Community Shootaround: 2020 NBA Draft Winners, Losers
While it’s generally impossible to determine the best and worst picks of a given NBA draft without the benefit of a few years of hindsight, we want you to try your hand at naming this year’s winners and losers, less than 24 hours after this year’s 60 picks were made.
[RELATED: 2020 NBA Draft Results]
After weeks of speculation about movement near the top of the draft, the start of the night was awfully quiet, with no picks in the first half of the first round on the move. That left the Timberwolves to select Anthony Edwards at No. 1, the Warriors to claim James Wiseman at No. 2, and the Hornets to nab LaMelo Ball at No. 3.
It was a busy night for all three of those teams — Minnesota made two more first-round picks, securing Leandro Bolmaro at No. 23 and Jaden McDaniels at No. 28. Golden State may have gotten a steal at No. 48, landing a player (Nico Mannion) who was widely viewed as a potential first-round pick. As for the Hornets, they picked up three intriguing college prospects in the second round — Vernon Carey Jr. at No. 32, Nick Richards at No. 42, and Grant Riller at No. 56.
If you’re not particularly high on the work done by the top three teams, how about the Wizards or Kings, who each drafted a player who slipped in the lottery? Washington unexpectedly grabbed Deni Avdija at No. 9, while Sacramento was able to take Tyrese Haliburton without moving up from No. 12.
Elsewhere in the lottery, the Suns made an unexpected pick for a second consecutive year, nabbing Jalen Smith at No. 10. They caught plenty of flak a year ago for picking Cameron Johnson at No. 11, but Johnson had a solid rookie season in Phoenix. Will the Smith pick work out for them?
How about the Bulls‘ pick of Patrick Williams at No. 4? The draft class was widely considered to have a first tier made up of Edwards, Wiseman, and Ball, but it wasn’t until this week that the idea of Williams becoming the next player off the board really gained traction. Was that a reach by new president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas or will his first draft pick in Chicago end up looking savvy?
It was also an eventful evening in Detroit, where the Pistons drafted Killian Hayes (No. 7), Isaiah Stewart (No. 16), and Saddiq Bey (No. 19) in the top 20, then grabbing Saben Lee (No. 38) in round two. The Mavericks were active too, picking up Josh Green (No. 18), Tyrell Terry (No. 31), and Tyler Bey (No. 36).
What do you think? Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts on the 2020 NBA draft results!
2020 NBA Draft Results
The 2020 NBA draft is in the books, and we tracked all of this year’s picks in the space below, taking into account each trade agreed upon over the course of the draft.
Here are 2020’s NBA draft results:
First Round:
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, G, Georgia (story)
- Golden State Warriors: James Wiseman, C, Memphis (story)
- Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball, G, USA (story)
- Chicago Bulls: Patrick Williams, F, Florida State
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Isaac Okoro, F, Auburn
- Atlanta Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC
- Detroit Pistons: Killian Hayes, G, France
- New York Knicks: Obi Toppin, F, Dayton
- Washington Wizards: Deni Avdija, F, Israel
- Phoenix Suns: Jalen Smith, F/C, Maryland
- San Antonio Spurs: Devin Vassell, G/F, Florida State
- Sacramento Kings: Tyrese Haliburton, G, Iowa State
- New Orleans Pelicans: Kira Lewis Jr., G, Alabama
- Boston Celtics (from Grizzlies): Aaron Nesmith, F, Vanderbilt
- Orlando Magic: Cole Anthony, G, UNC
- Detroit Pistons (from Trail Blazers via Rockets): Isaiah Stewart, C, Washington
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Nets via Timberwolves): Aleksej Pokusevski, F, Serbia
- Dallas Mavericks: Josh Green, G, Arizona
