Mario Hezonja’s Camp Steering Him To Pistons?
Some teams are expressing frustration with the lack of information coming from Mario Hezonja‘s camp, Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress tweets. Those officials feel that Hezonja’s camp could be trying to get the youngster to the Pistons, similar to the way Kobe Bryant‘s reps steered him to the Lakers years ago.
Even though that could be the motivation of the guard’s people, Givony (link) doesn’t see him falling to Detroit at No. 8. If the Pistons really want the Croatian, Givony feels they’ll have to move up for him as teams No. 4-7 are all high on him. Hezonja’s buyout information is already well known as it was negotiated by his previous agents, but there have been no interviews conducted and medical information has not been disclosed (link).
Earlier today we learned that the Kings are considering moving back from No. 6, but Hezonja is a very likely target for them if they stay.
Draft Rumors: Hornets, Lakers, Russell
The Hornets have been extremely active this week and sources have indicated to Sean Deveney of the Sporting News that they’re probably not done. The Celtics and Suns, according to a source, have been the most ardent suitors of Charlotte’s No. 9 pick. The Suns have the No. 13 pick but want to move up to draft Frank Kaminsky, who they fear could be a target of the Heat at No. 10 or the Pacers at No. 11. The Celtics, meanwhile, have interest in Willie Cauley-Stein. If the Hornets stay at No. 9, Deveney believes they will want to add shooting, which could lead them to Kentucky guard Devin Booker.
- Jahlil Okafor did not perform well in his second pre-draft workout with the Lakers, according to Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report. While Okafor had a drop-off from his first showing in Los Angeles, D’Angelo Russell flourished and knocked down his shots. Ding expects the Lakers to target Russell at No. 2 in Thursday night’s draft.
- Oregon guard Joseph Young does not have a first round promise from the Lakers or anyone else, Sean Deveney of the Sporting News tweets. Young’s foot injury remains a concern and he’ll be reevaluated to see if he needs surgery.
- The Lakers, Sixers, Knicks, Magic, Kings, Hornets, Pacers are all talking trades and could shake up the draft order, Chad Ford of ESPN.com tweets.
- Richaun Holmes is drawing consideration from several teams picking in the 20s, league sources tell Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated (on Twitter). Holmes spoke with Hoops Rumors recently as a part of our Draft Prospect Q&A series.
Rockets To Make Play For Love, Aldridge
9:24am: Both Jones and the No. 18 pick are very available as the Rockets look to shed salary, Stein tweets.
8:27am: The Rockets will try to get in the mix for Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge this summer, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter links). The Rockets do not have a whole lot of cap space to work with this summer, but they are working to change that. Stein adds that Houston is likely to try to trade Terrence Jones at some point today (link).
Yesterday, we learned that Love will opt out of his contract with the Cavs to become a free agent. By opting out, the forward can make as much as the max, an estimated $18.96MM. Some executives have been predicting that the Cavs will sign-and-trade him to one of his many suitors, given the success Cleveland had without him while he was out with a shoulder injury during the playoffs, though Griffin insists he wants to keep the core of his team together, as Grantland’s Zach Lowe wrote earlier this week. There’s little doubt the Cavs will put a max offer of their own on the table for him, as Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com wrote in late April, several weeks after ESPN colleague Chris Broussard had heard from rival executives who’d begun to question that prospect.
Aldridge, meanwhile, is said to be coming increasingly fond of the Lakers. The big man will have tons of suitors this summer and the Blazers are reportedly concerned about him bolting.
Jones is scheduled to earn $2,489,530 during the 2015/16 season after having his fourth-year option exercised by Houston. He was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft.
Kings Exploring Trading Back From No. 6
The Kings have been making calls on the possibility of moving back in the top 10, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). If the Kings do remain at No. 6, however, Mario Hezonja is a strong possibility to be their target.
Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress has Hezonja ranked as the fifth-best prospect in this year’s draft and predicts that he’ll go No. 4 to the Knicks, so it’s quite possible that the guard won’t be there when the Kings pick at No. 6. Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required), meanwhile, has the Kings landing Hezonja at No. 6.
