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2019 draft rearrangement: Morant defends the No. 1 pick, Zion falls to Tanhua, Poole becomes one of the biggest surprises

9:20pm, 19 June 2025Basketball

Translator's note: The original text was published in HoopsHype. The data in the text were as of the time of publication (June 14 local time), and the date involved has been converted. The views in the article have nothing to do with the translator and the platform.

Facts have proved that the 2019 NBA Draft was a pretty good class, although this draft could have been even better if the No. 1 pick had better luck in health and physical stability. The second-tier show also had greater potential, but was also unlucky, plagued by injuries, and made bad decisions off the court. The 2019 draft is desirable, it has emerged with a large number of role players with strength from solid to pretty good, as you will see below.

Please see our 2019 NBA Draft Rearrangement, the players' picks are the order we think they should have been selected.

1st pick: Ja Morant Actual pick: 2nd place

Total career salary: $110,350,760

Career data: Average 22.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 46.9% shooting percentage, 31.6% three-point shooting percentage, Ja Morant once seemed to stand out among his rookies of the same class. However, this advantage has weakened, and his position could be even more precarious if the actual No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft wasn't that disappointing. A few years ago, Morant won MVP votes for two consecutive seasons, but he has played in a total of only 59 games in the past two seasons due to his control and uncontrollable reasons. Still, when he was on the court, Morant was an explosive point guard with top-notch finishing skills at the basket and countless breakthrough skills. He just needs to continue to improve his outside projection ability.

2nd pick: Darius Garland

Actual pick: No. 5

Total career salary: $99,814,234

Career data: Average 18.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 45.3% shooting percentage, 38.8% three-point shooting percentage As an All-Star on-field commander, Darius Garland helped the Cleveland Cavaliers become a strong team in the regular season with his flexible and versatile scoring ability, as well as his vision and gorgeous organizational skills. However, he himself has always had injuries. Even so, Garland is still one of the better defenders in the East and has outperformed his actual fifth pick.

3rd pick: Zion Williamson

Actual pick: 1st place

Total career salary: $115,002,057

Career data: Average 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 58.9% shooting percentage, 32.7% three-point shooting percentage, former Duke star Zion Williamson is so talented that he still ranks in the top three in our reorder draft despite being quite disappointing since entering the league as the No. 1 pick in 2019. Although Williamson has only 52.4% attendance over the past three seasons. When Williamson was on the court, he showed his potential to be selected into the NBA's best team with the average size and explosive bounce ability of NFL offensive forward players. The problem is that he has played for the New Orleans Pelicans in recent years.

4th overall pick: Taylor Herro

Actual pick: No. 13

Total career salary: $73,188,836

Career data: Average 19.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 44.8% shooting percentage, 38.2% three-point shooting percentage, former Kentucky Wildcats player Taylor Herro may have his shortcomings as a player, mainly in defense and ending at the basket, but overall, he is an excellent choice for the Miami Heat to choose with the 13th overall in 2019. Herro is an excellent three-point and mid-range shooter, growing up to be an All-Star scorer with the Heat. Herro proved that he was more than the fixed-point shooting expert many expected when he was selected. Judging from the same position, he is also an excellent organizer and rebounder. If you want to build a championship team, can he become the team's number one choice? Probably not possible. But even so, Herro is also a confident scorer, scoring more than 20 points a night, and he deserves more respect than he gets on the Internet.

5th pick: Jordan Poole

Actual pick: No. 28

Total career salary: $67,698,022

Career data: Average 16.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 42.2% shooting percentage, 34.5% three-point shooting percentage, Jordan Poole is a player similar to Herro, with limited defense, but very confident and efficient scores. He helped the Golden State Warriors win the championship in the 2021-22 season. Overall, as a No. 28 pick, Poole's performance is far beyond expectations, even if his shooting choices are sometimes debatable. Poole has a very creative way of scoring and it often works. When this doesn't work, the end result may not look very good, but anyway, his team will accept that because it's extremely difficult for the opponent to limit him when Poole finds form. After two years of downturn after following the Warriors to win the championship, Poole just played arguably the best season of his career, averaging more than 20 points and 4 assists per game, and shooting nearly 38% from three-pointers.

6th pick: RJ Barrett Real pick: 3rd place

Total career salary: $85,274,846

Career data: Average 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 44.1% shooting percentage, 34.6% three-point shooting percentage, some analysis of RJ Barrett's weaknesses before the draft finally became a reality. This is not to say that he is not a very good player after entering the NBA, but his poor finishing ability at the basket and unstable outside shooting have hindered his transition from a good player to a top player. But despite this, Barrett is by no means a sub-production, and he has made a lot of money in his career, so he must not be labeled as disappointing. He was just surpassed by some players in the same draft.

