NBA Mock Draft – Page 19 – Syndication Server

Kira Lewis is 18th best player in BR’s 2020 NBA Draft “Top 50 Players”

Bleacher Report released a list of the “Top 50 players” in the 2020 NBA Draft, and Kira Lewis is 18th.

Alabama’s Kira Lewis Jr. continues to climb up the rankings in many 2020 NBA mock drafts as well as rankings. Bleacher Report released a list of the “Top 50 players” in the 2020 NBA Draft, and Kira Lewis is 18th.

Feb 8, 2020; Athens, Georgia, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Kira Lewis Jr. (2) controls the ball against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Stegeman Coliseum. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

According to Bleacher Report:

“Speed and breakdown ability off the dribble are Lewis’ bankable strengths that will carry over. His thin frame and lack of explosion for separating and finishing, plus questionable decision-making, are holes that will create an uphill climb to reaching quality NBA starter status. At the least, he should carve out a change-of-pace playmaker role.”

Analysts continue to applaud Lewis’ speed, ability to move the ball and his ability to make big plays. Most mock drafts have Lewis being drafted anywhere between 15th and 29th.

In his two years with the Crimson Tide, Lewis averaged 34.5 minutes and finished with a field goal percentage of 44.7 percent, 1,031 points, 260 assists and 183 turnovers.

He averaged 18.5 points per game, 5.2 assists per game and made 37% percent of his 3-pointers.

Lewis announced his entry into the NBA draft at the end of March by a heartfelt twitter post.

The NBA draft is scheduled to be held on Friday, Oct. 16, but Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on if that changed due to the coronavirus.

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Xavier Tillman & Cassius Winston both first-round picks in CBS Sports 2020 NBA Mock Draft

Xavier Tillman and Cassius Winston are both projected as first-round draft picks in another CBS Sports 2020 NBA Mock Draft.

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Another day, another 2020 NBA Mock Draft featuring Michigan State’s Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman. CBS Sports college basketball writer Kyle Boone released his updated NBA Mock Draft which projects Winston and Tillman as first-round draft picks.

Boone’s mock draft has the Philadelphia 76ers taking Xavier Tillman with the No. 21 pick and the Los Angeles Lakers taking Cassius Winston with the No. 29 pick.

Here is what Boone had to say about each Spartan’s potential draft spot:

Xavier Tillman

Consider this to be Al Horford insurance. Xavier Tillman is a Horford mirror, too: a low-usage big who affects winning by setting screens, rebounding and being a defensive menace. He’s not the most flashy big but he plays bigger than his size and should be an upgrade to Philly’s frontcourt.

Cassius Winston

Time and again in college, Winston overcome his athletic limitations by shooting the leather off the ball and using his smarts to outwit opponents. That, combined with his experience at the college level, makes him an ideal fit in L.A. on a team that could use an experienced and reliable floor general to potentially soften Rajon Rondo’s twilight years and maximize the championship window still open with LeBron and A.D.

Boone does a great job of comparing Winston and Tillman to potential teammates in the NBA. Tillman has the same type of skill set as Al Horford. Xavier can improve his jump shot in the NBA and become a very reliable backup Center to Joel Embiid.

Cassius Winston is the same size as Rajon Rondo but is a better shooter from distance. He could provide playmaking for the Lakers along with some spacing. Best of all, we get to watch Cassius play for a winning team in the NBA. Sign me up!

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Warriors land Georgia’s Anthony Edwards in USA TODAY Sports NBA mock draft 2.0

In Jeff Zillgitt’s NBA mock draft 2.0 for USA TODAY Sports, the Golden State Warriors land Georgia’s Anthony Edwards with the first pick.

Although the Golden State Warriors won’t be attending the league’s restart in Orlando, Bob Myers and Steve Kerr will have additional time to focus on the NBA Draft. For the first time in years, the Warriors will have the opportunity to land a premier prospect in the top-five picks of the draft.

While there is still a significant chunk of time before October’s draft day, mock draft season is starting to heat up. Predictions are rolling in for what the Warriors should do with their top pick. Memphis’ James Wiseman, Dayton’s Obi Toppin and Florida State’s Devin Vassell have been some of the names listed alongside the Warriors in mock drafts.

In Jeff Zillgitt’s latest mock draft for USA TODAY Sports, the Golden State Warriors landed Georgia’s Anthony Edwards with the first overall pick. According to Zillgitt, the Georgia shooting guard has “immediate All-Star ability.”

Via USA TODAY Sports:

Edwards is an explosive scorer with immediate All-Star ability and two-way upside, making him the front-runner to hear his name called first.

During his freshman season in Athens, Edwards tallied 19.1 points per game on 40.2% shooting from the field. The SEC Rookie of the Year added 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest.

On his way to earning All-SEC honors, Edwards recorded a flurry of thrilling scoring performances. The 18-year-old tallied 30 or more points in three appearances during his freshman campaign for the Bulldogs.

Against Michigan State, Edwards recorded his career-night. The McDonalds All-American ripped off 37 points, six rebounds, four steals, three blocks and two assists. Edwards splashed seven long-distance shots from beyond the arc against the Spartans.

