NBA general managers have grown a bit concerned with the lack of depth in this upcoming 2020 NBA Draft, with some even willing to make moves before their team is on the clock. The projected top three of James Wiseman, Anthony Edwards, and LaMelo Ball has done little to convince a wave of front-office executives that they're worth the shot.
One GM even admitted he wouldn't even want the top pick:
“I wouldn’t even want the No. 1 pick,” one NBA general manager told Jeff Goodman of Stadium. “If I have it, I’m trying like hell to trade it.”
Many wonder if the No. 1 pick carries as much weight as in past drafts. Memphis Tigers freshman center James Wiseman, the favorite to be drafted with the top pick in Goodman's latest survey, might not command that asking power:
“It’s not an easy decision,” another NBA GM added. “And even though the NBA doesn’t value bigs like it used to, there just aren’t a lot of 7-footers who can run and jump like Wiseman can out there.”
Wiseman, a 7-foot-1 big man, scored 28 points with 11 rebounds in the season opener against South Carolina State. He followed that effort with 17 points and nine rebounds over UIC before putting up 14 points and 12 boards in a loss to the Oregon Ducks before his season came to an end.
Three games. That is the extent of Wiseman's college sample size, something many GMs see with skepticism:
“I love his size, length and ability to run the floor,” one NBA general manager said. “The knock on him is that he’s soft, but the bottom line is he has all the measurables, and he can really impact the game on the defensive end.”
Wiseman came out on top after 35 executives were polled about their top pick, winning the vote of 20 of them (57%). Yet Edwards and Ball haven't convinced many to hold onto their selection for dear life:
“This is an underwhelming draft at the top,” added a high-ranking executive. “It’s as difficult for the No. 1 pick as I’ve seen in a long time.”
The Golden State Warriors have the worst record in the league at 15-50 and have an equal 14% chance to win the top pick, tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves. Getting the top pick could be a monumental moment for any of these franchises, though it might just become a transaction if the front office isn't convinced with the quality at No. 1.
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