2014 NBA Draft

Lawrence On Thibs, Irving, Love, Knicks

May 24th, 2014 at 2:54pm CST by Zachary Links

The Grizzlies are on a shoestring budget and don’t have the room necessary to bring coach Tom Thibodeau over from the Bulls, writes Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News. “Do they realize how much that will cost?’” said one Chicago official, when word surfaced that the Grizzlies will look at Thibs if Memphis winds up allowing Dave Joerger to take the Timberwolves’ head coaching position. An Eastern Conference president, factoring in Stan Van Gundy’s $7MM/year deal in Detroit, estimated that it would cost Memphis $8MM per year to have Thibodeau serve as their coach and president. Here’s more from today’s column…

The Cavs are making noises that they aren’t going to offer Kyrie Irving “max money’’ this summer via a long-term extension. They don’t want to deal the 2014 All-Star Game MVP, but it could come to that, especially if the guard and his family continue to tell people that he wants out. Irving hasn’t been a leader in his first three seasons and he’s also gained the unwelcomed reputation as a locker-room problem. “He was just handed too much, too soon,’’ said one source. “You’ve got to make these young guys earn it, and that’s where this team did a bad job with him.’’
The Cavs are not looking for a coach with a strong veteran presence who wants to do things only his way. That probably rules out Jeff Van Gundy, George Karl, and Lionel Hollins, although Lawrence is a fan of all three. New GM David Griffin is looking for a college or NBA coach who agrees to accept input and instructions from himself and hands-on owner Dan Gilbert.
The Cavs know they can’t get Kevin Love from the Wolves in a deal for the No. 1 pick. If they keep it, they’re expected to take Kansas big man Joel Embiid, unless the stress fracture in his back injury from last season has the chance to become a long-term issue. Meanwhile, agent Arn Tellem might not make his client’s medical records available to teams with which he doesn’t want Embiid to play.
The Nuggets aren’t going to allow coach Brian Shaw to come to the Knicks if they fail to land Derek Fisher, even if the Knicks offer compensation. “We didn’t hire Brian for a one-year position with our team,’’ Nuggets president Josh Kroenke said. “We see Brian being with us for years to come.’’ If Fisher turns Jackson down, Kurt Rambis is the next in line.
Just because Bucks GM John Hammond and Pelicans exec Dell Demps came to New York for the lottery doesn’t mean that they’re going to be around for the long haul. Lawrence gets the sense that both are on the hot seat.

And-Ones: D-League, Cavs, Age Limit

May 24th, 2014 at 1:53pm CST by Cray Allred

It appears the NBA and the D-League are thinking about reinstituting a limit on the number of D-League assignments an NBA team can make, as Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside hears. The move would be made to address the logjam possible if 13 NBA teams end up sharing the Fort Wayne Mad Ants next season. Here’s more from around the league:

Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer pegs the odds at 50% that the Cavs hold onto their No. 1 draft pick, rather than swinging a deal for an established premier talent such as Kevin Love.
Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer doesn’t get the sense that the Cavs are spending much energy trying to orchestrate LeBron James‘ return to Cleveland, and thinks a move to acquire Love without the assurance of him re-signing with the team would be foolish.
Tom Ziller of SB Nation sees the draft age-limit as one of the player union’s only bargaining chips to leverage for the next CBA discussions, and thinks the players should push to reduce team control over rookie scale contracts in order to give its best young players more power.

