2012 NBA Draft Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Odds & Ends: Celtics, Raptors, Brown, Draft

April 16th, 2012 at 10:15pm CST by Chuck Myron

It's an eventful night in the NBA with 11 games, many of which have playoff implications. There's been plenty of draft news as well, as teams look past the playoffs, and one item concerning the distant future, with the NBA announcing the Hornets will host the 2014 All-Star Game, just six years after hosting the 2008 event. The new ownership of Tom Benson had plenty to do with that, though he's already come up short in his quest to get the Jazz nickname back from Utah, as Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune notes. If Benson ditches the Hornets name, it'll be a while before Charlotte could use it again, writes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. While nicknames won't be moving for a while, there's plenty of movement on other fronts, and here's the latest:

A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com doesn't think free agents Roy Hibbert and Eric Gordon will switch teams this summer, but says the Celtics have interest in both (Twitter link).
Frank Zicarelli of the Toronto Sun breaks down the Raptors' roster and predicts who'll be there next season and who won't.
Longtime coach Larry Brown is pursuing the Blazers GM job even as he zeroes in on the SMU coaching gig, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
ESPN.com's Chad Ford discusses the possibility that Kentucky senior Darius Miller, currently projected as a second-rounder, could climb up the draft board and make it six first-round picks for the Wildcats (Insider only).
Al Iannazzone of New York Newsday rounds up Carmelo Anthony's comments on multiple radio shows today about the way new Knicks coach Mike Woodson has held him accountable (Sulia links).
Mavs cast-off Lamar Odom leads Sam Smith's list of the biggest disappointments this year on NBA.com
Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida shares the results of an informal survey of 11 former MVPs, who give a slight edge to Kevin Durant over LeBron James in this year's race. The former players won't have official votes for the award; instead, writers and broadcasters will make the selection.
Roland Beech of 82games.com crunches the numbers and determines Gilbert Arenas, taken in the second round by the Warriors in 2001, was the shrewdest draft choice in recent years (hat tip to Alex Raskin of HoopsWorld).

Prospect Profile: Bradley Beal

April 16th, 2012 at 8:17pm CST by Chuck Myron

There aren't a lot of quality young shooting guards in the NBA right now, especially given the injuries Eric Gordon has endured this year. There's also only one shooting guard projected as a surefire lottery pick in this year's draft, so that player, Bradley Beal, could be even more valuable than his ability would otherwise suggest.

Even if he weren't playing at a sought-after position, the freshman from Florida possesses plenty of appealing attributes. His high basketball IQ is something both ESPN.com's Chad Ford and Jonathan Givony of Draft Express agree on. He can play the point as well, and his showing down the stretch for the Gators and his ability to handle traps and double teams have already caught the eye of the Wizards, who are "enamored" with him, writes HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler. Ford points to his rebounding prowess, as he averaged 6.7 RPG this year, and Givony likes the advanced fundamentals and maturity he shows at just 18 years old.

Still, there are question marks involved. Ford writes that the only concern scouts have is his relatively poor shooting this year, when he connected on 44.5% of his field goal attempts, including 34% from three-point territory. Those are disappointing numbers from someone who, according to Ford, evoked comparisons to Ray Allen coming out of high school. While Givony believes he will never shoot so poorly from behind the arc again, he also points to a need for him to finish better on his attacks at the rim, as well as defensive inconsistencies. ESPN has him listed at 6'5", while he checks in at 6'3.5" at Draft Express. NBADraft.net splits the difference and has him at 6'4". Givony expressed concerns about his height, and if he's closer to the shorter side of his measurements, that's a legitimate worry.

Size matters less in a wide-open transition game, and he's been effective playing that style, according to Givony, creating looks for himself and his teammates with smooth ballhandling and an ability to change speeds. He'd fit a team looking for an up-tempo attack, and the Wizards notion holds water here, as they could go with a small lineup of John Wall, Beal, Jordan Crawford, Jan Vesely and Nene Hilario. He'd be a tougher fit with a team like the Raptors, who have a defensive-minded coach in Dwane Casey and DeMar DeRozan occupying the two-guard spot. Still, ESPN's latest mock has him going to Toronto at No. 5. Draft Express has him going fifth as well. Ford believes he could go as high as No. 2, but much of that will depend on how he compares to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, another sought-after wing player.

It all comes down to the right fit with a player like Beal, unlike a must-have top pick like Anthony Davis. If a team needs a versatile guard who can make quick decisions and, at worst, take nothing away from you with his shooting, Beal is the guy. If a team is worried about size and wants to play a halfcourt game, they'll shy away from him.

Draft Notes: Mitchell, Hummel, Rivers, Sullinger

April 16th, 2012 at 4:42pm CST by Luke Adams

It's already been an eventful day for draft updates, with news that the University of Kentucky has scheduled a press conference for Tuesday afternoon, likely to announce that five underclassmen will officially enter the draft. While we await that formal announcement, let's check in on a few other draft-related items….

