With the draft order being announced on Thursday, I decided to make a mock draft and give you guys some insight into these future draftees. There is a great assortment of great offensive players, great defensive players and great all-around guys as well. The Minnesota Timberwolves got the 1st pick. This is big for them because they have the ability to make a big 3 between Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell and ____________. Without further ado, let’s get into things.
With the 1st pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves select… LaMelo Ball, PG, NBL. You can call me crazy all you want and say that Anthony Edwards should be the 1st pick but, trust me, crazier things have happened. For example, Baker Mayfield was supposed to be selected 11th overall in 2018, according to one of Mel Kiper’s mock drafts, but he got picked 1st by the Browns. Anyway, back to Ball. Two things jump out to me when making his case for the 1st overall pick. His talent and size at the point guard position. First, let’s talk about his talent. He’s, arguably, one of the best sharpshooters in this draft class. If you pair that with the sharpshooting duo of D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns (yes, big men can shoot) over in Minnesota, they are going to make it rain in Target Center. He is also a great passer and can read the play before it unfolds. Finally, he’s a really good perimeter defender and really gives it his all to make sure his opponent doesn’t get the ball. Now, let’s talk his size. He’s 6’7 and 190 lbs with a 6’10 wingspan, and he’s still growing. If Minnesota develops him well and he keeps growing, he could be the next Ben Simmons with way better shooting abilities.
With the 2nd pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors select… James Wiseman, C, Memphis. Yes, I know there is only a small sample size for Wiseman’s college career, but that doesn’t stop him from big a top pick in this draft. According to the Ringer, he’s an “athletic marvel who flashes massive two-way potential, but in the short term will be best suited for a simple, rim-running role.” The Warriors are in dire need of a true big man because on their roster, that have no primary centers. The only one on their rosters that could qualify as a true center is Kevon Looney, and he’s not even that good. However, if they choose Wiseman, he could fill that gaping hole quickly. He reminds me a lot of Anthony Davis. Like the Ringer mentioned, he can run the floor and get into transition. He’s an absolute force on the glass, whether it’s on offense or defense. He’s also a force in the paint and can find some type of way to get past the defender and get to the basket. Finally, he can shoot a little bit. With Wiseman on the Warriors, Curry and Thompson don’t have to shoot that much anymore, because they can just feed it to Wiseman and get the Warriors an easy bucket 9 times out of 10.
With the 3rd pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets select… Deni Avdija, SF, Israel. What makes Avdija so good? The minute he sees a lane to run through, he capitalizes and with authority. Also, his transition game is top-notch. When he has the ball and he sees a player running the floor, he rewards that player with a pretty-looking pass. You would think that he could only drive and pass but not shoot, but this man can shoot the lights out of any arena. Even though scouts think that his jumper needs work, I think it’s fine. He has a subtle jumper with a smooth follow-through. His jumper kind of reminds me of Luka Doncic’s in that they both move the ball back just enough to put force on the ball to make it in the basket. Finally, he plays with a lot of passion. When he makes a big play, he celebrates and has as much fun as he possibly can out on the court. The thing is, the Hornets need that type of player who can make big plays at the right time and have fun while doing it. I bet you his owner would appreciate that as well.
With the 4th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls select… Anthony Edwards, PG/SG, Georgia. He’s a great scorer who can make a bunch of space off the dribble. He also has that special ability to find an open lane to run through and capitalize on a strong dunk or a flashy layup. When he’s in the zone, he makes literally every shot whether he’s in traffic or wide open. In his only year in college, he averaged 19.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG and 2.8 APG. The Bulls need this electrifying player who can shock their fans with his talent and invite them to keep coming back to see him perform each and every night. Fresh off the firing of former head coach Jim Boylen, the Bulls front office need find someone who understands the mindset of a player inside and out. If they are able to draft Edwards and get that player’s coach that they need so desperately, the Bulls could be a fun team to watch in the coming years.
