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The 2020 NBA Draft was postponed from its original date and is now scheduled for 18 November; however, the date could still change.
As most prospects come from the collegiate level, the cancellation of the NCAA tournament makes it a little challenging to review the prospects coming in. Still, the pecking order was more or less established for the upcoming NBA Draft.
In this article, we will take a look at the Top 10 prospects to watch out for in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Top 10 prospects to watch out for in the 2020 NBA Draft
In this list, apart from a player's talent and potential, the team that could select him in the upcoming NBA Draft to play in the league and how the player could fit within that team's structure has been taken into account.
Without further ado, let us have a look st the Top 10 prospects in the 2020 NBA Draft to watch out for.
#10 Devin Vassel
Though most NBA Draft mocks have Devin Vassell in eighth, he is tenth in our list of the ten best prospects in the 2020 NBA Draft to watch out for.
Vassell is a playmaking wing who should be able to fit in with most NBA teams. Going to the Phoenix Suns and their young core could be a good move for Vassell.
College ability does not always translate to success in the NBA, with players mostly entering the league after just one year in college. However, for Vassell, that is not the case.
He played two years at Florida State where his game progressed quite well. As a starter in the 2019-20 season, averages of 12.7 points, five rebounds and one steal per game (ranked 11th in the Atlantic Coast Conference) and a PER of 23.8 (sixth in the ACC) are his credentials for a top 10 spot in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Moreover, the 20-year-old's three-point shooting, although not high-volume, is quite efficient; he has scored 41% of his 3s from 168 attempts in his college career.
#9 Isaac Okoro
Isaac Okoro is a freshman coming out of Auburn. The 19-year-old forward is a solid defender who puts in a lot of effort on the court.
The 6' 6" Okoro can guard multiple positions and do it with consistency. His attacking game is not the most polished, which is perhaps understandable for a first-year student. However, the biggest concern for a team to pick him might be his three-point shooting which was just 28% from 70 shots.
Okoro shot 51% from the field and averaged 13 points per game, which is something he can build on if given a chance.
If the Washington Wizards select him in ninth in the NBA Draft, his defense will probably be what the team might look for as the Wizards were the worst team in terms of points conceded per 100 possessions in the NBA (with 115.5) last season.
#8 Killian Hayes
The stock of Killian Hayes, the first player in this list who is already a professional, is quite high in the 2020 NBA Draft even if his teams in France and Germany (Cholet and Ulm respectively) were not very good.
The American-born French player is already a three-year pro at the age of 19. The learning process has definitely been an enhanced one for him during the last three years, which should positively impact his 2020 NBA Draft chances. Regardless of what one might think, it definitely counts to know what the aura of being a pro is,
A one-year college player versus a three-year pro in European basketball on NBA Draft night? Well, the contest could probably go in favor of the three-year pro as his transition to the NBA might be a little easier.
In his last season with German team Ulm, Hayes averaged 12.8 points and six assists per game in ten Eurocup games. Though his playmaking ability is outstanding among the current NBA Draft class, Hayes struggled from the three in the 2018-19 season (his longest season in terms of games), shooting 19% in 13 attempts. His 10-game stint in the Eurocup with Ulm saw an improvement in his shooting, but the sample size was not big enough.
Nevertheless, Hayes is expected to be a top-10 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He could be headed to the New York Knicks who ranked 27th in assists per 100 possessions and need a playmaker (among other personnel); the 2020 NBA Draft could certainly present the Knicks with the opportunity to have one.
#7 Deni Avdija
The 19-year-old Deni Avdija from Israel has the potential to be a solid NBA player. His stock in the 2020 NBA Draft is quite high even if his stats with Maccabi Tel Aviv at the international level are not that impressive. In the Israeli league, Avdija was the youngest MVP and led the team to the title, so his NBA Draft stock is justified.
Being a professional basketball player might further enhance his chances of being selected among the first five or six selections in the 2020 NBA Draft as his two years with Maccabi might have given him a taste of what it's like to be a pro.
Avdija is not a great shooter, but his defensive prowess would be beneficial for any team to have. He can also be a solid playmaker in the pros if the circumstances are right for him and if the team that picks him in the 2020 NBA Draft allows him to play to his strengths.
For the Detroit Pistons, Avdija could be a good fit as he could give the team length and solid play in defense. The Pistons need exactly a player like him: a pro who could come in and contribute on both sides of the court. The 2020 NBA Draft class might give the Pistons that chance if Avdija is not selected in the first picks of the NBA Draft.
#6 Onyeka Okongwu
Onyeka Okongwu is a big man coming from USC who was a solid performer in his only year in the Pac-12, a Conference where he led in field-goal percentage with 61%.
Okongwu should be a good fit with the Atlanta Hawks' young and talented core. Pairing him with John Collins could be a great idea, with Trae Young leading the offense from the perimeter and Okongwu, with his ability to slice through defences, finding the two young, athletic bigs.
