Official 2020 NBA Draft Thread

[basketballRob]

John Hollinger Mock Draft

1. Minnesota – LaMelo Ball
2. Golden State – James Wiseman
3. Charlotte – Anthony Edwards
4. Chicago – Tyrese Haliburton
5. Cleveland – Obi Toppin
6. Atlanta – Deni Avdija
7. Detroit – Patrick Williams
8. New York – Tyrese Maxey
9. Washington – Onyeka Okongwu
10. Phoenix – Killian Hayes
11. San Antonio – Isaac Okoro
12. Sacramento – Devin Vassell
13. New Orleans – Kira Lewis
14. Boston – Saddiq Bey
15. Orlando – Aaron Nesmith, SF, Vanderbilt

The history of this front office can be described in one word: Length. Since their days in Milwaukee, the team of Jeff Weltman and John Hammond has been obsessed with long limbs in the draft. Sometimes it gets them Giannis Antetokounmpo, and other times it gets them Melvin Frazier, but the track record here is really consistent.

That has everyone’s eyes cast toward Jaden McDaniels, the lanky young forward from Washington. The one caveat here is that McDaniels’ arms aren’t technically that long, but otherwise he fits the mold of a raw, oversized combo forward who this front office has picked.

The other issue, though, is how many players like this can you really have? I mean, if you spent the last couple years adding Jonathan Isaac, Al-Farouq Aminu and Chuma Okeke to a team that already had Aaron Gordon, are you really going to add another dude like this? I kind of doubt it.

That’s why I say Nesmith is the pick here. Surprise — he has long arms! Nesmith measured a 6-10 wingspan on his 6-5 frame. But he’s also a fantastic shooter who can play both wing positions, and this Orlando team is just desperate for shooting and spacing.

One note: The Magic are almost certainly looking closely at the point guard market. Markelle Fultz is locked into a backcourt slot, but he’s big enough to guard 2s and it’s still an open question whether he can ever be a high-end starter on a good team. If Kira Lewis falls here, I have to think the Magic pounce.

https://theathletic.com/2188482/2020/11/10/2020-nba-mock-draft-whos-going-where-in-the-first-round/ ($)

I think I'd take Precious over Nesmith. Anchiuwa is a superior talent in my opinion.

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[dsg2021]

I saw somewhere that Killian Hayes could still go as high as 10+ ..

[Bensational]

Nesmith is just meh to me.

He's a fantastic shooter, both static and off movement, which can be valuable.

I just don't see much else there. I don't see a good athlete. I don't see a player with the vision to make passes when he's forced to put it on the floor.

Defensively, I don't think he's terrible fundamentally, he's just not quick or explosive and he doesn't have great instincts to make up for that lack of athleticism.

Seems like if everything goes right he's Duncan Robinson. Otherwise he's Terrence Ross without the athleticism.

I don't know, the stuff I've seen on him defensively makes him look solid as a team and help defender who communicates well and makes smart rotations in general. On the ball he's not as strong, but I think he will be able learn to use his body and length to slow attackers. He's also surprisingly good at blocks for a 6'5 SG, because he has the instincts, timing and length defending off the ball to go get it without leaving his own man wide open.

I've really come to not care about the advantage of athleticism. It's good to have and great for higher ceiling guys, but give me a high skill base first for once. Luka and Harden are killing it as unatheletic highly skilled guys. Nesmith isn't that, clearly, because he doesn't have the handles, just an example of smarts and skills transcending physicality.

[Bensational]

I saw somewhere that Killian Hayes could still go as high as 10+ ..

As in slip? Interesting...

[VFX]

No way Hayes drops to 10.


I think if certain players are gone the FO starts looking at dark horse 4d chess picks like

Bolmaro
McDaniels
And Poku

I actually wouldn’t mind Bolmaro out of those three.

[zaymon]

You are right and wrong at the same time. Yes all-stars are more likely to be drafted at the top of the draft, but what really matters is drafting superstars and those are unpredictable.
This year 6/15 all-nba players were taken outside lottery.
Last year 4/5 1st team all-nba outside top5.
For the last 20 years only one championship team was built around top 5 player they drafter. San Antonio Spurs. There is one catch, they never had to really tank.

