Prospect Profile: Stanley Johnson
Stanley Johnson arrived at Arizona coming off four straight high school state championships and was regarded by many scouts as the best wing prospect in the nation. While the freshman didn’t quite live up to the hype, he had a solid 2014/15 campaign, and led the Wildcats in scoring last season. But a lackluster NCAA tournament and some holes in his game have dampened NBA scouts’ projections for Johnson a bit. Instead of a potential superstar, the 19-year-old is now being looked at as more of a solid rotation player.
The forward’s draft stock has fluctuated over the course of the season. He was projected as a possible top five pick earlier in the year, but is now more likely to hear his name called on draft night toward the end of the lottery. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranks Johnson as the No. 8 player available, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) slots him at No. 11.
“I want to love him,” one NBA GM told Fran Fraschilla of ESPN.com. “My scouts all loved him in high school. I’ve watched him live four times and every time come away with the same thought: ‘He’s pretty good.’ But pretty good isn’t going to make you a great NBA player. He’s a good athlete, a good shooter, a good defender, a good motor. He has a great body but doesn’t always use any of those skills to his advantage. If he were the athlete that [Justise] Winslow was, I’d love him. But he isn’t, and I just feel he’ll be pretty good. If those are your expectations, great. If they’re higher, I think you’re going to be disappointed.”
With the draft full of talented wings, Johnson’s skillset, while solid, doesn’t rise above the rest of the field in any particular area. He’s not as explosive as Winslow, not as good an outside shooter as Mario Hezonja, doesn’t have the upside of Kelly Oubre, nor is Johnson as stellar a defender as his teammate and fellow draft prospect, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Johnson is the highest player on the draft board to hit the “safe” category, according to Ford’s profile of the player. “He’s not as good as we thought he’d be coming into things,” one GM told the ESPN scribe. “But he’s not as bad as I think we’ve made him out to be either.” He’ll work hard and if he improves, he’ll be a very good value pick.”
The odd thing about Johnson’s game, especially when discussing him as a potential lottery pick, is how middle-of-the-road he ranks in relation to other small forwards in this year’s draft. According to ESPN.com’s Kevin Pelton, in terms of the core projected statistics he looks at to measure skills, the only one where Johnson is in either the top or bottom 25% among NBA-bound small forwards is his steal rate of 1.5 per contest, or 2.1 per 40 minutes. The rest of his statistics are solid, but not mind-blowing, with Johnson logging 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per contest.
Johnson was not considered a great shooter upon entering college, only making 82 of 279 of his 3-point attempts (29%) in high school and AAU events, notes Givony. But he managed to impress NBA scouts with his ability to make shots as a freshman, hitting 41 of his 111 3-point attempts on the season (37%), and showing a much quicker release and more compact mechanics than he had displayed earlier in his career, both shooting off the dribble (he converted 49% of his pull-ups in the half-court) and with his feet set (44% when catching and shooting), notes the DraftExpress scribe. The freshman was solid from the charity stripe, connecting on 74.9% of his free throw attempts.
While Johnson’s improvement from the outside was a boon this season, he doesn’t necessarily project as a 3-and-D player in the NBA. This is where some teams could be scared off from selecting the forward. With his rock solid frame and overall athleticism, Johnson should have been an absolute beast in the paint area while at Arizona. But he was an abysmal finisher in the lane, connecting on only 50% of his attempts around the rim. That is not a great success rate no matter what level of hoops you are playing at, and will be a major source of concern for Johnson when he steps onto the NBA hardwood.
This is not to say that Johnson is an albatross to his team on the offensive end. He has shown that he can create his own shot effectively with his combination of quickness, size and power, Givony notes. Johnson is also a solid ball-handler who can be quite a load to handle in transition, and he is effective in the pick-and-roll, though his failure to connect on shots when beating his man to the rim limits his usage in this capacity.
Johnson’s biggest appeal as a prospect is his potential on the defensive end. He has tremendous physical tools, including great size for his position, a strong frame, solid length, and excellent anticipation skills, adds Givony. The 19-year-old can legitimately defend three positions with his combination of size, speed, and strength, though his intensity wasn’t a constant, and his coaches at Arizona expressed some level of frustration with Johnson’s tendency to take plays off, or letting a poor offensive possession haunt him on the other end of the court. Johnson is also an effective rebounder, notching 9.1 per 40 minutes despite playing out of position at shooting guard for much of his freshman campaign.
The forward’s NBA potential is still a bit murky. Pelton projects Johnson’s ceiling to be that of Luol Deng or Thaddeus Young, with the more pessimistic view being Marvin Williams. The team that selects Johnson this June will be getting a solid player with potential to be in the league for a long time. But the 19-year-old doesn’t appear ticketed for stardom, which will likely drop him out of the top 10 selections. This slight drop could actually be a boon to Johnson’s long-term development, since he isn’t a player who can or will change the face of a franchise. There is significantly less pressure involved, as well as more patience shown, with players taken toward the middle of the first round. Johnson should evolve into a solid rotation piece by his second season, though his rookie campaign will likely entail heavy D-League time.
Pete D’Alessandro Leaves Kings For Nuggets
FRIDAY, 6:38pm: D’Alessandro has been officially named as the Nuggets’ Senior Vice President of Business and Team Operations, the team announced in a press release. “As KSE has evolved as a company, my role and duties within the company have evolved as well,” team president Josh Kroenke said. “Pete’s addition to our Operations team is a natural product of that evolution and his experiences over his professional career have put him in a unique position to assist me in multiple areas ranging from league operations to team budgeting. I look forward to his assistance in creating additional synergy between our Business and Team Operations to help take our organization to another level on and off the playing floor. All Basketball Operations remain the same and all Player Personnel inquiries should continue to be directed to [GM] Tim Connelly.”
