原文链接:https://theathletic.com/1341173/2019/11/05/vecenie-2020-nba-mock-draft-version-1-0/
Some quick notes on this mock draft:
• The order below is an amalgamation of where different projection models sit right now, including FiveThirtyEight, Basketball-Reference and TeamRankings. Additionally, if there was a team that I felt was too low or too high after this, I slightly adjusted (for instance, Miami looks pretty for real right now, but most models have them near the 6-9 rank in the East. So I decided to move them up a few spots because I think the models are being a bit too conservative with the inputs so far).
• This is a mix of where I am on prospects, as well as where scouts, executives, and sources around the basketball industry are on prospects. In places where there is a conflict between the two, I note it within the write-up. But I would say at this stage that the mock draft is neither my own rankings nor just where teams have players. At some point in the first month of the season, I will write up my own big board. And then at some point, the mock draft will shift to being more team-based.
• Additionally, this mock draft does not include team needs at this time. It’s just too early for teams to know the exact area they’re going to be drafting in, and thus it’s not really worthwhile to discuss how a prospect fits within a certain team’s structure quite yet. Ultimately, the goal of this mock draft is to introduce you to players who are likely to play a role in the upcoming draft process.
1. New York Knicks
Cole Anthony | 6-3 guard | 19 years old, freshman | North Carolina
Anthony is not going to be everyone’s pick for the top spot in the preseason, but he’s my No. 1 guy for a few reasons. First, finding a player who you think can be an all-star caliber lead guard is not only one of the most difficult things to find, but also arguably the most valuable outside of a two-way, shot-creating wing. In my opinion, Anthony has that kind of upside.
He’s terrific with ball in hand, possessing tremendous change of pace and change of direction skills. His handle is polished and crisp, allowing him to be a monster both out in transition and in ball-screen situations. He’s a bit more of a scorer than a passer right now, but that’s okay. He can hit shots from all three levels now that he’s improved as a shooter and can create those shots with ease.
Over the last year, the big development has been the passing. Having scouted him at Nike Basketball Academy this summer, I noticed that Anthony took on much more of a distribution role than he had in the past, showcasing a variety of cross-court kick-out and pocket passes that represented slightly more advanced reads in the halfcourt than what he’d previously shown across his high school career. His decision-making can be a touch questionable at times, as he’ll sometimes take a bad, contested shot or try to hit a home run pass that isn’t there. But this part of his game has gotten much better in the last year, and I think he can be trusted to lead North Carolina’s offense as a freshman point guard.
Indeed, that’s another reason I’m quite high on Anthony entering the year. Roy Williams’ offense is an absolutely spectacular fit for the former Oak Hill Academy lead guard, as he’ll be allowed to crash the defensive glass, lead the early North Carolina break, and create plays for his teammates in a well-curated system for a point guard to find success. Coby White was tremendous in this scheme as a freshman point guard last year, and I think Anthony is even a bit more polished entering the college game than I thought White was.
He has good size for the position, a well-developed frame, and shouldn’t have much of an adjustment to the college game from a physical standpoint. I’ll also just note that Anthony does have a tendency to step up in the big spots. He won MVP at the McDonald’s All-American game, would have won MVP at Hoop Summit had they handed it out, then won MVP at Jordan Brand Classic. He consistently produces, even when surrounded by other elite players. The soft expectation for me is that Anthony tosses up something in the range of 18 points, six rebounds and six assists per game, as the team should play at pace and allow him to rack up some pretty remarkable counting numbers. If he combines that with high-level shooting from the perimeter off the dribble, and continued efficiency, I expect that he’ll be in the mix for the top spot. In general, though, this is a season that does not have a consensus guy, and there will be quite a few players jockeying for the position throughout the season.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
Anthony Edwards | 6-5 guard | 18 years old, freshman | Georgia
Edwards is a power athlete all the way. At 6-foot-5, he has good size for both the lead guard and off-guard positions and is a dynamic scorer with ball in hand. Few guards can transition power to explosiveness on their drive in the way that Edwards can. If you give him a full head of steam, he’s going to finish at the rim every time. He’s quick, but I don’t know that I’d call his lateral agility quick twitch. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell just how high the upside is with his game off the bounce, though. His handle isn’t completely loose, but it’s not always tied to his body, either. He has a bevy of crossovers that he can use in the open floor, but at the McDonald’s All-American, he was slightly less adept with his handle in tight quarters than you’d hope to see.
If the handle improves, though, the rest of the game has a chance to take off into the stratosphere. He’s not an elite-level playmaker yet as a passer, but does display some flash plays — particularly out in space. Again, I think the fact that once he gets into smaller areas, that he’s not as confident in his handle kind of holds him back in this regard. Sometimes, he misses open passes and tosses up a contested jumper. His decision-making isn’t quite good enough yet for an NBA team to just give him the ball and get out of the way.
But as far as him being a scorer, I buy into his jumper and think he’ll be a good shooter from distance in time. He has great balance and has improved his footwork to the point that he is good at loading into jumpers off the dribble from 3 with step-backs and side-steps. His in-between game could use a bit of work still — again, the handle slows him down a bit with his ball pick-up when attacking forward a bit.
Indeed, his midrange game is going to be important if he’s going to be a high-level NBA scorer, but the level he’s going to have to reach is probably slightly lower because he’s so great at finishing through contact with power and explosiveness. No one in college basketball is going to put up more highlight-reel plays than Edwards at the basket this year. I think the over/under for genuine poster dunks is at least 9.5.
Whether you prefer Edwards or Anthony comes down to what you prefer in prospects. Do you want someone who is a bit more polished now, with room to grow, or do you want someone with all of the athletic upside in the world who can grow into his game? Do you believe in Edwards continuing to polish out his skillset and becoming the kind of decision-maker who fosters an elite NBA offense, or would you rather have Anthony as more of a true lead guard? How much does Anthony being a year older than Edwards matter to you when looking at their developmental arcs? These are all questions that don’t really have right or wrong answers yet. I’d certainly put Edwards and Anthony into the top tier, and I think Edwards is a strong contender for the No. 1 spot by the end of the campaign.
3. Washington Wizards
James Wiseman | 7-1 center | 18 years old, freshman | Memphis
However, there is a third contender for the No. 1 spot in my mind, right now. Anthony, Edwards and Wiseman are my clear top-three players heading into the season. Whereas Edwards and Anthony play valuable positions where the replacement level is lower as a lead guard, Wiseman plays at the stacked center position. It’s a position where it’s easier to find good options given the smaller lineups that NBA teams play now, and the responsibilities at the position are often pretty simple. So to be selected this high in the draft at the position, you have to bring something special to the table. And indeed, where Wiseman does that is on the defensive end.
Early in Wiseman’s career, I was a bit disappointed by his motor and activity level on defense. It’s not that he didn’t want to play physically, but because he has a high center of gravity and was still developing his lower body strength, guys could really push him around. In the summer of 2018, I watched West Virginia center Oscar Tshiebwe push Wiseman all over the floor in an AAU game, catching him for 24 points and 13 rebounds, a performance that really raised some red flags with me.
Fast forward to the beginning of the 2019 calendar year, though, and Wiseman had made some necessary adjustments. It’s clear that he added weight and got stronger and could no longer be shoved around inside. Defensively, players weren’t having as much success driving into his body and finishing, because he now had the necessary core strength to absorb the contact and still stay straight up and be an impediment. He has actualized his rim protection from potential into production.
Defensively, he’s not necessarily a switch guy, but he gets down in a stance and can move his feet on the perimeter. Basically, with the strides Wiseman has made over the last nine months, I think we’re looking at a potential NBA defensive player of the year candidate, given his tools at 7-foot-1 with a 7-6 wingspan.
Offensively, I do have some real concerns. When I spoke with Wiseman at the McDonald’s All-American game, he felt that his future was more in the vein of a Giannis type who could handle and create offense. In reality, I see him as more of a rim-running, low-usage center with elite vertical gravity. Expect Memphis, with head coach Penny Hardaway and assistants Mike Miller and Cody Toppert coming from the NBA, to play him more in that vein. They’re going to play an up-tempo NBA style with NBA spacing and concepts on both ends of the floor. He’ll set screens for Boogie Ellis, sit in the dunker spot on offense and be asked to occasionally pop and also be ready to shoot trailer 3s.
Thus far, the reports are that Wiseman has been extremely coachable and extremely receptive to trying to improve and get better. If he can showcase those skills and excise some of the fat from his game, Wiseman should end up as a top-five player in this class. There is some more downside here, but I’ve come around on Wiseman big time.
4. Memphis Grizzlies
Tyrese Maxey | 6-3 guard | 18 years old, freshman | Kentucky
Maxey is one of my favorites in this class. I’m on the higher end of where NBA scouts have him, but most do have him in this tier of prospects — below the top group, fitting somewhere comfortably within the second. Above all, Maxey is a scorer at all three levels. He’s improved his jumper to the point where I think he’s now an efficient, knockdown guy from distance. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him above 40 percent this season.
His release is lightning quick, terrific off the bounce because of a strong ball pick-up, and his mechanics are extremely clean. That stretches to his efficiency in the midrange, although he’s a lot more adept with his floater/runner package than he is as a shooter in the midrange because he doesn’t get a crazy amount of elevation on his shot. But over the years, he’s really done a terrific job of adding to his package of creative push shots from within 10 feet. He’s one of the few players that I think can actually be efficient on such attempts.
But he’s more than a scorer. Maxey is an absolute dog on the ball defensively. At 6-foot-3 with a 6-foot-6 wingspan, few guys are as good at hounding opposing ballhandlers. He fights through screens, knows how to play angles, and has lightning-quick hands that force steals. And at 200 pounds, he has the kind of powerfully built frame to where guys can’t just blow through him in switch scenarios or on drives. Putting him in a backcourt with Ashton Hagans is going to just be misery for opposing teams because both can pick you up for 80 feet, slow down how quickly you can initiate your set at the point of attack, and then cut off drives.
The big question here comes with his distribution. Kentucky will likely have Hagans play more lead guard this season and initiate its own sets. Maxey is definitely a more combo, score-first guard than he is as a distributor. But at 6-3, he’s probably going to need to do some of that. Maxey tends to be a guy who doesn’t make mistakes with ball in hand, but he also hasn’t yet displayed vision in the halfcourt to where you can truly believe in him making the right reads to open players. I have hope he can develop there because that will certainly be his swing skill.
But in general, Maxey is just the kind of guy who I completely believe in. He’s a terrific leader, with a fun personality that Kentucky fans will absolutely fall in love with. He also is extremely intelligent and works hard. He finished in the top five percent of his graduating high school class in Texas academically while also destroying folks on the basketball court. Wildcat fans are going to be happy to have him for a year.
5. Charlotte Hornets
LaMelo Ball | 6-7 guard | 18 years old, international | Illawarra Hawks
2019-20 stats: 13.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.6 steals, 34.2/19.6/73.3
I’m going to do a deeper dive into Ball soon, as he’s a fascinating draft prospect for a variety of reasons. Scouts and executives who have spoken with The Athletic are completely polarized in their view of him — to a point. A couple I’ve spoken with genuinely think he’s the best prospect in this upcoming draft for reasons I’ll delve into momentarily. Others think he’s more of a mid-to-late lottery type. For the most part, the scouts I’ve spoken with haven’t ruled him out as a contender for No. 1, but they certainly like other prospects more entering the year. Based off of the conversations I’ve had, I’d say he’s outside of the top tier, but certainly within the second one. I’ve reflected that by placing him at No. 5. To be honest, in this draft, it’s just really hard to find a prospect who is worth passing on the upside Ball brings to the table.
Still, I’m more on the (relatively, at least) skeptical side when it comes to Ball’s game. The positive here is that I don’t think there is a better distributor in this class. By far, that is his best skill. As a playmaker for others, he’s a genius. Even playing in the professional NBL with quite a few guards league-wide that wouldn’t look out of place in the NBA, he’s been the one who stands out most to me as a passer.
His creativity is remarkable in regard to the way he sees the floor, and the passes in his toolbox can’t be matched. He’ll throw passes with spin on the ball that I’m not quite sure I’ve ever seen before, with them landing directly in the shooting pocket. And even while making these seemingly high-degree-of-difficulty passes, Ball’s turnover rate has been quite low. Much like his brother Lonzo, he just sees things differently on the floor. However, unlike Lonzo, I think LaMelo should have an easier time getting penetration with drives. Whereas Lonzo plays quite upright, LaMelo gets good bend through his legs, can turn his hips and can actually get into the teeth of the defense at this level.
Having said that, I’m concerned about every other part of his game. As a shooter, Ball just doesn’t pass the eye test or the stats test right now. The release point is different far too often, and his shot selection is still pretty rough. Those turnovers that he’s so good at avoiding with the pass? He creates them by taking bad shots. Also, I feel very little confidence in him shooting 3s, as he’s never really been a high-efficiency shooter at any level. I’ll delve deeper there at some point in November, but I’m worried about the shot translating to the deeper NBA line.
He has no problem playing physically and doesn’t avoid contact, but he doesn’t have the ability to do that with his frame yet. He’s very skinny and doesn’t really have a frame that looks like it’s going to be able to fill out. That hinders him around the basket as a finisher. All of this has resulted in him running a 42.7 true-shooting percentage, which is 59th out of a qualified 63 players in the NBL right now based off of minutes played. And as a defender, Ball has good instincts away from the ball for making plays and creating turnovers, but his overall impact is negative. He’s a really poor on-ball defender, and has very poor defensive mechanics when it comes to sitting in a stance or closing out on shooters on-balance. It’s all gambles, all the time. At the end of the day, this is an 18-year-old playing productively at a good professional level in Australia. That’s nothing to scoff at, and it’s why I have him at No. 5 entering the year. The positives in general here, given his age and clearly prodigious basketball mind, far exceed the negatives. Still, I can’t say I’m quite as in as many are on Ball right now. I have him at No. 5 right now more out of an absence of other prospects.
6. Sacramento Kings
Theo Maledon | 6-4 guard | 18 years old, international | ASVEL
2019-20 stats in French Elite League, Euroleague: 13.7 minutes, 4.2 points, 2.6 assists, 1.4 rebounds, 1.2 turnovers, 38.9/33.3/68.9
Maledon has been on the radar of scouts for a while now. He started getting minutes in the top French league back when he was 16 years old, in 2018, and has since established himself as a starter for ASVEL, the team Tony Parker owns and operates as club president. Few players are capable of playing on such a big stage at 18 years old, as ASVEL is one of the top teams in France and will play in Euroleague competition this season. And Maledon didn’t just play last season; he was actually pretty good. He posted a 60.9 true-shooting percentage as a scorer and showcased strong vision as a passer.
He is a big point guard at 6-foot-4 with great full-court athleticism and quickness. He’s lightning fast in the open floor and can make transition plays happen out of nowhere. He’ll use length to get into passing lanes defensively, then finishes above the rim on the break by leaping off of one foot or having the vision to toss a drop-off pass to a trailing teammate.
In the half-court, things are a bit murkier right now. Stylistically, he plays more at pace in the same way Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does. He takes screens, probes the defense, changes speed and directions well and does a great job of getting the defense to collapse around him. He doesn’t have much of an in-between game right now, but he can get to the basket and finish or knock down 3s off the catch.
He’s more comfortable right now driving to pass than driving to score when the defense is set. He’s good at finding angles for drop-offs and kick-outs, but defenses have been able to goad him into turnovers throughout his career. His assist-to-turnover ratio has long been a bit too close to the 1-to-1 barrier that you don’t want from lead guards, largely because he tends to run turnover rates around 20 percent.
With Maledon playing solid minutes in Euroleague this year, we’ll get a good chance to see exactly how far along he is entering his first potential draft year. It would be beneficial for him to showcase a bit of an in-between game that could potentially keep defenders off balance, and more importantly be able to limit turnovers a bit more. He’s been better early on, posting a 2.3-to-1 assist-to-turnover mark through five games. Continue that and see a slight jump in the efficiency he’s run this year, and he’ll be a top-10 pick.
7. Golden State Warriors
Deni Avdija | 6-8 forward | 18 years old, international | Maccabi Tel Aviv
2019-20 stats in Israel, Euroleague: 15.7 minutes, 4.7 points, 1.0 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 39.5/35.7/58.3
Avdija is another standout international who has been on the radar of scouts for a few years now. He’s been a standout youth player for Israel since 2017, culminating in him winning the most valuable player award at the U20 European Championships this summer playing two years up as an 18-year-old. It’s incredibly difficult to do that as an underage player. He’s starting to get minutes for Maccabi Tel Aviv off the bench, which will be good for his development long-term to play against older players — although he’s struggled a bit early on in Euroleague competition.
Having said that, Avdija is a pretty polarizing prospect. A lot of what he brings to the table skill-wise translates to an on-ball role. First and foremost, Avdija plays incredibly hard. He’s a terrific passer with great feel for the game. He goes for the home run a bit too often and can turn the ball over, but his vision is superb, and he can really make plays with the ball in his hands.
For Israel, in youth competitions, he acts as something of a lead guard/initiator who can make plays at a high level for his teammates. He’s a really strong ballhandler for his size and can get into the paint with his handle. It’s led to comparisons to Luka Doncic, but they should stop there. Doncic is a better ballhandler, more capable of breaking down defenders, and he’s a much better shooter. Avdija’s touch isn’t terrible, but he’s not really much of a shooter right now that I’d trust to hit shots. Undeniably, Avdija’s free throw shooting is poor, with him having made just 57.8 percent of his nearly 300 attempts. His finishing also leaves a lot to be desired, which is why he ran a pretty inefficient line despite winning MVP of that aforementioned U20 event this summer.
Because of the on-ball skills and questionable shooting, that leads to questions about what his next role will be. I think it’s somewhat unlikely Avdija will develop the athleticism to consistently break down defenders at the NBA level. Therefore, he’s going to have to play more of an off-ball role regularly. And if Avdija can’t shoot, that’s an issue on offense. Overall, of his tracked attempts in his career thus far (youth competition for Israel, ANGT tournaments for Maccabi Tel Aviv, professional settings), Avdija has made just 31 percent of his 3-point attempts over nearly 340 attempts. The number drops into the 20s if you take just his professional outings thus far.
That’s the swing skill for Avdija because the rest of his game does portend nicely toward being a potential starter as a big secondary ballhandler who can make plays happen. He’s also a playmaker on defense with great instinctual awareness of what’s happening around him. His feet aren’t super quick, but he’s a fluid mover who should be able to deal with bigs, then also play on the backside defensively in help.