With the 5th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select… Issac Okoro, SF, Auburn. He can be a special add to a Cavaliers squad with guys like Kevin Love and the newly acquired Andre Drummond. He’s a fantastic finisher around the basket and can make really flashy and complex shots look like the easiest thing in the world. He is also regarded by scouts as one of the top defenders in this draft class and they are absolutely right. He stays really close to the opposing ball handler and when he takes a shot, Okoro is right there to swat it. He’s 6’6 and 225 lbs with a 6’9 wingspan. Because of those long arms, he can be able to block and strip the ball and turn defense into offense with efficiency. Barring that he actually goes to the Cavaliers, he could add some offensive prowess to the already offense-heavy backcourt duo of Darius Garland and Colin Sexton along with really good defense that the Cavs are missing in both Sexton and Garland.
With the 6th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks select… Devin Vassell, SG, Florida State. Like Okoro, scouts regard Vassell as “one of the best defenders in this year’s class”. He can do anything a coach can ask him to do defensively, and he’ll do it well. His IQ is top notch because he can read passes and attack at the right time. He also is really good at knowing when to help and use his 6’10 wingspan to create atrocious shots to make or blocks that can send the ball to another stratosphere. He’s also good at the offensive end, when he shoots the 3 ball. Case in point, he shot 41.5% from behind the arc last season. Additionally, he’s really made some strides from his freshman to sophomore at scoring off of the dribble. But, the thing that the Hawks really need is someone who can consistently dive on the floor for loose balls and show lots of heart and effort out on the court. With Trae Young to mentor him, these two could become one of the top backcourts in the league. However, keep an eye out for him to surprise some people and go even higher than 6th come draft time.
With the 7th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons select… Tyrese Haliburton, G, Iowa State. Haliburton is probably the top 3 playmakers in this draft class, in my opinion. He can make hard passes look really easy, while making his teammates better. Although he has a shaky shooting form that can be improved on a bit, he is definitely capable of shooting from the outside. To illustrate, he shot a near 42% from three in his final season with Iowa State. Along with being a good shooter, he can also be crafty around the basket and can make tough layups if you need him too. Finally, he can read passes and has the potential to be an underrated defender. The Pistons need a guy who can use his great pick and roll passing ability for the bigs like Blake Griffin or Christian Wood (if they can sign him back) and can shoot from way downtown (shoutout Mike Breen and Chris Smoove; if you know you know).
With the 8th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks select… Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton. Watch out NBA world, because Toppin will fly like Superman if he gets the chance. He can do it with pizzazz or just end your career by putting you on a poster. Does… I don’t know… Zion Williamson come to mind when talking about how good his dunking ability is? It sure does for me. His 6’11 and 220 lbs frame is as if Hulk got ripped out of the Avengers and got dropped onto a basketball court. Now, don’t get things twisted. He’s not just a dunker; he can do other things as well. For example, he can beat anybody down the floor in transition. He fights to get every rebound on the offensive glass. He can also shoot a little bit, posting a 3-point percentage of 39%. Lastly, he has the IQ to read the defense and find his open teammates. The Knicks desperately need someone who could put this team back on the map after another abysmal season. Obi Toppin could be that guy that brings the Garden to life again but the basketball world will have to see how things play out.
With the 9th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards select… Onyeka Okongwu, PF, USC. Okongwu is one of the top defenders in this draft. His IQ comes into effect when he helps or when he reads plays and uses them to his advantage. He does that by breaking up a pass attempt and going the other way in transition. Additionally, he’s a great shot blocker. His blocks per game numbers are astonishing, averaged 4.3 in high school and 5.1 per 100 possessions in his only year in college. He can rebound really well by boxing out and using a variety of moves to get to the ball. He is also really good at executing the pick-and-roll and is very crafty around the rim. Finally, he’s an explosive finisher, mostly in transition. Overall, he’s like an old-school big man with flashes of new-school bigs as well. Someone who could mentor him and help expand his game is another big in Washington, Thomas Bryant. While he get down in the trenches, Bryant can also shoot whether it’s from the mid-range or the 3-ball.
