Every year, within an hour of the lottery happening, I update my 2020 NBA Draft Mock Draft to account for the order being finalized. And every year, within the next day, I field a deluge of texts from sources telling me where I’m outright wrong, where I’m off base, or simply with what people are hearing.
This year was no different, although there was one overriding theme about this draft: no one has any real certainty about anything. Typically, we at least know when the draft will be held. This year, we’re theoretically within six weeks of draft day and no one is particularly sure on a draft date (although there is very little enthusiasm for it staying on Oct. 16). Typically after the lottery, we have some certainty on who will be using the picks. This year, we’re not even sure about that given the teams at the top of the draft. Typically, there is some consensus on who the top prospects are in a class. This year, teams are all over the map on their favorites.
So with that established, that this is the year where things are going to be particularly difficult to project given the pandemic, the teams at the top and the prospect pool, it’s worth updating my most recent mock draft with some interesting insight gained from the last couple of weeks.
(Note: this will not be as long as a typical mock draft update and will be focused on specific areas. Not every team will be written about extensively, including no explainers on second-round picks. Consider this more of just a mini update versus a full-scale breakdown that will come later in the month. This is more just a way to dump information. For a more in-depth look at each player, this is mock draft 7.0, where every team and 60 players are discussed.)
1. Minnesota Timberwolves
LaMelo Ball | 6-6 guard | 18 years old | Illawarra Hawks
So this is an immediate adjustment at the top of the mock draft. Why? A few different reasons worth discussing.
First, there is a feeling around the league that Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas will explore every conceivable option with this pick, including a multitude of trade options. Not only has Rosas already proven himself to be one of the more aggressive heads of basketball ops in the NBA, but also the executive team in charge is also one of the more creative ones in executing deals. Remember: the team’s vice president of basketball ops, Sachin Gupta, created the damn trade machine on ESPN. I would not be so sure that the Wolves end up making this pick at No. 1. At the very least, they’re going to see if anyone is willing to meet whatever they set as their asking price.
Having said that, none of the three players who most executives consider to have the highest upside in this class — Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman and Ball — particularly fit with the Wolves. Edwards and Ball are ball-dominant and poor defenders, skills that don’t particularly fit next to Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell. Wiseman is a center, meaning he’s a non-starter for the Wolves at No. 1 because he and Towns wouldn’t provide enough quickness on the court together to field a competent defense. So what do the Wolves do?
It’s worth coming back to what I said above regarding Rosas’ aggressiveness. In general, the thought is that this front office doesn’t necessarily see its roster as completed yet, and will need to maneuver over the next year to build a roster to compete as Towns’ contract enters its final stages. The Wolves are going to think of this pick as an asset that could be moved in the future, even if they have to use the pick and if the player doesn’t quite fit with this core.
So who do they rate as the top player? No one is particularly sure at this juncture. But my guess is Ball makes a lot of sense as the guy they think has the highest upside. He had a terrific half year playing in Australia against pros, and his advanced numbers across the board are better than Edwards’. Both were wildly inefficient, but Ball had a ridiculous 3-to-1 assist rate to turnover rate. He rebounded well and had a high steal rate. And even beyond that, the scouting tells you that his ability to make plays with ball in hand is special. I have him at No. 1 because his upside as a playmaker and passer is exceptionally high. But my bet is that this projection gets adjusted again before the draft happens — whenever that may be.
2. Golden State Warriors
Anthony Edwards | 6-5 guard | 19 years old, freshman | Georgia
There is more smoke coming out of the Warriors front office right now than anywhere else in the league. One week they like Tyrese Haliburton. Another week it’s Anthony Edwards. One week they like James Wiseman. Another week they like Onyeka Okongwu more than Wiseman. I think there is some truth to some of the stuff being thrown out there, but that front office does tend to be very talkative, and the Warriors know what they are doing when they talk to reporters. The front office started the smoke screen process earlier than anyone else this year, using its willingness to engage with reporters to its advantage.
