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Memphis Grizzlies: 4 point guards to target in the 2020 NBA Draft

By Josh Mullenix

CORVALLIS, OREGON - FEBRUARY 08: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks drives to the basket while guarded by Ethan Thompson #5 of the Oregon State Beavers during the second half at Gill Coliseum on February 08, 2020 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
CORVALLIS, OREGON - FEBRUARY 08: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks drives to the basket while guarded by Ethan Thompson #5 of the Oregon State Beavers during the second half at Gill Coliseum on February 08, 2020 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 27: Nico Mannion #1 of the Arizona Wildcats drives to the basket during the game against the USC Trojans at Galen Center on February 27, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 27: Nico Mannion #1 of the Arizona Wildcats drives to the basket during the game against the USC Trojans at Galen Center on February 27, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

4. Nico Mannion, Arizona

It wasn’t long ago that Nico Mannion was considered one of the overall players in the country at his level. According to 247 Sports, Mannion was the ninth-best player in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 1 point guard. On June 23, 2019, Bleacher Report released an NBA Mock Draft that had him going ninth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.

One, quite frankly, uninspiring year at Arizona later and Mannion has fallen further down big boards than anyone ever thought he would before getting to college. Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t bad as a Wildcat at all. He averaged 14 points, 5.3 assists and 2.5 rebounds earning 2019-20 All-Pac 12 honors as well as being named to the All-Freshman team.

He underperformed, but he’s still a spectacular offensive point guard with some of the highest basketball IQ in this draft class. He can score at all three levels. He’s not going to impose his will at just 6’3″, 180 pounds, but he doesn’t shy away from contact and is a fearless competitor.

He’s an elite pick-and-roll point guard that can get to the rim, pull up in mid-range or make any pass he needs to thanks to incredible court vision and the passing ability to accompany it.

Mannion’s fall in the draft  can be attributed to Arizona not being as good as they were supposed to and his lack of efficiency. He shot just 39.2 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from deep. He’s going to have to be efficient to make up for what he lacks in the athleticism column and that has scared some teams away.

With all of that being said, Mannion is an elite passer and playmaker. It’s not a mistake that he was considered the best point guard in the country just one recruiting class ago. If he falls into the early second round, every team that never thought they’d have a chance at him, including Memphis, should seriously consider him. There just isn’t a more skilled player anywhere outside of the top 30 picks.

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