Who were the biggest steals? Who has been a bust? Which players have outperformed my original draft grade?
With Killian Hayes being waived by the Pistons after the trade deadline, I decided it was time to revisit my 2020 NBA Draft grades. This was my first year analyzing the draft, as you will probably be able to tell (my grades skewed high).
I find it interesting that this draft class was said to be a weak one, comparable to the 2013 class. The opposite has been true, as many players have already proven themselves as All-Star-caliber players, with several more on the brink.
The post with my original draft grades can be found here: https://jacobboud1.wixsite.com/mysite/post/2020-nba-draft-grades
Let's dive into my new grades.
Pick 1 - Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Original Grade: A
New Grade: A
Anthony Edwards has been fantastic for the Timberwolves. He is already a two-time All-Star and has been improving every year, specifically in his PPG, efficiency, and APG. Edwards is currently averaging 26.1 points on 47% from the field, including 39% from 3. He is the best player on a Timberwolves team that is showing signs of being a true contender, even in a tough Western Conference. The Wolves made the right call here.
Pick 2 - James Wiseman, Golden State Warriors
Original Grade: A
New Grade: D+
Although I would have taken LaMelo Ball here if I was Golden State, I still gave them an A for this pick. Big whiff. Wiseman was decent in his rookie year, averaging 11.5 points while playing around 21 minutes a game, but an injury sidelined him during his second year and threw off his development. Golden State traded Wiseman to the Pistons at the deadline in 2023, and he ultimately fetched them Gary Payton II and two second-rounders.
Pick 3 - LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets
Original Grade: A+
New Grade: A-
LaMelo Ball was my top-ranked rookie in the class. I had superstar aspirations for the 6'7" PG (still a possibility, he's only 22), which only shot up when he won Rookie of the Year. In his sophomore year, Ball was named an All-Star when he averaged 20-7-8, albeit on a bad Hornets team. Ball only played 36 games the following year due to an injury and has missed many games this year for the same reason. If he can stay healthy, Ball should remain an integral part of Charlotte's core going forward.
Pick 4 - Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls
Original Grade: B-
New Grade: C+
Chicago taking Williams at 4 was a shock to most, and to be honest, it still seems like it was a reach. There were so many other (better) players on the board that could have helped the Bulls right away, like Avdija or Vassell, but they decided to go with someone more raw with a higher ceiling. Williams has been facing bust allegations for his whole career, which I think is a stretch, as he has been a much better 3-point shooter than expected (41% for his career) and is currently in the 82nd percentile of Defensive EPM. We'll see if the Bulls want to pay him this offseason.
Pick 5 - Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers
Original Grade: A+
New Grade: B
Okoro seemed like the perfect fit in Cleveland at the time he was drafted; they desperately needed a 3&D wing. He got off to a rocky start in his career but has gotten on the right track, averaging 9 PPG on 39% from three so for this year. Okoro is also been an amazing defender this year, landing in the 90th percentile in Defensive EPM. Although he may not be one of this class's best players, he's been a vital role player for a thriving Cavaliers team.
Pick 6 - Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks
Original Grade: D
New Grade: C-
I don't think anyone would have expected Clint Capela to still be on Atlanta's roster when they made this pick. Okongwu has been decent, but hasn't been given an opportunity to shine in a starting role as most top-6 picks would have been given by now. Most people expected the Hawks to take a guard here, namely Tyrese Haliburton (who is now looking like the best player in the class), as that was more of a positional need. As a result of the pick, Atlanta has made little-to-no progress in their rebuild, and rumors are saying they might be preparing for self-destruction once again this summer.
Pick 7 - Killian Hayes, Detroit Pistons
Original Grade: A+
New Grade: F
This was arguably my biggest whiff of the draft. I thought Hayes was the perfect PG of the future for a Detroit team that had basically zero assets. Did the Cade Cunningham pick in 2021 get in the way of Hayes's development? Maybe, but probably not. Even with the opportunity to start on a bad Pistons team, Hayes could not shine. This season was arguably his best, even while averaging under 42% from the field and 30% from three. Detroit tried to find a suitor for him at the deadline, but ultimately failed, so they just cut him. Perhaps another team will give him a second chance.
Pick 8 - Obi Toppin, New York Knicks
Original Grade: A
New Grade: D+
The Toppin pick made a lot of sense at the time; the Knicks had the cap space to sign two free agents to max contracts, so they needed an NBA-ready prospect to come in and help out as a bench piece. That didn't happen, and Julius Randle wasn't traded, so Toppin wasn't given much of a chance. He never averaged 20 MPG or 10 PPG during his time with New York, and he was eventually traded this past offseason to the Pacers for just two second-rounders. Toppin is now thriving in his new role in Indiana, leading the league in 2P% and shooting over 40% from three.
Pick 9 - Deni Avdija, Washington Wizards
Original Grade: B+
New Grade: B+
I said in my original draft grades that Haliburton or Vassell would have been better picks here, which is a valid assumption today. That being said, Avdija is quietly having a breakout year for the Wizards. He has seen massive leaps in his PPG (9 to 14), FG% (44 to 52), and especially 3P% (30 to 41). Avdija has embraced his starting role, and will likely be in Washington for the foreseeable future.