1:57pm: D’Alessandro’s move back to the Nuggets wouldn’t have a negative effect on Malone’s candidacy, sources tell Wojnarowski for a full story. D’Alessandro wouldn’t be working closely with whomever the team hires as coach, according to Wojnarowski, who writes that Kings owner Vivek Ranadive forced D’Alessandro into dismissing Malone as Sacramento’s coach.
D’Alessandro, who went as far as to talk contract terms with St. John’s, will answer to Kroenke in his job with the Nuggets, and Connelly will be able to consult him as a resource, Wojnarowski writes.
WEDNESDAY, 12:14pm: Kings GM Pete D’Alessandro has accepted an offer to join the Nuggets front office, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. He’ll work in a supporting role under team president Josh Kroenke with both the Nuggets and the National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche, Wojnarowski adds (Twitter links). Nuggets GM Tim Connelly is apparently on board with the idea, as Wojnarowski refers to him in another tweet as a “huge proponent” of the move. D’Alessandro, who worked for the Nuggets until leaving for the Kings two years ago, had the opportunity to join St. John’s University as athletics director but chose to return to Denver instead, Wojnarowski adds (Twitter link).
The move is an ominous sign for the candidacy of Michael Malone for the Nuggets coaching job, notes Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee (Twitter link). D’Alessandro was in charge of Sacramento’s front office when the Kings fired Malone in December. The Kings hired Vlade Divac as vice president of basketball and franchise operations in March, shifting control of player personnel to him and away from D’Alessandro. The departure of adviser Chris Mullin for the St. John’s coaching job reportedly restored some power to D’Alessandro, but it nonetheless appears as though it wasn’t enough to convince him to stay in Sacramento.
The now 46-year-old D’Alessandro served in Denver’s front office under GM Masai Ujiri for three years after he was the assistant GM for the Warriors for three seasons prior to that. The Nuggets were reportedly leaning toward hiring him as GM in 2013 when he instead jumped to the Kings.
Atlantic Notes: Russell, Celtics, Draft
Illness prompted D’Angelo Russell to cancel a workout with the Sixers planned for this weekend, a source close to the combo guard told Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who heard from another source who wouldn’t rule the notion of the workout taking place sometime later. Still, Tim Bontemps of the New York Post (Twitter links) speculates that Russell may have received a promise from the Lakers, a prospect that could have a trickle-down effect that would make Jahlil Okafor available to the Knicks at pick No. 4. That seems far-fetched, particularly since the Lakers have reportedly zeroed in on Okafor for the second pick. Still, plenty is unknown with less than two weeks to go before the draft.
Here’s the latest from the Atlantic Division:
- The Celtics are having trouble attracting players with lottery aspirations to work out with them in spite of “better than average” odds that Boston trades up from the 16th overall pick, writes Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald. Wisconsin small forward Sam Dekker pulled out of a workout with the C’s last week.
- Working out for the Raptors this Saturday will be Delon Wright (Utah), Jabril Trawick (Georgetown), Kevon Looney (UCLA), Michale Kyser (Louisiana Tech), Cliff Alexander (Kansas), and Montrezl Harrell (Louisville), the team announced.
- The Nets have four upcoming workouts scheduled, the team has announced. Monday’s group will be Ryan Boatright (UConn), T.J. McConnell (Arizona), D.J. Newbill (Penn State), Sir’Dominic Pointer (St. John’s), Larry Nance Jr. (Wyoming), and Brandon Ashley (Arizona).
- Working out for Brooklyn on Tuesday will be Marcus Thornton (William and Mary), Will Cummings (Temple), Tyler Haws (BYU), Julian Washburn (UTEP), Jordan Mickey (LSU), and Yanick Moreira (SMU).
- Displaying their wares on Wednesday for the Nets will be Mike Caffey (Long Beach State), Ray Parks Jr. (Melrose H.S.), Dez Wells (Maryland), Norman Powell (UCLA), Le’Bryan Nash (Oklahoma State), and Vince Hunter (UTEP).
- The final batch of players working out for the Nets, which will take place on Thursday, are Travis Trice (Michigan State), Rashad Madden (Arkansas), Michael Qualls (Arizona), Trawick, Richaun Holmes (Bowling Green), and Josh Smith (Georgetown).
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Hoops Rumors 2015 NBA Mock Draft 2.0
With the NBA draft draft order set and the big event less than two weeks away, the remaining time will be filled with reports of interviews, workouts, and teams trying to hide who they are interested in selecting. While the 2015 draft class doesn’t bring with it the same level of hype as last year’s, there are still a number of players who can change the face of a franchise and develop into tomorrow’s superstars.
No draft pick is ever a sure thing, and careers will be made as well as broken based on the moves made on the night of June 25th. There should also be a significant amount of trade talk revolving around the draft, and there are quite a few teams that could end up dealing away draft picks in exchange for veteran players or future assets.
Front offices are still figuring out their respective draft boards, and upcoming pre-draft workouts will launch the stocks of a few players and send others tumbling by the wayside. While I anticipate my mock draft to continue to change all the way up through draft night, this is my current read on whose name each team will likely have commissioner Adam Silver intone while on stage for the first round at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. You can view the previous version of my mock draft here.
#1 Timberwolves — Karl-Anthony Towns F/C (Kentucky)
- Height/Weight: 7’0″/250 pounds
- Stats: 10.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 2.3 BPG. .566/.250/.813.
