Regardless of what happens with the remainder of the NBA season, the draft will eventually take place.
The Golden State Warriors had a league-worst 15-50 record when the season was suspended. Most lottery simulations conclude they will have the first pick. But don’t expect the five-time defending Western Conference champs to make that pick.
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks are looking to make a splash after existing in irrelevance over the past several seasons. Look for them to be big-time players come draft day.
It’s in this that we predict how the top of the 2020 NBA Draft will unfold once it comes calling.
Pick No. 1: Knicks trade up with Warriors to land a star player with a well-known last name.
Pick No. 2: Cavaliers add a big man to go with their young star-studded backcourt.
Pick No. 3: Timberwolves find a partner to team up with D’Angelo Russell.
Pick No. 4: Hawks go international to find a running partner for star guard Trae Young.
Pick No. 5: Another blockbuster trade early in the draft. This time, between the Suns and Pistons.
Pick No. 6: The Warriors continue to add assets as a way to build for the future and potentially bring in another star.
Pick No. 7: The Chicago Bulls look to add to their perimeter game as a way to bolster a talented young roster.
Pick No. 8: The Charlotte Hornets have some nice young players on their roster. They now need to go big to complement a solid perimeter game.
Pick No. 9: It’s by now a foregone conclusion that injured point guard John Wall has no future with the Wizards. Look for Washington to find a replacement.
Pick No. 10: Now that the Pistons are in complete rebuild mode, look for them to go upside with the pick acquired from Phoenix.
Pick No. 11: After trading down twice, Golden State finally makes a selection. It will simply go best player available.
The 2020 NBA Draft is as unpredictable as any in recent memory. There’s no consensus No. 1 overall player. The NCAA Tournament being canceled adds another layer to what will be an interesting draft.
We are expecting trades to be the name of the game here. Teams picking in the top end of the draft, such as the Golden State Warriors, have their eyes on much larger prizes. It’s going to shake things up big time.
Look for the top of this year’s NBA Draft to be as interesting as anything we’ve seen in the recent past. It’s going to be a blast.
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