French Guard Isaia Cordinier To Enter Draft
Shooting guard Isaia Cordinier will enter the draft, his agent told Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress (Twitter link). Givony views the French native as a high second-round prospect, ranking him No. 37 on his Top 100 Prospects list. Cordinier is slotted No. 57 on ESPN Insider Chad Ford’s Big Board.
The 19-year-old French native, who has typical size for his position at 6’5”, averaged 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists for Denain International this past season.
In his evaluation of Cordinier at the recent Nike Hoops Summit, Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress saw an exceptional athlete who can both play above the rim and make spot up 3-pointers. Schmitz also noted Cordinier for his potential as a slasher who makes strong cuts, shows good vision and doesn’t shy away from contact. However, his catch-and-shoot jumper is streaky, he’s turnover prone and needs to work on his body, Schmitz adds.
Ford considers Cordinier’s defense, athleticism, explosiveness and aggressiveness as his best attributes, while downgrading him for his spotty jump shot and basketball IQ.
French Forward Guerschon Yabusele To Enter Draft
Power forward Guerschon Yabusele will enter the draft, agent Andrew Morrison told Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress (Twitter link). The 6’8” French native is considered a second-round prospect by ESPN Insider Chad Ford’s Big Board, which has him at No. 45 overall. Givony currently tabs Yabusele at No. 76 among his Top 100 Prospects.
The 20-year-old Yabusele averaged 10.2 points and 6.8 rebounds for Rouen International this past season. According to his DraftExpress profile, Yobusele is a chiseled big man with long arms and excellent athleticism. He also possesses a soft touch around the rim, can finish strong on the interior and has flashed some ability to create off the dribble. His jump-shooting mechanics are a work in progress, Givony adds.
Ford notes similar characteristics, adding that Yabusele uses his body to create space and contact in the paint while also having shooting range out to the 3-point line. Yabusele is also considered a solid rebounder and shot-blocker but is undersized for his position, Ford adds.
In a recent ESPN update, several scouts singled out Yabusele as a possible late first-round sleeper who could go anywhere in the 20 to 45 range.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/11/16
The Pistons clinched their first playoff berth in seven seasons on Friday night, ending the longest postseason drought in the Eastern Conference, but their All-Star rode the bench most of the fourth quarter.
That wasn’t an aberration. Center Andre Drummond, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, sat the last 8:51 while his teammates finished off the Wizards. There was nothing wrong physically with Drummond. Instead, it was Drummond’s glaring weakness that made him a spectator while the game was still in doubt.
Drummond badly missed two free throws after Washington intentionally fouled him. Drummond is on pace to set the record for the worst single-season free throw shooting performance in NBA history, averaging 35.6% on 582 attempts.
That prompted Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy to wave in backup Aron Baynes to replace Drummond, who seemed to pout during the benching. Van Gundy offered words of encouragement afterward and even made a point of visiting Drummond in the locker room following his press conference.
“He’s really frustrated with the whole free-throw thing and coming out of games,” Van Gundy told the gathered media, including Hoops Rumors. “It’s all about winning and he has to understand that.”
Van Gundy has frequently brought in Baynes to finish out games, particularly since the All-Star break, rather than allowing opponents to send Drummond to the line.
It would be unfair to overstate Drummond’s major flaw without pointing out all the good things he brings to the table. He has led the league in rebounding throughout the season. He has the most double-doubles in the league by a wide margin, as well as the most 20-20 games. His post moves have improved steadily, and the Pistons’ offense is predicated on Drummond’s ability to draw defenders on pick-and-rolls with point guard Reggie Jackson.
Pistons owner Tom Gores called Drummond a max player last spring and the expectation remains that Detroit will give him the biggest contract possible this summer.
It’s still unsettling, and unusual, to have a supposed franchise player that the coach can’t trust to finish games.
This leads us to our question of the day: Given his free throw shooting woes, is Andre Drummond worth a max contract?
Please take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.
