What will Ace Bailey bring to the Utah Jazz?

 

                                             (Credit: Getty Images) 

When the Utah Jazz selected Rutgers forward Ace Bailey with the No. 5 overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, there were a lot of questions about whether or not he really wanted to be in Utah. From what I've heard, it sounds like that was mostly his agent/representation causing the commotion. Something that should calm the fears of Jazz fans. With that drama now subsiding, Bailey has gotten to work and already seen some action for the team in Summer League. What I want to do in this blog post is share my thoughts on what he can bring to the Jazz. 

Upon watching some film, what stands out about Bailey is the physical gifts he has. He has tremendous size and length for the guard position. His measurements are bit all over the place, but in shoes, it's safe to say he's 6'9" and 200 pounds. He handles the ball well, has good form on his shot, and also possesses good moves in the post. In one Summer League game I watched, he had a nice turnaround fadeaway, something that not all rookies have when they come into the league. He elevates to the rim with ease and should thrive in transition. 

During his lone year at Rutgers, he averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game on 46.0% shooting from the field, 34.6% shooting from 3-point range, and 69.2% shooting from the foul line. To put up those numbers in the Big Ten is impressive. He showed an ability to get after it on the glass and score at a pretty efficient clip while also being effective on defense. He is a legit two-way player with great physical gifts. It's no surprise he was drafted as high as he was. 

Like all rookies, Bailey I'm sure will go through some growing pains as he adjusts to the NBA level, but there is no denying his talent. As the Jazz look to build a championship level roster, Bailey absolutely has the potential be an essential building block for them to build their franchise around. The key will be for them to put the right pieces around him and give him confidence that he can win if he stays in Utah. If they can do that, they might finally be on the path to building a championship level team. 

Note: This blog post also appears on my Utah Jazz blog. Click here to check that out. 

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What will Yang Hansen bring to the Portland Trail Blazers?

 

                                             (Credit: AFP) 

The 16th overall pick in this year's NBA Draft was Yang Hansen, who played for the Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association, located in Qingdao, Shandong, China (青岛市, 山东,中國). Yang went to the Portland Trail Blazers via the Memphis Grizzlies. It wasn't surprising that he was selected, but it was surprising he went as high as he did. He was thought of being a more likely early second round selection. Yang made the decision to show up on draft night anyways and was rewarded for doing so. What I want to do is take a look at what he might bring to the Trail Blazers organization and the impact that he can make on the court. 

Listed at 7'1", 260 pounds, Yang is coming off a strong season with the Qingdao Eagles, guiding them to an 8th place finish and first round playoff best-of-three series victory (12 playoff teams). Yang averaged a double-double with his 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game. He was a tremendous force inside, doing a nice job of scoring both inside and out while also protecting the rim. 

During NBA Summer League, Yang has averaged 10.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game. He's made an impact right away and held his own against some of the best young players in the NBA. He has shot 33.3% from 3-point range on 12 attempts, 45.7% from the field, and most impressively 87.5% from the foul line. He shot 67.1% from the foul line with the Eagles last season, so it looks like he's improved his foul shooting this summer. Though given it was on just eight attempts, the sample size is still pretty small. 

When watching his tape, what stands out about Yang is how poised he is on the court. He does a good job of gathering himself with his shot while also seeing the floor well, making the right pass to a cutting teammate. He also runs the floor well and is able to make plays in transition. There's a lot to like with his game given how well-rounded he is. He can score both inside and out while also knocking down his free throws. On defense, he protects the rim and has proven to be a big body that is tough to score on. 

Overall, I think Yang Hansen has all the tools to be an effective player in the NBA. It might take a bit of time for him to adjust to the NBA game and level of play, but if he keeps growing his game, there's no reason to think the 20 year old can't end up being a cornerstone piece for the Trail Blazers for years to come. 

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Is Duke freshman Cooper Flagg worth tanking for?

 

                                           (Credit: Rob Kinnan) 

One of the most talented prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft is Duke freshman forward Cooper Flagg, who is averaging 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Listed at 6'9", 205 pounds, Flagg has a great blend of size, skill, and athleticism. He's really the whole package out there, which is why many mock drafts have him going number one overall. 

Having watched Flagg play a bit since I cover Stanford for Rivals.com and thus am tuned into ACC hoops, I have to say he looks like the real deal to me. The most impressive aspect of his game is what I said at the beginning, namely his combination of size, skill, and athleticism. He is capable of playing multiple positions on the floor and with the NBA really valuing guys who can play a variety of spots on the floor, that makes Flagg especially exciting. 

The other thing about Flagg that shouldn't go unnoticed is the fact that he's the go to guy on a national championship contending team. Duke is on pace to get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and in my opinion should be favored to win the NCAA tournament. The fact that Flagg is doing all that he's doing while playing winning basketball makes him all the more impressive. It's one thing to put up big numbers on a bad team. But to produce like he's doing while having your team in the national championship conversation? That's a whole different matter. 

The final thing that stands out about Flagg is his efficiency. He's 49.1% from the field, 37.5% from 3-point range, and 82.1% from the foul line. Those are very solid shooting percentages. He is averaging 2.9 turnovers per game, so that's something he can improve, but aside from that he's playing clean basketball on both ends of the floor, averaging just 2.6 fouls per game. 

If you are the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets, you should absolutely feel vindicated in stinking it up this season if it means you end up with Cooper Flagg. He's undoubtedly a player worth tanking for. It'll be fun to see who wins the sweepstakes for the Duke superstar and how deep he'll guide the Blue Devils in the NCAA tournament. 

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Saturday Slam: Is there a real possibility the NBA season gets canceled?

We are one month into the 2019-20 NBA season being shut down due to COVID-19 and with a return date still up-in-the-air, we have to start thinking about the unfortunate possibility that the season does not return. If it does return, I don't see the full 82 games being played. Rather, I see the league doing something like stopping at 72. That way teams get a few games in before the playoffs start. You wouldn't want to just dive straight into playoff mode after missing more than one month of action.

Further, I don't see fans returning this season. If the NBA does indeed return, I foresee a scenario in which only players, coaches, refs, and essential media personnel are allowed into the arenas. Something that was discussed as an alternative to the season getting shut down. I think that's how we'll ease back into things.

Back to the possibility of the season getting canceled, there are a number of reasons why I'm starting to think this will happen. The first reason is the NBA calendar. You gotta remember, the NBA operates year-round. It's not like during the offseason nothing happens. You have the NBA Draft, free agency, training camps, summer league, etc. That's not to say those things can't be rearranged for a year. They can. It's just that the longer things remained shut down, the more complicated things become.

The second reason why the season could get canceled is television. Television companies have built in contracts to broadcast certain events at certain times. ABC for example may have to choose between the NBA Finals and some other program they want to air and may not be willing to give up the NBA Finals to another company. Things like that.

Third, there's the issue of player safety. It's hard to go from not playing at all to playing high level basketball. Players will need at least a couple of weeks to get back in game shape before play resumes. It's possible that players decide that resuming play just isn't feasible if they want to have some recovery time in the offseason and resume things on time in the fall.

