Pacific Notes: Barnes, Suns, Rajakovic, Kings
Harrison Barnes can hit the open market if he turns down his $25.1MM player option and the Kings would like to have him on the roster next season one way or another. If Barnes stays with Sacramento, it could be an indicator that the organization is on the upswing after years of perceived dysfunction, Jason Jones of The Athletic writes.
Kings’ management envisioned Barnes playing the small forward position when they traded for him at last season’s deadline. Dave Joerger had different plans, playing Barnes heavy minutes at the four spot next to Bogdan Bogdanovic at the three. Barnes at power forward also took time away from Marvin Bagley and made it more difficult for the rookie to rise to the starting lineup. Joerger has since been fired.
The Kings are hoping that their switch to Luke Walton as well as a renewed alignment between the coaching staff and front office will be viewed favorably around the league, particularly with agents. Here’s more from around the Kings and the Pacific Division:
- The Suns are closing in on hiring OKC assistant Darko Rajakovic, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets. As we relayed earlier today, Phoenix has also pursued Willie Green, who’s currently working as an assistant in Golden State.
- The Kings have brought in six prospects for workouts, according to the team’s website. Jonathan Davis (Charlotte), Fletcher Magee (Wofford), Kouat Noi (TCU), Kris Wilkes (UCLA), Devontae Cacok (UNC Wilmington), and Jessie Govan (Georgetown) all participated in drills.
- Six more prospects will work out for the Kings on Wednesday, per the team’s website. Glynn Watson Jr. (Nebraska), Jon Elmore (Marshall), Justin Simon (St. John’s), Terry Harris (North Carolina A&T), Zach Hankins (Xavier), and Kavell Bigby-Williams (LSU).
Atlantic Notes: Kawhi, Lowry, Knicks, C’s, Sixers
While their star players haven’t been forced out of action like some Warriors have been, the Raptors are dealing with some health issues of their own in these NBA Finals, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
According to Vardon and Sam Amick of The Athletic, the leg injury that has been bothering Kawhi Leonard since the Raptors’ series against the Bucks is a left knee issue. While the right quad injury that sidelined Leonard for nearly all of 2017/18 hasn’t been a problem, his knee pain stems from overcompensating for that quad issue, Vardon writes.
Meanwhile, Vardon also provides more specifics on Kyle Lowry‘s left hand injury, noting that the Raptors’ All-Star point guard has a ligament tear in his thumb. Lowry has previously hinted that he may need to undergo a surgical procedure on the injury after the season, but he appears set to play through it for the rest of the Finals.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- While the Knicks‘ top free agent targets are getting all the press, Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic believes there are a number of under-the-radar free agent options who could prove useful for New York this summer. Vorkunov identifies Kevon Looney, Patrick Beverley, Al-Farouq Aminu, Jeremy Lamb, and several others as possible targets for the Knicks.
- The Knicks brought in Mississippi State prospects Quinndary Weatherspoon and Aric Holman for a workout on Monday, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter links). New York also got a look at Markis McDuffie (Wichita State) and Phil Booth (Villanova), and will work out Kerwin Roach (Texas) tomorrow, league sources tell Vorkunov (Twitter link).
- Admiral Schofield (Tennessee), Jason Burnell (Jacksonville State), Jordan Bone (Tennessee), Milik Yarbrough (Illinois State), Oshae Brissett (Syracuse), and Ty Jerome (Virginia) worked out for the Celtics on Monday, per Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston (Twitter link). According to team executive Austin Ainge, the C’s have already worked out 70 prospects in preparation for this month’s draft (Twitter link).
- Terence Davis (Ole Miss), Zach Hankins (Xavier), Terry Harris (North Carolina A&T State), and Garrison Mathews (Lipscomb) are among the prospects who worked out for the Sixers today, according to a team release.
