2020 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Who's rising up draft boards?
There have been a few players flying up team draft boards recently, thanks to the extended time teams have had to conduct interviews and and review film.
Stanford point guard Tyrell Terry went from a player testing the NBA waters to a potential first-round pick. Reports surfaced that he “broke a record” for a basketball IQ test administered by several NBA front offices. The 6-foot-1 Terry ranks in the 95th percentile when coming off screens, averaging 1.4 points per possession, according to Synergy Sports.
Another player who had a quiet college season but could be a potential lottery pick is Florida State forward Patrick Williams. The 6-foot-8 freshman averaged just under 10 points per game and was a projected late first-round pick in March. The 19-year-old Williams is one of the youngest players in this class, but if he can build his game and develop, he will have a long NBA career. He’s an intriguing prospect in this draft because of his size, outside shooting and ability to pass in the lane.
Alabama guard Kira Lewis Jr. is one of the fastest prospects in transition and averaged 22.8 points in the last 10 games of the season. He is a quick guard but a high-volume shooter who took 10 or more shots per game. Lewis can get up and down in transition and once he gets hot, he'll let it fly from all over the court. He ranks in the 86th percentile in spot up shooting and is effective in the pick-and-roll, scoring 152 points when he was the ball-handler. Earlier in 2020, Lewis was a projected late first-round or early second-round pick, but now his draft range is mid-to-late first round.
Malachi Flynn had a storybook season at San Diego State, leading the Aztecs to their best season in recent memory. The 6-foot-1 guard is a little undersized, but he’s one of the best shooters in this draft. In a year with not a lot of certainty, NBA teams know exactly the kind of player they’re getting in Flynn, and he could be a real sleeper. Flynn averaged 5.1 assists per game and scored 20 or more points in 10 games this past season.
With the draft lottery set and the 2020 NBA draft slated for Oct. 16, here’s a look at Yahoo Sports’ projected first round:
(Draft order is from Tankathon.)
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: G Anthony Edwards
Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 225
Class: Freshman
Georgia: 19.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.8 apg
Edwards showed glimpses of playing like Donovan Mitchell and Dwyane Wade in his one year at Georgia. Edwards is dangerous in the open court with great passing mechanics and had the best performance of this past college basketball season, scoring 33 points and hitting seven threes in one half against Michigan State in November. D’Angelo Russell and Edwards will make up a young, athletic backcourt, and with Karl Anthony-Towns in the post, this could be turnaround time for the Timberwolves.
2. Golden State Warriors: G LaMelo Ball
Ht./Wt.: 6-7, 180
Illawarra (National Basketball League): 17 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 7 apg
Ball is the younger brother of Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball and has a tight handle and great size. He is a phenomenal passer, especially in the pick-and-roll, and averaged 6.8 assists per game for the Illawarra Hawks in Australia. He has had one of the craziest roads to the NBA, playing two years at Chino Hills High School in California before his dad, LaVar, pulled him out of school to play a year in Lithuania. Then he came back to the states and played one year at a prep school before heading to Australia. The Warriors could trade this pick because they have an elite backcourt and are in win-now mode.
3. Charlotte Hornets: F Obi Toppin
Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 220
Class: Sophomore
Dayton: 20 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.2 apg
Toppin was the breakout player of the year in college basketball. Toppin was named the Naismith Player of the Year despite the shortened season. He grew seven inches in four years and has a great outside shot for a player his size. Toppin, an older rookie at 22, will be a nice addition, joining Devonte’ Graham and last year’s top pick, power forward P.J. Washington.
4. Chicago Bulls: G Tyrese Haliburton
Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 185
Class: Sophomore
Iowa State: 15.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 6.9 apg
Haliburton is the most intriguing player in this draft class. He’s a long point guard who played two seasons at Iowa State. Haliburton has a high basketball IQ and is a phenomenal passer and facilitator. He shot 50 percent from the field and 41 percent from three before his season was cut short due to a broken wrist. Haliburton could be a nice puzzle piece joining a young Bulls team that features Coby White and Wendell Carter.
