2020 NBA Draft: 10 players hurt most by no combine this year
By Brian Rauf
Robert Woodard II, SF, Mississippi State
Woodard is a 6-7, 235-pound wing with really good athleticism is a quality defensive player, and he shot 42.9 percent from three this past season as a sophomore.
On paper, that screams elite 3-and-D prospect, which is something NBA teams covet. And, in a draft that’s this weak, has him projected to be a late first-round pick.
However, there are some questions about him. Woodard shot just 27.3 percent from three a year ago and rarely had the kind of consistent dominant impacts you’d expect a surefire first-round pick to have. NBA teams want a closer look at his jumper and the scrimmages could’ve helped in that regard as well. Plus, he would’ve blown away the physical testing.
Woodard can absolutely check all those boxes and, if he’s given the chance to, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a team take him at the back-end of the lottery. But he’s currently not getting the opportunities to do that just yet.
Reggie Perry, PF, Mississippi State
Woodard’s teammate, Reggie Perry, is another guy who could really use the combine to help himself. He was the clear alpha on the Mississippi State team, dominating inside to the tune of 17.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Perry was a double-double machine and one of the most unstoppable forces in the SEC.
Of course, the NBA is a different beast and there are questions as to how Perry’s game translates. He made a more concerted effort to show off his perimeter game this year and, while his 32.4 percent is respectable, no one is going to mistake him for a marksman. Most of his work was done down low as a bruising 6-10, 250-pound big man.
That’s ideal size for a college big man but, for the NBA, there are very few true post players anymore. Those that are provide a combination of elite rebounding and rim protection, or can shoot and defend on the perimeter.
Perry’s rebounding is his best asset but, again, producing at that rate against NBA size is a challenge. Scouts want to see that, along with some agility testing and shooting drills to get a closer look at that part of his game.
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The combine would be a chance for Perry – and the rest of these prospects – to answer questions about their game that could be the difference between being selected or looking to catch on as an undrafted free agent, or between getting a guaranteed first-round contract versus not. It doesn’t look like they’ll get that, which is a blow for all their respective draft stocks.