7th pick: Lu Dott: undrafted

total career salary: $50,511,805

career data: average 12.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 40.8% shooting percentage, 36.0% three-point shooting percentage As one of the most impressive NBA success stories in recent years, Lu Dott lost in the 2019 draft, but has earned more than $50 million in his career, thanks in large part to his best defensive lineup level defense and his vitality. Dortmund's rise is also due to the improvement of his offensive ability. Dortmund's three-point shooting percentage has increased from less than 30% of his rookie season to more than 40% in the past two seasons. He is a great example of how vibrant play in the NBA and focusing on defense can get you far... Of course, it's also due to his own outstanding talent.

8th pick: Cameron Johnson

Actual pick: No. 11

Total career salary: $66,772,847

Career data: Average 12.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 45.3% shooting percentage, 39.2% three-point shooting percentage, some people believe that the Phoenix Suns selected Cameron Johnson with a high pick in 2019 because he was 23 years old when he entered the NBA. But the Suns’ gambling on Johnson has proven to be a wise move, and the 29-year-old has proven himself a very solid NBA player with his shooting ability, especially given his 6-foot-8 (2.03 meters). Johnson is not just a fixed-point shooter, either. This former North Carolina excellent player can hit mid-range emergency stop jump shots, but can attract a lot of attention from the opponent on the defensive end. He may never be an All-Star, but as a former No. 11 pick, Johnson has already had a pretty solid career.

9th pick: Naz Reed

Actual pick: undrafted

Total career salary: $33,066,425

Career data: Average 11.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 48.7% shooting percentage, 37.3% three-point shooting percentage As another unquestionable success story in the 2019 class, Naz Reed signed a $42 million contract in 2023, and the next time he becomes a free agent, there is another considerable contract waiting for him. Reed has a big figure but a wing-like style. The former Louisiana State player has excellent outside shooting and can also make a ball breakthrough when the opponent defends too tightly. Near the rim, Reid is a well-bounced finisher. He does have a hard time making a big difference as a defender or rebounder, but overall Reed is a player who can make a positive impact and he may get a considerable salary in his next contract because he has the technical traits that modern NBA teams want their big guys to have.

10th pick: Kobe White's actual pick: 7th place

Total career salary: $47,242,626

Career data: Average 15.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 43.3% shooting percentage, 36.9% three-point shooting percentage, Given Kobe White's progress in recent seasons, it wouldn't be surprising if we reorder the draft for 2019 next time. In any case, White has been in excellent form in recent seasons, averaging 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game since the 2023-24 season, and shooting percentage of 45%, demonstrating his extremely fast speed in the transition offense, agility in the half-court offense and excellent shooting ability outside the three-point line. White is a great example of why teams like to pick young players in the draft because even though it took him some time to gain a foothold in the NBA, once he did, he soared.

11th pick: DeAndre Hunter Actual pick: 4th place

Total career salary: $73,887,356

Career data: Average 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 45.2% shooting percentage, 37.3% three-point shooting percentage As a solid double-season wing, DeAndre Hunter has certain dribbling scoring ability, can shoot outside or break through, and has a good defense level. He has not fully met his pre-draft expectations as the top five pick, but he is far from disappointing because his outside shooting is excellent and he has put in a lot of effort on the defensive end. Hunter also appears to be in the upswing as he just hit a career high in scoring and 3-point shooting percentage last season.

12th pick: Kelden Johnson

Actual pick: No. 29

Total career salary: $49,017,384

Career data: Average 15.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 46.7% shooting percentage, 35.2% three-point shooting percentage, Kelden Johnson's performance exceeded his previous draft pick. As an all-around forward, he currently has a stable NBA career and peaked in the 2022-23 season, when he averaged 22.0 points per game. Johnson is a steady scoring breakthrough player with certain outside shooting ability. He even represented the US men's basketball team in the Olympics and won a gold medal with the team at the Tokyo Olympics. This is pretty good for a 29th overall pick in the 2019 draft.

13th pick: Daniel Gafford

Actual pick: No. 38

Total career salary: $31,925,753

Career data: Average 9.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 70.9% shooting percentage As another player in the 2019 draft who exceeded expectations, Daniel Gafford is a big man with excellent bounce ability. He can complete high-quality screens, firmly hit the basket, and complete a strong end near the basket. Gafford has shot an astonishing 72% of his field goal percentage over the past three seasons, and has provided at least some ability to protect the basket on the defensive end. From a scoring perspective, his range is limited and he doesn't provide much help in terms of defense switching, but overall, with his finishing ability in the inside, he can help the team.

14th overall pick: PJ-Washington

Actual pick: 12th place

Total career salary: $50,226,821

Career data: Average 13.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 44.8% shooting percentage, 35.8% three-point shooting percentage, coincidentally, Gafford's teammate PJ-Washington ranked next in our reorder draft in the past more than a season. As a 12th pick, Washington's performance roughly met expectations. Washington is a mobility power forward who can open space outside the three-point line, make some breakthroughs and finish around the basket. Washington is also a steady defender with certain defense switching and blocking skills, which can create some threats in less eye-catching links on the court. He is a steady player, maybe not a star, but a stable starter.