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

Bulls Rumors: Thibodeau, Boozer, Marion

May 24th, 2014 at 9:53am CST by Cray Allred

A source tells Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report that Tom Thibodeau would only be interested in leaving the Bulls to coach the Knicks, which would be his “dream job,” as Bucher details in a video. Here’s more from Chicago:

In an interview with Jarred W. Payton of The Game 87.7 FM, Taj Gibson refuted a report that the Bulls have informed him of plans to move away from Carlos Boozer next season. “I’ve not been told that I’m starting next season,” Gibson said. Gibson said that he’s unaware of any discussions about amnestying Boozer.
However, Gibson spoke with Jay Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times as if he had been told to prepare for a starting role. ‘‘I mean, this will be exciting,’’ Gibson said. “This is what I’ve always thought about. When I started [six games] for Boozer when he was hurt during the [regular] season, I just know how excited I was, how good it felt to come to the arena.” It seems that Gibson was likely informed of his role as first reported, but is trying to avoid being used to verify the fate of a teammate, although that’s just speculation on my part.
In the same article, Cowley speculates that the Bulls could target Shawn Marion to bolster their shooting, should they fail to land a bigger target this offseason.
Cowley thinks Adreian Payne would be an ideal fit for the Bulls to select at No. 16 or 19 in this year’s draft.

Draft Rumors: Embiid, Lavine, Gordon

May 23rd, 2014 at 9:10pm CST by Cray Allred

BDA Sports Management held workouts today for NBA teams to view some of the top prospects in this year’s draft. Here’s a roundup of tonight’s draft notes:

Joel Embiid took the first step in assuaging concerns about his back, working out for NBA scouts and executives to demonstrate his health, per Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv. Embiid impressed, leading one scout to tell Zagoria he belongs at the top of the draft. “He looks great. Running, jumping, dunking, bent up like a pretzel in warmups and stretching exercises,” the scout said. “He passed the eyeball test big time. Move him up.”
The Warriors were well represented in watching Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon at the workouts, tweets Eric Pincus of The Los Angeles Times. Golden State was a notable presence, since they do not currently possess a first-round draft pick.
Pincus relays in a separate tweet that the buzz around LaVine puts his floor in the 10-14 range of the lottery, and that he could get picked in the top 10.
One executive told Pincus that he prefers Gordon over Noah Vonleh and Julius Randle, the Los Angeles Times scribe relays in another tweet.

Hoops Rumors Mock Draft 2.0

May 23rd, 2014 at 3:45pm CST by Alex Lee

With the lottery now in our rear view mirror, the only barrier between us and the highly anticipated 2014 NBA Draft is five weeks of rumors, smokescreens and in-depth prospect breakdowns. All of this has already begun, in fact. Tuesday night’s lottery set off a string of inconsistency, with each team’s big board entirely dependent on your draft pundit of choice.

The lone certainty is that this year’s draft class is as hyped as any we’ve seen in some time. There were some disappointed fan bases on Tuesday night for sure, but there is consensus that any team picking before No. 10 still has a pretty good shot at an impact player. But with the type of star power at the top of the draft, expect plenty of trade talk over the next five weeks, especially with teams outside the top three like the Magic, Jazz, Celtics and Hornets all armed with multiple first round picks.

In short, things are sure to change over the next five weeks. Nevertheless, here is the second version of the Hoops Rumors Mock Draft, which comes on the heels of version 1.0 from earlier this month. As we’ve done in previous years, these picks are based on what we’re hearing around the league, our player evaluations, and what we perceive a team’s draft needs to be. Whether you’re an aspiring draft expert or merely a fan, we welcome your opinion in the comments section.

