Believe it or not, there is intrigue in next Thursday’s NBA draft beyond Zion Williamson.
Will the Knicks take RJ Barrett, as expected, or Jarrett Culver? Will they even make the No. 3 pick, will the Lakers make the selection right after, or will one be traded for Anthony Davis? Who ends up as a late steal?
The Post is here to help. Here’s a complete first-round mock draft:
1. New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson — Duke, F, 6-7, 272
Generational prospect. Skip on down.
2. Memphis Grizzlies
Ja Morant — Murray State, PG, 6-3, 175
The speedy Morant will be running Memphis’ backcourt and leading their franchise, with Michael Conley likely bringing a king’s ransom from teams that lose — or just need — a point guard.
3. New York Knicks
RJ Barrett — Duke, F, 6-6, 190
The fourth-highest-scoring freshman in Division I history, this guy is built for New York. The presumptive No. 1 pick before the rise of Zion, he did nothing to fall. Oh, and he actually wants to be here.
4. Los Angeles Lakers
Darius Garland — Vanderbilt, G, 6-2, 170
Obviously, the Lakers would rather deal this pick to land Anthony Davis. But if they’re “stuck” with the No. 4 pick on draft night, going with Garland — repped by LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul — is a good call, despite a knee injury that limited him to just five games at Vandy.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
Jarrett Culver — Texas Tech, G, 6-7, 195
The Cavs could end up moving down (think Atlanta, with three first-rounders). But if they stand pat, they’d happily scoop up the Big 12 Player of the Year, who led Tech in points, boards and assists.
6. Phoenix Suns
De’Andre Hunter — Virginia, F, 6-7, 222
He’s not young (21). But he’s versatile, he can score and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year can guard. And he rises to the occasion, shown by his 27 points and nine boards in the NCAA championship game victory.
7. Chicago Bulls
Coby White — North Carolina, G, 6-5, 191
With the Bulls’ nice frontcourt, they just need a point guard to take a big leap forward. If White plays under control and develops quickly, Chicago could make that jump.
8. Atlanta Hawks
Cam Reddish — Duke, F, 6-8, 208
He wasn’t great as a freshman at Duke. But he’s long, he can shoot, guard and pass. In short, he’s versatile enough to fit in with Trae Young, John Collins and the young Hawks.
9. Washington Wizards
Sekou Doumbouya — Limoges CSP, F, 6-9, 215
John Wall’s injury has put the Wizards into a long rebuilding, so they’ll go upside. Doumbouya has enough to have drawn 10 general managers to his pro day. He’s raw offensively, but his defense and athleticism are impressive.
10. Atlanta Hawks
Jaxson Hayes — Texas, F/C, 6-11, 220
With three first-round picks — two in the top 10 — Atlanta can move down from here or afford to gamble. Collins can play either power forward or center, and so can Hayes, the latest Texas big.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
Rui Hachimura — Gonzaga, F, 6-8, 225
Hachimura plays hard, can handle either small forward or power forward and has a mid-range jumper. Can he extend that to 3?
12. Charlotte Hornets
Nassir Little — UNC, F, 6-6, 224
Little is a fast-riser. Charlotte could be in for rebuilding if they can’t keep Kemba Walker, and going with the uber-athletic local with the 7-foot wingspan and huge upside wouldn’t be the worst way to go.
13. Miami Heat
Keldon Johnson — Kentucky, F, 6-6, 216
A 6-6 wing who can crash the boards. He’ll dig in to guard, can shoot and develop into a 3-and-D wing.
14. Boston Celtics (from Sacramento Kings)
Brandon Clarke — Gonzaga, F, 6-8, 215
Clarke is a veritable senior citizen at 23, but he can block shots and roll to the rim. The Celtics could lose Marcus Morris or Al Horford, so Clarke would provide valuable minutes.
15. Detroit Pistons
Romeo Langford — Indiana, F, 6-6, 202
He can get buckets. There are questions about his 3-point stroke and aggression, but he did play most of his freshman campaign hindered by a torn ligament in his shooting hand.
16. Orlando Magic
Tyler Herro — Kentucky, G, 6-6, 192
Orlando has big men. That backcourt, though? The Magic need help there, and Herro can give them minutes at both guard spots, especially if Terrence Ross leaves or Markelle Fultz can’t get right.
17. Atlanta Hawks (via Nets)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker — Virginia Tech, G, 6-6, 204
It’s highly unlikely the Hawks draft at No. 8, 10 and 17. But if they use this pick — extracted from the Nets to take Allen Crabbe — the long-armed Alexander-Walker will help on defense with two steals per game.
18. Indiana Pacers
Kevin Porter Jr. — USC, G, 6-6, 213
Lottery talent. Questionable outlook, after he somehow only managed 9.5 points a game last season at USC. But the talent is there.
19. San Antonio Spurs
Goga Bitadze — Buducnost, C, 6-11, 251
San Antonio’s history with international players speaks for itself. The big man from Georgia was the 2018-19 EuroLeague Rising Star, and could be groomed as a successor to LaMarcus Aldridge.
20. Boston Celtics
Mfiondu Kabengele — Florida State, C, 6-10, 256
Kabengele didn’t start — he was the ACC Sixth Man of the Year — and wore braces on both knees. But he has looked good in workouts, his medicals came back clean at the scouting combine and has been a late-riser.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder
PJ Washington — Kentucky, F, 6-8, 230
The combo of a 7-3 wingspan and a newly developed shot — getting his 3-point shooting over 40 percent — could make him the pick if OKC keeps it.
22. Boston Celtics
Ty Jerome — Virginia, G, 6-6, 194
Won a title at UVa. If Kyrie Irving or Terry Rozier leave, the high-IQ combo guard could give Boston needed minutes.
23. Utah Jazz
Bol Bol — Oregon, C, 7-2, 236
Top-10 talent with a 3-point shot and a 7-foot-7 wingspan like a condor? Bol Bol has all that. He’s a beanpole, but if he develops, he’ll make people wonder how the Jazz got him and Donovan Mitchell two years apart.
24. Philadelphia 76ers
Cameron Johnson — UNC, F, 6-9, 205
Another high-IQ player and arguably the best shooter in the draft. For a Sixers team in dire need of floor spacing for Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, he’s perfect.
25. Portland Trail Blazers
KZ Okpala — Stanford, F, 6-10, 210
He’s a late bloomer, expected after a late start to the game. But he’s got length and his shot is coming around.
26. Cleveland Cavaliers
Matisse Thybulle — Washington, F, 6-6, 201
He’s older as a rare senior. But he’s an outright glove on the wing, and could be the best defender in the whole draft.
27. Brooklyn Nets
Darius Bazley — Princeton High School (Ohio), F, 6-9, 208
Could be a tough call if Luka Samanic is still available. But the Nets’ confidence in their player development lets them gamble on upside in the kid (just turned 19 Wednesday) who sat out last season, but looked good in his predraft workouts.
28. Golden State Warriors
Carsen Edwards — Purdue, G, 6-0, 199
The junior is experienced after three years in the Big Ten, and can give Golden State immediate minutes to give Stephen Curry a breather.
29. San Antonio Spurs (via Raptors)
Luka Samanic — Olimpija Ljubljana, F, 6-11, 227
The stretch four was so good after a single game at the scouting combine he didn’t need any more to vault him into the first round. Could go to the Nets at No. 27, given their penchant for Euro forwards.
30. Milwaukee Bucks
Naz Reid — LSU, C, 6-10, 255
The Bucks are all about length, and the Roselle (N.J.) Catholic product has a 7-1 wingspan.





