Hollinger’s Latest: Draft, Wiseman, Siakam, Trent, Combine
Sources who have spoken to John Hollinger of The Athletic are skeptical that the Pistons, Rockets, or Cavaliers will trade out of the top three spots in the draft.
As Hollinger notes, there are a lot of teams that figure to have interest in moving up in the draft, including several holding multiple first-round picks, such as the Magic, Thunder, and Knicks. However, it’s more difficult to find teams that will give serious consideration to moving down. Any trade up may require a substantial overpay, Hollinger adds.
Here are a few more tidbits from Hollinger following his time at the pre-draft combine in Chicago:
- There’s a “widespread expectation” around the NBA that the Warriors will dangle the No. 7 pick and James Wiseman as they seek immediate roster upgrades, according to Hollinger, who identifies Raptors forward Pascal Siakam as one name to watch.
- League sources widely expect restricted free agent Gary Trent Jr. to re-sign with the Raptors, says Hollinger.
- Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland might’ve boosted his stock more than any other player at the Chicago combine, per Hollinger. However, it was also a good week for Corey Kispert, Joe Wieskamp, Quentin Grimes, Jericho Sims, and A.J. Lawson, among others.
- DJ Steward, Max Abmas, and Johnny Juzang were among the prospects who didn’t help their stock at the combine based on their performances in scrimmages, Hollinger writes.
Full List Of 2021 NBA Draft Combine Participants
The NBA has revealed via press release its list of 69 players who have been invited to next week’s draft combine in Chicago and who are expected to attend. The combine will take place from June 21-27.
While several of the prominent names at the top of the draft will opt to skip the event – most notably, presumed number one pick Cade Cunningham and Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs – there are several high-profile prospects set to attend. Evan Mobley, widely considered a likely choice for the No. 2 pick as well as potential top-five picks Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Green headline the class of participants this year, along with potential lottery picks Moses Moody, Corey Kispert and Scottie Barnes.
According to the press release, players will conduct interviews with NBA teams, participate in five-on-five games, and go through shooting, strength and agility drills throughout the week-long event. It’s likely that the more high-profile names will focus more on the interviews than the drills.
The press release also confirms that a select number of standout players from the G League Elite Camp will be invited to participate in the Combine as well.
Here’s the full list of 69 names announced by the NBA today, in alphabetical order:
- Max Abmas, G, Oral Roberts (sophomore)
- Ochai Agbaji, G, Kansas (junior)
- Marcus Bagley, F, Arizona State (freshman)
- Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State (freshman)
- Charles Bassey, C, Western Kentucky (junior)
- Brandon Boston Jr., G/F, Kentucky (freshman)
- James Bouknight, G, UConn (sophomore)
- Greg Brown, F, Texas (freshman)
- Jared Butler, G, Baylor (junior)
- Julian Champagnie, G/F, St. John’s (sophomore)
- Justin Champagnie, G/F, Pittsburgh (sophomore)
- Josh Christopher, G, Arizona State (freshman)
- Sharife Cooper, G, Auburn (freshman)
- Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois (junior)
- David Duke, G, Providence (junior)
- Kessler Edwards, F, Pepperdine (junior)
- Luka Garza, C, Iowa (senior)
- RaiQuan Gray, F, Florida State (junior)
- Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite (auto-eligible)
- Quentin Grimes, G, Houston (junior)
- Sam Hauser, F, Virginia (senior)
- Aaron Henry, G/F, Michigan State (junior)
- Ariel Hukporti, C, Lithuania (born 2002)
- Matthew Hurt, F, Duke (sophomore)
- Nah’Shon Hyland, G, VCU (sophomore)
- Isaiah Jackson, F, Kentucky (freshman)
- David Johnson, G, Louisville (sophomore)
- Jalen Johnson, F, Duke (freshman)
- Keon Johnson, G, Tennessee (freshman)
- Herb Jones, F, Alabama (senior)
- Kai Jones, F, Texas (sophomore)
- Johnny Juzang, G/F, UCLA (sophomore)
- Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga (senior)
- Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite (auto-eligible)
- Scottie Lewis, G, Florida (sophomore)
- Isaiah Livers, F, Michigan (senior)
- Makur Maker, C, Howard (freshman)
- Sandro Mamukelashvili, F/C, Seton Hall (senior)
- Tre Mann, G, Florida (sophomore)
- Matthew Mayer, G/F, Baylor (junior)
- Miles McBride, G, West Virginia (sophomore)
- Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor (junior)
- Evan Mobley, F/C, USC (freshman)
- Isaiah Mobley, F, USC (sophomore)
- Moses Moody, G, Arkansas (freshman)
- Trey Murphy III, G, Virginia (junior)
- Daishen Nix, G, G League Ignite (auto-eligible)
