With March Madness nearly upon us it is time to start diving into the 2020 NBA Draft, as the New Orleans Pelicans try to add to their already stocked young team.
The NCAA tournament is coming up soon and teams are putting together their big boards as the draft order starts to come into focus in the NBA. This includes the New Orleans Pelicans, who are in a great position after putting together the best young core in the NBA.
The New Orleans Pelicans do not have a glaring need, which means they can choose the best player available when they get their chance to pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
With as many as nine teams tanking their way into contention for the number one pick, it is still too early to predict where teams will end up, but we are starting to get an idea.
Unlike previous years, there is not a clear-cut number one pick. In fact, there is no clear consensus on who will even be in the top five, and a lot could change after teams see players against other top competition in the NCAA tournament.
This could be a draft that sees a lot of movement, as teams may decide that they can trade down, pick up an asset and still draft the guy that they ultimately want. This includes the New Orleans Pelicans, who sit in a great position heading into this draft.
Teams such as Detroit and Cleveland, who need players at every position, may decide that trading down is the best way to fill multiple spots.
This draft might not yield the next Zion Williamson or LeBron James, but teams who do their research are sure to find players to fill their rotations.
There are All-Stars in every draft and the key to 2020 will be finding them in a sea of players who are difficult to rank.
We here at Pelican Debrief have used the Tankathon.com draft simulator to make things a little more interesting when it comes to the draft order and it didn’t disappoint.
Several teams jumped up from their current draft position, but does anyone really want the number one pick? Can the New Orleans Pelicans continue to build around their impressive young core?
With no further ado, here is our first edition of the 2020 NBA Mock draft, which will take a look at how things could shake out in the first round, including a swing-for-the-fences opportunity for the New Orleans Pelicans
The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently the worst team in the Eastern Conference and just behind the Golden State Warriors for the worst record in the NBA.
With their history of draft luck, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Cavaliers were able to snag the overall number one pick in the 2020 NBA draft.
How the Cavs ultimately use their pick may be decided on how they handle the contract of recently acquired center Andre Drummond.
If Drummond opts into his player option for next season, then the Cavs will likely try to surround him with more scoring and shooting.
If he walks or they end up trading Drummond, the Cavs may choose to go with a big such as James Wiseman to kick off yet another rebuild in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers lack talent just about everywhere, but they definitely need more scoring from their guards. With second year point guard Collin Sexton starting to emerge, Edwards could be the perfect complement at shooting guard.
The Cavs may ultimately decide to trade down, as they need help everywhere and there is not a clear-cut number one pick.
This could be a season where the Cavs don’t want their lottery luck to continue, as having the number one pick may put them in a position to take a bust, as they did with Anthony Bennett in 2013.
At only 18 years of age, Anthony Edwards is definitely a gamble, as he shoots just 31.3 percent from 3-point range, but he has plus size for the position at 6-foot-5, 225 lbs. and has flashed the type of scoring ability that could make him part of a special backcourt with Sexton.
LaMelo Ball is the perfect symbol of this draft, as he has been mocked anywhere from number one, all the way to out of the top ten, a testament to his polarizing talent.
His father recently predicted he’d go number one, and who knows, he could be right.
Like Cleveland, Detroit needs lacks talent everywhere, but could use a star point guard to pair with shooting guard Luke Kennard as they try to rebuild in the Motor City. Detroit would be ecstatic if they were able to jump into the top five of this draft.
LaMelo is the type of “swing for the fences” pick that Detroit needs, as they not only lack talent but identity as a team. With the recent buyout of Reggie Jackson, the Pistons will go into next season with only veteran Derrick Rose under contract at point guard.
LaMelo certainly has bust potential, is only 18 and has not played against the top competition, but he has the physical traits to be a star in the NBA.
Like his brother Lonzo Ball, LaMelo is 6-foot-6, a gifted passer and a natural leader, but also like his brother, he doesn’t shoot the ball well. LaMelo has a funky shot that may make some teams decide he is not worth it.
