Draft Notes: Sanchez, McRea, Williams
Here’s the latest information regarding the rapidly approaching NBA Draft:
- Javon McRea has scheduled workouts with the Bulls, Sixers, Grizzlies, Raptors, and Magic, reports Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (Twitter link). McRea is projected as a second round pick.
- Chaz Williams is scheduled to work out for Celtics on Monday, tweets Josh Newman of SNY.tv.
- Jerrelle Benimon will work out on Friday for the Sixers, and has workouts scheduled next week with the Knicks and Bulls, and the following week with the Hawks, Hornets, and Mavericks, reports Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- Jason Smith of The Commercial Appeal looks at the draft prospects and workout schedule of former University of Memphis guard Joe Jackson. Smith adds the Knicks, Rockets and Mavs to the list of teams auditioning Jackson. Jackson’s college teammate Tarik Black will work out for the Grizzlies, and Geron Johnson, another ex-Tiger, will show off for the Knicks and Rockets.
- Jordan Bachynski tweeted that he worked out for the Bulls today. The 7’2″ center is projected as a possible late second-round pick.
- Former Nevada point guard Deonte Burton will work out for the Bucks on Thursday, reports Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times (Twitter link).
- Former St. John’s forward Orlando Sanchez is scheduled to work out with the Sixers on Friday, tweets Zagoria. Sanchez averaged 7.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 1.4 APG last season.
- Daniel Leroux of RealGM breaks down the best and worst fits for each projected lottery pick in this year’s draft.
Western Notes: Lakers, Draft, Nuggets
Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report breaks down the various candidates who have been mentioned in connection with the Lakers coaching search thus far. Ding believes Derek Fisher may be the most interesting name on the list, but also notes that the Thunder might also be in the running for Fisher’s services if the team decides to part ways with current coach Scott Brooks.
More from the west:
- Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post examines if the Nuggets should select a point guard in the upcoming NBA Draft. The Nuggets hold the 11th pick in the first round, and currently have point guards Ty Lawson and Nate Robinson on the roster for next season.
- Chris Udofia has scheduled workout sessions in June with the Mavericks and Rockets, tweets David Pick of Eurobasket.com. The 6’6″ small forward is projected as a late second rounder.
- Jesse Blancarte of Basketball Insiders looks at the most likely draft candidates available when the Lakers select at 7th overall. Blancarte says it’s unlikely Dante Exum will slide that far, but he is the ideal player for the team to select this June.
Eastern Notes: Sixers, Draft, Kirilenko
The Sixers need to land at least one star player with their multitude of draft picks, writes Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders. Coach Brett Brown also agreed with the article’s assessment, saying, “I think it’s important. I think it’s really important. Stars want to play with stars. And it’s too early to say anything about Michael [Carter-Williams] or what you can project Nerlens [Noel] out to be. Just because somebody’s chosen high in the draft doesn’t mean they’re going to be a star either.”
More from the east:
- Sixers GM Sam Hinkie attended a prospect workout in Long Island, New York today for Noah Vonleh and Tyler Ennis, tweets Tom Moore of Calkins Media.
- Evan Turner has an uncertain future, writes Michael Kaskey-Blomain of Philly.com. Turner is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and him being a “non-factor” in the playoffs for the Pacers won’t help his contract situation, opines Kaskey-Blomain.
- Tim Bontemps of the New York Post looks back at the season Andrei Kirilenko had with the Nets. In 45 games, Kirilenko averaged 5.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, and 1.6 APG in 19.0 minutes per night.
Draft Notes: Cavs, Grizzlies, Randle
The Cavaliers will visit with Joel Embiid in the coming weeks and perform a full physical on the potential first overall selection, reports Andy Katz of ESPN.com. The article notes that Embiid won’t visit another team until the Cavs are given a chance to determine if they will select him with the top pick. Embiid’s representatives and the Cavs are working toward finding an appropriate date, time and place to conduct the interview and physical, notes Katz. Cleveland could still deal the No. 1 pick, which is the primary reason why Embiid’s representatives want to see where the team stands before scheduling further visits or interviews, per the article.
More from around the league:
- The Grizzlies announced via a press release that they will hold their first pre-draft workouts on Friday. The players scheduled to participate are Clint Capela, Josh Huestis, Joe Jackson, Eric Moreland, Adin Vrabac, and Scottie Wilbekin. The Grizzlies hold the 22nd overall pick in June’s draft.
- NBA.com released their prospect profile for Kentucky forward Julius Randle. Randle is projected as a probable top five selection in this year’s draft.
- After participating in a group workout, 7’1″ Russian prospect Artem Klimenko had medical testing and a private workout with the Sixers, tweets Igor Rubin of RU-Basket Management.
- Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com looks at the effect that returning for his senior season had on Doug McDermott‘s draft stock.
Lakers To Interview Lionel Hollins
TUESDAY, 5:35pm: Hollins’ interview with L.A. is scheduled for this Thursday, and he will also interview with the Cavs sometime next week, tweets Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News.
SUNDAY, 12:38pm: Lionel Hollins has emerged as a candidate for the Lakers vacant head coaching position, and team management plans to interview Hollins later this week, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. The team has already interviewed Mike Dunleavy and Byron Scott for the opening left by the resignation of former coach Mike D’Antoni. This will make Hollins the first candidate to sit down with the team who doesn’t have a history with the organization, notes Wojnarowski.
Hollins has coached in parts of seven seasons, all with the Grizzlies, and has a career coaching record of 214-201 in 415 total games. In his final season with Memphis in 2013, Hollins won 56 games and lost in the Western Conference finals to the Spurs. Hollins’ career postseason record is 18-17.
One thing that sets Hollins apart from many of the other candidates being mentioned for the Lakers position is that Hollins is primarily a defensive-minded coach, which is in stark contrast to the “showtime” basketball the Lakers have been known for throughout the years. The team might be banking on Hollins’ serious-minded leadership style appealing to Kobe Bryant, writes Wojnarowski.
And-Ones: Draft, Celtics, Pistons
Joel Embiid‘s medical worries make it a risk for the Sixers to select the talented Kansas big man with the third pick, opines Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Pompey acknowledges that if healthy, Embiid might turn out to be the best player in the draft, but Philadelphia would be safer selecting Julius Randle or Noah Vonleh if Embiid is still available when they pick.
More from around the league:
- Each of the three former Michigan players who are draft prospects took a different approach to the combine week and each emerged with an upward trend, writes Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press. Guard Nik Stauskas is a lottery candidate while Mitch McGary and Glenn Robinson III could be first round picks.
- Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald makes the case for the Celtics selecting Marcus Smart with the sixth overall pick in this June’s NBA Draft.
- Now that the Hornets own the Pistons first round pick, Detroit’s focus will turn to finding productive players in the second round, writes Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press. Ellis looks at some of the franchise’s past second round successes and breaks down which players might be available with the 38th overall pick.
- The Pelicans gave away too much in the trade for Jrue Holiday last year, opines Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune. This puts added pressure on the team to get production out of Pierre Jackson next season, who is in essence this year’s draft choice for the team, notes Smith.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Western Notes: Van Gundy, Jazz, Blazers
The Grizzlies might have interest in hiring Jeff Van Gundy to be their coach and head of basketball operations in a deal similar to the one that Stan Van Gundy received from the Pistons, writes Marc Stein of ESPN.com. This would be in the event that current coach Dave Joerger takes the Timberwolves coaching position, an occurrence that Stein’s sources classify as an “inevitability.” The article also notes that team owner Robert Pera doesn’t want Joerger back no matter what happens with Minnesota.
More from out west:
- Alvin Gentry and Adrian Griffin are at the top of the list of candidates the Jazz are considering to become their next head coach, writes Aaron Falk of the Salt Lake Tribune.
- With only two roster spots potentially open, Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey will have to get creative if he wants to upgrade his roster this offseason, writes John Canzano of The Oregonian. Olshey will also have to decide if C.J. McCollum is a rotation player, and to convince LaMarcus Aldridge to re-sign with the team when he becomes a free agent after next season, notes Canzano.
- The Lakers had a large presence at the BDA Sports pre-draft workouts of Aaron Gordon and Zach Lavine, writes Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times. The Lakers have the seventh overall selection in this year’s NBA Draft. Gordon is currently projected to be a top-ten pick, and LaVine is projected as a middle of the first round selection.
- What the Jazz need most in the draft is to find a “generational star,” writes Gordon Monson of The Salt Lake Tribune. The article looks at the team’s draft options with the fifth overall pick.
- With all the turmoil in their front office, the next coach the Grizzlies hire will need to bring some stability to the franchise, writes Geoff Calkins of The Commercial Appeal.
Eastern Notes: Heat, Hornets, Knicks
The Heat are facing some major uncertainty next season, writes Andrew Keh of the New York Times. Of course, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh all have early termination options, but a number of other players including Ray Allen and Mario Chalmers will be free agents. Guard Norris Cole is the only player on the books next season.
More from the East:
- Phil Jackson has three great candidates to choose from to fill the Knicks head coaching vacancy, writes William C. Rhoden of The New York Times. Rhoden believes that the team would be better served by hiring either Lionel Hollins, Mark Jackson, or Derek Fisher, than by hiring a “marionette” for Jackson. The article examines the strengths of each of the candidates, and why they would be a good fit in New York.