Why are they doing this? I think they’re trying to mask their intentions in order for the pick to retain trade value. If opposing teams don’t know who they’re actually interested in, it’s easy for doubt to creep into the minds of the teams below them about whether they have to jump the Warriors to get their guy. Do they have to make a deal? Can they wait? The Warriors are making it tough to know.
I’ve got Edwards placed here currently because I think he fits on both fronts. He fits as someone the Warriors could see as a helpful player for them now due to his athleticism and scoring ability. He also fits as a potential trade asset for them to hang onto. More than that though, he fits as someone who another team could be trying to fly up the board and to get due to his potential as a No. 1 scoring option if his development breaks right.
One final factor worth noting here: where the salary cap settles for next season after the players association and league collectively bargains it has a chance to really impact the Warriors decision-making. Many people are assuming the Warriors will use their $17.2 million to acquire a win-now player. But what happens if the salary cap comes back lower than expected? And fans aren’t allowed in arenas for all of the 2020-21 season, meaning that the team can’t charge exorbitant prices for seats at the newly constructed Chase Center? Will the team be as willing to expend that exception on win-now player salary next year? Or will they potentially have to punt it? Or, are they more likely to want to attach the pick to that exception in order to expend that salary on someone who can actually help them field an even better product in 2020-21? Could they potentially aim lower and use the pick and the exception to acquire a younger player whose salary is much lower than the $17.2 million exception? The Warriors can get incredibly creative with how they expend these assets, but it matters for them as much as any other team in the league where the salary cap number settles for next season, and in conjunction with that number, where the luxury tax threshold will be.
3. Charlotte Hornets
James Wiseman | 7-1 center | 19 years old, freshman | Memphis (sort of)
The Hornets have been a bit tougher to peg than the other teams in the top six or so. On one hand, there was a thought out there early in the season that the team liked Wiseman. I’ve gone with him here because of that, and because he fits the roster perfectly. The team has a pair of guards it really likes in Devonte Graham and Terry Rozier. It has a pair of forwards it likes in PJ Washington and Miles Bridges. Center is by far the biggest long-term need here.
Wiseman fits, and he could really help open up some space for those guards with his vertical gravity on offense as a play finisher. Then on defense, he’s a perfect fit for James Borrego and company’s scheme (which I’ll dive into soon in the Hornets team-specific big board, which is the next one that is forthcoming). Sometimes the simplest explanations are the best, and this one makes a lot of sense.
Having said that, I can’t get out of my mind that this would be a total departure from what the Hornets have drafted in recent years. Typically, Charlotte really puts a premium on collegiate production. Last year, it took an All-American in Washington and an accomplished senior in Cody Martin. The year before, it was an All-American in Bridges and an All-American in Graham. In 2017, the Hornets grabbed an All-American in Malik Monk. In 2015, it was national player of the year Frank Kaminsky. From 2011 through 2013, they took All-Americans Kemba Walker, Cody Zeller and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in the first round. The only time they went young and developmental was with Noah Vonleh in 2014, which I would think constituted a miss for them. The guy who ticks all of those boxes in this draft is Obi Toppin, the national player of the year in college hoops. I wouldn’t ignore Okongwu or Haliburton fitting the productivity mold, either.
4. Chicago Bulls
Deni Avdija | 6-9 forward | 19 years old | Maccabi Tel-Aviv
New president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas played a significant role in of the most successful international scouting departments in recent years with the Denver Nuggets before being elevated to his prior role within the organization. He’ll have a good feel for Avdija, who has enamored scouts with versatility on the ball at 6-foot-9. He’s much more of a point forward type than a lead ballhandler a la Luka Doncic, but his dexterity with the ball in the open court is impressive, and he can make terrific passes both out of pick-and-roll and out on the break. The key question here is the jump shot, as Avdija has been quite inconsistent throughout the course of his career.
