NBA Draft 2019: Looking at the top 10 picks from the class of 2019

The most important event of the NBA offseason took place earlier today as franchises took their respective punts on the best talents from college basketball. Still the best source of recruitment, NBA Draft 2019 boasted of several big names including the biggest prospect since LeBron James in Zion Williamson.

With free agency and the trade window also looming large, tonight's draft had major implications as to how rosters would shape up going into the 2019-20 NBA season. Thankfully enough, there weren't any shockers, at least as far as the top 10 are concerned.

Without further ado, let us have a look at the top 10 picks from NBA Draft 2019.

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Pick #1 New Orleans Pelicans - Zion Williamson (PF, Duke)

We all knew it was going to happen. The 2019 NBA Draft Lottery was unofficially known as the 'Zion Williamson Sweepstakes' for a reason. We all knew who the Pelicans were going to draft once they were handed the number one overall pick. The power forward from Duke is all set to become the face of New Orleans Basketball.

What can we say about Zion Williamson that hasn't been said already? Just like RJ Barrett described when asked at the beginning of the draft, if you had to sum up Zion's game in one word, it's "complete".

Scoring, defending, strength, athleticism, he's got the entire package. You certainly don't want to be on the receiving end when Zion decides to get to the rim. While free throw shooting could be the only area where he needs to improve, Zion has got a good shot from downtown and the rest of the court from inside the arc. The Naismith Award winner's hustle lets him get steals and blocks whereas his athletic ability lets him explode almost at will.

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Pick #2 Memphis Grizzlies - Ja Morant (PG, Murray State)

Ja Morant is all set to become the franchise point guard for Memphis

With rumors afloat that the Grizzlies were looking to move on from the then franchise point guard Mike Conley, the NBA Draft Lottery results only added fuel to the fire. Memphis had the 2nd overall pick and the chance to pick Ja Morant, the best point guard in the 2019 draft class. That is exactly what they did today when they drafted the Murray State sophomore.

Already an elite passer, Morant was the assists leader during the 2018-19 season, averaging 10 assists a game. However, what stands out about Morant is his sheer athleticism and his ability to explode out of nothing. The fact that he also posted huge turnover numbers begs the obvious Russell Westbrook comparison.

Pick #3 New York Knicks - RJ Barrett (SG/SF, Duke)

RJ Barrett is all set to put the Knicks on the map yet again

With reports suggesting that Darius Garland and Coby White both had private workouts with the Knicks, fans were left sweating about yet another questionable selection from Scott Perry and Co. However, Knicks fans breathed a sigh of relief as their franchise sprung no surprises and drafted the best available player on the draft in the form of RJ Barrett.

Boasting of probably the best transition game in the NCAA last season, Barrett led the ACC in scoring despite having a certain Zion Williamson by his side. While definitely not the most elite shooter from beyond the arc, the Canadian has great offensive awareness given his ability to pick out a pass or snag an offensive board.

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Pick #4 Los Angeles Lakers (to be sent to Hawks) - De'Andre Hunter (SF, Virginia)

De'Andre Hunter will bring much needed defensive flair to Atlanta

The Pelicans acquired the Lakers' first-round pick in the Anthony Davis trade and were reportedly looking to offload the same. When the Atlanta Hawks traded for the fourth overall pick in this year's draft, they had only one player in mind. They drafted that player today, in the form of De'Andre Hunter.

The best defender in the entire draft class, Hunter was the 2019 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Shooting at a brilliant 44% clip from downtown, Hunter is the typical 3-and-D guy that franchises yearn for in the modern NBA. The Hawks were definitely left scratching their heads defensively last season. Expect the Virginia sophomore to add much value there.

Pick #5 Cleveland Cavaliers - Darius Garland (PG, Vanderbilt)

Darius Garland would help the Cavaliers solve their scoring problems

Ranking second last in the league in scoring and third last in field goal efficiency last season, the biggest problem that the Cavaliers needed to solve was scoring. They only had one person in mind as to who they wanted to draft with the fifth overall pick and that was Vandy guard Darius Garland.

