Our first dive into the 2020 NBA Draft class.
As the NBA season enters its second half, so does the college basketball season. We are in the final stretch, and the NCAA Tournament lingers just around the corner. As a result, the NBA Draft is coming into focus, and it’s time to dive into our first mock draft of the 2019-20 season.
This is an especially weak class, especially at the top. We are far removed from the hype around Zion Williamson and Luka Doncic. There is a wide-open race for the No. 1 pick, and many draft pundits are undecided on who truly deserves the honor of No. 1 prospect. It could go any number of ways.
While there is no prospect of Zion or Luka-level consequence, there are still players who can carve out meaningful careers at the next level. It is also a deeper class than normal, so what it lacks in top-end talent, it could make up for in second-round gems.
For this mock, we will only explore the first round. As per tradition, we used the Tankathon simulator to determine the lottery order — a little extra spice, if you will. Here is The Sixer Sense’s first mock draft of 2020.
The Kings were one of the most promising teams in basketball last season. De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield burst onto the scene, and Marvin Bagley proved solid as the No. 2 overall pick. This season, however, has marked a step in the wrong direction.
There are several factors at play. Luke Walton is a step down at head coach, injuries have plagued the roster, and a sense of discontentment has invaded the locker room. There are rumblings Hield may request a trade, and Bogdan Bogdanovic‘s future still feels uncertain.
In this instance, Sacramento lucks out. Anthony Edwards is the top prospect, and he fills a potential area of need if one or both of Hield and Bogdanovic are gone next season. He’s a powerful athlete who can score proficiently at all three levels. It’s not hard to picture his fit at the next level.
The Pistons move to the No. 2 spot, a prime launching point for a long-awaited rebuild. This is a perimeter-oriented league, and the Pistons have a gaping hole at point guard. Derrick Rose isn’t sticking around much longer.
LaMelo Ball can inject some gasoline into the Pistons’ stalled engine. He’s already a brand name, he’s a blast to watch, and he’s a genuinely skilled playmaker who will benefit those around him. Ball, Luke Kennard, Sekou Doumbouya, and Christian Wood isn’t the worst starting point for a rebuild.
In the absence of Andre Drummond, the Pistons will have the personnel to run and gun more frequently. Blake Griffin‘s fit upon his return is something to monitor, but he’s another playmaker to help facilitate a free-flowing, pass-heavy offense. It could end up a nice home for Ball.
The Hornets have a hole at center, and while it has become increasingly risky to draft bigs this high in the draft, James Wiseman has the pedigree and the potential to tempt a high-lottery team. The Hornets’ recent draft history is pretty solid, but it’s not the most trustworthy front office either.
In Wiseman, the Hornets get a hulking presence — he’s 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, decent lateral quickness, and a mature physique. He should have little issue on offense, where his touch, size, and athleticism are often fruitful.
Defense is the main concern for Wiseman. He should be an elite rim protector who can defend in space, but his poor instincts, bad technique, and tendency to lose focus are issues Charlotte will need to address. He’s bound to draw Deandre Ayton comparisons, fair or not.
The Warriors are expected to explore trades involving this pick, but if they do keep it, Wiseman is a clear favorite. If Golden State can’t get a hold of the top-rated center, however, Deni Avdija makes a lot of sense.
Avdija has found his groove with Maccabi Tel Aviv this season. At 6-foot-8, he’s a talented playmaker, a crafty scorer, and a mostly solid defender. He will inevitably draw comparisons to Luka Doncic, but those are unfounded. He’s not on the same planet. It’s better to appreciate Avdija for what he is.
At full capacity, the Golden State offense is a buzzsaw. A secondary playmaking role next to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green is a comfortable home for Avdija, where he won’t have too big a burden too early. He’s not a great shooter, but his mechanics project well and Golden State generates plenty of open looks.
The Cavaliers have invested consecutive lottery picks in the point guard position. The problem is, Collin Sexton and Darius Garland are ill-equipped to make it work long term. The solution is to add a bigger playmaker who can fill such a void. Tyrese Haliburton fits the bill.
This draft class is heavy on point guards, which is not ideal for the Cavs. Haliburton, however, is 6-foot-5 with room to fill out his frame. He’s an efficient shooter, a high-I.Q. facilitator, and someone who is suited to a secondary playmaking role next to, say, Garland. It is must more comfortable to envision Sexton’s future as a sixth man than as a starter.
In addition to the draft being heavy on point guards, it is also heavy on unknowns. There aren’t a ton of proven, well-rounded prospects. Haliburton has a high floor and looks the part of a surefire NBA contributor, which can’t be said for a lot of prospects — even this high in the draft.
