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Wizards

Through two weeks of the WNBA season, where does each team stack up and what are some prime takeaways?

WNBA Power Rankings 5/22

We made it through the first day of March Madness! Sixteen teams saw their dreams shatter while the other 16 teams advanced to the Round of 32. Let&rsquo;s see who remains&hellip;
UPSET ALERT&nbsp;
East Region: 15-seed Saint Peter&rsquo;s defeats 2-seed Kentucky 85-79 in overtime
Starting with the true bracket buster of day 1, the Saint Peter&rsquo;s Peacocks upset the Kentucky Wildcats. Oscar Tshiebwe gave everything he had (as expected) with a 30-point, 16-rebound performance, but Kentucky&rsquo;s perimeter players (TyTy Washington, Kellen Grady and Sahvir Wheeler) had trouble generating offense. The Peacocks shined behind Daryl Banks III&rsquo;s 27 points and Doug Edert&rsquo;s 20 points off the bench. The game remained tight the whole way through, staying within six points, and the game was tied at the end of regulation. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion pulled away with clutch plays and defensive stops that showed they weren&rsquo;t afraid of the highly decorated program. Saint Peter&rsquo;s will be taking on the 7-seed Murray State on Saturday. (For more on this upset, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/putting-saint-peters-shocker-over-kentucky-in-historical-context" target="_blank" rel="noopener">check out Bryan Fonseca's article</a>).
Midwest Region: 12-seed Richmond defeats 5-seed Iowa 67-63
The annual bracket experts are well aware that the 12-5 matchup is always on upset watch, but since Iowa had a strong run for a Big Ten Tournament championship and one of the top NBA Draft prospects in the tournament in Keegan Murray, they felt like the pick here. But Richmond reminded the country that they too won a conference tournament championship last week and the Atlantic 10 knows them very well. Senior guard Jacob Gilyard played all 40 minutes and gave the Spiders 24 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Junior forward Tyler Burton and senior forward Nathan Cayo added 18 points and 15 points, respectively. Iowa&rsquo;s projected lottery pick Murray finished the game with 21 points and 9 rebounds, but there was a lull in his offense in the second half that could&rsquo;ve been the difference-maker. Richmond will face 4-seed Providence in the second round.
South Region: 11-seed Michigan defeats 6-seed Colorado State 75-63
In a matchup that many thought had upset potential, the Wolverines came away as victors over the Rams after a slow start. Colorado State jumped on Michigan in the first half and led by as many as 15 points, but Michigan proved their Power 5 experience had tested them enough to overcome the deficit. Hunter Dickinson ended as the game&rsquo;s leading scorer with 21 points and added 5 rebounds and 4 blocks. Frankie Collins filled in at point guard for the injured Devante&rsquo; Jones and finished with a respectable 14 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Michigan finds 3-seed Tennessee waiting for them in the next round.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
West Region: 12-seed New Mexico State defeats 5-seed UConn 70-63
New Mexico State grabbed another win for the 12 seeds today as they knocked out UConn in the first round. This game was owned by Aggie guard Teddy Allen, who was locked in after starting the game 0-for-6 and finished with 37 points. New Mexico State as a team shot nearly 65% from three, which proved to be the difference-maker, with the Huskies only hitting 30% from deep. Allen looks to add another hot performance to his March Madness resum&eacute; on Saturday against Arkansas.
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GAMES OF THE DAY
West Region: 9-seed Memphis defeats 8-seed Boise State 64-53
The Memphis Tigers continued their strong play in the latter portion of the season and finished with a big win against Boise State. Memphis went into halftime with a 19-point lead, but a slow start by the Tigers led to the Broncos clawing themselves back into the game. DeAndre Williams ended the game with 14 points while projected NBA Draft lottery pick Jalen Duren had a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double. NBA executives and March Madness fans are getting the Duren-Chet Holmgren matchup they&rsquo;ve been clamoring for since Sunday night, as Memphis takes on Gonzaga this weekend. (This game also featured a surprise cameo from Emoni Bates, who finished with just 3 points in three minutes).
East Region: 7-seed Murray State defeats 10-seed San Francisco 92-87 in overtime
If you stayed up to watch one of the nightcap games of day 1, you probably watched Murray State and San Francisco battle it out. This game saw San Francisco guard Jamaree Bouyea score a career-high 36 points including some big shots to extend the game. However, it wasn&rsquo;t enough for the balanced attack of&nbsp; Murray State&rsquo;s KJ Williams, Trae Hannibal, Tevin Brown and Justice Hill with scoring totals of 18, 18, 17, and 15 (with Hannibal&rsquo;s 18 coming from the bench). The Racers' next test comes from the &ldquo;bracket busters&rdquo; themselves, the Saint Peter&rsquo;s Peacocks this weekend.
OTHER FIRST-ROUND RESULTS
Midwest Region
1-seed Kansas defeats 16-seed Texas Southern
4-seed Providence defeats 13-seed South Dakota State 66-57
9-seed Creighton defeats 8-seed San Diego State 72-69
East Region
1-seed Baylor defeats 16-seed Norfolk State 85-49
4-seed UCLA defeats 13-seed Akron 57- 53
South Region
3-seed Tennessee defeats 14-seed Longwood 88-56
West Region
1-seed Gonzaga defeats 16-seed Georgia State 93-72
4-seed Arkansas defeats 13-seed Vermont 75-71
East Region
8-seed North Carolina defeats 9-seed Marquette 95-63
5-seed Saint Mary&rsquo;s defeats 12-seed Indiana 82-53
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Sixteen teams saw their dreams shatter while 16 teams advanced to the Round of 32. Blake Hairston recaps day one of March Madness.

March Madness: Recapping Day 1 of the 2022 NCAA Tournament

Butterfly effects impact everything around them. That is as true in the NBA as it is anywhere &ndash; and it&rsquo;s especially true with administrative moves like trades. For example, would the Milwaukee Bucks have won the 2021 NBA championship without trading for Jrue Holiday? Probably not.
So, while new additions are discussed ad nauseum, trades also often result in diminished roles &ndash; or subsequent trades &ndash; for existing players who were firmly in a team's rotation. And with that in mind, I can&rsquo;t help but turn my attention to the Indiana Pacers.
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Indiana was lauded for a deadline deal that swapped Domantas Sabonis for Tyrese Haliburton. But lost in the shuffle of this major deadline deal is Malcolm Brogdon. It&rsquo;s understandable that Haliburton, a 21-year-old averaging 20.7 points and 10.0 assists per game in only his sophomore season, attracts serious attention. But as recently as last season, it was Brogdon who was seen as the team's future point guard.
The former Rookie of the Year is quietly averaging 18.5 points, 5.9 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game this season. Granted, he&rsquo;s shooting poorly (31% on three-pointers), but he leads the Pacers in assists, and he&rsquo;s their third-leading scorer (prior to the trade) &ndash; not too shabby.
The Pacers have made it abundantly clear that they are rebuilding on-the-fly. They have a young core of Haliburton, Chris Duarte and Jalen Smith. Add in their 2022 first-round pick, as well as Cleveland&rsquo;s 2022 first, and they are off to a good start.
Never mind Buddy Hield &ndash; although if the Pacers are serious about a rebuild, he should expect to be traded, too &ndash; but all of a sudden, Brogdon is probably feeling unwanted and underappreciated &ndash; and rightfully so. According to HoopsHype&rsquo;s <a href="https://hoopshype.com/author/michaelascotto/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Scotto</a>, the Pacers may be open to moving Brogdon this summer.
If I&rsquo;m being honest they should, but not due to production issues. As previously mentioned, Brogdon was playing good basketball this season prior to suffering an Achilles injury in December; Brogdon returned on Friday, Feb. 25, collecting 15 points (on 3 for 8 shooting on three-pointers), 4 assists and 4 rebounds in 31 minutes.
Instead, Brogdon should be moved because he simply doesn&rsquo;t align with a rebuild. He&rsquo;ll turn 30 in December, meaning he&rsquo;ll be past his peak when the younger Pacers enter theirs. And while that may be moot given the unlikely nature of a team remaining together for five or more years in the modern era, it&rsquo;s still probably unwise to waste a talented player like Brogdon on a team that won&rsquo;t compete for a championship with him &ndash; especially when you can swap him for additional assets, allowing less valuable veterans to show Indiana&rsquo;s youngsters the ropes. &nbsp;
For better or worse, Brogdon is under the Pacers&rsquo; control. He just signed a two-year, $45 million extension last summer, which means he&rsquo;s signed to Indiana through 2025 with no player option. Given the bad press Ben Simmons received for his hold out in Philadelphia, Brogdon is unlikely to go that route &ndash; and it may be out of the plan altogether for Brogdon, anyway, who seemed excited to play alongside the younger Haliburton.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to play with him. I think he&rsquo;s honestly similar to me,&rdquo; Brogdon told the media on Feb. 23. &ldquo;Just the way he plays the game, the way he thinks [of] the game. He&rsquo;s a great young player.&rdquo;
Still, what&rsquo;s good for the goose isn&rsquo;t always good for the gander. So, how can Indiana extract the most value for Brogdon while continuing to build? The Pacers will have to look to engage teams that hope to compete in the near future in trade talks &ndash; but those without well-stocked backcourts will be especially interested. So, who does that leave?&nbsp;
New York Knicks
Of course, New York will be mentioned as a destination for Brogdon, as they haven&rsquo;t had a consistent and legitimate starting point guard in decades. Further, after experiencing success in 2020-21, New York is starving for more.
The benefit of dealing with the Knicks is that they have a good deal of draft capital and lots of short-term and/or expiring deals. To achieve $22.6 million in outgoing salary, New York would probably like to include Evan Fournier &ndash; although that&rsquo;s unlikely give the length of his contract. From a salary perspective, an Alec Burks-Kemba Walker-Immanuel Quickley deal is probably more likely. Remember, Walker will be expiring next season. The Knicks will probably be hesitant to move Quickley, but they&rsquo;ll have to give up something to get Brogdon.
But those three alone won't get it done. Indiana will demand draft picks, too. Fortunately, the Knicks have all of theirs and then some. If the Knicks are willing to part with two future picks (at least one of which being a first-rounder), that probably gets it done &ndash; especially if that first-rounder is their own 2022 first-round pick.&nbsp;
Consensus &ndash; it could happen.
Los Angeles Lakers 
It&rsquo;s way harder to find a deal that works for the Lakers. Technically, though, if things fall their way, Los Angeles could offer something.
First of all, the Lakers need Kendrick Nunn to pick up his player option &ndash; although that&rsquo;s not out of the question as Nunn has yet to play this season. And remember the hype around Nunn just a year or so ago? While he&rsquo;s far from a sure thing, Indiana could view the 26-year-old as a possible rotation piece.
But Nunn&rsquo;s option is worth only $5 million. The Lakers would also have to include Talen Horton-Tucker, who will make approximately $10 million in 2022-23 &ndash; and they still need to add another $7 million. If they pick up Stanley Johnson&rsquo;s option ($2.3 million) and include him and other minimum guys, technically that gets them there.
But is that enough value to return Brogdon? I can speak for Indiana here &ndash; no, it&rsquo;s not. Making matters worse, the Lakers draft pick situation is murky. They can&rsquo;t trade a future first-rounder with certainty until 2027. That&rsquo;s probably too undefined for Indiana.
Consensus &ndash; won&rsquo;t work unless a third team is involved
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Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are in a similar spot as the Lakers in terms of draft picks &ndash; they can really only offer the 76ers' 2022 first-rounder, and they might not have enough promising youth to get a deal done.
Brooklyn can offer Seth Curry ($8.5 million), Cam Thomas ($2.1 million) and Day&rsquo;Ron Sharpe ($2.1 million) &ndash; but they&rsquo;re still about $10 million away from matching salaries. They can potentially work in a sign-and-trade deal including Nic Claxton, too, who will be a restricted free agent &ndash; but that becomes far more complicated.
Still, would a deal involving Curry, Thomas, Sharpe, Claxton and a Philadelphia first-rounder be enough for Brogdon? It&rsquo;s not a bad haul &ndash; but Indiana would have to be confident that at least one of those players is a long-term starter, and I&rsquo;m not sure that&rsquo;s the case.
Consensus &ndash; unlikely, but it&rsquo;s possible
Washington Wizards
It might surprise folks to see Washington on this list, but remember, the Wizards are still trying to convince Bradley Beal to remain in Washington. They're hoping to compete with Beal and (probably) Kristaps Porzingis. A big three of Beal, Porzingis and Brogdon is actually a pretty good core that seemingly complements each other.
But Indiana will be doing their Eastern Conference rivals no favors. So, what&rsquo;s in it for the Pacers? Well, the Wizards have a pretty decent war chest of assets. They can send out Rui Hachimura ($6.2 million) Deni Avdija ($4.9 million) and Kyle Kuzma ($13 million). Both Hachimura and Avdija are former lottery picks, and they are only 24 and 21, respectively. Alternatively, if Washington is intent on keeping Kuzma, they can send a combination of Corey Kispert ($3.5 million), Vernon Carey Jr. ($1.7 million), Cassius Winston ($1.5 million qualifying offer) and others.
But the Wizards lack draft capital &ndash; the next first-rounder Washington can include is their 2028 pick. So, Indiana would have to be really high on Hachimura and Avdija &ndash; which is possible, but the Pacers might not view them favorably as others do.&nbsp;
Consensus &ndash; could happen
Ultimately, the Pacers must decide to move on from Brogdon before any trades can be examined, but it&rsquo;s in their best interest to do so. And while the teams that are most likely to be interested don&rsquo;t necessarily have the right assets to make Indiana jump at a deal, most of them have interesting pieces that should at least make Indiana consider a move. &nbsp;
Where Brogdon plays the 2022-23 season and beyond is still anyone&rsquo;s guess &ndash; but it shouldn&rsquo;t be with Indiana. And that&rsquo;s in the best interest of Brogdon and the Pacers.
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The Pacers and Malcolm Brogdon are headed in different directions. Will Indiana continue to rebuild this summer by moving Brogdon?