Along with a young piece to build on in the future, Edwards would give Kerr an explosive downhill option behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in Golden State’s backcourt.

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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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Latest NBA Mock Draft has Kira Lewis Jr. as 11th overall draft pick

NBADraft.net released its latest mock draft and has Kira Lewis as the 11th pick in the first round.

Many analysts have raved about Lewis’ speed and his ability to make big plays, and according to this mock draft, Lewis would be drafted by the San Antonio Spurs as the 11th overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft.

According to the site, here are the many strength the see Lewis having:

“Long, quick, athletic point guard with good scoring ability … Speed kills. Lewis is extremely quick and makes it difficult for opposing guards to keep him in front of them … Has a smoothness to his game … Pushes the ball well, utilizing good ball handling and great speed and fluidity … Has a lightning quick first step and shows very good ability to drive the ball … Great body control allows him to finish plays at the rim, as well as weave through traffic … Shows good ability to shoot the ball from deep, particularly in spot up situations … Developing a nice mid-range game … Shows an adept ability to incorporate floaters when he can’t get all the way to the rim … Has great experience for his age and is very young having turned 19 in April, with two college seasons under his belt … A good outside shooter with a solid, efficient from … Has a quick release and really does a good job of catching, squaring up and releasing quickly, and has shown that he can get shots off effectively even without much space to work with … Has great quickness, length and anticipation allowing him to jump passing lanes and produce a lot of breakaways … A fairly explosive athlete … Shows a great deal of potential as a defender due to his length and quickness … Great length. Measured with a 6’5 wingspan two years ago (at the 2018 USA Select minicamp) and there’s a chance he’s gotten an inch or two longer since … A very good athlete who routinely finishes breakaways with dunks … While he increased his scoring from his freshman year, his big jump in productivity came as a playmaker as he upped his assists from 2.9 to 5.2 … Efficient shooter/scorer from all three levels. Hit 36% from three in both of his seasons, shoots 80% from the line and connects at a solid rate from inside the arch … Very solid rebounder considering his lack of strength at 4.8 per game, showing his tenacity and hustle, surely giving his analytics projections a lift … Does an excellent job of driving and dishing … Has the ability to force the defense to react and collapse and finds open teammates well on the move … Shows the ability to extend drives with the Eurostep … A steady performer. Scored in double digits in all but 2 games.”

Wherever Lewis ends up, there’s no doubt that he will make his mark.

In his two years with the Crimson Tide, Lewis averaged 34.5 minutes, a field goal percentage of 44.7 percent, 1,031 total points, 260 assists and 183 turnovers.

He also averaged 18.5 ppg., 5.2 assists per game, and made 37% percent of his 3-pointers.

Lewis announced his entry into the NBA draft at the end of March by a heartfelt twitter post.

The NBA draft is scheduled to be held on Thursday, June 25, but Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on if that changed due to the coronavirus.

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NBA Draft: Warriors land LaMelo Ball with the first pick in CBS Sports Mock

Is LaMelo Ball be destined to don blue and gold?

With no hoops on the schedule, NBA mock draft season is heating up.

For the first time in years, the Golden State Warriors will have the opportunity to land a blue-chip prospect in the draft. Golden State’s league-worst 15-50 record has already eliminated their chances for the playoffs with 17 games remaining on the schedule.

With the draft lottery and combine getting postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Steve Kerr and Bob Myers will have plenty of time to decide how to attack their top selection. The Warriors could use the pick as an asset to acquire a veteran, move back in the draft or add a top-rated prospect to their championship core.

If the Warriors decide to stick at the top of the draft, Georgia’s Anthony Edwards and Dayton’s Obi Toppin have been popular names projected to Golden State in mock drafts.

In CBS Sports’ mock draft 1.0, a pair of analysts penciled in LaMelo Ball to the Golden State Warriors with the first overall pick. Both Gary Parrish and Kyle Boone have Ball landing in the Bay Area with their round one mock drafts.

According to Parrish, the former Illawarra Hawks point guard has “the best chance to be a future All-Star” out of any player in the 2020 field.

Via CBS Sports:

I’m a big believer that the first pick in any NBA Draft should be the player the franchise selecting thinks has the best chance to be a future All-Star. Period. And, in this draft, I believe Ball is that player. The 6-6 point guard, who is still only 18 years old, has developed into an incredible playmaker and passer who faired well playing professionally in Australia this past season. Some will choose to focus on his perceived negatives and low shooting percentages. But when you focus on what he can do, and how rare it is for somebody his age to do the things he can do, Ball becomes the most sensible option to be picked first.

Early in the season, it was reported Myers and the Warriors were planning a trip to Australia for a chance to scout Ball live. In 12 games for the Illawarra Hawks in Austalia’s NBL, the 18-year-old averaged 17.0 points on 37.5 shooting from the field with 7.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists and in 31.3 minutes per game.

The Warriors desperately need a playmaking option behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in their backcourt. Ball’s addition to the Golden State Warriors’ rotation would immediately provide firepower to their thin bench unit with Eric Paschall and Jordan Poole.

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Cassius Winston taken in first round of latest ESPN NBA mock draft

Winston is selected 29th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers.