Finally and most importantly, the fluidity of this whole COVID-19 situation makes the possibility of a canceled season all the more real. I could see the season restarting in June, but what about July or August? At some point, doesn't it just make more sense to bag the season and restart in October?

I want the NBA to return as much as anyone. It's been a fantastic season with lots of fun stories to follow with the Lakers, Clippers, Bucks, Raptors, and much more. But, that all said, sometimes you have to acknowledge the writing on the wall. At best, I think there's a 50% chance the season resumes and the longer this goes on, the more I think the odds of a canceled season will go up.

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Mock Draft Monday: How good is Obi Toppin?

                                          (Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports) 

A guy I've been meaning to address sooner on here is Dayton sophomore forward Obi Toppin, who is averaging 19.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Toppin is projected to be a top three pick according to my guys at NBADraft.net and has the Flyers ranked #3 in the country. Admittedly, I haven't watched a ton of Toppin but from the film I've seen of him, he looks to be the real deal.

For starters, he has great physical tools. At 6'9", 220 pounds, he is light on his feet, runs the floor like a gazelle, and really excels in the pick and roll. He is perfect to catch lobs from point guards and throw it down a la Blake Griffin. He has good hands and has all the pieces to be a killer power forward in the NBA.

Secondly, Toppin is a pretty good 3-point shooter, shooting 41.6% from 3-point range during his two years at Dayton. He shot 52.4% his freshman year on .6 attempts per game and is shooting 38.8% this year on 2.8 attempts per game. It's natural for guys to see a dip in their percentage when they start to shoot more threes since they're not being as timid with their shot selection. Perhaps he could improve his shot selection a bit, but even so, his 38.8% shooting is pretty good in and of itself.

Finally, Toppin is comfortable being the man on a championship contending team. As it stands, the Flyers are projected to be a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and they'll go as far as Toppin can take them. So far, he has proven to be up to the challenge of being the main player on his team and accepting the pressures that come along with it. If he can lead Dayton to a national title, that will bode very well for his draft stock, potentially making him the top pick in the draft.

The bottom line is Obi Toppin has all the pieces to be a really good player in the NBA. He has the physical tools, he has the skill, and he has the intangibles. I look forward to seeing what he does in March and whether or not he can lead the Flyers to a national championship.

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Mock Draft Monday: Are the Minnesota Timberwolves one good draft pick away from being good?

The most notable trade the Minnesota Timberwolves made at the trade deadline was the trade they made to land D'Angelo Russell from the Golden State Warriors. By getting a ball dominant All-Star level guard to play with their franchise center Karl-Anthony Towns, the Timberwolves feel they are back in business. Or at least close to being back in business.

Per Adrian Wojnarowski, the #Warriors are trading D'Angelo Russell, Jacob Evans, and Omari Spellman to the #Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins, a 2021 protected first-round pick and a 2021 second-round pick. Wolves’ 2021 pick is protected to No. 3 & becomes unprotected in 2022. #NBA

— NBA Lord (@nba_lord) February 7, 2020

One other piece of the puzzle for the Timberwolves is whoever they draft in the 2020 NBA draft. At the moment, they are projected to get the #5 pick, which means there is the real possibility that they could land the #1 pick in the lottery. Even if they don't get the #1 pick, they're still positioned well to add a really talented player to their team next year. I like Georgia freshman guard Anthony Edwards a lot and think he would be a great addition to this young Wolves team. You give them a talented shooting guard alongside Russell and they really could be cooking with gas.

Of course, Edwards isn't the only rookie that could fill that need for them. Washington freshman small forward Jaden McDaniels is another great option for the Wolves that should be available if they are picking 5th. He would bring athleticism out on the wing and also play well alongside Russell in the backcourt.

                                          (Credit: Frank Gunn. Canadian Press) 

The Timberwolves injected some new life into their team by getting Russell and can now look ahead to the 2020 NBA draft with some additional excitement. Over these next few months, their front office needs to do their due diligence to make sure they find the right fit for their team and prepare for the likelihood that they don't get a top three pick. Provided they do that, their future looks to be very bright.

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Mock Draft Monday: Kobe Bryant helped pave the way for high schoolers choosing to go pro

                                          (Credit: Eileen Blass-USA TODAY Sports) 


Last week I wasn't much in the mood to blog about the NBA after the death of Kobe Bryant. I just needed some time to regroup a bit and think about how I wanted to remember Bryant on NBALord.com. I was planning on doing my Saturday Slam piece to remember his whole career, but I needed a bit more time to think about what my next blog post would be. Considering that I have my different themes on here, I figured I would use those themes to address Bryant's career through several different lenses. Up first is through the lens of his high school career and more specifically, what impact he had on high schoolers thinking of going straight to the pros.

Leading up to the 1996 NBA Draft, Bryant wasn't sure what he was going to do. He was genuinely torn about whether to go to college or go straight to the NBA. Both had their pros and cons. In the interview I've attached below, Bryant talks about weighing those options and not yet being sure what decision he would make. The pros of going to college was to get a year or two to grow as a basketball player without the pressures of being a professional while also getting to enjoy the college life. On the other side of the coin, going to the NBA meant the chance to get paid right away, something that also appealed to Bryant. Even though it meant more responsibility.



A year earlier, in the 1995 NBA Draft, Minnesota Timberwolves legend Kevin Garnett went 5th overall out of high school as well, becoming the first player in two decades (Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby) to go straight from high school to the NBA. One major difference between Garnett and Bryant was the fact that Garnett had horrible grades and test scores, making division one college basketball a non-option for him. The only colleges Garnett could attend were junior colleges, sort of forcing his hand into going pro. Bryant on the other hand was a good student in high school and took his education seriously. College was an option for him and he knew that if he went straight to the NBA, some may second guess his commitment to getting a quality education.

In the end, Bryant chose to go to the NBA. When the Lower Merion High School Class of 1996 listed what colleges they were attending (in the school yearbook or newspaper), Bryant wrote "NBA-nuff said!" Bryant's decision resulted in him getting drafted 13th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers via the Charlotte Hornets. By choosing to go straight to the NBA when college was an option for him, Bryant helped legitimize that path for the likes of LeBron James and others who felt they were ready out of high school.

Flash forward 25 years later, the NBA is likely to once again allow high schoolers the option to come straight out instead of having to spend a year in college or overseas. When the NBA does formally make the switch back, it will be a nod to Bryant and all that he accomplished. Bryant proved that if you are ready to go pro, you should do so. He also showed that such a decision requires a lot of thought and shouldn't be taken lightly.

When looking back on the 1996 NBA Draft, what is a bit crazy is to see Bryant selected 13th overall. In hindsight Bryant would have gone #1 overall to his hometown Philadelphia 76ers instead of Allen Iverson. At that time, coming out of high school was so rare that a lot of teams were afraid to gamble on him. Especially since he was a guard. To the Lakers' credit, specifically Jerry West, they recognized Bryant had a lot of talent and was capable of being their next franchise player. Their decision to take Bryant changed the course of basketball history forever. Bryant went on to become a five time NBA champion and arguably the greatest Laker of all-time.