This is actually going to be a pretty interesting season in terms of scouting for Avdija, because it looks like his role is going to put him in positions to where he has to hit shots from distance to space the floor for his teammates. Scouts will be looking closely to see how he plays in this role.
8. New Orleans Pelicans
R.J. Hampton | 6-5 guard | 18 years old, international | New Zealand Breakers
2019-20 stats in NBL: 10.8 points, 2.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 48.8/42.1/80.0
Editor’s Note: For more on Hampton, be sure to read Dana O’Neil’s outstanding All-Access feature she wrote after spending time with him in New Zealand.
Hampton is the other big-time NBL export from the United States this year. Whereas Ball’s every move has been followed and he’s played more of a central role for a bad Illawarra team, Hampton has been more of a steady contributor while playing a role for the Breakers.
He does a good job of getting out in transition to make things happen, and he’s hit shots off the catch when asked. He’ll play in pick-and-roll and drive, but he’s definitely been much more focused on scoring as opposed to distribution within his role thus far. He starts in the backcourt next to Corey Webster, who handles most of the initiation responsibilities, with Hampton spacing and playing second side ball-screen actions.
Honestly, I think Hampton has acquitted himself well in the NBL. It’s a pro league with a lot of really strong players. He’s held down a starting spot for the Breakers, and largely done so with efficiency on offense. There are defensive breakdowns and he needs to keep improving his frame so that defenders can’t just cut off his driving angles by being stronger than him. But so far, he’s been better than any other young NBL export outside of Ball.
Ultimately, the big question with him revolves around whether he can get to the point where he can be a lead guard as a distributor. He misses passes right now and is clearly still developing. As the game slows down for him, it’s possible he could be more of a 1 than a 2 due to his ability to change speeds and handle the ball, although we’re still a ways away from seeing the consistency needed to play the spot.
Overall, Hampton looks like a solid lottery pick right now. He’s been outshone a bit because Ball has been so interesting, but NBA teams see Hampton as a scoring guard worth investing in, especially in this class.
9. Chicago Bulls
Kahlil Whitney | 6-6 wing | 18 years old, freshman| Kentucky
To be honest, I wasn’t quite as high on Whitney until I saw him this summer at Nike Basketball Academy. I definitely bought him as a one-and-done first-round pick but am a bit worried about the lack of polish in his game. At the end of the day though, it’s just exceedingly hard to find two-way wings who possess the upside Whitney does.
He’s 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan and all sorts of twitchy athleticism. But even beyond that, his frame is absolutely terrific and should allow him to continue putting on strength and power, potentially allowing him to transition his power to explosiveness in a way that is really difficult to guard. Heck, when he’s locked in now, he really makes an impact on both ends of the floor just by imposing his athleticism on the game.
To reach his ceiling, though, Whitney has to really tighten up the skill aspects of his game. He’s capable of handling the ball in a straight line and getting downhill, but he’s not a great creator with change of pace or direction yet. If you apply heavy on-ball pressure to him, he can get a bit turnover-prone in traffic.
As a shooter, he has good touch, but he needs to tighten his mechanics to get a consistent release point. His rhythm throughout his jumper can also sometimes come slightly undone. He possesses baseline skills in all of these facets, but the next step for him is to make it so that he can affect the game with his skill versus with just his athleticism. Obviously, he’s a terrific open-floor player, but he needs to bring a bit more to the table to become a stronger halfcourt option.
It’s tough to place him on a board right now without seeing how Kentucky has developed his overall skillset. But I think I’d bet on him as a lottery pick just because it’s tough to find true wings who have potential on both ends.
10. Atlanta Hawks
Isaiah Stewart | 6-9 center | 18 years old, freshman | Washington
Outside of Anthony, Stewart is the player I feel most confident in being extremely productive at the NCAA level. His motor is just absolutely terrific. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Stewart carves out space with ease due to his 250-pound frame and overall strength levels. That works both as a roller and as a post-up threat. He can just bully guys to get into rebounding position and he already sets pretty strong screens. He’s also a guy who knows his role and is all about doing the dirty work. Additionally, a burgeoning part of his game has been the jump shot. Multiple scouts and executives who have been by Washington’s early-season practices say that they actually believe in him as a shooter long term because he has a soft touch and simple mechanics.
Defensively, I do think there are some questions. His ability to take up space inside and his long arms should allow him to be an effective rim protector this season. However, scouts do worry a bit about what happens when he gets put out in space. I think he’ll be pretty okay as long as he’s utilized in a drop coverage setting, but some do have concerns about him being able to keep contain against the quickest guards. And certainly, you’re not going to want him out there on an island against perimeter players.
When I watch Stewart, it’s just very easy for me to see a future starting center in the NBA. He doesn’t stop working. He should fit offensively as a pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop guy and should be effective as a rim protector. Now, there is some question about how valuable that is, given that it’s unclear if he’ll be able to stay on the floor in a big playoff series. But getting a projected starter, even at the deep center position, is going to be a win at this point in the draft.
11. Detroit Pistons
Jaden McDaniels | 6-10 forward | 19 years old, freshman | Washington
McDaniels is the player I feel least confident placing on this board. You could sell me on him having a monster year and improving to the point that he ends up in the discussion for the top-five, or you could tell me the bottom falls out as he’s forced to play a halfcourt game at Washington, and scouts remain extremely unconvinced as he enters the pre-draft process. The range of potential outcomes here really is quite wide.
On one hand, McDaniels is kind of a Michael Porter Jr. starter kit. He moves like a wing despite being 6-foot-10. He shoots it off the dribble. He is good out in transition and can make plays with the ball in his hand. But those skills aren’t really efficient skills yet; rather, they’re “good for his size” skills. McDaniels is a good shooter for a teenager who is 6-foot-10, but I don’t know that I’d bet on him hitting 35 percent from 3.
McDaniels can handle the ball in open space and has an array of crossovers, but his handle is high and loose, and he can be shut down in the halfcourt. His strength level is a real question. At Hoop Summit, he played in a scrimmage game against Team USA, and smaller players like Cole Anthony had few issues guarding him in the halfcourt because his shot wasn’t falling, and he couldn’t bully his way to the basket despite being eight inches taller. Scouts also worry about how shy McDaniels seems to be and how he’ll respond to adversity if it comes at Washington as he plays bigger, stronger guys.
But here’s the thing: as soon as the light comes on for these types of players, and as soon as their skillset reaches a requisite level, their games tend to really improve in a hurry, and they become unstoppable. If he can become a more consistent shooter, it’s hard to see how smaller guys contest him given how high is release point is. If he just tightens up that handle, it’s hard to see how bigs can stick with him on the perimeter. There is real potential here for McDaniels to be an absolute matchup nightmare.
The good news for scouts is that we’re going to learn a lot about where his game is this season. Because Washington plays zone, it tends not to get a lot of transition opportunities. Also, Washington has very few guards who are ready to play. That means we’re going to get a full accounting of how effective McDaniels can be in the halfcourt because he’ll be counted on to create some shots in tight spaces. He’s one of the guys I’m most interested in tracking this season because it’s just really hard to say where it goes from here.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
Scottie Lewis | 6-5 wing | 19 years old, freshman | Florida
Lewis is one of my favorite players in this class. These are the kind of dudes I just have a soft spot for. At 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot wingspan, the Florida wing is already an elite on-ball defender. He relishes taking on tough assignments and making life absolutely miserable for opposing players. Off the ball, things are a bit messier because he has a tendency to over-help and be a bit spazzy. For instance, he needs to clean up his footwork when closing out on shooters. But he’s about the right things and has a great attitude about defending to where once he gets with high-level coaching, he should turn into someone who makes fewer mistakes there. Honestly, I think he’s going to make an All-Defense team at some point because that’s something that’s important to him.
Offense, things are a bit more questionable. The jumper is improving, but not good yet. He has a high arc and inconsistent release point. As a driver, he has a quick first step and can blow by defenders to finish above the rim, but his handle is a bit loose and he can get stripped in a crowd. As a passer, he has some real upside, as he’s made some really smart reads throughout his career that typically take younger wings a bit more time to find. Given the questions on offense, this is a bet more on personality and drive as opposed to where he’s at now. I just believe in him working at his game until he becomes a useful piece at the NBA level. And in terms of communication and leadership, he’s absolutely already terrific. I’m comfortable betting on him to figure it out.
13. Phoenix Suns
Matthew Hurt | 6-9 forward | 19 years old, freshman | Duke
The translation here is super easy. He’s a shooter all the way. Sporting clean, simple mechanics, a quick release and a high release point that allows him to get his shot off from a variety of angles and situations, Hurt makes it pretty easy to buy into him as a long-term floor-spacer, at the very least. I’d expect that, at some point, he’s going to hit 40 percent from 3 on high volume in the NBA. His balance and the overall simplicity of his shot is just translatable to absolutely any level. He also plays a high-IQ brand of basketball. At 6-foot-9, he can put the ball on the deck and handle it when attacking closeouts, then can really pass the ball if defenses get into rotation and collapse on him. He’s also a pretty good offensive rebounder, with strong instincts for reading the ball off the glass. I don’t know that he’ll be a great finisher because of his lack of strength, but he does have a nice floater game that should supplement him around the basket.
It’s worth noting that Hurt is up to 215 pounds, but long-term, there is some skepticism about how his frame will hold up in the NBA from scouts. He has a pretty slight, skinny build for a player his size. And for someone who will likely have to play the 4 quite a bit, there is a concern that he will struggle to deal with the physicality of players both on the interior when trying to hold position, and on the perimeter when stronger players try to drive through him. But he is smart and has better feet than you’d think for a guy his size on that end of the floor. To me, Hurt is something of an Ersan Ilyasova type at the next level, someone who probably profiles best as a strong role player. That’s not the sexiest pick, but it’s one that should pay dividends in a draft where there is plenty of uncertainty.
14. Dallas Mavericks
Precious Achiuwa | 6-9 forward | 20 years old, freshman | Memphis
Achiuwa is all about productivity. At 6-foot-9 with long arms and a 9-foot-plus standing reach, Wiseman’s frontcourt mate this year actually has the size to play at the center position. I’ll be fascinated to see if the Tigers utilize him that way sometimes when Wiseman is out of the game. Still, I expect his best position to be at the 4, and I expect him to really put up some numbers even if there will probably still be some questions about his overall halfcourt effectiveness after the season.
Memphis plays a pro-style, up-tempo attack that will suit Achiuwa’s game. He runs the floor incredibly well for a player his size and has a motor that never quits. Typically, players with his mix of size, athleticism and motor tend to figure out how to play at the NBA level.
For Achiuwa, that will revolve around him ironing out the jumper. He’s not much of a creator with ball in hand in the halfcourt because he has a loose dribble, so he’ll need that shot to really play up to reach his ceiling. Throughout his career, it’s been pretty inconsistent. However, on the high school all-star circuit in the spring, he started to showcase some potential to hit 3s directly off the catch. I wouldn’t say I feel confident in him as a knockdown guy yet, but he gets good rotation and trajectory on the ball. It has a bit of a natural lean backward that could stand to be improved to quicken his release as he brings it into higher-level game competition this year. It’s a building block skill, not necessarily a developed one yet. Defensively, Achiuwa’s activity level is strong and he generally gives effort and energy on that end, but sometimes goes a bit too far and pushes himself out of position. Having Wiseman on the back end to make up for his mistakes should, again, be a pretty great fit for Achiuwa and allow him to really jump into being an aggressive defender who tries to make things happen.
He’s definitely a bit of a project in regard to his skill level, but I do like betting on guys who play hard and have terrific positional size and athleticism.
15. Atlanta Hawks (via BKN)
Wendell Moore | 6-5 wing | 18 years old, freshman | Duke
Moore is an interesting playmaking wing who should get ample opportunity to be an integral part of Duke’s offense as a secondary ballhandler next to Tre Jones. At 6-foot-5 with a 6-11 wingspan, he has ample size and length for the position. When the ball is in his hands, he plays with great pace and tempo. For an 18-year-old, he’s never really sped up, and it allows him to utilize his terrific footwork to angle his way around traffic to get to the rim. He’s also a high IQ passer who is adept at kick-outs and makes generally smart reads on the floor. It also helps that his frame is pretty strong, and he should be able to utilize his strength and length to defend multiple positions in time.
Having said that, there are two real concerns here. First, Moore is an average athlete by college hoops standards and probably a below-average one by NBA standards. Largely, he plays below the rim. Now, as a finisher, he does have a strong length-extension finishing package to make up for it. However, it’s possible that he struggles as he moves up levels.
One way to mitigate that would be with the jumper. But his just isn’t quite there yet in terms of consistency. He’s improved it over the last 18 months or so to where he can hit shots when necessary, but his first inclination at lower levels was not to simply shoot when he catches and is open because his confidence in the jumper was lower than his confidence as a driver. The strides he’s taken with the shot are really helpful, and it’s possible we see a leap to where Moore looks better this year. That’ll be the swing skill for him. If he can shoot it, he has a real shot at the lottery, as his ability to space the floor would be critical for Duke.
16. Milwaukee Bucks (via IND)
Trendon Watford | 6-9 wing/forward | 18 years old, freshman | LSU
Watford is a guy I look at and think I might have him a bit too low to start the year. There’s just an awful lot to like here from him as a potential NBA role player. He has great size for the wing/forward positions at 6-foot-9 with a near 7-foot-2 wingspan. I love his touch and ability to finish through contact, and his ability to get into the lane — particularly when attacking a closeout and using his ability to change paces. His frame is quite strong at 225 pounds, and he has a variety of finishes in his toolbox that allow him to have success as a scorer. That’s definitely where he’s most comfortable now. He’s also really focused on improving his jump shot over the last year and he looked pretty solid from distance at McDonald’s All-American practices. I also really like his ability to make decisions on the fly. He’s an underrated passer who should really keep defenses in scramble situations when advantageous opportunities arise for his team. His positional size also gives him a lot of versatility as a defender.
From a translation perspective, there aren’t really a crazy amount of concerns if you’re projecting him to a 3-and-D-plus role. His jumper is still ironing out a hitch at the top, but it’s much less pronounced than it’s been in past years. It can be a bit of a slow release, which means he’s probably more resigned to shooting out of spot-ups as opposed to shooting off of movement, like coming off of screens. Still, he needs to show the consistency with his shot. The big one is maybe that he’s not an elite level athlete by any stretch. His lateral quickness isn’t great. But if you’re projecting him to the 4 with some room for versatility, his athleticism is pretty functional.
Watford’s role this year will be interesting as LSU has Emmitt Williams and Darius Days figuring to play next to Watford. He is bigger and longer than both of those guys, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him be responsible for some back-side rim protection coverage this season in addition to possession-ending rebounding responsibilities. Depending on what coverages LSU plays, we might not get to see a crazy amount of him defending in space this year. That’s a critical part of his translation. Still, the tools here are really interesting.
17. Portland Trail Blazers
Nico Mannion | 6-3 guard | 18 years old, freshman | Arizona
Scouts who have gone to Arizona practices have come away with the impression that the coaching staff is trying to pump the brakes on the pro hype surrounding Mannion just a bit. It’s not that they don’t think he’s a one-and-done or a likely first-round pick or anything. It’s more about evaluators around the industry having him as a potential top-10 pick and Arizona wanting to manage expectations about someone who will be an extremely popular player this season.
Honestly, I do understand why. Mannion is not some incredible athlete who will be able to buzz in and out of the lane in the NBA with ease. He’s a high-IQ guard who gets by with feel for the game. His play with a ball-screen is really strong. In those situations, his footwork is terrific, and he has all of the little tricks you look for to change speeds and directions to find the empty spot in those defensive coverages. And once he does that and gets into the paint, Mannion is really good at using his touch from the midrange and his terrific passing ability to tear the defense apart from the inside. It’s also worth noting that he’s a strong shooter from distance off the dribble.
Still, the question scouts have asked about Mannion is whether he’s athletic or skilled enough to become a starting point guard who can consistently break down defenders. Can his offensive aptitude make up for what will, undeniably, be some real defensive concerns in the NBA? He just doesn’t have the length, lateral quickness or strength to become a plus defender, in all likelihood. This season should do a bit to tell us about that. Still, I am curious to see how his frame and athleticism look as he steps up in competition.
He’s one of the guys I’m most looking forward to watching this season. I’m going to default to what the scouts have told me for now, despite my overall interest in Mannion long-term. After having seen him for two straight weeks last year at Hoop Summit and McDonald’s All-American, I would have had him in the lottery. We’ll see, though.
Another thing worth noting: Arizona has consistently been talking up center Zeke Nnaji quite a bit in the preseason. I am not sure I see the NBA translation there yet, so he won’t feature on this mock draft. But expect him to contribute early for the Wildcats.
18. Orlando Magic
Josh Green| 6-5 wing | 19 years old, freshman | Arizona
Much like many prospects in this class, Green is one whose game features big-time strengths and big-time questions. On the positive end, Green plays really hard and is a terrific athlete. At 6-foot-5 with a 6-10 wingspan, he has good size and length for the wing position. He imposes that athleticism best in transition right now, where he runs the floor hard and creates action plays.
On offense, he’s a strong straight-line driver with a good first step. He’s not a true creator who can change pace or direction to get defenders off balance, but he can catch and attack from a wing, and use his speed to buzz into the paint. He’s also a really good cutter, who should form a terrific partnership on those with point guard Nico Mannion.
Defensively, that motor plays up and he should be one of the better on-ball guys in the Pac-12 on the wing. We’ll see how the help-side defense is, but for the most part he has all of the tools to be a strong player on that end.
The big question for me remains the jumper. Green made shots at a clip that wasn’t particularly unreasonable at IMG Academy during his prep years. But I wasn’t a huge fan of the mechanics when I’ve scouted him. He has a low release point with his elbow slightly flaring, which leads to a flatter trajectory on the arc. His touch isn’t bad and there’s upside, but Green has to do some work on his mechanics to become a floor-spacing wing. To take him this high would be a bet on that upside as a shooter, given that he likely won’t be an offensive creator. Right now, given the dearth of other options, I’m willing to bet on that figuring itself out, given some of his other tools.
19. San Antonio Spurs
Killian Hayes | 6-4 guard | 18 years old, international | Ulm
2018-19 stats (Germany and Eurocup): 9.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 4.7 turnovers, 1.6 steals, 45.2/33.3/88.9
Hayes has been around forever as an elite prospect worth tracking. I was a fan early on when he was 15 years old due to his well-developed basketball IQ and very mature ability to change speeds and paces for that age. However, as he got older, I started to sour a bit, worrying about his combination of an inability to be efficient as a shooter and his athleticism that seems to have plateaued a bit. But this season, he decided to get out of France — a country that doesn’t have a particularly strong developmental reputation despite its tendency to produce professional players — and go to Germany, and we’re seeing more flashes that are very interesting.
