2019 NBA Draft: Full Mock Draft 2.0 – Pelicans take Zion; who goes next?

#12. Charlotte Hornets: Darius Garland, G

School: Vanderbilt | Class: Freshman | Height: 6’3″ | Weight: 173 | Age: 19

Charlotte will have to move on from Kemba Walker eventually. Darius Garland could ease the Hornets’ scoring burden if Walker stays, or take up the lead role if Walker goes elsewhere this offseason. Clearly, he wouldn’t step into Kemba’s shoes immediately. Not in his rookie season, anyway. He’s coming off a knee injury that limited him to a handful of games at Vanderbilt.

Garland showed he could fly with the ball, but he needs to show he can protect it as well. When he gets to the rim, he needs to draw more fouls. In far too many instances, he avoids contact to throw up a contorted layup.

Garland did shoot an unsustainable 47.8% clip from behind the arc when he was healthy. Again, small sample size theater could be to blame. However, holding a near 40% consistency would get Garland a sizable second contract. Depressing the size of that contract is Garland’s defensive deficiencies.

With the uncertainty surrounding Kemba, no one could blame Charlotte for giving them a cushion at the point guard position just in case there’s a vacancy once free agency begins.

– Chris Dodson (@DoingItDodson)