If you're going to look back on Kobe Bryant's career, it's impossible to not reflect on his high school career and how amazing it was that he took that leap into the NBA without playing in college. Such a bold and brave decision is truly fitting for one who would give birth to "Mamba Mentality."

Note: If you are reading this article via e-mail, click here to check out the interview I posted above. 

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Mock Draft Monday: LaMelo Ball's Australian career is over

                                         (Credit: Getty Images) 

If you are a loyal reader of NBALord.com, you know that I've spent a fair amount of time addressing LaMelo Ball in my recent Mock Draft Monday pieces. First he was out for a month due to a foot injury, then it was reported he was donating money to help with the fires in Australia, and now it's been revealed that he is in fact done playing for the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League in Australia, choosing to instead get ready for the 2020 NBA Draft. For more on that, read Jonathan Givony's story here.

In my first blog post on Ball (which you can read here), I expressed cautious optimism that so long as his foot injury isn't that big of a deal and that he can return to finish his season, his draft stock shouldn't be affected much if at all. However, I did also raise the possibility that his injury could be worse than advertised and that NBA teams will take note of his injury and track his progress.

This latest development in the LaMelo Ball saga isn't a good one, even if his camp is insisting he's just rehabbing as expected. For starters, this gives NBA teams less chance to evaluate him. It's already hard enough to fly down to Australia to scout him, but when he only plays half the season, that catches teams by surprise, many of which weren't able to send an international scout to watch him yet. If Ball was a surefire lock to go #1 overall in the draft and was deemed the second coming of LeBron James, this wouldn't be a big deal. However, he's not the second coming of LeBron James. There are some questions about whether or not he's really as good as advertised and if he's perhaps hiding his flaws by going overseas and cutting his season short.

As an extension of that, there have to now be questions about his toughness and durability. Especially after what we've seen from New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson. If you aren't able to play a full NBA season and are constantly in and out of the lineup, it doesn't matter how good you are. I know it sounds obvious, but in order to help a team win, you have to actually play!

Another issue for Ball is he's running the risk of a couple college players perhaps leaping ahead of him in the draft if they have a good NCAA tournament. While he is projected to be a top three pick at the moment, that could change if someone has a killer tournament and boosts their stock. We've seen guys expected to go in the top five fall outside of the lottery. I'm not saying that will happen to Ball, but it is conceivable teams pass on him over concerns of him being too much of an unknown. E.g. Dante Exum.

One final issue for Ball is the fact that his brother Lonzo isn't exactly lighting the world on fire. Lonzo is averaging 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game in his third year with the New Orleans Pelicans. Those are solid numbers, but not numbers you would expect from a number two overall pick in his third year in the NBA. NBA teams could see LaMelo as another version of his brother and that's not a good thing if you're trying to get picked in the top three.

So, where does this leave us? Ultimately, that remains to be seen. It's totally possible that LaMelo still gets picked in the top three or even goes #1 overall. If that happens, then all of my concerns were for naught. However, given that we can't predict the future, the possibility that LaMelo slips in the draft also remains. It'll be interesting to see how this all shakes out for him.

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Mock Draft Monday: Georgia freshman Anthony Edwards looks like the real deal

                                          (Credit: Joshua L. Jones, AP)

If you haven't heard about Georgia freshman guard Anthony Edwards, it's probably time that you did. Edwards is projected to be the #1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft on NBADraft.net, averaging 18.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game on 41.3% shooting from the field, 31.1% shooting from 3-point range, and 69.2% shooting from the foul line. Listed at 6'5", 225 pounds, Edwards has ideal size for an NBA guard, possessing tremendous athleticism to go along with it.

At the moment, the Bulldogs are 10-5 overall and 0-2 in the SEC, looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015. Given how talented Edwards is, I don't see why not. When you have a guy as gifted as him on your team, you have a chance to beat anyone at the college level.

Touching more on why he's so good, Edwards is a great two way player due to his size and athleticism. He can score, rebound, and defend. Offensively, he looks pretty polished, possessing a good stroke on his jump shot. While some guys may take a little bit of time to adjust to the NBA, Edwards looks like a guy who will make an immediate impact.

While there's a lot he's good at, there are some areas Edwards needs to improve in. For starters, his rebounding numbers could be a little higher. Given his physical tools, he should be grabbing around 6.0 rebounds per game. 4.8 rebounds per game isn't bad, but he could be doing more in that department.

Also, his free throw and 3-point percentages need to improve. His percentages aren't bad for a freshman and I'm confident he'll get better, but still, he'll have to put that work in. LeBron James for example shot 75.4% from the foul line his rookie year and is shooting below 70% from the line for the second consecutive season. It's not like more years in the NBA means you'll shoot better.

As for whether or not he's worthy of the top pick, a lot of that will come down to what team has the pick and what their needs are. A team needing a point guard may choose LaMelo Ball while a team looking for a big man may opt to select James Wiseman. Regardless, Edwards is positioning himself to get drafted in the top three and quite honestly, he'll probably go number one.

What will be interesting to see is how far Edwards takes Georgia and if they are able to do some damage in March. Before Tom Crean took the head coaching job, the Georgia men's basketball program had been wandering aimlessly in the woods for quite some time. If he is able to get the Bulldogs to their first NCAA tournament win since 1996 (2002 win was vacated), that could cement his status as the top pick in the draft.

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Mock Draft Monday: LaMelo Ball to donate one month salary to help Australian bushfire victims

                                          (Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images) 

In last week's Mock Draft Monday piece, I addressed LaMelo Ball's foot injury and why it shouldn't be a concern (click here to check that out). This week I'm addressing LaMelo Ball again, but this time for something he's doing off the court. Ball is currently playing for the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia and has pledged to donate one month's salary to help relief efforts with the bushfires on the South Coast of Australia. Below is the statement released by the Illawarra Hawks on their team website.

"Illawarra Hawks' LaMelo Ball has pledged to donate one month of his NBL salary to help victims of Australia's devastating bushfires. The projected NBA number one draft pick stated: "It's sad to see what's happening on the South Coast of Australia. People have lost their homes and everything they own. My parents taught me to help out wherever I can, so this is my way of helping out." 

I just wanted to draw attention to this because it shows that these athletes do care about the communities that they live in and they're not all about the money and being detached from society. Even though one month of pay in the NBL is peanuts compared to what he'll make in the NBA, it's still a nice gesture on Ball's part. Hopefully other young athletes will take note of this and follow his example when they are placed in a similar situation.

Also, I did want to quickly provide an update on the condition of Ball's foot. Per Jonathan Givony of ESPN/DraftExpress, Ball is still in a walking boot and will be out for at least a couple more weeks. He's out indefinitely. As I said last week, you never know with these injuries. Hopefully he'll get back on the court soon and that it's not any more serious than initially thought.

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Mock Draft Monday: Should LaMelo Ball's foot injury be a concern?