Having said that, Karnisovas is being very methodical in his decision-making to start his Bulls’ career. He’s evaluating everything step-by-step. Sources around the league are unclear on if he’ll decide to ride with this core through the early part of the season, or decide to start reshaping it in this offseason with some moves. The Bulls could currently use someone with the frontcourt ball skills of Avdija, as Lauri Markkanen is more of a shooter, and Wendell Carter is more of a screen setter and dribble handoff guy who can make smart reads.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
Obi Toppin | 6-9 forward/center | 22 years old, sophomore | Dayton
The two names I’ve gotten most often when asking around about the Cavaliers are Avdija, who went No. 4 here, and Toppin. That certainly doesn’t mean those are the only two names they’re considering. And again, I don’ think any team has made anything resembling a final decision on even what its board looks like, let alone how it is going to utilize a specific pick. But both of those names also make sense in the grand scheme. Avidja would bring a degree of playmaking that is necessary to a team with two scoring guards running the show in Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. In Toppin, the Cavs would get an elite-level screen-and-roll big who can pop, short-roll or get all the way to the basket. Pairing him with Drummond would give the Cavs’ young guards a ton of options on offense. Defense? That’s another question entirely, and the Cavs continue to build one of the worst defenses in league history, as they’ve finished in dead last each of the last two seasons.
6. Atlanta Hawks
Tyrese Haliburton | 6-5 guard | 20 years old, sophomore | Iowa State
This one actually doesn’t change from the most recent mock. What I said then still stands. “This fills two legitimate needs for the Hawks. First and foremost, they desperately need a long-term answer as a backup point guard next to Young. Haliburton can handle that role, something that significantly hindered the Hawks last year if you look at Young’s on/off numbers. Second, Haliburton would absolutely excel at playing with Young. He’s a terrific shooter off the catch, having hit 41.9 percent of his 3s this season. Defensively, he’s somewhat weak on-ball, but he’s a monstrous team defender who constantly lives in passing lanes and is exceptionally reactionary to what happens around him.”
7. Detroit Pistons
Isaac Okoro | 6-6 wing | 19 years old, freshman | Auburn
New general manager Troy Weaver will undoubtedly want to leave his imprint on this team in his first draft. As a piece of the puzzle intricately involved with the Thunder’s scouting process over the last decade, Weaver is considered a really sharp basketball mind when it refers to the draft and player projection. The guys the Thunder have tended to value over that time are guys with great athletic traits, great frames, and terrific background reports of hard work.
Okoro fits those billings to a ‘T.’ He’s one of the best athletes in this class at combining explosive athleticism and powerful strength. Defensively, he’s terrific both on the ball and in help situations. He’s known as an incredibly hard worker and a good kid who has a professional demeanor. He struggles to shoot it, but the Thunder have always undervalued shooting woes, as well, thinking of them as fixable over time. Okoro makes a lot of sense given Weaver’s past.
8. New York Knicks
Killian Hayes | 6-5 guard | 18 years old, freshman | Ulm
The Knicks need more talent, pure and simple. The lead guard spot is a definite need, and Hayes fits well. He’s all over the board for evaluators across the league. Some really love his feet and passing ability and think he’s going to turn into a real starting option at the lead guard spot and someone who affects winning. Those evaluators also tend to buy into his pull-up jumper being translatable to more situations than it’s shown so far in his career, as he’s really struggled to hit 3-point shots. Others have him near the end of or outside of the lottery. Those evaluators worry about his explosiveness and his athleticism, in addition to the shot. For the Knicks, this is not another Frank Ntilikina from France. Hayes is much more polished on offense as a decision-maker and scorer. His craft is far more polished. I don’t know that he’s necessarily a star, but he might help the Knicks transition from terrible to average due to his basketball IQ.
Having said that, it’s exceptionally hard to know what the Knicks are planning with this pick due to the new front office, and due to all of their team-building options in free agency.
9. Washington Wizards
Onyeka Okongwu | 6-9 center | 19 years old, freshman | USC
This one also doesn’t change from the initial mock. Okongwu just fits a lot of what the Wiz look for. Okongwu is a powerful, defense-first guy. Defensively, he can slide his feet on the perimeter, and his presence would really be helpful to John Wall as a rim-running threat that neither Thomas Bryant nor Mo Wagner provide. He’s also the kind of high-character player that Tommy Sheppard has tried to look for since taking over, while also giving them a bit of an edge due to his motor and aggressiveness. This would be a major win for the Wizards, although I think his range starts as high as No. 3 or so.
