Posted on September 17, 2020
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I’ve included projections for all the selections in the first two rounds, but have only commented on the ones that matter most to us here in Pac-12 Country—the seven Conference players I think will go in the First Round, and the three I expect to be taken in the Second Round.
—First Round—
1. Minnesota – Anthony Edwards, Shooting Guard, Georgia
2. Golden State – Killian Hayes, Point Guard, France
3. Charlotte – LaMelo Ball, Point Guard, Chino Hills, CA
4. Chicago – James Wiseman, Center, Memphis
5. Cleveland – Deni Avdija, Small Forward, Israel
6. Atlanta – Obi Toppin, Power Forward, Dayton
7. Detroit – Devin Vassell, Shooting Guard, Florida State
8. New York – Onyeka Okongwu, Power Forward, USC
► I think the Knicks snatch the best-available player here in a shallow draft, and the USC product is that guy. He’s versatile and has a great all around game for a guy who can still hold down the responsibility of a traditional big man while also being an offensive threat who can do more than just defend and rebound—which he can do exceptionally well, by the way.
9. Washington – Isaac Okoro, Small Forward, Auburn
10. Phoenix – Tyrese Haliburton, Point Guard, Iowa State
11. San Antonio – Precious Achiuwa, Power Forward, Memphis
12. Sacramento – Patrick Williams, Power Forward, Florida State
13. New Orleans – Aaron Nesmith, Shooting Guard, Vanderbilt
14. Boston – Saddiq Bey, Small Forward, Villanova
15. Orlando – Vernon Carey, Power Forward, Duke
16. Portland – Aleksey Pokusevski, Center, Serbia
17. Minnesota – Cole Anthony, Point Guard, North Carolina
18. Dallas – Tyrese Maxey, Shooting Guard, Kentucky
19. Brooklyn – RJ Hampton, Shooting Guard, Dallas, TX
20. Miami – Josh Green, Shooting Guard, Arizona
â–º The surprise team of the 2020 NBA Playoffs could use a great perimeter defender thrown into their already-very-strong squad. Green has the physical skills and defensive ability to have an impact right away and to have a long career in the league as a role player who could eventually make an All Defensive Team or two.
21. Philadelphia – Jalen Smith, Power Forward, Maryland
22. Denver – Jaden McDaniels, Small Forward, Washington
► The Nuggets could use a rangy small forward scorer and the sky is the limit for that role with a guy like McDaniels. He has top-overall-pick-level tools and potential and just didn’t put it all together in one year at Washington. He could be a steal here.
23. Utah – Theo Maledon, Point Guard, France
24. Milwaukee – Tyrell Terry, Point Guard, Stanford
► The Bucks need some backcourt offensive firepower and that’s just what Terry would give them. He’s tall, has a smooth stroke from outside, and can handle the ball. Had Terry come back for another season and progressed even more, I could see him as a lottery pick. Either way, he’s a First-Round talent after just one year in Palo Alto.
25. Oklahoma City – Kira Lewis, Point Guard, Alabama
26. Boston – Nico Mannion, Point Guard, Arizona
â–º A complete point guard who still has major potential, like Mannion, could be a nice young shot into the blood of the deep and talented Celtics backcourt. It could be a great place for Mannion to land as he should keep developing after just one year at Arizona.
27. New York – Jahmius Ramsey, Point Guard, Texas Tech
28. Lakers – Tyler Bey, Small Forward, Colorado
► When you’re a team like the Lakers drafting at the back of the first round you can pick the top talent you like as opposed to fulfilling a specific need. Bey is another all-around player who can defend and do just about anything you need him to with a long body who could help out the Lakers’ bench immediately as an experienced player coming out of college.
29. Toronto – Leandro Bolmaro, Shooting Guard, Argentina
30. Boston – Isaiah Stewart, Power Forward, Washington
► Stewart is a throwback power forward from the 1990s/2000s who is truly powerful and can score at the rim, rebound, and defend with a huge wingspan. He’s a great value pick here as a guy who could have contended to be the top overall pick not too long ago, before the league game changed.
—Second Round—
31. Dallas – Daniel Oturu, Center, Minnesota
32. Charlotte – Devon Dotson, Point Guard, Kansas
33. Minnesota – Desmond Bane, Shooting Guard, TCU
34. Philadelphia – Tre Jones, Point Guard, Duke
35. Sacramento – Elijah Hughes, Shooting Guard, Syracuse
36. Philadelphia – Zeke Nnaji, Power Forward, Arizona
► Nnaji is a bit raw but he’s a true big who can defend and that’s going to get him a shot at being a contributor in the league, probably very early in the second round if not the very end of the first.
37. Washington – Immanuel Quickley, Point Guard, Kentucky
38. New York – Robert Woodard, Small Forward, Mississippi State
39. New Orleans – Paul Reed, Power Forward, DePaul
40. Memphis – Udoka Azubuike, Center, Kansas
41. San Antonio – Reggie Perry, Power Forward, Mississippi State
42. New Orleans – Cassius Stanley, Shooting Guard, Duke
43. Sacramento – Cassius Winston, Point Guard, Michigan State
44. Chicago – Filip Petrusev, Center, Gonzaga
45. Orlando – Isaiah Joe, Point Guard, Arkansas
46. Portland – Xavier Tillman, Center, Michigan State
47. Boston – CJ Elleby, Small Forward, Washington State
â–º Elleby is a great Second-Round prospect as a guy who can score and do a little bit of everything. He is a long athlete who has proven himself well at the college level. A very low floor.
48. Golden State – Grant Riller, Point Guard, Charleston
49. Philadelphia – Jordan Nwora, Small Forward, Louisville
50. Atlanta – Malachi Flynn, Point Guard, San Diego STate
51. Golden State – Killian Tillie, Power Forward, Gonzaga
52. Sacramento – Payton Pritchard, Point Guard, Oregon
► One of the best players in the Draft but one who just doesn’t have a ton of NBA potential. I still expect Pritchard to get drafted and have a great shot at making a roster.
53. Oklahoma City – Skylar Mays, Shooting Guard, LSU
54. Indiana – Ashton Hagans, Point Guard, Kentucky
55. Brooklyn – Brooklyn Abdoulaye N’Doye, Point Guard, France
56. Charlotte – Lamar Stevens, Small Forward, Penn State
57. Clippers – Nick Richards, Center, Kentucky
58. Philadelphia – Jay Scrubb, Shooting Guard, Trinity College
59. Toronto – Nate Hinton, Shooting Guard, Houston
60. New Orleans – Markus Howard, Point Guard, Marquette
—More from Jack Follman—
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- Jack Follman’s 2023 Preseason Pac-12 WR/TE Unit Rankings
- Jack Follman’s Top Pac-12 Tight Ends for 2023
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- Jack Follman’s 2023 Pac-12 Wide Receiver Rankings
- Jack Follman’s 2023 Pac-12 Running Back Rankings
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- Jack Follman’s Way-Too-Early 2024 Pac-12 NFL Mock Draft
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- Jack Follman’s Final 2023 Pac-12 NFL Mock Draft
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- Jack Follman’s 2023 Pac-12 Transfer Portal Class Rankings
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Jack Follman’s 2023 Preseason Top 50 Pac-12 Players (50-41)
The transfer portal is making the Conference deeper with talent,and a little harder to rank - June 8, 2023 -
Jack Follman’s 2023 Preseason Pac-12 WR/TE Unit Rankings
The top hands groups are some of the best you’ll ever see and there’s tons of depth - June 7, 2023 -
Jack Follman’s Top Pac-12 Tight Ends for 2023
There are plenty of good candidates to step up and have a big season at the position - June 6, 2023