15th overall pick: Nicholas Clarkston

Actual pick: No. 31

Total career salary: $50,730,729

Career data: Average 10.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 63.6% shooting percentage As a second round pick, Nicholas Clarkston has earned more than $50 million in his career. He is a defensive expert with excellent lateral movement speed, which makes him a very efficient switcher among frontcourt players. He also has good bounce, so he is able to finish the finish at a high level near the rim. Clarkston is an excellent pick-and-roll player with a reliable feel near the rim and an explosive dunk ability. He may not be able to open up space outside the 3-point line, but overall, the former University of Georgia player is an NBA player who can make a positive impact.

16th pick: Hachimura Hachimura Hachimura Actual pick: No. 9

Total career salary: $53,082,089

Career data: Average 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 49.6% shooting percentage, 38.1% three-point shooting percentage, comprehensive power forward Hachimura Hachimura can do multiple tasks on the court, whether it is to open space from outside the three-point line, play small forwards or power forwards, or defend multiple positions. His best trait right now is probably his fixed-point shots, as Hachimura has done a great job in improving his outside shots. Over the past two seasons, Hachimura has shot nearly 42% from three-pointers. Combining this with his ability to be a ball-holder or break through without the ball, Hachimura has reached the level of a stable qualified starter in the NBA.

17th overall pick: Brandon Clark: 21st place

Total career salary: $37,152,559

Career data: Average 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 60.6% shooting percentage, 26.6% three-point shooting percentage, if it weren't for the 2023-24 Achilles tendon tear, Brandon Clark would have ranked higher on this list, because the 21st pick was playing a stable career as a dynamic defensive role player with his outstanding bounce and ending ability at the basket. Clark may have a greater impact on the defensive end than on the offensive end, as he can defend several different positions and protect the inside to a certain extent, but judging from his performance in the 2024-25 season, he may not be much like himself before he was injured.

18th pick: Max Struz

Actual pick: undrafted

total career salary: $33,911,273

Career data: Average 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 42.7% shooting percentage, 36.8% three-point shooting percentage, from undrafted in 2019 to obtaining a contract of more than $60 million in the summer of 2023, Max Struz's experience is one of the most underrated undraft counterattack stories in modern league history. Struce's example is a good example of how much you can make a lot of money in the NBA just by doing something really well, because his shooting ability is enough to keep the defense on alert, and he has a surprising first step that allows him to score through breakthroughs. Struce is an excellent role player in a number of excellent and even outstanding teams, including the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

19th overall pick: Nikil Alexander Walker

Actual pick: 17th place

Total career salary: $23,349,113

Career data: Average 8.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 41.4% shooting percentage, 36.0% three-point shooting percentage As a player who actively defends on the outside, has a pair of long arms and is now excellent in three-point shooting, Nikil Alexander Walker is an excellent 3D guard/wing, with a certain ability to hold the ball or hit the basket without the ball. Walker has hit 38.5% from three points in the past three seasons.

20th pick: Tai Jerome

Actual pick: 24th place

Total career salary: $16,638,308

Career data: Average 8.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 45.8% shooting percentage, 38.1% three-point shooting percentage if it was a year ago, Tai Jerome might just miss the list of re-arranged drafts. However, the former Virginia player ushered in a breakthrough season, averaging a career-high 12.5 points per game, plus 3.4 assists and shooting close to 44% from three-pointers. Jerome has a flamboyant style of the game, is very personalized, and is also the kind of player who likes to say some trash on the court. Even considering his poor performance in the playoffs, Jerome should be able to get a good contract this summer.

21st pick: Kevin Porter Jr. Actual pick: No. 30

Total career salary: $27,106,884

Career data: Average 13.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 43.5% shooting percentage, 35.1% three-point shooting percentage, after having a good experience overseas, Kevin Porter Jr. returned to the NBA and had a pretty good performance in the 2024-25 season, averaging 10.3 points and shooting percentage of 44.9%, demonstrating his gorgeous mid-range scoring skills and ability to attack the basket. Porter Jr. is a talented player, but the reason he fell in the draft was because he had off-court problems, which hindered his development and was also the reason why he was not ranked high in this draft reorder.

22nd pick: Terence Mann

Actual pick: No. 48

Total career salary: $28,231,283

Career data: Average 8.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 50.2% shooting percentage, 37.2% three-point shooting percentage As a double-season wing, Terence Mann will also serve as the team's main control during certain periods. With his efforts and scoring ability on both offense and defense, Mann grew from a second-round pick to a qualified rotation player for the powerful Los Angeles Clippers. He also developed the outside projection capability, which was his weakness when he came out of Florida State University.

