Draft Notes: Lillard, Moser, Calipari
With less than 48 hours to go before the NCAA tournament brackets are revealed and conference tournaments nearing their climaxes, many basketball fans are turning their attention to the college game, even with the NBA trade deadline looming. NBA diehards, not to mention plenty of NBA scouts, will be taking a hard look at draft prospects the next few weeks. With that in mind, here are a few draft-related notes:
- The NCAA tournament is always full of top prospects, but several are on teams that won't be a part of it, notes ESPN's Chad Ford. Weber State point guard Damian Lillard, Illinois center Meyers Leonard and North Texas forward Tony Mitchell all fall into this category. (Insider only)
- Tommy Dee of Sheridan Hoops takes a look at UNLV forward Mike Moser.
- Kentucky coach John Calipari has met with Billy Hunter, executive director of the players union, to see what it would take to get the union to agree to do away with one-and-done players in college, reports Steve Wieberg of USA Today. Calipari is seeking a two-year waiting period between high school and the NBA for players, instead of just one.
Odds & Ends: Randolph, Carter, Bulls, Vazquez
While the returns of J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler from the Chinese Basketball Association grabbed more headlines over the last month or so, there are other former NBA players still returning from overseas in search of NBA gigs. One such player is former 76ers forward Shavlik Randolph, who averaged 24.7 PPG, 11.9 RPG, and 1.6 BPG in China this season. According to Sportando, Randolph is "in serious talks" with two NBA clubs and could sign a deal soon. While we wait to see if the Duke product can find his way back to an NBA roster, let's check out a few more links from around the league….
- With the Raptors looking to trade or release Anthony Carter, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel thinks the point guard could be a solid insurance policy for the Heat.
- After Richard Hamilton left last night's game with another injury, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune wondered whether the Bulls will need to acquire a shooting guard via trade. Prior to last year's deadline, Johnson says, Chicago discussed deals for O.J. Mayo and Courtney Lee. The Bulls announced today that Hamilton is day-to-day with a shoulder contusion and mild sprain.
- The Magic still own the NBA rights to 2005 draft pick Fran Vazquez and hope to bring him over for next season, according to Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel.
- David Thorpe of ESPN.com (Insider link) lists the five best "chemistry" guys potentially available at the deadline. His picks: Pau Gasol, Paul Millsap, Gerald Wallace, Chris Andersen, and Rajon Rondo.
- Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee questions why the Kings felt they had to make the decision to exercise Keith Smart's 2012/13 option so soon.
- A few potential first-round draft picks could be running out of time to showcase their in-game skills, writes Chad Ford of ESPN.com in an Insider-only piece.
Odds & Ends: Stern, Hawks, Clippers
Leave it to LeBron James to wind up in the spotlight again amidst Linsanity and the impending trade deadline. He passed up a potential game-winning shot against Utah to give the ball to Udonis Haslem instead, and Haslem missed to give the Jazz a 99-98 win. Still, as Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida points out, it was the first time James has ever gone back-to-back games without committing a turnover. James will surely be with the Heat for a while, but here are a few notes on more fluid situations:
- Changes are afoot for slumping Cleveland, where Cavs coach Byron Scott is giving thought to juggling his rotation and starting lineup after his team lost its fourth straight tonight, writes Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio. With the trade deadline approaching, the team must soon decide what to do with Ramon Sessions and Antawn Jamison, Amico says.
- Bucks backup point guard Beno Udrih would be on board with a trade if one happens, notes Lang Greene of HoopsWorld.
- ESPN's John Hollinger, writing from the Sloan Sports Analytics Conferences, says the numbers don't add up in the Kings arena deal. He believes the league provided financial support to the cash-strapped Maloof brothers so they could make their $73MM contribution to the deal. (Insider link)
- John Schuhmann of NBA.com rounded up Celtics coach Doc Rivers' irritated pregame remarks about the trade rumors swirling around his team. In particular, he took aim at the belief the Celtics are shopping Rajon Rondo and the "ridiculous" idea that Pau Gasol may be headed to Boston. For Rondo, whose name has come up in trade talks many times before, it feels like "deja vu," notes Andrew Perna of RealGM.
- A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com looks at Celtics free agent signee Mickael Pietrus, who's finally displaying his all-around game now that he's healthy, Blakely says.
- Marc Gasol, used to fielding rumors involving his brother Pau, is surprised that Raptors point guard Jose Calderon, another Spanish Olympic teammate, is coming up in trade talk as well, reports Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun.
- Frank Isola of the New York Daily News believes the Knicks have assembled their most talented roster in 12 years.
- Jeremy Lin isn't the only waiver pickup exceeding expectations for the Knicks, as Steve Novak has been a major beneficiary of his more famous teammate's play, as Ben Bolch examines in the Chicago Tribune.
- Former Clippers and current Suns coach Alvin Gentry admires the team the Clips have put together this year, writes Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
- Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic points out that Suns guard Shannon Brown, who'll hit the free agent market this summer, has a deceptive career high of 8.9 PPG this year. This has also been one of his worst shooting seasons.
