Prospect Previews 2020 NBA Mock Draft 2.0

Prospect Previews 2020 NBA Mock Draft 2.0

Pick 1 – Minnesota Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards

Position: SG/SF

Height – 6’3-6’5

Wingspan – 6’9-7’0

Weight – 225 lb

Age – 19

Over the last couple of months/weeks/days/hours I have gone back and forth on whether the Timberwolves would select Edwards or Ball. On one hand I believe that LaMelo Ball’s elite passing ability would elevate the games of both Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell. However on the other hand Anthony Edwards is a once in every 5 years athletic freak.

Both players have huge holes in their games. Both Edwards and Ball have questionable shotmaking decisions. Neither player is consistent on the defensive side either. Ball has a questionable shooting form and Edwards is overly comfortable taking highly contested shots. 

Edwards has shown flashes of stardom on both sides of the court. When he is locked in, he is capable of staying in front of his man and making excellent steals and blocks. The most important thing for Edwards to do in order to become a star is to learn how to play more off-ball and to make better decisions. This is going to require a lot of coaching and going over game footage with coaches and analysts.

Previously I had selected LaMelo Ball for the Timberwolves in the draft, largely due to the fact I thought he would be a better fit next to Malik Beasley. However with Malik Beasly getting into more legal trouble, I believe that Edwards’ upside justifies being drafted first overall. If Edwards learns how to cut off the ball, he could take full advantage of the passing abilities of D’Angelo Russell (6.6 apg in Minnesota) and Karl-Anthony Towns (4.4 apg in 2019-20). With the passing and floorspacing abilities of Towns and Russell, Edwards could become an excellent slasher and driver. If everything goes right, Edwards could become a taller Donovan Mitchell, however he is going to need to put in an extreme amount of work.  

Pick 2 – Golden State Warriors

James Wiseman

Position: C

Height: 7’0-7’1

Wingspan: 7’5

Weight: 240-251 lb

Age: 19

James Wiseman is one of the biggest question marks in the draft. From a physical point of view he is the prototypical centre at 7’+ with a 7’5 wingspan. However there are questions about how valuable a player with his skillset is in the modern NBA. 

We unfortunately only got to watch James Wiseman play 3 games in the NCAA. In two of those games Wiseman looked like a player worthy of the number 1 pick. In the third game he looked like a rim running centre with little offensive game. 

Wiseman’s athleticism is reminiscent of JaVale McGee and Mitchell Robinson. He has the ability to become a high quality rim-protector, rebounder and efficient scorer at the rim. What makes Wiseman different to these other centers, is that he appears to have the potential to become a shooter. Wiseman has a soft touch on his shot and appears to be able to make jumpers in workouts. Wiseman also made 70.4% of his free throws in the NCAA, which while not amazing, is definitely a good starting point. If he is able to incorporate a jumper into his game he could be an extremely valuable player.

With Golden State losing their rim protectors in JaVale McGee and Kevin Durant from their championship team, Wiseman could be an important part of their team. Golden State would be in no rush to give Wiseman big minutes immediately with Kevon Looney already playing big center minutes. In Golden State’s system he would have a lot of room to operate in the paint. With Golden State’s coaching they could ideally be a great place for Wiseman to reach his star potential (assuming they don’t trade the pick of course).

Pick 3 – Charlotte Hornets

Killian Hayes

Position: SG/PG

Height: 6’4-6’5

Wingspan: 6’8

Weight: 216 lb

Age: 19

The top three players in this draft are widely regarded as Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and James Wiseman. And for the most part I agree with this. However, I don’t see the Charlotte Hornets selecting LaMelo Ball. The main reason for this is due to the Charlotte Hornets franchise owner, Michael Jordan. Jordan is notorious for how competitive he is, and how personally he takes things. I believe that there is a high chance that Jordan avoids LaMelo Ball in order to avoid the chaos that comes with LaVar Ball. 

Personally I don’t view Killian Hayes that far outside of the top 3 players, and while I don’t think his potential is quite as high as Ball’s, I believe that his basement makes him a safer player to draft. NBA draft analyst Kevin O’Connor from TheRinger.com ranks Killian Hayes as the best player in the 2020 NBA draft. Personally I also think that there is a chance that this happens. While there are flashier prospects than Killian Hayes, i don’t know if there are any players in the draft who are more skilled. 

