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2020 NBA Mock Draft: All 14 NBA teams in the lottery

By Stevie Cozens

WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 12: Lamelo Ball of the Hawks stands during a timeout during the round 15 NBL match between the Illawarra Hawks and the South East Melbourne Phoenix at WIN Entertainment Centre on January 12, 2020 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Brent Lewin/Getty Images)
WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 12: Lamelo Ball of the Hawks stands during a timeout during the round 15 NBL match between the Illawarra Hawks and the South East Melbourne Phoenix at WIN Entertainment Centre on January 12, 2020 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Brent Lewin/Getty Images) /
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. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

player. 86. Power Forward . 5. USC Trojans. Onyeka Okongwu. .

Karl-Anthony Towns has been with the Minnesota Timberwolves for five years now, and he has yet to play with a strong defensive four. Though most fours are required to shoot and score like mad these days, playing next to Towns and with D’Angelo Russell means this floor spacing is less important.

After the mega trade that sent 10 guys from the Wolves elsewhere, we saw that this team could score, but couldn’t defend at all.

Enter Onyeka Okongwu. The six-foot-nine Trojan is exactly the sort of defensive presence this team needs at the four. He has a big seven-foot-one wingspan, and is already 240 pounds. He has skipped past big man James Wiseman in our eyes because of his defensive versatility.

He is really quick on his feet for his size and is smart too. This season at USC he posted marks of 1.2 steals and 2.7 blocks in just thirty minutes a night. In a switch heavy NBA he could guard positions three through five. He has great help instincts and could be an élite level rim protector.

Okongwu played in the Ball brothers shadow while at Chino Hills High School, so didn’t get to show a lot on offense. But this season at USC he is shooting a very efficient 61 percent.

He has shown he actually some offensive potential even it was rarely seen at HS. He is one of the most effective post up players in the NCAA this year, while he shoots free throws at 72 percent. Always a good sign for a big. He has nice shot mechanics too.

He has great touch around the basket and because he is such a great offensive rebounder ( 3.3 a game in college ) he will get plenty of opportunities to finish in the paint.

Okongwu is the perfect fit with Towns. He may be young but he has offensive potential and can help on defense right away in Minnesota.