Atlantic Notes: Cordinier, Fall, Guy, Norvell
Shooting guard Isaia Cordinier is hopeful of landing a two-way contract with the Nets, according to a NetsDaily.com report. Cordinier anticipates playing with Brooklyn’s summer league team. The 6’5” Cordinier was taken in the second round by the Hawks last June and shipped to the Nets in the Jeremy Lin trade. Cordinier played in the French league this season after missing the 2017/18 season due to surgery on both knees to treat tendinitis.
We have more from around the Atlantic Division:
- Central Florida center Tacko Fall’s workout with the Knicks, which was scheduled for Monday, was postponed due to travel issues, Ian Begley of SNY-TV tweets. Fall is expected to reschedule his visit. The 7’7” Fall made a strong impression at the G League Elite Camp and Draft Combine.
- Virginia guard Kyle Guy will be among the prospects the Raptors will evaluate on Tuesday, Blake Murphy of The Athletic tweets. The Raptors will also work out three other guards, including Canadian Andrew Nembhard, Matt Morgan (Cornell) and John Konchar (Purdue Fort Wayne). Centers Dewan Hernandez (Miami-Fla.), and Zach Hankins (Xavier) are the other prospects working out.
- The Celtics worked out Gonzaga shooting guard Zach Norvell Jr. on Monday, A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston tweets. Norvell is ranked No. 16 among shooting guard prospects by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. Penn State’s Josh Reaves, ranked No. 20 on the shooting guard list by Givony, was also in for a visit, according to Bryan Kalbrosky of Celtics Wire.
Draft Notes: Huell, Rose, Pipkins, Caroline
With the deadline to withdraw from the draft coming on Wednesday, several players have reached their final decisions. Among them is Miami forward Dewan Huell, who will return to school for his junior season, writes Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald.
Huell, who made a formal announcement on Twitter earlier today, averaged 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds in 32 games this season. “I’m really excited to get back to work with my brothers so we can accomplish more than ever during the 2018-19 season,” he wrote.
Huell doesn’t appear in the list of top 100 prospects compiled by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and would have been a long shot to be drafted.
There’s more draft-related news to pass along:
- Shooting guard Quinton Rose will withdraw from the draft and return to Temple, writes Jon Rothstein of FRS Sports. Rose averaged 14.9 points per game as a sophomore.
- Jalon Pipkins will take his name out of the draft, but won’t return to Cal State Northridge, Rothstein tweets. The freshman guard will explore transfer opportunities after averaging just 3.1 points per game in a reserve role.
- Nevada’s Jordan Caroline will return to the team for his senior season, tweets Jeff Goodman of ESPN. The 6’7″ swingman averaged 17.7 points and 8.6 rebounds for the Wolfpack.
- Ferris State’s Zach Hankins will exit the draft and will transfer to Xavier, Goodman adds (Twitter link).
- Arizona’s Allonzo Trier was among a group of players who worked out Friday for the Timberwolves, according to Darren Wolfson of Eyewitness 5 News (Twitter link). Also at the session were Stanford’s Reid Travis, Baylor’s Nuni Omot, Colorado’s George King, Kentucky’s PJ Washington and Nevada’s Cody Martin (Twitter link).
- The Suns held a workout Friday featuring Xavier’s Trevon Bluiett, Kansas’ Devonte’ Graham, Arizona State’s Tra Holder, SMU’s Shake Milton, Oakland’s Kendrick Nunn and Iowa State’s Lindell Wigginton (Twitter link).
- Six players participated in a workout today with the Bulls, according to the team’s website. Nunn and Bluiett were on hand, along with USC’s Elijah Stewart, Western Michigan’s Thomas Wilder, Michigan’s Duncan Robinson and San Diego State’s Jalen McDaniels.
236 Early Entrants Declare For 2018 NBA Draft
The NBA has released the official list of early entrants for the 2018 NBA draft, announcing in a press release that 236 players have filed as early entry candidates. Of those prospects, 181 are from colleges, while 55 are international early entrants.
