Teams around the NBA are at a bit of a loss when it comes to scouting draft hopefuls.
Plenty of scouts rely on postseason play — including the NCAA conference and national tournaments — to help inform their opinions of players and draw up draft boards.
However, with those tournaments canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, NBA front offices are being forced to adjust. One of the ways they appear to be adjusting is by using IQ tests to evaluate draft prospects.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman reported that numerous NBA teams, including the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics, are administering these “tests” via Zoom interviews.
Hearing certain teams giving prospects some form of "IQ Tests" during Zoom interviews. Timed exercises involving shapes, numbers, memory, matching. Have heard Warriors, Wolves, Hornets, Raptors, Celtics use these.
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) May 29, 2020
Testing for cognition and basketball knowledge is about all teams can do outside of re-watching available game tapes.
Private workouts and the draft combine are other crucial parts of the draft process, but workouts are unlikely due to travel restrictions and it is unknown whether holding a combine is even possible.
Both the NBA lottery and the combine were postponed due to COVID-19, and the general expectation was the combine would be canceled.
Sources: Several NBA teams are preparing to make their selections for the 2020 NBA Draft based on Skype interviews and prior in-person scouting. Many are moving forward with the expectation of no combine, no workouts, and no in-person interviews.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 21, 2020
It would make sense for the Warriors and Celtics to be as thorough as possible.
Golden State will have a top-three pick in the draft as things currently stand, and that will be clinched if the NBA advances directly to a postseason format in the event a return-to-play plan is finalized.
The Celtics, meanwhile, are slated to have a trio of first-round picks, with the opportunity to add young talent at multiple positions of need.
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