2020 NBA Mock Draft: Predictions for Elite Frontcourt Prospects

The likelihood of an elite frontcourt participant going first within the 2020 NBA draft is low. 

Since the Minnesota Timberwolves maintain the high favor, James Wiseman, Onyeka Okongwu and others may want to wait till the No. 2 favor and past to hear their names known as. 

Minnesota is anticipated so that you just can add a guard to enhance D’Angelo Russell in preference to including someone that also can very effectively be caught leisurely Karl-Anthony Cities on the depth chart. 

Golden Reveal, Charlotte and other excessive lottery teams absorb better desires down low and must be basically the most fervent events within the high mountainous men. 

2020 NBA 1st-Round Mock Draft

1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia

2. Golden Reveal Warriors: James Wiseman, C, Memphis

3. Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks

4. Chicago Bulls: Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Deni Avdija, SF, Maccabi Tel Aviv

6. Atlanta Hawks: Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn

7. Detroit Pistons: Onyeka Okongwu, PF/C, USC

8. Unique York Knicks: Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa Reveal

9. Washington Wizards: Devin Vassell, SG/SF, Florida Reveal

10. Phoenix Suns: Killian Hayes, PG, Ratiopharm Ulm

11. San Antonio Spurs: Aaron Nesmith, SF, Vanderbilt

12. Sacramento Kings: Saddiq Bey, SF, Villanova

13. Unique Orleans Pelicans: Helpful Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis

14. Boston Celtics (from Memphis): RJ Hampton, SG, Unique Zealand Breakers

15. Orlando Magic: Patrick Williams, PF, Florida Reveal

16. Portland Hump Blazers: Tyrese Maxey, PG, Kentucky

17. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Brooklyn): Cole Anthony, PG, North Carolina

18. Dallas Mavericks: Josh Green, SG, Arizona

19. Brooklyn Nets (from Philadelphia): Aleksej Pokusevski, PF, Olympiacos B

20. Miami Warmth: Jalen Smith, PF, Maryland

21. Philadelphia 76ers (from Oklahoma Metropolis): Tyrell Terry, PG, Stanford

22. Denver Nuggets (from Houston): Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona

23. Utah Jazz: Tyler Bey, SF, Colorado

24. Milwaukee Bucks (from Indiana): Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama

25. Oklahoma Metropolis Utter (from Denver): Theo Maledon, PG, ASVEL

26. Boston Celtics: Jahmi’us Ramsey, SG, Texas Tech

27. Unique York Knicks (from LA Clippers): Daniel Oturu, C, Minnesota

28. Los Angeles Lakers: Desmond Bane, SG, TCU

29. Toronto Raptors: Devon Dotson, PG, Kansas

30. Boston Celtics (from Milwaukee): Isaiah Stewart, PF, Washington

Predictions For Elite Frontcourt Prospects

James Wiseman, C, Memphis 

Wiseman’s hopes of being the No. 1 general address diminished when Minnesota won the lottery. 

Except a trade occurs for the high slot, the Memphis product is probably going locked into the No. 2 or No. 3 address with teams that absorb glaring desires down low. 

Golden Reveal also can merely absorb basically the most traumatic dedication of the draft on its fingers without reference to whom the Wolves purchase at No. 1.

The Warriors also can very effectively be left to address from Wiseman and either Anthony Edwards or LaMelo Ball. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie reported “tright here is extra smoke coming out of the Warriors front quandary of job straight away than any place else within the league” by system of which prospect they delight in ideal. 

If Golden Reveal opts for a backcourt participant or a soar, Wiseman must now not tumble past the Hornets at No. 3.

CBS Sports activities’ Colin Ward-Henninger acknowledged the Wiseman-Charlotte pairing “also can very effectively be the lock of the draft.” 

There is now not exceptional of a sample dimension to address Wiseman off since he conducted so few games at Memphis, nonetheless teams could per chance absorb a detailed scouting file of his qualities on the court with extra months to prepare.

The Warriors attain now not need a mountainous man as exceptional because the Hornets, nonetheless they would per chance presumably land Wiseman anyway to invent a higher interior-exterior complement on offense with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson strolling back from accidents. 

There are concerns about the Memphis heart being a consistent producer within the factors column, as Bleacher Document’s Jonathan Wasserman eminent.

“I even absorb a laborious time believing Wiseman also can merely furthermore be a featured scorer in an offense,” Wasserman wrote. “He’s now not polished or creative with the ball, he now not ceaselessly ever picks up assists, and he seems too a long way away to be a plus shooter anytime soon.” 

If Golden Reveal seems for a extra total scoring prospect, and one who can contribute from past the arc in stretches, it must also very effectively be extra inclined to land one more guard or diminutive forward. 

Even though that also can very effectively be an enticing prospect, the Warriors need some steadiness of their lineup down low and Wiseman would provide suitable that.

Prediction: No. 2 to Golden Reveal

Onyeka Okongwu, PF/C, USC

Okongwu also can merely absorb the ideal ceiling and lowest floor of any lottery prospect.

There is a big gamble Charlotte reaches for the USC mountainous man to private its frontcourt depth over whichever guards are on hand at No. 3. 

In one scenario, the Hornets could per chance presumably land Okongwu over Edwards or Ball and leave regarded as one of many high three potentialities for the Chicago Bulls. 

It is now not going given how proficient the high three potentialities are, nonetheless it’s miles a scenario value excited about if Charlotte desires so that you just can add a frontcourt half to Devonte’ Graham, Terry Rozier and Miles Bridges. 

Wasserman rates Okongwu at No. 3 on his mountainous board and eminent his paint presence as regarded as one of his high qualities. 

“At 6’9″, 245 pounds, Onyeka Okongwu’s instruments and athleticism must proceed translating to easy baskets around the rim out of the dunker quandary, off rolls and by crashing the offensive glass. But I am also searching for to safe his paint touch,” Wasserman wrote. 

Okongwu averaged 16.2 factors and 8.6 rebounds and recorded six double-doubles in Pac-12 play for USC. 

He would straight narrate offense within the paint to whichever crew he lands with, and the belief could per chance presumably be that franchise works on rising a 3-point shot for him to alter accurate into a extra effectively-rounded participant. 

If Charlotte lands regarded as one of many high three gamers, Okongwu could per chance presumably tumble as a long way as Detroit at No. 7. The Pistons attain now not absorb a glaring need down low with Blake Griffin and Christian Picket in quandary, nonetheless it must also very effectively be the supreme match for Okongwu. 

Griffin is 31 and must be coming off a season-ending knee injury, while Picket is a lot from the executed product regardless that he conducted effectively after Andre Drummond was dealt to Cleveland. 

If Chicago, Atlanta and Cleveland detect to toughen their respective scoring depth with guards or diminutive forwards, the Pistons also can merely swoop in for Okongwu and could per chance presumably doubtlessly originate Griffin expendable down the motorway.

Prediction: No. 7 to Detroit.

Practice Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics got from ESPN.com.