Believe it or not, the 2020 NBA Draft is finally (almost) here. It'll be conducted virtually Wednesday. It'll be five months later than initially planned. So nothing is normal about it. But, hooray hooray, it is finally (almost) here. And yet there's still no consensus at the top.
Many franchises believe LaMelo Ball is the best prospect available. Others insist it's James Wiseman. Some are certain it's Anthony Edwards. So the top three or four picks in this draft could reasonably go in any order.
The following is my latest stab at how things could unfold.
Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
 
LaMelo Ball
PG
USA
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 180 lbs
None of the players in contention for the top spot are perfect fits in Minnesota. So the Timberwolves should just take the best prospect available. And, in my mind, that player is LaMelo Ball, the 6-7 point guard who sees things, and makes plays, in ways most prospects his age cannot.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
I've gone back and forth on whether the Warriors should, and will, select Anthony Edwards or James Wiseman — if they even execute this pick. For now, I'll go with Wiseman, a physical specimen who also fills an obvious need.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
If you're the Hornets, you're thrilled the person some have labeled the best prospect in this draft falls to you at No. 3. Anthony Edwards has an NBA-ready body and should be able to add scoring immediately.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Obi Toppin is a former zero-star recruit who became the National Player of the Year at Dayton. I'd personally make him the favorite to be Rookie of the Year while helping Billy Donovan establish a culture that eventually brings the Bulls back to respectability.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
 
Deni Avdija
SF
Israel
• Jr
• 6'9"
/ 210 lbs
The Cavaliers would likely be thrilled if Deni Avdija were available at No. 5. The 6-9 forward is a great playmaker who is widely regarded as this draft's best international prospect.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Tyrese Haliburton is a guard with size who can really shoot it. He'd be perfect in Atlanta because he can play behind Trae Young or right beside him as a 6-5 shooter.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Isaac Okoro is an elite defender who impacts winning in a variety of ways. If he develops offensively, the potential for stardom exists.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
 
Killian Hayes
PG
France
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 195 lbs
Some front offices have Killian Hayes as a possible top-five pick, others have him outside of the top 10. Whether he's worthy of being selected this high will ultimately come down to whether his 3-point shot develops to the point where he's a reliable shooter as a lead guard playing next to RJ Barrett.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Onyeka Okongwu is a versatile frontcourt player who shot 61.6% from the field in his one season at USC. It's possible he could go in the top five — but if he slips this far, the Wizards should enthusiastically select him.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
Saddiq Bey developed in two years at Villanova into a wing with size who shot 45.1% from 3 as a sophomore. His ability to guard multiple positions and make open jumpers could help the Suns make the playoff push they appear ready to make.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Devin Vassell made 41.7% of his 3-point attempts over the past two seasons at Florida State. He's a wing with size who could, as a rookie, help the Spurs return to the postseason
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Round 1 - Pick 12
The Kings are a talented team — but just average from beyond the arc. So adding Aaron Nesmith, arguably the best shooter available in this dradft, could provide instant improvement.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
The Pelicans reportedly shopping Jrue Holiday could make taking a point guard a priority in the lottery. Kira Lewis made 48.8% of his 3-point attempts in Alabama's final seven games, which suggests he could be the type of backcourt shooter New Orleans needs to properly build around Zion Williamson
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From
Memphis Grizzlies
Round 1 - Pick 14
The Celtics need point guard depth — especially with Kemba Walker being a 30-year-old who is coming off of a disappointing postseason. Cole Anthony, once considered a likely top-five pick, could provide real scoring off the bench as a rookie and eventually develop into a starter.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Patrick Williams only shot 32.0% from 3-point range in his one season at Florida State -- but still projects as an interesting prospect on the wing. He'd be a total upside selection for Orlando.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
 
R.J. Hampton
SG
USA
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 175 lbs
The Blazers need to add backcourt depth to decrease the workload for Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. RJ Hampton makes a lot of sense because of his ability to play either guard position.
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From
Brooklyn Nets
Round 1 - Pick 17
Reasonable minds can disagree on whether Precious Achiuwa will develop into an offensive threat or forever be little more than a high-energy big who plays center in small-ball lineups. But his athleticism, productivity at Memphis, and ability to guard multiple positions are enough to make him worth any pick at this point in the draft.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Tyrese Maxey was inconsistent and mostly underwhelming in his one season at Kentucky. But most still believe he's a talented-enough combo guard who will be able to score in the NBA.
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From
Philadelphia 76ers
Round 1 - Pick 19
The Nets already have two stars in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. The next step is getting the proper pieces around them, and a big who can stretch the floor like Jalen Smith is the type of center who could work well with the future Hall of Famers who are trying to win big in Brooklyn now.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
The Heat could use a backup point guard who could eventually replace Goran Dragic in the starting lineup. Tre Jones, a tenacious defender who shot 36.1% from beyond the arc as a sophomore at Duke, is the best available here.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
 
