NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that the 2020 NBA Draft will take place on Oct. 16. NBA free agency will begin two days later on Oct. 18. Anthony Edwards, a shooting guard from the Georgia Bulldogs, comes into the NBA Draft as the potential #1 pick. James Wiseman, a 7-foot center from Memphis, is also in consideration for the top pick.
And don’t forget LaMeo Ball. The best prospect of all three Ball brothers is expected to be a top 3 pick. LaVar Ball, the patriarch of the Ball clan, wants the Knicks to draft his youngest son, LaMelo. The Knicks have a 9% chance of landing the #1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but they have a 27.6% chance of securing a top 3 pick.
NBA 2020 DRAFT LOTTERY ODDS
Golden State Warriors (15-50) 14%
Cleveland Cavaliers (19-46) 14%
Minnesota Timberwolves (19-45) 14%
Atlanta Hawks (20-47) 12.5%
Detroit Pistons (20-46) 10.5%
New York Knicks (21-45) 9%
Chicago Bulls (22-43) 7.5%
Charlotte Hornets (23-42) 6%
Last year, the Knicks competed with Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns for the #1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft (aka Zion Williamson from Duke). However, the randomness of the draft meant that two 33-win teams — the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies — were awarded the top two picks.
The Knicks settled on the #3 pick (RJ Barrett from Duke) and their attempt to tank for Zion backfired. The Pelicans selected Zion with the first pick. The Grizzlies drafted Ja Morant with the second pick.
2020 NBA Draft Set for Oct. 18
The NBA typically hosts its draft during the NBA playoffs in June. But, the coronavirus outbreak and pandemic upended the entire sporting world. The NBA became the first professional sports league in North America to shut down after Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz tested positive for COVID-19. The league shut down on March 11 and postponed all activity, including the NBA Draft.
With the NBA eying a July 31 return to action in Orlando, Florida, the league offices put forth their plan to host the NBA Draft.
PROJECTED 2020 NBA DRAFT LOTTERY PICKS
Anthony Edwards (G, Georgia)
James Wiseman (C, Memphis)
LaMelo Ball (G, Illawrra Hawks)
Obi Toppin (F, Dayton)
Deni Avidja (G, Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Onyeka Okongwu (F, USC)
Isaac Okoro (F, Auburn)
Killian Hayes (G, Ratiopharm Ulm)
Tyrese Haliburton (G, Iowa State)
Cole Anthony (G, North Carolina)
The 2020 NFL Draft and 2020 WNBA Draft were both held virtually while everyone was at home in lockdown. Despite a few technical hiccups and glitches along the way, both drafts were successful.
This season, the Golden State Warriors were the worst team in the NBA with a 15-50 record. They lost Kevin Durant to free agency when KD signed with the Brooklyn Nets. The Splash Brothers were both injured; Klay Thompson blew out his knee and Steph Curry fractured his non-shooting hand.
The Warriors have a 14% chance of winning the lottery and landing the first overall pick. Will they opt for size and draft Wiseman? Or will they want to add another scorer like Edwards and make him the third Splash Brother?
NBA Finals, Free Agency
The specifics of the 2020 NBA Draft have yet to be outlined, but it will most likely hosted virtually like the WNBA’s draft.
Collegiate players now have until August 17 to declare their intentions to join the NBA Draft. The entry withdrawal date will be Oct. 6 for any player who wants to return to school (and who didn’t hire an agent).
The NBA eyes Oct. 13 as a potential NBA Finals Game 7. So, in theory, the NBA Draft could take place three days after Game 7.
Free agents can be signed 48 hours after the draft ends. Free agency will officially commence at Midnight, but teams and agents can start negotiating as early as 6 pm ET, or six hours before the annual moratorium begins.
This year’s class of free agents lacks the same superstar power seen in last summer’s race to sign Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Kawhi Leonard. Players reaching the end of their contracts include Gordon Hayward, DeMar DeRozan, Andre Drummond, and Paul Millsap.