- Detroit Pistons (from Sixers via Nets): Saddiq Bey, F, Villanova
- Miami Heat: Precious Achiuwa, F, Memphis
- Philadelphia 76ers (from Thunder): Tyrese Maxey, G, Kentucky
- Denver Nuggets (from Rockets): Zeke Nnaji, F, Arizona
- Minnesota Timberwolves (from Jazz via Knicks): Leandro Bolmaro, G, Argentina
- Denver Nuggets (from Pacers via Pelicans): RJ Hampton, G, USA
- New York Knicks (from Nuggets via Timberwolves): Immanuel Quickley, G, Kentucky
- Boston Celtics: Payton Pritchard, G, Oregon
- Utah Jazz (from Clippers via Knicks): Udoka Azubuike, C, Kansas
- Minnesota Timberwolves (from Lakers via Thunder): Jaden McDaniels, F, Washington
- Toronto Raptors: Malachi Flynn, G San Diego State
- Memphis Grizzlies (from Bucks via Celtics): Desmond Bane, G, TCU
Second Round:
- Dallas Mavericks (from Warriors): Tyrell Terry, G, Stanford
- Charlotte Hornets (from Cavaliers): Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke
- Los Angeles Clippers (from Timberwolves): Daniel Oturu, C, Minnesota
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Hawks via Sixers): Theo Maledon, G, France
- Memphis Grizzlies (from Pistons via Kings): Xavier Tillman, C, Michigan State
- Dallas Mavericks (from Knicks via Sixers): Tyler Bey, F, Colorado
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Bulls via Wizards): Vit Krejci, G, Czech Republic
- Detroit Pistons (from Hornets via Jazz): Saben Lee, G, Vanderbilt
- Utah Jazz (from Wizards via Pelicans): Elijah Hughes, G, Syracuse
- Sacramento Kings (from Suns via Grizzlies): Robert Woodard, F, Mississippi State
- San Antonio Spurs: Tre Jones, G, Duke
- Charlotte Hornets (from Pelicans): Nick Richards, C, Kentucky
- Sacramento Kings: Jahmi’us Ramsey, G, Texas Tech
- Chicago Bulls (from Grizzlies): Marko Simonovic, C, Montenegro
- Milwaukee Bucks (from Magic): Jordan Nwora, F, Louisville
- Portland Trail Blazers: CJ Elleby, G, Washington State
- Boston Celtics (from Nets): Yam Madar, G, Israel
- Golden State Warriors (from Mavericks): Nico Mannion, G, Arizona
- Philadelphia 76ers: Isaiah Joe, G, Arkansas
- Atlanta Hawks (from Heat): Skylar Mays, G, LSU
- Golden State Warriors (from Jazz): Justinian Jessup, G, Boise State
- Houston Rockets (via Kings): Kenyon Martin Jr., F, IMG Academy
- Washington Wizards (from Thunder): Cassius Winston, G, Michigan State
- Indiana Pacers: Cassius Stanley, G, Duke
- Los Angeles Clippers (from Nuggets via Nets): Jay Scrubb, G, John A. Logan College
- Charlotte Hornets (from Celtics): Grant Riller, G, Charleston
- Brooklyn Nets (from Clippers): Reggie Perry, C, Mississippi State
- Philadelphia 76ers (from Lakers): Paul Reed, F, DePaul
- Toronto Raptors: Jalen Harris, G, Nevada
- Milwaukee Bucks (via Pelicans): Sam Merrill, G, Utah State
Nuggets Sign Markus Howard To Two-Way Contract
NOVEMBER 30: Howard’s two-way contract with Denver is now official, the team announced today (via Twitter).
NOVEMBER 19: The Nuggets will sign former Marquette guard Markus Howard to a two-way contract, according to Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports (Twitter link).
Howard was a candidate to be drafted on Wednesday night, but ultimately wasn’t one of the 60 players selected. He ranked seventh on ESPN’s list of this year’s undrafted prospects.
Howard, who spent four years playing college ball, averaged a career-best 27.8 PPG in his senior season in 2019/20. The 5’11” scorer is an impressive volume shooter, having knocked down 46.3% of 7.9 three-pointers per game over the course of 128 NCAA games.
Hawks’ Bembry, Labissiere, Jones To Become UFAs
The Hawks have elected not to extend qualifying offers to DeAndre’ Bembry, Skal Labissiere, Damian Jones, or Charlie Brown Jr., according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic (Twitter link). As a result, all four players will be unrestricted free agents rather than restricted.