- John Petty Jr., G, Alabama (senior)
- Yves Pons, G/F, Tennessee (senior)
- Jason Preston, G, Ohio (junior)
- Joshua Primo, G, Alabama (freshman)
- Roko Prkacin, F, Croatia (born 2002)
- Neemias Queta, C, Utah State (junior)
- Austin Reaves, G, Oklahoma (senior)
- Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, F, Villanova (sophomore)
- Terrence Shannon Jr., G/F, Texas Tech (sophomore)
- Day’Ron Sharpe, F/C, North Carolina (freshman)
- Jericho Sims, F/C, Texas (senior)
- Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee (freshman)
- DJ Steward, G, Duke (freshman)
- Cameron Thomas, G, LSU (freshman)
- JT Thor, F, Auburn (freshman)
- Isaiah Todd, F, G League Ignite (auto-eligible)
- Trendon Watford, F, LSU (sophomore)
- Joe Wieskamp, G/F, Iowa (junior)
- Ziaire Williams, F, Stanford (freshman)
- McKinley Wright IV, G, Colorado (senior)
- Moses Wright, F, Georgia Tech (senior)
- Marcus Zegarowski, G, Creighton (junior)
Draft Notes: Giddey, Pro Days, Combine, G League Elite Camp
Potential lottery pick Josh Giddey isn’t expected to attend the NBA draft combine in Chicago or any pre-draft workouts, tweets Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report. Instead, scouts will get a look at Giddey later this month when his Australian team travels to Las Vegas for exhibition games with Team USA, Spain, Nigeria and Argentina.
The 6’8″ shooting guard has been moving up draft boards and ranks No. 13 on ESPN’s latest list of prospects. Giddey, 18, played this season with the Adelaide 36ers and averaged 10.9 points, 7.1 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game.
There’s more draft news to pass along:
- The NBA has scheduled 20 pro days for some of the top-rated players in the draft, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link). They will take place from June 26-29 following the combine and will feature prospects such as Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, Corey Kispert, James Bouknight, Greg Brown, Ayo Dosunmu, Charles Bassey, Max Abmas, Jaden Springer, and Jared Butler. Also tentatively scheduled for pro days are Trey Murphy, Josh Christopher, Marcus Bagley, Gabriele Procida, Johnny Juzang, Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland, Aaron Henry, Herb Jones, Miles McBride, Santi Aldama and Zsombor Maronka (Twitter link).
- German center Ariel Hukporti has received an invitation to the combine, Givony tweets. Hukporti, 19, played in Lithuania this season and is ranked 45th on ESPN’s big board. USC sophomore Isaiah Mobley has also been invited, Givony adds (via Twitter).
- Duke shooting guard DJ Steward has been invited to take part in the combine as well, according to JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors (Twitter link). Steward averaged 13 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game as a freshman with the Blue Devils.
- Mac McClung has received an invitation to the G League Elite camp, according to Wasserman (Twitter link). The former Texas Tech guard will try to earn a spot in the combine. Haowen Guo of the Chinese national team has also been invited to the Elite camp, Givony tweets.
Draft Notes: Juzang, Primo, Santos, Garrett
Breakout NCAA Tournament star Johnny Juzang has decided to test the draft waters, he revealed in a Twitter post. Juzang averaged 22.8 PPG in six tournament games to carry the 11th-seeded UCLA Bruins to the Final Four. The 6’7” Juzang will keep his options open by maintaining his college eligibility. He’s currently rated No. 50 on ESPN’s Best Available list.
We have more draft news:
- Alabama freshman wing Joshua Primo, like Juzang, will explore his draft prospects while maintaining his college eligibility, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony relays. Primo, who also announced his decision on social media, was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team after averaging 8.1 PPG and 3.4 RPG in 22 MPG while shooting 38% from distance. He’ll stay in the draft if teams inform him that he’ll go in the first round, he told Givony. He’s ranked No. 38 by ESPN.
- Brazilian forward Gui Santos has submitted the required paperwork to enter the draft, Givony writes in a separate story. The 6’8”, 18-year-old forward is averaging 8.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG and 1.7 APG while shooting 37% from deep for Brazil’s Minas Tenis Clube. He was not originally expected to enter this year’s draft but positive feedback from teams and the removal of NBA travel restrictions for scouting purposes convinced him to determine if he might get drafted.
- Kansas’ Marcus Garrett has declared for the draft and will not use his extra year of eligibility, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports tweets. The point guard is ranked No. 86 by ESPN. He averaged 11.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG and 3.7 APG this past season.