I only went with my top 40 because I simply do not have the expertise to rank players lower than that. Also, I assume by ranking 40 players, all of those drafted in the first round (top 30) are included in here. I also tried to make it easier ranking different positions through my tier method. Per the key, I see 13 players as consistent starters, five of which are all-star caliber. The ranking of these players was a balance of statistics as well as eye test. For those keeping up with my page, Myles Powell comes in at #41 for the record.
Players I Love.
I will go more in depth on each player in my mock draft coming out next week, but for now I will highlight a few guys I like more than most in the 2020 draft.
James Wiseman. Somehow Wiseman is a polarizing prospect in this draft, and I don’t know why. In a draft that has no clear-cut top prospect, the floor needs to be considered. Wiseman’s floor is a starter in the NBA. I do not see a future where he busts out and can’t be put out on the floor. He has the defensive player of the year potential with his insane measurables and instincts. If he gets drafted to the Warriors, which he should, he’ll be able to rim-run and defend, while having the chance to develop his offensive game gradually. Warriors can’t overthink this one, they need a rim protector, and Wiseman is the top prospect in the draft. His long-term potential is worth it alone.
Tyrell Terry. The point guard from Stanford is projected to fall in the back-end of the lottery, if that means anything this year. The thing I love about Terry, among many others, is he can play in any backcourt. Being one of the best shooters in the draft, he can slide to an off-ball role, but can be a lead guard as well. Offseason workout videos are not a great thing to assess talent on, but he has clearly worked on his athleticism. He has been seen throwing down windmill dunks, keep in mind he’s 6’2″ and 175 pounds. This kid is a gym rat, I am counting on him to improve his passing and shot selection. The Knicks, Suns, Celtics, Magic, Sixers, etc. all need to consider taking Terry.
Saddiq Bey. The forward out of Villanova is the biggest sleeper in the draft. First of all, he can defend 1-4 and his IQ is extraordinarily high. He is an unselfish passer, and is very efficient from behind the arc. His ball handling is rapidly improving, and his ability to shot create is blossoming. I love the fit on Portland, who needs a 3-and-D wing to compliment Dame and CJ. Between Bey, Avdija, Vassell, and Okoro, this draft has some very intriguing talent at the wing position.
Players I Hate.
Hate is a strong word. What I mean here is that these are guys I think are very overvalued amongst other draft experts.
Anthony Edwards. Edwards scares me for a number of reasons. His shot selection is atrocious, which might be a product of his situation at Georgia. Regardless, bad habits are developed as a result of situations like these, whether it is excused or not. Also, his inefficiency leaves much to be desired. His scoring potential is high which I guess is what has GMs salivating at the opportunity to draft him. Between the shot selection, effort concerns, turnovers, and inefficiency I would stay far away from Edwards with the top pick.
Obi Toppin. I’ve swayed back and forth on Toppin. I like his offensive upside as a small ball five. However, if he is playing the four on the perimeter, his on-ball defense is going to get him benched. He cannot guard on the perimeter, and his off ball defense is not great either. He has good shot blocking ability, but that is not enough to make up for his other weaknesses. His lateral quickness is mind bogglingly slow. He will have some remarkable plays and moments, but as a building block of a franchise, I don’t see it. He might be something more similar to a Larry Nance Jr. than an Amare Stoudemire that can shoot threes.
So basically, if your team takes a player that doesn’t fall in line with my big board, they made a disastrous mistake. Sorry those are the rules. Jokes aside, there’s inevitably going to be a player in the 10-20 range who pops and 90% of NBA scouts probably won’t see it coming. I think its Tyrell Terry, but depending on fit, who the hell knows this year.