2020 NBA Mock Draft 1.0 — Full First Round
A look at the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft.
This 2020 NBA Mock Draft Order is based on the 2020 NBA Season Standings as of August 5th, 2020.
Team needs are taken into account for NBA Mock Drafts. Also based on prospect rankings, and best players available for the 2020 NBA Mock Draft.
1. Golden State Warriors: James Wiseman, Memphis, C, 7–1, Fr.
Wiseman may not be the best prospect on the board but the Warriors have enough wing and back-court talent, so Ball or Edwards aren’t needed here. Wiseman is an athletic big who would start right away for the Warriors and fills a need. He’s an athletic big that would complement Draymond Green and a big that can run up and down the floor. Has potential in his face-up game.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Anthony Edwards, Georgia, SG, 6–5, Fr.
The Cavs are getting the top prospect on the board here by far. Edwards looks like a slightly more athletic Joe Johnson and will fit in nicely at the two-guard for a rebuilding Cavs team. Edwards would give the Cavs a young star to build around.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves: Obi Toppin, Dayton, PF, 6–9, Soph.
LaMelo Ball is still on the board but he doesn’t fill a need here with the T-Wolves, who have D-Russ, another ball-dominant Guard. Instead, the T-Wolves take the athletic star out of Dayton.
4. Atlanta Hawks: Deni Avdija, Israel, SF, 6–9, 19 Years Old
A young wing for the Hawks who still is raw and has a lot of growing to do. Particularly adding a little more weight. As it stands, the combo wing player can stretch the floor, has a quick first step, can create off the dribble, and has a pretty good feel for the game.
5. Detroit Pistons: Killian Hayes, France, PG, 6–5, 19 Years Old
I’m not too high on Hayes but he would be a good fit here for the Pistons who need a Point Guard of the future. He has good floor vision and can get to the basket. He’s a gamble in the Top 5 though.
6. New York Knicks: LaMelo Ball, USA, PG, 6–7, 18 Years Old
The 2020 NBA Draft day slide of LaMelo Ball ends here. LaMelo is a top 3 prospect in this draft, but the board doesn’t play out for him being a top 3 pick with teams filling other needs. The Knicks desperately need a Point Gaurd of the future and bringing a young star like LaMelo Ball to the mecca of basketball could be the spark this team needs.
7. Chicago Bulls: Isaac Okoro, Auburn, SF, 6–6, Fr.
A case could be made for Okoro going a little higher in the Draft but the Bulls are glad he falls to them here. The speedy, athletic wing needs to improve from the outside if he wants to develop into a high-level starter in the NBA though.
8. Charlotte Hornets: Aleksej Pokusevski, Serbia, C/PF, 7–0, 18 Years Old
I love this guy's game. He’s just what Charlotte needs. A stretch four who can play the five as well. He’s an all-around do it all player.
9. Washington Wizards: Devin Vassell, FSU, SF/SG, 6–7, Soph.
Vassell's game is very similar to another former Washington Wizard wing, Otto Porter Jr. He doesn’t really wow you in any one area of his game but is a solid all-around team player. He can rebound, defend, score, and shoot the ball.
10. Phoenix Suns: Onyeka Okongwu, USC, C/PF, 6–9 Fr.
I’m a little taken aback as to what exactly I am missing. Am I watching the wrong film?, because for the life of me I do not understand why Okongwu is a Top 10 Prospect. Nonetheless, the Suns will look to draft a big to complement Ayton. For Suns’ fans sake, I hope this isn’t the pick for you. At best Okongwu is a future backup big and average Starter.
11. San Antonio Spurs: Saddiq Bey, Villanova, SF, 6–8, Soph.
A very slow release of the basketball when he shoots, but it goes in. Bey’s mechanics, how he moves, plays, and looks on the court is as unique as his last name. He’s a good defender and, scorer, and would fit Coach Popovich’s system in San Antonio.
12. Sacramento Kings: Aaron Nesmith, Vanderbilt, SF, 6–6, Soph.
A high-level scorer that is efficient. Nesmith fits a need here for a young Sacramento team that could use his ability to create off the dribble and hit pull-up jumpers.
13. New Orleans Pelicans: R.J. Hampton, USA, SG, 6–5, 19 Years Old
This might be a little high for Hampton but the guy is very impressive off the dribble and can take it to the basket with ease off his quick first step. He looks like a floor general though, a Point Guard in a Shooting Guards body. The good thing about Hampton is that he complements Lonzo Ball much better than Holiday does, so either Holiday or Hampton could be the 6th man off the bench.
14. Portland Trailblazers: Patrick Williams, FSU, SF, 6–8, Fr.
Williams probably wouldn’t start right away for this team but he does have some upside to turn into a really good starter. He has a great wingspan, can defend and rebound well in the paint.