Junior forward Tony Mitchell has elected to enter the NBA draft, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. Mitchell, not to be confused with the North Texas player of the same name, was averaging 13.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game for Alabama this season before he was suspended indefinitely in February. Mitchell is ranked 71st by DraftExpress.com.
A number of NBA scouts and executives help TNT's David Aldridge break down the shooting guards in this year's draft class. Aldridge's piece is chock-full of interesting quotes and comes highly recommended.
Purdue senior Robbie Hummel has hired agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports in hopes of being drafted, writes Cliff Brunt of the Associated Press. DraftExpress ranks Hummel 81st among this year's draft prospects.
In other agent news, Austin Rivers and Jared Sullinger have signed with David Falk, Moe Harkless will hire Happy Walters, and William Buford has hired Herb Rudoy and Ron Shade.

Anthony Davis, Marquis Teague To Enter Draft

April 16th, 2012 at 12:36pm CST by Luke Adams

Kentucky's Anthony Davis and Marquis Teague will join teammate Terrence Jones in entering this year's NBA draft, reports Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (via Twitter). Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Doron Lamb are also expected to forgo their remaining college years, though nothing is official yet.

Davis is, of course, a near-lock to be the first overall pick in June. The AP Player of the Year averaged 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.7 blocks per game during his first and only season at Kentucky. While Davis is considered the number one prospect by both DraftExpress and ESPN.com, his teammate Teague is ranked 18th and 25th respectively. Both freshmen helped lead the Wildcats to a national championship.

Earlier today, it was reported that Jones would enter the draft, with an official announcement coming as early as tomorrow. Players have until April 29th to formally declare their intent to enter the draft pool. Hoops Rumors' full list of early entrants can be found here.

Terrence Jones To Enter Draft

April 16th, 2012 at 10:02am CST by Luke Adams

10:02am: The official word from Kentucky is that none of their underclassmen have finalized their decisions yet, reports Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv. The NBA's early-entry deadline is April 29th, so Jones and his fellow Wildcats still have a couple weeks to formally announce their decisions.

9:32am: Kentucky sophomore Terrence Jones will forgo his final two seasons of NCAA eligibility and declare for the NBA draft, tweets Dan Rieffer of ABC 36 in Lexington. An official announcement could come as soon as tomorrow, according to Rieffer.

Listed 11th overall among this year's draft prospects by DraftExpress.com, Jones still ranks behind two Wildcats teammates, Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Neither Davis or Kidd-Gilchrist have officially entered the draft yet, though it would be a huge surprise if either of them played another season at Kentucky.

Jones, who is ranked eighth overall by ESPN.com's Chad Ford, averaged 12.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in 29 games for the national champion Wildcats this season.

Draft Notes: Measurements, Sullinger, Rivers

April 13th, 2012 at 10:47pm CST by Chuck Myron

Many of the underclassmen declaring for the draft this week hope to take after Avery Bradley. His success with the Celtics this year defies criticism that he shouldn't have left the University of Texas after only one season in 2010, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. Here's the latest news on NBA hopefuls:

The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, taking place in Virginia this week, is a showcase for top seniors. It's also when many draft prospects have their measurements taken, which can either help or hurt a player's stock. Jonathan Givony of Draft Express passes on the measurements of all the participants, as well as some observations on some notable dimensions.
Bob Baptist of The Columbus Dispatch tweets that Jared Sullinger has signed with agent David Falk, and Givony adds via Twitter that Austin Rivers has done the same.
French big man Rudy Gobert will not enter the draft this year, Givony reports (Twitter link). The 6'11" 19-year-old is second on the Draft Express list of international prospects born in 1992 and projects him as the 15th pick in the 2013 draft.
Givony tweets that Brazilians Cesar Lima, Lucas Nogueira and Raul Neto aren't entering the draft either, according to their agency. Lima is the No. 2 Draft Express prospect born in 1991, Lucas Nogueira is No. 3 from 1992, and Neto is No. 7 from 1992.

Tony Mitchell Expected To Enter Draft

April 13th, 2012 at 8:01pm CST by Chuck Myron

North Texas power forward Tony Mitchell is "almost certainly" going pro, reports Jonathan Givony of Draft Express (via Twitter). The move comes on the heels of LSU hiring North Texas coach Johnny Jones to take over its program. Givony says Mitchell may reconsider if North Texas hires one of Jones' assistants, but calls a change of heart unlikely.

The 6'9", 220-pound Mitchell is ranked No. 26 on the Draft Express list of the top 100 prospects. The site projected him to go eighth in the 2013 draft and NBADraft.net has him at No. 7 if he stays in for one more year, so coming out early may adversely affect his draft position. Nonetheless, he could still wind up as a first-round selection, putting him in line for a guaranteed contract.

Mitchell was one of the top players coming out of high school in 2010, but academic issues cost him the entire 2010/11 season. This year, he put up 14.7 PPG, 10.3 RPG and 3.0 blocks per game for the Mean Green, who compete in the Sun Belt Conference.

