The official restart of the NBA season hasn't even happened, but already, teams are already deep into their preparations for the upcoming draft. According to a recent report, the league has already sent out the list of prospects that are expected to participate in this year's draft combine.
There are reportedly 105 players on the NBA list, which is based on votes placed by the teams themselves:
The NBA sent teams this week a list of 105 players who received the most votes to be invited to the NBA Combine, should one actually take place. This list would eventually be whittled down to 70 if needed by teams, again by vote.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) July 23, 2020
Unfortunately for around 30 percent of the players on the initial list, they might not actually make the first cut, given how NBA teams will be asked to vote again to reduce the total number of players in the combine.
It has already been announced that next season's NBA Draft Lottery will take place on August 25, which will coincide with the first round of the playoffs. The Golden State Warriors, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are the three teams with the best odds in the upcoming lottery. The Atlanta Hawks and the Detroit Pistons round out the top five.
The actual NBA draft is scheduled for October 16. Obviously, what happens during the lottery will determine how the draft will go down. Nonetheless, it is 7-foot-1 big man James Wiseman of Memphis that is considered by many as the consensus first overall pick. Other big names included in most Top 5 lists include Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Deni Avdija, and Obi Toppin.
While there are some who consider the NBA draft combine to be a bit of a formality, especially for the top lottery picks, one cannot undermine the relevance of a prospect's performance during this event. It is an opportunity for these youngsters to significantly improve their draft stock, while for others, a poor showing might have an adverse effect on their draft night results.
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