Poll: 2016 Community Mock Draft (Pick No. 25)
The results of the 2016 NBA Draft lottery are in and the Sixers finally landed the elusive No. 1 overall pick after missing out the past two seasons. Now that the exact draft order is locked in, teams can begin targeting specific players who are likely to still be on the board when it is their time to choose. Drafting players is far from an exact science, and many a GM has been second-guessed for his draft night decisions. I’m willing to bet that every team executive has at least one pick that he would like a mulligan for. We at Hoops Rumors thought it would be fun to give our readers the chance to predict the results of this June’s draft, which is what we are doing with a series of polls.
We are now well on our way to completing the first round and have come to the Clippers. Readers, you are now on the clock! Cast your vote for Los Angeles’ selection and check back Sunday for the results, as well as to cast your vote for who the Sixers will select with the No. 26 overall pick. But don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the No. 25 overall pick and why you voted the way that you did.
- Sixers — Ben Simmons (LSU)
- Lakers — Brandon Ingram (Duke)
- Celtics — Dragan Bender (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
- Suns — Jaylen Brown (California)
- Timberwolves — Buddy Hield (Oklahoma)
- Pelicans — Kris Dunn (Providence)
- Nuggets — Jamal Murray (Kentucky)
- Kings — Henry Ellenson (Marquette)
- Raptors — Marquese Chriss (Washington)
- Bucks — Jakob Poeltl (Utah)
- Magic — Skal Labissiere (Kentucky)
- Jazz — Denzel Valentine (Michigan State)
- Suns — Domantas Sabonis (Gonzaga)
- Bulls — Deyonta Davis (Michigan State)
- Nuggets — Timothe Luwawu (Mega Leks)
- Celtics — Thon Maker (Australia)
- Grizzlies — Wade Baldwin (Vanderbilt)
- Pistons — Tyler Ulis (Kentucky)
- Nuggets — Furkan Korkmaz (Anadolu Efes)
- Pacers — Demetrius Jackson (Notre Dame)
- Hawks — Taurean Prince (Baylor)
- Hornets — Brice Johnson (North Carolina)
- Celtics — Malachi Richardson (Syracuse)
- Sixers — Malik Beasley (Florida State)
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Hoops Rumors Originals 6/12/16-6/18/16
Here’s a look back at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this past week.
- We looked at the offseasons ahead for the Bulls, Suns, Bucks, Magic and Celtics.
- I ran down the 2015/16 D-League usage for the league.
- We broke down the cap situations heading into the offseason for the Jazz, Cavaliers and Warriors.
- Will Joseph highlighted some of the better basketball blogs around in his weekly installment of Hoops Links.
- We ran down the unsigned draftees for the teams of the Atlantic and Central Divisions.
- If you missed any of our daily reader-driven discussions, be sure to check out the Community Shootaround archives.
- As a part of our Community Mock Draft, we asked readers to vote on picks No. 20, No. 21, No. 22, No. 23 and No. 24.
- Here’s how you can follow Hoops Rumors on social media and RSS feeds.
- We reviewed our commenting policy. Play nice everyone.
- Here’s how you can follow specific players on Hoops Rumors.
Week In Review 6/12/16-6/18/16
Here’s all the notable news and events from around the NBA this past week…
Trades
- The Pistons acquired Cameron Bairstow from the Bulls in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie.
Miscellaneous News
- The Clippers plan to shift assistant coach Lawrence Frank from the bench to a high-ranking post in the front office.
- Quincy Miller, who played with three teams during his three-year NBA career, signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
- The Bucks signed Ronald Roberts to a summer contract.
- The Pistons signed GM Jeff Bower to a one-year extension.
- David West intends to turn down his player option with the Spurs for the 2016/17 season and become an unrestricted free agent.
- Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan officially opted out of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent.
- The Bucks and head coach Jason Kidd agreed to a three-year contract extension.
- Veteran Cavaliers point guard Mo Williams will pick up his player option for 2016/17.
- Former NBA second-rounder Nando De Colo signed a three-year extension with CSKA Moscow.
- Brandon Bass will turn down his $3.135MM player option for next season with the Lakers and become an unrestricted free agent.
