2020 NBA Mock Draft: 4.0 halfway through the NBA season
1
James Wiseman Center, United States
19.7 Points, 10.7 Rebounds, 0.3 Assists, 0.3 Steals, 3.0 Blocks, 77% FG, 0% 3PT, 23 MPG
If Atlanta ends up with the first overall pick in this draft, this core would go from already incredible to a potential dynasty group. It is my opinion that the Atlanta Hawks are already the NBA’s top young core in terms of talent, and adding the first pick in the draft into the mix is a massive opportunity.
With this pick, it is very much a toss-up whether the team would take Wiseman or Georgia’s Anthony Edwards, as both are elite talents who fill positional needs for the Hawks.
Here, the former Memphis Tiger may be too good to pass on, as many have coined him as the second coming of Anthony Davis. Wiseman would be the ideal inside threat to pair with John Collins down low, as Wiseman would be NBA-ready from day one as a professional. He has no gaping holes in his game and has the potential to form a legit superstar duo with Trae Young for years to come.
Draft Stock Trend: +/- 0
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Jaden McDaniels Forward, Washington
Scouting Report
If the Warriors are unable to land James Wiseman with their first round pick, expect them to trade it. The abundance of guards in this class does not serve Golden State well, as the team already has an all-time-great backcourt in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, not to mention D’Angelo Russell who is also an All-Star guard.
Although Anthony Edwards of UGA is the clear-cut best player available here, the Warriors already have a logjam in their backcourt and are highly unlikely to take another one with a top pick.
Jalen McDaniels is not a top-two player in his class by any means, but he provides Golden State with a future solution to their gap at small forward left by Kevin Durant. In fact, McDaniels has a Durant-type skillset as a long, lanky forward who can handle the ball well and has shown the ability to shoot the long ball.
He is still a project piece for the time being, but the Warriors would be able to afford to give him time to develop thanks to their elite core. Again, however, it is highly unlikely that Golden State keeps this pick if Wiseman’s name is called by the Hawks, as McDaniels at second overall is probably a stretch.