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. 55:
Lamar Stevens | Penn State | Forward
STATS: 17.6 PPG | 6.9 RPG | 1.2 BPG
NBADraft.net has the four-year Nittany Lion going to Brooklyn toward the end of the first round. A two-time All-Big Ten selection, Stevens played in 135 games for Penn State over his career and started each of those contests.
But as much as he can produce, Stevens’ age is an issue. He’s turning 24 in July, so he may have already reached his ceiling, or close to it. If that’s how the Nets view him, they aren’t likely to take Stevens over a younger player who may require far more seasoning.
What could be a game-changer for Stevens is his long-range shooting. He wasn’t a deep threat for Penn State at any point, but if he can show signs of improvement, then things could change things for him.
RELATED: 2020 NBA Draft: Nets’ 5 best options in first round
Nets 2020 NBA mock draft radar:
New Zealand Breakers guard RJ Hampton
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
RELATED: Cameroon prospect hopes Nets take him in 2020 NBA draft