Starting at point guard for a Eurocup team, Hayes has been more creative and flashed more ability to get into the paint than we’d previously seen. He’s fifth in Eurocup competition in assists per game. Unquestionably, his feel for the game has always been quite strong when it came to passing. The fact that he’s creating as many opportunities as he is as an 18-year-old, showcasing a bit more athleticism than I’d seen previously when I’d scouted him, is a good sign. Hayes is also a strong defensive playmaker. He’s good as an on-ball defender and absolutely tremendous as an off-ball playmaker.
Still, there are two major concerns. First, I still don’t know that I trust the jumper. It’s better this year, and he’s hitting 33 percent from 3. But it’s still small sample after Hayes had made just 26.7 percent of his previous 288 attempts. He’s always been a good free throw shooter, and some scouts do believe in his touch as being projectable once they fix his mechanics, but obviously we need to see more of a sample. Second, Hayes has been a turnover machine so far. Honestly, it’s great experience and Ulm really only has two other guards who are capable of playing at the Eurocup level (Zoran Dragic and Tyler Harvey), but he’s probably slightly overextended at the lead guard spot as a teenager in these competitions right now. He’s posting an impossibly high 36.7 turnover rate. That needs to come down as things start to move slower for him later in the year.
Hayes has done a nice job early this season of becoming interesting again after some of the luster came off of his prospects last year. But it’s tough to place him right now until we see if the turnover numbers can come down later in the year.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves
Ayo Dosunmu | 6-4 guard | 19 years old, sophomore | Illinois
2018-19 stats: 13.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 43.5/35.2/69.5
Scouts are mixed on Dosunmu. Some like his athleticism and potential as a secondary playmaker or backup point guard. Others wonder what role he can fill at the next level because he’s good at a lot of things, but not particularly great at anything. On offense, Dosunmu is most comfortable out on the break, where he’s better at making plays as a passer and does a better job of using his length and athleticism to make plays in space. In the halfcourt, his handle is a bit high and he doesn’t quite yet have the craft to be consistent breaking down defenders to get into the paint, and his vision and decision-making there isn’t superb. As a shooter, Dosunmu has some wonky mechanics that led to streaky outputs last year. During his first 16 games, Dosunmu shot 41.8 percent from 3. During his last 16 games, he shot 29.3 percent from 3.
Which shooter Dosunmu is will ultimately be the key to his translation. I think he actually has pretty good touch and could develop if he can rework the mechanics a bit. He’s an interesting potential multi-positional defender in the backcourt, and someone whose athleticism should generally play well at the next level. His ability to play as a secondary playmaker — or maybe even a backup point guard — also gives him a role if we see the game slow down for him this year. There are a lot of pathways here for the skilled guard to figure it out, he’s just got to do it.
21. Houston Rockets
Isaiah Joe | 6-5 wing | 20 years old, sophomore | Arkansas
2018-19 stats: 13.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.5 steals, 41.3/41.4/75.6
Listeners of the Game Theory Podcast will know that I’ve been a fan of Isaiah Joe for well over a year. Simply put, he’s the best shooter in college basketball. His mechanics are simple, clean and easy. He hit a ridiculous 41.4 percent of his nearly 300 3-point attempts last season. This is an immediately translatable skill. But beyond that, Joe really does a great job of playing a smart game. He typically makes the right read and right pass if the shot isn’t there. He’s not the best ballhandler at all, but he can attack a closeout and score if the defense overplays the shot. Defensively, he’s good at knowing where to be in position and tends to make plays happen away from the ball. And at 6-foot-5, he theoretically has good size and length.
There are worries here that hold him back from being a lottery prospect right now. His frame is dreadfully skinny still, at 180 pounds, even after putting on 10 pounds this offseason. That affects him as an on-ball defender and as a driver into the paint. Joe actually shot a higher percentage from 3 last season than he did from 2, which is not particularly great. He hit only 48.3 percent of his halfcourt shots at the rim, a below-average mark. However, the bigger indicator of concern here is that Joe only took 29 such shots last season, less than one per game. He needs to work on getting to the basket more, either on the ball as a driver or as an off-ball cutter. Simply put, I don’t think Arkansas ran enough such actions for him last season.
Under new coach Eric Musselman, I’d expect that to change. Joe should take over the lead role in the offense, bomb over 10 shots from 3 per game and get a chance to score more inside. Musselman tends to do a good job of putting players in position to succeed, which makes me think Joe is primed for a breakout this season.
22. Toronto Raptors
Tyrese Haliburton | 6-5 guard | 19 years old, sophomore | Iowa State
2018-19 stats: 6.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks, 51.5/43.4/69.2
Haliburton is one of the tougher evaluations this season. He’s an analytics darling due to his terrific assist-to-turnover ratio and defensive production. At 6-foot-5, Haliburton consistently makes the best possible decisions with the basketball in whatever situation he’s in offensively. And on defense, his size allows him to guard a variety of positions. And off-ball, he’s absolutely monstrous on defense, where he’s consistently in the gaps, blocks a ton of shots for a guard as a help-side guy, and attacks passing lanes to create odd-man breaks. Honestly, I’m not sure there’s a smarter player in the country.
Still, his skill level is concerning. Despite his terrific passing and decision-making, I’m not quite sure he’s a lead guard. I think he’s probably better as a secondary ballhandler, because his dribble is kind of high and he doesn’t possess great athleticism as a driver. Simply put, I’m even concerned about his ability to create plays on the college level after having seen him play at Nike Basketball Academy this summer. Iowa State had so much around him last year that his limited role really suited him well. Then, as a shooter, I’m worried as he tries to extend out his jumper to the NBA line. His release is really funky, and his mechanics are very slow. He might be limited to simply being an open spot-up shooter, shot attempts that he got plenty of last season due to the talent that was around him.
I really like buying into feel for the game, typically, and I think Haliburton’s game should translate well to a role. But he has to improve his skill level, particularly as a shooter.
23. Miami Heat
Tre Jones | 6-2 guard | 19 years old, sophomore | Duke
2018-19 stats: 9.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.9 steals, 1.5 turnovers, 41.4/26.2/75.4
Another prospect here with distinct positives and negatives that will ultimately be reliant upon one swing skill figuring itself out. Jones has a strong feel for the game and was the perfect distributor on offense last year to keep all of Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish happy and involved in the offense. He’s great at making the right reads and knows exactly where his teammates like to get the ball to get their shots. His ability to initiate offense within a scheme is terrific, and he makes really good decisions when doing it. He’s rarely going to turn the ball over.
On defense, Jones does a great job of pestering opponents at the point of attack and making their life miserable. Honestly, it’s probably his best, most translatable skill right now. At the NBA level, with the shorter shot clock, having Jones come in and annoy initiators who are trying to start the offense will be valuable, and potentially lead to opponents getting into their actions a couple of seconds too late.
Ultimately though, we saw the biggest concern in Jones’ game throughout last year. He can’t shoot. Teams just stopped guarding him when he was off the ball and loaded up in the paint against Williamson and Barrett, knowing that they couldn’t hurt them enough from distance. This season, I’m not sure things will get easier for Duke, either. Lineups with Vernon Carey and Javin DeLaurier together just won’t have the requisite spacing. As mentioned above, Moore is an inconsistent shooter with potential. Jack White went on one of the coldest shooting streaks in the country last season. Hurt is really the only guy I trust to be the knockdown guy, but you don’t want to limit him to that, either. And the problems with Alex O’Connell and Joey Baker are that Duke then opens itself up to potential difficulties on defense. So the floor-spacing will give, then it will take away, too.
Whether Jones sticks at a high level in the NBA will be dependent upon the jumper. He needs to at least be a threat with it, otherwise he’s probably just a change of pace guard. Honestly, at No. 23, a team is probably pretty comfortable with that outcome.
24. Boston Celtics
Jalen Smith | 6-10 forward/center | 19 years old, sophomore | Maryland
2018-19 stats: 11.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 49.2/26.8/65.8
Smith will get the middle at Maryland all to himself now following the departure of Bruno Fernando to the NBA. Their pairing last year never quite worked ideally, which made it tough to evaluate Smith’s game on a few levels. Also, he was pretty raw last year in terms of overall skillset. Mostly, Smith did a really good job of getting by on his athleticism. He runs the floor extremely well, is a good weak-side rim protector, great at receiving dump-off passes inside, and he finishes above the rim. He’s kind of an interesting combo big in the same way, as you’ll read below when I talk about Obi Toppin, that Richaun Holmes has been useful for Sacramento.
But there are concerns. Smith plays very, very upright, which hinders his leverage as a rebounder and as a defender on the perimeter. He gets pushed around, strength-wise, because it’s easy for players to get into his lower half because he plays with a higher center of gravity. He just gets very little bend throughout his frame. That also results in a high dribble that makes it tougher for him to reach his potential as a driver. Overall, it just results in him not getting the most functionally out of what are, quite honestly, very interesting explosive and fluid athletic tools.
He also needs to be a better shooter, as he hit just 26 percent from 3 last season despite a pretty clean looking shot. Positionally, he’s somewhere between the 4 and the 5. Given that he doesn’t have standout length, he’s probably always going to be better defensively at the 4. If he has starter upside, it’s probably at that spot. But off the bench, you can maybe envision him being an up-tempo, change of pace 5.
It’s tough to place him here, not knowing if he can fix his center of gravity issue. If he starts getting bend throughout, and also starts seeing the floor as a passer a bit more, Smith could end up much higher on this thing by the end of the year. But if he keeps playing upright and struggles to adjust on defense, he might end up out of the mock entirely and forced to spend another year at Maryland. Range of outcomes is wide here.
25. Utah Jazz
Josiah Jordan-James | 6-6 guard | 19 years old, freshman | Tennessee
James is a very skilled wing with a great feel for the game and nice ballhandling ability for his 6-foot-6 frame. In fact, I’d expect him to initiate Tennessee’s offense quite a bit this year next to Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bowden in the Vols’ backcourt. Honestly, James just looks like an NBA player already. Physically, he wouldn’t be out of place in an NBA game right now. At 200 pounds with solid length and broad shoulders, he is not only capable of dealing with physicality now, but also should be able to put more strength on as he ages and matures.
Offensively, James’ vision is terrific for the position. He doesn’t have the most explosive first step though, and it’ll be interesting to track how many drives he’s capable of completing in his freshman season without just bullying a smaller guard toward the rim. He’s good with a pullup game in the midrange, but he’s still working through some issues on his 3-point shot, where his touch can be a bit iffy. Defensively, James can guard multiple positions already, and is useful both on and off ball. In general, he’s a does-all-of-the-little-things type of player. He tends not to play like a goofball, instead sporting a relatively mature approach that should make him an early impact player.
The recent comparison here, in my opinion, is Troy Brown. Unlike Brown, though, I think James will be a bit more well-set for success early on. It’s not that Brown struggled as a freshman necessarily, it’s just that the team around James makes a bit more sense in regard to role allocation. There is always room for this type of player in the NBA.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (via DEN)
Bryan Antoine | 6-5 guard | 19 years old, freshman | Villanova
I’ll be completely honest: I’m unsure what to do with Antoine at this stage. On one hand, his game is very interesting for an NBA wing. He’s a shot-maker, through and through. He’s 6-foot-5, has good length, can knock down shots from all three levels and has touch from all over the court. His footwork is terrific and gives itself over to him having a strong pullup game. And off the catch, I feel good about the shot every time it comes out of his hands. The NBA needs more 2 guards who can act as smart secondary ballhandlers and high-level scorers.
Having said that, Antoine has missed a lot of time this preseason with a shoulder injury dating to late last season. He had to get surgery on it, and the recovery time was supposed to be around six months. In general, the Villanova scheme tends to be somewhat unforgiving when it comes to freshmen. It’s often difficult for them to make an early impact, as that coaching staff prides itself on finding guys who almost always make the right decision within its scheme. Obviously, the game moves faster at this level, so it can be an adjustment for first-year players. It’s easy to see how Antoine missing time could put him behind the eight ball when it comes to getting consistent minutes for Jay Wright and company.
I’ve placed Antoine in this mock draft because I think it’s a necessary move. If he can get playing time, I think he’s likely to perform well as an offensive player and show off his shot-making ability — something, by the way, that Villanova desperately needs this year. But I place him in this specific spot with little confidence because everything seems a bit up in the air with how his season could go.
27. Los Angeles Lakers
Onyeka Okongwu | 6-8 forward/center | 18 years old, freshman | USC
At this early stage of the process in a draft, when scouts are really scouring the world to try to find players worthy of taking with a first-round pick, a lot of this comes down to placing bets on guys who they feel reasonably confident can make things happen at the next level. Okongwu fits that mold. At 6-foot-8 or so with long arms and a motor that never quits, Okongwu is going to be one of the most productive players in the Pac-12 through sheer athleticism and willpower. He gobbles every rebound in his vicinity. He finishes around the basket with touch and power. At 245 pounds, he has a chiseled frame for an 18-year-old, one that will allow him to hold his position inside.
Defensively, I actually think there is some real upside with him as a player who can sit down and guard in space. USC has a senior in Nick Rakocevic who made the All-Pac-12 team last year after averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Okongwu has already stepped in and been so dominant within their practices and workouts that he’s relegated Rakocevic to a lesser role behind him. I know he’s an undersized center. But it’s hard to find players with this intersection of power, quickness, athleticism, defensive aptitude, motor and productivity. Everything he’s shown so far makes me buy into him being a one-and-done, despite the fact that he was outside of the top 20 in his recruiting class and was a snub for the McDonald’s All-American game.
28. Boston Celtics (via MIL)
Obi Toppin | 6-9 forward/center | 21 years old, sophomore | Dayton
2018-19 stats: 14.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 66.6/52.4/71.3
Toppin declared for the draft last year, and sources told The Athletic that there was some interest in him as a second rounder if he had stayed in. He returned to Dayton, though, and blew up a bit this summer. He was one of the standout performers at Nike Basketball Academy, outplaying a number of highly ranked bigs in the process. The big thing with Toppin is that — while he’s a bit undersized for the position at 6-foot-9 without great length — he’s just an absolutely monstrous athlete for a center. It’s easy to envision him in a role similar to what Richaun Holmes is currently occupying for the Kings: a guy who rolls extremely hard to the basket and finishes efficiently far above the rim, catching lobs and dump-offs in a variety of pick-and-roll actions. He’s also not a bad passer, capable of operating in some dribble-handoff settings.
Is that probably more of a backup center role? Yeah, it is. But at No. 28, you’re typically very happy to get a center who can play at this level. I think Toppin can do that, even in spite of defensive concerns. On the downside, he really doesn’t have the size to be a true rim protector, and he’s not the most fluid mover because his hips are a bit stiff and his feet a bit slow laterally. But he has to hope the team that drafts him will be able to account for that for 20 minutes a night in specific lineup constructions that work to suit his terrific offensive skills.
29. Brooklyn Nets (via PHI)
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | 6-9 forward | 19 years old, freshman | Villanova
Robinson-Earl is basically a pure 4 man, which tends to be something that can be a bit less valuable in today’s flexibility-heavy NBA. Having said that, I really like his skillset and potential to stick there. He’s really strong and plays a physical brand of basketball at 6-foot-9 with reasonable length. He’s pretty ground-bound and doesn’t have crazy explosiveness, but he moves his feet well enough to make you believe he can guard enough on the perimeter. His overall game is just very polished. He doesn’t play like a goofball. Defensively, he’s not going to be a difference-maker as a rim protector, but he rebounds well and is smart positionally.
Generally, I just really like the feel level here. He makes smart decisions and makes them quickly on the floor for his age. Villanova utilized him mostly in the post in their scrimmage with USC, which isn’t the best way to showcase his potential for the next level, but he was pretty good and that’s certainly going to be where they need him to play. However, I’ve seen him in the past operate in interesting dribble-handoff actions as well as in screen and roll with guards. Most evaluators believe his mechanics are smooth enough to stretch his jumper out beyond the 3-point, although he’s much more comfortable in the midrange right now. There is some Morris brother potential in terms of role for him at the next level if he can iron out that shot.
30. Los Angeles Clippers
Xavier Tillman | 6-9 center | 20 years old, junior | Michigan State
2018-19 stats: 10.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.7 blocks, 60.5/29.6/73.2
Tillman was one of my favorites to watch late in the year last season, largely because of his defensive prowess. Using his tremendous length and awesome instincts, he was a terrific shot-blocker despite being a bit undersized — posting a top-five block rate in the Big Ten. He’s also way better as a defender away from the basket than he gets credit for. After dropping about 20 pounds prior to last offseason, Tillman was much more mobile than we’d seen in the past. He combined that with a retained strength level that made it really difficult for guards to drive right by him or go into his chest to create space. I don’t quite think he’s a “switch” defender yet, but you can count on him to execute a scheme where the goal is to wall off and cut off penetration, or to wall off and contest at the basket.
Offensively, Tillman has also developed some really high-end skills. He was the best offensive rebounder in the Big Ten last year. His touch around the rim is quite strong, and he’s starting to expand his range out beyond 12 feet with his jumper. You can also use him in a lot of ball-screen actions and dribble handoffs because he’s so coordinated. Tillman and Cassius Winston working together this season is going to be one of the more fun offensive pairings to watch in ball screens.
Generally, Tillman is just a really smart, trustworthy player on the floor who has a high feel for the game. I’m also pretty interested to see if there is even more upside with the frame, as he could stand to keep thinning out as long as he retains his strength level. I’m just a really big fan of his game. This is probably slightly higher than where NBA evaluators have him but consider this may be just calling a shot on a guy that I like.
SECOND ROUND
31. Philadelphia 76ers (via NYK)
Isaac Okoro | 6-6 wing | 18 years old, freshman | Auburn
Okoro has immense defensive potential due to his size, length and ability to transition explosiveness into power. He’s not quite as big as you’d want him to be, but he has great feel for the game and his defensive instincts are top-notch. Offensively, he’s going to have to shoot it to reach his upside, but he does make things happen through sheer athleticism as a cutter and in the open floor. Again, he generally just makes really good decisions with the ball in his hand, too. While I’m not quite as high on him as some are, I do think he has a real shot to be a one-and-done this year at Auburn, where he should slide right into the do-everything role Chuma Okeke vacated.
