2020 NBA Draft

[BostonCouchGM]

It's super early but my first impressions of this class are that it won't be as strong as 2017 or 2018 but similar to 2016 and 2019. So a very good draft in other words

'16 wasn't that good of a draft, i'd say it's step lower than '19 and '17 and two steps lower than '18.

still too early to say on '20 at this point, looks okay but nothing special.

Just because 2016 is weaker than arguably top 5 classes of all time (17 and 18) doesn't not mean it's a weak draft. Any draft where LeVert, Dejoute Murray, Siakam, Zubac and Brogdon are taken so late can't be weak. And it's not like there aren't good, potentially soon to be great players taken before them because there are: Simmons, Ingram, Brown, Murray, Hield, Sabonis, etc. I think people hear a narrative about something and just grudgingly stick to it despite evidence to the contrary. There are some definite high picks that turned out to be busts but total number of productive NBA starters from that class compares to any of the good drafts in NBA history. I will admit that it's mostly a complete bust in the 2nd round. It's not a very deep draft.

[clyde21]

It's super early but my first impressions of this class are that it won't be as strong as 2017 or 2018 but similar to 2016 and 2019. So a very good draft in other words

'16 wasn't that good of a draft, i'd say it's step lower than '19 and '17 and two steps lower than '18.

still too early to say on '20 at this point, looks okay but nothing special.

Just because 2016 is weaker than arguably top 5 classes of all time (17 and 18) doesn't not mean it's a weak draft. Any draft where LeVert, Dejoute Murray, Siakam, Zubac and Brogdon are taken so late can't be weak. And it's not like there aren't good, potentially soon to be great players taken before them because there are: Simmons, Ingram, Brown, Murray, Hield, Sabonis, etc. I think people hear a narrative about something and just grudgingly stick to it despite evidence to the contrary. There are some definite high picks that turned out to be busts but total number of productive NBA starters from that class compares to any of the good drafts in NBA history. I will admit that it's mostly a complete bust in the 2nd round. It's not a very deep draft.

it was not only not very deep but largely seen as a 2 player draft (Simmons/Ingram)...and Simmons couldn't shoot and Ingram was walking stick. It was not a good draft class at all.

[skiz2]

Seems like Carolina is bound to get CKeeling, really athletic 2-Guard who can shoot it and run the floor, rebounds like a big, should def help a ton, Anthony Harris just committed too, I don't think Achiuwa is happening (Memphis, Georgia, UConn or Kansas), so the roster is kinda set;

Anthony-Woods
Keeling-Harris
Black-Robinson
Brooks-Manley
Bacot-Manley

Platek and Huffman if you need a body for some reason, I think JFrancis red-shirts, they likely give a scholarship to a walk-on if they can't get another guy

Now that Woods is transferring (probably a good move for him), one of two things needs to happen to complete the roster:

1. Need a combo forward so Leaky can be primary backup PG and not have to worry so much about backing up the 4. With Precious going to Memphis more than likely, best shot is Pierce a GT from William & Mary.

2. Harris or Francis to get healthy and assume the backup PG spot. Harris would probably have the inside track since he has been out for 6 months and not 2 years like Francis.


Anyways, I got to catch a lot more of Cole’s games this season and he is a lot more skilled and a little less explosive than what you see in mixtapes. He plays with supreme confidence, grit, heart and has a very high basketball IQ. Can get into defender’s heads real quick. He has a reputation of a score first guy and I did not get that sense at all watching him for Oak Hill surrounded by talent. On the AAU circuit he had to score for his team to stay afloat and he put up incredible numbers. He averaged a triple double for Oak Hill to the tune of 18 ppg 10 rpg 10 apg.

I guess I will get to the point haha (I can rant about UNC hoops all day), I see a lot of Chris Paul in him. He is a complete no nonsense player who opponents are going to love to hate and UNC fans are going to love. I don’t think he will score like Coby, but I anticipate UNC being much better in the halfcourt than this past year and think that Brooks, Bacot and Manley should expect lots of touches with his ability to feed the post. I think Cole averages about 15 ppg and 7 apg.