As Lonzo starts to evolve into the next Jason Kidd for the New Orleans Pelicans, Detroit may decide that the family DNA is enough to roll the dice on the younger Ball.
LaMelo has plenty of doubters, just like his brother did when he entered the league under a cloud of controversy before heading to the New Orleans Pelicans and leaving the drama behind in LA.
LaMelo is shooting 37.5 percent from the field and just 25 percent from 3-point range, hardly eye-popping stats for a guy going this high in the draft.
But what he does possess is unbelievable court vision just like Lonzo, even if he also struggles to finish at the rim. He also gives Detroit something that most of the other rookies won’t: a personality to build around.
The Ball family has not been a distraction for Lonzo and the New Orleans Pelicans, so Detroit shouldn’t have to worry too much about the off the court stuff.
Detroit is currently one of the least talented and most boring teams in the NBA. They need an injection of talent and personality to build around and may decide that Ball is their guy.
The Tankathon machine rewarded the Hornets for actually trying to win games by bumping them five spots into the third overall pick in the draft.
Obviously the Hornets would be thrilled with this result, as they also lack talent just about everywhere on the floor since losing superstar point guard Kemba Walker.
With no clear star at small forward in this draft, the Hornets will likely take a chance on a point guard, which is a much deeper position.
The Hornets need help at center but may ultimately decide that this pick is too high to risk on a big man like James Wiseman.
Killian Hayes has good size at 6-foot-5, 187 lbs. and has the type of competitive attitude and creativity that made Walker a star in Charlotte.
The Hornets’ salary cap situation is one of the worst in the NBA, as they still have Nicolas Batum locked up for another year at $27.1 million and Terry Rozier for two more years that will cost them $18.9 and $17.9 million a year respectively.
If the Hornets can somehow find a taker for Rozier, they could start their rebuild for real and hand over the team to rookie Hayes, who would be a solid foundation from which to start.
The Charlotte Hornets are a mess, stuck in purgatory and unlikely to be good for some time. Hayes would give them a solid piece to build around and would represent one of the safest picks in a draft full of risks.
The Atlanta Hawks jumped one spot in our simulation and find themselves with the fourth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Atlanta is in an interesting position, as they have an exciting young core to which they recently added power forward Clint Capela.
The Hawks may feel they are set in the front court, as they have Capela, center Dewayne Dedmon and power forward John Collins all under contract for next year.
The Hawks will likely take a guard here, but which one depends on how they see the future for young star point guard Trae Young. Young is currently second in the NBA in assists and has shown the ability to make his teammates better.
The Hawks could ultimately decide that Young’s future is playing more off the ball, in which case Tyrese Haliburton would be a good choice.
Haliburton is probably the best passer in this draft class, but his shot needs work, so this pick will come down to whether the Hawks feel he is a good fit alongside Young.
Haliburton’s ability to facilitate the offense would take some of ball handling pressure off Young and allow him to look for his own shot.
If the Hawks decide to keep Young in his current role, then they might take a chance on more of a scorer or defender.
The Hawks could also look to deal from their pool of center/power forward assets, in which case taking best overall talent James Wiseman would make sense.
The Hawks could go in a lot of directions and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them trade this pick, especially if they think they can still get a shooting guard later in the draft.
The Golden State Warriors dropped four spots in our simulation but could walk away with the best player in the draft anyway.
Golden State will get Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson back next season, so they are not likely to wait long to try and get back to the top of the Western Conference.
After adding Andrew Wiggins in a trade for D’Angelo Russell, the Warriors are already set at four of the five starting positions, assuming Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green are all healthy to start the season.
The Warriors liked Kevon Looney enough to give him an extension, but could ultimately decide that James Wiseman is just too good to pass up.
Wiseman could provide the Warriors with instant upgrades in shot blocking and rim protection and doesn’t need the ball much to be effective.