NBA Draft News
Workouts
- Josh Adams: Pistons.
- Roscoe Allen: Jazz.
- Ryan Anderson: Kings.
- Ryan Arcidiancono: Wolves and Nuggets.
- Zachary Auguste: Kings.
- Brandon Austin: Clippers.
- Wade Baldwin: Kings.
- Ben Bentil: Pistons and Grizzlies.
- Joel Bolomboy: Hornets.
- Malcolm Brogdon: Raptors.
- Jaylen Brown: Sixers and Lakers.
- Robert Brown: Kings.
- Michael Bryson: Nuggets, Sixers and Jazz.
- Robert Carter: Pistons.
- Marquese Chriss: Sixers.
- Kyle Collinsworth: Pacers and Bucks.
- Elgin Cook: Hawks, Warriors, Jazz, Mavs, Kings and Pistons.
- Isaia Cordinier: Nuggets and Pelicans.
- Petr Cornelie: Nuggets.
- Isaiah Cousins: Hornets and Grizzlies.
- Deyonta Davis: Jazz and Nuggets.
- Majok Deng: Nuggets.
- Cheick Diallo: Pacers and Clippers.
- Kellen Dunham: Pacers.
- Justin Edwards: Raptors.
- Henry Ellenson: Bucks.
- Perry Ellis: Clippers and Pelicans.
- Obi Emegano: Jazz.
- A.J. English: Warriors and Sixers.
- James Farr: Thunder.
- Kay Felder: Pistons.
- Yogi Ferrell: Pacers and Pelicans.
- Bryn Forbes: Sixers, Celtics, Magic, Hawks, Bulls, Wizards, and Lakers.
- Trey Freeman: Pistons.
- Michael Gbinije: Raptors and Pelicans.
- Anthony Gill: Hornets
- Grandy Glaze: Sixers.
- Shaq Goodwin: Jazz.
- Josh Gray: Jazz.
- Brannen Greene: Jazz.
- Alex Hamilton: Pistons.
- Daniel Hamilton: Bucks.
- A.J. Hammons: Raptors, Hornets and Pistons.
- Darnell Harris: Bucks.
- Tyler Harris: Kings and Wizards.
- Shaquille Harrison: Kings.
- Buddy Hield: Celtics and Lakers.
- Prince Ibeh: Pelicans.
- Brandon Ingram: Sixers.
- Demetrius Jackson: Pistons.
- Julian Jacobs: Raptors.
- Stefan Jankovic: Sixers.
- Brice Johnson: Raptors, Pacers and Grizzlies.
- Melvin Johnson: Hornets.
- Derrick Jones: Kings and Bucks.
- Skal Labissière: Wolves and Lakers.
- Max Landis: Bucks.
- Jermaine Lawrence: Warriors.
- Jake Layman: Pelicans.
- Mathias Lessort: Jazz.
- Trey Lewis: Jazz.
- Jordan Lloyd: Pacers.
- Carrington Love: Bucks.
- Timothe Luwawu: Nuggets and Suns.
- Thon Maker: Hornets and Bucks.
- Patrick McCaw: Pistons and Nuggets.
- Sheldon McClellan: Pistons.
- Codi Miller-McIntyre: Hornets.
- Egidijus Mockevicius: Kings and Nuggets.
- Dejounte Murray: Bulls, Bucks, Pelicans, Nuggets, Bucks and Suns.
- Jamal Murray: Timberwolves.
- Abdel Nader: Nuggets.
- Georges Niang: Sixers and Warriors.
- Landry Nnoko: Pistons.
- Daniel Ochefu: Raptors.
- Retin Obasohan: Kings and Sixers.
- Chinanu Onuaku: Bucks, Hornets and Nuggets.
- Gary Payton II: Pelicans.
- Dyshawn Pierre: Sixers.
- Tanner Plomb: Jazz.
- Marshall Plumlee: Jazz.
- Jakob Poeltl: Wolves.
- Alex Poythress: Pacers and Raptors.
- Taurean Prince: Pacers.
- Tim Quarterman: Wolves, Pistons and Jazz.
- Jalen Reynolds: Raptors.
- Malachi Richardson: Grizzlies, Bulls, Bucks and Raptors.
