2020 NBA Mock Draft Version 6.0: Coronavirus halts NBA season
31
Jordan Nwora Forward, University of Louisville
18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.3 blocks, 44% fg, 40% 3pt, 33 mpg
Pick Via Golden State Warriors (Unprotected)
Following an atrocious end to his college career, Jordan Nwora finds himself all the way back in the second round. Nwora can score from all three levels, although he does not always do so consistently.
He is an above-average athlete who can run the floor and rebound with ease. Defensively, however, Nwora is a huge liability. Although Dallas would certainly hope that he would learn to hold his own on that end, Nwora projects to be a role player rather than a starter anyway, which is a role in which he can focus on his offensive game.
Dallas already has their star duo in Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, and although they could opt to go for a high-upside play, here they opt to add another solid piece to put around their stars. Nwora’s three point shooting and athleticism should make him a solid rotational guy.
Efficiency and defense are going to be issues for him going forward, but the upper-classman can come in immediately and make a scoring impact off of the bench.
Draft Stock Trend: -10
32
Scottie Lewis Jr. Guard, University of Florida
8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.2 blocks, 44% fg, 36% 3pt, 29 mpg
Pick Via Cleveland Cavaliers (Unprotected)
It is unclear whether or not Scottie Lewis will declare for the draft or return to Florida for a sophomore campaign. However, if he decides to go pro, he will certainly get some looks early in the second round. Lewis was a five-star recruit in the high school class of 2019, but in spite of high expectations, he struggled mightily on offense to begin the year.
Even through offensive struggles, however, Lewis’ defensive abilities and athleticism shined, keeping his NBA hopes alive.
The second half of the season saw some improvement offensively for Lewis, although he was not as aggressive as many scouts would have liked him to be. His efficiency has not been as bad as some make it out to be, and with him seeming to find his game in the latter part of the season, one would have to wonder how greatly Lewis would have benefitted from the NCAA Tournament.
If he can develop an offensive game, Lewis has the potential to be a very good NBA player. At the very least, however, he will be an above-average defender. The Malik Monk experiment appears to be a flop in Charlotte, and Lewis could be just the high-ceiling replacement they need.
Draft Stock Trend: -1
33
Kira Lewis Jr. Guard, University of Alabama
18.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, 46% fg, 37% 3pt, 38 mpg
Sophomore Kira Lewis Jr. has had a quietly productive season at Alabama this year, making his impact felt on both ends of the floor for the Crimson Tide. Questions about how well Lewis’ game will transfer to the NBA often arise in his draft profile, but he has been too good this season not to be drafted near the top of the second round. At 6-foot-3, Lewis does not have great NBA size and plays much more like a two than a one, but this is becoming more and more common in the league.
He has answered a lot of questions about his playmaking abilities this season, getting his assist totals up to over five per contest. However, he is still very turnover prone.
The Wolves should be actively looking for a backup to D’Angelo Russell this summer, and Lewis could be a good starting place. He may not have NBA starter pedigree, but his natural scoring abilities could be well suited playing off of the bench.
Draft Stock Trend: +5
34
Killian Tillie Forward, Gonzaga University
13.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks, 54% fg, 40% 3pt, 25 mpg
Pick Via Atlanta Hawks (Protected 56-60)
Once again, the 76ers will use a draft pick on a floor spacing option in Killian Tillie. Although he received some first round projections to begin the season, Tillie had a rather quiet season at Gonzaga and saw his stock slip down to the second round. His play was by no means poor in 2019-2020, but rather he was not as aggressive as many hoped he would be.
Regardless of the quantity of his output, Tille’s skill set as a stretch four is a valuable commodity in the NBA that should solidify himself as a draft pick.
When considering the fact that Tillie’s minute totals were not where the average NBA prospects’ were. Nonetheless, Philadelphia should be extremely interested in a player who scores as efficiently as Tillie does by the variety in which that scoring comes.
Outside of shooting the deep ball, he will not provide much for Philly, but spacing off of the bench is essential for a group that struggles to shoot the ball.