Star Georgia shooting guard Anthony Edwards declared for the NBA draft this past September, following an absolutely electric freshman year at UGA.
Edwards averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Dawgs during the 2019-2020 season. He has been in the talks of being a top three pick in the draft this year, along with Memphis center James Wiseman and the Illawarra Hawks point guard LaMelo Ball.
In NBC’s final version of its 2020 NBA Mock Draft Edwards goes No. 1 overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
NBC’s Top 5:
- 5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Obi Toppin (Dayton, PF)
- 4. Chicago Bulls: Deni Avdija (Maccabi Tel Aviv, SG/SF)
- 3. Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball (Illawarra Hawks, PG/SG)
- 2. Golden State Warriors: James Wiseman (Memphis, C)
- 1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards (Georgia, SG)
There isn’t quite a consensus on who is the best of these three but Edwards, Ball and Wiseman present the biggest upside in the draft.
Here’s what NBC’s Tyler Byrum and Chase Hughes had to say about Edwards going No. 1 over the other two prospects:
Despite all the momentum for LaMelo Ball to be the first pick, we are sticking with Edwards who presents a super high ceiling due to his explosive athleticism and makes a perfect fit within the core Minnesota is building around. Fit often doesn’t determine the first overall pick, but it may in a year like this with little separating the top three guys. Edwards could be an ideal complement to Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell as a slasher on the wing.
Edwards would fit in with Minnesota very well. They have their stars in point guard D’Angelo Russell and center Karl Anthony Towns but could use some serious help at the shooting guard position.
Edwards would provide the Timberwolves with a great wing threat that could add a whole new aspect to their offensive scheme.
If Edwards is to go No.1, he will be the first Georgia Bulldog to ever do so. The closest to that accomplishment are Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at the No. 8 pick in 2013 and Dominique Wilkins at the No. 3 pick in 1982.
The 2020 NBA Draft begins tonight at 7:00 P.M. ET on ESPN.