Israeli point guard Yam Madar has decided to enter the 2020 NBA draft, agent Alex Saratsis tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link).
Madar, who plays for Hapoel Tel Aviv and ranks 74th on ESPN’s big board, is a candidate to be selected in the second round, as Givony notes. I imagine the 19-year-old’s odds of being drafted would increase if he’s willing to be a draft-and-stash prospect, developing his game for another year or two overseas while an NBA team holds his rights.
Here’s more on the 2020 draft:
- Yet another Kentucky underclassman has entered the draft, with the Wildcats announcing today that sophomore forward EJ Montgomery is the latest to declare. Montgomery, who tested the draft waters a year ago, will go pro this time around after averaging 6.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 1.1 BPG in a part-time role (24.1 MPG) for Kentucky. Five Wildcats are now part of our early entrants list, with Kahlil Whitney – who left the program in January – representing a sixth.
- Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer makes a case for why he believes French guard Killian Hayes should be considered the No. 1 prospect in the 2020 draft class. Within the story, O’Connor suggests that NBA teams have wildly varying opinions on many of this year’s top prospects — for instance, some executives have center James Wiseman atop their boards, while others don’t have him in their top 10.
- Israeli forward Deni Avdija is another wild card among this year’s lottery prospects. Marc Berman of The New York Post takes an in-depth look at Avdija, noting within the piece that the Raptors have scouted the youngster more than most teams. Toronto, of course, won’t be in position to draft Avdija in this year’s lottery.
Why on Earth would EJ go pro?
Self delusion and bad advice.
Totally. But G League and overseas teams always looking for players.
They will still be looking after his junior or senior year.
Who doesn’t have Wiseman in their Top-10?? A team with a good 5?
Wiseman goes outside top. There will be GMs fired. A team should trade in if team picking doesn’t want him. Like Warriors if they select first. Warriors are in win now mode. So I can see them trading out. Wiseman can be better than Ayton. If he played all yr. There would be no doubt he’d go first. I would trade M Robinson, Frank or Payton, plus a future #1 pick for him. Wiseman is a 2way player, a future all star.
Last thing the Knicks should do is trade away future assets. Absolutely last thing.
Knicks are fine where they are in the draft. They’d most likely get their pick of pg as Haliburton Hayes Anthony should be available.
If anything they should dangle Randle to the nuggets for the 1st they got from the rockets. Nuggets have a huge hole at PF with Millsap and Grant potentially gone.
Knicks need to build a culture and team FAs want to come to. Until then Knicks absolutely need to build through the draft.
Knicks have three picks. Trading for Wiseman doesn’t hurt their future. It makes it better. He’s better talent than Mitch will ever be. I know they don’t have the guts to do trade. I would in a min. Hayes is too young and far away. Randle is a player who needs coaching. Needs commitment to his talent. Three teams in five yrs, only 25. We don’t have a starting 4. Portis is overplayed. It would be best to commit n coach him. Clippers pick can get us future 4. Pokusevski a kid, can be another Dirk or close. Draft and stash for yr or two in Europe. We are already one of youngest teams. Time for them to start growing up. Knicks management sucks Knox, DSJ, Frank, Trier, Dotson, even Mitch have all been mismanaged. This coach is super important now. To change the culture here. Still a very young core. With three picks coming.