Cleveland Cavaliers – Joel Embiid. The charmed Cavs will get their pick of the draft’s top prospects for the third time in four years. And the more I look at it, the more I think they go with Embiid, who simply has too much potential to pass up. Luol Deng’s likely departure makes Andrew Wiggins a decent bet and owner Dan Gilbert’s win-now mentality even gives Jabari Parker an outside chance, but a healthy Embiid will be too alluring.
Milwaukee Bucks – Andrew Wiggins. The Bucks need everything after managing only 15 wins this season. Pairing the defensive potential of Wiggins with a core of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Larry Sanders could give Milwaukee the type of identity every cellar-dweller craves. Or the Bucks might want to supplement the defensive pieces they have with a high-volume scorer like Parker. My money is on Wiggins.
Philadelphia 76ers – Jabari Parker. No one tanked like the Sixers, who fielded what looked like a D-League team after the All-Star break. While GM Sam Hinkie and company must be bummed they didn’t end up at No. 1, no team has an easier selection. Whoever remains of the top three guys will head to Philly to play with Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel.
Orlando Magic – Dante Exum. Victor Oladipo’s versatility allows the Magic plenty of flexibility at the other guard spot. While neither Exum nor Oladipo are traditional point guards, they could make for a dynamic backcourt duo in Orlando. Look for the Magic to try to find some shooting with their second lottery selection.
Utah Jazz – Noah Vonleh. Utah was really hoping they’d get lucky on Tuesday, but they still might have the firepower to move up. Parker and Exum would be good fits, but Vonleh’s stretch-four potential makes him an enticing selection should the Jazz stay put. I cautiously had the Indiana big man this high in version 1.0, but it’s now looking more and more like he’s a top-five pick.
Boston Celtics – Julius Randle. The board really doesn’t align with the Celtics’ needs here, who will likely snatch up Vonleh should he be there. While Aaron Gordon is a possibility, Danny Ainge is more likely to grab the best player on the board in Randle. His lack of length and height gives them more of what they already have, but if his jumper comes around he will give Brad Stevens a big floor-spacer to play with.
Los Angeles Lakers – Aaron Gordon. The Lakers will undoubtedly try to turn this pick into an established veteran who will give Kobe Bryant some help. If they keep it they’ll want someone who can help right away, but I’m not sure that type of guy will be available. Gordon provides the most value and has the athleticism and defensive ability to see the floor in year one. The Lakers have been creative in the past, so I wouldn’t rule out Dario Saric either.
Sacramento Kings – Marcus Smart. Even if restricted free agent Isaiah Thomas sticks around, he is best suited to come off the bench. In Smart the Kings get a guard with an NBA-ready body and attitude whose competitiveness might do their losing franchise some good. Tyler Ennis’ distribution skills are a more pure fit, but he would be a huge reach here.
Charlotte Hornets – Nik Stauskas. The Hornets were the beneficiaries of the Pistons’ misfortune on lottery night, and now sit pretty with two first rounders, cap space and a true impact player in Al Jefferson. They could certainly wheel and deal on draft night, but if not they’ll need to get some shooting to go with those athletes. Doug McDermott is a possibility, but Stauskas fits better with his ability to spell Kemba Walker at the point.
Philadelphia 76ers – Doug McDermott. I think the Sixers would prefer Stauskas here, especially given their selection of Parker at three. As susceptible a combination of McDermott and Parker would be on defense, they’d be equally imposing on the other end of the court. And something tells me Hinkie isn’t worried about need or fit just yet. Watch out for Zach LaVine here too.
Denver Nuggets – Gary Harris. There are a handful of prospects left with more upside, but Harris seems to be a perfect fit for what is a talented roster in Denver. They have a need at shooting guard and his ability on defense would help the Nuggets compensate for Danilo Gallinari‘s shortcomings in that department. After losing Arron Afflalo and Andre Iguodala in consecutive years, Harris gives them a player in that same mold.
Orlando Magic – Dario Saric. With the pure shooters off the board, Saric makes a lot of sense here for Orlando with the second first-rounder. The Magic already possess an international flavor with Exum and Nikola Vucevic and can afford to wait on Saric, who has an enormous ceiling. If James Young continues his rise he could be the guy, but for now I’m sticking with Saric.
Minnesota Timberwolves – James Young. It seems like every team in the late lottery needs shooting and the Wolves are no different. With the Kevin Love fiasco, they also need upside. Taking Young, who would slot in nicely at the three in Minnesota, gives them the type of grand slam potential they need should everything click for the Kentucky product. It might be impossible to entice Love to stick around, but Young has the upside necessary to turn heads.
Phoenix Suns – Zach LaVine. With three first round picks and a dream backcourt, the Suns could be very active leading up to the draft. Should they stick at No. 14, they’re likely to target a wing player, which is where LaVine will probably end up if his point guard skills don’t translate. Even if they do, his ability to facilitate on the wing (not to mention his stroke) would add another weapon to an explosive offense in the desert.