- James Robinson: Wizards.
- Domantas Sabonis: Jazz.
- Antwan Scott: Kings.
- Josh Scott: Wolves.
- Wayne Seldon: Grizzlies, Clippers and Pelicans.
- Diamond Stone: Pacers and Pistons.
- Rasheed Sulaimon: Raptors.
- Isaiah Taylor: Jazz.
- Devin Thomas: Wolves.
- Tyler Ulis: Pistons.
- Jarrod Uthoff: Sixers.
- Denzel Valentine: Bucks
- Fred VanVleet: Jazz and Kings.
- David Walker: Sixers and Raptors.
- Thomas Walkup: Pelicans.
- Tyrone Wallace: Bucks.
- Wes Washpun: Timberwolves, Bucks, and Bulls.
- James Webb III: Wizards.
- Isaiah Whitehead: Clippers.
- Troy Williams: Raptors, Bucks and Pelicans.
- Kyle Wiltjer: Hornets and Bucks.
- Guerschon Yabusele: Pelicans.
- Stephen Zimmerman: Sixers.
- Ante Zizic: Pacers.
Draft Notes: Valentine, Murray, Diallo, Brown
Here’s the latest news and notes regarding the 2016 NBA Draft, which will be held next Thursday in Brooklyn, New York:
- The Bucks have a group workout scheduled today for Wade Baldwin (Vanderbilt), Dejounte Murray (Washington), Carrington Love (UWBG), Ron Baker (Wichita State), Goodluck Okonoboh (UNLV) and Prince Ibeh (Texas), the team announced.
- Milwaukee will also hold an individual workout today for former Michigan State guard Denzel Valentine, the team announced.
- French swingman Timothe Luwawu worked out for the Nuggets on Thursday, the team announced.
- The Jazz have a group workout set for today with Nic Moore (SMU), Fred VanVleet (Wichita State), John Brown (High Point), Elgin Cook (Oregon), Jameel McKay (Iowa State) and Marshall Plumlee (Duke), the team announced.
- Former Kansas big man Cheick Diallo will work out for the Pacers today and will display his wares for the Grizzlies on Saturday, Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv tweets.
- The teams that have done the most research on former California forward Jaylen Brown are the Suns, Celtics and Wolves, Jon Rothstein of CBSSports.com tweets.
Eastern Notes: Morris, Simmons, Hornets
ESPN draft guru Chad Ford believes the Wizards made the right move in dealing away the No. 13 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft for mercurial forward Markieff Morris. Speaking on ESPN 980’s “Inside the Locker Room” with Brian Mitchell and Scott Jackson, Ford said, “You look at [everything] and probably say the Wizards made the right call here in that they got more value [with Morris] than they would have gotten with the 13th pick.” Ford noted that after the presumptive top two of Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram the quality of players drops off significantly in the second-tier, adding, “I think all of those guys are solid players. They’ll probably be starters in the league and make a positive contribution. … Typically, you’re still drafting high-level starters in the 5-7 range. Instead I think you’re probably drafting average starters.”
“After that, I think you’re looking at role players throughout the rest of the draft,” Ford continued. “That means I think the value in this is draft is a little low. At nine, if you’re drafting a role player, that’s again not great value compared to other drafts.”
Here’s the latest from the Eastern Conference:
- The Sixers met with projected No. 1 overall pick Simmons and agent Rich Paul on Thursday night in Cleveland, Marc Stein of ESPN.com relays (Twitter links).
- Former North Carolina point guard Marcus Paige worked out for the Hawks on Thursday and will do the same for the Hornets today, Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution relays (via Twitter).
- Hornets GM Rich Cho, speaking at a press conference today, noted that the team believes it can land an impact player with the No. 22 overall pick, but didn’t rule out making an attempt to move up in the draft, Charlotte relayed in a series of tweets. “We feel like it’s a deep draft and we’ll get a good player at pick 22. At the same time we’re looking at our options,” Cho said. “With 8 free agents, I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’re trying to get more depth with our team and get guys that can play in our rotation. At this point in the process, we’ve already done all our work. Scouted tons of games and did all background work and intel. We’ll be ready.“
Poll: 2016 Community Mock Draft (Pick No. 24)
The results of the 2016 NBA Draft lottery are in and the Sixers finally landed the elusive No. 1 overall pick after missing out the past two seasons. Now that the exact draft order is locked in, teams can begin targeting specific players who are likely to still be on the board when it is their time to choose. Drafting players is far from an exact science, and many a GM has been second-guessed for his draft night decisions. I’m willing to bet that every team executive has at least one pick that he would like a mulligan for. We at Hoops Rumors thought it would be fun to give our readers the chance to predict the results of this June’s draft, which is what we are doing with a series of polls.