Pick 10 - Jalen Smith, Phoenix Suns
Original Grade: D+
New Grade: F
This was a baffling pick at the time and remains as such. With players like Haliburton, Vassell, and Nesmith still on the board (better positional fits and better overall players), there was absolutely no need to take a big man here. Smith barely played his rookie season, then was traded (along with a second-rounder) to Indiana partway through his sophomore year for Torrey Craig. Although Smith is playing well now for the Pacers, this was a waste of a pick for Phoenix.
Pick 11 - Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs
Original Grade: A-
New Grade: A
Vassell shot up draft boards as the draft approached, as many scouts and analysts recognized his potential to become a solid 3&D wing, which he definitely has become for the Spurs. He is in the 83rd percentile of Defensive EPM, and is also shooting 37% from three. He recently signed a five-year, $146M extension to stay with San Antonio as they continue to develop their young core.
Pick 12 - Tyrese Haliburton, Sacramento Kings
Original Grade: A+
New Grade: A+
Reviewing my original draft grades has reminded me how high I was on Haliburton. For my reasoning behind nearly every pick, I mentioned how they could have taken Haliburton instead. In his rookie season, he averaged 13 PPG, 5 APG, and shot nearly 41% from three. The following season, the Kings made a big splash by trading him for Domantas Sabonis, a move which is currently regarded as one of the best win-win trades in NBA history. Sabonis and Haliburton are both thriving on their new teams and playing at an All-NBA level.
Pick 13 - Kira Lewis, New Orleans Pelicans
Original Grade: B
New Grade: F
I thought Lewis would be a solid PG, but I didn't understand why the Pelicans drafted him when they had Lonzo, Bledsoe, and George Hill already in the rotation. Either way, Lewis has been very bad. He got the most playing time of his career during his rookie season, where he averaged 6 PPG on terrible efficiency. The Pelicans used him less and less until this year's trade deadline, where they had to attach a second-rounder to trade him to the Pacers. Indiana rerouted him to Toronto, where he played one game (two minutes) before getting traded once again as a filler to the Jazz.
Pick 14 - Aaron Nesmith, Boston Celtics
Original Grade: A
New Grade: C+
Nesmith was not good on the Celtics; he never averaged over 5 PPG or 44% from the field, even though he was supposed to be a sharpshooter. Boston gets a C+ here because Nesmith was a big part of the trade that netted them prime Malcolm Brogdon. Indiana has acquired four of the lottery picks in this draft, and just like the other three, Nesmith is peaking there. He's been a good defender and is averaging nearly 13 PPG on 45% from three. Nesmith is one of the best 3&D role players in the league right now.
Pick 15 - Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic
Original Grade: A
New Grade: C+
Coming into the draft, Anthony was seen as a great (but inefficient) shot-creator and a plus-defender. Now, he's seen as a good (but inefficient) shot-creator and a below-average defender. Orlando drafted him in hopes that he would become their PG of the future, but he's looking more like a spark plug off the bench. He's only 23, so there is still time, but it doesn't look like Anthony is going to live up to pre-draft expectations.
Pick 16 - Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
Original Grade: C+
New Grade: A
Although I liked the fit, I gave Detroit a C+ for this pick because it was a reach (Stewart was looking more like a late-first/early-second). Stewart has been starting for the Pistons since his sophomore season and has been solid for them. What's been even more amazing for the team is that he's developed a three-point shot, allowing him to play alongside Jalen Duren, who is shaping up to be their center of the future. Stewart is also an elite defender in the 91st percentile of Defensive EPM.
Pick 17 - Aleksej Pokusevski, Oklahoma City Thunder
Original Grade: A+
New Grade: C+
This is a very tough pick to regrade. Poku was seen as a major project with a high ceiling at just 18 years old, and Oklahoma City was just entering its rebuild, so it seemed like a perfect fit. Last season, Poku averaged 8-5-2 on 37% from three in just under 21 MPG, but due to the unexpectedly fast rebuild the Thunder pulled off, they've moved ahead of his development and he has fallen out of the rotation almost completely this season. He could still be a solid asset for the team should they decide to pull off a big trade in the near future.
Pick 18 - Josh Green, Dallas Mavericks
Original Grade: A-
New Grade: B
Josh Green hasn't been as good of a defender as he was expected to be, but the three-point shot has developed well. He's shooting over 41% from behind the arc this season and has been a solid role player for Dallas. The Mavericks still have high hopes for him, as Green has been kept out of trade talks during this time in which they are seeking another star to form a big three with Luka and Kyrie.
Pick 19 - Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons
Original Grade: A
New Grade: A-
This was another pick that was tough to grade. It was a hit, but Detroit handled things so poorly. Bey had an amazing rookie year, finishing fourth in ROY voting after averaging 12 PPG on 38% from three. He continued to improve every year until his third season when Detroit traded him for James Wiseman. It was puzzling at the time, and it's puzzling today. The Hawks acquired Bey in that four-team trade, and Bey has been a solid role player for them.
