The Golden State Warriors are one of the several teams using odd avenues to scout prospects ahead of the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft.
The 2020 NBA Draft, one in which the Warriors should have one of the top-three picks, will likely be pushed back. While we do not know that for certain, it is obvious that the current June 25 date will inevitably be postponed.
Late September seems to be the ideal play for now. That said, the novel coronavirus that originally suspended the NBA season back in March has forced teams into using an unconventional style of scouting.
One of those such ways is an IQ test. With pre-draft workouts likely cut out of the equation, scouts will have to rely more heavily upon college or international tape to go along with these tests.
It was first reported by Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman that the Dubs were using such a test during their Zoom interviews.
Hearing certain teams giving prospects some form of "IQ Tests" during Zoom interviews. Timed exercises involving shapes, numbers, memory, matching. Have heard Warriors, Wolves, Hornets, Raptors, Celtics use these.
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) May 29, 2020
The Warriors will likely have a top-five pick, and it’s certainly that general manager Bob Myers will do his due diligence on who the team picks.
They seem to target more developed college stars, so they’d seemingly have to be blown away by a LaMelo Ball or Anthony Edwards. Even James Wiseman would be shocking. Obi Toppin seems like an under-the-radar prospect as well.
As for the IQ Test, it makes sense that the Dubs may want a player that has a high IQ and can fully understand the playbooks and how they function. I wouldn’t be shocked if there were some correlations between IQ and success in the league either, but that’s just a wild guess.
Either way, if it’s something they feel value can be put in, then it’s certainly worth doing. However, I’m sure these tests aren’t the end-all for these prospects and their potential for being draft by the Warriors.
The Warriors will also consider trading the pick, so they may not even need them after all.