Note: This piece has been updated after the news that LaMelo Ball's season in Australia is over.
What would the likely lottery teams do with a top pick in the 2020 NBA draft?
Approaching the second half of the NBA season, the lottery is starting to take shape. This will be the second draft under the new lottery reform measures that flattened the odds across the board, which helped the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies land the top two picks in 2019.
Teams continue to have major questions about this class, with limited opportunities to fully evaluate many of the top prospects in competitive settings.
To begin to get some more clarity, let's run through our new mock draft projections for both rounds, along with the six teams most likely to get one of the top two picks -- according to projections via ESPN's Basketball Power Index (BPI) -- and what those teams would consider at those slots.
More: Top 100 NBA draft rankings
Projecting lottery teams' most likely top two picks
No. 1 (14.0% chance): Anthony Edwards
No. 2 (12.9% chance): James Wiseman
The Cavs are starved for a long-armed, athletic big man to run the floor with young guards Collin Sexton and Darius Garland -- someone who can anchor their defense, finish pick-and-rolls and control the glass. In theory that would make James Wiseman a natural fit here. Unfortunately, Wiseman hasn't shown enough to prove he's that type of player at No. 1, as his decision to leave Memphis midseason left NBA teams with plenty of questions about how to project him at the next level.
That opens the door for Edwards, who could be a strong fit with Cleveland's existing pieces. He would give the Cavaliers more natural size at the 2 while staggering Sexton and Garland. He also brings enough length to cover small forwards in three-guard lineups. The Cavs are early enough in their rebuilding process that they'll want to target the best talent possible, but Edwards makes sense here as a solid roster complement with arguably the highest upside of any player in the draft.
No. 1 (13.0% chance): Anthony Edwards
No. 2 (12.5% chance): James Wiseman
Atlanta could certainly be in the market for a franchise-caliber center to complement Trae Young's pick-and-roll passing prowess and stabilize a porous defense, making Wiseman a natural fit. But the Hawks have flexibility between salary-cap space and trade assets to potentially find a center who fits their competitive timeline better on the open market.
They will look long and hard at Edwards, who can play on and off the ball in the same backcourt with Young. He brings the type of size, length, athleticism and defensive versatility that could certainly augment Atlanta's star point guard.
No. 1 (12.9% chance): James Wiseman
No. 2 (12.5% chance): Anthony Edwards
With the Warriors' championship window tightening quickly, they could very well look to trade this pick, considering how unlikely it is that any player will be ready to help them immediately in a playoff game. Those trade considerations will heavily depend on the demand in the open market.
Should Golden State be forced to keep the pick, both Edwards and Wiseman would be solid fits. Edwards provides another creator in the backcourt to go with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, and his spot-up jumper gives him off-ball potential next to those two.
Wiseman would provide a new layer of size, length and athleticism at the 5 for the Warriors. Of the prospects available, he is likely best equipped to help Golden State immediately thanks to his elite physical tools and ability to make an impact without having the ball in his hands.
No. 1 (12.5% chance): Anthony Edwards
No. 2 (12.2% chance): LaMelo Ball
With so much unknown regarding the Knicks -- including their offseason priorities, the makeup of the front office/coaching staff and the long-term keepers on the roster -- predicting what they'll do at this stage isn't easy.
Ball's talent undoubtedly makes him the home run swing for whoever is making this selection, and he also fits a clear positional need. But the questions surrounding Ball make him a risky pick at No. 1. Also consider that a new executive would be selecting Ball without having watched him live. That might be too big a roll of the dice considering what's at stake in New York, particularly if this is someone's very first move on the job.
Edwards' ability to play in a big backcourt with RJ Barrett would make him an intriguing option as well, and he's viewed by most scouts as a safer pick than Ball as long as he finishes out the season on a strong note. You can never have too many long-armed, athletic shot creators who can defend multiple positions, which would make him an easy player to use in a variety of lineups.
No. 1 (10.4% chance): Anthony Edwards
No. 2 (10.3% chance): James Wiseman
While the Hornets have a glaring hole at center, they are in desperate need of star power and aren't even remotely close enough to contention to be prioritizing positional need over talent. Edwards would allow the Hornets to stagger their undersized Terry Rozier/Devonte' Graham lineups while also joining the pair in three-guard units.
It's likely that Charlotte also will take a long look at Wiseman, considering the lack of long-term keepers in the frontcourt. He would be easy to build around, even if the questions about his upside might make it difficult to value him quite this high.
No. 1 (8.6% chance): LaMelo Ball
No. 2 (8.7% chance): Anthony Edwards
The Wizards are one of the fastest-paced teams in the NBA despite starting a cascade of journeyman point guards. With the team looking committed to extending the Bradley Beal era, it makes sense for Washington to consider Ball, the clear-cut most talented point guard in this class.
Ball's passing prowess could add another boost to what's already one of the most entertaining teams in the NBA to watch. However, the new front office under Tommy Sheppard will have questions it wants answered regarding Ball's approach to the game, something that will play out over the course of the pre-draft process.
Picking Edwards and starting him in the same backcourt as Beal also has to be considered a possibility despite the lack of positional fit, as the Wizards are early enough in their rebuilding process to just take perhaps the best player in the draft long term. Wiseman likely will get a long look here too.