2020 NBA DRAFT BIG BOARD AND PROSPECT COMPARISONS

With the 2020 NBA Draft being confirmed for November 18, this would be a good time for the initial prospect big board. Along with a ranking of prospects, I have also included a small write up and NBA comparisons for each prospect to hopefully familiarize you with the youngsters.

A note on NBA comparisons... I'm not saying the prospect will turn into that player, just that their playstyles are similar

BIG BOARD

1. Lamelo ball, PG/SG (New ZEALAND)

The younger brother of former 2nd overall pick Lonzo Ball, LaMelo Ball has all the same instincts as his brother as a passer and is exponentially a better scorer. Standing at 6'8" with a 7'3" wingspan, LaMelo has a rare combination of size and athleticism at the point guard position. He also has an elite handle, good finishing skills around the rim with a deep bag of tricks, and an above average jumpshot with deep range. With his combo of size, length, and speed, it's also possible he can become a valuable perimeter defender.

Ball skipped college and elected to play in New Zealand, where he played very well against grown men.

NBA Comparison: Penny Hardaway, but a better passer

2. Anthony Edwards, SG (Georgia)

Anthony Edwards is a strong and freakishly athletic guard with a serviceable jump shot. That's not easy to find. Although he's only 6'4", his 6'9" wingspan and elite strength allowed him to lock up taller wing players in college. His best skillset is his ability to use his strength and finish around the rim, but he also has a good looking jumpshot that shows he can improve on his shooting percentages from college (29.4% from 3) with a little work. A smart player with good instincts and high energy, Edwards should contribute right away.

NBA Comparison: Donavon Mitchell

3. James Wiseman, C (Memphis)

Wiseman, the highest ranked high school player in the country in 2019, ultimately chose to play for the University of Memphis... but he only played 3 games there due to off the court legal issues stemming from illegal benefits that he received from Memphis. In a small sample size, Wiseman truly looked elite. In his 3 games he averaged 19.7 PPG and 10.7 RPG on 77% shooting. Wiseman is a legit 7'1" and possesses elite athleticism for his size. He's a good leaper, and that helps him catch lobs at the rim and block shots at an elite level. He doesn't yet have a 3 point jumpshot or an array of post moves, but he gets by without those because he's so athletic. He can also afford to get a little stronger.

NBA Comparison: Prime DeAndre Jordan

4. Deni Avdija, SF/PF (ISRAEL)

Playing in Israel, Avdija has flown up draft boards in some of the same ways that Luka Doncic did. Avdija lead Israel to a U20 FIBA Championship at 18 and was named the tournaments MVP and that put him on NBA scouts radar. He's been playing professional basketball since he was 15 and that really shows in his game. He has elite basketball IQ and instincts. He is also very crafty with the ball in his hands and that helps him create his own shot an elite level. His signature stepback would already be one of the best stepbacks in the NBA. He's got a very good shooting touch and could easily shoot 40% from 3 in the NBA. Good size at 6'8" but does have short arms. That, combined with the fact that he's not an elite athlete will limit his potential as a defender. I envision him in a point forward role that doubles as a nice stretch 4.

NBA Comparison: Hedo Turkoglu

5. Obi Toppin, PF (Dayton)

Talk about a riser! A 0 star recruit, Toppin was forced to redshirt his freshman year at Dayton, then earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year in his first season, then earned National Player of the Year this past year as a redshirt sophomore. He is 22 years old, but his unique skillset may convince teams to take him very highly anyway. Toppin is 6'9" and super athletic. His good leaping ability allowed him to collect 7.5 RPG and 1.2 BPG for the Fylers this season, while also leading the nation in dunks. That leaping ability along with his quick feet make it easy to project him as a versatile pick and roll defender. Toppin's most valuable asset though may be his ability to stretch the floor. He shot 39% from 3 on almost 3 attempts per game this year. I think a lot of NBA teams would be salivating at a versatile defender with great athleticism who can also knock down the 3.

