Charlotte Hornets 2020 NBA Draft Monthly Big Board: December Edition

#1-10

*Stats provided as of 12/3/19

Our number one prospect hasn’t changed, as Anthony Edwards is showcasing his enormous upside for Georgia in the early portions of the season. He’s averaging 20.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He’s getting buckets from everywhere on the court and has been great defensively. We’re looking at a potential two-way superstar at the next level, if you ask me.

I’m very, very close to moving LaMelo Ball up to number one on our board, but for now, we’re keeping him at number two. There’s so much to like about Ball’s game, from his shooting and ball handling, to his floater and his instincts. He’s averaging 17.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists playing against grown men in Australia. Kid is a baller.

If you’re talking fit, James Wiseman may be the guy for the Charlotte Hornets. He brings great size to the front court, standing 7’1″ and can stretch the floor, knocking down the three-point shot. He’s a perfect modern-day five in the NBA. He’s only played in three games thus far, averaging 19.7 points and 10.7 rebounds. He’ll be back on the court on January 12th.

Perhaps the early favorite among Charlotte Hornets fans when it comes to a potential draft pick is North Carolina freshman Cole Anthony. He’s a tremendous talent, but I do feel that the top three guys have separated themselves a bit. Still, Anthony is putting up 20.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists. He has his flaws, but he still has star upside in the NBA.

Jaden McDaniels, the brother of Charlotte Hornets rookie Jalen McDaniels, has significant upside that will have teams interested in his services. McDaniels is a lengthy wing that can play and guard multiple positions. He is averaging 15.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists for Washington as a freshman.

I love me some Nico Mannion. The Arizona freshman has such an incredible feel for the game. He’s not the best athlete or the best shooter, but he works extremely hard. He’s a true floor general and doesn’t have many holes in his game. He’s currently averaging 15.3 points and 5.8 assists in 29.0 minutes. His stock continues to rise.

One of the best returning players in the country is Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton, and he’s showing why with his play this season. The 6’5″ guard is currently averaging 16.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 8.6 assists while shooting 52 percent overall and 40 percent from deep. His size and length for his position are elite, plus he’s one of the more well-rounded players in college basketball.

Tyrese Maxey is an exciting prospect for the Kentucky Wildcats. He has deep range on his jumper and improving point guard skills. He’s averaging 14.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He’s also been a decent defender for Kentucky. I’d like to see him keep improving as a playmaker, but overall, there’s a lot of talent here for a team picking in the lottery.

That stats won’t tell the whole story with Israel’s Deni Avdija. The small forward is averaging 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in just 16.0 minutes this season. He has some flaws in his game, like his defense, but there’s a lot of appealing qualities, like his all-around game and ability to play multiple positions on the floor.

Killian Hayes is quickly moving up our board due to his strong play overseas. Hayes is averaging 10.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 24.5 minutes of action. He has good size and athleticism for a point guard, but perhaps his best trait is his playmaking ability. He’s really crafty when setting up his teammates, getting to the basket for drive and kick or dump off opportunities.