Mobile Menu
HEADLINES

2020 NBA Draft

And-Ones: Timberwolves, Durant, Buycks, Draft

November 3rd, 2019 at 9:43pm CST by JD Shaw

The Timberwolves are fuming over how the NBA handled the discipline for Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns, which stems from a mid-game scuffle between the two superstars last week, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.

Minnesota has expressed disapproval of the league’s decision to suspend both Embiid and Towns two games for multiple reasons, as noted by Krawczynski.

Firstly, team officials believe Embiid was the instigator of the scuffle, leading to Towns’ involvement. The franchise also touched on Embiid’s decision to leave the game with a bang upon his ejection, shadow-boxing and firing up the Philadelphia crowd while Towns exited the floor quietly.

And the last issue, one discussed heavily by fans across the league, relates to the league’s decision not to penalize Ben Simmons for his involvement in the altercation. Simmons was seen with his arms wrapped around the neck of Towns, causing many to believe he was attempting a rear-naked choke. The league ultimately viewed Simmons as a peacemaker.

“While we are disappointed in the league’s decision, we understand the magnitude of this unfortunate incident,” Wolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas said, according to Krawczynski. “The NBA is highly competitive and last night was a reflection of that. We support Karl and will move forward together as a group.”

Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:

  • The shaky starts from both the Nets and Warriors show Kevin Durant‘s tremendous on-court value even more, as detailed by Frank Isola of The Athletic. Golden State lost Durant in free agency this summer, with the 10-time All-Star choosing to take his talents to Brooklyn on a multi-year deal. Durant is expected to miss the rest of the 2019/20 season as he rehabs from a torn Achilles’ tendon, with the Nets currently struggling at 2-4.
  • Free agent guard Dwight Buycks has agreed to a new deal with the Shenzhen Leopards in China, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Buycks averaged 20.5 points with the team last season.
  • Jonathon Givony and Mike Schmitz of ESPN.com discuss the early contenders for the 2020 NBA Draft, including which prospects have the best chances of being selected in the lottery. ESPN revealed its early mock draft for the event last week, with 7-foot-1 center James Wiseman currently projected as the No. 1 overall pick.
Retweet 3 Share 0 Send via email0

And-Ones: Dante, Hampton, 2021 Draft, Grant

October 15th, 2019 at 11:10am CST by Luke Adams

Oregon big man N’Faly Dante has been informed that he’ll be ineligible to play at the start of the 2019/20 season because the NCAA missed his clearance date, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. In a statement, the five-star recruit that he has completed the academic requirements and intends to re-enroll to Oregon on December 14 in the hopes of being cleared to play.

Charania refers to Dante as a potential lottery pick in 2020, and NBADraft.net has him ranked 13th overall in the site’s latest mock draft. His name doesn’t show up at all in ESPN’s most recent 2020 mock, but it’s possible that will change if he gets his eligibility issues sorted out.

Here’s more from around the basketball world:

  • R.J. Hampton, a projected 2020 lottery pick, said he had “a lot of room for growth” after his New Zealand Breakers played exhibition games against the Grizzlies and Thunder last week. According to ESPN’s Royce Young, there were nearly 60 NBA scouts and executives in attendance at the game in Oklahoma City.
  • ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz (Insider link) have already unveiled their first mock draft for 2021, with point guard Cade Cunningham in the No. 1 spot.
  • With the Qingdao Eagles signing American-born guard Darius Adams, the Chinese club is apparently parting ways with another one of its U.S. players. According to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando (via Twitter), former Knicks, Bulls, and Magic point guard Jerian Grant is the odd man out for Qingdao and will be released. Carchia initially reported last month that the Eagles were considering waiving Grant.
Retweet 1 Share 0 Send via email0

NBL Prospects Ball, Hampton Drawing Significant Interest

October 9th, 2019 at 2:52pm CST by Luke Adams

After initially telling NBA teams that they wouldn’t be permitted to scout practices involving top prospects LaMelo Ball and R.J. Hampton this season due to the league’s no-contact rules, the league office allowed clubs to attend a pair of New Zealand Breakers practices in Memphis this week to get a look at Hampton, according to a pair of reports from Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com.

