Baylor guard Jared Butler has received medical clearance from the NBA’s Fitness to Play panel, writes Shams Charania of The Athletic. Butler, the Most Outstanding Player in this year’s Final Four, had been considered a possible mid first-round pick when the draft process began, but he was sidelined in June due to a heart condition.
Butler hasn’t been permitted to do anything on the court for the past three weeks, but he was still allowed to meet with teams and go through off-court activities such as interviews and medical exams. He met this week with executives from the Kings, who hold the ninth and 39th picks in the draft.
“I am fully healthy and cleared to play in the NBA!” Butler wrote on Twitter. “Out of an abundance of care, the NBA is incredibly thorough in vetting the health of every player during the pre-Draft process and throughout our careers. I am forever grateful that their comprehensive and strict health analysis has unanimously confirmed my fitness to play in the NBA. Now, my focus is entirely on the Draft and working daily to prepare myself to fulfill my lifelong dream !!”
There’s more draft news to pass along:
- Oregon’s Chris Duarte was happy with the results of Friday’s workout for the Warriors, per James Crepea of The Oregonian. Duarte, who is expected to be selected around the middle of the first round, has also visited the Wizards, Hornets, Thunder, Pelicans and Spurs. “It went great,” Duarte said of Friday’s session. “I really love it, enjoying this time here.”
- Butler and Duarte may be possibilities for the Knicks if they hold onto the 19th and 21st picks, ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla tells Steve Serby of The New York Post. Fraschilla also mentions Kentucky center Isaiah Jackson and international prospect Usman Garuba.
- The Rockets‘ interest in trading up for the No. 1 pick is legitimate, but they don’t have any really strong future draft choices to offer the Pistons, Zach Harper of the Athletic writes in his latest mock draft. Harper expects Detroit to hang on to the No. 1 selection and take Cade Cunningham, leaving Houston to decide between keeping the No. 2 choice or trading down for extra assets. Jalen Green is the expected pick, but Harper cites “people within the Rockets’ decision-making process” who are in favor of drafting Jalen Suggs.
Rockets should Trade down to 3
Demand overpaid offer like this
3 and next year top 3 protected pick from Cavs
Why, so they can stockpile first round picks like OKC and remain in re-building limbo for the rest of the decade? The Rockets already have between 7 and 9 first round picks in this year’s draft and the next two combined. If anything they will trade up with Detroit, not down.
Trading up isn’t worth it, especially when they are missing so many of their own picks. I do agree with everythibg else you said, they don’t need to trade down and getting Suggs at 2 would be a huge fuel to a quick rebuild.
The only 1st round picks of their own Houston is missing are 2024 and 2026 to OKC and both are top-4 protected. They haven’t traded away as many as people think.
@whoneedsfacts I like Mobley over Suggs or even Green. Especially if Pacers bite on Eric Gordon and adds their #13 pick. This giving them options for guards at that pick. Mobley is 7’0 F/C type of guy. Wood is 6’10. Mobley’s vertical leap is amazing and should help the Rockets defensively in the paint and to the parameters. He’s got amazing foot work like a guard for a big man. Did you see his work at the combine? Hakeem O can help this young guy! Rockets NEED big men like Mobley in a bad way. He’s exactly what the Rockets need. Drafting another Guard at 2 or even 3, would be a disappointment.
i think if you gonna demand sillyman you would go the unprotected way then protected even thou its very rare a team gives unprotected picks in trades.
I’d try to get 3, top 5 protected and Collin Sexton. If the Cavs jump to 2, I’d imagine they get Mobley over Suggs/Green, and they’d probably prefer one of them over Garland+Sexton, and I doubt JUST two picks would interest Houston, however if you’re looking at Wall, Sexton, KPJ, Mobley and Wood going into next year is pretty solid, especially if Wall’s healthy. Lotta scoring and a lot of athleticism. They’d murder in transition
Apparently scouts are viewing Mobley as a big wing, and believe he has the athleticism I wreak havoc on the perimeter. I guess a more athletic Jonathan Isaac
Wish Butler the best. He’s got a serious issue. We’re not taking him in 1st rd. Trey Murphy is a guy they like. Ayo could be in play too. Then there could be someone who slides down. But I think Knicks are moving up. J Johnson I’ve read could slide. He goes to 14-16 we can definitely move up. There are more solid wings than PGs. Mitchell is going top 10. So we probably move up for a 2-3.
Im getting same vibes here. Johnson could slide and we can trade up. I think OKC at 16 would be ideal
No, you aren’t getting any “vibes”.
Fraschilla…ugh. Because the Knicks need two more guards.
Rockets going with Green to play SG and KPJ to play PG.
Suggs is rising.
Suggs is going to be a bust. Reminds me of Kris Dunn
A very good comp, I like it!
If the Pistons are set on Cade, they should trade Hayes unless they want him to come off the bench.
Raptors would have to move Siakam if they draft Mobley. They should swap Siakam for Oubre and GSW 5th pick. I won’t be surprised if they sign Dinwindee. They’ll have:
FVF/ Dinwindee
Scottie Barnes/ Flynn
OG/ Oubre
Mobley/Watanabe
Boucher/Birch
Mobley would be playing at the 5, siakam plays the 4,so no need to trade him. Also,the Raptors dont have the cap space to sign dinwiddie and I cant see why they would anyways. Golden state has the 7th pick, not the 5th. And they also have trent Jr on the team so really have no need for oubre, who is a free agent btw.