Portland Trail Blazers 2020 two round mock draft compilation 1.0
Ed Stein
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Precious Achiuwa, Memphis Tigers.
Round 1 – 16th overall pick
To show how much opinions vary, of all the mock drafts we audited, nine different players are projected to go the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. Despite that division, some favorites have emerged as front runners. Here is the breakdown.
- Saddiq Bey, 6-9, F, Villanova, sophomore – 7 selections, 30.43%
- Tyrese Maxey, G, Kentucky, freshman – 4 selections, 17.19%
- Precious Achiuwa, 6-9, F/C, Memphis, freshman – 3 selections, 13.04%
- Josh Green – 6-6, G/F, Arizona, freshman – 3 selections, 13.04%
Not to take anything away from either Maxey or Green, but the Blazers don’t need to take a guard in the first round. Dame and C.J. are one of the best backcourt tandems in the league. Anfernee Simons is an up and comer and can make things happen when he has the ball. Gary Trent Jr. played terrific 3-and-D in the bubble. He was often the first man off the bench for coach Terry Stotts.
So that leaves Bey and Achiuwa. There is no guarantee that either will be available when the Trail Blazers are on the clock. I believe one of them will.
If by some quirk of fate both men are, Portland GM Neil Olshey will have to decide whether he wants an inside player or a perimeter player. In terms of point production, Bey had a slightly better scoring average, 16.1 to 15.8 points per game.
Saddiq Bey
Bey is by far the better shooter. At Villanova last season he nailed 45.1 percent of his shots from behind the three-point line. Additionally, he is an excellent defender. Bey may not get many boards, but he can keep his man off the glass in addition to playing him tightly.
“Villanova wing Saddiq Bey is the most underrated prospect in the 2020 NBA Draft class.” – Rob Dauseter, NBC Sports.
Precious Achiuwa
Achiuwa on the other hand is a top rebounder. He averaged 10.8 rebounds per game. It’s not that Achiuwa can’t shoot threes, he made 32.5 percent last year, it’s that he only took 40 long-distance shots. The Bronx, NY native prefers to create his opportunities closer to the rim.
If Bey is an excellent defender, Achiuwa has the potential to be elite. Memphis had one of the best defenses in the country last year and Achiuwa was their anchor. His strength and phenomenal athleticism, not to mention 7-1 wingspan, makes him a nightmare for whoever he guards.
Others receiving votes: Patrick Williams – 6-8, F, Florida State, freshman (2); Aaron Nesmith – F, Vanderbilt, sophomore; Aleksej Pokusevski – 7-0, F/C, Serbia; RJ Hampton – 6-5, G, New Zealand Breakers; and Theo Maledon – 6-5, PG, France.