2020 NBA Draft — Ranking the Centers

Is James Wiseman really the best center in the 2020 NBA Draft, or is Onyeka Okongwu the better play on draft day?

THE 2020 NBA DRAFT IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER after the longest draft process in league history. A June draft has turned into Thanksgiving thanks to the pandemic, leaving us ample time to watch all the film we could ever want and nitpick every little fault. Now it’s time to put together big boards and final rankings.

Today we start with the ever-evolving centers. No position in basketball is changing more rapidly. Gone are the days of the franchise paint patrolman like Shaq or Hakeem. Today’s star centers are stars because of what they do away from the paint, not in it. The teams without a star center are loading up on cheap options that give them different looks in the pivot: a rim runner, a bench scorer, a small baller, or a traditional behemoth.

As the position evolves, so does the value of centers. This year’s draft features James Wiseman as a possible #1 pick, Onyeka Okongwu rising in the lottery ranks, and a long list of big men who will follow them on draft day. Be sure to read my study on center archetypes and draft theory before you jump in.

Let’s analyze and rank this year’s top nine center prospects…

Once you finish here, make sure to check out the positional draft rankings at point guard, shooting guard, small forward, and power forward too. And stay…