NBA Draft 2020: Big Board 3.0
25. NICO MANNION / GUARD / ARIZONA
A rocky freshman season has bumped Nico Mannion out of the lottery discussion, but he’s still a prospect to watch. There are serious and valid concerns over his athleticism (or lack thereof), but Mannion’s skill level and intelligence is difficult to find at 19 years old.
Mannion is one of the best passers on the board. He can read just about every angle, and he’s comfortable manipulating defenses in the pick-and-roll. Crafty handles and great change-of-pace ability help offset Mannion’s lack of burst, even if he struggles to finish against length at the rim.
While his shooting mechanics aren’t perfect, Mannion is a proven threat from deep. He can hit pull-up jumpers, but he’s also comfortable off-ball, which is important. He may not survive as the only ball-handler on the floor due to his inability to pressure the rim.