Atlanta Hawks – P.J. Hairston. I have a sneaking suspicion that someone might take a chance on Hairston before this, but if not his sharpshooting ability and toughness would look great next to Jeff Teague in the Atlanta backcourt. The Hawks have win-now pieces in place and Hairston showed in the D-League that he’s ready to play in year one.
Chicago Bulls – Tyler Ennis. At Nos. 16 and 17, the Bulls and Celtics both have shaky situations with elite point guards. If Ennis does indeed drop this far, it’s hard to imagine one of those squads not shoring up that spot with a player who profiles as at least a solid backup. The Bulls will be happy to grab Ennis and look for some scoring help at 19.
Boston Celtics – Rodney Hood. Watch out for the Celtics, who have stolen Rajon Rondo, Al Jefferson, Avery Bradley and Jared Sullinger in this part of the draft in recent years. Hood gives Stevens his first real perimeter sniper and has the size to become something more. The Celtics, of course, will also be in the mix to make a major trade.
Phoenix Suns – Cleanthony Early. The Suns continue to attack their need on the wing with Early, who will bring some much-needed toughness to Phoenix. At 23, Early can help the Suns right out of the gate and his predictability might help offset the risk the Suns took with LaVine at 14. There are whispers that Early’s age might cause a tumble. Some contender will get a heck of a player if so.
Chicago Bulls – Adreian Payne. Payne is another 23-year-old prospect who is ready to contribute right away. Should the Bulls make a depth selection at No. 16 with Ennis, Payne would help compensate for the likely loss of Carlos Boozer next year in Chicago.
Toronto Raptors – Clint Capela. Shabazz Napier and Elfrid Payton are both possibilities here if the Raptors feel they need Kyle Lowry insurance. The more pressing need in Toronto, however, is size. Capela has that and adds upside to go with it after breaking out overseas this year. He might be a bit of a gamble, but if he pans out his explosive athleticism would fit nicely next to Jonas Valanciunas.
Oklahoma City Thunder – Jusuf Nurkic. I’m sticking with Nurkic to Oklahoma City, which would get great value at No. 21 with the 6’11” Bosnian. Nurkic has a huge body with soft touch, but his lack of athleticism limits his upside. With Thabo Sefolosha a free agent, the Thunder could also grab K.J. McDaniels here as a replacement.
Memphis Grizzlies – T.J. Warren. The front office shakeup in Memphis makes it tough to pinpoint the direction the Grizzlies will go. They need offensive help on the wing, making Warren and Kyle Anderson the best fits here. Jerami Grant and McDaniels give them more of what they have. Warren and his bag of offensive tricks are the safer pick, though Anderson or even Napier wouldn’t shock me.
Utah Jazz – Kyle Anderson. After selecting Vonleh at No. 5, the addition of Anderson would give the Jazz some interesting offensive pieces. It’s conceivable that they’d gamble that Grant or McDaniels would turn into a “three and D” type. But Anderson is awfully intriguing given that Trey Burke can swing between either of the guard positions.
Charlotte Hornets – Jerami Grant. The Hornets would get plenty of value in Grant should the Syracuse product fall to No. 24. After landing the shooter they need at No. 9, Grant would add another elite athlete to a roster full of them. With a ridiculous 7’3″ wingspan, Grant might just be long enough to play the four. Either way, he’s worth the risk here.
Houston Rockets – Elfrid Payton. Daryl Morey has a penchant for finding gems late in the draft, and Payton definitely fits the bill as a potential steal at No. 25. He’s not exactly NBA-ready, making him an iffy selection for the ambitious Rockets despite the fit. There’s a decent chance Payton goes higher, and the Rockets could easily move this pick as well.
Miami Heat – Shabazz Napier. Speaking of guys who should go higher, Napier would be a coup for the Heat here. He’s nowhere near a pure point guard, but he would give Miami some punch off the bench as well as provide some defensive toughness on the perimeter. He’s going to help someone quickly.
Phoenix Suns – Kristaps Porzingis. I can’t imagine that the Suns make and keep three selections in this draft, but if they do taking an international flier on a guy like Porzingis feels about right. Capela makes sense in the same fashion, though they’d probably have to grab him at No. 18 if so.
Los Angeles Clippers – K.J. McDaniels. I think it’s safe to say the Clippers are set offensively. The defense could use some work, however. Enter McDaniels, who is ready to play lock-down D right now and offers some upside should his offensive game develop. He could easily go higher if the right team is enamored with him.
Oklahoma City Thunder – C.J. Wilcox. If McDaniels somehow fell to No. 29, the Thunder would have to scoop him up, but in this scenario, they’ll grab Wilcox, who can probably play some in OKC right away. We know he can shoot remarkably well, but at 23 years old, there are questions about whether or not he can develop any other NBA skills.
San Antonio Spurs – Mitch McGary. It would be hard to envision a name as big as McGary’s falling out of the first round. If he’s healthy, he could help the Spurs down low pretty quickly. Tim Duncan has to run out of gas eventually. I also think Jarnell Stokes is a possibility here.