That number blows away the previous record for early entrants, established in 2017. Last year, 182 early entrants declared for the draft, though ultimately only 73 of those prospects remained in the draft by the final deadline.
This year’s total of 236 early entrants also figures to shrink significantly by May 30 and again by June 11, 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 likely 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. For now, we’re assuming they haven’t yet hired agents.
- Mike Amius, F, Western Carolina (junior)
- Sedrick Barefield, G, Utah (junior)
- Lamonte Bearden, G, Western Kentucky (junior)
- Tashawn Berry, G, Dakota College (sophomore)
- Elijah Bryant, G, BYU (junior)
- Yoeli Childs, F, BYU (sophomore)
- Jordan Davis, G, Northern Colorado (junior)
- Shawntrez Davis, F, Bethune-Cookman (junior)
- Dextor Foster, G, ASA College (junior)
- Tremaine Fraiser, G, Westchester CC (junior)
- Kaiser Gates, F, Xavier (junior)
- Michael Gilmore, F, Florida Gulf Coast (junior)
- Zach Hankins, C, Ferris State (junior)
- Malik Hines, F, Massachusetts (junior)
- Ismaila Kane, F, Atlanta Metropolitan (freshman)
- Devonte Klines, G, Montana State (junior)
- Kalob Ledoux, G, McNeese State (sophomore)
- Marquez Letcher-Ellis, F, Rice (sophomore)
- Victor Lewis II, G, West Texas A&M (junior)
- Dominic Magee, G, Southern Miss (junior)
- Malik Martin, C, South Florida (junior)
- Christian Mekowulu, F, Tennessee State (junior)
- Aaron Menzies, C, Seattle (junior)
- Max Montana, F, San Diego State (junior)
- Travis Munnings, F, Louisiana-Monroe (junior)
- Jordan Murdock, G/F, Friends University (junior)
- Ray Ona Embo, G, Tulane (sophomore)
- Keanu Peters, G, Salt Lake CC (sophomore)
- Jalon Pipkins, G, Cal State Northridge (freshman)
- Cody Riley, C, UCLA (freshman)
- Ronshad Shabazz, G, Appalachian State (junior)
- Tremont Waters, G, LSU (freshman)
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.
- Tookie Brown, G, Georgia Southern (junior)
- Harry Froling, C, Marquette (sophomore)
- Aric Holman, F, Mississippi State (junior)
- Jack McVeigh, F, Nebraska (junior)
- Elijah Minnie, F, Eastern Michigan (junior)
- Kobe Paras, G, Cal State Northridge (sophomore)
- Trayvon Reed, C, Texas Southern (junior)
- Max Strus, G, DePaul (junior)
- Jordon Varnado, F, Troy (junior)
International players:
The following players were listed on the NBA’s official breakdown today, but weren’t yet noted on our list.
- Berke Atar, C, Turkey (born 1999)
- Laurynas Beliauskas, G, Lithuania (born 1997)
- Rihards Berzins, F/C, Latvia (born 1997)
- Etienne Ca, F, France (born 1997)
- Sigfredo Casero-Ortiz, G, France (born 1997)
- Berkan Durmaz, F, Turkey (born 1997)
- Aleksander Dziewa, C, Poland (born 1997)
- Stephane Gombauld, F, France (born 1997)
- Yoan Granvorka, F, Switzerland (born 1997)
- Michal Kolenda, F, Poland (born 1997)
- Antonios Koniaris, G, Greece (born 1997)
- Leon Kratzer, C, Germany (born 1997)
- Shekinah Munanga, F, France (born 1997)
- Williams Narace, F, France (born 1997)
- Marcel Ponitka, G, Poland (born 1997)
- Leonardo Tote, F, Italy (born 1997)
- Martynas Varnas, G, Lithuania (born 1997)
- Filip Zagrajski, G, Croatia (born 1997)