Tag: Anthony Edwards

Joe Lacob: Warriors looking at all scenarios in NBA draft, including a trade down

Could the Warriors be eyeing a trade down scenario in the 2020 draft?

While the NBA season is on hold, the Golden State Warriors have turned their attention to the draft. With a bottom record in the standings, the Warriors are expected to own a top selection for the first time in years.

Most teams with high picks in the draft are typically going through a rebuild, forcing them to use their top pick on a prospect to jumpstart their franchise for the future. Yet, the Warriors are in a different situation.

Although injuries derailed Golden State’s chances at returning to the NBA Finals for the sixth straight season, the trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are still on the roster for 2020-21. The Warriors could explore a bevy of directions with their pick to maximize their championship core’s run.

Golden State owner Joe Lacob joined Tim Kawakami of The Athletic on “The TK Show” to discuss the Warriors plans for the draft. Lacob mentioned trading down in the draft could be a possibility.

Via The TK Show Podcast:

We’re going to look at all scenarios. Honestly, it’s been, look — I’m not going to hide this — we’re going to look at drafting someone at our position, we’re going to look at, maybe we trade down, I mean that’s a possibility. I’m not saying it’s even preferred or not preferred. I’m just saying it’s something we’re going to have to look at. We’re going to look at all options, and we’re going to figure out a way to have our team be the best possible team that it could be for this year, but still with an eye towards building for the future.

With no basketball on the calendar until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic, Lacob and the Warriors’ front office will have plenty of time to prepare how they’ll navigate through June’s draft.

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Warriors select Georgia’s Anthony Edwards at the top of ESPN’s latest mock draft

Another 2020 NBA mock draft has the Golden State Warriors selecting Georgia’s Anthony Edwards with the first pick.

With the worst record in the league with 17 games remaining on the calendar, the Golden State Warriors are expected to own an early selection in the 2020 NBA draft for the first time in years. Although there isn’t a top overall prospect, Golden State will have the chance to grab a highly touted player in June’s draft.

While the NBA slate is on hold until further notice, mock draft season has taken off ahead of schedule. With new waves of simulations pouring in, one member of the 2020 draft class is becoming a popular choice for the Golden State Warriors.

Another projection has Georgia’s Anthony Edwards penciled in with the Golden State Warriors with the first pick in 2020. In ESPN’s latest mock draft, Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz tap the Georgia freshman to bring “instant offense” to Golden State at the top of the draft.

Via ESPN:

Edwards would add instant offense to an already high-powered nucleus with his ability to get downhill and rise up from anywhere on the floor. Small-ball lineups featuring Stephen Curry, Edwards, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green would offer an intriguing blend of skill and bounce, while Edwards also has the long-term upside to grow into the face of the franchise down the line.

During his only season in Athens, Edwards exploded onto the Southeastern Conference scene with 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest. The freshman shot 40.1% from the field and 29.4% from beyond the arc while recording seven games with 25 points or more for the Bulldogs.

Although it’s still early in the draft process, Edwards is becoming a favorite to hear his name called first in June’s draft.

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NBA draft early entries: Who’s going pro?

For your perusal, here’s the full list of players reportedly entering the 2020 draft – whether they are jump in with both feet or just testing the waters without a firm decision in mind. You will not be surprised to see the projected lottery picks …

For your perusal, here’s the full list of players reportedly entering the 2020 draft – whether they are jump in with both feet or just testing the waters without a firm decision in mind. You will not be surprised to see the projected lottery picks belong mostly to the latter group.

Did we get anything wrong? Contact us here: hoopshype@hoopshype.com

International

Terry Armstrong,
South East Melbourne (Australia):
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Killian Hayes,
Ulm (Germany):
Ranked No. 8 in our aggregate mock draft.
Represented by agent David Bauman.

Theo Maledon,
Asvel-Villeurbanne:
Ranked No. 13 in our aggregate mock draft.

Not returning

Tyler Bey,
Colorado:
Ranked No. 38 in our aggregate mock draft.

Lamine Diane,
Cal State Northridge:
Ranked No. 95 in our aggregate mock draft.

Anthony Edwards,
Georgia:
Ranked No. 1 in our aggregate mock draft.
Represented by agent Omar Wilkes.

Malik Fitts,
St. Mary’s:
Ranked No. 84 in our aggregate mock draft.

Both Gach,
Utah:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Ashton Hagans,
Kentucky:
Ranked No. 44 in our aggregate mock draft.

Tyrese Haliburton,
Iowa State:
Ranked No. 9 in our aggregate mock draft.