The Indiana Pacers and their Malcolm Brogdon conundrum

We had a whopping <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/grading-every-move-from-the-2022-nba-trade-deadline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">15 NBA trades</a> go down in an eight-day span.
The league buckled down for one of the biggest fireworks shows in recent deadline memory. Front offices dealt All-NBA superstars and hammered out four-team mazes. By the time the clock struck 3 p.m. on Thursday, we saw some teams go all-in on a playoff push, others cash out and move towards rebuilding, and many surprisingly pass on the spectacle entirely. It's a perfect time to set the table ahead of the stretch run with a fresh Sour Rankings.
If you're new to the Sour Rankings, here's a refresher: Unlike the typical "power rankings" that repeat themselves throughout sports media, Sour Rankings are a bizarro-world counter. These rankings highlight the top-10 most frustrating NBA franchises throughout the season, and they will be updated every week to match the twists and turns of the league.
This is not merely a bottom-10 of your typical best-to-worst outlooks. You will see championship contenders and playoff hopefuls mixed in with struggling squads. Teams well under .500 may never touch the Sour Rankings because they are on track with their respective processes. Injuries, drama, transactions and generally underwhelming play will earn you a spot on this list.
The central question is ultimately this: How good should you feel about the direction of each franchise? Let's get going.
Escaping the Sour Rankings:&nbsp;By most accounts, the Indiana Pacers crushed it with their trade deadline moves. Tyrese Haliburton instantly becomes the bedrock of the franchise's next era, and he's looked pretty good in limited time so far. Indiana also snuck in a solid flier by acquiring Jalen Smith and didn't trade away any of its veteran players just for the sake of making a move. The Detroit Pistons were also briefly in the Sour Rankings, but escape after acquiring former No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III without giving up long-term pieces.
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10. Oklahoma City Thunder (17-39)
Of all the teams to hold their chips at this year's deadline, OKC might be the most surprising. The Thunder had several players worth trading for &mdash; including Kenrich Williams and Mike Muscala &mdash; and had oodles of salary cap room to take on guys with undesirable contracts. Instead, they only clocked-in one deal, trading a second-round pick to the Miami Heat for KZ Okpala, who was subsequently waived. Though it's not a colossal general-managing blunder, the Thunder may have missed some good opportunities to add to the stockpile.
(Last week: Unranked)
9. Charlotte Hornets (29-29)
The Hornets added Montrezl Harrell to fill the backup center spot on paper, and he should help as a play-finisher. However, Harrell does little to address the returning defensive woes for a Charlotte team that is 3-7 in its last 10 games. The squad has also hit an offensive shooting slump while also ranking 22nd in turnover rate since the start of February. A seven-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday overshadowed a horrendous two-way performance in the first half that had me concerned.
(Last week: 10)
8. Utah Jazz (35-21)
The Jazz got involved in one minor three-team deal at the trade deadline, and it didn't do much to squelch the raised voices about their title pretender status. Mark Schindler <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/roundtable-who-are-your-biggest-2022-nba-trade-deadline-losers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">labeled them a loser of the week</a> despite acquiring a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/can-nickeil-alexanderwalker-fill-the-gaps-for-the-utah-jazz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prospect he liked in Nickeil Alexander-Walker</a>:
"There's an intriguing foundation with him that Utah could unearth more of and help him build upon, but the issue is where the Jazz are right now. They needed immediate help defensively at the point of attack and the wing, yet NAW is not really that guy right now."
Utah is on a five-game winning streak, however, which deserves some credit. The team stays where it is in these rankings for now.
(Last week: 8)
7. Houston Rockets (15-40)
Here's another rebuilding franchise that balked at the chance to capitalize on the rush of apparent buyers. Houston didn't need to trade Eric Gordon in my opinion, but he certainly could have returned value. I was more surprised that Christian Wood not only remains on the team, but also was barely brought up in public trade rumors. He has not been nearly the player he can or should be with the Rockets, and I don't know if anything he does in the next two months changes that outlook. Of course, John Wall is still on the roster too.
(Last week: Unranked)
6. Portland Trail Blazers (23-34)
The Blazers are a confusing team to nail down for me. They traded CJ McCollum to New Orleans in a move many expected, but didn't get a whole lot back (aside from a very solid rotation player in Josh Hart and a protected first-rounder). A couple days go by, and then, the aforementioned Alexander-Walker &mdash; the best young player in the first trade &mdash; heads to Utah for a second-round pick, an expiring and injured Joe Ingles and a more obscure flier in Elijah Hughes.
Nekias Duncan gave those two moves a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/grading-every-move-from-the-2022-nba-trade-deadline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">C-minus and D in his trade deadline grades</a>. I think I'd agree, because at the end of it all, I still don't know what Portland is doing other than clearing some cap room.
(Last week: 6)
5. Sacramento Kings (22-36)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Sabonis and Fox will be a natural fit 👉🏽 That P&amp;R with a guard who can slash, pass and play in between with pace paired with a highly skilled big man who is great around the rim and can shoot comfortably from 15 feet. This is the co-star both guys needed. 🎥 <a href="https://twitter.com/kings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kings</a> <a href="https://t.co/ngj5TdjPp0">pic.twitter.com/ngj5TdjPp0</a>
&mdash; Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) <a href="https://twitter.com/balldontstop/status/1491657233897119746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

I'll give the Kings a little credit for the auspicious stretch they've had with Domantas Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox together since that big blockbuster move. A lot of people, myself included, probably overreacted to the deal and didn't give enough thought to what Sabonis can unlock for the players around him in Sacramento. They also did a sneaky-great job turning Marvin Bagley III into three players who can help the team win now at various levels.
I still have a hard time getting over the Kings trading Tyrese Haliburton, their most promising young player and a public advocate for turning a losing culture around.&nbsp;
(Last week: 4)
4. Washington Wizards (25-30)
Kristaps Porzingis was perhaps the most shocking name to be dealt this season; his name hadn't really popped up at all until Thursday morning. While it's fair that the Wizards needed to end the Spencer Dinwiddie-Bradley Beal experiment and Porzingis makes them better purely on paper, I don't love the fit. Will he <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/so-how-does-this-kristaps-porzingis-spencer-dinwiddie-davis-bertans-thing-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">make a meaningful difference for a Washington team</a> that is one of two NBA squads with bottom-five Offensive and Defensive Ratings over the past two weeks? I'm doubtful.
The Montrezl Harrell trade was also super weird because it brought back two players who probably should not be in the rotation. Washington's big mix is still backed up now with Porzingis, Daniel Gafford, Thomas Bryant and Vernon Carey Jr., plus larger forwards in Kyle Kuzma and Rui Hachimura.&nbsp;
(Last week: 2)
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3. New York Knicks (26-31)
Whew, Saturday's blown lead to the Trail Blazers was a stinger. The Knicks led by 23 at one point before coughing up the game to a Portland team that just went through a widespread, trade-deadline fire sale. New York, meanwhile, didn't make any moves despite the glaring underperformance in recent weeks. The Knicks have two extremely winnable games against the Thunder and Brooklyn Nets before the All-Star break. If they can't find something, I'll have serious doubts about them even being close to a Play-In team.
(Last week: 5)
2. Brooklyn Nets (29-27)
In a vacuum, the Nets moved on from a disgruntled star in James Harden and returned three players who can instantly (once healthy) slot into a thin rotation. Ben Simmons makes a ton of sense as a defensive boost, Seth Curry can replace the shooting lost by Joe Harris' injury, and Andre Drummond at least gives Brooklyn a presence on the glass and center depth.
But they still gave up James Harden. Brooklyn's Big Three played 16 games together in total, and the Nets are still neck-deep in an 11-game losing streak. Things are most definitely bad.
(Last week: 1)
1. Los Angeles Lakers (26-31)
If a franchise arrives at a point in the season where <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33250361/los-angeles-lakers-feel-urgency-make-changes-trade-deadline-nears" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the locker room itself wants trades to happen</a>, then the front office should listen. But Rob Pelinka had to go all Bumi from "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and embrace neutral jing &mdash; a.k.a. doing nothing. The Lakers made zero trades this season. They are the most underwhelming team in the NBA and they made zero trades.&nbsp;
(Last week: 3)
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Ethan Fuller lines up the league's biggest underperformers, including teams who failed to maximize the NBA trade deadline.

NBA Sour Rankings: Reshuffling the deck post-trade deadline

Nekias Duncan thoroughly grades every NBA trade from 2022 Deadline Week.

Grading every move from 2022 NBA trade deadline week

The Hornets have acquired Montrezl Harrell from the Wizards for Vernon Carey Jr. and Ish Smith.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1491855302525964299?s=20&amp;t=iJ0SSK3-GazkuyuLeTGd_w">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;
The move will shore up room in the Wizards' center rotation as well as add some big man help for Charlotte.
Harrell is averaging 14.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game on a 65 field goal percentage.
&nbsp;

The Hornets have acquired Montrezl Harrell from the Wizards for Vernon Carey Jr. and Ish Smith.