There had been reports that have Minnesota leaning toward selecting Jahlil Okafor with the top pick. But I firmly believed that the Wolves would become increasingly enamored with Towns’ superior defense, athleticism, and upside as the pre-draft process wears on. That is now apparently the case, with a recent revelation that Wolves coach/executive Flip Saunders is now firmly in Towns’ camp after watching him work out last week. Towns would also be a better fit than Okafor alongside Nikola Pekovic, provided he recovers from his Achilles surgery. With Towns running the floor alongside Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, and the rest of the young athletic talent on Minnesota’s roster, the team may not make the playoffs next season, but it should become a regular fixture on SportsCenter’s top plays.
#2 Lakers — Jahlil Okafor C (Duke)
- Height/Weight: 6’11”/272 pounds
- Stats: 17.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 1.4 BPG. .664/.000/.510.
Okafor becomes the prize for the franchise moving up in the draft order on lottery night. Los Angeles could still throw a wrench in my mock draft by selecting a guard, but I think the idea of adding a potential franchise cornerstone like Okafor at the pivot will be too tempting to pass up. The Lakers can solidify the middle with this pick for years to come, and pairing Okafor alongside Julius Randle should make for a formidable frontcourt.
#3 Sixers — D’Angelo Russell G (Ohio State)
- Height/Weight: 6’5″/176 pounds
- Stats: 19.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 5.0 APG. .449/.411/.756.
Not landing the No. 1 overall pick this season is actually a blessing in disguise for the franchise. As long as the top two teams go big, Philadelphia will have no choice but to address its glaring hole in the backcourt, rather than stockpiling another big man to go alongside Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel. Philadelphia could opt for Emmanuel Mudiay here, as well as Kristaps Porzingis, whom the team is reportedly high on. But Russell’s playmaking ability and versatility should get him the nod at pick No. 3.
#4 Knicks — Emmanuel Mudiay G (China)
- Height/Weight: 6’5″/200 pounds
- Stats: 18.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 6.3 APG. .493/.321/.586.
This slot is the most difficult one to predict in the entire draft. Team president Phil Jackson is an unknown quantity when it comes to the draft, and the franchise has a myriad of needs and holes to fill. I have gone back and forth on this one in my mind, and for now I’m sticking with Mudiay, though Willie Cauley-Stein and Justise Winslow are very real possibilities at this spot as well. There is also the chance that the Knicks attempt to deal this pick for an established star, having lost out on the chance to select Towns or Okafor by falling in the draft order. With New York’s current barren roster, trading down for multiple picks could also seem appealing for Jackson. If a franchise wanting to move up calls with an offer of a lottery pick this year and a 2016 first-rounder, I think the Zen Master would pull the trigger and deal away this pick.
#5 Magic — Kristaps Porzingis F (Latvia)
- Height/Weight: 7’0″/220 pounds
- Stats: 10.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 0.9 BPG. .560/.328/.750.
While I’m not sold on Porzingis as a top five talent, scouts and front office types reportedly are. There’s no denying Porzingis’ athleticism and potential, but there have been far too many international lottery picks who have turned out to be busts for my comfort level. But Orlando needs to add some frontcourt scoring and outside shooting, and the young Latvian certainly has the potential to provide both. Winslow is a very real possibility at this spot, but his outside game is still a work in progress, and he’s considered a bit of a tweener as well.
#6 Kings — Willie Cauley-Stein C (Kentucky)
- Height/Weight: 7’0″/244 pounds
- Stats: 8.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 1.7 BPG. .572/.000/.617.
DeMarcus Cousins has reportedly been pushing to be used more as a power forward, and Cauley-Stein would be a great addition to pair alongside the mercurial big man. Cauley-Stein won’t provide much in the way of offense, but he’ll be ready to play immediately, and his defensive ability will be a welcome addition in Sacramento.
#7 Nuggets — Justise Winslow F (Duke)
- Height/Weight: 6’6″/221 pounds
- Stats: 12.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 2.1 APG. .486/.418/.641.
The Nuggets need talent at virtually every position, and Winslow would be a steal at No. 7. His outside game needs more consistency, and he might not have a defined position, but his defense, character, and open court skills will be most welcome in Denver. If Winslow develops the way that I think he will, the Nuggets could be snagging themselves the next Kawhi Leonard here.
#8 Pistons — Mario Hezonja G/F (Croatia)
- Height/Weight: 6’7″/200 pounds
- Stats: 8.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 1.1 APG. .475/.406/.739.
The Pistons need to add someone who can stretch the floor and fill up the stat sheet from the wing position. Hezonja has a wealth of talent, though he’s reportedly had issues with his attitude and maturity while playing overseas. While Detroit could go for Devin Booker or Stanley Johnson at this spot, I say Stan Van Gundy rolls the dice and goes for the superior upside and athleticism of Hezonja with this pick.
#9 Hornets — Devin Booker G (Kentucky)
- Height/Weight: 6’6″/195 pounds
- Stats: 10.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 1.1 APG. .470/.411/.828.
Charlotte desperately needs to add some outside shooting, and Booker may very well be the best in the entire draft from beyond the arc. He’s not as athletic as some teams might prefer, but he has the potential to become something special in the league in a few seasons.
#10 Heat — Frank Kaminsky F/C (Wisconsin)
- Height/Weight: 7’0″/242 pounds
- Stats: 18.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and 1.5 BPG. .547/.416/.780.
The signing of Josh McRoberts last offseason didn’t quite work out for the franchise, and thanks to injuries, “McBob” wasn’t able to be the stretch four that Pat Riley was seeking. Kaminsky has his athletic limitations, but he’s also a seven-footer who can shoot the ball with aplomb. The team snags a valuable role-player with this selection.