CJ Jones,
Middle Tennessee St.:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.
Represented by agent Durrant Sports Management.

Mason Jones,
Arkansas:
Ranked No. 67 in our aggregate mock draft.

Tre Jones,
Duke:
Ranked No. 27 in our aggregate mock draft.

Saben Lee,
Vanderbilt:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Nico Mannion,
Arizona:
Ranked No. 16 in our aggregate mock draft.

Remy Martin,
Arizona St.:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Kenyon Martin Jr,
IMG Academy:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Tyrese Maxey,
Kentucky:
Ranked No. 11 in our aggregate mock draft.

Aaron Nesmith,
Vanderbilt:
Ranked No. 17 in our aggregate mock draft.

Zeke Nnaji,
Arizona:
Ranked No. 30 in our aggregate mock draft.

Jordan Nwora,
Lousiville:
Ranked No. 35 in our aggregate mock draft.
Represented by agent Mark Bartelstein.

Onyeka Okongwu,
USC:
Ranked No. 6 in our aggregate mock draft.

Daniel Oturu,
Minnesota:
Ranked No. 28 in our aggregate mock draft.

Reggie Perry,
Mississippi St.:
Ranked No. 49 in our aggregate mock draft.

Paul Reed,
DePaul:
Ranked No. 33 in our aggregate mock draft.

Jalen Smith,
Maryland:
Ranked No. 26 in our aggregate mock draft.

Cassius Stanley,
Duke:
Ranked No. 34 in our aggregate mock draft.
Represented by agent Jerome Stanley.

Isaiah Stewart,
Washington:
Ranked No. 21 in our aggregate mock draft.
Represented by agent Roc Nation.

Obi Toppin,
Dayton:
Ranked No. 5 in our aggregate mock draft.
Represented by agent CAA.

Jordan Tucker,
Butler:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Devin Vassell,
Florida State:
Ranked No. 14 in our aggregate mock draft.

Kaleb Wesson,
Ohio St.:
Ranked No. 46 in our aggregate mock draft.

Patrick Williams,
Florida State:
Ranked No. 20 in our aggregate mock draft.

James Wiseman,
Memphis:
Ranked No. 3 in our aggregate mock draft.
Represented by agent Jeff Schwartz.

Testing waters

Derrick Alston,
Boise State:
Ranked No. 88 in our aggregate mock draft.

Paul Atkinson,
Yale:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Saddiq Bey,
Villanova:
Ranked No. 19 in our aggregate mock draft.

Jermaine Bishop,
Norfolk State:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Jomaru Brown,
Eastern Kentucky:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Jordan Bruner,
Yale:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Jordan Burns,
Colgate:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Manny Camper,
Siena:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Marcus Carr,
Minnesota:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Tamenang Choh,
Brown:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Kofi Cockburn,
Illinois:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

David Collins,
South Florida:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Jalen Crutcher,
Dayton:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Ryan Daly,
St. Joseph’s:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Devon Daniels,
North Carolina St.:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Nate Darling,
Delaware:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Kendric Davis,
SMU:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Dexter Dennis,
Wichita St.:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Carter Diarra,
Kansas St.:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Mason Faulkner,
Western Carolina:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Figueroa,
St. John’s:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Blake Francis,
Richmond:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Javon Freeman-Liberty,
Valparaiso:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Hasahn French,
St. Louis:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

DJ Funderburk,
North Carolina St.:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Jacob Gilyard,
Richmond:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Grant Golden,
Richmond:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Jordan Goodwin,
St. Louis:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Jayvon Graves,
Buffalo:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Josh Hall,
Moravian Prep.:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Nate Hinton,
Houston:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Rayshaun Holmes,
Georgia:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Elijah Hughes,
Syracuse:
Ranked No. 47 in our aggregate mock draft.

Ferron Hunt,
SMU:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Marreon Jackson,
Toledo:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Carlik Jones,
Radford:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Herb Jones,
Alabama:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Kameron Langley,
North Carolina A&T:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Kira Lewis,
Alabama:
Ranked No. 25 in our aggregate mock draft.

Isaiah Livers,
Michigan:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Cam Long,
Nebraska:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Sandro Mamukelashvili,
Seton Hall:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Naji Marshall,
Xavier:
Ranked No. 94 in our aggregate mock draft.

Mac McClung,
Georgetown:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Isiaha Mike,
SMU:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Isaiah Miller,
UNC-Greensboro:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Isaac Okoro,
Auburn:
Ranked No. 7 in our aggregate mock draft.

John Petty,
Alabama:
Ranked No. 62 in our aggregate mock draft.