The decisions don’t come as a major surprise. Bembry was the No. 21 pick in 2016 and has spent the last four seasons in Atlanta, but didn’t have a great year in 2019/20, averaging 5.8 PPG and 3.5 RPG on .456/.231/.542 shooting in 43 games (21.3 MPG). Labissiere was said to be someone who intrigued Atlanta when he was acquired at the trade deadline, but he was unable to suit up for the Hawks due to health issues.
Jones made 55 appearances for Atlanta in 2019/20 but was unlikely to have a regular role next season with Clint Capela healthy and Onyeka Okongwu joining the Hawks in the draft. Brown, meanwhile, saw limited action in 10 games for the Hawks while on a two-way contract.
While those four players appear unlikely to return to Atlanta, Kirschner says (via Twitter) that the team is expected to guarantee Brandon Goodwin‘s minimum salary for 2020/21. Goodwin would earn a $1.7MM salary before becoming eligible for restricted free agency himself in 2021.
Mavericks Sign Nate Hinton, Freddie Gillespie
DECEMBER 1: The Mavericks have officially signed Hinton to his two-way contract, the club confirmed today (via Twitter). Gillespie’s deal is also official, per the Mavs (Twitter link).
NOVEMBER 19: The Mavericks have agreed to sign undrafted Houston shooting guard Nate Hinton to a two-way contract, per Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston (Twitter link).
Dallas has also reached a contract agreement with undrafted Baylor big man Freddie Gillespie, reports Tim MacMahon of ESPN (Twitter link). Terms of Gillespie’s deal weren’t specified — he’ll either get the Mavs’ other two-way deal or come to a camp on a standard contract, perhaps with an Exhibit 10 clause.
Hinton and Gillespie both rank among ESPN’s top 20 prospects who didn’t get drafted on Wednesday night — Hinton at No. 4 and Gillespie at No. 19.
Hinton declared for the draft after averaging 10.6 PPG and 8.7 RPG with a .387 3PT% as a sophomore in 2019/20. Gillespie, meanwhile, averaged 9.6 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and 2.2 BPG in his senior season at Baylor, earning Big 12 All-Defense honors.
It was an eventful draft night for the Mavs, who also nabbed Josh Green, Tyrell Terry, and Tyler Bey, and sent Seth Curry to Philadelphia in a deal for Josh Richardson.
Rockets To Sign Mason Jones To Two-Way Deal
The Rockets have agreed to sign undrafted free agent Mason Jones to a two-way contract, reports Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Jones will fill one of Houston’s two-way slots for the coming season.
Jones, who declared for the draft after his sophomore year, led the SEC in scoring with 22.0 PPG. He added 5.5 RPG and 3.4 APG to go along with a shooting line of .453/.351/.826 in 31 games (33.9 MPG).
The Razorbacks shooting guard ranked ninth on Givony’s list of prospects who went undrafted.
The rules for two-way players are a little different during the NBA’s shortened 2020/21 campaign. They’ll earn salaries of $449,155 and won’t face a limit on how many days they can spend in the NBA. However, they won’t be able to be active for more than 50 games.
Grizzlies To Acquire No. 30 Pick, Draft Desmond Bane
UPDATE: This trade was folded into a larger three-team deal and is now official.
The Grizzlies have agreed to acquire the No. 30 pick from the Celtics, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter links). Memphis will use the selection to draft TCU shooting guard Desmond Bane, Woj adds.
In exchange for that No. 30 pick, Boston will receive two future second-round picks from the Grizzlies, tweets Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.
The Celtics had three first-round selections but didn’t want to add that many rookies to a team with championship aspirations. They will apparently retain their first two picks — Vanderbilt’s Aaron Nesmith (No. 14) and Oregon’s Payton Pritchard (No. 26).
Bane, 22, is viewed as one of the draft’s best shooters and could compete for a rotation spot as a rookie. He improved his draft stock with strong workouts and interviews, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
A four-year college player, Bane averaged 16.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG and 3.9 APG as a senior.
