Ideal places for the best 2020 rookies
Rookies are always an exciting part of an NBA season. Some of them are surprising the fans and others do the exact opposite. For example, Zion Williamson and Ja Morant were two great players during their first season as professionals. We can't say the same for the 2017 class, as Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball didn't rise to the occasion. Today, we'll place five of the best rookies in the perfect organisation for their career. This is kind of a best case scenario for each of them, in a more realistic way.
Anthony Edwards, Guard, Georgia: Atlanta Hawks
The projected first overall pick in the 2020 NBA entry draft would be perfect for the Hawks. You'd have an excellent starting shooting guard to pair up immediately with your point guard, which is Trae Young. Edwards has a lot of potential and could make the Hawks great right away and for a long time. Scoring would not be really difficult, as you have a lot of shooters and inside scorers. Edwards and Young could really be the next big guard duo of the league. A simple perfect fit for the both of them.
James Wiseman, Center, Memphis: Golden State Warriors
Wiseman is also a guy who would fit perfectly right away with this team. A dominant center with a lot of veteran players like Curry, Thompson and Green. The Warriors will be great until their big three is decomposed or in retirement. The adding of Wiseman could slow the downfall and make their dreams come true of coming back to their dynasty days. Wiseman is the only missing piece to this team, he'd get a lot of playing time and become way more experimented than anybody else. He'd know how to win faster because of the amazing squad he'd be with.
LaMelo Ball, Guard, Australia: New York Knicks
The younger of the Ball brothers needs to be drafted by the Knicks. The guy could make the Madison Square Garden a fun place again. He's under the attention of media since his high school days and has always found a way to be in there. Ball could be the beginning of something great for the Knicks. He would be the primary scorer right away (unless the Knicks try to acquire a big name during the summer), so his development will be quicker. LaMelo is a great offensive guard, the Knicks need him to begin the rebuild, he'd also be a great pairing with RJ Barrett, the third pick in the 2019 draft.
Killian Hayes, Guard, France: Phoenix Suns
Finally the Suns would have a solid point guard. Since Eric Bledsoe left via transaction, the Suns never had a solid point guard, except maybe Ricky Rubio this year. Killian Hayes could really speed up the Suns' rebuild, because pairing him up with Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton and Kelly Oubre Jr. would make him a great player really quickly. The only reason why I'd rather see Cole Anthony or Killian Hayes fall to the Suns than Ball is because of defense. Hayes is the best defender out of the three guys and Devin Booker needs someone for the defense, the worst part of his game. Hayes is a good playmaker who would fit greatly into the Suns system.
Deni Avdija, Forward, Israel: Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are a weird team at the moment. Their guards are two young ones (Collin Sexton and Darius Garland) who didn't show a lot of playmaking aptitudes, with only 6.9 assists for the both of them combined. They are pairing them up with Andre Drummond, a defensive-minded center and an old Kevin Love who isn't the athlete he once was. Avdija seems like the obvious pick for the Cavaliers. He's not one of the most talked about rookies of this class, he's still the best small forward in my opinion (Isaac Okoro is close but wouldn't fit as great with the Cavaliers). Avdija is an all around player, exactly what the Cavaliers need. Right now, they are so unidimensional and it's not surprising that they are an easy target for any teams playing against them. Avdija could only mean benefits on the offensive end, as the guy will only get better in every aspect of his game. Plus, he would fill the blank spot on the roster, as I truly believe the Israel forward is already a better player than Cedi Osman.
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YESTERDAY
MAY 20, 2026
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| Dylan Coghlan | 1 | - | 1 | |
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| Brett Howden | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Gabriel Landeskog | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 1 | - | 1 | |
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