The NBA has not yet set a date for the 2020 NBA draft, but prospects have already declared they’re ready to take their talents to the professional level. 

As we examine the most recent mock draft from SI NBA Draft Insider Jeremy Woo, Jeremy describes why Anthony Edwards is so clearly the top pick, how James Wiseman’s lack of collegiate playing time shouldn’t be a worry for NBA Scouts, and what makes Deni Avdija’s game so unique but also so unclear in terms of how it will translate to the NBA.

Read the full transcript below:

Madelyn Burke: Well, the date for the 2020 NBA draft has not yet been set, it's still not too soon to start talking about some mock drafts. So joining me now is SI NBA draft insider Jeremy Woo. Jeremy, I want to start with Anthony Edwards. He's on top of your mock draft. What makes him so clearly the number one prospect?

Georgia's Anthony Ewards leads as No. 1 in SI's latest Mock Draft.

Jeremy Woo: To me, it's been Edwards all year. I think that based on where the NBA is headed in terms of perimeter scorers who can kind of do a few different things and impact the game in a few different ways. Edwards is really raw but I think he has the best chance of doing that. You have to consider how young he is, the improvement he's made in the last year or so. He did make a lot of strides at Georgia just based on what I saw in high school. I don't know if every NBA team is saying, "hey, he's the consensus number one" but I think that if it were me picking for a lot of teams, he will be the best fit there. You know, James Wiseman, Lamelo Ball, both in play for that pick. But it really depends on the lottery. And we had a first season first. So, yeah, you know, a lot is going to change, I think.

Madelyn Burke: Seeing who lands where is a big priority as well. But you've got James Wiseman at No. 2 And is a small sample size of what we've seen of his collegiate ball an issue at all?

Jeremy Woo: For me, No. it doesn't really help but I think in terms of just projection, there's enough on tape. If you watch him in high school or if you get a chance to see him, then, three games aren't great. Statistically, it's not really a great indicator. But I'd say it's obvious. He's big. He runs the floor. You know he does things that are translatable for a seven-footer. Now he was at Memphis Pro Day back in October, I think it was. I got a chance to see him then. I don't know if I'm saying he's going to be a star, but I think, you know, he is definitely going to be serviceable. It's just a matter of "how badly do you need a center," which is sort of the hot, hot question right now.

Madelyn Burke: Now, another guy who's been kind of sliding up and down in the lottery picks of Mock Drafts and in your mock draft is Deni Avdija. He's an interesting prospect. What is your assessment of him right now?

Jeremy Woo: I think teams are all over the board with him. Some see the upside in that he's a big guy with potential playmaking skills. You might be able to play both forward spots. You know me personally, I'm a little bit less sold on him just because I would like to see him do more in terms of creating his own offense in the half-court. He didn't really play at a high level and he played some early games but primarily in the Israeli league, which is not as great of competition. So, I would be hesitant to peg him as a guy who's ready to play now, like contribute a ton right away. I think the hope is that based on what people have seen with him playing for Israel, that he can be sort of a secondary playmaker if he works on his ball-handling and he has to shoot it better as well. There's definitely like an interesting mold for him to be a contributor. That much is obvious, but it's just a matter of, "do you think he gets there? Will his athleticism, his skill level, how much will that improve?" For a lot of teams, that's a position that having an extra playmaker in the frontcourt is going to help.

Madelyn Burke: Yeah, a lot of things, I'm sure, will change between now and the draft whenever it is. But Jeremy Woo, I know you'll be on top of these mock drafts leading up until the real one. SI's Jeremy Woo, thanks for the insight. 

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