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

By Brendon Kleen

MIDDLE VILLAGE, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Cole Anthony #3 of Oak Hill Academy handles the ball on offense against La Lumiere in the semifinal of the GEICO High School National Tournament at Christ the King High School on April 05, 2019 in Middle Village, New York. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
MIDDLE VILLAGE, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Cole Anthony #3 of Oak Hill Academy handles the ball on offense against La Lumiere in the semifinal of the GEICO High School National Tournament at Christ the King High School on April 05, 2019 in Middle Village, New York. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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France’s Theo Maledon on his way to score a point during an All Star Game basketball match of the French Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB) between a selection of the best international players from the Pro A league against a selection of the best French players, at the AccorHotels Arena, in Paris on December 29, 2018. – The LNB All Star Game is an exhibition match between a team of the best French players and a team of the best international players of the French Elite basketball league. (Photo by Lucas BARIOULET / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUCAS BARIOULET/AFP/Getty Images)
France’s Theo Maledon on his way to score a point during an All Star Game basketball match of the French Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB) between a selection of the best international players from the Pro A league against a selection of the best French players, at the AccorHotels Arena, in Paris on December 29, 2018. – The LNB All Star Game is an exhibition match between a team of the best French players and a team of the best international players of the French Elite basketball league. (Photo by Lucas BARIOULET / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUCAS BARIOULET/AFP/Getty Images) /

. G/F. ASVEL. Theo Maledon. 9. player. 64

As you will see in the coming slides, we are lower on Maledon than any of the international players currently projected to go in the 2020 lottery. It would be a frustrating position if the Pistons do indeed fall this low, but guessing at that now is foolish. Maledon will be a questionable consolation prize for any team with the confidence to take an international prospect (Detroit did just take Sekou Doumbouya), but he is not without upside.

Maledon is another player who, similar to the young man featured in our next slide, will use this season to prove whether his recent improvements are legit. In comparing international prospects, our inclination often is to compare them solely with one another rather than with their college counterparts and within the larger context of the pro game. This has been the confusion in ranking Maledon at this early stage, says The Stepien’s Mike Gribanov:

"“Theo Maledon had a huge year to insert himself into this conversation as well, and while I understand why some prefer Maledon, I don’t understand why moving him up must also involve severely dropping (Killian) Hayes.”"

Indeed, Maledon doesn’t have the polish of someone like Hayes or Deni Avdija. This season will be valuable for him, and his skills are likely going to require further development in the NBA. The release on his jumper is very low and slow, a poor recipe for efficiency and an even worse one for legit gravity in the pro game. What saves Maledon at this stage is high-level touch from all three levels as a shooter.

He doesn’t have a great first step or explosive leaping ability to finish consistently at the rim, but the French League will expose that lack of functional athleticism unless Maledon improves it.

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