2020 NBA Mock Draft (V.11)

1.

The NBA Draft has finally arrived.

There’s been a ton of noise surrounding movement that could—and still might—happen in the lottery. We’ve already seen one pick traded from the Lakers to the Thunder, and could see a handful more by time the draft rolls around on Wednesday. There are still plenty of questions and unknowns surrounding the top picks and who will be going where.

While this draft may not contain the top-end talent that previous ones have, it certainly could make up for that in movement and intrigue, especially after nine months without any trades happening before this week. As we know, the NBA is always unpredictable and anything can happen. This year feels especially chaotic, so be ready for anything and everything.

After an incredibly long wait for the day to arrive, Minnesota, you’re officially on the clock.

2.Minnesota Timberwolves – Anthony Edwards, G

There’s been a lot of discussion surrounding the top overall selection in this year’s draft. There isn’t a clear choice for the first pick, which has led to chatter that the Wolves could be looking to trade down in the draft. One of the teams to watch for is Charlotte if they want James Wiseman bad enough.

This was a tough call to make. It feels as if momentum has been bouncing back and forth between Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball throughout this process as to who will be selected first overall. His fit in Minnesota will be an interesting one with D’Angelo Russell already entrenched in the backcourt. Edwards is still a raw talent and hasn’t been in a situation where winning has been prioritized at a high level. The type of development he receives as a young player is going to go a long way towards who eventually becomes as a finished product. At Georgia, his 3-point shooting numbers were poor, but they can at least partially be attributed to his shot selection, which undoubtedly will change at the professional level with better talent around him. Edwards has all the tools needed to be a great NBA player, whether or not he wants to achieve greatness is the biggest thing to watch.

3.Golden State Warriors – James Wiseman, C

Just like Minnesota with the top selection, the Warriors are a spot to watch for a potential trade. It’s unusual to see a team that could win a championship pick second overall, but that’s what’s happening here. In an ideal world, the Warriors would be able to draft a guy that can fit in now as a role player and then develop into a star that can take the torch from Steph Curry and Klay Thompson when that time comes. Is that possible this year? Maybe, but it’s no sure thing.

James Wiseman is the best chance that the Warriors have in achieving that. If the Warriors draft him, his ability to be a rim runner on the offensive end and a rim protector on the defensive end could translate right away, and it would be a role small enough for a rookie to be wildly successful in. His ceiling is pretty high on both ends of the floor and he could develop into a franchise cornerstone a few years down the road. The biggest question is whether or not a team below Golden State loves him enough to trade up and select him before the Warriors can.

4.Charlotte Hornets – LaMelo Ball, G

We’ve already talked pretty heavily about the Hornets being a team to potentially move up here, so we won’t dive into that too much more. While that story does exist, it’s sort of been on the backburner lately as Charlotte has emerged as a potential suitor to snag Houston’s Russell Westbrook via trade. Adding Westbrook would certainly put the Hornets in playoff contention, and more than likely should not involve moving this pick to make it happen. If Charlotte does surrender the third overall pick for Westbrook, Michael Jordan should be in the market for a new general manager immediately.

LaMelo Ball could be the star player that Charlotte is looking for, if they don’t move up to draft Wiseman. He’s got all the flash and charisma that will put fans in the seats—you know, when they’re allowed to be at games again. Ball’s passing ability is second-to-none in this draft. He’s a wizard with the ball offensively and there isn’t a pass on the court that he cannot make. This ability might be the highest of any skill that any draft pick has in this draft. That said, it’s not without a downside. Ball’s ability to make any pass means that he’s willing to try every pass, whether it’s a good idea or not. His decision making certainly needs to improve at the NBA level, as does his ability to finish in traffic, shoot from the outside, and focus defensively.

5.Chicago Bulls – Tyrese Haliburton, G

For a market as big as Chicago to have a pick this high and things be this quiet surrounding the franchise seems a little bit odd, but that’s the reality of the situation right now. There hasn’t been a ton of buzz as to what the Bulls are thinking, which is typically the sign of a good organization. It’s the first draft for new executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas, so maybe Bulls fans have a reason for optimism there that hasn’t existed lately.