The Hawks find themselves in a tough position — Clint Capela removes the need for a big, and the best prospects on the board occupy a space similar to Trae Young. Still, Atlanta should take the best available talent, which happens to be Killian Hayes.
At 6-foot-5, 192 pounds, Hayes has enough size to share the backcourt with Young. He’s a solid defender, and his I.Q. as a playmaker should create little issue next to an equally brilliant basketball mind. Hayes’ improvement as a shooter this season further cements his potential next to Young.
When executed correctly, multi-guard lineups can work wonders in the NBA. Atlanta now has a genuine defensive backstop in Capela, and Hayes is arguably the most talented offensive player left on the board.
The conversation around Isaac Okoro typically revolves around “winning plays.” The Timberwolves need winning players — desperately. Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, and Malik Beasley is a terrific offensive triage, but the defense is atrocious. Okoro can help fill gaps on the wing.
At 18 years old, Okoro already shows flashes of elite defense. He’s a pest on-ball, a smart team defender, and has tremendous athletic tools at 6-foot-6. He can defend up and down the positional chart, and he will only gain versatility as his frame fills out.
The Wolves won’t be able to count on Okoro for much offensively. He’s a plus athlete, cuts strong to the rim, and can hit the occasional spot three, but his mechanics are clunky. It won’t matter much, however. Offense isn’t an area of need for Minnesota.
Labeled by some as the top prospect before the season, Cole Anthony has struggled to find his rhythm at UNC. His percentages are shaky, his defense is a problem, and there are very real question marks about this NBA future. Still, at a certain point, talent trumps all. The Knicks need a point guard, and the Knicks need star potential.
In spite of his flaws, Anthony is solid value at the No. 8 spot. He’s a strong-bodied, quick twitch athlete who can create space on a dime, finish in traffic, and run an offense. His missed seven weeks due to injury this season, so perhaps his struggles are in part due to rust.
Anthony should have more success in the NBA, where space and talent are more abundant. The Knicks aren’t the best solution to the “poor teammates” problem, but in the end, New York with a real point guard could finally take some semblance of a step in the right direction.
A frontrunner for National Player of the Year, Obi Toppin has exploded in his sophomore season at Dayton. He’s undersized for a center at 6-foot-9, but Toppin has strength and explosiveness in excess. He will likely see minutes at the four and five in Chicago, where Wendell Carter Jr. and Lauri Markkanen are his main frontcourt partners.
The Bulls have guard depth in bulk and the wing options are slim at this point in the draft. Toppin doesn’t fit an immediate need, but he’s a talented, positionally versatile big who can contribute to winning. The Bulls haven’t done much winning, and something tells me they’d like to start at some point.
He can shoot, he can rim-run, and he can block shots. Toppin won’t have much of a problem finding minutes, especially if the Thaddeus Young partnership comes to a premature ending this summer, which feels possible.
The Wizards need to look beyond John Wall, and maybe even Bradley Beal, on draft night. Tyrese Maxey has proven his mettle at Kentucky this season. He’s the Cats’ undisputed top prospect and one of college basketball’s most electric scorers. He’s not a bad defender either.
One issue for Washington this season has been defense. Maxey doesn’t solve any problems there, and he’s actually a shade undersized for his position as a natural two-guard. Still, Maxey has serious on-ball chops and should, at the very least, defend one or two positions at a high level. He’s a dog.
When it comes to offense, the Wizards don’t have much in terms of long-term firepower. Davis Bertans is a deadeye shooter, but he’s not a long-term staple. Outside Wall and Beal, who probably won’t stick together for four more seasons, it’s Rui Hachimura, Moritz Wagner, Troy Brown Jr., and a few other second-tier prospects. Maxey makes for a welcomed addition.
The Suns finally grab a point guard on draft night, a seemingly inevitable moment years in the making. Ricky Rubio has exceeded expectations this season, but he’s not the answer next to Devin Booker in the backcourt. Nico Mannion is one of several impressive point guards in this class.
For all the concerns about Mannion’s athleticism, his shiftiness and skill level are top-notch. He has the ball on a string, and his touch typically makes up for lackluster size and explosiveness. Add a reliable three-point shot, and Mannion has enough to score in a professional setting.
Basketball I.Q. is what stands out most for Mannion. His reads are quick, his passes are on-target, and he seldom turns the ball over. Phoenix can bring Mannion along slowly behind Rubio, but he should have the chops to contribute right away. Also, there’s the Arizona connection, which seemed to play a role in the Deandre Ayton pick a couple years back.
