Tag: 2020 Draft News

NBA Draft: Villanova’s Saddiq Bey is a name to watch for the Warriors

If the Golden State Warriors decided to go outside of the box with their top-five pick in the NBA Draft, Villanova’s Saddiq Bey is a name to watch.

As 22 teams in the NBA prepare for a trip to Orlando to finish out the year, the Golden State Warriors are staying in the Bay Area. With a 15-50 record, the Warriors are one of eight teams to have their seasons officially come to a close early.

With a jumpstart on the offseason, the Warriors can turn their attention to the NBA Draft. For the first time in years, Bob Myers and Steve Kerr are slated to be on the clock somewhere in the top-five picks in October’s newly rescheduled 2020 draft.

As draft season heats up, top prospects like Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman and Obi Toppin have been continually mocked to the Golden State Warriors. However, Golden State could opt for a surprise at the top of the draft. If the Warriors are eyeing a player outside of the consensus, Villanova’s Saddiq Bey is a name to keep an eye on.

According to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle, some of the Warriors decision-makers think highly of the First Team All-Big East wing.

Via The San Francisco Chronicle:

But according to league sources, some Warriors decision-makers believe that Bey is an NBA-ready wing with a chance to become a franchise building block. Whether that would be enough for Golden State to use a top-five pick on him remains unclear.

In his sophomore season in Jay Wright’s program, Bey earned an honorable mention nod for the 2020 All-American team with 16.1 points on 47.7% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Against Georgetown. Bey ripped off a career-high 22 points with eight 3-pointers on 10-of-15 from the field.

Bey is especially dangerous from deep, shooting 45.1% from beyond the arc on 5.6 attempts per contest. The Villanova product could immediately provide a viable catch and shoot option off the bench in Golden State next to Eric Paschall. When defenses started jumping at Bey on the perimeter, the 21-year-old used his vision to find teammates either cutting to the basket or spotting up for the open look.

At 6-foot-8, Bey’s shown the ability to guard a bevy of positions on the defensive end of the floor. He won’t overwhelm you with his athletic ability, yet his underrated quickness and length help him stick with guards and forwards. Bey would give Kerr a versatile chess piece on defense behind Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green.

While he may not lead many mock drafts, the Warriors could add another Villanova product like Bey in the draft after having success with Paschall in 2019.

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