Tag: Devin Vassell

Warriors land Florida State’s Devin Vassell in Rookie Wire’s mock draft 4.0

With the fourth overall pick in Bryan Kalbrosky’s Rookie Wire mock draft, the Golden State Warriors land Florida State’s Devin Vassell.

As 22 teams across the league gear up to return to the court, the Golden State Warriors are preparing for the start of draft season.

With each day that ticks by, another mock draft appears. Predictions for the Golden State Warriors’ first-round draft pick are pouring in as their season is officially over. James Wiseman, Anthony Edwards and Obi Toppin have often been listed alongside Golden State. However, in Bryan Kalbrosky‘s two round mock draft 4.0 for USA Today’s Rookie Wire, a new name is added to the file.

With the fourth overall selection, the Warriors landed Florida State’s Devin Vassell. According to Kalbrosky, the Seminole wing could be a trustworthy rotational piece.

Via Rookie Wire:

Vassell has been described as one of the draft’s safest options because he projects as a trustworthy rotation piece, much like Brandon Clarke did last season. Florida State had a top-15 defense in 2019 and an exceptional offensive rating when he was on the floor. Vassell almost never turned the ball over, he shot 41.5% from 3 and his offensive rating was third-best among high-major underclassmen.

In his sophomore season in Tallahassee, Vassell recorded 12.7 points on 49% shooting from the field with 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists. The Florida State guard is a steady letting it fly from deep, shooting 41.5% from beyond the arc.

On the other side of the court, Vassell is a fierce defender that uses his length to clog passing lines and closeout on shooters. Vassell swiped 1.4 steals and blocked one shot per contest during Florida State’s 2019-20 campaign. Wherever he is on the floor, the Second-Team All ACC wing provides a jolt of energy to the lineup.

Although he may be a surprise pick with Edwards and Toppin still on the board, Vassell’s ability to contribute up and down the court could be what Golden State needs. With a steady group of veteran stars in place, the Warriors need a young role player with a high motor to come off the bench.

With the draft not hitting the calendar until October, the Golden State Warriors will have plenty of time to find the prospect that fits.

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New Orleans Pelicans select wing Devin Vassell in newest CBS Sports mock draft

With Zion Williamson on the team and thriving, the Pelicans will likely begin looking at putting 3&D wings around him in upcoming drafts.

The New Orleans Pelicans were handed a gift from the basketball gods when they won the lottery and landed Zion Williamson last off-season. Despite a delayed start to his rookie season, Williamson excelled immediately.

Now, the challenge for the Pelicans in off-seasons moving forward will be building a team that allows Williamson as well as New Orleans’ other stars like Brandon Ingram and Jrue Holiday excel. Given the team’s current roster construction, improvements will likely come in the form of 3&D wing players.

In CBS Sports’ latest 2020 NBA mock draft by Kyle Boone, the Pelicans land one of the better 3&D wings in the draft in Devin Vassell out of Florida State. Boone had the following to say on selecting Vassell:

“As the Pelicans build their roster around Zion Williamson, shooting and defense will be paramount. Check and check on both accounts here with Devin Vassell. He’s an NBA-ready 3-and-D type wing who shot above 41% from 3-point range in each of his two college seasons, and he should be ready to step in and contribute defensively from Day One.”

As noted by Boone, Vassell was a strong three-point shooter with the Seminoles. In total, he averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds while attempting 3.5 threes per game on the 41% shooting. At 6’7″, Vassell could play either wing position, an area the Pelicans are current shallow in.

For that reason alone, Vassell could step into the Pelicans’ rotation from day one and add more versatility, shooting and defense to the roster.

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Nets 2020 NBA mock draft radar: Florida State wing Devin Vassell

If the NBA standings remain where they were at the start of the league’s hiatus, the Brooklyn Nets will have the No. 20 and 55 picks.

Among the uncertainties surrounding the NBA as the novel coronavirus continues to be a major issue in the U.S. is the 2020 draft.

NBA teams won’t be able to look at college players during March Madness, and the rest of the pre-draft process is expected to be limited. The matter of when the draft will actually happen is up in the air, as well. Especially if the league tries to crown a 2020 champion.

For the Brooklyn Nets, based on where the standings were when the league went on hiatus, their first-round pick would convey to the Timberwolves. Minnesota acquired Brooklyn’s top-14 protected pick from the Hawks, which the Nets sent to Atlanta in a trade that delivered Taurean Prince.

But the Nets will not be without a first-round selection. They have Philadelphia’s top-14 protected pick, which Brooklyn acquired when they sent the No. 27 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft — which wound up being Mfiondu Kabengele — to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Nets’ second-round pick belongs to the Boston Celtics, but Brooklyn the Denver Nuggets’ second-round selection.

Right now, the Nets fall have the No. 20 and No. 55 picks.

Here’s a look at one player Brooklyn could take at No. 20:

Devin Vassell | Florida State | wing

STATS: 12.7 PPG | 41.5 3-PT% | 1.4 SPG

If Vassell slips all the way to No. 20, as Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report expects him to, Brooklyn will be in a position for a steal.

As USA Today SMG‘s Bryan Kalbrovsky points out in his mock draft for Rookie Wire, Vassell is closer to “a sure thing in the pros than boom-or-bust” prospect, adding:

Vassell could be this year’s version of Brandon Clarke.

Vassell’s impact on the defensive end and ability to shoot from deep could also make some Nets expendable if Brooklyn intends to move for a veteran for a third star.

