Before the basketball gods bless the ping pong balls and determine the fate of many a franchise, it’s time to look at our all too early 2019 Mock Draft 1.0.
The Bucks gave up on Thon Maker last year. That was probably wise, but they need some more size down low. Kabengele is a late bloomer with limited height, which doesn’t fit what the Bucks typically draft. However, he can put the ball in the bucket and that’s about all you can ask for the third center off the bench when you pick last in the first round.
The Leonard return is starting to look pretty sub-par and this pick from Toronto isn’t going to make the burn much better. I think the Spurs will find a center higher up in the draft and so I expect them to go a guard here. Tony Bennett is the pops of college basketball. Seeing them pass players through each system makes sense. Jerome isn’t going to light the world on fire, but he will do what Spurs players do: come off the bench, make the right pass, shoot the open shot, and generally be productive.
The Warriors are picking in the exact same spot as last year. They are running out of time to compete and they are running out of bench players who can produce. Thybulle should be able to fit as a younger version of Iggy. He’s an older player who is going to come in and immediately produce on the defensive end as an elite player and he will fit perfectly into the warriors passing offense. This is a great fit for both the team and the player.