But you have to consider there are only 14 lottery picks (23% of the total sample) compared to 46 non-lottery picks (77% of the total sample) per year.

So to your point... 60% of our most recent crop of All-NBA players were taken in the lottery, but that came from a significantly smaller pool of candidates than the non-lottery pick sample.

By Seth Partnow tier list there are 12 players in tier 1 to 2b.

Giannis
Harden
Kawhi
Lebron
Durant
Curry
Davis
Doncic
Jokic
Lillard
Butler
Embiid

We argue about two different things. Yes drafting higher correlates with all star chance, but it is not correlating with winning. You basically volunteer to pay a prospect when he cant lead you to winning. When he is good enough to win he wants out becouse you lost most of your veteran talent to aquire him, and young teams dont win much.

I would say tanking could be beneficial once in 10/20 years when you have surefire generational talent like Lebron available and propably you need injury tanking not trade all your veterans tanking.
If we were just a bit more lucky we would be riding Isaac/Doncic/Vucevic train without hittimg the bottom.

[Def Swami]

I'd be fine with any of Nesmith, Lewis, or McDaniels. I like Green and Terry in that range as well.

[Knightro]

No way Hayes drops to 10.


I think if certain players are gone the FO starts looking at dark horse 4d chess picks like

Bolmaro
McDaniels
And Poku

I actually wouldn’t mind Bolmaro out of those three.

Bolmaro is actually one of the few guys actually playing right now since they’ve started the season in Europe... and it hasn’t been good.

Shooting just .257 from the floor and .167 from three in 14 games.

I like his passing, but he seems like he’s miles away from contributing in the NBA as a shooter/scorer.

[thelead]

I just want an athletic guard that can shoot off the dribble and play defense... I know it's not easy to find but damnit, we can start by drafting a few prospects that may fit the bill instead of athletes that have to learn how to play the game.

[KillMonger]

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[Nyce_1]

From my expert opinion that consists of 30 mins scouting of each of these 2, I like Bane more than Nesmith. Nesmith reminds me of Ben McLemore. Bane, to me, seems to have a better feel for the game. But of course, wingspan (lol).

[Nyce_1]

Watch on YouTube

Cole has cold handle.

[The Effect]

I just want an athletic guard that can shoot off the dribble and play defense... I know it's not easy to find but damnit, we can start by drafting a few prospects that may fit the bill instead of athletes that have to learn how to play the game.

This is what ive been screaming for us to do for years!

Forget guys with long wingspans or jumping ability, get some ****ing basketball players, some guys who actually know how to breakdown a defender and put the ball in the basket.

Thats why im perfectly fine drafting cole anthony over most the other guys in that range. Bring up all the negatives you want, but the dude can score with the best of them. He can put the team on his back and drop 40 if needed. Thats not something i would say about Vassell or williams or really any of the 3&D role players

THis is also why id LOVE for us to sell the farm and go up and take Anthony Edwards and build around him. Hes the guy we really need

[Knightro]

From my expert opinion that consists of 30 mins scouting of each of these 2, I like Bane more than Nesmith. Nesmith reminds me of Ben McLemore. Bane, to me, seems to have a better feel for the game. But of course, wingspan (lol).

No argument from me. I also think Bane is the better player.

That said... I do think Bane is pretty much maxed out in terms of what he's going to be at the next level since he's a 4-year player and already 22.

But I don't really see a scenario where Bane doesn't end up as a very good role player with his combination of shooting and passing.

Bane feels like a guy to me who is going to end up going somewhere like Brookyln or Philadelphia or Utah and step right in and give them 20 super competent minutes a night from day 1 as a role player who compliments the existing star player or players already on the roster.

[Ducklett]

From my expert opinion that consists of 30 mins scouting of each of these 2, I like Bane more than Nesmith. Nesmith reminds me of Ben McLemore. Bane, to me, seems to have a better feel for the game. But of course, wingspan (lol).

