With Thursday night’s lottery results now official, the top 14 picks in the 2020 NBA draft have been set. The lottery order is as follows:
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Golden State Warriors
- Charlotte Hornets
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Atlanta Hawks
- Detroit Pistons
- New York Knicks
- Washington Wizards
- Phoenix Suns
- San Antonio Spurs
- Sacramento Kings
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Boston Celtics (from Memphis Grizzlies)
The Timberwolves, who entered the lottery with a 14.0% shot at the No. 1 overall pick, will get the opportunity to add a top prospect to a core that already includes D’Angelo Russell – the team’s draft representative on Thursday – and Karl-Anthony Towns, who is a former No. 1 pick himself.
Wolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas will face a fascinating decision with the No. 1 pick, since the 2020 draft class has no consensus top prospect — Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, LaMelo Ball, and Obi Toppin are among the players expected to receive consideration at the top of the draft board. With Russell and Towns as anchors, some of those players look like better fits than others for Minnesota.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to land the first overall pick in this year’s draft, marking only the second time in franchise history,” Rosas said in a statement. “We are excited for the possibilities ahead of us to bring in a high caliber player now that we secured the first overall selection. As a front office, we are proud of what we’ve built here in Minnesota so far and we are looking forward to continuing to build upon that foundation in this year’s draft.”
The Warriors, who were tied with the Wolves for the lottery’s best odds, claim the No. 2 pick, which will give president of basketball operations Bob Myers and his team plenty of options this offseason. With Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson coming back from injuries, Golden State hopes to return to contention in 2020/21, so the club is expected to consider trading its lottery pick for immediate help if a favorable deal arises.
The Hornets and Bulls entered the lottery with the eighth- and seventh-best odds, so they got lucky in moving up to No. 3 and 4, respectively. Charlotte had a 6.7% shot at the No. 3 pick, while Chicago’s odds for No. 4 were 8.5%.
Charlotte is in rebuilding mode and president of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak has repeatedly stated that the club will prioritize adding the best player available rather than focusing on a specific need. New Bulls executive VP of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has expressed a similar sentiment, and is in position to put a stamp on the franchise with a top-four pick in his first year on the job.
The Cavaliers are perhaps the biggest loser of the night, having slipped from second in the lottery standings to fifth. This will be the second consecutive year in which Cleveland has had the No. 5 overall pick — the club will look to add to a young core that features Collin Sexton and Darius Garland.
The Hawks, Pistons, and Knicks each slid two spots in the lottery to Nos. 6, 7, and 8, respectively. Those picks will represent the first draft picks for new Detroit general manager Troy Weaver and New York’s new president of basketball operations Leon Rose.
The remaining lottery selections – for the six lottery teams who were part of the NBA’s summer restart in Orlando – played out as expected. However, the Wizards‘ fate is worth noting — they technically finished with the league’s eighth-worst record, but were locked into the No. 9 spot in the lottery standings because the eight teams not invited to Orlando were assigned the top eight spots.
If the order had instead been based on records after the summer seeding games and the Wizards had entered the evening at No. 8 in the lottery standings, it would’ve been Washington – not Charlotte – that moved up to claim the third overall pick.
Assuming it’s not postponed again, the 2020 NBA draft will take place on October 16. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, teams are expected to have to make their picks without having evaluated any prospects in person for the last few months.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Knicks are cursed. At least GS didn’t win
Gs still get the guy they wanted
They should trade for a PG
This actually almost perfect for gsw. Teams like the Knicks pick later than they wanted, so the 2nd pick will be desirable and a trade would be possible PLUS Twolves will probably be good enough next year to not get a top 3 pick so gsw will keep that pick next year and have 2 first round picks.
What do you think HWmvps? Do I have that right as far as next years first round? You know this stuff pretty well
Top 3? Warriors still win. If they’d fallen to 5, sure.
Soooo…..LameLo Ball….and his dad…..could possibly go to Jordan’s Hornets…..oh please!
Would LOVE to see that drama go down.
I think Ball would pull a Kobe and force a trade like Kobe did in 96. I think Ball has to hope someone moves up #2. GS takes Wiseman if they don’t move the pick(GS would prefer to trade it) my guess
Knicks have no luck…we may even trade down…really 6-10 have the same value…maybe PG Haliburton would be a good pick and will be available at #8
2nd pick means win to me
Knicks
What is your trade package？
Minimum request
2021 unprotected pick
That’s about all they got besides Robinson and Barrett, and while the Warriors would love Robinson I don’t think the Knicks would trade him and pick just to move up in this year’s draft.
Mock draft top 10
Wolves – Anthony Edwards
GSW – Obi Toppin
Hornets – James Wiseman
Bulls – LaMelo Ball
Cavs- Deni Avidja
Hawks – Onyeka Okungwu
Pistons – Tyrese Haliburton
Knicks – Cole Anthony
Wizards – Precious Achiwura
Suns – Killian Hayes
Knicks got the bad end of the luck again.
