NBA Draft: New player at the top of the 2020 NBA Lottery Redraft
Point Guard. Golden State Warriors. Tyrese Haliburton. 2. player. 41.
2020 NBA Lottery Redraft, Pick No. 2: Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State
The word on Iowa State guard Tyrese Haliburton coming into the 2020 NBA Draft was that he was NBA-ready, a great culture-setter and a solid on-court option. The problem was that he lacked the upside to be a true star, a label that inexplicably saw him fall to the 12th pick in the draft.
If anything, the first two months of the season have only emphasized the evaluation. He has been ready for the NBA from the jump, perhaps the third-best player on a Sacramento Kings team in the playoff race. He is a steadying presence on both ends, with the playmaking to run the point and the shooting to play off-ball. He may not be a star, but he’s a player any winning team would want right now, and starting from such a high point means he could surprise us with his upside.
Team Fit: The Golden State Warriors have been struggling with replacing the injured Klay Thompson at shooting guard, with Kelly Oubre Jr. going through a long shooting slump to start the season. The point guard position behind Stephen Curry has also been a disappointment, with the previously solid Brad Wanamaker struggling to hit a shot. Haliburton would give the Warriors an option right now at the 2, and next season and beyond he would be the perfect complement to Curry and Thompson, either as a swing backup or in three-guard lineups.
What’s Changed? James Wiseman still has plenty of upside as a future franchise center, but it is clear he is going to take time to mold into even a solid starter. He also plays the league’s most replaceable position. Haliburton fills a position of need and is already good, and he is a seamless fit with the culture of Golden State. It’s close, but he flies all the way up to the second pick, ahead of Wiseman.