Las Vegas is a glitzier setting for Victor Wembanyama‘s first game with the Spurs, but the NBA won’t be upset if it happens in Sacramento instead, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. San Antonio is one of six teams involved in the California Classic Summer League, which will take place during the first week of July — shortly before the Las Vegas showcase that includes all 30 teams.
“All summer leagues are NBA Summer Leagues,” commissioner Adam Silver said. “I’m very supportive of the Sacramento summer league. I remember when (Kings owner Vivek Ranadive) first came to the league and said this was something he wanted to do. I said, ‘As long as you have enough other teams who support it and players who want to play in it, it’s a good thing.’”
Reynolds points out that the Hornets will also be playing in Sacramento, so the top two picks in this year’s draft could be on display.
There’s more draft news to pass along:
- Dereck Lively II may be the second-best shot blocker in the draft outside of Wembanyama, per Christian Clark of NOLA. The Duke center has reportedly been rising up draft boards and could be under consideration for the Pelicans at No. 14. Clark notes that Lively’s skills are still raw and he’s coming off a disappointing season with the Blue Devils, but he points out that New Orleans has a history of gambling on players with size and athleticism.
- Lively is mentioned among the risers in the latest mock draft from Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports. Joining him are Wembanyama’s teammate, Bilal Coulibaly, and UCLA’s Amari Bailey.
- Ausar Thompson might be a better fit than his brother for the Rockets with the No. 4 pick, according to Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo of ESPN (Insider link). In their latest mock draft, the authors consider team fit as well as talent in projecting the first round. Among the surprises with fit factored in are Gradey Dick going No. 6 to the Magic and Amen Thompson slipping to the Wizards at No. 8.
- Pepperdine’s Maxwell Lewis will hold a workout with the Pelicans this week after already having sessions with the Mavericks and Thunder, who are also in the lottery, tweets Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report. In addition, Lewis has worked out for the Hawks at No. 15, the Lakers at No. 17 and the Rockets at No. 20.
- The Warriors hosted Kansas State’s Keyontae Johnson and Kansas’ Jalen Wilson for a workout on Monday, tweets Adam Zagoria.
- The Wizards are holding a workout on Tuesday with Arkansas’ Ricky Council, Memphis’ Kendric Davis, Marist’s Patrick Gardner, Overtime Elite’s Jazian Gortman, Alabama-Birmingham’s Trey Jemison and Providence’s Noah Locke, the team announced in an email.
Warriors need to go after bigger taller players instead of same type of players they have. warriors can beat small teams but they struggle against bigger teams.
You mean like James Wiseman?
Huh? Wiseman would not have helped the Warriors last year. If the Warriors played him the minutes he needed to develop, they definitely wouldn’t have made the playoffs. Moody, Kuminga, Poole stunk up the place so bad at the start of the season that they were kind of forced to trade Wiseman. They needed someone to stabilize the second unit, and not give up leads the starters were achieving. Poole needs to learn to do more then shoot the ball. Now is the time to draft a big. They aren’t under the pressure to repeat.
He said the Warriors needed to draft some “bigger taller players instead of the players they have”.
I said “like James Wiseman?”
….. wut
Dallas Mavericks should keep that 10th pick and draft Dereck Lively II out of Duke. He’s going to be special. They desperately need a center and he has everything they looking for in a Center.
Dumbest move ever …. Fact is. By signing Overrated. They lost out on Payton and Wiseman. Kerr whose career was made by TWO bigs. Unbelievable
James Wiseman —- Detroit Pistons
24 gms, 25.2 mins, 12.7 pts, 8.1 reb
His D still needs work. But that’s all they should of worked on from day1. Definitely helps Warriors. But it’s more about next two yrs.
@al I always point this out. But, for some reason, people ignore it. The Warriors brought in the guy that developed Jokic and Zubac to specifically work with Wiseman the day they drafted him.
If Wiseman developed quicker the warriors would easily made it pass the Lakers. When Looney is you tallest player you have problems. They need a D Center that can do screens.
Pete Newell said you need to give big men 3 years to develop. He got into the HoF based on his work with bigs. You can’t expect a guy to come out of College and be an All-Star his 1st season. It doesn’t work that way. They need time.
I agree and like the Lakers. All they need is a center
I am really glad that Victor will be going to SA. Pop will be smart enough not to use him as a typical big man. You have to treat him like a Mobile Qb. Slide to avoid unnecessary contact. Thankfully most Qbs have adapted this in the NFL. Now with guys like Chet and Victor hopefully the NBA will help these special talents last in the league. Chet already had one m can’t let it happen again. On offense you almost have to let him play like a wing and on defense Pop may have to invent something for him. Where he can roam and protect the rim without having to bang down low. Unfortunately players his size and body type are susceptible to leg injuries. Pop will have the spurs ready to win within 5 years knowing the window is closing right after draft day.
The Spurs will make the playin next year. They have cap space too
Lively is a solid pick for Pels. Like it.
I agree with this too.
I don’t think Lively gets past the Mavericks.
Hendricks a PF from C Florida has been dropping. This guy is absolutely a top 10 talent. If he Falls to Mavs at 10. I will be Pppppmiffed . He’s perfect for Mavs. I see big upside here.
I agree with your take here
Wemby is still playing now in France. Are we sure he even touches summer league?
While Vivek Ranadive is still saying Staukous over and over