Breaking Down Three 2020 NBA Draft Prospects That Should Excel In Their Roles

Last year, the Golden State Warriors selected Eric Paschall with the 41st pick in the draft. Paschall ended up emerging as one of steals of the draft, immediately turning into a trustworthy rotation player for head coach Steve Kerr. In 2018, guys like Landry Shamet, Jalen Brunson and Devonte’ Graham all did the same. What do all of those players have in common? All four of them had at least two productive years in college, with most of them having at least three—the only reason Shamet didn’t was because of an injury.

The 2020 NBA draft might be considered a weak one, but it’s actually not lacking in depth. There are quite a few players that should end up having long careers as part of somebody’s rotation, but three of them stand out more than others. And like the guys listed earlier, all of them played more than one year of college ball and will likely be picked late in the first round or somewhere in the second. These are the three players I expect to do some damage, despite being a bit undervalued:

Desmond Bane (21, 6-6, TCU)

Nobody is going to mistake Bane for some type of uber-athletic prospect, and that’s ultimately why he could end up being a bargain on draft night. Teams are going to look at him and think about what he can’t do, but the reality is that he does so many things well. You don’t average 16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game by accident.

As far as wings go, Bane has a case to be one of the five best shooters in this class. As a senior, he shot 44.2 percent from three, and he also finished in the nation’s 96^th percentile on half-court opportunities from deep. Bane doesn’t exactly have the type of form you’d want to teach a young player, but he shot at least 38 percent from the outside in each of his four years at TCU. And he shot at least 42 percent in each of the last three seasons.

Bane also looks like a guy that will be able to do more than just hit catch-and-shoot jumpers. He ranked in the 92^nd percentile in college basketball on all dribble jumpers in the half court as a senior. On top of that, Bane showed creativity when attacking closeouts, and his big body makes him tough to cover in isolation. Bane’s assist numbers also suggest there’s something there with his play-making ability, and he was even good out of the pick and roll last year. His next team isn’t going to want him to have the ball in his hands too often, but it’s important having a few guys on the floor that can create for both themselves and their teammates. Bane’s high basketball IQ leads me to believe he’ll continue to do that.

On top of having a nice offensive game, Bane is also rock solid as a defender. I wouldn’t exactly call him a 3-and-D prospect, but he can hold his own as an individual defender, and he is a plus-level team defender, with the size and strength to switch across multiple positions. Bane isn’t going to be able to spend significant time on power forwards, but he’s a muscular guy that can fight inside a few possessions each game.

I don’t necessarily think Bane is going to be a starter in the NBA, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he turns into the type of guy that can give his team 24 good minutes each night. Considering he’s expected to go in the second round, that would make him a huge steal.

Isaiah Joe (20, 6-5, Arkansas)

As a freshman, Joe averaged 13.9 points per game and shot 41.4 percent from three on eight attempts per night. It was one of the more remarkable shooting seasons I’ve seen in college basketball, as the volume was outrageous for a freshman. Last year, Joe didn’t quite follow it up, but he did shoot a respectable 34.2 percent on 10.6 threes per game, and he did that while dealing with significant pain in his right knee.

Overall, an argument can be made that Joe is one of the three best shooters in this draft. A sniper in catch-and-shoot situations, Joe is the type of player that will command extra attention whenever he is on the floor, making the game easier for his teammates in the process. He has that type of gravity. But he also has a nice little pull-up game, where he is comfortable attacking closeouts but also hitting step-back triples. Considering he moves at a snail’s pace, watching him create for himself is something else.

Joe isn’t going to do many things besides shoot the ball at the next level, but it’s worth noting that he’s a smart player. I don’t see him racking up assists in the future, but he knows when to move the ball. That same basketball awareness shows up on the other end of the floor, where Joe is a good team defender. That’s not to say he’s a shutdown defender, but I don’t see his next team’s defense suffering when he is on the floor. That’s good enough when considering his elite skill is the most valuable one in basketball right now.  

Skylar Mays (22, 6-4, LSU) 

In a film session with ESPN’s Mike Schmitz, Mays said, “I think there’s a high level of appreciation for guys that want to play their role and want to win and want to work to expand their role once they get established.” He also mentioned that he likes to watch film of guys like Derrick White, Fred VanVleet, Malcolm Brogdon and Cory Joseph, who are four players that he reminds me of in many different ways.

Like most of the guards listed above, Mays is a well-rounded player, capable of doing whatever it is his team needs from him. Mays is big for a lead ball handler, which helps him when he attacks the rim. He embraces contact as much as any guard in this draft, and he’s able to take bumps and finish around the basket—which isn’t something he was able to do early in his college career. However, Mays is also a good decision maker with the basketball, and he has also worked himself into a good shooter, as he hit 39.4 percent from deep as a senior. It was only a matter of time, as the guard has always been a good free throw shooter.

The only thing really missing from Mays’ game is quickness at the guard position, and that’s ultimately why I see him as a long-term backup. Mays can get up and throw down some thunderous dunks, but he doesn’t move particularly well on the floor. Ideally, he’d also be a bit better as a passer, as he only averaged 3.2 assists per game as a senior, despite having the ball in his hands a lot.

Defensively, I have some concerns about how effective Mays will be. I’m not sure he’s quick enough to guard pure point guards, and he’s a little too short to guard a true shooting guard. He can also be a bit undisciplined at times.

Still, Mays looks like the type of guy that should be productive off the bench for a long time. And considering he’s currently projected to go somewhere in the middle of the second round, his next team would be extremely happy with that outcome.