Wiseman would also provide some depth, even if he comes off the bench as an athletic rim-runner for the fast-paced Warriors.
Wiseman would also give the Warriors plenty of defensive flexibility and could give the Warriors a formidable defense alongside Green and Wiggins.
If Wiseman happened to fall this far there would undoubtedly be teams inquiring about trading up and the Warriors may be able to find themselves an asset if they don’t feel Wiseman is good enough to hep them now.
The Warriors won’t be bad for long and this draft can help them get back into contention whether they take their own pick or trade it away.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are having a disappointing season and would be even more disappointed if they dropped three draft spots to number six.
The Timberwolves seem to have finally found the core they want to build around with center Karl-Anthony Towns and shooting guard Russell.
This draft might preview how they plan to build around that core.
The Timberwolves are seriously lacking talent at the forward position, which may cause them to look for a forward as opposed to point guard with this selection.
With Russell and Malik Beasley the Timberwolves may have their backcourt of the future, and obviously are set at the center position with Towns.
Onyeka Okongwu is probably the best rim protector in the draft, averaging 2.7 blocks per game for the Trojans. He wouldn’t give Minnesota much in terms of offense, but he will grab rebounds, defend well and has the motor to be a long-time rotation player in the NBA.
The Timberwolves have the 23rd ranked offense in the NBA, so it might make sense to go with more of a scorer here, but they are hoping internal improvements from Beasley and a full season of Russell will be enough.
The Timberwolves had little trouble scoring in their last game, as they were able to slap 139 points on the New Orleans Pelicans.
Okongwu figures to be an impact player right away in the NBA, so if the Timberwolves feel like they will be able to compete next year, he is a smart pick. If not, they may go for more of a scorer or a project here.
As usual, the New York Knicks don’t have a clear plan or direction, so who they would take with this pick is anyone’s guess.
They have a glut of power forwards under contract for next year so it is unlikely that they would take a big here. The Knicks would likely just take the best talent left on the board, which is Cole Anthony.
Anthony has certainly shown his flaws this season, as he is not a great defender and he hasn’t shot the ball particularly well, but he does have athleticism and would still be a value pick here for the Knicks.
The Knicks have a couple of young guards already with Frank Ntilikina, and Dennis Smith Jr. but neither of them panned out early in their careers and the Knicks may decide it is time to move on.
Anthony plays the game with the type of creativity and swagger that could make him a fan favorite in New York and allow the Knicks to finally draft a decent guard after years of trying.
Knicks fans are unlikely to be happy either way, but in they would get a solid guard to build around.
The Bulls have a glut of guards already so will likely look to bolster their front court with this pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
The Bulls are abysmal offensively, ranking 27th in the NBA, but play decent defense as the league’s 13th best defensive team.
Without a clear scorer left on the board, the Bulls might choose to double down on defense with the rim-running and shot blocking Obi Toppin.
Toppin has proven himself a versatile player and could likely see minutes at both front court positions for the Bulls alongside both Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr.
Toppin is an interesting player, as he likely lacks the size to play center, but has a high motor and the type of personality that would play well in Chicago.
He doesn’t help the Bulls poor outside shooting much, but he gives them a versatile player to go with Zach LaVine and Coby White. This draft is not going to save the Bulls and it’s easy to see them trading down if they can find a partner.
With so little wing talent and depth in this draft, Toppin may end up jumping into the top five, but if he drops this far, the Bulls would be smart to draft for talent rather than positional need.
The Washington Wizards are in one of the toughest salary cap situations in the league and their pick will likely have a lot of “ifs” attached to it.
If the Wizards expect John Wall to come back healthy then they have a solid foundation with him and Bradley Beal in the backcourt.
If the Wizards think Wall may not make it back to 100 percent then they could easily trade Beal (maybe to a team like the New Orleans Pelicans) for a treasure trove of assets that they can use to start a rebuild.
