Full two-round 2020 NBA Mock Draft.
It’s an exciting time for basketball fans. Fans of teams in the playoff picture are gearing up for their squad’s postseason run, while the less successful teams prepare for a top pick by reading countless NBA mock drafts.
Further, March Madness is just around the corner. In addition to providing some of the best basketball possible, it’s a proving ground for the nation’s top prospects, most of which will have their name called by the Commissioner this June.
This is not so much true this year however — at least at the top of the draft. James Wiseman has left Memphis, Anthony Edwards’ and Cole Anthony’s respective teams aren’t likely to make the big dance and international prospects like LaMelo Ball and Killian Hayes obviously won’t be participating.
The 2020 Draft Class is set to be a good one, at least on paper. There’s no sure-fire #1 pick like there was last year with Zion Williamson either. It’s more like the 2018 Draft Class, where a few players (Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic, Marvin Bagley) all could have gone first, and it just depended on who landed that top pick. With the top-five or so players on most big boards not playing in the tourney, you never know if somebody will raise his stock significantly in March.
Here we’ll be looking at the Draft Class as it stands now, mocking the entire first and second rounds.
Note: Draft order based on NBA standings as of 2/26.
The Warriors are not your everyday team with the #1 pick. They’re still a contender when healthy, something they’ve been far from this year. Klay Thompson will likely miss the entire season, while Steph Curry’s return from a broken hand is still a few games away.
Next year, they’ll likely be closer to getting the #1 seed in the West than the #1 pick, and hitting on this pick would only help that cause.
Wiseman, the 7’1 teenager, played just three games with the Memphis Tigers before announcing his departure. The leave came amid his ongoing battle with the NCAA regarding eligibility issues, and during a 12-game suspension.
He’s maintained his status as a top pick despite not playing since early November, and not many prospects have a higher ceiling than Wiseman.
The 18-year-old is an incredible athlete, and a great defender for his age. He should be able to step into the NBA and protect the rim from day one. He blocked nine total shots in the three games he played for Memphis. Concerns around his lack of a jumper still surround Wiseman, and his lack of court time this season rids any chance of scouts seeing that improve until the combine.
The Warriors’ lone weakness during their run of five straight Finals appearances was the lack of a big man, and Wiseman could put them right back on the map as top tier contenders.
Edwards is at the top of most big boards across the web, but with the Warriors being more than set at guard, he slides to the Cavs here.
They’d be getting one of the most dynamic scorers in the nation with the pick, much-need for a Cavs team who averaged the 5th fewest points per game. Edwards is consistently asked to create his own shot on a lackluster Georgia team, and does so with NBA-like moves. The efficiency could be higher (41 FG%) and that should come with time and a lesser usage rate. His pull-up jumper from mid-range needs to go unless he perfects it.
His explosive upside will always be as a wing scorer, but his defense has improved since season’s start. He looks comfortable bring the ball up and could be a secondary ball-handler on a NBA team.
He’ll still be just 18 on Draft Night, and would be a nice fit alongside Cleveland’s already very young roster. Edwards could slide to the three spot to play alongside Collin Sexton and Darius Garland as well.
The T-Wolves draft for need here, with Okoro not necessarily being the best player left on the board. Minny seems to be set at guard owever with their deadline acquisition D’Angelo Russell joining young players like Jarrett Culver and Josh Okogie. With KAT, they’re set at center, leaving a hole at the forward spot.
Isaac Okoro is one of the best wing options in the class, and his stock has risen exponentially throughout the season.
The 6’6 forward has averaged 13.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game this season, while being one of the nation’s best perimeter defenders. Okoro’s motor has never been questioned, and would bring a nice intensity to Minnesota who just got rid of Andrew Wiggins who was constantly knocked for his lack of passion.
Okoro has made just 28 percent of his threes, and would likely have to improve on that shot if he were to live up to a top-three pick.
Others have higher ceilings than the Auburn forward, but Okoro should be among the most NBA-ready players in the draft.
