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2013 NBA Draft

Odds & Ends: Noel, Celtics, Barbosa, NBPA

February 13th, 2013 at 1:44pm CST by Luke Adams

The 2013 draft class took a bit of a hit today, when the University of Kentucky announced today that freshman Nerlens Noel has torn his ACL, and will undergo surgery in the coming weeks — he's expected to be out at least six to eight months (Twitter links). Nonetheless, while there's a possibility Noel will return to the Wildcats for his sophomore year, Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com hears that NBA people still expect the big man to be a top-five pick if he declares for the draft this summer (Twitter link).

Here are a few more Wednesday odds and ends from around the league:

  • Danny Ainge shares a couple of Celtics injury updates with Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, noting that Dr. James Andrew performed ACL surgery on Rajon Rondo yesterday. Additionally, Leandro Barbosa suffered MCL damage, and will have to wait until March to undergo surgery on his knee (Twitter links).
  • According to Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com (via Twitter), the Celtics would like to bring back Barbosa next season if they can.
  • Iman Shumpert has been the subject of a few trades rumors recently, but George Willis of the New York Post believes it would be a mistake for the Knicks to move him.
  • The Jazz should be in no rush to trade Al Jefferson, writes Kurt Kragthorpe of the Salt Lake Tribune.
  • As All-Star weekend approaches, so too do the NBPA's annual meetings, which will include plenty of discussion about executive director Billy Hunter. Tom Ziller of SBNation.com writes that the union owes it to itself to replace Hunter with a director that's more aggressive about challenging issues like the NBA's age minimum.
  • The latest piece of bad news for Hunter comes from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, who reports that the U.S. Attorney's office is investigating a contract that authorized future payment of more than $3MM to a firm that employed Hunter's son. The NBPA's executive committee is required to authorize any expenditures more than $25K, but were reportedly never shown a deal that would have paid Prim Capital $600K+ annually for five years.
  • An ESPN.com 5-on-5 panel that includes Marc Stein, Chris Broussard, and Chad Ford predict the odds that some of the big-name trade candidates will be dealt within the next eight days.
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Tentative 2013 NBA Draft Order

February 13th, 2013 at 10:15am CST by Luke Adams

Even with 30+ games left on the regular-season schedule, it's clear that a handful of teams are lottery-bound and won't be making playoff runs this season. Additionally, with the trade deadline just eight days away, a number of draft picks figure to change hands in deals by February 21st. So for our readers who already have an eye on this June's draft, we've brought back a feature we introduced last season: Our tentative NBA draft order.

The list is based on this year's "reverse standings" and will be updated every morning for the rest of the season. Draft pick trades have been included via footnotes, and teams who are tied in the standings are marked with asterisks (tiebreakers are eventually determined via coin flip). A lottery team's odds to land the first overall pick are also included in the chart.

Besides the obvious fluctuations that are still to come in the standings, May's draft lottery also figures to shake things up a little at the top of the draft, but our tentative draft order represents how things will look next June 27th if everything holds to form. You can check out the up-to-date list anytime using the link under Hoops Rumors Features on the right sidebar.

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Odds & Ends: Rockets, Kings, Draft, Calderon

February 11th, 2013 at 3:32pm CST by Luke Adams

As we continue counting down the days to next week's trade deadline, let's catch up on a few odds and ends from around the NBA:

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Odds & Ends: Josh Smith, Suns, Mavs, Tony Allen

February 9th, 2013 at 3:37pm CST by Chuck Myron

It's a light five-game schedule in the NBA tonight, with no clashes of two teams that appear to be headed for the playoffs. So, it may be time for a few executives around the league to take their eyes off the court and delve into trade talks, with the deadline just a dozen days away. We'll be keeping tabs on all the latest, with a few afternoon items right here: 

  • Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News expects the Suns and Mavs to be players for Josh Smith before the deadline (Twitter link). Yesterday we heard there's a 60% chance the Hawks deal Smith away, and that they're seeking a "quality young center" in return — the sort of asset neither Phoenix nor Dallas appears to possess, which could necessitate a three-way swap. 
  • Shaun Powell of Sports on Earth praises Tony Allen's defense, and passes along comments from the Grizzlies swingman about hitting free agency this summer. "I'd like to stay but whatever happens I'm cool with it," Allen said. "I'll get what's coming to me. At least I hope. They say defense wins games, right? They say it's all about how you play defense, right?"
  • Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game is surprised that Brandon Jennings has changed agents, arguing that Excel's Jeff Schwartz is likely to use the same leverage BDA's Bill Duffy would have when Jennings becomes a restricted free agent in the offseason (Sulia link).  
  • Brad Rock of the Deseret News believes the Jazz should stand pat at the trade deadline and preserve their flexibility for the summer.
  • Chris Dortch of NBA.com looks at how potential No. 1 overall pick Nerlens Noel sizes up against Anthony Davis and other shot-blocking savants.
  • Joe Kotoch of SheridanHoops.com examines the top power forwards available in the 2013 draft. 
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Odds & Ends: Eric Bledsoe, Draft, Players Abroad

February 7th, 2013 at 9:52pm CST by Daniel Seco

On this date in 1987, Michael Jordan won his first NBA Slam Dunk contest in Seattle with his famous leap from the foul line maneuver that wowed the sold-out crowd and viewers across the country. Let's catch up on the latest news and stories making headlines from around the league.

  • Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe hasn't let himself get too concerned about trade rumors involving his name, writes Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. “Right now, I’m focused on Miami,” Bledsoe said. “We play Miami next and I’m thinking about Miami. I’m just worried about winning. Everything else is going to happen.”
  • Unlike in 2012 when the whole world knew Anthony Davis would be selected number one overall in the NBA draft, there is a lack of certainty surrounding the pick in 2013, says Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd). Ford analyzes six different potential selections, including Kentucky star Nerlens Noel, who he considers to be the closest thing to a top pick at this point in the year. 
  • Max Ogden of Sheridan Hoops looks at the current situations of former NBA stars such as Gilbert Arenas and Tracy McGrady as they continue their careers overseas. 
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Odds & Ends: Harkless, Clark, Bynum, Oladipo

February 5th, 2013 at 7:39pm CST by Alex Lee

With only five games on the NBA schedule for Tuesday night, let's round up some odds and ends from around the league here:

  • Now getting extended minutes, Magic rookie Maurice Harkless – acquired from Philadelphia in the Dwight Howard trade – has begun to show the skills that made him the 15th overall selecton last June, writes Josh Robbins of Orlando Sentinel.  Coupled with the pleasant surprise that is Nikola Vucevic, Harkless' development makes the haul that Orlando received for Howard look better and better, especially considering past deals involving a departing superstar.
  • Another forgotten piece of the Howard deal, Earl Clark has thrived since joining the Lakers, writes Josh Newman of Zags Blog.  Now in his fourth year out of Lousiville, Clark has seen his minutes double in Los Angeles. 
  • Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops calls the Pistons' Will Bynum a prime trade target, mentioning the Thunder as an ideal candidates for a match.  With James Harden in Houston and Eric Maynor and Reggie Jackson unlikely solutions to spelling Russell Westbrook, Sheridan says Bynum would be a better pick up for Oklahoma City than Derek Fisher was a year ago. 
  • Scheduled for June 27, the NBA Draft is just less than five months away.  But as the NCAA calendar moves towards March, draft talk should start to heat up.  Jeff Goodman, CBS Sports' NCAA guru, provides his updated prospect rankings as well as a mock draft. 
  • Three days following Indiana's thrilling win over No. 1 Michigan, Draft Express publishes a scouting report on Hoosiers' guard Victor Oladipo.  Previously thought to be a defensive specialist, the ultra-athletic Oladipo has nearly ensured himself a first round grade with a breakout offensive performance as a junior.
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Odds & Ends: Jennings, Pekovic, Flynn, Draft

