Charlotte Hornets 2020 NBA Draft Monthly Big Board: A shakeup at the top

#1-10

*Stats provided as of 1/14/20

Nico Mannion is going to make a team very happy. He’s not the flashiest player, or the quickest, but he has a really high IQ and just knows how to run a team. He’s a terrific playmaker and has shown promise as a shooter. His physical attributes (short wingspan, so-so athleticism) will limit him at the next level, but he does have the skill to overcome that.

I’ve personally been up-and-down on Tyrese Maxey as a prospect for a while now. I do think he’ll be a solid pro, though. He’s got good scoring instincts despite his rough percentages (42 percent overall, 28 percent from deep). He’s trending downward on my board at the moment, but that could change.

While Cole Anthony continues to recover from knee surgery, his draft stock continues to drop. He’s got a ton of talent and enormous upside, but he does have some flaws in his game. His efficiency was an issue before the injury, as he was shooting 37 percent from the floor and 36 percent from deep. I’d also like to see him sharpen up his point guard skills and become more of a floor general.

Isaac Okoro feels a bit underrated. The Auburn freshman has elite athleticism and elite defensive instincts. He’s not a great shooter, or shot creator, but his shot isn’t broken. He will become a better shooter over time, but what I really love about him is his defense and IQ. He makes good decisions and doesn’t force it. He’s averaging 13.2 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the floor. He’s a guy that I can see going in the top three.

During his two-year career thus far at Dayton, Obi Toppin has been an ultra productive player. He’s averaging 19.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks while shooting 63 percent overall. He can hurt you inside and outside and looks like a top-ten pick with an advanced skill set for his age.

While many people has James Wiseman dropping after his brief tenure at Memphis, I believe that his stock won’t be effected as drastically. Wiseman has great size and skill for his position that will make it tough to pass on him early on in the lottery. One thing that worries me is his motor, but the talent is clearly evident.

As a freshman at Iowa State, Tyrese Haliburton showed flashes of what he could become. Now a sophomore, Haliburton looks like one of the better prospects in all of college basketball. The lengthy guard has so many NBA tools, and is someone that I believe has All-Star upside. He is averaging 16.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 7.7 assists.

Based on fit, the best prospect for the Charlotte Hornets might just be Onyeka Okongwu. The USC freshman has soared up draft boards since the season has started, and it honestly would not surprise me if he ends up contending for the first overall selection. He’s averaging 16.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in 28.5 minutes.

Anthony Edwards has been the top prospect on my big board for the first two months of the season, but we have a change. He now finds himself at two, but he could easily end up back at number one. His efficiency will be a problem early in his career, but he’s got the talent and will to become a two-way star in the NBA.

The new number one on my big board is LaMelo Ball. At this point, you can’t really go wrong with anyone in the top three. Ball, Edwards and Okongqu all have massive upside and will all be worthy of the top selection. LaMelo, though, looks NBA ready and has rapidly improved his game. He’s got deep range, a soft touch from everywhere and elite vision.