They lack talent pretty much everywhere but guard, so choosing Deni Avdija makes some sense here. Advija has size at 6-foot-8 and is a good playmaker and above-average defender already.
Advija does not project as a great shooter in the NBA and some teams might be turned off by his mechanics and poor free throw shooting.
Advija is also not an elite athlete, but with so few wing options on the board, someone is going to take a chance.
The Wizards may go in a completely different direction but either way they need talent at the forward position and Advija projects as a solid all-around player.
After a nice start to the season the Suns have fallen back to their familiar position as one of the NBA’s worst teams. It feels like the Suns have been rebuilding forever and this draft pick is not likely to change that in and of itself.
The Suns are middle of the pack in both offense and defense, so they need help on both ends of the floor, but aren’t helpless.
Nico Mannion finally gives the Suns a young point guard to pair with Devin Booker. Yes, Ricky Rubio is signed for the next two seasons at a hefty price, but what better player to mentor the young Arizona point guard?
Mannion does not project as a star in the NBA but he is a high I.Q. point guard who can shoot the ball and he would instantly be a home town favorite in Phoenix.
Mannion is also a savvy defender even though he lacks elite athleticism, which means he would fit in well beside Booker and forward Kelly Oubre Jr.
The Suns could also look to shore up their wings with this pick, but Mannion’s upside and the fact that he plays right down the road at the University of Arizona will make him too enticing to pass up.
The Portland Trail Blazers are still fighting for a playoff spot, so may end up outside of the lottery looking in depending on the injury status of superstar Damian Lillard.
The Trail Blazers seem to always be looking for wing help and would be very happy if Isaac Okoro falls to them, as he may end up being the best wing in this draft.
Isaac Okoro won’t help much on offense but he projects as a potentially elite defender and is a nice fit beside Lillard and CJ McCollum.
Okoro already has an NBA frame and can guard multiple positions on the wing. He is also a smart player with a winning attitude, so he will fit right in on the Trail Blazers.
Okoro won’t demand the ball and will do all of the little things that Portland needs, namely defending shooting guards and wings. His jumper is not a thing of beauty, but the Trail Blazers won’t ask Okoro to score.
As Okoro continues to fill out and put on muscle, he could potentially guard positions one through four in the NBA, which should make him appealing to Portland as they try to get right back into the hunt in the Western Conference next season.
The San Antonio Spurs need to inject some youth into their roster with just about their entire core on the wrong side of 30. Vassell is the type of prototypical 3-and-D guy that the Spurs love and is the type of team defender that would work well with Popovich.
With DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge getting near the end of their careers, Devin Vassell would give the team a safe pick to begin that retool.
Vassell does not have the highest ceiling, but at 6-foot-7 he has the size to guard multiple positions. He has averaged a block and 1.4 steals as a Sophomore at Florida State, the exact kind of defensive chops that the Spurs love for their system.
Though they already have up and coming Lonnie Walker on the perimeter, Popovich can never have too many wings, and Vassell projects as one of the better perimeter defenders in this draft.
Vassell adds depth and could probably be part of the rotation right away, which makes it possible for the Spurs to try and trade DeRozan and rebuild.
The Spurs are not used to being in the lottery so it will be interesting to see what Popovich is able to do with a pick this high in the draft if the Spurs end up out of the playoffs.
The New Orleans Pelicans are in the best position of just about any team in the draft. With young talent like Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball and Jaxson Hayes already on the team, the New Orleans Pelicans can do whatever they want.
The Pelicans do not have a glaring weakness anywhere in the lineup, so they can take a risk in this draft and go for a high ceiling player, or they can try to add a more proven commodity to an already loaded young roster.
That being said, the New Orleans Pelicans would be happy if a player like R.J. Hampton fell into their lap.
Hampton has been up and down for the New Zealand Breakers and has dealt with some injuries, but has flashed enough high-impact talent to keep teams interested.