The Spurs opt for potential here, and Precious Achiuwa has displayed plenty over the course of this season. Memphis’ lesser known prospect, Achiuwa has benefited from the increased spotlight in Wiseman’s absence. He has a real chance at the lottery.
Achiuwa is a tantalizing athlete. He’s 6-foot-9, wields a 7-foot-3 wingspan, and has collected defensive stats in bulk all campaign. He’s springy in the open court, he’s a hound on the glass, and he’s mobile enough to defend effectively in space.
The Spurs have to look beyond the LaMarcus Aldridge–DeMar DeRozan pairing at some point. Dejounte Murray and Lonnie Walker are the most promising young pieces on the roster, and Achiuwa leaves Popovich with a strong defensive core moving forward.
The Pelicans have addressed every position — it’s a mostly balanced roster. That said, another playmaker on the perimeter wouldn’t hurt, and R.J. Hampton is arguably the top prospect on the board at this stage. He would be eligible for immediate minutes behind Lonzo Ball, Jrue Holiday, and J.J. Redick in the backcourt.
Hampton has missed a large chunk of the NBL season due to injury, similar to LaMelo Ball. He still showed enough prior to the injury — both in high school and in the NBL — to leave scouts confident in his talent. He shouldn’t fall much further than this, regardless of positional fit.
For New Orleans, Hampton can add a bit more dynamism to halfcourt sets next to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. He would end up in a battle for playing time with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who occupies a similar space, but NOLA doesn’t have any more pressing areas of need. Talent wins out.
The Blazers seem to never have enough on the wing, despite constant investments at the position. Josh Green can help bring size and athleticism to the perimeter next to Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, and in the longer lens, Anfernee Simons.
Green isn’t a perfect prospect, but he’s a high-caliber athlete who should get immediate looks from whoever decides the dunk contest participants. He defends hard on the perimeter, and has a 6-foot-10 wingspan at his disposal. That’s enough to get most NBA teams interested.
The next step for Green is figuring out his place on offense. He can finish cuts, hit a spot jumper, and his athleticism shines through on a regular basis, but his jumper needs work, and he’s not much of a ball-handler. The Blazers have the personnel to cover up such weaknesses for the time being.
The Magic need to balance out size and length with creators on the perimeter. Theo Maldeon can help strike some level of balance. He’s a twitchy 6-foot-4 athlete who can run the pick-and-roll, get to the rim, and create proficiently for others. He and Markelle Fultz can coexist defensively.
DJ Augustin remains a staple in the Orlando offense, but his tenure is bound to end at some point. The Magic have spent the past several drafts investing in frontcourt talent — Mohamed Bamba, Jonathan Isaac, Chuma Okeke. At some point, there needs to be an equal and opposite reaction, and Maledon is a start.
Maledon can defend both guard positions, he has performed admirably as an 18-year-old professional, and he has potentially the highest ceiling of any guard left on the board. This is a guard-heavy draft, and it’s set up perfectly for Orlando to finally add an impact guard.
The Wolves infuse more length into the rotation with Jaden McDaniels. Once heralded as a top-10, maybe even top-five prospect, McDaniels hasn’t quite lived up to expectations this season. Still, his physical gifts and two-way upside are enough to warrant eyeballs from Minnesota.
This season has developed into a rollercoaster for McDaniels. His maturity has come into question, his shooting percentages have plummeted, and his defensive flashes are interspersed with mental lapses and poor efforts. He hasn’t embodied the consistency some evaluators covet.
McDaniels is still a long, fluid 6-foot-10 athlete who can create on dribble drives, hit the open three, and fluidly run the court. The best case scenario involves McDaniels and Towns operating as one of the NBA’s most versatile two-way frontcourts, but the defense has a long way to go.
One of the biggest surprises this season, Onyeka Okongwu has developed into a massive stud for a tournament-trending USC squad. At 6-foot-9, he’s not the tallest, but his mobility, bounce, and hustle is enough. The Celtics, of course, need a center.
Boston has put together a genuine contender in the East, but the absence of a reliable interior threat has been a sore spot all season. Enes Kanter can’t defend, Robert Williams needs time, and Daniel Theis is matchup-dependent. Okongwu would have a chance to play real minutes on a competitive team.
Okongwu is a competitor, and he takes his defensive success personally. He will attack the glass, hunt blocks, and lock in on the perimeter. He can aptly defend in space, and his rim protection skills are evident. Undersized centers can have problems in the NBA, but Okongwu checks a lot of boxes.
