NBA Draft: Zion Williamson still first in 2019 Redraft

The theory of Coby White is a perfect fit for the modern NBA game. The ideal (and realistic – obviously every team would want Magic Johnson or Stephen Curry) modern point guard is a knockdown shooter from outside who likes to push the pace and can set up teammates when he gets penetration inside. That sounds like the draft profile Coby White had coming out of North Carolina.

That’s why the Chicago Bulls took White with the seventh pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, hoping to find Zach LaVine a long-term answer at point guard. White certainly has not been bad; his 134 games lead the draft class, and he has hit a respectable 35.7 percent of his 3-pointers. Overall, however, he has not capitalized on the upside he came into the league with.

Accompanying White’s decent perimeter shooting has been his terrible finishing, as he has shot just 45.3 percent from inside the arc. He has also been a below-average passer, averaging just 3.8 assists per game despite having the ball in his hands a lot. Defensively he has been the nightmare most teenage guards are when they enter the league.

That last point is why White still goes in the lottery here: he is just 21 years old, and won’t turn 22 until the All-Star Break next season. His shooting numbers from every area improved this past season (not a ton, but some) and he raised his assist percentage significantly. There are still major question marks, but he has plenty of time to grow into a solid starter at the point. The Miami Heat, with Tyler Herro not falling here, get to take a young guard with upside in the redraft.