As the Hawks near the end of their rebuild, they can afford to take a bit of a chance on a boom-or-bust prospect. There’s a few of those types in this year’s draft, but Avdija makes the most sense for Atlanta, and probably the “safest” of them.
the International prospect could potentially play four positions in the pros with his 6’9 frame, and and ability to run an offense. He has great mobility and handling for his size, potentially fitting the point-forward archetype that’s popular in the modern NBA.
As a scorer he can make his own shots, but also has a jumper ripe for catch-and-shoot opportunities. That, combined with his cutting ability makes him a fun beneficiary of Trae Young‘s passes.
Despite his solid jumper, Avdija has oddly struggled from the free throw line, shooting just 52 percent from the stripe. That’s the biggest knock on the 19-year-old, and could take a few years to improve.
The Hawks took two wings (Cam Reddish, De’Andre Hunter) in the top-ten last year, but with Advija’s versatility, all three could be a part of the team’s future.
Ball probably has one of the biggest potential draft ranges, and I would be as surprised if Ball went first overall as I would if he went eighth. LaMelo brings tremendous size for his position, sitting at 6’7 with a 6’10 wingspan. With that length he averaged 7.6 rebounds per game in the NBL.
His greatest skill is play-making however, and he’s the best true point guard in this year’s class. The Knicks are always in position to nab a high-profile free agent and his passing would be an instant selling point to them.
Like his brother Lonzo, LaMelo’s biggest obstacle to overcome in the NBA will be his outside shooting. Despite shooting just 25 percent from three, Ball wasn’t afraid to shot the deep ball during his time with Illawarra, taking 6.7 attempts per game.
Hopes are his play-making, defense and slashing abilities overshadow his jump shooting downfalls.
With Reggie Jackson, Markieff Morris and Andre Drummond all off the books, it looks like the long rebuild is on in Detroit, and Haliburton is as good of a first piece as it gets. The Iowa State sophomore is similar to Ball in that he’s a lanky point guard with fantastic court vison.
He’s made a huge leap from his freshman season, nearly tripling his points per game and averaging 2.5 steals as well. He’s shot 50 percent from the field, 42 from three, dishing out 6.5 assists per game.
His basketball IQ transitions nicely to the other side of the court as well, and he’s easily one of the better backcourt defenders in the draft.
Unfortunately, Haliburton broke his wrist earlier in February, ending his season and almost certainly his college career. He’ll also be a year older than most other players taken in the Lottery. The Pistons shouldn’t be scared off by either of that, and would be happy with a player like him at the sixth pick.
There could be some buzz (pun intended) to take fellow point guard Cole Anthony to keep him in North Carolina, but after the season that team has had Carolina fans may be ready to move on from Anthony.
Instead the Hornets take Killian Hayes, the French point guard whose placement on various big boards is sporadic. He’s a great slashing point guard who has great court vision and inside scoring ability. He’s another player who’ll be just 18-years-old on draft night, which could raise him on various team’s boards.
The question mark around Hayes is his deep shot, which he scarcely takes in the Euroleague (3.0 attempts per game, 32%). If he is able to find a jumper, it’ll just be a bonus to his already rich arsenal of floaters and finger-rolls.
Hayes also needs to work on his turnovers, as he carries a assist to turnover ratio of 5.3 to 3.3.
Toppin has risen up draft boards all season, and could be a prime candidate to raise it even more in the tournament. Toppin has the Dayton Flyers primed for a top seed in March, leading them to a 26-2 record thus far.
In terms of fit, Chicago already has two young big men in Wendell Carter and Lauri Markkanen, but it could be hard to resist the 6’9 Toppin. He’s one of the nation’s top scorers, and his 19.7 points per game have come at a very efficient 62.3 percent.
He’s explosive at and above the rim, and could be a prime candidate for a Dunk Contest in a few years. Toppin’s 92 dunks are 2nd in the nation. His outside shooting has improved as the season’s progressed, and could be used effectively in both the pick-and-roll as well as the pick-and-pop.
His draft age of 22 is less than ideal, especially given all the teenagers we’ve already covered, and you’d like to see more rebounds given his size and position.He’s one of the most talented and pro-ready players in the draft, but could already be at his ceiling.
Okongwu is another with a wide range of potential suitors, and could easily be taken much higher than nine. Washington has been in need of a big man for as long as I can remember, and the USC forward could finally bridge that gap for the Wiz.