Hornets acquire Montrezl Harrell for Vernon Carey Jr., Ish Smith

The Charlotte Hornets identified the center position as their focus area this offseason.
They traded for Mason Plumlee, a solid rim roller and passing hub from the high post. They let longtime &mdash; and long-underrated &mdash; big man Cody Zeller go in free agency; he's off to Portland to screen for, and catch lobs from, Damian Lillard. Charlotte locker room favorite Bismack Biyombo is also out.
In the draft, the Hornets took a long-term swing on super-athlete Kai Jones. He's <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/selfaware-kai-jones-is-an-unfinished-product-and-wont-stop-learning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ridiculously explosive with unreal physical traits</a>, but is likely a year or two away from being a positive impact guy. He joins Vernon Carey Jr. and Nick Richards in the Hornets' young stable of centers we're not quite sure what to expect from.
But what if the answer to the center question isn't a traditional center? What if it's third-year forward PJ Washington?
After rarely playing center in his rookie campaign, Washington nearly split his time between the 4 and 5 last season: a 54/46 split; let the good folks at <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/washipj01.html#pbp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Basketball-Reference</a> tell it. The Hornets had a plus-3 net rating in nearly 900 minutes when Washington was on the floor without a center, per <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612766&amp;Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1629023,203469,202687,1630176" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PBP Stats</a>.&nbsp;
That's a pretty solid sample of positive minutes. It's even more impressive considering the up-and-down nature of Washington's season, at least from a shooting perspective.
The Hornets aren't in "prove it" territory as a whole; they're a young group that caught a lot of teams off guard last season with their breakneck pace and funky mixture of defensive coverages. It is fair, however, to say that the surprise element likely won't exist for them this year.
With the team's core being as young as it is, there is room for linear improvement, and thus another year of playoff contention. But because the shine has worn off a bit, and because the rest of the conference has improved, they'll need&nbsp;a step forward from their core to keep pace.
That may start with Washington.&nbsp;
THE FOUNDATION
I won't bore you by completely quoting myself from the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/something-to-prove-jaren-jackson-jr-at-center" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jaren Jackson Jr. piece</a>, but the same "All Unicorn bigs are not created equal" point remains. Washington isn't a unicorn, but his skill set is robust enough to make you raise your eyebrow when watching him.
Like Jackson, the intrigue begins from the outside with Washington. He got off to a slow shooting start last season (roughly 33% from deep over his first 24 games), then completely turned it around to close things out (nearly 41% on 5.3 attempts).&nbsp;
He doesn't possess Unicorn-like shot versatility, at least not yet. Washington only made four (4) threes coming off screens last season, per InStat tracking, and those were of the "receive a random pin-in and spot-up behind it" variety.
He does knock down spot-up looks with ease, and displays solid footwork on pick-and-pops. The foundation is there for him to do more movement stuff, and I'm intrigued by some of the self-created threes he took last season.
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That doesn't look like someone that can't get busy, that's for sure.
Teams can't afford to leave him open from deep. He invites aggressive close-outs on spot-up and pick-and-pop opportunities, then counters them with quick drives.
The best thing to say about Washington right now on that front is that he's a quick decision-maker off the catch. He's firing the shot, or immediately branching into a drive to keep the chain moving. For a Charlotte team that doesn't have a title-level number one option, maximizing windows with timeliness is key.&nbsp;
As a finisher, Washington has a solid feel for defender positioning. He attacks scrambling defenders well, pinpointing their front foot and sliding past with aggressive drives. He's a low driver, able to gain inside leverage with his shoulders to create some semblance of space. Counters are being added &mdash; he's gaining comfort with a spin move &mdash; but he's not all the way there yet.
His passing chops are also trending upward, particularly on drives. His pass percentage on drives jumped nearly five percentage points from last season (34.6 to 39.0), while his turnover rate rose marginally (7.9 to 9.5), per <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/drives/?Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;TeamID=1610612766&amp;sort=DRIVE_TOV_PCT&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Second Spectrum tracking data</a>. The path from chain-mover to playmaker is there.
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A big man that can legitimately shoot the ball while possessing the ball skills to get downhill and create for himself or others... that's a hard needle to thread. The guys that can do that have, or will, get paid handsomely.
The fact that Washington can provide plus-impact at the 5 while some of his skills are still unrefined (more on that shortly) bodes well for him and the Hornets as a whole.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
While it's perfectly okay that a big man on his rookie deal doesn't have it all together, it is&nbsp;important to note that Washington isn't there yet.
There are areas of refinement, like Washington's passing, where you squint but still feel okay about things overall. He's a quick decision-maker and generally makes the right reads. After going through his film, I struggle with calling him a good&nbsp;passer because the ball placement just isn't there.
The stationary stuff is fine. Once you incorporate movement &mdash; drive and kicks, or short-roll opportunities &mdash; the bag becomes a bit mixed. His tape is littered with high and/or wide dishes that take shooters out of rhythm. While it's nice to (quickly) identify a window, you ultimately have to hit the sucker. He doesn't do that enough right now.
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The more pressing issue is Washington on the interior, on both ends of the floor.
Offensively, a lack of vertical pop hinders him quite a bit as a finisher. Among 97 players to take at least 200 shots at the rim last season, Washington ranked 93rd in field goal percentage (54.6%) and 95th in the percentage of rim attempts he had blocked (15.8%), per <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/totals/nba/player?Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PBP Stats</a>.&nbsp;
It's great that he understands how he has to win: with positioning, with craft and with a little bit of touch. It's a bit concerning that he needs those traits to the degree he does. If he isn't able to win a pure scramble drill, his attempts become infinitely more difficult.
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On the other end of the floor, Washington doesn't bring enough punch to operate as the primary big. Lateral mobility is his greatest strength defensively. It's necessary considering how often the Hornets switched last year, and how much ground he occasionally had to cover when they went to their many variations of zone.
He can legitimately hold his own against forwards and wings, and survive against sub-elite guards in a pinch. As a weak-side rotator, Washington is generally on time and on target.&nbsp;
Put Washington in a drop as the primary defender, and you'll see inconsistencies in his technique and depth, and the lack of vertical pop will rear its ugly head.
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On the stat side: 27 players defended at least five shots at the rim per game last season (min. 40 games played), <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/defensive-impact/?Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=DEF_RIM_FG_PCT&amp;dir=1&amp;CF=DEF_RIM_FGA*GE*5:GP*GE*40" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Second Spectrum</a>. Washington ranked 25th in field goal percentage allowed (65.2%), besting only Enes Kanter (65.3%) and Nikola Jokic (66.3%).&nbsp;
Jokic is probably the closest analog, oddly enough: a big man with squishy traits as a rim protector who makes up for it with activity. Both are high-steal guys for the position, but Jokic can also clean the glass at a high level (26.1% defensive rebound rate last season). Washington lags behind in that area (18.3%).
There is context to be added to both of those numbers. Washington has his flaws as a defender, but he was also tasked with covering for some of the worst point-of-attack defense in the league. There's a reason the Hornets experimented as much as they did defensively last season.
It's also difficult to post a high rebound rate when defending on the perimeter as much as Washington had to, and baked into all of this is that Washington split time between the 4 and 5 to begin with.&nbsp;
But if he's to log more minutes at the 5 specifically, he has to become a stronger presence inside. He isn't a bad defender on balance, but there's a step that needs to be taken.
If he's able to get there defensively, his offensive strengths will be accentuated. His shooting becomes even more deadly when he's removing a center from the paint. Driving lanes will become wider, opening more passing opportunities.&nbsp;
The Hornets only got 53 minutes out of the Ball-Rozier-Hayward-Bridges-Washington lineup last season; considering it was a positive (<a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612766&amp;Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=202330,1626179,1628970,1629023,1630163" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plus-5.4</a>), it's certainly worth exploring as a closing lineup this year. Washington being able to man the middle would allow that to happen.
Beyond the team success, Washington will be extension-eligible next offseason. A strong showing on both ends could wind up being fruitful for him.

Nekias Duncan continues his Something To Prove series by breaking down the film of Hornets big man PJ Washington.

Something To Prove: PJ Washington at center

Seven days into NBA Summer League, we continue to see young talents and NBA hopefuls make names for themselves in Las Vegas.&nbsp;
More and more teams are shutting down their top prospects due to rest or minor injuries. That means others are getting the chance to shine in featured roles. Only one or two games remain on the schedule for each team, so players have just a few more opportunities to make an impression before training camp.
As always, here are my individual observations from Saturday's slate.&nbsp;
STUDS
Bones Hyland, guard, Denver Nuggets
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BONES BUCKETS 🦴 No. 26 pick Nah'Shon Hyland drops 28 PTS (5 3PM) to lead the <a href="https://twitter.com/nuggets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nuggets</a> to their first win of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a>! <a href="https://t.co/Sh9Gd6bU8T">pic.twitter.com/Sh9Gd6bU8T</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1426657381795045378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 28 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 9-for-17 FG, 5-for-8 3PT
The No. 26 overall pick had his breakout summer-league game in an 89-85 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Hyland is an absolute microwave, with a solid handle and an ability to get into his shot form quickly. Though he struggled finishing at the rim early, Hyland showed he could get defenders on his hip, get low and blow by them, and use his length to get to the backboard. When he gets hot, his confidence is extremely fun to watch.
Skylar Mays, guard, Atlanta Hawks
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Skylar Mays: Smooth. 📺 ESPN <a href="https://t.co/Og8f8lGMcW">pic.twitter.com/Og8f8lGMcW</a>
&mdash; LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/LSUBasketball/status/1426658762434166788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 26 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 7-for-17 FG, 2-for-6 3PT
Mays relentlessly attacked the basket and made his 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame feel like a freight train. The 23-year-old helped the Hawks get back into the game in the second quarter and led them to a 94-90 victory. In the absence of Sharife Cooper, he served as the floor general and had an excellent rapport with Jalen Johnson. Mays also did a great job of getting into passing lanes and pressuring the ball as a defender.&nbsp;
Jalen Johnson, guard, Atlanta Hawks
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Jalen Johnson corner 3 then shows the on ball defense, forcing the miss from Okpala <a href="https://t.co/aNnQx5vHW1">pic.twitter.com/aNnQx5vHW1</a>
&mdash; Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/AC__Hoops/status/1426661390538919938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 9-for-15 FG, 3-for-6 FG
Johnson looked smooth as silk in this contest, splashing face-up attempts and catch-and-shoot threes. He facilitated a really neat play to end the half for Atlanta; Johnson held the ball at the top of the key as Skylar Mays ran behind him, drawing defenders, and then Johnson hit Admiral Schofield off a flare screen for a three-pointer. Of course, the No. 20 overall selection also served as a highlight-reel lob threat.
Scottie Barnes, forward, Toronto Raptors
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Scottie Barnes showed out with 23 PTS against the Hornets ♨️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> <a href="https://t.co/6NQ5VGTpL9">pic.twitter.com/6NQ5VGTpL9</a>
&mdash; NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1426718576719798278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 10-for-18 FG, 1-for-3 3PT
Barnes' defense was awesome. He legitimately guarded 1-through-5 with success, clamping opponents from James Bouknight to Kai Jones. On offense, the fourth overall pick detonated in transition to propel him to those 23 points. But Barnes also took guys off the dribble and finished acrobatically at the rim. He still needs to find a rhythm mid-range shot, but Barnes already contributes in so many areas for Toronto.
Miles McBride, guard, New York Knicks
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Miles McBride : 23 points (9-14 shooting &amp; 5-8 from 3), 4 rebounds, 5 assists &amp; 2 steals in 33 minutes <a href="https://t.co/BSXvgofksL">pic.twitter.com/BSXvgofksL</a>
&mdash; Lee Harvey (@AyeThatsLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/AyeThatsLee/status/1426772246459211776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 23 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 9-for-14 FG, 5-for-8 3PT
Quentin Grimes led the team with 28 points, but I thought McBride was the best and most impressive player on the court in New York's 103-94 victory over Cleveland. The second-round guard took on more of a lead role with Immanuel Quickley out. Though he gave up four turnovers, McBride was fearless as a passer and creator. He frequently pulled up for long two-pointers and threes, which is a critical area to watch for him as a scoring guard. And McBride's hounding defense was present as always.
Other notable performers: Saben Lee (Pistons), Luka Garza (Pistons), Max Strus (Heat), Nate Hinton (Mavericks), Chris Duarte (Pacers), Quentin Grimes (Knicks), Obi Toppin (Knicks), Lamar Stevens (Cavaliers)
DUDS
Jaden Springer, guard, Philadelphia 76ers
Box Score Stats: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3-for-11 FG, 0-for-2 3PT
Thursday's 100-80 loss to the Celtics was partially frustrating because the Sixers, despite sitting Tyrese Maxey, scarcely gave Springer time on the ball. They instead went with Isaiah Joe and Frank Mason as the lead guards. Springer had to do most of his work off movement and off the catch, and was unsuccessful. He also continues to struggle with gaining separation, though he has been adept at finding pockets in the defense.
Theo Maledon, guard, Oklahoma City Thunder
Box Score Stats: 0 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 0-for-7 FG, 0-for-4 3PT
Like Springer, Maledon was held back due to a cold touch and lack of burst. He still facilitated well as the point guard for OKC, but missed a few attempts at the rim as well as all of his three-point attempts. The 20-year-old is 7-for-25 from deep in summer league, but five of those makes came in a single game. He canned 33.5% of his long-range looks as a rookie.
Nick Richards, center, Charlotte Hornets
Box Score Stats: 3 points, 8 rebounds, 1-for-5 FG, 0-for-1 3PT
Richards came in for Vernon Carey Jr. and played 24 minutes for Charlotte. But the seven-footer was ineffective as an interior presence. He missed some easy buckets inside and was lost when Toronto pushed the pace late in the game. It was a strange fit with fellow paint finisher Kai Jones, and the two did not mesh particularly well.&nbsp;

Two Atlanta Hawks players showed out on the seventh day of NBA Summer League.