This may sound strange considering the Bulls selected Coby White with their first-round pick last year, but drafting a guard this high makes sense, especially when it’s as good of a fit as Tyrese Haliburton could be. Haliburton does a little bit of everything on the court and doesn’t have any major deficiencies, other than the form on his jumper not being ideal—but if it keeps going in, it won’t change. Haliburton won’t be the center of an offense that involves both White and Zach LaVine, but he should help it become much smoother and more efficient. The Bulls have too much talent to rank 29th in offensive rating. Haliburton would help to boost that.

6.Cleveland Cavaliers – Deni Avdija, F

The Cavs are in a somewhat perfect spot to fit their needs. Sure, it would always be nice to be at the top of the lottery following a 19-win season, but in this specific draft this is a pretty good place for Cleveland to be. The Cavs have drafted guards (Collin Sexton, Darius Garland) relatively high in each of the last two drafts and have a surplus of big men right now. They have a glaring need on the wing, and with none of the top four picks being wing players, they essentially have their pick of all the top wings in this draft.

Deni Avdija certainly fills that need. He’s not going to come in and be the defensive stopper that the Cavs so desperately need, but he’s going to make them better in just about every facet of the game. While the Cavs did draft a pair of guards recently, neither of them have been super successful as a facilitator to date, and that happens to be one of Avdija’s best skills as he enters the NBA. After basketball in Europe restarted during the on-going pandemic, Avdija showed improved numbers shooting the basketball, especially from 3-point range. While it’s too early to know if that’s just a positive spike in data or if it’s something here to stay, it’s worth noting. He should be a day-one starter in Cleveland and help elevate that team immediately.

7.Atlanta Hawks – Devin Vassell, F

Of the teams in the Eastern Conference that missed the playoffs in 2020, the Hawks sure seem like the team that is most likely to make a push to crash the postseason party in 2021. They’ve already got a franchise centerpiece in Trae Young and have already been rumored as a team looking to add talent via free agency or trade this offseason. With Young, Clint Capela, and John Collins forming a solid core, this team needs to improve its role players in order to get to the playoffs, especially along the wing.

Devin Vassell can help with some of Atlanta’s problems on the perimeter. He’s arguably the most well-rounded 3-and-D guy in this draft. His jumper was very solid at Florida State, shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range. He can do more than just be a spot-up shooter on offense, having the ability to do a bit of creating for himself and others, but it’s unlikely he would be asked to take on a big role in that area with the Hawks. Defensively, Vassell is near the top in this draft even if he’s not going to immediately be great on that end of the floor in the NBA.

8.Detroit Pistons – Killian Hayes, G

The Pistons aren’t in a good place right now, and things may actually get a bit worse before they get much better in Detroit. Last year’s first-round pick, Sekou Doumbouya, has potential to be pretty good, but he has a way to go until he gets there, Blake Griffin hasn’t looked like the All-Star version of himself in a couple of years, and Derrick Rose certainly could be someone that is a trade candidate. The Pistons need to go into asset-collection mode sooner than later, and hitting on this pick, or even moving up in the draft, would certainly accelerate the timeline back to competitiveness. All of this for a franchise that hasn’t won a single playoff game since 2008 sounds pretty bleak.

If the Pistons are going to stick at the seventh pick—and there certainly is a chance they choose to move up—their best chance to find a star may be by selecting Killian Hayes. The Pistons are going to need a lead guard sooner than later, and Hayes could be the guy that has at least a chance of turning into a franchise cornerstone. That may not be the likeliest career path for him, but it’s certainly one that exists. Hayes is talented as a creator for himself and others in the pick-and-roll and is comfortable isolating for his own shot, even if that often results in a step-back jumper. His biggest flaw right now may be that he’s too left-hand dominant. NBA defenses will force him to use his right hand, and it isn’t something he’s proven he’s comfortable doing to this point.

9.New York Knicks – Obi Toppin, F

The Knicks are still searching, but they may finally be headed in the right direction. This will be the first draft for new team president Leon Rose, after he crossed over into the management sphere after spending a long time as an NBA super-agent. It’s tough to get a read as to how he will operate as compared to the Knicks of the past. Will they hope to be able to land a franchise-changing star at some point? Sure! Is that going to be the only thing they focus on anymore? Unlikely. The Knicks will get better one day, and New York fans deserve a glimmer of hope for the future.