With the 10th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns select… Cole Anthony, PG, UNC. Personally, Anthony has enough sneaky good talents for him to sneak him into the top 10. But first, let’s get into his bread and butter which is his shooting. He can shoot it pretty well from the 2 or from the 3. His overall field goal percentage is 38%. I know that seems like a little bit of a down year on paper, but the eye test pretty much makes up for all of that. He can be flashy, if it’s when he steps back or steps to the side, both produce the same result. Same thing goes for his 3-ball. He has great range and can shoot from anywhere on the court. Sounds like a Damian Lillard-type of shooter. Now he isn’t just a shooter, he can drive through contact as well. Even with really tall guys towering over him, he still has the ability to use his athleticism to get in the air and get around those defenders to get his buckets. He’s also a sneaky good dunker, ball-handler, and defender. Finally, one of his most underrated talents, rebounding. He’s good at fighting his way inside and tracking the ball. This guy does basically everything you could ask out of him. With a great veteran mentor in Ricky Rubio, Anthony’s game will be great in the desert. The one thing he does get a knock on is injury concerns because he had a knee injury that kept him out for a long while. However, if he can stay healthy, the rest will take care of itself.
With the 11th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs select… Killian Hayes, PG, France. I was debating between Hayes and Anthony for the 10th pick but, like I said, Anthony has so many hidden talents that would help him succeed a lot quicker than Hayes at the next level. Don’t get me wrong, I still love Hayes’ play style. He reminds me of a James Harden-type of player, and it’s not just because he’s a southpaw. He is a great passer in any situation, whether it’s in pick-and-roll or transition. He’s also a really good ball-handler with a solid mid-range game. Additionally, he has some sneaky speed and acceleration. But, with a lot of point guards in this class, he really excels from shooting from deep. Case in point, he shot 39% from three last season. He’s started to gain more confidence to go a little farther than just behind the arc. This will help tremendously in the NBA because it can help the Spurs space the floor for Hayes to get even more confident from 3, think Logo Lillard range.
With the 12th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings select… Saddiq Bey, SF, Villanova. He’s what basketball fans call a 3-and-D player. That means his two best skills on the court are shooting the 3 and playing hard-nosed defense. Let’s talk about his defense first. His on-ball defense is where he succeeds the most. He stays in front of his man and when the opposing player takes a shot, Bey is right there to block it or make the shot look improbable to make. When he doesn’t defend well, he makes sure that he recovers and forces a really bad shot. Off the ball, he makes sure that he’s aware of his surroundings and knows the right time to pounce on a loose ball. Now, let’s get into his 3-point shooting. He shot 45.1% from behind the arc on 5.2 attempts per game last season. Whether there’s a guy in his face or he’s wide-open, he can hit any type of shot. This is valuable for a team like the Kings because they can space the floor even more if Bey and Buddy Hield are making their 3’s. Let’s talk about some of his hidden talents. He’s improved on scoring from inside the paint, whether it’s in the post or floaters. He’s also a really good-decision maker and knows when to give the ball to his teammates for easy buckets. Finally, he’s a good ball-handler and rebounder.
With the 13th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the New Orleans Pelicans select… Tyrese Maxey, PG, Kentucky. He has the potential to be a great shooter in the NBA. Scouts say that he’s better that his stats show, and they couldn’t be more right. Whether it’s off the dribble, catch-and-shoot, or when he’s spotting up, he’s lethal from beyond the arc. He’s also great at finishing around the rim. He shaves off a ton of contact and still get buckets. He also uses his athleticism to stay in the air and still get around defenders. He’s not just good at offense, he’s also pretty good at defense. He’s a tough on-ball defender to stick to his man wherever he goes. He’s also a good shot contester. Additionally, he excels at off-ball defense as well. Not a consistent steals guys, but he stays eager to get to any loose ball he sees. A player that can mentor Maxey and help elevate his game is Jrue Holiday. Specifically, he can help Maxey with his defensive game so that he can be an all-around player for the Pelicans, if he gets drafted there.
With the 14th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics select… Aaron Nesmith, SF, Vanderbilt. He’s a great 3-point shooter, with a silky smooth touch and follow-through. He’s also good at creating space for his open shots with his fakes. He’s improved on his off-ball defense by interrupting open passing lanes and getting some steals along the way. He’s also improved on his on-ball defense by recovering when he gets beat driving to the rim. Finally, he can make the tough blocks if he needs to. If someone like a Gordon Hayward can mentor Nesmith on his all-around offensive game, not just 3-and-D, look out for Nesmith to be a special player in the coming years.
Sources: YouTube.com, ESPN.com, ringer.com, sports-reference.com,