Bradley Beal has been continuing to play like a star, and John Wall is set to finally return next season. Setting those two up with Okongwu as they enter the back-nine of their career is a huge swing for Washington, and one that could be a home run.
The 6’9 freshman plays more like a center, but might not play up to his potential there with his small-ish frame. He’s attempted just three three-point shots this season, and doesn’t look in a hurry to add that to his game.
If the rest of his game transfers, he may not need a perimeter shot to be successful however. He’s probably the best interior defender in the Lottery, using both smarts and athleticism to deter opposing scorers. His season plus/minus of +13.5 is 3rd best in the nation. He averages just under nine rebounds in 30.4 minutes per game, which is 3rd best in the Pac-12.
Okongwu projects to be a classic athletic big man, an archetype that’s been hit-or-miss in recent years.
Talk about a slide for Cole Anthony, who started the year as a consensus top-five pick, even in the conversation for the #1 overall pick. And there’s just really no way around it: Anthony has been disappointing this season at UNC.
The Suns, who have rebuilding seemingly since Steve Nash left town, would love a more sure-fire pick than Anthony, but if he’s able to once again show the potential that made him a top recruit, they’d be getting real value with him with the tenth pick.
Anthony has made just 37 percent of his 16.7 (!) field goal attempts per game, dishing out just 3.8 assists in 34.4 minutes. His UNC team has been awful, and there is fault to be thrown to Anthony who’s supposed to be the team’s leader.
For whatever team drafts Anthony, the hope is he regains his offensive footing when’s not asked to be the only offensive play-maker. Joining Devin Booker would help levitate that usage right off the bat.
Ricky Rubio is good, but not a long-term option at the point guard spot, and if Anthony pans out, he could be the future next to Booker in the Phoenix backcourt.
The Kings have a lot of options here, as we begin to get into the late Lottery. Isaiah Stewart is not a top-tier prospect, but is the best big man left on the board in my eyes, the Kings’ biggest need.
Stewart can play both the power forward at center positions at 6’9, and is a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none type prospect.
He has a soft touch around the rim, and can score from nearly anywhere in the paint, making just a tick under 60 percent of his two-point shots. Stewart is a solid rim protector already at age 18, and could provide instant help for Sacramento’s mediocre defense.
He averages 1.2 more turnovers per game than assists, and has room to improve on other small things like that and his free throw percentage.
It’s not particularly a sexy pick, but at at this point for Sacramento, that may just be exactly what they need.
Whoever the Spurs pick here is likely to be the first piece of a long-overdue rebuild in San Antonio, who are very close to missing the playoffs for the first time since 1997.
Vassell is an intriguing 3-and-D prospect who may not have as high of ceiling of some of the names still on the board, but whose floor is higher than most drafted before him.
The sophomore stud has been a bit of a Swiss Army Knife for the Seminoles, filling out the stat sheet with 12.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, all while shooting 42 percent from three.
He feels very much like a “Spurs player” with an unselfish attitude and will pass up a decent shot to set up his teammate for a good one.
The 6’7 guard can more than likely scoot over to play some small forward, and is a good pick for the Spurs if they decide to rebuild or go all-in for one more season with Pop.
The Pelicans are pretty set for the future, and if all goes well, this will be their last Lottery pick for years. Zion-Lonzo-Ingram is a more than formidable ‘Big 3’ for the future, and any pick here would be supplemental.
Thus, they take the best player on the board, who here happens to be Arizona guard Nico Mannion.
Mannion’s freshman season has been a disappointment, and has fallen since being a near-consensus top-five pick before the season began. The 6’3 guard has shot just 32 percent on his nearly five three-point attempts per game, and was projected to rack up more than the 5.4 assists he’s averaging.
His ability to cut through defenses and get to the rim is unquestioned, but nearly every other aspect of his game is under a microscope.
For the Pelicans, it’s a low-risk move with potential for a very high reward.
The Blazers round out the Lottery here by keeping Washington forward Jaden McDaniels in the pacific northwest. McDaniels has great size at 6’10 with a 6’11.5 wingspan, and even better athleticism. He can jump out of the gym it shows on his highlight reel.
