All 2020 NBA draft picks
First round
1. Minnesota Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards, G, Georgia
2. Golden State Warriors, James Wiseman, C, Memphis
3. Charlotte Hornets, LaMelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks (Australia)
4. Chicago Bulls, Patrick Williams, SF, Florida State
5. Cleveland Cavaliers, Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn
6. Atlanta Hawks, Onyeka Okongwu, C, Southern California
7. Detroit Pistons, Killian Hayes, PG, France
8. New York Knicks, Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton
9. Washington Wizards, Deni Avdija, SF, Israel
10. Phoenix Suns, Jalen Smith, PF, Maryland
11. San Antonio Spurs, Devin Vassell, SG, Florida State
12. Sacramento Kings, Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State
13. New Orleans Pelicans, Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama
14. Boston Celtics, Aaron Nesmith, SF, Vanderbilt
15. Orlando Magic, Cole Anthony, PG, North Carolina
16. Portland Trail Blazers, Isaiah Stewart, C, Washington (reportedly traded to Detroit via Houston)
17. Minnesota Timberwolves, Aleksej Pokusevski, PF, Serbia (reportedly traded to Oklahoma City)
18. Dallas Mavericks, Josh Green, SG, Arizona
19. Brooklyn Nets, Saddiq Bey, PF, Villanova (reportedly traded to Detroit via L.A. Clippers)
20. Miami Heat, Precious Achiuwa, PF, Memphis
21. Philadelphia 76ers, Tyrese Maxey, SG, Kentucky
22. Denver Nuggets, Zeke Nnaji, PF, Arizona
23. New York Knicks, Leandro Bolmaro, SG, Argentina (reportedly traded to Minnesota)
24. Milwaukee Bucks, RJ Hampton, PG, New Zealand Breakers (reportedly traded to Denver via New Orleans)
25. Oklahoma City Thunder, Immanuel Quickley, PG, Kentucky (reportedly traded to New York)
26. Boston Celtics, Payton Pritchard, PG, Oregon
27. Utah Jazz, Udoka Azubuike, C, Kansas
28. Los Angeles Lakers, Jaden McDaniels, PF, Washington (reportedly traded to Minnesota via Oklahoma City)
29. Toronto Raptors, Malachi Flynn, PG, San Diego State
30. Boston Celtics, Desmond Bane, SG, TCU (reportedly traded to Memphis)
Second round
31. Dallas Mavericks, Tyrell Terry, PG, Stanford
32. Charlotte Hornets, Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke
33. Minnesota Timberwolves, Daniel Oturu, C, Minnesota (reportedly traded to New York)
34. Philadelphia 76ers, Theo Maledon, PG, France (reportedly traded to Oklahoma City)
35. Sacramento Kings, Xavier Tillman Sr., C, Michigan State
36. Philadelphia 76ers, Tyler Bey, PF, Colorado (reportedly traded to Dallas)
37. Washington Wizards, Vit Krejci, PG, Czech Republic (reportedly traded to Oklahoma City)
38. Utah Jazz, Saben Lee, PG, Vanderbilt (reportedly traded to Detroit)
39. New Orleans Pelicans, Elijah Hughes, SG, Syracuse (reportedly traded to Utah)
40. Memphis Grizzlies, Robert Woodard II, SF, Mississippi State
41. San Antonio Spurs, Tre Jones, PG, Duke
42. New Orleans Pelicans, Nick Richards, C Kentucky (reportedly traded to Charlotte)
43. Sacramento Kings, Jahmi’us Ramsey, PG, Texas Tech
44. Chicago Bulls, Marko Simonovic, C, Montenegro
45. Milwaukee Bucks, Jordan Nwora, PF, Louisville
46. Portland Trail Blazers, CJ Elleby, SG, Washington State
47. Boston Celtics, Yam Madar, PG, Israel
48. Golden State Warriors, Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona
49. Philadelphia 76ers, Isaiah Joe, SG, Arkansas
50. Atlanta Hawks, Skylar Mays, SG, LSU
51. Golden State Warriors, Justinian Jessup, SG, Boise State
52. Sacramento Kings, KJ Martin, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (reportedly traded to Houston)
53. Oklahoma City Thunder, Cassius Winston, PG, Michigan State (reportedly traded to Washington)
54. Indiana Pacers, Cassius Stanley, SG, Duke
55. Brooklyn Nets, Jay Scrubb, SG, John A. Logan College
56. Charlotte Hornets, Grant Riller, PG, Charleston
57. Los Angeles Clippers, Reggie Perry, C, Mississippi State
58. Philadelphia 76ers, Paul Reed, PF, DePaul
59. Toronto Raptors, Jalen Harris, SG, Nevada
60. New Orleans Pelicans, Sam Merrill, SG, Utah State (reportedly traded to Milwaukee)
Updated
60. Sam Merrill, SG, Utah State (New Orleans Pelicans)
Best of luck to Mr Merrill, it’s never fun to be picked last, but it still means that you’re an NBA Player. You may remember Isaiah Thomas, the point guard who helped reform the Boston Celtics into an unlikely playoff team and who eventually became the player in the middle of a trade for Kyrie Irving. The two-time All-Star was the 60th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. Once you’re in the league, you have a chance, and it will be a long, long time before anybody will ever be able to truly judge the results of this draft. The draft is a beginning and not an end and that’s why it’s always worth watching every year even after all the players you recognize are taken off the board.
