The 2003 NBA Draft was arguably the greatest in the history of the game.  Lebron James was chosen by Cleveland with the first overall pick, Carmelo Anthony would fall to the Denver Nuggets at pick number three, and Dwayne Wade would go to Miami at number five.

This isn’t 2003.  Not even close.

The 2020 NBA Draft is shaping up as one of the weakest drafts of all-time, void of a Zion, a Ja, or even a Rui Hachimura.

Here’s a look at the teams, the draft order, the predictions, and the reason 2020 just keeps getting worse.

Minnesota Timberwolves – Anthony Edwards – 6’5/225/SG/Georgia – With such a dysfunctional Minnesota squad this pick literally throws Edwards to the wolves.  Karl Anthony-Towns is talented but immature, which leaves D’Angelo Russell as Edwards’ mentor and role model.  The same D’Angelo that got caught trying to sneak marijuana on to a plane by using a fake compartment in his iced tea bottle.

Golden State Warriors – James Wiseman – 7’1/235/C/Memphis – The rumors have Golden State trading Wiseman to the Hornets, which doesn’t bode well for Wiseman.  Charlotte thought Frank Kaminsky (2015), Noah Vonleh (2014), Cody Zeller (2013), and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2012) were all top-ten talents as well.

Charlotte Hornets – LaMelo Ball – 6’7/190/PG/Illawarra Hawks – LaMelo could go to the Timberwolves with the first overall pick, or a team like Detroit could move up for him.  Scouts compare him to a Spencer Dinwiddie, or a more dynamic Lonzo, but he looks more like Austin Rivers to me.

Chicago Bulls – Obi Toppin – 6’9/220//PF/Dayton – Toppin is the best player that no one has heard of since COVID-19 shut down March Madness and the chance to see Dayton.  Toppin looked fantastic in his final year at Dayton averaging 20 points and 7.5 rebounds and reminds scouts of Tobias Harris.  But 6’9 power forwards don’t often translate to success in the NBA.  Just ask Derrick Williams, Mario Hezonja, or the first overall pick in 2013, Anthony Bennett.

Cleveland Cavaliers – Deni Avdija – 6’9/215/SF/Maccabi Tel Aviv – Cleveland’s logic seems sound in taking the best international player available in looking for the next Luka Doncic.  But the Knicks tried that in 2017 and got Frank Ntilikina, while the Pistons ended up with Sekou Doumbouya in 2019.

Atlanta Hawks – Tyrese Haliburton – 6’5/175/PG/Iowa State – The talent level starts to drop fast as the Hawks will try to trade out of this spot for future picks, but Haliburton is the rumored choice.  Haliburton’s will be asked to guard Trae Young’s man if Trae gets tired, shoot on occasion if Trae decides to pass, and grab a snack from the concession stand if Trae gets hungry.

Detroit Pistons – Onyeka Okongwu – 6’9/245/PF/C/USC – Okongwu is the greatest 6’9 PF/C USC has had since Chimezie Metu.  My point exactly.

New York Knicks – Cole Anthony – 6’3/190/PG/North Carolina – Look for the Knicks to trade down from this spot and grab Anthony, the son of former Knicks great, Greg Anthony, around pick 15.  The wiser pick would have been to stay at number eight and go with Killian Hayes, the point guard from France, but the Knicks probably prefer to be cheered on draft day.

Washington Wizards – Killian Hayes – 6’5/185/PG/SG/Ratiopharm Ulm – Hayes is the perfect insurance policy at the point if John Wall gets injured, or the shooting guard if Bradley Beal gets traded.

Phoenix Suns – Tyrese Maxey – 6’3/198/G/Kentucky – Maxey is a bit of a reach this early in the draft, but the logic was sound.  Pick the best player from the University of Kentucky when in doubt.

And at pick number 22?  Who will the Denver Nuggets pick?

Aleksej Pokuseuski – 7’0/208/F/C/Olympiacos B.C. – A seven-foot 18-year-old, born in Serbia, plays in Europe, and no one has heard of him.  Sounds like a Nugget.

Images via nba.com, medium.com, theathletic.com, realgm.com, bleacherreport.com, eurohoops.com

Alan Tapley The Athletic Supporter

Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years.  His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports.  The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights.  At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands.  But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was.  The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship