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2020 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Who's rising up draft boards?

There have been a few players flying up team draft boards recently, thanks to the extended time teams have had to conduct interviews and and review film.

Stanford point guard Tyrell Terry went from a player testing the NBA waters to a potential first-round pick. Reports surfaced that he “broke a record” for a basketball IQ test administered by several NBA front offices. The 6-foot-1 Terry ranks in the 95th percentile when coming off screens, averaging 1.4 points per possession, according to Synergy Sports.

Another player who had a quiet college season but could be a potential lottery pick is Florida State forward Patrick Williams. The 6-foot-8 freshman averaged just under 10 points per game and was a projected late first-round pick in March. The 19-year-old Williams is one of the youngest players in this class, but if he can build his game and develop, he will have a long NBA career. He’s an intriguing prospect in this draft because of his size, outside shooting and ability to pass in the lane.

Alabama guard Kira Lewis Jr. is one of the fastest prospects in transition and averaged 22.8 points in the last 10 games of the season. He is a quick guard but a high-volume shooter who took 10 or more shots per game. Lewis can get up and down in transition and once he gets hot, he'll let it fly from all over the court. He ranks in the 86th percentile in spot up shooting and is effective in the pick-and-roll, scoring 152 points when he was the ball-handler. Earlier in 2020, Lewis was a projected late first-round or early second-round pick, but now his draft range is mid-to-late first round.

Malachi Flynn had a storybook season at San Diego State, leading the Aztecs to their best season in recent memory. The 6-foot-1 guard is a little undersized, but he’s one of the best shooters in this draft. In a year with not a lot of certainty, NBA teams know exactly the kind of player they’re getting in Flynn, and he could be a real sleeper. Flynn averaged 5.1 assists per game and scored 20 or more points in 10 games this past season.

With the draft lottery set and the 2020 NBA draft slated for Oct. 16, here’s a look at Yahoo Sports’ projected first round:

(Draft order is from Tankathon.)

1. Minnesota Timberwolves: G Anthony Edwards

Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 225

Class: Freshman

Georgia: 19.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.8 apg

Edwards showed glimpses of playing like Donovan Mitchell and Dwyane Wade in his one year at Georgia. Edwards is dangerous in the open court with great passing mechanics and had the best performance of this past college basketball season, scoring 33 points and hitting seven threes in one half against Michigan State in November. D’Angelo Russell and Edwards will make up a young, athletic backcourt, and with Karl Anthony-Towns in the post, this could be turnaround time for the Timberwolves.

2. Golden State Warriors: G LaMelo Ball

Ht./Wt.: 6-7, 180

Illawarra (National Basketball League): 17 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 7 apg

Ball is the younger brother of Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball and has a tight handle and great size. He is a phenomenal passer, especially in the pick-and-roll, and averaged 6.8 assists per game for the Illawarra Hawks in Australia. He has had one of the craziest roads to the NBA, playing two years at Chino Hills High School in California before his dad, LaVar, pulled him out of school to play a year in Lithuania. Then he came back to the states and played one year at a prep school before heading to Australia. The Warriors could trade this pick because they have an elite backcourt and are in win-now mode.

3. Charlotte Hornets: F Obi Toppin

Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 220

Class: Sophomore

Dayton: 20 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.2 apg

Toppin was the breakout player of the year in college basketball. Toppin was named the Naismith Player of the Year despite the shortened season. He grew seven inches in four years and has a great outside shot for a player his size. Toppin, an older rookie at 22, will be a nice addition, joining Devonte’ Graham and last year’s top pick, power forward P.J. Washington.

4. Chicago Bulls: G Tyrese Haliburton

Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 185

Class: Sophomore

Iowa State: 15.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 6.9 apg

Haliburton is the most intriguing player in this draft class. He’s a long point guard who played two seasons at Iowa State. Haliburton has a high basketball IQ and is a phenomenal passer and facilitator. He shot 50 percent from the field and 41 percent from three before his season was cut short due to a broken wrist. Haliburton could be a nice puzzle piece joining a young Bulls team that features Coby White and Wendell Carter.

