Unfortunately, there will be no cigar-smoking, tequila-drinking Michael Jordan in a Zoom box at the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery. Instead, Devonte' Graham will virtually represent the Charlotte Hornets at the virtual event, which will take place on Thursday.
According to ESPN's Zach Lowe, De'Aaron Fox will represent the Sacramento Kings, Rui Hachimura will attend for the Washington Wizrads, former All-Star Brad Daughtery will represent the Cleveland Cavaliers, and recently hired executives Leon Rose and Arturas Karnisovas will attend on behalf of the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls, respectively. Phoenix Suns general manager James Jones will represent his franchise.
In his second NBA season, Graham, 24, started 53 of the team's 63 games and led the Hornets in points (18.2) and assists per game (7.5). He shot just 38.2 percent from the field, but his production still marked a notable uptick from his rookie season, when he averaged just 4.7 points in 46 games.
Graham will be a free agent after the 2020-21 season—the third year of his $4 million rookie deal after being drafted in the second round (34th overall) by the Atlanta Hawks in 2018.
The Hornets finished 23-42 in 2019-20, giving them a 6.0 percent chance at winning the lottery and securing the top pick in the 2020 draft (scheduled for Oct. 16). Their chances of ending up in other lottery positions includes around six and seven percent for the second, third, and fourth picks, 34.5 and 32.1 percent for picks eight and nine, respectively, and 6.7 percent from No. 10.
In the most recent mock draft from ESPN's Jonathan Givony, he has the Hornets selecting big man Precious Achiuwa from Memphis in the No. 8 spot. “After starting Bismack Biyombo and Cody Zeller at center this season, the Hornets likely will be looking to upgrade the position long-term, especially on the defensive end,” notes Givony.
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