Studs and duds from the seventh day of NBA Summer League

At the halfway mark of 2021 NBA Summer League, we're seeing prospects rapidly adapt to the next level. In some cases on Thursday, players visibly evolved over the course of a single game.
Rookies like James Bouknight and Cam Thomas turned frustrating first quarters into dominant performances. Other veterans continued to show their overall grasp on the NBA. We saw two more games reach overtime, underscoring what has been a competitive slate so far.
Below are the studs and duds from Day 5:
STUDS
Tre Jones, guard, San Antonio Spurs
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TRE JONES GETS IT TO GO! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> on ESPNU <a href="https://t.co/UkiNhTrqMU">pic.twitter.com/UkiNhTrqMU</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1425926354894266386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 34 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 12-for-20 FG, 1-for-3 3PT
This was arguably the most dominant performance of NBA Summer League thus far. Jones was in complete command on the offensive end, beating players off the dribble, pulling up in the mid-range and dishing all sorts of impressive passes. He pushed the ball in transition and consistently pressured the defense in what became a close shootout.
In the closing seconds, Jones scored the go-ahead bucket on a tough layup, and then stole the ball from Vernon Carey Jr. to ice the 106-105 win over Charlotte. Simply a masterclass from the second-year point guard.
James Bouknight, guard, Charlotte Hornets
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Absolutely filthy hesi from James Bouknight as he finishes this lay high up off the glass!! <a href="https://t.co/8Z7LyWSUZM">pic.twitter.com/8Z7LyWSUZM</a>
&mdash; Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/AC__Hoops/status/1425922734022856710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 23 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 11-for-23 FG, 1-for-4 3PT
Thursday's matchup against Tre Jones and the Spurs was a challenge. Bouknight felt the pressure early, and played hesitantly for a large portion of the first half. But I was thoroughly impressed with how he adapted. The 2021 lottery pick found his confidence and got to his spots off the dribble. He also consistently forced the defense into tough spots when he attacked the basket.
Bouknight floored me as a passer as well. He should have finished with double-digit assists; on multiple occasions, such as one fast-break blunder, teammates blew impressive dimes from the rookie guard. Bouknight also finished with zero turnovers &mdash; even more amazing when considering his usage.
Cam Thomas, guard, Brooklyn Nets
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CAM THOMAS IS REALLY LIKE THAT 🤯 A game-tying bucket followed by a one-legged three to win it in sudden-death! <a href="https://t.co/8mdLLqD1HY">pic.twitter.com/8mdLLqD1HY</a>
&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1425966738638721024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 31 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 10-for-23 FG, 2-for-6 3PT
Thomas did not play his best 33-plus minutes of basketball on Thursday. He started off by forcing a lot of shots, not looking to beat defenders or pass. But towards the latter stages of the game, the rookie guard seemed to see the floor better, make the right decisions and find his shooting touch.
Of course, he canned two monster buckets to end things &mdash; one three to send the game to a sudden death double-overtime, and then the golden shot. That microwave potential is the way Johnson can earn immediate playing time off the bench for the Nets.
Sam Hauser, forward, Boston Celtics
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Undrafted rookie Sam Hauser proving he belongs in the league. 21pts/7ast/6-10 3PA <a href="https://t.co/MF4Tu8ZTku">pic.twitter.com/MF4Tu8ZTku</a>
&mdash; High Motor Hoops (@HighMotorHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/HighMotorHoops/status/1425991310486425603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats:&nbsp;21 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 7-for-12 FG, 6-for-10 3PT
This was a statement game for Hauser, who had sputtered out of the gate with the Celtics. The sharpshooting forward looked like his Virginia self, drilling threes off the catch as part of a team-wide hot streak. He also moved the ball much better compared to his prior two contests, helping Boston set a summer league record with 33 team assists. Then, on the defensive end, he seemed to keep defenders in front of him and shuffle his feet well. Good showing from the Celtics' two-way signing.
Ishmail Wainright, forward, Toronto Raptors
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Two years ago, Ishmail Wainright played in the German 2nd division finals. Now he's under the contract with Toronto Raptors. The first time <a href="https://twitter.com/Wainright24?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Wainright24</a> stepped on the court straight from the airport, his coach Buzas saw his success was all programmed: <a href="https://t.co/R83Dwkv3Mb">https://t.co/R83Dwkv3Mb</a>
&mdash; Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) <a href="https://twitter.com/Urbodo/status/1425820905855324173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks, 7-for-12 FG, 4-for-6 3PT
Wainright may be an unheralded name to most; the 26-year-old forward played for Baylor until 2017 and spent 2020-21 playing with Strasbourg in France. But people who tuned in surely will remember the name. The 6-foot-6 wing was engaged on both ends, made quality shots and did not force himself into the action. it was a poised all-around performance, and it makes sense why Toronto has Wainright signed to a two-year contract.
Tyrese Maxey, guard, Philadelphia 76ers
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My play of the night: Tyrese Maxey perfectly executes the Matisse Thybulle blocked jumper [pretty much] for the win. cc: <a href="https://twitter.com/TyreseMaxey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TyreseMaxey</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MatisseThybulle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MatisseThybulle</a> <a href="https://t.co/ocnCCseHCt">pic.twitter.com/ocnCCseHCt</a>
&mdash; Lauren Rosen (@LaurenMRosen) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenMRosen/status/1426029134510268417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 31 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 11-for-23 FG, 1-for-8 3PT
Maxey didn't have his three-point shot falling Thursday night and bricked a couple of bad looks. But otherwise, the slashing guard displayed his signature ability to get to the rim at will. Maxey also had a couple of nice pull-up jumpers and step-backs he used to mix things up. And he finished off a 96-88 overtime win against Atlanta by clamping up Sharife Cooper in the closing seconds.
Other notable performers: Paul Reed (Sixers), Sharife Cooper (Hawks), Chris Duarte (Pacers), Payton Pritchard (Celtics), Jaime Echenique (Wizards), Jalen Smith (Suns)
DUDS
Ayo Dosunmu, guard, Chicago Bulls
Box Score Stats:&nbsp;2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block, 1-for-7 FG, 0-for-3 3PT
The Bulls only scored 59 points as a team, and there were a couple of dud-worthy performances that came from Chicago. Dosunmu had a hard time gaining separation from the Timberolves defenders and didn't get many quality looks at the basket. As a defender, he got shaken often and was hit with some bruising screens. It didn't seem like Dosunmu was involved in the offense; he often stayed on the wings and in the corners.
Marko Simonovic, center, Chicago Bulls
Box Score Stats: 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1-for-8 FG, 0-for-4 3PT
Eight of Simonovic's 10 points came at the charity stripe. The 21-year-old was otherwise effective for most of the game, and didn't play with the strength and physicality necessary in the paint. He was not particularly impactful as a screener, and in the second half was part of a team-wide collapse defensively.&nbsp;
Emmanuel Mudiay, guard, Portland Trail Blazers
Box Score Stats: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 3-for-7 FG, 0-for-3 3PT
Unfortunately, Mudiay's summer league play is reminiscient of his last seasons in the NBA. The 25-year-old did post a threat offensively and was inconsistent defensively. His shooting form is still an issue. He does not command the offense like a five-year NBA veteran should at this stage. The veteran trio of Mudiay, Michael Beasley and Kenneth Faried have been collectively underwhelming, and it's hard to feel good about their NBA comebacks right now.
R.J. Hampton, guard, Orlando Magic
Box Score Stats: 3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1-for-6 FG, 0-for-1 3PT
The entire Magic squad was frigid in the 108-71 loss to Boston. Hampton was no different, but he seemed to seal his fate with his shot selection. The second-year guard often drove headstrong into crowds and finished poorly. He's not the type of guard who probes and gets to his spots around the court while keeping his head up. I'd like to see Hampton take his time a bit more, although in fairness, he's probably third in the pecking order for facilitation duties behind Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony.
Zeke Nnaji, forward, Denver Nuggets
Box Score Stats: 6 points, 9 rebounds, 2-for-10 FG, 0-for-4 3PT
Nnaji has appeared seriously out of sorts offensively in summer league. The 2020 first-round pick just does not have a consistent post move he can go to in the half-court, and coughed up five turnovers in large part from being unable to create anything on his own. Nnaji is now 0-for-10 from long range in his two games played. There's no sugarcoating it: the offensive game is a mess right now.

Viewers witnessed an epic battle between Tre Jones and James Bouknight, two of the standout performers on the fifth day in Vegas.

Studs and duds from the fifth day of NBA Summer League

LiAngelo Ball, the brother of rookie of the year LaMelo Ball, is expected sign with the Hornets and be on their summer league roster when it&rsquo;s finalized, league sources told SI.com&rsquo;s All Hornets.
Source: <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/hornets/news/sources-liangelo-ball-expected-to-sign-with-charlotte-hornets-be-on-teams-summer-league-roster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Roderick Boone/Sports Illustrated</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;Ball will have a chance to make the same team as younger brother and 2020-21 Rookie of the Year, LaMelo Ball. At age-22, LiAngelo Ball has signed an Exhibit 10 contract in Detroit and a G League deal with the OKC Blue, but due to injuries and pandemic timing, has yet to play at that level. 
According to Boone, Nick Richards, Vernon Carey Jr. and the Hornets' 2021 first round pick will also play in Summer League.

Ball could join brother LaMelo as a member of the Charlotte Hornets.

