The 2020 NBA Draft is in the books. It was a unique occurrence, as the coronavirus left the league no choice but to hold the event in a virtual setting. All things considered, it went off without a hitch. And now that they're names have been called, these talented young players are set to embark on their careers in the pros. In this post, it's 2020 NBA Draft grades season.
Like thieves in the night, some teams walked away from Wednesday's draft with a cheeky grin, knowing they got a steal. Other organizations, however, left some fans scratching their heads in confusion. In this piece, we'll grade the first-round selections that each franchise made.
30. Phoenix Suns (D-)
The Suns made major headlines prior to the 2020 NBA Draft by acquiring All-Star point guard Chris Paul from the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team has rising star Devin Booker on its roster as well, but there were still some positions that needed to be addressed.
At No. 10 overall, Phoenix selected Maryland's Jalen Smith, who is a 6-10 forward who averaged 15.5 points on 53.8 percent shooting from the field, 36.8 percent from beyond the arc and 75.0 percent from the free throw line. Those are solid numbers, but most analysts feel that the Suns could have used the 10th pick on a backcourt player. Furthermore, there were still several talented prospects on the board when Phoenix clocked in, such as Devin Vassell and Aaron Nesmith.
Smith is expected to serve as DeAndre Ayton's backup. Let's see how he fares in that role.
29. L.A. Clippers (D)
The Clippers were among several teams that made draft night moves. In their case, it meant sending the No. 19 pick via Brooklyn to the Detroit Pistons for Luke Kennard. The Clipps also sent Landry Shamet to the Brooklyn Nets in what became a three-team deal. The Pistons also got guard Rodney McGruder from the Clippers.
The Clippers also wound up with Jay Scrubb, who is a junior college stud who could become a role player off the bench, with the No. 55 pick.
28. Houston Rockets (D+)
After trading their first-round pick (16th overall) to the Detroit Pistons, the Rockets picked Kenyon Martin Jr. with their 52nd overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft. Martin is the son of former No. 1 overall pick Kenyon Martin, one of the grittier players the NBA has ever known.
If Martin Jr. can develop his game in the pros, this pick may prove to be a sleeper.
27. Brooklyn Nets (C-)
As mentioned previously, the Nets acquired the No. 19 overall pick from the Clippers, but traded it for Landry Shamet in a three-way deal.
Newly-appointed head coach Steve Nash has noted that he is looking to build a championship-caliber team in Brooklyn, and most experts are already viewing the team as a serious contender. And why shouldn't they be? After all, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are expected to be good to go for the start of the coming season. However, Brooklyn's draft night activity failed to net a major reaction from most fans.
None of this is to say that Shamet is a bad player. He's actually a good shooter (40.4 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from downtown last season). We'll have to wait and see how this one pans out.
26. Portland Trail Blazers (C-)
The Blazers were another team that made moves on draft night. As part of a three-team trade with the Pistons and Rockets, Portland sent the No. 16 overall pick, Isaiah Stewart, to Detroit. As part of the deal, the Blazers received Robert Covington from the Rockets. Portland then selected CJ Elleby of Washington State at No. 46 overall.
Covington, now 29 years of age, is a capable big man. In 70 appearances with the Rockets and Timberwolves last regular season, he racked up averages of 12.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists. With the Rockets, he sent back 2.2 shots per game. Though he's a defensive force, it's not clear how he'll fare in Portland.
25. Indiana Pacers (C)
Indiana's lone pick in the 2020 NBA Draft (No. 54 overall) went to Cassius Stanley, a gifted player from Duke. Most scouts praised Stanley's play on the defensive end of the floor.
In his lone season with the Blue Devils, Stanley averaged 12.6 points and 4.9 rebounds over the course of 29 games. In recognition of his fine play, the 21-year-old was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team.
All things considered, the Pacers seem to be happy with their pick:
“Cassius I think is amongst the tops in this draft when it comes to just pure athleticism, which is something our roster kind of lacks,” Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said of the Pacers' lone selection, via NBA.com.
“Cassius is the type of player that when you watch him on film, he pops.”
24. Utah Jazz (C)
Utah's selection of Kansas big man Udoka Azubuike at No. 27 overall is solid. First and foremost, it gives the team a backup for Rudy Gobert. Beyond that, Azubuike has a ton of upside as a true seven-footer in the NBA.
A defensive powerhouse, Azubuike averaged 2.6 blocks per game last season for the Jayhawks. He played four years at Kansas, averaging 13.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game during his senior season.
If Gobert needs a breather, Udoka can step right in, and he's eager to learn.