NBA Comparison: Kenyon Martin with a jumpshot

6. Onyeka Okungwu, C (USC)

The biggest concern for Okungwu is his ability to play center in the NBA at only 6'9", but what he lacks in height he makes up for it with elite athleticism. Okungwu dominated this year for USC, averaging 16.2 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and a whopping 2.7 BPG while shooting 62% from the field. He's an amazing leaper, showing a good vertical and a really good sense of timing to block shots. A product of the Ball Brothers Chino Hills offense, Okungwu is used to running the floor and playing in a fast paced system. He has no ability to shoot the 3 and that may hinder his ability to play crunch time minutes, but his rim protection and athleticism should be valuable enough to make him a lock for the top 10.

NBA Comparison: Bam Adebayo

7. Isaac Okoro, SG/SF, Auburn

Okoro is strong and athletic wing who is very good at finishing around the rim and excels at finishing through contact. Measuring at 6'6" and 220 lbs, he's got the prototypical size for an NBA wing. He's also got very good fundamentals on the defensive end and projects as a plus defender. He's only 19 and is very raw offensively. He'll struggle to create his own shot in the NBA if he doesn't develop more of a consistent jumper (28% from 3 this year). At the very worst, Okoro is a rotational player that'll give you good wing defense and slashing ability.

NBA Comparison: Young Andre Iguodala

8. Killian Hayes, PG (France)

Hayes is a tall (6'5") left handed point guard who has all the tools to be great. He's very crafty in more ways than one. He's got a good handle with a complete arsenal of dribble moves that allows him to consistently beat his defender and create his own shot. He's got good vision and a good feel for the game that should translate into high assist numbers at the next level. Hayes has a good pull up jumper, and is also serviceable in catch and shoot situations. The knock on Hayes is that he's not an incredible athlete and sometimes plays too fast. He may also need to put on some muscle if he wants to be serviceable as a defender.

NBA Comparison: Manu Ginobili

9. Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG (Iowa State)

Haliburton is probably the most well rounded prospect in this draft. He doesn't do anything at an elite level, but he's got a vast skillset of things he does very well. He's got good size at 6'5" and also has long arms that help him defensively. He's also a very smart basketball player with good instincts. He's a good passer and also moves well without the ball. Perhaps the biggest question mark with Haliburton is his jumpshot. Although he did make 43% of his 3s (over 4 3PA per game) in his two college seasons, his shooting form is unorthodox and very slow, and may have to be tweaked in the NBA to be effective on contested shots. Haliburton is also not an elite athlete in terms of speed or explosiveness, and that may limit his NBA ceiling.

NBA Comparison: Lonzo Ball

10. Devin Vassell, SG/SF (Florida State)

Vassell is an athletic and versatile wing that can contribute on both ends of the court right away. He had a few highlight reel dunks this year at Florida State and is definitely a high flyer. Not only is he a high flyer, but he was also elite from 3 point range in his two years at FSU. He shot 42% from 3 in both of his seasons. At 6'7" 200 lbs, he also possesses the size that makes him valuable as a defender guarding 2-4, especially given his athleticism. He doesn't create a lot of offense for himself and struggles in isolation situations, and that's what lead to him having 6 games this year where he was held to single digits in points.

NBA Comparison: Kelly Oubre

11. RJ Hampton, PG/SG (New Zealand)

Much like LaMelo Ball, Hampton elected to go the overseas route instead of college and ended up playing in New Zealand. Hampton is a 6'4" ball dominant guard and has good size, length, and physicality for the either guard spot. Hampton's best asset is his elite ball handling skills. He's got a deep bag of moves and regularly beats defenders off the dribble. He's super shifty with the ball in his hands and his crossover lets him change direction very quickly. Hampton's potential downfall could be his scoring ability. He's okay, not great, from 3 and doesn't have much of a mid range game either. He'll be a good playmaker off the bench right away, and has potential to develop into something greater if he can improve as a shooter.