Hornets had a huge win in this draft.
Wolves get a solid young big 3 DLow Edwards and Towns. They desperately need more defenders tho.
Hornets get Wiseman to build with Graham and Washington.
Pistons get a late steal in Haliburton who will be a solid PG.
Knicks If they take Cole Anthony will be pleasantly surprised how good he is.
Suns also get a nice PG
Wiseman would seem like a perfect fit in Charlotte on the surface, but I’m concerned about his passing ability and strength. The strength will come as he grows, I’m sure.
I’d be tempted to take Saddiq Bey at #3, though.
Bey is expected to be drafted around 10-30 in the draft not top 3. No body takes him in the top 5 that’s a guarantee
Spurs- Isaac Okoro? (forgot him or a dis opinion lol). Pops lucky
Kings- Nesmith for shooting or Bey for attitude. New GM.
Pels- Patrick Williams can backup for a bit while he gets a game.
Celts- Isiah Stewart WAS the best force in the middle after Wiseman– at #27 by espn! (I think Okungwu is overrated, but he could go high, being likable).
Achiwura + Hachimura both Wiz 4s really?
Good list by Tazza in the realistic sense.
By WAS I meant Washington Huskies. Teammate McDaniels is also possible for Boston, a poor man’s Tatum like Langford. Get a concept team going lol
Personally don’t rate Okoro at all think he’s a late first level player but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s taken just outside the top 10 cause people like him. Think he’s a nice defender but has no offensive game, is an average rebounder and below average passer of the ball.
For the Kings I like any SG/SF Vessell, Bey, Williams, Nesmith just don’t take a PG.
Pelicans I think there’s a trade coming…
Celtics Isiah Stewart makes sense maybe with one of their late first round selections but I think early on they take a PG to play a sixth man of the year role and learn off Kemba Walker who is 30 years old.
As for Washington yeah I think they take Precious, him and Rui can both be combo forwards and operate together. Both have solid size as SF/PFs and I think could be hard to stop as a duo. Just can’t see them taking a PG with Wall coming back and there isn’t a good centre worthy of taking
Knicks
Please call Warriors now
Looks like LaMelo going to Minnesota or Charlotte. I’d say:
1Lamelo
2. wiseman
3 Edwards
Should if waited to Champion was crowned.
By now they could have let the Uninvited Eight name their picks and get them into OTAs if they sign, which is probable, since salaries are pretty much slotted.
Maybe next year, if covid is still winning, they can do it all better…
No way Wolves take Lamelo with D’Lo already in the backcourt. Edwards or Wiseman fit.
Cavs were unlucky in theory, but the draft order is not as pegged as usual. Toppin is the best but a PG like Hayes or Halliburton would make the most difference. Avdija, the usual prediction, is a mystery to me.
Let’s hope Hayes or Halliburton falls to NY. Don’t want Anthony
As I said，Knicks can’t rely on draft pick
Have to sign good free agents
You do realize that the only coach that players hated more then Boylen is Thibs right?
How does Wiseman fit with Towns already entrenched at center?
He thinks he’s a forward. That could well be disputed by Rossas or Taylor or whoever but he probably gets what he wants.
I have a hunch the Bulls take Avdija
The Timberwolves for the 10th times in 10 years. I guess they want them to be good so bad.
Fans say Edwards is new Wiggins
Knicks continue their amazing post-Ewing streak of not moving up based on ping pong balls. But not as much at stake this year. #8 is fine. There’s far more talent in this draft than last year’s draft, but no elite prospects at the top that make those picks disproportionately valuable. And without workouts, that’s unlikely to change. A true old school evaluator’s draft. Rose & Co. get the flexibility to impress (or not).
Tank next 5 years like Steve Mills
Sign and double overpay crap vets to tank
Hope can draft a top 5 pick next year
Why are people so obsessed with Knicks. 6-8 is same pick. Cavs are ones who dropped the most. Yet we got NBA players talking smack. Why is NY in your head. All Sillyvans lol. To me Ball is not a top 10 pick. But most have him in top 3-5. Edwards will go first. He fits well with DAngelo. No brainer. Warriors have options. Could make big trade. They could trade down. We will have to wait to see who or what they do. If it’s not Wiseman. Someone will trade up for Wiseman. Then for me it will be fun. See who will take Ball. Hornets need a guard. They would love Wiseman. I’m not sure what they do here. Wiseman gone Ball could go here
At 8 my Knicks should get a player we need. I would love Okoro. But if Deni is here. Knicks not passing on him. Okoro, Vassell, Achiuwa, Okongwu are all Thibs kind of player. So if Deni is gone. Who knows. I like them all (could trade down). Okoro to me has a chance to be special. To me he has big upside.