                                          (Credit: Getty Images) 


Earlier this month, it was announced by the Illawara Hawks of the Australian NBL that LaMelo Ball would miss four weeks due to a foot injury. ESPN/Draft Express' Jonathan Givony provided more details back on December 8th:

"Ball suffered a bruised foot in practice with the Illawara Hawks of the Australian NBL last week and was prescribed to rest by a foot specialist he visited, which will likely keep him out of action until January...Ball will rehab his injury in Australia and is expected to make a full recovery and continue to play for the Hawks as they close out the regular season in mid-February." 

On the surface, this injury doesn't seem like a big deal. Given the injury happened towards the beginning of this month, Ball should be back in the next week or two. It seems like both he and the Hawks are being precautious. Both for the sake of his NBA career and for the sake of their season. It certainly isn't anything that should cost him any time come NBA training camp in the fall of 2020.

At the same time, missing these four weeks gives NBA teams less opportunities to watch him play and more importantly, he'll enter the NBA draft with this injury on his resume. Even though it doesn't seem like a big deal, NBA teams factor in everything when it comes to picking a player. You can bet they'll be asking him about his foot and doing their due diligence on that. Will it cause him slide in the draft? Probably not, but you never know. He could also suffer another seemingly minor setback that casts more seeds of doubt in the minds of NBA teams.

Overall, Ball's injury as I said isn't something to worry about. At least not right now. But it is something to be aware of when looking ahead to the 2020 NBA draft. All these little things matter. Especially when there's so much money and expectations on the line with each pick.

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Mock Draft Monday: Is it risky for James Wiseman to pull out of school?

                                          (Credit: AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht) 

Rather than accepting his suspension and returning to the Memphis Tigers in mid-January, James Wiseman has made the decision to withdraw from school and formally declare for the 2020 NBA draft. In my previous post on Wiseman (which you can read here), I wrote that Wiseman's NBA draft stock shouldn't be affected by his suspension. However, I was still assuming that he would return to school and give NBA scouts a chance to see what he can do.

By withdrawing from school, Wiseman is banking on his physical profile and overall potential doing the work for him to get picked in the top two of the 2020 NBA draft. The thought process is that playing in college only bears the risk of injury and that there's no upside in staying. Is that really true?

The answer is complicated. If you are certain to go #1 or #2 in the upcoming NBA draft, it's hard to argue against pulling out of school, training on your own, and avoiding the risk of injury. However, the key lies in being certain that you'll go #1 or #2. If your draft stock is more fluid, then it becomes trickier.

In the case of Wiseman, he appears to be right on the border. NBADraft.net has him projected to go #2 at the moment, but he could slide down to #3 behind LaMelo Ball or even out of the top five if a couple guys in college (e.g. Dayton's Obi Toppin) really ball out. By sitting out this season, Wiseman is denying himself a chance to showcase himself against those guys and that could come back to haunt him on draft day.

The other issue of course is what teams will think of him for pulling out. Does it show a lack of competitive fire? Are they certain he'll play hard for them if he gets bruised up a bit in his rookie year? Will he instead want to sit out and avoid ruining his chance at a more lucrative contract down the road? Some teams may think that, which once again could hurt him.

To quickly sum this all up, is it risky for James Wiseman to pull out of school? The answer is yes, but if he feels confident enough in his skill set to get picked #1 or #2 in the 2020 NBA draft, it's worth it. Why risk getting injured and seeing your draft stock fall from #2 to #10? Worst case, Wiseman falls to #5 or #6, but that's like a doomsday scenario. In all likelihood, he's going at least #4. On top of that, he was already facing a suspension and would only be able to play for like 6 weeks. Wiseman is making the right move. I just hope he's making it while also calculating the risks that come with it.

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Mock Draft Monday: James Wiseman's NBA draft stock shouldn't be hurt by suspension

                                         (Credit: AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht) 


Due to receiving funds from Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway to help him move to Memphis, the nation's top player James Wiseman has been suspended 12 games and fined $11,500 by the NCAA. He has to give the money to a charity of his choice. It should also be noted that Hardaway gave Wiseman the money when he was a booster and not a head coach, so that makes things not quite as shady.

What I'm sure some people are wondering is whether or not this suspension will hurt Wiseman's draft stock. While I can't predict the future and confirm what will be the end outcome of all this, I personally don't see this having any effect on his draft stock. For the simple reason that (A) this issue has nothing to do with his on-court performance and (B) this kind of stuff (players receiving benefits) happens all the freaking time in college basketball.

If you thought college hoops was this clean sport where everyone plays fair and only a handful of guys get benefits, you live in a fantasy land. That's not to say there aren't clean programs out there. There are. But, what is an unfortunate fact is there are a lot of programs that are not clean and even more that toe the line.

What Wiseman and Memphis are really being penalized for is getting caught and also being high profile. If Wiseman was the 13th scholarship player on Memphis and not the top player in the country, nobody would have given a crap about him receiving funds from Hardaway. On the flip side, you could also argue if he was the 13th scholarship player on Memphis, Hardaway wouldn't have bothered to give him the funds in the first place. But that circular argument or whatever you want to call it misses the point.

The point is this happens all the time and the NCAA just randomly lays down rulings without any rhyme or reason. I mean, the fact that Sean Miller is still coaching at Arizona in and of itself is pretty mind boggling. If he's allowed to continue to coach after all that he's been accused of doing, it's pretty absurd that Wiseman is not allowed to play. Especially since he will be able to play come January. I'm ok with the fine and him having to give the money back. That's cool. But for crying out loud, let him play!

Going back to the title of this post, this suspension should have no impact on Wiseman's draft stock. If anything it could help it. That's 12 less games when he could get hurt! Plus, NBA teams draft largely on potential and what you could be in five years. They're not overly worried about what you look like at the moment. Especially if you are a freshman.

The bottom line is regardless of the NCAA's ruling, Wiseman will in all likelihood be the top pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Athletic 7-footers like him don't grow on trees. Him taking money from Hardaway or anyone else doesn't change that fact.

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2019 NBALord.com Mock Draft

The 2019 NBA Draft is on Thursday at 7:00 PM EST on ESPN, which means the annual NBALord.com mock draft is due! I enjoy writing these up every year and I hope people in turn enjoy reading them. On Monday, I explained about how I go about writing a mock draft. Click here to read that if you'd like. As some of you know, I also write analysis of individual players for NBADraft.net. I will provide links to those analysis pieces in here as well. Without further introduction, let's dive in! 

                                                            FIRST ROUND 

1.     New Orleans Pelicans-Duke freshman SF Zion Williamson: All year long, Zion Williamson was the consensus top pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and he’s going to remain that way. At 6’7”, 285 pounds, Williamson evokes comparisons to Charles Barkley mixed with LeBron James type of athleticism. He’s even got some Dominique Wilkins in him with his flair for the highlight reel dunks. The Pelicans are going to make him their franchise piece for the future. Stats: 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game.

