Timberwolves, Bulls Discussing Dunn, Butler Deal
8:41pm: The Bulls’ negotiations with the Celtics at No. 3 for Dunn were more serious than their talks with the Wolves for Dunn, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne adds that Chicago was listening on Butler, rather than shopping him.
Shelburne agrees that the Bulls’ talks with Boston more serious than their discussions with Minnesota, and says Butler looks poised to stay put for now. According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the Wolves haven’t given up on a potential deal, but the longer they go without an agreement, the less likely it is to happen.
8:06pm: There are plenty of conflicting reports out there on the Bulls/Timberwolves talks now. ESPN’s Marc Stein tweets that discussions are in the advanced stages, and other reporters have suggested the deal is still very much in play. However, NBA.com’s David Aldridge (Twitter link) has been told there’s “no chance” of the trade being completed, and some reporters have echoed that report as well.
7:45pm: The Bulls and Wolves continue to have “serious talks” about a trade that would involve Butler and Dunn, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (via Twitter). According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter), there is a strong sentiment within the Bulls front office to enter full rebuilding mode and trade for Dunn. There’s “rising optimism” on both sides that a deal can get done, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com.
7:22pm: The Timberwolves are still trying to get the Bulls to agree to a deal involving Jimmy Butler and Providence point guard Kris Dunn, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com. A potential deal between Minnesota and Chicago broke down earlier because the Bulls wanted Zach LaVine to be included rather than Ricky Rubio, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link).
The Bulls and Sixers were both trying to obtain the No. 5 selection before the Wolves took Dunn, Stein tweeted. Philadelphia offered the same package to Minnesota that it presented Boston for the third pick, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press (Twitter link).
If the Timberwolves hold onto Dunn, that probably means Rubio’s days in Minnesota are numbered, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, who adds that Rubio has been shopped all week. The initial feeling is that the Wolves are likely to hold onto Dunn, despite aggressive offers from interested teams, according to Stein (Twitter link). Dunn was atop the draft board of new coach executive Tom Thibodeau, Wojnarowski reports (Twitter link).
Trade Rumors: Butler, LaVine, Russell, Gay
The Bulls and Celtics are still discussing a deal involving Jimmy Butler, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. Chicago, which traded Derrick Rose to the Knicks on Wednesday, reportedly wants to draft Providence point guard Kris Dunn, but isn’t enamored with Boston’s latest offer, according to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune (Twitter link).
More trade rumors are heating up as the draft is under way:
- Another deal the Bulls received came from the Timberwolves, who offered the fifth pick and Zach LaVine, tweets Ian Begley of ESPN.com. Minnesota is willing to listen to offers for anyone besides Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities, but he doesn’t believe that offer will be enough to land Butler.
- The Kings have been “heavily engaged in trade talks” with several teams this week and are targeting Lakers‘ point guard D’Angelo Russell, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN. Sacramento is seeking a possible replacement for starting point guard Rajon Rondo, who is headed toward free agency.
- Before picking up Thaddeus Young in a deal with the Nets today, the Pacers talked to the Kings about Rudy Gay, according to Wojnarowski.
Sixers Offering Noel, Covington, Picks For No. 3
The Sixers have put Nerlens Noel, Robert Covington, the No. 24 overall pick, and the No. 26 pick on the table in their talks with the Celtics for the third overall pick, reports ESPN’s Marc Stein (via Twitter). Stein reports (via Twitter) that Boston has been holding out for a better offer, with Jimmy Butler at or near the top of Danny Ainge‘s list of targets.
Philadelphia has already nabbed Ben Simmons with the first overall pick tonight, and is believed to be targeting Kris Dunn at No. 3. According to David Aldridge of NBA.com (via Twitter), the Sixers believed a few hours ago that the Celtics and Bulls were “far along” on a trade involving Butler, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.
Still, the C’s and Bulls have had extensive discussions involving Butler. K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune tweets that, in addition to the No. 3 pick, Jae Crowder has been a part of those discussions. Avery Bradley is a potential piece as well, tweets Johnson.
Sixers Draft Ben Simmons With No. 1 Pick
As expected, the Sixers opened this year’s draft by taking LSU’s Ben Simmons. The 6’10” Australian native, who has been the consensus No. 1 choice since the beginning of the college season, averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists during his lone season with the Tigers.
After landing the top pick in last month’s lottery, Philadelphia was reportedly deciding between Simmons and Duke forward Brandon Ingram. On Tuesday, the Sixers informed Simmons that he would be their choice.
