The draft is in the books. With teams solidifying the future of their respective franchises, it’s clear this draft wasn’t perfect. Some players who were projected to go higher in mock drafts didn’t. That left room for players projected to be drafted later, to have a surprisingly rising draft stock. Each team hoped to make the right decisions regarding who they chose as the building blocks for years to come. However, some teams made the wrong decision, allowing other teams to steal some of the draft’s brightest gems. This begs the question as to which teams selected players who should’ve heard their name called way before. Who were the biggest 2019 NBA Draft steals?
Round 1, Pick #10: Atlanta Hawks Select F Cam Reddish, Duke
Although Cam Reddish went #10 overall, there’s an argument that can be made for Reddish going top-five. He may have fallen, but there’s no doubt that Reddish is a top-five talent. He’s physically built for the NBA. At 6’8″, he already has the build that’ll carry him for years to come.
Considering the type of player Reddish is and what his game consists of, the Hawks drafting him makes it more of a steal. Reddish will be playing along the perimeter, knocking down shots for Atlanta. That’ll benefit a team mightily if you have the playmakers to get him the ball. In this case, that perfect player is Trae Young.
The downsides of Reddish are things that can easily be improved. He shot only 33.3% from behind the arc last season and 39.4% from inside the arc. Terrible? Yes. Can that be improved with the coaches and other young talents in Atlanta? Yes. The other teams that picked above Atlanta would’ve greatly benefitted from having Reddish as part of their backcourt. He’s a sleeper pick simply because of his untapped potential. If you want to talk about Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, or R.J. Barrett, you better add Cam Reddish to the mix.
Round 1, Pick #21 (Traded to MEM): Oklahoma City Thunder Select F Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga
Here’s the deal with Brandon Clarke: he’s big, explosive, and most importantly, smart. The Memphis Grizzlies might’ve gotten the steal of the draft when they picked up Clarke, the 6’8″ PF out of Gonzaga.
Clarke has one of the highest ceilings in the draft, simply because of his defensive versatility. At 6’8″, Clarke has a nose for the ball that you can’t teach as well as athleticism that allows him to fly across the court. The man has a 40.5″ vertical leap, and he’s not afraid to use it, a valued skill in both transition and defense.
Admittedly, Clarke has an undersized wingspan, topping out at 6’8″. It doesn’t help that he’s already undersized for a PF and isn’t skilled enough to play wing. Clarke’s also not much of a shooter, although he does make up for it by being an extremely efficient converter at the rim. At the same time, however, his shooting form looks clean and comfortable, making growth in that category not out of the question.
Combined with our previous knowledge of Clarke’s tremendous work ethic after grinding his way all the way up from being a bench player at San Jose State, it’s hard to imagine him staying content with his skills.
Round 1, Pick #25: Portland Trail Blazers Select F Nassir Little, North Carolina
Last season, Nassir Little was living proof of what can go wrong when a top prospect commits to a top school. Little was the sixth-ranked prospect in the 2018 ESPN 100, behind R.J. Barrett, Zion Williamson, Cam Reddish, Bol Bol, and Romeo Langford.
Although he was North Carolina’s highly-touted prospect, his freshman year was lackluster. On a team where Little was expected to flourish, he did not. This was due to the heavy emphasis head coach Roy Williams put on G Coby White and F Cameron Johnson. It’s safe to say that Little’s talent was suppressed. Nevertheless, because of his lack of playing time, Portland got a steal.
Little has shown flashes of being a wing that can make an immediate impact in this league. He’s one of the more naturally-gifted players in this year’s draft. With his 6’7″ frame and a 7’2″ wingspan, Little’s ceiling can be as high as a proficient 3-and-D player. His potential defensively is what people didn’t get to see from him at North Carolina. His length, physicality, and agility all combine to give Portland defense on the wing.
Little, himself, didn’t meet with Portland at the NBA Combine or later stages of the draft process because he expected to be a lottery pick. Fortunately, Portland saw the potential in him, and as an already contending team, they picked up a very underrated prospect.
Round 2, Pick #33 (Traded to BOS): Philadelphia 76ers Select G Carsen Edwards, Purdue
It’s baffling how teams fail to notice a player’s accomplishments in college, especially when a player dominates under the bright lights of the NCAA Tournament. A prime example of that was Carsen Edwards.
In the March classic, Edwards averaged 34.8 points on 45% shooting. On top of that, he was named the South Region’s Most Outstanding Player and made an All-Region team for the second-straight year. But, teams didn’t take notice of that.