23rd pick: Caleb Martin

Actual pick: undrafted

Total career salary: $24,691,253

Career data: Average 8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 44.7% shooting percentage, 35.7% three-point shooting percentage, which is another good discovery for the Heat. They are in several The summer snatched Caleb Martin from the Charlotte Hornets, which at least made Martin’s career better (see how his twin brother Cody Martin has compared to Caleb’s progress over the past two seasons), and helped him grow into athletic wing, power forward who can play in small ball rosters, perform well outside the three-point line, and finish the end with athleticism in the confrontation while providing a very stable defense on the defensive end.

24th overall pick: Goga Bitaze: 18th place

Total career salary: $25,374,756

Career data: Average 5.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 54.1% shooting percentage, 23.0% three-point shooting percentage since coming to the Orlando Magic, Goga Bitaze has developed well. The strong center averages 6.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, and has a shooting percentage of 60.8%. He is not a major discovery in the first round draft in 2019, but he has been a solid role player lately and it is hard to ask for more for a 18th pick.

25th pick: Taron Horton Tucker

Actual pick: No. 46

Total career salary: $35,621,694

Career data: Average 9.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 42.7% shooting percentage, 29.9% three-point shooting percentage, after showing bright spots with the Lakers in the early years of his career, Taron Horton Tucker may not have become a star control guard as some people hoped, but he is only 22 years old. So even in his fourth NBA season, Tucker has been in and out of the rotation, and it is too early to give up on him now. Tucker has a good first step and some ending ability at the basket, and also put in a lot of effort on the defensive end..

26th pick: Matisse Seble

Actual pick: No. 20

Total career salary: $34,038,126

Career data: Average 4.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 43.8% shooting percentage, 34.3% three-point shooting percentage As a player selected for the best defensive lineup many times, Matisse Seble has become a stable rotation player with his elite-level assisted defense and good single-defense ability. This Australian wing player can judge the passing route and complete steals like a top player. The problem is that he has provided very little on the offensive end – some games can even be said to be uncontributing.

27th pick: Grant Williams

Actual pick: 22nd place

Total career salary: $37,232,931

Career data: Average 7.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 45.2% shooting percentage, 37.7% three-point shooting percentage, Grant Williams' influence exceeds statistics. Williams is a major role player in the Boston Celtics that reached the Finals in 2021-22, which is enough to show that he can make a huge impact even if he averages less than double digits. Williams has grown into a reliable three-pointer threat, and with his size, strength and quick footsteps he can truly defend multiple positions. Williams would have ranked higher on this list if it weren't for his tough situation with the Mavericks and subsequent ACL tear.

28th pick: Jaxon Hayes

Actual pick: No. 8

Total career salary: $26,747,438

Career data: Average 6.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 64.8% shooting percentage, 26.1% three-point shooting percentage, Jaxon Hayes showed some highlights early in his career, but since then, the former University of Texas Longhorn player has been sloppy. Hayes is still young and he has had better flashes with the Lakers. Hayes has excellent athletic ability at a height of 7 feet (about 2.13 meters), but he needs to start playing consistent and stable performances.

29th pick: Amir Kofi

Actual pick: undrafted

total career salary: $12,231,986

Career data: Average 6.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 45.5% shooting percentage, 38.4% three-point shooting percentage As a breakthrough player with excellent athletic ability, Amir Kofi can occasionally score through dribbling. He is full of vitality on both offense and defense. Although he was out in 2019, he has been able to persist in the NBA for so long and did a good job.

30th pick: Cam Reddish Actual pick: 10th place

Total career salary: $23,957,280

Career data: Average 8.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 39.8% shooting percentage, 32.2% three-point shooting percentage As one of the more disappointing players in the 2019 draft, Cam Reddish got a chance with the Lakers, which is already the fourth team in his short career. Reddish has shown potential as a three-threat scorer, but he has now failed to make breakthroughs under multiple coaching staff, which may be a good idea.

The player with the largest increase in rankings

Lou Dott: From undraft to 7th place

Naz Reed: From undraft to 9th place

Max Struz: From undraft to 18th place

Caleb Martin: From undraft to 23rd place

Amir Kofi: From undraft to 29th place

Terrence Mann: From 48th to 22nd place

Daniel Gafford: From 38th to 13th place

Jordan Poole: From 28th to 5th place

Taren Holden Tucker: From 46th to 25th place

Kelden -Johnson: From 29th to 12th

Nicolas Clarkston: From 31st to 15th

Jarett Culver: 6th

Romeo Langford: 14th

Segu Dunbuya: 15th

Chuma Okiki: 16th

Luka Samanic: 19th

Dallius Bazley: 23rd

Nasil Little: 25th

Dylan Windler: 26th

Fiondu Cabenguele: 27th

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