Yardbarker:
2019 NBA mock draft: First round
Posted 16 hours ago | By Pat Heery
[AKA 17 April 2019]
19 of 30
San Antonio Spurs: PJ Washington, Kentucky
Instead of focusing on the things Washington can't do (like shoot free throws), NBA teams would be smart to notice all of the little things Washington does extremely well. For instance, this guy is always around the ball, whether he's getting offensive rebounds, tip-outs, blocked shots, loose balls, etc. That's an intangible trait that only good basketball players possess. He's also a gamer and always seemed to show up big in Kentucky's toughest games. (Check out his stats in the tournament during his career at Kentucky.) He won't be a star in the NBA, but he projects to be a great role player and should be able to contribute off the bench for a playoff team almost immediately. In other words, he's the ideal Spurs player.
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports29 of 30
San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto Raptors): Carsen Edwards, Purdue
Edwards' Kemba Walker impersonation during March Madness certainly did his draft stock some favors. Instead of being viewed as a chucker, like he was for much of the Big Ten regular season, Edwards is now being seen as a player who can carry an average Purdue team to the cusp of a Final Four almost entirely on his own. The unlimited range and impressive shot-making ability he displayed this March were truly amazing and probably solidified his draft stock as a late-first-, early-second round pick. Every team could use a spark plug guard off the bench, and Edwards certainly fits that mold. He'd be an ideal long-term replacement for Patty Mills in San Antonio.
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports