2019 NBA Draft Really Begins With Darius Garland On Thursday

Thursday night's NBA Draft from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn should be rather wild as there are several trades expected per usual with some big names like Washington's Bradley Beal potentially on the move. Another player who was rumored to be dealt Thursday was Memphis point guard Mike Conley, but he was shipped Wednesday to Utah.

However, if basketball fans are looking for any drama at the top of the draft, they aren't going to get any. There's a 100 percent chance that the New Orleans Pelicans take Duke's Zion Williamson at No. 1 overall. The last Dukie to go first was Kyrie Irving to Cleveland in 2011 and that worked out well. Memphis is going to take its long-term Conley replacement at No. 2 in Murray State's Ja Morant.

It's all but certain that the New York Knicks will snag Duke's RJ Barrett at No. 3 overall, although the Knicks worked out Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland this week. Smokescreen?

It's Garland where this draft really begins as some teams are trying to move up to the Pelicans' spot at No. 4 – not likely that Knicks move out of No. 3 unless bowled over, and they probably only worked Garland out to drive up the price – to take Garland even though he was limited to only five games as a freshman at Vandy before suffering a torn meniscus in his knee. Garland was a five-star recruit and averaged 19.8 points in the four full games before he was injured. Some have compared Garland to Damian Lillard because of his shooting prowess, and some scouts like Garland better than Morant.

It would almost be easier to mention which teams don't want Garland, but it's known the Suns (picking No. 6) and Bulls (No. 7) covet him. The Pelicans reportedly want either of those picks and a 2020 first-rounder to move back. New Orleans doesn't have a huge need for Garland with its backcourt of Jrue Holiday and new addition Lonzo Ball.