We are now well on our way to completing the first round and have once again come to the Sixers. Readers, you are now on the clock! Working under the assumption that the team will keep the pick, cast your vote for Philadelphia’s selection and check back Saturday for the results, as well as to cast your vote for who the Clippers will select with the No. 25 overall pick. But don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the No. 24 overall pick and why you voted the way that you did.
Previous Selections
- Sixers — Ben Simmons (LSU)
- Lakers — Brandon Ingram (Duke)
- Celtics — Dragan Bender (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
- Suns — Jaylen Brown (California)
- Timberwolves — Buddy Hield (Oklahoma)
- Pelicans — Kris Dunn (Providence)
- Nuggets — Jamal Murray (Kentucky)
- Kings — Henry Ellenson (Marquette)
- Raptors — Marquese Chriss (Washington)
- Bucks — Jakob Poeltl (Utah)
- Magic — Skal Labissiere (Kentucky)
- Jazz — Denzel Valentine (Michigan State)
- Suns — Domantas Sabonis (Gonzaga)
- Bulls — Deyonta Davis (Michigan State)
- Nuggets — Timothe Luwawu (Mega Leks)
- Celtics — Thon Maker (Australia)
- Grizzlies — Wade Baldwin (Vanderbilt)
- Pistons — Tyler Ulis (Kentucky)
- Nuggets — Furkan Korkmaz (Anadolu Efes)
- Pacers — Demetrius Jackson (Notre Dame)
- Hawks — Taurean Prince (Baylor)
- Hornets — Brice Johnson (North Carolina)
- Celtics — Malachi Richardson (Syracuse)
For Trade Rumors app users: [Direct Link]
Pistons Acquire Cameron Bairstow
The Pistons have agreed to a trade with the Bulls that sends power forward Cameron Bairstow to Detroit in exchange for combo guard Spencer Dinwiddie, the team announced. The deal is official, per the press release. Chicago has confirmed the trade with a press release of its own.
Bairstow, 25, appeared in 18 games with Chicago last season, averaging 1.9 points, 1.6 rebounds in 5.7 minutes per outing. The two-year veteran was drafted out of the New Mexico with the No. 49 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. As a senior for the Lobos, he averaged a Mountain West Conference-high 20.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 32.9 minutes in 34 games. Bairstow holds career averages of 1.2 points, 1.0 rebounds and 4.6 minutes in 36 NBA games with the Bulls. His 2016/17 salary of $980,431 is non-guaranteed.
Dinwiddie, 23, completed his second NBA season with averages of 4.8 points, 1.8 assists, 1.4 rebounds and 13.3 minutes over 12 contests. He was drafted by the Pistons with the No. 38 overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft. Dinwiddie owns career averages of 4.4 points, 2.7 assists, 1.4 rebounds and 13.3 minutes in NBA 46 games. The player is also set to earn $980,431 next season, an amount that is non-guaranteed.
Central Notes: Blatt, Butler, Draft Workouts
Former Cavaliers coach David Blatt is still bitter about his ouster in Cleveland, as he told Ynet.com (h/t Kurt Helin of NBCSports.com). “I can’t think of any reason in the world [that he was fired],” Blatt said. “Maybe for them, thinking forward, I wasn’t the person to lead. It hurt me very bad. It surprised me, I didn’t feel well, but you move on. There are disappointments in life, the question is what do you do when you take a blow. I could have coached in the NBA next season. It’s more about timing . Sometimes great coaches have to sit outside. I didn’t fail in my job, I failed keeping my job ”
Blatt also admitted that he could have dealt with LeBron James differently, noting that he didn’t quite grasp the NBA power structure that places players first. “You have to learn to work with people like him, not manage him,” Blatt said. “This takes time. There are a lot of things I would have done differently, with him included. In the reality of the NBA and this team, there is no doubt that LeBron is the center. He is the cornerstone of the club, there is no doubt that LeBron was more important to the system than me. ”
Here’s more from the Central Division:
- On Thursday, the Bucks held a group workout for Malachi Richardson (Syracuse), Isaia Cordinier (France), Stefan Moody (Mississippi), Maodo Lo (Columbia), Georges Niang (Iowa State) and Guerschon Yabusele (Rouen), Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders tweets.
