Draft Notes: Pacers, Hawks, Kalkbrenner, Harrison, Bates
Ricky Council IV (Arkansas), Nikola Djurisic (Serbia), Tevian Jones (Southern Utah), Darius McGhee (Liberty), Jordan Miller (Miami) and Keisei Tominaga (Nebraska) will work out for the Pacers on Tuesday, Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files tweets. Council, ranked No. 56 on ESPN’s Best Available list, and Djurisic (No. 59) are the highest-rated players visiting Indianapolis.
We have more draft-related news:
- Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe (No. 75) headlines the group of six prospects that the Hawks will evaluate on Tuesday, Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal Constitution tweets. Overtime Elite’s Jazian Gortman, North Carolina’s Leaky Black, UAB’s Trey Jemison, TCU’s Emanuel Miller and Texas’ Sir’Jabari Rice will join him.
- Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner is withdrawing from the draft and returning to school, CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein tweets. Kalkbrenner was considered a second-round prospect, ranking No. 62 on ESPN’s list.
- Grand Canyon’s Rayshon Harrison is also returning to school, Rothstein adds in another tweet.
- Eastern Michigan’s Emoni Bates interviewed well at the combine, which boosted his stock and made a lot of teams take a closer look at him, according to Sarah Todd of the Deseret News. Bates is considered a second-round prospect (No. 57).
Community Shootaround: Nurse As Sixers’ Head Coach
Well, this ought to be interesting.
The Sixers are hiring former Raptors coach Nick Nurse as their head coach. Nurse and Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid will now pair together as the franchise looks to bring Philadelphia a long-awaited championship. The Sixers’ drought has reached 40 years and counting.
They have a history together as playoff foes. Toronto broke Philly’s hearts in the 2019 playoffs with Kawhi Leonard‘s basket that bounced four times on the rim proving to be the dagger. The Sixers had the KO punch last year during the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Nurse will also inherit a very talented young guard in Tyrese Maxey but the rest of the roster is in a state of flux. The Sixers could look to unload Tobias Harris, who is entering the final year of his contract. The bench figures to be revamped too, but the biggest offseason question is whether James Harden will decline his player option. Rumors have persisted for months that Harden wants to return to Houston.
Despite delivering a championship to the Raptors franchise, Nurse had a falling out with the front office. They felt he didn’t develop their bench players sufficiently and overworked his starters. There were also questions about accountability and his relationships with key players.
A fresh start for a talented coach could be the Sixers’ gain. That championship on his resume gives him immediate credibility.
It could also attract a top free agent such as Fred VanVleet, who tweeted out congratulations via an emoji after he heard the news. VanVleet is expected to decline his player option so that he can enter the free agent market. He could be Harden’s replacement.
That brings us to our topic of the day: What do you think of Nick Nurse taking over as the Sixers’ head coach? Did the franchise make the right choice and do you feel Nurse can bring the franchise a long-awaited championship?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.
Celtics’ Brogdon Available For Game 7
Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon is available to play in Game 7 tonight against the Heat, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe tweets.
That gives coach Joe Mazzulla another option as Boston attempts to become the first team in NBA history to erase an 0-3 playoff deficit.
Brogdon had been listed as questionable after missing Game 6 due to a right forearm strain. He only played eight minutes in Game 5.
Brogdon scored a combined 32 points in the first two games of the series. He averaged 16.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the second-round series against the Sixers and 13.3/3.7/4.3 against the Hawks in the opening round.
Southwest Notes: Rockets, Zion, McCollum, Irving, Grizzlies
Assuming Victor Wembanyama, Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson will be the first three picks in the draft, who will the Rockets target at No. 4? Kelly Iko of The Athletic explores that question in his first installment of the team’s big board.
With the assistance of a high-ranking scout, Iko puts Amen Thompson at the top of the list. Thompson would make a great fit for Houston defensively, given its current talent level, though there are questions about the Overtime Elite guard offensively. Villanova forward Cam Whitmore follows him on Iko’s list, thanks to his explosiveness and athleticism in the open floor.
We have more from the Southwest Division:
- Pelicans guard CJ McCollum dispensed career advice to oft-injured Zion Williamson, RealGM relays. Speaking on the Ryen Russillo Show, McCollum said he and Larry Nance Jr. have engaged in multiple conversations with Williamson, whose toughness was questioned when he didn’t play after Jan. 2 due to a hamstring injury. “Your ceiling is unlike anything the NBA has ever seen,” McCollum said of his advice to Williamson. “But it’s up to you to take full advantage of whatever that is. I can’t want it for you. Mom can’t want it for you. Dad can’t want it for you. Staff can’t want it for you. So, it’s up to you to decide what that looks like. You’ve got to figure out what you want to do with this game, because this game will go where you take it.”
