TEMPE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 14: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the NCAAB game ... [+]
Back in May, I listed my 60 favorite prospects in the 2020 NBA draft, but that feels like it was ages ago. LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards are still the names you’ll hear most at the top of the draft, but a lot has changed since then. We have all had a lot of time to continue to evaluate prospects, and we have also started to hear about how these guys are performing in workouts and interviews. Here’s a look at my updated big board, which is the final one I’ll be publishing before the November 18th draft:
Tier 1
1) LaMelo Ball [19, 6-6, Illawarra Hawks]
I’m not buying all these reports about LaMelo performing poorly in interviews. Teams know that he has the most upside in this draft, so I think a bunch of them are leaking what they can in hopes of him dropping to them a little later in the lottery. LaMelo’s offensive arsenal gives him a better chance of being a star than anybody else in this class. He should be the first player selected, especially with a team like the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are in no position to be turning down a player with his talent.
2) Anthony Edwards [19, 6-5, Georgia]
Edwards appeared to have changed his form in his televised pre-draft workout, and I wasn’t exactly thrilled with what I saw. But Edwards has proven to be a solid shooter throughout the years, so I still believe in his ability to hit shots. What Edwards needs to prove is that he is capable of holding his own defensively, while also being able to work within a team concept on the other end of the floor. Golden State is my favorite destination for him, as a small-ball lineup of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Edwards, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green is really intriguing. And that culture would do wonders for him.
3) Killian Hayes [19, 6-5, ratiopharm Ulm]
I had Hayes as my third-ranked prospect when I first released my board, but I have moved him up into the first tier, as I believe he should be viewed as one of the real prizes in this draft. Hayes is a special talent on the offensive end, where he has the versatility to make an impact both on and off the ball. His ability to create off the dribble is what ultimately made me separate him from the rest of the pack, and the mock drafts I’ve seen are a little too low on what he can do.
Tier 2
4) Onyeka Okongwu [19, 6-9, USC]
Okongwu is my favorite big in the draft, despite being a touch smaller than you’d want a center to be. He has the length to defend bigger players and he’s incredibly strong, so I think he’ll be just fine at the five. Overall, Okongwu has the defensive instincts you want anchoring your team, and I’m a big believer in his offensive upside. Okongwu is a great finisher around the rim, and his soft touch suggests he might be able to turn himself into a decent shooter down the road.
5) Deni Avdija [19, 6-9, Maccabi Tel Aviv]
When I released my first board, I was a bit down on Avdija because his jumper is ultimately going to be his swing skill. But Avdija has improved his mechanics significantly and I’m now buying into his ability to make open shots at the next level. Avdija is known for having an unbelievable work ethic, so I just am confident he’ll work at it until he’s a threat from deep. He does almost everything else well, and he’s a professional in every sense of the word.
6) Tyrese Maxey [20, 6-3, Kentucky]
I’m seemingly a bit higher on Maxey than most, and I feel a lot better about that after seeing the shooting mechanics he displayed in his pre-draft special. I was always buying Maxey as a long-range shooter, but his release point was definitely a little too low. But Maxey used the stage to show that he moved it a bit higher and he shot it well in that workout. If he ever ends up touching 40 percent from deep, he would be the steal of this draft. Maxey is a clever shot maker in the paint, and he’s a bull on the defensive end. And how can you doubt any Kentucky guard’s ability at this point?
Tier 3
7) Obi Toppin [22, 6-9, Dayton]
Toppin’s defensive impact is pretty much his only true question mark, and he definitely has a long way to go on that end of the floor. But he’s also NBA ready and can step in and contribute immediately, which is something a lot of teams are looking for. Toppin is an explosive athlete, can finish at the basket and has shown he can step outside and knock down shots. If he can be a serviceable defender against opposing centers, he’ll make his next team extremely happy.
8) Tyrese Haliburton [20, 6-5, Iowa State]
Haliburton has great size for a point guard, tremendous feel for the game and a strong analytical profile. And despite having some funky mechanics, he was lethal as an outside shooter last season. If that translates to the next level, he’s going to be an absolute stud. However, the shooting form makes it difficult for him to make shots off the dribble, so he’ll need to improve it at some point. He also needs to add some weight to his small frame.
9) Isaac Okoro [19, 6-6, Auburn]
I have a lot of respect for what Okoro brings to a team, and I think there’s a chance he ends up being one of the studs of this class. Okoro’s biggest weakness is his jumper, but there are a lot of teams that have world-class shooting coaches, so I think there’s a chance it becomes serviceable. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he’s a guy the San Antonio Spurs target in a trade, as it’d be the type of upside swing they took on Kawhi Leonard.
10) Kira Lewis Jr. [19, 6-3, Alabama]
Lewis is an absolute speed demon in the open floor, and he showed a ton of maturity in reclassifying and starting for Alabama as a very green freshman. He then improved significantly in his second year in Tuscaloosa, showing that he has what it takes to be a true floor general. Lewis also did a lot to prove that he is getting better as a shooter, which is why I’m sold on him as a future starter at the next level.
