Having ruled earlier this week that Makur Maker – the younger cousin of Thon Maker – is eligible to enter the 2020 draft, the NBA and NBPA reached a revised agreement on the draft eligibility of players in similar situations to Maker, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com. Going forward, 19-year-old prospects who are still enrolled in high school won’t be eligible to enter the draft, clearing up an area of confusion for NBA teams.
As for Maker specifically, even though he’s now free to enter this year’s draft, there’s no guarantee he’ll do so. His guardian Ed Smith told ESPN that Maker will go pro if he’s projected to be a lottery pick. Givony currently has the young center ranked 77th overall on this year’s big board.
- In an Insider-only ESPN.com article, Givony and Mike Schmitz evaluate which prospects had the biggest impact at last weekend’s Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in Chicago. According to ESPN’s draft experts, Canadian guard Josh Primo “stole the show,” looking comfortable playing both on and off the ball. Primo, currently a high school junior, projects to be a first-rounder in 2021, says Givony.
- John Hollinger of The Athletic identifies nine undervalued draft prospects that have piqued his interest, including Dayton forward Obi Toppin, Florida State forward Patrick Williams, and French guard Killian Hayes.
- Elsewhere at The Athletic, Sam Vecenie makes the case for why Kansas big man Udoka Azubuike is the best center in the NCAA, while Mike Vorkunov takes a look at which prospects the Knicks should be targeting this spring, with some help from Spencer Pearlman of The Stepien.
Well looks like Maker is going to play college or overseas.
Big embryo
1. GSW James Wiseman
2. Hawks Anthony Edwards
3. Knicks LaMelo Ball
4. Cavs Issac Okoro
5. Hornets Deni Avdija
6. TWolves Onyeka Okungwu
7. Pistons Tyrese Halliburton
8. Wizards Cole Anthony
9. Bulls Obi Toppin
10. Kings Devin Vassell
11. Suns Killian Hayes
12. Spurs Tyrese Maxey
13. Pelicans RJ Hampton
14. Grizz (Celtics) Nico Mannion
15. Blazers Jaden McDaniels
GSW get the centre, Hawks a scorer, Knicks upside? Cavs get defence, Hornets upside, Wolves size, Pistons lead guard, Wizards wall replacement? Bulls size, kings versatility, suns Booker buddy, Spurs Murray Buddy, Pelicans best player available? Celtics 6th man and Blazers depth
Why not just list the players? The team order is about pingpong balls, largely random.
We’ve all seen these lists – WITH teams – from “experts” before the ping pong balls fall where they may… let him do his! Lol
Because mock drafts aren’t about the best players 1-30 it’s about the players fits and skill and potential and all that stuff.
For example Wiseman wouldn’t go first overall if the hawks had first selection cause they have Capela but Anthony doesn’t go first to GSW because they have Thompson.
You have to do it with teams and players otherwise what’s the point ??
I think listing a player priority for each team would be more useful; and useful for betting.
Mocks are doomed to be ruined after the first surprise choice causes errors to cascade down the list.
It it true, everybody does it, then the facts come in & the mockers can just shrug.
Errors can be caused by the blending of two considerations: 1) where a player SHOULD be drafted, and 2) where a player will likely be drafted.
The ranking of Bagley is an example: was he #2 in talent? Mockers can avoid the question, saying they were looking at Vlade not Bagley when they said #2.
Undervalued, by whom? Hollinger previously? Toppin is a consensus top 10 pick. Exactly how much higher should he be valued? He’s about as finished a product as colleges produces these days, a probable Wooden award winner, with, unlike some others who won that award, an athletic profile that checks all the boxes for an NBA PF. As the very top of this draft is being eviscerated by injury and the like, Toppin could rise into top 5, but that’s not evidence he was undervalued. Just that other guys have become more risky.
I hope Halliburton isn’t on his list too.
I always like to see the numbered list.
Makur Maker and Bol Bol have to play on the same team.
George Lucas is the only Maker