As Givony details, scouts and executives from NBA teams had hoped to attend a total of five Breakers practices this week in Memphis and Oklahoma City to scout Hampton as part of the New Zealand club’s preseason tour. However, the league prohibited teams from attending sessions on Sunday and Monday morning before opening up Monday night’s practice as well as Tuesday morning’s shootaround. Teams will also be allowed to attend the Breakers’ morning shootaround on Thursday in OKC, Givony adds.

As Givony explains, the NBA’s no-contact rules prohibit teams from having contact with draft-ineligible players outside of a few approved settings, including official games and select college practices. Non-college prospects like Ball and Hampton are still considered draft-ineligible for 2020 at this point since they haven’t officially declared through the league office.

The league’s latest memo related to non-contact rules extensively addressed college and international prospects, but Ball and Hampton technically don’t fall into either category since they’re not attending college and haven’t lived outside the U.S. for three years — they’re essentially in a grey area, leaving the NBA to interpret their status based on the league’s existing rules.

It’s possible the NBA will alter its interpretation of those rules or tweak them slightly to allow teams more freedom to scout Ball and Hampton over the course of the 2019/20 season. Givony points out that 27 NBA scouts attending the NBL Blitz in Tasmania last month and many of those scouts attended practices involving Ball and Hampton, which may lead to fines.

The Breakers practices that were open to NBA execs and scouts this week were heavily populated, according to the NBL, which estimates that over 100 reps from teams were on hand on Monday night to get a look at Hampton. Another top 2020 prospect, James Wiseman, had his pro day at the University of Memphis earlier on Monday, so many scouts and execs attended both events.

Meanwhile, Ball, who is also playing in the NBL as a member of the Illawarra Hawks, is drawing plenty of attention from fans in addition to NBA teams. According to Adam Zagoria of Forbes.com, Ball’s NBL debut became the most-watched game in league history, with one million viewers streaming the game on Facebook in the United States.

Zagoria also wrote in a separate Forbes article that the Trail Blazers, Pelicans, Nets, and Raptors are among the teams that have reached out to the Spire Academy in Ohio – where Ball played last season – for information on the young point guard. The Cavaliers have also been evaluating him, sources tell Zagoria.

In ESPN’s latest mock draft, Givony had Wiseman coming off the board at No. 1, followed by Ball at No. 3 and Hampton at No. 6.

Retweet 3 Share 0 Send via email0

LaMelo Ball In Conversation For No. 1 Pick In 2020 NBA Draft

September 24th, 2019 at 8:34pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Examine ESPN’s latest mock draft and you’ll find a surprising name near the top of the list. ESPN draft guru Jonathan Givony has LaMelo Ball going No. 3 overall in his latest piece and hears that Ball might end up being in contention for the No. 1 overall pick next summer.

“If he keeps this up, I don’t see any way he isn’t in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick,” one NBA executive told Givony. “He completely changed my perception of the type of prospect he is, and all of the background info I gathered here from his coaches and teammates paint a very different story of what I thought about him off the court as well.”

Ball, who is the younger brother of Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball, is spending the year playing for the Illawarra Hawks in Australia’s NBL. Many around the Australian league believed the club was taking a big risk bringing in Ball, whose father has been deemed a media distraction in the past. However, it’s been all positive for Ball in Australia and scouts are raving about his game.

“He reminds me of Luka Doncic,” a scout said. “Just in terms of his size, his feel and his creativity…He plays with incredible pace. He’s never sped up. He’s never rattled by anything that’s thrown at him…You’re expecting something magical to happen every time he has the ball. He sees everything. He can make every pass with either hand off a live dribble. His style of play is tailor-made for the NBA game, especially if you surround him with shooting and better finishers.”

The NBL doesn’t have the kind of talent found in the NCAA, though Ball is playing alongside fellow NBA prospect R.J. Hampton abroad. The league continues to grow and with that, comes an increased level of play.

Washington big man Isaiah Stewart, Memphis center James Wiseman, and Georgia shooting guard Anthony Edwards are among the prospects expected to compete for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft. As for point guards, Ball is currently viewed as the best available.

“It’s a talented field,” an executive tells Sean Deveney of Heavy.com. “But he’s got the most potential.”

Retweet 3 Share 0 Send via email0

Traded Second Round Picks For 2020 NBA Draft

August 26th, 2019 at 1:06pm CST by Luke Adams

We’re using the space below to keep tabs on each team’s second round pick for 2020, continually updating it as necessary throughout the year. Our list of traded first round picks for 2020 can be found right here.