No argument from me. I also think Bane is the better player.

That said... I do think Bane is pretty much maxed out in terms of what he's going to be at the next level since he's a 4-year player and already 22.

But I don't really see a scenario where Bane doesn't end up as a very good role player with his combination of shooting and passing.

Bane feels like a guy to me who is going to end up going somewhere like Brookyln or Philadelphia or Utah and step right in and give them 20 super competent minutes a night from day 1 as a role player who compliments the existing star player or players already on the roster.

If we had a star player for Bane to compliment, I would be the first in line to draft him.

Spoiler:

Turns out we don't have a star player. Oops all roleplayers.

[pepe1991]

Bane is grown a** man playing against kids for last 2 years. Guy is so much physiclly more mature and better developed than his competition that it comes as complete no suprise why half of mocks i have seen have him slipping from first round.
You can't judge him on what he looks at college when he is 4 years older than most of prospects who are projected to be picked in first round. He is 1 month younger than Bamba and Fultz who are entering their 3rd and 4th nba seasons.

But once you remove his muscules and being good catch&shoot ability , what is there to really like?
He is 6'6 and has his t -rex 6'4 inches wingspan.
He lacks any latheral quickness or speed to beat people off dribble. Matter of fact he only attemped 18 layups whole season. That's why he averages less than 2 FTA for college career.
Not best athlete all together.
His handles make him catch&shoot treat only, very low chance of making him solid ballhandler.

Once again, level of improvment for this guy is basically zero. He is soon to be 23, as jacked as it's possible. What is there to develop? Longer arms?
He'll probably be somewhat decent backup, maybe Jodie Meeks in muscular frame of Corey Maggette but without any hoops in his legs.

[Bensational]

Cole is one of the few prospects who actually looks natural taking the big 'superstar' shots. The kind of shots that are tough and challenged. I think he's a safe bet to be a rotation player for sure, and at least a sparkplug scorer off the bench.

He really does look like a man amongst boys, and probably because he is for his age.

[jonbob17]

Nesmith played 14 games last year, including one SEC game. His DPM was 0.3, pretty bad. Assists 0.9 per game, awful. He is a very good shooter, not a 50% 3pt shooter, and that is all he does. If we are looking for a 6th or 7th man to come in and knock down shots at the 2 then fine. I would personally rather have Isaiah Joe, he took a crazy amount of 3s the last 2 seasons (548 vs Nesmith's 290), 38%vs41%, plays better defense, is exactly the same height/wingspan, and should be available towards the end of the 1st round (or later).

We should have the opportunity at a decent playmaker at 15 or an actual 3D Wing. Or trade up to the the 6-11 range and choose someone with an even clearer path to upside.

[Magicfanatic82]

Cole is one of the few prospects who actually looks natural taking the big 'superstar' shots. The kind of shots that are tough and challenged. I think he's a safe bet to be a rotation player for sure, and at least a sparkplug scorer off the bench.

He really does look like a man amongst boys, and probably because he is for his age.

Cole Anthony and Mcdaniels are the 2 players who can possibly grossly outplay our draft position.

[Nyce_1]

From my expert opinion that consists of 30 mins scouting of each of these 2, I like Bane more than Nesmith. Nesmith reminds me of Ben McLemore. Bane, to me, seems to have a better feel for the game. But of course, wingspan (lol).

No argument from me. I also think Bane is the better player.

That said... I do think Bane is pretty much maxed out in terms of what he's going to be at the next level since he's a 4-year player and already 22.

But I don't really see a scenario where Bane doesn't end up as a very good role player with his combination of shooting and passing.

Bane feels like a guy to me who is going to end up going somewhere like Brookyln or Philadelphia or Utah and step right in and give them 20 super competent minutes a night from day 1 as a role player who compliments the existing star player or players already on the roster.

Agree; he's maxed out, but will be VERY solid role player. I think Willie Green/Etwuan Moore type player. Just good solid players you need to raise the floor of your team.