The coronavirus pandemic has put the 2019-20 NBA season in a holding pattern.
So, why not look ahead to the future?
The 2020 NBA Draft is still scheduled for June 25 (for now), with a host of top college and international prospects still set to join the NBA ranks.
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The Boston Celtics once again should be loaded with picks: They own the rights to the Memphis Grizzlies' first-round pick (currently No. 17 overall), their own selection (No. 23) and the Milwaukee Bucks' first-rounder (No. 30).
The Celtics were a serious Eastern Conference contender before the season shut down, but they still have roster holes to address. C's president of basketball operations Danny Ainge also could trade one of these selections after taking four players in last year's draft.
Basically, anything is on the table. So, who could the Celtics target in the 2020 NBA Draft? We rounded up the latest predictions of five experts, starting with our own A. Sherrod Blakely.
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A. Sherrod Blakely, NBC Sports Boston
No. 17 (via Memphis): Jahmi’us Ramsey, Wing, Texas Tech
No. 26: Aleksej Pokusevski, Center, Serbia
No. 30 (via Milwaukee): Leandro Bolmaro, Wing, Argentina
The Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2020, Ramsey would give the Celtics an offensive boost at guard behind Kemba Walker. Blakely then has the C's going international, drafting an 18-year-old 7-footer in Pokusevski and a 19-year-old FC Barcelona product in Bolmaro.
Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz, ESPN
*No. 15 (via Memphis): Devin Vassell, Wing, Florida State
No. 26: Isaiah Stewart, Center, Washington
No. 30 (via Milwaukee): Jalen Smith, Forward, Maryland
In addition to a strong shooting stroke (41.7 percent from 3-point range at FSU), Vassell brings "a nonstop motor, defense and toughness," according to Schmitz. Sounds like Brad Stevens' kind of guy.
*Memphis would give Boston the No. 17 pick if the current standings held, but ESPN used its Basketball Power Index to project the rest of the 2019-20 season and bumped this selection to No. 15.
Kyle Boone, CBS Sports
No. 17 (via Memphis): Tre Jones, Guard, Duke
No. 26: Vernon Carey Jr., Center, Duke
No. 30 (via Milwaukee): Isaiah Joe, Guard, Arkansas
Boone has the Celtics double-dipping on Blue Devils, getting a polished floor general to back up Walker in Jones and a "productive post player" to bolster the frontcourt in Carey, who earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 2020.
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Jeff Zillgitt, Scott Gleeson and Mark Medina, USA TODAY
No. 17 (via Memphis): Theo Maledon, Guard, France
No. 26: Kira Lewis Jr., Guard, Alabama
No. 30 (via Milwaukee): Xavier Tillman, Forward, Michigan State
The Celtics' last French draft pick (Guerschon Yabusele) didn't exactly pan out, but USA TODAY has Danny Ainge taking an intriguing prospect in Maledon, who became the youngest player to win French Basketball Cup Final MVP last year at age 17.
James Ham, NBC Sports Bay Area
No. 17 (via Memphis): Theo Maledon, Guard, France
No. 26: Saddiq Bey, Forward, Villanova
No. 30 (via Milwaukee): Aleksej Pokusevski, Center, Serbia
Ham also likes Maledon and Pokusevski to fill Boston's two biggest needs at backup point guard and center. Bey would be a nice pickup for the Celtics at No. 26, as some project the 20-year-old swingman as a fringe lottery selection after his breakout sophomore campaign.