10. Phoenix Suns
Devin Vassell | 6-5 wing | 19 years old, sophomore | Florida State
Same pick as the previous mock. The Suns are said to also be heavily evaluating the point guard position in this class. It wouldn’t stun me to see them try to necessarily move up to try to get one that they like in the top five, or slide back into a better range for those guards (although as the Suns proved last year when they took Cam Johnson, if they like a guy, they’re not afraid to reach).
11. San Antonio Spurs
Patrick Williams | 6-8 forward/wing | 18 years old, freshman | Florida State
I’ve slid Williams up another spot, to No. 11. Teams really, really like him and think he’s a good upside flier to take in this class. I will also note that the Spurs are said to be deeply evaluating the big men in this class across the spectrum, from Isaiah Stewart and Daniel Oturu to Precious Achiuwa and Jalen Smith. I don’t know that they’d take one of those guys at No. 11. But could they move back to try to take one?
12. Sacramento Kings
Aaron Nesmith | 6-6 wing | 20 years old, sophomore | Vanderbilt
The prevailing thought is that they’re looking at the wings, and should be content to end up with a good one in this spot. I’d be surprised if Okoro got beyond here. Vassell and Williams also make sense, as do Nesmith and Saddiq Bey. Here, Nesmith is the one who falls.
13. New Orleans Pelicans
Saddiq Bey | 6-8 wing | 20 years old, sophomore | Villanova
This is the same pick as the 7.0 mock draft. Bey is a terrific shooter who hit 45 percent from 3 this season, and a good defender. The Pelicans need more 3-and-D types to pair with Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.
14. Boston Celtics (via MEM)
Aleksej Pokusevski | 7-0 center | 18 years old | Olympicacos B
Same as the 7.0 mock. The Celtics will hold an interesting hand in this draft with three first round picks and a mid-second rounder. Do they keep them all? I’d be surprised. Boston particularly has an interesting roster crunch. The Celtics are int he midst of competing for a title, and have 12 guys with guaranteed deals on the roster already, plus a team option on Semi Ojeleye and restricted free agency rights on backup point guard Brad Wanamaker. There just isn’t enough space for all of those guys. I’d anticipate Boston to be active in the trade market, and active looking into stashes if it can’t get off of these picks in the way it wants.
Pokusevski is this draft’s mystery man. He’d be a home run swing as a potential difference maker for a team that has the ability to try to take a swing.
15. Orlando Magic
Kira Lewis Jr. | 6-3 guard | 19 years old, sophomore | Alabama
This is a slight adjustment, going from R.J. Hampton to Lewis. The Magic are said to be happy with developing Markelle Fultz as their lead guard of the future, but they have a real hole behind him, even in terms of a backup spot — and there is no certainly that Fultz will be the guy long-term. Lead guard makes sense, and Lewis continues to be the guy I’m most interested in out of this next group (although he’s hit or miss for the most part with NBA teams owing to his slight frame. His speed is an incredible tool, though, and the Magic tend to like guys with great tools (although typically that tool is length).
16. Portland Trail Blazers
Precious Achiuwa | 6-9 forward/center | 20 years old, freshman | Memphis
Same pick as before. The Blazers will always take the guy they think has the most upside. They have a need in the frontcourt in terms of athleticism and defensive prowess. Achiuwa fits both of those bills. I will note, though, that Achiuwa is all over the board for teams that I talk to. Some worry about his offensive fit and think he’s just a pure 5 at the next level. Others see him as someone they can mold into being an option at the 4.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves
Jalen Smith | 6-10 forward/center | 20 years old, sophomore | Maryland
This is a move up for Smith into the top-20. I got a few calls after mock draft 6.0 had him in the second round. Most of the feedback was that I needed to slide him up. His mix of shooting and rim protection is something a lot of NBA teams are intrigued by. I wrote about the Smith-Timberwolves fit on Monday, saying “he can really actually shoot it from distance at 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot wingspan. That would allow Minnesota to still potentially play 5-out while maintaining real size on the court with Smith and Towns.