Draft Rumors: Harris, Young, Robinson, Smart

May 23rd, 2014 at 2:37pm CST by Chuck Myron

NBA executives are gathered in Southern California for a series of workouts involving draft hopefuls, and Chad Ford of ESPN.com passes along some intel in an Insider-only piece. Gary Harris has used hot shooting to impress and he’s a likely top-10 pick, Ford believes. He’ll work out for the Celtics and Bulls. among other teams, according to Ford. James Young is drawing interest from a slew of teams, including the Hornets, Sixers, Nuggets, Magic, Timberwolves and Suns, while many clubs are high on Glenn Robinson III after he performed well in a workout for the Bulls this past Monday, Ford writes. Here’s more on the draft:

Marcus Smart has workouts scheduled with the Magic and Celtics, reports Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com (Twitter links).
Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times adds the Nuggets to the list of teams that interviewed Aaron Gordon at last week’s draft combine in Chicago.
The Clippers, Pacers, Pistons and Wizards are among the clubs interested in Virginia swingman Joe Harris, Woelfel writes in the same piece, reiterating that the Bucks are eyeing him, too. Harris spoke to Zach Links of Hoops Rumors recently for our Prospect Profile series.
Chane Behanan will work out for the Mavs next month, Goodman also tweets.

And-Ones: Hunter, Draft, Hairston

May 21st, 2014 at 10:26pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Ousted players union executive director Billy Hunter has dropped his appeal of a civil ruling in a suit Hunter had brought against former union president Derek Fisher and Jamie Wior, Fisher’s business manager. Hunter must pay more than $200K to cover the legal fees for Fisher and Wior. A case in which Hunter alleges the union owes him $10.5MM remains active. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports has the details in three separate tweets.

Western Notes: Wolves, Fournier, Warriors

May 21st, 2014 at 9:29pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor says the team doesn’t intend to trade Kevin Love, reports Andy Greder of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “Actually, I haven’t had any offers. I’m waiting!” GM Milt Newton joked. According to the article, Newton also said that now that the draft lottery was completed it would accelerate the team’s search for a new head coach.

