Brian Rauf | @brauf33 | 06/16/20
Welcome to another look at the latest rumors ahead of the 2020 NBA Draft!
The league has finally ironed out specifics regarding the draft, setting dates for both the lottery (August 25) and the draft itself (October 15). The NCAA’s deadline for early entrants to withdraw from school will be no later than August 3. These plans assume there are no more delays in re-starting the current NBA season, which has been on hold since March 11 and is set to resume on July 30.
Every Tuesday and Friday, we will be bringing you everything you need to know about whose draft stock is rising, whose is falling, and which prospects teams are targeting.
Here’s all the latest buzz you need to know.
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Devin Vassell to go in the top 5?
Florida State wing Devin Vassell continues to rise up draft boards because of his shooting (41.5% from three-point range) and defense, making him a prime candidate for the “3-and-D” role in the NBA a la Trevor Ariza.
Given his upside in that role and the lack of top prospects in this class, some expect Vassell to be taken in the top 5. One of the teams interested in him in that range is the Golden State Warriors, according to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle.
He writes that “the Warriors like Vassell’s 3-and-D potential enough that they’d consider taking him at the bottom of the top five,” or could potentially trade down to take him in the lottery.
Golden State is also known to be interested in Georgia’s Anthony Edwards and Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton in the top five, but they may trade out of the first round altogether.
Tyrell Terry’s broken record
Stanford point guard Tyrell Terry is a borderline first-round draft pick and hasn’t yet made an official decision as to whether he will remain in the draft or return to school.
He is really helping himself through the pre-draft process by displaying his smarts (typical for a Stanford kid, right?). According to USA Today’s Bryan Kalbrosky, Terry “‘broke a record‘ for a basketball IQ test administered by several NBA front offices.”
Despite a lack of ideal size (6-1, 160 lbs.) some scouts are high on Terry because of his shooting (40.8 percent from three) along with that high basketball IQ. Kalbrosky has him going No. 16 overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
—Complete 2020 NBA Mock Draft!
Hornets not ruling out drafting a point guard
The Charlotte Hornets are still in the early stages of their rebuild, but they appeared to have gotten their point guard position figured out this past season. Devonte’ Graham had a breakthrough in his second year (18.2 ppg, 7.5 apg) and Terry Rozier started every game while also averaging 18.0 ppg as they were the franchise’s two most consistent players.
However, that doesn’t mean the Hornets are settled with them apparently.
According to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, general manager Mitch Kupchak believes the team “isn’t at a stage in development when positions are more important than gathering talent” and will take the best player available regardless of position.
Charlotte is currently projected to have the No. 8 overall pick ahead of the lottery.
Brian Rauf is a college basketball writer for HeatCheckCBB.com. His content has been featured by Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, and FanSided, among other publications. Rauf is also a current USBWA member and Rockin’ 25 voter.