It was a visually different NBA draft night in 2020. Due to the pandemic, this year’s draft took place at the ESPN Campus in Connecticut. At first glance, it looked like you were watching NBC’s The Voice rather than the NBA draft as ESPN’s NBA Draft coverage consisted of 4 analysts with their back to the stage. Aside from changes visually of the NBA draft, everything ran as most do. Here are five takeaways from NBA draft night in 2020.
Morey Moves
Daryl Morey has been with the Philadelphia 76ers for less than a month, and after draft night, Morey has already significantly shaken up their roster. The Sixers’ primary weakness is the lack of shooters surrounding their stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. On Wednesday, new President of Basketball Operations, Daryl Morey, made moves to circumvent Phillie’s roster flaws by trading away Al Horford and the $81 million remaining on his three-year contract to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Morey didn’t stop there. He also dealt the $21 million contract of Josh Richardson in exchange for Seth Curry. Curry joins Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson as draft day additions.
These moves help surround the current Sixers core with the shooters they were lacking. It also rewrote two of Philadelphia’s recent offseason failures. The four year $97 million Al Horford contract never really made sense for the Sixers to add an aging All-Star, and this move suggests that. While adding Josh Richardson was necessary to avoid losing Jimmy Butler for nothing but the shooting guard was never really a fit. The two additions were factors in the 76ers regression in the 2019-20 season. Most importantly, Wednesday’s moves open up much-needed salary cap for a possible Morey-Harden reunion or the addition of other key free agents.
Knicks Picks
Adding to the already strange NBA offseason, this year’s draft did not occur in its usual host city of New York. Fans are usually reminded of the location when boos ring after Adam Silver announces the Knicks pick. This year though, was different. The Knickerbockers may have a pick that was accepted among New York faithful when they drafted hometown kid Obi Toppin with the eighth overall pick.
Toppin took home the National College Player of the Year award as a standout at the University of Dayton. The 6 ft 9 power forward was apparently on top of the Knicks draft board all along. Obi has been compared to former Knick Amare Stoudemire with his play. However, if you ask the Brooklyn native, he’ll tell you he feels his game is more suited to Anthony Davis’ style of play.
Although the pick was well received by most, there are still question marks. Toppin adds to the long list of power forwards presently on the Knicks roster. Also of note is that the Obi Toppin is 22-years-old. It’s fair to argue that the Knicks won’t compete in the near future and can afford time for a player with more upside to develop. But if a jam at power forward and age are the only concerns in a Knicks draft based on track record, that’s a win.
Obi Toppin is joined by fellow first round pick Immanuel Quickley, whose a solid defender at the point guard position, but his main strength is as a shooter. The Kentucky point guard shot over 48% from the field from three-point range and looks to be an excellent addition to the New York backcourt.
Ball in the family
Remember when Lonzo Ball was preparing for the NBA draft, and Lavar Ball was on network tv nearly every day? At some point, there was a turn in the road where Lavar stepped away from his loud-mouth proud father Big Baller Brand promotion schtick on morning debate shows. Fast forward to now, the third Ball brother and possibly the best of the three, LaMelo Ball, was taken third overall to the Charlotte Hornets. Making history with Lonzo as the first time two brothers have been picked in the top 3 of the NBA Draft.
Outside of a hard to find Facebook tv show, it is hard to find the hot takes of Lavar Ball these days. Now, after the draft, it won’t be hard to find his youngest son LaMelo. The kid is a star and maybe the best player taken in the draft this year. The 6’7 point guard joins a young Hornet team and has the potential to change the trajectory of the Charlotte franchise.
Top Three Wiseman
One thing that has shown the evolution of the NBA over the past five years more than most is with James Wiseman. Five years ago, James Wiseman would have been a no brainer as the first pick in the NBA draft. Wiseman is 7’1 and an athletic shot-blocking center that can shoot. Now, teams prioritize three point shooting to low post play the value of a center like Wiseman has decreased.
Oddly enough, Wiseman was drafted by the team that revolutionized the three point shot and brought it to the forefront of NBA franchise’s game plans. Being drafted second overall by the Golden State Warriors, James Wiseman makes Wiseman the best true big that they have played with. Even Andrew Bogut was taken off the court in key minutes when the Warriors played small ball, but Wiseman is a talent the Warriors won’t want to take off the court, and that is athletic enough to remain in the game in small ball minutes.
The Warriors got the bad news of a Klay Thompson hours before the draft but still elected to choose James Wiseman second overall. Despite losing Thompson for the season, the Warriors welcome back star point guard Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, and now Kelly Oubre. The addition of James Wiseman adds another player to the Warriors offensive arsenal and also has the potential to bring a resurgence to the once NBA’s best defense.
Extra Emotion
This year with a pandemic altering the draft location and doing the draft with players at home with their families; we saw a lot more emotion than we are used to. Clips flooded Twitter, and many were wondering why this was. Typically they are drafted, hug their family, and head to the stage to meet the commissioner. NBA insider Amin Elhassan on ESPN’s Dan Le Batard Show with Stu Gotz described those as key moments for the draft picks to compose themselves between their hugs with family to shaking hands with the commissioner. This year, however, they were left to sit with their emotions on a couch with their closest loved ones with a camera in their living room. It was heartwarming to see the emotion and excitement of players and families dreams coming true.
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