NBA Draft 2020: Mock Draft 2.0
The consensus is split on Nico Mannion. Some view him as a the type of high-I.Q. playmaker who is too smart to fail at the next level. Others view him as a terminally lackluster athlete who lacks the explosiveness necessary to operate as a lead guard in the NBA.
Milwaukee is a good starting point. Mannion, lack of burst and all, is a skilled shooter and passer who moves the ball and understands how to orchestrate an offense. In Milwaukee, he would have the unique benefit of playing next to (and off of) Giannis Antetokounmpo on a regular basis, which places less offensive weight on Mannion’s shoulders.
If he can operate as a ball-mover and a complementary piece, Mannion’s high skill level and intelligence should shine through. The Bucks play a smart, numbers-oriented brand of basketball. Mannion would have an opportunity not only for open looks on the perimeter, but to expand his horizons as a player, most notably in off-ball situations next to Giannis and Khris Middleton.