We’ve listed all 30 teams here, so even if a team hasn’t traded its second round pick, that will be noted. We’ll also provide details on protections for each traded pick, including what happens to the pick in 2021 if it doesn’t change hands in 2020.

Here’s the full breakdown on the status of each 2020 second round pick:

Atlantic

  • Boston Celtics: Traded to Hornets (top-53 protected).
    • If not conveyed, the Celtics’ obligation to the Hornets would be extinguished.
  • Brooklyn Nets: Traded to Sixers or Celtics.
    • The Sixers will receive the more favorable of the Nets’ and Knicks’ second-round picks; the Celtics will receive the less favorable of the two.
  • New York Knicks: Traded to Sixers or Celtics.
    • The Sixers will receive the more favorable of the Nets’ and Knicks’ second-round picks; the Celtics will receive the less favorable of the two.
  • Philadelphia 76ers: Own pick.
  • Toronto Raptors: Own pick.

Central

  • Chicago Bulls: Possibly traded to Wizards (56-60 protected).
    • The Wizards will receive the more favorable of the Bulls’ and Grizzlies’ second-round picks (both 56-60 protected); the Bulls will receive the less favorable of the two picks.
    • If both picks fall in the 56-60 range, the Grizzlies and Bulls would keep their picks and their obligations to the Wizards would be extinguished.
  • Cleveland Cavaliers: Traded to Hornets (unprotected).
  • Detroit Pistons: Traded to Kings (unprotected).
  • Indiana Pacers: Traded to Nets (45-60 protected).
    • If not conveyed, the Pacers will owe the Nets their 2021 second-round pick (45-60 protected).
  • Milwaukee Bucks: Traded to Pelicans (unprotected).

Southeast

  • Atlanta Hawks: Traded to Sixers or Celtics.
    • The Sixers will receive the pick if it lands between 31-55; the Celtics will receive it if it lands between 56-60.
  • Charlotte Hornets: Traded to Knicks (unprotected).
  • Miami Heat: Traded to Kings or Hawks.
    • The Hawks will receive the more favorable of the Heat’s and Rockets’ second-round picks; the Kings will receive the less favorable of the two picks.
  • Orlando Magic: Own pick.
  • Washington Wizards: Traded to Pelicans (unprotected).

Northwest

  • Denver Nuggets: Traded to Nets (unprotected).
  • Minnesota Timberwolves: Own pick.
  • Oklahoma City Thunder: Own pick.
  • Portland Trail Blazers: Traded to Nets (31-55 protected).
    • If not conveyed, the Trail Blazers’ obligation to the Nets would be extinguished.
  • Utah Jazz: Traded to Warriors (unprotected).

Pacific

  • Golden State Warriors: Traded to Mavericks.
  • Los Angeles Clippers: Own pick.
  • Los Angeles Lakers: Traded to Sixers (unprotected).
  • Phoenix Suns: Traded to Grizzlies (unprotected).
  • Sacramento Kings: Own pick.

Southwest

  • Dallas Mavericks: Traded to Warriors (unprotected).
  • Houston Rockets: Traded to Kings or Hawks.
    • The Hawks will receive the more favorable of the Heat’s and Rockets’ second-round picks; the Kings will receive the less favorable of the two picks.
  • Memphis Grizzlies: Traded to Bulls or Wizards (56-60 protected).
    • The Wizards will receive the more favorable of the Bulls’ and Grizzlies’ second-round picks (both 56-60 protected); the Bulls will receive the less favorable of the two picks.
    • If both picks fall in the 56-60 range, the Grizzlies and Bulls would keep their picks and their obligations to the Wizards would be extinguished.
  • New Orleans Pelicans: Own pick.
  • San Antonio Spurs: Own pick.

Information from RealGM was used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 3 Share 0 Send via email0

Traded First Round Picks For 2020 NBA Draft

August 19th, 2019 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The 2020 NBA draft is still 10 months away, but several teams have already traded their first round picks for that night, and more clubs are likely to do so before this season’s trade deadline.

We’ll use the space below to keep tabs on each team’s first round pick for 2020, continually updating it as necessary throughout the year.