LiAngelo Ball to sign with Hornets, play on team's summer league roster

Each day, BasketballNews.com scours #NBATwitter to bring you the best tweets from the previous day. Some are insightful, some are just hilarious (so we had to include them).
Without further ado, here are the tweets of the day for February 25, 2021.
Anyway, Here&rsquo;s Wonderwall
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You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope some day you'll join us And respect the box-and-one <a href="https://t.co/SsWnmH65d0">https://t.co/SsWnmH65d0</a>
&mdash; emmajbrown (@_emmajbrown) <a href="https://twitter.com/_emmajbrown/status/1364689654654504962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2021</a></blockquote>

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What song is he playing? Wrong answers only.
Random Guy in a Suit
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Should I even participate 🤦🏾&zwj;♂️😂 <a href="https://t.co/2BJTMm07Im">https://t.co/2BJTMm07Im</a>
&mdash; Jordan Loyd (@mrjloyd) <a href="https://twitter.com/mrjloyd/status/1364694744316719104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2021</a></blockquote>

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At least he takes it in stride and leans into it.
In the Zone
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
"I wouldn't have known how much I had if my teammates weren't telling me, I was so locked into the game." Shai Gilgeous-Alexander meets with reporters after dropping a career-best 42 points against the Spurs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThunderUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThunderUp</a> <a href="https://t.co/HsWBjRnHLp">pic.twitter.com/HsWBjRnHLp</a>
&mdash; FOX Sports Oklahoma (@FOXSportsOK) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSportsOK/status/1364786686434168836?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2021</a></blockquote>

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This is something I always wonder about when players start to put up numbers that could potentially pass their career high. Do they realize it, or are they so in the moment that they don&rsquo;t even know?
Rock Bottom
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Danny Ainge - "This isn't rock bottom." The Celtics: <a href="https://t.co/5FaKoKtw3l">pic.twitter.com/5FaKoKtw3l</a>
&mdash; Scott Maxwell (@SilvahHammah) <a href="https://twitter.com/SilvahHammah/status/1364760281008771072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Celtics are below .500, their fans are turning on them, Kemba Walker is nowhere to be seen and Danny Ainge is the dog sipping coffee in the &ldquo;this is fine&rdquo; meme with the house burning down around him.
 All of the Accolades
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The Jazz have two All-Stars (maybe 3) who both have committed long term to stay in Utah. Their coach is also coaching in the ASG because they have the best record in the league and conference. They also have favorites for DPOY/6MOY/COY awards. Is this real life?
&mdash; taylor griffin (@griffdunk) <a href="https://twitter.com/griffdunk/status/1364384802355380228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Nobody tell Vernon Maxwell.
The Future
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Jarrett Allen is 22 years old and fits perfectly with the young core Just a reminder.
&mdash; Carter Rodriguez (@Carter_Shade) <a href="https://twitter.com/Carter_Shade/status/1364769697565200384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2021</a></blockquote>

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JARRETT ALLEN IS 22 YEARS OLD??????!!!!!
It&rsquo;s Only Fair
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
If the NBA calls a tech on a guy for chirping from the bench they should have to release what he said so we can all enjoy it. I want to know what marcus smart had to say
&mdash; Aaron Wells (@1013aaronwvt) <a href="https://twitter.com/1013aaronwvt/status/1364749380302086147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Marcus Smart didn&rsquo;t even play yesterday, but still managed to get a technical from the bench in Boston&rsquo;s loss to Atlanta. What could he have possibly said or done to warrant this?
Same
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
There&rsquo;s always like three moments during a Pels game I say &ldquo;I love Steven Adams&rdquo; <a href="https://t.co/BiCy3oEpWn">https://t.co/BiCy3oEpWn</a>
&mdash; Louis Prejean (@LouisPrejean) <a href="https://twitter.com/LouisPrejean/status/1364755723847159809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2021</a></blockquote>

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How does the world&rsquo;s most perfect human only become more perfect and relatable with every passing day?
See a tweet that should be featured in tomorrow's Tweet of the Day piece? Send it to <a href="https://twitter.com/kelsea_lately" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@kelsea_lately</a>.

Every day, our Kelsea O'Brien scours #NBATwitter to find the best posts. Here are the tweets of the day for Feb. 25, 2021.

NBA Tweets of the Day: Teamwork, Techs and Tunes

Sure, Montrezl Harrell is a mammoth of a man and tenacious defender, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was already oozing with confidence by the time he got the switch.&nbsp;
The young Canadian had already made a fool of Dennis Schroder on a few possessions, so when Kentavious Caldwell-Pope came with a hard show to trap the Oklahoma City Thunder&rsquo;s young star, Shai crossed over from left to right, faking the two defenders out of their shoes. He slithered to the rack and threw down a two-handed dunk.
Somewhere, Chris Paul was smiling.
Gilgeous-Alexander, of course, spent last season as Paul&rsquo;s understudy. And although Paul would&rsquo;ve probably finished the play off by finding a backdoor cutter, the entire sequence had Paul&rsquo;s fingerprints on it.
So know this: the journey to becoming a superstar in the NBA isn&rsquo;t as simple as giving a kid the ball and the keys to a franchise. More often than not, young players with promise have to learn as they go. Just like Gilgeous-Alexander did. Just like RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley will.
Above all else, that&rsquo;s why the New York Knicks&rsquo; decision to run it back with Derrick Rose -- especially considering what they had to give up in exchange for him -- was a no-brainer.
It&rsquo;s disconcerting the extent to which NBA fans allow themselves to be peddled falsities. Once upon a time, we were told that tanking was the best way to building a contender. Not too long ago, we were led to believe that hoarding cap space was the way to sign impact free agents and more recently, for some reason, many have been led to believe that players with promise need to be force-fed the ball for 40 minutes per night.
You know what young players really need more than anything else? Guidance and experienced wisdom.
Neophytes need to learn how to win games and see, first-hand, what kind of commitment it takes to be successful in the NBA. They don&rsquo;t need to be on the receiving end of 30-point blowout losses or to be torn apart by the likes of Jrue Holiday or Patrick Beverley. They need veteran players whose attitudes and habits help them get to the next level. They need a coaching staff that connects with them and helps them develop their talents, and they need to be properly primed before they&rsquo;re entrusted with the marbles.
They need to marinate, and they need players who've been there and done that before them help with their seasoning. For the gross majority of players, this is fact even if&nbsp;some players &nbsp;-- LeBron James, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell and Luka Doncic to name a few -- are ready from Day 1.
Far more players have been brought along slowly and surely. In a basketball culture that is often fooled into thinking there&rsquo;s only one way to do things, the want to see immediate dividends on the investment in a player with potential is understandable... It&rsquo;s just not usually the reality.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
About 25 years ago, a young backup guard named Sam Cassell was instrumental in helping deliver two NBA championships to the Houston Rockets. Nonetheless, he couldn&rsquo;t find a starting role playing behind a bevy of accomplished veterans that included Kenny Smith, Vernon Maxwell and Clyde Drexler.
Humbled, Cassell studied under the veterans, learned some lessons and applied the teachings in his subsequent stops. He ended up enjoying a fruitful career, to say the least.
The late, great Kobe Bryant became a starter in his third season, but only after it became apparent that he was the franchise&rsquo;s future and that Eddie Jones, Nick Van Exel and Derek Fisher didn&rsquo;t quite have the same gifts.
In more recent times, Draymond Green, CJ McCollum, Jaylen Brown and Fred VanVleet are examples of players who spent their first couple years fighting for their keep. Before Giannis Antetokounmpo was a two-time MVP, he was playing behind the likes of Ersan Ilyasova, John Henson, Larry Sanders and Zaza Pachulia. Same with Stephen Curry, who has preached patience with rookie James Wiseman and <a href="https://twitter.com/ThompsonScribe/status/1351418668131864577?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pointed out</a>&nbsp;that Curry himself "used to get benched for Acie Law."
In other words, most young NBA players are like seeds. They need to be planted, given proper conditions and some time. Not everyone comes into the league 100 percent ready, and that&rsquo;s fine. Nobody likes force-ripened fruit, anyway.
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That&rsquo;s exactly where players like Derrick Rose come in.
Given his relationship with Tom Thibodeau, the early returns suggest that he&rsquo;ll fit right in by providing the Knicks a much-needed attack guard who can help make the game easier for the team's youngsters, who&nbsp;Rose will ultimately help bloom.
At this point in his career, on an individual level, the former MVP is a player who has gone from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the barrel and back. Through it all, he&rsquo;s kept a positive attitude and persevered. A step slower and less athletic than he was 10 years ago, he's come to rely more on his ability to see through defenses and penetrate them than his blinding athleticism. At 32 years old, he plays the game more like an aging halfback who has to plan his cuts rather than a greyhound chasing a rabbit. As he&rsquo;s aged and enjoyed his renaissance, Rose has naturally become more methodical about his game. Those are qualities that any young guard would be wise to develop.
Serving as understudy worked out quite well for Gilgeous-Alexander. There's no reason to believe the same fate doesn't await Quickley and the Knicks' other promising youngsters.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Although far from a front-office lifer, Leon Rose has spent a lot of time around the Knicks organization. In the recent past, New York has always sought the shortcut. In the end, they discovered that the only thing shortcuts are good for is making you bleed.
The road to respectability in the NBA -- a long, windy, treacherous one -- can only be successfully traversed with steps on the court.
Today more than ever, players watch one another, talk, share war stories, form relationships and create alliances, but nobody wants to join a sinking ship. No franchise-altering player will proactively take his talents to a losing franchise more renowned for its off-court shenanigans than on-court promise. So the first step toward helping the Knicks regain some respect around the NBA is to string together some wins, show some sort of developmental culture and overachieve relative to the individual parts. It&rsquo;s precisely <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-rumors-kevin-durant-kyrie-irving-brooklyn-nets-los-angeles-clippers-kawhi-leonard-paul-george-learn-mistakes-culture-kenny-atkinson-doc-rivers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">what the Brooklyn Nets did</a> and, if you look closely, it seems to be precisely what the Knicks are attempting to do. Rose is a means to that end.
Despite the Knicks' inclusion of Charlotte's second-round draft pick, trading Smith for Rose is a no-brainer. Rose provides the club with attributes they need that Smith didn&rsquo;t possess, and the 11-year veteran gets them closer to the playoffs than Smith would have.
For a franchise attempting to find its way, the Rose acquisition is a low-risk move with a potentially high reward, especially if Rose is able to impart any of his wisdom or teachings to Thibodeau&rsquo;s young and impressionable group of players.
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<div>So the next time Jaylen Brown draws praise or Gilgeous-Alexander impresses you, remember when they were seeds. Realize that now, in New York, they&rsquo;ve just begun planting.</div>
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With his experiences and wisdom, at this point in his career, Derrick Rose is properly cast on a young, upstart Knicks team.

Second time's the charm: Derrick Rose trade was right decision for Knicks

Each day, BasketballNews.com scours #NBATwitter to bring you the best tweets from the previous day. Some are insightful, some are just hilarious (so we had to include them).
Without further ado, here are the tweets of the day for February 1, 2021.
Shooters Shoot (From Wherever)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Dwight Howard&rsquo;s free throw distance is getting outta hand <a href="https://t.co/4NSGQpP1TQ">pic.twitter.com/4NSGQpP1TQ</a>
&mdash; Jasmine (@JasmineLWatkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasmineLWatkins/status/1355026122610794498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Free-throw shooting is the strangest argument in basketball analysis, because if it goes in, who cares? More players should shoot underhand, and more should shoot from a completely different area code like Dwight Howard.
Role Model
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I&rsquo;m usually not scared to share news publicly but the amount of hate, myths &amp; ignorance actually had me debating sharing this joy. I had Top Surgery! I&rsquo;m feeling free &amp; euphoric in my body &amp; want Trans people to know and see that we&rsquo;ve always existed &amp; no one can erase us! 🏳️&zwj;⚧️✊🏽❤️ <a href="https://t.co/6ERDPoQGwb">pic.twitter.com/6ERDPoQGwb</a>
&mdash; Layshia Clarendon (@Layshiac) <a href="https://twitter.com/Layshiac/status/1355237900963573760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Layshia Clarendon has always been a role model, from using their position on the WNBA&rsquo;s Social Justice Council, to never letting the conversation about the tragic death of Breonna Taylor and so many other Black women be forgotten, to now sharing with the entire world -- a world that can be cruel and unforgiving to things they don&rsquo;t understand -- their decision to undergo top surgery in an effort to live a more authentic life.
If Your Girl Says Hey to Me, That&rsquo;s Our Girl Now
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
It&rsquo;s not covid, he&rsquo;s the reason I won&rsquo;t take my girl to games.
&mdash; Franz Gr&uuml;ber (@franz_gruber49) <a href="https://twitter.com/franz_gruber49/status/1355302595871473665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2021</a></blockquote>