#11 Pacers — Cameron Payne PG (Murray State)
- Height/Weight: 6’2″/180 pounds
- Stats: 20.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 6.0 APG. .456/.377/.787.
Payne is shooting up draft boards with gusto, and there are reports that the point guard already has secured a promise that he’ll be drafted in the lottery. The assumption was that the promise was made by the Thunder, who sit at No. 14. I don’t think he lasts that long, and the Pacers nab their point guard of the future instead. If OKC wants a crack at Payne, it will need to move up in the draft to have a shot.
#12 Jazz — Kelly Oubre G/F (Kansas)
- Height/Weight: 6’6″/204 pounds
- Stats: 9.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 0.8 APG. .444/.358/.718.
The Jazz need outside scoring and help at the wing. Oubre didn’t blow NBA scouts and front office personnel away with his showing during his freshman campaign. But there is no denying his talent and upside. With the Jazz still in a rebuilding phase, the team can afford to be patient with Oubre, who has a much higher upside than the remaining wings on the board. The team could choose to go big here, and if so, Texas center/stretch four Myles Turner could end up being the pick.
#13 Suns — Myles Turner C (Texas)
- Height/Weight: 6’11”/242 pounds
- Stats: 10.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 2.6 BPG. .455/.274/.839.
The Suns need frontcourt depth and outside shooting. Turner has the potential to fill both needs. The big man didn’t have a standout season for the Longhorns in 2014/15, but much of that can be blamed on Texas’ system being an extremely poor fit for Turner’s skillset. He has an extremely high upside, and can play both center and power forward for Phoenix. Turner also has a solid outside shot, and he could end up being a steal at No. 13 for the team. If GM Ryan McDonough decides he prefers a wing, then look for Stanley Johnson to be the pick.
#14 Thunder — Stanley Johnson F (Arizona)
- Height/Weight: 6’7″/237 pounds
- Stats: 13.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 1.5 SPG. .446/.371/.742.
The Thunder lose out on Payne, a player who fills an obvious need for depth at the point. While Jerian Grant or Tyus Jones could fit the bill, this is a bit high for either player to hear his name called. OKC also needs depth at the wing, and Johnson is the best one still available. His offensive game is still a work in progress. But Johnson can defend three positions, and his frame is NBA-ready. A solid addition to coach Billy Donovan‘s rotation.
#15 Hawks (via Nets) — Trey Lyles F (Kentucky)
- Height/Weight: 6’10″/235 pounds
- Stats: 8.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 1.1 APG. .487/.138.735.
The Hawks could potentially need to replace both Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll, both of whom hit free agency this summer. Lyles’ stats aren’t eye-popping, thanks to Kentucky’s depth and platoon system, but this kid has the potential to be a solid contributor. His offensive game is still a work in progress, but that can be said for the majority of big men making the transition to the pros. If Atlanta elects for a more offensively minded player, then Bobby Portis could come into play here.
#16 Celtics — Bobby Portis F (Arkansas)
- Height/Weight: 6’11″/242 pounds
- Stats: 17.5 PPG, 8.9 RPG, and 1.4 BPG. .536/.467/.737.
Speaking of Portis…Boston could use some depth and athleticism from the four spot, and Portis can certainly provide both. The forward isn’t a stellar defender, so pairing him alongside center Kelly Olynyk could be a disaster for the team’s defensive ranking. But at pick No. 16, the former Arkansas player would provide excellent value, and be a solid addition to the Celtics’ rotation.
#17 Bucks— Sam Dekker F (Wisconsin)
- Height/Weight: 6’9″/230 pounds
- Stats: 13.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 1.2 APG. .525/.331/.708.
Some of the buzz that Dekker’s NCAA tournament performances generated has worn off. But he is a versatile forward who can shoot the ball well, and Dekker is more athletic than many give him credit for. The Bucks are gathering a nice young core, and Dekker fits in well with Jason Kidd’s squad.
#18 Rockets (via Pelicans) — Tyus Jones PG (Duke)
- Height/Weight: 6’1″/184 pounds
- Stats: 11.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 5.6 APG. .417/.379/.889.
The Rockets need to improve at the point guard spot, and Jones is a pass-first playmaker who will pair nicely alongside James Harden and Dwight Howard. Jones is still a bit raw, and his athleticism leaves something to be desired. But his upside is higher than Delon Wright‘s or Jerian Grant‘s, so he gets the nod here.
#19 Wizards — Jerian Grant PG (Notre Dame)
- Height/Weight: 6’5″/185 pounds
- Stats: 16.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 6.7 APG. .478/.316/.780.
The Wizards’ talented backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal have had their injury woes, and the team could use some insurance. Washington is a talented squad that have a very real shot to contend in the East in 2015/16. The team learned the hard way this past campaign that it needs to have solid depth at point guard. While Grant’s age, 22, has some scouts concerned that he’s already close to his ceiling, Grant is a solid two-way player who fills an obvious need for the Wizards. He would be an excellent pickup for the franchise here.
#20 Raptors — Rondae Hollis-Jefferson F (Arizona)
- Height/Weight: 6’7″/215 pounds
- Stats: 11.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 1.6 APG. .502/.207/.707.
Toronto desperately needs to improve on the defensive end, and snagging Hollis-Jefferson, who is perhaps the best wing defender in the entire draft, would be a great start to correcting that deficiency. His outside game, or lack thereof, is what is preventing him from being a lottery pick. But in the open court he is exciting to watch, and with some hard work and serious gym time he could develop into a steal at this spot.
#21 Mavericks — R.J. Hunter G (Georgia State)
- Height/Weight: 6’5″/190 pounds
- Stats: 19.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 3.6 APG. .396/.307/.878.