Hayes plays like a 6’5 Luka Doncic. While he is not overly athletic, he is solidly built, and excels in the pick and roll. Hayes has extremely advanced footwork for his age which allows for him to create great stepbacks for himself. On defense Hayes seems to excel as an off-ball defender, but struggles at defending the ballhandler. In my opinion this will lead to him becoming a playmaking shooting guard instead of a full time point guard. 

The Charlotte Hornets is one of the weaker rosters in the NBA. They could do with an upgrade at almost every position. However players such as Devonte’ Graham, Miles Bridges, PJ Washington and Terry Rozier have shown promise. If the Hornets can’t find a trade with the Wolves or Warriors to move up for James Wiseman, Killian Hayes could be a great fit for the team. With Hayes at the shooting guard he could thrive next to either of Charlotte’s point guards in Graham and Rozier. Hayes brings playmaking and perimeter shooting. A slashing point guard like Rozier would excel playing next to Hayes, and Graham could focus more on his perimeter shooting. PJ Washington could also thrive as a pick and roll/pop option playing alongside Hayes.

Pick 4 – Chicago Bulls

Tyrese Haliburton

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6’4-6’5

Wingspan: 6’7-7’0

Weight: 175 lb 

Age: 20

Chicago will be very tempted by LaMelo Ball if he slips outside the top 3. However I believe that they will have more success with Tyrese Haliburton in their system. While teams this high in the lottery usually shouldn’t take fit over talent, I don’t necessarily believe that the talent gap is that large. In fact Tyrese Haliburton is probably more NBA ready, even if he doesn’t appear to have franchise player potential. Because even though LaMelo Ball has the potential to be a franchise player, the likelihood of him reaching his potential is far from guaranteed. 

Tyrese Haliburton would be a great pickup for almost any team in the lottery. His style of play could fit onto almost any roster. Tyrese Haliburton’s stats are very similar to Lonzo Ball’s at UCLA, with the exception that Haliburton made a high percentage of his free throws. 

Haliburton was elite in the NCAA on both sides of the floor. Haliburton was able to average 15.2 points per game and 6.5 assists with a usage rate of only 22.4%. This low-ish usage percentage should allow for him to thrive alongside Coby White and Zach LaVine. Billy Donovan could run a very similar lineup to his OKC lineup, with Haliburton at PG, White at SG, LaVine at SF (like how he ran Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the 3), Lauri Markkanen at PF and Wendell Carter Jr at C. Haliburton’s playmaking and passing abilities would lead to him creating a lot of shooting and fastbreak opportunities for this team.   

Pick 5 – Cleveland Cavaliers

LaMelo Ball

Position: PG/SG(/SF?)

Height: 6’6-6’8

Wingspan:  6’8-10

Weight: 181 lb

Age: 19

The Cavaliers would be ecstatic to have LaMelo Ball fall to them on draft night. LaMelo possibly has the highest ceiling in the draft, but will require the right team to hone his skills. The Cavaliers ideally want to draft a small forward, however LaMelo would be too hard to pass on. And in my opinion Ball would be at his best as a playmaking wing in the future once he manages to put on more muscle. 

Fit wise, LaMelo could be a great complement next to Colin Sexton. Sexton has proven to be a good scorer and a high effort defender. However Sexton is a very poor passer for a point guard. Playing LaMelo Ball alongside him could bring out the best in both players. LaMelo would not be under any pressure to be a star right away on the Cavs as they do not project to be a playoff team any time soon. 

While it is probably unlikely Ball falls this far, I would not rule it out. Ball is reportedly struggling in interviews and workouts. While this may be a smokescreen, he appears to be quite awkward in interviews, and his jumpshot is extremely inconsistent and strange looking. In workouts he won’t be able to show off his extraordinary passing ability to its full extent. With LaVar Ball listing the two teams with 7th and 8th picks in the draft as his preferred destinations, it sounds like the Ball patriarch thinks his son may fall on draft night. 

