G9.
Pistons GM
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Incredibly, Stupidly, Way Too Early Draft Grades
2020 NBA Draft
Lottery (1-13)
#1: Orlando Magic
Cole Anthony, PG
C+ B C+ C+ C A
Draft Grade: A+ (10/10)
We often see clear drop-offs in value after certain spots in the draft. Some years its after the top 4, some the top 6… This year, we saw a definite gap between the guy who went number one, and those who followed. Cole Anthony enters the league at 18 years old with a skillset that rivals his fellow rookies and a ceiling that towers much higher. On a barren Magic roster expect Cole to put up stellar ROTY worthy offensive numbers.
#2: Detroit Pistons
Tyrese Maxey, PG
C+ B- C+ B- C- B
Draft Grade: B- (8/10)
Don’t let my previous statement about the value drop-off after 1 fool you; while the gap between 1 and his followers was decidedly clear, the top of this draft still held quite a bit of talent. When Tyrese Maxey was selected by the Pistons, he became their first player. Following a complete roster overhaul the Pistons have elected to literally start anew with 18-year-old Tyrese Maxey at the helm. I do believe there was a better pick to be made here, but Panic! didn’t complete botch this pick with Maxey. He’s young, has potential, and already looks solid. With a bit of TC luck and some coaching in the right areas, Maxey could be a consistent top 10 point guard in this league for the next decade.
#3: Dallas Mavericks
Vernon Carey, C
B C+ D- B- C+ B
Draft Grade: A (9.5/10)
Some may disagree, but Carey was the only possible pick here in my opinion. Similar to the value drop off after 1, I feel a similar drop off happens here, after 3. Carey appears to be the second most well developed big entering the league this year, lagging behind only the more experienced Udoka Azubuike. Carey also enters the league with limitless potential and a frame that will dominate the paint. Expect Carey to develop into a solid two way big man early on in his career, with the potential to become a top 5 big man.
#4: Los Angeles Clippers
Jaden McDaniels, PF
C+ C C- B- C+ A
Draft Grade: A (9.5/10)
As I stated a moment ago, we saw another drop off in value after the 3rd overall pick. It gets hard to figure out who the next best player is after a drop-off like that occurs. Also, this drop-off wasn’t overly steep, resulting in another group of players who could’ve been drafted in any which way. Despite this 4th pick being one of the toughest picks to make in this draft, I think Cloud made the right call. According to his scouts, McDaniels is already particularly well-rounded and his potential is among the highest. Also, at 18 years old he does remain eligible for two of those sneaky pot boosts. McDaniels seems like the best relatively low-risk/high-reward player available here at #4.
#5: Phoenix Suns
James Wiseman, C
B C+ D- C C+ A
Draft Grade: A- (9/10)
Wiseman and McDaniels were tough to separate as the two leading big men behind Vernon Carey. Wiseman will join a Suns squad that already features DeAndre Ayton in the frontcourt. If these two can develop complimentary offenses and their coach can find a depth chart that hides their defensive flaws, Wiseman and Ayton may develop into a duo to be feared. Wiseman, like McDaniels, enters the league at 18, remaining eligible for two training camp pot boosts. Either one of these young bigs may develop into dominant forces. Or.. perhaps both?
#6: Cleveland Cavaliers
Isaiah Mobley, PF
C+ B C- C+ C+ B
Draft Grade: C (7.5/10)
Hokeyrules entered his first (second?) draft with a tough decision. There remained a handful of quality talent available and it wasn’t an easy pick. At number 6 I saw several guys I thought would work out great in Cleveland. Mobley wasn’t one of them. While his letter attributes certainly look intriguing, and he does enter the league with his 18-year-old double pot boost chance, Mobley wasn’t drafted until the early teens on my big board. Expect him to develop poorly in comparison to his peers.
#7: Washington Wizards
Charles Bassey, PF
B- B- F+ C+ C+ B
Draft Grade: A (9.5/10)
GetBeard took a look at Hokeyrules selection, Isaiah Mobley, and then promptly selected the better version of Isaiah Mobley. Entering the league only 1 year older than Isaiah, Bassey hits the court with a game that is simply more put together. In FBB we typically see big men with poor handling represent players who don’t require ball possession to make a significant impact on the game. Bassey’s frame and skillset will allow him to spread the floor for the Wizards, maximize rotations, and add more fuel to this electrifying offense.
#8: Houston Rockets
Samuell Williamson, SF
C+ B C C- C+ A
Draft Grade: C (7.5/10)
I mean, I like him. Williamson looks exciting. Comes in with A-letter potential, 18 years old, and B-letter outside. He’s just too raw to be selected at 8 overall though. Williamson is going to require more time in the d-league than can be given to fix that C- defense, and he could’ve used a bit help offensively too. His rebounding is above average for his position but that C- defense will hamstring his effectiveness and ability to find meaningful minutes for a competitive team long-term. Pray to the TC gods that it sees at least +2 action soon.
#9: New Orleans Pelicans
Anthony Edwards, SG
B- C+ C C+ C B
Draft Grade: C (7/10)
Not entirely sure what happened here at 8 and 9, but some of y’all need to chill on the 18-year-old fetish. Edwards is 18, yes, but other than that he’s mediocre across the board. We’re talking low B- inside, low C+ outside, low C+ defense. Edwards needs work, and a lot of it. I think there were better players to be had here for New Orleans. There were better 18 year olds, better wings, and at least one better guard left on the board.
#10: Brooklyn Nets
Udoka Azubuike, C
B D- F+ B C+ C
Draft Grade: A- (9/10)
Really like this pick. The Nets are a team with a decent number of pieces that give them the potential to compete sooner rather than later. Azubuike will earn immediate minutes for this Nets team and he’s entering BSL as the most NBA-ready prospect out of the 2020 draft. Expect consistent, reliable numbers early on in Udoka’s career. He doesn’t have much room left to grow, but that’s okay, Scott recognized that fact and snagged him anyways.
#11: Orlando Magic
Jalek Felton, SG
C+ B- C- B- D+ B
Draft Grade: A- (9/10)
Any time a player who should’ve been drafted before when another player at his position was selected, I have to give that GM an A. Felton should’ve been drafted above Edwards to New Orleans at #9, but he fell to Orlando. Felton will hit the court alongside likely ROTY candidate PG Cole Anthony, and the two may develop well in tandem. His potential is middle of the pack but with the proper development and a bit of success in training camps, Felton should become a consistent starter in this league.
#12: San Antonio Spurs
Shareef O’Neal, C
C+ C D+ C C+ A
Draft Grade: B+ (8.5/10)
Shareef enters the league a bit undersized to play center competitively, so let’s hope he grows a bit more. The Spurs receive a good grade for this pick because of the possibilities of synergy with last years first-round pick, Zion Williamson. If Zion and O’Neal can come to dominate the paint and the glass together, this pick will be remembered as the moment it all began. It will be interesting to see how these two traditionally undersized big men overcome this difference and reshape the game.
#13: Atlanta Hawks
Trendon Watford, PF
B- C C- C+ C B
Draft Grade: A- (9/10)
Watford ranked 8th on my personal draft big board and the Hawks were able to snatch him at 13th. That alone makes this a great pick for the Hawks. Combine this with the fact that the Hawks just moved Kristaps Porzingis, opening a spot in their big man rotation, and Watford is literally the perfect pick for Atlanta. He’s not ready to hit the court for meaningful minutes yet, but with the proper coaching and mentoring alongside other young successful bigs such as John Collins and Brandon Clarke, Watford’s chances of becoming a significant contributor are high.