So where is the worry here after Smith averaged 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game? His body mechanics aren’t particularly fluid, and don’t lend themselves to defending on the perimeter. He might be more of a tweener than a true 4. He’s very still and doesn’t get good bend, and could get blown by with relative ease if teams aren’t able to improve his flexibility. But if they can, this is a great spot for Smith to land in Minnesota because he’d fill a lot of different roles well.
18. Dallas Mavericks
Tyrese Maxey | 6-3 guard | 19 years old, freshman | Kentucky
What the Mavericks really need is someone who is a wing and someone who can shoot. That guy isn’t available at No. 18. If you buy into Maxey being a secondary ballhandler who can shoot, this pick makes sense. And ultimately, I do think Maxey will shoot it. But when I get asked who I think a prime team to move up in the draft is, I think Dallas is it. Could they use No. 31 overall to get up into the No. 12 to 15 or so range to end up with whoever falls out of the wing class? Probably would need to add more than No. 31 to get it done at the higher range, but given who is available come draft night, and the run I expect on wings, Dallas would be smart to look into that option.
19. Brooklyn Nets (via PHI)
Cole Anthony | 6-3 guard | 20 years old, freshman | North Carolina
Same pick here. Wouldn’t stun me to see the Nets move off of this pick in a deal involving Taurean Prince to induce another team to take his salary in order for the Nets to clear out salary space in their budget to sign Joe Harris. Prince has about two years, $25 million left on his deal, and I think a few teams out there would be smart to take that if the Nets are offering.
20. Miami Heat
Tre Jones | 6-2 guard | 20 years old, sophomore | Duke
There is some real buzz behind Jones right now, with a few teams higher than this really doing a deep dive to learn more about him. In Miami’s case, the team does have a potential need at the lead guard spot. Goran Dragic is a free agent at the end of the year, and Kendrick Nunn has exited the rotation quickly in the playoffs, indicating a lack of trust in him. One sneaky name to keep an eye on here is Desmond Bane of TCU. Think of this as the start of his range.
21. Philadelphia 76ers (via OKC)
R.J. Hampton | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | New Zealand Breakers
The 76ers need guards, and this would represent one with a relatively high upside falling to them. This pick could be all over the map though, and it wouldn’t stun me if they tried to consolidate some of their picks to try to move up. Nos. 34 an 36 are valuable picks for some team.
22. Denver Nuggets
Isaiah Stewart | 6-9 center | 19 years old, freshman | Washington
Stewart moves up here, as his range is considered anywhere from No. 15 to about 35. He’s one of the most liked bigs by front offices due to his terrific work ethic and motor. Denver has a need at backup center unless it’s ready to jump in with two feet to the Bol Bol Experience.
23. Utah Jazz
Josh Green | 6-6 wing | 19 years old, freshman | Arizona
The Jazz certainly want a wing, but there aren’t a ton of them in this area of the draft unless they’re willing to reach for an older guy like Elijah Hughes or Desmond Bane. And honestly, I’m not totally convinced that such a pick would be a reach, given that I have both ranked ahead of Green on my personal board. But in general, across the league, Green is seen in higher standing than those guys. I also wouldn’t rule out a big man like Daniel Oturu, Zeke Nnaji or Xavier Tillman here.
24. Milwaukee Bucks (via IND)
Theo Maledon | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | ASVEL
This is the same pick as in the most recent mock draft. I’d anticipate that Maledon will go somewhere in the first round, with his range likely starting just outside of the lottery. He’s considered a terrific worker, and has been a rotation player for ASVEL for the past two years as a teenager in Euroleague play. That’s not easy, and it’s impressive he has held down a spot.
25. Oklahoma City (via DEN)
Jaden McDaniels | 6-10 forward | 19 years old, freshman | Washington
Same pick as previously mentioned in the last two mock drafts. McDaniels seems likely to go somewhere in the first round, even though I have him lower. This is a good spot for Oklahoma City to take a home-run swing given the sheer number of picks it has forthcoming soon.