Nets 2020 NBA mock draft radar:

Duke guard Tre Jones
Florida State wing Patrick Williams
Arizona wing Josh Green
Villanova wing Saddiq Bey
Colorado wing Tyler Bey
Washington forward Jaden McDaniels
Evansville forward DeAndre Williams
Oklahoma wing Kristian Doolittle
Pesaro forward Paul Eboua
Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey
Olympiacos center Aleksej Pokusevski
Western Kentucky center Charles Bassey
Arizona guard Nico Mannion

RELATED: Ranking the top five shooting guards in Nets history

RELATED: Ranking the top five small forwards in Nets history

3 players the Golden State Warriors could trade down for in NBA Draft

The Golden State Warriors could trade down in the NBA Draft. See three players they should look into outside the top few picks.

The Golden State Warriors are in an odd predicament.

Assured of a high draft pick this offseason, the Warriors aren’t necessarily looking for a player who can develop into a star down the line. They need someone who can be a key rotation piece immediately to help the core compete for a title.

A player who has long-term potential but might not be NBA-quality yet isn’t as valuable to them as a typical lottery team. Additionally, with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson on board, top-tier point guards including LaMelo Ball and Killian Hayes may not be as attractive either.

Golden State, with the worst record in the league as of play stoppage, has a 52.1% chance of landing in the top 4 and will land no later than pick No. 5.

The Warriors may consider trading down. Here are three players they might be interested in that could land outside the top five.

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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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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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SI mock draft: Pelicans select Florida State’s Devin Vassell

The New Orleans Pelicans selected Florida State University 3-and-D wing Devin Vassell in Sports Illustrated’s latest mock draft.

In Sports Illustrated’s latest mock draft, the New Orleans Pelicans drafted a young wing who shows promise as a 3-and-D player in the pros.

SI’s Jeremy Woo projected the Pelicans to draft Florida State wing Devin Vassell with the No. 12 pick in the NBA Draft.

Vassell, listed at 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, was a key defender for the Seminoles and a player with catch-and-shoot ability, knocking down more than 41% of his 3s both of his two seasons at FSU.

Woo wrote:

Vassell’s blend of size and length on the wing, tangible defensive impact and shooting ability create a pretty substantial floor, while the fact he’s a young sophomore with some room to grow offensively lends some credence to the upside.

Vassell averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game this season. He shot 49% on about 10 field goals per game, and 41.5% from beyond the arc.

He averaged 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.

Even if Vassell isn’t a starter, Woo writes, he projects to be a strong role player.

He does have some limitations athletically that could limit his upside as a scorer, but simply being a consistent spot-up player can go a long way. In theory, he’s the type of player who can add value anywhere, even if he doesn’t turn into a starting-caliber option.

With their three second round picks, the Pelicans took Kansas point guard Devon Dotson, Mississippi State wing Robert Woodard and Syracuse shooting guard Elijah Hughes.

Dotson helped lead Kansas to the No. 1 spot in AP’s poll by averaging 18.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while shooting a hair above 54% from 2-point range.

Woodard averaged 11.4 points and 6.5 rebounds while adding 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He shot 4.29% from beyond the arc.

Hughes, who started his career at East Carolina before transferring to Syracuse, averaged 19.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

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Updated list of NCAA prospects who declared early entry for NBA Draft

While there is uncertainty surrounding the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft, NCAA prospects have started to make announcements about their future.

While there is uncertainty surrounding the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft, NCAA prospects have started to make announcements about their future.

Some prospects mentioned below are simply testing the waters while others have both feet fully emerged with their focus set on the pros. Based on all of the reporting thus far, however, we have compiled the status of several of the top prospects in the nation.

We will continue to update this post with more information as news develops and more players announce what their decision for the future looks like in all of the chaos following the cancelation of the 2020 NCAA postseason.

Anthony Edwards, Georgia

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Wing, 6-foot-5, 18 years old

Under head coach Tom Crean, the University of Georgia freshman had become a revelation in transition offense. Edwards ranked among the top five nationally in total scoring on these plays, per Synergy, averaging 5.7 points per game. He looked his best when his shot attempts come closer to the rim, aided by his 6-foot-9 wingspan. Farther from the basket, meanwhile, more than half of his 3-pointers were unassisted. This showed he is capable of creating his own shot. Edwards, however, was shooting just 30.3% from beyond the arc on the season.Still, the reason to like him as a top-three pick is more about flashes of greatness, which was evidenced when he averaged 21.8 points per game in February.

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Florida State guard Devin Vassell has declared for the 2020 NBA Draft

The sophomore is considered to be one of the best team defenders in all of college basketball.

Florida State guard Devin Vassell announced on social media Monday morning his intentions of entering the 2020 NBA Draft after two years with the Seminoles.

Vassell averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 30 games with the Seminoles. He is considered to be a first-round pick and is projected to be selected with the eighth pick in the latest 2020 Rookie Wire Mock Draft.

The 6-foot-7 sophomore has been touted as one of the best team defensive players in the 2020 NBA Draft class given his 6-foot-10 wingspan and instincts on that end of the floor. With his help, the Seminoles ranked inside the top 10 in defense for most of the season.

Vassell was once considered to be a three-star recruit out of high school but now has the opportunity to be taken in the lottery after a strong collegiate career.

With Vassell stating his intentions of entering the draft, he joins the likes of Georgia forward Anthony Edwards and Duke guard Tre Jones to leave college early for the NBA.

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