And-Ones: Colangelo, Luwawu, Motiejunas
The NBA placed restrictions on Jerry Colangelo after the Sixers hired him as chairman of basketball operations in December, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. Rival executives were concerned about Colangelo’s access to star players as USA Basketball’s managing director, fearing he would have an advantage in courting top free agents, Wojnarowski continues. The limitations include Colangelo’s ability to communicate directly with players outside of USA Basketball activities, as well as his impact on the final voting process for national team and Olympic rosters, league sources indicated to Wojnarowski. The limitations will remain in place even though he relinquished his title as the Sixers’ chairman of basketball operations after his son Bryan was hired as president of basketball operations. Jerry Colangelo will now serve as a special adviser to the team’s ownership group, Wojnarowski notes.
In other developments around the league:
- Timothe Luwawu, a lottery-level prospect from France, has no intention of withdrawing from the draft in the wake of agent Misko Raznatovic’s announcement earlier today that he’s entered, tweets international journalist David Pick. “I’m ready,” Luwawu told Pick. “I’m going to the NBA.” The swingman is the No. 12 prospect in Jonathan Givony’s DraftExpress rankings, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com lists him 19th.
- Marquette freshman power forward Henry Ellenson has signed with agent Joe Branch of Roc Nation, Michael Scotto of SheridanHoops tweets. Ellenson, who declared for the draft earlier this month, is the No. 6 prospect on Ford’s Big Board, while Givony ranks him at No. 9.
- Donatas Motiejunas started Sunday’s game for the Rockets, his 20th of the season and 82nd since the start of 2014/15, enough to trigger the NBA’s starter criteria, as we explained Friday. That means the Rockets will have to make a qualifying offer worth $4,433,683 instead of just $3,278,998 by June 30th to retain the right to match competing bids for the power forward, who’s headed into free agency.
- Bob Donewald, Jr. will not return next season as the head coach of the Grizzlies’ D-League affiliate, the Iowa Energy, the team announced on its website. Donewald compiled a 52-48 record with the Energy, including a 26-24 record this season.
- The Cavaliers recalled center Sasha Kaun and shooting guard Jordan McRae from their D-League affiliate, the Canton Charge, according to the team’s website. They had been assigned to the Charge earlier in the day. The pair will be reassigned to the Charge on Tuesday, Josh Weir of The Repository tweets.
Prospect Profile: Buddy Hield (Part Two)
PROJECTED DRAFT RANGE: Hield made a steady climb on the major draft boards, thanks to his brilliant senior campaign. He’s now No. 5 overall and the top shooting guard prospect on ESPN Insider Chad Ford’s Big Board, while Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress pegs him at No. 7. He’s firmly ahead of the other college seniors on their draft boards. NBA.com’s David Aldridge also ranks Hield No. 1 among shooting guards. Hield could go as high as No. 4, according to Ford, who doubts that Hield will slip past the No. 7 slot.
RISE/FALL: Freshman phenoms Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram are expected to be the top two picks in the draft and it’s difficult to see that changing. As a well-established player with a proven track record, Hield could conceivably inch his way up to No. 3. International teenage power forward Dragan Bender is ranked third by both Ford and Givony but he posted modest stats in Israel and will have to prove himself in predraft evaluations and workouts. Hield could also benefit from the teams in the third or fourth spot having a major need for a shooter. On the flip side, Hield’s defensive shortcomings, relative lack of size for his position and penchant for turnovers could make him slide a few notches. Most NBA analysts agree that Hield is not a superstar talent and that’s what most teams at the top half of the lottery are seeking.
FIT: Quality shooters like Hield can enjoy long careers in the current NBA landscape. The increased emphasis on 3-point shooting makes him a prized commodity. Virtually every team with a projected Top 10 lottery pick could use a player like Hield to stretch the defense. The Sixers need outside shooting to complement their stash of young big men. The Lakers, should they wind up with the No. 3 pick, desperately need a shooter to pair up in the backcourt with D’Angelo Russell. The Kings have been seeking a quality shooting guard for years. The Celtics, Timberwolves and Nuggets all rank in the bottom 10 in 3-point percentage. The Bucks could give themselves a formidable 1-2 wing punch with Khris Middleton and Hield. The Pelicans have all kinds of question marks at the guard spots, considering their injury and free agent situations.
FINAL TAKE: Hield could have been drafted in the first round last season but his decision to go back to school will pay off handsomely. He’s a surefire Top 10 selection and should be an immediate rotation player for the team that drafts him. According to Ford, Hield is comparable to the Trail Blazers’ C.J. McCollum, who developed into a 20-point scorer in his third NBA season. Hield is not a transcendent talent but he can be a starter on a championship-caliber team.