With no great positional need, the New Orleans Pelicans need to take the best talent left on the board, and Hampton is likely it.
He’s not quite mentally ready to take over a team at point guard, and the New Orleans Pelicans already have a really good floor leader in Ball, but Hampton would fit in well running the second unit.
The New Orleans Pelicans are high on youngster Nickeil Alexander-Walker but he was recently assigned to the G-League after not seeing much action.
Like Alexander-Walker, Hampton projects as a long-term project and would ultimately give the New Orleans Pelicans even more assets if they wanted to make a big splash in the trade market.
The Pelicans have a treasure trove of young talent and picks, but eventually something will have to give as not all of these young guys can play at once.
The New Orleans Pelicans are in the enviable position of being able to do whatever they want in the draft, so they will likely just take who they feel is most talented.
If other teams come knocking (and they might if Hampton is still on the board) then the New Orleans Pelicans can possibly make a trade for a veteran that can help them win now.
It’s a good spot to be in and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the New Orleans Pelicans do some wheeling and dealing on draft day.
Like the New Orleans Pelicans, the Sacramento Kings already have a talented young core that they will try to compliment with this pick.
With shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic likely leaving in free agency and Buddy Hield possibly requesting his way out via trade, the Kings will need help on the wing.
Josh Green has some glaring flaws as a prospect, but has good size at 6-foot-6 and the type of elite athleticism that could make him a good defender at multiple positions.
Green also has a 6-foot-10 wingspan, which is something teams covet, as he could likely guard three positions in the NBA.
Green isn’t going to give the Kings much scoring and his ball-handling needs work, but he fits well with De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley and the rest of the Kings’ young core.
Sacramento is in a very similar spot to the New Orleans Pelicans, as they don’t necessarily need to add another young player and don’t have a glaring positional weakness that can be addressed with this pick.
It’s easy to imagine Sacramento packaging this pick with Hield or one of their other young players in exchange for a veteran.
Like the New Orleans Pelicans, the Kings are knocking at the door of the playoffs in the Western Conference and could use this pick to go into win-now mode.
The Timberwolves still need a point guard and Theo Maledon is the best talent left on the board.
Maledon is a good athlete, and at 6-foot-4, can defend either guard spot for the Timberwolves, making him a good pairing with Russell.
Maledon is still very young, and has had an up and down season for ASVEL after suffering a few minor injuries.
He’s not a gifted scorer yet, but he is one of the better passers in a draft filled with shoot-first point guards.
Minnesota already has volume shooters, so Maledon would be able to come along slowly, and focus on defense and distributing the ball, which are things Minnesota needs.
At his age, Maledon probably has more potential than anyone left on the board. This is a point guard heavy draft so Minnesota can probably wait and still get a guy they like.
If the Timberwolves feel pressure to build a winner around Towns, then they could very well trade one or both of these picks to try and get a more proven player.
Minnesota will definitely be a team to watch on draft day.
The Orlando Magic still need a point guard, with veteran D.J. Augustin getting older and Markelle Fultz preferring to play off the ball.
This would be a bit of a stretch for Tre Jones, who doesn’t project as a star but is the best point guard still on the board.
If the Magic don’t feel like Jones is their guy, they could go in any number of directions, including trying to trade up to get a point guard that they like more.
Jones has many of the same qualities as Augustin, which may intrigue the Magic. He is a steady ball handler and above average 3-point shooter, who is already comfortable running the pick and role.
Jones is not the sexiest pick and doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but if the Magic feel they need to add a reliable point guard to their backcourt, then he could be their guy.
Like the New Orleans Pelicans, the Boston Celtics are in the enviable position of not needing to draft out of need.
The Celtics are already loaded with some of the best young talent in the NBA in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, so they can swing for the fences here or try to add some depth.
The Celtics already have plenty of position-less wings, but have struggled to find reliable interior scoring and defense, especially with Enes Kanter on the floor.