32. Charlotte Hornets (via CLE)
Aaron Henry | 6-5 wing | 20 years old, sophomore | Michigan State
Maybe I’m slightly ahead of myself here, but I really like Henry a lot. And he’s going to get ample opportunity this year at Michigan State, with Josh Langford set to miss some time and Cassius Winston being capable of dropping dimes all over the court. Henry is a strong 6-foot-5, with the capability of playing physically and dealing with contact on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he had some struggles occasionally as a freshman, but it’s easy to buy into a guy coached by Tom Izzo figuring things out when that player clearly wants to be good on that end. And on offense, there’s just a lot to like all over the place. He hit 38 percent from 3 as a freshman and displays really solid skill for making good decisions on the fly.
33. New Orleans Pelicans (via WAS)
Cassius Winston | 6-0 point guard | 22 years old, senior | Michigan State
Winston is going to be a terrific backup point guard for a long time because he’s just so good with ball-screens. He can use them to get to his 3-point shot, attempts that he knocks down over 40 percent of the time. He can use them to get into the teeth of the defense and make plays as a passer, where he has every single pass in the toolbox. He’s not much of a finisher inside, and he’s not a defender, which limits the upside a bit. But I’d be ecstatic to end up with a strong backup lead guard at the end of the first or early in the second round.
34. Washington Wizards (via MEM)
Kira Lewis | 6-3 point guard | 18 years old, sophomore | Alabama
Lewis is a strong breakout candidate this season after averaging over 13 points per game last season as a 17-year-old freshman. He’s definitely a bit more wired to score than to pass at this stage, and his frame needs to keep adding strength. But with Nate Oats coming in as a coach bringing an up-tempo offense with him, Lewis should really take a leap this year and potentially lead the Crimson Tide back to the NCAA Tournament, given that he can score from all three levels and really excels out in transition.
35. New York Knicks (via CHA)
Aaron Nesmith | 6-6 wing | 20 years old, sophomore | Vanderbilt
Nesmith is another guy I’ve been a fan of for a while. At 6-foot-6 with good length and a strong frame, he possesses prototypical size for the wing position. He only made 33.7 percent of his 3s last season, but mechanically there is every reason to believe in Nesmith as a high-end shooter. Defensively, he generally does a good job and is in position, plus is pretty strong on-ball due to his tools. This should be his show at Vanderbilt this season, and with Jerry Stackhouse entering the fold as coach after years in the NBA and G League, Nesmith should be put in strong positions to showcase his talent. The idea here is a shot-maker who can attack closeouts a bit, defend, and continue developing as someone scouts note as a good kid.
36. Sacramento Kings
Patrick Williams | 6-7 wing | 18 years old, freshman | Florida State
Williams is one of my blind spots entering the college basketball season, having just missed him live during his prep years. So on this one, I’m relying solely on tape and what scouts tell me. And scouts are very interested in what Williams brings to the table. He’s an explosive athlete with good size and length who should immediately step into a high-end role at Florida State because of his play on both ends of the floor. He attacks the rim with reckless abandon on offense and has gotten plaudits early for his versatility and difference-making athleticism on defense. Imagine him as something of a cross between Dwayne Bacon and Chris Singleton, as his offensive game isn’t quite as polished as Bacon’s, but he’s a better defender with a stronger physical frame for the wing. Unquestionably, he’s one of the guys I’m most interested in tracking this season, but he starts a bit lower here than where scouts currently have him because I want to see him against high-level competition first.
37. Dallas Mavericks (via GSW)
Devon Dotson | 6-2 point guard | 20 years old, sophomore | Kansas
Dotson was one of the last players to make a pre-draft decision last season after originally deciding to declare for the draft. He’s a very quick, tough guard who defends at the point of attack, consistently knocks down shots from distance, and makes things happen on the court due to his ability to break down defenses. The big questions here are size and decision-making. Can Dotson be as effective given how skinny he is? And can he consistently make the right passes and plays? He had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.5-to-1 and is going to need to start seeing more of the open passes on the floor. Still, I like the toughness a lot and think he’s probably a solid backup point guard.
38. New Orleans Pelicans
Jordan Nwora | 6-7 wing/forward | 21 years old, junior | Louisville
Nwora was one of the most improved players in college basketball last season, becoming the centerpiece of Louisville’s team. He’s an elite catch-and-shoot guy with smooth mechanics and a lightning-quick release. The big leap last year came in attacking closeouts, though, where Nwora is now capable of getting into the teeth of the defense and using his underrated leaping ability to finish. The big question is who he defends. He’s really poor on that end because his lateral quickness and hip movement is pretty rough. Still, you take fliers on shooters like this in the first half of the second round, I think.
39. Chicago Bulls
Jayden Scrubb | 6-6 wing | 19 years old, JuCo sophomore | John A. Logan
Scrubb was the best player in the JuCo ranks last season, averaging 20.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 54 percent from the field and 46 percent from 3. That earned him an invite to Nike Basketball Academy over the summer, where he was very solid against a high level of competition. Speaking with sources around the situation, I think it seems likely that Scrubb will at least gauge his draft stock prior to heading to Louisville next season, which is where he’s currently committed to play. As a shooter who can also handle the ball at 6-foot-6, Scrubb will at least be interesting to NBA teams.
40. Philadelphia 76ers (via ATL)
Andrew Nembhard | 6-5 guard | 19 years old, sophomore | Florida
Nembhard is one of the best passers in college basketball, consistently making the right decisions and reads across the court. As a big lead guard, he sees over the top of the defense typically and does a good job of initiating the offense. He’s not some wild athlete who can consistently break down defenders though, and I think that’s ultimately going to be the swing skill. How much can Nembhard develop as a change of pace ballhandler to get separation from his defenders? If he can do that, Florida should be a monstrous team this season and he’ll get attention.
41. Sacramento Kings (via DET)
Amar Sylla | 6-8 center | 18 years old, international | Oostende
A Senegalese center who developed in the Real Madrid system the last three years, Sylla moved to Belgium to get consistent first division playing time. Thus far, he’s been the defensive difference-maker you’d think he’d be, while also continuing to be a legitimate offensive liability. With well over a 7-foot wingspan and good feet, Sylla is kind of a prototypical center in today’s basketball ecosystem. He can slide his feet on the perimeter and really protect the rim inside. But the reason I see him more as a stash player versus someone I’m genuinely interested in is that his offensive game is so rudimentary. He’s trying to develop as a shooter, but isn’t there yet as he’s 1 for 21 on jumpers so far this year. He doesn’t seem to have great hands around the basket and his touch isn’t great there either, as evidenced by the fact that he’s shooting 38.5 percent at the rim so far. He doesn’t really pass it all that well. I’m just very unconvinced that there’s an NBA-level offensive skill package in his repertoire, which is why he’ll be a bit lower for me.
42. Oklahoma City Thunder
A.J. Lawson | 6-6 guard | 20 years old, sophomore | South Carolina
I like Lawson a lot as a playmaker with the ball in his hands. He can make things happen by utilizing his length to extend and finish at the basket, and by changing pace and maneuvering around defenders to get into the teeth of the defense. He needs to add weight and improve as a shooter long-term, though. He doesn’t particularly deal well with contact around the rim, and his shot is streaky. Additionally, despite playing some lead guard, Lawson has an assist-to-turnover rate that’s startlingly close to 1-to-1. Still, I do like to bet on guys with a lot of skill and positional size and Lawson has a shot to really skyrocket up boards if things break right.
43. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX)
Grant Riller | 6-3 guard | 22 years old, senior | Charleston
Another one where I’m just kind of calling my shot. Riller is a tremendously gifted scorer with the ball in his hands, possessing all sorts of tricks in his toolbox that allow him to get consistent penetration. There also might not be a better finisher around the basket in the country as a guard. He shot an absolutely obscene 74 percent around the rim in halfcourt settings, with most of those coming on drives. Riller is just a consistent jumper away from leading the country in scoring and potentially vaulting himself into first-round discussion.
44. Philadelphia 76ers (via DAL)
Xavier Johnson | 6-3 guard | 20 years old, sophomore | Pittsburgh
Johnson was one of the most underrated freshmen in college basketball last season, averaging 15.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.9 rebounds while also leading the ACC in turnovers with four per game. That’s a red flag number, for sure, but Johnson is a really strong playmaker who makes things happen through his quickness and motor. Johnson consistently plays really hard, and if he can show an increase in efficiency and decision-making — as well as slightly adjusted and fixed mechanics on his jumper to help limit some streakiness — Johnson could end up seeing his name called as soon as this year.
45. Boston Celtics (via BKN)
Udoka Azubuike | 6-11 center | 20 years old, senior | Kansas
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I actually kind of buy Azubuike as a backup NBA center. I was never particularly a fan throughout his first couple of years, and questions still exist. Can he stay healthy? That’s the most important one. But also, can he move at all on the perimeter? But as the NBA has gone more toward drop coverage defensive schemes, there are places you could see Azubuike working. However, the biggest development was seeing just how ridiculous of shape he’s in right now. At Nike Basketball Academy, Azubuike sported a trimmed-down physique that featured a six-pack, while he also retained a lot of the strength that allows him to bully everyone around the basket. He’s going to be a dominant force for Kansas this season and has the potential to be a nice, situational scoring threat for NBA teams due to his ability to establish position and rim run.
46. Indiana Pacers
Neemias Queta | 7-0 center | 20 years old, sophomore | Utah State
Queta was one of college basketball’s best defenders last season, helping Utah to a top-five national rank in defensive rebounding rate and two-point percentage against. And for his part, he averaged nearly 12 points and nine rebounds while blocking 2.4 shots per game. He ended up returning to college hoops last year after a rough combine performance in which he was dominated by Tacko Fall and others, but there’s still an interesting backup center here due to his defensive prowess.
47. Portland Trail Blazers
Vernon Carey | 6-10 center | 18 years old, freshman | Duke
As usual, I’ll just be honest: Carey isn’t my kind of player. I totally get the ability to carve out position, and I think he’s going to be really productive per-minute this season for Duke. He’ll probably average something like 14 points and 10 rebounds. But I’m just not sure I see the NBA fit, here.
Carey can’t move at all on the perimeter defensively at 275 pounds. Inside, he takes up space, but he’s not quick enough in help to make an impact. On offense, I don’t really buy the jump shot and I think he’s going to struggle to finish inside against length. He does have some perimeter skills handling the ball and can act in dribble-handoffs, but yeah. I totally get why he was a top recruit, but he’s just not really for me, and I don’t know what he does at a high level in the NBA.
48. Orlando Magic
Myles Powell | 6-3 guard | 22 years old, senior | Seton Hall
One of the more prolific shooters in all of college basketball, Powell had a monster junior season that almost resulted in him turning pro. However, he decided to return, and because of it he’ll be one of the most productive players in college basketball. Powell has hit 36 percent of his nearly 750 3-point attempts in three years, but that number underrates his adeptness as a shooter because of the quality of his shots tends to be pretty tough. The key for Powell this season would be to develop anything he can as an on-ball creator. I’m not quite sure he’s good enough to stick as just a shooter, but if he can play as more of a combo guard who can create plays, that would open up doors for him.
49. San Antonio Spurs
Malcolm Cazalon | 6-6 wing | 18 years old, international | Leuven Bearrs
Like Sylla, Cazalon moved to Belgium to try to get some first division time in his pre-draft year. And indeed, he’s playing about 17 minutes per game and largely producing what was expected of an athletic wing. He’s scoring about 7.2 points per game and doesn’t look out of place in the Belgian league among professionals. The big question here revolves around his shooting, as it seems clear that he’s not quite there yet from distance. Ultimately, that’ll probably be the swing skill. Still, he’s an interesting athletic wing who can really make some plays.
50. Minnesota Timberwolves
Makur Maker | 6-11 center | 18 years old, prep year | Pacific Academy
Maker is a top-10 recruit in the 2020 recruiting class. However, he has petitioned to be eligible for the 2020 NBA Draft. I’m not particularly a fan of his game right now, to be honest. Unlike his cousin Thon (currently playing for the Pistons), Makur hasn’t really shown a commitment to the defensive end. He can shoot it, but I don’t think his handle is particularly well-developed for the halfcourt game. It plays up in the open floor AAU games he’s played in thus far, but I don’t really see it translating to the next level yet. He also thinks of himself like a Kevin Durant-type, which just isn’t in his repertoire from a shot-creation perspective right now. The upside is obviously ridiculous if it would all come together, but I’m very unclear on how one would bet on that right now, given that he has very little in the way of strength. Scouts are very interested in seeing him, though, so I’m placed him here for now.
51. Sacramento Kings (via HOU)
Reggie Perry | 6-10 center | 19 years old, sophomore | Mississippi State
Perry is coming off of a really strong offseason, where he earned his way into the NBA Draft Combine from the G League Elite Camp, and then went out and won MVP of the U19 World Cup while averaging over 13 points and eight rebounds. The issue here is that Perry is a tweener, a bit too small for the center position but not quite athletic enough for the power forward spot in today’s NBA. There is some upside here, though, if he can develop his shot out beyond the 3-point line. I’d expect he’ll be one of the more productive players in college basketball this season, and that alone should get him further onto draft radars.
52. Toronto Raptors
Ashton Hagans | 6-3 guard | 20 years old, sophomore | Kentucky
He’s kind of a lesser version of Tre Jones right now. He’s a bit more dangerous as an on-ball defender, but he’s not as trustworthy as an offensive player. Genuinely elite on defense at the point of attack, Hagans just isn’t quite a good enough distributor or decision-maker yet given his shooting deficiencies. He does finish well inside for his size and is great at absorbing contact around the basket and playing tough. He has genuine upside beyond this spot athletically if he can start shooting the ball at a higher level (something that he’s been working on, but which I want to see in high-speed game action before really going crazy over it). But for now, second round is the right area.
53. Sacramento Kings (via MIA)
Karim Mane | 6-5 guard | 18 years old, prep year | Vanier
Mane is deciding between heading to college or going pro. A lot of the bigger schools haven’t really been super involved, leading some to speculate that Mane is more likely to try to turn pro. Much like his Quebecois compatriot Luguentz Dort, Mane has a great frame at 6-foot-5, but really struggles to shoot the basketball. The Canadian has strong ball skills that could allow him to play some lead guard and is athletic enough to make plays with ball in hand. Scouts are definitely interested in getting more eyes on him after seeing him this past summer at the U19 World Cup, where he shot 36 percent from the field and averaged 11 points. But I think he’s still a pretty big ways off from competing at the next level, so I’ve placed him near the end of this board, just to acknowledge that scouts are a bit more intrigued by him for the 2020 draft than I am at this juncture.
54. Charlotte Hornets (via BOS)
C.J. Walker | 6-7 wing | 18 years old, freshman | Oregon
Walker is one of my favorite freshmen in this class. He plays at a super high motor consistently and makes an impact all over the floor due to his quick twitch athleticism. I think there is a very high-end defensive upside in his game. The big questions for me come on offense, where his jumper is hitchy and not trustworthy yet, and his game off the bounce is largely straight-line dependent. If he can tie some things together this year, particularly with the jumper, he has a chance to go one-and-done. For now, though, I don’t think I can go higher than this.
55. Dallas Mavericks (via UTA)
Markus Howard | 5-11 guard | 20 years old, senior | Marquette
Howard is one of the most prolific scoring guards in the country, capable of getting hot and scoring 30 points at the snap of his fingers. He’s one of the best pullup shooting artists in college basketball since Stephen Curry left Davidson. The big questions revolve around what else he can do. It’s unlikely he’ll be anything but a defensive liability due to his size and lack of length. As a lead guard, he’s not much of a distributor and largely tries to get buckets for himself. Can he consistently get separation for himself? Having him this low, I think that displays my skepticism. But the shooting is interesting.
56. Brooklyn Nets (via DEN)
Derrick Alston | 6-7 wing | 22 years old, junior | Boise State
By the end of last year, a lot of Mountain West coaches felt that Alston was the most dangerous player in the league offensively. He averaged over 16 points in the second half of the year and created shots whenever he wanted due to his ballhandling ability and talent for shooting over the defense. If he takes another leap as a decision-maker and passer for others, as well as adds some strength to his frame, he has a real shot to leap higher than this come draft night. He’s become a really good shooter at 38 percent from 3, and positional size and playmaking ability is tough to find for wings.
57. Orlando Magic (via LAL)
Saddiq Bey | 6-8 wing | 20 years old, sophomore | Villanova
Bey is a shooter on the wing who looked terrific at Nike Basketball Academy because he played a simple style of game. Instead of trying to overextend himself to show scouts what he thought they felt his holes were, he just calmly went about his business and knocked down shots, attacked closeouts and made smart decisions. He only averaged 8.2 points and shot 37 percent from 3 last year, but I think he has a real chance to break out as a sophomore in the Villanova scheme due to that consistency as a shot-maker and trustworthiness on the floor.
58. New Orleans Pelicans (via MIL)
Naji Marshall | 6-7 wing | 21 years old, junior | Xavier
I actually like Marshall’s teammate Paul Scruggs a bit more because he’s more consistent, but NBA executives as a whole are a bit more interested in Marshall. He does almost everything you could ask for from a wing outside of shooting it. He has a 7-foot wingspan and uses it well on defense in help. He can drive and attack, both in early offense and in the halfcourt. He gets turnover prone because he often tries to make the home-run pass, but he does a good job of finding teammates with high-level looks. The only issue here is shooting consistency. If Marshall can become a 38 percent 3-point shooter, he has a shot at the first round.
59. Philadelphia 76ers
Mamadi Diakite | 6-10 forward/center | 22 years old, senior | Virginia
Diakite has a lot of potential on defense because he’s one of the best shot-blockers in the country. He does a terrific job coming over from the help side and swatting shots away. Additionally, there is some untapped upside on offense. He came to Nike Basketball Academy sporting a better-looking jumper than we had seen at Virginia. If he can prove himself as something of a stretch-five for Virginia, he has the potential to stick in the NBA.
60. Los Angeles Clippers
Ochai Agbaji | 6-5 wing | 19 years old, sophomore | Kansas
Our third Kansas player in the second round, Agbaji is an interesting potential 3-and-D wing due to his length, athleticism and shooting. He should pair really nicely with Devon Dotson in the backcourt this year. I know he only shot 30 percent from 3 last season, but I’d expect a jump there this year. The mechanics look good, and he should get a lot of opportunities directly off the catch due to Dotson collapsing the defense and Azubuike getting a ton of attention inside.
