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 has 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:
RJ Hampton | New Zealand Breakers | Guard
STATS: 8.8 PPG | 3.9 RPG | 1.1 SPG
Hampton had been viewed as a potential lottery pick, until he flopped overseas. He made just over 40% of his shots from the floor, but he didn’t even make 30% of his 3-pointers — which is concerning at the shooting guard position.
As a result, James Ham of NBC Sports could see Hampton slipping all the way back to No. 20:
If Brooklyn has the opportunity to gamble on a young player with a mountain of potential this late in the draft, they should jump at the opportunity.
Ham also notes Hampton could be a “gold mine” for the Nets if he gets to “work behind the scenes with [Kyrie] Irving.”
Given how highly Hampton was initially touted, his age (19 years old) and the fact he’s faced some adversity already, he’s an appealing selection at No. 20. Combine those factors with the idea that Nets aren’t seeking short-term help in the 2020 Draft — so he can have room to develop — and then Hampton becomes a smart pick for Brooklyn if he remains available that late in the draft.
RELATED: 2020 NBA Draft: Nets’ 5 best options in first round
Nets 2020 NBA mock draft radar:
Texas Tech guard Jahmi’us Ramsey
Duke guard Tre Jones
Maryland forward Jalen Smith
Florida State wing Patrick Williams
Arizona wing Josh Green
Villanova wing Saddiq Bey
Colorado wing Tyler Bey
Florida State wing Devin Vassell
Seton Hall guard Myles Powell
Washington forward Jaden McDaniels
Ohio State center Kaleb Wesson
Evansville forward DeAndre Williams
Oklahoma wing Kristian Doolittle
Pesaro forward Paul Eboua
Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey
Olympiacos center Aleksej Pokusevski
Western Kentucky center Charles Bassey
Arizona guard Nico Mannion
ASVEL wing Theo Maledon
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