Jalen Smith would be an immediate upgrade defensively, as he has good size at 6-foot-10 and is already averaging 2.3 blocks per game, a statistic that usually translates well in the NBA.
You never really know what Danny Ainge will do with his picks and the Celtics always seem to have plenty of them to spare, so this could very well be packaged with one of their wings in a trade.
If the Celtics do decide to keep their pick then they will likely take a big, so it will really come down to which of the remaining power forwards or centers is ranked highest on their board.
Tyrese Maxey doesn’t necessarily fit the profile of the long, position-less wing that the Bucks seem to covet, but he would add another reliable scoring option for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Giannis needs to be surrounded by people who can guard their position, and Maxey is a determined defender, even if he is a bit undersized for his position.
Maxey is strong and has the kind of build to be able to finish in traffic and get his own shot, things Milwaukee lacks outside of the Greek Freak.
Maxey would work well with the Bucks’ second unit as an off the bench scorer and change of pace defender. Maxey is currently doing just about everything for Kentucky, so it will be interesting to see how his numbers translate with lower usage.
The Bucks have the luxury of already being a very good team, so they can swing for the fences here or try to get someone like Maxey who fills a couple of small holes.
With Joe Harris likely to walk and the Net with very little cap space, Brooklyn will look to shore up their wing position and add some shooting.
Saddiq Bey has plus size for the position at 6-foot-8 and has the stroke to be an above average 3-point shooter in the NBA.
He’s certainly not going to replace Harris right away, but Bey would give the Nets length and defensive versatility right away.
Bey projects as a 3-and-D guy who will hit the corner three and be the beneficiary of all of the double teams drawn by Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant once he returns.
Bey has probably not met his potential and has the kind of length that teams covet on the wing. He could develop into an elite defender and above average 3-point shooter, which would make him a good fit for the Brooklyn Nets.
The Nets need to shed some salary so it wouldn’t be shocking to see them try to package this with one of their players to clear up some space.
Like the New Orleans Pelicans, the Dallas Mavericks have the advantage of being able to add assets even though they are already good now.
With one of the best playmakers in the league in Luka Doncic, the Mavericks could decide to go with a shooter here, or take a risk on a project, as they don’t really need more youth.
They have the luxury of taking a risk on the potential of a guy like Precious Achiuwa. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Achiuwa could be an elite defender in the NBA.
He would pair well alongside Kristaps Porzingis or Willie Cauley-Stein, runs the floor well and would get plenty of dunks with Doncic running the point.
Achiuwa is also a plus rebounder, and does most of the little things you want from rotation players on teams that already have stars who can score.
Dallas is in a position to swing for the fences here and Achiuwa is the type of high-upside wing who might draw their attention.
Much like the New Orleans Pelicans, the Philadelphia 76ers will come into the draft with a lot of young talent and no glaring weaknesses.
The 76ers have had a somewhat disappointing season and there are some rumblings of unhappiness, but that comes with playing in Philadelphia.
The 76ers will likely go for a high upside guy and very few players have the tantalizing combination of size and skill as Jaden McDaniels.
The 6-foot-10 McDaniels is projects as an above average defender and can likely guard multiple positions, which gives him value as a wing. The 76ers already have a young defensive-minded wing in Matisse Thybulle, but may decide that McDaniels is too tempting to pass on.
McDaniels’ size could make him a matchup nightmare for opponents, especially if he can eventually develop a consistent jumper.
He would give the 76ers even more size, depth and versatility on the defensive side of the ball and potentially give them a replacement for anyone they might trade in the offseason.
With Mike Conley Jr. missing time with injury and averaging career lows in just about everything, it is time for the Utah Jazz to find their point guard of the future.
Kira Lewis Jr. certainly has some glaring weaknesses to his game, he turns the ball over too much and shoots just 45.8 percent from the field overall. His also rail thin and doesn’t project as much of a defender at the next level.