In any case, thanks for sticking with our liveblog of the 2020 NBA Draft, especially those who contributed. Ciao!
Updated
58. Paul Reed, PF, DePaul (Philadelphia 76ers)
59. Jalen Harris, SG, Nevada (Toronto Raptors)
And the Pelicans have the last pic of the 2020 NBA Draft (although who knows if they will actually keep whoever it is).
56. Grant Riller, PG, Charleston (Charlotte Hornets)
57. Reggie Perry, C, Mississippi State (Los Angeles Clippers)
The finish line is in sight, everybody.
54. Cassius Stanely, SG, Duke (Indiana Pacers)
55. Jay Scrubb, SG, United States (Brooklyn Nets)
Jay Scrubb absolutely has the most unfortunate name of this year’s draft. I’m sure he has a passionate hatred for TLC that will never die.
53. Cassius Winston, PG, Michigan State (Oklahoma City Thunder)
And one more terribly sad story, this one about Winston losing his brother.
52. KJ Martin, SF, United States (Sacramento Kings)
That’s…. that’s Kenyon Martin’s kid. Kenyon Martin’s kid is now old enough to be in the NBA. I am turning to dust as I type this.
51. Justinian Jessup, SG, Boise St (Golden State Warriors)
Another draft and stash candidate.
48. Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona (Golden State Warriors)
49. Isaiah Joe, SG, Arizona (Philadelphia 76ers)
50. Skyler Mays, SG, LSU (Atlanta Hawks)
We’re 10 away from the end here and this is the part where I really have to tip my hat to the broadcast team for being able to have legit takes about these guys.
46. CL Elleby, SG, Washington St (Portland Trail Blazers)
47. Yam Madar, C, Israel (Boston Celtics)
The Celtics have a crowded roster, so they needed a draft-and-stash prospect here.
43. Jammi’us Ramsey, PG, Texas Tech (Sacramento Kings)
44. Marko Simonovic, C, Montenegro (Chicago Bulls)
45. Jordan Nwora, PF, Louisville (Milwaukee Bucks)
These guys all received about 25 seconds worth of airtime combined but at least they didn’t have to go through the emotional ringer of having an interviewer making them relive the worst moments of their lives as part of a human interest story.
...Unless the Pelicans are *not* keeping Nick Richards. At this point teams are making moves just to make sure that we’re paying attention.
Pelicans are trading Nick Richards to Charlotte, sources say. https://t.co/tmizBdlqNq
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 19, 2020
42. Nick Richards, C, Kentucky (New Orleans Pelicans)
The Pelicans sent away Elijah Hughes but is going to keep Richards, a solid rim protector.
41. Tre Jones, PG, Duke (San Antonio Spurs)
Another player who dropped a bit in the draft, which might end up being good news for the Spurs.
37. Vit Krejci, PG, Czechia (Washington Wizards-via-Chicago Bulls)
38 Saben Lee, PG, Vanderbilt (Utah Jzz)
39. Elijah Hughes SG, Syracuse (Utah Jazz via New Orleans Pelicans)
40. Robert Woodard II, SF, Mississippi State (Memphis Grizzlies)
Some of this is occurring during commercial breaks, which is the height of disrespect.
