Mock Draft 3.0 – Predicting how the dominoes fall, with view to fit, shifts, and OKC Thunder best bet
4. player. 20. . SG. Texas Tech. Jarrett Culver
With the top three picks out of the way, we enter the phase of the draft where all bets are off and the prospect talent takes a decided dip. Sure, there are still prospects who could produce out of the gate, fill specific roles or develop into gems. Yet, at this point of the draft, the emphasis starts to shift as teams look to make larger picture decisions which will influence their draft picks.
A prime example of that is the LA Lakers. Prior to the trade for Davis, my pick would’ve been completely different, but with it the focus shifts. The Lakers included this pic as part of the trade and therefore their pick will be made with the caveat the player will be headed to New Orleans.
And this is where things get convoluted. The timing of when the trade can be completed greatly affects the Lakers options and cap space. The desire of the Lakers is to add a third max player but conveying the trade when the moratorium lifts (July 6th) would mean the Lakers won’t have enough cap space ($23.7M). That led to the Lakers trying to get the Pelicans to rework the deal to convey at the end of July which would increase their cap to $32.5M assuming Davis also waived his $4M trade bonus.
For now, expectation is Anthony Davis trade will be completed on July 6, league sources tell @BobbyMarks42 and me. Assuming Davis declines to void $4M trade bonus, this leaves Lakers with $23.7M in space. There is chance that could be amended to July 30, but it’s still 6th now.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 16, 2019
I’m not sure why it would behoove David Griffin to help the Lakers by holding off as it would only serve to help a team in his own Conference. To that end, the Lakers are said to also be actively shopping everyone remaining on the roster other than James and Kyle Kuma in order to aid their efforts.
Regardless, this pick will never don a Lakers jersey and may also never play in New Orleans depending on what Griffin elects to do since he also has the option of trading the fourth pick for multiple picks (Hawks 8th and 10th selections for example) or to add current NBA assets.
Prior to these rumblings, many assumed point guard Darius Garland would be the choice but with Lonzo Ball and Jrue Holiday on the Pelicans roster and Trae Young in Atlanta it seems far less likely he is the choice at four.
Should Thunder try to move up to nab the intriguing Jarrett Culver?. light. Related Story
Jarrett Culver on the other hand projects to be a great fit for either the Pelicans or the Hawks, though I also won’t be surprised if De’Andre Hunter is the selection.
Ironically, Holiday is better suited to a shooting guard role although that is Culver’s natural position. Each offers height (Holiday is 6’4″ and Culver is 6’5″) and would offer Alvin Gentry with the option of either being the primary playmaker while also providing uncertainty for opposing teams on how to defend the pair.