15. Boston Celtics (Via Memphis Grizzlies): Josh Green, Arizona, SG, 6–6, Fr.
Assuming Boston keeps this pick, I can see them taking a “3 and D” prospect like Green that won’t be asked to do much except for playing defense, knocking down shots, and providing energy off the bench when his number is called.
16. Orlando Magic: Cole Anthony, UNC, PG, 6–3, Fr.
Anthony is another prospect whose value is overrated. He’s quick, pretty good at getting to the basket, but is too small, has a horrible basketball I.Q., forces things instead of letting the game come to him, is turn-over prone, and is as inefficient as they come for a starting Point Guard. Still, at this point in the Draft, the Magic could afford to gamble on his “promise” and can even let him develop in the NBA G-League.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (Via Brooklyn Nets): Theo Maledon, France, PG, 6–4, 19 Years Old
The Wolves get themselves a play-mate for D-Russ to play alongside with. Maledon has the NBA body, size, and passing abilities of a solid Starting NBA Point Guard.
18. Dallas Mavericks: Tyrell Terry, Stanford, PG, 6–5, Fr.
Terry is a great fit here for the Mavericks who could benefit from drafting a Point Guard like Terry who doesn’t need the ball to be efficient or productive. That’s great for the Mavs as their best player, Luka Doncic, is very ball-dominant and the best facilitator on the team. The games of Doncic and Terry complement each other perfectly.
19. Brooklyn Nets (Via Philadelphia76ers): Tyrese Maxey, Kentucky, SG, 6–3, Fr.
I think this would be a great fit for the Nets and Maxey. Sure the Nets have a myriad of talented back-court players. None of them is as good a scorer as this guy (except Kyrie). Maxey is a great shooter as well and when he gets hot, he can light up the scoreboard.
20. Milwaukee Bucks (Via Indiana Pacers): Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State, PG, 6–5, Soph.
The Bucks may look to move on from Eric Bledsoe pretty soon so it’d be imperative that they get a young Point Guard to develop behind the under-achieving incumbent starter.
21. Philadelphia 76ers (Via Oklahoma City Thunder): Cassius Stanley, Duke, SG, 6–6, Fr.
Instead of Jimmy Butler, the 76ers get their version of him in the aggregate. Stanley’s game is very similar to the former 76er. He can score and brings high energy and effort on Defense.
22. Utah Jazz: Kira Lewis Jr., Alabama, PG, 6–3, Soph.
With Mike Conley having an off-season, the Jazz may look to the future and start developing a Point Guard. At the very least Lewis Jr. provides depth and can take some of the heavy minutes load off of an aging Conley.
23. Denver Nuggets (Via Houston Rockets): Precious Achiuwa, Memphis, PF, 6–9, Fr
This pick is all potential. Achiuwa has some improvement to do and could use some time in the G-League. He’s young and still has some time to grow.
24. Miami Heat: Jalen Smith, Maryland, C/PF, 6–10, Soph.
Smith is a walking double-double and has a very smooth game. He has a great wingspan, gets after the offensive boards, and has a good face-up game. I’m honestly surprised he’s not projected to go in the Top 10.
25. Boston Celtics: Kenyon Martin Jr., IMG Academy, SF, 6–6, 19 Years Old
Martin Jr., in my opinion, is a sleeper pick. I think he could be the steal of the Draft. He’s super quick and athletic just like his Father. He’s can finish at the basket and defend well. I think it’s great for the Celtics and for Martin Jr., to go to a team that doesn’t need his contribution right away so he can continue to develop the rest of his game.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (Via Denver Nuggets): Elijah Hughes, Syracuse, SF, 6–6, Jr.
Hughes is a good scorer who could create for himself and can come and contribute as a rotational player.
27. New York Knicks (Via Los Angeles Clippers): Jahmi’us Ramsey, Texas Tech, SG, 6–4, Fr.
Ramsey is a volume shooter and scorer that gets hot and cold but when he’s hot, he’s “hot”. He’ll get a chance to prove himself on a bad Knick team.
28. Toronto Raptors: Zeke Nnaji, Arizona, C, 6–11, Fr.
This pick provides depth and an energy guy on the inside for the Raptors.
29. Los Angeles Lakers: Jay Scrubb, John A. Logan College, SG/SF, 6–6, Soph.
A smooth shooting wing that can stop and pop. The only problem is we won’t know just how good he is because of the level of competition he played in college. Still, this late in the draft Scrubb is a good risk to take and he has the wingspan, defense, size, and scoring ability to complement LeBron James.
30. Boston Celtics (Via Milwaukee Bucks): Tre Jones, Duke, PG, 6–3, Soph.
A great fit here for the Celtics who could use a player like Jones that is NBA-ready and could contribute right away for a good team. He’s a good locker-room guy. A winner who plays hard and can run a second team. He has what it takes to possibly even develop into a starter down the road.
There you have it! The 2020 NBA Mock Draft 1.0. If you liked this post please share it on your social media and also be sure to check out some more of my content at https://medium.com/genaosportbuzz
