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. 55:
Paul Eboua | Pesaro | Forward
STATS: 7.4 PPG | 5.3 RPG | 45.9 FG%
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz have the Nets taking a chance on the 20-year-old Cameroon native.
Eboua spent 2019-20 playing for Consultinvest VL Pesaro of Italy’s Serie A. He didn’t put up big numbers throughout his first season in Italy’s top pro league, and he still needs to develop further if he’s going to contribute at the NBA level.
At No. 55, Eboua might be worth the risk for Brooklyn, given his athleticism and size — and the Nets’ ability to develop players.
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
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