5. Cleveland Caveliers: F Deni Avdija
Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 215
Maccabi Tel Aviv (EuroLeague): 8.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg
Avdija continued to play professionally with Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Basketball Champions League during the coronavirus pandemic. In the 11 games played, he averaged 14.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and three assists per game and was named MVP of the tournament. Avdija has a solid handle for his size and mainly played wing for Maccabi. His length gives him an edge defensively on the wing, and although he doesn’t move as quick laterally, he’s proven he can stay in front of some of the best players in the EuroLeague, such as Shane Larkin, in the closing seconds of a game. Cleveland has drafted two guards very highly the past two years, and with Avdija’s size and outside shooting, he could be an instant impact player for a struggling Cavaliers team.
6. Atlanta Hawks: F James Wiseman
Ht./Wt.: 7-1, 240
Class: Freshman
Memphis: 19.7 ppg, 10.7 rpg (three games)
7. Detroit Pistons: F Onyeka Okongwu
Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 245
Class: Freshman
USC: 16.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg
8. New York Knicks: G Killian Hayes
Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 176
Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany): 12 ppg, 5.6 apg
9. Washington Wizards: F Isaac Okoro
Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 225
Class: Freshman
Auburn: 12.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2 apg
10. Phoenix Suns: G Aaron Nesmith
Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 213
Class: Sophomore
Vanderbilt: 23 ppg, 4.9 rpg
11. San Antonio Spurs: F Patrick Williams
Ht./Wt.: 6-8, 225
Class: Freshman
Florida State: 9.2 ppg, 4 rpg
12. Sacramento Kings: G Devin Vassell
Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 180
Class: Sophomore
Florida State: 12.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg
13. New Orleans Pelicans: F Precious Achiuwa
Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 225
Class: Freshman
Memphis: 15.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg
14. Boston Celtics: G Cole Anthony
Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 190
Class: Freshman
North Carolina: 18.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4 apg
15. Orlando Magic: G Tyrese Maxey
Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 198
Class: Freshman
Kentucky: 14 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.2 apg
16. Portland Trail Blazers: F Saddiq Bey
Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 216
Class: Sophomore
Villanova: 16.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.4 apg
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Brooklyn Nets): F Jaden McDaniels
Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 200
Class: Freshman
Washington: 13 ppg, 5.8 rpg
18. Dallas Mavericks: G R.J. Hampton
Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 185
NZ Breakers (National Basketball League): 8.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg
19. Brooklyn Nets (via Philadelphia 76ers) F Jalen Smith
Ht./Wt.: 6-10, 225
Class: Sophomore
Maryland: 15.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg
20. Miami Heat: G Tyrell Terry
Ht./Wt.: 6-1, 160
Class: Freshman
Stanford: 14.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.2 apg
21. Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City Thunder): G Kira Lewis Jr.
Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 165
Class: Sophomore
Alabama: 18.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.2 apg
22. Denver Nuggets (via Houston Rockets): G Josh Green
Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 210
Class: Freshman
Arizona: 12 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg
23. Utah Jazz: G Theo Maledon
Ht./Wt.: 6-4, 198
ASVEL (France): 6.6 ppg, 3.3 apg
24. Milwaukee Bucks (via Indiana Pacers): G Jahmi’us Ramsey
Ht./Wt.: 6-4, 195
Class: Freshman
Texas Tech: 15 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.2 apg
25. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Denver Nuggets): G Nico Mannion
Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 190
Class: Freshman
Arizona: 14 ppg, 5.3 apg
26. Boston Celtics: F Daniel Oturu
Ht./Wt.: 6-10, 240
Class: Sophomore
Minnesota: 20.1 ppg, 11.3 rpg
27. New York Knicks (via Los Angeles Clippers): F Isaiah Stewart
Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 250
Class: Freshman
Washington: 17 ppg, 8.8 rpg
28. Los Angeles Lakers: G Malachi Flynn
Ht./Wt.: 6-1, 185
Class: Junior
San Diego State: 17.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.1 apg
29. Toronto Raptors: G Tre Jones
Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 185
Class: Sophomore
Duke: 16.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 6.4 apg
30. Boston Celtics (via Milwaukee Bucks): G Elijah Hughes
Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 215
Class: Junior
Syracuse: 18.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.3 apg
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