He has good touch in the paint and carries himself well. He plays hard despite his team’s 13-15 record. Defensively he has his ups-and-downs, but has the potential to be a dynamic shot blocker in the league. He’s had as many nights with double-digit blocks as he has had block-less nights (nine).
McDaniels, like others we’ve talked about recently, hasn’t been lights out for his college team, and has specifically been slumping of late. He hasn’t scored more than 20 points since December 22nd, and has struggled to be Washington’s #1 option on offense.
In Portland, he’d join Dame and CJ McCollum, who both know exactly how to carry an offense. McDaniels is more of a long-term project type pick, which the win-now Blazers may shy away from, but there is a chance he’s fantastic in a lesser role.
He’s a boom-or-bust prospect, which is always among the best options at this point in the draft.
Hampton falls out of the Lottery here, which is looking more and more like a real possibility. After being a top-five recruit out of high school, Hampton decided to forgo the NCAA and play professionally in Australia, to mixed results.
His career with the Breakers came to and end after just 15 games after he hurt his hip. He didn’t exactly blow scouts’ socks off by making less than 30 percent of his threes, shooting 40 percent from the field overall.
He can play both guard spots, although he’s more akin to a shooting guard in a point guard’s body. Hampton can finish with either hand at the rim, and will have a chance to record a highlight play anytime he touches the ball.
For Orlando, D.J Augustin and Michael Carter-Williams are both set to be free agents, with Evan Fournier owning a player option as well. Hampton may not fit Steve Clifford’s defensive-minded play style, but could be what they need offensively to compete for more than the eight seed.
The T-Wolves landed this lottery-protected first from Atlanta in the Clint Capela, Robert Covington trade, and are surely hoping the Nets stay in the playoff picture minus Kyrie Irving.
With Isaac Okoro already headed north, the team doubles down and takes another forward, this time selecting Previous Achuiwa, the 6’9 power forward from Memphis.
Achiuwa boasts a 7’2.5 wingspan allowing him to defend like a center with the athleticism of a power forward. He’s among the best defenders in the nation, and would be great sliding in next to Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell in that regard.
He carries the nation’s second best defensive rating and third most defensive win shares, blocking nearly two shots a game. He’s also averaging 15.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. That resume speaks for itself.
There has been some concern surrounding his consistency and motor, and there’s always potential for a ugly shooting night.
The upsides should outweigh the down still, and the T-Wolves have to be happy with their two new frontcourt pieces.
As we start to move away from the lottery and closer to teams ready to compete for a championship now, many of the picks will be more “pro-ready” than before. That’s not quite true here, as Boston can’t pass up Maxey, who has slid after being considered by most to be a top-14 guy presason.
He’s been very up-and-down for John Calipari at Kentucky, but occasionally breaks out offensively reminding everyone why he was a top freshman coming into the season. The combo guard can get hot in a big way, and could instantly transition into a streaky bench scorer for the Celtics.
Maxey has struggled for the most part from three this season, but has been great inside. He’s made 50 percent of his two-point attempts and 82 from the stripe. He’s not much of a defender and needs to work on his assists/turnover ratio, which can all be worked on while staying in Boston’s back pocket.
It could be the type of pick that makes GM Danny Ainge look very smart.
The Bucks are very deep, and won’t need a lot of production from a rookie in the immediate future, and could very well shop this pick. If they do keep the pick, Jahmi’us Ramsey fits the bill as a two-way player that could transition quickly to the pros.
The 3-and-D freshman has shot nearly the same percentage from three (43%) as from the field (45%) and projects to be a great catch-and-shoot guy. Ramsey is leading his talented Texas Tech team in points per game, and is near the top-ten in the nation for 3P percentage.
Ramsey’s not seen as a great playmaker for himself or others, but he’ll turn 19 right before the Draft and still has room to add more to his game.
A good tournament showing could be a real needle-mover for Ramsey, and as it sits now, the Bucks could certainly do worse with the 18th pick.
The Nets will looking to add a solid bench piece to supplement Kyrie and KD, and Josh Green is someone who can be that – and more.
