1. Darius Garland, Point Guard
The final name on this list is one that many would consider to have already been passed up by White in terms of the landscape of this rookie class. Although the former Vanderbilt Commodores highly touted five-star recruit and point guard Darius Garland was picked two spots ahead of White in the 2019 draft, by the Cleveland Cavaliers fifth overall, he has yet to prove much of his worth in the NBA.
The Cavaliers made an unusual move that seemingly went against the grain by drafting two point guards in consecutive lotteries. Two years ago, it was the Cavaliers that drafted former Alabama Crimson Tide point guard Collin Sexton in the top 10. Garland and Sexton really have yet to mesh together at all, and the latter of the two could hit the trade block soon.
Court vision and off-ball defense are two areas in which the 6-foot-1 and 175 pound Garland look to have a long way to go. But his shot creation, and ability to run with the ball in transition are parts of Garland’s game that could make him special.
Garland played in 59 games in the season that was for the Cavaliers (starting in all of them). He averaged 12.3 points per game, 1.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.1 blocks. Garland shot 40.1 percent from the field, 35.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line. That amounted to an effective field goal percentage of 47.6 and a 49.8 true shooting percentage.
The advanced metrics from Garland’s rookie season really didn’t do him any favors. He registered a -5.6 box plus/minus rating, -1.7 value over replacement player rating, -0.035 win shares per 48 minutes, -1.3 total win shares, and a 96 offensive rating/119 defensive rating.