2020 NBA Mock Draft: Looking to the future after a chaotic 2019 draft

A year out, this appears to be Wiseman’s best landing spot of the teams who will likely be drafting in the top five. Cleveland doubled down on its all-offense approach in the 2019 draft, adding Darius Garland and Kevin Porter Jr. to a young core that already was headlined by Collin Sexton. At some point, they will need to think about the defense.

While he is about as raw as they come, Wiseman looks like a decent bet at the very least to protect the rim and rebound. The upside provided by incredible athleticism and length make him a near-lock to be picked in the top five as things appear now. At Memphis, the focus will be on the NBA. For Wiseman, the plan ought to be to build up his feel for the game as much as possible, including his awareness as the anchor of a defense.

It’s so easy right now to say that a high school kid didn’t play great defense, but even if that’s supposed to be his strong suit, it’s not quite fair to give so many perimeter players a pass on that end but demand that an athletic big man defend like mad. For every Mitchell Robinson, who looked like a generational defender in high school, there is a Zion Williamson, whose potential didn’t show on that end in a big way until college.

Regardless, Cleveland is not in a position to be picky, and needs to find a big man who can defend long-term for this group. The Cavs already have a year of evidence that while Larry Nance has potential as a defensive playmaker, his presence alone is not enough. Wiseman could be that guy.