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The NBA was set on fire Monday with the lifting of the trading memorandum. Ten-time All-Star Chris Paul was among several players dealt.
On Wednesday, the drama will get even more intense as the league will be hosting a virtual 2020 NBA Draft. For the Kentucky Wildcats, they’ll have a ton of stock in the draft as all five of their starters from a year ago have entered their name.
It’d be shocking to see four of the five drafted. EJ Montgomery didn’t crack any mock drafts, but the other four did. That said, let’s dive into what some of the experts had to say on them.
Tyrese Maxey
There’s some talk the Magic may want to move up in the draft, but they can pick from a number of solid guards and wings on the board at this spot. They’ve lacked a dynamic backcourt scorer for some time, and Maxey would be a nice match, with potential to evolve into a quality two-way contributor. Although he’ll need to move the ball more consistently, Maxey has a utilitarian style, plays with confidence, and has solid defensive potential with his body type and toughness. If his jump shot improves, his ceiling is as high as anyone’s in this range. Don’t expect him to fall too far out of the lottery.
This would be a tremendous fit for Maxey, getting to defend lead guards on defense while focusing on his game as a scorer on offense next to Luka Doncic. His scoring mentality and ability would be a pretty tremendous fit in Dallas. The key will be the jumper, obviously, but most evaluators believe Maxey will shoot at a strong enough clip to be taken seriously out there. The question is: will he shoot 36 percent, or will he shoot 39 percent from 3? If he shoots the latter, he’s a starter. If it’s the former, he’s probably more of a really good sixth man in this role.
Opinions vary on Maxey, with believers buying his shot, touch, finishing and intangibles as skeptics question his shooting form, playmaking and athleticism. A team like the Heat won’t overthink, particularly given the track record of Kentucky scoring guards, including Tyler Herro, Jamal Murray and Devin Booker.
Immanuel Quickley
Off the NBA radar as a freshman, Quickley has developed into a fringe first-rounder by building a case as a shooting specialist.
Quickley made a huge leap from his freshman to sophomore year, working himself into a steady player who defends the perimeter, can hit open shots, and doesn’t have a glaring hope in his game. He’s not creative offensively and relies a good bit on drawing contact, and also isn’t a high-end athlete, which begs some question as to what he hangs his hat on beyond catching and shooting in the pros. Quickly also isn’t a particularly inventive passer, and he’ll need to pair with a playmaking guard for best results. But he has a chance to be a low-maintenance role player who adds some value on both ends of the floor, and he’s a solid option in this part of the draft.