5. Cleveland Caveliers: F Deni Avdija

Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 215

Maccabi Tel Aviv (EuroLeague): 8.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg

Avdija continued to play professionally with Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Basketball Champions League during the coronavirus pandemic. In the 11 games played, he averaged 14.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and three assists per game and was named MVP of the tournament. Avdija has a solid handle for his size and mainly played wing for Maccabi. His length gives him an edge defensively on the wing, and although he doesn’t move as quick laterally, he’s proven he can stay in front of some of the best players in the EuroLeague, such as Shane Larkin, in the closing seconds of a game. Cleveland has drafted two guards very highly the past two years, and with Avdija’s size and outside shooting, he could be an instant impact player for a struggling Cavaliers team.

6. Atlanta Hawks: F James Wiseman

Ht./Wt.: 7-1, 240

Class: Freshman

Memphis: 19.7 ppg, 10.7 rpg (three games)

7. Detroit Pistons: F Onyeka Okongwu

Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 245

Class: Freshman

USC: 16.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg

8. New York Knicks: G Killian Hayes

Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 176

Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany): 12 ppg, 5.6 apg

9. Washington Wizards: F Isaac Okoro

Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 225

Class: Freshman

Auburn: 12.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2 apg

10. Phoenix Suns: G Aaron Nesmith

Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 213

Class: Sophomore

Vanderbilt: 23 ppg, 4.9 rpg

11. San Antonio Spurs: F Patrick Williams

Ht./Wt.: 6-8, 225

Class: Freshman

Florida State: 9.2 ppg, 4 rpg

12. Sacramento Kings: G Devin Vassell

Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 180

Class: Sophomore

Florida State: 12.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg

13. New Orleans Pelicans: F Precious Achiuwa

Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 225

Class: Freshman

Memphis: 15.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg

14. Boston Celtics: G Cole Anthony

Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 190

Class: Freshman

North Carolina: 18.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4 apg

15. Orlando Magic: G Tyrese Maxey

Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 198

Class: Freshman

Kentucky: 14 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.2 apg

16. Portland Trail Blazers: F Saddiq Bey

Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 216

Class: Sophomore

Villanova: 16.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.4 apg

17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Brooklyn Nets): F Jaden McDaniels

Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 200

Class: Freshman

Washington: 13 ppg, 5.8 rpg

18. Dallas Mavericks: G R.J. Hampton

Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 185

NZ Breakers (National Basketball League): 8.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg

19. Brooklyn Nets (via Philadelphia 76ers) F Jalen Smith

Ht./Wt.: 6-10, 225

Class: Sophomore

Maryland: 15.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg

20. Miami Heat: G Tyrell Terry

Ht./Wt.: 6-1, 160

Class: Freshman

Stanford: 14.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.2 apg

21. Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City Thunder): G Kira Lewis Jr.

Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 165

Class: Sophomore

Alabama: 18.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.2 apg

22. Denver Nuggets (via Houston Rockets): G Josh Green

Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 210

Class: Freshman

Arizona: 12 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg

23. Utah Jazz: G Theo Maledon

Ht./Wt.: 6-4, 198

ASVEL (France): 6.6 ppg, 3.3 apg

24. Milwaukee Bucks (via Indiana Pacers): G Jahmi’us Ramsey

Ht./Wt.: 6-4, 195

Class: Freshman

Texas Tech: 15 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.2 apg

25. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Denver Nuggets): G Nico Mannion

Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 190

Class: Freshman

Arizona: 14 ppg, 5.3 apg

26. Boston Celtics: F Daniel Oturu

Ht./Wt.: 6-10, 240

Class: Sophomore

Minnesota: 20.1 ppg, 11.3 rpg

27. New York Knicks (via Los Angeles Clippers): F Isaiah Stewart

Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 250

Class: Freshman

Washington: 17 ppg, 8.8 rpg

28. Los Angeles Lakers: G Malachi Flynn

Ht./Wt.: 6-1, 185

Class: Junior

San Diego State: 17.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.1 apg

29. Toronto Raptors: G Tre Jones

Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 185

Class: Sophomore

Duke: 16.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 6.4 apg

30. Boston Celtics (via Milwaukee Bucks): G Elijah Hughes

Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 215

Class: Junior

Syracuse: 18.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.3 apg

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