Tag: Cassius Winston NBA

Xavier Tillman Sr. a mid-first-round pick in latest CBS Sports NBA mock draft

Tillman is slotted in at No. 17 overall in Kyle Boone’s latest mock draft.

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Xavier Tillman Sr. is going to get the guaranteed two-year deal he is seeking if the latest CBS Sports NBA mock draft is to be believed.

Tillman is projected to go No. 17 overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Kyle Boone’s latest mock draft. OF the pick Boone wrote, “After grabbing Tyrese Haliburton earlier in this draft, let’s get Minnesota some help down low defensively with Xavier Tillman, one of the most savvy and strong bigs in this draft class. Tillman sets hard screens, plays above his size and does all the little things that contribute to big winning — the type of selfless player the Wolves need to maximize D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns. He should be able to shore up their bottom-10 defense and improve the team’s frontcourt defense specifically, which is dragged down by Towns, who this season ranked 407th out of 529 players in defensive win shares.”

Fellow CBS writer Gary Parrish also has Tillman in the first round albeit a little bit lower at pick No. 26. Parish also has MSU’s Cassius Winston in the first round going to the Toronto Raptors at No. 29 overall.

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Cassius Winston, Xavier Tillman Sr. both second-round picks in latest Ringer NBA mock draft

The Ringer has both Spartans going between picks No. 39 and No. 44.

With the NBA Draft Lottery in the books we are in the heat of the 2020 NBA Draft mock draft season.

Michigan State’s Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman Sr. are both listed as second-round picks in the latest Ringer NBA mock draft. Winston is slotted in at No. 39 while Tillman is at No. 44.

Winston’s strengths are listed as feel for the game, perimeter shooting, and playmaking. His player comps are Kyle Lowry and Yogi Ferrel. Each player in the Ringer draft guide has player blurbs and Winston’s reads, “Gritty, unselfish point guard who plays winning basketball and made progress each season as a scorer.”

As for Tillman, his strengths are feel for the game, playmaking, interior scoring and off-ball defense. His player comps are PJ Tucker and Horace Grant–certainly two good names to be associated with. His blurb reads, “Winning player who can easily pair with star shot creators because of his playmaking and versatility.”

The Ringer draft guide has much more information about each player, including detailed breakdowns of their games and is definitely worth checking out.

The 2020 NBA Draft is set for October 16.

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Cassius Winston tells The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie why teams should draft Xavier Tillman

Michigan State basketball player Cassius Winston gives a pitch to Sam Vecenie on why teams should draft his former teammate Xavier Tillman.

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Cassius Winston recently sat down with Sam Vecenie of The Athletic for an interview on the “Game Theory” podcast. In this interview, Winston and Vecenie discussed the 2020 NBA Draft but with a twist.

Vecenie asked Cassius for a pitch on why NBA teams should draft fellow teammate Xavier Tillman.

Listen to Winston’s pitch for Tillman in the draft below:

Putting aside my bias, Cassius Winston is 100% right on Xavier Tillman’s draft stock and potential in the league. Tillman is a sturdy defender in the paint, an exceptional rebounder and he can set reliable screens for teammates. A smart team will steal Tillman with a late, first-round draft pick.

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