NBA draft special edition: What you need to know as basketball's big night finally arrives

Plus: The Israeli forward looking to crash the top three

It's five months later than originally scheduled, but the NBA draft is finally here, tipping off at 8 p.m. Eastern tomorrow. The weirdness doesn't stop with the date, either. The shortening of the 2019-20 season for the NCAA and for teams abroad gave NBA scouts less film to break down, and the pre-draft process with workouts and interviews has looked drastically different. And then there are the financial ramifications of the pandemic—looming over every team's roster decision-making—not to mention a group of prospects with many question marks and no clear-cut top tier.

Against that uncertainty, should teams play it safe or swing for the fences? Should clubs look to trade up to the top of the first round? We'll see what happens tomorrow, but in the meantime, here's everything you need to know to get ready for draft night.

The Top Prospects

At least one major sportsbook expects Anthony Edwards, the supremely talented but flawed guard out of Georgia, to be the draft's top pick, but there's certainly a case to be made that LaMelo Ball is the top prospect of this class—even if there are better landing spots for him than the Timberwolves, the owners of No. 1. (For his part, Ball seems unfazed by the idea of playing in Minnesota.)

The second pick is almost as intriguing. With analytics playing a huge part in their preparation, the Warriors' draft board might look a little different from the consensus, with Obi Toppin, a polarizing prospect, in the mix for No. 2.

James Wiseman is widely expected to go in the first three picks but would be a gamble for any team selecting him. Another high-risk prospect set to be taken near the top of the draft is Isaac Okoro, an elite defender who is one tool away from greatness. Okoro is brushing off any such criticism: "I feel I should be the No. 1 pick," he tells us.

The best contender to bust into the top three appears to be Israeli forward Deni Avdija, who is showing encouraging progress with his jump shot. But Onyeka Okongwu looks like a game-wrecking big man.

Players To Watch

This draft class might be considered weak at the top, but it's not lacking in depth. Among the players who could excel in a specific role are Scottie Lewis, who averaged only 8 points a game at Florida but has real potential as a 3-and-D wing, and Desmond Bane, who made the most of his senior season at TCU and is jumping up draft boards. Bane is one of the top shooters in this class, alongside Tyrell Terry, who is raw but is drawing comparisons to Trae Young.

The top player to watch tomorrow night might be Aleksej Pokusevski, a 7-footer who can make magic with the ball in his hands. Teams that miss out on him, though, will have another chance at a star offensive big man in Jalen Smith.

Tyrese Haliburton has a rare combination of size and skill and says he's the best facilitator available. ("He understands the 'hockey assist,'" his trainer says.) Josh Green looks like a two-way menace. Saddiq Bey is a capable shooter—and nobody works harder.

Kira Lewis Jr.'s game is tailor-made for the modern NBA, and while he says he'll be happy wherever he is drafted, he seems like a perfect match for the Celtics at No. 14. Boston could go a different direction, of course. The top alternatives include R.J. Hampton, who showed game-changing speed in New Zealand; Jay Scrubb, a junior college standout whose life story has been compared to The Blind Side; and Cole Anthony, a year ago considered a top-three pick before he underperformed at North Carolina. In the second round, the target might be Killian Tillie, as complete a center as there is in this class.

Some pundits are down on Immanuel Quickley, but the Knicks appear interested. He'll have competition from Precious Achiuwa, who says "it would be such a blessing" to represent New York, his adopted hometown.

Kahlil Whitney, who left Kentucky midway through his freshman season because of a lack of playing time, is prepared to embrace the grind, whether he's a second-round pick or an undrafted free agent. Jordan Nwora, a versatile forward, is ready to prove his doubters wrong.

The Last Word

“I’m going to be the steal of the draft.”

Yoeli Childs

NBA teams tend to target young prospects in the draft, but Yoeli Childs, projected as a second-round pick, is ready to show off the skills he developed over four years at BYU. For more on Childs' draft preparation and mindset, read the full story here.