Prospect Profile: Royce White

April 13th, 2012 at 3:42pm CST by Luke Adams

When Iowa State forward Royce White declared his intent to enter this year's draft, Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports reported that several NBA executives believed the sophomore had worked himself into the first round. White's strong showing in the NCAA tournament included averages of 19 points and 11 rebounds per game against UConn and Kentucky.

There's no question that the 6'8" forward has first-round talent. ESPN.com's Chad Ford ranks White 20th overall among this year's prospects, while DraftExpress.com has him at 25th. White's versatility is his biggest strength — in addition to averaging nearly 10 boards a game at Iowa State and potentially having the size to play power forward (he's listed between 240 and 270 lbs), the 21-year-old also has the ability to bring the ball up the floor, occasionally acting as a point forward.

While Ford praises White's LeBron James-esque ability to handle the ball, shoot the three, post up, and rebound, he notes that White lacks LeBron's athletic ability. DraftExpress' scouting report also suggests that the Cyclone appears to be a little overweight, though it hasn't seemed to hamper his mobility so far.

His on-court ability would likely make White a mid-to-late first-round pick, but NBA teams will have a couple complications to consider when it comes to White's whole package. For one, White was forced to sit out his freshman year at Minnesota due to legal troubles, raising red flags about his off-court behavior.

More compellingly, White suffers from an anxiety disorder that includes a fear of flying, as Scott Howard-Cooper chronicled in a piece for NBA.com this week. Although White says his panic attacks are less frequent these days, one such attack resulted in him deciding to transfer to Iowa State rather than Kentucky, since the thought of flying to Lexington caused him to call off his decision to become a Wildcat.

While White may not have the lottery appeal that other high-risk, high-reward players like Andre Drummond or Perry Jones III do, he could certainly turn out to be a tremendous value this June. If concerns about his mental status outweigh the appeals of his physical talent, White could slip out of the first round and into the second.

"I think some teams will be discouraged by it," one NBA GM told Howard-Cooper, referring to White's anxiety disorder. "It's kind of one of those things that's almost like a guy that's had a bunch of off-court issues. Does the talent level trump the other issues you're going to have to deal with? I think Royce is a great player, but I'm not sure that the talent level is going to trump some of the other issues. I think some teams will take a pass in that range. I can see him in the second round at the end of the day."

Players have certainly had their NBA careers derailed by less significant issues than White's anxiety disorder, but it wouldn't surprise me to see the 21-year-old find a way to work through his fear of flying and everything else to become a legit NBA contributor.

White is a good bet to be drafted by either a playoff team or a non-playoff team making its second pick, which should reduce the pressure he'll face when he enters the Association. If everything goes right, I can see the Iowa State product developing into a Boris Diaw-like player who can be slotted in at a number of different positions and will fill up a stat sheet with more than just points and rebounds.

Draft Notes: Kentucky, Leslie, Taylor, Drummond

April 13th, 2012 at 2:05pm CST by Luke Adams

Two lottery picks officially entered the draft today, in Andre Drummond and Bradley Beal. As the 2012 class continues to expand, let's round up a few of today's draft-related items….

At Rivals.com, Brett Dawson writes that Kentucky coach John Calipari is anticipating losing five underclassmen to the NBA draft — Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquis Teague, Doron Lamb, and Terrence Jones.
Sophomore C.J. Leslie, ranked 34th among this year's prospects by DraftExpress.com, is undecided on his future, tweets Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com. People close to Leslie think he's a good bet to return to N.C. State.
Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor has signed B.J. Armstrong as his agent, according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times (via Twitter). The senior point guard is ranked 68th by DraftExpress.
A lot of teams rank Kentucky's Davis as a better prospect than former first overall pick Blake Griffin was, tweets Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com. Howard-Cooper spoke to one executive who cited "substance over style" when comparing Davis to Griffin (Twitter link).
Drummond has "other-worldly" potential and will be a top-five pick, an NBA scout told Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv.

Andre Drummond To Enter Draft

April 13th, 2012 at 10:39am CST by Luke Adams

FRIDAY, 10:39am: Drummond made his decision official today, tweets Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports.

THURSDAY, 4:22pm: UConn and Drummond will officially announce the big man's decision on Friday, according to Andy Katz of ESPN.com.

10:17am: Andre Drummond will forgo the rest of his NCAA eligibility and enter the NBA draft, reports Kevin Duffy of the Hearst Connecticut Media Group. Drummond will become the first one-and-done player in the University of Connecticut's history.

The UConn center averaged 10.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in his freshman year, and is a virtual lock to be a lottery pick in June. DraftExpress.com lists Drummond as the second-best prospect behind Anthony Davis, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com ranks him fifth. Although Drummond is unquestionably an elite talent, teams at the very top of the draft may be reluctant to roll the dice on him, since he's viewed as a high-risk, high-reward selection.

Drummond joins UConn teammate Jeremy Lamb on this year's list of early entrants.