Tag: Saddiq Bey

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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Villanova coach Jay Wright would love to see Saddiq Bey on the Sixers

Villanova Wildcats coach Jay Wright says he would love to see Saddiq Bey on the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers need some shooting in the worst way. So, why not look at a local kid who happens to be one of the best shooters in the draft?

The Sixers do own the 22nd pick in the 2020 NBA Draft at the moment, but that could change as it depends on the Oklahoma City Thunder as the 2019-20 season gets set to resume. They have a few options at that spot, but one of the consistent players mocked to Philadelphia has been Villanova Wildcats sophomore shooter Saddiq Bey.

He announced on Tuesday that he is, in fact, staying in the draft and he and his college coach, Jay Wright, held a conference call. When asked where he would like to see Bey end up, Wright kept it simple. Why not the Sixers?

Bey shot 45.1% from deep during his sophomore season at Villanova and he averaged 16.1 points per game. That type of shooting production would be welcomed with open arms for a Sixers team that struggles to create any space on the offensive end. [lawrence-related id=32825,30593,32800]

Potential Nets pick Saddiq Bey staying in 2020 NBA Draft

Saddiq Bey has decided he won’t go back to college for the 2020-21 season. He’s staying in the 2020 NBA Draft.

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Some mock drafts have Saddiq Bey as a lottery pick. Some think he could slip all the way back to No. 20, where the Brooklyn Nets could take him.

Despite the fact analysts have him going later in the first round, all the talk around the potential 3-and-D, two-year Villanova forward has been positive. There’s a lot of time between now and the 2020 NBA Draft — it’s been moved back to October 15 — so maybe Bey’s stock will increase by then. (Though, that wouldn’t necessarily be ideal for the Nets, assuming the Philadelphia 76ers pick they have stays at No. 20.)

Either way, the 2020 NBA Draft is the No. 1 thing Bey has to look forward to now that he’s told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski he is staying in the 2020 NBA Draft:

This has been a pivotal time in our country and honestly not how I imagined the last few months playing out. Between the pandemic and national outcry against racial injustice, it has given me a lot of time to think and gain perspective outside of basketball. I have thought a lot about my decision to enter the NBA draft and specifically how that would impact my teammates, coaching staff, and the pursuit of my degree.

RELATED: 2020 NBA Draft: Nets’ 5 best options in first round

Projected first-round pick Saddiq Bey will stay in the NBA Draft

The 6-foot-8 sophomore is projected to be a first-round pick after averaging 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists at Villanova.

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Villanova forward Saddiq Bey will stay in the 2020 NBA Draft after signing with Excel Sports Management, he told ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-8 forward is projected to be a first-round pick after a strong sophomore campaign with the Wildcats. Bey was named to the All-Big East Team after averaging 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 31 games played.

Bey was perhaps most impressive as a shooter last season with Villanova. He shot 45.1% from 3-point range on 5.6 attempts per game while he emerged as one of the best catch-and-shoot threats in the country. Bey led all players 6-foot-8 and taller in total 3-pointers.

Related: 2020 NBA Draft Big Board: Top 100 after early-entry deadline

The NBA last week announced that the Draft Lottery will occur on Aug. 25 while the Draft will take place on Oct. 15. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, prospects have been prohibited from interviewing and working out with teams in person but that could soon change.

The NBA is considering hosting a Combine-like event in August at Disney World near Orlando, Florida, to allow teams to meet with prospects ahead of the Draft. Teams would be able to gather medical information and possibly take measurements while workouts would not happen.

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3 players the Golden State Warriors could reach for in the NBA Draft

Despite Golden State’s slated high draft pick, could the team reach for a player that fits over a prospect with potential?

No matter the draft pick, there are always labels attached after the selection. Upside, boom or bust, sleeper and reach are all terms that are consistently thrown out when draft season arrives. These types of tags are especially heavy when drafting in the lottery — something the Golden State Warriors haven’t had to worry about over the past five seasons.

For the first time in years, Bob Myers and Steve Kerr will be tasked with finding a blue-chip prospect at the top of the NBA draft. Golden State’s 15-50 record has set them up for an early pick in the 2020 edition of the draft.

Golden State should have the chance to add a top-billed prospect like Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman or Obi Toppin when they’re on the clock. Along with the aforementioned trio, LaMelo Ball and Onyeka Okongwu lead most 2020 draft big boards. However, what if the Warriors decide to go outside of the box with their top-pick?

While the term reach is generally considered a negative when it comes to draft season, the Warriors could look to target a specific player that will help them get back to the playoffs as soon as next season.

Instead of a player that’s marked as a project with potential, the Warriors could reach for a prospect that would fit nicely alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

Warriors Wire looked at three prospects the Warriors could potentially reach for in the draft.

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2020 NBA Draft: Nets’ 5 best options in first round

The Brooklyn Nets are projected to have the 20th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, though that could change if the league manages to resume play.

It feels like it’s only a matter of time before the 2020 NBA Draft is pushed back. The 2020 Draft Lottery and Combine have both been delayed, and with the league making progress toward continuing the 2019-20 season in some form, it seems reasonable to expect this year’s draft won’t take place on its originally scheduled date.

Since there hasn’t been official word yet on anything, NBA front offices have to be prepared to make decisions regarding this year’s draft class soon. The Brooklyn Nets have picks from the Philadelphia 76ers — which is projected at No. 20 right now — and the Denver Nuggets — projected at No. 55.

