The NBA has announced their plans to hold the 2020 NBA draft lottery on August 25. They have also announced that they plan to hold the 2020 NBA draft on October 15th. The 8 NBA teams that were not invited to Orlando will heavily anticipate the draft lottery and draft day. The NBA draft is a magical and significant day that can change an NBA franchise forever. Many top college prospects have gained significant interest from NBA teams who hope to select them to join their franchise.
As we count down the days until the draft, we will be doing a mock draft which will predict what order the top prospects are chosen. We will be predicting each team’s selections by evaluating the team’s needs as well as the overall talent of each individual players. Since the draft lottery is in August and we are unaware of the official draft order, we will be using the Tankathon 2020 NBA Draft Lottery Simulator to determine the draft order.
1. New York Knicks: Lamelo Ball (PG, Illawarra Hawks, 18 years old)
In terms of the business side of the NBA, this is the most ideal situation. Lamelo Ball is the biggest named prospect in the draft. The New York Knicks are one of the biggest markets in the NBA. When you combine these two things, its instant revenue. People will be interested in Knicks basketball again. The Knicks are in desperate need of a franchise point guard to facilitate their offence. Lamelo instantly becomes their go to playmaker, as well as someone who can shoot the 3. He will join RJ Barrett in the backcourt, making them one of the most promising young guard duos in the NBA. He is not a good defender but is a 6″8 point guard with great footspeed. Lamelo Ball is going to get a lot of opportunity to shine in New York and be their go to player for many years to come.
2. Charlotte Hornets: James Wiseman (C, Memphis, 19 years old)
The Charlotte Hornets have been searching for their franchise center for many years. The Hornets have had significant interest in trading for Andre Drummond before he was dealt to the Cavaliers. There have also been rumours that the Hornets will pursue a center such as Montrezl Harrell or Hassan Whiteside in the 2020 NBA Free Agency. In this draft scenario, the Hornets get the young big man they’ve been looking for, to pair alongside their young core of Devonte Graham, Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges and P..J Washington. Wiseman will provide a dominant post presence that the Hornets need. He is very athletic and has a great frame, he’s a great rebounder as well as a great shot blocker. He is also a good player in the pick and roll and can finish at the rim efficiently. Although he only played 3 games in college this year due to a suspension, he is still projected to go top 3 in this draft. Wiseman has potential to be one of the league’s premier centers and be the ideal center that the Hornets have been looking for.
3. Detroit Pistons: Anthony Edwards (SG, Georgia, 18 years old)
This NBA draft is extremely crucial for the future of the Detroit Pistons. After trading away Andre Drummond, the Pistons have begun their rebuild and look to be one of the worst teams in the league next season. The Pistons need a top prospect to start their rebuild with seeing as though they don’t have a lot of young promising talent on their current roster. The Pistons need the best available player which would be Anthony Edwards. Edwards is debatably the best player in this draft and has a lot of potential. Edwards is the best scorer in this draft and can create his own shot inside or on the perimeter. He also is good defensively and has the potential to be an elite two way guard in the NBA. Edwards is going to get a lot of touches next season and can potentially emerge as the best player in the draft.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Deni Avdija (SF/PF, Maccabi Tel Aviv, 19 years old)
After the top 3 prospects in the draft, there is a significant drop off in talent level. I believe the Cavaliers will be looking for the player with the most potential at this spot. The Cavaliers have a future backcourt of Darius Garland and Collin Sexton as well as having another young talent in Kevin Porter Jr, but other than that there isn’t a lot of young talent on the team. The Cavaliers don’t have a young frontcourt player but I am unsure if they draft a frontcourt player on the board such as Obi Toppin or Onyeka Okongwu. Their front court is already filled with players such as Kevin Love, Andre Drummond, Larry Nance Jr and Tristan Thompson. If they draft a frontcourt player in this draft, their development could be stunted trying to develop behind these established NBA players. The future of the Cavaliers is very uncertain and I think they should make a high risk, high reward pick that could potentially change their franchise. It is hard to tell how European prospects will transition when making the jump to the NBA. It can be a risk taking a European prospect, a risk I think the Cavaliers should be willing to take. Deni has tools to be a good defender, has shown promise as a reliable point forward and is a versatile scorer. The biggest concerns for Deni are his shooting inconsistencies, ability to create separation and if he will transfer over to the North American game.