February 4th, 2013 at 1:21pm CST by Luke Adams

Perhaps the most accomplished fourth-year player not to receive a contract extension before the season, it appears Brandon Jennings is preparing for restricted free agency this summer. According to Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal (Twitter link), Jennings has parted ways with agent Bill Duffy of BDA Sports Management. It's not clear yet who will be representing Jennings as he approaches free agency, but Duffy indicated that he wishes the Bucks guard "nothing but the best" (Twitter link). Here are a few more Monday odds and ends from around the NBA:

  • Past reports have suggested the Trail Blazers have interest in Nikola Pekovic, and Pekovic considers that a compliment, writes Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. "That's really nice when you hear that other teams like Portland really want to bring you in," Pekovic said. "That means that I'm doing a good job and they like what I'm doing. That's something nice."
  • Productive players on rookie deals are among the league's most valuable commodities, but sometimes maximizing their value means trading them at the right time, says Tom Ziller of SBNation.com.
  • Jonny Flynn's All-Star season in Australia may put him back on the NBA radar, writes Wendell Maxey of Ridiculous Upside.
  • In his weekly Morning Tip piece at NBA.com, TNT's David Aldridge explores the Grizzlies' decision to trade Rudy Gay and speculates on who might be the next executive director of the NBPA.
  • In their latest look at this June's potential draft class, Jay Bilas and Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider link) examine the nation's best big-men prospects.
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Odds & Ends: Pacers, Gelabale, Joseph, Wolves

January 28th, 2013 at 2:12pm CST by Luke Adams

Tonight's schedule includes a battle for Western Conference positioning between the Rockets and Jazz, Andrew Bogut's possible return to the court for the Warriors, and an opportunity for the Wizards to win their third straight game (and eighth of their last 11). As we look forward to the evening's slate of games, let's check out a few odds and ends from around the NBA….

  • Dominic McGuire's second 10-day contract with the Pacers has expired, and the team has elected to let him go rather than sign him to a rest-of-season deal. According to Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star (via Twitter), the Pacers will likely bring back Sam Young, though it's not clear whether he'll get a 10-day contract or a rest-of-season deal. Indiana released Young before his contract became guaranteed, and shortly after he suffered an ankle sprain.
  • Agent Bill McCandless expects the Timberwolves to keep Mickael Gelabale for more than just one 10-day contract, as he tells Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype: "Based on my conversations with Timberwolves management, I understand that Minnesota is very likely to offer M.G. a second 10-day contract." (Twitter links).
  • With Sacramento and Seattle potentially set to battle over the Kings, Neema Hodjat of RealGM.com makes a case for why the NBA should consider expansion as an alternative to relocation.
  • We heard last week that Kris Joseph had signed a contract to play for Orleans in France, but David Pick of Sportando reports (via Twitter) that Joseph backed out of that deal for a possible D-League offer.
  • A.J. Mitnick of Sheridan Hoops makes his early picks for the top 10 European prospects of the 2013 draft class.
  • Tracy McGrady, Gilbert Arenas, and D.J. White are among the former NBA players in China whose CBA teams won't qualify for the postseason, according to Shaopeng Shen of Hupu.com (via Twitter). As such, those players would be free to return to the NBA sooner, assuming there's any interest.
  • The Timberwolves received a disabled player exception worth about $381K for Malcolm Lee, tweets Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times and HoopsWorld. Considering how small that amount is, the team is unlikely to use the exception.
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Odds & Ends: Lakers, Bulls, NBPA, Suns

January 25th, 2013 at 4:32pm CST by Luke Adams

So far, the 2012/13 Lakers season has been packed with one low point after another, with repeated promises of fresh starts and silver linings. However, according to Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register, the nadir may still be on the way for the Lakers, if not this season, then down the road. Ding reports that Jerry Buss' children, Jim and Jeanie, haven't been on speaking terms since the Lakers chose to hire Mike D'Antoni rather than pursue a reunion with Phil Jackson. Jerry Buss turns 79 this weekend and won't be around forever, making the long-term future of the Lakers' ownership, which includes Buss' 66% share, uncertain, writes Ding.

