2020 NBA Mock Draft: 4.0 halfway through the NBA season
35
N'Faly Dante Center, Oregon
7.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks, 61% Fg, 16 mpg
Pick Via Washington Wizards
With two second round picks in a row, New Orleans will look to pile on to their already overwhelming amount of young talent on their roster. Enter N’Faly Dante, the young center from Oregon who has loads of potential but has yet to put it all on display due to injuries. In his very limited minutes so far this season, Dante has put up extremely solid numbers.
If he were to continue this success and get his minute totals up, he could very well be a first round pick.
There is a very realistic chance that Dante will return to school for the 2020-2021 season, but if he does not, New Orleans could be getting a bargain in Dante. Defensively, his length would allow him to be a very good anchor down low for the reserve unit, while offensively he is continuing to improve his game.
Draft Stock Trend: n/a
36
Trendon Watford Forward, Louisiana State
12.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks, 46% fg, 29% 3pt, 30 mpg
LSU’s Trendon Watford was a highly-recruited player out of high school who has been quite quiet down in Baton Rouge. Watford has always been considered an offensive-minded four who can score in a multitude of ways.
His three point shot has been a bit underwhelming this year, but he remains an efficient scorer from the floor in general, despite his reluctancy to be aggressive with his touches.
New Orleans would once again cross their fingers that a player would turn out to be the prospect that he was once thought to be. Watford would compliment N’Faly Dante quite well, considering the two players’ strengths are opposites. If both were to pan out, New Orleans could become extremely deep and young in the frontcourt.
Draft Stock Trend: -1
37
Mamadi Diakite Center, Virginia
12.9 Points, 6.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.1 blocks, 45% fg, 38% 3pt, 31 mpg
Pick Via Detroit Pistons
Taking a turn away from high-potential and high-risk players, the Sacramento Kings will play it safe and take reigning national champion center Mamadi Diakite of UVA. Having a career year for the Cavaliers, Diakite has established himself as a prospect for the 2020 NBA Draft.
His ability to stretch the floor from the center spot will be extremely intriguing for NBA executives. As an upperclassman who has been in winning situations before, he can also provide valuable leadership and insight for the Kings.
What will draw teams, like Sacramento, to Diakite is his all-around game and constant improvement over his four seasons in Charlottesville. Diakite is a player who is ready to come in immediately and make an impact off of the bench, which the Kings very much need considering their step back in 2019-2020.
Draft Stock Trend: n/a
38
Jalen Smith Forward, Maryland
13.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 2.3 blocks, 51% fg, 37% 3pt, 28 mpg
Pick Via Chicago Bulls
With the pick used to trade for Tomas Satoransky, the Washington Wizards will search for a backup to stellar rookie Rui Hachimura. Smith was once thought to have first round potential, but has failed to make many improvements in his second collegiate season. Defensively, Smith has played phenomenally, while his offense is rather stagnant from year one to two.
Being able to take Smith in the second round is a decent value for the Wizards, who can use him as a bench piece going forward and in defensive situations. If his three pointer ever gets going, as hoped at the beginning of the season, this pick could be a very solid one. Nonetheless, his all-around game will prove useful at the professional level in Washington.