2020 Draft. Who you want?
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 3:22 pm
Just looking at players in nbadraft.net's lotto right now (20 June).
Players I Like:
-#1 (#13 ranked) Aaron Nesmith. I'd honestly take him #1 overall if I had the #1 overall pick. He reminds me a lot of Klay Thompson, and the bust factor is pretty low. Klay's not a "superstar", and you're usually looking for "superstar potential" at the top of the draft.. but in this draft.. at any point in this draft.. I'm really just looking to land a solid starter on a contending team. Nesmith shot an incredible 52% from 3 on 8.2 att/g this yr at Vandy. Shortened season, sure, but he shot 34% from 3 on 5.5 att/g his freshman yr, and had the exact same FT%. He's 6'6 215 and a solid - not great - athlete. Smart, hard-working defender. Don't think he'll quite be Klay on that end.. but don't see him being a liability either. He's not that great handling the ball, driving, play-making, etc.. but neither was Klay. What he is-is an amazing, amazing outside shooter who moves very well without the ball and plays solid defense with the size to switch.
-#2a (#2 ranked) Obi Toppin. I like Obi. I think he's big enough to play the 5 in today's game. He's a solid outside shooter (39% on 2.6 att/g this season). He runs the court fine. He's not much of a passer or defender, really. But a big guy who plays hard and can shoot from outside is a fine thing.
-#2b (#6 ranked) Devin Vassell. Really good athlete, really good length. Not the shooter Nesmith is, but a better defender probably.. and still an okay shooter (42% from 3 on 3.5 att/g this yr).
So-so guys:
-(#7 ranked) Tyrese Haliburton. I like Haliburton. And I like his game. But a primary ball-handler is like a franchise QB, and you've got to be a little careful with it. The '21 and '22 drafts are where I think we might find a star handler. The '20 draft might be a better place to find a piece around him. And Haliburton's (42% from 3 on 5.6 att/g) not really a star shooter like Nesmith, or a star defender like Vassell.
-(#14 ranked) Daniel Oturu. Probably more of an 'if we move Kennard or Rose for a second pick' option here. But I think Oturu's interesting. He's got a decent outside shot for a big man.
Players I Don't Like:
I've heard so much in my life as a Pistons fan about prospects "with great shooting form who should become great outside shooters". Maybe 1 out of every 10 or 15 actually becomes a legit good NBA outside shooter.
-(#1 ranked) Anthony Edwards. 29% 3pt shooter (on 7.7 attempts/game) in one season at UGA. Not excited about that.
-(#3 ranked) LaMelo Ball. 25% 3pt shooter (on 6.7 attempts/game) in one season in the NBL. Not excited about that either.
-(#4 ranked) James Wiseman. Not a shooter. Seems like guys with his skill-set are usually available in FA.
-(#5 ranked) Killian Hayes. 19% 3pt shooter (on 2.2 attempts/game) last season in his French league.
-(#8 ranked) Onyeka Okongwu. Not a shooter. I wouldn't be surprised if he has a solid career though.
-(#9 ranked) Deni Avdija. 28% 3pt shooter (on 1.8 attempts/game) in Euro league this past yr.
-(#10 ranked) Isaac Okoro. 29% 3pt shooter (on 2.5 attempts/game) in one season at Auburn.
-(#11 ranked) Cole Anthony. 35% 3pt shooter (on 6.4 attempts/game) in one season at UNC. Guy with his height shooting less than 40% in college is a big no-no for me.
-(#12 ranked) Precious Achiuwa. 33% 3pt shooter (on 1.3 attempts/game) in one season at Memphis.
Players I Like:
-#1 (#13 ranked) Aaron Nesmith. I'd honestly take him #1 overall if I had the #1 overall pick. He reminds me a lot of Klay Thompson, and the bust factor is pretty low. Klay's not a "superstar", and you're usually looking for "superstar potential" at the top of the draft.. but in this draft.. at any point in this draft.. I'm really just looking to land a solid starter on a contending team. Nesmith shot an incredible 52% from 3 on 8.2 att/g this yr at Vandy. Shortened season, sure, but he shot 34% from 3 on 5.5 att/g his freshman yr, and had the exact same FT%. He's 6'6 215 and a solid - not great - athlete. Smart, hard-working defender. Don't think he'll quite be Klay on that end.. but don't see him being a liability either. He's not that great handling the ball, driving, play-making, etc.. but neither was Klay. What he is-is an amazing, amazing outside shooter who moves very well without the ball and plays solid defense with the size to switch.
-#2a (#2 ranked) Obi Toppin. I like Obi. I think he's big enough to play the 5 in today's game. He's a solid outside shooter (39% on 2.6 att/g this season). He runs the court fine. He's not much of a passer or defender, really. But a big guy who plays hard and can shoot from outside is a fine thing.
-#2b (#6 ranked) Devin Vassell. Really good athlete, really good length. Not the shooter Nesmith is, but a better defender probably.. and still an okay shooter (42% from 3 on 3.5 att/g this yr).
So-so guys:
-(#7 ranked) Tyrese Haliburton. I like Haliburton. And I like his game. But a primary ball-handler is like a franchise QB, and you've got to be a little careful with it. The '21 and '22 drafts are where I think we might find a star handler. The '20 draft might be a better place to find a piece around him. And Haliburton's (42% from 3 on 5.6 att/g) not really a star shooter like Nesmith, or a star defender like Vassell.
-(#14 ranked) Daniel Oturu. Probably more of an 'if we move Kennard or Rose for a second pick' option here. But I think Oturu's interesting. He's got a decent outside shot for a big man.
Players I Don't Like:
I've heard so much in my life as a Pistons fan about prospects "with great shooting form who should become great outside shooters". Maybe 1 out of every 10 or 15 actually becomes a legit good NBA outside shooter.
-(#1 ranked) Anthony Edwards. 29% 3pt shooter (on 7.7 attempts/game) in one season at UGA. Not excited about that.
-(#3 ranked) LaMelo Ball. 25% 3pt shooter (on 6.7 attempts/game) in one season in the NBL. Not excited about that either.
-(#4 ranked) James Wiseman. Not a shooter. Seems like guys with his skill-set are usually available in FA.
-(#5 ranked) Killian Hayes. 19% 3pt shooter (on 2.2 attempts/game) last season in his French league.
-(#8 ranked) Onyeka Okongwu. Not a shooter. I wouldn't be surprised if he has a solid career though.
-(#9 ranked) Deni Avdija. 28% 3pt shooter (on 1.8 attempts/game) in Euro league this past yr.
-(#10 ranked) Isaac Okoro. 29% 3pt shooter (on 2.5 attempts/game) in one season at Auburn.
-(#11 ranked) Cole Anthony. 35% 3pt shooter (on 6.4 attempts/game) in one season at UNC. Guy with his height shooting less than 40% in college is a big no-no for me.
-(#12 ranked) Precious Achiuwa. 33% 3pt shooter (on 1.3 attempts/game) in one season at Memphis.