2020 NBA Draft: Mock Draft 2.0 – all 30 first round picks
Forward. Patrick Williams. 13. 69. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Florida State. player
The New Orleans Pelicans tried to put a roster together last season to compete in the west with prodigy Zion Williamson and the trade haul they received when moving Anthony Davis.
They had a commendable season, but injuries to Zion and others stopped them from competing in the way they would have liked.
They need pieces that can compliment him on both ends as they look to build around franchise centerpiece and potential superstar Zion. Patrick Williams, out of Florida State, could be the explosive offensive threat that plays off Zion.
Williams is raw, but as a six-foot-eight forward, he has an offensive game that is developing nicely. He finishes well at the rim, he has a nice dribble, and can get his own shot while creating for others. Though his jumper is a work in progress, he can hit shots off the dribble and is working on his spot-up game.
Defensively, his six-foot-eleven wingspan helps him make great help play at the rim. He may never be able to switch out onto twos and threes, but he showed some success defensively at Florida State as a system guy.
18. Pick Analysis. Center. 14. player. Scouting Report. Olympicacos B. Aleksej Pokusevski
The Boston Celtics were only one game away from making the NBA Finals in the 2019/20 season. With a dearth of wings and shot creators, they have a versatile team that is still improving with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown coming into their own.
What they lacked in their playoff run though, was a big man with legitimate size who could dominate offensively. Four players received minutes at the center position in the playoffs, all with differing levels of success.
If the Celtics want to invest in a Unicorn type talent who can do it all on offense, they need look no further than Aleksej Pokusevski. The seven-foot-center out of Greece is only 18, but he has lottery projections because of his crazy offensive game and shot-blocking potential.
His main strength is his offense. He has a nice jump shot to get off while shooting off the dribble or even coming off a screen. With his height and impressive vision, he can even play make a little. Though he is very raw with his overall skill set, there are very few players of his size that can pass and shoot.
With a monster seven-foot-three wingspan, Poku is agile enough for his size to protect the rim well while also getting deflections and steals.
The Celtics do need to win now, but with three picks early on in this draft, they should look to take one big man who can aid them offensively.