An average of 2.7 blocks was impressive for the 19-year-old, and it could just be a taste of what's in store for him in the NBA as a rim protector. If Atlanta gets Okongwu in the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft, the player could develop further since the team is in rebuilding mode now.
#5 Tyrese Haliburton
Tyrese Haliburton is expected to be selected as the sixth by many NBA Draft mocks. The Iowa State guard is an interesting player who has a lot of potential and the ability to adapt his play according to the requirements of the NBA.
A second-year player, the 20-year-old Haliburton progressed nicely from his first year, with his shooting averages remaining solid. As he got more touches, he showed his potential, reason enough for him to enter our top five for the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft.
Haliburton averaged 15.2 points, seven assists and six rebounds per game for Iowa State in his second year, with 50, 41, and 82 shooting splits respectively. He is a fast and tall defender who looks ready for the NBA.
The Cleveland Cavaliers should take him with the fifth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft as they need a solid playmaker who can defend.
#4 Obi Toppin
Another second-year player, 22-year-old Obi Toppin from Dayton was named the National Player of the Year for his impressive play in the Atlantic-10 Conference and is expected to be a top-five pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
The 6' and 220 pound Toppin is an athletic forward who is comfortable in many aspects of the game. Averaging 20 points and eight rebounds per game in his second year, Toppin proved his prowess as a shooter. 63% from the field, 39% from the three-point line and 70% from the FT line are good numbers for a big man and for his chances in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Overall, Obin was a 41% shooter from three during his two seasons at Dayton. The Chicago Bulls would probably be interested in him as he could do many things for a team that requires versatility and NBA-ready players.
Toppin should be a top-five pick in the 2020 NBA Draft unless something very unexpected happens on NBA Draft night.
#3 Anthony Edwards
Georgia's 6' 5" guard Anthony Edwards is actually the number one in almost every NBA Draft mock, but the reasons for him being 'just' third in our list will look justified as we have a look at our #2 and #1 players.
Edwards is undoubtedly a fabulous talent in the 2020 NBA Draft. He is a versatile scorer and has good athleticism, something that is needed for his position in the NBA.
The Charlotte Hornets could think about Edwards as their first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft to add to their impressive crew of guards with Devonte' Graham and Terry Rozier.
The 19-year-old guard is an explosive player who looks ready for the NBA and has the skills to not only succeed in the league but to be a team's best player if his progression continues.
#2 LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball comes in at number two in this list. Though he is only 19 years old, Ball has already travelled a lot during his basketball career and has tons of experience behind him.
The last team he played for were the Illawarra Hawks in the Australian NBL. Ball at number two in the 2020 NBA Draft is an interesting prospect. That is because that pick belongs to the Golden State Warriors who already have their two superstar guards Steph Curry and Klay Thompson and are planning to win the 2020-21 championship.
What's interesting is that Ball could be the second pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and not because he could play for Golden State. The Warriors could be interested in trading their high-leverage pick for an established player who fits their scheme or select Ball and look to move him on 2020 NBA Draft night.
Nevertheless, Ball is an explosive player who has the ability to make plays for his teammates and for himself as well. He has the size and the prowess to be an NBA point guard in any team.
However, his shot selection needs some improvements. His shooting mechanic is also not great, and some of the shots he takes can be best described as ill-advised. That might be an issue for his 2020 NBA Draft stock, but he remains a top-three talent.
Ball can be a generational player that many teams, even the Warriors, could regret not adding to their mix in the 2020 NBA Draft.
#1 James Wiseman
Though legal issues over his recruitment by Memphis meant that he could play only three collegiate games, James Wiseman is expected in most NBA Draft mocks to go third in the 2020 NBA Draft night.
He is just too big and too strong, and he has a lot of energy offensively for the Minnesota Timberwolves to not select him and try to pair him with Karl-Anthony Towns.
The 7' 1" 19-year-old Wiseman might be The Guy in the 2020 NBA Draft whom many teams might look back and kick themselves for not selecting him.
In his only year at Memphis, the center averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 77% from the field and 70% from the FT line. The sample size may be small, but he has been highly ranked even since his high-school days, which doesn't hurt his chances in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Of course, his size was imposing in the three college games he appeared in. He could be dominant in the NBA too, both in attack and defense, because he knows how to make the best use of his abilities.
Wiseman has said that he has modeled his game on Chris Bosh's, and the physical similarities are there, given that Wiseman is a left-handed player. However, his size can give him a bigger advantage in the pros than Bosh had. Moreover, Wiseman's athleticism is incredible, which positively impacts his 2020 NBA Draft chances.
Wiseman has the size and knows how to make use it. Of course, the NBA is a completely different ball-game, but his athleticism could be a handy tool to have in the competition.
Of course, he would need to add more skills to his offensive repertoire as he mostly finishes around the basket during the small sample size in Memphis. But size when well-used can have a massive impact, and most teams in the 2020 NBA Draft know that.
Also read: NBA Trade Rumors: Taking a look at the LA Lakers roster and options available to the management ahead of a busy off-season.
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