What Lewis Jr. does add is blazing speed and he and star shooting guard Donavon Mitchell would form one of the most exciting and athletic backcourts in the league.
Lewis Jr. would benefit from playing a year behind Conley Jr. who can show him the ropes and hopefully get him to cut down on the turnovers.
Lewis Jr. is still just 18 and has time to develop, so it will come down to whether the Utah Jazz feel he is worth the wait or that they need to act now to surround Mitchell with talent that is ready to win.
Utah could very well end up trading this pick if they decide to make a big splash in the offseason to appease Mitchell, whose free agency is lingering.
The Miami Heat have been one of the surprise teams in the NBA this year, finding themselves i the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Miami has drafted well and is getting big production out of youngsters Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo and Kendrick Nunn.
Miami does have a glut of power forwards and wings, so they will likely try to shore up either point guard or shooting guard with this pick.
Jahmi’us Ramsey projects as a 3-and-D guard who can guard multiple positions and knock down 3-pointers at a high rate. Ramsey is shooting 42.3 percent from 3-point range on a fair volume of shots and would form a potentially dynamic backcourt Goran Dragic or Nunn.
The Miami Heat have some major salaries coming off the books this offseason, so could make a big splash in free agency or try and make a trade using this pick as an asset.
If they do end up using the pick, Ramsey fits the mold of what the Heat do and would fit in well with what they have built so far.
The Denver Nuggets are deep and talented and will be battling for the second seed in the loaded Western Conference for years to come.
This gives them the luxury of taking a chance on a guy like Cassius Stanley from Duke. Stanley has considerable potential and athletic ability but has yet to put it all together in his first season at Duke.
Stanley isn’t a great shooter or volume scorer but he can defend multiple positions and pulls down a fair number of rebounds for a guard.
Stanley was once a five-star recruit, so this would be a perfect high upside choice for a team that is already good and very deep.
Stanley stands at 6-foot-6, so has plus size for his position and should be able to guard multiple spots for the Nuggets.
He is a bit of a project but the Nuggets have the advantage of time. They can be patient and Stanley would get a chance to live up to his considerable potential.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are are somewhat of a surprise team this year. Currently in the sixth seed, the Thunder have been on a tear after a slow start and rank high on the list of teams no one wants to play in the playoffs due to their uncanny ability to finish games.
It’s likely that Danilo Gallinari will walk in free agency, so the Thunder will look to shore up the power forward position.
Paul Reed is a Junior at DePaul and one of the older players in the draft, but he’ll be one of the most read to play immediately.
Reed will certainly not replace Gallinari’s scoring or floor spacing, but he can do two things well that usually translate to the NBA, rebound and block shots.
Reed grabs 10.6 rebounds per game, 2.6 blocks and 1.9 steals, numbers that should make him a solid rotation player in the NBA.
He would work well as a foil to Mike Muscala and would replace the boards and rim protection that they will lose if they let Nerlens Noel walk in free agency.
Reed is a solid pick who will check a lot of boxes for the Thunder and keep them rolling in the Western Conference.
The New York Knicks need help on the wing, especially if they do not pick up the team option on Wayne Ellington, which seems unlikely.
Tyler Bey is another one of the Juniors in the draft, so he should be able to step into the Knick’s rotation right away.
Bey is not a volume scorer but he does shoot 43.3 percent from 3-point range and projects as a 3-and-D wing. He has good size at 6-foot-7 and pulls down his share of rebounds with nine per game. Bey has posted 11 games with 10 or more rebounds this season and would instantly give the Knicks a boost in rebounding from the wing.
With Maurice Harkless set to be a free agent, and only the disappointing Kevin Knox signed past next year, the Knicks need more depth at the wing to pair with shooting guard R.J. Barrett.
Bey has the tools to be a steal at this point in the draft, and at the very least will be a competent wing who can defend the position and grab boards.
The Celtics hunt for a reliable big continues and Vernon Carey Jr. has the package of tantalizing skills that the Celtics will find too tempting to pass up.