Aaron Nesmith fits the profile of a Bucks wing. He’s 6-foot-5, has a 6-foot-10 wingspan, and can shoot the lights out. He has missed a significant portion of the season due to a foot injury, but limited sample aside, it’s clear Nesmith has real 3-and-D potential.
The Bucks will aim to continue surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo with shooters. Shooters who can not only shoot, but defend up and down a couple positions carry even more value. Nesmith isn’t known as a defender, but the tools are there.
There aren’t many glaring needs in Milwaukee right now. The Bucks are a historically great team on a historically impressive run. It makes sense, then, to continue buttering the bread, and Nesmith profiles as one of the class’ top shooters.
There’s no telling how long OKC keeps the core in tact. This has been a surprisingly fun season for the Thunder, but no core piece outside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is safe beyond this season — Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari, and Steven Adams included.
Adams’ uncertain future opens the door for someone like Vernon Carey Jr. While he hasn’t seen major minutes this season, the Duke freshman has thoroughly dominated his time on the court. He’s one of the most productive per-minute players in college basketball.
Carey is a hulking 6-foot-10, and his physical tools translate to countless easy looks at the rim. He has soft touch inside, and has even knocked down a handful of threes this season. He could expand his game at the next level. The real question is defense, as is the case with a lot of center prospects these days.
The Mavericks are set in the frontcourt and, to an extent, in the backcourt, although another playmaker could help ease the burden for Luka Doncic. In this instance, the Mavs load up on wing depth. Saddiq Bey is a home-run at the No. 20 spot.
Listed at 6-foot-8, Bey has genuine size and switchability on the defensive end. He’s also an elite shooter, both standstill and on the move. Dallas has one of the league’s most prolific shot creators in Doncic, and Bey is a good candidate to benefit from such a partnership.
Dallas is on the verge of contender status. Doncic is a top-10 player in the league, a borderline MVP candidate, and he will only get better. Bey fills the NBA’s most valuable niche, and he’s someone who is ready-made to contribute as a rookie.
A powerful 6-foot-8 athlete, Patrick Williams is a clean fit in Brooklyn. The Nets need more size and defense at the four spot — Taurean Prince and Wilson Chandler aren’t cutting it on a contender. Williams is a limited scorer, but Brooklyn has plenty of punch on that side of the ball.
Williams is a standout athlete on screen, even if his role in Florida State is relegated to hustle plays and clean-up duty on offense. He can soar for weak-side blocks, he’s a valiant rebounder, and his athleticism leads to easy points at the rim. Brooklyn is a good spot to maximize his upside as a cutter and off-ball finisher.
The Nets have the potential to jump into contention next season. Kevin Durant is still Kevin Durant — one would hope, at least — and Kyrie Irving, no matter how off-putting the Instagram metatext, is a top-20 player. Williams can fill a role and play effectively within said role.
Devin Vassell is a big riser, and his skill set could find a comfortable home in Denver. A long 6-foot-5 wing, Vassell is another prospect who occupies the prototypical 3-and-D box. He can hit spot-up jumpers at a high clip, and his defense has anchored Florida State this season.
There are concerns about Vassell’s ceiling, but his floor is relatively high. He’s a smart team defender, he can defend across positions, and he competes at a high level. Anyone who can defend in such a capacity and effectively space the floor has NBA value.
Denver lost depth at the trade deadline, though it was purposeful. The Nuggets have a wealth of talent on the perimeter, but the salary cap can only stretch so far in a small market. They will want to restock on young, cheap wing talent, and Vassell is worth the roster spot and a chance to develop behind Michael Porter Jr. and others in the second unit.
The potential draft range for Cassius Stanley is wide. He’s unpolished on offense, and for some, there is an expectation he will return to school for a sophomore campaign. Nonetheless, he seems like a natural fit for Miami if one-and-done is the eventual conclusion.
One often hears about the ambiguous ‘Heat culture.’ There is no set definition, but it’s clear Miami values a certain type of player. Stanley fits the bill — he’s an elite athlete, a hard-worker, and the type of player to make “winning plays,” as the saying goes.
Stanley could end up in the second round, but he’s a touted five-star recruit who should get looks from contenders who can afford to take it slow. Stanley scraps for rebounds, competes hard on defense, and still finds ways to score despite an ineffective jump shot. He feels too much like a Heat guy.
The Mike Conley experiment has gone haywire in Utah. Even if Conley can return to some semblance of his former self down the stretch this season, it’s wise for the Jazz to explore other options in the near future. Kira Lewis Jr. is a prospect of great intrigue.