Kupchak On Lakers Offseason

May 21st, 2014 at 8:47pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak held a conference call today to discuss the state of the team as well as addressing the ongoing coaching search and upcoming NBA Draft. The transcripts were posted on NBA.com. Here are the highlights:

On receiving the seventh pick and if he thinks there is anyone in the draft who can change the face of the franchise at that spot:

“I wouldn’t say it was bad luck. We were hoping to get lucky, but as you know we could have dropped down to number nine, too. We were hoping to get lucky, or at worst case, stay where we were, but it could have been worse. As far as what [Boston Celtics Executive] Danny [Ainge] said, that’s up to him. We think drafting number seven, there is going to be a good player available there. Maybe Danny is talking more about a guy that changes the face of an organization from the get-go, but you can’t really evaluate these things until years later when you look back on it. Damian Lillard is a great example. I don’t think anybody thought walking through the draft that he would turn into the player [he is] as quickly as he did, but looking back on it is a heck of a selection. We will be able to get a good player, and we are hoping that three or four years from now we can look back on it and he is even a better player than we thought.”

On the impact a player selected seventh overall can make:

“Well, it depends. Most of the players in the draft for the last 15 to 18 years have been young, developing players and some of them make a contribution quicker than others. There are certainly a couple of guys that played more than two years. There is a kid that played four years that might make a contribution quicker. I’m not saying he would be someone we would consider or not consider at seven. My point is, typically – and we have kind of gotten used to it over the years – you do have to work with the younger player and those are the guys that get drafted the highest, whether they are freshman or sophomore, it may take a year or two.”

On the variables the front office is measuring in potential coaching candidates and whether they want to pursue a veteran coach or a young coach:

“I think right now, our interviews will be formal in terms of sitting down and talking for a couple of hours, but at some point, we will probably have to sit down and talk a second time. I think that is where we are right now, at the beginning of the process. Whether it is a veteran coach or a rookie coach, that is not something we are prepared to comment on right now.”

On if there are particular offensive and defensive philosophies the Lakers are looking for in a coaching candidate:

“I wouldn’t use the word philosophy, but we have a player on our team right now who is proven in this league. Offensively, he can score and that certainly is a consideration. Obviously I’m talking about Kobe [Bryant]. He is under contract for two more years and we think he is a very integral part of this team. We have to make sure that whoever we hire as a coach will really get the most productivity out of him, whether it is scoring the ball or playmaking or the threat that he may score. That is probably a primary importance right now.”

On if they will focus on the drafting in the seventh spot or continue to look at other options:

“We started last night calling and trying to set up workouts with probably everybody on our board in the top 15 to 20. Some of those guys don’t think they are going to be there at seven so they won’t come in. There is nothing we can do about that. But some guys that are drafted later, and you may say ‘well why bring in a guy that might go 20?’ Well you never know, number one, and number two, you have the opportunity to develop a relationship with a player. Why not do it? So that started last night.”

Chad Ford On NBA Draft

May 21st, 2014 at 6:26pm CST by Eddie Scarito

With the draft order now set, the speculation can truly begin as to what each team will do in June’s NBA Draft. Chad Ford of ESPN.com held his weekly chat and here are some of the highlights:

Though the Cavaliers currently have Jabari Parker at the top of their draft board, Ford believes they will end up selecting Andrew Wiggins with the first overall pick.
The only way the Cavs trade the top pick is for a young, star-caliber player like Kevin Love, opines Ford.
The top three players on the Bucks draft board are Joel Embiid, Wiggins, and Dante Exum, per Ford.
The Magic are looking at taking a point guard with the number four overall pick, reports Ford. The team’s top two choices would be Exum and Marcus Smart. Ford also believes that with the 12th pick, the team will focus on acquiring outside shooting.
Ford believes the Jazz are likely to select Noah Vonleh with the fifth selection, unless they attempt to trade up to snag Exum.
Being slotted sixth makes the Celtics more likely to try and trade their pick for established talent, notes Ford. If they keep the pick, he believes that Aaron Gordon would be the choice of GM Danny Ainge.
The Lakers are in a similar position to the Celtics in regard to trading their pick, opines Ford. If they keep the pick, he sees either Julius Randle, Smart, or Dario Saric being their favorites.
Ford’s sleeper picks for the draft are Mitch McGary, Jarnell Stokes, and Elfrid Payton.

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