The 2020 NBA Draft is upcoming and this year has some big names outside of the major college conferences.
Just about two months from now the 2020 NBA Draft is supposed to occur. With the current pandemic that date is still up in the air. However no matter when the draft takes place, numerous top picks will come from different places than usual.
Historically speaking, the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12 have been the most successful in the draft when it comes to getting their players drafted the highest. This of course makes sense considering these five conferences are the ones usually left playing in April.
This year, however, numerous lottery picks are expected to come from outside of these major conferences.
Three out of the top five picks this year will more than likely come from overseas. This has only happened a handful of times — most recently in 2015 when Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis, and Mario Hezonja went No. 1, No. 4, and No. 5 respectively.
5. Theo Maledon (ASVEL)
I previewed Theo Maledon a couple of weeks ago when looking at the top international talents. Think Shai-Gilgeous Alexander. It is unsure exactly where Maledon will be taken as projections show him going anywhere from the top ten to the latter half of the first round.
Wherever Maledon lands they will be getting a lengthy, athletic guard that has the potential to be a good scorer at all three levels. He shows promise from deep, drilling them at a 36 percent clip. For ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbane this season, Maledon is averaging just shy of 7.5 points per game. He is a skilled defender when he wants to be. His greatest strength is his passing, putting up nearly eight assists per contest.
Where Maledon falters is in his consistency. He’s an emotional player and when Maledon is on a high he can be one of the best players in the draft. He has the tools and is a good athlete but needs to work on playing at a high level all the time.
4. Obi Toppin (Dayton)
Obi Toppin lead the Dayton Flyers this year to 29-2 record and, prior to the season being cancelled, the A10 title and the No. 3 ranking in the country. Toppin won all the possible college player of the year awards with flying colors. At 6-foot-9, 230 pounds, Toppin is a freakish athlete who always finds a way to violently punish the rim — leading the nation in dunks.
Listed as a power forward, Toppin excelled there and filled in as a center regularly, excelling there as well. In the NBA, Toppin will be a power forward and he fits the mold well, shooting 39 percent from deep this season while bruising opponents in the paint. Along with that he is a good defender, although those skills can still develop. He also needs to improve upon his moves off the dribble and free throw shooting — shooting just 70 percent.
Toppin is 22 years old, meaning he is a fair bit older than the other top prospects. Despite that Toppin can be one of the best players in the draft. His value off of the court matches his skills on it being a natural leader and a team-oriented guy. Look for Obi Toppin to go somewhere in the top 10.
3. Deni Avdija (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Deni Avdija could be the highest drafted Israeli player ever. Just 19 years old, he is a talented wing who can play at the two, three, or four — being most comfortable at the three spot. He’s been a pro for years now despite his young age. Oh, and he’s only been playing basketball since 2013.
Avdija can really do it all on the court. He has a high basketball I.Q. and is skilled on the offensive end of the court, with a couple exceptions. Avdija can get to the rim and sink shots from deep with ease. His high I.Q. makes him a great passer on the wing and moves well without the ball.
At 6-foot-9 Avdija should be able to take people in the post but has issues doing so. His main issues come with consistency and his emotional state of being. Emotions can be good at times, but Avdija gets into mind games, primarily with himself, and can lose focus on his own abilities. This causes his shot and other things to be inconsistent — his main issue.
Being so young, he needs to fill into his frame more just like a lot of other prospects. The potential is there and Avdija is the quintessential wing and could, in the right circumstances, develop into a star.
2. LaMelo Ball (Illawarra)
LaMelo Ball had quite possibly the most intriguing “high school” career of all time. He went from starting with his brothers at Chino Hills to playing overseas — twice. As a sophomore he dropped out of school and moved to Lithuania to play. Then he joined the Junior Basketball Association — a league formed by his verbose father LaVar — foregoing his Junior year of high school. He spent his Senior year at SPIRE Institute in Ohio, where he played under NBA veteran Jermaine Jackson. He spent his year between high school and the NBA in Australia, where he was named the league Rookie of the Year. This is all without mentioning that he committed to UCLA before even entering high school.
As a player LaMelo has come a long way from cherry-picking his way to 92 points. He can score from anywhere and can make defenders pay for overplaying his limitless range by taking them to the rack and finishing at the rim. Ball is best with an up-tempo style of play — he consistently jumps into passing lanes and looks to push the ball in the open court.
He forces his scoring less now than in high school, but still has a quick trigger at times and likes his heat checks. While he is able to attack the rim well, he is not the best athlete and lacks the stunning leaping ability other guards in the class have. Like Avdija, Ball needs to fill out his lengthy frame.
LaMelo is a great shooter with a strong demeanor and an ability to stay strong under pressure. He will be a top-five pick this year and has a great chance at landing in the top three.
1. James Wiseman (Memphis)
James Wiseman is an interesting case. He was the No. 1 recruit in the country and decided to play for Penny Hardaway at Memphis. When he got there though he only saw the court for a couple of minutes. He was suspended by the NCAA, who said Hardaway acted as a booster helping Wiseman move to Memphis. He later left school to prepare for the draft.
This is an obvious red flag. Despite the fact that Wiseman hasn’t played basketball in quite some time, he is still expected to be a top-three pick. He’s seven feet tall but has elite foot speed. Wiseman was a good defender in high school but had a tendency to roam the paint, something not possible in the NBA. A good athlete, Wiseman is able to finish in transition. He has a lengthy frame that lets him play above the rim.
In high school he could get very mad very quickly. This is still a big question mark considering his limited court time in college. Wiseman is still a raw prospect and needs to improve in a lot of areas — shot selection, mid-range shooting, and strength.
Wiseman can be one of the league’s best centers and has huge upside. But he is still raw with a low basketball I.Q. There are a lot of question marks around him but the obvious potential is there — making him a guaranteed top-five pick.