Kennard To Clippers, Shamet To Nets In Three-Team Trade
The Clippers, Nets, and Pistons have agreed to a trade, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN and Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter links).
Wojnarowski and Charania report that Brooklyn will acquire Landry Shamet in the three-team trade, with Luke Kennard going to the Clippers and the Pistons acquiring Rodney McGruder and the No. 19 overall pick in tonight’s draft (Twitter link). Detroit selected Villanova forward Saddiq Bey using that selection.
The Clippers are betting that Kennard, who averaged 15.8 PPG on .442/.399/.893 shooting in 28 games for Detroit last season, will be an upgrade on Shamet, who recorded 9.3 PPG on .404/.375/.855 shooting in 53 games.
The Clippers also discussed a bigger trade with the Celtics which included Shamet, Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo tweets.
Kennard has a slightly less favorable contract than Shamet — he’s extension-eligible this fall and will be a restricted free agent in 2021 if he doesn’t sign a new deal. He’ll earn $5.3MM in 2020/21. Shamet, meanwhile, will earn $2MM in ’20/21 and $3.8MM in ’21/22 before potentially reaching restricted free agency in 2022.
Kennard is coming off an injury-marred season in which he played just 28 games due to tendinitis in both knees. However, he looked completely healthy during the team’s workouts in September.
Shamet provides another rotation guard for the Nets at a reasonable salary.
Bey is the third first-round pick by Detroit. It earlier selected Euro guard Killian Hayes at No. 7 and Washington center Isaiah Stewart at No. 16.
Draft-Night Rumors: Warriors, Pistons, Avdija, Baynes
Drafting James Wiseman won’t prevent the Warriors from looking to add another big man, according to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area, who reports (via Twitter) that Golden State is eyeing at least four different bigs. The team has its $17MM+ trade exception and the $5.7MM taxpayer mid-level exception available to acquire veterans later this week.
Here are a few more NBA draft-night notes and rumors:
- It sounds like Detroit’s long-reported interest in Patrick Williams was legit. The Pistons made an effort to trade up to No. 3 in order to leapfrog the Bulls for Williams, but the Hornets didn’t budge, sources tell Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link).
- Deni Avdija has a small buyout to get out of his contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv, as Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets. Avdija and the Wizards – who selected him at No. 9 – will pay that buyout. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer adds (via Twitter) that he’s surprised by Avdija slipping to ninth — the Bulls and Cavaliers both considered the Israeli forward at No. 4 and No. 5, per O’Connor.
- NBA executives fully expect Aron Baynes to leave the Suns in free agency, opening the door for No. 10 pick Jalen Smith to fill Baynes’ role as a stretch big, tweets Kevin O’Connor. According to O’Connor, the Pelicans are a potential landing spot for Baynes.
Klay Thompson Suffers Apparent Lower Leg Injury
7:43pm: The fear is that Thompson has a heel injury, according to Charania (video link).
5:41pm: Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson suffered an apparent lower leg injury today and is undergoing tests to determine the severity of the injury, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Thompson was unable to place weight on the injrued leg when leaving the gym today, sources tell Charania (Twitter link).
Thompson sustained the injury during a workout in Southern California, notes ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). Woj hears from a source that the injury affects Thompson’s right leg (Twitter link).
Thompson has been sidelined since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, having suffered a torn left ACL in that game. He had been on track to return to the court for the Warriors to start the 2020/21 season — it’s not clear yet whether this setback will jeopardize his availability for next month’s opener
Thompson, 30, is one of the league’s best two-way wings, having averaged at least 20.0 PPG in each of his last five healthy seasons, earning All-Star nods in each of those five years. He’s a career 41.9% three-point shooter and is a strong perimeter defender. He’s entering the second season of a five-year, maximum-salary contract.
It’s unclear whether or not the Warriors fear Thompson’s injury is a major one. It also remains to be seen whether Golden State will get any answers before tonight’s draft, or how the news may affect the team’s approach to the offseason.