36. Tyler Bey, PF, Colorado (Philadelphia 76ers)
And we’re starting to run out of players who made regular appearances in this year’s batch of mock drafts.
34. Theo Maledon, PG, France (Philadelphia 76ers)
Speaking of Philadelphia, they select Maledon, although this is probably part of a future trade.
35. Xavier Tillman Sr, C, Michigan State (Sacramento Kings)
The “Sr.” is a new wrinkle, as Tillman recently became a father.
The Mavericks are trading Seth Curry to Philadelphia in exchange for Josh Richardson, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 19, 2020
Seth Curry will play for father-in-law Doc Rivers in Philly
Because Doc Rivers coaching someone on his family tree always ends up working out great.
33. Daniel Oturu, C, Minnesota (New York Knicks via Minnesota Timberwolves)
The Minnesota center is chosen by Minnesota but will ultimately be playing in New York. Slightly not intuitive, but nothing involving the Knicks is.
31. Tyrell Terry, PG, Stanford (Minnesota Timberwolves)
32. Vernon Carey Jr, C, Duke (Charlotte Hornets)
The teams also take far less time to make their decisions.
The second round of the NBA draft is always a very different than the first. There’s a reason why the gig goes to deputy commissioner Mark Tatum.
End of the 1st round
30. Desmond Bane, SG, TCU (Memphis Grizzlies via Boston Celtics)
The Celtics have a chance here to pick up a player that could… oh they are going to trade it to the Memphis Grizzlies. The choice is Desmond Bane. With that, Silver takes off for the night. The first round is over.
29. Malachi Flynn, PG, San Diego State (Toronto Raptors)
Okay I counted at least nine people in your celebratory party, Flynn.
Oh the broadcast points out he’s one of seven siblings. Okay, I’ll give you a pass.
Email from Mary Waltz:
East Coast fans see very little of Pac 12 games. Their games start at 10.00 eastern time, only die hard hoop fans follow the Pac !2 players who are not top ten candidates He is a good player.
This is true and those of us in Boston specifically are extremely biased towards pro sports.
In case you were wondering how all of that came about:
BREAKING: The T-Wolves are in trade talks to send the No. 17 Pick to OKC for Ricky Rubio, No. 25 Pick, No. 28 Pick, via @JonKrawczynski.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 19, 2020
28. Jaden McDaniels, PF, Washington (Minnesota Timberwolves via Los Angels Lakers)
The broadcast crew note that in the deal where they landed this draft pick they also got Ricky Rubio back. Which feels right.
A pianist, must be smart and good with his hands, who pulls out Michael Franks!? This guy is classic. https://t.co/gtRtRRcz3s
— TRW (@trw_co) November 19, 2020
Nnaji is definitely my favorite person in the draft so far because of this.
27. Udoka Azubuike, C, Kansas (Utah Jazz)
He’s somewhat new to the game, but he can already pull off impressive dunks. A fun guy to root for.
@HunterFelt Was about to suggest that the Knicks might be finally trying to take the long-term path to greatness with a pick like Bolmaro, who has the potential to be a real difference-maker. But no. RJ Hampton might have landed in the position to grow that he needs though.
— Mango Jenkins (@FunsoBanlow) November 19, 2020
Yeah it feels a little funny like the Knicks were like “no, no, this pick sounds too reasonable, let’s trade him.”
26. Payton Pritchard, PG, Oregon (Boston Celtics)
None of the Celtics fans on my Twitter timeline has ever heard of this person. Is this a Dawn from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” situation?
25. Immanuel Quickley, PG, Kentucky (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Did you know your last name is an adverb? The wonderfully named Quickley is actually going to the team that drafted him which at least makes liveblogging this easier to explain.
24. RJ Hampton, PG, United States (drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, but going to the Denver Nuggets)
Hampton decided to play overseas rather than in America, a shocking decision at the time.
23. Leandro Bolmaro, SG, Argentina (New York Knicks via the Utah Jazz)
Bolmaro’s spent 98 games in professional leagues overseas, so the question here is whether his talent will translate to the NBA… but it turns out that the Knicks won’t have to worry about that because they are trading him to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
can we get a Zeke Nnaji pregame piano anthem because wow that talent
— Madelyn Burke (@MadelynBurke) November 19, 2020
The 21st Century deserves its own version of “Roundball Rock,” especially now that John Tesh is canceled.
