Account
2020 NBA Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions, Prospects Who Are Safest Bets
May 18, 2020
In comparison to the current crop of NBA rookies, the 2020 NBA draft class features fewer safe bets.
There is no Zion Williamson or Ja Morant headlining the list of players, but there are a few standouts who could develop into regular contributors right away.
Georgia shooting guard Anthony Edwards and Memphis center James Wiseman could be viewed as the safest prospects because most experts believe they will land in the top two.
However, a case could be made for the players with more collegiate experience to be safer picks, even if they are not the first players off the board.
2020 NBA 1st-Round Mock Draft
1. Golden State Warriors: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia
2. Cleveland Cavaliers: James Wiseman, C, Memphis
3. Minnesota Timberwolves: LaMelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks
4. Atlanta Hawks: Deni Avdija, SF, Maccabi Tel Aviv
5. Detroit Pistons: Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton
6. New York Knicks: Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State
7. Chicago Bulls: Isaac Okoro, SF/PF, Auburn
8. Charlotte Hornets: Onyeka Okongwu, PF/C, USC
9. Washington Wizards: Killian Hayes, PG, Ratiopharm Ulm
10. Phoenix Suns: Cole Anthony, PG, North Carolina
11. San Antonio Spurs: RJ Hampton, SG, New Zealand Breakers
12. Sacramento Kings: Devin Vassell, SG, Florida State
13. New Orleans Pelicans: Tyrese Maxey, SG, Kentucky
14. Portland Trail Blazers: Aaron Nesmith, SF, Vanderbilt
15. Orlando Magic: Saddiq Bey, SF, Villanova
16. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Brooklyn): Patrick Williams, SF/PF, Florida State
17. Boston Celtics (from Memphis): Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama
18. Dallas Mavericks: Aleksej Pokusevski, PF, Olympiacos B
19. Milwaukee Bucks (from Indiana): Josh Green, SG, Arizona
20. Brooklyn Nets (from Philadelphia): Jaden McDaniels, SF, Washington
21. Denver Nuggets (from Houston): Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis
22. Philadelphia 76ers (from Oklahoma City): Theo Maledon, PG, ASVEL
23. Miami Heat: Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona
24. Utah Jazz: Jahmi'us Ramsey, SG, Texas Tech
25. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Denver): Tre Jones, PG, Duke
26. Boston Celtics: Isaiah Stewart, C, Washington
27. New York Knicks (from Los Angeles Clippers): Jalen Smith, PF/C, Maryland
28. Toronto Raptors: Paul Reed, PF, DePaul
29. Los Angeles Lakers: Tyrell Terry, PG, Stanford
30. Boston Celtics (from Milwaukee): Leandro Bolmaro, SF, Barcelona B
Prospects Who Are Safest Bets
Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia
Edwards does not carry the same level of hype as Zion Williamson, Ja Morant or RJ Barrett had a year ago.
However, he can still turn into a consistent scorer in the NBA, which is why he is one of, if not the, safest picks to make.
The one-and-done guard averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 40.2 percent from the field at Georgia.
Although he led the Bulldogs in scoring most games, Edwards struggled to make an impact from three-point range.
Edwards shot 29.4 percent from beyond the arc on an average of 7.7 three-point attempts per game.
If the franchise with the top pick develops his three-point shot, he could be a well-rounded scorer at the next level.
The obvious fit to help with that attribute is the Golden State Warriors, who are currently in place to have the best draft lottery odds.
Letting Edwards hone his skills beneath the Warriors' crop of high-scoring guards could accelerate his development.
Edwards' abilities will not be stunted if he lands with the Cleveland Cavaliers or Minnesota Timberwolves because he would receive plenty of playing time to work on his shot.
Each of those three franchises could list Edwards on top of their respective draft boards because his scoring prowess is clear, and if they work on his shot even more, he may go down as the best pick from the 2020 draft.
Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton
The Naismith Player of the Year award is typically a good indicator for a player to have success at the next level.
Williamson and Anthony Davis are the highest-profile winners from the last decade, but many others, like Doug McDermott, Frank Kaminsky and Buddy Hield, have carved out solid careers for themselves.
Frank Mason is the only player of that group who has not transitioned well into the NBA.
If you go back further, Blake Griffin, Tyler Hansbrough, JJ Redick and Kevin Durant have all thrived as professionals after winning the Naismith award.
Toppin improved all aspects of his game during Dayton's tremendous 2019-20 campaign. He averaged 20 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per contest.
The power forward's age, 22, may play against him since teams could target younger players to develop them and maximize their potential.
However, it could also be an advantage for Toppin since he matured throughout his amateur career and does not require a ton of development.
Toppin could make an immediate impact on the glass for a team like Atlanta or Detroit, and if he works on his defensive qualities, he could carve out a long career.
Toppin could be viewed as a safer pick than Wiseman because the center only played three games at Memphis and teams would take him based on potential.
The same may be said in comparison to LaMelo Ball and Deni Avdija, who may face a bigger adjustment after playing internationally.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90
Statistics obtained from ESPN.com