NBA Comparison: Dante Exum

12. Precious Achiuwa, PF (Memphis)

The second Memphis player on the big board, Achiuwa took over as the Tigers best player after Wiseman got suspended then withdrew from the program. Achiuwa has good size (6'9", 225 lbs) for an NBA 4 and potentially could see a Montrezl Harrell role as a small ball 5. He's got long arms and quick feet that project well as a defender at the next level. Achiuwa is really athletic. Not only can he jump out of the gym, he's very twitchy. He's got a noticeable quickness to his game. He's an effort player who plays fast and with loads of energy. He's not a great ball handler or shooter, nor is he great in the post. He's really a "tweener" who should get minutes due to his effort and athleticism.

NBA Comparison: Pascal Siakam without the jumpshot

13. Aaron Nesmith, SG/SF (Vanderbilt)

Nesmith is by far the best shooter in the draft. He played 2 years at Vandy and in his 2nd year he shot 52.2% from 3 on 8.2 attempts per game. Although it is a small sample size (Nesmith only played 13 games due to a season ending injury), it is significant enough to show that he can be a good shooter at the next level. His jumpshot is quick and fundamentally sound, and he knocked down a few shots well beyond NBA three point range. He's got a good stepback jumper and shoots pretty well off the dribble overall. He's also a solid and smart defender. The main concern for him would be injury. He's also not much of a passer or finisher around the rim.

NBA Comparison: Danny Green

14. Saddiq Bey, SF/PF (Villanova)

Bey is a versatile forward who has a vast skillset and may be one of the most NBA ready contributors in this class. Standing at 6'8", he's got the size and athletic ability to guard both forward positions and has the skillset to play either position offensively. Bey is an elite catch and shoot perimeter player. He shot 45% from 3 this year for the Wildcats (made 2.5 3's per game). He is limited in his athletic ability, but a sound fundamental defender who can stretch the floor should make him an attractive option for any team in contention.

NBA Comparison: Jae Crowder

15. Cole Anthony, PG (North Carolina)

Cole Anthony is undoubtedly the biggest question mark in this draft. Coming in as a 5 star top recruit, Anthony severely disappointed in his only season at UNC. He shot 38% from the field on 16 shots a game, and also had a major turnover problem (3.5 TO, 4 AST). He's quick and twitchy with the ball, but often times dribbles himself into trouble. He's a great athlete and controls his body well in the air to finish around the rim. Anthony also has an okay jumpshot, but the problem is that he's never met a shot he didn't like. The physical tools and skills are all there, it's the mental side of the game that's going to be the problem for him.

NBA Comp: Less composed Jamal Murray

16. Theo Maledon, PG (France)

The second French point guard on the list, Maledon's claim to fame is his defense. He's very reminiscent of former French PG, and top 10 pick in 2017, Frank Ntilikina. With that being said, Maledon has far more offensive potential than Ntilikina. Most of that offensive potential I see is because of Maledon's IQ. He's always playing under control and hardly ever gets rattled from on ball pressure. He didn't shoot the ball that well, but he's got good mechanics that show promise and potential to be developed. Maledon's good handle allows him to get to the paint frequently and he's working on ways to capitalize on that. He's got a good floater but not much else around the rim. He's got to learn to be more physical on both ends of the floor, especially because he's not a great athlete. Scouts could be afraid his scoring ability might hold him back at the next level.

NBA Comp: Frank Ntilikina

17. Patrick Williams, SF/PF (Florida State)

Coming out of Florida State at 6'7" and 215 lbs, Williams brings a combo of size and athleticism that could have NBA scouts drooling. The word "project" is fitting for Williams, as he needs to add a little bit to his offensive game. He also has loads of potential as a defender, both on the perimeter and on the inside. He's got the tools to guard 2-4 in the NBA and with a little bit of work, could be a good shooter as well. Williams has a very high ceiling in my eyes, and his athleticism will be enough for him to contribute right away.