There’s real upside to Green’s game, particularly as a defender. On offense he’s shot just 42 percent from the field, 31 percent from three, for Arizona as a freshman, but has impressed on the other end. Putting him alongside two of this generation’s greatest scorers will allow Green to slowly develop his offensive game while providing instant defensive relief for Brooklyn.
The Australian guard also has good size at his position and could easily defend three positions across both the back and front courts.
It’s easy to see Green getting a pretty big supporting role off the bat for the Nets, who could be losing some or all of Joe Harris, Garrett Temple and Wilson Chandler to free agency.
Smith is one of the most underrated players in the nation on one of the most underrated teams in the nation.
He’s quietly put up fantastic averages, sitting at 15.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, all while guiding Maryland to first place in the Big Ten. The sophomore has improved greatly with his floor-spacing three, draining 36 percent this year compared to his freshman number of 26 percent.
Luka Doncic would find Smith often as a cutter, and he’s been lethal to opposing defenders as a lob receiver.
Smith sits at 6-10 and could play behind or alongside Kristaps Porzingis in Dallas. Even if he doesn’t get the same minutes as someone like James Wiseman or Onyeka Okongwu, he could still compete for the most rebounds by a rookie. He’s that dominant on the glass.
There are a few knocks on him, lack his utter lack of assists and his draft age, but should be ready to compete right away for the Mavs. I love this pick for Dallas and I’m sure their fans would too.
Goran Dragic is set to hit the open market, and with the Heat likely looking to spend that money on yet another big free agent, they’ll like to find a cheap replacement to back up Kendrick Nunn.
Jones fits the bill, the best true point guard left on the board. The Duke sophomore has stepped into a bigger role effortlessly, and his numbers are up across the board.
His 6.5 assists per game looks awfully pretty next to his 2.6 turnovers per game, and he could run a second team from the moment he’s drafted. A 6’2 frame like the one Jones carries usually would mean he would be bullied defensively in the NBA, but he’s been a fantastic perimeter defender in Durham.
When he’s in the league and has the ball in his hands less, the 33 percent three-point average could hurt more than it does now, and his true shooting percentage of 52% isn’t something that’ll translate well.
Still, Jones brings a lot to the table, and could be a nice, cheap rotation player for Miami’s next run at the Finals.
The 18-year-old’s play in Europe has been all over the place, and should be considered a “project pick” in the draft.
Maledon only received 17.4 minutes a game for his team, with mediocre numbers across the board. The 6’4 point guard averaged 15.2 points, 5.8 assists and 5.6 fouls per-36. The fouls are concerning, especially that physical play is already allowed more in the Euroleague than it is in the NBA.
In terms of positives, he’s a speedy slasher who can take it coast-to-coast with ease. He gets very low on his drives, using his size to his advantage. While he’s better in the lane, Maledon can pull up for a jumper, and possesses some catch-and-shoot capabilities.
He’ll need to work on his passing and limiting his fouls, but some team is bound to look past those downfalls and take a chance on him.
Bey stays in the Philly area to join the Sixers, who are among the deepest teams in the league. Despite, Bey should be able to slide into a role right off the bat, especially if most of his 46 percent clip from three this season follows him the league.
The Villanova sophomore has been fantastic from long range, and making nearly half of his 5.6 threes per game has to have modern GM’s paying attention. The Sixers make just over 10 threes again this season, ranking in the bottom third of the league there. Bey would instantly be their best perimeter scorer.
There are concerns that his game is one-dimensional, and that would be able to add much outside of his killer three-point shot. He’s not incredibly gifted athletically nor great with the ball in his hand.
At the 23rd pick however, teams are rarely going to find an all-around stud, and he could very well be worth the pick for his long-range sniping alone.
It’s also worth noting that this pick is protected 1-20, and if the Thunder have a bit of a rough end to the season, could very well not transfer to Philly.
The Nuggets have a near complete roster, and are in a nice position to simply take the best player on the board. In my eyes, that’s Vanderbilt sophmore Aaron Nesmith.
Nesmith hurt his foot in early January, ending his collegiate career. In the 14 games he did play this season, he was one of the nation’s most electric scorers, averaging 23.0 points per game on 51 percent shooting. Amazingly, his three-point clip was even higher, sitting at 52 percent.
