Who Will Be the Top Picks in Our Early 2020 NBA Mock Draft?

As I sit down to map out this early 2020 NBA mock draft, I can't help but reflect on how unpredictable the path to professional sports can be. Just look at the world's No. 74 ranked tennis player who recently failed to make a mark at the French Open and has had mostly disappointing results in her first three grass-court events. This situation perfectly illustrates how one breakthrough performance—like her Miami Open success—can create expectations that become incredibly difficult to meet. It makes me wonder which of these young basketball prospects will follow similar patterns in their development.

When evaluating potential top picks like Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, and LaMelo Ball, I'm constantly weighing their standout performances against their consistency. Edwards brings that explosive scoring ability that reminds me of a young Dwyane Wade, but I've noticed he sometimes disappears for stretches of games. His 19.1 points per game at Georgia certainly catch the eye, yet his 40.2% field goal percentage gives me pause. Wiseman's brief college stint showed incredible potential with his 7-foot-1 frame and defensive presence—he averaged 3 blocks in just 3 games before leaving Memphis. But the small sample size worries me, much like that tennis player's Miami Open performance now appears to be an outlier rather than a true breakthrough.

What fascinates me most about this draft class is the international flavor. LaMelo Ball's time in Australia demonstrated his incredible court vision and playmaking, though his 37.5% shooting from the field overseas suggests he needs significant development. Then there's Deni Avdija from Israel, who shows tremendous versatility at 6-foot-9 but needs to improve his outside shooting after hitting just 33.3% from three-point range in EuroLeague play. Having watched numerous international prospects transition to the NBA over the years, I've learned that their adjustment periods vary dramatically—some flourish immediately while others struggle to find their footing, similar to that struggling tennis player on different surfaces.

The team fit aspect really intrigues me this year. Golden State holding the potential number one pick creates fascinating scenarios—do they select someone who can contribute immediately to their championship timeline, or draft for long-term development? Personally, I'd love to see them take James Wiseman to fill their center need, but part of me wonders if Anthony Edwards' scoring punch would serve them better. Minnesota at number two presents another interesting case—they need defensive help desperately, which makes me lean toward USC's big man Onyeka Okongwu, who averaged 2.7 blocks per game last season.

As we approach draft night, I keep thinking about how these prospects will handle the pressure. That tennis player's story serves as a cautionary tale about the weight of expectations following a breakthrough performance. Some of these young athletes will thrive under the spotlight, while others might struggle to replicate their college or international success. From my perspective, Anthony Edwards has the mental toughness to handle being the top pick, while LaMelo Ball's unusual path through various leagues has prepared him uniquely for NBA scrutiny. Still, the draft always holds surprises—remember when Trae Young was considered a risky pick? Now he's an All-Star. That's what makes this process so compelling year after year, and why I can't wait to see which of these predictions actually come true come draft night.