Pick 20 - Precious Achiuwa, Miami Heat
Original Grade: A+
New Grade: B+
Achiuwa was a decent role player for the Heat during his rookie year before being packaged with Goran Dragic for Kyle Lowry, a move that led to an NBA Finals appearance for Miami. He continued to improve while playing in Toronto, but his three-point shot still hasn't come around, which limits his game as a 6'8" big. Achiuwa's defense hasn't been great this season, either, and he was recently moved to New York in the Anunoby trade. Everything worked out from Miami's side, though.
Pick 21 - Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
Original Grade: C
New Grade: A+
I don't even care that I gave the Killian Hayes pick an A+, this was my biggest miss of the draft. I thought Maxey, then listed as a SG, would become more of a current-day Russell Westbrook in his prime (a spark plug slasher off the bench who can't shoot threes), so I gave the Sixers a C and said, "They need a PG, they need shooting, they need Tyrell Terry." That is a real sentence that I wrote. Now, Maxey is one of the best young players in the league, and just received his first All-Star selection. He's going to be great for a long time.
Pick 22 - Zeke Nnaji, Denver Nuggets
Original Grade: D+
New Grade: C-
Drafting Nnaji at 22 was a reach, and at the time I was concerned about him being a project player and a short center who can't shoot. Those concerns have held up, as Nnaji still isn't contributing much for Denver. Currently, he is playing just 10 MPG and averaging 3 PPG (on terrible efficiency) and 2 RPG. That being said, he is an above-average defender.
Pick 23 - Leandro Bolmaro, Minnesota Timberwolves
Original Grade: C-
New Grade: D-
This pick was confusing at the time because the Wolves traded up to pick Bolmaro even though they already had multiple similar young players (good on defense, bad on offense). He got some garbage time minutes his rookie year before being included in a trade to the Jazz for Ruby Gobert, which is the only reason I'm not giving this pick an F. Now, Bolmaro is completely out of the league and is playing in Spain.
Pick 24 - RJ Hampton, Denver Nuggets
Original Grade: B
New Grade: B
The grade stays the same because Hampton appeared in only 25 games for the Nuggets (he didn't play well) before being traded to the Magic along with Gary Harris and a first-rounder for Aaron Gordon, which was crucial for Denver and their eventual championship win last season. Hampton was decent for a couple of years in Orlando before being waived in 2023. He then signed with the Pistons before being waived again. Currently, he plays garbage-time minutes for the Heat.
Pick 25 - Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks
Original Grade: F
New Grade: A-
Another big whiff for me. Quickley was being mocked in the 45-60 range, so I criticized the Knicks for taking him so early, especially because they already had enough depth at PG. Quickley quickly (hehe) established himself as one of the best sixth-men in the league, even finishing 2nd in 6MOY voting last season. He was recently traded along with RJ Barrett to the Raptors for OG Anunoby, which has worked out well for the Kicks thus far. A big contract might be coming to Quickley this offseason.
Pick 26 - Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics
Original Grade: A
New Grade: B+
Pritchard has been a good backup PG for the Celtics, who have been near the top of the Eastern Conference throughout his career thus far. This season he's averaging 8-3-3, all career highs for him, in about 21 MPG. Solid pickup for Boston, about as good as you can hope for for a late-first-round pick.
Pick 27 - Udoka Azubuike, Utah Jazz
Original Grade: C-
New Grade: D
The Azubuike pick was a reach for Utah, as he was projected to go in the late second round or undrafted. It was even more confusing because they already had Gobert, but Azubuike got some playing time after Gobert was shipped to the Wolves. Unfortunately, things just didn't pan out for him. He didn't make much of an impact on either end of the floor, and eventually, the Jazz chose not to retain him last offseason. Afterward, the Suns picked him up, and now he's getting some minutes at the end of their weak bench.
Pick 28 - Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves
Original Grade: A+
New Grade: A
Finding a starter at the end of the first round warrants an A. McDaniels has been great for the Wolves; not only has he been a solid shooter and overall scorer, but he's developed into one of the best defenders in the league. He is currently in the 95th percentile of Defensive EPM, and at just 23 years old. McDaniels signed a five-year, $136M extension with Minnesota this season, and shows no signs of stopping in his development.
Pick 29 - Malachi Flynn, Toronto Raptors
Original Grade: B
New Grade: C-
Flynn always averaged at least 10 MPG during his time on the Raptors, but was just never able to put it together as a shooter. At his peak efficiency, he averaged 40% from the field and 35% from three. At the trade deadline, he was a throw-in with OG Anunoby for the Knicks and was then rerouted to the Pistons in the deal for Bojan Bogdanovic. We will see how the Pistons use him after the All-Star break, but their guard rotation is already pretty loaded.
Pick 30 - Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies
Original Grade: A+
New Grade: A+
Desmond Bane was viewed as one of the best shooters in this class, and he has not disappointed. He's been one of the best volume three-point shooters in the league, this season averaging over three makes a game at 38%. In total, he's averaging over 24 PPG and is looking like a solid second option on this Grizzlies team going forward. Immense value for the last pick of the first round.
Looking Back
Well, there you have it. A few big whiffs, but several hits too. You can't win 'em all.
Until next time...
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