Like Bey drafted in the slot above, Nesmith isn’t going to create his own shots often — at least not right away. Instead he’ll be a productive catch-and-shoot option wherever he is on the court.
His lackluster defense in college projects him to be an even worse defender in the pros, and it’s a major reason he’s in the 20’s rather than the Lottery despite making over half his threes.
Again, Denver is in a position where they really don’t need production from a rookie, but any help they do get is just extra help. Nesmith’s scoring could be a huge boost.
It’s been a bit of a joke how many power forwards the Knicks have brought in lately, but with the trading of Marcus Morris (to receive this pick), they have room to add another.
Williams is a fun talent out of Florida State, another who’ll still be just 18 on Draft night. His numbers don’t impress on a glance, and whichever team drafts him will be doing so based on potential.
Williams has great size at 6’8 and carries a 7-foot wingspan. He’s shown this as a defender and paint scorer this season, but has failed to do much of anything on the boards. His per-36 average of 6.2 rebounds is going to jump off the page — in a bad way.
He does have stretch forward potential, and his jumper needs more polishing than an entire re-working. Williams is an athletic freak, and could be someone who rises up draft boards late after the combine and private workouts.
Danilo Galinari doesn’t seem to be apart of the long term plan in OKC, and Nerlens Noel is set to be a free agent as well. Getting some young size to replace them seems like a good bet for the Thunder, who look to rebuild while also staying competitive. The 6-11 Nnaji can play both the four and five, and could compete for the starting spot at the former.
He’s the third Arizona Wildcat to come off the board in this mock, but he’s actually playing better than both Nico Mannion and Josh Green of late. A good showing in the tournament and at pre-draft workouts could push Nnaji above one or both of them on Draft night.
The big man has averaged 16.3 points and 8.7 rebounds this season, shooting nearly 60 percent from the field. Despite his height, Nnaji can defend both inside and outside thanks to quick feet and even quicker hands. He plays physical defense yet averages just 2.4 fouls per game.
Expect his name to come up a lot on pre-draft “sleeper” ranking lists.
The Duke big man stops his skid here, and likely is much more talented than this draft slot suggests. This slide down the draft board could come to fruition on Draft night, as teams are (rightfully) concerned about his fit in the modern NBA.
His old-school, back-to-basket play style will work in the right system, and with this pick, we’ll get to see how Brad Stevens utilizes him. The Celtics missing piece right now is depth in the frontcourt, and Carey is not your typical 27th overall pick when it comes to play time. He’s getting good minutes for a freshman at Duke and could be ready to contribute 10-15 per game in the NBA right away.
Carey is fun to watch on the post, and while his bullying of college centers won’t translate fully, he’s crafty enough to score against NBA defenders. His nasty drop step is a selling point, as is his up-and-under game.
The 6-10 center needs to work on his fouls, especially the technical ones, and turnovers. Both of those should come with time, especially in the disciplined Celtics system.
There’s officially a run on centers here, with Oturu making three straight. Marc Gasol is set to hit the open market and whether or not the Raptors re-sign him, looking to the future is a good call.
Oturu has a fantastic scorer for the Gophers all season, averaging 20.0 points a game on 57 percent shooting. He’s slowly added a three to his game, and has made 17 as a sophomore after attempting just two throughout his entire freshman season.
He’s swatted away 2.6 blocks per game this season, and is 7th in the nation in rebounds per game at 11.7. Recent standout performances against Penn State (32 points, 3 blocks) and Maryland (18 points, 11 rebounds) could be a needle-mover.
Oturu will be 21 when next season begins however, and doesn’t have the upside of other big men on the list. His brash style of scoring could use some polishing, and he does turn the ball over quite a bit for not handling the ball that much.
LeBron James has a history of not playing well with rookies, and if not this season, the Lakers will certainly be in emergency win-now mode next year. It’s pretty likely they trade this pick, but for now we’ll send a senior point guard their way.
Winston has proven himself to be a winner during his four years under Tom Izzo, and while his numbers have failed to increase significantly from his junior to senior year, is still a top player in the nation.
The 6’1 point guard has a career 42 percent clip from three with Sparty, and create his own shots as well as he can create open ones for his teammates.
