Thoughts on NBA Draft in October

[Mr Vulture]

With the NBA looking to start play the end of July, with an end date of October 12th (latest date), what are your thoughts on kids declared for the draft? It sounds like the draft and free agency would both happen in October but after the completion of play. Seems to me that decisions will need to be made by September with classes starting. Now, I suppose they could hold workouts for draft prospects in August. The hard part would be how would they go about handling workouts from a testing and protocol standing.

My personal feeling is that if a kid is not going to be a first round pick guaranteed, they would be best served by coming back to school. I tended to think all three of our guys would come back anyway, with Petrusev the most likely to stay in the draft.

[GonzaGAW]

- for the players the timing sucks of course
- but they will still get the 'feedback' and 'input' from nba professionals on how their game might transfer to the nba, and what interest g.m's might have in them. just not all the face time, court time as typical.
- i agree, unless a player is not already on 75% of the mock draft boards, they prudent thing to do is head back to school.
- i always believed cory and joel would return to school, i think given the timing of the draft and college ball, they are both a lock to return.
- petrusev on the other hand, i believe he simply wants to play professional ball, nba or oversea. i believe chances are better than not that he does not return.

[Zag1203]

Even though the draft has been pushed back, players have been undergoing evaluations and interviews with teams over the past month and a half. At this point, if underclassmen don't have a strong connection to a team or a promise to be taken at a certain pick, they should come back. Gonzaga specifically will get new players on campus on June 15th with workouts and summer functions likely also happening then. I'm sure other programs are too. I suspect players across the country will be making their decision in the coming 2 weeks even though the deadline will be extended even longer into the summer.

[Mr Vulture]

I tend to think that it will be awhile before Ayayi and Petrusev make decisions as they are likely overseas right now (I could be wrong). Kispert I expect to come back, as do I feel Ayayi will, so he may make the call the first of the three. I could see a scenario, not saying it will happen, where Petrusev decides to stay in the draft and if he's not taken, just stay in Europe and play professionally without coming back to the States.

[Zags11]

I think kispert comes back at 80%. Ayayi at 95% and Petru at 65%.

My personal belief is they all return. Zags win the title and they are all top 20 picks.

[jsnider]

I think kispert comes back at 80%. Ayayi at 95% and Petru at 65%.

My personal belief is they all return. Zags win the title and they are all top 20 picks.

I will take that one Zags11. Love it.

[Zags11]

I will take that one Zags11. Love it.

[jazzdelmar]

IMO, Watty is the most legitimate NBA prospect on the current roster. He's Broadway. Everyone else is Bridgeport.

[jsnider]

I have a dumb question for all of you. This is not a normal year. Today should have been the date that our 3 guys would have had to decide whether they were going back to GU or staying in the draft. But with the draft lottery and combine scheduled for August, it would seem as if our 3 guys (Ayayi, Kispert, and Petrusev) would have much longer to decide. However, players will be back on campus around the middle of June to start practicing and doing drills at least informally. With our 3 guys in no mans land right now meaning undecided, can they still participate in practices while still being undecided? Are they even formally a part of the team while their name is still out there in the NBA draft? I don't think this has ever happened before where players were still undecided when practices started but the timing this year is all different. thank you for any insight you can give me on this subject.

[Zag1203]

I tend to think that it will be awhile before Ayayi and Petrusev make decisions as they are likely overseas right now (I could be wrong). Kispert I expect to come back, as do I feel Ayayi will, so he may make the call the first of the three. I could see a scenario, not saying it will happen, where Petrusev decides to stay in the draft and if he's not taken, just stay in Europe and play professionally without coming back to the States.

I am 95% sure that both are in the US right now. I don't think any of our players were advised to leave the US during COVID.

[StatZag19]

NBA has set an August 25 Draft Lottery and October 15 Draft, sources say.

This is interesting. Likely means the date to withdraw from the draft is probably early August. Classes start for many universities in mid-late August.

If any of the 3 are sure they're not staying in the draft, logic suggests they'd withdraw before the June 15th date of voluntary activities. That's assuming GU opens campus by then for athletes to come in and train. A lot of variables here, to be honest.

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1...879392257?s=19

[willandi]

NBA has set an August 25 Draft Lottery and October 15 Draft, sources say.

This is interesting. Likely means the date to withdraw from the draft is probably early August. Classes start for many universities in mid-late August.

If any of the 3 are sure they're not staying in the draft, logic suggests they'd withdraw before the June 15th date of voluntary activities. That's assuming GU opens campus by then for athletes to come in and train. A lot of variables here, to be honest.

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1...879392257?s=19

I would come in and train, using as much of the facilities for as long as I could. I would continue interacting with the other athletes, with the school and with the NBA until the last minute.