22. Zeke Nnaji, PF, Arizona (Denver Nuggets)
I’m very much would not have predicted this. His “get to know me” bit is about him being a talented pianist. Including a Michael Franks shoutout. Raise your head if you were expecting that during this broadcast.
I completely forgot that Doc Rivers was now head coach of the 76ers. Listen: there’s been a lot of stuff going on this year.
21. Tyrese Maxey, SG, Kentucky (Philadelphia 76ers vis Oklahoma City Thunder)
And there’s a lot of screaming from Tyrese Maxey’s camp when he’s chosen with the 21st pick.
@HunterFelt Talking of the Nuggets, surely Tyrell Terry must be on their minds. I'd take him over Precious. They need as much shooting and D on their roster as possible to pair with a genius like Jokic, even if he's just a back-up. But they'll probably bet big again on Hampton.
— Mango Jenkins (@FunsoBanlow) November 19, 2020
I honestly forgot about Hampton here and I feel like maybe some teams have as well.
20. Precious Achiuwa, PF, Memphis (Miami Heat)
No-brainer selection the Miami Heat, he seems like the exact right player to join a Heat team coming off a surprising Finals appearance.
And now we have an interview with new Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash, even though the player that the Nets just selected will not actually be a Net. Makes perfect sense.
19. Saddiq Bey, PF, Villanova (Detroit Pistons via Brooklyn Nets and some additional detours)
Okay there’s a lot that happened here, but this is the quickest way to explain it: the Brooklyn Nets made this selection for the Detroit Pistons, who received it as part of an elaborate trade.
Sources: The Clippers are sending No. 19 pick via Brooklyn to the Pistons and receiving Luke Kennard. Nets received Landry Shamet.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 19, 2020
Fair enough! The Denver paper is hoping for Josh Green, Tyrese Maxey, Precious Achiuwa, Isaiah Stewart (oops, gone), or Jalen Smith (darn, also gone).
— TRW (@trw_co) November 19, 2020
Of the ones still availalbe, I’d take Precious Achiuwa who I’m a tad surprised is still up here.
18. Josh Green, SG, Arizona (Dallas Mavericks)
The Mavericks select Josh Green who is from Arizona via Australia. His particular little “about me” segment is about Australian rules football.
Updated
17. Aleksej Pokusevski, PF, Serbia (Oklahoma City Thunder via Minnesota Timberwolves)
And one of our first international “unicorns” of the draft.
16. Isaiah Stewart, C, Washington (Detroit Pistons via Portland Trail Blazers)
This is the Trail Blazers pick, but he’s heading to the Pistons. We’re heading into the area of the draft order where it starts getting a bit complicated.
Who do you think will be available for the Nuggets?
— TRW (@trw_co) November 19, 2020
By the time of the early 20s, drafting becomes way more of an art than a science so I honestly couldn’t guess.
15. Cole Anthony, PG, North Carolina (Orlando Magic)
And there’s Cole Anthony, maybe a few spots lower than many would have thought. And, hey, random Spike Lee cameo!
@HunterFelt Hi Hunter! How do you feel about Cole Anthony? Lots of uncertainty with his injury but some places are touting him as a potential steal and solid player. Thanks!
— Alex Williams (@AlexWil24434103) November 19, 2020
He absolutely has potential to be the “I can’t believe the X got him with the Yth pick” player of the Draft (and there always is one, just ask Tyler Herro).
@HunterFelt The Celtics being within a little luck and better decision-making of being able to have Tyler Herro, Matisse Thybulle, and Tyrese Haliburton on tiny contracts, to grow under and help the bigger names, feels like proof that the Isaiah Thomas karma is real and enduring.
— Mango Jenkins (@FunsoBanlow) November 19, 2020
I’ll say this: the trading down to pick Jayson Tatum move ended up working so well that it’s hard to complain about the rest although I still do.
14. Aaron Nesmith, SF, Vanderbilt (Boston Celtics)
(Long, long sigh.) I guess Danny Ainge felt he needed a shooter here?
@HunterFelt where do you see RJ Hampton going at this point?
— Gareth Olver 〓〓 (@GBO26) November 19, 2020
In the next 2-3 picks, I think? I know that’s not incredibly specific, but we’re getting close to when he’s going to be the most attractive player remaining.
