The NBA Draft always brings plenty of surprises and this year was no different — especially during a global pandemic.
Despite players checking in from home and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on the stage by himself, it didn’t stop the madness of draft night with plenty of surprising picks and trades. There was also news of Warriors star shooting guard Klay Thompson suffering a season-ending Achilles tear.
The night had it all.
With the first pick in the draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Anthony Edwards, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound guard from Georgia. The freshman scored 19.1 points per game last season and was the SEC Freshman of the Year. He’ll now join a young and talented team led by stars Karl-Anthony Towns and point guard D’Angelo Russell. Edwards, is just the second player in NBA history to be taken No. 1 despite coming from a program with a .500 record or worse.
The Golden State Warriors took center James Wiseman with the No. 2 pick, and the Charlotte Hornets took guard LaMelo Ball with the third pick. With another top five pick for the Ball family, brothers LaMelo and Lonzo (the No. 2 pick in 2017), are the first brothers in NBA history to be drafted in the top five.
Below is a breakdown of all the picks and trades on draft night.
2020 NBA Draft: First Round
1. Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards
2. Warriors: James Wiseman
3. Hornets: LaMelo Ball
4. Bulls: Patrick Williams
5. Cavaliers: Isaac Okoro
6. Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu
7. Pistons: Killian Hayes
8. Knicks: Obi Toppin
9. Wizards: Deni Avdija
10. Suns: Jalen Smith
11. Spurs: Devin Vassell
12. Kings: Tyrese Haliburton
13. Pelicans: Kira Lewis Jr.
14. Celtics: Aaron Nesmith
15. Magic: Cole Anthony
16. Trail Blazers: Isaiah Stewart > traded to the Pistons
17. Timberwolves: Aleksej Pokusevski > traded to the Thunder
18. Mavericks: Josh Green
19. Nets: Saddiq Bey > traded to the Pistons
20. Heat: Precious Achiuwa
21. 76ers: Tyrese Maxey
22. Nuggets: Zeke Nnaji
23. Knicks: Leandro Bolmaro > traded to the Timberwolves
24. Bucks: RJ Hampton > traded to the Nuggets
25. Thunder: Immanuel Quickley > traded to the Knicks
26. Celtics: Payton Pritchard
27. Jazz: Udoka Azubuike
28. Lakers: Jaden McDaniels > traded to the Timberwolves
29. Raptors: Malachi Flynn
30. Celtics: Desmond Bane > traded to the Grizzlies
2020 NBA Draft: Second Round
31. Mavericks: Tyrell Terry
32. Hornets: Vernon Carey
33. Timberwolves: Daniel Oturu > traded to the Clippers
34. 76ers: Theo Maledon > traded to the Thunder
35. Kings: Xavier Tillman Sr > traded to the Grizzlies
36. 76ers: Tyler Bey > traded to the Mavericks
37. Wizards: Vit Krejci > traded to the Thunder
38. Jazz: Saben Lee > traded to the Pistons
39. Pelicans: Elijah Hughes > traded to the Jazz
40. Grizzlies: Robert Woodard > traded to the Kings
41. Spurs: Tre Jones
42. Pelicans: Nick Richards > traded to the Hornets
43. Kings: Jahmi’us Ramsey
44. Bulls: Marko Simonovic
45. Bucks: Jordan Nwora
46. Trail Blazers: CJ Elleby
47. Celtics: Yam Madar
48. Warriors: Nico Mannion
49. 76ers: Isaiah Joe
50. Hawks: Skylar Mays
51. Warriors: Justinian Jessup
52. Kings: Kenyon Martin Jr > traded to the Rockets5
53. Thunder: Cassius Winston > traded to the Wizards
54. Pacers: Cassius Stanley
55. Nets: Jay Scrubb > traded to the Clippers
56. Hornets: Grant Riller
57. Clippers: Reggie Perry > traded to the Nets
58. 76ers: Paul Reed
59. Raptors: Jalen Harris
60. Pelicans: Sam Merrill > traded to the Bucks
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