There’s a lot to like about Obi Toppin. It’s tough to poke any significant holes in what he can do offensively. He’s going to be effective on that end of the court in a number of different ways. His 3-point shot may or may not translate from college to the NBA, but there’s a strong chance that his ball handling, passing, and ability to attack the rim will. His jumper is solid, but the range might not be quite long enough, that’s what is yet to be seen. The other end of the floor is the reason why he’s still available with the eighth pick, and why there are legitimate concerns surrounding him. Toppin is one of the worst defenders in this class. He’s a bit undersized to defend centers and may not be quick enough to defend perimeter players these days. His pick-and-roll coverage makes him look lost at times. The other knock on Toppin is his age (22), being just one day younger than Boston Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum, he’s further along on his developmental curve and may not have as much room to grow as others.

10.Washington Wizards – Onyeka Okongwu, C

This season is pretty important for the Wizards. By the time games start up, it will mark nearly two years since John Wall has played in an NBA game. How he and Bradley Beal figure things out on the court this year will determine whether the Wizards are a playoff team in 2021 or if they’re going to be trading away Beal to the highest bidder next offseason. For them to be successful, they’re going to need to improve on the defensive end. The only thing that saved them from being the worst defensive team in the league was their final game in the bubble against a Boston team that trotted out the rough equivalent of a Summer League roster.

One way to help mend the Washington defense would be drafting Onyeka Okongwu. He’s the best interior defender in this draft class and could be the backbone of a strong defense for many years to come. Offensively, he can serve as a complimentary player for Beal and Wall. If his role initially is setting screens and rim-running, Okongwu should be successful from the start. If he’s asked to do more than that offensively it might not work out. While teams rarely are going to be happy about being in the lottery and not landing in the top four, if Okongwu is available for the Wizards at this spot, they should be thrilled.

11.Phoenix Suns – Patrick Williams, F

The Suns were a ton of fun in the bubble. They went 8-0 in the seeding games and still missed the playoffs, but gave the NBA world a reason to believe in Devin Booker and this franchise in the immediate future. Then when the Suns and Thunder pulled the trigger on a Chris Paul trade on Monday, even more hope and optimism was immediately injected into Phoenix. The Suns have officially gone from a fun story to a team that should not only expect to make the playoffs, but one that plans to make some noise once they’re there. The Suns are probably still one or two pieces away from being a real contender, but they’re certainly on the right track.

Patrick Williams may be a guy that’s benefitted from the draft getting pushed back from June to October, and then pushed back again to right now. He seemingly rose up draft boards rather recently despite not much actually changing. Williams is a guy that came off the bench at Florida State and is seen as a bit of a raw prospect entering the NBA. He’s got great size and length (6'8", 6'11" wingspan) but hasn’t had the chance to put it all together quite yet. He averaged less than 10 points per game this year at Florida State as a freshman but profiles as a guy who should be able to post a higher number than that in the NBA once he’s fully developed.

12.San Antonio Spurs – Isaac Okoro, F

The Spurs drafting at No. 11 just looks weird compared to where they’ve been selecting for the better part of the last two decades. The incredible playoff streak came to an end this summer, and that means the streak of not selecting in the lottery also has come to an end. The last time San Antonio picked in the lottery, almost none of the players that will be potentially selected in the entire draft were even born. So, yeah, it’s been awhile. How long will it be until they’re back in the playoff picture? This pick could help decide whether it’s next year or five years from now.

It’s a lazy comparison to say that the Spurs have been able to fix the offense of an elite-level wing defender before, mostly because the shining example of that is Kawhi Leonard and he’s a special player. But the task of developing Leonard’s jumper would be very similar to what would be needed should they draft Isaac Okoro. Right now, it’s difficult to say that anyone is a better wing defender in this draft, and he profiles as a lockdown guy on that end of the floor for many years to come. He can do somethings well offensively, but he’s going to need to thrive on cutting to the basket and finishing around the rim if he’s going to be successful early on at that end of the floor.

13.Sacramento Kings – Saddiq Bey, F

The Kings have a few interesting decisions to make. There’s the case of Buddy Hield as that situation has reportedly soured to the point where he wouldn’t return text messages from head coach Luke Walton. But after the Kings lost Bogdan Bogdanovic in a sign-and-trade to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Kings have to try and salvage that relationship. Hield, De’Aaron Fox, and a potential healthy Marvin Bagley III, the Kings can find a way to break one of the longest playoff droughts in sports. But with a loaded Western Conference and potentially 14 teams that believe they can make the postseason, we wouldn’t bet on it right now.

