2019 NBA Mock Draft: Cleveland Cavaliers find taker for JR Smith’s contract
By Mike Graham
Picks 11-15
11. Minnesota-Rui Hachimura-F-Gonzaga-It’s rumored Hacimura has promised at Nos. 11 or 12, Hachimura has only played basketball for four years, so the Wolves are gambling his development continues.
12. Charlotte-PJ Washington-F-Kentucky-Hornets love productive college players, which pretty much at this stage gives them Clarke and Washington to choose from. Washington gives them a more versatile offensive weapon, which makes him the choice for the Michael Jordan-owned hornets here.
13. TRADE-Cleveland-Romeo Langford-G-Indiana-Miami deals Cleveland the pick as the Heat look to shed salary. With John Beilein in Cleveland, player development will be key, so the Cavs make the trade using J. Smith‘s contract to acquire pick No. 13. The Cavs also take on James Johnson‘s contract for the opportunity to take the former McDonald’s All American and hope to develop him further.
14. Boston-Brandon Clarke-F-Gonzaga-Clarke gives the Celtics an older player, who can be a shutdown defender inside and with an ability to rim run on the break. Irving looks set on leaving the Celtics, so perhaps Danny Ainge tries to build around the core of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, a duo that pushed the Cavs to the limits in the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals.
15. Detroit-Nassir Little-G-North Carolina-Pistons take a look at Little who got lost in the shuffle a bit with an older Carolina team.