2014 NBA Draft Rumors | Hoops Rumors

And-Ones: Blatt, Warriors, Mavs, Draft

June 5th, 2014 at 10:54pm CST by Charlie Adams

We heard earlier today that Flip Saunders was likely to pursue renowned European coach David Blatt to join his coaching staff, but the Wolves aren’t the only club with Blatt on their radar. Steve Kerr and the Warriors are in discussions with the offensive guru, relays Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, who adds the pair met earlier today to discuss the job. Here’s more from around the league:

The Mavs might be likely to make a run at a big free agent this summer, but Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News thinks the team should temper expectations and explains why Luol Deng is realistic fit for Dallas.
Tomas Satoransky, a 2012 second-round pick by the Wizards, has received an invite to play for Washington’s summer league team, writes Ben Standig of CSNWashington.com. Satoransky played well in Spain last season, and the club might be interested in adding him to their roster next season if he proves he’s capable of competing in the NBA.
Chris Herring of the Wall Street Journal takes a look at why centers and taller forwards have a hard time landing a head coaching gig in the NBA.
Lance Stephenson is set to hit the open market this summer, and John Zitzler of Basketball Insiders recaps the young guard’s career to this point and explores what the future has in store for him.
The latest mock draft from HoopsHype has Joel Embiid as the first player selected off the board, followed by Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker respectively.

Pacific Notes: Calipari, Bynum, West, Suns

June 5th, 2014 at 7:24pm CST by Charlie Adams

John Calipari was rumored to be a candidate for the Lakers’ head coaching vacancy, but Los Angeles will need to look elsewhere for a successor to Mike D’Antoni, as the University of Kentucky has announced an extension with Calipari that will keep him around through the 2020/21 season. Here’s the latest from the Pacific:

Andrew Bynum‘s injury woes have kept him from playing an entire 82-game season since 2006/07, and the free agent big man’s stock is not exactly at an all time high going into the offseason. Still, if he gets the chance to play in the NBA next year, Bynum would prefer to suit up for the Lakers, he tells TMZ.
Delonte West will play for the Clippers’ summer league team, reports Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. West, 30, hasn’t suited up for an NBA club since 2011/12,.
Today’s predraft workouts for the Suns included Elfrid Payton, T.J. Warren, Nick Johnson, Melvin Ejim, and Roscoe Smith, tweets Paul Coro of AZCentral. The Suns hold three first-round picks in this year’s draft.
Earlier today, Hoops Rumors’ Chuck Myron examined the state of the Lakers’ roster heading into the summer as part of our Offseason Outlook series.

Central Rumors: Cavs, Van Gundy, Love

June 5th, 2014 at 6:20pm CST by Charlie Adams

The Cavs’ head coaching vacancy could filled within the next 10 days, reports Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio (on Twitter). The team has been linked to Alvin Gentry, Vinny Del Negro, Lionel Hollins, and Tyronn Lue, but Amico adds in the same tweet that there’s a mystery candidate in the mix for the job who hasn’t been revealed to the media. Here’s the latest from the Central:

The Cavs have interest in LaMarcus Aldridge, but it’ll be tough to pry the big man away from Portland after the Blazers’ unexpectedly strong season, writes Amico in a full-length piece. Cleveland has also shown interest in Joakim Noah, says Amico, noting the club is just “lukewarm” on Al Horford.
Two teams with lottery picks have contacted the Cavs, passes along Amico in the same piece. Each club would ostensibly be interested in moving up in the draft by dealing for the number one overall selection.
When Stan Van Gundy was hired by the Pistons, he told staff members left over from the previous management team that they would have a six week working interview to prove they belong in the organization, explains David Mayo of Mlive.
Bulls management holds Carmelo Anthony in higher esteem than Kevin Love, according to Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com. Friedell says it’s true Chicago would be excited to add Love, but the team sees ‘Melo as their primary target this summer.

Southwest Notes: Parsons, Nowitzki, Marion

June 5th, 2014 at 4:56pm CST by Chuck Myron

Other teams have outsized expectations of what the Rockets can achieve in the player acquisition department based on Houston’s recent success, Grantland’s Zach Lowe writes. The Rockets have been leaning all year toward declining their option on Chandler Parsons, so this week’s news isn’t necessarily an indication that they suddenly have confidence that they’ll land another marquee player this summer, Lowe says. There’s plenty more on the Rockets in Lowe’s piece, and we’ll hit the highlights here amid the latest from the Southwest Division:

The Rockets asked Charlotte for the equivalent of three first-round picks in return for Omer Asik this season, Lowe also writes in the same piece. It’s unclear exactly what would qualify as the equivalent of a first-rounder, but perhaps Lowe is referring to a rookie fresh off having been a first-round pick, like Cody Zeller.
Parsons has repeatedly asked for a raise the past two years, leading Lowe to wonder if he’s promised to re-sign in exchange for the Rockets declining his option.
A new contract for Parsons this summer would most likely count at 50% of its value for outgoing salary-matching purposes in a sign-and-trade, as Mark Deeks of ShamSports explains in a piece for Hoop365. It’d count at full value for incoming salary in that scenario, one of the reasons why it will be difficult for the Rockets to pull off such a maneuver, Deeks adds.
Mavs owner Mark Cuban isn’t worried about a report identifying Dirk Nowitzki as a free agent target of the Rockets, telling Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News that, “I don’t pay attention to that.”
Reports that Shawn Marion wants to finish his career as a member of the Mavericks misconstrued his meaning, as Marion said Wednesday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM that he merely meant to say that he wants to live in Dallas after he retires from playing. Still, he would prefer to re-sign with the Mavs this summer. Vince Marotta of ArizonaSports.com rounds up his comments.
Jarnell Stokes, K.J. McDaniels and Russ Smith will audition for the Grizzlies next week, as Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal reports in a subscription-only piece.

Nuggets Shopping No. 11 Pick

June 5th, 2014 at 3:39pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Nuggets have both placed and received calls about the 11th overall selection, which they’re interested in trading for a pick higher in the draft or a veteran, reports Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post. A handful of other teams are reportedly making their lottery picks available, and Nuggets GM Tim Connelly expects a bustling trade market leaguewide as the draft draws close.

“We’ve had a lot of conversations about a ton of different things — picks, trades, we’re pretty active right now,” Connelly said.

The team hasn’t ruled out using the pick, according to Dempsey, pointing to Rodney Hood‘s private workout with the team earlier this week and today’s audition of Gary Harris and Jabari Brown. Brown is a second-round prospect, so he’s likely in the mix for the 41st and 56th picks, which Denver also holds.

The Nuggets possess a trade exception worth $9,868,632 as a vestige of Andre Iguodala, giving them a weapon to acquire a veteran on a fairly sizable contract. Denver’s salary commitments will likely put the team over the cap at the start of free agency in July, so it’s no surprise that Connelly is pursuing trades to upgrade his team, which finished 36-46 this past season amid a rash of injuries.

Thunder GM On Brooks, Fisher, Jackson, Perkins

June 5th, 2014 at 12:16pm CST by Chuck Myron

It appears that Scott Brooks will remain coach of the Thunder, as GM Sam Presti said today that Brooks has done an “excellent job” and expressed optimism that the coach will perform even better next year, as The Oklahoman’s Darnell Mayberry notes (Twitter links). Mayberry has plenty more from the GM’s press conference, and we’ll pass along the highlights here:

Derek Fisher seems to have Presti’s blessing to chase head coaching jobs with other teams this summer. Presti said the free agent guard has no obligation to keep the Thunder informed of his plans and has to do what’s best for him, as Mayberry passes along (Twitter links). “The only thing we have a right to do is to support him,” Presti said.
Presti appeared to downplay the idea of an extension for Reggie Jackson this summer, though the GM cautioned that the team is not considering a trade that sends him out, reminiscent of the decision to trade James Harden rather than give him an extension. “Generally, these things don’t happen in July, and the trend now is they don’t happen by the October 31st deadline,” Presti said, according to Mayberry (Twitter links).
The team hasn’t given thought to amnestying Kendrick Perkins, Presti said, according to Mayberry (via Twitter).
Oklahoma City is open to trading its pair of first round picks, Presti said, as Mayberry tweets. The Thunder have reportedly promised Kristaps Porzingis that they’ll draft him in the first round.
The GM indicated that the club will exercise caution with long-term deals in free agency this summer to protect future flexibility, Mayberry tweets.
Presti gave Mayberry the impression that he won’t push to sign “draft-and-stash” players Tibor Pleiss and Alex Abrines. The GM suggested that he’ll examine it, but cap worries would likely forestall a deal with either of them, Mayberry believes (Twitter links). “A lot of it is timing for them,” Presti said.

Draft Notes: Gordon, Napier, Spurs, Raptors

June 5th, 2014 at 8:58am CST by Chuck Myron

The draft is three weeks from tonight, and players continue to travel around North America to show off for teams and make the best of their chances. Here’s the latest:

The Jazz are among the teams on Aaron Gordon‘s workout schedule, tweets Sean Cunningham of News10 Sacramento.
Shabazz Napier is set to audition for the Bulls today, reports Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
The Spurs are working out Cleanthony Early, Glenn Robinson III, and Isaiah Austin today, according to Goodman (via Twitter).
The previously unreported prospects showing off for the Raptors today are the similarly named DeAndre Kane, DeAndre Daniels, K.J. McDaniels and C.J. Fair, the team announced.
The Suns worked out Aaron Craft, Markel Starks, Tarik Black and Casey Prather on Wednesday, reports Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic (on Twitter).
Bryce Cotton will audition for the Sixers next week, as agent Harold B. Woolfalk tells Tyler R. Tynes of the Philadelphia Daily News.
The Knicks are set to get a look at Arkansas State forward Kirk Van Slyke today, reports Shams Charania of RealGM (Twitter link).