Saddiq Bey might be a guy that could help to replace Bogdanovic. While at Villanova, Bey was able to perform well as a spot up shooter and as a secondary creator. He may not be asked to run much pick-and-roll in the NBA, but he certainly would be capable of it at times. His defensive ability is what will get him in the NBA door right away, and if his offense can be as good as it was in college, he could stick around for a long time as a high-level role player.

14.New Orleans Pelicans – Tyrese Maxey, G

New Orleans is going to enter this upcoming season with lofty expectations. The Pelicans should get a better version of Zion Williamson in his second year, Brandon Ingram continues to improve, and Stan Van Gundy likely didn’t take this job for it to be a lengthy rebuilding process. Obviously, after they traded away Jrue Holiday late Monday to Milwaukee, the Pelicans now not only have a pair of picks in the first round, but a plethora of picks in the years to come thanks to this trade and the Anthony Davis trade last year. If New Orleans wants to move up in the draft, it has plenty of capital to do so.

With Holiday traded, that means the Pelicans are going to need to add some help in the backcourt. Sure, the acquisition of Eric Bledsoe and George Hill crowds the rotation at the start, but it would be relatively surprising for both of them to be long term fits in New Orleans. We may even see one or both of them dealt during this season. Lonzo Ball hasn’t lived up to expectations as a former No. 2 overall pick, and most recently turned in an atrocious performance during the seeding games in the bubble. Tyrese Maxey won’t step in and become a star right away in the backcourt, but he should be able to provide a spark off the bench at the very least. Maxey didn’t shoot the ball as well as many would have liked to see in college, but did shoot 83 percent from the free throw stripe at Kentucky, giving reason to believe that as he matures, he’ll improve as a shooter.

15.Boston Celtics (from Memphis) – Precious Achiuwa, C

The Celtics currently own three first-round draft picks this year. While it’s likely that all three picks will be announced as their own and the players will be wearing Boston hats virtually, the chances that all three selections actually suit up for the Celtics this year is remarkably slim. The Celtics are going to continue to try and pull off a trade using some combination of these picks and other young players they have at their disposal. If Danny Ainge really believes that this team can compete for a championship, he’s going to do everything he can to add another really talented piece to the team, and he’s probably not finding that by selecting three rookies.

If the Celtics do make this pick, adding a big makes sense, especially for a franchise that tends to not want to spend big money on interior players. Their postseason run came to an end this year mostly because Bam Adebayo had his way with the Celtics. Finding a way to slow down that type of player should be priority No. 1 for Boston right now. That’s not to say Precious Achiuwa is going to be that guy right away—or ever—but he is a high energy guy that can help out. He’s not going to be the centerpiece of an offense ever, and likely won’t be the backbone of a defense either, but he should be able to contribute as a high-level role player in the NBA. One option that should be enticing for the Celtics is finding a way to trade up for USC’s Onyeka Okongwu if possible.

16.Orlando Magic – Kira Lewis Jr., G

The Magic are another team to keep an eye on regarding trades this time of year. Maybe not as much moving up in the draft as moving on from Aaron Gordon. If that somehow ends with the Magic selecting higher in the draft than 15th, then so be it, but it likely will take more than just Gordon to move up. Orlando is a team that, despite making the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, doesn’t really have a timeline to be good, or a clear path to become competitive. Unless something significant changes, it feels like the Magic can be penciled in for 37-42 wins and the eighth seed on a regular basis.

Adding more firepower to the offensive end of the floor should be a priority for the Magic, and this is a way to take a step towards accomplishing that goal. Kira Lewis Jr. will help the Magic offensively both in transition and when things slow down in the halfcourt. He is a bit undersized, which will likely lead to him having a target on his back defensively. If that is the case, Orlando is a good enough defensive team to withstand that, and a two-guard system with him and Markelle Fultz could be promising for the future.

17.Houston Rockets (from Portland) – Aaron Nesmith, F

The Rockets right now are basically the “This is fine” house on fire dog meme. It’s been reported that James Harden wants to be traded to the Nets to team up with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. It’s also been reported that Russell Westbrook has asked for a trade away from Houston as well. While Houston very well may stand pat and not oblige to either request – in part because trading Westbook’s contract would be an incredibly difficult task—it will be an interesting lead up to the season for them. A lead up that got more interesting when they traded Robert Covington to Portland in exchange for Trevor Ariza, this pick, and a protected 2021 first-round pick.