26. Boston Celtics
Leandro Bolmaro | 6-8 forward | 19 years old, international | Barcelona B
Bolmaro falls a bit here, but his range is anywhere from No. 15 to No. 35. He’ll officially be a stash this year, as he has decided to stay in Barcelona for this season due to the uncertainty of what the NBA looks like next year. He recently signed a three-year deal with Barcelona, so it’s possible that stash could be extended. For Boston, a stash makes a lot of sense, although again I’m skeptical that the team keeps all of these picks.
27. New York Knicks (via LAC)
Elijah Hughes | 6-7 wing | 22 years old | Syracuse
An older wing, Hughes had a terrific year in the ACC. With everyone looking for wings, he’s seen as something of an interesting option due to his shot-making ability, athleticism and length. He led the ACC in scoring last year for Syracuse as their premier offensive option.
28. Los Angeles Lakers
Cassius Winston | 6-1 guard | 22 years old, senior | Michigan State
Same pick as before. A tough-minded, high-IQ guard for the Lakers who should be able to come in and play reasonably early in his career. This one makes a lot of sense.
29. Toronto Raptors
Daniel Oturu | 6-10 center | 20 years old, sophomore | Minnesota
Oturu’s range is extremely tough to pin down right now. Teams are really all over the map on him. He could go much higher than this, with some teams in the teens doing some real due diligence on him and considering him an option. He could legitimately go that high. But he also could fall because if the teams that like him end up just having one guy ahead of him on their board that they like a little bit better, it could lead to a bit of a free fall. The teams that like him point to the fact that he’s extraordinarily productive and has a chance to be a real stretch-five option. The teams that don’t like him have some worries that he’s far too stiff, and a bit undersized for the center spot in today’s NBA. He’s a fascinating one for me to track the rest of the way.
30. Boston Celtics (via MIL)
Robert Woodard | 6-7 wing/forward | 20 years old, sophomore | Mississippi State
The Celtics have a tendency to like these big-bodied wings who have potential to develop. I would think they take at least one in the first round if they keep their picks. Woodard is 6-7 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and has displayed some shooting acumen. He’s as a great kid who has gotten rave reviews from teams in interviews.
Round 2
31. Dallas Mavericks (via GSW)
Desmond Bane | 6-5 guard | 22 years old, senior | TCU
32. Charlotte Hornets
Jahmi’us Ramsey | 6-4 guard | 19 years old, freshman | Texas Tech
33. Minnesota Timberwolves
Zeke Nnaji | 6-10 forward/center | 19 years old, freshman | Arizona
34. Philadelphia 76ers (via ATL)
Tyrell Terry | 6-1 guard | 19 years old, freshman | Stanford
35. Sacramento Kings (via DET)
Xavier Tillman | 6-9 center | 21 years old, junior | Michigan State
36. Philadelphia 76ers (via NYK)
Malachi Flynn | 6-1 guard | 22 years old, junior | San Diego State
37. Washington Wizards (via CHI)