Here are a few more Friday afternoon odds and ends from around the NBA:

  • Appearing on ESPN Chicago 1000, Bulls executive VP John Paxson said he remains open to exploring potential trades, but expects the return of Derrick Rose to be the team's impact "move" (link via ESPNChicago.com).
  • Bulls fans still have plenty of ideas about possible deals for the team, and Sam Smith of Bulls.com addressed many of them in his latest mailbag.
  • The New York Attorney General's office is looking into the reports released last week on Billy Hunter and the NBPA, reports Ken Berger of CBSSports.com.
  • ESPN.com's Chad Ford (Insider link) examines possible targets for the Suns in June's draft, concluding that Ben McLemore of Kansas may be the perfect fit.
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Update On Traded 2013 First-Round Picks

January 24th, 2013 at 11:04am CST by Luke Adams

We're about halfway through the 2012/13 regular season, with many teams having already reached the 41-game mark, and the remaining clubs set to get there within the next few days. At this point, the sample size is certainly large enough to take teams' win-loss records seriously and make reasonable predictions about how the rest of the year will play out.

For some teams, the final place in the standings will impact whether or not they keep their first-round picks in 2013. The Timberwolves, for instance, will send their '13 first-rounder to the Suns if it doesn't land in the top 13. At the moment, according to our tentative 2013 draft order, the T-Wolves' pick is projected to land at exactly 13th overall, meaning Minnesota would keep it if the season ended today and the draft order held to form.

Here's an update on the likelihood of each of the traded 2013 first-round picks changing hands:

Traded picks likely to stay put:

Team: Bobcats (10-32)
Traded pick to: Bulls
Protection: Top-12
Current projection: 2nd

Team: Kings (16-27)
Traded pick to: Cavaliers
Protection: Top-13
Current projection: 8th

Team: Pistons (16-26)
Traded pick to: Bobcats
Protection: Top-14
Current projection: 9th

Team: Mavericks (18-24)
Traded pick to: Thunder
Protection: Top-20
Current projection: 12th

Traded picks likely to change hands:

Team: Warriors (26-15)
Traded pick to: Jazz
Protection: Top-6
Current projection: 24th

Team: Grizzlies (27-14)
Traded pick to: Timberwolves
Protection: Top-14
Current projection: 26th

Team: Heat (27-12)
Traded pick to: Cavaliers
Protection: Top-10
Current projection: 27th

Still up in the air:

Team: Raptors (15-27)
Traded pick to: Thunder
Protection: Top-3 and 15-30
Current projection: 7th

Team: 76ers (17-25)
Traded pick to: Heat
Protection: Top-14
Current projection: T-10th

Team: Lakers (17-25)
Traded pick to: Suns/Cavs
Protection: None
Current projection: T-10th

Team: Timberwolves (17-22)
Traded pick to: Suns
Protection: Top-13
Current projection: 13th

Team: Rockets (22-22)
Traded pick to: Hawks
Protection: Top-14
Current projection: 14th

Team: Trail Blazers (21-21)
Traded pick to: Bobcats
Protection: Top-12
Current projection: 16th

Additional notes:

  • It's highly unlikely that the Raptors' pick will reach the 15-30 range that would protect it. However, it's still possible that Toronto could luck out in the lottery and jump into the top three, which is why I have that pick listed as questionable.
  • The Lakers' first-rounder will head directly to the Suns if L.A. misses the playoffs. If the Lakers sneak into the postseason, the Cavs will have the option of swapping Miami's first-round pick with the Lakers' pick, in which case Phoenix would end up with the Heat pick. So while that Lakers' pick is a lock to change hands, it's not clear yet which team will land it.
  • The Sixers' pick is trending toward likely to stay put, but for now I don't want to rule out the possibility of an Andrew Bynum return and a late-season surge.
  • Not all of these draft picks were traded directly to the receiving team by the sending team. The Raptors' and Mavericks' picks, for instance, were owned by Houston before being sent to the Thunder in the James Harden trade.
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