  

2.     Memphis Grizzlies-Murray State sophomore PG Ja Morant: Despite concerns about his minor knee operation, I still have Ja Morant going #2 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s the best point guard in the draft and the Grizzlies seem to be all in on making Morant their point guard for the future after trading Mike Conley to the Jazz. At 6’3”, 175 pounds, Morant can score, facilitate, and push the ball in transition in the open floor, making him a prototypical point guard for today’s NBA. Stats: 24.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 10.0 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. 

3.     New York Knicks-Duke freshman SF R.J. Barrett: Not to be overlooked in this year’s draft is R.J. Barrett, who played a huge role on last year’s Duke team. Barrett has all the physical tools you want in an NBA wing at 6’7”, 205 pounds. He can run the floor, throw it down in transition, and play good defense. It’s just a matter of him improving his shot a bit (30.8% from 3-point range and 66.5% from the foul line). While the Knicks lost out on the Zion Williamson sweepstakes, getting Barrett isn’t a bad consolation prize. Stats: 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and .9 steals per game. 

4.     New Orleans Pelicans-Virginia sophomore SF DeAndre Hunter: Due to the presence of Lonzo Ball as a result of the Anthony Davis trade, I don’t see the Pelicans taking a point guard. This pick could get traded, so we’ll have to see what happens, but as I wrote on Monday, I don’t factor in trades in my mock draft. 

Assuming this pick stays with the Pelicans, I think DeAndre Hunter makes a lot of sense for them. He would give them another athletic wing to go alongside Zion Williamson, allowing him to slide to the power forward position with more frequency. Hunter runs the floor well, can leap out of the gym, and has great size for an NBA wing at 6’7”, 225 pounds. On top of that, he’s a really good shooter, shooting 43.8% from 3-point range his sophomore year. He would compliment Williamson well. Stats: 15.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, .6 steals, and .6 blocks per game. 

5.     Cleveland Cavaliers-Texas Tech sophomore SG Jarrett Culver: I hinted about this on Monday, but now I’m confirming it. I don’t have the Cavaliers taking a point guard with this pick given the presence of Collin Sexton. Sexton had a good enough rookie season to be trusted with the point guard duties going forward. It would make no sense for the Cavaliers to take another point guard. Unless they trade the pick, which as I said, I don’t factor into my mocks. 

Operating under the assumption that the Cavaliers keep this pick, I think Jarrett Culver makes a ton of sense for them. He’s a versatile scorer, can shoot it from beyond the arc, and plays solid defense. He would be a nice fit for a team that could use a little bit of everything. At 6’5”, 195 pounds, Culver has NBA level athleticism and all the tools to be an elite wing in the league. What also makes him appealing is he’s not done getting better. He averaged 11.2 points per game as a freshman and improved his scoring average to 18.5 points per game as a sophomore. It’s going to be fun to see where he’s at in a few years. Stats: 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. 

6.     Phoenix Suns-Vanderbilt freshman PG Darius Garland: Despite playing  in just five games his freshman year as a result of a knee (meniscus) injury, many people have Darius Garland going as high as #4 overall in this year’s draft. I personally think that’s a little crazy considering the severity of his knee injury and the lack of film we have on him (Remember Dante Exum?).  

Anyways, upon watching some tape on him, what stands out to me about Garland is his ability to get to the rim and finish in a number of creative ways. The talent is definitely there, but his durability should raise concerns as should his size (6’2”, 175 pounds). The Suns could really use a point guard, though and if Garland is still available, I don’t see them passing on him. Stats: 16.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. 

7.     Chicago Bulls-North Carolina freshman PG Coby White: Coby White was the floor general of a really good North Carolina team, doing whatever was asked of him. He can score in a variety of ways, he can facilitate, and he has good size for an NBA point guard at 6’5”, 185 pounds. He’s got the potential to play some shooting guard as well as he shot 35.3% from 3-point range as a Tarheel. The Bulls could use a versatile playmaker in the back court, which is why I have them taking White. Stats: 16.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. 

8.     Atlanta Hawks-Duke freshman SF Cameron Reddish: This is one of those cases where I have the Hawks taking the best player available, which at this point would be Cameron Reddish. Overlooked by the presence of Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett, Reddish is one of the most talented players in this year’s draft. He has great physical tools at 6’8”, 218 pounds and is a pretty polished shooter for his age, shooting 33.3% from 3-point range and 77.2% from the foul line. He still has a lot of room for growth, which is exciting. He would be a great fit in Atlanta. Stats: 13.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. 

9.     Washington Wizards-North Carolina freshman SF Nassir Little: I wrote a piece on Nassir Little a few weeks ago indicating how high on him I am. I interviewed him for Rivals.com back when Cal was looking at him and I was really impressed by his maturity and drive. He has tons of athleticism and physical gifts at 6’6”, 220 pounds. It’s just a matter of him polishing his game and honing his craft. Just like Kawhi Leonard was coming out of San Diego State. The Wizards need someone who can give them some hope for a brighter tomorrow and if he lives up to his max potential, Little could very well be that guy. The Wizards have nothing to lose by taking him. Stats: 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. 

10.  Atlanta Hawks-Maryland sophomore C Bruno Fernando: Bruno Fernando is projected to be the top big man in this year’s draft. He’s got great size at 6’10”, 240 pounds and does a good job crashing the boards and protecting the rim. He’s also a good foul shooter (77.9%). The Hawks have a lot to play with in this year’s draft, which is really nice. They would be wise to improve their front court by adding Fernando if he’s available at this spot. Stats: 13.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. 

11.  Minnesota Timberwolves-France PF Sekou Doumbouya: At 6’9”, 230 pounds, Sekou Doumbouya has great physical tools to work with. Has great length, runs the floor well, is a legit athlete at the NBA level, etc. It’s just a matter of him learning how to play the game better. This is one of those prospects where we won’t know what we have for five years and in retrospect, he could wind up being one of the best players in this draft. He’s definitely a guy the Timberwolves should seriously consider if he’s available. He’d be a good fit there, I think. Stats: 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and .9 steals per game during EuroCup. 18 years old. Turns 19 in December. 

12.  Charlotte Hornets-Gonzaga junior PF Rui Hachimura: Rui Hachimura is one of the most NBA ready prospects in this year’s draft. His age is the only thing that’s preventing him from being a top 6 or 7 pick. Hachimura has a great feel for the game, knows how to score inside, and is comfortable being a leader. He’s also improved his shot, shooting 73.9% from the foul line and 41.7% from 3-point range on 1 attempt per game.  If you want to convince Kemba Walker to stay in Charlotte, adding a good pick and roll mate in Hachimura wouldn’t be a bad start. Stats: 19.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game. 

13.  Miami Heat-Florida State sophomore PF Mfiondu Kabengele: Mfiondu Kabengele is one of those guys that has a ton of potential due to his physical gifts (6’10”, 250 pounds), but is still learning the game. One of the things that bodes well for Kabengele is he improved a lot from his freshman year to his sophomore year, going from 7.2 points per game to 13.2. He’s also improved as a shot blocker, getting more comfortable with his body and ability to protect the rim (1.5 blocks per game).  He’s still a project, but his upside warrants him being a late lottery pick. Stats: 13.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. 