[Chuck Everett]

Cole is going to disappoint so many. He's Sebastian Telfair

Son of a long-time NBA player, this is doubtful. He will know what it means to be a pro and have a long career at a minimum more than likely. I mean Jerian Grant is still in the league.

[clyde21]

Cole or Coby...who's the better prospect

to be fair this time last year I don't think many people thought of White as being a OAD guy.

[The-Power]

Cole or Coby...who's the better prospect

to be fair this time last year I don't think many people thought of White as being a OAD guy.

For me this is pretty easily Cole if both were in this draft. But as you say, White outperformed expectations and it sure is possible that Cole underperforms – and then that ranking would change. But considering that I believe there is a real possibility Cole has a campaign that makes him a top 3 pick – or even the first pick – I would have to go with him for now pretty comfortably.

[clyde21]

Cole or Coby...who's the better prospect

to be fair this time last year I don't think many people thought of White as being a OAD guy.

For me this is pretty easily Cole if both were in this draft. But as you say, White outperformed expectations and it sure is possible that Cole underperforms – and then that ranking would change. But considering that I believe there is a real possibility Cole has a campaign that makes him a top 3 pick – or even the first pick – I would have to go with him for now pretty comfortably.

interesting...what do you think Cole does better at this point? Seems like White projects to be a better two-position defender, a better shooter (at this point), bigger, stronger, probably just as quick attacking the basket, better off-ball presence.

Cole seems like a better finisher at the rim but I think that's about it from what I've seen unless I'm missing something, and White is actually solid at finishing himself.

but yea, still super early for Cole and I can definitely see it going the other way for me if he continues to improve over the next year.

[The-Power]

Cole or Coby...who's the better prospect

to be fair this time last year I don't think many people thought of White as being a OAD guy.

For me this is pretty easily Cole if both were in this draft. But as you say, White outperformed expectations and it sure is possible that Cole underperforms – and then that ranking would change. But considering that I believe there is a real possibility Cole has a campaign that makes him a top 3 pick – or even the first pick – I would have to go with him for now pretty comfortably.

interesting...what do you think Cole does better at this point? Seems like White projects to be a better two-position defender, a better shooter (at this point), bigger, stronger, probably just as quick attacking the basket, better off-ball presence.

Cole seems like a better finisher at the rim but I think that's about it from what I've seen unless I'm missing something, and White is actually solid at finishing himself.

but yea, still super early for Cole and I can definitely see it going the other way for me if he continues to improve over the next year.

I fully buy into Cole's playmaking. I believe his ability to lead a team's offense is much more advanced than White's. I believe he has all the tools to become an effective lead-guard in the NBA. One that can take on a big on-ball role while not having to dominate the ball all the time to be valuable, one that can score a lot of points and create for himself but also have games where he takes a backseat in terms of scoring and feeds his teammates good looks. In other words, a modern-type PG.

Also, I'm not sure that White is a better shooter. If the data for Cole is correct, then he shot 89% on FTs and 38% on 3's (on high volume) in AAU games and 86% on FTs and 36.5% on 3's for Oak Hill. In the three All-Star Games, which he dominated overall, he's 12-14 on FTs and 6-17 (35%) on 3's. I do believe that shooting percentages similar to White are certainly feasible, and he's going to have some games where his pull-up game will be on point and have people marvel about his shooting potential.

[No-Man]

Cole is a real PG, Coby isn't and doesn't have the means to be

If you need a Guard with scoring tools, team-first attitude, defensive capabilities etc, go for Coby, if you need a lead Guard go for Cole

Most teams would value Cole higher

[skiz2]

Cole or Coby...who's the better prospect

to be fair this time last year I don't think many people thought of White as being a OAD guy.

I think it comes down to if their shot is not falling who is more likely impact a game and the answer in my opinion is Cole Anthony. Coby is arguably the better scorer, has a quicker release and is faster end to end on the court. Cole is the better playmaker, better in the halfcourt and has a higher basketball IQ. Cole’s game is more able to adjust to the needs for his team than Coby’s.

