Report: NBA Will Host Virtual Draft Combine

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The NBA is moving closer to hosting a virtual draft combine. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the combine would be held at regional locations throughout the country in September ahead of the October 16 draft.

The league traditionally holds the draft combine in Chicago during the month of May ahead of the regularly scheduled late-June draft. The NBA was forced to postpone the event amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Finalized details about where, when, and how the event will be shared with teams by next week according to the report.

NBA nearing final steps on moving draft combine to a virtual event at regional sites, sources say https://t.co/sU49irhn8K

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 18, 2020

The predraft process is destined to look significantly different from years past. The NBA has prohibited price pro-days for prospective players, limiting interaction to virtual interviews. According to Wojnarowski, the league has yet to decide on whether it will allow draft prospects to travel for visits with teams during the draft process. To date, the NBA has prohibited in-person interviews and workouts.

The combine rarely features the top talent entering the draft each season. The elte prospects limit their workout access to a select few teams in their draft range in smaller more controlled settings. However, the combine can be a launching point for players who are considered borderline draft prospects. Los Angeles Lakers forward and former University of Utah star Kyle Kuzma worked his way into the draft’s first round with a strong showing at the combine.

Local prospects Sam Merrill of Utah State and Yoeli Childs both received invites to the NBA draft combine in June.

Jazz Picking 23rd in the 2020 NBA Draft

The Utah Jazz will have the 23rd pick in the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft. The Jazz were awarded the 23rd pick after losing tiebreakers against the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder. The league holds a drawing to decide ties in the NBA draft.

Your full NBA draft order. The @UtahJazz will pick 23rd on a October 16. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/9QzcYnX7dW

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) August 17, 2020

The Jazz could have selected with the 21st pick had they won the tiebreaker. Houston will pick 21st while the Thunder won the 22nd pick.

The Jazz could have had the 20th pick in the draft had they lost their seeding game with the San Antonio Spurs but won 118-112. The Jazz owe their 2020 second-round pick to the Golden State Warriors.