14.  Boston Celtics-Kentucky sophomore PF P.J. Washington: When I interviewed P.J. Washington a couple of years ago back when he was balling at Findlay Prep, I knew he was supposed to be really good, but I didn’t know he would become a lottery pick kind of talent. Washington has evolved into a really good forward that can score, stretch the floor, rebound, and defend. His 42.3% shooting from 3-point range on 2.2 attempts per game is really exciting. The Celtics have a lot of picks to use in this year’s draft and I don’t see why they would pass on Washington if he’s available at this point. Stats: 15.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. 

15.  Detroit Pistons-Virginia Tech sophomore SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker: One of the best two-way players in this draft is Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who has good size for a shooting guard at 6’5”, 205 pounds. He plays sound defense (1.9 steals per game ), gets to the cup, and has greatly improved his facilitating up from 1.5 assists per game as a freshman to 4.0 assists per game as a sophomore. I feel like he would be a good fit in Detroit because of his defense and playmaking abilities. Stats: 16.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.

16.  Orlando Magic-Kentucky freshman SG Keldon Johnson: Keldon Johnson is a promising talent due to his 3-point shooting and rebounding. He shot 38.1% from 3-point range and averaged 5.9 rebounds per game. He has solid size for an NBA wing at 6’6”, 210 pounds, possessing NBA level athleticism. His ceiling doesn’t project to be super high, but he could fit in nicely with a Magic team that is looking to make more noise in the playoffs. Stats: 13.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. 

17.  Atlanta Hawks-Georgia sophomore PF Nicolas Claxton: At 6’11”, 220 pounds, Nicolas Claxton runs the floor really well, knows how to get up, and all in all is a great NBA level athlete. It’s just a matter of him improving his craft and getting better on the offensive end. His major strength is his defense (2.5 blocks per game), which indicates he has a high motor. The Hawks could use a high energy guy like him and would also get someone who could help sell some tickets given that he’s a local talent. Stats: 13.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. 

18.  Indiana Pacers-Indiana freshman SG Romeo Langford:I’m staying local here as I have the Pacers taking a local talent of their own in Romeo Langford.I feel like Langford flew under the radar a bit in college after having a lot of hype coming out of high school. His 16.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game at Indiana wasn’t bad, but he could have done more. If he can improve his defense (.8 steals per game) and also his shooting (72.2% from the foul line and 27.2% from 3-point range), he could end up having a pretty solid NBA career. Stats: See above. 

19.  San Antonio Spurs-Republic of Georgia PF Goga Bitadze: There’s a funny photo circulating of Goga Bitadze getting zero media attention as Zion Williamson is one stall over from him sucking up all the space in the room. It’s a funny picture, but should also serve as motivation for a guy who is actually quite talented in his own right. He moves well for his size, knows how to score in the post, has good shooting touch, and all in all is your prototypical 6’11”, 250 pound European big. Given the success of European bigs like Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic, one could argue he should go top ten. At some point, teams have to catch on to the trend, right? 

As for why I’m picking San Antonio, guys like Bitadze are right up their alley. They’re always finding talented European guys that do damage. It’s kinda their thing. Stats: 14.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during ABA Liga. Turns 20 in July. 

20.  Boston Celtics-Oregon freshman C Bol Bol: Son of the late Manute Bol,Bol Bol has tons of upside due to his 7’2”, 210 pound body and ability to stretch the floor. He’s a total physical freak that could end up being the best player in this entire draft. What hurt his stock is his foot injury, which caused him to miss most of his time at Oregon. If can stay healthy, the sky is the limit to what he can accomplish. The Celtics have a lot of picks, which is why taking Bol Bol is a low risk, high reward type of move for them. Stats: 21.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. NBA Draft Profile: I provided more in-depth analysis of Bol Bol for NBADraft.net. Click here to check it out. 

21.  Oklahoma City Thunder-USC freshman SG Kevin Porter, Jr.: Despite not having much of a freshman season at USC, Kevin Porter, Jr. caught the attention of NBA scouts with his athleticism, defense, and energy. He has great size for an NBA shooting guard at 6’6”, 218 pounds and has all the pieces to be a great two-way guard in the league, drawing comparisons to DeShawn Stevenson. Like Stevenson, there are concerns about his maturity, but if he can grow up and become all that he can be, maybe he’ll become the DeShawn Stevenson that could have been but never was. Which was Michael Jordan 2.0. Which, ok, I’m going to stop now… 

Stats: 9.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. NBA Draft Profile: I provided more in-depth analysis of Kevin Porter, Jr. for NBADraft.net. Click here to check it out. 

22.  Boston Celtics-Texas freshman PF Jaxson Hayes: Jackson Hayeshas all the physical gifts in the world at 6’11”, 220 pounds. It’s just a matter of his game catching up with his talents. One thing he will bring right away is defense as he averaged 2.2 blocks per game during his freshman year. If he figures out the offensive part, it could be game over. Stats: 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. 

23.  Memphis Grizzlies- Stanford sophomore SF KZ Okpala: After flying under the radar a bit in high school and his freshman year, KZ Okpala blossomed into a potential lottery pick during his sophomore year on the “The Farm” due to his unique blend of athleticism, shooting, and basketball IQ. He’s got a ton of talent and should continue to get better. He’s a bit of a quiet guy if you interview him, so maybe that’s why he’s fallen in mock drafts. Teams just not liking how he comes across, but that isn’t a reason to worry about him. If continues on the trajectory he’s on, we’ll look back and wonder why he wasn’t a top ten pick. He would be a great fit in Memphis alongside Ja Morant. 

Stats: 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game. NBA Draft Profile: I provided more in-depth analysis of KZ Okpala for NBADraft.net. Click here to check it out.

24.  Philadelphia 76ers-Oregon freshman SF Louis King: Louis King had a bit of an underwhelming freshman year, but he still managed to be a solid contributor for the Ducks. He’s a unique talent in that he’s a 6’9”, 205 pound small forward that has good shooting touch (38.6% from 3-point range and 78.5% from the foul line). Given that package, I have a hard time seeing him not go in the first round. Stats: 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. 

25.  Portland Trail Blazers-Gonzaga junior PF Brandon Clarke: Brandon Clarke demonstrated NBA level talent when he was a freshman at San Jose State. I watched him play live when he was with the Spartans and was amazed by his athleticism and motor. I think it was a put back dunk that caught my eye. 

After sitting out a year and transferring to Gonzaga, Clarke has done a great job of polishing his game and honing his craft. He shot a remarkable 68.7% from the field last season and swatted 3.2 shots per game. He actually had just as many total blocks (117) as he did missed shots last season, which is just nuts. He would fit well with a Portland team that could use another energetic body off the bench. Stats: 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game. 

26.  Cleveland Cavaliers-Belmont senior SF Dylan Windler: Ja Morant stole the show in the Ohio Valley Conference this past year, but Dylan Windler was pretty good, too. He has good size for an NBA small forward at 6’8”, 200 pounds and shot 42.9% from 3-point range. On top of being a really good 3-point shooter, Windler was a good all-around scorer (21.3 points) and a killer rebounder (10.8 rebounds). He’s a very polished and NBA ready player that would learn a lot from Kevin Love. Stats: 21.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. 