“I’m so excited to play alongside Rudy,” Azubuike said, via NBA.com. “A defensive specialist, that’s mostly what I did at Kansas. I had a similar role to affect the game defensively. So I’m excited to learn from him.”
23. Milwaukee Bucks (C)
The Bucks are in an interesting predicament at the moment, as they're searching for ways to impress Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak is in line for a super-max extension, but the two sides have not come to an agreement yet.
Milwaukee's acquisition of Louisville's Jordan Nwora with the 45th overall pick isn't going to sway Giannis' mindset much, but it gives the team a capable scorer.
In his three seasons with the Cardinals, Nwora held career averages of 13.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Notably, he was a career 44.5 percent shooter from the field and ranks seventh in Louisville history in career three-point field goal percentage (39.4 percent).
22. Los Angeles Lakers (C+)
The Lakers made an interesting move on draft night, trading their No. 28 pick for German-born point guard Dennis Schroder from the Oklahoma City Thunder. As part of the deal, the Lakers sent Danny Green and the draft rights to Jaden McDaniels.
Schroder is a fine pickup for the Lakers, who won their 17th NBA championship last season. In 65 appearances with the Thunder last season, he racked up averages of 8.9 points, 4.0 assists and 3.6 rebounds. Furthermore, he led the league in points scored off the bench and finished second in NBA Sixth Man Award voting. It's also worth noting that he posted career-highs in field goal percentage (.469) and three-point percentage (.385).
21. Chicago Bulls (C+)
With the No. 4 overall pick, the Bulls could have been much higher on this list. However, their selection of 6-8 wing Patrick Williams came as a surprise.
Williams is certainly a fine player, but most analysts were expecting the Bulls to go in a different direction. Some thought there were more impactful players on the board, but Chicago seemed to pick out of necessity instead of taking a more talented prospect. This could be a wise decision, in the end.
Interestingly enough, Williams didn’t start any of the 29 games in which he appeared in at Florida State, yet he still played 22.5 minutes per night. He averaged 9.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals on a squad that won the ACC.
20. Memphis Grizzlies (C+)
The Grizzlies selected Desmond Bane with the last pick in the first round. Bane is a 6-6 guard from TCU who plays well on both ends of the floor. He has a high-revving motor on defense, and he can knock down shots from the perimeter with relative ease.
He averaged 16.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last season for the Horned Frogs. Notably, the 6-foot-6 wing shot better than 40 percent from downtown for three straight seasons.
Memphis actually traded up to acquire Bane at No. 30 in Wednesday's draft, making a deal with the Boston Celtics. In return, Boston is to receive a pair of future second-round picks, according to reports. All in all, Bane should be a nice addition to a roster that consists of talented players like Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
19. New Orleans Pelicans (B-)
Last year, the Pelicans took Zion Williamson with the No. 1 overall pick. This year's draft wasn't as hyped for New Orleans, but the team still acquired a nice piece in Alabama’s Kira Lewis Jr. at No. 13.
Lewis is viewed as one of the fastest players in this class, and that likely played a role in the Pelicans' decision to draft him. New Orleans is a young team that likes to run on the break, and the speedy point guard should fit right in with that style of play.
Lewis is listed at 6-3 and 175 pounds, making him a smaller guard. He'll likely bulk up a bit, and most experts think he has a high ceiling in the league.
While this was a nice pickup for the Pelicans, it leaves the team with several guard-like players on its roster, including Lonzo Ball, JJ Redick, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Josh Hart.
18. Denver Nuggets (B-)
The Nuggets picked up two nice pieces in the first round of Wednesday's draft. At No. 22 overall, Denver selected seven-footer Zeke Nnaji out of Arizona — a big who rebounds well and has the ability to space the floor.
The Nuggets acquired the 24th overall pick in a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. This pick turned out to be R.J. Hampton, a player who many experts viewed as a top-20 talent.
As LaMelo Ball chose to do, R.J. Hampton decided to forgo college and play overseas before declaring for the 2020 NBA Draft. He played one season for the New Zealand Breakers of Australia's National Basketball League. Some analysts felt that he would have been a higher pick in this year's draft had he played in the NCAA, but this is the route he chose.
“I think that I just wanted to experience something different than what everyone else was doing,” said Hampton in August 2019, via USA TODAY. “Everyone goes to college. Everyone plays in March Madness. … And I felt like the best route for me was going overseas and playing professionally to get me ready for the NBA. … You only have one shot at this, basically, to make it to the NBA and make it to be a professional basketball player.”
