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The NBA Draft kicks off on Wednesday night in Brooklyn, New York. Unlike most years, there’s a lot going on this year. Teams are working overtime trying to figure out what other teams are doing and what trades could move them up or down the draft board.
The Atlanta Hawks are still exploring their option for the No. 1 pick despite one of their top targets (Alex Sarr) refusing to participate in workouts and meet with teams, and the ripple effects of deciding on the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5 picks will likely result in some chaos and general uncertainty on the first day of the draft.
On the second night, Bronny James is projected to be the 55th pick by the Lakers, but there could be a surprise in the second round depending on what happens in the first round. It’s also possible that a projected first-round pick falls in the second round.
Here are five major storylines to watch heading into the NBA Draft on June 26-27.
What would the Atlanta Hawks do with the No. 1 pick?
The Hawks have three players with the No. 1 overall pick: Zachary Lisacher, Donovan Clingan and Alex Sarr. Lisacher is a 6-foot-9 wing who is a favorite to be the No. 1 pick due to his ability to shoot along the perimeter. Clingan is a dark horse for the No. 1 pick, but has drawn attention for his long-term potential as a starting NBA center who can protect the rim defensively and be a pick-and-roll threat offensively. Sarr, a 7-foot-1 French center, has opted to only work out with the Washington Wizards, preferring to be the No. 4 rather than the primary big man anchoring the defense.
The Hawks aren’t opposed to selecting Sarr with the first pick, even though he has yet to practice, but they would likely select Lisacher or Clingan or negotiate a trade with the Spurs, who hold the fourth and eighth picks and have valuable future trade assets if the Hawks decide to dismantle and rebuild their team.
Lottery deals possible
The domino effect that could occur from one trade or one lottery pick could impact the entire first round. Atlanta could be first with the No. 1 pick, which could lead to trade talks between the Spurs and Hawks for Lisacher. If the Spurs acquire Lisacher and Clingan falls, he could return to play for Detroit at No. 5. Portland (7th) and Memphis (9th) are both looking to bolster their frontcourts and would like to add a 7-foot-2 center with elite rim protection to their squads.
Memphis could also consider trading away Baylor center Yves Missi from the lottery to draft him. Missi is expected to be a mid-first round pick, and the Heat (15th) and Lakers (17th) are two teams interested in moving up the ranks, sources told Yahoo Sports.
Another team that could be looking to go high in the draft is Charlotte (No. 6). The Houston Rockets have the No. 3 pick and are in negotiations with teams hoping to select higher. The Hornets could be targeting University of Connecticut guard Stephon Castle to join LaMelo Ball in the backcourt and would need to pick ahead of San Antonio (No. 4) to draft him. Castle is expected to go to the Spurs at that position, according to multiple league sources.
Nicola Draft Topic range
The fuss around the Serbian guard has quieted down since news broke of his partially torn ACL, with his draft position ranging from No. 8 to the Spurs to No. 22 to the Suns. If he makes a full recovery and returns to the dominant guard scouts fell in love with in the Serbian league, some teams could draft him on potential alone, or they could afford to be patient and wait for him to recover.
One of the best passers in this draft, Topic can pressure defenses at the rim and has quick rushes off the dribble. Teams like the Spurs, Jazz, Thunder or Heat could take him late in the lottery or mid-first round, creating a top-five talent in this draft a year from now.
Will Bronny James be confirmed to join the Lakers at age 55?
Never in recent years has there been so much speculation and buzz surrounding a potential second-round prospect. Bronny James is LeBron James’ oldest son, and the stars seem perfectly aligned for them to become the first father-son duo to step on an NBA court together.
The league-wide consensus was that Toronto had initially shown interest at 31st, Minnesota at 37th and Dallas at 58th, with the Lakers dropping below at 55th. But Bronny is far from a finished product, and his agent, Rich Paul, said he would only consider teams offering him a guaranteed contract. Teams who know what’s on the table are lining up for the 6-foot-2 combo guard, leaving room for the Lakers to take him at 55th.
Zach Eddy’s possible landing spots
The 7-foot-4, 300-pound center was the best player in college basketball for two straight seasons, but many question how his game will translate to the NBA. He ranks in the 99th percentile in offensive efficiency, according to Synergy Sports, and he’s also a solid rebounder. The questions start with his defense in the pick-and-roll and when the team opts for a five-out, a popular lineup that helped the Celtics win an NBA championship. His foot speed could use some improvement, and he probably won’t be able to get in the lane on defensive threes in the NBA.
His draft rankings have been creeping up inside the first round, which is a bit worrying given his limitations on both ends of the court, with many sources around the league betting he could be drafted by Portland as early as 14th, with the lowest possible pick being Cleveland at 20th. We’ll likely find out soon during the NBA Summer League whether Eddie can keep up with the pace and spacing of an NBA game, and whether his size and build can withstand the rigors of an 82-game season.
