The 2020 NBA Draft class was supposed to be a terrible one.
That was the narrative heading into draft night. The draft was weak at the top, weak in the middle, and weak at the bottom. There was no future superstar in line to go first overall, and the odds of finding one later in the draft were even more slim than usual.
ESPN's Hoop Collective podcast just performed a redraft of the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery, picking from the entire class to illustrate how the class has changed over four seasons. What's more, the exercise illustrated just how talented this class really was.
Anthony Edwards unsurprisingly went first overall once more, while Tyrese Haliburton went second (up from 12th originally); both appear to be perennial All-NBA players. Only a small step down are Tyrese Maxey and LaMelo Ball, both of whom have already been named All-Stars. Desmond Bane is a fringe All-Star, while Jaden McDaniels and Devin Vassell are two-way wings with plenty of upside still to come.
That's where the Raptors enter the picture.
Immanuel Quickley flies up the draft board
With the eighth pick of the redraft, the ESPN crew selected Immanuel Quickley, who originally was drafted 25th by the New York Knicks. That 17-spot leap was not the greatest of the redraft -- Desmond Bane went from 30th to fifth -- but it was substantial, and it illustrates how teams completely disrespected the Kentucky backcourt that year.
Quickley and Tyrese Maxey played together at Kentucky and then were taken four picks apart, Maxey at No. 21 and Quickley at No. 25. For Maxey, he was handed the keys in Philadelphia after they cleared out James Harden and allowed to blossom. For Quickley, he was stuck behind Jalen Brunson the past two seasons, who ascended to be a star and limited Quickley's role.
Now IQ is in Toronto, on a new contract and firmly entrenched as the starting point guard. He will have all the space he needs to spread his wings and expand his game. He doesn't have the same undeniable skill that someone like Haliburton has with his passing, or Maxey has with his speed. Quickley is also a knockdown shooter, the best defender among those guards and a crafty finisher. At just 25 years old he has plenty of room to grow as well.
The Raptors made a pick in the 2020 first round, taking point guard Malachi Flynn with the 29th pick, one spot before Bane. Their fortunes could certainly have been different if they added a talent like that instead of a player in Flynn who may not have an NBA job next year. The draft has now come full circle, however, and they have a member of the class of 2020 who has already proven himself, and is ready to take another step this year.