Nets, Spurs Inquiring On Cavs’ Sasha Kaun
The Nets and Spurs are among the teams checking in with the Cavs on a possible deal for the rights to sign center Sasha Kaun, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Kaun is set to leave Russia for the NBA this year.
Kaun played under Cavs coach David Blatt on the Russian national team and Cleveland was previously giving thought to signing him this summer. The 30-year-old Kaun, who played for CSKA Moscow last season, recently “retired” from the Russian League. Kaun was originally drafted in 2008 by the SuperSonics — the last draft pick made by the franchise before moving to Oklahoma City — and his rights were later traded to the Cavaliers for cash considerations.
Q&A With NBA Draft Prospect Jordan Mickey
In advance of Thursday’s draft, Hoops Rumors has been talking with some of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s class. Today, the Hoops Rumors Draft Prospect Q&A series continues with LSU big man Jordan Mickey, who is ranked No. 31 in this year’s class by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress and No. 44 by Chad Ford of ESPN.com.
LSU big man Jordan Mickey has been climbing up draft boards all spring and summer and, as Hoops Rumors reported Tuesday afternoon, his meteoric rise could land him in the first round when all is said and done. Mickey said that officials from a team picking in the 20s told him that if he’s available, they intend on pouncing on him. Meanwhile, the Celtics are bringing him in for a second look on Wednesday and it’s quite possible that they’re considering him for the No. 16 selection. The C’s could also be eyeing him for their No. 28 or No. 33 picks, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be on the board at that point.
Why has Mickey been such a fast riser in recent weeks? There are multiple answers to that question, but his greatest appeal undoubtedly is his uncanny shot-blocking ability. Blessed with a 7′ 3.25″ wingspan, the 6′ 8″ big man plays much bigger than his size and swats shot with ease. In fact, as a sophomore this season at LSU, Mickey recorded an average of 3.6 blocks per game to go along with 15.4 PPG and 9.9 RPG.
Mickey spoke with Hoops Rumors on Tuesday to talk about his draft stock, the art of shot blocking, and much more.
Zach Links: I understand that you’re working out for the Celtics on Wednesday. What’s that workout going to be like? Will it be a solo audition or will you be going up against other prospects?
Jordan Mickey: You know, I’m not exactly sure. I haven’t heard anything about it yet, so as far as I know, it might just be me by myself.
ZL:The Celtics have a lot of picks (Nos. 16, 28, 33, and 45) this year. Have they indicated to you that they’re looking at you for No. 16?
JM: My understanding is that I’m being brought in for a second workout for that exact reason.
ZL: Obviously your shot blocking prowess comes largely from your athleticism and wingspan, but how much of that do you attribute to timing?
JM: A lot of it is about timing. You watch some guys in their first season and they have everything down when it comes to blocking, except for the timing, and it shows. You have to know when to jump and when to initiate body contact. Otherwise, you’re not going to get far as a shot blocker.
ZL: As an excellent shot blocker out of LSU, I’m sure that you’ve heard Shaq’s name mentioned more than once. Have you gotten the chance to speak with him?
JM: I haven’t had a chance to speak with him personally, but he’s come to our games before.
ZL: Growing up, did you emulate him at all?
JM: I can’t say I ever did. We’re very different players. He’s more of a post guy and I’m more of an athlete.
ZL: Who would you say you’re similar to in today’s NBA?
JM: Draymond Green and Paul Millsap. We’re all about the same height and kind of undersized for the position. When I look at Green, that’s a guy that can play the 5, 4, or 3 and he guards everything from the 1 to the 5. That’s something I feel I can do.
ZL: At LSU, you showed that you can score effectively with a jump hook, a move that some big men tend to neglect. Did you always have that in your arsenal or is that something you developed in college?
JM: I’ve always had a pretty good jump hook for as long as I’ve played the game. It’s one of the first things that I ever learned, and I always worked hard at that.
