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USATSI

Hard as it is to believe, the 2019 NBA Draft was nearly three years ago. Due to the inclusion of Zion Williamson, who had solidified himself as the No. 1 pick months in advance, it was one of the most anticipated drafts in recent memory. But as time has gone on, it's clear he wasn't the only future star in that class. 

In particular, Ja Morant, who the Memphis Grizzlies took with the No. 2 overall pick, has emerged as an All-NBA talent this season. He's seventh in the league in scoring at 26.4 points per game, and has led the Grizzlies to the third-best record in the league at 41-18. 

In fact, with Williamson's injuries keeping him off the floor, Morant is making his case as the best player from that draft, which is a good reminder that we cannot truly predict these things. The Grizzlies' front office was surely crushed that they didn't get the No. 1 pick that year, but getting Morant instead of Williamson has worked out spectacularly well. 

Speaking of alternate realities, it's worth considering this one. What if, instead of being compared to each other, Williamson and Morant had ended up on the same team? The Pelicans apparently tried to make it happen, according to Christian Clark of the New Orleans Times-Picayune

The Pelicans were intrigued by the possibility of pairing AAU teammates Williamson and Morant together in 2019, sources said. They had the Nos. 1 and 4 picks entering that draft. They offered the Grizzlies multiple packages that included the No. 4 pick. All of their offers were rebuffed.

If the Grizzlies had accepted any of the Pelicans' packages for the No. 2 pick, Williamson and Morant would be teammates. Instead, the Grizzlies wisely held onto it.

There's obviously an unending string of what-ifs here, but the first thing that jumps out is how much fun it would have been to see those two electric athletes on the same team. Morant leading the break and throwing alley-oops to Williamson could have legitimately rivaled the early Lob City Clippers days. Who knows; perhaps some day the old friends will team up, but for now we'll just have to leave that one to our imaginations. 

The Pelicans did end up trading that No. 4 pick, but it's safe to say the outcome wasn't as good as Morant. Instead they got the Nos. 8, 17 and 35 overall picks from the Atlanta Hawks in that year's draft, and selected Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Didi Louzada. Hayes has seen an increase in minutes lately, but was still spending time in the G League earlier this season; Alexander-Walker was traded to the Utah Jazz at this year's deadline; Louzada was suspended 25 games for violating the league's anti-drug policy, and subsequently suffered a knee injury that will keep him out indefinitely.