Carey Jr. has the type of back-to-the-basket game that is rapidly going extinct in the NBA, but bigs who can score in the paint and grab rebounds will always have a place somewhere in the league.
Carey Jr. gets 17.6 points per game for Duke on 57.7 percent shooting and has a crafty game in the paint.
The problem is that Carey Jr. does not have a great NBA body, doesn’t rebound particularly well for someone his size and is not a great rim protector, though he does block 1.6 per game.
Carey Jr. is the type of matchup-dependent center who could come off the bench and give the Celtics a burst of scoring when they need it, but he might not be useful against smaller lineups, as he gets gassed easily and is not an end-to-end rim runner.
With no glaring weaknesses on the wing, the Celtics will try to use this draft to revamp their interior. It’s also very possible that Danny Ainge will make a big trade or use his multiple picks to nab additional picks in a more loaded draft.
The Celtics are in a good spot and should be able to help themselves in this draft one way or another.
With Kyle Lowry signed for just one more season and Fred VanVleet entering free agency, the Raptors will look to shore up the guard position with Joel Ayayi.
Ayayi’s numbers are not going to jump out at you. He doesn’t shoot the ball particularly well, isn’t a great passer and will not enter the league as a volume scorer.
Buy Ayayi has a couple of things that fit the Raptors mold. He has good size at 6-foot-5 and can defend multiple positions.
He is also a plus rebounder, pulling down 6.2 boards per game. He fits the mold of a young Lowry, as he has size and is a good defender, but he will definitely need to improve his shooting to stick in a NBA rotation.
Most teams feel that shooting is one of skills most players improve, so the Raptors may see enough defensively and on the boards to take Ayayi in the first round.
The Raptors have a lot of decisions to make, as they have several players entering free agency. They are already stocked at the wing with Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, so it makes sense to try and find their combo guard of the future with this pick.
The Raptors have used the developmental G-League better than anyone and it is possible Ayayi would see some time there as he tries to develop a shot.
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the top teams in the NBA, but they are old and desperately need an injection of youth.
Aleksej Pokusevski is a crafty 7-footer who is a good passer and projects as a potential stretch four or even five. He is only shooting 30.6 percent from 3-point range but has a nice stroke and could eventually be the type of 7-footer the league is trending towards.
At just 18 years old, Pokuseveski is not likely to come into the NBA and play right away, especially considering his thin frame and overall physical weakness.
He will not be a great on the ball defender, especially in the post, but he does block 1.6 shots per game, and has potential as an off the ball defender and shot blocker.
The Lakers are not likely to rely on the draft much as they try to win now with Anthony Davis and LeBron James, but with few future draft picks after trading them all away to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Lakers need to add some youth, even if it is only to stash him in the G-League.
It would be surprising to see the Boston Celtics use all three of their potential picks, but if they do, they will likely look for bigs and shooters.
With so many good playmakers on the wing, the Celtics will look for shooters to compliment them and Aaron Nesmith can stroke it.
He has missed some time with injuries but Nesmith is shooting an outstanding 52.2 percent from 3-point range. If he fell this far the Celtics would be very happy, but it is unlikely given how his shot projects in the NBA.
Nesmith can definitely shoot, but doesn’t do much else. His assist and rebounding numbers are not impressive, and he’s not a good defender or ball handler. But teams are always looking to add shooting and Nesmith can do that, getting 23 points per game.
His lack of overall game may hurt his stock a bit, but Nesmith is one of the players who could rocket up the draft board if he has good workouts.
This draft is going to be a wild one, as many team’s could try to trade out of it to get a player or a pick in a better draft. There will likely be a lot of moves on draft day but the team with the best eye for talent will win the day. There are sure to be some gems in this draft and teams will be doing their homework to find them.
The New Orleans Pelicans can do just about anything they want and will definitely be one of teams to watch during the 2020 NBA Draft.