Simmons is the latest in a string of big men drafted early by the Sixers. He joins a crowded frontcourt that includes Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and maybe Croatian star Dario Saric. Philadelphia is reportedly trying to package Noel and its selections at Nos. 24 and 26 to obtain a top-eight pick.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Draft Rumors: Nuggets, Celtics, Sixers, Dunn
With the 2016 NBA draft just minutes from getting underway, let’s round up some of the latest rumors from around the league…
- According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (via Twitter), league executives are saying that many teams with mid-to-late first-round picks are making a “great effort” to move those selections. Already today, the Pacers have moved the No. 20 pick and the Hornets have traded No. 22.
- The Nuggets made an effort to move up to No. 3, but felt that the Celtics were asking for too much, reports NBA.com’s David Aldridge (Twitter link).
- The Celtics aren’t considering Croatian big man Dragan Bender with the third overall pick in the draft, reports Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald. Boston instead appears to be “increasingly drawn to” Providence point guard Kris Dunn. The Sixers also like Dunn a lot, and are engaged in last-minute talks with Boston, tweets Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
- The Suns, who have frequently been linked to Marquese Chriss at No. 4, are giving “increasing consideration” to Bender at that spot, tweets ESPN.com’s Marc Stein. Meanwhile, Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic reports that Phoenix is also gauging the value of that No. 4 pick in the event that Dunn is still on the board, since it sounds like there are a few teams coveting the point guard.
- Donnie Nelson of the Mavericks thinks the draft is “a little light” in the first round, but “heavy” in the second round, and says the team is excited about the No. 46 pick. Nelson added that Dallas hasn’t ruled out trying to get into the first round for the right player (all Twitter links via Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com).
Kings Discussing Trades Involving No. 8 Pick
There are eight players at the top of most big boards for the 2016 draft, and that cutoff seems to be reflected in the Kings’ trade talks. Sacramento, which holds the No. 8 overall pick, has received offers for that selection that include multiple future first-rounders, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, who reports (via Twitter) that multiple teams are attempting to get to that No. 8 spot.
Meanwhile, Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com reports (via Twitter) that two sources have told him the Kings are trying to move into the top six.
While those two reports appear on the surface to be at odds, it’s possible they’re both true. The Kings could be mulling a three-team trade, or two separate deals, which would see them trade the No. 8 overall selection for future picks, then flip those picks – plus perhaps one more asset for a top-six selection. It’s also possible that Sacramento is simply exploring all potential alternatives, attempting to determine whether it makes sense to be buyers or sellers tonight.
If they are indeed exploring a move up, it’s not clear which player the Kings might be targeting. However, multiple reports in recent weeks have suggested Sacramento is very fond of Oklahoma sharpshooter Buddy Hield, and it appears as though Hield may be off the board by the time the eighth overall pick rolls around.
An earlier report indicated that the Sixers had spoken to the Kings within the last 24 hours. Philadelphia won’t be parting with its first overall pick, but has been attempting to land a second top-eight pick.
Knicks Rumors: Hernangomez, Thomas, Galloway
Spanish center Willy Hernangomez, selected 35th overall in last year’s draft, intends to sign a multiyear contract with the Knicks this offseason, agent Andy Miller tells Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. “It is my intent to reach an agreement with the Knicks and have Willy come to New York for next season and beyond,” Miller said.
As Wojnarowski writes, Hernangomez, whose draft rights are held by the Knicks, was a teammate of Kristaps Porzingis in Spain during the 2014/15 season. GM Steve Mills said earlier this month that the team hoped to bring the 22-year-old stateside, though he indicated at the time that nothing could be finalized until July.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Knicks president Phil Jackson said today that he expects the team to re-sign free agents Lance Thomas and Langston Galloway this summer, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Galloway is eligible for restricted free agent, while Thomas will be unrestricted.
- The acquisition of Derrick Rose, which involved sending Robin Lopez to the Bulls as part of the outgoing package, means New York will be in the market for a big man this offseason, Jackson said today (Twitter link via Begley). Dwight Howard, Joakim Noah, and Pau Gasol have been mentioned as possible targets for the club, though Jackson didn’t specifically comment on any players.
- Rose is entering the final year of his contract, and the Knicks would like to keep him for the long term, according to Jackson. However, he added that’s not a conversation for today (Twitter link via Begley).
Western Rumors: Wolves, Hield, Rockets, Grizzlies
With the No. 5 pick in hand, the Timberwolves know they won’t have a chance to draft Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram, but it’s not clear yet which two other players will be off the board by the time they have to submit their selection. It sounds like Kris Dunn may be the team’s top target, but if the Providence point guard is unavailable, Tom Thibodeau has Oklahoma sharpshooter Buddy Hield next up on the club’s board, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (Twitter link).