That's what MY logic would say.

[Mr Vulture]

NBA has set an August 25 Draft Lottery and October 15 Draft, sources say.

This is interesting. Likely means the date to withdraw from the draft is probably early August. Classes start for many universities in mid-late August.

If any of the 3 are sure they're not staying in the draft, logic suggests they'd withdraw before the June 15th date of voluntary activities. That's assuming GU opens campus by then for athletes to come in and train. A lot of variables here, to be honest.

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1...879392257?s=19

I am not sure when the draft combine is happening, or if it's happening. I would imagine that any player receiving an invite to that would likely accept and participate for the feedback and exposure. I've heard that would happen in August, but nothing concrete to confirm that.

[StatZag19]

I would come in and train, using as much of the facilities for as long as I could. I would continue interacting with the other athletes, with the school and with the NBA until the last minute.

That's what MY logic would say.

Are players who declared for the draft allowed to participate in school team activities before they decide to stay/go back?

[jsnider]

Are players who declared for the draft allowed to participate in school team activities before they decide to stay/go back?

Thank you StatZag19 - that is my exact question. Specifically can Kispert, Ayayi, and Petrusev start practicing with the team when they have not decided whether they are coming back to school yet or staying in the draft? Are these 3 players still technically on the Gonzaga basketball team while in this state of deciding one way or the other? Does anybody know the answer to that question?

[Zag1203]

Thank you StatZag19 - that is my exact question. Specifically can Kispert, Ayayi, and Petrusev start practicing with the team when they have not decided whether they are coming back to school yet or staying in the draft? Are these 3 players still technically on the Gonzaga basketball team while in this state of deciding one way or the other? Does anybody know the answer to that question?

The NCAA doesn't even know. They are scrambling to come to a conclusion right now and set a new withdrawal date according to Adam Zagoria.

[Zag1203]

UPDATE per John Rothstein:

The 2020 NBA Draft withdrawal deadline will be August 3rd or 10 days after the NBA Draft Combine --- whichever comes first, per release.

No combine date has been set yet.

[jsnider]

UPDATE per John Rothstein:

The 2020 NBA Draft withdrawal deadline will be August 3rd or 10 days after the NBA Draft Combine --- whichever comes first, per release.

No combine date has been set yet.

Thank you Zag1203. Do you or anybody know that if all 3 guys do not withdraw from the NBA draft until August 3rd - can they still practice and participate with team activities while still deciding?

[willandi]

Thank you StatZag19 - that is my exact question. Specifically can Kispert, Ayayi, and Petrusev start practicing with the team when they have not decided whether they are coming back to school yet or staying in the draft? Are these 3 players still technically on the Gonzaga basketball team while in this state of deciding one way or the other? Does anybody know the answer to that question?

The team isn't practicing until some time in September.

I see no reason that they wouldn't be allowed to use the facilities until the leave the team. Just declaring is not leaving.

[jsnider]

The team isn't practicing until some time in September.

I see no reason that they wouldn't be allowed to use the facilities until the leave the team. Just declaring is not leaving.

Willandi - I thought they started practicing or at least going thru some workouts or drills in June/July before the date to decide. Is that not right? Thank you for responding though as it ihas been difficult to get feedback on this subject, probably because we are in uncharted waters.

[Zagdawg]

The guys that are around campus usually scrimmage/help in camps/player led workouts etc June/July/Aug before the official practice begins.

[jsnider]

The guys that are around campus usually scrimmage/help in camps/player led workouts etc June/July/Aug before the official practice begins.

Can the 3 guys that have filed for the draft be around for whatever is happening in June/July?

[Zagdawg]

For new guys ----I believe the guys that usually come early are enrolled in summer classes.

For the existing players - they should be treated just like existing students/players as they have not officially left yet-- only declared they are looking at getting feedback and possibly leaving etc.

[jsnider]

For new guys ----I believe the guys that usually come early are enrolled in summer classes.

For the existing players - they should be treated just like existing students/players as they have not officially left yet-- only declared they are looking at getting feedback and possibly leaving etc.

Thank you very much. Finally someone answered my question. Zagdawg - Ding Ding Ding, you are the winner. Seriously, I do appreciate your help.

[jsnider]

I have 2 questions for all of you to get your thoughts:
(1) What are all of you hearing now that some time has passed on whether Kispert, Petrusev, and Ayayi are coming back? Are any of you more positive or negative on the prospects of all 3 returning?
(2) What do you think of the timing of when they might announce that they are returning or staying in the draft? I know August 3rd is the date they have to make their decision by and we have not heard of when the combine might be so that puts some uncertainty on the timing. Will any or all of them be invited to the combine assuming it happens before the decision date?