Nate Pierre-Louis,
Temple:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Xavier Pinson,
Missouri:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Darius Quisenberry,
Youngstown St.:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl,
Villanova:
Ranked No. 87 in our aggregate mock draft.

Fatts Russell,
Rhode Island:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Marcus Santos-Silva,
VCU:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Jay Scrubb,
John A. Logan (NJCAA):
Ranked No. 60 in our aggregate mock draft.

Aamir Simms,
Clemson:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Chris Smith,
UCLA:
Ranked No. 70 in our aggregate mock draft.

Mitchell Smith,
Missouri:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Stef Smith,
Vermont:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Parker Stewart,
UT Martin:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

MaCio Teague,
Baylor:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Tyrell Terry,
Stanford:
Ranked No. 66 in our aggregate mock draft.

Xavier Tillman,
Michigan St.:
Ranked No. 40 in our aggregate mock draft.

Jeremiah Tilmon,
Missouri:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Romello White,
Arizona St.:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Keith Williams,
Cincinnati:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

McKinley Wright,
Colorado:
Not ranked in our aggregate mock draft.

Georgia basketball star Anthony Edwards goes No. 1 in latest NBA mock draft

Georgia forward Anthony Edwards goes No. 1 in NBC’s latest NBA mock draft

Georgia’s Anthony Edwards was selected at No. 1 in NBC Sports‘ latest NBA mock draft.

On June 25, Edwards could be UGA’s first ever No. 1 selection in the NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-4 guard was a one-and-done at Georgia, displaying an incredible scoring ability and freakish athleticism.

The SEC Freshman of the Year scored a team-leading 19.1 points per game while adding 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

On Edwards, NBC Sports wrote:

Edwards is the best scorer in this 2020 NBA Mock Draft. At 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan and explosive athleticism, he’s proven himself to be a dangerous three-level bucket-getter that can get hot and do things like score 33 points in a half. Ask Michigan State. He also has the physical profile of a guard that can defend two or three different positions in the NBA. It’s all there.

Although Edwards is perhaps the most proficient scorer in this year’s draft class, there are still some questions regarding his jump-shot.

At UGA, Edwards shot 29% from the 3-pt line, however, the numbers may not reflect that the guard was forced to be a one-man show for the Bulldogs.

Whether Edwards goes first or not, Bulldog fans hope he lands with a certain team from Atlanta…..

The Hawks do currently hold one of 14 projected lottery picks, so there is a possibility Edwards may be back in the red and black this fall.

LaMelo Ball moves to top spot of The Athletic’s 2020 NBA Draft big board

In his latest big board, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie moved LaMelo Ball to the top spot over Georgia’s Anthony Edwards.

In recent weeks, LaMelo Ball’s game has undergone scrutiny from draft analysts, scouts and fans alike during the NBA’s hiatus. With time available for an extended look at his game, questions have arisen about his flaws as a prospect.

However, one prominent draft analyst in The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has gone the other way on Ball during the league’s break. In his latest 2020 NBA Draft big board, Vecenie moved Ball to the top spot after watching more game film recently.

As he notes in his piece, Vecenie sees Ball as having the highest ceiling of those in contention for the No. 1 spot in the draft, thus leading to his move to the top spot.

Having said that, if Ball reaches his ceiling, he has the most potential to be an absolute difference-maker. He’s the one with the most upside. He plays a critical position of value that is tough to find as a lead guard. Simply put, in terms of positional value, there is not a center worth taking at No. 1 overall in this draft. Due to how easy it is to find those players on the market, the only centers who should be taken at No. 1 are those who have a high likelihood of being All-NBA representatives.

In his most recent mock draft in mid-March, Vecenie had Ball going second overall to the New York Knicks, a common landing spot for the guard. That, too, was a jump from some of his previous mock drafts like in November when he was slotted fifth overall to the Charlotte Hornets.

Vecenie noted that Ball and Anthony Edwards were the two players atop his big board with it being a virtual toss-up between the two. Even with that in mind, he’s one of the few to still have Ball high upon his big board. DraftExpress’ latest mock draft in mid-February had Ball going fourth overall.

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2020 aggregate NBA mock draft 5.0: International prospects are rising

Scouting and preparing for the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft is incredibly challenging due to circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

Scouting and preparing for the upcoming 2020 NBA draft is incredibly challenging due to circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

As always, we examine the mock drafts from the most trusted analysts to give us the best idea of a consensus for what the upcoming class will look like in June. The latest 2020 NBA mock drafts from experts at ESPN, CBS Sports, SI.com, Bleacher Report, NBADraft.net, The Athletic, SB Nation, Sporting News and USA Today Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire were used for these rankings.

