2019 Lottery Redraft: How high does Darius Garland go?
New Orleans Pelicans. Cameron Johnson. 8. player. 69. . Power Forward
The Phoenix Suns were widely panned three years ago when they drafted Cameron Johnson 11th overall. Now he won’t even be available for them as the New Orleans Pelicans scoop him up here with the eighth pick. Johnson has been a super-sub for the Suns and played a key role throughout their dominant run these past two seasons. He was certainly an older rookie at 23 when he entered the league, but he has been able to step in as a sharpshooter and surprisingly solid defender backing up both Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder.
The Pelicans took a swing with Texas project center Jaxson Hayes with this pick originally, and while Hayes started much of the season he would likely struggle to go in the first round in a redraft. With Johnson, the Pelicans get an excellent forward to pair with Zion Williamson as he could space the floor around “Point Zion” drives. A major upgrade for the Pels.
Guard. Washington Wizards. Tyler Herro. 9. player. 142.
The second Kentucky player to go in the Top 10 of our redraft, Tyler Herro originally went 13th to the Miami Heat and just won Sixth Man of the Year with the Heat. He is the epitome of a microwave scorer, with excellent speed and a deep bag of finishing tricks, and averaged 20.7 points per game despite starting just 10 of his 66 games.
The Washington Wizards have made a serious of decisions that did not work out at the point guard position over the past few seasons, and perhaps having Herro on board would do nothing to solve that. Yet by taking Herro and not Rui Hachimura here, the Wizards give themselves another bite at the apple for building a backcourt around Bradley Beal. Herro’s defense is atrocious and he’s not a great fit as a starter in most places, but he is an extremely talented offensive threat that moves up a few spots to ninth in our redraft.