NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe issued a memo to NCAA coaches on Tuesday morning telling them that the league will be accepting applications from college players seeking feedback from the Undergraduate Advisory Committee, per Adrian Wojnarowski and Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
The UAC provides potential early entrants with feedback on their stock – based on input from NBA executives – to help them make informed decisions on whether or not to declare for the draft. Prospects who want to test the draft waters must first apply for an evaluation from the UAC.
This year’s deadline to apply for that evaluation is April 16 — it’s not clear whether that date will be pushed back in the coming weeks, given the uncertain nature of the NBA’s hiatus. Adam Zagoria of Forbes tweeted today that multiple sources expect the draft to be postponed until July or August.
Whether or not the UAC application deadline changes, the process figures to be more important than usual this spring for prospects seeking feedback, as ESPN duo points out. Team executives are preparing for the possibility that scouting and workout opportunities will be extremely limited, if not entirely eliminated, leading up to this year’s draft.
According to Wojnarowski and Givony, VanDeWeghe acknowledged the “rapidly evolving” situation in his memo, noting that the league would advise NCAA coaches and players of any changes to the pre-draft process “whenever such information is available.”
Here’s more on the 2020 NBA draft:
- Chris Stone of Sporting News has updated his 2020 big board, with French guard Killian Hayes jumping up to No. 3, surpassing bigger-name prospects such as James Wiseman.
- Yale forward Jordan Bruner is expected to forgo his final year of college eligibility to enter the 2020 draft, as Jim Fuller of The New Haven Register writes. Meanwhile, SMU sophomore guard Kendric Davis will test the draft waters (link via Sam Blum of The Dallas Morning News), as will suspended Nebraska sophomore guard Cam Mack (Twitter link).
- Earlier today, we examined what the 2020 NBA draft lottery odds would look like if the 2019/20 regular season doesn’t resume and the current standings become the final standings.
1. Knicks: LaMelo Ball
2. Warriors: James Wiseman
3. Cavs: Anthony Edwards
4. Hawks: Deni Avdija
5. Wolves: Obi Toppin
6. Pistons: Cole Anthony
7. Bulls: Issac Okoro
8. Wizards: Killian Hayes
9. Hornets: Onyeka Okungwu
10. Suns: RJ Hampton
11. Kings: Tyrese Maxey
12. Spurs: Tyrese Halliburton
13. Pelicans: Precious Achiwua
14. TWolves: Devin Vassell
15. Magic: Nico Mannion
16. TWolves: Theo Maledon
17. Celtics: Isaiah Stewart
18. Mavs: Saqid Bey
19. Bucks: Arron Neesmith
20. Nets: Josh Green
How do you expect the Knicks to jump to #1? I would take a reverse order look first, and then wait to see what the lottery results are.
Knicks have the 4th or 5th best odds at number 1 giving them a 9% chance. Last year the pelicans won it with a 6% chance.
Letting the Knicks have first selection would be great for basketball as the season has disappeared due to the virus and this would gain a lot of attention and following again.
How would giving the Knicks the 1st pick be any better for basketball than any other team getting it? Thy already have enough of a potential advantage being in the biggest market. I don’t think they need any more help.
Because the Knicks have one of the biggest followings in the league and so by giving them getting the first overall pick it would get one of the biggest fan groups really excited. The last time the Knicks got the first overall pick it was Patrick Ewing their greatest ever player.
Who cares if the Cavs got first overall in the last decade they have had 3 first with Irving, Wiggins and Bennett and they don’t own any of those players now. If GSW get frat overall they will still most likely take James Wiseman which they could take 4th overall anyways. If the Hawks get first then it would be alright but not interesting. If Minny get it again it’s alright but not interesting…
Come on guys. Everyone knows he is right. The Knicks will get the first pick. The draft is fixed. If the Pelicans losing Davis (winning 1st for Zion), league buys Pelicans (get 1st for Davis), LeBron leaves Cavs (get first for Kyrie), Clev. Getting 1st to get LeBron, Chicago winning 1st to get Rose.
The list goes on and on and on. The lottery is rigged and the NBA makes sure teams get the picks they know are best for league/viewers etc. and they know Knicks need the pick so they will get it.
If the draft was fixed, Zion would have gone to NY not NOLA.
Already a theory fail, nevermind the Lebron-control part.
Come on yourself. And Silver is not Stern. But NY can have the #1 this year anyway, get Edwards for the 1. BTW advise to keep Payton.