Predicting all 30 picks in the first round
With Thursday’s NBA draft creeping up, it’s time to take one last look at the field of players and predict the first round — which, after picks 1-3, could get interesting.
A significant change to the draft order happened over the weekend, when the Lakers agreed to send players and picks — including this year’s No. 4 overall selection — to New Orleans for Anthony Davis.
With the first and fourth picks, the Pelicans are in prime position to set themselves up for the future with two potential franchise cornerstones.
Here’s how we see the entire first round playing out.
1. New Orleans: Zion Williamson • Duke • Freshman • Forward • 6-7 • 285
2. Memphis: Ja Morant • Murray State • Sophomore • Guard • 6-3 • 175
3. New York: R.J. Barrett • Duke • Freshman • Forward • 6-7 • 202
4. New Orleans: Jarrett Culver • Texas Tech • Sophomore • Guard • 6-7 • 194
5. Cleveland: De’Andre Hunter • Virginia • Sophomore • Forward • 6-7 • 225
6. Phoenix: Darius Garland • Vanderbilt • Freshman • Guard • 6-2 • 175
7. Chicago: Coby White • North Carolina • Freshman • Guard • 6-5 • 191
8. Atlanta: Cam Reddish • Duke • Freshman • Forward • 6-8 • 208
9. Washington: Sekou Doumbouya •
Guinea • Forward • 6-9 • 210
10. Atlanta: Jaxson Hayes • Texas • Freshman • Center • 7-0 • 219
11. Minnesota: Brandon Clarke • Gonzaga • Junior • Forward • 6-8 • 207
12. Charlotte: Rui Hachimura • Gonzaga • Junior • Forward • 6-8 • 230
13. Miami: Nassir Little • North Carolina • Freshman • Forward • 6-6 • 224
14. Boston: Tyler Herro • Kentucky • Freshman • Guard • 6-6 • 192
15. Detroit: Romeo Langford • Indiana • Freshman • Guard • 6-6 • 215
16. Orlando: Nickeil Alexander-Walker • Virginia Tech • Sophomore • Guard
• 6-6 • 204
17. Atlanta: P.J. Washington • Kentucky • Sophomore • Forward • 6-8 • 230
18. Indiana: Keldon Johnson • Kentucky • Freshman • Guard • 6-6 • 216
19. San Antonio: Goga Bitadze • Georgia (country) • Center • 6-11 • 250
20. Boston: Kevin Porter Jr. • Southern California • Freshman • Guard • 6-6
• 213
21. Oklahoma City: Bol Bol • Oregon
• Freshman • Center • 7-3 • 208
22. Boston: Mfiondu Kabengele • Florida State • Sophomore • Forward • 6-10 • 256
23. Memphis: Cam Johnson • North Carolina • Graduate student • Forward • 6-9 • 205
24. Philadelphia: Nic Claxton • Georgia • Sophomore • Center • 7-0 • 217
25. Portland: Grant Williams • Tennessee • Junior • Forward • 6-8 • 240
26. Cleveland: Ty Jerome • Virginia • Junior • Guard • 6-6 • 194
27. Brooklyn: Luka Samanic • Croatia • Forward • 6-11 • 227
28. Golden State: Matisse Thybulle • Washington • Senior • Guard • 6-5 • 200
29. San Antonio: Dylan Windler • Belmont • Senior • Forward • 6-8 • 196
30. Milwaukee: Talen Horton-Tucker • Iowa State • Freshman • Guard • 6-4
• 235