2020 NBA Mock Draft Version 6.0: Coronavirus halts NBA season
27
Josh Green Guard, University of Arizona
12.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.4 blocks, 42% fg 36% 3pt, 31 mpg
Pick Via Los Angeles Clippers (Unprotected)
Josh Green had a rocky start to his NCAA career, but he showed great improvement throughout his freshman season that should salvage his status as a first round pick. Green is a well above-average athlete who has struggled to shoot the outside ball, but has shown great strides in that area of his game.
He defends well on the perimeter, fueled by his aforementioned athleticism and frame at 6-foot-6. Green is best suited at the two, but he is more than capable of playing either wing spot and can defend the one through three.
Here, the Knicks use their second of two first round selections to snag a high ceiling player in Green. As one of the top players in the high school class of 2019, Green has the potential to be one of the better players in this class.
His success will ride almost completely on his jump shooting, but if he can figure things out he could be a great NBA player. If he lives up to his potential, he could very well slide R.J. Barrett back to his natural small forward position and form a very talented backcourt with fellow 2020 pick Cole Anthony.
Draft Stock Trend: +1
28
Zeke Nnaji Forward, University of Arizona
16.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.9 blocks, 57% fg, 29% 3pt, 31 mpg
With Marc Gasol’s career likely coming to an end in the very near future, the Raptors must begin their search for a new center. Zeke Nnaji was not expected to be a one-and-done player playing alongside fellow five-stars in Josh Green and Nico Mannion, but his surprisingly good play has earned him a spot in the late first round.
Nnaji has a very frail frame, but he has not let it deter him from being an effective college basketball player. He is a solid rebounder and post scorer, although putting on some weight as a professional is a must.
Offensively, Nnaji’s game will likely translate to the NBA in that his jump shot shows some promise. On the other end, however, he will more than likely be a liability. Toronto isn’t necessarily looking for star power picking in the latter part of the first round, but rather looking to solidify a role.
With time, Nnaji can develop into a solid rotational player for the Raptors and become the eventual replacement to what is perhaps a future hall of famer in Marc Gasol.
Draft Stock Trend: -2
29
Tre Jones Guard, Duke University
16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.3 blocks, 42% fg, 36% 3pt, 35 mpg
Tre Jones had a great sophomore season at Duke, earning ACC Player of the Year honors. His decision to return to Duke certainly paid off in an increase in production, but unfortunately for Jones, this year’s draft class is chalk-full of point guards.
Because of this, he is likely going to be drafted in a very similar position that he would have last year. Nonetheless, the Lakers would be getting a great value in Jones all the way back at twenty nine, as he may be the defensive and distributing presence the team needs.
As of now, the Lakers do not have a viable option at the point guard going forward. They could continue to play LeBron James at the one, which they should and probably will, but finding a ball handler off of the bench is extremely necessary.
Considering that the Lakers will not have many of their draft picks going forward, thanks to the Anthony Davis trade, nailing their limited selections is key. Jones may not have an extremely high ceiling, considering his size and jumper, but he should be able to play a solid role as a scrappy perimeter defender and catalyst off of the bench.
Draft Stock Trend: -6
30
Aleksej Pokusevski Center, Olympiacos B.C.
0.0 points, 0.0 rebounds, 0.0 assists, 0.0 steals, 0.0 blocks, 0% fg, 2 mpg
Pick Via Milwaukee Bucks (Top-7 Protected)
Just to reiterate, it is highly unlikely that a contending team like the Boston Celtics retains all three of their first round picks. However, assuming they stay put at thirty, taking a project piece like Aleksej Pokusevski would make a lot of sense.
For starters, it is common knowledge that Danny Ainge loves to roll the dice on international prospects. Secondly, with three first round picks, why not take a home run swing on a prospect that could pay dividends?
Limited play and a frail frame create the possibility of Pokusevski becoming a bust, but his upside is clearly there. He runs the floor extremely well for a player of his size and his jumper is advanced for a seven-footer. His near non-existent sample size is by far the biggest question mark surrounding the young Pokusevski, as he has played a mere two minutes for Olympiacos of the EuroLeague this season and has only attempted one field goal.
No one really knows how good Pokusevski is, but his intangibles point to him being a solid prospect.