2019 Lottery Redraft: How high does Darius Garland go?

The Boston Celtics originally took Grant Williams with the 22nd pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, trading down with the Philadelphia 76ers, who took Matisse Thybulle. At the time and for much of the time since, the Celtics’ were mocked for such a decision. Yet notice that Thybulle has not had his name called in this redraft, and also note Thybulle was barely playable in the playoffs while Grant Williams has been the secret weapon for a Boston Celtics team that may win the NBA championship this year.

Williams has developed a lethal outside shot, hitting 41.1 percent of his 3-pointers this season on solid volume. Defense is where he butters his bread, as the former Tennessee star has the core strength to take on opposing bigs, including some of the best one-on-one defense against Giannis Antetokounmpo the league has seen. Instead of an uncertain upside play with Cam Reddish, the Hawks get a reliable rotation player at No. 10 in the redraft.

There are some options here on the board for a team wanting to swing for the fences with a high-upside prospect; there are also some reliable starters waiting to be plugged into a lineup, and Lugentz “Lou” Dort fits the bill perfectly for the second. The formerly undrafted wing has been a bulldog on defense for the Oklahoma City Thunder and isn’t afraid to take big shots.

He replaces a very different kind of player in Cam Johnson, who is already gone in our redraft, but can play a similar role, coming off the bench as something close to a sixth starter. His strength on the wing would also give the Suns some lineup flexibility as he can switch onto bigger players or stay in front of faster guards. He doesn’t have much upside to be anything more than what he already is, but every team in the league could use what that is right now.