ZL: You had a pretty strong freshman season for yourself. Did you consider going pro last year?
JM: I did, I considered it. I looked at it but I thought that if I came back my sophomore year, I could continue to improve my stock.
ZL: I saw a report recently indicating that you have a promise from a team drafting late in the first round. Is that the case?
JM: This month a team picking in the 20s told me that if I’m available, they’ll definitely take me.
ZL: Your teammate Jarell Martin is also projected to hear his name called on Thursday. If someone asked you for a scouting report on him, what would you say about him?
JM: I would say he’s very athletic and he gets around pretty easily. He goes to the rim hard. … I’d also say he’s a pretty good jump shooter. He has a great three-point shot and he’s just a very capable shooter and scorer.
ZL: What led you to choose Adie von Gontard and Matt Babcock of APAA Sports Group as your representation?
JM: Well, I didn’t want to go with a big agency. I kind of wanted to stay small and I didn’t want to go to an agency just because of the big name appeal alone. I wanted personal attention and I felt like I could get that with Adie. He’s based out of Dallas too, and that’s where I’m working out of now. I just felt comfortable talking to him and he had confidence in me and believed that I could be a first-round pick. All of that made me want to join up with him.
Q&A With NBA Draft Prospect Norman Powell
In advance of Thursday’s draft, Hoops Rumors has been talking with some of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s class. Today, the Hoops Rumors Draft Prospect Q&A series continues with UCLA guard Norman Powell, who is ranked No. 41 in this year’s class by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress and No. 53 by Chad Ford of ESPN.com.
After four years at UCLA, guard Norman Powell is battle tested and ready to take the next step. While he doesn’t have the prototypical size for a shooting guard, Powell more than makes up for that with his tenacity and athleticism. In his final year on campus, Powell showed that he can score with his jump shot, and he also put up points by slashing to the basket. In total, Powell averaged 16.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 2.1 APG in 34.6 minutes per contest as he impressed NBA scouts and helped lead his team to the Sweet Sixteen. Last week, Powell took some time out of his schedule to talk to Hoops Rumors about his skill set and how it’ll translate at the next level.
Zach Links: You really seemed to come into your own in your junior year. What factors led to you breaking out?
Norman Powell: It was just the opportunity that was presented to me. Coach [Steve] Alford, when he got hired, he came to me and told me I was going to be his guy. He told me my junior year was going to be my breakout year and he was right. I was finally able to show what I was capable of.
ZL: How close were you to going pro last year?
NP: A lot of people thought I wouldn’t return for my senior year given that I had a strong year. But, I was really focused on graduating and getting my degree.
ZL: You made a lot of strides with your jump shot this season. Do you feel like that addition to your arsenal is going to make you an even more dangerous offensive threat?
NP: Yeah, definitely, I always felt like I had a strong mid-range pull-up game. I’ve also shown that I can get to the basket and score. Increasing my range is something that I’m definitely working on and that needs improvement. I need to stay focused on that to get it to the level that it needs to be.
ZL: With a 6’11” wingspan, do you feel like you have a greater defensive potential than people realize?
NP: Yeah, definitely. I think a lot of people are questioning me because of my size. People always told me I was undersized, but with my length and athleticism, it gives me an added edge out there. That’s something that people are counting out. My length makes up for a lot of that. I think I have the potential to be a lockdown defender at the next level. The sky is the limit for me, honestly, especially because I have that tough mentality and that wingspan.
ZL: Do you have any last minute workouts scheduled?
NP: I’ll actually be working out for the Lakers on Wednesday, June 24th, the day before the draft. That’ll be my second workout with them.
ZL: What led you to choose Todd Ramasar as your agent?
NP: Todd is a UCLA guy, so he has a similar background to me. He also understands my mindset. I was being slept on by a lot of people when it comes to what I can do at the next level. I feel like I have a lot to prove, I have a chip on my shoulder, and I want to show that I’m one of the top talents in the draft. We want to put people on notice that have been counting me out. We both have the mentality of an underdog that wants to succeed.
