NBA Draft 2020: Updated first-round mock with a month to go
By Trevor Marks
. Wing. Dallas Mavericks. Aaron Nesmith. 18. player. 79
Offense is certainly not a need for Dallas after posting the best offensive rating in NBA history, but Aaron Nesmith offers prolific perimeter shotmaking (career 41.0% 3PT) at 6’6 with real shooting versatility.
The defense is certainly questionable, but he’d be landing in an ideal offensive ecosystem by playing off of a passing wizard in Luka Dončić, fulfilling a role comparable to that of Tim Hardaway Jr., who thrived as a spot-up scorer this season (5.6 spot-up points per game, third-most in the NBA).
Minnesota Timberwolves. Precious Achiuwa. 17. player. 86. . Big
How Minnesota uses its second first-round draft pick is anyone’s guess, with all the attention and speculation surrounding the LaMelo Ball vs. Anthony Edwards debate with the Wolves’ No. 1 overall pick.
An energy big to the fullest extent, Memphis’s Precious Achiuwa could be seen as a potential fit in the frontcourt next to Karl-Anthony Towns, with his high-flying rim finishing and tenacious defense complementing the 24-year-old All Star’s elite perimeter shooting and lackluster defensive instincts.
34. . Forward. Portland Trail Blazers. Saddiq Bey. 16. player
Neil Olshey has proven to be a wildcard executive with regards to his draft night strategy, viewing rookies as long-term bets and not immediate contributors. This has manifested in a talent-over-fit draft record, seen recently in the selections of Anfernee Simons (2018) and Nassir Little (2019).
He could easily follow the trend and select a player like Precious Achiuwa or Cole Anthony, who would be stashed on the bench for the foreseeable future, but a player with a 3-and-D reputation such as Villanova’s Saddiq Bey may be too much to pass up on considering Portland’s needs on the wing.