Theo Maledon
PG
France
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 175 lbs
The Sixers are no longer committed to playing Ben Simmons at point guard. That makes Theo Maledon a sensible option because he's a skilled primary ball-handler with plenty of room to grow.
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From
Houston Rockets
Round 1 - Pick 22
Isaiah Stewart was perhaps the only bright spot in Washington's disappointing season. He's an undersized center -- but one who figures to be productive thanks to a good motor and intriguing skillset.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Josh Green remains a work in progress, as he's not really a reliable playmaker yet. But the 6-6 wing is a high-level athlete who definitely has the potential to develop into someone worthy of being selected in the 20s.
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From
Indiana Pacers
Round 1 - Pick 24
Flynn isn't as tall as anybody would like or an explosive athlete. But he's a great run-your-team point guard who shot 37.3% from 3-point range last season at San Diego State.
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From
Denver Nuggets
Round 1 - Pick 25
Oklahoma City is rebuilding and in possession of so many future first-round picks that it can afford to take a flyer on somebody like Jaden McDaniels. The 6-9 forward was disappointing in his one season at Washington but still possesses the natural talent that intrigues front offices.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
 
Leandro Bolmaro
SF
Argentina
• Fr
• 6'6"
/ 200 lbs
The Celtics have three first-round picks and barely any room on the roster. So Leandro Bolmaro is an obvious possibility because he's already committed to playing in Barcelona next season.
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From
Los Angeles Clippers
Round 1 - Pick 27
The Knicks need to add shooting — and Desmond Bane is an accomplished shooter. The 6-6 guard made 44.2% of his 3-point shots last season at TCU.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
The Lakers should be targeting somebody who can help them repeat as champions. Cassius Winston would be perfect because he could provide depth at the point guard position in the form of somebody who made 43.0% of the 602 3-pointers he attempted in four years at Michigan State.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Fred VanVleet is an unrestricted free agent who could leave Toronto, which might make selecting a point guard a priority with the 29th pick. At this point in this mock draft, the best available is Arizona's Nico Mannion.
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From
Milwaukee Bucks
Round 1 - Pick 30
The Celtics need to upgrade in the middle — and Vernon Carey could become that in time. He's more of a traditional center than a modern frontcourt player, but he was Duke's best player last season and worth a serious look this late in the first round.
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Mock Draft
Round 2
Round 2 - Pick 1 (31st overall)
Aleksej Pokusevski is a 7-foot wing who is very skilled and capable of shooting from deep. He needs to add weight, and continue to otherwise mature physically, but the ingredients are there for him to someday develop into a meaningful player.
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From
Cleveland Cavaliers
Round 2 - Pick 2 (32nd overall)
Robert Woodward only had modest stats in his two seasons at Mississippi State. But his body, and the fact that he shot 42.9% from beyond the arc as a sophomore, is going to get him looks late in the first round or early in the second.
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Round 2 - Pick 3 (33rd overall)
Xavier Tillman is a high-character and productive player who helped Michigan State win three straight Big Ten titles. He's a little undersized but doesn't play like it at all.
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From
Atlanta Hawks
Round 2 - Pick 4 (34th overall)
Nobody projected Tyrell Terry as a one-and-done prospect a year ago. But his ability to play point guard and consistently make pullup jumpers will allow him to secure a guaranteed contract.
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From
Detroit Pistons
Round 2 - Pick 5 (35th overall)
Zeke Nnaji was only a borderline top-40 prospect coming out of high school — but he emerged as the biggest surprise of Arizona's freshman class. He averaged 16.1 points and a team-high 8.6 rebounds while establishing himself as Sean Miller's most productive player.
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From
New York Knicks
Round 2 - Pick 6 (36th overall)
Elijah Hughes led the ACC in scoring last season by averaging 19.0 points per game. He projects as a dynamic wing who could come off the bench and get buckets.
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From
Chicago Bulls
Round 2 - Pick 7 (37th overall)
Basically every franchise could afford to get more athletic on the wing. Cassius Stanley, a one-and-done player from Duke, is arguably the best athlete in this draft.
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From
Charlotte Hornets
Round 2 - Pick 8 (38th overall)
Tyler Bey is a combo forward who shot 41.9% from beyond the arc last season at Colorado. He mostly played power forward in college, but he's shown the ability to drift to the wing when allowed to do so.
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From
Washington Wizards
Round 2 - Pick 9 (39th overall)
Isaiah Joe didn't shoot the ball as well as a sophomore as he did during his freshman season. But he's still a well-regarded guard who projects as a shot-maker at the next level.