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Currently, the first three players expected to be selected (Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman) have remained in the exact same order for the third aggregate mock draft in a row.

After dropping from No. 5 all the way to No. 11 between December and January, Maccabi Tel Aviv forward Deni Avdija has jumped back to No. 4 for this version.

He played well recently at the 2020 Eurobasket Qualifiers, scoring 21 points with eight rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal while also shooting 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. This was a welcome change of pace for scouts hoping to learn as much as possible about Avdija as he had averaged just 4.0 points in 14.3 minutes in Euroleague games earlier this season.

Several other prospects playing overseas have seen their stock increase as well. This makes some sense considering many in the NCAA rely on their performance in March Madness to solidify their draft position whereas the international players gain momentum in other ways.

Killian Hayes, who was ranked No. 18 overall on our last aggregate mock draft, jumped up to No. 8 for this edition. The 6-foot-5 guard was 14-for-61 (39 percent) from 3-point range while also connecting on 90.9 percent of his free-throw attempts during Eurocup action. Several outlets are currently projecting him as a Top 5 pick in the 2020 NBA draft.

Another prospect playing outside of the United States but currently making waves is Leandro Bolmaro. He debuted on our aggregate mock draft in the most recent edition before this one but has jumped all the way to No. 29 this time around.

Meanwhile, in the NCAA, some college basketball players managed to make some serious momentum for themselves before the season was unexpectedly cut short. Some of those players are seniors Killian Tillie (Gonzaga), Grant Riller (Charleston), Udoka Azubuike (Kansas) and Desmond Bane (TCU).

As mentioned here, it makes sense for upperclassmen to be more appealing in this class than in previous years. Seniors have far more game film to draw film which may be necessary considering individual team workouts and even the 2020 NBA Draft Combine may be canceled. Plus, older players are likely more ready to contribute immediately.

On the flip side, there are freshmen around the country who have seen their draft stock drastically decline in recent months.

Oregon’s N’Faly Dante has fallen off our boards completely after playing just twelve games and making no appearances in the starting lineup. Kahlil Whitney, who was considered a lottery pick when we did this exercise in October 2019, also dropped off after withdrawing from Kentucky.

Some other freshmen who saw their draft stock fall: Duke’s Matthew Hurt was ranked No. 16 overall back in October but is now at No. 76 overall. LSU’s Trendon Watford was ranked No. 14 in October but has fallen to No. 63. Florida’s Scottie Lewis was No. 9 in July and is currently No. 53 overall.

Less drastic but still valid: Arizona’s Nico Mannion has fallen from No. 6 back in January 2020 all the way to No. 16 now in April. Likewise, UNC’s Cole Anthony dropped from No. 2 back in July 2019 to No. 10 in our new study.

But some encouraging news for prospects who were considered Top-25 recruits coming out of high school but had a disappointing freshman year (e.g. Duke’s Wendell Moore as well as the aforementioned Dante, Whitney, Watford, Hurt and Lewis) can be found in Kentucky’s Immanuel Quickley.

The 6-foot-3 guard was the No. 13 overall recruit in the nation coming into Kentucky as a freshman. But after averaging just 5.2 points as a freshman, he returned for his sophomore campaign.

Fortunately, the SEC Player of the Year dramatically improved his draft stock in 2019-20. His season was highlighted by 21.3 points per game in February and a free throw percentage (92.3%) that ranked as the sixth-best among all underclassmen. This month, he debuted on our aggregate mock draft at No. 42 overall.

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report.

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Warriors select Anthony Edwards with first pick in Rookie Wire NBA mock draft

Another mock draft has the Golden State Warriors selecting Anthony Edwards at the top of the 2020 NBA draft.

With mock draft season underway, a mix of James Wiseman, LaMelo Ball and Obi Toppin have loomed near the top of all projections. However, one name is becoming a popular pick for the Golden State Warriors.

After tallying 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest during his freshman season in Athens, Anthony Edwards is looking like an early lottery lock in June’s draft.

In Bryan Kalbrosky’s latest mock draft for USA Today’s Rookie Wire, the Warriors call on Georgia’s fierce combo guard with the first overall pick. According to Kalbrosky, the Warriors land a prospect packed with potential star power.

