Former KU center Udoka Azubuike now considered a first-round draft pick by ESPN.com
Udoka Azubuike’s 2020 NBA Draft stock appears to be rising.
Azubuike, the 2019-20 Big 12 player of the year out of the University of Kansas, could be selected No. 30 overall by the Boston Celtics — the last pick of the first round — in the Oct. 16 draft, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com.
Back in April, Givony speculated that the 7-foot, 270-pound Azubuike would be the first pick of the second round, by the Dallas Mavericks.
“When Al Horford walked, the Celtics experimented by turning to undersized Daniel Theis to start at center. Danny Ainge might look to add a different dimension to the frontcourt in Azubuike, a unique physical presence at 270 pounds with a 7-foot-8 wingspan and 9-foot-4 standing reach,” Givony wrote on Tuesday in releasing his current mock draft.
Former KU point guard Devon Dotson, like Azubuike a first-team all-Big 12 selection, remains an early second-round draft pick according to ESPN.com.
Dotson, a 6-2 native of Charlotte, North Carolina, will be taken at No. 35, by the Sacramento Kings, Givony says. Dotson has fallen two slots from No. 33 in April. Givony did not list any comments regarding his second-round selections.
The 2020 NBA Draft lottery will be held at 7:30 p.m. Central time Thursday on ESPN, following a playoff game between Milwaukee and Orlando.
Dotson is a first-rounder and Azubuike a second-rounder according to NBAdraft,net. Dotson is listed as the No. 28 overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers; Azubuike the No. 38 pick overall by the New York Knicks.
CBSsports.com’s updated Top 100 big board lists Dotson as No. 41 overall and Azubuike No. 64.
Swarmandsting.com’s Giovanni Spillman authored an article a month ago titled, “Udoka Azubuike could be a second-round steal (for Charlotte Hornets).”
The Hornets have two second-round selections.
“I think Udoka Azubuike makes a lot of sense to take later in the draft,” Spillman wrote. “Coach James Borrego constantly tries to teach physicality to his players, and I think he would really enjoy coaching Azubuike. If you’ve seen his highlight tape from this season, then you know that Azubuike has elite size and strength. Azubuike is very explosive and is a great athlete at the 5-spot. He is almost elite when it comes to catching rebounds, and he’s proved that he can be a consistent shot-blocker on defense. Overall, the Charlotte Hornets will be getting a defensive anchor if they pick Udoka Azubuike in the second-round. Due to his physicality and defense, I suspect he will be on Charlotte’s radar.”
SI.com’s Kris Pursianen wrote a Sunday article titled, “What Devon Dotson can bring to the Knicks.”
“Dotson wouldn’t be a target with the Knicks’ lottery pick, but rather one potentially for one of their later two selections if the team doesn’t trade them before draft day,” wrote Pursianen. “I personally don’t have Dotson in the top 30 of my big board, so I wouldn’t utilize the Clippers’ first round selection (No. 27 overall) to bring him to New York; if he were available when the team is on the clock with the Hornets’ second round selection (at No. 38) however, I would hope that Leon Rose & Co. have him under consideration.”
Summing up Dotson’s skill-set, the SI.com writer stated: “Dotson is an intriguing shot creator and playmaking threat but will need to reign in his game and improve his shot to find true success in the NBA.”
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 9:44 AM with the headline "Former KU center Udoka Azubuike now considered a first-round draft pick by ESPN.com."