At least one Michigan State basketball player is worthy of a first round pick according to the NBA Draft brain trust at ESPN.

Cassius Winston is slated to be picked by the Los Angeles Lakers 29th overall in ESPN’s latest NBA mock draft.

Of Winston ESPN draft analyst Mike Schmitz writes, “One of the most polished pick-and-roll point guards in the draft, Winston would give the Lakers a much-needed boost at the backup PG spot with his handle, craft, touch and feel. I’m also fascinated by LSU’s Skylar Mays and his potential fit alongside LeBron James or, in the second unit, Alex Caruso. The 6-4 senior is a combo guard who can run the show in a pinch, knock down open spot 3s, play pick-and-roll and defend point guards thanks to his toughness and instincts.”

Winston was also recently featured as a first-round pick in NBC Sports’ latest mock draft and can usually be found somewhere between the end of the first round and middle of the second round in prospect rankings.

Winston’s MSU teammate Xavier Tillman Sr. also gets selected in the ESPN draft, although he’s further down the list, going 50th overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The NBA Draft is currently scheduled for June 25, but that is subject to change due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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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.

Cassius Winston, Xavier Tillman Sr. first round picks in latest NBC Sports NBA mock draft

NBS Sports’ Rob Dauster has both Tillman and Winston in the first round of his latest NBA mock draft.

The date and procedures surrounding it are currently a mystery, but eventually the 2020 NBA Draft will happen and two Spartans could hear their names called in the first round.

That’s according to NBC Sports’ Rob Dauster’s latest NBA mock draft that has both Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman Sr. as first round picks. Dauster has Winston being taken 23rd overall and Tillman at 26th.

Of Winston Dauster writes, “Winston did not have the season many of us expected him to have as a senior — understandably, given the death of his brother in November — but he still put up All-American numbers for a team that won a share of the Big Ten regular season title. He was playing his best basketball down the stretch, and he still have the highest basketball IQ of anyone in this 2020 NBA mock draft. He’s an elite passer and shooter that thrives in ball-screens. Yes, the defense and athleticism are concerns, but we said the same thing about numerous point guards that have made careers out of being backup point guards. Winston is the next in that pipeline.”

He says of Tillman Sr., “I may be out on a limb here, but I truly believe that Tillman is worth a first round pick, especially in this year’s draft class. There’s really two reasons for this: For starters, he is a terrific passer. No one in college basketball is better than making the right play in a 4-on-3 scenario when the defense traps a pick-and-roll ball-handler than Tillman. But he is also an excellent defender that can really read the game. Talk to people around the Michigan State program and they’ll tell you he ran everything defensively. It was his voice that teammates heard. Now, the major question mark is his size. At just 6-foot-8, can he defend fives? Is he quick enough to play the four? If we knew for a fact that the answer to both of those questions would be ‘yes, and he can do it very well,’ I would have him slotted as a top 20 pick.”

The NBA Draft is currently scheduled for June 25, but that could be changing due to the season being on hold amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Tillman, a junior, has entered his name in the draft, but is keeping his options open so that he would be able to return to school if he so chooses.

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Tom Crean on how he’s helping Rayshuan Hammonds prepare for draft

“This is something he’s wanted to do for some time and it’s his dream,” Crean said shortly after Hammonds announced his decision.

Georgia men’s head basketball coach Tom Crean may not be too keen on the prospect of starting next season without two of his most productive players. He is, however, going help all of his players make the best decisions they can for themselves.

For Anthony Edwards, long considered a top overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, playing a single season in Athens was a forgone conclusion.

For Rayshaun Hammonds, who entered the draft on Friday, declaring early shocked some Georgia hoops fans.

“This is something he’s wanted to do for some time and it’s his dream,” Crean said shortly after Hammonds announced his decision.

Hammonds hasn’t hired an agent and is therefore eligible to return to Crean’s squad for his senior year should he receive less than desirable feedback from NBA teams.

Regardless of how that transpires for Hammonds, Crean wants to help him out however he can.

“My thoughts are to support him every way possible and to help him get the most quality information from the decision-makers so he can sort through what’s real versus what people may tell him that don’t have any decision-making power as far as where he stands. That’s the most important thing. Get the right information and evaluations so that he has the tools to make the best decision.”

Crean elaborated on the “most important thing” for Hammonds:

“The most important thing is to help get quality and thorough information from the NBA underclassmen committee to see where Rayshaun stands, of which we’ve already requested through the paperwork.”

He continued:

“Also, we’ll help get it from the individual NBA teams during a time that is so unique and unknown as far as how this entire draft process will work out for everyone.”

The deadline for underclassmen like Hammonds to make the decision of maintaining their college eligibility or having their name entered for selection is June 15 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

The NBA draft is currently scheduled to take place ten days later, but regarding recent events and global health concerns, the Dawgs’ head coach himself feels in the dark when it comes to potential postponement.

“The process now still seems completely unclear as to how it will play out timing-wise for everyone involved.”

Crean does have some demands from Hammonds in the mean time:

“My expectations for [Hammonds] are to keep working diligently and stay focused on the school work coming and to stay in great shape. Also, to build your skills where you can.”