Obviously the down side here is his draft age of 22, and his size is one that rarely translates to the NBA well. The hope is that he’s already pro-ready, and can pick up in the NBA right where his college career ended.
Aleksej is going to be one of the youngest players drafted in June, and won’t turn 19 until Christmas. The Celtics have room to take a chance on a player like this, even if he doesn’t pan out for a few seasons.
The Serbian forward projects to be a good NBA defender, and has a nice shooting touch for his size. He averaged over one block and steal per game, and has quick feet to go along with his 7’3 wingspan.
Despite playing in Greece’s second league, he never did much scoring, and his per-36 of 15.9 points on a 37 percent clip could be discouraging for GM’s.
The Celtics are unlikely to keep all three of the picks they currently have, but if they do, taking on a project like Pokuševski who could use some years in the G-League would be beneficial.
Second Round:
31. Dallas Mavericks (via Warriors): Reggie Perry, PF, Mississippi State
Perry has seen dramatic improvement in his second season, and his ability to handle the ball and run an offense at 6’10 will be intriguing to many GM’s.
32. Philadelphia 76ers (via Hawks): Kira Lewis, Jr. PG, Alabama
Lewis has been heating up in a big way as the season has progressed, and if he continues that into the SEC tournament, he could leap into the first round.
33. Charlotte Hornets (via Cavs): Paul Reed, PF, DePaul
The junior has quietly been one of the big men in the nation all season, but will need to show more on offense to be a first rounder. He should be regarded as among the best defense bigs in the class.
34. Philadelphia 76ers (via Knicks): Jordan Nwora, SF, Louisville
Nwora hurt his stock a bit by returning to Louisville for a third season, but has still been an efficient scorer who can create his own looks at 6’7.
35. Minnesota Timberwolves: Ashton Hagans, PG, Kentucky
Defensive-minded point guards are rare in today’s NBA, and Hagans can be that as a rookie. He averages 2.1 steals per 36 minutes played.
36. Sacramento Kings (via Pistons): Tyler Bey, SF, Colorado
Bey is a great downhill scorer who will be scary to guard for even the most seasoned veterans. He needs to add a three-point shot soon however, and if he does, could be the steal of the draft.
37. Washington Wizards (via Bulls): Cassius Stanley, SG, Duke
Stanley could use another year at Duke, but if he does come out of Durham this year, would bring his high-efficiency, quality-over-quantity scoring to Washington.
38. New York Knicks (via Hornets): Scottie Lewis, SG, Florida
Lewis has the potential to be a solid 3-and-D guy for a long time in this league, and there’s always room to add more to his game. Despite appearing in 27 games and starting 19 of them, Lewis has yet to record a 20-point performance.
39. New Orleans Pelicans (via Wizards): Ochai Agbaji, SG, Kansas
The sophomore shooting guard is athletically explosive and lethal as a cutter. He needs to work on his standing shot however.
40. Memphis Grizzlies (via Suns): Xavier Tillman, C, Michigan State
This class is pretty barren in terms of big men for times to take “fliers” on, and the junior Tillman might be the best one. If he can take the next step and perhaps improve his deep shot he could be a mainstay of Memphis’ young core.
41. Sacramento Kings: Leandro Bolmaro, SG, Spain
The 6’7 guard stole 2.7 balls per-36 while splitting time between FC Barcelona and their ‘B’ team. He shot just 42 percent from the field however, and his athleticism has been questioned.
42. San Antonio Spurs: Joel Ayayi, PG, Gonzaga
As a sophomore, Ayayi averaged 6.2 rebounds in 29.1 minutes per game at just 6’5. He’s aggressive with the ball in and out of his hands, and should be enough for GM’s to overlook his downfalls.
43. New Orleans Pelicans: Markus Howard, PG, Marquette
Howard leads the nation in points per game as a senior with 27.2, making nearly 40 percent of his nightly 10.2 three-point attempts.
44. Portland Trailblazers: Udoka Azubuike, C, Kansas
The senior 7-footer is a terrific rebounder and defender, and his ability to hang in the NBA revolves around his development on offense outside the paint.