- Maturity is the difference between the Gerald Green who flamed out with the Celtics a few years ago and the player who just returned to the league with the Nets, observes Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald.
Odds & Ends: Draft, O’Neal, Heat
On this date 50 years ago, Wilt Chamberlain delivered his 100-point game for the Warriors against the Knicks in Hershey, Pa. Chamberlain averaged more than 50 points a game that season, but wasn't the MVP. Instead, Bill Russell got the nod. You'd figure having that over his friend Wilt would convince Russell to speak openly on the anniversary of Wilt's accomplishment, but as Ken Berger of CBSSports.com noted last night, he doesn't want to talk about it. Here are a few notes from today's NBA, where plenty more are willing to open their mouths:
- Berger offers a primer on dissecting trade talk as the rumor mill nears peak season. The keys are to consider the source, discount mere discussion, and know that when one coach or team executive denies a trade rumor, another could be working on that very deal in the next office.
- Michael Lee of The Washington Post is the latest to call this year's draft class, led by Kentucky big man Anthony Davis, one of the deepest in years. But top draft prospects Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Cody Zeller, Perry Jones and Quincy Miller are all giving indications they may stay in school, writes ESPN's Chad Ford. (Insider link)
- Celtics center Jermaine O'Neal, rumored to be part of a potential Michael Beasley deal, is considering season-ending wrist surgery, reports Paul Flannery of WEEI radio.
- South Florida Sun Sentinel writer Ira Winderman answered reader questions about the Heat. The efficiency of the Heat's rotation has kept the Heat out of trade talks this year, but team president Pat Riley remains on the lookout for any available top-tier talent.
- Sam Smith opened up his Bulls.com mailbag, too. He doesn't foresee Chicago making a deal, and doesn't seem them signing draft-day acquisition Nikola Mirotic any time soon, either. He believes the 6'10" big man with the inside-outside game, currently playing overseas, is at least a couple years away from joining the Bulls. He also says the notion that Beasley could be had for a second-round pick, an idea advanced by Berger in his piece, says plenty about how far the former No. 2 overall pick has plummeted.
Odds & Ends: Lakers, Mavs, Raptors, Kidd-Gilchrist
Rounding up a few Tuesday odds and ends from around the NBA…
- The Lakers are "determined" to acquire a point guard sooner rather than later, according to Peter Vecsey of the New York Post. The Lakers appear to be the most active team in pursuing trades, tweets Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio.
- Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas wonders if the Mavericks have a legit shot at landing Dwight Howard, and talks to owner Mark Cuban about his past investments in big men.
- Raptors coach Dwane Casey says no moves are on the horizon for his club and that he hopes his players don't get distracted by trade rumors. Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun has the details.
- Hunter Atkins of the New York Times explores the 10-day journey of recent Nets signee Andre Emmett, who was told New Jersey would not sign him to a second 10-day deal.
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist insisted to reporters, including Kyle Tucker of the Courier-Journal, that he intends to stay at Kentucky and graduate, a stance that surprises even coach John Calipari. Kidd-Gilchrist could be a top-five pick if he enters the NBA draft this year, as ESPN.com's Chad Ford suggests in his latest Insider-only piece on the draft class.
Odds & Ends: Cousins, Lakers, Bobcats, Draft
Links from around the league as All-Star Weekend gets underway in Orlando….
- Speaking to reporters in Orlando, including Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee, Andrew Bynum had some strong words regarding DeMarcus Cousins and Sacramento: "It’s terrible that he has to play in Sacramento. He could take his talents somewhere and really help a team" (Twitter links). For his part, Cousins doesn't seem to mind Sacramento, having said earlier this week that he hopes to remain with the Kings long-term.
- As he tells Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times, Derek Fisher knows the Lakers' roster may undergo some changes soon: "With the trade deadline looming, personnel can change, if that's what ownership or management decides. But if this is our team I think we're getting a better feel for who we are and what we're capable of doing."
- Bobcats GM Rich Cho tells Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer that he's not panicking or rushing the team's rebuilding process. Cho identifies the Thunder, who went through some growing pains when Cho was a part of their front office, as a team whose patience in rebuilding paid off. Of course, if Charlotte can strike gold in the draft like Oklahoma City did with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, it would go a long way toward improving the team's outlook.
- Speaking of the draft, ESPN.com's Chad Ford (Insider-only link) says a 2012 draft class that once looked stacked is starting to show some cracks. While Anthony Davis remains locked in at the top of draft boards, the players behind him have some question marks.
- Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman thinks the Thunder's win last night over the Lakers is the latest example of last year's acquisition of Kendrick Perkins paying off.
Latest On NBA Draft From Ford, Givony
A pair of NBA draft experts, ESPN.com's Chad Ford and Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, shared a number of draft-related lists and previews today, so let's round them up here….
- Both Ford and Givony have updated their mock drafts to reflect the latest standings and the players they expect to declare for 2012.