13. Kira Lewis Jr. PG, Alabama (New Orleans Pelicans)
Honestly, after landing Zion Williamson last time around, it doesn’t matter at all if Kira Lewis Jr. ends up panning out or not. I am going to assume this makes Cole Anthony as the Celtics’ pick.
Updated
This also pretty much puts an end to any thoughts of the Boston Celtics trading up in this draft, which I was convinced would be their best move considering how many picks they had in this draft. I should just stop predicting anything.
12. Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State (Sacramento Kings)
And Haliburton doesn’t even last long enough to tease Boston. The Kings gladly take him with the very next pick and the ESPN guys immediately start gushing about him.
11. Devin Vassell, SG, Florida State (San Antonio Spurs)
This selection official makes Tyrese Haliburton the guy falling in the draft which means that he will be taken the pick right before whenever the Boston Celtics have their first shot.
10. Jalen Smith, PF, Maryland (Phoenix Suns)
Phoenix Suns select Smith, who looks like a PF who could pitch-in as a center. This is all great, but I was really expecting at least one trade by this point.
Mary Waltz:
What will happen to Obi Tappin? He will either be a classic bust. Or, he will be great and the Knicks will trade him for a handful of past their prime stars and Obi will blossom into a hall of famer.
I’m thinking the second career path.
Twitter has fallen in love with Avdija’s wine collection.
Same energy. pic.twitter.com/WVHmAnMixR
— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) November 19, 2020
9. Deni Avdija, SF, Israel (Washington Wizards)
And the 6-foot-10 forward from Israel sneaks inside the Top 10. The ESPN guys really love this pick.
@HunterFelt Teared-up at every single pick. It's lovely to see the joy and to imagine what it must all mean to the player and their family. (At the exact same time, a lesser part of my brain is ordering my eyes to scour the scene for the uncle or two that's rubbing their hands.)
— Mango Jenkins (@FunsoBanlow) November 19, 2020
We have had a lot of crying throughout the night. Just about every player has gone through difficult circumstances to get to where there are now. It’s a shame that this all had to happen in this particular historical moment.
8. Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton (New York Knicks)
If the New York Knicks make a selection and Knicks fans aren’t there to boo it, have they really made a pick? The Knicks pick Obi Toppin, who is probably the best available player remaining and absolutely the best name in the entire draft. It’ll be interesting to see how the Knicks eventually screw him up.
7. Killian Hayes, PG, France (Detroit Pistons)
There’s a lot of international players being picked already. The commentators use the word “crafty” to describe him. Twice.
6. Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC (Atlanta Hawks)
And that answers that question.
issac okoro superspreader event
— 🌼Corbin Smith🌼 (@corbinasmith) November 19, 2020
Yeah. Holding a massive event during a pandemic is not a great sign of judgment you want from your first-round pick.
I am spending every single one of these interviews with draft picks hanging out with their friends and family and judging them by how many people they have invited. I have a bad case of 2020 brain.
5. Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn (Cleveland Cavaliers)
A solid, safe pick. He might have NBA-caliber defense already.
“You didn’t start a single game when you were in Florida.” I’m sure that Bulls fans really liked hearing that in regards to their first-round pick.
@HunterFelt Where do you see Onyeka Okongwu landing?
— Part-Time PM 💭 (@Roscommon_Cat) November 19, 2020
A very good question but honestly, it feels like we’re already in “nobody knows anything” territory as far as this draft.
4. Patrick Williams, SF, Florida State (Chicago Bulls)
Well, that’s certainly a decision. Feels like a bit of reach.
3. LaMelo Ball, PG, Chino Hills (Charlotte Hornets)
In a “Congratulations, I’m Sorrry” moment: the good news is that you’re playing for Michael Jordan now. The bad news is that you’re playing for Michael Jordan now.
Think he’s going to Charlotte now!
— SteveC (@Steve_C_7) November 19, 2020
It’s pretty much impossible to imagine a different outcome here.
2. James Wiseman, C, Memphis (Golden State Warriors)
It’s hard to know if they would have selected differently had Klay Thompson not been injured, but the Warriors go for the obvious choice at number two by chosing Memphis center James Wiseman. I approve.
I feel Ball's history (Undefeated with Chino Hills as 15 year old history, not the born to self-agrandising lunatic history) should be considered too.
— Part-Time PM 💭 (@Roscommon_Cat) November 19, 2020
He's always played against older, bigger, players (including professionals) and his game holds up. He could be anything.