27.  Brooklyn Nets-Virginia junior PG Ty Jerome: Ty Jerome is one of those guys that makes up for his lack of athleticism with his skill and playmaking abilities. He’s a good facilitator, good shooter, plays smart, and a leader. Plus, while not being very athletic, he has good size at 6’5”, 195 pounds. The Nets are looking to improve their chances of winning a playoff series, making a solid backup point guard like Jerome a good choice at this point of the draft. Stats: 13.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. 

28.  Golden State Warriors-Washington senior SG Matisse Thybulle: Matisse Thybulle is a phenomenal defender at 6’5”, 195 pounds, averaging 3.5 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game. His offense needs to improve, but he’ll come in right away as a legit defender that can force turnovers and wreak havoc. He would be a perfect fit on a Warriors team that could use more disruption on defense. 

Stats: 9.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.5 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game. NBA Draft Profile: I provided more in-depth analysis of Matisse Thybulle for NBADraft.net. Click here to check it out.

29.  San Antonio Spurs-Kentucky freshman SG Tyler Herro: Tyler Herro has solid size for an NBA shooting guard at 6’5”, 195 pounds and is a really good shooter (35.5% from 3-point range and 93.5% from the foul line). On top of being a good shooter, he’s a pretty solid rebounder (4.5 rebounds per game) and defender (1.1 steals per game). If he can improve his quickness and athleticism, he could be a steal. Stats: 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. 

30.  Milwaukee Bucks-LSU freshman C Naz Reid: At 6’10”, 250 pounds, Naz Reid is one large dude. He’s a solid scorer in the post, solid rebounder, and a pretty good foul shooter for a big man (72.2%). The issue with him is he is a bit overweight and isn’t REALLY good at any one thing. Plus, he’s a below average passer (0.9 assists) and shot blocker (0.7 blocks). If he can improve in those two areas and become more tenacious on the glass, he could be a steal at this point of the draft. Stats: 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. 

SECOND ROUND 

31.  Brooklyn Nets-Auburn sophomore SF Chuma Okeke: At 6’8”, 230 pounds, Chuma Okeke is a solid forward and borderline first round talent. He can stretch the floor (38.7% from 3-point range), score, rebound, and defend (1.8 steals and 1.2 blocks per game). Lots to like about him. Stats: 12.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. 

32.  Phoenix Suns-Purdue junior PG Carsen Edwards: Carsen Edwards’ 42 point explosion against Virginia in the Elite Eight put him on the NBA radar for good as he almost willed his team to victory. He was pulling out all of his bag of tricks in that game. It should be noted though that Edwards was a good scorer all season long (24.3 points per game) and played much bigger than his 6’1”, 200 pound frame. The only concern with him is he's not much of a facilitator (2.9 assists per game) and it’s tough to make it in the NBA as a 6’1” shooting guard. If he can improve his facilitating and develop in other areas, he could find a nice home in the NBA. Stats: See above. 

33.  Philadelphia 76ers-Arkansas sophomore PF Daniel Gafford: At 6’11”, 235 pounds Daniel Gafford runs the floor well and has nice physical tools to work with. He rebounds well and knows how to protect the paint. What’s holding him back is his lack of a perimeter game (0 3-point attempts in two years at Arkansas). If he can develop a perimeter game, he’ll take his game to new heights. Stats: 16.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. 

34.  Philadelphia 76ers-USA SF Darius Bazley: If Darius Bazley had decided to play college basketball instead of opting to sit out a year to train for the NBA, he could have been a projected first round pick. There are a lot of unknowns with the 2018 McDonald’s All-American, but he has tremendous physical tools at 6’9”, 210 pounds. It’ll be interesting to see where he falls in the draft and how much his decision to sit out a year hurt or helped him. Stats: N/A 

35.  Atlanta Hawks-Villanova senior PF Eric Paschall: Eric Paschall is undersized for a power forward at 6’7”, 255 pounds, but he’s made up for it with his energy, leaping ability, strength, and quickness. If he can improve on his 34.8% shooting from 3-point range and become reliable from deep in the NBA, he could be one the major steals of this draft. Stats: 16.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. 

36.  Charlotte Hornets-Tennessee junior PG Jordan Bone: After back-to-back seasons of scoring averages in the single digits, Jordan Bone really came into his own his junior year, averaging 13.5 points per game to go along with 5.8 assists. He could be a solid replacement for Tony Parker, who served as a reserve point guard last season for the Hornets. Stats: See above.

37.  Dallas Mavericks-Mississippi senior PG Terence Davis: At 6’4”, 205 pounds, Terence Davis has solid size for a point guard. What really helped him out this past season was his improved 3-point shooting (31.7% as a junior; 37.1% as a senior) and defending (1.6 steals per game). He’s a below average facilitator, but he’s been making up for it in other areas. If he can improve at getting his teammates involved, he could find a permanent home in the NBA. Stats: 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. 

38.  Chicago Bulls-North Carolina senior SF Cameron Johnson: What makes Cameron Johnson intriguing is he’s a 6’8”, 205 pound wing that shoots 45.7% from 3-point range. I may have him pegged a bit low as he could sneak into the first round. Wherever he lands, he could wind up being a steal. Stats: 16.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. 

39.  New Orleans Pelicans-Syracuse sophomore SF Oshae Brissett: Given his draft projection, it’s fair to question whether or not Oshae Brissett is coming out a year early. The counterargument to that is that he regressed from his freshman year to sophomore year in terms of his scoring, rebounding, minutes, foul shooting, and 3-point shooting. So perhaps its good he’s coming out now as opposed to slipping even further next year. Stats: 12.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. 

40.  Sacramento Kings-Tennessee junior SF Grant Williams: Grant Williams was the top player on a Tennessee team that was #1 in the country for a lot of the year. That alone makes him a legit prospect. On top of that, he’s a 2x SEC Player of the Year that knows how to lead a team. If you’re talking about guys who could outplay his draft stock, Grant Williams could be one of those guys. Stats: 18.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. 

41.  Atlanta Hawks-Croatia PF Luka Samanic: At 6’11”, 230 pounds, Luka Samanic is a talented forward that moves well for his size and has a pretty well-rounded game on offense. He’s got first round talent, so it’ll be interesting to see if he goes earlier than I have him going. We shall see. Stats: 8.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game (Euroleague U18). 

42.  Philadelphia 76ers- Virginia junior SG Kyle Guy: If there’s one thing we know about Kyle Guy, it’s that he has ice in his veins. Without his clutch shooting, Virginia would not have won a national title. He’s also a solid scorer to go along with being a clutch shooter. The big concern with him is he’s just 6’2”, 175 pounds, which is really small for a shooting guard. He definitely deserves a look, though. Stats: 15.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. 