The Mavs will need to add some help in the backcourt with the likely departure of Rajon Rondo and the uncertainty regarding Monta Ellis. Hunter’s ability as a scorer and deep threat would be a solid addition, and while he’s not ready to be a starter should Ellis depart, he could be valuable as the team’s sixth man. If Dallas wants more versatility, it could opt for Delon Wright here as well.
#22 Bulls — Delon Wright G (Utah)
- Height/Weight: 6’5″/178 pounds
- Stats: 14.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 5.1 APG. .509/.356/.836.
Derrick Rose can no longer be counted on to play a full NBA season, and his backup, Kirk Hinrich, isn’t getting any younger. Chicago desperately needs to add some depth at the point, and Wright is the best remaining playmaker available. Though he’ll need to bulk up and improve his outside game if he wants to get on the court during his rookie campaign.
#23 Trail Blazers — Kevon Looney F (UCLA)
- Height/Weight: 6’9″/220 pounds
- Stats: 11.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 0.9 BPG. .470/.415/.626.
The Blazers may have two significant holes to fill, depending on whether or not the franchise retains LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews. Looney is a tweener who could potentially fill either hole, though he’s not quite ready for primetime just yet. He’s a very raw player, but possesses an extremely high upside. Finding a position in the NBA may be an issue. But he can certainly evolve into a solid rotation player, and if Portland is lucky, much more.
#24 Cavaliers — Montrezl Harrell F (Louisville)
- Height/Weight: 6’8″/243 pounds
- Stats: 15.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 1.4 APG. .566/.243/.597.
The Cavs need to add frontcourt depth, and possibly a replacement for Kevin Love. Harrell’s game has a number of offensive similarities to Love’s, and he can also chase down his fair share of rebounds. He’d be a good fit in Cleveland, and a good value pickup this late in the first round.
#25 Grizzlies — Justin Anderson G/F (Virginia)
- Height/Weight: 6’6″/227 pounds.
- Stats: 12.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 1.7 APG. .466/.452/.780.
The Grizz need more production from the wing, and Anderson is a solid player who can stretch the floor with his shooting. He’s a polished player who has a strong all-around game, and he’ll fit in perfectly in Memphis.
#26 Spurs — George De Paula G (Brazil)
- Height/Weight: 6’6″/205 pounds
- Stats: 10.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 3.1 RPG. .500/.750/.500.
The Spurs need to start looking for a replacement for Tony Parker, who is nearing the end of his career. De Paula, also known as George Lucas, is a freakish athlete who isn’t close to being prepared to run the floor for an NBA team. But the Spurs have shown themselves to be shrewd drafters, as well as patient in developing young talent. De Paula fits the bill for how San Antonio usually drafts, and he could turn out to be a future star. Just don’t expect that to happen for a few years.
#27 Lakers (via Rockets) — Rashad Vaughn G (UNLV)
- Height/Weight: 6’6″/215 pounds
- Stats: 17.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 1.6 APG. .439/.383/.694.
The Lakers could use some depth in the backcourt, as well as a future replacement for Kobe Bryant. Vaughn has maturity issues, and didn’t live up to the hype he had entering UNLV as a top 10 recruit. But he’s very young, and could evolve into a scoring machine in the NBA. He’d be a tremendous value pick this late in the first round.
#28 Celtics (via Clippers)— Christian Wood F (UNLV)
- Height/Weight: 6’11″/220 pounds
- Stats: 15.7 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 2.7 BPG. .497/.284/.736.
The Celtics need depth in the frontcourt, and Wood provides good value at this spot. He’s a few seasons away from being able to contribute anything of significance. But his upside and potential is extremely high. Boston could also roll the dice on Robert Upshaw at this spot.
#29 Nets (via Hawks) — Terry Rozier G (Louisville)
- Height/Weight: 6’1″/190 pounds
- Stats: 17.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 3.0 APG. .411/.306/.790.
With the health and production level of Deron Williams a concern, Brooklyn could certainly use an insurance policy at the point guard spot. Rozier has been impressing teams during his pre-draft workouts, and has likely earned himself a first round selection. The Nets land a solid backup and insurance policy.
#30 Warriors — Robert Upshaw C (Washington)
- Height/Weight: 7’0″/255 pounds
- Stats: 11.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and 4.2 BPG. .593/.000/.434.
Upshaw has lottery potential, but his documented substance abuse issues have lowered his draft stock quite a bit. There have been reports that teams will be leery of selecting him in round one because of the guaranteed contract that comes along with any first-rounder. But Golden State can afford to take the gamble, and the franchise needs to add depth at the pivot. At pick No. 30 Upshaw is worth the risk. Teams that select at the bottom of round one don’t often get a chance to nab a potential star, which Upshaw could be, if he can put his troubled past behind him.
