2020 NBA Mock Draft: Final Mock 2 Rounds

Round 1 Picks 16-30

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: November 18, 2020.

16. Detroit Pistons: Saadiq Bey, SF, Villanova
    
    
    The 6-8 216 lb Saddiq Bey had 16.1 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game, 2.4 assists per game, 48.4% field goal percentage, 47.7% three point percentage, 77.6% free throw percentage in his sophomore season at Villanova. Detroit grabs Bey with the pick they got from Houston after they got this pick for Robert Covington.
    
    
    
17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jaden McDaniels, SF, Washington
    
    
    Minnesota now has three star players with point guard De'Angelo Russell, shooting guard Anthony Edwards, and center Karl Anthony-Towns. The Minnesota Timberwolves still need two good starting forwards at both small forward and power forward. Minnesota can take the best forward on the board at 17 and draft the other forward position at 33 with their second round pick.
    
    
    
    The 6-9 200 lb Jaden McDaniels had 13 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game, 1.4 blocks per game, a 40.5% field goal percentage, a 33.9% three point percentage, and a 76.3% free throw percentage. Jaden McDaniels is a good small forward prospect for Minnesota.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Jalen Smith, PF, Maryland
    
    
    
    
18. Dallas Mavericks: Immanuel Quickley, SG, Kentucky
    
    
    The Dallas Mavericks have Kristaps Porzingis at power forward along with two good starters at guard with Luka Doncic and Seth Curry, the younger brother of Steph Curry. Doncic plays point guard while Curry plays shoooting guard, but both guys can play either guard spot. Getting upgrades at small forward and center is necessary if the Mavericks want to put together a championship contender similar to the 2011 Dallas Mavericks team that had icons like Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd. That team had stars at power forward and point guard and so does this one even though this team also needs a few more players to assert themselves as a Championship contender despite being a team that is good enough to make the 2020 NBA Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Dorian Finney-Smith is injured at small forward, but can be effective when healthy. At this point, I feel he's a liability, but Dallas doesn't as they have made it clear that their plans are to get a point guard for depth, a shooting guard for depth, and a big that can start at center across from power forward Kristaps Porzingis as Porzingis was injured during the 2020 NBA Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Dallas may be waiting to go after Milwaukee Bucks small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo that way they have multiple stars as well as a team that can compete with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers for the Western Conference for years to come assuming they get a center and more guard depth in this draft. If this is the case, then going with the best player on their board at 18 is the plan. In this case that could be Immanuel Quickley, a shooting guard from Kentucky.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 188 lb Immanuel Quickley is versatile enough to play shooting guard or point guard with his versatility. This season, he averaged 16.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. The 21-year-old shot 41.7% from the field, 42.8% three point percentage, and a 92.3% free-throw percentage.
    
    
    
    Immanuel Quickley gives the Dallas Mavericks someone that can push Seth Curry. Dallas brought Quickley in for a private workout which is the main reason, I mocked him to Dallas at 18.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke
    
    
19. Brooklyn Nets: Patrick Williams, PF, Florida State
    
    
    The Brooklyn Nets have 0 power forwards on their depth chart. Patrick Williams is a guy that is surging up NBA Draft boards. Williams could end up being a lottery pick. He showed other strong leadership traits with terrific passing, defense, and court vision to compensate for having under 10 points per game.
    
    
    
    Here, the Brooklyn Nets get their power forward. One NBA Mock Draft had him going as high as number six overall to the Atlanta Hawks which is ridiculous if you ask me.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Aleksej Pokusevski, PF, Olympiacos BC B
    
    
20. Miami Heat: Cole Anthony, PG, North Carolina
    
    
    The Miami Heat have their starting five back next season. Point guards Goran Dragic and Kendrick Nunn are both averaging over 15 points per game which is one reason why the Heat are doing so well in the Eastern Conference. You also have Duncan Robinson and Miami's 2019 first round pick Tyler Herro at shooting guard. Jimmy Butler dominated at small forward. Butler led Miami with 20.2 points per game before his injury before improving on that total with a dominant 2020 NBA Playoff run for the ages. The bigs on this team include power forward Kelly Olynick, and center Bam Adebayo make an outstanding core when all five are healthy.
    
    
    
    Udonis Haslem is returning for his eighteenth season with the Miami Heat too as Steph Curry, John Wall, and Udonis Haslem are the only three NBA Players to spend ten or more years with the NBA Team that drafted them.
    
    
    
    Miami drafts the best player on my board at 20. The 6-3 190 lb Cole Anthony took over for Coby White at point guard for North Carolina. White was a five star recruit coming out of High School. Anthony displays the passing, short range, mid range, long range, and happens to be a better defender than White coming out of North Carolina.
    
    
    
    Cole Anthony had 18.5 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, 4 assists per game, 1.3 steals per game, 38% field goal percentage, 34.8% three point percentage, and a 75% free throw percentage. Cole Anthony is someone who can push Goran Dragic and Kendrick Nunn for minutes right away.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Tyler Bey, SF, Colorado
    
    
    
    
21. Philadelphia 76ers: Jalen Smith, PF, Maryland
    
    
    Philadelphia has one of the NBA's best starting fives when healthy when point guard Ben Simmons, shooting guard Danny Green, small forward Tobias Harris, and center Joel Embiid are all in this starting lineup. The injury to Ben Simmons led to them suffering a first round exit against the Boston Celtics.
    
