Among the uncertainties surrounding the NBA as the novel coronavirus continues to be a major issue in the U.S. is the 2020 draft.
NBA teams won’t be able to look at college players during March Madness, and the rest of the pre-draft process is expected to be limited. The matter of when the draft will actually happen is up in the air, as well. Especially if the league tries to crown a 2020 champion.
For the Brooklyn Nets, based on where the standings were when the league went on hiatus, their first-round pick would convey to the Timberwolves. Minnesota acquired Brooklyn’s top-14 protected pick from the Hawks, which the Nets sent to Atlanta in a trade that delivered Taurean Prince.
But the Nets will not be without a first-round selection. They have Philadelphia’s top-14 protected pick, which Brooklyn acquired when they sent the No. 27 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft — which wound up being Mfiondu Kabengele — to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Nets’ second-round pick belongs to the Boston Celtics, but Brooklyn the Denver Nuggets’ second-round selection.
Right now, the Nets fall have the No. 20 and No. 55 picks.
Here’s a look at one player Brooklyn could take at No. 20:
Tyrese Maxey | Kentucky | Guard
STATS: 14 PPG | 4.3 RPG | 42.7 FG%
Brian Lewis of the New York Post thinks the Kentucky guard makes sense for the Nets if they’re looking to get a third star in the offseason, which would likely require trading Spencer Dinwiddie or Caris LeVert.
…if Maxey falls out of the lottery, he’d be too good to pass up — especially with [Kyrie] Irving’s and LeVert’s injury woes, and Maxey’s own defensive grit and strength.
Now, USA Today SMG’s Bryan Kalbrosky has Maxey going No. 7 overall to the Chicago Bulls. Sam Vecenie of The Athletic has the Suns selecting the Kentucky guard at No. 10 and Bleacher Report‘s Jonathan Wasserman thinks the Sacramento Kings will take Maxey at No. 12. So there are differing opinions when it comes to analyzing the guard — but it’s clear he would be a valuable addition for any team at No. 20.
And should Brooklyn take Maxey if the opportunity presents itself, that doesn’t mean he has to be part of their future plan. The Nets could move him instead of a veteran as they look to bolster the roster.
Nets 2020 NBA mock draft radar:
Florida State wing Patrick Williams
Arizona wing Josh Green
Villanova wing Saddiq Bey
Colorado wing Tyler Bey
Evansville forward DeAndre Williams
Oklahoma wing Kristian Doolittle
Pesaro forward Paul Eboua
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