43.  Minnesota Timberwolves-Arizona State freshman SG Luguentz Dort: Given his projection, Luguentz Dort may have been wise to play one more year of college basketball. What makes me thing he still gets drafted, though is his physical profile. He’s built like a truck at 6’4”, 220 pounds and is very aggressive, especially in the open floor. He’s a pit bull on defense (1.5 steals per game) and has all the tools to be another Tony Allen type. Stats: 16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. 

44.  Miami Heat-Florida State SG Terance Mann: Terance Mann is a 6’7”, 215 pound shooting guard that shoots 39.0% from 3-point range and 79.0% from the foul line. It’s tough for guys like him to go undrafted. Stats: 11.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. 

45.  Detroit Pistons-San Diego State sophomore SF Jalen McDaniels: What will help Jalen McDaniels find a home in the NBA is he’s 6’9”, 190 pounds with an ability to do a lot of different things. He can score, rebound, and force turnovers. His main needs are to add more weight and become a better 3-point shooter. Stats: 15.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. 

46.  Orlando Magic-Germany PG Joshua Obiesie: Joshua Obiesieis a 6’6”, 195 pound point guard that really is more of a combo guard due to his size and versatility. If given the right situation, he could flourish in the NBA. Stats: Just turned 19 years old. Averaged 5.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1 assist per game in the BBL league in Germany. 

47.  Sacramento Kings-Washington sophomore SG Jaylen Nowell: I got to know Jaylen Nowell decently well when he was being recruited by Cal out of Garfield High School in Seattle. He of course decided to stay home and build up the Huskies program. Nowell is a really talented scorer that can put the ball in the basket in a variety of ways. He can beat you from the perimeter (44.0% from 3-point range), beat you at the foul line (77.9%), or beat you to the rim (52.5% from 2-point range). On top of that, he’s a pretty good rebounder and can defend the perimeter well. 

Stats: 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. NBA Draft Profile: I provided more in-depth analysis of Jaylen Nowell for NBADraft.net. Click here to check it out.

48.  Los Angeles Clippers-Central senior Florida C Tacko Fall: Tacko Fall is 7’6”, 310 pounds with a solid post game and ability to protect the rim. Truth be told, his shot blocking should be better than what it is. If he can become another Mark Eaton, he’ll have a long and fruitful career in the NBA. His name is also really cool. Stats: 11.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. 

49.  San Antonio Spurs-UCLA sophomore SF Kris Wilkes: At 6’7”, 210 pounds, Kris Wilkes has the ability to go off. It’s just a matter of him becoming more consistent. He’s got first round talent, so he’d be an absolute steal at this point of the draft. 

Stats: 17.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. NBA Draft Profile: I provided more in-depth analysis of Kris Wilkes for NBADraft.net. Click here to check it out.  

50.  Indiana Pacers-UCLA freshman C Moses Brown: At 7’1”, 245 pounds, Moses Brown has tons of upside, but is just very raw. His shooting stroke is really weird, and he’ll definitely need to spend a lot of time in the G-League. He’s a guy worth rolling the dice on at this point of the draft, though. You can teach his physical gifts. 

Stats: 9.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. NBA Draft Profile: I provided more in-depth analysis of Moses Brown for NBADraft.net. Click here to check it out. 

51.  Boston Celtics-Tulsa junior SF DaQuan Jeffries: DaQuan Jeffries was a 2018-19 All-AAC player for Tulsa this past season, shooting 36.6% from 3-point range and 75.5% from the foul line. He’s a little short for an NBA small forward at 6’5”, but he makes up for it with his 230 pound frame. He’s a very physical player that should be able to handle the NBA just fine from a physical standpoint. A man among boys in the AAC. Stats: 13.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.0 steal per game. 

52.  Charlotte Hornets-UCLA sophomore PG Jaylen Hands: To his credit, Jaylen Hands improved from his freshman year to sophomore year at UCLA. His scoring improved, his assist numbers improved, and he averaged more steals per game. He’s another option the Hornets could go to add point guard depth. 

Stats: 14.2 points, 6.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. NBA Draft Profile: I provided more in-depth analysis of Jalen Hands for NBADraft.net. I also got a couple of quotes from him talking about his game and what he needs to improve. Click here to check it out. 

53.  Utah Jazz-Yale junior SG Miye Oni: Every now and then the Ivy League produces an NBA level talent and this year they have one in Miye Oni. He’s 6’6”, 210 pounds, and a solid all-around player that can score, rebound, and defend. He’d fit right in Utah that is looking for rookies who can help out right away. 

Stats: 17.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. NBA Draft Profile: I provided more in-depth analysis of Miye Oni for NBADraft.net. Click here to check it out. 

54.  Philadelphia 76ers-Nebraska junior SF Isaiah Roby: The main thing Isaiah Roby has going for him is his 6’8”, 230 pound frame. He’s physically ready for the NBA. He just needs to improve his foul shooting, 3-point shooting, and all-around scoring. Stats: 11.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

55.  New York Knicks-Michigan freshman SF Ignas Brazdeikis: At 6’7”, 215 pounds, Ignas Brazdeikis is a legit stretch forward, shooting 39.2% from 3-point range. When I interviewed him back when Cal was looking at him, he was being recruited as a stretch forward. I had no idea he would get on the NBA radar like he did, so it’s been fun to see him blow up. Stats: 14.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. 

56.  Los Angeles Clippers-Sydney Kings SF Brian Bowen: Brian Bowen is more famous for his role in the national college basketball corruption scandal back when he was committed to Louisville. It’s a shame because he’s actually a pretty talented player. He’s 6’7”, 190 pounds and a 2017 McDonald’s All-American. It would be cool to see him redeem himself in the NBA and find a home. Stats: 6.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in the NBL. 

57.  New Orleans Pelicans-Michigan sophomore SG Jordan Poole: At 6’5”, 195 pounds, Jordan Poole more than doubled his scoring average from his freshman year to his sophomore year (6.1 points to 12.8 points per game). That definitely bodes well for his ability to get better. Stats: 12.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. 

58.  Golden State Warriors-Oregon sophomore PF Kenny Wooten: At 6’9”, 235 pounds, Kenny Wooten has great physical tools. He runs the floor really well, protects the rim at an elite level, and has promising talent on offense. He just needs to spend some time in the G-League and hone his craft. He’s worth a pick towards the end of this draft. Stats: 6.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. NBA Draft Profile: I provided more in-depth analysis of Kenny Wooten for NBADraft.net. Click here to check it out. 

59.  Toronto Raptors-USA PG Jalen Lecque: Jalen Lecque  is an athletic point guard at 6’4”, 195 pounds, who decided to skip college (former NC State commit) to go to the NBA instead. It’s hard to know how good he’ll be since he didn’t play in college, but he might be worth a gamble at this stage. Stats: N/A

60.  Sacramento Kings-Nevada SG Caleb Martin:  Totally a gut thing, but I think the Kings roll the dice on local product Caleb Martin. They’re sort of the default home team for Nevada fans and bringing in their star player to training camp wouldn’t hurt. He’s also a pretty talented scorer that can play both small forward and power forward. Stats: 19.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. 

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