- Following a report of a “handshake deal” with the Mavericks, along with attending Lakers games during the postseason, Kyrie Irving indicated on Instagram he’ll control the narrative of his free agency (hat tip to RealGM). “If you hear something about my career, it’s going to happen direct like this,” Irving said. “I am an independent agency. It’s just me.”
- In a subscriber-only story, Chris Herrington of the Daily Memphian details the lessons that the Grizzlies learned during their abbreviated playoff run. He opines they need to be patient with the team’s core and coach Taylor Jenkins but aggressively pursue ways to improve their postseason chances.
Raptors’ Coaching Search Nearing Conclusion
The Raptors are advancing to a second round of interviews for their head coaching job, Doug Smith of The Toronto Star reports.
It may not be long before they announce Nick Nurse’s replacement. One source told Smith the Raptors president Masai Ujiri had narrowed the list to three candidates and that final interviews are being scheduled, though Smith says he was unable to independently confirm that source’s info.
From the beginning, the Raptors chose to take a broad approach to their search. Ujiri originally indicated the coaching search could last right up to the June draft but the process appears to be reaching an earlier conclusion.
Former Nets coach Steve Nash, Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez, TV analyst JJ Redick, Spanish national team coach Sergio Scariolo, Nuggets assistant David Adelman and Heat assistant Chris Quinn are potentially some of the names under serious consideration. Toronto had interest in former Suns coach Monty Williams but it’s unclear whether he has been interviewed.
Toronto is heading into a pivotal offseason with Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. expected to join Jakob Poeltl as free agents this summer.
Poll: Pistons’ Lottery Pick
The biggest loser during the draft lottery was the Pistons. After finishing with the worst record, they entered the lottery at the top of the list. They slid all the way down to the No. 5 spot after the lottery was conducted.
The Pistons under general manager Troy Weaver are at a crossroads. The roster has been totally revamped since Weaver, who is never hesitant to wheel and deal, took over. There are lots of young players dotting the roster but it’s uncertain just how well those pieces fit.
Detroit should be significantly better next season just based on the fact it will have 2021 No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham back in action. Cunningham missed virtually the entire season due to shin surgery.
The Pistons’ 2022 lottery picks, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren, showed plenty of promise in their rookie campaign. Certainly, the team is excited by the prospect of Ivey and Cunningham playing together a full season with 2020 lottery pick Killian Hayes backing them up.
Detroit acquired Marvin Bagley and James Wiseman – No. 2 overall picks who were busts with their original teams – over the past two seasons. The Pistons also have two highly valued veterans in Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks.
The franchise has to show major improvement next season to justify all the years of rebuilding. With the Pistons owing the Knicks a first-rounder, this could be the last time Detroit has a lottery pick in the near future.
There are a number of prospects to choose from at the No. 5 pick. Brandon Miller could theoretically slide down that far, though it’s a long shot. More likely, wings such as Cam Whitmore, Ausar Thompson and Anthony Black will be in play at that spot.
Weaver could shift gears and try to trade down in – or even out of – the first round for veteran help to give the Pistons a fighting chance to at least make the play-in tournament next season.
So what should the Pistons do with their first-rounder? Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to weigh in!
What should the Pistons do with the No. 5 pick?
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Hold onto it and draft the best player available 46% (685)
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Trade it to acquire a veteran starter 30% (443)
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Trade down to accumulate assets 13% (200)
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Trade up for a better pick 11% (162)
Total votes: 1,490
Celtics Notes: White, Brogdon, Officiating Report, Mid-Range Shots
Derrick White saved the Celtics’ season with a game-winning putback just before the buzzer in Miami on Saturday night, but he also made a number of underrated contributions earlier in the game, Baxter Holmes of ESPN notes.
White’s teammates shot 6-of-8 off his passes for 12 points and he held the Heat to 1-of-12 shooting when he contested a shot. That includes an 0-for-6 performance by Jimmy Butler when White was his primary defender in Game 6.
White has two years left on his four-year, $70MM contract.
We have more on the Celtics:
- Guard Malcolm Brogdon is listed as questionable for Game 7, Tim Bontemps of ESPN tweets. Brogdon suffered a right forearm strain that limited him in Game 5 and forced him to miss Game 6.
