[jwplayer uloPlAaR]
The 2020 NBA Draft is scheduled for Nov. 18, and according to ESPN’s Jonathon Givony, there seems to be a lot of uncertainty with respect to who lands where.
On Monday morning, Givony — considered the best in the business of the NBA draft — opined that a number of picks and players might be available via trade. According to the insider, the consensus three players in the draft are LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman and Anthony Edwards, the three of whom are expected to go to the Timberwolves, Warriors and Hornets, in some order.
The T-Wolves obviously hold the keys to the draft, but the franchise is in an interesting predicament considering the presence of D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns. The front office there could reasonably believe that trading back into the draft and selecting a player that seems a more natural fit with its duo of Russell and Towns to be in its best interest. Hence the speculation that they could trade out of the top spot.
Something similar can be said to the Warriors, who may lack the repetitions necessary for a young player to develop. Enter a team like the Thunder who both have some veteran pieces that most teams would consider valuable and a treasure trove of future picks that can be packaged and traded.
According to Givony, the Timberwolves trading the pick is a distinct possibility, and the Thunder are one of three teams cited by the insider as being a “popular pick” among executives as a team that could potentially move up for Ball.
Unless a surprise trade completely disrupts the top of the draft, LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards and James Wiseman are likely to make up the top three in some order… Most NBA front offices are operating under the assumption that Ball is going No. 1 — either to the Minnesota Timberwolves or a team that trades up to select him.
Some popular picks among executives to make such a move for Ball at No. 1 include the Chicago Bulls (currently holding the No. 4 pick), Detroit Pistons (No. 7) and Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 25, plus a stash of future firsts).
Aside from the future draft picks, the likes of Chris Paul, Steven Adams and Dennis Schroder could each make some sense in Minnesota. While that’s simply conjectured at this point, there has been a persistent expectation that the Thunder will send out some of its veteran players and fully commit to going young.
A move for Ball (or either of the other top two prospects in the draft) would certainly be a move out of left field for the franchise, but lately, that’s become Sam Presti’s specialty.