Pick 6 – Atlanta Hawks

Deni Avdija

Position: PF/SF

Height: 6’8-6’9

Wingspan: 6’8-6’10

Weight: 220 lb

Age: 19

Deni Avdija is the type of player who is going to require the right situation to thrive. Avdija brings great versatility and basketball IQ, however he has a very questionable shot. Deni Avdija very rarely shoots over 60% from the free throw line. Free throw percentage is one of the most common ways of predicting whether a player will develop into a good jump shooter at the next level. Due to this I believe that it will be a long time until Deni is an NBA level shooter. 

A team like Atlanta already has a lot of floorspacing. This will be important for Avdija. Deni possesses very good passing abilities, while he doesn’t quite have the ballhandling abilities required to be a secondary playmaker yet, it is easy to see him becoming one in due time. 

On the Hawks, Avdija likely wouldn’t be required to play big minutes straight away. He could play minutes at both the power forward and small forward off the bench until he can prove he is capable of starting. The Hawks like to run 1 point guard, 3 wings and a centre. As an interchangeable forward, Avdija would thrive in their defense switching along the perimeter with DeAndre Hunter, Cam Reddish and/or Kevin Huerter. 

Pick 7 – Detroit Pistons

Onyeka Okongwu

Position: C/PF

Height: 6’8-6’10

Wingspan: 7’1-7’3

Weight: 245 lb

Age: 19 (turning 20 in December)

The Pistons don’t have much on their roster to work with. This will likely lead to them drafting the player with the highest ceiling available. In my opinion that player is Onyeka Okongwu. Okongwu is an athletic rim running centre who is very versatile on defense. Okongwu can guard both big men positions, and switch on to smaller players if he has to. This defensive versatility has led to him being compared favourably to Bam Adebayo. Okongwu does not appear to possess Adebayo’s playmaking abilities, but does appear to have greater shooting potential and better shot blocking abilities.

If the Pistons choose to keep Sekou Doumbouya as one of their main pieces going forward, Okongwu could fit alongside him as a PF or C. Okongwu could also be a good piece next to Christian Wood if the Pistons think that this will be Wood’s breakout season. With no point guards with star potential available, I believe that Okongwu should be the Pistons pick if available. 

Pick 8 – New York Knicks

Kira Lewis Jr

Position: PG

Height: 6’1.5-barefoot

Wingspan: 6’5

Weight: 180 lb

Age: 19

Kira Lewis Jr is a sophomore the age of a freshman. Within his 2 years at Alabama, he has improved his scoring and playmaking. Lewis is possibly the fastest player in the draft and has likely impressed with his athleticism during NBA draft workouts. 

Based on reports we know that Lewis has worked out for the Knicks and been taken out to dinner with the management. This is a positive sign that the Knicks have strong interest in drafting him. The Knicks currently do not have the point guard of their future. Lewis speed alongside RJ Barrett would lead to an ultra athletic lineup. Although Lewis is an inconsistent on-ball defender, he plays with a high level of intensity that will hopefully lead to him becoming a good defender at point guard. 

Lewis’ big red flag the Knicks should be concerned about is his turnovers. With an assist-to-turnover ratio of only 1.49, he is going to need to make better decisions and more accurate passes. If Hayes, Haliburton and Ball are already drafted, I believe that the Knicks should draft Kira Lewis Jr if they are looking for a point guard. 

Pick 9 -Washington Wizards

Patrick Williams

Position: SF/PF

Height: 6’7-6’8

Wingspan: 6’11-7’+

Weight: 225 lb

Age: 19

Patrick Williams is one of the rawer players in the 2020 draft. He only averaged 9.2 points per game in 22.5 minutes at Florida State. However he contributed great defense to the team and helped them to a 26-5 record. 

Patrick Williams has shown flashes of shooting, defense, athleticism and a great all-around game. He projects to be a coveted 3+D wing who is capable of defending the 2-3-4. Like many of the prospects in the 2020 NBA draft, Williams is a raw long term project. He is going to require good coaching and development. However he appears to have the physical tools, basketball IQ and skillset that are required to become a very good player. 