原文链接:https://theathletic.com/1341173/2019/11/05/vecenie-2020-nba-mock-draft-version-1-0/
Some quick notes on this mock draft:
• The order below is an amalgamation of where different projection models sit right now, including FiveThirtyEight, Basketball-Reference and TeamRankings. Additionally, if there was a team that I felt was too low or too high after this, I slightly adjusted (for instance, Miami looks pretty for real right now, but most models have them near the 6-9 rank in the East. So I decided to move them up a few spots because I think the models are being a bit too conservative with the inputs so far).
• This is a mix of where I am on prospects, as well as where scouts, executives, and sources around the basketball industry are on prospects. In places where there is a conflict between the two, I note it within the write-up. But I would say at this stage that the mock draft is neither my own rankings nor just where teams have players. At some point in the first month of the season, I will write up my own big board. And then at some point, the mock draft will shift to being more team-based.
• Additionally, this mock draft does not include team needs at this time. It’s just too early for teams to know the exact area they’re going to be drafting in, and thus it’s not really worthwhile to discuss how a prospect fits within a certain team’s structure quite yet. Ultimately, the goal of this mock draft is to introduce you to players who are likely to play a role in the upcoming draft process.
1. New York Knicks
Cole Anthony | 6-3 guard | 19 years old, freshman | North Carolina
Anthony is not going to be everyone’s pick for the top spot in the preseason, but he’s my No. 1 guy for a few reasons. First, finding a player who you think can be an all-star caliber lead guard is not only one of the most difficult things to find, but also arguably the most valuable outside of a two-way, shot-creating wing. In my opinion, Anthony has that kind of upside.
He’s terrific with ball in hand, possessing tremendous change of pace and change of direction skills. His handle is polished and crisp, allowing him to be a monster both out in transition and in ball-screen situations. He’s a bit more of a scorer than a passer right now, but that’s okay. He can hit shots from all three levels now that he’s improved as a shooter and can create those shots with ease.
Over the last year, the big development has been the passing. Having scouted him at Nike Basketball Academy this summer, I noticed that Anthony took on much more of a distribution role than he had in the past, showcasing a variety of cross-court kick-out and pocket passes that represented slightly more advanced reads in the halfcourt than what he’d previously shown across his high school career. His decision-making can be a touch questionable at times, as he’ll sometimes take a bad, contested shot or try to hit a home run pass that isn’t there. But this part of his game has gotten much better in the last year, and I think he can be trusted to lead North Carolina’s offense as a freshman point guard.
Indeed, that’s another reason I’m quite high on Anthony entering the year. Roy Williams’ offense is an absolutely spectacular fit for the former Oak Hill Academy lead guard, as he’ll be allowed to crash the defensive glass, lead the early North Carolina break, and create plays for his teammates in a well-curated system for a point guard to find success. Coby White was tremendous in this scheme as a freshman point guard last year, and I think Anthony is even a bit more polished entering the college game than I thought White was.
He has good size for the position, a well-developed frame, and shouldn’t have much of an adjustment to the college game from a physical standpoint. I’ll also just note that Anthony does have a tendency to step up in the big spots. He won MVP at the McDonald’s All-American game, would have won MVP at Hoop Summit had they handed it out, then won MVP at Jordan Brand Classic. He consistently produces, even when surrounded by other elite players. The soft expectation for me is that Anthony tosses up something in the range of 18 points, six rebounds and six assists per game, as the team should play at pace and allow him to rack up some pretty remarkable counting numbers. If he combines that with high-level shooting from the perimeter off the dribble, and continued efficiency, I expect that he’ll be in the mix for the top spot. In general, though, this is a season that does not have a consensus guy, and there will be quite a few players jockeying for the position throughout the season.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
Anthony Edwards | 6-5 guard | 18 years old, freshman | Georgia
Edwards is a power athlete all the way. At 6-foot-5, he has good size for both the lead guard and off-guard positions and is a dynamic scorer with ball in hand. Few guards can transition power to explosiveness on their drive in the way that Edwards can. If you give him a full head of steam, he’s going to finish at the rim every time. He’s quick, but I don’t know that I’d call his lateral agility quick twitch. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell just how high the upside is with his game off the bounce, though. His handle isn’t completely loose, but it’s not always tied to his body, either. He has a bevy of crossovers that he can use in the open floor, but at the McDonald’s All-American, he was slightly less adept with his handle in tight quarters than you’d hope to see.
If the handle improves, though, the rest of the game has a chance to take off into the stratosphere. He’s not an elite-level playmaker yet as a passer, but does display some flash plays — particularly out in space. Again, I think the fact that once he gets into smaller areas, that he’s not as confident in his handle kind of holds him back in this regard. Sometimes, he misses open passes and tosses up a contested jumper. His decision-making isn’t quite good enough yet for an NBA team to just give him the ball and get out of the way.
But as far as him being a scorer, I buy into his jumper and think he’ll be a good shooter from distance in time. He has great balance and has improved his footwork to the point that he is good at loading into jumpers off the dribble from 3 with step-backs and side-steps. His in-between game could use a bit of work still — again, the handle slows him down a bit with his ball pick-up when attacking forward a bit.
Indeed, his midrange game is going to be important if he’s going to be a high-level NBA scorer, but the level he’s going to have to reach is probably slightly lower because he’s so great at finishing through contact with power and explosiveness. No one in college basketball is going to put up more highlight-reel plays than Edwards at the basket this year. I think the over/under for genuine poster dunks is at least 9.5.
Whether you prefer Edwards or Anthony comes down to what you prefer in prospects. Do you want someone who is a bit more polished now, with room to grow, or do you want someone with all of the athletic upside in the world who can grow into his game? Do you believe in Edwards continuing to polish out his skillset and becoming the kind of decision-maker who fosters an elite NBA offense, or would you rather have Anthony as more of a true lead guard? How much does Anthony being a year older than Edwards matter to you when looking at their developmental arcs? These are all questions that don’t really have right or wrong answers yet. I’d certainly put Edwards and Anthony into the top tier, and I think Edwards is a strong contender for the No. 1 spot by the end of the campaign.
3. Washington Wizards
James Wiseman | 7-1 center | 18 years old, freshman | Memphis
However, there is a third contender for the No. 1 spot in my mind, right now. Anthony, Edwards and Wiseman are my clear top-three players heading into the season. Whereas Edwards and Anthony play valuable positions where the replacement level is lower as a lead guard, Wiseman plays at the stacked center position. It’s a position where it’s easier to find good options given the smaller lineups that NBA teams play now, and the responsibilities at the position are often pretty simple. So to be selected this high in the draft at the position, you have to bring something special to the table. And indeed, where Wiseman does that is on the defensive end.
Early in Wiseman’s career, I was a bit disappointed by his motor and activity level on defense. It’s not that he didn’t want to play physically, but because he has a high center of gravity and was still developing his lower body strength, guys could really push him around. In the summer of 2018, I watched West Virginia center Oscar Tshiebwe push Wiseman all over the floor in an AAU game, catching him for 24 points and 13 rebounds, a performance that really raised some red flags with me.
Fast forward to the beginning of the 2019 calendar year, though, and Wiseman had made some necessary adjustments. It’s clear that he added weight and got stronger and could no longer be shoved around inside. Defensively, players weren’t having as much success driving into his body and finishing, because he now had the necessary core strength to absorb the contact and still stay straight up and be an impediment. He has actualized his rim protection from potential into production.
Defensively, he’s not necessarily a switch guy, but he gets down in a stance and can move his feet on the perimeter. Basically, with the strides Wiseman has made over the last nine months, I think we’re looking at a potential NBA defensive player of the year candidate, given his tools at 7-foot-1 with a 7-6 wingspan.
Offensively, I do have some real concerns. When I spoke with Wiseman at the McDonald’s All-American game, he felt that his future was more in the vein of a Giannis type who could handle and create offense. In reality, I see him as more of a rim-running, low-usage center with elite vertical gravity. Expect Memphis, with head coach Penny Hardaway and assistants Mike Miller and Cody Toppert coming from the NBA, to play him more in that vein. They’re going to play an up-tempo NBA style with NBA spacing and concepts on both ends of the floor. He’ll set screens for Boogie Ellis, sit in the dunker spot on offense and be asked to occasionally pop and also be ready to shoot trailer 3s.
Thus far, the reports are that Wiseman has been extremely coachable and extremely receptive to trying to improve and get better. If he can showcase those skills and excise some of the fat from his game, Wiseman should end up as a top-five player in this class. There is some more downside here, but I’ve come around on Wiseman big time.
4. Memphis Grizzlies
Tyrese Maxey | 6-3 guard | 18 years old, freshman | Kentucky
Maxey is one of my favorites in this class. I’m on the higher end of where NBA scouts have him, but most do have him in this tier of prospects — below the top group, fitting somewhere comfortably within the second. Above all, Maxey is a scorer at all three levels. He’s improved his jumper to the point where I think he’s now an efficient, knockdown guy from distance. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him above 40 percent this season.
His release is lightning quick, terrific off the bounce because of a strong ball pick-up, and his mechanics are extremely clean. That stretches to his efficiency in the midrange, although he’s a lot more adept with his floater/runner package than he is as a shooter in the midrange because he doesn’t get a crazy amount of elevation on his shot. But over the years, he’s really done a terrific job of adding to his package of creative push shots from within 10 feet. He’s one of the few players that I think can actually be efficient on such attempts.
But he’s more than a scorer. Maxey is an absolute dog on the ball defensively. At 6-foot-3 with a 6-foot-6 wingspan, few guys are as good at hounding opposing ballhandlers. He fights through screens, knows how to play angles, and has lightning-quick hands that force steals. And at 200 pounds, he has the kind of powerfully built frame to where guys can’t just blow through him in switch scenarios or on drives. Putting him in a backcourt with Ashton Hagans is going to just be misery for opposing teams because both can pick you up for 80 feet, slow down how quickly you can initiate your set at the point of attack, and then cut off drives.
The big question here comes with his distribution. Kentucky will likely have Hagans play more lead guard this season and initiate its own sets. Maxey is definitely a more combo, score-first guard than he is as a distributor. But at 6-3, he’s probably going to need to do some of that. Maxey tends to be a guy who doesn’t make mistakes with ball in hand, but he also hasn’t yet displayed vision in the halfcourt to where you can truly believe in him making the right reads to open players. I have hope he can develop there because that will certainly be his swing skill.
But in general, Maxey is just the kind of guy who I completely believe in. He’s a terrific leader, with a fun personality that Kentucky fans will absolutely fall in love with. He also is extremely intelligent and works hard. He finished in the top five percent of his graduating high school class in Texas academically while also destroying folks on the basketball court. Wildcat fans are going to be happy to have him for a year.
5. Charlotte Hornets
LaMelo Ball | 6-7 guard | 18 years old, international | Illawarra Hawks
2019-20 stats: 13.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.6 steals, 34.2/19.6/73.3
I’m going to do a deeper dive into Ball soon, as he’s a fascinating draft prospect for a variety of reasons. Scouts and executives who have spoken with The Athletic are completely polarized in their view of him — to a point. A couple I’ve spoken with genuinely think he’s the best prospect in this upcoming draft for reasons I’ll delve into momentarily. Others think he’s more of a mid-to-late lottery type. For the most part, the scouts I’ve spoken with haven’t ruled him out as a contender for No. 1, but they certainly like other prospects more entering the year. Based off of the conversations I’ve had, I’d say he’s outside of the top tier, but certainly within the second one. I’ve reflected that by placing him at No. 5. To be honest, in this draft, it’s just really hard to find a prospect who is worth passing on the upside Ball brings to the table.
Still, I’m more on the (relatively, at least) skeptical side when it comes to Ball’s game. The positive here is that I don’t think there is a better distributor in this class. By far, that is his best skill. As a playmaker for others, he’s a genius. Even playing in the professional NBL with quite a few guards league-wide that wouldn’t look out of place in the NBA, he’s been the one who stands out most to me as a passer.
His creativity is remarkable in regard to the way he sees the floor, and the passes in his toolbox can’t be matched. He’ll throw passes with spin on the ball that I’m not quite sure I’ve ever seen before, with them landing directly in the shooting pocket. And even while making these seemingly high-degree-of-difficulty passes, Ball’s turnover rate has been quite low. Much like his brother Lonzo, he just sees things differently on the floor. However, unlike Lonzo, I think LaMelo should have an easier time getting penetration with drives. Whereas Lonzo plays quite upright, LaMelo gets good bend through his legs, can turn his hips and can actually get into the teeth of the defense at this level.
Having said that, I’m concerned about every other part of his game. As a shooter, Ball just doesn’t pass the eye test or the stats test right now. The release point is different far too often, and his shot selection is still pretty rough. Those turnovers that he’s so good at avoiding with the pass? He creates them by taking bad shots. Also, I feel very little confidence in him shooting 3s, as he’s never really been a high-efficiency shooter at any level. I’ll delve deeper there at some point in November, but I’m worried about the shot translating to the deeper NBA line.
He has no problem playing physically and doesn’t avoid contact, but he doesn’t have the ability to do that with his frame yet. He’s very skinny and doesn’t really have a frame that looks like it’s going to be able to fill out. That hinders him around the basket as a finisher. All of this has resulted in him running a 42.7 true-shooting percentage, which is 59th out of a qualified 63 players in the NBL right now based off of minutes played. And as a defender, Ball has good instincts away from the ball for making plays and creating turnovers, but his overall impact is negative. He’s a really poor on-ball defender, and has very poor defensive mechanics when it comes to sitting in a stance or closing out on shooters on-balance. It’s all gambles, all the time. At the end of the day, this is an 18-year-old playing productively at a good professional level in Australia. That’s nothing to scoff at, and it’s why I have him at No. 5 entering the year. The positives in general here, given his age and clearly prodigious basketball mind, far exceed the negatives. Still, I can’t say I’m quite as in as many are on Ball right now. I have him at No. 5 right now more out of an absence of other prospects.
6. Sacramento Kings
Theo Maledon | 6-4 guard | 18 years old, international | ASVEL
2019-20 stats in French Elite League, Euroleague: 13.7 minutes, 4.2 points, 2.6 assists, 1.4 rebounds, 1.2 turnovers, 38.9/33.3/68.9
Maledon has been on the radar of scouts for a while now. He started getting minutes in the top French league back when he was 16 years old, in 2018, and has since established himself as a starter for ASVEL, the team Tony Parker owns and operates as club president. Few players are capable of playing on such a big stage at 18 years old, as ASVEL is one of the top teams in France and will play in Euroleague competition this season. And Maledon didn’t just play last season; he was actually pretty good. He posted a 60.9 true-shooting percentage as a scorer and showcased strong vision as a passer.
He is a big point guard at 6-foot-4 with great full-court athleticism and quickness. He’s lightning fast in the open floor and can make transition plays happen out of nowhere. He’ll use length to get into passing lanes defensively, then finishes above the rim on the break by leaping off of one foot or having the vision to toss a drop-off pass to a trailing teammate.
In the half-court, things are a bit murkier right now. Stylistically, he plays more at pace in the same way Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does. He takes screens, probes the defense, changes speed and directions well and does a great job of getting the defense to collapse around him. He doesn’t have much of an in-between game right now, but he can get to the basket and finish or knock down 3s off the catch.
He’s more comfortable right now driving to pass than driving to score when the defense is set. He’s good at finding angles for drop-offs and kick-outs, but defenses have been able to goad him into turnovers throughout his career. His assist-to-turnover ratio has long been a bit too close to the 1-to-1 barrier that you don’t want from lead guards, largely because he tends to run turnover rates around 20 percent.
With Maledon playing solid minutes in Euroleague this year, we’ll get a good chance to see exactly how far along he is entering his first potential draft year. It would be beneficial for him to showcase a bit of an in-between game that could potentially keep defenders off balance, and more importantly be able to limit turnovers a bit more. He’s been better early on, posting a 2.3-to-1 assist-to-turnover mark through five games. Continue that and see a slight jump in the efficiency he’s run this year, and he’ll be a top-10 pick.
7. Golden State Warriors
Deni Avdija | 6-8 forward | 18 years old, international | Maccabi Tel Aviv
2019-20 stats in Israel, Euroleague: 15.7 minutes, 4.7 points, 1.0 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 39.5/35.7/58.3
Avdija is another standout international who has been on the radar of scouts for a few years now. He’s been a standout youth player for Israel since 2017, culminating in him winning the most valuable player award at the U20 European Championships this summer playing two years up as an 18-year-old. It’s incredibly difficult to do that as an underage player. He’s starting to get minutes for Maccabi Tel Aviv off the bench, which will be good for his development long-term to play against older players — although he’s struggled a bit early on in Euroleague competition.
Having said that, Avdija is a pretty polarizing prospect. A lot of what he brings to the table skill-wise translates to an on-ball role. First and foremost, Avdija plays incredibly hard. He’s a terrific passer with great feel for the game. He goes for the home run a bit too often and can turn the ball over, but his vision is superb, and he can really make plays with the ball in his hands.
For Israel, in youth competitions, he acts as something of a lead guard/initiator who can make plays at a high level for his teammates. He’s a really strong ballhandler for his size and can get into the paint with his handle. It’s led to comparisons to Luka Doncic, but they should stop there. Doncic is a better ballhandler, more capable of breaking down defenders, and he’s a much better shooter. Avdija’s touch isn’t terrible, but he’s not really much of a shooter right now that I’d trust to hit shots. Undeniably, Avdija’s free throw shooting is poor, with him having made just 57.8 percent of his nearly 300 attempts. His finishing also leaves a lot to be desired, which is why he ran a pretty inefficient line despite winning MVP of that aforementioned U20 event this summer.
Because of the on-ball skills and questionable shooting, that leads to questions about what his next role will be. I think it’s somewhat unlikely Avdija will develop the athleticism to consistently break down defenders at the NBA level. Therefore, he’s going to have to play more of an off-ball role regularly. And if Avdija can’t shoot, that’s an issue on offense. Overall, of his tracked attempts in his career thus far (youth competition for Israel, ANGT tournaments for Maccabi Tel Aviv, professional settings), Avdija has made just 31 percent of his 3-point attempts over nearly 340 attempts. The number drops into the 20s if you take just his professional outings thus far.
That’s the swing skill for Avdija because the rest of his game does portend nicely toward being a potential starter as a big secondary ballhandler who can make plays happen. He’s also a playmaker on defense with great instinctual awareness of what’s happening around him. His feet aren’t super quick, but he’s a fluid mover who should be able to deal with bigs, then also play on the backside defensively in help.