The Rockets are reportedly planning to stick to the same playing style that they’ve been relying on over the past few seasons, and trading for Ariza certainly reinforces that. Drafting Aaron Nesmith is another perfect fit for that type of system. He won’t be the type of defender that Covington is right away, but he does have potential on that end of the floor. On top of that, Nesmith shot over 50 percent from deep last year at Vanderbilt. While that number is a little misleading due to his sample size—he missed a good chunk of the season with a foot injury—but it’s certainly worth noting.

18.Minnesota Timberwolves (from Brooklyn) – Cole Anthony, G

An interesting thought for the Wolves in this spot would be the potential to trade up into the back half of the lottery. After selecting first overall and having another pick in the second half of the first round to add to Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell, the Wolves should look like a much better team next season. When the Wolves have the added incentive of having their 2021 first-round pick already traded away, it’s more important that they gun for the playoffs next season, and targeting a second pick in the back half of the lottery could be an avenue for getting better, quicker.

One of the holes that remains on Minnesota’s roster is at the backup point guard spot. Last year, two-way player Jordan McLaughlin logged a lot of the minutes running the second unit after the dust settled from the roster shakeup the Wolves underwent leading up to the trade deadline. Drafting Cole Anthony gives the Wolves a scoring spark off the bench and potentially more. Anthony was one of the highest-rated prospects in his class coming out of high school but was slowed down by a knee injury while playing on a bad North Carolina team. When he’s healthy and surrounded by a higher level of talent, his game should grow even more.

19.Dallas Mavericks – RJ Hampton, G

The Mavericks are one of the few teams lucky enough to have a guy on the roster that could legitimately win the MVP this season in Luka Doncic. When a team has that guy, they have to feel as if they’re at least close to being a championship level team. Dallas still needs to add more talent alongside Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, but the potential for a championship in Dallas is growing over the next couple of years. That potential grows quite a bit if Dallas is somehow able to land a superstar free agent next summer or if the Mavericks can pull off a blockbuster trade.

Dallas’ pick here is a bit of a swing for the fences. RJ Hampton was very highly thought of as he left high school, but opted to play professionally in New Zealand last season instead of playing college basketball. That experience didn’t go as planned as Hampton was forced to deal with injuries and inconsistent playing time in a league that he probably wasn’t quite ready for. Hampton’s jumper isn’t as good as many would like it to be right now, but he’s likely one of the three or four best athletes in this class. If that jump shot develops, he’s going to be a steal this late in the draft. If Hampton had taken the traditional route and attended college stateside, he may be going higher in this draft, but that means Dallas could be the beneficiary of him falling this far.

20.Brooklyn Nets (from Philadelphia) – Tyrell Terry, G

21.Miami Heat – Isaiah Stewart, C

The Heat is really close to being a team that can win the Finals. While that sounds weird to say about a team that went all the way to Game 6 against the Lakers, they’re missing one more piece to help get them over the top and return Miami to glory. Like we hinted with Dallas, the Heat is going to do everything they can in order to land Giannis Antetokounmpo next summer should he become a free agent. But that doesn’t look nearly as promising after the start to the offseason the Bucks have had. Until then, the core of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo is going to continue to be near the top of the Eastern Conference, but probably isn’t going to win 16 playoff games.

The one area where Miami needed a bit of help was in its frontcourt. Adebayo was legitimately great in the postseason, but as he became more beat up or dealt with foul trouble, the Heat really didn’t have much of an answer to keep things afloat. There isn’t a guy available at this point in the draft that can single-handedly change that, but Isaiah Stewart can certainly help. Stewart was another guy that was very highly touted coming out of high school but is still a bit raw and under-developed. He’s going to be best served as an energy guy off the bench, but with the way the Heat have developed guys in the past, it’s a safe bet to think they’ll be able to get the best out of him.

22.Philadelphia 76ers (from Oklahoma City) – Josh Green, F

The offseason became a lot more interesting for Philadelphia when Daryl Morey took over basketball operations. Morey has traditionally attempted to build his teams around two star players, and then figured out the best possible combinations of role players around them. In Philadelphia, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are already entrenched as the star players, and it will be fascinating to see how Morey surrounds them with talent. The fun wrinkle that’s been thrown into this is that Philadelphia is reportedly one of James Harden’s preferred destinations should the Rockets trade him—behind the Brooklyn Nets. If that were to happen, the already high expectations in Philly would be championship-or-bust.

