29th pick: Lakers- Aleksej Pokusevski
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Philadelphia 76ers
The best player left on the board, it’s easy to envision Pokusevski’s fit in LA. As a 7-footer, he’s one of the smoothest shooters available. He can curl around screens, hit jumpers on the move, and score in ways more akin to a wing than a big. He’s a special and exciting talent on offense.
For Pokusevski, the issues lie in his frame. He’s comically thin and will need to improve his frame to survive in the NBA. There’s a genuine chance he’s physically incapable of NBA success, which will keep him out of the lottery on most boards. Even so, his size, mobility, and skills provides a rare combination of attributes.
30th pick: Celtics- Isaiah Stewart
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Isaiah Stewart rounds out the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft. Stewart was the only reason the underperforming Washington Huskies received any national attention. He dominated the Pac-12 and finished seventh in scoring, second in rebounds, and third in blocks in the conference.
The Celtics could use some help in the frontcourt as Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter currently alternate at the center position. Both are serviceable big men, but Stewart could provide a young, athletic body to help defensively against opposing centers. The Celtics are already a contender in the Eastern Conference, but the savvy Danny Ainge has compiled three first-round picks in the 2020 NBA Draft.