The latest installment of Jonathan Givony’s 2023 NBA draft stock watch at ESPN (Insider link) highlights a series of Duke prospects, with big man Kyle Filipowski coming in at No. 14 on Givony’s big board, followed by center Dereck Lively II at No. 24 and swingman Dariq Whitehead at No. 26.
Whitehead’s stock has slipped since the start of the season, according to Givony, who notes that the freshman has struggled to be effective when healthy and ranks dead last among ESPN’s top 100 prospects in two-point field goal percentage (39.7%).
Jeremy Woo of SI.com also takes stock of where a few 2023 draft prospects stand, writing that UCF forward Taylor Hendricks is solidifying his place as a first-rounder and identifying Michigan guard Kobe Bufkin as a possible sleeper.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Free agent center Meyers Leonard spoke to Jeremy Schaap of ESPN’s Outside the Lines about his efforts to make it back to the NBA, discussing the work he has done to educate himself about antisemitism since uttering a slur on a video game stream nearly two years ago. Leonard also said that he suffered nerve damage when he underwent ankle surgery in April 2021 and spent much of the last two seasons rehabbing shoulder and ankle injuries.
- Bill Shea of The Athletic explores how the collapse of the regional sports network model will affect the NBA as it negotiates its next media rights deal. It’s safe to assume the NBA’s next agreement will include a major streaming element, according to Shea, who observes that other leagues like the NFL, MLS, and MLB have established partnerships with companies like Amazon and Apple in recent years.
- With the “Elam Ending” gaining some momentum in the G League, Jake Uitti of HoopsHype spoke to the creator, Nick Elam, about why he believes in the idea and what it was like to see the NBA adopt the concept for its All-Star Game, beginning in 2020.
The NBA will most likely do a deal with Google and stream more games on YouTube tv. I would definitely jump on Google stock if you’re an NBA fan. Only $100 a share right now.
Are we still talking about Meyers Lenard? Getting kicked out of the league has turned out to be a positive career move as nonone will shut up about the guy. Pay a g league guy less to do the same thing IMO. Not worth the headache. Also he seems like a tool
Seems like he’s just as much of a risk, if not more, to get injured…
It’s not like he was even a decent role player at some point in his career…
He’s probably just getting air time because of Kyrie and his suspension…
Mavs have eyes on Leonard. Someone for Kyrie to talk to.
Jett Howard = teenage Allan Houston
Taylor Hendricks = poor man’s Brandon Miller
Cason Wallace = (PBeverley + Toney Douglas)/2
Kobe Bufkin = poor man’s Manny Harris