Central Notes: Bulls, Gasol, Cavs, Pacers, Pistons
There’s a growing belief around the NBA that the Bulls are open to discussing trades for anyone on their roster – and any assets they hold – besides Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr., sources familiar with the team’s plans tell Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic.
Still, while the Bulls will likely consider a number of trade options this offseason, Mayberry makes a case that the club shouldn’t part ways with the No. 7 overall pick. Mayberry argues that cashing in their chips now for a veteran could be both premature and risky for the Bulls, who would have marginal assets available going forward. Plus, the No. 7 selection has proven valuable for the franchise in recent years — Markkanen and Carter were both selected at that spot.
Meanwhile, K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune tackles a handful of Bulls-related topics in his latest mailbag, exploring draft, trade, and free agency options. Johnson believes the Bulls would “absolutely” try to get involved as a facilitator in a multi-team Anthony Davis trade, and later suggests that if Chicago pursues an RFA point guard, Malcolm Brogdon is probably a more realistic target than D’Angelo Russell.
Here’s more from around the Central:
- Reiterating his stance from last fall, Pau Gasol told Jesus Perez Ramos of MundoDeportivo.com that he intends to continue his playing career in 2019/20, even after suffering a stress fracture in his foot. Gasol, who will be an unrestricted free agent, will see what happens in free agency, but expressed interest in sticking with the Bucks, a team he believes has championship potential (hat tip to Travis Durkee of Sporting News).
- Joe Vardon of The Athletic takes a closer look at the Cavaliers‘ hiring of new assistant coach Lindsay Gottlieb, as well as owner Dan Gilbert‘s involvement in that decision and the rest of the team’s offseason plans. Gilbert continues to recover from a stroke, but has granted his approval – at least conceptually – for roster moves the Cavs might make this summer, says Vardon.
- The Pacers conducted their seventh pre-draft workout on Thursday, hosting Sandy Cohen III (Wisconsin-Green Bay), Bruno Fernando (Maryland), Daniel Gafford (Arkansas), Paul Jorgensen (Butler), Terance Mann (Florida State), and Jaylen Nowell (Washington), according to the team. Tremont Waters (LSU) also visited the club but didn’t work out due to an injury.
- The Pistons also worked out six prospects today, bringing in Jordan Bone (Tennessee), Charlie Brown (St. Joseph’s), Jalek Felton (Slovenia), Trevor Manuel (Olivet), Zach Norvell Jr. (Gonzaga), and Dererk Pardon (Northwestern) for a look (Twitter link via Keith Langlois of Pistons.com).
233 Early Entrants Declare For 2019 NBA Draft
The NBA has released the official list of early entrants for the 2019 NBA draft, announcing in a press release that 233 players have filed as early entry candidates. Of those prospects, 175 are from colleges, while 58 are international early entrants.
That number falls just short of the previous record for early entrants, established in 2018. Last year, 236 early entrants declared for the draft, though ultimately only 91 of those prospects remained in the draft by the final deadline.
This year’s total of 233 early entrants also figures to shrink significantly by May 29 and again by June 10, the two key deadlines for players to withdraw their names from the draft pool. But it still looks like that pool will remain crowded, with the eventual number of early entrants almost certainly exceeding 60, the number of picks in the draft.
Our list of early entrants is now up to date and can be found right here. Here are today’s updates:
College underclassmen:
The following players were listed on the NBA’s official breakdown today, but weren’t yet noted on our own list.
- Darius Bazley, F, Princeton HS (OH) (N/A)
- Moses Brown, C, UCLA (freshman)
- Caleb Daniels, G, Tulane (sophomore)
- James Dickey, F, UNC Greensboro (junior)
- David DiLeo, F, Central Michigan (junior)
- Davon Dillard, G, Shaw (NC) (junior)
- Jason Draggs, F, Lee College (TX) (freshman)
- Aljami Durham, G, Indiana (sophomore)
- TJ Gibbs, G, Notre Dame (junior)
- Tony Goodwin II, G/F, Redemption Christian Academy (N/A)
- Jayce Johnson, C, Utah (junior)
- Sacha Killeya-Jones, F, North Carolina State (junior)
- Martin Krampelj, F, Creighton (junior)
- Trevor Manuel, F, Olivet (MI) (junior)
- Davion Mintz, G, Creighton (junior)
- Devonte Patterson, F, Prairie View A&M (junior)
- Lamar Peters, G, Mississippi State (junior)
- Cletrell Pope, F, Bethune-Cookman (junior)
- Nik Popovic, F, Boston College (junior)
- Austin Robinson, G, Kentucky Christian (sophomore)
- Ayinde Russell, G, Morehouse (junior)
- Kevin Samuel, C, TCU (freshman)
- Josh Sharkey, G, Samford (junior)
- Justin Smith, F, Indiana (sophomore)
- Jalen Sykes, F, St. Clair College (Canada) (junior)
- Marlon Taylor, G, LSU (junior)
- Donnie Tillman, F, Utah (sophomore)
The following players reportedly declared for the draft or planned to, but weren’t named in the NBA’s official announcement today. As such, we’ve removed them from our list.
- James Banks III, F, Georgia Tech (junior)
- Samson Froling, F/C, Creighton (freshman)
- Kadre Gray, G, Laurentian (Canada) (junior)
- Vance Jackson, F, New Mexico (sophomore)
- Anthony Lamb, F, Vermont (junior)
- Devontae Shuler, G, Ole Miss (sophomore)
- Xavier Sneed, F, Kansas State (junior)
- Jeremiah Tilmon, F, Missouri (junior)
- Breein Tyree, G, Ole Miss (junior)
International players:
The following players were listed on the NBA’s official breakdown today, but weren’t yet noted on our list.
- Adrian Bogucki, C, Poland (born 1999)
- Leandro Bolmaro, G, Argentina (born 2000)
- Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, G/F, Greece (born 1999)
- David Okeke, F, Italy (born 1998)
The following international players reportedly declared for the draft or planned to, but weren’t named in the NBA’s official announcement today. As such, we’ve removed them from our list.
- Kevin Cham, G, France (born 1998)