It’s probably pretty unlikely that the Sixers land Harden, so we’re operating here as if they’re going to be building around Embiid and Simmons. Josh Green isn’t necessarily a guy that is going to help on day one in the rotation, but he could develop into a relatively nice piece. Green will be a good defender in the NBA that can guard multiple positions—a staple of Morey’s Houston teams—and should be a threat to knock down open spot-up 3-point attempts. He won’t be much of a creator for himself or others, but he shouldn’t be asked to handle that type of role, either.

23.Denver Nuggets (from Houston) – Robert Woodard II, F

The Nuggets are another team that feels one move away from having a real chance at winning the title. That move might come in the form of a trade, but with Jrue Holiday off the table after being dealt to Milwaukee, their options are a bit limited. Whether or not any potential deal would include this pick is obviously yet to be seen, but it’s certainly worth noting. Surrounding Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murry with just a little bit more talent could get Denver over the top.

If the Nuggets are going to get to a championship level, they’re going to need to improve on the defensive end of the floor. In the bubble they struggled stopping everybody, and that partially led to their eventual demise at the hands of the Lakers. Robert Woodard II isn’t going to become a star in the NBA, but he certainly could be a high-end role player that fits in well on the wing alongside Michael Porter Jr. Woodard will be able to defend at an adequate level and help the Nuggets on the glass as well.

24.Utah Jazz – Aleksej Pokusevski, C

The Jazz will bring back a significant portion of the team that lost in seven games to the Denver Nuggets this past postseason. Unless something drastic happens and the team decides to move on from Rudy Gobert, it looks like it’s mostly going to be status quo in Utah. With that said, there is new ownership taking control of the franchise and could be looking to spend more money than we’re used to seeing the Jazz spend. That could mean that an extension for Gobert gets done, even if it isn’t at the supermax level he’s eligible for.

If Gobert is around or not in the future in Utah, the Jazz do need depth in the frontcourt, and it could be a good idea to have a big that can stretch the floor a little bit on the offensive end. Aleksej Pokusevski fits that description. Pokusevski is a bit of a gamble for the Jazz, but he has a relatively high ceiling for someone still available this deep in the draft. He can shoot the ball well from the outside and has an above-average handle and passing ability for a 7', but there are very legitimate concerns that he’ll be able to hold up in the NBA without putting on a significant amount of weight to his 7', 200-pound frame.

25.New Orleans Pelicans (from Indiana via Milwaukee) – Jaden McDaniels, F

The Bucks are probably going to be the team in the NBA with the most pressure on it this season. Giannis Antetokounmpo has until the day before the season to sign his supermax extension with the Bucks, and if he doesn’t he’ll be a free agent next summer. The Bucks took a giant step in the right direction on Monday when it was first reported that Milwaukee had essentially bet its entire future on Jrue Holiday and Bogdan Bogdanovic being good enough to help win a championship and more importantly keep Antetokounmpo around for the long haul. Despite this pick being part of the package for Holiday and no longer belonging to the Bucks, the above needed to be mentioned.

The Pelicans now own two picks in the top 24 selections in the draft and certainly become a candidate to trade up into the upper half of the lottery if they so desire. While they did acquire both Eric Bledsoe and George Hill, it’s difficult to imagine either one of them being a long-term fit in New Orleans, meaning the Pelicans should still be on the hunt for a young guard with upside at this point in the draft, but that likely won’t be the direction they head in. Instead, getting help on the wing that may line up with the eventual competitive window for the Pelicans could be the direction they take. Jaden McDaniels is just that. His freshman year at Washington didn’t necessarily go as planned, but he’s got lots of raw potential waiting to be tapped into. He was the seventh-ranked player in his graduating class coming out of high school, but underwhelmed while in college. His jumper needs work, but his athleticism is near the top of the line for guys in this draft. If his fundamentals improve, this could eventually look like a steal for the Pelicans.

