NBA Draft 2020: Shakeup among frontcourt players in January mock draft
No. 11-20
With a relatively even distribution of talent across the middle portion of the draft, teams must evaluate their own needs to hit on their picks.
No. 11 New Orleans Pelicans – Tyrese Maxey, 6’2″ 190lbs, SG, Kentucky
Kentucky hasn’t been as dominant this year as they have been in years past, but one guy who has asserted himself as a lottery player is Tyrese Maxey. Maxey’s numbers of 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists on 44 percent from the field and 29 percent from three don’t look particularly good, but he’s much more than a numbers player.
Maxey passes the eye test of a guy who plays hard, has fun, is a great athlete, and the stroke is there for him to become a good, consistent deep threat. With Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Zion Williamson in place in New Orlenans; Maxey would be a solid addition to a bright young core in NOLA.
No. 12 Phoenix Suns – Jaden McDaniels, 6’10” 185lbs, SF, Washington
Jaden McDaniels has been fine this season for the Washington Huskies, but “fine” does not move you to the top of mock drafts. For someone with McDaniel’s size and fluidity, it feels as though he should be a bit more impactful than he is. The biggest questions regarding McDaniel’s are around his feel, playing making/IQ, and shooting.
McDaniels still has the chance to sneak into the lottery given his physical gifts and for how athletically gifted he is, and the Suns could be wise to take a chance on him. As Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton continue to progress, Phoenix can attempt to develop McDaniel’s along as another piece of their puzzle.
No. 13 Portland Trailblazers – Josh Green, 6’5″ 200lbs, SF, Arizona
Josh Green has been a nice contributor out on the wing this year for Arizona. Green needs to improve his jump shooting first and foremost, but his frame and chiseled body make him a good-looking fit from the athletic standpoint in the NBA. If he can improve his jumper, Green fits the bill of a prototypical “3 and D” guy in the league.
The Trailblazers have long, long been starving for production from the wing position and never has that been more apparent than this year. Carmelo Anthony is a nice story, but he’s not the future and Rodney Hood will be coming off a blown Achilles. Green won’t step in as a scorer right away, but next to McCollum and Lilliard that’s fine. If he can stop people on one end and knock down some shots on the other, that would be a welcome sight for everyone in Portland.
No. 14 San Antonio Spurs – Nico Mannion, 6’3″ 190lbs, PG, Arizona
One spot after his college running mate is selected, Mannion comes off the board. While Mannion is not the athlete that some of his fellow point guards in this draft class are he is one of the smarter distributors and playmakers in the draft. Mannion is a good passer, a nice shooter (especially from long-range), and he can surprise people with his burst and leaping.
Mannion would fit into Greg Popovich’s system well and would be a better fit to run the point than the current project with DeJounte Murray. It’s quite possible for the pairing to play together, so this is a fit that makes sense from a roster standpoint for the Spurs.
No. 15 Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn) – Vernon Carey Jr., 6’10” 265lbs, C, Duke
As mentioned earlier, the Hawks are still working on finding a presence in the middle. If this draft were taking place 10 years earlier, Vernon Carey would probably be in contention for a top-three selection, if not the number one overall. Carey is a strong big whose at his best rolling to the rim and finishing inside.
The reason Carey loses value is that he’s not much of a presence on defense, he’s not a great or comfortable outside shooter (right now), and he’s not much of a playmaker. Still, Carey is loaded with talent and if he can develop those aspects of his game, he could make for a deadly pairing next to Trae Young.
No. 16 Boston Celtics (via Memphis) – Daniel Oturu, 6’10” 240lbs, C, Minnesota
Speaking of teams with a hole in the middle, the Boston Celtics also fit that description. Now this year they’ve made things work pretty well with Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter (somehow) holding down the center position. Adding Daniel Oturu however, would have Brad Stevens salivating over what he could do with his team on the defensive end.
Not only could Oturu anchor the Celtics defense with his shot-blocking (2.8 blocks per game), he’s more than competent on the offensive end. His averages of 20.2 points and 11.9 boards per game are impressive, and Oturu is willing to fire from the outside to help stretch the floor. If he reaches his potential, Oturu is an immediate upgrade from the current pieces Boston has for the center position.
No. 17 Orlando Magic – R.J. Hampton, 6’4″ 175lbs, PG/SG, New Zealand Breakers
Unfortunately, R.J. Hampton hasn’t been on the court to watch what type of progression he’s making, but his raw talent and physical gifts keep him as an interesting product. The Magic have a propensity for plus-sized players at their position who are dynamite athlete’s and Hampton fits that description.
Plus, with the emergence of Markelle Fultz as a competent NBA guard, Hampton would have time to develop and learn the ropes in Orlando. Hampton is going to need some grooming, but this is something the Magic can do and if they handle it well, they could have a legit asset on their hands in Hampton.
No. 18 Oklahoma City Thunder – Precious Achiuwa, 6’9″ 225lbs, PF, Memphis
The Thunder has been one of the league’s most pleasant surprises this season and they would only continue their positive momentum if they were to land Achiuwa at No. 18. Since James Wiseman’s departure, Achiuwa has been the guy at Memphis with all eyes on him and he’s answered to the tune of 15.4 points and 10.4 boards per game.
Achiuwa plays the game extremely hard on both ends and if the Thunder can mold some other areas of his game to match his effort and build, that would give them a really nice young big to pair with emerging star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
No. 19 Houston Rockets – Jordan Nwora, 6’7″ 225lbs, SF, Louisville
Houston, much like Portland, is another team that is in need of some help on the wing. Eric Gordon has not been himself this season, P.J. Tucker is great but he’s more of a power forward, and beyond that what do the Rockets have? Danuel House? Ben McLemore? Nwora is a promising scorer and a high energy guy who fits the Rockets scheme.
It might not be the most exciting thing in the world for a scorer such as Nwora to enter the league and be paired with two ball-dominant players, but he would, in theory, get a lot of open threes and plenty of chances to fly in transition. If all goes well, he could be a nice boost to the nucleus in Houston.
No. 20 Milwaukee Bucks (via Indiana) – Paul Reed, 6’9″ 220lbs, PF, DePaul
The Bucks have a lot of dudes on their team who are just straight-up productive players. It’s why they have one of the best benches in the league and are on track to win over 60 games yet again. They could add to that depth even more by adding another player whose quite productive in DePaul’s Paul Reed.
This season, Reed has been a nightly double and he’s proven that he can get buckets when needed and is a guy you can trust with the ball in his hands. The Bucks are loaded and don’t have any glaring needs, Reed just helps the rich get richer.