Via Rookie Wire:

The Warriors, obviously, have little need for a player who needs the ball in his hands as often as Anthony Edwards does. But the SEC Freshman of the Year arguably has the most star power of anyone in this draft class. Edwards averaged a strong 21.8 points per game in February and is a highlight-reel in transition. Edwards could conceivably be traded, which would allow Golden State to collect another asset while also selecting a player (perhaps either Obi Toppin or Deni Avdija) who fits better with the Warriors’ core.

With a pair of picks in the second round, Kalbrosky projects the Warriors to grab Michigan State point guard Cassius Winston and Syracuse wing Elijah Hughes.

If Edwards does stick with the Warriors, the explosive 6-foot-5 18-year-old would immediately provide a boost to Steve Kerr’s offense. The Atlanta native can create with the basketball in his hands while being a threat to let it fly from beyond the arc.

With Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson on the perimeter, Edwards will have the opportunity to attack the basket downhill early and often in his career. When the Splash Brothers are off the floor, the Bulldog product would get the chance to play a key figure in the Warriors’ young offense alongside Eric Paschall and Marquese Chriss.

Although it’s still early in the pre-draft process, Edwards is becoming the drafts leading candidate to help Golden State’s climb back into the playoffs in the 2020-21 season.

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Potential NBA Draft destinations for Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards is considered to be the best prospect in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Warriors, Hawks, Timberwolves, and Cavs all have good odds.

Anthony Edwards declared for the 2020 NBA Draft last month. The Georgia Bulldog standout freshman and potential No. 1 pick averaged 19.1 points per game for the University of Georgia last season.

Before the draft, the NBA lottery will determine the picking order. The teams with the best odds to land the top selection:

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have a 14.0% chance to land the first pick. It would be amazing to watch Edwards play with Stephen Curry and the Warriors, but Golden State is likely to trade the top pick for an All-Star who can contribute immediately. The Warriors’ title window is closing for 32-year-old Steph Curry, 30-year-old Klay Thompson and 30-year-old Draymond Green.

May 18, 2019; Portland, OR, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) congratulates guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers in  the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Hawks

Will Edwards join former Atlanta Hawk Dominique Wilkins as the next NBA superstar from Georgia? Edwards and Trae Young would form a dynamic backcourt for the Hawks. Atlanta needs defense, but Edwards isn’t a bad fit here. The Hawks have a 12.5% chance to pick first, the fourth-best odds in the NBA.

Mar 9, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; NBA Hall of Fame player Dominique Wilkins, left, congratulates Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) after their win against the Charlotte Hornets. Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
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2020 NBA mock draft: Obi Toppin, LaMelo Ball offer intrigue

Rookie Wire breaks down the film and crunches all the relevant statistics to predict all 60 picks of the 2020 NBA Draft.

Like much of the world right now, the 2020 NBA Draft is full of uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The cancellation of the NCAA Tournament changes the evaluation process and denies NBA teams the opportunity to see how players react to the pressure of performing on college basketball’s biggest stage. Nevertheless, scouts and front offices are doing their homework on this year’s top prospects.

As of now, the draft remains scheduled for June 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. However, the event could be pushed back in reaction to the pandemic.

Meantime, our two-round mock draft accounts for potential fit for every team that currently owns picks. Some teams, such as the Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and Boston Celtics, have enough picks to trade up or turn them into higher picks for future years. Others, such as the Golden State Warriors, may want to trade down to select a player based on roster fit.

That said, we made our selections without trying to predict trades.

A few quick notes: Some notable freshmen (such as Florida’s Scottie Lewis, Villanova’s Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Duke’s Wendell Moore and Matthew Hurt) have been omitted because Rookie Wire expects them to return to school.

Similarly, top juniors (such as San Diego State’s Malachi Flynn, Iowa’s Luka Garza, Georgetown’s Omer Yurtseven) were excluded because we expect them to return for their senior year.

Generally speaking, players who have already declared for the draft or are testing the waters were given priority over prospects who we may rate a bit higher but have not officially put the name into the draft pool.

Draft order is based on NBA standings when the league went on hiatus.

1. Golden State Warriors: Anthony Edwards, Georgia

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Wing, 6-foot-5, 18 years old

The Warriors, obviously, have little need for a player who needs the ball in his hands as often as Anthony Edwards does. But the SEC Freshman of the Year arguably has the most star power of anyone in this draft class. Edwards averaged a strong 21.8 points per game in February and is a highlight-reel in transition. Edwards could conceivably be traded, which would allow Golden State to collect another asset while also selecting a player (perhaps either Obi Toppin or Deni Avdija) who fits better with the Warriors’ core.

Second pick | Third pick | Fourth pick | Fifth pick | Remainder of lottery | Remainder of first round | Second round

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