NBA Comparison: OG Anunoby

18. Tyrese Maxey, SG (Kentucky)

Maxey is an explosive athlete with elite speed and good strength for his size. He's a little small for NBA 2 guard standards, but he's not good enough of a playmaker to be an NBA point guard either. He's an excellent shooter. Good on the catch and shoot, and also an elite pull up mid range shot. He's a good athlete and that helps him defensively and on the glass as well. The big question mark with him is consistency. He seemed to disappear in some games, and had some games where he shot very inefficiently.

NBA Comparison: Steve Francis

19. Jalen Smith, PF/C (Maryland)

Smith would've been a fringe first round pick if he had come out after his freshman season last year, but he decided to return to college for a 2nd season and improved his draft stock by doing so. He's got a unique set of skills for a 6'10" big. He's a very capable 3 point shooter as he shot 37% from 3 this season. . His best asset is his athleticism and 7'1" wingspan that allows him to block shots at a high volume. He had 2.4 BPG this season and seemed to contest every shot at the rim. The knock on Smith is that he only weighs about 200 lbs and may struggle to handle strong NBA 4s and 5s, both offensively and defensively

NBA Comparison: Chris Boucher

20. Nico Mannion, PG/SG (Arizona)

Another hyped prospect who disappointed in his freshman year, Mannion just couldn't put it together at Arizona. He shot 39% from the field and 33% from 3 this year. Shot selection was definitely an issue, as he seemed to force his shots up if they weren't coming naturally. He's got a good foundation though. Meaning he's fundamentally sound and has good ball skills, passing vision, and athleticism. The consistency of his jumpshot and adjusting mentally to the NBA will be Mannion's biggest hurdles.

NBA Comparison: Derrick White

21. Aleksej Pokusevski, C (Serbia)

Pokusevski burst onto NBA scouts' radar this year playing in Greece, as the 7'0" 18 year old showed flashes of excellence and a unique skillset offensively. He dribbles and shoots like a guard, moves like a wing, and protects the rim like a center. He's a basketball unicorn. So what's the downside for Poku? Well, let's start with the fact that he played in Greece's sub-division where he faced less than formidable talent. He also is not a natural basketball player in terms of IQ and feel for the game. He sometimes does too much and dribbles into trouble or takes bad shots. He's got a sky high ceiling, but could ultimately be limited by his poor instincts. He's also very frail, weighing in at just 185 lbs. It's hard to imagine him defending bigs at the next level.

NBA Comparison: Kristaps Porzingis

22. Josh Green, SG (Arizona)

Green is probably the best perimeter defender in this draft. His 6'5 200 lbs frame and good athleticism allowed him to regularly lock up the opposing team's best player in college. He's got that "dog" in him on the defensive end and plays very physical. He's also got good feel for the game as a playmaker and is a serviceable jump shooter. He is often over aggressive on the defensive end and gets into foul trouble or beat on backdoor cuts. He also needs to develop more offensively in terms of creating his own shot. Ultimately, he should be a solid role player for a contender.

NBA Comparison: Josh Richardson

23. Kira Lewis, PG (Alabama)

Lewis may be the fastest player in the draft and he uses his speed well to beat defenders off the dribble and push the pace on the break. He's only 6'3" but his long arms help a lot with his ability to finish around the rim. He's got a good floater and a good pull up mid range game that should translate into buckets at the NBA level. His speed jumps off the screen and he's got a noticeable smoothness to his game. My worries about Lewis are that he might struggle to be impactful in an established NBA system without having the ball in his hands. He doesn't move well without the ball and wasn't great in catch and shoot situations in his two years at Alabama. I think he could be a great secondary playmaker and good spark plug off the bench early on.

NBA Comparison: Darren Collison

24. Vernon Carey, PF/C (Duke)

Coming out of Duke at 6'10" 270 lbs, Vernon Carey is a strong and forceful big with loads of scoring ability. He's left handed and is very good finishing around the rim and in the post with that left hand. He's also got a good shooting touch, as he shot 38% from 3 on a limited number of attempts in his only season at Duke. He's a good shot blocker, but his lack of athleticism and footspeed caps his defensive potential. Out of the gate Carey's nothing more than a bruiser, but he shows promise as a developmental player that can be taught to be a better shooter and defender.

NBA Comparison: Carlos Boozer

25. Jaden McDaniels, PF (Washington)

McDaniels impressed NBA scouts at Washington with his physical tools, but his play on the court as a freshman left much to be desired. He's tall at 6'10" with great length, quickness, and athleticism.. but he just couldn't seem to put it all together to score efficiently. He put up 13 PPG, but only shot 40.5% from the field and 34% from 3. He was a good defender in college, and his physical profile shows that could translate to the NBA. Overall he's a very raw prospect who will need to hang his hat on his defensive ability. If his scoring ability can be developed, he could turn into a good NBA player.

NBA Comparison: Jonathon Isaac

26. Tyrell Terry, PG (Stanford)

Tyrell Terry flew up draft boards this season due to his jumpshot and shot making ability. He's got a pretty looking shot and knocked down over 40% of his 3 point attempts in his only season at Stanford. He's got a lot of creativeness to his game that allows him to get open. He's also a pretty good passer and especially excels in the pick and roll. His defense is poor and he'd likely be a liability if he were to step on an NBA court right now. At only 160 lbs, his frame is small and he'll need to fill out in order to play in the NBA. He's likely a G-League level player right now, but his ability to knock down 3s and create offense could convince a team to take a chance on him and develop him.

NBA Comparison: Seth Curry

27. Isaiah Stewart, PF/C (Washington)

The upstate New York product was a 5 Star recruit and lived up to the hype by dominating his freshman year at Washington. He average 17 PPG and 8 RPG on 57% shooting this year for the Huskies. His scoring ability is unpolished and doesn't really have any go-to moves or skills to bank on, as a lot of his buckets were results of lobs at the rim, putbacks off misses, or hustle plays. He does posses elite strength and a humongous 7'4" wingspan, which make up for him being an undersized center at only 6'9". He blocked over 2 shots a game and showed great instincts on the defensive end. Though he's not very athletic or mobile for a big, he could contribute in the NBA as a high motor glass cleaner.

NBA Comparison: Zach Randolph

28. Udoka Azubuike, C (Kansas)

Standing at 6'11" and weighing 280 lbs, Azubuike has ideal size for an NBA center. He played 4 years at Kansas and showed tremendous growth each season. He relies solely on size, strength, and athleticism to get his buckets, as he lacks any real offensive skillset. His NBA money will be made on the defensive end, as he uses his size and athleticism to his advantage to protect the rim with ease. He averaged 2.6 BPG this season and 2 BPG for his 4 year collegiate career. He can be impactful early on as a rim protector, but needs serious developmental work on his offensive skills.

NBA Comparison: Bismack Biyombo

29. Elijah Hughes, SG/SF (Syracuse)

Carrying the load this year for Syracuse, Hughes lead the whole ACC in soring at 19 PPG. He's got a well rounded game, as he's a solid 3 point shooter with good athleticism. He attacks the rim well in open space as well as creating his own shot off the dribble. The worries with Hughes are his defensive ability and his ability to score consistently. He played in a zone 100% of the time in college, so his man to man defensive skills are a question mark. He's got a quick trigger and shot selection at Syracuse was sometimes an issue. He's 22 years old and his upside is limited, but he can contribute in the NBA if he proves he can defend at a high level.

NBA Comparison: Malik Beasley

30. Leandro Bolmaro, SG/SF (Argentina)

With good size for an NBA wing at 6'7", Bolmaro showed promise this season playing in Spain for Barcelona. He's a smart "heady" player with good natural basketball instincts and a deep bag of tricks on the offensive end. He's got a good looking jumpshot and often was quick to pull up off the dribble. He didn't shoot all that efficiently, but that's somewhat to be expected for an 18 year old playing against grown men. He also showed his ability to playmake well. He's definitely a project and may be a "draft and stash" candidate, but with a little more work on the offensive end, he could be an impactful NBA scorer.

NBA Comparison: Evan Turner