Follow Mike @MikeElworth24. For site updates follow @walterfootball.
May 11, 2023.
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New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, PF/C, Duke 
Actual Pick: Zion Williamson
Williamson is the biggest talent with the biggest stats from this draft, and on those qualities alone, he get redrafted No. 1. This pick is still Williamson versus Morant, and because of Williamson’s ridiculous injury history, it almost goes to Morant. Morant, however, has severe injury problems as well.
Williamson, when healthy, is a monster athlete with ridiculous size and talent who is a walking 25-point scorer, along with being a solid rebounder and an excellent playmaker. He is the Pelicans’ franchise player. -
Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant, PG, Murray State 
Actual Pick: Ja Morant
Morant had that Instagram scandal, and like I already said, has injury problems of his own, but he’s one of the league’s biggest stars and at point guard, I can only claim Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry as bigger stars. Morant has helped make the Grizzlies near-contenders already and would be an easy choice for them here. -
New York Knicks: Darius Garland, PG, Vanderbilt 
Actual Pick: R.J. Barrett
Barrett is a huge part of his team, as an almost 20-point scorer and a significant piece for the Knicks, but really, Barrett should be an all-star by now, while Garland is. Point guard was a need then, and though Garland isn’t and won’t be a superstar like the first two players on this list, he can be the No. 2 guy on an elite team. -
Los Angeles Lakers: Tyler Herro, G, Kentucky 
Actual Pick: DeAndre Hunter
The Lakers traded this pick to the Hawks, who really wanted DeAndre Hunter, but here Herro, an elite offensive player would be too hard to say “no” to. The expensive Miami guard just had a fantastic season, and his shooting and scoring is special. The former Sixth Man of the Year just started for the first time and is a huge piece for the Heat, as he would have for the Lakers. -
Cleveland Cavaliers: R.J. Barrett, SG, Duke 
Actual Pick: Darius Garland
As I said, at this point, Barrett should be an all-star, but there was no improvement in his fourth year, and he had a poor season shooting the ball, which in theory is an issue because defenses focused on Jalen Brunson. Barrett has too much talent to be a third option on a mediocre playoff team. In Cleveland, he would have been on some really pathetic teams with Collin Sexton, but he is the biggest talent available at No. 5. -
Phoenix Suns: Keldon Johnson, SG, Kentucky
Actual Pick: Jarrett Culver
Culver was a huge, huge bust, like huge, but Johnson is the Spurs’ number scorer and a huge piece of their rebuild. He really needs to improve his shooting consistency, but he is a stud and would have been perfect with Devin Booker, DeAyndre Ayton and Chris Paul. Heck, he could have been the missing piece for Phoenix winning a title. -
Chicago Bulls: Nic Claxton, C, Georgia 
Actual Pick: Coby White
You know what the Bulls need? A center who can defend and block shots. Nic Claxton has become a franchise center for the Nets, and I would really like him on my Bulls. I love Coby White, who should be a huge part of the team moving forward, but there aren’t many guys like Claxton. -
Atlanta Hawks: Jordan Poole, SG, Michigan
Actual Pick: Jaxon Hayes
The Hawks may have lost the ability to get Herro, but Poole is also a fantastic offensive weapon. As a starter or sixth man, Poole is an elite scorer who would have teamed with Trae Young for one of the most ridiculously fun guard duos in the league. -
Washington Wizard: P.J. Washington, F, Kentucky
Actual Pick: Rui Hachimura
After LaMelo Ball, Washington is my favorite piece for the Hornets, although he is a free agent who could be lured away. Washington is a pretty efficient 15-point scorer who blocks shots and can shoot the ball. Hachimura is a hot name because of his playoff run with the Lakers, but Washington would have improved the, um, Washington Wizards. -
Atlanta Hawks: Cam Johnson, F, North Carolina 
Actual Pick: Cam Reddish
Reddish has been another bust from this draft, but Johnson has been an animal since being traded from Phoenix to Brooklyn. I really want to know if he is the strong shooting-role guy he was for so long in Phoenix or the playoff second-option he is with Brooklyn. I have no clue, but he is making himself a fortune currently. Johnson would have been a perfect forward next to Clint Capela or John Collins. -
Minnesota Timberwolves: Luguentz Dort, SG, Arizona State 
Actual Pick: Cam Johnson
Dort has been critically lost in the shuffle when casually talking anout NBA players. He quietly averaged 14 points a game in 2022 as the fourth option for the Thunder, who were a very solid team. He’s an elite NBA role player and would have been a big help for the Timberwolves. -
Charlotte Hornets: Coby White, PG, North Carolina
Actual Pick: P.J. Washington
This would have kept White in the Carolinas, where he had just had a fantastic freshman season at North Carolina. White has started and played a sixth man role, but he is an elite NBA shooter who could have easily averaged 20 points on a Hornets team that was pathetic. -
Miami Heat: Kevin Porter Jr., SG, USC 
Actual Pick: Tyler Herro
Well, he’s no Herro, but Porter Jr. has superior stats, minus scoring. Those stats just so happened to be on the toxic Houston squad, so I can safely say I’d much, much rather take Herro. -
Boston Celtics: DeAndre Hunter, SF, Virginia 
Actual Pick: Romeo Langford
DeAndre Hunter is very strong starter for the Hawks, who recently re-signed their starting three to an almost $100 million contract. He’s a strong three-and-D starter who averages 15 points and shoots at a plus level from three. -
Detroit Pistons: Rui Hachimura, F, Gonzaga 
Actual Pick: Sekou Doumbouva
Like I said, Hachimura’s a hot name because of his strong play in the playoffs, but he’s no star, he is probably utilized properly as a scoring combo forward off the bench.
Go to Mike’s 2019 NBA Mock Re-Draft: Round 1 – Picks 16-30
Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I’ve received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.
By Mike Elworth.
Follow Mike @MikeElworth24. For site updates follow @walterfootball.
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