This is actually going to be a pretty interesting season in terms of scouting for Avdija, because it looks like his role is going to put him in positions to where he has to hit shots from distance to space the floor for his teammates. Scouts will be looking closely to see how he plays in this role.
8. New Orleans Pelicans
R.J. Hampton | 6-5 guard | 18 years old, international | New Zealand Breakers
2019-20 stats in NBL: 10.8 points, 2.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 48.8/42.1/80.0
Editor’s Note: For more on Hampton, be sure to read Dana O’Neil’s outstanding All-Access feature she wrote after spending time with him in New Zealand.
Hampton is the other big-time NBL export from the United States this year. Whereas Ball’s every move has been followed and he’s played more of a central role for a bad Illawarra team, Hampton has been more of a steady contributor while playing a role for the Breakers.
He does a good job of getting out in transition to make things happen, and he’s hit shots off the catch when asked. He’ll play in pick-and-roll and drive, but he’s definitely been much more focused on scoring as opposed to distribution within his role thus far. He starts in the backcourt next to Corey Webster, who handles most of the initiation responsibilities, with Hampton spacing and playing second side ball-screen actions.
Honestly, I think Hampton has acquitted himself well in the NBL. It’s a pro league with a lot of really strong players. He’s held down a starting spot for the Breakers, and largely done so with efficiency on offense. There are defensive breakdowns and he needs to keep improving his frame so that defenders can’t just cut off his driving angles by being stronger than him. But so far, he’s been better than any other young NBL export outside of Ball.
Ultimately, the big question with him revolves around whether he can get to the point where he can be a lead guard as a distributor. He misses passes right now and is clearly still developing. As the game slows down for him, it’s possible he could be more of a 1 than a 2 due to his ability to change speeds and handle the ball, although we’re still a ways away from seeing the consistency needed to play the spot.
Overall, Hampton looks like a solid lottery pick right now. He’s been outshone a bit because Ball has been so interesting, but NBA teams see Hampton as a scoring guard worth investing in, especially in this class.
9. Chicago Bulls
Kahlil Whitney | 6-6 wing | 18 years old, freshman| Kentucky
To be honest, I wasn’t quite as high on Whitney until I saw him this summer at Nike Basketball Academy. I definitely bought him as a one-and-done first-round pick but am a bit worried about the lack of polish in his game. At the end of the day though, it’s just exceedingly hard to find two-way wings who possess the upside Whitney does.
He’s 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan and all sorts of twitchy athleticism. But even beyond that, his frame is absolutely terrific and should allow him to continue putting on strength and power, potentially allowing him to transition his power to explosiveness in a way that is really difficult to guard. Heck, when he’s locked in now, he really makes an impact on both ends of the floor just by imposing his athleticism on the game.
To reach his ceiling, though, Whitney has to really tighten up the skill aspects of his game. He’s capable of handling the ball in a straight line and getting downhill, but he’s not a great creator with change of pace or direction yet. If you apply heavy on-ball pressure to him, he can get a bit turnover-prone in traffic.
As a shooter, he has good touch, but he needs to tighten his mechanics to get a consistent release point. His rhythm throughout his jumper can also sometimes come slightly undone. He possesses baseline skills in all of these facets, but the next step for him is to make it so that he can affect the game with his skill versus with just his athleticism. Obviously, he’s a terrific open-floor player, but he needs to bring a bit more to the table to become a stronger halfcourt option.
It’s tough to place him on a board right now without seeing how Kentucky has developed his overall skillset. But I think I’d bet on him as a lottery pick just because it’s tough to find true wings who have potential on both ends.
10. Atlanta Hawks
Isaiah Stewart | 6-9 center | 18 years old, freshman | Washington
Outside of Anthony, Stewart is the player I feel most confident in being extremely productive at the NCAA level. His motor is just absolutely terrific. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Stewart carves out space with ease due to his 250-pound frame and overall strength levels. That works both as a roller and as a post-up threat. He can just bully guys to get into rebounding position and he already sets pretty strong screens. He’s also a guy who knows his role and is all about doing the dirty work. Additionally, a burgeoning part of his game has been the jump shot. Multiple scouts and executives who have been by Washington’s early-season practices say that they actually believe in him as a shooter long term because he has a soft touch and simple mechanics.
Defensively, I do think there are some questions. His ability to take up space inside and his long arms should allow him to be an effective rim protector this season. However, scouts do worry a bit about what happens when he gets put out in space. I think he’ll be pretty okay as long as he’s utilized in a drop coverage setting, but some do have concerns about him being able to keep contain against the quickest guards. And certainly, you’re not going to want him out there on an island against perimeter players.
When I watch Stewart, it’s just very easy for me to see a future starting center in the NBA. He doesn’t stop working. He should fit offensively as a pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop guy and should be effective as a rim protector. Now, there is some question about how valuable that is, given that it’s unclear if he’ll be able to stay on the floor in a big playoff series. But getting a projected starter, even at the deep center position, is going to be a win at this point in the draft.
11. Detroit Pistons
Jaden McDaniels | 6-10 forward | 19 years old, freshman | Washington
McDaniels is the player I feel least confident placing on this board. You could sell me on him having a monster year and improving to the point that he ends up in the discussion for the top-five, or you could tell me the bottom falls out as he’s forced to play a halfcourt game at Washington, and scouts remain extremely unconvinced as he enters the pre-draft process. The range of potential outcomes here really is quite wide.
On one hand, McDaniels is kind of a Michael Porter Jr. starter kit. He moves like a wing despite being 6-foot-10. He shoots it off the dribble. He is good out in transition and can make plays with the ball in his hand. But those skills aren’t really efficient skills yet; rather, they’re “good for his size” skills. McDaniels is a good shooter for a teenager who is 6-foot-10, but I don’t know that I’d bet on him hitting 35 percent from 3.
McDaniels can handle the ball in open space and has an array of crossovers, but his handle is high and loose, and he can be shut down in the halfcourt. His strength level is a real question. At Hoop Summit, he played in a scrimmage game against Team USA, and smaller players like Cole Anthony had few issues guarding him in the halfcourt because his shot wasn’t falling, and he couldn’t bully his way to the basket despite being eight inches taller. Scouts also worry about how shy McDaniels seems to be and how he’ll respond to adversity if it comes at Washington as he plays bigger, stronger guys.
But here’s the thing: as soon as the light comes on for these types of players, and as soon as their skillset reaches a requisite level, their games tend to really improve in a hurry, and they become unstoppable. If he can become a more consistent shooter, it’s hard to see how smaller guys contest him given how high is release point is. If he just tightens up that handle, it’s hard to see how bigs can stick with him on the perimeter. There is real potential here for McDaniels to be an absolute matchup nightmare.
The good news for scouts is that we’re going to learn a lot about where his game is this season. Because Washington plays zone, it tends not to get a lot of transition opportunities. Also, Washington has very few guards who are ready to play. That means we’re going to get a full accounting of how effective McDaniels can be in the halfcourt because he’ll be counted on to create some shots in tight spaces. He’s one of the guys I’m most interested in tracking this season because it’s just really hard to say where it goes from here.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
Scottie Lewis | 6-5 wing | 19 years old, freshman | Florida
Lewis is one of my favorite players in this class. These are the kind of dudes I just have a soft spot for. At 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot wingspan, the Florida wing is already an elite on-ball defender. He relishes taking on tough assignments and making life absolutely miserable for opposing players. Off the ball, things are a bit messier because he has a tendency to over-help and be a bit spazzy. For instance, he needs to clean up his footwork when closing out on shooters. But he’s about the right things and has a great attitude about defending to where once he gets with high-level coaching, he should turn into someone who makes fewer mistakes there. Honestly, I think he’s going to make an All-Defense team at some point because that’s something that’s important to him.
Offense, things are a bit more questionable. The jumper is improving, but not good yet. He has a high arc and inconsistent release point. As a driver, he has a quick first step and can blow by defenders to finish above the rim, but his handle is a bit loose and he can get stripped in a crowd. As a passer, he has some real upside, as he’s made some really smart reads throughout his career that typically take younger wings a bit more time to find. Given the questions on offense, this is a bet more on personality and drive as opposed to where he’s at now. I just believe in him working at his game until he becomes a useful piece at the NBA level. And in terms of communication and leadership, he’s absolutely already terrific. I’m comfortable betting on him to figure it out.
13. Phoenix Suns
Matthew Hurt | 6-9 forward | 19 years old, freshman | Duke
The translation here is super easy. He’s a shooter all the way. Sporting clean, simple mechanics, a quick release and a high release point that allows him to get his shot off from a variety of angles and situations, Hurt makes it pretty easy to buy into him as a long-term floor-spacer, at the very least. I’d expect that, at some point, he’s going to hit 40 percent from 3 on high volume in the NBA. His balance and the overall simplicity of his shot is just translatable to absolutely any level. He also plays a high-IQ brand of basketball. At 6-foot-9, he can put the ball on the deck and handle it when attacking closeouts, then can really pass the ball if defenses get into rotation and collapse on him. He’s also a pretty good offensive rebounder, with strong instincts for reading the ball off the glass. I don’t know that he’ll be a great finisher because of his lack of strength, but he does have a nice floater game that should supplement him around the basket.
It’s worth noting that Hurt is up to 215 pounds, but long-term, there is some skepticism about how his frame will hold up in the NBA from scouts. He has a pretty slight, skinny build for a player his size. And for someone who will likely have to play the 4 quite a bit, there is a concern that he will struggle to deal with the physicality of players both on the interior when trying to hold position, and on the perimeter when stronger players try to drive through him. But he is smart and has better feet than you’d think for a guy his size on that end of the floor. To me, Hurt is something of an Ersan Ilyasova type at the next level, someone who probably profiles best as a strong role player. That’s not the sexiest pick, but it’s one that should pay dividends in a draft where there is plenty of uncertainty.
14. Dallas Mavericks
Precious Achiuwa | 6-9 forward | 20 years old, freshman | Memphis
Achiuwa is all about productivity. At 6-foot-9 with long arms and a 9-foot-plus standing reach, Wiseman’s frontcourt mate this year actually has the size to play at the center position. I’ll be fascinated to see if the Tigers utilize him that way sometimes when Wiseman is out of the game. Still, I expect his best position to be at the 4, and I expect him to really put up some numbers even if there will probably still be some questions about his overall halfcourt effectiveness after the season.
Memphis plays a pro-style, up-tempo attack that will suit Achiuwa’s game. He runs the floor incredibly well for a player his size and has a motor that never quits. Typically, players with his mix of size, athleticism and motor tend to figure out how to play at the NBA level.
For Achiuwa, that will revolve around him ironing out the jumper. He’s not much of a creator with ball in hand in the halfcourt because he has a loose dribble, so he’ll need that shot to really play up to reach his ceiling. Throughout his career, it’s been pretty inconsistent. However, on the high school all-star circuit in the spring, he started to showcase some potential to hit 3s directly off the catch. I wouldn’t say I feel confident in him as a knockdown guy yet, but he gets good rotation and trajectory on the ball. It has a bit of a natural lean backward that could stand to be improved to quicken his release as he brings it into higher-level game competition this year. It’s a building block skill, not necessarily a developed one yet. Defensively, Achiuwa’s activity level is strong and he generally gives effort and energy on that end, but sometimes goes a bit too far and pushes himself out of position. Having Wiseman on the back end to make up for his mistakes should, again, be a pretty great fit for Achiuwa and allow him to really jump into being an aggressive defender who tries to make things happen.
He’s definitely a bit of a project in regard to his skill level, but I do like betting on guys who play hard and have terrific positional size and athleticism.
15. Atlanta Hawks (via BKN)
Wendell Moore | 6-5 wing | 18 years old, freshman | Duke
Moore is an interesting playmaking wing who should get ample opportunity to be an integral part of Duke’s offense as a secondary ballhandler next to Tre Jones. At 6-foot-5 with a 6-11 wingspan, he has ample size and length for the position. When the ball is in his hands, he plays with great pace and tempo. For an 18-year-old, he’s never really sped up, and it allows him to utilize his terrific footwork to angle his way around traffic to get to the rim. He’s also a high IQ passer who is adept at kick-outs and makes generally smart reads on the floor. It also helps that his frame is pretty strong, and he should be able to utilize his strength and length to defend multiple positions in time.
Having said that, there are two real concerns here. First, Moore is an average athlete by college hoops standards and probably a below-average one by NBA standards. Largely, he plays below the rim. Now, as a finisher, he does have a strong length-extension finishing package to make up for it. However, it’s possible that he struggles as he moves up levels.
One way to mitigate that would be with the jumper. But his just isn’t quite there yet in terms of consistency. He’s improved it over the last 18 months or so to where he can hit shots when necessary, but his first inclination at lower levels was not to simply shoot when he catches and is open because his confidence in the jumper was lower than his confidence as a driver. The strides he’s taken with the shot are really helpful, and it’s possible we see a leap to where Moore looks better this year. That’ll be the swing skill for him. If he can shoot it, he has a real shot at the lottery, as his ability to space the floor would be critical for Duke.
16. Milwaukee Bucks (via IND)
Trendon Watford | 6-9 wing/forward | 18 years old, freshman | LSU
Watford is a guy I look at and think I might have him a bit too low to start the year. There’s just an awful lot to like here from him as a potential NBA role player. He has great size for the wing/forward positions at 6-foot-9 with a near 7-foot-2 wingspan. I love his touch and ability to finish through contact, and his ability to get into the lane — particularly when attacking a closeout and using his ability to change paces. His frame is quite strong at 225 pounds, and he has a variety of finishes in his toolbox that allow him to have success as a scorer. That’s definitely where he’s most comfortable now. He’s also really focused on improving his jump shot over the last year and he looked pretty solid from distance at McDonald’s All-American practices. I also really like his ability to make decisions on the fly. He’s an underrated passer who should really keep defenses in scramble situations when advantageous opportunities arise for his team. His positional size also gives him a lot of versatility as a defender.
From a translation perspective, there aren’t really a crazy amount of concerns if you’re projecting him to a 3-and-D-plus role. His jumper is still ironing out a hitch at the top, but it’s much less pronounced than it’s been in past years. It can be a bit of a slow release, which means he’s probably more resigned to shooting out of spot-ups as opposed to shooting off of movement, like coming off of screens. Still, he needs to show the consistency with his shot. The big one is maybe that he’s not an elite level athlete by any stretch. His lateral quickness isn’t great. But if you’re projecting him to the 4 with some room for versatility, his athleticism is pretty functional.
Watford’s role this year will be interesting as LSU has Emmitt Williams and Darius Days figuring to play next to Watford. He is bigger and longer than both of those guys, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him be responsible for some back-side rim protection coverage this season in addition to possession-ending rebounding responsibilities. Depending on what coverages LSU plays, we might not get to see a crazy amount of him defending in space this year. That’s a critical part of his translation. Still, the tools here are really interesting.
17. Portland Trail Blazers
Nico Mannion | 6-3 guard | 18 years old, freshman | Arizona
Scouts who have gone to Arizona practices have come away with the impression that the coaching staff is trying to pump the brakes on the pro hype surrounding Mannion just a bit. It’s not that they don’t think he’s a one-and-done or a likely first-round pick or anything. It’s more about evaluators around the industry having him as a potential top-10 pick and Arizona wanting to manage expectations about someone who will be an extremely popular player this season.
Honestly, I do understand why. Mannion is not some incredible athlete who will be able to buzz in and out of the lane in the NBA with ease. He’s a high-IQ guard who gets by with feel for the game. His play with a ball-screen is really strong. In those situations, his footwork is terrific, and he has all of the little tricks you look for to change speeds and directions to find the empty spot in those defensive coverages. And once he does that and gets into the paint, Mannion is really good at using his touch from the midrange and his terrific passing ability to tear the defense apart from the inside. It’s also worth noting that he’s a strong shooter from distance off the dribble.
Still, the question scouts have asked about Mannion is whether he’s athletic or skilled enough to become a starting point guard who can consistently break down defenders. Can his offensive aptitude make up for what will, undeniably, be some real defensive concerns in the NBA? He just doesn’t have the length, lateral quickness or strength to become a plus defender, in all likelihood. This season should do a bit to tell us about that. Still, I am curious to see how his frame and athleticism look as he steps up in competition.
He’s one of the guys I’m most looking forward to watching this season. I’m going to default to what the scouts have told me for now, despite my overall interest in Mannion long-term. After having seen him for two straight weeks last year at Hoop Summit and McDonald’s All-American, I would have had him in the lottery. We’ll see, though.
Another thing worth noting: Arizona has consistently been talking up center Zeke Nnaji quite a bit in the preseason. I am not sure I see the NBA translation there yet, so he won’t feature on this mock draft. But expect him to contribute early for the Wildcats.
18. Orlando Magic
Josh Green| 6-5 wing | 19 years old, freshman | Arizona
Much like many prospects in this class, Green is one whose game features big-time strengths and big-time questions. On the positive end, Green plays really hard and is a terrific athlete. At 6-foot-5 with a 6-10 wingspan, he has good size and length for the wing position. He imposes that athleticism best in transition right now, where he runs the floor hard and creates action plays.
On offense, he’s a strong straight-line driver with a good first step. He’s not a true creator who can change pace or direction to get defenders off balance, but he can catch and attack from a wing, and use his speed to buzz into the paint. He’s also a really good cutter, who should form a terrific partnership on those with point guard Nico Mannion.
Defensively, that motor plays up and he should be one of the better on-ball guys in the Pac-12 on the wing. We’ll see how the help-side defense is, but for the most part he has all of the tools to be a strong player on that end.
The big question for me remains the jumper. Green made shots at a clip that wasn’t particularly unreasonable at IMG Academy during his prep years. But I wasn’t a huge fan of the mechanics when I’ve scouted him. He has a low release point with his elbow slightly flaring, which leads to a flatter trajectory on the arc. His touch isn’t bad and there’s upside, but Green has to do some work on his mechanics to become a floor-spacing wing. To take him this high would be a bet on that upside as a shooter, given that he likely won’t be an offensive creator. Right now, given the dearth of other options, I’m willing to bet on that figuring itself out, given some of his other tools.
19. San Antonio Spurs
Killian Hayes | 6-4 guard | 18 years old, international | Ulm
2018-19 stats (Germany and Eurocup): 9.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 4.7 turnovers, 1.6 steals, 45.2/33.3/88.9
Hayes has been around forever as an elite prospect worth tracking. I was a fan early on when he was 15 years old due to his well-developed basketball IQ and very mature ability to change speeds and paces for that age. However, as he got older, I started to sour a bit, worrying about his combination of an inability to be efficient as a shooter and his athleticism that seems to have plateaued a bit. But this season, he decided to get out of France — a country that doesn’t have a particularly strong developmental reputation despite its tendency to produce professional players — and go to Germany, and we’re seeing more flashes that are very interesting.