- Both scribes also have plenty of new additions to their top 100 prospects at ESPN and DraftExpress respectively. Of course, Kentucky's Anthony Davis continues to hold the top spot on both lists.
- The play of Weber State guard Damian Lillard has earned him lottery consideration, says Ford in an Insider-only ESPN piece.
Odds & Ends: Cavs, Spurs, Draft, Collins
With only four games on the schedule for Saturday, the first two matches provided a wealth of excitement in an overtime battle and a shocking upset. The Nets stunned the Derrick Rose-less Bulls thanks to stellar play by Kris Humphries and Deron Williams. By knocking off the Clippers in overtime, the Spurs notched their 10th win in a row, but not without paying a hefty price. Let's take a look around the league to see what's going on with All-Star Weekend less than one week away:
- The Cavaliers have a trio of former players believing in the long-term success of the franchise, writes Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Mark Price, a former guard for the Cavs, says the combination of Tristan Thompson and Kyrie Irving will be a strong foundation for the team as they continue to mature as NBA players. Pluto says the franchise is attempting to build itself in a manner similar to the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.
- Thanks to strong play at home (13-1) and now on the road with an impressive overtime victory over the Clippers, the Spurs would secure the #2 seed in the Western Conference if the playoffs started today. Unfortunately for the Spurs, the squad lost two key contributors today in Tiago Splitter and Manu Ginobili, who both left the game due to injury and did not return, writes Tim Griffin of Spurs Nation. The Spurs have already lost Ginobili to injury this season as he missed 22 games after breaking his left hand.
- Tommy Dee of SheridanHoops.com put together his predictions for how he sees the top 10 picks of the 2012 NBA Draft unfolding. Dee has Tar Heels small forward Harrison Barnes slated to go #1 which would most likely be to the Bobcats based upon current standings. North Carolina and Kentucky are well represented on the list with two players from each school predicted to be picked in the top 10 in the upcoming draft.
- Jerry Zgoda, Timberwolves beat writer for the Star Tribune, says 76ers head coach Doug Collins has finally found the perfect fit for his coaching style as he has his squad atop the Atlantic Division. Zgoda points to strong drafting by 76ers in concert with Collins getting the most out of his players as a major reason why the team has enjoyed such a successful start to the season. The team won 20 of its first 29 games for just the second time since 1986.
Odds & Ends: LeBron, Chandler, Lin, Barnes
LeBron James raised some eyebrows earlier today when he told reporters, including Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, that he wouldn't rule out eventually returning to Cleveland:
"It would be fun to play in front of these fans again," said James. "I had a lot fun times in my seven years here. You can't predict the future, and hopefully I continue to stay healthy. I'm here as a Miami Heat player, and I'm happy where I am now, but I don't rule that out in no sense…. And if I decide to come back, hopefully the fans will accept me."
While James sounded contrite about the way he left the Cavaliers, I can't bring myself to put much stock into his comments about potentially returning. It strikes me as an attempt to mend fences and shed the villainous reputation he earned in Ohio following "The Decision."
Here are a few more links from around the league:
- While J.R. Smith seemed anxious to leave China as soon as possible, Wilson Chandler had nothing but positive things to Sun Xiaochen of China Daily about his experience in the CBA: "It has been a very good learning curve and experience for me and has helped me mature in some ways and develop parts of my game that I hadn't worked on in a while."
- The latest "We could have had Jeremy Lin!" story comes out of Boston, as Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald reports the Celtics twice hoped to claim Lin on waivers, but lost out to the Rockets and Knicks.
- Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle doesn't blame Rockets GM Daryl Morey for letting Lin go.
- Sophomore Harrison Barnes tells Chris Thomasson of FOX Sports Florida that it'd be a "no-brainer" to declare for this year's draft if UNC wins the national championship this year. I'm betting Barnes, who figures to be a top-five pick, will be entering the draft even if the Tar Heels are bounced from March Madness early.
Odds & Ends: Iverson, Lin, Green, Kaman, Heat
A few late-morning links for Tuesday:
- A Puerto Rican source told Sportando (Twitter link) that it's hard to picture Allen Iverson playing in Puerto Rico, since "no teams [are] looking for that kind of player." We heard yesterday that Iverson was drawing interest from Puerto Rico's professional league.
- Newest Knicks starter Jeremy Lin was a candidate to be waived as recently as last week and would have considered playing overseas had that happened, writes Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv.
- Scott Schroeder of Ridiculous Upside thinks Gerald Green should get a shot at an NBA roster on a 10-day contract. I mentioned Green on Friday when I looked at a few notable former NBA players in the D-League.
- By not playing Chris Kaman when they were shopping him, the Hornets subtracted one of their few resources, says John DeShazier of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
- ESPN.com's Chad Ford (Insider link) polled NBA scouts, asking which college freshmen would be better off staying at college for their sophomore seasons. Andre Drummond and Austin Rivers were among the players named.
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel fields Heat-related questions in a mailbag.