[GimmeDat]

Maybe I'm slightly persuaded by the disparity in hype between the two, but I'm in the Cole wagon. Closer to being a true PG, Cole's got great shooting #'s in his own right, is a very talented finisher, guessing not as quick but maybe more athletic in other facets.

I feel like White's more of a combo (and granted, with that come's size and positional versatility, which are pluses), and that his game is a bit more reliant on pace and as skiz mentioned, maybe not as effective within a half-court setting as Cole.

If Cole was theoretically in this draft right now, I think I'd have him in that 2-4 range and I'd feel comfortable ending up with him as the result of a 'tanking' year (which I struggle to say about RJ, Culver, or indeed White).

It's an interesting discussion to have when you break down the two players though, I think White's pretty damn good.

[skiz2]

Maybe I'm slightly persuaded by the disparity in hype between the two, but I'm in the Cole wagon. Closer to being a true PG, Cole's got great shooting #'s in his own right, is a very talented finisher, guessing not as quick but maybe more athletic in other facets.

I feel like White's more of a combo (and granted, with that come's size and positional versatility, which are pluses), and that his game is a bit more reliant on pace and as skiz mentioned, maybe not as effective within a half-court setting as Cole.

If Cole was theoretically in this draft right now, I think I'd have him in that 2-4 range and I'd feel comfortable ending up with him as the result of a 'tanking' year (which I struggle to say about RJ, Culver, or indeed White).

It's an interesting discussion to have when you break down the two players though, I think White's pretty damn good.

Would have been a nasty college backcourt to watch. Two very very competitive players.

[clyde21]

i agree that Cole is a better 'pure PG'...but I disagree that's more valuable than a combo-guard in today's NBA. CGs are the 2nd most valuable archetype after two-way wings IMO, and White is actually pretty strong in that role.

he projects to be a better 2-pos defender (1s and 2s), better off-ball guy/slasher, bigger, stronger, just as good of a shooter and overall scorer and can still act as a lead guy for long stretches.

that said, this is obviously still early and a lot can change with Cole but I don't see what makes him a much better prospect than Coby...but we'll see.

[skiz2]

i agree that Cole is a better 'pure PG'...but I disagree that's more valuable than a combo-guard in today's NBA. CGs are the 2nd most valuable archetype after two-way wings IMO, and White is actually pretty strong in that role.

he projects to be a better 2-pos defender (1s and 2s), better off-ball guy/slasher, bigger, stronger, just as good of a shooter and overall scorer and can still act as a lead guy for long stretches.

that said, this is obviously still early and a lot can change with Cole but I don't see what makes him a much better prospect than Coby...but we'll see.

You may be correct in the long run, we will see. I will say that after seeing Cole play more in a different role than AAU, I think you may be underestimating Cole’s PG skills. Time will tell.

[No-Man]

RJ Hampton is so good, electric, smooth, so big also for a Guard, might very well be better than Cole and Edwards, hope he does reclass, we will see where he ends, seems like he might be between Kansas and Memphis

[VCfor3]

RJ Hampton is so good, electric, smooth, so big also for a Guard, might very well be better than Cole and Edwards, hope he does reclass, we will see where he ends, seems like he might be between Kansas and Memphis

As a Memphis fan I'm desperately hoping RJ reclassifies and goes to Memphis and Precious signs with Memphis. Would be one heck of a team and a ton of fun to watch.

[No-Man]

Hampton is a monster, I have seen recent tape, from today, the kid is 6-6 or close, lightning quick, moves like a pro, still a looong way to go, but 1st on my 2020 board if he does reclass (favourite is Kansas imo)

[clyde21]

Hampton is better than Cole...it's between he and Edwards for #1.

not sure yet if Cole and Wiseman are top 3 material tbh, but we'll see.

[GimmeDat]

2020 could end up a stacked PG class. Wish Bulls had a top 5 pick next year and not this year.

[clyde21]

2020 could end up a stacked PG class. Wish Bulls had a top 5 pick next year and not this year.

you'll have either Ja or Garland...just as good as next year's crop at the top.