True as he’s already played overseas in the Australian Basketball League which could only help his development.
Edwards certain has the talent to be a number one pick, the main issue with him might be due to the fact that he’s been on the record as not really being a basketball fan. “I’m still not really into it,” he said recently. “I love basketball, yeah. It’s what I do.”
Anthony Edwards is the first overall pick!
The Minnesota Timberwolves have selected Anthony Edwards, shooting guard from Georgia, with the first pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
What is the over/under on number of times a team trades down in this first round? Like 8? 10?
And the Minnesota Timberwolves are on the clock. They were apparently still making calls as off around a half-hour ago.
The 2020 NBA Draft Begins!
Alright, that’s enough vamping. Adam Silver is up here to talk more about how different this draft will be than most. He uses the term “New Normal” but he manages to avoid the term “unprecedented times.”
Did that beer commercial just use “Pressure Drop” as background music? Toots Hibbert didn’t die for this.
@HunterFelt I’m thinking Ball should be no1 pick, simply as he has the highest ceiling by far. Only negative is his whole “reality tv” family issue but think Levar can be ignored for the most part by the Wolves
— SteveC (@Steve_C_7) November 19, 2020
You could be right. I suppose I better make my position clear: I personally like big man James Wiseman the best of this bunch, but I understand that he might not be the best fit in the modern game.
It’s time for the obligatory Adam Silver interview here about how the NBA is preparing for next season. It’s briefly mentioned that in some cases, there will be a limited number of actual fans in the stands during some games. Seems risky to me, but I never thought the Disney World Bubble would work.
Okay, it’s looking like we’re a half-hour away from the actual start of the NBA Draft, I should have realized that ESPN would start off with a pre-draft show. In any case, I’m glad I made the decision to stream this on my laptop rather than try to hijack the apartment’s TV. They’ve let me blog basketball and baseball, but I can’t force this kind of sheer sports geekiness on my roommates.
Another problem with the Manning - Ball comparison idea is that Eli’s older brother was really good.
— TRW (@trw_co) November 19, 2020
As the person who proclaimed, in this very outlet, that Lonzo Ball would win Rookie of the Year in his first season, I cringed while reading this. This could also factor into why I’m cold on LaMelo, there’s a “once bitten, twice shy” element in play.
Hi @HunterFelt, what do you make of @SamSmithHoops's suggestions that LaMelo may be drafted by a team to act as an attraction in the hope it will lead to increased attendance and national TV game coverage?
— Brett Walker (@BrettWalkerPR) November 19, 2020
It wouldn’t be the first time that a team made a basketball signing with one eye on ticket sales and ratings. The NBA is not just a sports league, after all, it’s part of the Entertainment Industry.
This again goes with my idea that there will be teams out there who will value Ball higher than the team that lands him in the draft.
The Current 2020 Draft Order
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Golden State Warriors
- Charlotte Hornets
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Atlanta Hawks
- Detroit Pistons
- New York Knicks
- Washington Wizards
- Phoenix Suns
- San Antonio Spurs
- Sacramento Kings
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Boston Celtics (via MEM)
- Orlando Magic
- Detroit Pistons (via POR)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (via BKN)
- Dallas Mavericks
- Brooklyn Nets (via PHI)
- Miami Heat
- Philadelphia 76ers (via OKC)
- Denver Nuggets (via HOU)
- New York Knicks (via UTAH)
- New Orleans Pelicans (via IND)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (via DEN)
- Boston Celtics
- Utah Jazz (via LAC)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAL)
- Toronto Raptors
- Boston Celtics (via MIL)
Email from workwithleob
There was news that Klay injured his leg today. Will this affect the warriors pick?
Yes! How? Absolutely no clue. Until this news broke, it looked pretty set in stone that the Warriors were treating the 2019-20 season as one lost to injuries and that they would go back to being a threat in the Western Conference in the next one. So, the consensus was that they would look into trading the second round pick for pieces that would help them win now.
Thompson’s injury, however, could radically change their projected timeline, depending on its severity and the amount of time it takes for him to come back. I don’t think the Warriors even know what the best move here is.
The timing on this Klay news is about as complicated as it gets. The Warriors are about 90 minutes from making one of the more monumental decisions for the franchise for the next decade. The entire braintrust is at the facility in the war room together.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 18, 2020
Email from Jonng Inbrasil:
In prior years this was good tv, hope it is again but with no March Madness my interest is way down.