We’ve listed all 30 teams here, so even if a team hasn’t traded its first round pick, that will be noted. We’ll also provide details on protections for each traded pick, including what happens to the pick in 2021 if it doesn’t change hands in 2020.

Here’s the full breakdown on the status of each 2020 first round pick:

Atlantic

  • Boston Celtics: Own pick.
  • Brooklyn Nets: Traded to Timberwolves (top-14 protected).
    • If not conveyed, the Nets would owe the Timberwolves their 2021 first-rounder (top-14 protected).
  • New York Knicks: Own pick.
  • Philadelphia 76ers: Traded to Nets (top-14 protected).
    • If not conveyed, the Sixers would owe the Nets their 2021 first-rounder (top-14 protected).
  • Toronto Raptors: Own pick.

Central

  • Chicago Bulls: Own pick.
  • Cleveland Cavaliers: Traded to Pelicans (top-10 protected).
    • If not conveyed, the Cavaliers would owe the Pelicans their 2021 and 2022 second-rounders (unprotected).
  • Detroit Pistons: Own pick.
  • Indiana Pacers: Traded to Bucks (top-14 protected).
    • If not conveyed, the Pacers would owe the Bucks their 2021 first-rounder (top-14 protected).
  • Milwaukee Bucks: Traded to Celtics (top-7 protected).
    • If not conveyed, the Bucks would owe the Celtics their 2021 first-rounder (unprotected).

Southeast

  • Atlanta Hawks: Own pick.
  • Charlotte Hornets: Own pick.
  • Miami Heat: Own pick.
  • Orlando Magic: Own pick.
  • Washington Wizards: Own pick.

Northwest

  • Denver Nuggets: Traded to Thunder (top-10 protected).
    • If not conveyed, the Nuggets would owe the Thunder their 2021 first-rounder (top-10 protected).
  • Minnesota Timberwolves: Own pick.
  • Oklahoma City Thunder: Traded to Sixers (top-20 protected).
    • If not conveyed, the Thunder would owe the Sixers their 2022 and 2023 second-rounders (unprotected).
  • Portland Trail Blazers: Own pick.
  • Utah Jazz: Traded to Grizzlies (1-7, 15-30 protection).
    • If not conveyed, the Jazz would owe the Grizzlies their 2021 first-rounder (1-7, 15-30 protection).

Pacific

  • Golden State Warriors: Traded to Nets (top-20 protected).
    • If not conveyed, the Warriors would owe the Nets their 2025 second-round pick (unprotected).
  • Los Angeles Clippers: Traded to Knicks.
  • Los Angeles Lakers: Own pick.
  • Phoenix Suns: Own pick.
  • Sacramento Kings: Own pick.

Southwest

  • Dallas Mavericks: Own pick.
  • Houston Rockets: Traded to Nuggets.
  • Memphis Grizzlies: Traded to Celtics (top-6 protected).
    • If not conveyed, the Grizzlies would owe the Celtics their 2021 first-rounder (unprotected).
  • New Orleans Pelicans: Own pick.
  • San Antonio Spurs: Own pick.

Information from RealGM was used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 4 Share 0 Send via email0

And-Ones: Schedule, 2020 Free Agency, Draft

August 8th, 2019 at 12:36pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA revealed today that it will announce its full regular season schedule – and national television schedule – for the 2019/20 season on Monday, August 12 at 3:00pm eastern time.

The dates for a handful of notable games have already been reported. We relayed the Christmas Day matchups last week, and Shams Charania of The Athletic notes (via Twitter) that the Raptors are expected to receive their championship rings on opening night (October 22) when they host the Pelicans and No. 1 pick Zion Williamson.

Charania also provides the dates for a handful of notable star/team reunions, including Anthony Davis and the Lakers visiting New Orleans and Kyrie Irving and the Nets traveling to Boston — both of those games will happen on November 27.