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It&rsquo;s a good thing that arenas aren&rsquo;t open to the public, because Walt Frazier getting his &lsquo;fit on while looking happy as a clam doing it would distract every fan in attendance.
Whoop De Doo, Basil
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
You guys keep tagging me on this like 40 plus years of failing miserably has been erased bc you have the best record after 18 games. <a href="https://t.co/DhSRkvAY71">pic.twitter.com/DhSRkvAY71</a>
&mdash; Vernon Maxwell (@VernonMaxwell11) <a href="https://twitter.com/VernonMaxwell11/status/1355195330036445187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Vernon Maxwell using retirement to consistently dunk on the Utah Jazz is my favorite retired player venture.
This Is A Larry Nance Jr. Fan Account
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
They said I&rsquo;m a buzz kill because I told them they couldn&rsquo;t outrun a lion 😑 <a href="https://t.co/DSvaRkHAYP">https://t.co/DSvaRkHAYP</a>
&mdash; Larry Nance Jr (@Larrydn22) <a href="https://twitter.com/Larrydn22/status/1355194091101954048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2021</a></blockquote>

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How can we be sure though? Who is asking the question? Who is convinced they can outrun a lion?
All I Need Is One Mic
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Had to put <a href="https://twitter.com/Money23Green?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Money23Green</a>&rsquo;s thoughts on Rodney McGruder with the Ether instrumental 😂😂😂 <a href="https://t.co/IrrvWXksTu">pic.twitter.com/IrrvWXksTu</a>
&mdash; Randy Cruz (@randyjcruz) <a href="https://twitter.com/randyjcruz/status/1355881349954088965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Never has Rodney McGruder&rsquo;s name been mentioned so much in a single weekend.
The Creation of Adam Damian
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/jeffhaynesmedia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jeffhaynesmedia</a> nailed this moment of Dame's buzzer-beater <a href="https://t.co/Kh225UKUI6">pic.twitter.com/Kh225UKUI6</a>
&mdash; Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1355779052628488192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2021</a></blockquote>

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WHY IS THERE A CAR THERE????????
Friendship
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
No doubt this is my favorite image from tonight. <a href="https://twitter.com/EnesKanter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EnesKanter</a> is quickly becoming a <a href="https://twitter.com/trailblazers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@trailblazers</a> cult-hero, and <a href="https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dame_Lillard</a> is a legend forever in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RipCity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RipCity</a> <a href="https://t.co/gbK4itIzQ5">pic.twitter.com/gbK4itIzQ5</a>
&mdash; Curtis Long (@Principal_Long) <a href="https://twitter.com/Principal_Long/status/1355739022115491843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2021</a></blockquote>

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More teammates should kiss each other, in my opinion. Normalize kissing your friends gently on the head after their successes.
Lip Sync For Your Life
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Can&rsquo;t believe nobody caught Lowry telling T-Ross he was gonna fuck up Aaron Gordon. LMFAOOO ☠️ <a href="https://t.co/izpNNzRlUK">pic.twitter.com/izpNNzRlUK</a>
&mdash; AD (@ADthePlug) <a href="https://twitter.com/ADthePlug/status/1356044394370113537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2021</a></blockquote>

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This wasn&rsquo;t the first rodeo featuring both Kyle Lowry and Aaron Gordon, nor was it the only one where Kyle&rsquo;s lips can clearly be read.
Catch Me Outside
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
863 was his room number, Aaron Gordon. Where were you? <a href="https://t.co/EO7AnM1mgQ">pic.twitter.com/EO7AnM1mgQ</a>
&mdash; dan (@TorontoInSix) <a href="https://twitter.com/TorontoInSix/status/1356041565089763329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The same way that more players should kiss, more players should also be allowed to throw a punch or two outside of the game so that serious injuries (and flagrant fouls) don&rsquo;t occur during the game.
He Shoulda Been Hoopin&rsquo; Instead of Killin&rsquo; People
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
If Slender Man hadn&rsquo;t turned to a life of crime, I bet he could have been a pretty solid stretch four in today&rsquo;s NBA. With those physical tools he has real 3 and D potential!
&mdash; Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshgondelman/status/1356053994146304010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Slenderman is just the newest addition to the &ldquo;First-Team Should Have Hooped&rdquo; roster.
Seven Seconds Or Less
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
BRADLEY BEAL AND THEN WESTBROOK🔥 <a href="https://t.co/yOMCWfAHHm">pic.twitter.com/yOMCWfAHHm</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1356067027753070593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Brooklyn Nets have the worst defensive rating in the NBA, but this is just insane. Beal&rsquo;s shot was understandable, but the scrambling on the inbounds that allowed Westbrook&rsquo;s was...a choice.
Teacher&rsquo;s Pet
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
nets twitter when joe harris committed that inbound turnover vs when tlc missed the potential game winning layup <a href="https://t.co/uDt7FcpRZM">pic.twitter.com/uDt7FcpRZM</a>
&mdash; chiɔinthegeɘk⨟ (@chicinthegeek) <a href="https://twitter.com/chicinthegeek/status/1356076537443807232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2021</a></blockquote>

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This is what being the oldest sibling is like.
Buckle Up Buckaroos
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Nikola Jokic on his way to win the NBA's 2021 MVP award <a href="https://t.co/6PR5z3ULCm">pic.twitter.com/6PR5z3ULCm</a>
&mdash; Blue Wire Podcasts (@bluewirepods) <a href="https://twitter.com/bluewirepods/status/1355996506986336262?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2021</a></blockquote>

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47 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and about a 75% chance that he would actually pull up to the arena like this.
Feelings
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I feel like Pascal is a very passionate/emotional player &amp; that&rsquo;s definitely why he fluctuates so much in terms of consistency. When he doesn&rsquo;t do well, he stays bummed. When he does well, he stays snapping. Once he gets control over that I think he&rsquo;ll show up more consistently🤷🏼&zwj;♀️
&mdash; P (@paraaand) <a href="https://twitter.com/paraaand/status/1356055910217637891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Emotions rarely show up on the stat sheet, except for technical fouls and ejections, but the case of Pascal Siakam is probably more common than the average fan thinks.
They Think I&rsquo;m Cute
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
He was also asked if, with the increased playing time, he&rsquo;s started to feel like he&rsquo;s being being scouted a bit. He answered that when he hears the other team talking about &ldquo;number 18&rdquo; he thinks &ldquo;oh I made the scouting sheet&rdquo;, and it makes him happy lollll <a href="https://t.co/bD43TxtfZT">pic.twitter.com/bD43TxtfZT</a>
&mdash; Ari P. (@latenightmatcha) <a href="https://twitter.com/latenightmatcha/status/1356092595471065090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2021</a></blockquote>

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As a Raptors fan, opposing teams taking notice of Yuta makes me uneasy, but this whole thread is so wholesome. (But please don&rsquo;t steal him)
We Believe In Yu
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
did you guys know people discouraged Yuta from going to the US to play basketball because apparently it&rsquo;s gonna be a different level from what he&rsquo;s used to in Japan but his parents encouraged him to go for it and look where he is now. so glad he&rsquo;s with our team right now
&mdash; #startyuta (@rapsdnty) <a href="https://twitter.com/rapsdnty/status/1356078418236989443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Yuta Watanabe&rsquo;s parents supporting his dreams makes his glee at being on the scouting sheet even more adorable.
See a tweet that should be featured in tomorrow's Tweet of the Day piece? Send it to <a href="https://twitter.com/kelsea_lately" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@kelsea_lately</a>.

Every day, our Kelsea O'Brien scours #NBATwitter to find the best posts. Here are the tweets of the day for Feb. 1, 2021.

NBA Tweets of the Day: February 1, 2021

Michael Frazier opens up to Spencer Davies about how locked in he's been this offseason to continue chasing his NBA dream.