5. Golden State Warriors: Obi Toppin (PF, Dayton, 22 years old)
Before the season, no one would have predicted that the team that just reached the NBA finals would be at the bottom of the league a year later. The Warriors are in a good situation right now. They are guaranteed a high draft pick and are instant contenders next season led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Most fans want the Warriors to draft one of the rebounding bigs in the draft such as Wiseman or Okongwu. I personally think the Warriors should lean towards a shooter or secondary ball handler rather than a rebounder. The Warriors already have Marquese Chriss and Kevon Looney at the Center position, as well as having Draymond Green who has experience at the center position. The Warriors have two all-time great shooters in Steph and Klay but I think they should add another floor spacer to this lineup. Obi Toppin is being viewed as one of the safest picks in the draft. This past college season, Toppin won the Naismith College player of the year award. He has great scoring potential and could develop nicely in the Warriors system. Toppin is also 22 years old which makes him the oldest player projected to be selected within the lottery. If the Warriors want to chase the title next season, they could use the age and maturity that Toppin brings.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves: Onyeka Okongwu: (PF/C, USC, 19 years old)
Throughout Karl-Anthony Towns time in Minnesota, the Timberwolves have struggled to find someone to pair with him in the front court. This draft can be their chance to draft a front court player that can complement Towns. The Timberwolves are one of the worst defensive teams in the league and Towns isn’t a great interior defender. Minnesota needs to draft an athletic power forward who can make up for his defensive weaknesses. Okongwu is the perfect fit for Minnesota. He is being compared to NBA all-star Bam Adebayo, due to his tremendous athleticism and fantastic shot blocking ability. Okongwu stands at 6″9 but has incredible length. He is also good at reading passes and has the footspeed to switch onto smaller guards. Okongwu has also shown promise in his ability to roll to the rim, due to his explosive speed and powerful vertical. Him and D’Angelo Russell could form into a deadly pick and roll threat. Okongwu has good shooting mechanics and has shown he is an above average free throw shooter as a big man. Okongwu needs to work on expanding his range when he makes the jump to the NBA.
7. Atlanta Hawks: Killian Hayes (PG/SG, Ratiopharm Ulm, 18 years old)
Most people would say that the Atlanta Hawks have the best young core in the NBA. With that being said, they aren’t in desperate need of a high potential pick. They already have Trae Young and John Collins who form one of the best young duos. They were also one of the biggest winners of the 2019 NBA draft when they selected De’Andre Hunter with the 4th overall pick as well as drafting Cam Reddish with the 10th overall pick. The Hawks have a very balanced lineup but they lack a secondary ball handler and secondary shot creator to take pressure off Trae Young. Hayes is a 6″5 combo guard who would be the best player on the board for the Hawks. Hayes is a high I.Q player who can create his own shot with ease. He is a crafty player that can finish at the basket. Hayes also has good range and has shown the ability to be a good off ball player who can be efficient in the catch and shoot. Hayes is also a great passer who can easily find an open teammate due to his incredible court vision. He can be used in many situations as he is a very versatile point guard. He can excel in the drive and kick, especially with the amount of spacing that Atlanta has. Hayes needs to work on bulking up and filling out his frame, which would improve his ability to finish through contact. He relies too much on his left hand which can be easy for defences to counter. Nonetheless, Hayes is an all-around point guard who can fit right into Atlanta’s young core. Hayes is only 18 years old so he still has a lot of room to improve.
8. Chicago Bulls: Tyrese Haliburton (PG/SG, Iowa State, 20 years old)
Entering the season, many people seen the Bulls as a team that could exceed people’s expectations and potentially make the playoffs. The Bulls did not reach these expectations, mostly due to coaching as well as offensive struggles that came from lacking a primary playmaker. The Bulls have lots of offensive weapons that need to be properly utilized to reach their full potential. Getting a good floor general and someone to facilitate and run the offence smoothly will help that problem. The Bulls did just draft point guard Coby White in last year’s draft with the 7th overall pick, however Coby White isn’t a good playmaker and is more of a scorer so I think he would work best in the 6th man role. Tyrese is the best passer and playmaker in this draft and can run Chicago’s offence. Tyrese is a smart and efficient player who had a good turnover to assist ratio in college, as well as shooting great from the field and 3 point range. He is a quick guard that can get to the basket at ease and is also a threat in transition. The biggest concern for Tyrese is his frame. He only weighs at 180 lbs and will need to add more strength. He also needs to change his shot mechanics as he has a slow release that hinders the amount of time it takes for him to get his shot off. Nonetheless, Haliburton is a point guard that can control the game, just like the Bulls are looking for. Tyrese is also a good fit next to Zach LaVine in the backcourt.
9. Washington Wizards: Isaac Okoro (SF, Auburn, 19 years old)
With John Wall returning next season, the Wizards have playoff expectations. They have great depth and are led by 30 point per game scorer Bradley Beal and a healthy John Wall. This season the Wizards were the worst defensive team in the league and look to be a very poor defensive team next season. The Wizards desperately need a good perimeter defender who can guard the opposing team’s best perimeter player night in and night out. Okoro is believed by most to be the best defender in this year’s draft. He is a tremendous athlete and has a great combination of strength, speed and vertical. Okoro is very versatile and can effectively play the shooting guard or small forward position. He can even play the small ball 4 at the NBA level due to his toughness and high defensive I.Q. The biggest concern for Okoro is his offensive game. Okoro is very raw on the offensive end and hasn’t shown promise of being able to create his own shot. Although he is a great finisher, he hasn’t shown the ability to consistently shoot perimeter shots. Okoro’s offensive struggles will be masked by Washington’s efficient offence, allowing Okoro to strictly focus to the defensive side of the court.
