Role players? The 2020 NBA Draft has them!
Franchise-altering prospects are few and far between in the upcoming NBA draft. In 2020 fashion, this draft is different than years prior as the top prospect is unclear. The Minnesota Timberwolves face a tough decision between LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, or my personal favorite Killian Hayes with the No. 1 overall pick.
The lackluster talent at the top of the draft shouldn’t hinder the abundance of role players that the Mavericks could select with their 18th and 31st picks. The Mavs excel offensively, setting an NBA record for offensive rating last year. Defensively the Mavs are a nightmare, leading the league in games lost by five or less points– losing the majority of those games by poor clutch-time defense. The upcoming draft is a great opportunity for the Mavs to select a prospect with high defensive prowess, even if it takes time to develop on the offensive end.
The Mavs are a guard-heavy team built around Luka Doncic that include Tim Hardaway Jr., Seth Curry, Jalen Brunson, and likely to re-sign Trey Burke after his stellar bubble performance. All of these players are not known for their defensive abilities, so the Mavs will look to draft a prospect to lock up opposing wings. With the 18th pick in the draft, they can find someone to fit this mold.
Pick #18
With the 18th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks will select…
Saddiq Bey
Saddiq Bey is a 6’8 sophomore forward from Villanova. This past season, he averaged 16-4-2 on 47% shooting from the field and 45% from deep.
Scouting Report
- Moves well without the ball offensively and can space the floor.
- A capable as a 3&D-type player.
- High basketball IQ, knows when to get an easy look by slashing to the basket.
- A monster on defense! Very patient defender who relies on positioning to his advantage. Quick enough to defend point guards and big enough to switch onto power forwards.
His biggest struggle offensively involves 1-on-1 matchups on the perimeter and in the mid-range. He struggles to explode past defenders, but if given the ball in the paint, he has solid footwork and can get clean looks at the basket. Saddiq is well established defensively, however, and could make an immediate impact for the Mavericks.
If Saddiq is selected early, another prospect the Mavs can select with the 18th pick is…
Robert Woodard
Robert Woodard is a 6’7 sophomore guard from Mississippi State. This past season, he averaged 11-6-1 on 49% shooting from the field and 43% from deep.
Scouting Report
- Similar to Bey, Woodard is also a 3&D-style player with a high shooting percentage from three and elite defensive switching ability.
- Averaging one steal and block per game, he creates chaos in passing lanes and underneath the basket.
- Can lock up point guards and power forwards with his 7’1 wingspan.
One of the surprising parts of Woodard’s game is how well he finishes at the rim. His game translates well to the modern NBA, as the league has trended towards paint or outside scoring. The biggest flaw with Woodard is his passing abilities, often times trying to force a play. Woodard is more explosive, but less polished technically when compared to Saddiq.
Additional #18 Thoughts
Another prospect that’ll be available here is Josh Green, a 6’6 guard from Arizona. In his freshman season, he averaged 12-4-2 while shooting 36% from beyond the arc.
Saddiq Bey is the ideal option for No. 18, the biggest concern is that the Portland Trail Blazers will select him at No. 16. For the Mavs’ needs, Woodard is a better fit than Green. Woodard has the edge when switching onto bigger wings and finishing at the rim. Green has the edge on shot creation, which the Mavs are already well-resourced.
Pick #31
With the 31st pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks will select…
Paul Reed Jr.
Paul Reed Jr. is a 6’9 junior forward from DePaul. This past season, Reed averaged 15-10-1-2-3 on 51% shooting from the field and 30% from beyond the arc.
Scouting Report
- One of the best shot blockers in the class.
- Mostly plays inside, but has the capability of switching onto perimeter players.
- Makes the extra play to grab boards off the glass.
- One of the best rebounders in all of college basketball last year.
- Given his size, he has a tight handle on the ball and is composed when driving to the rim.
So far, Reed seems like a steal for the first pick in the second round, but he has one significant flaw. His jump-shot is very stiff. As bigs are transitioning further away from the paint, it’s something that could break his NBA potential. He’s worth the risk for a second-round selection, and could be stashed away for development.
Additional #31 Comments
Tyler Bey is a 6’7 guard that should be available in the early second round. He is a freak athlete, although carrying significant risk being such a raw prospect. Bey averaged 13-9 in his junior year with the majority of his points coming from second-chance opportunities. Selecting Bey would mean stashing him away to develop other facets of his game.
Isaiah Stewart is a 6’9 forward that should be selected in the late first or early second round. Stewart’s game is old school– creating space in the paint to get clean looks at the rim. He averaged 17-9 with 57% from the field in his freshman season at Washington. If it was 1990, Stewart would be a lottery pick. His inability to leave the paint and doubts on his development, however, is why Stewart is likely to fall on the draft board.
Final Thoughts
Going into the 2020 Draft, the Mavs need to stay clear from enticing guards that could be available (ex: Tyrese Maxey). Offense is not an issue, and drafting defensively could prevent the Mavs from being exposed like they were against the Clippers this past postseason.
With the Mavericks losing their first-round pick next year due to the Kristaps Porzingis trade, this draft has greater importance. The Mavs are never afraid to move up in the draft, as they traded No. 5 for No. 3 in 2018 to draft Luka. If the Mavs move up this year, it can be expected that Isaac Okoro will be a target. Regardless if it’s No. 18 or No. 31, there are several rookies that can make an immediate impact. Til’ draft night, #MFFL
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