Draft Notes: Clippers, Exum, Heat, Stokes

The consensus around the league is that Clippers president Doc Rivers is trying to shop the team’s first round pick at No. 28, writes Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times.  Rivers doesn’t want to add a rookie to his roster and would rather have the cap space than pay the guaranteed salary that goes to a first-round draft pick. Officials say that Rivers has offered trade scenarios centering around their pick, plus a wing player — either Jamal Crawford, Matt Barnes, or Jared Dudley — and reserve guard Willie Green.  One deal that was proposed had Dudley and another Clippers player and the No. 28 pick going to the Hornets for guard Gerald Henderson, but it has gone nowhere so far.  The latest draft news from around the league..

  • Dante Exum declined to fly to Cleveland for a workout today with the Cavs, tweets Chad Ford of ESPN.com.
  • In addition to the Clippers, the Suns (No. 27) and Thunder (No. 29) still have picks available via trade, tweets Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.  The Nets have tried hard but they look unlikely to get into the first round at this point.
  • Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (on Twitter) hears that Elfrid Payton may have passed Marcus Smart as the first point guard selected.  Presumably, Amico is regarding Australian guard Exum as a shooting guard rather than a PG.
  • The Heat like Tennessee forward Jarnell Stokes and he’s an option at No. 26, tweets Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders.  Miami worked him out multiple times and came away impressed.  Hoops Rumors spoke with Stokes earlier this offseason about his NBA goals and what he can bring to a team.
  • UConn guard Shabazz Napier is also an option for the Heat, but he’s not likely to be on the board when they pick (link).  Napier is rising up draft boards and could go in the teens.
  • The Bulls really like Jordan Adams, Kennedy tweets, and he’s an option at No. 16 and No. 19 if they keep those picks.
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