(For Part 1 of Buddy Hield’s Prospect Profile, click here.)
Prospect Profile: Buddy Hield (Part One)
OVERVIEW: Buddy Hield demonstrated the benefits of staying in school and working on his game over a four-year period. The 6’4” shooting guard emerged as one of the Big 12’s best players as a sophomore and could have made the jump to the pros in each of the past two years. He chose to return to school both times and finished his college career with a marvelous senior campaign, leading Oklahoma to the Final Four. He averaged 25.0 points, second only to Howard’s James Daniel. Hield reached the 30-point mark a dozen times, including a 46-point explosion against Kansas that catapulted him into the national spotlight. He also had a 36-point outing against VCU and a 37-point outburst against No. 1 seed Oregon during the NCAAs and split up awards for the nation’s top player with Michigan State senior Denzel Valentine.
STRENGTHS: Hield improved from an above-average shooter during his first three college seasons to a nearly unstoppable force in his senior year. His overall field-goal percentage jumped from 41.6% to a whopping 49.6%, a stunning leap for a player who faced a variety of defensive strategies designed to shut him down. His 3-point percentage spiked upward in similar fashion, from 37.1% to 46.4%, and he averaged four makes per game. He’s adept at coming off screens or spotting up and makes defenses pay for any space given to him. He also has the body to succeed at the next level — long, athletic and yet powerful for his size. Not surprisingly, he’s an outstanding free-throw shooter and also rebounds well for his position, pulling down 5.6 boards per game as a senior. Topping off the checklist is his high character. As one talent evaluator told NBA.com’s David Aldridge, he’s an “elite shooter, elite human being.”
WEAKNESSES: For all of his offensive gifts, Hield does not shine at the defensive end. As Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress details in his evaluation of Hield, the NBA leans toward bigger wings who can guard multiple positions. Hield’s size limits his ability to switch defensively and he’s not adept at creating for others offensively. Hield’s passing metrics ranked third-worst among the 45 college guards or wings in Givony’s top 100 rankings. That’s part of the reason why Hield averaged 3.0 turnovers as a senior, a subpar figure for a shooting guard. He has improved as an off-the-dribble shooter, as Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress notes, but he still needs to attack more often and become a better finisher at the rim, according to ESPN Insider Chad Ford. These shortcomings are why Aldridge, through the talent evaluators he spoke with, believes that Hield is more of a complementary piece than a superstar talent that can turn around a franchise.
(For Part Two of our Buddy Hield Draft Analysis, click here.)
Diamond Stone To Enter Draft, Hires Agent
Maryland freshman big man Diamond Stone is heading to the NBA while his teammate, point guard Melo Trimble, will also declare for the draft but not hire an agent, sources told ESPN.com’s Jeff Goodman (Twitter link). The school confirmed in a release that Stone will hire an agent, while Trimble will also declare but not hire an agent, the Washington Post’s Roman Stubbs tweets.
Stone has signed with Tandem Sports & Entertainment’s Jim Tanner and Derrick Powell, USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt tweets.
The 6’11” Stone, who averaged 12.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22.6 minutes during his lone college season, is considered a mid-to-late first-round draft pick. He’s rated No. 18 overall and third among centers on ESPN Insider Chad Ford’s Big Board. He’s ranked No. 23 on DraftExpress’ Jonathan Givony’s Top 100 prospect list. Stone is considered an outstanding low-post player with a physical presence in the paint, though not an elite athlete.
The 6’3” Trimble has work to do to become a first-round consideration. Ford pegs him at N0. 58, while Givony provides a more optimistic view, rating him No. 36 overall. Trimble averaged 14.4 points and 5.1 assists in 32.7 minutes as the sophomore floor leader for the Terrapins. Trimble opted against the draft after his freshman season, when he was considered a mid-second rounder.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/4/16
The NBA took a break on Monday, ceding the spotlight to the NCAA title game between Villanova and North Carolina. The championship is sure to attract a big audience but the ratings, compared to recent seasons, are virtually certain to drop.
Why? College basketball’s championship landed on cable this year, with TBS paying for the broadcast rights. According to a New York Times article, CBS and TBS will take turns broadcasting the title game through 2024.