As we wait to find out what the rest of the 2019/20 schedule will look like, here are a few more items from around the basketball world:

  • After a wildly entertaining 2019 free agent period, the odds are slim that we’ll see the same level of fireworks involving star players in 2020. In an Insider-only article for ESPN.com, Bobby Marks previews 2020’s free agent period, noting that outside of Anthony Davis and the top restricted free agents – all of whom are likely to stick with their current teams – next year’s best free agents will be vets like Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, and Andre Drummond.
  • The NBA is ramping up its mental health program, as Sam Amick of The Athletic details. Sources tell Amick that the league issued a memo to all 30 teams on Wednesday to inform them of changes that must be made prior to the start of the 2019/20 season. Among those changes? All teams will be required to make at least one or two mental health professionals – and a licensed psychiatrist – available to players.
  • In an appearance on ESPN’s The Jump (video link), draft expert Jonathan Givony previewed this year’s rookie class and identified some of the top incoming college freshman. Givony also notes that several of the projected top players in the 2020 draft class will be playing in Europe or – like R.J. Hampton and LaMelo Ball – in Australia.
Retweet 1 Share 0 Send via email0

And-Ones: Paul, Sylla, Tampering, Canada

July 18th, 2019 at 6:27pm CST by clarkcrum

In an interesting piece regarding Chris Paul‘s role as the head of the NBA Players Union, Tom Ziller of SB Nation opines that Paul’s reported insistence and hand in incorporating the Over-38 Rule into the 2017 CBA has now ironically landed him with one the most untradeable contracts in the NBA.

Paul, who is admittedly now under contract to make more money because of the rule change, is also stuck on the Thunder, a non-contending team, with no real way out until later this year when the latest crop of free agents become trade eligible.

Ultimately, Ziller opines that the tradeoff (non-contending team vs. an extra $45MM) was worth it for Paul, but wonders whether CP3, as union president, sacrificed the good of many (mid-level earners) for the benefit of few.

We have more odds and ends to report from around the basketball world:

  • Amar Sylla, the No. 23 prospect for the 2020 NBA Draft, has signed a three-year contract containing NBA out clauses with Belgian league champions BC Oostende, reports Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
  • Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer writes that many executives believe the penalty for tampering needs to be harsher, including the removal of first-round picks or even as severe as being barred from trading any picks for some amount of years in addition to the loss of picks. “Basketball operations needs to get hit the hardest, not an owner’s wallets,” said another executive.
  • Canada Basketball has announced the 29 players invited to attend the Senior Men’s National Team training camp ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019. The list includes R.J. Barrett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cory Joseph, Jamal Murray, and Tristan Thompson.
Retweet 2 Share 0 Send via email0

And-Ones: Casspi, Sampson, Expansion, Armstrong

July 5th, 2019 at 7:10pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Veteran forward Omri Casspi has overseas options if he doesn’t get an NBA offer in free agency. Two prominent teams, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Olimpia Milano, are interested in signing Casspi, according to Davide Chinellato of La Gazzetta dello Sport (hat tip to Sportando). Casspi came off the bench in 36 games last season with the Grizzlies, averaging 6.3 PPG and 3.2 RPG. Casspi, 31, has played for a handful of NBA teams since the 2016/17 season and is a career 36.8% 3-point shooter.

We have more from around the basketball world:

  • JaKarr Sampson has signed with Shandong in the Chinese Basketball Association, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando reports. Sampson played six games with Shandong last season and 24 G league games with the Windy City Bulls. The 26-year-old forward also appeared in four games with the NBA Bulls last season and has 173 NBA games under his belt.
  • The Las Vegas Summer League has been highly successful but there are no plans for the league to expand in that city or anywhere else, according to Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Commissioner Adam Silver said that expansion is “not on our agenda right now.” Silver also reiterated there are no plans to relocate a current franchise. “There have been no indications from any of our current franchises that they’re considering relocating,” Silver said.
  • Terry Armstrong, a 2020 draft prospect, will play South East Melbourne Phoenix of the Australian National Basketball League, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reports. The 6’7” Armstrong is currently rated No. 40 by Givony. No. 6 prospect RJ Hampton and No. 24 prospect LaMelo Ball have also signed with the NBL. Armstrong played for four high schools in three different states.
Retweet 1 Share 0 Send via email0

And-Ones: Wiseman, Barrett, Dedmon, Barbosa, DeMarco

June 22nd, 2019 at 11:58am CST by Dana Gauruder

The latest 2020 mock draft has Memphis freshman center James Wiseman going to the Knicks with the No. 1 pick. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has Georgia guard Anthony Edwards going to the Cavaliers at No. 2 and North Carolina guard Cole Anthony heading to the Suns at No. 3.

We have more from around the basketball world:

Retweet 6 Share 0 Send via email0
Load More Posts