Michael Frazier doesn't have an ounce of quit in his body

With the 2020 NBA Draft just two weeks away, our Matt Babcock updated his mock draft and provided his thoughts on each player. Some of the risers include Kira Lewis Jr. (Alabama) and Zeke Nnaji (Arizona), while some of the fallers include Aleksej Pokusevski (Olympiacos) and Leandro Bolmaro (FC Barcelona):
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia
At 6'5" and a strong 225 pounds, Anthony Edwards has perhaps the most upside in this year's draft. Edwards' raw talent was on full display at the Maui Invitational in November when he scored 33 points in one half versus Michigan State. Although he has significant room for growth in regards to his overall maturity as a player, his uncanny ability to hit tough shots from all over the court gives him the potential to be a special player.
2. Golden State Warriors: James Wiseman, C, Memphis
Although James Wiseman is 7'1" and 240 pounds with an impressive 7'6" wingspan, he should not be considered a throwback, big-bodied center (which is somewhat of a dying breed). Instead, Wiseman is extremely athletic for a player his size. He also has an underrated skill level, and he can be a major contributor for a team right off the bat. That&rsquo;s why he is the first big man off the board.
3. Charlotte Hornets: Onyeka Okongwu, C/PF, USC
Commonly referred to as the "Big O," Onyeka Okongwu had a terrific freshman campaign for the USC Trojans, averaging 16.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. He's an undersized center that can serve as a defensive anchor for a team. He's also a legitimate scoring threat who's capable of displaying fancy footwork and a soft touch with both hands around the rim. He's extremely strong and explosive, which allows him to be an effective rim protector and powerful finisher. Comparisons to the Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo have been drawn regularly for good reason.
4. Chicago Bulls: LaMelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks
The youngest brother of the Ball family, LaMelo comes to the NBA with lofty expectations. At 6'7", Ball has terrific size for a point guard. He has the ball on a string and a knack to make spectacular plays. Despite concerns of immaturity, Ball's talent is undeniable -- look for him to be the first point guard taken in the 2020 NBA Draft.
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5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Obi Toppin, PF/C, Dayton
After not receiving an invite to the NBA Draft Combine following his freshman season, Obi Toppin returned to Dayton for his sophomore year and he put on a show from start to finish, subsequently being named the National College Player of the Year. At 6'9", Toppin is a high-flyer who throws down jaw-dropping dunks reminiscent of former NBA star Amar'e Stoudemire. He's also a capable outside shooter, as he shot a stellar 39% from three-point range. Already 22 years old, Toppin is probably the most NBA-ready player in the draft and could be considered an early favorite to win Rookie of the Year.
6. Atlanta Hawks: Deni Avdija, SF/PF, Maccabi Tel Aviv
A product of the famed Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv, Deni Avdija has already gained valuable professional experience in the Euroleague (the best league in the world outside of the NBA). At 6'9", Avdija is extremely versatile as a hybrid forward and he's also a capable ballhandler and playmaker who is deceptively athletic. In a draft with significant international talent, Avdija is certainly the cream of the crop.
7. Detroit Pistons: Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama
After entering his freshman season at Alabama as the second-youngest Division-I player in the country (at 17 years old), he returned for his sophomore season and did not disappoint. Perhaps the fastest player in the draft, Lewis Jr. averaged 18.5 points and 5.2 assists per game this past season for the Crimson Tide. Comparisons have been drawn to former NBA player Darren Collison.
8. New York Knicks: Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn
Perhaps the best overall athlete in the entire NBA draft, Isaac Okoro steps into the NBA from Auburn with a reputation of being an exceptional defender that's capable of defending multiple positions effectively. Although he possesses a relatively simple game on the offensive end, he does have a good feel for how to play. If he is able to improve his outside shooting, watch out; Okoro could end up being a big-time player.
9. Washington Wizards: Devin Vassell, SG/SF, Florida State
Devin Vassell is a long wing that is capable of playing the shooting guard or small forward positions, effectively. On the offensive end, he reminds me of Jeremy Lamb of the Indiana Pacers. He's a capable shooter from outside, has a good mid-range game, and can finish around the rim as well.&nbsp; On the defensive end, he uses his length and instincts to be a high level defender. Overall, Vassell is a solid, well-rounded player, that does not make many mistakes. He would be easy to plug into just about any team's roster.
10. Phoenix Suns: Killian Hayes, PG/SG, Ratiopharm Ulm
After playing in France for years, Killian Hayes decided to move to Germany this last year to play for Ratiopharm Ulm - a decision that certainly paid off, as Hayes took a major step in his development, progressing as a playmaker and scorer. With good size for a point guard at 6'5", whichever team lands the left-handed Hayes should be able to pencil him in as their point guard of the future. If he's able to continue to develop his outside shooting, the future could be extremely bright for Hayes.
11. San Antonio Spurs: Patrick Williams, PF/SF, Florida State
Patrick Williams had somewhat of an up-and-down freshman year for the Florida State Seminoles, but the hybrid forward oozes talent and upside. He's a capable shooter from outside, a strong finisher at the rim and a versatile defender. Williams fits the modern style of basketball, as he's able to stretch the floor and defend multiple positions. It remains to be seen if he will be able to contribute at a high level early on in his NBA career, but if he develops properly, he could be one of the better players in this year's draft in a few years.
12. Sacramento Kings: Aaron Nesmith, SF/SG, Vanderbilt
Aaron Nesmith is likely the best shooter in this year's draft. Prior to a season-ending foot injury in January, Nesmith dazzled with his shooting performances, averaging 23 points per game while shooting 52.2% from three-point range in 14 games for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He's from the same high school as NBA All-Star Khris Middleton in Charleston, South Carolina.
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13. New Orleans Pelicans: Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG, Iowa State
After averaging 15.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game for the Iowa State Cyclones this past season, Tyrese Haliburton will look to contribute right away in the NBA. At 6'5", Haliburton is capable of playing on or off the ball effectively. He has an extremely high basketball IQ and simply does not make many mistakes. Although he shoots the ball with extremely unorthodox mechanics, he knocks them down from deep at a high rate, shooting 41.9% from three-point range last year. He certainly needs to get stronger, as he is only a thin 175 pounds. But he should be a solid NBA player, at the very least.
14. Boston Celtics: Isaiah Stewart II, C/PF, Washington
At 6'9" and 250 pounds of muscle with a 7'4" wingspan, Isaiah Stewart II is a physical specimen and a brute. He would (and could) run through a brick wall, if needed. In his lone season at Washington, he averaged 17.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Despite being utilized purely as a low-post scorer this past season, he has shown signs of having the potential to shoot the ball well from outside - a much desired attribute in today's NBA. One example: He shot 77.4% from the free-throw line.
15. Orlando Magic: RJ Hampton, SG/PG, New Zealand Breakers
After skipping college to play for the New Zealand Breakers, R.J. Hampton enters this year's draft as one of the players with the most upside. Although not a finished product, Hampton has the burst and athleticism that's seen in many star players. If he is able to develop his point guard skills, outside shooting and overall feel for the game, he could end up being a steal for whichever team selects him.
16. Portland Trail Blazers: Saddiq Bey, SF/PF, Villanova
Jay Wright's list of Villanova alumni who have had productive NBA careers continues to grow and Saddiq Bey seems to be the next in line. He's a 6'8" forward that is well-rounded, dependable and, most importantly, a high-level shooter, which was on display during his sophomore season when he scored 16.1 points per game while shooting 45.1% from three-point range. He also defended the opposing team's best player on a regular basis.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Zeke Nnaji, PF/C, Arizona
In his lone season for the Arizona Wildcats, Zeke Nnaji posted an impressive 16.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, earning First Team All-Pac-12 and Freshman of the Year honors. At the Combine, Nnaji measured in at 6'10" without shoes and 247.8 pounds, with a 7'2" wingspan and a 38" max vertical. Nnaji <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-draft-prospect-zeke-nnaji-arizona-wildcats-q-and-a-pac-12-basketball?fbclid=IwAR3LerQY7oOuFEQ0ZLYNmkus_sSxCYphs2l0TzJqc69ymtcZmrdWKZDpOPo">recently spoke with BasketballNews.com</a> about his game, his regimented lifestyle, why teams should pick him, his off-court interests and more.
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18. Dallas Mavericks: Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis
Initially, Precious Achiuwa was expected to play the majority of his minutes at power forward alongside big man James Wiseman. However, when Wiseman left the team, Achiuwa took over the big man duties and delivered. The chiseled Achiuwa averaged 15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.1 steals per game, earning him AAC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors.
19.&nbsp;Brooklyn Nets: Jaden McDaniels, SF, Washington
Possessing terrific length for a wing at 6'9", Jaden McDaniels' versatility and playmaking abilities on both ends of the court are extremely intriguing. If he is able to get stronger and mature properly, he could be well-worth the risk, as his upside is nearly as high as any other player in the draft.
20. Miami Heat: Malachi Flynn, PG, San Diego State
After transferring from Washington State to San Diego State, point guard Malachi Flynn led the Aztecs to a spectacular 30-2 record. After averaging 17.6 points, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game, Flynn was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, as well as Defensive Player of the Year. Flynn <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-rumors-2020-draft-malachi-flynn-san-diego-state-aztecs-matt-babcock-analysis-interview-chris-paul">recently spoke with BasketballNews.com</a> about his game, his collegiate career, his goals, the NBA players whom he&rsquo;s modeled his game after and more.
21. Philadelphia 76ers: Cole Anthony, PG/SG, North Carolina
The son of former NBA player Greg Anthony, Cole entered North Carolina for his freshman season with lofty expectations after being touted as one of the top players in his high-school class. Despite an up-and-down season, Anthony is an aggressive and dynamic scorer, which he displayed by averaging 18.5 points per game in 22 contests for the Tar Heels.&nbsp;
22. Denver Nuggets: Jalen Smith, PF/C, Maryland
At 6'10" with a 7'2" wingspan, Jalen "Stix" Smith does two things very well: he blocks shots and shoots the ball from outside -- certainly a unique combination, which has NBA teams intrigued. After returning to Maryland for his sophomore season, he averaged 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks while shooting 36.8% from three-point range.
23. Utah Jazz: Elijah Hughes, SF/SG, Syracuse
An unheralded recruit out of high school and a subsequent East Carolina transfer, Elijah Hughes emerged as a star player for the Syracuse Orange during his junior season. Possessing solid size for a wing and the ability to make shots from all over the court as well as put the ball on the floor, Hughes should make a smooth transition to the NBA.
24. Milwaukee Bucks: Cassius Stanley, SG/SF, Duke
After playing as a combo guard in high school, Cassius Stanley was asked by Coach K to fill a more limited role during his freshman season at Duke, utilizing his electric athleticism in transition and focusing on spreading the floor as a spot-up shooter. His combination of elite athleticism and the ability to make shots off catch-and-shoot opportunities make him an intriguing option as a role player in the NBA (at the very least). If he develops when it comes to creating off the dribble, his value could increase dramatically.
25.&nbsp;Oklahoma City Thunder: Aleksej Pokusevski, PF/C, Olympiacos
Having displayed an incredibly high skill level this past season with the junior team of Greek powerhouse Olympiacos, Aleksej Pokusevski has caused quite a stir among NBA scouts. Standing 7-feet tall and a frail 200 pounds, "Poku" is the youngest prospect in this year's draft (and younger than many high-school seniors) at just 18 years old. He is certainly a player who falls into the category of "high-risk, high-reward," which is why he's somewhat of a polarizing prospect in terms of his draft value.
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26. Boston Celtics: Tyrese Maxey, SG/PG, Kentucky
A top-10 RSCI prospect, Tyrese Maxey was Kentucky's second-leading scorer with 14.0 points per game. At 6'3" and 200 pounds, he has a well-developed frame, although he's a bit undersized for a shooting guard. Still, he was solid at getting to the rim. He struggled from three-point range (relative to expectations) at 29 percent.
27. New York Knicks: Tyrell Terry, PG, Stanford
After being ranked 88th in his high-school class, Tyrell Terry surprised everyone by posting an impressive freshman campaign at Stanford and subsequently declaring for the NBA draft. Considered to be one of the best shooters in this year's draft, Terry converted 41% from three-point range this past season. His high skill level and ability to shoot the ball has generated quite a buzz among scouts; however, due to his thin frame and lack of physicality, some concerns and questions have been raised as well.
28. Los Angeles Lakers: Josh Green, SG/SF, Arizona
A top recruit coming out of high school, Green is a plus athlete and defensive stopper with good size for a wing. In his freshman year at Arizona, he averaged 12.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
29. Toronto Raptors: Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke
Although a bit of a throwback as a big-bodied center at 6'10" and 270 pounds, Vernon Carey Jr. had an effective freshman season for the Duke Blue Devils, as he averaged 17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Some questions have been raised about his inconsistent motor. However, his talent remains intriguing.
30. Boston Celtics: Leandro Bolmaro, SG/PG, FC Barcelona
After logging legitimate Euroleague and ACB minutes this past season with FC Barcelona in Spain, the 6'7" Argentinian guard has slowly but surely moved up draft boards. Although it is unlikely that he will be coming to the NBA right away due to him extending his contract with his current club, Bolmaro could still get consideration from teams selecting in the first round.
Matt Babcock is the owner and founder of <a href="babcockhoops.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Babcock Hoops</a>, which features in-depth scouting reports, prospect interviews and more. He is also a contributor for BasketballNews.com. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/news/authors/matt-babcock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out more of his 2020 NBA Draft coverage here</a>.
Also, tune in to BasketballNews.com's Virtual Watch Party on the night of the 2020 NBA Draft (Nov. 18). Our live-stream will feature top analysts, NBA players and more special guests!

With the 2020 NBA Draft just two weeks away, Matt Babcock shares his updated mock draft. Find out who's rising and who's falling!

Matt Babcock's updated 2020 NBA mock draft (11/3): Who's rising?

