That’s the eternal consultation for the groups that decide on the lottery component of the NBA draft: do we take the most productive player or the one that adapts to our greatest need?
The iteration of 2020 will be no different, with groups set in the first part of the draft opting for a traditionally weak draft class. Even for the Golden State Warriors, a little two years after winning the NBA Finals, on which spending their draft capital is not a simple question.
With a large number of potential players deciding to return to school due to the uncertainty surrounding this year’s draft process, the groups are left with an even more empty closet. Prospects who would be the first marginal players will likely be taken to the middle of the third round of the first round, and groups that decide the pillars of the forward-looking franchise at Diversity No. 5-10 expect to locate long-running headlines.
Based on that, we can see wild fluctuations where we would expect a player to be selected and where they do, either in the most sensible part and at the back of the draft table.
2020 NBA simulated draft
1. Golden State Warriors: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia
2. Cleveland Cavaliers: James Wiseman, C, Memphis
3. Minnesota Timberwolves: LaMelo Ball, PG/SG, Illawarra Hawks
4. Atlanta Hawks: Obi Toppin, PF/C, Dayton
5. Detroit Pistons: Killian Hayes, PG, Ulm Ratiopharm
6. New York Knicks: Onyeka Okongwu, PF/C, USC
7. Chicago Bulls: Devin Vassell, SF, State of Florida
8. Charlotte Hornets: Tyrese Haliburton, PG, State of Iowa
9. Washington Wizards: Deni Avdija, SF / PF, Maccabi Tel Aviv
10. Phoenix Suns: Isaac Okoro, SF/ PF, Auburn
11. San Antonio Spurs: Cole Anthony, PG, North Carolina
12th Sacramento Kings: Aaron Nesmith, SF, Vanderbilt
13. New Orleans Pelicans: Saddiq Bey, SF/PF, Villanova
14. Portland Trail Blazers: Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Brooklyn Nets): Patrick Williams, PF, Florida State16. Boston Celtics (via Memphis Grizzlies): RJ Hampton, SG, New Zealand Breakers
17. Orlando Magic: Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama
18. Dallas Mavericks: Tyrese Maxey, SG, Kentucky
19. Brooklyn Nets (via the Philadelphia 76ers): Josh Green, SG, Arizona
20. Milwaukee Bucks (via Indiana Pacers): Leandro Bolmaro, SG/SF, FC Barcelona
21. Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City Thunder): Terry Tyrell, PG, Stanford
22. Utah Jazz: Theo Maledon, PG, ASVEL
23. Miami Heat: Jaden McDaniels, SF/ PF, Washington
24. Denver Nuggets (via Houston Rockets): Grant Riller, PG/SG, Charleston
25. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Denver Nuggets): Robert Woodard II, SF, Mississippi State
26. Boston Celtics: Aleksej Pokusevski, PF, Olympiacos B
27. New York Knicks (via Los Angeles Clippers): Jahmi’us Ramsey, SG, Texas Tech
28. Toronto Raptors: Jalen Smith, PF/C, Maryland
29. Los Angeles Lakers: Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona
30. Boston Celtics (via Milwaukee Bucks): Xavier Tillman, PF/C, State of Michigan
Cole Anthony, G, North Carolina
Cole Anthony is one of the enigmatic highs of this year’s class.
He arrived in North Carolina last season as the expected top three selection. The Tar Heels season passed temporarily, in part due to Anthony’s injuries, which caused him to miss 11 games. When he returned, he was under heavy pressure to carry out the UNC offense, and to some extent he did. His consistent shots with percentages were not impressive, however, he had impressive numbers: 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists consistent with the game.
Draft analysts are divided over where Anthony will land. Prior to the season, Maximum saw it as an option for the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons, groups that can be used by a game creator. And if Anthony surprised other people with the mix, if that happens, it’s an option.
He’ll probably land on the no. Rank 10-15, with a team to locate a forged opener but hoping to locate a star that will emerge from the 10th most sensible.
The San Antonio Spurs desperately want a goalkeeper, and with DeMar DeRozan (31) and LaMarcus Aldridge (35) in the final years of their careers, Anthony can be a player to build alongside Dejounte Murray and Derrick White.
Deni Avdija, SF / PF, Maccabi Tel Aviv
Deni Avdija is one of the biggest unknowns in this year’s draft class, because the COVID-19 pandemic has necessarily closed foreign basketball for months. But there is much intrigue, and hope, around it, one of the highest hopes of this year’s group.
He’s not a goalscorer from start to finish, however, for groups like the Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns, another goalscorer is not what they want. They want collaborators to play around their stars: Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton in Phoenix, and John Wall and Bradley Beal in Washington. It is imaginable that Avdija will be off the board for as long as any of those groups choose to be founded over the course of Thursday’s lottery draw.
But among the small eaves eligible for the draft, Avdija is the subtle maximum in terms of skills after betting on Maccabi Tel Aviv from the age of 16, making him the youngest player to be in the club’s senior team. Last season he was the most valuable player in the Israeli Premier League basketball, and is intriguing because he has not yet turned 20 and has played three professional seasons.
A team like Phoenix might hesitate to use a selection of the top 10 with him when they already have Dario Saric, but adding a skill player around the combo of Ayton, Booker and Ricky Rubio would give them something to think about. In the end, however, Washington turns out to be an ideal destination. You wouldn’t expect him to come and lead the team on the scoreboard, and a quartet from Avdija, Rui Hachimura, Bradley Beal and a healthy John Wall would be great.
Follow Keegan on Twitter, @ByKeeganPope.