With the NBA draft just 17 days away, we're guaranteed to be following daily rumors and rumblings for the next two and a half weeks. We'll try to make it as easy as possible to follow the latest updates by including most of our draft-related items in a single daily post. Consider this Monday's post, and check back throughout the day for more draft notes, with the newest additions up top:
In a tweet, AZCentral.com's Paul Coro has wrangled up some news from CBSSports.com's Jeff Goodman and SI.com's Sam Amick. North Carolina teammates Kendall Marshall and John Henson will reportedly work out for the Suns this week.
On Tuesday, the Wizards will hold a workout to help decide what direction they want to go with their two second round picks (as of today, the team holds both the 32nd and 46th picks in the draft), tweets Michael Lee of the Washington Post. Some notable names Washington plans to workout are Syracuse's Scoop Jardine, and Duke's Miles Plumlee.
The Trail Blazers will work out North Carolina's John Henson on Tuesday, tweets SI.com's Sam Amick.
Also from Amick, the Kings will work out several players, including North Carolina's Tyler Zeller, on Tuesday. Sacramento currently holds picks 5 and 36.
The Hornets plan on bringing in several point guards and shooting guards when they resume workouts next week, writes Nola.com's John Reid.
The Magic will be prepared for the draft no matter how long it takes to hire a GM, but a lengthy GM search could have other negative effects, writes Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.
If the Hornets decide to deal their tenth overall pick, gaining future draft assets is more important to them than ditching bad contracts, says Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. Kyler doesn't expect the Hornets to include players like Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza with the pick in a deal that merely creates cap space. According to Kyler, New Orleans could seeking a 2012 second-rounder along with a future first-rounder in any deal.
Within the same piece, Kyler adds that the Warriors and Knicks have expressed some interest in Alabama's Tony Mitchell.
In a pair of tweets, Kyler says Harrison Barnes did not officially meet with the Bulls, and that a brief chat with coach Tom Thibodeau was blown out of proportion.
The Sixers met with Andre Drummond at the draft combine and could be trying to trade up, since Drummond will be long gone at No. 15, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.
Former Celtics center Jermaine O'Neal is in Germany to undergo platelet-rich plasma therapy on his knee, the same procedure Kobe Bryant had last summer, tweets Hoopsworld.com's Alex Kennedy.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle's Rusty Simmons, the Warriors would be greatly interested in taking Andre Drummond if he's still available at the number seven pick. The team has also gone after Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay, and the Bobcats' number two pick. Simmons also tweeted that the Warriors plan to feature Perry Jones III and Terrence Jones in a workout on Monday that could ultimately decide who they take with the number seven pick.
Former Weber St. point guard Damian Lillard's draft stock has been rising rapidly, according to Hoopsworld.com's Alex Kennedy. The senior led the nation in scoring last season, and could be the first point guard selected in this year's draft.
Restricted free agent Eric Gordon says that no matter where he goes next season, all that matters to him is that it's a long term stay. He still hasn't ruled out a return to the Hornets, a team that has the right to match an offer he receives this offseason, according to Nola.com's John Reid.
On HoopsHype.com, Illinois center Meyers Leonard, a true seven-footer, says he wants his offensive skill set to soon resemble that of Lakers forward Pau Gasol.
Even as his Celtics gear up for Game Seven tonight against the Heat, we learned yesterday that head coach Doc Rivers is still helping son Austin Rivers through the draft process. If the C's want to tab the Duke standout, they'll likely have to move up on the board. Boston currently holds the No. 21 and 22 picks in the draft. Do you have the draft on your brain despite tonight's big game as well? Don't worry, we've got you covered..
One general manager says Quincy Miller could go in the top 10, while another executive doesn't think he's a first-rounder, reports NBA.com's Scott Howard Cooper, who says the truth is somewhere in the middle. Joe Kotoch of SheridanHoops.com has the Baylor small forward going 22nd to the Celtics in his latest mock draft.
The itinerary for North Carolina power forward John Henson reveals he's working out for teams picking fifth through 15th, as Susan Bible of HoopsWorld writes.
Mississippi State's Arnett Moultrie says that the Pistons, picking ninth, and the Hornets, at No. 10, would be the best fits for him, writes Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. When it comes to the Pistons, Moultrie believes that his game makes for a great complement to Greg Monroe.