While a majority of Americans have cable, it’s still somewhat controversial to not broadcast a major sports championship on network TV. Not too long ago, it would have been considered taboo to deny anyone without cable the opportunity to watch a championship game.
Of course, times have changed, with more people watching sports on their phones and computers. Yet, selling the broadcast rights for a major sports championship to a cable company still raises some eyebrows.
For the most part, top professional championships have remained on broadcast TV, including the Super Bowl, NBA Finals and World Series. But many playoff games can only be seen on cable TV.
Some other big events, such as the new College Football Playoff and top tennis tournaments, have been moved to ESPN and other cable stations.
The NBA broadcasts many of its playoff games on TNT, ESPN and even NBA TV. But the Finals have remained on ABC, allowing everyone with a TV access to the best-of-seven series.
This leads us to our question of the day: Would you have a problem with the NBA broadcasting the Finals on a cable network, like the NCAA has done with its major basketball and football title games?
Please take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.
Eastern Rumors: Carroll, Lucas III, Jennings
The Raptors are hopeful of getting small forward DeMarre Carroll back in action for the final three games of the season, Mike Ganter of the National Post reports. Carroll, who hasn’t played since January 3rd after undergoing knee surgery, practiced in full on Monday and coach Dwane Casey wants him to scrape off some rust before the playoffs, Ganter adds. “The last three or whatever games there are when he comes back, we will use those as his test lab,” Casey told Ganter and other media members. “No disrespect to those teams but to get some work in, get some run in, get knocked down a few times, get hit a few times and see where he stands.”
In other news around the Eastern Conference:
- Veteran point guard John Lucas III could sign with the Heat this week, Marc Stein of ESPN.com tweets. The Heat will soon have the financially flexibility to add two players and Lucas nearly made Miami’s roster during training camp, Stein adds. Lucas, who appeared in 21 games with the Pistons last season, was playing for the Pacers’ D-League team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, before he was waived last month.
- Magic point guard Brandon Jennings would like to re-sign with the club, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders tweets. Jennings, an unrestricted free agent after the season, is averaging 7.1 points and 4.0 assists in 24 games with Orlando since the Pistons dealt him and power forward Ersan Ilyasova at the trade deadline for power forward Tobias Harris.
- A New York City man has been arrested in connection with the December 30th robbery and shooting of Knicks small forward Cleanthony Early, according to John Marzulli of the New York Daily News. Early has averaged 20 minutes over the team’s last two games after a D-League stint.
Central Rumors: James, Drummond, Bucks Arena
Cavs coach Tyronn Lue asserted his authority in a recent meeting with LeBron James in which Lue told the superstar small forward to cut out the distractions, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reports. Lue’s challenge came in the wake of James’ recent actions, including comments about his desire to play with Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony and cryptic messages on social media, Windhorst continues. James has lifted his game since the meeting, averaging 28.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 9.6 assists over the past seven games as Cleveland has solidified its status as the Eastern Conference’s top seed, Windhorst adds.
In other developments around the Central Division:
- Andre Drummond‘s woeful free throw shooting is making it increasingly difficult for Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy to keep his star center on the court at the end of close games, David Mayo of MLive writes. Drummond was on the bench during the closing minutes of Detroit’s crucial win over the Bulls on Saturday night after Chicago began intentionally fouling him. Drummond, who made just one of 10 free throw attempts during that game, is shooting a league-worst 35.4% from the foul line. “In a close game like that, back and forth, we can’t be playing hoping for one point, at most, when they’re playing for two or three,” Van Gundy told Mayo and other media members. “You can’t do that. You’re putting way too much pressure on your defense.”
- The latest design proposal for the Bucks’ new arena received approval from Milwaukee’s planning commission on Monday, moving the $500MM project forward for groundbreaking this summer, Tom Daykin of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The development plan also requires Common Council approval, Daykin continues. The arena is scheduled to open by the 2018/19 season, Daykin adds.
- The Pacers recalled power forwards Shayne Whittington and Rakeem Christmas from their D-League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, according to the team’s website. Whittington played in 40 games for the Mad Ants, averaging 12.1 points and 7.9 rebounds, while Christmas appeared in 48 games, averaging 13.9 points and 7.1 rebounds.