Garland will bring much-needed offensive flair to Cleveland. He converted an elite 47.8% of his 4.6 attempts from downtown during the 2018-19 season. Having brilliant handles, he is a brilliant scorer off the dribble as well. However, Garland is seriously lean and could get easily bullied by big men whenever trying to get inside the paint.

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Pick #6 Phoenix Suns (to be sent to Timberwolves) - Jarrett Culver (SG, Texas Tech)

Jarrett Culver is yet another athletic guard to join the league

It was reported earlier that the Minnesota Timberwolves were looking to move the pick acquired from Phoenix in a trade that saw Dario Saric and their 11th overall pick move in the other direction. Since they didn't manage to do the same, they ended up picking the best player available on the board in the form of Texas Tech sophomore Jarrett Culver with the sixth overall pick.

The 2019 Big 12 Player of the Year was undoubtedly the go-to man for Texas Tech whenever they needed offensive production. That he managed to score at nearly 46% accuracy from the field definitely helped his cause there. Boasting sheer athleticism in enough abundance, Culver is also a good rebounder of a ball for a guard.

Pick #7 Coby White - Chicago Bulls (PG, North Carolina)

Coby White rounds off the Bulls' young core

The Chicago Bulls have a much revered young core but the one missing piece in that line-up was a point guard. They have addressed the situation by bringing in Tar Heels' freshman Coby White. His availability was definitely a concern by the time the Bulls went on the clock, but Chicago was lucky enough to snag him.

One of the quickest players in transition, White is that prototypical initiator who begins plays for his side though his final passes are not on point yet. A rather natural catch-and-shoot scorer, White is still pretty raw offensively and can surely work towards his game in a low-expectation Bulls organization.

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Pick #8 Atlanta Hawks (to be sent to Pelicans) - Jaxson Hayes (PF/C, Texas)

2019 NBA Draft

The Pelicans acquired the No. 8 overall pick in the draft in the trade that sent the 4th overall pick to the Hawks. David Griffin had a chance to get together a young explosive frontcourt duo in the form of Zion and Jaxson Hayes and that is exactly what the Pels' director of basketball operations did by drafting the latter.

Still needing to improve a lot on offense, Hayes is an elite rim protector averaging 2.2 blocks per game. His huge size and a brilliant 7'4 wingspan make him a difficult defender to get past. Making his free throws at a 74% clip, Hayes has brilliant accuracy from the charity stripe for a big man. The fact that he loves to get inside the paint and post up on offense only adds value to the aforementioned stat.

Pick #9 Washington Wizards - Rui Hachimura (PF, Gonzaga)

Rui Hachimura became the first Japan-born player to be drafted in the NBA

For the Washington Wizards who are reeling from long term injury issues and bad contracts, getting their pick right in tonight's draft was almost imperative in their bid to kick start a rebuild. By picking Gonzaga's Rui Hachimura, the Wizards have definitely put the wheels in motion.

The 2019 WCC Player of the Year can get things done on offense from almost every position on the court. He has a decent post up game, and can also shoot from downtown, converting 41.7% of his attempts from beyond the arc. Having said that, Hachimura definitely tends to be a tad too passive while marking players on the defensive side of things.

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Pick #10 Atlanta Hawks - Cam Reddish (SF, Duke)

Cam Reddish became another exciting young prospect to join the Hawks' young core

In what was a case of picking the player with the best possible upside left on the board, Atlanta Hawks selected the much-debated Cam Reddish with their second pick of the 2019 NBA Draft. Reddish became the third player from Duke to be selected in the top 10 in this year's draft.

While consistency is certainly an issue for the Duke forward, Reddish checks most boxes in the modern NBA. His high defensive work rate lets him get steals and deflections. He has a wingspan of 7'1 and although not the best in class, Reddish can definitely shoot the ball from beyond the arc.