Ohio State center Jared Sullinger has heard a lot of criticism about his weight and conditioning, but the big man looked to be in great shape in Chicago, Ellis writes. Jim Jackson, currently working as an analyst for the Big Ten Network, believes that Sullinger's overall skill set makes up for his lack of explosive athleticism.
Andre Drummond isn't the most PR-savvy prospect in this year's draft but the UConn product might be the best available pick at No. 5, writes Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.
The Trail Blazers have a pair of first-round picks, at No. 6 and No. 11, and back-to-back second-round picks, at No. 40 and No. 41. Four rookies would be a lot to carry on a roster, but earlier this week we passed along a report from Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com suggesting the Blazers would keep both lottery selections. Yesterday, Haynes tweeted that the Blazers have a workout scheduled with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist that could indicate they're looking to trade up. Haynes echoes that sentiment in a report today, and adds plenty of other draft-related news.
The Blazers are high on Damian Lillard, Meyers Leonard, Harrison Barnes and Kidd-Gilchrist. Leonard is a player the team could take at No. 11, but the others will likely go sooner, including Lillard, according to a league executive who's watching the Weber state point guard climb the charts, Haynes says.
As Lillard's stock rises, it becomes increasingly clear he'll be taken in front of fellow point guard Kendall Marshall, who says he doesn't think he'll be drafted as highly as No. 11, Haynes tweets. Marshall is currently ranked No. 14 on the DraftExpress.com list of the top 100 prospects.
Haynes speculates that the Blazers will take Lillard at No. 6 as long as Barnes and Andre Drummond are off the board.
Add Drummond to a list of players working out for the team that we learned about yesterday. That list includes Lillard, Tony Wroten, Jared Sullinger and Austin Rivers.
We've heard that Jeremy Lamblooked disinterested in interviews, but Haynes also notes that during drills he struggled with his outside shot, a purported strength, which disappointed the Blazers and many others.
A presumptive top-10 pick displayed a knowledge of the team that's months out of date, saying, “I would love to play for a city like Portland and play alongside LaMarcus and be coached by Nate McMillan.”
Magic point guard Jameer Nelson has a June 15 deadline to decide whether to pick up his $8.6MM option for next season, and "all indications" are that he'll decline it and test free agency, tweets Evan Dunlap of OrlandoPinstripedPost.com. Nelson has expressed a willingness to stay in Orlando for the rest of his career, but doesn't want to be treated as a trade chip in the final year of his deal. Earlier today we heard the Jazz could make a play for him. That's just one of many items of note from around the league on a busy Friday.
GM Ernie Grunfeld and the Wizards have drafted three big men in the last two drafts, but Michael Lee of The Washington Post examines the possibility of the team going for another big at the No. 3 pick this year, with Thomas Robinson and Andre Drummond likely options. Robinson will work out for the team on Tuesday.
The Wizards also have their eyes on a pair of wing players, as Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bradley Beal will work out for the team next week, reports Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com (Twitterlinks).
Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News writes that it may be more lucrative for Nick Calathes, currently playing in Greece, to remain in Europe rather than join the Mavs, who hold his NBA rights. We heard earlier that Calathes wants to jump to the NBA.
The draft lottery for the 2012 NBA Draft was held on Wednesday, with the New Orleans Hornets receiving the top overall pick and the Charlotte Bobcats coming in second. In a draft filled with uncertainty and divisive prospects, the one note that virtually every fan and analyst agrees on is the inevitability of Kentucky forward Anthony Davis' top overall selection. After that, however, it gets murkier, with several players in line for consideration by the Bobcats. Which of these do you think will end up being the second overall pick in the draft?
Following the Hornets' lottery win, ESPN.com's Chad Ford published his newest mock draft, which includes a handful of interesting scenarios, including Dion Waiters jumping to eighth overall and Austin Rivers slipping to 18th. With less than four weeks until draft day, Ford continues to talk to sources and visit workouts to get a better sense of how things will play out on June 28th. His latest draft blog (Insider link) explores potential options for the top 10 picks and is chock-full of interesting tidbits. Let's round up some of the highlights….
If the Bobcats keep the number two pick, they'll probably decide between Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Thomas Robinson. If they consider trading the pick to gain more assets, the Cavs are worth keeping an eye on — Cleveland likes Kidd-Gilchrist and could potentially offer the fourth and 24th picks.
We've heard the Wizards won't be trading their pick, and Ford says Washington will be happy to take Kidd-Gilchrist and Bradley Beal at No. 3.
