The 2020 NBA Draft lottery took place Thursday night, allowing one of the league’s 14 non-playoff franchises the opportunity to potentially grab an elite prospect.
Below are the odds for the 14 teams in the NBA Draft Lottery 2020.
Below are the results from the NBA Lottery and my predictions for each team’s selection.
14. Memphis Grizzlies* (Pick Goes to Boston Celtics)
Prediction with Pick: Saddiq Bey (Villanova, SF/PF)
The Celtics are in need of height and off-ball shooters. The 6-foot-8, 216-pound Bey just shot 45.1 percent from three and offers off-ball shot-making versatility that seems to make an immediate impact with the Celtics. The Celtics drafting rookie Romeo Langford in the 2019 draft was questionable because of his lack of size and playmaking ability. So look for a bigger body and offensively more talented Bey to take over his spot.
13.New Orleans Pelicans
Prediction with Pick: Precious Achiuwa (Memphis, PF)
The 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward with a massive 7-foot-2 wingspan can guard anybody on the floor. The Pelicans can use a tag team punch in Zion and Achiuwa by combining their bulky explosiveness play on both sides of the floor. Achiuwa is a physical player who has a high motor and an extreme bounce for grabbing boards of the glass. He would fit New Orleans perfectly.
12. Sacramento Kings
Prediction with Pick: Patrick Williams (Florida State, SF)
Williams has great potential to be a long term two-way wing in this league. The 6-foot-8 forward with a massive 6-foot-11 wingspan has tremendous strength and can guard pretty much any position on the floor. His natural athleticism is what draws NBA scouts attention and can also shoot from the perimeter. The Kings need a lengthy forward to help out Fox and the supporting big men down low.
11. San Antonio Spurs
Prediction with Pick: Killian Hayes (France, PG)
The American-born guard has good height and a high IQ for the game. The left-handed guard who grew up in France should bond well and learn a lot from veteran guard Patty Mills, who also grew up in France. Hayes plays a little out of control, but he should fit in well and improve his game under coach Popovich.
10. Phoenix Suns
Prediction with Pick: Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa State, PG)
Haliburton is a lengthy point guard who can shoot the long ball efficiently. Drafting him to tag along rising star Devin Booker, and the Suns may become the deadliest offensive team in the league. He can move Rubio into a backup role and take over the Suns as the starting point guard.
9. Washington Wizards
Prediction with Pick: Devin Vassell (Florida State, SF)
With John Wall poised to return and Bradley Beal potentially staying red hot, they should lean towards an athletic wing who can shoot the ball. Vassell can play both ends of the floor and should be an excellent off the ball shot maker. The 6-foot-7, two-way wing should be a reliable pick to support Wall and Beal.
8. New York Knicks
Prediction with Pick: Cole Anthony (North Carolina, PG)
Anthony’s knee injury from last season shouldn’t worry anyone. Anthony didn’t have much support at UNC and still averaged 18.5 points per game and should help boost the Knicks offensive efficiency, as they were ranked 28th in the league. He loves to attack in isolation and is extremely good in the open floor which is crucial in the league.
7. Detroit Pistons
Prediction with Pick: Onyeka Okongwu (USC, C)
With Andre Drummond shipped to the Cleveland Cavaliers, it makes sense to find his replacement with a more athletic center. Onyeka can easily fill in that role. Onyeka is an exceptional rim protector and makes up for his size with his length and quickness. He is an all-around elite defender both inside and outside the paint and should help the Pistons dramatically who were ranked 27th allowing 52 points-per-game in the paint.
6. Atlanta Hawks
Prediction with Pick: Isaac Okoro (Auburn, SF)
Okoro is an exceptional slasher and plays with a good IQ on both ends of the floor. Though he isn’t known for creating or shooting, he excels at capitalizing on space for drives, cuts and post-ups which should gel extremely well with playmaker Trae Young. Okoro should fill his role perfectly in Atlanta.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
Prediction with Pick: Deni Avdija (Maccabi Tel Aviv, PF)
Avdija should be the first non-American international player taken in this draft. The 6-foot-9 prospect can play all around the floor from guard to stretch forward. He has elite court vision and has a consistent shooting percentage. He just needs to bulk up which he will do once the NBA trainers get a hold of him.
4. Chicago Bulls
Prediction with Pick: LaMelo Ball (Illawarra Hawks, PG)
The third Ball brother should become the next great point guard in Chicago. Ball will push LaVine to shooting guard and create a deadly backcourt for teams around the league to fear. He would go top-three in this draft but the Hornets, Warriors and Timberwolves are in no need of a point guard. LaMelo will bring his exceptional shooting ability and playmaking skills immediately in a starting role. Once he improves his defense and bulks up, he should become a valuable player in the league and eventually surpass his older brother Lonzo.
3. Charlotte Hornets
Prediction with Pick: Obi Toppin (Dayton, PF)
Obi Toppin took the college basketball world by storm with his flashy dunks and unbelievable athletic ability. There is a reason why he won the Wooden award and another reason why the Hornets are going to take him with their third overall pick. With his improved three-point shooting and defensive ability, he should be able to stretch the floor and make Devonte Graham and Malik Monk’s job easier to be a threat to score.
2. Golden State Warriors
Prediction with Pick: James Wiseman (Memphis, C)
Golden State would love a big man to stretch the floor and who better than 7-foot-1 James Wiseman. Opting to quit on Memphis midseason, NBA scouts questioned if he was ready to take the next step into the league. But his natural size and athletic ability are hard to pass on especially if Golden State needs a center.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves
Prediction with Pick: Anthony Edwards (Georgia, SG)
Anthony Edwards is the best prospect in this draft and the Georgia product will fit perfectly in Minnesota. The big, strong guard should make an immediate impact with his elite level of athleticism and competitiveness as soon as he steps on the floor. He has high potential for stardom and will be surrounded by a talented young core in DeAngelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns.
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