11) Aleksej Pokusevski [18, 7-0, Olympiacos B]
Pokusevski has a lot of red flags entering the draft, but he also has the type of upside that somebody will talk themselves into. As a big man with real ball skills and the ability to make shots and protect the rim, Pokusevski could be the NBA’s next unicorn. That’s enough to make him worthy of a lottery pick in a draft devoid of high-end talent.
12) James Wiseman [19, 7-1, Memphis]
Wiseman seems like a lock to be selected with one of the first three picks in the draft, and I really can’t blame a team like the Charlotte Hornets for targeting a player with his combination of size and athleticism. But Wiseman really didn’t play any competitive basketball as a freshman, so there’s just not a lot to evaluate here. And from what I saw, I’m not exactly sold on his ability to step out and put pressure on opposing guards. Between that and his lack of an outside shot, I think passing on Okongwu for Wiseman could end up being a mistake.
13) Devin Vassell [20, 6-7, Florida State]
Vassell is one of the best wing defenders in the draft, and he is capable of taking advantage of catch-and-shoot opportunities. Even if he never gets any better, that makes him valuable in the NBA. But Vassell does have an improving in-between game, as he is getting better and better as an off-the-dribble shooter inside the three-point line. Being able to mix it up will only help him become a better player on the offensive end.
14) Saddiq Bey [21, 6-8, Villanova]
Bey is a legitimate 3-and-D prospect, and he has the size to cover multiple positions at the next level. At his height, he could see plenty of minutes as a small-ball power forward, and coming from an excellent Villanova program means he’ll likely be ready to go sooner rather than later.
15) Patrick Williams [19, 6-8, Florida State]
Williams is a bit raw, but he’s a two-way threat that plays with a ton of energy. With excellent size, there’s a great chance he ends up significantly outplaying his draft position. The only issue here is that Williams needs to improve his jumper. But there are plenty of reasons to believe he is capable of doing so.
16) Tyrell Terry [20, 6-3, Stanford]
One of the biggest knocks on Terry is his size, but he has apparently grown an inch and put on some muscle since we last saw him. Considering his elite ability to shoot the ball, I think any team in the lottery should be more than comfortable taking him. However, his range has been all over the place in mock drafts, so it’ll be interesting to see where he ultimately lands. If the Terry pick hits, it’s going to hit big.
The Rest
Tier 4
17) Desmond Bane [22, 6-5, TCU]
18) R.J. Hampton [19, 6-5, New Zealand Breakers]
19) Aaron Nesmith [21, 6-6, Vanderbilt]
20) Cole Anthony [20, 6-3, North Carolina]
21) Josh Green [19, 6-6, Arizona]
22) Jalen Smith [20, 6-10 Maryland]
23) Theo Maledon [19, 6-4, ASVEL]
24) Leandro Bolmaro [20, 6-7, Barcelona]
25) Precious Achiuwa [21, 6-9, Memphis]
26) Xavier Tillman [21, 6-9, Michigan State]
27) Killian Tillie [22, 6-10, Gonzaga]
28) Paul Reed [21, 6-9, DePaul]
29) Tre Jones [20, 6-2, Duke]
Tier 5
30) Nico Mannion [19, 6-3, Arizona]
31) Malachi Flynn [22, 6-1, San Diego State]
32) Daniel Oturu [21, 6-10, Minnesota]
33) Isaiah Joe [21, 6-5, Arkansas]
34) Elijah Hughes [22, 6-6, Syracuse]
35) Mason Jones [22, 6-5, Arkansas]
36) Grant Riller [23, 6-3, Charleston]
37) Jaden McDaniels [20, 6-10, Washington]
38) Skylar Mays [23, 6-4, LSU]
39) Zeke Nnaji [19, 6-10, Arizona]
40) Jahmi’us Ramsey [19, 6-4, Texas Tech]
41) Robert Woodard [21, 6-8, Mississippi State]
42) Devon Dotson [21, 6-2, Kansas]
Tier 6
43) Kaleb Wesson [21, 6-10, Ohio State]
44) Ty-Shon Alexander [22, 6-4, Creighton]
45) Sam Merrill [24, 6-5, Utah State]
46) Cassius Winston [22, 6-1, Michigan State]
47) Jordan Nwora [22, 6-7, Louisville]
48) Tyler Bey [22, 6-6, Colorado]
49) Udoka Azuibuike [21, 7-0, Kansas]
50) Immanuel Quickley [21, 6-3, Kentucky]
51) Isaiah Stewart [19, 6-9, Washington]
52) Payton Pritchard [22, 6-2, Oregon]
Tier 7
53) Yam Madar [19, 6-3, Hapoel Tel Aviv]
54) Cassius Stanley [21, 6-6, Duke]
55) Vernon Carey Jr. [19, 6-11, Duke]
56) Jon Teske [23, 7-1, Michigan]
57) Jay Scrubb [20, 6-6, John Logan]
58) Myles Powell [23, 6-3, Seton Hall]
59) Paul Eboua [20, 6-8, Pesaro]
60) Naji Marshall [22, 6-7, Xavier]
