defensive end of the court, but his combination of strength, long arms and mobility should allow him to defend multiple positions in the NBA. It was a small sample size, but Doumbouya did shoot 32.2% from the 3-point line last season, showing that he has the potential to become a reliable shooter from long range.
Doumbouya is one of my favorite players in this draft class. He certainly needs to keep developing his skill set, which is obviously expected for any 18-year-old. If he can do this, Doumbouya could end up being one of the biggest steals of the draft.
Nassir Little, UNC
While he didn’t have the most impressive season at UNC, Little gets the final spot on this list due to versatility and upside. The 19-year-old was one of the most sought-out recruits in the country last year because of his big, physical frame and athleticism. Little measures in at 6 feet 6 inches and 224 pounds, but has a wingspan of 7-foot-1. That sort of length makes him a force on defense, especially when bodying up bigs and larger wings.
Little averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in just 18.2 minutes per game for the Tar Heels, while shooting a solid 47.8% from the field. He needs to work on his outside shooting, as he shot the 3 ball at a poor 26.9% last season. If he can develop this aspect of his game, which many scouts believe he can, then Little could become the league’s next talented 3-and-D forward.
Little was undeniably a disappointment during his short tenure at North Carolina, but that doesn’t mean the same fate awaits him in the pros. With some improvements on the offensive end of the court, to pair with his high defensive upside, Little could enjoy a long NBA career.
Just missed the cut: Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga; PJ Washington, Kentucky; Cameron Johnson, UNC; Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga; Grant Williams, Tennessee