With the Celtics trading for Edwards, they’re adding yet another young piece. Boston is fortunate because if Kyrie Irving is preparing to leave in free agency, they need to fill that void. And, at this pick, Edwards was both a steal and the right choice.
Edwards is a first-round talent and very well could’ve been a lottery pick. He led the Big Ten in scoring and was ninth in the country. Edwards (despite some shooting struggles) carried Purdue’s offense through the entirety of last season. He’s also will be a solid defender for the Celtics. In a league full of great guards, it’s understandable why Edwards fell so far.
However, the fact that he was drafted in the second round speaks volumes to what teams don’t see. Edwards is an explosive player who can take hard screens, knock down tough shots, and get around those taller players. Concerns for Edwards include his playmaking ability, which obviously can be solved with the type of system Brad Stevens runs. With some high development, Edwards can shoot the lights out. Surprisingly, teams didn’t gamble on one of the best guards in the draft.
Round 2, Pick #44 (Officially Traded to DEN): Miami Heat Select C Bol Bol, Oregon
What went wrong for Bol Bol? He was drafted in the lower end of the draft after having a rather high draft stock. Not only was Bol projected to go in the first round, but he was bound to be a lottery pick. Reportedly, both Bol’s feedback and medicals were not up to par, resulting in his slide. But, to many, Bol is still a draft steal.
Prior to his injury, Bol averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks at Oregon. He’s a resident freak of nature standing at 7’2″ with a 7’7″ wingspan. The NBA is turning into a league where if you can shoot, you can make it. Bol is a seven-footer with the range you want in a big man. He scores on defenses in all types of ways and from any situation.
Before his injury, Bol showed glimpses of his ability to handle the ball as well. And, on the defensive end, it’s evident just how disruptive he can be. Bol simply was one of the best big men in this draft, even with a declining medical report.
Bol is a slow player. But, considering the Nuggets are the team that drafted him, his defensive presence will be needed in the paint to make up for Nikola Jokic’s defensive struggles. He looks and plays like a mini Kristaps Porzingis. If he can resemble any parts of his game after the NBA’s unicorn, then Denver will have massive continued success. Bol has a chip on his shoulder after falling far in this draft. I’m certain that he’ll prove that there aren’t 43 better guys in the draft than him.
Round 2, Pick #53: Utah Jazz Select G Justin Wright-Foreman, Hofstra
Justin Wright-Foreman, at this point in the draft, is both one of the biggest steals and most slept-on players in the class. You don’t hear about Hofstra University or see them on your television on Saturday afternoons, but looking deep into the season Wright-Foreman had, it’s easy to see why he was drafted. He played in the CAA which obviously isn’t the most competitive conference in the NCAA. However, what Wright-Foreman did this past season for not only himself but the school, shows why he’s a steal.
Wright-Foreman is an absolute scoring machine. He ranked second in the nation in scoring with 27.1 PPG. His 948 points last season set the Hofstra and CAA record for most in a single-season. His season was highlighted by being named an AP All-American Honorable Mention and a finalist for the Jerry West Award as the nation’s best SG.
The 21-year-old had a better season than most to truly solidify why he should be picked much higher. His 2,327 career points and 277 three-pointers both rank second all-time in Hofstra history. Not impressive enough? He scored in 88 straight games to end his career, which is the seventh longest streak in Division I history.
Looking at his accomplishments alone can show you why Justin Wright-Foreman is a draft steal. However, his talent is much more of an indication. He’s a pure scorer that can give you buckets from anywhere on the floor. His pull-up jumper is something to fear. He does have a small build overall, but that’s not seen as a huge weakness with his elite ability to make shots off the dribble. He can shoot the lights out, finish around the basket, and convert at high rates.
Concerns for him fall with his passing ability, as he hasn’t shown to be a go-to playmaker. But, he still can facilitate the offense as a steady rotational player. Wright-Foreman is a steal for the Jazz who are looking to contend next season. And, after losing young pieces due to trading for Mike Conley, Wright-Foreman makes up for that with the potential to be an elite scorer off the bench.
The Future is Bright
The NBA Draft was full of talent from every corner of the world. Almost every team in the league established the pieces they hope will bring them success in the coming years. As mentioned before, this draft wasn’t perfect. Some prospects were drafted too high, and all of the prospects above were certainly drafted too low. Either way, the teams that did believe in these prospects are picking up draft gems.
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