NBA Draft 2019 Prospect Watch: Jontay Porter

Orlando, FL - NOVEMBER 24: (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Orlando, FL - NOVEMBER 24: (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL – MAY 17: (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 17: (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

What the experts say

(as of 6/3/19)

ESPN [$] (Jonathan Givony): 42nd

The Ringer (Kevin O’Connor): 26th

Sports Illustrated (Jeremy Woo): 39th

Sporting News (Chris Stone): N/A

The Athletic [$] (Sam Vecenie): 57th

The Stepien (Composite Rank): 6th

The Step Back (Brandon Kleen): N/A

Quotes:

Putting him 42nd on his most recent Big Board, Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated broke down the dilemma that Porter poses to teams selecting in this year’s draft and why his talents may prove to outweigh the current risks surrounding him:

"“It’s been a series of unfortunate events for Porter, who re-tore his right ACL in March and seems poised to hit significant medical snags. He originally tore that ACL, along with his MCL, in October, and NBA scouts are wondering whether he rushed back to the court. The why of the whole situation raises some questions as well, and at this point it’s unclear whether a team will still chance it in the first round. Porter has a terrific feel for the game and an attractive pass-dribble-shoot skill set for a big, but his conditioning and body type have always been points of emphasis, and he won’t be able to offer any answer to those questions before the draft. His freshman year productivity remains a strong résumé point, but Porter will now face some added skepticism as he tries to maximize his draft position. At some point, he’ll become worth the risk.”"

On the flip side, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie offered insight on the current perception teams around the league have in regards to Porter’s long-term health in his latest mock draft:

"“Placing him on a board like this is difficult right now. I got more feedback on Porter than anyone else on my previous mock draft other than the aforementioned (Brandon) Clarke, with industry sources believing he was too highly placed in the top-45 due to the injury concerns. There’s a real chance he goes undrafted. Still, I believe a team would be smart to take a flyer on him.”"