    
    
    I love this teams long-term outlook though. Elton Brand got hired as a player development consultant in 2016, then he gets promoted to the Delaware 87ers, the G-League Team of the 76ers in 2017, and then gets promoted to General Manager in 2018. He brings in Doc Rivers as his new head coach. Philadelphia also hired Daryl Morey as the President Of Basketball Operations.
    
    
    
    Philadelphia can ignore need and take the best available player on the board. In this scenario, they draft Maryland power forward Jalen Smith here. With Philadelphia trading Al Horford to Oklahoma City, I'm even more confident in this pick.
    
    
    
    My top ranked forward at this point is Maryland Terrapins power forward Jalen Smith. The 6-10 225 lb Jalen Smith is a two year starter at Maryland. As a true freshman he compliment Maryland's star center Bruno Fernando.
    
    
    
    Bruno Fernando was a versatile big who could play center or power forward. Fernando had good short range game and free throw shooting to compliment his excellent defense. Fernando lacked the explosion or jumping despite having solid footwork. Jalen Smith showcases the same elite defense Fernando showed at Maryland while having the ability to shoot from short range, mid range, and long range. He's not as versatile as Fernando, but he's got way better explosion and jumping which is something Fernando struggled with at Maryland even though I had a top 20 grade on him after Maryland got Kevin Heurter in the top 20 back in the 2018 NBA Draft.
    
    
    
    Jalen Smith had 11.7 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, a 49.2% field goal percentage, a 26.8% three point percentage, and a 65.8% free throw percentage as a freshman in 2018-2019 when complimenting Bruno Fernando at power forward. Jalen Smith had 15.5 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per game, a 53.8% field goal percentage, a 36.8% three point percentage, and a 75% free throw percentage as a sophomore in 2019-2020 after taking over Maryland's front court showing true leadership traits following the departure of Fernando.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama
    
    
22. Denver Nuggets: Josh Green, SG, Arizona
    
    
    Denver has a very good starting five featuring point guard Jamal Murray, shooting guard Gary Harris Jr., small forward Jerami Grant, power forward Paul Millsap, and center Nikola Jokic.
    
    
    
    Josh Green is a player that had a private workout with the Denver Nuggets. Denver can take the best player on their board rather than draft for need. Josh Green is someone they can groom to replace Gary Harris Jr., should Gary Harris Jr. want more money or want to sign elsewhere.
    
    
    
    The 6-6 210 lb Josh Green had 12 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game, 2.6 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game, a 42.4% field goal percentage, a 36.1% three point percentage, and a 78% free throw percentage this past season in his freshman season at Arizona. Green is a nice prospect to groom behind Gary Harris Jr. if you don't think their is a power forward worth taking here to potentially replace Millsap at some point.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Paul Reed, PF, DePaul
    
    
23. New York Knicks: Jahmi'us Ramsey, SG, Texas Tech
    
    
    The New York Knicks grab their shooting guard at 23 after taking Tyrese Haliburton at 8. Jahmi'us Ramsey compliments Haliburton at shooting guard while having a wing player like R.J. Barrett at small forward makes the New York Knicks pretty lethal moving forward.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 195 lb Jahmi'us Ramsey had 15 points per game, 4 rebounds per game, and 2.2 assists per game. He's not as good as former Texas Tech teammate Jarrett Culver, but he's a nice guard that could end up complimenting Tyrese Haliburton in New York.
    
    
    
24. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Bey, SF, Colorado
    
    
    The Milwaukee Bucks have Jrue Holliday at point guard, Bogdan Bogdanovic at shooting guard, Khris Middleton at small forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo at power forward, and Brook Lopez at center. The Bucks had the NBA's best regular season record a year ago and kept this core together before losing to Toronto in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals. Milwaukee lost to the Miami Heat in the second round this year with Milwaukee losing to the eventual Eastern Conference Champion two years in a row.
    
    
    
    Milwaukee is expected to trade their starting point guard Eric Bledsoe so a point guard could be in play here at 24 since this is a strong point guard draft with as many as 16 dratable point guards and 10 point guards with first round grades. I am giving Milwaukee a small forward to develop behind Giannis Antetokounmpo just in case Milwaukee cannot keep the NBA's back-to-back regular season MVP.
    
    
    
    The 6-7 218 lb Tyler Bey can play small forward or shooting guard with his versatility. Bey declared for the 2020 NBA Draft right after his junior season. He's Colorado's best scorer since Derrick White, but he's not the scorer White was coming out of Colorado. His 13.8 points per game at Colorado in his junior season along with 9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game are why he declared after his junior season.
    