45. Orlando Magic: Devon Dotson, PG, Kansas
The third Jayhawk to have his name called in the second round is Dotson, who looks to be a great perimeter defender despite his 6’2, 179 frame. He’s also very athletic, and will be a good transition scorer in the NBA.
46. Boston Celtics (via Nets): Malcolm Cazalon, SG, Leuven (Belgium)
Cazalon has an incredibly small sample size, having playing just ten games this year, in which he averaged just 17.0 minutes. Whomever drafts him will be doing so on his scoring potential and his young draft age.
47. Chicago Bulls (via Grizzlies): Trendon Watford, SF, LSU
Watford is another player who could move his draft stock up with another year in college, and he currently doesn’t have much going for him outside his 7’3 wingspan.
48. Indiana Pacers: Makur Maker, PF/C, G-League
Thon Maker‘s brother, Makur, decided to forgo the NCAA and suit up for for a G-league team instead. For the Rio Grande Vipers this season, Maker has averaged 5.9 points and 4.0 rebounds a game in just 13.9 minutes.
49. Golden State Warriors (via Mavs): Killian Tillie, PF, Gonzaga
Tillie has always been a bubble late first round/early second round pick, but he kept returning to Gonzaga. As a senior, Tillie continues to stroke floor-stretching threes and plays smart, mistake-free basketball. He’ll probably play more than most second-rounders depending on where he’s drafted.
50. Philadelphia 76ers: CJ Elleby, SF, Washington State
Elleby looked like he was going to be in the conversation for a draft selection last season, doing various pre-draft workouts with teams. Right before the deadline, he withdrew to stay with Washington state, and he’s improved in every facet of the game. He should be drafted this year.
51. OKC Thunder: Amar Sylla, PF, Oostende (Belgium)
Sylla did not have a good season in Europe, averaging just 7.3 points on 39 percent shooting. He could be a euro-stash for the Thunder, who have a ton of picks in upcoming drafts.
52. Sacramento Kings (via Heat): Payton Pritchard, PG, Oregon
Pritchard turning 23 halfway through his rookie season is a tough look, but his scoring resume speaks for itself. If nothing else, he could be a nice catch-and-shoot point off the bench.
53. Golden State Warriors (via Jazz): Nick Richards, C, Kentucky
Richards has been inconsistent for the Wildcats, but remains a highly efficient scorer. He’s currently making 65 percent of his shots. He hasn’t attempted a three-pointer in his three years with Kentucky.
54. Atlanta Hawks (via Rockets): Elijah Hughes, SG/SF, Syracuse
‘Cuse wing Elijah Hughes is someone who could sneak into the late first-round, or could fall like this to the late second. Scouts seem torn on the interior scorer, who’s playing over 37 minutes per game for Orange.
55. Los Angeles Clippers: Paul Eboua, PF, Italy
The 20-year-old project brings fantastic length (7’3.5 wingspan) and dense interior scoring potential. He’s only played in the junior league, and NBA teams will likely want to see him in another professional setting before bringing him over.
56. Brooklyn Nets (via Nuggets): Mamadi Diakite, PF, Virginia
Diakite has blossomed nicely in his senior season with a much bigger role, and could be a great rebounder from the four spot.
57. Charlotte Hornets (via Celtics): Isaiah Joe, SG, Arkansas
Joe’s 16.5 points per game are brought down by his field goal percentage, which sits at 36%. He’s taken over 10 three-pointers per game this season, and could knock them down more when he’s not such a focal point of his team’s offense.
58. Toronto Raptors: Grant Riller, PG, Charleston
Riller will turn 24 before his rookie season is over, but if teams can overlook that, they’d add one of the nation’s leading scorers who has averaged 21.5 points per game while shooting 49 percent from the field.
59. Philadelphia 76ers (via Lakers): Jared Butler, PG, Baylor
Butler has headlined one of the best college basketball defenses in some time, scoring nearly 16 points per game on the other end.
60. New Orleans Pelicans (via Bucks): Malachi Flynn, PG, San Diego State
The once Washington State Cougar has been a fantastic transfer signing for SDST, but Flynn will have to overcome questions about his size (6’1) and draft age (22) if he wants to have his name called.