Maybe the fastest end-to-end player in the 2020 class, Lewis would give the Jazz two elite athletes in the backcourt. Lewis and Donovan Mitchell would thrive in an up-tempo, open-court setting — not necessarily the direction Utah leans, but speed is a valuable weapon nonetheless.
There are concerns to iron out in Lewis’ game. He has a thin frame, which could lead to troubles on defense. He’s also a bit turnover-prone, which could correlate to a steeper learning curve at the next level. Luckily, he’d get at least a year to sit behind Conley and learn.
The Knicks don’t need a center, but at the same time, there isn’t much certainty on the roster beyond Mitchell Robinson. The current veterans — Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis — are probably gone next season, and Robinson hasn’t yet proved himself as a true workhorse in the middle. Enter Isaiah Stewart.
This is New York’s second pick, and they’ve already addressed the hole at point guard. Stewart is, in some ways, a more antiquated style of big man, but his production and physical tools are nothing to scoff at.
While Stewart will remain a weak point on defense, he is someone who can step in, score a few buckets in the paint, and split the workload with Robinson as New York’s rebuild drags on. He will score effectively around the rim, rebound his heart out, and block the occasional shot. Maybe that’s good enough for a first-round pick.
It’s foolish to mention the Florida-Billy Donovan connection in a meaningful way here, as Donovan never had the opportunity to coach Scottie Lewis. But Lewis does have a wide draft range, and his pedigree could land him in the first round.
This is OKC’s second pick. The first was an offensive-minded center, and this marks a return to form — the Thunder love hard-nosed defenders on the wing. Lewis will have a lot to prove on offense, but he’s as talented a defender as teams will find this late in the draft.
At 6-foot-5, Lewis has the physical tools and I.Q. to defend all over the place. He’s a menace on-ball, and he’s an instinctual defender off-ball. The Thunder have a long timeline for development. OKC will not enter true contention for a while, so Lewis can comfortably stew behind OKC’s other wing prospects.
The Celtics have several picks (again) and all season, we have heard complaints from the front office about how the roster is too saturated with young players. The Celtics want to contend, so a draft-and-stash option seems reasonable at this stage.
At this moment, Aleksej Pokusevski is the highest-rated International prospect who is expected to stay overseas for at least one more season. There is evidently speculation of a potential draft promise already, as he hasn’t played since November under mysterious circumstances. A first-round promise might lead to such a decision.
In addition to the stash element, Pokusevski is another potential solution to Boston’s lackluster frontcourt. He’s a lanky 7-footer, he can space the floor, and he has played meaningful minutes in a professional league. That’s enough to warrant an extended look.
In the midst of a solid sophomore campaign, Robert Woodard has conjured some first-round buzz. He is a bit of an uncertainty, but at 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, the physical tools are present. The Raptors have a strong developmental system and the personnel in place to bring Woodard along slowly.
Toronto has done extremely well with rookies of late, drafted or undrafted. Pascal Siakam and Terrence Davis are shining examples of the front office’s smart decision-making. Woodard would find himself in good company.
At his core, Woodard very much occupies the 3-and-D niche. His skill set is limited beyond that classification, but someone who can hit open threes, defend multiple positions, and play hard normally has a chance in the NBA.
When you look past LeBron James, the Lakers’ point guard position is a mess. While Alex Caruso continues to capture the imagination of fans with strong performances in crunch time, L.A. refuses to treat him as the more reliable option over Rajon Rondo. The end result could be a renewed investment in the position on draft night.
Tre Jones hans’t had the most memorable sophomore season, but he’s still a steady hand who limits turnovers, converts threes, and effectively runs the pick-and-roll. If the Lakers want a late-round pick who can contribute to a contender, Jones is a safe bet.
He doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but the Lakers are more interested in floor than ceiling as long as James and Anthony Davis populate the roster. Jones has a high basketball I.Q. and is a good enough defender at his position. It’s a natural fit.
Isaiah Joe has dealt with injury all season, but given the Celtics’ three first-round picks, they can afford to take a gamble. Before the season, Joe was billed as the prime 3-and-D prospect in this class. Boston can bet on him fulfilling his potential.
The Celtics’ offense is rooted in dynamic shot creators — Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward. It’s typically a good idea to surround dynamic creators with good shooters. Joe profiles as one of the better shooters in the 2020 class.
A thin frame and a newly amassed injury history will give teams pause, but Joe’s impressive scoring numbers, his upside as an off-movement shooter, and his potential to add strength are enough to earn the final spot in our mock.