17. Atlanta Hawks (B-)
The Hawks picked up USC big man Onyeka Okongwu at No. 6 overall. By most accounts, the Hawks were a team that needed some help on the defensive end of the floor. For reference, Atlanta finished last season with the third-worst defensive rating (114.8), and they were ranked last in opponent points per game (119.7). Okongwu should help in that department.
Outside of James Wiseman, Okongwu was viewed as the best big in this class.
16. Toronto Raptors (B-)
The Raptors did the best they could with the 29th overall pick, selecting All-American guard Malachi Flynn out of San Diego State. Some experts feel that Flynn is undersized at 6-1 and 185 pounds. Still, other players of his ilk have thrived in the league before. Just look at Fred VanVleet, a player that Flynn is often compared to.
With Kyle Lowry turning 35 this season and the 27-year-old VanVleet an attractive free agent target, Flynn could become a big piece of Toronto's future.
15. Cleveland Cavaliers (B)
The Cavs picked up Isaac Okoro at No. 5 overall. To many, the Auburn standout was the best defender in this year's class. However, he's also a gifted scorer, capable of finishing cleanly at the hoop and creating his own shot. In his lone season with the Tigers, Okoro earned Second Team All-SEC honors and made the SEC All-Defensive Team.
Defense is Okoro's calling card, but he'll need to improve his perimeter game as he progresses in the NBA. He shot just 28.6 percent from beyond the arc last season. Making things a bit worse is the fact that he shot 67.2 percent from the free-throw line.
The Cavs had the NBA's worst defense last season. Let's see if Okoro's gritty style of play on that end of the floor can get the team moving in the right direction.
14. Dallas Mavericks (B)
The Mavericks picked up Arizona's Josh Green with the 18th overall pick in Wednesday night's draft. The 6-6 guard from Australia should give Dallas the lift it needs on the defensive end of the floor. He has a decent offensive game, and his size will allow him to match up against a multitude of players on the other end.
“What we needed first for our roster was a wing defender who can shoot, score and make plays,” Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle noted, via wfaa.com. “We feel he's a ready to go 3-and-D [three-point and defend] guy.”
13. Oklahoma City Thunder (B)
The Thunder acquired the 17th overall pick by way of a draft night trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. This pick was spent on Aleksej Pokusevski, an 18-year-old seven-footer from Serbia.
NBA scouts had been watching Pokusevski for a while, as they viewed him as a top defensive prospect. In his stint with Serbia during the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Championships in Argentina, he averaged 7.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 steals and three blocks per game.
Pokusevski's game continued to progress from there. At the 2019 U18 European Championships, he turned in averages of 10.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.7 steals and led with event with 4.1 blocks per game.
Though he's young, the Thunder will undoubtedly be looking to develop his talent.
12. Philadelphia 76ers (B)
The 76ers traded Al Horford, as well as first- and second-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Danny Green. Philly then picked up Kentucky's Tyrese Maxey with the 21st overall pick.
Maxey, who earned second-team All SEC honors, averaged 14 points, four rebounds and three assists per game in his lone season at Kentucky. Scouts view him as a good scorer, but not great. He'll need to work on his outside shot a bit more as he makes his way through a career in the NBA. He shot 29.2 percent from downtown with the Wildcats.
“I just want to show them that I can compete. I trust myself, I put the work in, I’m so excited and I’m so thankful,” Maxey told ESPN right after being drafted, via CBS Philly.
Clearly, it seems new head coach Doc Rivers is intent on having plenty of guards at his disposal. Overall, this was a solid pickup.
11. Golden State Warriors (B)
The Warriors selected seven-footer James Wiseman from Memphis with the No. 2 overall pick. Wiseman provided a small sample size with the Tigers, but most scouts still had him in their top-10. With a 7-6 wingspan, he can run the court, finish at the hoop, and guard a myriad of positions.
News of Wiseman's selection was met with a somber mood, however, as it was announced that Klay Thompson suffered what is believed to be a leg injury during a pickup game. This injury, which is still being evaluated, leaves Thompson's availability for the coming season in question.
10. Orlando Magic (B+)
The Magic picked up a nice player in North Carolina's Cole Anthony at at No. 15 overall. Most viewed him as a top-ten talent, so Orlando was fortunate to get him where they did.
A 6-3, 190 pound guard, Anthony averaged 18.5 points on 38.0 percent shooting, 34.8 percent from beyond the arc, 5.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists.
9. Detroit Pistons (B+)
The Pistons made some savvy moves in this year's draft, selecting Killian Hayes at No. 7 overall, then trading to get Isaiah Stewart of Washington at No. 16 and Saddiq Bey of Villanova at No. 19.
