If the New York Knicks didn’t acquire Dennis Smith Jr., this could have been their pick. Instead, Ja Morant lands at fourth overall to another team that needs a point guard, Ja Morant from Murray State.
A riser since the collegiate season started, Morant is a freakishly athletic player that can handle the ball. He’s head and shoulders above the other point guards in this class and with teams that need this position high in the draft, he won’t fall past fourth.
As a sophomore, Morant’s numbers have taken flight. He went from 12.7 points to 24.3 points and 6.3 assists to 10.2 assists. It’s on an unspectacular 32.8 percent from behind the arc, but the ability to get to the rim and dish should compensate for that as his game develops.
On the Chicago Bulls, Morant slides into a strong, young group with Wendell Carter Jr., Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Otto Porter. Adding the long-awaited point guard can make this a completed group that makes noise in 2019-20. Kris Dunn was the expected player to do this, but he’s not their future answer at this position.
Morant is one of this class’s top players and has the chance to land even higher in Round 1. If the Knicks don’t see Smith Jr. as their point guard, this could be an alternative.