Christmas is just a few days away, but for NBA Draft aficionados, it merely marks the halfway point between the Association's late-June selection meetings. As we approach that milestone, here's the latest on a few likely to hear their name called about six months from now.
- Texas point guard Myck Kabongo will be allowed to return for the final eight games of the regular season after the NCAA reduced his suspension, reports Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com. With a full season, Kabongo had a chance to become a lottery pick, an Eastern Conference official told Pat Forde and Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports this week. It remains to be seen how much the fringe first-round prospect, ranked No. 34 in the DraftExpress list of 2013 draft hopefuls, can improve his stock in the limited time he'll have this season.
- French big man Rudy Gobert is No. 4 on the same DraftExpress list, but Wendell Maxey of Ridiculous Upside cautions that the 7'1" Frenchman might not be ready to contribute to an NBA team right away.
- Sean Deveney of The Sporting News delivers an early mock draft, with Kentucky's Nerlens Noel in the No. 1 spot. Deveney has Gobert down at No. 14, the last lottery pick.