2019 NBA Mock Draft: Zion Williamson still an easy pick to take at No. 1 even after knee injury

In the same way that draft prospects are separating themselves in the lottery discussion, so too are teams in the NBA as they barrel towards the finish line post-All-Star Game. Even with as much ball as there is left to play, it’s becoming increasingly more clear which franchises are going to enter the offseason with the best odds to win the draft lottery — and, more specifically, the highest likelihood to have the opportunity to draft Duke star Zion Williamson.

Whether Williamson’s knee sprain, which he suffered Wednesday whilst blowing through his sneaker, allows him to return to the court this season is inconsequential (he’s listed officially as “day-to-day” by Duke). Just 26 games into his collegiate career, he stands in an echelon of his own among other prospects in this class.

So as the college hoops season fast approaches its regular season end, there’s no better time than the present to check in on which franchises are expected to have the best odds to have the privilege of selecting at No. 1, which players are expected to be selected, and where. Below is our latest mock draft with the order set by SportsLine’s projected final records. (Note: Basketball fit and present roster situations are taken into account, and may differ from the CBS Sports top-75 prospect rankings.)