Offseason Outlook: Denver Nuggets
Guaranteed Contracts
- Ty Lawson ($12,404,495)
- Danilo Gallinari ($11,559,225)
- Kenneth Faried ($11,235,955)
- Wilson Chandler ($7,171,662)
- J.J. Hickson ($5,613,500)
- Jusuf Nurkic ($1,842,000)
- Joffrey Lauvergne ($1,709,719)
- Gary Harris ($1,587,480)
Non-Guaranteed Contracts
- Randy Foye ($3,135,000)
- Jamaal Franklin ($947,276)
- Erick Green ($845,059)1
Options
- Jameer Nelson ($2,854,940 — Player)2
Restricted Free Agents/Cap Holds
- Will Barton ($1,181,348) — $1,181,348 qualifying offer3
- Ian Clark ($1,147,276) — $1,147,276 qualifying offer4
Unrestricted Free Agents/Cap Holds
- Darrell Arthur ($6,568,583)
- (Rudy Fernandez $5,451,108)5
- (Jan Vesely $4,236,287)5
- No. 7 pick ($2,585,200)
- (Wesley Person $947,276)5
Draft Picks
- 1st Round (7th overall)
- 2nd Round (57th overall)
Cap Outlook
- Guaranteed Salary: $53,124,036
- Non-Guaranteed Salary: $4,927,335
- Options: $2,854,940
- Cap Holds: $22,117,078
- Total: $89,677,385
The Nuggets roster still in many ways resembles the one that went 57-25 in 2012/13, but nothing has truly been the same in Denver since the team suffered an upset loss in the playoffs that season to the Warriors. GM Masai Ujiri left the following summer and the team replaced coach George Karl with Brian Shaw. Injuries, including the ACL tear in Gallinari’s left knee that may have been the true catalyst for Denver’s misfortune, derailed Shaw’s first season, but even with Gallinari and others back this year, the Nuggets still fell well shy of a playoff berth, and the team dismissed Shaw amid seeming apathy among the players.
Denver has moved slowly to replace Shaw, with interim coach Melvin Hunt among a field of candidates with whom the Nuggets only recently progressed into the interview stage. Hunt, Michael Malone and Mike D’Antoni seem like the primary candidates, though the team has also interviewed Blazers assistant David Vanterpool and Wizards assistant Don Newman, with Mike Woodson also reportedly lurking as a possible interviewee. Malone is the only one known to have garnered a second interview, though reports paint conflicting pictures about whether Denver’s apparent deal to bring Pete D’Alessandro back to the Nuggets front office threatens Malone’s candidacy. Hunt at one point appeared to nudge his way to the front of the pack, and while it’s not clear whether Hunt remains the favorite for the job, he has the support of the players.
Team president Josh Kroenke, GM Tim Connelly and the rest of the Nuggets braintrust will have plenty more to address once a coach is finally in place. Connelly spoke recently of a “period of transition” on the horizon as he made it clear that the team will make an aggressive push to land the sort of star the roster has lacked since the Carmelo Anthony trade. That’s easier said than done in an offseason when two of the most prominent trade candidates are already Nuggets. Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried are losing confidence in the organization and have let the team know that unless it makes a significant trade or hires an inspiring name as coach, they’d rather Denver trade them than keep them through a rebuilding process, as Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported. Connelly made the reported tension and frustration between Lawson and the organization readily apparent, making a public call as this year’s trade deadline passed for Lawson to “grow up.”
The Nuggets nonetheless held out for multiple first-round picks in exchange for Lawson as they discussed him at the deadline, as Grantland’s Zach Lowe reported. This month’s draft presents another opportunity to talk about Lawson with teams, and this time, the Nuggets would have more certainty about the prospects they could reap if they acquired additional picks for this year. Denver probably isn’t going to end up with a star with their own pick at No. 7, but the Nuggets would stand a better chance of doing so if they packaged that pick along with Lawson in offers to the Lakers, Sixers and Knicks, the teams in possession of picks two through four. Each has a need at the point. The Lakers were among the teams expressing interest in Lawson at the deadline, according to ESPN’s Chris Broussard, but that doesn’t appear to be the case for either Philadelphia or New York.
The Mavs don’t appear to have Lawson at the forefront of their priorities, even though there’s apparently a level of mutual interest between Dallas and the six-year veteran. Kings coach George Karl apparently would love to acquire Lawson or any of the players he used to coach on the Nuggets, but just how willing Denver, with D’Alessandro in tow, would be to deal with Sacramento this summer remains to be seen, never mind the confusion that’s reigned in the Kings front office.
Faried emerged as late-first-round steal in his first two NBA seasons under Karl, but multiple reports have indicated that the Nuggets weren’t quite sold on the power forward even as they inked him to a four-year, $50MM extension this past fall. People around the league sensed as the deadline neared that Faried could be had for a particularly strong trade offer, Lowe wrote, even though it seemed a few weeks prior that Denver didn’t want to trade him. The Raptors were loosely connected to Faried in between those times, and they seem like a team that would like to have him, given their lack of a clear-cut starter at the four and the presence in Toronto of GM Masai Ujiri, who drafted Faried when he was Denver’s GM. Still, the Raptors don’t have a high draft pick and probably aren’t willing to part with stars, so trading Faried to them would probably represent a lateral move at best for Denver. Power forwards in a more traditional vein, like Faried, aren’t in vogue these days, so the Nuggets will likely find tough sledding if they try to find a trade partner who covets him.
The Nuggets, frustration with Lawson aside, probably don’t want to trade players on their roster as much as they simply want to trade for others who can become the clear-cut No. 1 option on offense that they’re been missing. The Kings have seemed steadfast against trading DeMarcus Cousins, though surely the Nuggets would cast aside any reservations they might have against doing business with the Kings if he became available. Denver was among the many teams going after Kevin Love last summer, and if Love again is on the market as either a free agent or trade commodity, the Nuggets will probably revisit that pursuit.
Denver would probably find it much easier if Love were available via trade than in free agency, given that the Nuggets don’t have the capacity to open anywhere close to max level cap room unless they clear significant salary in other moves. The desire for cap flexibility would probably fuel the team’s desire to unload Lawson, Faried or both as much as any catalyst, but the Nuggets may well want to hold off until they know a star free agent is willing to join them.