Now, the Nets could use one or both of the picks to make a move for a veteran. But if they elect to use their pick, they should have some solid options.

Here are the five players who are the best fit for the Nets in this year’s draft at No. 20, based on mock draft projections:

5. Jalen Smith | Maryland | Forward

Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
STATS: 15.5 PPG | 10.5 RPG | 36.8 3-PT%

Marc Berman of the New York Post has “Kevin Durant’s win-now Nets” taking Smith because he can provide instant help off the bench. Smith certainly has talent and offers something neither DeAndre Jordan or Jarrett Allen can with his 3-point shooting.

But with those two bigs in front of him, and the Nets looking for veterans more so than young guys, he doesn’t seem like the best fit.

Now, if the Nets decide to include Allen in a package to get a third star, then Smith would climb up this list. At that point, he’d be a great fit for Brooklyn.

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5 shooters Philadelphia 76ers should focus on for 2020 NBA Draft

We take a look at the five shooters the Philadelphia 76ers should look at in the 2020 NBA Draft.

There are a lot of uncertainties surrounding the 2020 NBA Draft. For one, the draft process will be much different as the global coronavirus pandemic has changed everything. There will be no in-person workouts and no face-to-face interviews and everything will be done via Zoom calls.

For the Philadelphia 76ers, they hold the 22nd pick in the draft and they will have to do a serious deep dive into any potential candidates. Especially since the NCAA Tournament was canceled, they only have the regular season to rely on.

The Sixers have some obvious needs and that is guys who can space the floor as well as make plays for others. For this edition of their draft needs, we are going to focus on shooters and there are five of them the team should target.

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Sixers prospective draft profiles: Villanova sharpshooter Saddiq Bey

We continue our Philadelphia 76ers draft profiles with a look at a Villanova sharpshooter.

The majority of the attention in the NBA has been turned to the draft with what is going on in the world and the real possibility of the 2019-20 season just being canceled. So, we continue our series of analyzing some realistic draft options for the Philadelphia 76ers at 22.

We started off with a backup point guard option in young Theo Maledon from France. This next part of this 10 part series focuses on a local product in Villanova sharpshooter Saddiq Bey who looks like he can have a real impact on this Sixers team due to one thing he can do well: shoot.

Saddiq Bey, Villanova

Bey is everything the Sixers could use right now. They obviously have wanted this year’s rookie, Matisse Thybulle, to be their new 3-and-D option after trading away Robert Covington, and he very well could be that, but Bey has a bit more potential to fill the “3” part of that aspect. Thybulle’s shot is a bit up-and-down despite his elite-level defense.

Bey shot 45.1% from deep in his sophomore season compared to 37.4% as a freshman so his 3-point percentage is on the upswing. The best part about his game is probably his catch-and-shoot ability which is missing on this team with JJ Redick gone. The Sixers have been in huge need of a deadeye shooter to space the floor for their awkward roster and Bey would be a nice fit there.

Over at our sister site, Rookie Wire, they have Bey going 20th in the draft to the Brooklyn Nets so there’s a small possibility that he is not there at 22.

Among all Eastern Conference teams, only the Bucks have averaged more 3-point attempts per game than the Nets (37.9) in 2019-20. Especially with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant set to return from injuries, Brooklyn will need as many knock-down shooters as possible. They can find one in Saddiq Bey, who has great size and converted 45.1% of his 3-point attempts this season. Bey made 2.5 shots per game from long distance and is able to contribute well without being the focal point of an offense.

Look at that last part again “able to contribute well without being the focal part of an offense”. Imagine him being the team’s new version of Covington while having a smarter basketball IQ. He is not overly athletic or explosive and that’s why he is not a lottery projection, but he won’t necessarily need that in Philadelphia if he can just shoot the 3-ball next to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.

Defensively, he is not quite Thybulle, but what he can do is defend multiple positions. While Thybulle is a “reckless thief” and he can make plays in the passing lanes and lockdown opposing scorers, Bey can defend every position except the center spot right now due to his strong lower body.

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Potential Nets 2020 draft pick to ‘test the waters’

If he doesn’t withdraw from the draft process, Saddiq Bey is expected to go outside the lottery, which is when Brooklyn’s pick comes up.

Among the aspects of the basketball world impacted by the novel coronavirus outbreak is the 2020 NBA Draft. Players have to declare by April 26. If players want to withdraw and maintain NCAA eligibility, they have to remove themselves from consideration by June 3.

With the way Villanova wing Saddiq Bey announced he was declaring for the 2020 NBA Draft, it sounds like the 20-year-old could still withdraw himself. For now, though, Bey will take part in the draft process, per John Fanta of Fox Sports

I will definitely be trying to test the waters. We just have to wait and see how it unfolds. It’s unchartered territory.

Bey elaborated on his approach further for the media, per Joe Juliano of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

I will definitely go through that process, whenever I’ll be able to, whenever that opens up, and I’ll be keeping my options open for sure. I have to see how it unfolds.

I’m just talking to our coaching staff and my family and stuff like that, just trying to stay ready. It’s uncharted territory, so I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m just staying ready for anything, and just being ready for it when that time comes.

Bey is projected as a later first-round pick, though not too long after the lottery — which puts him in range for the Brooklyn Nets at No. 20.