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From
Phoenix Suns
Round 2 - Pick 10 (40th overall)
The Grizz could benefit from adding a shooter between Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Sam Merrill, a 6-5 guard who shot above 40 percent from 3-point range in four seasons at Utah State, is a reasonable option.
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Round 2 - Pick 11 (41st overall)
Daniel Oturo averaged 20.1 points and 11.3 rebounds as a sophomore, leading Minnesota in both categories. If he can continue to develop some perimeter skills, he could be a real weapon in the NBA.
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Round 2 - Pick 12 (42nd overall)
The more shooting, the better in New Orleans. Skylar Mays is a 6-4 guard who made 39.4% of his 3-point attempts in his final season at LSU.
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Round 2 - Pick 13 (43rd overall)
Lead guards who can shoot are more valuable than ever in the NBA. As a result, Payton Pritchard should have a chance to carve out a lengthy career.
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From
Memphis Grizzlies
Round 2 - Pick 14 (44th overall)
There's some concern that Jahmi'us Ramsey will be little more than a shooter in the NBA. But he's good enough at that one thing to do get picked in the second round of this draft.
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Round 2 - Pick 15 (45th overall)
Udoka Azuibuike is a big-bodied center who shot 74.8% from the field in his final season at Kansas. He's limited but definitely worth a look somewhere in the 40s.
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Round 2 - Pick 16 (46th overall)
Jordan Nwora is a wing with size who has consistently proven he can make perimeter shots. There's a role in the NBA for players described that way.
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From
Brooklyn Nets
Round 2 - Pick 17 (47th overall)
Kaleb Wesson's dedication to changing his body and improving his jumper allowed him to develop into a draftable prospect. He could add frontcourt shooting to the Celtics deep and talented roster.
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From
Dallas Mavericks
Round 2 - Pick 18 (48th overall)
Markus Howard shot above 40% from 3-point range in all four years at Marquette. Wouldn't he make a nice Splash Brother?
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Round 2 - Pick 19 (49th overall)
Killian Tillie battled injuries at Gonzaga each of the past two seasons. But he's a 6-10 forward who can really shoot it, evidence being that he made at least 40% of his 3-point attempts in all four years with the Zags.
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From
Miami Heat
Round 2 - Pick 20 (50th overall)
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From
Utah Jazz
Round 2 - Pick 21 (51st overall)
Reggie Perry is a former McDonald's All-American who developed into a 17-point per game scorer in his sophomore season at Mississippi State. He'll be strong enough to bang around the rim and rebound as a rookie.
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From
Houston Rockets
Round 2 - Pick 22 (52nd overall)
Ashton Hagans is limited offensively but one of the best on-ball defenders in this draft. He could add another dimension to Sacramento's still-developing roster.
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Round 2 - Pick 23 (53rd overall)
Immanuel Quickley made 42.8% of his 3-point attempts last season en route to earning SEC Player of the Year honors. His shooting ability could help OKC's rebuild.
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Round 2 - Pick 24 (54th overall)
Devon Dotson is fast with the ball and a proven high-end point guard. If his shot improves, he could be a real steal in the second round of this draft.
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From
Denver Nuggets
Round 2 - Pick 25 (55th overall)
Nate Hinton is a big reason why Kelvin Sampson has won back-to-back AAC titles at Houston. He's a 6-5 guard who made 38.7% of his 3-point attempts last season while grabbing almost nine rebounds per contest.
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From
Boston Celtics
Round 2 - Pick 26 (56th overall)
Grant Riller nearly scored 2,500 points in his four years at College of Charleston. He's a mid-major product who could stick in the NBA as a role-playing point guard.
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Round 2 - Pick 27 (57th overall)
Naji Marshall led Xavier in scoring each of the past two seasons. He's a 6-7 wing who is only a reliable jumper away from looking like somebody who can have a career in the NBA.
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From
Los Angeles Lakers
Round 2 - Pick 28 (58th overall)
Jay Scrubb, the 2020 National Junior College Player of the Year, decided to enter this draft rather than enroll at Louisville. He's an interesting backcourt prospect who shot 50.1% from the field last season while grabbing nearly seven rebounds per game.
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Round 2 - Pick 29 (59th overall)
Myles Powell scored 1,373 points in his final two seasons at Seton Hall. There's good reason to think he'd be able to provide offense off the bench for a contender like Toronto.
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From
Milwaukee Bucks
Round 2 - Pick 30 (60th overall)
Nick Richards was a late-bloomer at Kentucky. But his breakout junior season established the 7-foot center as a legitimate second-round option.
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