Indeed, Denver’s ledger is crowded with deals that carry into next season. Midseason trade acquisition Will Barton is the most prominent of only three free agents on the Nuggets, and it appears there’s mutual interest in a new deal. Denver has the chance to match bids for him with a small qualifying offer, and while the Nuggets will likely tender that offer, Barton probably isn’t too high on the team’s list of priorities, considering the multitude of other matters at hand.
The Nuggets, with changes on the horizon, seem likely to draft the best available player should they keep the seventh pick, even though Duke small forward Justise Winslow, Croatian small forward Mario Hezonja and Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein seem the most likely candidates to fit that bill. Those players would fill the same positions that mainstay Danilo Gallinari and promising 2014 draftee Jusuf Nurkic occupy, but Denver can’t be too worried about the way its pieces fit together when it seems poised for a shakeup. Our Eddie Scarito has Winslow going to the Nuggets in the latest Hoops Rumors Mock Draft.
New faces, from the draft and from trades, will likely dominate the Nuggets roster next season. It’s nonetheless conceivable that they keep the team intact to a degree, and certainly it would seem that Nurkic, whom the team thinks of as a steal, according to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, is a strong candidate to return. Deveney wrote that Lawson is likely to stay put, and indeed, there appears a decent chance that the Nuggets simply won’t find offers that would do much for them and decide to sit tight in the hopes that better proposals surface toward next season’s trade deadline. Still, Kroenke’s remark about a period of transition ahead makes it difficult to envision that the team won’t undergo a major shakeup relatively soon.
Cap Footnotes
1 — Green’s salary would become fully guaranteed if he remains under contract through August 1st.
2 — The cap hold for Nelson would be $3,278,400 if he opts out, as he reportedly plans to do.
3 — The cap hold for Barton would be $947,276 if the Nuggets elect not to tender a qualifying offer.
4 — The cap hold for Clark would be $947,276 if the Nuggets elect not to tender a qualifying offer.
5 — See our glossary entry on cap holds for an explanation of why these players technically remain on the books.
The Basketball Insiders Salary Pages were used in the creation of this post.
And-Ones: Agents, Buza, Zipser, Portis
An agent who spoke with Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com is worried that a union proposal that would significantly hike agent certification fees threatens to drive a large number of representatives out of business. A union spokesperson said to Begley that it was “ridiculous” to assume the measure posed such a threat, however. The change would up dues from $1,500 to between $5K and $15K, though it requires approval from a union committee before it would go into place, Begley notes. Here’s more from around the NBA:
- Second-round draft prospect Nedim Buza has signed with Oostende of Belgium, the team announced (hat tip to David Pick of Eurobasket.com). Buza, a Bosnian small forward, is the 51st-best prospect for this year’s draft, according to Chad Ford of ESPN.com, while Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress has him 53rd. Buza’s deal runs three years with an option for a fourth, though it’s unclear whether it’s a team, player or mutual option. Monday is the last day for Buza to withdraw from the draft, though he could elect to stay in and perhaps become a draft-and-stash player. It’s unclear what sort of NBA outs, if any, are in the contract.
- German forward Paul Zipser will withdraw from this year’s draft, reports Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress (Twitter link). He stood a decent chance to end up in the second round, too, as Givony ranked him 68th, though Ford has him at No. 92.
- The Cavaliers, Spurs, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Hawks, Bucks and Pacers spoke to Arkansas power forward Bobby Portis at last month’s combine, Portis said, according to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, who writes in his NBA PM piece. Previous reports indicated that he also talked to Boston and Portland.
- The BDA Sports agency has promised an NBA deal for former USC shooting guard Daniel Hackett if he can free himself from his contract with Italy’s EA7 Emporio Armani Milano, a source tells Sportando’s David Pick (Twitter link). Hackett intends to find a way out of the European deal, Pick adds.
Rockets To Pick Up Papanikolaou’s Option
The Rockets will exercise their team option to keep Kostas Papanikolaou under contract for next season, sources tell Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia. Still, Papanikolaou’s salary of nearly $4.798MM wouldn’t become guaranteed until October 4th, as Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders first revealed, even if Houston indeed picks up its team option by the deadline to do so later this month. That deadline is June 29th, unless the sides negotiated an earlier date.
Thus, the move to keep him under contract for now comes as no surprise, as declining the option wouldn’t give the Rockets much more benefit than they could otherwise reap. The Rockets would have Non-Bird rights to re-sign him if they declined the option and could make him a restricted free agent with a qualifying offer of close to $6MM, but that qualifying offer would entail guaranteed salary. Even if the Rockets didn’t extend a qualifying offer, his cap hold would be more than $5.757MM unless they renounced his rights. In short, picking up the option would give the Rockets the most flexibility possible while still allowing them to have the final say on whether Papanikolaou plays for them next season.
Carchia suggests a trade is a possibility, and indeed, a non-guaranteed salary as large as Papanikolaou’s represents a useful trade chip for salary matching purposes, particularly if Rockets GM Daryl Morey does business with a team that wants to clear cap room. Houston made a lucrative bet on the Greek forward last summer, and while he cracked the rotation in the first half of the season, the acquisition of Josh Smith cut off most of his playing time, as Carchia points out. Papanikolaou averaged 6.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game before Smith joined the team and 2.3 PPG, 1.5 RPG and just 12.1 MPG in 21 appearances afterward.
Caron Butler Expects Bucks To Waive Him
Wisconsin native Caron Butler made it clear that he thinks the Bucks will release him rather than guarantee his $4.5MM for next season, saying via text to Racine Sports Zone, “There’s no story here. I’m going to be a free agent on July 1st,” according to SB Nation’s Eric Buenning (Twitter link; hat tip to Marc Stein of ESPN.com). None of Butler’s salary for 2015/16 is guaranteed, but the full $4.5MM would be guaranteed if the Bucks don’t waive him by the close of business on June 30th. Milwaukee reacquired Butler, who played for the team during the first half of the 2013/14 season, in Thursday’s Ersan Ilyasova trade.
