Last week, the league office admitted what everyone in the NBA already knew: the 2020 NBA Draft would not be held on October 16 as originally (re)scheduled. With COVID-19 still circulating in the United States, the traditional predraft process of working out and interviewing players probably won't be happening this year and there's no clear indication what, if anything, is going to replace that process. There are reports that the league will attempt to hold a two-day virtual draft combine sometime in the next month and will shoot for holding the 2020 Draft on November 16, though even those plans are still tentative (UPDATE: the 2020 Draft will now be held on November 18). That's 2020 for you.
But while we may not know when the Draft is going to happen, we do know the Trail Blazers have two selections -- the 16th and 46th overall picks -- waiting for them when the event eventually takes place. The consensus seems to be that the 2020 class is short on All-Star caliber talent -- there's no agreement on who will go with the top pick and there's already more chatter about teams trading selections in the early lottery than we typically hear -- though that probably suits a team selecting just outside of the lottery.
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• Kevin O'Connor at The Ringer has the Trail Blazers selecting 6-6 sophomore forward Aaron Nesmith out of Vanderbilt...
Nesmith averaged 23.0 points on 51 percent shooting from the field and 52 percent shooting from three, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals this season for the Commodores.
• Sam Vecenie at The Athletic has Portland selecting 6-9 freshman forward/center Precious Achiuwa out of Memphis in his most reent mock draft...
Achiuwu averaged 15.8 points on 49 percent shooting from the field, 33 percent shooting from three and 60 percent shooting from the free throw line, 10.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.1 steals and 1.0 assists in 30.4 minutes per game this season for the Tigers.
• Jon Givony at ESPN hasn't updated his mock draft since the lottery, but the most recent iteration has the Trail Blazers selecting 6-3 freshman guard Tyrese Maxey out of Kentucky...
Maxey averaged 14.0 points on 43 percent shooting from the field and 29 percent shooting from three, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 34.5 minutes per game this season for the Wildcats.
• The folks at CBS Sports have a number of their analysts make draft predictions, most of which can be found below.
Kyle Boone has the Trail Blazers selecting 6-10 sophomore center Jalen Smith out of Maryland...
Smith averaged 15.5 points on 54 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent shooting from three, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 31.3 minutes per game this season for the Terrapins.
Matt Norlander has Portland selecting 6-9 freshman center Isaiah Stewart out of Washington...
Stewart averaged 17.0 points on 57 percent shooting from the field and 77 percent shooting from the free throw line, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 32.2 minutes per game this season for the Huskies.
Colin Ward-Henninger has the Trail Blazers selecting Precious Achiuwa out of Memphis...
• Corey Rausch at Hoops Habit has the Trail Blazers selecting 6-8 sophomore forward Saddiq Bey out of Villanova with the 16th pick...
Bey averaged 16.1 points on 48 percent shooting from the field and 45 percent shooting from three, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 33.9 minutes per game this season for the Wildcats.
• Ian Levy at Fansided also has Portland selecting Saddiq Bey with the 16th overall pick...
• Raphielle Johnson at Rotoworld has Portland selecting Memphis center Precious Achiuwa...