NBA Draft: Five sleepers to consider in the first round

There’s always at least a team or two that finds valuable hidden talent in the mid-late first round and the second round of the NBA draft.

The 2020 NBA Draft is scheduled to take place on Nov. 18th, and I’m having a difficult time containing my excitement.

Those intense five minutes, you are rocking at the edge of your seat in anticipation while your favorite team is on the clock. With beads of sweat rolling down your forehead and into your furrowing eyebrows, waiting for the announcement that your dream prospect or worst nightmare was selected. It’s moments like that, that every diehard fan like myself, looks forward to every year.

Also, how could I forget, we’re one step closer to another invigorating and drama-filled NBA season. No professional sport or league in the world has better storylines going on all year round than the NBA. It all starts on draft night.

Every year without fail, teams make a surprise pick that sends shockwaves through their respective organizations and fan base. How can anyone ever forget the crowd booing and the child crying in the stands when the New York Knicks selected Kristaps Porzingis fourth overall in the 2015 draft.

There’s always at least a team or two that finds valuable hidden talent in the mid-late first round and the second round of the NBA draft as well. Rudy Gobert was selected 27th by the Utah Jazz in 2013, the Denver Nuggets drafted Nikola Jokic 41st in 2014, and the Chicago Bulls selected Jimmy Butler with the final pick of the first round in 2011.

Not everyone will be able to discover a Joker or Jimmy buckets late in the game. Still, in recent years we have seen second-round guys like Mitchell Robinson and Gary Trent Jr. emerge as crucial rotation players for their teams.

Historically there are more duds than studs at this stage of the draft, but that shouldn’t stop teams from taking a calculated risk and swing for the fences, especially this year, with so much uncertainty surrounding the players in this year’s draft and with the unorthodox methods being used to scout and evaluate these players. The 2020 NBA draft is a win-win situation for all 30 teams.

Suppose the pick pays dividends, more power to the general manager that selected him. If not, who cares? With all the hoops that scouts and GMs had to go through this year in preparation for the draft, in combination with the alleged lack of star-potential in the talent pool this year, don’t expect many owners to hold a lousy selection against their front office.

If you’re an avid college basketball fan, you may be familiar with some of the names on this list. Some players, you may have to grab your phone and do a quick google search when Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum announces that your team selected him on draft night.

Hopefully, we can help with the latter here at Hoops Habit. Without further ado, let’s look at some players who should be considered earlier than they are projected to be drafted. These guys are not getting the recognition and respect they deserve, despite showcasing high-level talent.