The Wizards are likely wanting a centre in this year’s draft. They could potentially trade up for Okongwu, or reach on Jalen Smith. However I don’t believe they will be able to pass up on Patrick Williams’ potential. He will be able to contribute with his defense immediately, while having the potential to develop into their starting small forward in due time. This allows for Williams to be a good option whether the Wizards are able to keep Bradley Beal or not. 

Pick 10 – Phoenix Suns

Tyrell Terry

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6’2-6’3

Wingspan: ?

Weight: 174 lb

Age: 20

Tyrell Terry is one of the question marks of the draft. No one is quite sure where he will be drafted. Some have him in the lottery, while others have him sitting in the 20s. However with his pure shooting form, high shooting percentages and improvement of his body, I believe that he could rise into the lottery. 

Phoenix has reportedly met/interviewed with Tyrell Terry several times. The Suns are looking for shooting, and do not have a guaranteed backup point guard on their roster. With Patrick Williams already drafted I believe there is a strong chance the Suns draft Terry. 

General Manager James Jones drafted Cameron Johnson in the lottery last year, despite the fact that many had projected Johnson as a late first round. During the Suns 8-0 run in the bubble, Johnson’s floor spacing proved to be very important. I can see Jones making a similar decision this year by drafting Tyrell Terry to develop off of the bench behind Ricky Rubio. 

Pick 11 – San Antonio Spurs

Obi Toppin

Position: PF(/C?)

Height: 6’8-6’9

Wingspan: 7’2

Weight: 220 lb

Age: 22

Obi Toppin was the best player in college basketball this year. But that does not necessarily mean he will be the best NBA player. Toppin is a beast on the offensive side of the floor. He makes great decisions, passes and is an extremely effective driver/slasher/roller. Toppin also has displayed solid touch from the 3pt line. However he did only shoot around 70% from the free throw line, leaving questions to be raised about whether his jumper can translate to the next level. 

Toppin’s big weakness is his defense. Toppin was a terrible defender at the college level despite his wingspan. Teams would target him to run pick and rolls against as it would often lead to easy baskets. Toppin is also incapable of switching onto quick wings. I believe that Toppin’s lack of defense will lead to him falling on draft night. Especially with all of the reports hyping him up that keep leaking to reporters. 

However with all of that said about Toppin’s defense, he is still one of my favourite players in the draft. Toppin should be glad if he falls to the Spurs on draft night. Their coaching staff would be perfect for honing his skills. The Spurs are famous for their player development. On this team we could potentially see Toppin refine his shot and improve his defensive IQ. 

Pick 12 – Sacramento Kings

Devin Vassell

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’7 

Wingspan: 6’10-7’0

Weight: 194 lb

Age: 20

Vassell is a long, skinny defender. He was a key part of Florida State’s success this season. Many people have Vassell in their top 10, however in this mock I have him just slipping out. The big question about Devin Vassell is whether his jumpshot will translate to the NBA. Vassell shot over 41% from deep in both of his seasons in college. However he was only a 73.8% free throw shooter this season. While his jumpshot did look awkward at times, he was still an effective shot maker. Unfortunately there was a recent video that emerged online showing Vassell shooting with an even more awkward shot form. This has led to many fans becoming concerned over Vassell’s shot and given some PTSD-like flashbacks to Markelle Fultz’s shot form changes. 

With the Sacramento Kings likely having to move on from Buddy Hield, Vassell would be an excellent backup shooting guard for Bogdan Bogdanovic. Vassell would bring defense to the Kings, and if developed right could be a good starter for them in the future. 

Pick 13 – New Orleans Pelicans

Tyrese Maxey

Position: SG/PG

Height: 6’2-6’3

Wingspan: 6’6-6’8

Weight: 198 lb

Age: 19 (turning 20 November 4th) 

Tyrese Maxey was a player I was not initially sold on. As an undersized shooting guard who shot under 30% from deep, I couldn’t originally see why so many were so high on his game. However I have since watched a couple of Kentucky replays and got to see the slashing, driving, on-ball and off-ball defense, and decision making he brought to his team.