26.Oklahoma City Thunder (from Denver) – Jalen Smith, C

The Thunder officially hit the reset button on Monday when they traded Chris Paul to the Phoenix Suns. After making the playoffs in 10-of-the-12 seasons since relocating to Oklahoma City, it’s time for the Thunder to embark on a rebuild. It feels like they own 90 percent of every available draft pick over the next handful of years thanks to some strong negotiating by general manager Sam Presti in the trades of Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Chris Paul. The team is not turned over to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the star, and a plethora of young players and draft picks to develop. It may be quite some time before the Thunder are a championship contender again, but their plan right now looks good.

Jalen Smith is a project that the Thunder can potentially turn into an impact player on a good team. He’s got good range as a big man and will have the ability to impact shots at the rim on the defensive end. He’s got the raw talent to be really successful, but will need the proper development to reach his high ceiling. His a tad slow and won’t be very good if he’s forced to switch onto smaller players, but this is a good value pick for OKC

27.Boston Celtics – Malachi Flynn, G

The Celtics need to figure out a way to inject more bench scoring into their recipe for success next year. Boston had trouble competing when its top guys were off the floor, and was relatively thin after the top six or so guys on the roster. Maybe last year’s first-round pick Romeo Langford has a better year two, but it’s hard to count on that right now.

Malachi Flynn would be able to translate into a creator role off the bench to help the Celtics operate without their stars. He’s not going to blow many people away with his athleticism, but he’s got a respectable shot and knack for finishing around the rim. His pick-and-roll creation is good as a passer or if it’s for himself, and that should be good enough to get minutes in Boston right now.

28.27. New York Knicks (from Clippers) – Jahmi’us Ramsey, G

After selecting Obi Toppin earlier in this draft, the Knicks have the opportunity to take a shot on a guard from Texas Tech with this pick. Jahmi’us Ramsey can operate in the New York backcourt and develop at the NBA level. He’s an NBA-ready shooter from the outside and likely profiles as a secondary creator at this level. He won’t be the lead guard that the Knicks will eventually need to find if they’re going to ever achieve anything resembling success, but Ramsey certainly could turn into a fairly useful player in a rotation if not starting five.

29.Oklahoma City Thunder (from Lakers) – Tyler Bey, F

This is just another one of those million draft picks the Thunder have acquired over the last couple of years. This one is from the Lakers after it’s been agreed upon that Danny Green and this selection will be sent to Oklahoma City for Dennis Schroder. It’s a good move for both sides if we’re being honest. And it’s a move that gives the Thunder the ability to take a swing on a guy with strong potential at the end of the first round.

Tyler Bey is going to be a work in progress in the NBA for a little bit. It’s not often that we see guys play different positions in the NBA than they did in college, but that’s what Bey is likely going to be doing. While he was at Colorado he served as more of an interior player, but should spend much more time on the perimeter in the NBA. If he has the quickness to make the change, things could pan out pretty well for him. Bey could potentially turn into an ultra-switchable player on defense thanks to his experience on the interor in college, too.

Due to the Stepien Rule, the Lakers will have to make this selection for Oklahoma City, giving us an awkward draft day photo with a player wearing the wrong hat, but this time over Zoom!

30.Toronto Raptors – Devon Dotson, G

Toronto has become a player development factory of sorts over the past few years. A shining example of that is Fred VanVleet, and he’s about to break the bank this offseason. The Raptors certainly can re-sign him to an expensive deal, but it’s yet to be seen if they want to dish out close to $30 million a year to keep him in Toronto. If the Raptors have plans of chasing Giannis Antetokounmpo next summer, that may weigh into that decision, but after Monday night’s flurry of moves by Milwaukee, that decision may be altered. Cap space next summer should be able one way or another in Toronto, but signing VanVleet to a mega-deal could complicate things a little bit.

The Raptors have had great success with smaller guards, and Devon Dotson fits that bill. Dotson is listed at 6'2", but does many of the little things—no pun intended—that are necessary for success at the NBA level. He’s shifty and attacks the basket at a very impressive rate but doesn’t have a great jumper right now. He works hard defensively, but like almost every guy his size, he’s going to be targeted in today’s switch-heavy NBA. If there’s a place Dotson can reach his full potential, it just might be Toronto.

31.Boston Celtics (from Milwaukee) – Desmond Bane, F

One of the older prospects in this draft, having played for four years at TCU, Desmond Bane developed into a pretty nice player while there. He’s an adequate shooter and secondary creator on the wing. Bane won’t be tasked with a whole lot while coming off the bench in Boston, but anything they get from a role player at this point in the draft would be a positive.