There’s a ton at stake this offseason for many of the teams involved in next week’s draft lottery, but there’s plenty at stake for consensus top prospect Zion Williamson as well. As ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Mike Schmitz, Kevin Pelton, and Bobby Marks outline in an Insider-only article, not every team that has a shot at Williamson would be an ideal fit for him.
In the view of ESPN’s insiders, the Hawks, Mavericks, and Pelicans would be the most preferable landing spots for Williamson. The opportunity to play with up-and-coming play-makers – Trae Young in Atlanta, or Luka Doncic in Dallas – would help unlock Williamson’s potential.
On the other hand, ESPN’s panel doesn’t consider the Lakers, Bulls, and Sixers great fits for Williamson. Spacing is the primary concern for the Lakers and Sixers, and it’s unclear how a pairing with Joel Embiid would work. For the Bulls, Zach LaVine‘s ball dominance and Jim Boylen‘s “outdated” offense are viewed as red flags.
Here are several more draft-related notes:
- Gonzaga sophomore guard Zach Norvell Jr. told reporters today that he intends to keep his name in the 2019 NBA draft, tweets Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. Norvell was one of 66 prospects announced on Wednesday as a 2019 draft combine participant.
- St. John’s guard Shamorie Ponds, another one of those 66, has workouts lined up with the Warriors, Bulls, Kings, Jazz, Celtics, and Mavericks, tweets Michael Scotto of The Athletic. Ponds is ranked as the No. 51 prospect on ESPN’s big board.
- After working out for Utah and Philadelphia, Oregon State forward Tres Tinkle has auditions this week with the Raptors, Celtics, and Hornets, and will work out for the Hawks next week, writes Nick Daschel of The Oregonian.
- After turning in an impressive performance at the Portsmouth Invitational, forward Jarrell Brantley (Charleston) has workouts lined up with 10 teams, including the Celtics, Nets, Timberwolves, Hornets, and Clippers, tweets Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv.
Kind of funny the three teams they said Williamson would not work in our big market teams and the three teams they say would be good for him or a small-market teams. Especially the 76ers and the Lakers if he were to go there the haters would cause mass hysteria screaming the lottery is fixed.
If the Lakers win it, it’d be an obvious choice fix to help LeBron. Hopefully you wouldn’t be that blind.
Hopefully you wouldn’t be that hateful! But really is no chance of that, right?
Hateful? Do you even know what the words you use mean?
No, he doesn’t
The greater Dallas area population is around 6.8M & Philly is closer to 6M. So I wouldn’t consider Dallas a small market. However, the sports teams do have different types of fan bases.
I hope Tinkle joins the Wiz.
I see what you did there. You’re #1.
Lol
I hope Mychal Mulder finds what’s out there.
I get the Embiid and Zion clash if you are wishing Embiid would stay in the paint and be a natural center all game. But when he comes out and shoots threes and mid range, it would fit to have someone like Zion clean up. The cost of getting Zion is too great for the Sixers. They can’t afford him.
Sixers have a slim chance at landing #1 overall pick.
Zac Norvell is only #91 on nbadraft.net and not in espn’s 100 but I bet he sticks somewhere as a good-team backup. Quick at 6-5 for defense, good shooting, heady, positive.
ZionW does not need to be “unlocked” by anyone except the coach.
Hawks are hands down the best landing spot for him in terms of teams in the lottery. Not only in terms of style of play ( one of the fastest paced teams in the NBA), but also in plain out need. No disrespect to Joe Johnson, Steve Smith, Josh Smith, Al Horford, or Mutombo…. But the Hawks have not had a superstar or even an NBA top ten player since Dominique Wilkins! That’s 25 years! In that time NY has had Carmelo and KP, Cle has had LBJ twice and Kyrie and the number one pick 2 other times, PHX has had Barkley, Nash, and Stat’s, Chi has had D.Rose, Wah has had John Wall, NO has had AD, Dal has had Dirk, now Luka and KP, Min has KAT, Wiggins and had Kevin Love, The Lakers have LBJ now and have had #2 pick in consecutive drafts, Charlotte has had CP3 ( who we passed on?), drafted Kobe ( traded him), so and Larry Johnson, Bos Tatum…… some of these where trades…. but my point is the only team in the lottery more devoid of a superstar over the last 25 yrs than Atl, is the Grizz. Atl is long over due for a superstar in that market.
I agree that the Hawks are the best fit for him (it would be incredible to watch them all together), but the argument about which team is “due for a superstar” isn’t really a good one. That’s the whole point of the lottery.
Bulls “outdated” offense: Does that mean they can’t win no matter who their players are?
Not to defend Boylen – cause he is awful – but does anyone really know his preferred offensive style? He said he didnt want to push the tempo last year. He said he didnt want to shoot 3’s. But he also had a terrible PG situation and one of the worst 3 point shooting teams in the league. So was that really his preference – or just his reality with last year’s roster?
People are going to be outraged if the Cavs or Lakers win the lottery.
No reason for the league to help out the Cavs anymore.