KJG 2019 NBA Draft roundtable: Top 10 prospects Cavs should target

Robbie DiPaola’s 2019 NBA Draft Top 10

1) Zion Williamson (Duke) – I feel like this is a given. Williamson possesses elite athleticism and explosiveness. He still has to develop a more consistent perimeter game and will have to rely less on “bully ball.” He can finish well around the basket, even in traffic, and is an above average passer with great vision.

2) R.J. Barrett (Duke) – Despite the hype around his teammate Williamson, Barrett is Duke’s leading scorer. He can finish in traffic with both hands, and is not afraid of driving to the hoop and drawing contact. He’s capable of scoring from everywhere on the floor, but does need to gain consistency from beyond the arc.

3) Cam Reddish (Duke) – Reddish is a two-way player that plays well on and off the ball. He can be a versatile defender and his 7-foot-1 wingspan makes him capable of guarding multiple positions. He shoots well from beyond the arc (34.8 percent,) but needs more consistency. Sometimes his energy is a question and he will need to get stronger.

4) Ja Morant (Murray State) – Can jump out of the gym, and is a dynamic scorer from all levels. Morant is a willing passer, he leads the NCAA with 10.6 assists per game. He has ideal size to play the point guard position, and averages nearly two steals and six rebounds per game. He sometimes can be too aggressive which leads to turnovers. He will need to add strength and work a bit on his outside shot, too.

5) Nassir Little (UNC) – A two-way forward who is an aggressive player, but does not try and force his shot. His 7-foot-1 wingspan is a plus on the defensive end, as he can block shots and go up high for rebounds. He’s only shooting 20.7 percent from beyond the arc, but shoots 50.4 percent from the floor. He will have to cut down on turnovers and work a bit on his ball-handling.

6) Romeo Langford (Indiana) – At 6-foot-6, Langford can play multiple positions in today’s NBA. He’s scoring nearly 18.0 points per game and great at getting to the line. His outside shooting ability needs work (22.7 percent) and needs to improve his ball handling, but he’s a great defender who is Indiana’s go-to defensive stopper. He will be able to guard multiple positions at the next level.

7) Jarrett Culver (Texas Tech) – Has shown improvement from year one to year two at Texas Tech. He’s scoring nearly 19.0 points per game and grabbing over seven rebounds per game as a guard. Defense is not as good as the players listed before him, which could limit his value, but is an above-average long range shooter (36.8 percent, per Sports Reference). He’s likely able to play multiple positions at the next level.

8) Keldon Johnson (Kentucky) – Another 6-foot-6 tweener guard that would likely be able to play more than one position in the NBA. Johnson is connecting on 39.0 percent of his three-point attempts, and is also shooting over 50.0 percent from the floor. Gets to the line about five times a game. A capable defender, but his overall upside may be limited.

9) Darius Garland (Vanderbilt) – Saw his season come to an end after reportedly tearing his meniscus and undergo season-ending surgery. Coming off an injury may scare some teams off. He was shooting nearly 48.0 percent from beyond the arc prior to his injury, but only averaged 2.6 assists. He’d be a risky top-10 pick, but the upside seems to be there.

10. De’Andre Hunter (Virginia) – Another player who has improved in his sophomore season. He’s connecting on 42.1 percent of his three-point attempts, and is over an 80.0 percent foul shooter. He’s a capable scorer from all three levels on the floor, is also a versatile defender at 6-foot-7, who does not need to be the No. 1 option on a team.

We’ll see what the Cleveland Cavaliers will be able to do in the upcoming NBA Draft.