Starting at point guard for a Eurocup team, Hayes has been more creative and flashed more ability to get into the paint than we’d previously seen. He’s fifth in Eurocup competition in assists per game. Unquestionably, his feel for the game has always been quite strong when it came to passing. The fact that he’s creating as many opportunities as he is as an 18-year-old, showcasing a bit more athleticism than I’d seen previously when I’d scouted him, is a good sign. Hayes is also a strong defensive playmaker. He’s good as an on-ball defender and absolutely tremendous as an off-ball playmaker.
Still, there are two major concerns. First, I still don’t know that I trust the jumper. It’s better this year, and he’s hitting 33 percent from 3. But it’s still small sample after Hayes had made just 26.7 percent of his previous 288 attempts. He’s always been a good free throw shooter, and some scouts do believe in his touch as being projectable once they fix his mechanics, but obviously we need to see more of a sample. Second, Hayes has been a turnover machine so far. Honestly, it’s great experience and Ulm really only has two other guards who are capable of playing at the Eurocup level (Zoran Dragic and Tyler Harvey), but he’s probably slightly overextended at the lead guard spot as a teenager in these competitions right now. He’s posting an impossibly high 36.7 turnover rate. That needs to come down as things start to move slower for him later in the year.
Hayes has done a nice job early this season of becoming interesting again after some of the luster came off of his prospects last year. But it’s tough to place him right now until we see if the turnover numbers can come down later in the year.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves
Ayo Dosunmu | 6-4 guard | 19 years old, sophomore | Illinois
2018-19 stats: 13.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 43.5/35.2/69.5
Scouts are mixed on Dosunmu. Some like his athleticism and potential as a secondary playmaker or backup point guard. Others wonder what role he can fill at the next level because he’s good at a lot of things, but not particularly great at anything. On offense, Dosunmu is most comfortable out on the break, where he’s better at making plays as a passer and does a better job of using his length and athleticism to make plays in space. In the halfcourt, his handle is a bit high and he doesn’t quite yet have the craft to be consistent breaking down defenders to get into the paint, and his vision and decision-making there isn’t superb. As a shooter, Dosunmu has some wonky mechanics that led to streaky outputs last year. During his first 16 games, Dosunmu shot 41.8 percent from 3. During his last 16 games, he shot 29.3 percent from 3.
Which shooter Dosunmu is will ultimately be the key to his translation. I think he actually has pretty good touch and could develop if he can rework the mechanics a bit. He’s an interesting potential multi-positional defender in the backcourt, and someone whose athleticism should generally play well at the next level. His ability to play as a secondary playmaker — or maybe even a backup point guard — also gives him a role if we see the game slow down for him this year. There are a lot of pathways here for the skilled guard to figure it out, he’s just got to do it.
21. Houston Rockets
Isaiah Joe | 6-5 wing | 20 years old, sophomore | Arkansas
2018-19 stats: 13.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.5 steals, 41.3/41.4/75.6
Listeners of the Game Theory Podcast will know that I’ve been a fan of Isaiah Joe for well over a year. Simply put, he’s the best shooter in college basketball. His mechanics are simple, clean and easy. He hit a ridiculous 41.4 percent of his nearly 300 3-point attempts last season. This is an immediately translatable skill. But beyond that, Joe really does a great job of playing a smart game. He typically makes the right read and right pass if the shot isn’t there. He’s not the best ballhandler at all, but he can attack a closeout and score if the defense overplays the shot. Defensively, he’s good at knowing where to be in position and tends to make plays happen away from the ball. And at 6-foot-5, he theoretically has good size and length.
There are worries here that hold him back from being a lottery prospect right now. His frame is dreadfully skinny still, at 180 pounds, even after putting on 10 pounds this offseason. That affects him as an on-ball defender and as a driver into the paint. Joe actually shot a higher percentage from 3 last season than he did from 2, which is not particularly great. He hit only 48.3 percent of his halfcourt shots at the rim, a below-average mark. However, the bigger indicator of concern here is that Joe only took 29 such shots last season, less than one per game. He needs to work on getting to the basket more, either on the ball as a driver or as an off-ball cutter. Simply put, I don’t think Arkansas ran enough such actions for him last season.
Under new coach Eric Musselman, I’d expect that to change. Joe should take over the lead role in the offense, bomb over 10 shots from 3 per game and get a chance to score more inside. Musselman tends to do a good job of putting players in position to succeed, which makes me think Joe is primed for a breakout this season.
22. Toronto Raptors
Tyrese Haliburton | 6-5 guard | 19 years old, sophomore | Iowa State
2018-19 stats: 6.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks, 51.5/43.4/69.2
Haliburton is one of the tougher evaluations this season. He’s an analytics darling due to his terrific assist-to-turnover ratio and defensive production. At 6-foot-5, Haliburton consistently makes the best possible decisions with the basketball in whatever situation he’s in offensively. And on defense, his size allows him to guard a variety of positions. And off-ball, he’s absolutely monstrous on defense, where he’s consistently in the gaps, blocks a ton of shots for a guard as a help-side guy, and attacks passing lanes to create odd-man breaks. Honestly, I’m not sure there’s a smarter player in the country.
Still, his skill level is concerning. Despite his terrific passing and decision-making, I’m not quite sure he’s a lead guard. I think he’s probably better as a secondary ballhandler, because his dribble is kind of high and he doesn’t possess great athleticism as a driver. Simply put, I’m even concerned about his ability to create plays on the college level after having seen him play at Nike Basketball Academy this summer. Iowa State had so much around him last year that his limited role really suited him well. Then, as a shooter, I’m worried as he tries to extend out his jumper to the NBA line. His release is really funky, and his mechanics are very slow. He might be limited to simply being an open spot-up shooter, shot attempts that he got plenty of last season due to the talent that was around him.
I really like buying into feel for the game, typically, and I think Haliburton’s game should translate well to a role. But he has to improve his skill level, particularly as a shooter.
23. Miami Heat
Tre Jones | 6-2 guard | 19 years old, sophomore | Duke
2018-19 stats: 9.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.9 steals, 1.5 turnovers, 41.4/26.2/75.4
Another prospect here with distinct positives and negatives that will ultimately be reliant upon one swing skill figuring itself out. Jones has a strong feel for the game and was the perfect distributor on offense last year to keep all of Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish happy and involved in the offense. He’s great at making the right reads and knows exactly where his teammates like to get the ball to get their shots. His ability to initiate offense within a scheme is terrific, and he makes really good decisions when doing it. He’s rarely going to turn the ball over.
On defense, Jones does a great job of pestering opponents at the point of attack and making their life miserable. Honestly, it’s probably his best, most translatable skill right now. At the NBA level, with the shorter shot clock, having Jones come in and annoy initiators who are trying to start the offense will be valuable, and potentially lead to opponents getting into their actions a couple of seconds too late.
Ultimately though, we saw the biggest concern in Jones’ game throughout last year. He can’t shoot. Teams just stopped guarding him when he was off the ball and loaded up in the paint against Williamson and Barrett, knowing that they couldn’t hurt them enough from distance. This season, I’m not sure things will get easier for Duke, either. Lineups with Vernon Carey and Javin DeLaurier together just won’t have the requisite spacing. As mentioned above, Moore is an inconsistent shooter with potential. Jack White went on one of the coldest shooting streaks in the country last season. Hurt is really the only guy I trust to be the knockdown guy, but you don’t want to limit him to that, either. And the problems with Alex O’Connell and Joey Baker are that Duke then opens itself up to potential difficulties on defense. So the floor-spacing will give, then it will take away, too.
Whether Jones sticks at a high level in the NBA will be dependent upon the jumper. He needs to at least be a threat with it, otherwise he’s probably just a change of pace guard. Honestly, at No. 23, a team is probably pretty comfortable with that outcome.
24. Boston Celtics
Jalen Smith | 6-10 forward/center | 19 years old, sophomore | Maryland
2018-19 stats: 11.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 49.2/26.8/65.8
Smith will get the middle at Maryland all to himself now following the departure of Bruno Fernando to the NBA. Their pairing last year never quite worked ideally, which made it tough to evaluate Smith’s game on a few levels. Also, he was pretty raw last year in terms of overall skillset. Mostly, Smith did a really good job of getting by on his athleticism. He runs the floor extremely well, is a good weak-side rim protector, great at receiving dump-off passes inside, and he finishes above the rim. He’s kind of an interesting combo big in the same way, as you’ll read below when I talk about Obi Toppin, that Richaun Holmes has been useful for Sacramento.
But there are concerns. Smith plays very, very upright, which hinders his leverage as a rebounder and as a defender on the perimeter. He gets pushed around, strength-wise, because it’s easy for players to get into his lower half because he plays with a higher center of gravity. He just gets very little bend throughout his frame. That also results in a high dribble that makes it tougher for him to reach his potential as a driver. Overall, it just results in him not getting the most functionally out of what are, quite honestly, very interesting explosive and fluid athletic tools.
He also needs to be a better shooter, as he hit just 26 percent from 3 last season despite a pretty clean looking shot. Positionally, he’s somewhere between the 4 and the 5. Given that he doesn’t have standout length, he’s probably always going to be better defensively at the 4. If he has starter upside, it’s probably at that spot. But off the bench, you can maybe envision him being an up-tempo, change of pace 5.
It’s tough to place him here, not knowing if he can fix his center of gravity issue. If he starts getting bend throughout, and also starts seeing the floor as a passer a bit more, Smith could end up much higher on this thing by the end of the year. But if he keeps playing upright and struggles to adjust on defense, he might end up out of the mock entirely and forced to spend another year at Maryland. Range of outcomes is wide here.
25. Utah Jazz
Josiah Jordan-James | 6-6 guard | 19 years old, freshman | Tennessee
James is a very skilled wing with a great feel for the game and nice ballhandling ability for his 6-foot-6 frame. In fact, I’d expect him to initiate Tennessee’s offense quite a bit this year next to Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bowden in the Vols’ backcourt. Honestly, James just looks like an NBA player already. Physically, he wouldn’t be out of place in an NBA game right now. At 200 pounds with solid length and broad shoulders, he is not only capable of dealing with physicality now, but also should be able to put more strength on as he ages and matures.
Offensively, James’ vision is terrific for the position. He doesn’t have the most explosive first step though, and it’ll be interesting to track how many drives he’s capable of completing in his freshman season without just bullying a smaller guard toward the rim. He’s good with a pullup game in the midrange, but he’s still working through some issues on his 3-point shot, where his touch can be a bit iffy. Defensively, James can guard multiple positions already, and is useful both on and off ball. In general, he’s a does-all-of-the-little-things type of player. He tends not to play like a goofball, instead sporting a relatively mature approach that should make him an early impact player.
The recent comparison here, in my opinion, is Troy Brown. Unlike Brown, though, I think James will be a bit more well-set for success early on. It’s not that Brown struggled as a freshman necessarily, it’s just that the team around James makes a bit more sense in regard to role allocation. There is always room for this type of player in the NBA.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (via DEN)
Bryan Antoine | 6-5 guard | 19 years old, freshman | Villanova
I’ll be completely honest: I’m unsure what to do with Antoine at this stage. On one hand, his game is very interesting for an NBA wing. He’s a shot-maker, through and through. He’s 6-foot-5, has good length, can knock down shots from all three levels and has touch from all over the court. His footwork is terrific and gives itself over to him having a strong pullup game. And off the catch, I feel good about the shot every time it comes out of his hands. The NBA needs more 2 guards who can act as smart secondary ballhandlers and high-level scorers.
Having said that, Antoine has missed a lot of time this preseason with a shoulder injury dating to late last season. He had to get surgery on it, and the recovery time was supposed to be around six months. In general, the Villanova scheme tends to be somewhat unforgiving when it comes to freshmen. It’s often difficult for them to make an early impact, as that coaching staff prides itself on finding guys who almost always make the right decision within its scheme. Obviously, the game moves faster at this level, so it can be an adjustment for first-year players. It’s easy to see how Antoine missing time could put him behind the eight ball when it comes to getting consistent minutes for Jay Wright and company.
I’ve placed Antoine in this mock draft because I think it’s a necessary move. If he can get playing time, I think he’s likely to perform well as an offensive player and show off his shot-making ability — something, by the way, that Villanova desperately needs this year. But I place him in this specific spot with little confidence because everything seems a bit up in the air with how his season could go.
27. Los Angeles Lakers
Onyeka Okongwu | 6-8 forward/center | 18 years old, freshman | USC
At this early stage of the process in a draft, when scouts are really scouring the world to try to find players worthy of taking with a first-round pick, a lot of this comes down to placing bets on guys who they feel reasonably confident can make things happen at the next level. Okongwu fits that mold. At 6-foot-8 or so with long arms and a motor that never quits, Okongwu is going to be one of the most productive players in the Pac-12 through sheer athleticism and willpower. He gobbles every rebound in his vicinity. He finishes around the basket with touch and power. At 245 pounds, he has a chiseled frame for an 18-year-old, one that will allow him to hold his position inside.
Defensively, I actually think there is some real upside with him as a player who can sit down and guard in space. USC has a senior in Nick Rakocevic who made the All-Pac-12 team last year after averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Okongwu has already stepped in and been so dominant within their practices and workouts that he’s relegated Rakocevic to a lesser role behind him. I know he’s an undersized center. But it’s hard to find players with this intersection of power, quickness, athleticism, defensive aptitude, motor and productivity. Everything he’s shown so far makes me buy into him being a one-and-done, despite the fact that he was outside of the top 20 in his recruiting class and was a snub for the McDonald’s All-American game.
28. Boston Celtics (via MIL)
Obi Toppin | 6-9 forward/center | 21 years old, sophomore | Dayton
2018-19 stats: 14.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 66.6/52.4/71.3
Toppin declared for the draft last year, and sources told The Athletic that there was some interest in him as a second rounder if he had stayed in. He returned to Dayton, though, and blew up a bit this summer. He was one of the standout performers at Nike Basketball Academy, outplaying a number of highly ranked bigs in the process. The big thing with Toppin is that — while he’s a bit undersized for the position at 6-foot-9 without great length — he’s just an absolutely monstrous athlete for a center. It’s easy to envision him in a role similar to what Richaun Holmes is currently occupying for the Kings: a guy who rolls extremely hard to the basket and finishes efficiently far above the rim, catching lobs and dump-offs in a variety of pick-and-roll actions. He’s also not a bad passer, capable of operating in some dribble-handoff settings.
Is that probably more of a backup center role? Yeah, it is. But at No. 28, you’re typically very happy to get a center who can play at this level. I think Toppin can do that, even in spite of defensive concerns. On the downside, he really doesn’t have the size to be a true rim protector, and he’s not the most fluid mover because his hips are a bit stiff and his feet a bit slow laterally. But he has to hope the team that drafts him will be able to account for that for 20 minutes a night in specific lineup constructions that work to suit his terrific offensive skills.
29. Brooklyn Nets (via PHI)
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | 6-9 forward | 19 years old, freshman | Villanova
Robinson-Earl is basically a pure 4 man, which tends to be something that can be a bit less valuable in today’s flexibility-heavy NBA. Having said that, I really like his skillset and potential to stick there. He’s really strong and plays a physical brand of basketball at 6-foot-9 with reasonable length. He’s pretty ground-bound and doesn’t have crazy explosiveness, but he moves his feet well enough to make you believe he can guard enough on the perimeter. His overall game is just very polished. He doesn’t play like a goofball. Defensively, he’s not going to be a difference-maker as a rim protector, but he rebounds well and is smart positionally.
Generally, I just really like the feel level here. He makes smart decisions and makes them quickly on the floor for his age. Villanova utilized him mostly in the post in their scrimmage with USC, which isn’t the best way to showcase his potential for the next level, but he was pretty good and that’s certainly going to be where they need him to play. However, I’ve seen him in the past operate in interesting dribble-handoff actions as well as in screen and roll with guards. Most evaluators believe his mechanics are smooth enough to stretch his jumper out beyond the 3-point, although he’s much more comfortable in the midrange right now. There is some Morris brother potential in terms of role for him at the next level if he can iron out that shot.
30. Los Angeles Clippers
Xavier Tillman | 6-9 center | 20 years old, junior | Michigan State
2018-19 stats: 10.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.7 blocks, 60.5/29.6/73.2
Tillman was one of my favorites to watch late in the year last season, largely because of his defensive prowess. Using his tremendous length and awesome instincts, he was a terrific shot-blocker despite being a bit undersized — posting a top-five block rate in the Big Ten. He’s also way better as a defender away from the basket than he gets credit for. After dropping about 20 pounds prior to last offseason, Tillman was much more mobile than we’d seen in the past. He combined that with a retained strength level that made it really difficult for guards to drive right by him or go into his chest to create space. I don’t quite think he’s a “switch” defender yet, but you can count on him to execute a scheme where the goal is to wall off and cut off penetration, or to wall off and contest at the basket.
Offensively, Tillman has also developed some really high-end skills. He was the best offensive rebounder in the Big Ten last year. His touch around the rim is quite strong, and he’s starting to expand his range out beyond 12 feet with his jumper. You can also use him in a lot of ball-screen actions and dribble handoffs because he’s so coordinated. Tillman and Cassius Winston working together this season is going to be one of the more fun offensive pairings to watch in ball screens.
Generally, Tillman is just a really smart, trustworthy player on the floor who has a high feel for the game. I’m also pretty interested to see if there is even more upside with the frame, as he could stand to keep thinning out as long as he retains his strength level. I’m just a really big fan of his game. This is probably slightly higher than where NBA evaluators have him but consider this may be just calling a shot on a guy that I like.
SECOND ROUND
31. Philadelphia 76ers (via NYK)
Isaac Okoro | 6-6 wing | 18 years old, freshman | Auburn
Okoro has immense defensive potential due to his size, length and ability to transition explosiveness into power. He’s not quite as big as you’d want him to be, but he has great feel for the game and his defensive instincts are top-notch. Offensively, he’s going to have to shoot it to reach his upside, but he does make things happen through sheer athleticism as a cutter and in the open floor. Again, he generally just makes really good decisions with the ball in his hand, too. While I’m not quite as high on him as some are, I do think he has a real shot to be a one-and-done this year at Auburn, where he should slide right into the do-everything role Chuma Okeke vacated.
