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2020 NBA Draft Big Board 2.0: Assessing NBA Ready Prospects

By Nick Alvarez

Who should the New Orleans Pelicans target with a top 10 pick. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Who should the New Orleans Pelicans target with a top 10 pick. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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2020 NBA Draft, Desmond Bane
Desmond Bane (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

20. ISAIAH STEWART / BIG / WASHINGTON

Biggest Selling Point: Rebounding

Need a big man to play bully-ball on the boards? Then Isaiah Stewart is your guy. Stewart is a throwback player, he doesn’t bring the spacing that a lot of teams want in the modern NBA but he is a tough interior player. Standing at only 6’9″ he plays like he’s one of the biggest players in the 2020 NBA Draft. He’ll use his 250lbs frame to bully his way into the paint on both ends of the floor for rebounds. Every year teams look to add rebounding and Stewart can do that for several teams.

19. TY-SHON ALEXANDER / GUARD / CREIGHTON

Biggest Selling Point: 3 Point Shooting

In every offseason, the biggest need for many NBA teams is 3 point shooting. That’s what Creighton’s dynamic combo-guard Ty-Shon Alexander will bring the most to the NBA. He’s the type of player that gets inserted into any lineup to run off screens and hit easy jumpers. Many NBA teams will see that his game has more to it than that, but his biggest value will come as a quick shooter.

18. JALEN SMITH / BIG / MARYLAND

Biggest Selling Point: 3 Point Shooting

Jalen Smith is who many consider the best stretch big in the entire draft, and as he develops other parts of his game that 3 point shooting stroke will buy him minutes as a rotation player. In his sophomore season at Maryland, Smith buried an outstanding 37 percent of his outside jumpers. His shooting will open up driving lanes for dynamic guards at the NBA level and that’ll allow Smith to contribute right away in the NBA.

17. DESMOND BANE / GUARD / TCU

Biggest Selling Point: Winning Mentality

My favorite player in the 202 NBA Draft, it TCU’s Desmond Bane. Bane’s an older prospect at 22 but he’s well rounded with little flaws in his game. The best trait he brings to NBA teams in a winning mentality. Bane will do whatever it takes to win, dive for loose balls, guard a bigger player, you name it. Those are qualities that buy rookie players minutes in the NBA. They will make Desmond Bane a valuable contributor for years to come.

16. PRECIOUS ACHIUWA / WING-BIG / MEMPHIS

Biggest Selling Point: Physicality

Precious Achiuwa is going to be beloved in the NBA for his tough physical presence, I can already see it. At 6’9″ with a 225lbs frame, Achiuwa loves to play as a smaller but physical interior player. His physicality shows up in more than just that though. He’ll use forceful energy to block shots, and will rim-run aggressively if asked to. He’s just a tough player that teams will love to take a chance on in the 2020 NBA Draft.