NBA Draft date could be pushed back, but Heat already evaluating options for pick No. 23
The 2019-20 NBA season might still be suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, but there was an important NBA Draft deadline that came and went on April 26.
College underclassmen and international early entrants had until the end of April 26 to submit their names into the 2020 NBA draft pool. The NBA informed teams on April 28 that 205 players have filed as early-entry candidates for this year’s draft, including 163 from colleges and other educational institutions and 42 international players.
If the regular season does not resume, the Miami Heat would pick 23rd in the first round. The draft is scheduled for June 25 but could be pushed to later in the summer or maybe even the early fall, with the NBA shutdown threatening to shake up the league’s entire offseason calendar.
The predraft process has already been affected, with NBA teams preparing to make decisions on prospects without access to the scouting combine or pro days because of coronavirus-related restrictions. The league announced last week that the NBA Draft Lottery and NBA Draft Combine have been postponed, with both events previously scheduled for later this month in Chicago.
But if the draft is pushed to a later date, there’s a chance some of the key predraft elements like in-person interviews and private workouts could be salvaged.
According to ESPN, NBA teams have encouraged the league office to postpone the date of the draft from June 25 to no sooner than Aug. 1.
In a video released last week by the Heat, team president Pat Riley said the scouting department recently met to discuss college prospects.
“Most of the preparation is with our scouting staff with Adam Simon, Eric Amsler, Chet Kammerer, Keith Askins and the rest of the guys — Bob McAdoo — that get together and are starting to put together their list,” Riley said in the video. “Not having the opportunity to go to the tournaments and watch the ‘A’ players in any of the tournaments, not getting to a national championship — I mean, the NCAA has got to be feeling the same way we do. It’s like a lost year for some teams in college basketball.
“But I think [we’ve done] a great job of just sort of finding a way to start picking players through Synergy, through our website, through our scouting services and through our analytics department to try to make sure that when the draft comes, at No. 23, that we will have a number of players that we can select from.”
The list of early entrants sent to NBA teams includes more than a dozen players projected to go in the teens and 20s, many of whom could be available to the Heat if Miami ends up drafting 23rd.
Among early entrant power rotation players in that range:
▪ Duke 6-10 center Vernon Carey: Initially projected to go in the mid-to-late 20s, but could rise.
▪ Washington 6-9 swing forward Jaden McDaniels: Averaged 13 points, 5.8 rebounds; could go in mid-teens.
▪ Arizona 6-11 center Zeke Nnaji: Strong rebounder and high-effort big.
▪ Washington center Isaiah Stewart: Averaged 17 points and 8.8 rebounds.
▪ Maryland power forward Jalen Smith: Averaged 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks while shooting 36.8 percent on threes, but needs work as a passer.
Among early entrant wings in that range:
▪ Vanderbilt 6-6 swingman Aaron Nesmith: Averaged 23 points and shot 52.2 percent on threes, and would be tempting if there at 23.
▪ Alabama point guard Kira Lewis: All-SEC selection who averaged 18.5 points and 5.2 assists.
▪ FSU guard Devin Vassell: Probably would be off the board at 23.
▪ FSU small forward Patrick Williams: Raw but very talented; averaged 9.2 points and four rebounds.
▪ Villanova small forward Saddiq Bey: A polished player and shot 45.1 percent on threes.
▪ Arizona 6-6 guard Josh Green: Averaged 12 points and shot 36.1 percent on threes in one season with the Wildcats.
▪ Arizona point guard Nico Mannion: Averaged 14 points and 5.3 assists in one year with the Wildcats.
▪ Mississippi State swingman Robert Woodard: Shot 49.5 percent from the field and 42.9 percent on threes.
▪ Texas Tech guard Jahmi’us Ramsey: Averaged 15 points and shot 42.6 percent on threes.
▪ Duke point guard Tre Jones: ACC Player of the Year is projected by some to go in the second round.
According to NCAA rules, players who wish to maintain their collegiate eligibility must withdraw from the draft by June 3. International players wishing to remove their names from consideration must withdraw no later than 10 days before the draft.
NOTEWORTHY
Heat guard Tyler Herro feels like he would be considered one of the top candidates for the Rookie of the Year award if it wasn’t for a right ankle injury that forced him to miss 15 consecutive games before playing in Miami’s final game before the season was suspended on March 11.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is considered the favorite to earn the Rookie of the Year, followed by New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson and Heat guard Kendrick Nunn.
“I would say it went pretty well,” Herro said to ESPN of his first NBA season. “I ended up getting hurt toward the middle of the year. I missed like 15 games, but before that, I felt like I was starting to find my stride, starting to prove myself, so I’m definitely looking forward to getting back.
“I definitely feel like if it wasn’t for that injury, I feel like I would be one or two in the Rookie of the Year race, so I’m ready to get out there and prove myself again.”
Herro, 20, averaged 12.9 points while shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three-point range, four rebounds and 1.9 assists in 47 games in his first NBA season.
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 10:24 AM.