As we wait to see what Minnesota ends up doing with that fifth overall pick, let’s check in on a few other notes and rumors from across the Western Conference…
- James Harden expects to assist the Rockets in their pursuit of free agents this summer, actively recruiting players when he can, per Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com. According to Harden, Kevin Durant will be one of the players he attempts to recruit: “I’m going to try. He’s one of my really good friends. I’m going to try and talk to him. He has a big decision [to make], whatever he feels best for his career. … I obviously would love for him to play here in Houston, but ultimately he’s got to make the best decision for his career whatever that is.”
- Don’t be surprised if the Grizzlies acquire another second-round pick in tonight’s draft, writes Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. As Tillery details, Memphis GM Chris Wallace is fond of picking up extra second-rounders to nab developmental players, especially if the price is only cash.
- The Spurs hold the draft rights to 14 players currently playing overseas or elsewhere, and general manager R.C. Buford expects at least one of those players – and “maybe more” – to join the NBA club this offseason. Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News has the details.
- The Jazz have accelerated their playoff timeline by trading the No. 12 overall pick in a deal for veteran guard George Hill, says Brad Rock of The Deseret News. In other Jazz news, Gordon Hayward issued a statement explaining why he has withdrawn his name from Team USA for the 2016 Olympics (Twitter link via Priority Sports).
2016 NBA Draft Primer
The 2016 NBA draft is set to get underway in about 90 minutes, and while it may seem like we just finished watching Game 7 of the NBA Finals, fans of teams like the 76ers, Lakers, and Suns have been looking forward to this night for months.
There likely won’t be much drama at the top of the draft, where the Sixers have reportedly informed Ben Simmons that he’ll be the No. 1 pick. The Lakers also appear poised to take Brandon Ingram with the No. 2 pick, barring an unexpected, last-minute blockbuster trade.
After those two selections though, anything could happen — many teams in the first round are shopping their picks, and while most draft boards feature a consensus top eight (Simmons, Ingram, Kris Dunn, Buddy Hield, Jaylen Brown, Jamal Murray, Dragan Bender, and Marquese Chriss), no one is quite sure what order they’ll come off the board after the top two.
In order to make sure you’re all set for tonight’s draft, here are a number of Hoops Rumors resources for you to peruse as we wait for the Sixers to kick off tonight’s event:
- Need a refresher on the draft order, or what picks each team holds? All that info can be found in our breakdown of draft picks by round and by team.
- We conducted two separate mock drafts. Hoops Rumors writers Chris Crouse and Arthur Hill alternated picks in one we published this week, while we opened up the floor to our readers in a series of polls for our other mock. Both mocks were completed before the Hawks acquired the 12th overall pick and the Nets acquired the No. 20 pick.
- Our Prospect Profile series took an in-depth look at a dozen young players who are expected to be selected in the first round of tonight’s draft.
- A total of 73 early entrant college and international prospects are eligible to be drafted tonight. The full list of those players can be found right here.
- Here’s a breakdown of what teams are expected to pay their first-round picks, including their first-year salaries and the full value of their four-year rookie contracts.
- There are five teams controlling 14 of 30 first-round picks this year. We discussed those five clubs, since they may be more inclined to make deals tonight.
- As you consider which players teams might be targeting, be sure to check out the depth charts at RosterResource.com to keep tabs on which players those teams already have on their rosters.
- We previewed the coming offseason, including draft plans, for all 30 NBA teams.
- The latest news and rumors related to the 2016 draft can be found on this page.
Mavs Prioritizing Whiteside, Conley In Free Agency
The Mavericks are eyeing Heat center Hassan Whiteside and Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, making those two players their top targets as free agency approaches, according to Tim MacMahon and Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Both players are expected to command maximum-salary contracts, and Dallas is willing to pay that price for either player, sources tell the ESPN duo.
Per ESPN’s report, the Mavericks expect to have the opportunity to meet with Whiteside during the opening hours of free agency in July. The Heat have been considered the frontrunner to re-sign their pending free agent, but Dallas will be among the teams given the chance to make a pitch to him once the recruiting period begins. MacMahon and Stein identify the Trail Blazers as another club expected to make a push for Whiteside.
As for Conley, he may be open to leaving Memphis if the Grizzlies are unwilling to offer him a fifth year. Because the Grizzlies hold the point guard’s Bird Rights, they’re the only club that can offer five years instead of four, and Conley wants them to do so if he ends up re-signing, according to MacMahon and Stein. A source tells the ESPN duo that San Antonio and Dallas are among the teams that would appeal to the 28-year-old if he leaves Memphis — his interest in the Mavericks is in large part due to his respect for head coach Rick Carlisle.
As the Mavs pursue Conley and Whiteside, it’s worth considering that Conley’s maximum salary over a four-year deal figures to be about $20MM more than Whiteside’s, since he has a few more years of NBA experience.
MacMahon also notes (on Twitter) that technically Kevin Durant remains the Mavericks’ top target in free agency, but suggests that the team is being realistic about its chances of luring KD to Dallas.