- The Hornets are coming off a 43-39 record and a playoff appearance this season. The team owns two first round draft picks and will have roughly $13MM in salary cap room to pursue free agents or trades. Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer looks at 30 potential moves the franchise could make this offseason.
- Tom Moore of Calkins Media examines a number of options the Sixers will have on draft night, including moving up from the third overall pick.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Poll: Who Will The Cavs Select First Overall?
The Cavaliers have won the NBA Draft lottery and secured the first overall pick for the third time in four seasons. The team finished with a record of 33-49 and jumped over eight other teams to secure the top selection. Cleveland possessed only a 1.7 percent chance of landing the first pick and only a 6.1 percent chance of landing in the top three, but still took home the prize.
Winning the draft lottery is hardly a guarantee of future success, as no team with the No. 1 overall pick has won the NBA title since 1998, per Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight. But if the pick is used wisely, it certainly won’t be a detriment to the Cavs rebuilding efforts.
The team has met with mixed results the last two times it has selected a player with the first overall pick. In 2011 the team chose Kyrie Irving. Irving has had his share of locker room issues. The team isn’t sure if they will be able to sign Irving to an extension when he is eligible this summer, and they risk losing him after next season. But his on court numbers have been excellent. This season, in 71 games, Irving averaged 20.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 6.1 APG. Last season’s number one overall selection, Anthony Bennett hasn’t fared as well thus far. In his rookie year, Bennett averaged 4.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 0.3 APG.
Who the team selects this year will have a major impact on the future of the franchise. Here are the top possibilities:
- Joel Embiid (C): With Spencer Hawes set to become an unrestricted free agent, the only other centers on the roster are currently Anderson Varejao and Tyler Zeller. Embiid averaged 11.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 2.6 BPG in 23.1 minutes per game during his freshman year. The seven-footer out of Kansas would normally be a lock for the top selection, but worries about the lingering effects of a stress fracture in his back have raised concerns. These are understandable when considering the short shelf life and injury woes that have struck big men in recent years. If healthy though, Embiid has the potential to be a star at a position lacking top shelf talent. You can check out our full prospect profile for Embiid here.
- Andrew Wiggins (SF/SG): The Cavs have Dion Waiters already at shooting guard, so taking Wiggins would push Waiters to the bench, allow the team to move him in a trade, or Wiggins could slot in at small forward where there should be an opening with Luol Deng unlikely to re-sign with the team. In his freshman season at Kansas, Wiggins averaged 17.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, and 1.2 SPG in 32.6 minutes per contest. He is a gifted athlete and has a wealth of potential, but Wiggins has also shown a tendency to disappear in games. That’s not a desirable trait from the first overall pick, but Wiggins’ upside might be higher than any in the draft. You can read our full profile of Wiggins here.
- Jabari Parker (SF/PF): Perhaps the most polished and NBA-ready player in the entire draft. Parker led the Blue Devils in scoring and rebounding, averaging 19.1 PPG and 8.7 RPG while shooting 47.3% from the floor. Parker’s NBA position has been questioned, which is his biggest negative. He has the offensive game to be a small forward, but defensively he may not be quick enough to guard NBA threes, and is too small to be a full time power forward. He also might not have as much upside as the other players on this list, but he also carries the lowest risk. Parker’s full prospect profile can be viewed here.
- Dante Exum (PG): Exum is a long shot to go as the top pick, but I mention him because he has the potential to rise up draft boards quickly as more teams get a look at him in pre-draft workouts. His potential may just be intriguing enough for Cleveland to take a risk. If the Cavs were looking to trade Irving, then Exum would certainly be discussed. Exum could also slot in as a shooting guard, which could aid the team in moving Waiters, or Exum could begin his career as a backup for both guard positions as he learns the game. Our full profile on Exum can be seen here.
Latest On Dave Joerger
The Grizzlies might be seeking their third coach in as many seasons if Dave Joerger leaves for the Timberwolves. Memphis has long been a franchise with a tumultuous front office, writes Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal (subscription required). In the article, Tillery looks at some of the issues the team has dealt with over the last few years, including what went wrong with Joerger.
More from out west:
- NBA.com reports that Dave Joerger met with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor for over two hours on Saturday. The article notes that Joerger left Minneapolis without an official agreement in place, but he is the front runner for the position.
- David Aldridge of NBA.com (Twitter link) reports that Joerger is now discussing Wolves job with his family after meeting with Glen Taylor, and the talks between the two sides are advancing.
- The Grizzlies and Wolves have discussed compensation to allow Joerger out of his contract to leave for Minnesota, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).
- One of the reasons why Flip Saunders is looking at hiring Joerger is that he reminds Saunders of himself, writes Jim Souhan of The Star Tribune.