32. Charlotte Hornets (via CLE)
Aaron Henry | 6-5 wing | 20 years old, sophomore | Michigan State
Maybe I’m slightly ahead of myself here, but I really like Henry a lot. And he’s going to get ample opportunity this year at Michigan State, with Josh Langford set to miss some time and Cassius Winston being capable of dropping dimes all over the court. Henry is a strong 6-foot-5, with the capability of playing physically and dealing with contact on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he had some struggles occasionally as a freshman, but it’s easy to buy into a guy coached by Tom Izzo figuring things out when that player clearly wants to be good on that end. And on offense, there’s just a lot to like all over the place. He hit 38 percent from 3 as a freshman and displays really solid skill for making good decisions on the fly.
33. New Orleans Pelicans (via WAS)
Cassius Winston | 6-0 point guard | 22 years old, senior | Michigan State
Winston is going to be a terrific backup point guard for a long time because he’s just so good with ball-screens. He can use them to get to his 3-point shot, attempts that he knocks down over 40 percent of the time. He can use them to get into the teeth of the defense and make plays as a passer, where he has every single pass in the toolbox. He’s not much of a finisher inside, and he’s not a defender, which limits the upside a bit. But I’d be ecstatic to end up with a strong backup lead guard at the end of the first or early in the second round.
34. Washington Wizards (via MEM)
Kira Lewis | 6-3 point guard | 18 years old, sophomore | Alabama
Lewis is a strong breakout candidate this season after averaging over 13 points per game last season as a 17-year-old freshman. He’s definitely a bit more wired to score than to pass at this stage, and his frame needs to keep adding strength. But with Nate Oats coming in as a coach bringing an up-tempo offense with him, Lewis should really take a leap this year and potentially lead the Crimson Tide back to the NCAA Tournament, given that he can score from all three levels and really excels out in transition.
35. New York Knicks (via CHA)
Aaron Nesmith | 6-6 wing | 20 years old, sophomore | Vanderbilt
Nesmith is another guy I’ve been a fan of for a while. At 6-foot-6 with good length and a strong frame, he possesses prototypical size for the wing position. He only made 33.7 percent of his 3s last season, but mechanically there is every reason to believe in Nesmith as a high-end shooter. Defensively, he generally does a good job and is in position, plus is pretty strong on-ball due to his tools. This should be his show at Vanderbilt this season, and with Jerry Stackhouse entering the fold as coach after years in the NBA and G League, Nesmith should be put in strong positions to showcase his talent. The idea here is a shot-maker who can attack closeouts a bit, defend, and continue developing as someone scouts note as a good kid.
36. Sacramento Kings
Patrick Williams | 6-7 wing | 18 years old, freshman | Florida State
Williams is one of my blind spots entering the college basketball season, having just missed him live during his prep years. So on this one, I’m relying solely on tape and what scouts tell me. And scouts are very interested in what Williams brings to the table. He’s an explosive athlete with good size and length who should immediately step into a high-end role at Florida State because of his play on both ends of the floor. He attacks the rim with reckless abandon on offense and has gotten plaudits early for his versatility and difference-making athleticism on defense. Imagine him as something of a cross between Dwayne Bacon and Chris Singleton, as his offensive game isn’t quite as polished as Bacon’s, but he’s a better defender with a stronger physical frame for the wing. Unquestionably, he’s one of the guys I’m most interested in tracking this season, but he starts a bit lower here than where scouts currently have him because I want to see him against high-level competition first.
37. Dallas Mavericks (via GSW)
Devon Dotson | 6-2 point guard | 20 years old, sophomore | Kansas
Dotson was one of the last players to make a pre-draft decision last season after originally deciding to declare for the draft. He’s a very quick, tough guard who defends at the point of attack, consistently knocks down shots from distance, and makes things happen on the court due to his ability to break down defenses. The big questions here are size and decision-making. Can Dotson be as effective given how skinny he is? And can he consistently make the right passes and plays? He had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.5-to-1 and is going to need to start seeing more of the open passes on the floor. Still, I like the toughness a lot and think he’s probably a solid backup point guard.
38. New Orleans Pelicans
Jordan Nwora | 6-7 wing/forward | 21 years old, junior | Louisville
Nwora was one of the most improved players in college basketball last season, becoming the centerpiece of Louisville’s team. He’s an elite catch-and-shoot guy with smooth mechanics and a lightning-quick release. The big leap last year came in attacking closeouts, though, where Nwora is now capable of getting into the teeth of the defense and using his underrated leaping ability to finish. The big question is who he defends. He’s really poor on that end because his lateral quickness and hip movement is pretty rough. Still, you take fliers on shooters like this in the first half of the second round, I think.
39. Chicago Bulls
Jayden Scrubb | 6-6 wing | 19 years old, JuCo sophomore | John A. Logan
Scrubb was the best player in the JuCo ranks last season, averaging 20.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 54 percent from the field and 46 percent from 3. That earned him an invite to Nike Basketball Academy over the summer, where he was very solid against a high level of competition. Speaking with sources around the situation, I think it seems likely that Scrubb will at least gauge his draft stock prior to heading to Louisville next season, which is where he’s currently committed to play. As a shooter who can also handle the ball at 6-foot-6, Scrubb will at least be interesting to NBA teams.
40. Philadelphia 76ers (via ATL)
Andrew Nembhard | 6-5 guard | 19 years old, sophomore | Florida
Nembhard is one of the best passers in college basketball, consistently making the right decisions and reads across the court. As a big lead guard, he sees over the top of the defense typically and does a good job of initiating the offense. He’s not some wild athlete who can consistently break down defenders though, and I think that’s ultimately going to be the swing skill. How much can Nembhard develop as a change of pace ballhandler to get separation from his defenders? If he can do that, Florida should be a monstrous team this season and he’ll get attention.
41. Sacramento Kings (via DET)
Amar Sylla | 6-8 center | 18 years old, international | Oostende
A Senegalese center who developed in the Real Madrid system the last three years, Sylla moved to Belgium to get consistent first division playing time. Thus far, he’s been the defensive difference-maker you’d think he’d be, while also continuing to be a legitimate offensive liability. With well over a 7-foot wingspan and good feet, Sylla is kind of a prototypical center in today’s basketball ecosystem. He can slide his feet on the perimeter and really protect the rim inside. But the reason I see him more as a stash player versus someone I’m genuinely interested in is that his offensive game is so rudimentary. He’s trying to develop as a shooter, but isn’t there yet as he’s 1 for 21 on jumpers so far this year. He doesn’t seem to have great hands around the basket and his touch isn’t great there either, as evidenced by the fact that he’s shooting 38.5 percent at the rim so far. He doesn’t really pass it all that well. I’m just very unconvinced that there’s an NBA-level offensive skill package in his repertoire, which is why he’ll be a bit lower for me.
42. Oklahoma City Thunder
A.J. Lawson | 6-6 guard | 20 years old, sophomore | South Carolina
I like Lawson a lot as a playmaker with the ball in his hands. He can make things happen by utilizing his length to extend and finish at the basket, and by changing pace and maneuvering around defenders to get into the teeth of the defense. He needs to add weight and improve as a shooter long-term, though. He doesn’t particularly deal well with contact around the rim, and his shot is streaky. Additionally, despite playing some lead guard, Lawson has an assist-to-turnover rate that’s startlingly close to 1-to-1. Still, I do like to bet on guys with a lot of skill and positional size and Lawson has a shot to really skyrocket up boards if things break right.
43. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX)
Grant Riller | 6-3 guard | 22 years old, senior | Charleston
Another one where I’m just kind of calling my shot. Riller is a tremendously gifted scorer with the ball in his hands, possessing all sorts of tricks in his toolbox that allow him to get consistent penetration. There also might not be a better finisher around the basket in the country as a guard. He shot an absolutely obscene 74 percent around the rim in halfcourt settings, with most of those coming on drives. Riller is just a consistent jumper away from leading the country in scoring and potentially vaulting himself into first-round discussion.
44. Philadelphia 76ers (via DAL)
Xavier Johnson | 6-3 guard | 20 years old, sophomore | Pittsburgh
Johnson was one of the most underrated freshmen in college basketball last season, averaging 15.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.9 rebounds while also leading the ACC in turnovers with four per game. That’s a red flag number, for sure, but Johnson is a really strong playmaker who makes things happen through his quickness and motor. Johnson consistently plays really hard, and if he can show an increase in efficiency and decision-making — as well as slightly adjusted and fixed mechanics on his jumper to help limit some streakiness — Johnson could end up seeing his name called as soon as this year.
45. Boston Celtics (via BKN)
Udoka Azubuike | 6-11 center | 20 years old, senior | Kansas
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I actually kind of buy Azubuike as a backup NBA center. I was never particularly a fan throughout his first couple of years, and questions still exist. Can he stay healthy? That’s the most important one. But also, can he move at all on the perimeter? But as the NBA has gone more toward drop coverage defensive schemes, there are places you could see Azubuike working. However, the biggest development was seeing just how ridiculous of shape he’s in right now. At Nike Basketball Academy, Azubuike sported a trimmed-down physique that featured a six-pack, while he also retained a lot of the strength that allows him to bully everyone around the basket. He’s going to be a dominant force for Kansas this season and has the potential to be a nice, situational scoring threat for NBA teams due to his ability to establish position and rim run.
46. Indiana Pacers
Neemias Queta | 7-0 center | 20 years old, sophomore | Utah State
Queta was one of college basketball’s best defenders last season, helping Utah to a top-five national rank in defensive rebounding rate and two-point percentage against. And for his part, he averaged nearly 12 points and nine rebounds while blocking 2.4 shots per game. He ended up returning to college hoops last year after a rough combine performance in which he was dominated by Tacko Fall and others, but there’s still an interesting backup center here due to his defensive prowess.
47. Portland Trail Blazers
Vernon Carey | 6-10 center | 18 years old, freshman | Duke
As usual, I’ll just be honest: Carey isn’t my kind of player. I totally get the ability to carve out position, and I think he’s going to be really productive per-minute this season for Duke. He’ll probably average something like 14 points and 10 rebounds. But I’m just not sure I see the NBA fit, here.
Carey can’t move at all on the perimeter defensively at 275 pounds. Inside, he takes up space, but he’s not quick enough in help to make an impact. On offense, I don’t really buy the jump shot and I think he’s going to struggle to finish inside against length. He does have some perimeter skills handling the ball and can act in dribble-handoffs, but yeah. I totally get why he was a top recruit, but he’s just not really for me, and I don’t know what he does at a high level in the NBA.
48. Orlando Magic
Myles Powell | 6-3 guard | 22 years old, senior | Seton Hall
One of the more prolific shooters in all of college basketball, Powell had a monster junior season that almost resulted in him turning pro. However, he decided to return, and because of it he’ll be one of the most productive players in college basketball. Powell has hit 36 percent of his nearly 750 3-point attempts in three years, but that number underrates his adeptness as a shooter because of the quality of his shots tends to be pretty tough. The key for Powell this season would be to develop anything he can as an on-ball creator. I’m not quite sure he’s good enough to stick as just a shooter, but if he can play as more of a combo guard who can create plays, that would open up doors for him.
49. San Antonio Spurs
Malcolm Cazalon | 6-6 wing | 18 years old, international | Leuven Bearrs
Like Sylla, Cazalon moved to Belgium to try to get some first division time in his pre-draft year. And indeed, he’s playing about 17 minutes per game and largely producing what was expected of an athletic wing. He’s scoring about 7.2 points per game and doesn’t look out of place in the Belgian league among professionals. The big question here revolves around his shooting, as it seems clear that he’s not quite there yet from distance. Ultimately, that’ll probably be the swing skill. Still, he’s an interesting athletic wing who can really make some plays.
50. Minnesota Timberwolves
Makur Maker | 6-11 center | 18 years old, prep year | Pacific Academy
Maker is a top-10 recruit in the 2020 recruiting class. However, he has petitioned to be eligible for the 2020 NBA Draft. I’m not particularly a fan of his game right now, to be honest. Unlike his cousin Thon (currently playing for the Pistons), Makur hasn’t really shown a commitment to the defensive end. He can shoot it, but I don’t think his handle is particularly well-developed for the halfcourt game. It plays up in the open floor AAU games he’s played in thus far, but I don’t really see it translating to the next level yet. He also thinks of himself like a Kevin Durant-type, which just isn’t in his repertoire from a shot-creation perspective right now. The upside is obviously ridiculous if it would all come together, but I’m very unclear on how one would bet on that right now, given that he has very little in the way of strength. Scouts are very interested in seeing him, though, so I’m placed him here for now.
51. Sacramento Kings (via HOU)
Reggie Perry | 6-10 center | 19 years old, sophomore | Mississippi State
Perry is coming off of a really strong offseason, where he earned his way into the NBA Draft Combine from the G League Elite Camp, and then went out and won MVP of the U19 World Cup while averaging over 13 points and eight rebounds. The issue here is that Perry is a tweener, a bit too small for the center position but not quite athletic enough for the power forward spot in today’s NBA. There is some upside here, though, if he can develop his shot out beyond the 3-point line. I’d expect he’ll be one of the more productive players in college basketball this season, and that alone should get him further onto draft radars.
52. Toronto Raptors
Ashton Hagans | 6-3 guard | 20 years old, sophomore | Kentucky
He’s kind of a lesser version of Tre Jones right now. He’s a bit more dangerous as an on-ball defender, but he’s not as trustworthy as an offensive player. Genuinely elite on defense at the point of attack, Hagans just isn’t quite a good enough distributor or decision-maker yet given his shooting deficiencies. He does finish well inside for his size and is great at absorbing contact around the basket and playing tough. He has genuine upside beyond this spot athletically if he can start shooting the ball at a higher level (something that he’s been working on, but which I want to see in high-speed game action before really going crazy over it). But for now, second round is the right area.
53. Sacramento Kings (via MIA)
Karim Mane | 6-5 guard | 18 years old, prep year | Vanier
Mane is deciding between heading to college or going pro. A lot of the bigger schools haven’t really been super involved, leading some to speculate that Mane is more likely to try to turn pro. Much like his Quebecois compatriot Luguentz Dort, Mane has a great frame at 6-foot-5, but really struggles to shoot the basketball. The Canadian has strong ball skills that could allow him to play some lead guard and is athletic enough to make plays with ball in hand. Scouts are definitely interested in getting more eyes on him after seeing him this past summer at the U19 World Cup, where he shot 36 percent from the field and averaged 11 points. But I think he’s still a pretty big ways off from competing at the next level, so I’ve placed him near the end of this board, just to acknowledge that scouts are a bit more intrigued by him for the 2020 draft than I am at this juncture.
54. Charlotte Hornets (via BOS)
C.J. Walker | 6-7 wing | 18 years old, freshman | Oregon
Walker is one of my favorite freshmen in this class. He plays at a super high motor consistently and makes an impact all over the floor due to his quick twitch athleticism. I think there is a very high-end defensive upside in his game. The big questions for me come on offense, where his jumper is hitchy and not trustworthy yet, and his game off the bounce is largely straight-line dependent. If he can tie some things together this year, particularly with the jumper, he has a chance to go one-and-done. For now, though, I don’t think I can go higher than this.
55. Dallas Mavericks (via UTA)
Markus Howard | 5-11 guard | 20 years old, senior | Marquette
Howard is one of the most prolific scoring guards in the country, capable of getting hot and scoring 30 points at the snap of his fingers. He’s one of the best pullup shooting artists in college basketball since Stephen Curry left Davidson. The big questions revolve around what else he can do. It’s unlikely he’ll be anything but a defensive liability due to his size and lack of length. As a lead guard, he’s not much of a distributor and largely tries to get buckets for himself. Can he consistently get separation for himself? Having him this low, I think that displays my skepticism. But the shooting is interesting.
56. Brooklyn Nets (via DEN)
Derrick Alston | 6-7 wing | 22 years old, junior | Boise State
By the end of last year, a lot of Mountain West coaches felt that Alston was the most dangerous player in the league offensively. He averaged over 16 points in the second half of the year and created shots whenever he wanted due to his ballhandling ability and talent for shooting over the defense. If he takes another leap as a decision-maker and passer for others, as well as adds some strength to his frame, he has a real shot to leap higher than this come draft night. He’s become a really good shooter at 38 percent from 3, and positional size and playmaking ability is tough to find for wings.
57. Orlando Magic (via LAL)
Saddiq Bey | 6-8 wing | 20 years old, sophomore | Villanova
Bey is a shooter on the wing who looked terrific at Nike Basketball Academy because he played a simple style of game. Instead of trying to overextend himself to show scouts what he thought they felt his holes were, he just calmly went about his business and knocked down shots, attacked closeouts and made smart decisions. He only averaged 8.2 points and shot 37 percent from 3 last year, but I think he has a real chance to break out as a sophomore in the Villanova scheme due to that consistency as a shot-maker and trustworthiness on the floor.
58. New Orleans Pelicans (via MIL)
Naji Marshall | 6-7 wing | 21 years old, junior | Xavier
I actually like Marshall’s teammate Paul Scruggs a bit more because he’s more consistent, but NBA executives as a whole are a bit more interested in Marshall. He does almost everything you could ask for from a wing outside of shooting it. He has a 7-foot wingspan and uses it well on defense in help. He can drive and attack, both in early offense and in the halfcourt. He gets turnover prone because he often tries to make the home-run pass, but he does a good job of finding teammates with high-level looks. The only issue here is shooting consistency. If Marshall can become a 38 percent 3-point shooter, he has a shot at the first round.
59. Philadelphia 76ers
Mamadi Diakite | 6-10 forward/center | 22 years old, senior | Virginia
Diakite has a lot of potential on defense because he’s one of the best shot-blockers in the country. He does a terrific job coming over from the help side and swatting shots away. Additionally, there is some untapped upside on offense. He came to Nike Basketball Academy sporting a better-looking jumper than we had seen at Virginia. If he can prove himself as something of a stretch-five for Virginia, he has the potential to stick in the NBA.
60. Los Angeles Clippers
Ochai Agbaji | 6-5 wing | 19 years old, sophomore | Kansas
Our third Kansas player in the second round, Agbaji is an interesting potential 3-and-D wing due to his length, athleticism and shooting. He should pair really nicely with Devon Dotson in the backcourt this year. I know he only shot 30 percent from 3 last season, but I’d expect a jump there this year. The mechanics look good, and he should get a lot of opportunities directly off the catch due to Dotson collapsing the defense and Azubuike getting a ton of attention inside.