Go through the gallery to see Rod Beard’s NBA mock draft 1.0 for 2020. Click here if you have trouble viewing the gallery.
The NBA draft has been as impacted as anything else in the sport since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. College players didn’t get an NCAA Tournament, there was no draft combine and there likely won’t be a summer league, either.
There’s already talk that the projected date, Oct. 16, will have to be pushed back because of the uncertainty with the salary cap and other financial concerns.
By all accounts, this draft doesn’t have the top-tier talent that even last year’s draft had with Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. What it does have is depth at several positions, including the backcourt. Pistons general manager Troy Weaver noted that there isn’t much dropoff in talent between the No. 3 and No. 13 picks, which seems to hold some merit.
Following the draft lottery, the Charlotte Hornets moved into the top three and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were tied for the best odds to get the No. 1 pick, fell to fifth.
It might take some time for the smoke to clear on this draft before anyone can make real assessments about the talent overall talent level, but many teams will be able to fill holes in their rosters with solid players who won’t have to be immediate-impact rookies.
rod.beard@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @detnewsRodBeard