Thompson, Waiters Part Of Preliminary Trade Talk

June 5th, 2014 at 12:16am CST by Chuck Myron

The Cavs have had “exploratory” trade discussions involving Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters with another team in the lottery that’s looking to move up, tweets Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio. Amico wrote earlier this week that either the Bucks or the Sixers had inquired with Cleveland about acquiring the No. 1 overall pick, though it’s unclear if the discussions about Thompson and Waiters took place with one of those teams or another within the top 14 picks.

Teams around the league have reportedly held interest in Thompson and Waiters, suggesting that Cleveland GM David Griffin wasn’t the one who floated those names in the talks. Indeed, Griffin has spoken fondly of his backcourt pairing of Waiters and Kyrie Irving. Thompson has meanwhile expressed a mild frustration with Cleveland’s rapid coaching turnover, and he, like Irving, is up for a rookie scale extension this summer. It would be difficult to trade Thompson if he received an extension, thanks to the Poison Pill Provision, so perhaps Griffin feels as though the best time to deal him is before the October 31st extension deadline.

Owner Dan Gilbert’s impatience has led to speculation that the Cavs will trade the top pick for veteran help. Sending young vets Waiters and Thompson away in any deal that doesn’t net a significant upgrade would seem to run counter to the goal of winning in the short term. Still, given the exploratory nature of the conversations, it seems that neither former No. 4 overall pick should feel it necessary to have a bag packed.

Draft Notes: Wiggins, Jazz, Randle, Sixers

June 4th, 2014 at 8:32pm CST by Alex Lee

The debate over how the top three picks of the 2014 NBA Draft will shake out has been covered ad nauseam at this point, and NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper throws his hat in the ring by examining what could dictate where Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins will land. Meanwhile, here are some other draft-related updates:

Along with Nick Wiggins (brother of Andrew), the Jazz will work out Deonte Burton, Jordan Clarkson, Alex Kirk, Sean Kilpatrick and Artem Kilmenko on Thursday morning, tweets Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune. The Jazz have three picks on June 26, including two in the first round (5 and 23).
As Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders opines, just because Julius Randle is no longer widely classified within the top tier of this draft class isn’t reason enough to sleep on the talented Kentucky forward, who still has a shot at becoming a top-5 pick.
In a separate story, Kennedy writes that there is no confusing how much is riding on this talent-rich draft for the Sixers, who are the only team with two top-10 selections (3 and 10). Adding two franchise cornerstones to go with Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel could make Philadelphia an attractive landing spot around the league, according to Kennedy.
After working out for the Hornets today, Northwestern’s Drew Crawford is scheduled to work out with the Kings, Jazz and his hometown Bulls, according to the Wildcats’ Twitter feed.
The Nuggets will have Michigan State’s Gary Harris and Mizzou’s Jabari Brown in town for a workout on Thursday, tweets Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post. Denver picks at 11, 41 and 56.
According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter), the Magic will work out Randle, Aaron Gordon and Noah Vonleh individually before the draft. They will also work out Dante Exum at some point and are expected to bring in Marcus Smart for a second look. Orlando picks at 4 and 12.

Lakers Notes: LaVine, Draft, Coaching Search

June 4th, 2014 at 6:48pm CST by Alex Lee

Jumping 46 inches, UCLA’s Zach LaVine broke the vertical leap record for his hometown Lakers on Wednesday, reports Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times. LaVine, who was one of 12 prospects in today’s workout in L.A., projects as a mid-first round pick but has the type of upside that could propel him into the top 10 should he continue to impress. Bresnahan outlines the team’s morning workout as well in a separate post.

Hear are some other reports, draft-related and otherwise, coming out of Los Angeles today:

Nik Stauskas and Rodney Hood both backed out of the Lakers workout on Wednesday, reports ESPN’s Dave McMenamin (via Twitter). The duo, both surefire first rounders, were replaced by Davion Berry of Weber State and Jerry Evans of Nevada.
In what seems to be becoming a theme, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak told McMenamin that need is not really a part of the team’s strategy at No. 7: “Because we’ve only got four players on the roster, we’re not really limited to looking at a position. We need help everywhere.” (via Twitter)
Mark Medina also has some similar draft nuggets from Kupchak in his latest, but also touches on the team’s coaching search, which the GM described as “ongoing” on Wednesday. Medina believes that Kupchak prefers a veteran coach but wouldn’t rule out something as open-minded as hiring former Laker Derek Fisher. The last we heard about the team’s coaching search was that SMU coach Larry Brown would not be part of it.