Could The 2020 NBA Draft Become A Buyer’s Market?

It’s no secret that numerous NBA teams, including both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors which holds the top two selections, are open to trading down from their current positions.

While the draft is never a sure thing, this year’s version will be a wonky one, which could scare teams to jump down to lower draft slots to avoid great fan expectations.

Only, for a team to trade down, there needs to be a team willing to trade up. And with so many teams considering the trading down route, it begs the question: Could the 2020 NBA Draft potentially become a buyer’s market?

One team that could make a go of it is Boston. The Celtics have three first-round picks, slotted respectively at #14, #26 and #30, and they have a stellar track record in draft context, having selected Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum in recent years.

Would the Warriors, a team generally short on assets due to their contractual obligations to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green, consider moving their second overall selection for three picks significantly further down the board with the hope of using all three to build a young bench core, which potentially could extend their championship window a few years from now?

Giving up the second overall pick, in any draft, is no easy decision. And giving it up for Boston’s package would be a downgrade in terms of quality and fair trade value. But that might be the new reality if only a few teams are willing to trade up. Those teams can squeeze the price hard, potentially giving up less value than under normal circumstances.

Say the Wolves and Warriors are both keen on the idea of trading down to Boston’s spots, as to avoid the headache of selecting high. Boston would then pit those offers up against each other and squeeze the lemon for all it’s worth. Maybe Minnesota backs off on demanding the 30th pick be included, thus forcing the Warriors to make a decision on what little they’re willing to take back for their pick.

In short, for teams with the confidence, and ability, to make a decision at the top of the draft board, this might be the year to roll that dice. Who’s to say if Celtics GM Danny Ainge and assistant GM Mike Zarren haven’t already identified Onyeka Okongwu, for example, as the next big time center in today’s NBA and are just biding their time before teams higher on the board go into pre-draft panic?

Even teams that are drafting low could feasibly enter the conversation, if the asking price for a top pick is dramatically lower than in years past.

The Denver Nuggets, another team that has drafted well in recent years, and who could use another ball-handling guard, could look at LaMelo Ball and decide to inquire about the price of moving up to one of the top spots. They’d have to sacrifice this year’s 22nd overall pick, not to mention future picks and a player. But if there’s a pathway to an offer that would get consideration, entirely based on a team’s hesitancy to select near the top, that avenue needs to be explored.

The 2020 NBA Draft might become Candyland for the teams that trust their scouting department, and who are willing to be aggressive. All it takes is patience.