- Working out for the Pacers today will be Kyle Collinsworth (BYU), Cheick Diallo (Kansas), Yogi Ferrell (Indiana), Brice Johnson (North Carolina), Niang, and Ante Zizic (Croatia), Nate Taylor of The Indianapolis Star relays (via Twitter).
- Despite the rumors of discord between himself and Derrick Rose, Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler believes the pair can be dominant on the court together moving forward, as he told Bill Simmons of The Ringer (audio link). “I think us being one in the same player, maybe I’m a little taller, he’s a little faster, we can both attack the rim,” Butler explained. “We can both beat our guy and then get shots for other players. Finish at the rim, midrange and we can both really guard to tell you truth. Get out in the open floor. There are so many things that we have in common that when we utilize those things and play together like that, I think we can be just as unguardable as anybody else.”
Unsigned Draft Picks: Central Division
As the 2016 NBA draft rapidly approaches the term draft-and-stash will be mentioned quite often in regard to international players and late second-rounders. While some of these athletes will eventually sign with an NBA team, it seems like the majority of them stay overseas and never make it to the league. Those players in the latter category aren’t without value as they become trade assets for the teams holding their rights.
While many players fail to work out the way teams expect them to, they can at least become tradeable assets for teams that don’t want to part with a future second-round pick in a deal. Each team must give up something in a trade, which is why many swaps include top-55 protected second-round picks. Older draft rights held players who clearly will never come over to the NBA are essentially the same as flipping those heavily protected second-rounders, for all intents and purposes.
Listed below are the current unsigned draftees for the teams of the Central Division:
Chicago Bulls
- Tadija Dragicevic — Selected No. 53 overall in 2008.
- Milovan Rakovic — Selected No. 60 overall in 2007.
- Vladimir Veremeenko — Selected No. 48 overall in 2006.
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Edin Bavcic — Selected No. 56 overall in 2006.
- Ilkan Karaman — Selected No. 57 overall in 2012.
- Milan Macvan — Selected No. 54 overall in 2011.
- Cedi Osman — Selected No. 31 overall in 2015.
- Sir’Dominic Pointer — Selected No. 53 overall in 2015.
- Ejike Ugboaja — Selected No. 55 overall in 2006.
Detroit Pistons
- None
Indiana Pacers
- Stanko Barac — Selected No. 39 overall in 2007.
- Andrew Betts — Selected No. 50 overall in 1998.
Milwaukee Bucks
- Andrei Fetisov — Selected No. 36 overall in 1994.
- Albert Miralles — Selected No. 39 overall in 2004.
- Eurelijus Zukauskas — Selected No. 54 overall in 1995.
Draft Notes: Maker, Luwawu, Cordinier
Here’s the latest news and notes regarding the 2016 NBA Draft, which will be held in Brooklyn, New York next Thursday:
- The Nuggets have a group workout scheduled on Friday for Ryan Arcidiacono (Villanova), Isaia Cordinier (France), Petr Cornelie (France) and Majok Deng (Louisiana-Monroe), the team announced via press release.
- Denver held an individual workout today for swingman Timothe Luwawu, the team announced. The Frenchman averaged 14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 steals in 31.1 minutes for Mega Leks of the Serbian League this past season.
- The Hornets have a group workout scheduled for Friday with Thon Maker (Australia), Marcus Paige (North Carolina), Joel Bolomboy (Weber State), Patricio Garino (George Washington) and Melvin Johnson (VCU), Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops relays (via Twitter).
- Former Auburn small forward Tyler Harris has a workout scheduled with the Raptors on Sunday, Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv relays (Twitter link).