Now that we can reasonably discern that Andre Drummond is undecided about his $28.7 million player option with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the prudent thing to do is figure out where he might end up next.
The New York Knicks make a ton of sense, even though Drummond may not be the free agent they covet the most. Back at the NBA trade deadline in February, the Cavs were able to get Drummond from Detroit in exchange for the expiring contracts of John Henson and Brandon Knight and a second-round pick. Incredibly, that was the best offer the Pistons could get for a guy who has led the NBA in rebounding in four of the past five seasons (including the past three).
The Knicks had the means to make a better offer, but under the previous leadership regime of Scott Perry and Steve Mills, their belief was that it made little sense to give up anything for Drummond because he was likely going to become a free agent in the summer of 2020.
New York&rsquo;s new management team led by Leon Rose is quite interested in free-agent point guard Fred VanVleet, but the Toronto Raptors could retain VanVleet by giving him a max contract that would have higher annual pay raises than anything he could get from the Knicks, Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets or any other team that finds itself with max cap room.
If that happens and VanVleet is off the table, what is the best "Plan B" for New York?
The Knicks have Mitchell Robinson at center, but rarely started him last season, and Robinson&rsquo;s laid-back demeanor may not be a fantastic fit with uber-intense new coach Tom Thibodeau. If the Knicks were to commit a majority of their $43 million in cap space to a single player, Drummond would be a good place to start because they will not need to worry about who is going to grab rebounds and defend the paint for the next four seasons.&nbsp;
And despite saying back in June that he planned to stay in Cleveland, Drummond is now hedging.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m at a point now in my career where I spent the last eight years in Detroit, and I&rsquo;m looking forward to the new start. If it&rsquo;s with the Cavs, fantastic,&rdquo; <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2020/10/andre-drummond-on-his-cavaliers-future-strange-offseason-and-staying-close-with-teammates-during-a-pandemic.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drummond told Cleveland.com</a>.&nbsp;
&ldquo;If&rdquo; is a strong word in this instance, and a well-informed league source told BasketballNews.com that Drummond is genuinely undecided about exercising his player option.
The NBA and the Players' Association have not yet set a date for the start of free agency.
&ldquo;Whenever it&rsquo;s time to start, and when that time does come to make that decision, everybody will know," Drummond said. "Right now, I&rsquo;m a Cleveland Cavalier. In terms of extending, we will find that out when the time comes around."
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Let&rsquo;s look at the six teams that will have the cap space to conceivably acquire Drummond through outright free agency or through a sign-and-trade with the Cavs:
New York Knicks
The Knicks have the cap space to get this done in Hour 1 of free agency, and they could give Cleveland something back in a sign-and-trade in order to get Drummond the extra season and higher raises that sign-and-trades provide. New York would not have to give up much, but the Knicks could gift a player on an expiring deal (Reggie Bullock, Wayne Ellington, Taj Gibson or Elfrid Payton) to give Cavs general manager Koby Altman extraordinary cash savings -- all four of the aforementioned Knicks players have partially guaranteed contracts with only $1 million apiece guaranteed. It should also be noted that Drummond was born in Mount Vernon, NY, and played college ball at UConn, so a move back to the New York metropolitan area would make sense from that perspective.
Charlotte Hornets
Michael Jordan needs a big man to augment a guard-heavy roster with last season&rsquo;s two leading scorers, Devonte' Graham and Terry Rozier, playing the same position. With Bismack Biyombo becoming a free agent, Cody Zeller is slated to be the starting center next season. But if Drummond signed on, Zeller would become an asset that Mitch Kupchak could use in the trade market. The Hornets will have roughly $30 million in cap space this summer, and Nicolas Batum&rsquo;s $27.1 million contract comes off their books after one more season.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are not using their cap space on a guy they just traded.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are building what could become a very good team and they have a three-man nucleus of Trae Young, John Collins and Clint Capela to build around. And since Drummond and Capela play the same position, that would be what we call a conceptual complication. The Hawks would be better off shopping from among the other available free agents <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agents-players-2020-offseason" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ranked in this column by my colleague Spencer Davies</a>.
Miami Heat
The Heat will have plenty of cap space if Goran Dragic and Jae Crowder sign elsewhere as unrestricted free agents, but Bam Adebayo is their center, so this does not make all that much sense unless Adebayo moves to the power forward position. But that would still leave the Heat without a point guard other than Kendrick Nunn, and without a 3-and-D guy (although Crowder is more easily-replaced than Dragic).&nbsp;
Phoenix Suns
The Suns' cap space is largely contingent on whether they pick up team options on Frank Kaminsky, Cameron Payne and Cheick Diallo. If they decline those options, they have roughly $30 million to play with -- but they also have a center, Deandre Ayton, whom they drafted No. 1 overall two years ago, so Drummond really isn&rsquo;t a fit.&nbsp;
Drummond is spending his offseason working out in Miami, making trick shots with Oreos and engaging in a Twitter challenge with Aaron Gordon as part of the GotMilk? marketing campaign. He did not attend the Cavs' most recent bubble mini-camp.&nbsp;
To those who argue that the center position has become devalued in today&rsquo;s NBA, he makes this argument in the <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2020/10/andre-drummond-on-his-cavaliers-future-strange-offseason-and-staying-close-with-teammates-during-a-pandemic.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleveland.com article</a>.
&ldquo;In terms of the big man position dying, I don&rsquo;t think that&rsquo;s a real thing. I think it&rsquo;s more of just, you know, people not knowing basketball or paying attention to what is going on," he said. "The big man is coming back. You look at the perennial bigs, we&rsquo;ve got [Nikola] Jokic, Joel Embiid, myself, [Kristaps] Porzingis, [Jusuf] Nurkic... go down the list of bigs that are playing really, really well or holding their own at the position. The do-a-little-of-everything style is the new evolution of the big man on the court.&rdquo;

Chris Sheridan looks at Andre Drummond's recent comments about his player option and where he could potentially sign if he hits free agency.

Andre Drummond undecided on player option: Where could he sign?

The 2020 NBA draft order is set and the Minnesota Timberwolves have the No. 1 overall pick. The draft is currently scheduled for Oct. 16, although the NBA <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29739338/sources-nba-players-union-agree-2nd-push-back-window-preserving-cba-termination-rights">may push it back</a> a bit.
Either way, the draft is quickly approaching, which means mock-draft season is upon us. Without further ado, here is Matt Babcock's latest 2020 mock draft:
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1. Minnesota Timberwolves - Obi Toppin
Perhaps the surest bet in a draft filled with potential risks, the National College Player of the Year could step into the Timberwolves' lineup and form a dynamic trio alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and D&rsquo;Angelo Russell (especially on the offensive end). This past season, Toppin led his Dayton Flyers to an incredible 29-2 record, subsequently putting them in the national spotlight. He routinely put his elite athleticism on full display by executing jaw-dropping dunks while also showing a soft touch from outside by shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc. He should make a seamless transition to the NBA, making him the right pick for the Timberwolves.
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2. Golden State Warriors - James Wiseman
After five-straight NBA Finals appearances, the Warriors had an off year this last season, mostly due to injuries. The good news is that they will have Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green all back on the floor and healthy next season. James Wiseman from the Memphis Tigers could be a long-term building block for the Warriors while also providing excellent defense right off the bat as they look to contend for another title. At 7-foot-1, Wiseman is extremely agile and skilled for a player his size, and he would likely be able to contribute for the Warriors right away in his rookie season. For more on Wiseman's game and potential, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/james-wiseman-memphis-2020-nba-draft">read this prospect breakdown</a> (which features inside info from a Memphis staffer).
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3. Charlotte Hornets - Anthony Edwards
Although there are concerns surrounding Anthony Edwards' decision-making, shot selection and discipline, he has undeniable talent and he's capable of lighting teams up when he turns it on. For example, his exceptional abilities were on display when he scored 33 points in one half against Michigan State at the Maui Invitational in November. For the Hornets, Edwards would be well worth the risk at No. 3 since he has significant star potential and upside.
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4. Chicago Bulls - LaMelo Ball
Newly hired executive Arturas Karnisovas could look to make a big splash with the No. 4 pick by selecting the youngest member of the infamous Ball family, LaMelo Ball. At 6-foot-7, LaMelo is a big point guard who has the ball on a string and an uncanny ability to make plays for himself and his teammates. If he is able to control the theatrics that surround him while also maturing as a player, he could be exactly what Karnisovas and the Bulls need to turn things around in the Windy City.
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5. Cleveland Cavaliers - Deni Avdija
After selecting guards Collin Sexton and Darius Garland with high lottery picks in two consecutive years, the Cavs could select Israeli point forward Deni Avdija of Maccabi Tel Aviv. The 19-year-old prospect is interesting because of his talent, upside and versatility. He also wouldn&rsquo;t affect the development of their other young players as GM Koby Altman continues to rebuild the Cavaliers' roster.
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6. Atlanta Hawks - Onyeka Okongwu
Some may say that it doesn't make much such for Atlanta to add a big man, as the Hawks acquired Clint Capela prior to the trade deadline. However, Onyeka Okongwu from the USC Trojans would be too good to pass up at this stage in the draft. At 6-foot-9, Okongwu has drawn comparisons to Bam Adebayo as an athletic and skilled undersized center who could also provide the Hawks with a much-needed defensive presence.&nbsp;
<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/Killa_lg.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="AUTO" />
7. Detroit Pistons - Killian Hayes
Former league MVP Derrick Rose has miraculously turned his career around after battling a series of unfortunate injuries. However, despite Rose&rsquo;s re-emergence, he is 31 years old with a lot of mileage on his body already and only one more year remaining on his contract. French point guard Killian Hayes, who had a terrific season in Germany with Ratiopharm Ulm, could ultimately take the reins to the team. The hope is that he will continue his rapid development as a lead guard that can create and make plays.
<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/Okoro_lg.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="AUTO" />
8. New York Knicks - Isaac Okoro
After falling in the NBA Draft Lottery again, the Knicks could snag the top athlete and best defender in the draft with Isaac Okoro from Auburn. At 6-foot-6 and a physical build similar to an NFL linebacker, Okoro jumps out of the gym and is capable of defending everyone on the floor. While he may not be the perfect fit next to R.J. Barrett because of a lack of perimeter shooting, Okoro would give them another young piece to build around as newly hired team president Leon Rose tries to clean things up in New York.
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9.&nbsp;Washington Wizards - Devin Vassell
With more than $270 million committed to veteran guards John Wall and Bradley Beal over the next several years, drafting Devin Vassell would give the Wizards a 6-foot-6 wing with a solid and well-balanced game. The Florida State product could provide Washington with another prospect who complements their veterans while also elevating their young core in the long run.
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10. Phoenix Suns - Tyrese Haliburton
After going undefeated in the NBA&rsquo;s bubble, the Phoenix Suns have a lot to look forward to as all of their key pieces will be returning. Phoenix's most important piece, Devin Booker, has established himself as a bonafide star at just 23 years old. Point guard Tyrese Halliburton from Iowa State could possibly be the perfect fit alongside Booker, as he can play on or off the ball, stretch the floor and be effective without needing too many touches. A floor general like Haliburton would let Booker be Booker without getting in his way.
<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/Pat_lg.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="AUTO" />
11. San Antonio Spurs - Patrick Williams
Hybrid forward Patrick Williams from Florida State had an up-and-down freshman season, but he was able to show that he possesses all of the tools that NBA teams crave for modern-day basketball (which values floor spacing and defensive versatility). Although some further development would be needed, Williams could be an upside pick that could assist the Spurs moving forward as they look to rebuild their team around their young pieces.
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12. Sacramento Kings - Aaron Nesmith
The Kings are in the midst of finding a new front-office leader, as they recently parted ways with Vlade Divac. With the No. 12 pick, the new boss will have an opportunity to add a young piece to put alongside De&rsquo;Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley III. They could very well consider a big man to put next to Bagley; however, in this mock draft, we have Sacramento selecting the top shooter in the draft, Aaron Nesmith from Vanderbilt. Prior to a season-ending injury, Nesmith averaged 23 points per game while shooting 52 percent from three-point range in 14 games.&nbsp;
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13. New Orleans Pelicans - Kira Lewis Jr.
David Griffin has put together a promising young team in a short amount of time after winning the Zion Williamson sweepstakes last year and trading Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package centered around Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, things have seemed to have soured with Ball as of late and a change at the point guard position seems all but inevitable. Sophomore point guard Kira Lewis Jr. from Alabama could be the answer for New Orleans. Possessing elite speed and a solid shooting stroke, Lewis has steadily moved up draft boards all year long. He has drawn comparisons to former NBA point guard Darren Collison, who had a terrific career (and who was also drafted by New Orleans).&nbsp;
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14. Boston Celtics - Isaiah Stewart II
Danny Ainge is perhaps the king of stockpiling assets, and this pick that the Celtics have received from the Memphis Grizzlies via trade is a perfect example of that. Boston has a solid nucleus of young players already, but they could bolster their frontcourt by adding the physical, hard-working Isaiah Stewart II. In his lone season at the University of Washington, the 19-year-old averaged 17 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.
15. Orlando Magic - R.J. Hampton
16. Portland Trail Blazers - Precious Achiuwa
17. Minnesota Timberwolves - Saddiq Bey
18. Dallas Mavericks - Cassius Stanley
19. Brooklyn Nets - Aleksej Pokusevski
20. Miami Heat - Cole Anthony
21. Philadelphia 76ers - Leandro Bolmaro
22. Denver Nuggets - Zeke Nnaji
23. Utah Jazz - Theo Maledon
24. Milwaukee Bucks - Elijah Hughes
25. Oklahoma City Thunder - Jaden McDaniels
26. Boston Celtics - Tyrese Maxey
27. New York Knicks - Jalen Smith
28. Los Angeles Lakers - Isaiah Joe
29. Toronto Raptors - Vernon Carey Jr.
30. Boston Celtics - Robert Woodard II
<a href="https://twitter.com/MattBabcock11">Matt Babcock</a> is an NBA Draft analyst and the founder of <a href="https://www.babcockhoops.com/">Babcock Hoops</a>, which features in-depth coverage of the 2020 NBA Draft including player breakdowns, interviews and more.

Former NBA agent and current NBA draft analyst Matt Babcock shares his 2020 NBA Mock Draft with explanations for each lottery pick.