Jordan Mickey Likely To Go In First Round
LSU big man Jordan Mickey has been climbing up draft boards over the past couple of months and his rise could culminate in becoming a first round selection. On Tuesday afternoon, Mickey told Hoops Rumors that a team picking in the 20s told him that they’ll select him if he’s still on the board at that time.
Mickey is currently is ranked No. 31 in this year’s class by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress and No. 44 by Chad Ford of ESPN.com. The athletic 20-year-old (21 in July) would outperform those projections by a wide margin if he’s selected in the 20s, but he could conceivably go even higher than that.
Mickey tells Hoops Rumors that he’ll be working out for Boston on Wednesday, his second audition for Boston in recent weeks. Given the last-minute workout, it’s quite possible that the C’s are viewing Mickey as an option with their No. 16 pick. Boston picks again at No. 28, No. 33, and No. 45, but he might not be available that far down.
Earlier this week, LSU blog TigerRag reported that Mickey received a guarantee from a team picking later in the first round. In his sophomore year at LSU, Mickey averaged 15.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, and an eye-popping 3.6 blocks per contest.
Raymond Felton Opts In With Mavs
JUNE 22ND: The point guard has formally opted in, tweets Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders. He’s been involved in a couple of trade rumors since the last report.
MAY 18TH: Felton and one of his representatives has told the Mavs that the Wasserman Media Group client will indeed opt in, several sources told Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News today. Neither Felton nor his camp has filed the official paperwork yet, but they have until June 23rd to do so, according to Sefko. That’s six days earlier than the usual June 29th decision date on player options. Sefko also reveals that Monta Ellis has a June 24th deadline on his player option worth $8.72MM. There’s been no indication that Ellis has decided whether to opt in or opt out. Dallas, without any player options taken into account, has about $28MM on the books for next season.
MAY 8TH: Mavericks guard Raymond Felton will file paperwork to exercise his $3.9MM player option for next season, league sources told Shams Charania of RealGM. Felton, 30, saw time in just 29 regular season games last season.
The Mavs’ backcourt was hit hard by injuries in the spring and coach Rick Carlisle offered high praise of the veteran guard’s play during that time.
“He’s a high-integrity guy. He really is,” said Carlisle. “He’s a high-integrity competitor. There hasn’t been one time this year where he’s dropped his head or pouted. When he was hurt, when he came back and there weren’t minutes right away, he’s just remained consistently professional and he kept working extremely hard, which shows now that he’s getting an opportunity to play.”
Thanks to Felton’s ankle injury and the four-game suspension he was issued with after pleading guilty to a gun charge, the guard didn’t make his regular season debut until late December. Felton has averaged 12.7 PPG and 6.3 APG over the course of his career with the Bobcats, Knicks, Blazers, Nuggets, and Mavs.
Nuggets’ Jameer Nelson Opts Out
JUNE 22ND, 11:50pm: Nelson has indeed opted out, reports Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link).
JUNE 4TH, 5:05pm: Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson is planning to opt out of his $2.85MM player option for the upcoming season, league sources told Shams Charania of RealGM. Nelson has not yet informed Nuggets officials of his final decision, however.
The two sides have been talking recently, but the general understanding has been that the veteran will test the free agent waters, according to Charania. Recently, Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post wrote that Nelson’s decision would hinge on the Nuggets’ head coaching hire. Nelson is said to be fond of interim coach Melvin Hunt, so his chances of returning could improve if Hunt stays on the sidelines.
Nelson, 33, had an eventful campaign in 2014/15. After signing a two-year pact with the Mavericks last July, he was shipped out in December in a deal with the Celtics. His stay in Boston was short-lived as well as a January deal delivered him to Denver in exchange for Nate Robinson. Between the three teams, Nelson averaged 8.3 PPG and 4.0 RPG in 22.2 minutes per contest. Nelson played a healthy 20.6 minutes per game in the second half with Denver and has said that he wants to continue getting significant burn.
For his career, Nelson has averaged 12.2 PPG, 5.3 APG, and 3.1 RPG across eleven seasons.