Hayes, a 6-5 point guard from France, should be a fine replacement for Reggie Jackson. Most experts feel that Hayes has loads of upside. Some feel that he could develop into an elite point guard in the NBA, while others argue that he'll need to work on his ball security and finishing. Furthermore, he's a left-handed player that will need to work a bit more on his right-handed game.
8. Washington Wizards (B+)
The Wizards could be viewed as one of the luckier teams in this year's draft. Falling to them all the way at No. 9 was Israeli forward Deni Avdija.
Avdija was viewed as the top international prospect in this class. For whatever reason, eight teams passed him up with their selections.
7. Boston Celtics (A-)
The Celtics took Vanderbilt's Aaron Nesmith with the No. 14 overall pick. To many experts and analysts, he is the best shooter in this class. He led the nation with 4.3 three-pointers made per game and shot 52.2 percent from beyond the arc. Through 14 games with the Commodores, he averaged 23 points per game, which led the SEC and ranked sixth in the nation. However, his 2019-20 sophomore season was cut short by a foot injury.
The Celtics also picked up Pac-12 Player of the Year Payton Prichard at No. 26.
6. San Antonio Spurs (A-)
Somewhat surprisingly, Florida State wing Devin Vassell fell to the Spurs at No. 11. Most scouts had him going higher, as he is a solid 3-and-D player who can knock down shots from the perimeter. And though he's listed as a guard, he can play different positions.
“I know that they develop a lot of great players,” Vassell said of the Spurs organization, via USA TODAY. “They take their time. I’m excited to work on my shot, really to work on all of my game.
“Playing for Pop is amazing and a great opportunity,” Vassell added. “It’s going to be great just learning and taking in all the knowledge he has.”
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (A-)
The Timberwolves had the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft. With it, they selected Georgia standout Anthony Edwards.
Some felt that there were better options with the first overall pick, but Minnesota took a safe approach in selecting a player that many viewed as the most talented prospect.
Edwards has explosive power at the hoop, runs the floor well, and he can create his own shot through traffic. The 6-5 guard led all Division I freshmen with 19.1 points per game last season and was the SEC Freshman of the Year.
4. New York Knicks (A)
The Knicks passed up on several talented guards in this year's draft to select Dayton Flyers forward Obi Toppin at No. 8 overall.
Most scouts were projecting Toppin to be a top-five pick, so the Knicks are fortunate to have acquired such a talented player when they did.
Toppin is a true force of power on the court. He has explosive dunking power and a hard-working mentality on defense. He also has a decent shooting stroke, which should serve the Knicks nicely. However, some scouts pointed to his lack of lateral quickness as a hinderance on defense.
3. Miami Heat (A)
The Miami Heat picked up Memphis power forward Precious Achiuwa with the 20th overall pick. The fact that Achiuwa fell to the 20th spot came as a bit of a surprise, as he was projected to be taken much higher. Simply put, this was one of the bigger steals of Wednesday night's draft.
Achiua played well in his lone season at Memphis. Impressively, he was the only freshman among the top ten conferences to average a double-double (15.8 points and a team-high 10.8 boards per game). He also racked up 1.9 blocks, 1.1 steals and 1.0 assists in his team-high 31 outings.
2. Sacramento Kings (A+)
In what proved to be another draft night steal, the Sacramento Kings were able to select Iowa State point guard Tyrese Haliburton at No. 12 overall.
For good reason, Haliburton's stock continued to rise right up to the start of this year's draft. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 15.2 points and 6.5 assists and 5.9 rebounds during his sophomore season at Iowa State. Unfortunately, though, his run was ended late in the regular season with a broken thumb. Still, he shot better than 42 percent from three-point range during his college career.
1. Charlotte Hornets (A+)
Michael Jordan and his Hornets made an eye-catching move with the No. 3 overall pick, Anthony Edwards and James Wiseman were already off the board, so the team decided to go with LaMelo Ball.
Ball is one of the more polarizing figures in this year's class, and not just because of his father's antics. LaMelo is actually a gifted scorer, but he's also willing to find the open man in transition. At 6-7 he's a taller guard, which should allow him to spot up in a variety of positions. And let's not forget about his ball handling prowess.
Ball first earned national attention during his freshman year at Chino Hills High School in California, where he won a state title playing alongside his older brothers LiAngelo and Lonzo. Now, however, LaMelo will look to make waves in the pros.
The Hornets haven't won a playoff series since the 2001-02 season, but their hoping Ball can change that narrative.
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