If the Cavs stay put at No. 4, they'd also like Kidd-Gilchrist or Beal. If those players are picked second and third, Cleveland figures to consider a number of prospects, including Harrison Barnes, Andre Drummond, and even Jeremy Lamb.
The Kings could be open to trading their fifth pick, since they need veteran help.
Ford wouldn't be shocked to see the Blazers move one or both of their lottery picks for a young point guard. Kyle Lowry, Darren Collison, and Eric Bledsoe are a few potential trade candidates.
The Warriors like Jared Sullinger and Terrence Jones at No. 7.
The Raptors have been "looking hard" at Waiters, Lamb, Damian Lillard, and Terrence Ross at No. 8. Moe Harkless could also be in the mix.
There's no perfect fit for the Pistons at No. 9, though John Henson would help the team add some size.
"All signals point" to the Hornets taking a point guard with the tenth overall pick. Lillard, Waiters, and Kendall Marshall are options.
The draft lottery is dominating NBA headlines today, but the team with the best shot at landing the first overall pick isn't losing any sleep over tonight's drama. Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports that he's not stressed about the lottery since the results are out of his hands, and adds that he still expects Charlotte to add a solid player even without the top pick.
As we count down the hours until the winner of the Anthony Davis sweepstakes is announced, let's round up a few odds and ends from around the NBA….
Replying to Adrian Wojnarowski's report this morning on whether or not he'll re-sign with the Nets, Deron Williamstweeted, "I would love to know who Adrian Wojnarowski source is bc he knows more about what I'm thinking then I do. maybe they can help me decide?"Alex Raskin of HoopsWorld also writes that D-Will has never told Nets management that Dwight Howard's presence is a necessity for him to re-sign.
ESPN.com's Chris Broussard (Insider link) poses a number of potential offseason trade scenarios, including one where Williams heads to the Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal with the Nets.
Magic CEO Alex Martins has "hit the road" to conduct general manager interviews, tweets SI.com's Sam Amick, adding that Jeff Bower is expected to be interviewed tomorrow. I find it a little odd that Orlando is reportedly close to naming a GM when it doesn't seem as if the team has even interviewed many candidates yet. I expect the Magic search to extend into next week at least.
In an Insider piece for ESPN.com, Chad Ford wonders if Andre Drummond could be the number two pick behind Davis next month.
According to Sportando, Petteri Koponen has agreed to a three-year deal with Khimki Moscow that includes an NBA out clause at the end of each season. Koponen's NBA rights are held by the Mavericks.
With 48 hours to go until the draft lottery, here's the latest from the draft front:
Kyle Nelson of Draft Express speaks with St. John's freshman Moe Harkless, the site's 18th-ranked prospect who says he's putting in 12-hour days in advance of the draft.
TNT's David Aldridge, writing for NBA.com, ranks Andre Drummond as the top center in the draft but says Tyler Zeller is the only center most teams would feel safe taking high in the lottery.
Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group passes along observations from the Warriors pre-draft workout Monday, centering around Stanford power forward Josh Owens, whose "incredible" athleticism, according to one NBA executive, has helped him move from anonymity into the second-round picture.
Determining the potential success of an NBA prospect continues to be a great enigma. In 2005, David Lee went from being an unknown at the 2005 Chicago Pre-Draft camp to an eventual NBA All-Star in 2010. Joe Alexander, who wowed scouts as arguably the best athlete in the 2008 Pre-Draft Camp, struggled to find a niche in the NBA after being selected eighth overall. Even with the uncertainty that comes along with talent evaluation, the importance of teams doing their homework on players is highly-emphasized. Here are a few links to keep you oriented and familiar with the top names you'll be hearing about in late June:
Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated understands the risk of drafting on potential, but identifies his list of "jackpot" players, namely those whose talent and upside are trustworthy. In descending order, Amick highlights Anthony Davis, Thomas Robinson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Bradley Beal.
Speaking of potential, Sam Amico of FoxSports Ohio looks at the question marks associated with potential lottery-pick Andre Drummond. The former UConn Husky stands at 6'10'' and boasts a 260-lb frame, and although he arrived as a prized recruit for Jim Calhoun last year, Drummond disappointed many with his inconsistent play. One scout believes that his upside is his selling point, and his mobility and skill set have reminded some people of Andrew Bynum.
Starting Blocks of Cleveland.com gives a brief rundown of what various mock drafts have been projecting for the Cavaliers, who will have the 24th pick in the draft along with their lottery selection. The team currently has the third-best odds to win the number one selection.
