Original Pick: De’Andre Hunter, Virginia
While the draft board starting at No. 5 will start to look radically different than the original 2019 Draft, our first four picks were all selected in the top 5 of the original draft. With that being said, there is a big step down from that elite first tier to something much lower, from superstars to players who have an outside chance at an All-Star Game in their careers.
It’s not that RJ Barrett has been a bad player; he has been a positive starter on a good team. He just doesn’t have the on-ball creation ability to fully unlock his game and impact the game at a high level. He’s going to be a solid starter who might put together a season good enough to get All-Star buzz; more Andrew Wiggins than Khris Middleton.
Barrett has developed into a solid defender who can finish plays well and has a good-looking shot, for all that it’s gone in inconsistently from outside. He is a plus passer and seems to be a great teammate and competitor.
The Atlanta Hawks originally selected De’Andre Hunter at No. 4 after trading up with the New Orleans Pelicans, a mistake when you factor in how much further down the board Hunter will go. Barrett would have filled a similar spot in their lineup but with more offensive impact, and his secondary playmaking could have paired nicely with Trae Young.