- The NBA officiating report stated the timing on allowing three seconds to remain after Butler was fouled by Al Horford was correct, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel tweets. The officials added 0.9 seconds to the clock after a review. The report says the only incorrect calls in the last two minutes were a missed foul by Gabe Vincent against Jayson Tatum and a lane violation on Miami’s Caleb Martin.
- Mid-range shots played a key role in Game 6 as the Celtics made only 7-of-35 three-pointers and forced just five turnovers, Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe observes. Based on the NBA.com shot chart, the Celtics connected on 12-of-19 shots inside the 3-point line and outside the restricted area, while the Heat were just 6-for-28 in that area.
Draft Notes: Mensah, Ellis, Hill, Perry
Forward Nathan Mensah has workouts coming up with the Hornets, Grizzlies, Pistons, Bucks and Cavaliers, Adam Zagoria tweets. Mensah averaged 6.0 points and 5.9 rebounds for San Diego State last season during its run to the title game.
We have more draft-related info:
- Arkansas’ El Ellis is withdrawing from the draft and will return to school next season, CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein tweets. Ellis is transferring from Louisville, where he averaged 17.7 points and 4.4 assists last season.
- UNLV forward Jalen Hill is also withdrawing the draft, Rothstein reports in another tweet. Hill averaged 9.7 points and 5.8 rebounds last season.
- Tylor Perry is headed to Kansas State after withdrawing from the draft, Rothstein adds (Twitter link). Perry averaged 17.3 points for North Texas last season. Perry announced he was entering the draft in early April, though he wasn’t on the official league entry list.
Draft Notes: Bediako, Walker, Mark, Second Round, Klintman, Sheppard
Alabama center Charles Bediako has decided to remain in the draft, Jonathan Givony and Jeff Borzello of ESPN report. Bediako started all 37 games this past season for the Crimson Tide as a sophomore, averaging 6.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. He’s not currently listed among the 100 prospects on ESPN’s Best Available list.
We have more draft-related notes:
- Projected lottery pick Jarace Walker has a sore right elbow, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets. Ranked No. 5 by ESPN, Walker injured his elbow in Houston’s Sweet 16 game and recently re-aggravated it. However, he’s expected to be back to 100% for upcoming team workouts.
- Tramon Mark, who also played for the Cougars last season, has withdrawn from the draft, CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein tweets. Mark, who averaged 10.1 PPG with Houston, has transferred to Arkansas.
- The early part of the second round figures to be a popular trade-up area for teams looking for value, according to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report. Many teams believe this draft will have plenty of depth.
- There’s speculation that Wake Forest forward Bobi Klintman could have a first-round promise, according to Wasserman. Klintman opted out of the combine despite averaging just 5.3 points per game last season.
- Belmont’s Ben Sheppard may have been the highest riser during the combine after his 25-point game on Thursday, Wasserman adds in the same piece. Sheppard averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists for the Bruins last season.
- South Carolina guard Meechie Johnson is withdrawing his name and will return to school, Rothstein tweets.
Nurse, Vogel, Rivers Among Finalists For Suns’ Job
The Suns have narrowed their list of head coaching candidates to five — Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel, Doc Rivers, Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez and Suns assistant Kevin Young, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.
The five finalists will meet with new owner Mat Ishbia, team president James Jones and other team executives in Michigan this week, according to Charania (Twitter link). Ishbia is a Michigan native and played basketball for Michigan State. His mortgage lending company, United Wholesale Mortgage, is also based in Michigan.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that there are four finalists, omitting Vogel.
Phoenix dismissed Monty Williams after its second-round playoff exit.
Nurse has seemingly positioned himself to get another coaching job quickly after parting ways with the Raptors after the season. He’s also a finalist for the Bucks’ head coaching job and a candidate for the Sixers’ head coaching vacancy.
Vogel, who coached the Lakers to a championship in 2020, interviewed for the Sixers’ job on Tuesday. Vogel was also linked to the Bucks’ job but isn’t among the reported finalists.
Rivers was fired just a week ago by the Sixers but was said to be open to coaching again next season if the right opportunity arose.
Fernandez, who served as Mike Brown‘s top assistant with Sacramento this season, is also a candidate for Nurse’s former job. Young was a candidate for the Bucks’ job, but didn’t make the final cut.
One prominent name not included on the Suns’ list of finalists is former Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported earlier today that Budenholzer wasn’t considered a leading candidate in Phoenix.