    
    
    Bey passes well and can hit any type of shot on tape whether it be short range, medium range, or long range. He does not hit these shots consistently and struggles against quality teams in the top 25 on the road. That is one reason I am hesitant about Bey at the next level. Milwaukee could end up molding him into an effective bench player who becomes a good starter down the road, especially if he's getting hands-on mentorship from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Tre Jones, PG, Duke
    
    
25. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jordan Nwora, SF, Louisville
    
    
    The Oklahoma City Thunder have two good guards in point guard Ricky Rubio and shooting guard Shai-Gilgeous Alexander. Kelly Oubre Jr. is starting at small forward. Danillo Gallinari plays power forward and Steven Adams at center provide this team with two bigs. Jordan Nwora was the leader for Lousiville's basketball team all season. He is someone who could fill the void at small forward. He can pass, shoot short range, mid range, and long range. Nwora has a good wingspan and can defend effectively at the College level so it will be interesting to see if he can bring that same skill set to the NBA.
    
    
    
    
    
26. Boston Celtics: Tyrese Maxey, PG, Kentucky
    
    
    The 6-3 198 lb Tyrese Maxey is a point guard who gives Boston more depth at point guard. He plays like a shooting guard and may be one of the only combo guards in this draft that's versatile enough to play both guard spots. He has the short range, mid range, and long range shots that you want an NBA shooting guard to have despite playing the point.
    
    
    
    The 19-year-old Tyrese Maxey was one of the top recruits in College Basketball. Tyrese Maxey had 14 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game, a 42.7% field goal percentage, 29.2% three point percentage, and a 83.3% free throw percentage.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Patrick Williams, PF, Florida State
    
    
27. Utah Jazz: Isaiah Stewart, PF, Washington
    
    
    Utah has two guards that may be able to carry this team out of the first round with point guard Mike Conley and shooting guard Donovan Mitchell. Center Rudy Gobert is also good with the weakness for this team lying at forward. Utah needs two forwards.
    
    
    
    The 6-9 250 lb Isaiah Stewart had 17 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game, a 57% field goal percentage, a 25% three point percentage, and a 77.4% free throw percentage. Stewart reminds me of a poor mans Derrick Favors.
    
    
    
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Theo Maledon, PG, LDLC Asvel
    
    
    The Los Angeles Lakers traded this pick to Oklahoma City and Danny Green to Oklahoma City for this pick. Los Angeles now has Dennis Schroder at point guard, Avery Bradley at shooting guard, Kyle Kuzma at small forward, LeBron James at power forward, and Anthony Davis at center. Oklahoma City however now owns this pick that originally belonged to the Lakers.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 174 lb Theo Maledon plays for LDLC Asvel in France. Former Spurs point guard Tony Parker owns this team so the Thunder can draft a young point guard that plays for Tony Parker to develop as their successor to Chris Paul.
    
    
    
    Theo Maledon is a great passer and defends well against 1's and 2's at both point guard and shooting guard. Maledon needs to develop his shot though if he ever expects to be an NBA starter.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Tyrell Terry, PG, Stanford
    
    
29. Toronto Raptors: Devon Dotson, PG, Kansas
    
    
    Toronto is still the second best team in the Eastern Conference even after losing their best player Kawhi Leonard to the Los Angeles Clippers. They even got a good starting five with Kyle Lowry at point guard, Freddy VanVleet at shooting guard, O.J. Ananunoby at small forward, Pascal Siakam at power forward, and Marc Gasol at center. They also brought on Serge Ibaka for depth, but with Gasol declining and being limited to 36 games, Ibaka has stepped up in relief of Gasol.
    
    
    
    Kyle Lowry is 34-years-old. It's time to find his successor in a 2020 NBA Draft where the strength of this draft class is ultimately the point guard position.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 185 lb Devon Dotson improved his points per game total from 12.3 as a freshman to 18.1 points per game as a sophomore. He also improved in rebounds per game from 3.7 as a freshman to 4.1 as a sophomore. Devon Dotson also improved in assists as he had 3.5 assists as a freshman and 4 assists per game as a sophomore. Dotson's field goal percentage and three point percentage dropped, but he improved his free throw percentage from 78.2% to 83%.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Theo Maledon, PG, LDLC Asvel
    
    
30. Boston Celtics: Daniel Oturu, C, Minnesota
    
    
    Boston gets a stud center to round out their starting five with their final pick of the first round. Back in April, I had Oturu in my lottery before realizing that was way too early for him. Now he's kind of a steal at 30.
    
    
    
    The 6-10 240 lb Daniel Oturu has dominated in Big 10 play this season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers because I have seen 5 games of his highlights where he is averaging 20 points or more in those five games. So yes, I am doing something uber bold by giving the Boston Celtics this Golden Gopher with a late first round pick since everyone else has him going in the second round. Oturu can pass, rebound on both ends, hit short range, mid range, and long range shots. He defends against 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5's effectively. Oturu is my dark horse in the back half of this first round.
    
    
    
    Daniel Oturu had 20.1 points per game, 11.3 rebounds per game, 2.5 blocks per game, 1.1 assists per game, 56.3% field goal percentage, 36.5% three point percentage, and a 70.3% free throw percentage.