Live 2019 NBA Draft Grades: Round One - Picks 16-30

Written by David Kay - @david_kmiecik


Live 2019 NBA Draft Grades: Round 1 - Picks 1-15 | Grades for Round 2

2019 NBA Mock Draft | 2019 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's

16. Orlando Magic: Chuma Okeke, F, Auburn - F Grade
    Drafting a dude at 16 who suffered a torn ACL in the NCAA Tournament is aggressive. VERY aggressive since he may not even play in the 2019-20 season. It seems like there was much better value available here, as I had Okeke as an early second-round prospect.
    
    Follow @walterfootball for updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here!



17. New Orleans Pelicans: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG, Virginia Tech - B+ Grade
    I like NAW's versatility, as he can handle the rock or play off the ball. Bringing him off the bench behind Jrue Holliday and Lonzo Ball fits a need. New Orleans has done a nice job tonight, adding some talented young players who also fit needs to their brand new rebuilding effort.






18. Indiana Pacers: Goga Bitadze, C, Georgia - C+ Grade
    Love the value, not sure about the fit. Goga Bitadze could be a poor man's Nikola Jokic, but how he blends in a front court with Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis is the question. Still, the Georgia native is a skilled big man although not full of athleticism or explosiveness.



19. San Antonio Spurs: Luka Samanic, PF, Croatia - C- Grade
    A stretch four type with a good skillset at 6-11, Luka Samanic seems like a very Spurs pick. I had Saminic as a late first-/early second-round prospect, so this is a theme of recent picks that seem like stretches. However, his versatility as a front-court player could pay big dividends in a couple of years.



20. Philadelphia 76ers: Matisse Thybulle, SF, Washington - C Grade
    Boston is dealing this pick to Philly for 24 and 33. Thybulle will make his mark as a defensive-minded wing and could be a solid role player at the next level. The 76ers need wing options with Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris hitting the free agent market. They also had multiple second-round picks so it makes sense to move up; I just don't know if I love Thybulle this high.






21. Memphis Grizzlies: Brandon Clarke, PF, Gonzaga - B- Grade
    Memphis moves up two spots to take this pick from Oklahoma City. It's a solid value and fit as Clarke is an athletic, shot-blocking forward who could be a nice pairing next to Jaren Jackson Jr. Clarke needs to improve his offensive game, but at this point in the draft, getting a solid potential role player is a good get.



22. Boston Celtics: Grant Williams, PF, Tennessee - B+ Grade
    Marcus Morris' replacement? Morris is a free agent and Williams has a similar game with his physicality down low and ability to step out and knock down jumpers. He is a bit undersized at 6-7, but I think he will carve out a nice role for Brad Stevens in Boston.



23. Oklahoma City Thunder: Darius Bazley, SF, USA - C+ Grade
    Bazley was a late draft riser and Oklahoma City has a need for frontcourt depth. The former Syracuse commit chose to skip playing a year of college ball and instead get ready for the draft. He has good size and athleticism and time will tell if he can fit into the Thunder's frontcourt rotation.






24. Phoenix Suns: Ty Jerome, PG, Virginia - B Grade
    The Suns need a point guard, and Jerome does a lot of things on both ends of the floor that can help a team win games. He can run the point or play off the ball and could develop into a really solid bench piece in the desert.



25. Portland Trail Blazers: Nassir Little, SF, North Carolina - A Grade
    A lottery talent, Little is one of the big droppers in the draft, meaning Portland gets a great value pick here. Little is an athletic, aggressive wing and could develop into a nice piece next to Damian (drop a diss track on Marvin Bagley) Lillard and C.J. McCollum.






26. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Houston): Dylan Windler, SF, Belmont - B- Grade
    Cleveland needs depth and shooters on the wing, and Windler fits the bill. This is a safe pick versus going for a younger guy with a higher ceiling like Keldon Johnson or Kevin Porter Jr.



27. Los Angeles Clippers: Mfiondu Kabengele, C, Florida State - A+++++ Grade
    Likely in an attempt to save cap room, Brooklyn trades out of the first round as the Clippers move up to grab Kabengele. This is one of my favorite picks of the first round, as I had Kabengele as a lottery talent. He posted great numbers in fairly limited minutes at Florida State and can really become a solid energy big man/role player for a Clipper team that needs depth inside.






28. Golden State Warriors: Jordan Poole, SG, Michigan - D Grade
    I think Poole has a nice all-around game for a guard but dang, this is a reach. Some of these first-round picks are a bit bonkers. The Warriors need perimeter options with Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant free agents/likely to miss next season due to injury, but this is another situation where there are better prospects available.



29. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto): Keldon Johnson, SF, Kentucky - A+ Grade
    Johnson was targeted as a late lottery/late teens guy and falls all the way to No. 29, meaning the Spurs might get another late first-round steal. Johnson can impact the game on both ends and has plenty of potential to be a solid role player in the league.



30. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kevin Porter Jr., SG, USC - A Grade
    A lot of talent and athleticism in Kevin Porter Jr., but there have also been questions about his character. I love Cleveland rolling the dice and acquiring this pick in hopes his talent outweighs the question marks. Cleveland needed to add skill and depth on the wing, and found a playmaker in Garland at No. 5, a shooter at No. 26 in Windler and a freak athlete here at No. 30. I like their draft a lot more after this selection.



Go to Live 2019 NBA Draft Grades: Round 2

Back to Live 2019 NBA Draft Grades: Round 1 - Picks 1-15

Go to 2019 NBA Mock Draft
2019 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's

NFL Picks - Dec. 5


2021 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 2


2022 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 15


NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 14


Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 9


2020 College Football Recruiting Rankings - April 14


2020 NBA Mock Draft - Sept. 27

---

WalterFootball.com is part of the NESN digital network.