Maxey looks to thrive as an off-ball defender on a team with playmakers at other positions. While a team like Dallas would be his ideal fit, I don’t see him falling that far with how he has improved his jumpshot and has impressed at workouts. While Maxey was only a 29.2% 3pt shooter at Kentucky, he shot 83.3% from the free throw line. This gives many hope he can develop into a good shooter over time. His televised Pro Day with Anthony Edwards will have increased this belief.  

The Pelicans have two larger playmakers in Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram. If the Pelicans ran Maxey at the point alongside these two, it would improve New Orleans’ perimeter defense and lead to them being a scoring threat at all three positions. The Pelicans lineup is already versatile, Maxey would make it moreso. 

Pick 14 – Boston Celtics

RJ Hampton

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6’4-6’6

Wingspan: 6’7

Weight: 185 lb

RJ Hampton has already interviewed with the Celtics. Rumours are that they were impressed with Hampton. With the defense the Celtics are trying to run, a tall point guard who can switch onto wings would be very valuable. 

Hampton was a very streaky shooter in the Australian NBL. I don’t expect him to be able to contribute to a team immediately, but the Celtics will be looking to draft a high upside bench player. Most of the positions the Celtics need help with will most likely be addressed by signing veterans in free agency. Hampton would provide a good backup option who the Celtics can develop into one of their starters in the future. This is similar to how they developed Terry Rozier a couple of years ago. 

Pick 15 – Orlando Magic

Aaron Nesmith

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’6

Wingspan: 6’10

Weight: 213 lb

Age: 21

Aaron Nesmith is one of the best shooters in the draft. If the Magic intend on building around Markelle Fultz, they would do well to surround him with shooters. Aaron Nesmith brings NBA level shooting immediately to the Magic. He shot 52.2% from 3 over 14 games for Vanderbilt and made 82.5% from the free throw line. 

With Orlando needing another wing off of the bench, Nesmith would be an excellent off ball scorer for the Magic. He looks to be able to play both shooting guard and small forward, which allows him to fit into their lineup. 

Pick 16 – Portland Trail Blazers

Saddiq Bey

Position: SF/PF

Height: 6’7/6’8

Wingspan: 6’11

Weight: 216 lb

Age: 21

Saddiq Bey is a prototypical 3+D wing capable of playing both forwards and switching onto shooting guards in certain situations. This defensive versatility is very important in the modern NBA. 

On the offensive side of the floor Bey is a very good spot up three point shooter. Bey shot over 45% from deep. The Blazers need a player who can switch between the 3 and 4. Bey is capable of playing both of these positions defensively. Bey’s game would fit on most teams, and with the Blazers needing a forward, if Bey is available they should 100% take him. His defense and three point shooting would complement their win-now core. 

Pick 17 – Minnesota Timberwolves 

Tyler Bey

Position: PF/SF

Height: 6’6

Wingspan: 7’1.25

Weight: 216 lb

Age: 22

Tyler Bey is a little bit older than the other players drafted so for in this mock. However I believe this works in his favour. Bey will be expected to bring his patented high-energy defense and rebounding immediately. Bey plays defense like a veteran and is capable of defending the 4-3-2. His draft combine measurements seem suspiciously too good, but I am not surprised by his great length. In his junior year at Colorado he was averaged 9 rebounds per game. This likely reflects his length, athleticism and great timing. 

The Timberwolves will be looking for a small forward or power forward who can bolster their bench and potentially earn a starting role. Bey brings both defense and floor spacing. Bey shot over 40% from deep and is the reigning Pac-12 defensive player of the year (the previous player to win this award was Matisse Thybulle). What makes Bey stand out from other 3+D players is that he is an excellent rebounder. Bey has averaged 9 or more rebounds per game over the last two seasons.

Pick 18 – Dallas Mavericks

Isaac Okoro

Position: SF/SG

Height: 6’5-6’6

Wingspan: 6’8-6’9

Weight: 225 lb

Age: 19

Isaac Okoro is possibly the best wing defender in the draft. Due to this many people have him much higher in their mock drafts. Some even have him being drafted in the top 5. However in recent years, wings who can’t shoot have consistently fallen on draft night. Due to the players such as Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Stanley Johnson being unable to space the floor, defensive wings who can’t shoot have lost a lot of their value in the NBA. Last year another defensive specialist projected in the lottery fell to the 25th pick, this player is Nassir Little. If teams are unconvinced that Okoro can be developed into a 3+D prospect he could easily fall. 