Yeah, don’t expect a huge production this time around, this Draft is going to be purely functional, it’s something the league has to do to move on in preparing for the next season. LaMelo Ball is the biggest name here among the players and his dad is ten times more famous than him.
Related email from Andrew James:
Why no love for Ball?And is this the first draft since [I can’t remember] that all top picks are likely to be traded?
Thanks!
I think Ball is probably going to be a good NBA player but I think his stock is artificially inflated by the whole Ball Family narrative. I feel like there’s a team out there that is willing to give up a lot for him and that, if so, the team that lands him should strongly consider pulling that trade.
I am tempted to compare LaMelo Ball to Eli Manning, but then I remember that Eli somehow beat my NFL team in the Super Bowl not once, but twice, so what do I know about such things?
Klay Thompson injured
Warriors star Klay Thompson suffered an apparent lower leg injury today and is undergoing tests to determine severity, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 18, 2020
Well, we told you there would be surprises today, but we didn’t promise they would be good ones. Depending on the severity of Thompson’s injury, this could make the Golden State Warriors’ lack of relevance, which until now seemed like a one-season story, an ongoing concern.
@HunterFelt evening hunter, i heard 72 game season then play offs that a normal length season? And just play offs covered in entirety?
— Stuie Neale (@MrNeale92) November 18, 2020
That’s what I’ve heard, the current starting date is penciled in at December 22 and it will be a 72 game season rather than the normal 82 which, to be perfectly honest, is a change the league should make permanent. 82 games was always just too long of a season even for most of us basketball diehards.
Email from Andrew James:
Hey Hunter,
Just wondering what you thought Charlotte should do tonight as they seem to be - once again - in a difficult position at number 3, dependent on where the top 2 picks go. Will whoever they take - maybe Ball - feel like a good result?
If Ball ends up at third, I would take a long, long look at trying to fleece a team looking to trade up in the draft.
Al Horford-for-Danny Green
I wasn’t kidding when I said that teams would be multitasking today more than ever. Already we have the first major trade of the evening. After a single, miserable season with the Philadelphia 76ers, big man Al Horford has reportedly been traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for veteran 3-and-D man Danny Green alongside guard Terrance Ferguson. In the deal, the 76ers are also sending the 34th pick in today’s draft, a protected first rounder from 2025 and the rights to Serbian guard Vasilije Micic.
Updated
Preamble
Hello everyone, remember NCAA Men’s College Basketball? It was a real thing once upon a time. Then on March 12 it, along with pretty much every other institution at the time, shut down thanks to Covid-19. The 2019-20 season ended without a champion being named. So, it’s been months since most of the players in today’s draft have actually participated in games of consequence and neither teams nor most basketball fans have seen them in action for a long while. Even before the pandemic hit, the 2020 NBA Draft was regarded as one of the weaker ones. The additional uncertainty brought upon by the long layoff has not helped.
So, there’s probably not a Zion Williamson to be found among the current class, but at the very least the long-postponed 2020 NBA Draft will act as an interesting experiment. There’s no Sure Thing here, for instance. The literal madness of March meant that there was no March Madness year, no opportunities for players to increase their draft stock by breaking out during the tournament.
On top of it all, the NBA Trade Deadline season didn’t kick off until Monday, which means that teams have spent the last few days furiously working the phones at the same time they’ve been reviewing their big boards of draft picks. This, in other words, could be a weird night, as if there have been any normal ones this year.
One thing remains the same: if you want to contribute to today’s liveblog, feel free to send your thoughts to us. You can do so by email (to Hunter.Felt.Freelance@theguardian.com) or via Twitter (@HunterFelt). The Draft itself is not starting until 7:30 pm EST according to ESPN, but that’s not going to stop any of us from the nonstop speculation, is it?
Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s some news from the Associated Press on a pre-draft move:
The New York Knicks moved up a few spots with their second pick of the NBA draft’s first round by completing a trade with the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
The Knicks acquired the No23 selection from Utah, sending the Nos 27 and 38 picks to the Jazz.
New York also received the draft rights to Croatian center Ante Tomic, who was taken by the Jazz in the second round in 2008 but has spent his entire career in Europe.
The Knicks’ first pick is the No8 selection.
