NBA 2020 Mock Draft 1.0 – Options abound for OKC Thunder
By Rylan Stiles
player. 69. . Guard | UNC. New Orleans Pelicans. Cole Anthony . 13
The Pelicans literally can not mess this up.
Again, it pays to be a loyal reader. If you have been following along you would know Cole Anthony enter this year as the love of my NBA Draft life. Winning the preseason Tyler Herro award, for a player I must admire in this year’s class.
A bumpy start to his college career that featured a plethora of injuries, has him plummeting down NBA Draft boards. However, the 6’3 190-pound guard can still hoop. At just 19 years old, he brings a ton of upside to the table.
The Pelicans are in a no-lose situation. With the emergence of Brandon Ingram, the generational talent of Zion Williamson, and the rising Jaxson Hayes, David Griffin can really do anything this draft. Especially with Jrue Holiday being under team control for another year, with a player option in 2021. Cole Anthony is the perfect fit.
The Tar Heels freshman is averaging 19 points, with almost two steals and a block per game. He grabs six rebounds and gives out three assists per contest. Anthony has proven he is a legit playmaker and point guard. He is a starting-caliber point guard that you are nabbing at the end of the lottery. That is very rare especially for such a “weak class.”
The only area of Anthony’s game that needs improvement is his 3-point shot. The teenaged ball handler strokes the three-ball at just a 31 percent clip.
If you take Anthony’s per 40-minute numbers, his line comes out to 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists, 2 steals, and a block. Anthony’s biggest flaw has been availability.
He has only played in 14 games for the struggling Tar Heels who will likely miss even the NIT tournament this season.
I still believe in Anthony, and would gladly take him and his upside in this year’s NBA Draft.
A lineup of him, Holiday, Ingram, Zion, and Hayes would be an incredibly fun unit.