The Bucks have their sights set on signing a marquee free agent center, targeting Brook Lopez, Tyson Chandler and DeAndre Jordan, while also prioritizing the addition of a strong perimeter defender and a shooter, as Stein reported overnight. The Bucks have only about $36MM in guaranteed salary for next season, but given their plans for July, it would make sense that they’d want to retain as much flexibility as possible.
Butler and Milwaukee could circle back and work a new deal if he clears waivers, but Butler said in April that if the Pistons released him, he’d only consider signing with contending teams. The Bucks may well have a shot to win the Eastern Conference if they succeed in acquiring all of their targets, though it’d be a stretch to see them emerging as favorites. Still, Butler, at 35 years old, wouldn’t necessarily have his choice of intriguing offers, as he’s coming off career lows in points (5.9) and minutes (20.8) per game. He nonetheless shot 37.9% on 2.8 three-point attempts per game last season, so he at least still appears to have value as a spot-up shooter.
Milwaukee also acquired Shawne Williams in Thursday’s trade, though it’s not immediately clear what the Bucks plan to do with him and his minimum salary, which doesn’t become fully guaranteed until January. Williams shot 39.5% from behind the arc during the first half of this past season when he started in half of his 44 appearances as a member of the Heat, so he would seemingly be an option for the Bucks to consider as they look at shooters.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 6/11/15
Some of the greatest joys of being a sports fan, besides your favorite team winning the championship, are the debates that arise between fellow sports nuts along the way. It’s with this in mind that we at Hoops Rumors want to provide a forum for basketball fanatics to voice their opinions, debate trending topics, and simply hang out with like-minded hoops aficionados. We’ll be posting a topic for discussion on weeknights, and we hope that this will become a regular part of your sports day.
Of course, there will be differing opinions from time to time. While we absolutely encourage lively discussion and debate, we do expect everyone to treat each other with respect. So, please refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults or attacks, as well as the other taboo types of discourse laid out in our site’s commenting policy. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Hoops Rumors. Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there is no need to become a registered user.
Now that I’ve gotten the preamble and the fine print out of the way, it’s time to open the floor for our first topic: Dwyane Wade‘s contract situation with the Heat…
The Heat and Wade have been talking and there appears to be a significant difference in what the two sides believe Wade’s next deal should be worth, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. The latest report from Jackson pegged the proposed deal at $16MM for 2015/16, and then $10MM for each of the remaining seasons. This is far from the reported $20MM per season that Wade is seeking.
Wade has played the part of the good soldier for the Heat in the past, accepting lower salaries on his previous contracts so that the team would have greater flexibility to construct its roster. The guard likely did so with the understanding, or at the very least, the hope, that his loyalty would be rewarded down the line. There is a chance that if the organization does not up its offer to Wade, he’ll opt out of his deal this summer and head elsewhere.
So the question I’m asking you today is this: How should Miami handle Wade’s contract situation? Should the Heat pay Wade what he wants as a reward for his past service? Or should the team hold fast and risk losing a 33-year-old player who has averaged just 58 contests over his last four seasons, despite him being the face of the franchise? Head to the comments section below to voice your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.
Northwest Notes: Roberson, Jazz, Grant
Thunder swingman Andre Roberson is excited to see what changes Billy Donovan, the team’s new coach, will bring to the franchise, Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman writes. “He’s a great guy,” Roberson said. “I think he’ll be a great fit for us. A guy that definitely knows the game. He’s willing to learn. And he’s all about the program. I think that’s what we need. And I’m glad he’s a part of this Thunder organization.” Roberson isn’t sure if his role as a starter will change under the new regime, Mayberry adds. “We’re going to have to see,” Roberson continued. “Nobody knows where they’re set besides Russell [Westbrook], Kevin [Durant] and Serge [Ibaka]. It’s going to be a new coach, new system. I think we’re all up for the challenge. We’re all in this together. So it doesn’t matter if I’m starting, whether I’m not starting, I’m going to go out there and do what I do every night and provide for my team. So it’s going to be good.”
Here’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Timberwolves coach/executive Flip Saunders, who had previously been leaning toward selecting Jahlil Okafor with the No. 1 overall pick, is now enamored with Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Mark Heisler of Forbes.com relays. The change in Saunders’ thinking occurred after watching Towns work out last week, Heisler adds.
- Penn State guard D.J. Newbill took part in a group workout held by the Thunder on Wednesday, Michael Scotto of SheridanHoops tweets.
- Steve Starks, the president of Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment, wants to return the Jazz franchise to the success it had enjoyed back in the 1990s, Aaron Falk of The Salt Lake Tribune writes. “It’s no secret that we want to build a consistent championship-caliber team,” Starks said. “Our ultimate goal is to raise a banner. I wake up in the morning thinking about how we do that.“
- The Thunder traditionally like to carry three point guards, and Notre Dame playmaker Jerian Grant could fit the bill when the team selects at the No. 14 overall pick this June, Mayberry writes in a separate piece. One of the concerns NBA scouts have relating to Grant is his age, 22, which somewhat limits his ceiling compared to a number of other point guards in this year’s draft, Mayberry notes. “I work harder than anyone in this draft so I know that I’m going to continue to get better,” Grant said. “Me being old, I think, is just I’m ready to go right now. I’m ready to help a team right now. But at the same time, a few years down the road I think I’ll be even better [able] to help a team.”