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Monday, May 25, 2020

NBA Draft: LaMelo Ball highlights best point guard prospects - NBCSports.com

The Washington Wizards are likely to have a lottery pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Here is a look at the five best point guard prospects in this year's class and how they would fit with the Wizards with analysis from NBC Sports Washington's Chase Hughes and Tyler Byrum...

1. LaMelo Ball

Team: Illawarra (Australia)
Age: 18 (turns 19 in August)
Height: 6-7
Weight: 190
Wingspan: 6-10

2019/20 stats: 12 G, 31.3 mpg, 17.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 6.8 apg, 1.6 spg, 0.1 bpg, 37.5 FG% (6.3/16.7), 29.4 3PT% (2.3/7.7), 77.2 FT%

Player comparison: Lonzo Ball, Ricky Rubio

Projections: NBC Sports Washington 3rd, Sports Illustrated 5th, Ringer 2nd, NBADraft.net 3rd, Bleacher Report 3rd

Fit with Wizards: Ball represents the most interesting question mark in this year's draft for the Wizards because he plays the same position and a similar style to John Wall, their highest-paid and most accomplished player. Wall is a five-time All-Star on a supermax contract, but he is also coming off a ruptured Achilles and the Wizards are in a position where they probably need to pick the best player available, no matter who it is.

Ball and Wall, despite holding potential for a cool nickname, likely wouldn't be able to co-exist on the floor at the same time, at least initially. They are both at their best with the ball in their hands and don't have the consistent outside jumper to complement each other.

That doesn't mean the Wizards shouldn't take Ball. If he stands out as the best player on the board, they could take him, start him out as Wall's back-up and then figure it out later.

All of that, however, is for the Wizards front office to figure out. What is certain is that Ball will be one of the first players taken in the draft and he could be the best player available when the Wizards are picking. -Hughes

FULL PLAYER PROFILE

2. Tyrese Haliburton

Team: Iowa State
Age: 20
Height: 6-5
Weight: 175
Wingspan: 7-0

2019/20 stats: 22 G, 36.7 mpg, 15.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 6.5 apg, 2.5 spg, 0.7 bpg, 50.4 FG% (5.6/11.1), 41.9 3PT% (2.4/5.6), 82.2 FT%

Player comparison: Penny Hardaway, Shaun Livingston

Projections: NBC Sports Washington 5th, Sports Illustrated 4th, Ringer 4th, NBADraft.net 11th, Bleacher Report 5th

Fit with Wizards: The beauty of Haliburton's game is that he can fit pretty much anywhere, with any team and in any system. His two-way potential and versatility make him ideal for positionless basketball. And his basketball smarts should make him adaptable to new surroundings.

When it comes to the Wizards, Haliburton is on the short-list of their best fits in this draft. Though he is technically a guard and they have a lot invested in Wall and Bradley Beal, Haliburton could likely co-exist well with them, as a combo guard off the bench or alongside them as a small-ball three. His shooting ability would bode well for being effective off-the-ball on offense and his length and instincts suggest he could hold his own defensively at the small forward spot.

Haliburton could also give the Wizards something they desperately lack which is a scrappy perimeter defender. He has the potential to be better in that area than anyone currently on their roster. -Hughes

FULL PLAYER PROFILE

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3. Cole Anthony

Team: North Carolina
Age: 20
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Wingspan: 6-5

2019/20 stats: 22 G, 34.9 mpg, 18.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.3 bpg, 38.0 FG% (6.0/15.7), 34.8 3PT% (2.2/6.4), 75.0 FT%

Player comparison: Kemba Walker, Shabazz Napier

Projections: NBC Sports Washington 6th, Sports Illustrated 15th, Ringer 12th, NBADraft.net 6th, Bleacher Report 6th

Fit with Wizards: Anthony might be easier to mesh with Wall and Beal than other point guards because of the style he plays. He figures to be effective off the ball with his three-point shot and, though he's probably too small to pair with both Wall and Beal in three-guard lineups, should be able to co-exist with either of them individually. Even with Wall, Anthony could play the two on offense and take the point guard assignment on defense.

If the Wizards took Anthony, they could start him out as a microwave scorer off the bench. Though sometimes that is a difficult transition for rookies, Anthony has the tools to be good at it. He would bring a different element with his energy, handle and range.

Ultimately, what Anthony amounts to is a bit of a boom-or-bust prospect. The ceiling appears high, maybe like a Kemba Walker-type scoring guard. But players like that often times level out as a Trey Burke or Shabazz Napier, two guys Wizards fans know well. -Hughes

FULL PLAYER PROFILE

4. Killian Hayes 

Team: Ulm (France)
Age: 18 (turns 19 in July)
Height: 6-5
Weight: 215
Wingspan: 6-8

2019/20 stats: 10 G, 26.8 mpg, 12.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 6.2 apg, 1.5 spg, 0.2 bpg, 45.5 FG% (4.6/10.1), 39.0 3PT% (1.6/4.1), 90.9 FT%

Player comparison: Goran Dragic, Malcolm Brogdon

Projections: NBC Sports Washington 10th, Sports Illustrated 7th, Ringer 1st, NBADraft.net 9th, Bleacher Report 10th

Fit with Wizards: With some of the prospects in this year's draft, it is fair to question whether the Wizards can justify spending such a valuable draft asset given their pathway to playing time could be obstructed.

Hayes, though, should be considered one of the exceptions because it seems like he would be able to play with both Wall and Beal and maybe even at the same time in three-guard lineups. Assuming Hayes is indeed 6-foot-5 as he is listed, he would be the tallest of the three and possibly be able to serve as the three on defense. And his shooting ability and play-making versatility indicate he could be effective both on and off the ball.

That's not to compare Hayes to Jordan, but also Wall and Beal aren't as good as Drexler. What if Hayes actually is the next Harden? If the Wizards feel that way, then the presence of Wall and Beal should be a secondary concern. -Hughes

FULL PLAYER PROFILE

5. Nico Mannion

Team: Arizona
Age: 19
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Wingspan: 6-2

2019/20 stats: 32 G, 32.3 mpg, 14.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.0 bpg, 39.2 FG% (4.5/11.5), 32.7 3PT% (1.7/5.1), 79.7 FT%

Player comparison: Derrick White, Landry Shamet

Projections: NBC Sports Washington 11th, Sports Illustrated 17th, Ringer 25th, NBADraft.net 12th, Bleacher Report 22nd

Fit with Wizards: Depending on which team drafts Mannion, he is not projected to be a Day 1 starter. There are still some lapses in his game that need addressing, such as his ability to penetrate, separate and even his burst off the dribble.

Some encouraging signs point Mannion being able to be an ideal combo guard that can play the one or two positions. He's a knock-down shooter as well as his passing skills and vision are at an elite level. That would afford Washington the flexibility to have a guard be able to play spot minutes for both Wall and Beal while being able to play alongside both of the stars. 

Again, there is whether the Wizards would want to spend their first-rounder on a player whose only path to playing next year is coming off the bench. The team might not have the roster flexibility to do so if they are drafting in the top 10. - Byrum

FULL PLAYER PROFILE

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NBA Draft: LaMelo Ball highlights best point guard prospects - NBCSports.com
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