Cassius Stanley | 6-6 wing | 20 years old, freshman | Duke
38. New York Knicks (via CHA)
Nico Mannion | 6-3 guard | 19 years old, freshman | Arizona
39. New Orleans Pelicans (via WAS)
Skylar Mays | 6-4 guard | 22 years old, senior | LSU
40. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX)
Tyler Bey | 6-7 wing | 22 years old | Colorado
41. San Antonio Spurs
Udoka Azubuike | 7-0 center | 20 years old, senior | Kansas
42. New Orleans Pelicans
Immanuel Quickley | 6-2 guard | 20 years old, sophomore | Kentucky
43. Sacramento Kings
Devon Dotson | 6-2 guard | 20 years old, sophomore | Kansas
44. Chicago Bulls (via MEM)
Jordan Nwora | 6-7 wing/forward | 21 years old, junior | Louisville
45. Orlando Magic
Payton Pritchard | 6-2 guard | 22 years old, senior | Oregon
46. Portland Trail Blazers
Grant Riller | 6-3 guard | 23 years old, senior | Charleston
47. Boston Celtics (via BKN)
Sam Merrill | 6-5 guard | 24 years old, senior | Utah State
48. Golden State Warriors
Vernon Carey Jr. | 6-10 center | 18 years old, freshman | Duke
49. Philadelphia 76ers
Isaiah Joe | 6-5 wing | 21 years old, sophomore | Arkansas
50. Atlanta Hawks (via MIA)
Killian Tillie | 6-10 forward | 22 years old, senior | Gonzaga
51. Golden State Warriors (via UTA)
Paul Reed | 6-9 forward | 21 years old, junior | DePaul
52. Sacramento Kings (via HOU)
Mason Jones | 6-6 wing | 21 years old, junior | Arkansas
53. Oklahoma City Thunder
Nick Richards | 7-0 center | 22 years old, junior | Kentucky
54. Indiana Pacers
Kenyon Martin Jr. | 6-7 forward | 20 years old, post-grad | IMG Academy
55. Brooklyn Nets (via DEN)
Abdoulaye N’doye | 6-7 wing | 22 years old | Cholet
56. Charlotte Hornets (via BOS)
Reggie Perry | 6-10 forward/center | 20 years old, senior | Mississippi State
57. Los Angeles Clippers
Lamar Stevens | 6-7 forward | 22 years old, senior | Penn State
58. Philadelphia 76ers (via LAL)
Jay Scrubb | 6-6 guard/wing | 20 years old, sophomore | John A. Logan College
59. Toronto Raptors
Paul Eboua | 6-8 forward | 19 years old | Pesaro
60. New Orleans Pelicans (via MIL)
Justinian Jessup | 6-7 wing | 22 years old, senior | Boise State (stashed with Illawarra Hawks for 2020-21)
帮你们敲个重点:
1.森林狼的篮球运营总裁罗萨斯会探索各种选秀权的处理选项,包括交易。联盟大多数管理层认为本届的前三大热都不够适配唐斯和拉塞尔,而罗萨斯本身又是一个在交易上侵略性十足的家伙。
2.勇士管理层放了不少烟雾弹。他们的作风在Sam看来大概率是为了保留榜眼签的交易价值,从而让其他球队对自己能否如愿选中心仪对象产生疑问,以促进交易。以及,下赛季的工资帽确定后会影响勇士的决策。
3.黄蜂在赛季初期传出过喜欢怀斯曼的声音。黄蜂历年选秀都非常重视球员的大学成就。本届符合这个思路的是奥比-托平。奥孔古,哈里伯顿也类似(Sam语)
4.公牛新经理 Arturas Karnisovas在国际选秀上表现活跃。
5.阿夫迪亚和奥比-托平的名字在Sam问到骑士选秀相关的时候经常出现。
6.特洛伊-韦弗在雷霆时期重视身体素质轻投篮的风格可能会延续到活塞。
7.有传言说太阳在今年看重控卫占个位置,按以往的风格来说,他们不介意跳选也不介意向上。
8.据说,马刺今年在找个大个子,从Isaiah Stewart 到Daniel Oturu再到Precious Achiuwa 和Jalen Smith都有所关注。不排除向下交易的可能。
9.据说魔术很乐意让富尔茨成为他们未来首发后卫,但他们不确定他是否可以成为长期的选择。
10. 在Sam和大部分球队的交谈中,Achiuwa是个经常被提到的名字。
11.在写完模拟选秀6.0后,不少人告诉Sam杰伦-史密斯被低估了。目前看来他可能是20左右的位置。
12.得益于出色的职业道德和赛场能量,斯图亚特成为了本届选秀里最受管理层喜爱的大个子之一。
13.已经有部分前20的球队开始进一步了解杜克的特雷-琼斯;而也有一些首轮20多的球队开始关注TCU的贝恩
14.Daniel Oturu的顺位比较飘忽,因为不同球队对其的评价差异很大。有人喜欢他的高效,认为他有机会成为空间5;有人则觉得他过于僵硬而且各自也有点小。
15.Leandro Bolmaro的行情在15到35之间。他最近和巴塞罗那签了一份为期三年的合同。