I have the Mavericks selecting Isaac Okoro due to his upside. If Okoro is able to add a jump shot over time, he will prove all of the doubters wrong. Okoro only made 29.5% of his 3pt attempts and 67.2% of his free throws. This will definitely require a lot of work. The Mavericks already have a lot of floor spacing and they could use his slashing and defense immediately.

Pick 19 – Brooklyn Nets 

Josh Green

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’5-6’6

Wingspan: 6’10.25

Weight: 210 lb

Age: 19 (turning 20 in November)

Josh Green is one of the best perimeter defenders in the draft. He is capable of switching onto point guards and small forwards. With a 36% 3pt percentage, Green should ideally be able to be developed into a 3+D player. In highschool Green also showed off the potential to become a secondary ballhandler. While he did not always show this at Arizona he still managed to average 2.4 assists per game. 

Brooklyn is going to want to compete for a championship this season with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Because of this, Brooklyn is going to want to draft a player who can contribute immediately off the bench. Green will be 20 years old when the season begins, and will likely be viewed as too young to play big minutes on a contender. However his defense should hopefully help him earn a spot in the rotation. 

Pick 20 – Miami Heat

Jalen Smith

Position: C/PF

Height: 6’9-6’10

Wingspan: 7’1-7’2

Weight: 225 lb

Jalen Smith is a borderline top 10 talent in this draft. What works against him is that there are not many teams he fits onto in the 10-20 range. Smith is a very good all-around big man. He brings rebounding, inside scoring and inside defense. If he can prove in his workouts that he can move well laterally, I would not be surprised to see him rise to a team like the Celtics or Suns. Smith is a very strong rebounder, who has the potential to play both inside and outside. 

Jalen Smith’s playing style is fairly similar to Kelly Olynyk. The difference is that Smith offers far more rebounding and length. Against the Lakers in the 2020 NBA Finals, it was clear that the Heat needed more size and rebounding. Smith could play well as their backup centre, and potentially over time he could move into the starting lineup. Bam Adebayo thrived at both Center and Power Forward this season, and Smith could complement his game pretty well.

Pick 21 – Philadelphia 76ers

Desmond Bane

Position: SG/SF/PG

Height: 6’4-6’6

Wingspan: 6’4

Weight: 215 lb

Age: 22

Desmond Bane projects to be an NBA ready shooter, defender and passer. While he doesn’t appear to have too much upside, he would fit like a glove into Philadelphia’s system. Philly needs to surround their two centrepieces of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid with shooting and defense. Bane is not only a 3+D player though, he averaged 3.9 assists per game at TCU. This passing would be huge for the 76ers bench. Since Philadelphia let JJ Redick go, they have been missing an unselfish shot creator. Bane would be able to create for himself and others for this team. 

Pick 22 – Denver Nuggets

Precious Achiuwa

Position: PF/C/

Height: 6’8-6’9

Wingspan: 7’1.5

Weight: 225 lb 

Age: 21

Precious Achiuwa is another player who is all over the place on different mock drafts. He is the definition of a high-risk high-reward type player. Achiuwa is an elite athlete, smart cutter and great rebounder. However there is no evidence he will be able to extend his range to the NBA level. It is also unclear if he will be able to switch onto wings on defense. In the NCAA he was elite at defending power forwards and centres. 

Achiuwa’s skillset is still so unrefined. On the Nuggets he would not be required to contribute immediately. Their previous high profile rookies of Michael Porter Jr and Bol Bol both sat out their rookie seasons (Bol did get a chance to play in the bubble though). The Nuggets have proven themselves to be very good at player development. This could be an ideal place for Achiuwa to develop. 

Pick 23 – Utah Jazz

Devon Dotson

Position: PG

Height: 6’0.5

Wingspan: 6’3

Weight: 185 lb

Age: 21

With Cole Anthony still available, the Jazz would definitely consider him strongly. However I believe that the Jazz’s interviews with Devon Dotson indicate he is their choice. According to Bryan Kalbrosky, Donovan Mitchell worked out with Dotson during his interview. I have not found anywhere else online any information about Mitchell working out with any other prospect. When you send your best player to workout with a prospect who looks to be available with your pick, you generally are leaning very heavily toward drafting them. 

