Daniel Gafford Goes to Blazers in Way-Too-Soon 2019 Mock Draft

With the college basketball season still months away, and the 2019 NBA Draft much farther out than that, it may seem a little early to be thinking about mock drafts. However, it’s never too soon to start familiarizing yourself with some of the big names you’ll probably hear called next June.

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman has conducted a “Way-Too-Soon” mock-up of the upcoming draft, and has Arkansas Razorbacks center Daniel Gafford going to the Portland Trail Blazers with the 13th overall pick:

Despite generating first-round buzz as a freshman, Gafford was quick to announce he’d return. There was interest around his size (6’11”, 233 lbs) and athleticism, which translated to a 60.5 percent field-goal mark and 3.8 blocks per 40 minutes. This season, he’ll look to showcase more offensive skill with his post moves and jump shot.

Gafford, who averaged 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks over 22.6 minutes a game last season as a freshman, was a four-star recruit and consensus top-50 player coming out of Arkansas’s El Dorado High School in 2017.

Wasserman slated Duke freshman R.J. Barrett as the top overall pick, and fellow Duke phenom Zion Williamson at fourth. Incoming Oregon Ducks freshman Bol Bol was slotted 12th, one spot ahead of the Blazers’ projected pick.