10. Phoenix Suns: Cole Anthony (PG, North Carolina, 20 years old)
The Suns could be looking to pair Devin Booker with a point guard in this year’s draft. The Suns already have Ricky Rubio but they don’t have a reliable long term option at the point guard position. Rubio is almost 30 and can help mentor the young point guard until he’s ready to take over as the starting point guard. Cole Anthony is one of the biggest risks in the draft, but the Suns can take their time developing him. This past college season was a rough one for UNC. UNC coach Roy Williams even stated that this is the least gifted team he has ever coached. Cole Anthony also suffered a knee injury that had him missing significant time. This injury could potentially come into play later on in his career. When Cole was on the court, he averaged 3.5 turnovers and 4 assists per game, as well as shooting a horrendous 38% from the field. We can cut Cole some slack after he had to carry a very heavy workload with North Carolina. Despite his step backs, Cole still has lots of promise. He has lots of confidence and is a very dynamic player. He is great at generating his own shot and is effective in isolation situations. Cole is also incredibly quick and pesty on the defensive end, despite his narrow frame. He has great handles and is very flashy. He needs to work on playing team oriented basketball. Despite this, him and Devin Booker could form into a lethal backcourt duo in the future.
11. San Antonio Spurs: Patrick Williams (SF/PF, Florida State, 18 years old)
With DeMar DeRozan potentially leaving in free agency and Gregg Popovich’s time nearing an end in San Antonio, the Spurs could be looking to transition into rebuild mode. The Spurs already have Dejounte Murray and Lonnie Walker to help their transition, but this draft could be vital in them acquiring another young piece. The Spurs need a young forward in this draft and Patrick Williams fits their needs. Patrick Williams is only 18 years old and is a raw prospect, but he’s oozing with potential. The Spurs are also known for their development and they can help unlock Williams’s full potential. Williams is a gifted athlete with incredible length. He is a great lob threat with amazing defensive potential. Williams has a high motor and has shown he can be a capable 3 point shooter and not a liability from beyond the arc. He needs to develop a higher basketball I.Q but that will develop and mature over time. Him learning from the veteran frontcourt players on the team such as LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay will significantly benefit his development. With the history of the Spurs franchise and their ability to develop raw prospects, there’s no telling how good Patrick Williams can become.
12. Sacramento Kings: Devin Vassell (SF/SG, Florida State, 19 years old)
The Kings are a near playoff team led by their core of De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley. Now their main priority in this draft should be to draft someone that can complement their young core. Devin Vassell is a textbook fit for the Sacramento Kings. He is an athletic wing with an explosive vertical. He has shown his ability to perform highlight reel dunks that get the fans out of their seats. Vassell has shown the ability to space the floor, as he shot 41% from 3 this past college season. Vassell has worked on evolving his scoring and is more comfortable creating his own shot off the dribble. He is great at creating space for himself and his high release makes it difficult to contest his shots. He is a very unselfish team player who can make the right passes. It might take some time for Devin Vassell to gain consistency at the NBA level, but he has all the tools to be a very impactful player in the NBA.
13. New Orleans Pelicans: Aaron Nesmith (SF/SG, Vanderbilt, 20 years old)
The Pelicans already have their foundation of young players to lead their team for the next decade. This draft can be a great opportunity to get a young role player to complement their future stars. The Pelicans need a young sharpshooter to space the floor for guys like Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball. Aaron Nesmith is one of the best shooters in the draft and had an impressive percentage from behind the arc this past college season. He shot 52% from 3 on 8 attempts per game. Nesmith also shot 49% on spot up shots. He is a great off ball player which will benefit the playmakers and shot creators on the team. Nesmith has a quick and high shooting release which allows him to get his shot off in tight situations. He still needs improvement on the defensive end but has shown flashes of defensive potential due to his frame and basketball I.Q. Nesmith needs to develop a more all-around game but he will be an effective role player that will fit perfectly with the Pelicans young core. He will look to fit the J.J Redick role on the team once his time in New Orleans is up.
14. Portland Trailblazers: Precious Achiuwa (PF, Memphis, 20 years old)
The Portland Trailblazers have been one of the most disappointing teams of the 2019-2020 season. After making the Western Conference Finals in the 2019 playoffs, Portland has earned themselves a lottery pick just one year later. One of the reasons the Blazers struggled was their lack of wing and forward depth after losing Al-Farouq Aminu, Maurice Harkless and Jake Layman in free agency. The Blazers need to take the best wing or forward on the board with their 14th overall pick. I have the Trailblazers selecting Precious Achiuwa with the 14th pick. Precious is a 6″9 power forward with a long wingspan and lots of bulk. He is a great energy guy with great athleticism and explosiveness. The area he provides the most impact is the defensive side of the ball. He specializes in rebounding and shot blocking. Achiuwa averaged 11 rebounds and 2 blocks in college. He has a high motor on the defensive end and is great at attacking the basket in a pick and roll. Precious has shown the ability to finish at the rim but needs to work on his outside shot. He only shot 60% from the free throw line and only attempted 1 three pointer a game in college. If he can develop more of an outside shot, he can be a very effective 3 and D forward that can bring the Trailblazers back to the playoffs.
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