Pick 24 – Milwaukee Bucks

Cole Anthony

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6’1 – 6’3

Wingspan: 6’3-6’4 ½  

Weight: 175 lb

Age: 20

After a mediocre season at North Carolina, Cole Anthony’s stock has fallen. At UNC we saw that Anthony struggles without the ball in his hands. He only made 38% of his field goals and 34.8% from deep. In the modern NBA ball dominant guards are becoming less favoured, especially if they are a rookie. 

Cole Anthony still has star potential, even if this season made it look like he is a long way away from reaching it. Anthony is a top athlete and has underrated court vision. Unfortunately for Anthony, he did not fit the North Carolina offense. 

The Bucks would love to have a player like Cole Anthony fall to them on draft night. He would add more athleticism at the point guard position off of the bench. He would also be able to develop into a starter over time if he can live up to his highschool hype. 

Pick 25 – Oklahoma City Thunder

Aleksej Pokusevski

Position: PF/C

Height: 6’10 – 7’0

Wingspan: 7’3

Weight: 195 – 205 lb

Poku is a very long term prospect. Physically he is not ready to play in the NBA, however he has incredible intangibles for a young big. Poku has a great shot form, and looks to be a good shooter at the NBA level in a couple of years time. He is also a very good passer for a big man. He is however very skinny and his lack of strength will prevent him from playing NBA minutes immediately. 

With OKC looking to rebuild around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the near future, they would do well to draft a high potential player. Poku looks to be the player with the most potential at this place in the draft. You do run the risk of him never developing enough physically for the NBA level, however with the 25th pick he is worth the risk. 

Pick 26 – Boston Celtics

Zeke Nnaji 

Position: PF/C

Height: 6’10

Wingspan: 7’2

Weight: 247.8 lb

Age: 19

Zeke Nnaji is an athletic big man who looks to be able to be a solid switch defender. Nnaji would do well as a centre in the Boston Celtics lineup. Ideally I would like the Celtics to fill the holes in their roster with veterans, but if they keep this pick Nnaji could be a good fit. He would also be able to rebound for the Celtics which is a hole they need to fill. 

Pick 27 – New York Knicks

Jaden McDaniels

Jaden McDaniels is one of the rawest players in the draft. However he has very special physical gifts and some important unteachable skills. McDaniels appears to have good handles for his size and a very streaky jumpshot. New York does not look to be close to being a playoff team, and as a result they should take a hit-or-miss prospect here who could be a starter with the right development. 

Pick 28 – Los Angeles Lakers

Theo Maledon

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6’3 – 6’5

Wingspan: 6’8

Weight: 174 lb

Age: 19

Maledon has a large range of where he could be drafted. Personally I don’t believe that Maledon has any one standout skill. He is a good shooter, athlete, passer and solid defender. On the Lakers he could add depth to both guard positions, while learning from veterans such as LeBron James (and Rajon Rondo if he stays). 

Pick 29 – Toronto Raptors

Cassius Winston

Position: PG

Height: 6’1 – 6’2

Wingspan: 6’5

Weight: 200 lb

Age: 22

Winston is a high IQ, high skill point guard. While he is not overly athletic, he brings an almost veteran level of toughness and skill immediately. With Fred VanVleet possibly leaving in free agency, The Raptors would do well to draft another backup point guard. Winston is a similar player to VanVleet in the sense where he is a very skilled player being overlooked due to his lack of size and athleticism. 

Pick 30 – Boston Celtics

Jordan Nwora

Position: SF/PF

Height: 6’7 – 6’8

Wingspan: 6’10.5 

Weight: 225 lb

Age: 22

Jordan Nwora is another switch defender for the Celtics. He is comfortable defending either the 3 or 4. He is also an over 40% 3pt shooter. This would allow him to fit in seamlessly with the Boston Celtics on both sides of the floor. He could potentially replace Semi Ojeleye if the Celtics are not happy with his development.