Scouts and executives are convinced that forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns is the best of Kentucky’s prospect-laden roster, but the team’s NBA showcase might have benefited point guard Tyler Ulis more than any other Wildcat, observes Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider-only). Still, several GMs were skeptical about how much they could learn from coach John Calipari‘s unusual combine, as Ford relays.
“There’s a herd mentality in the NBA,” said a GM who spoke to Ford. “We came because everyone else was coming and you want as much information as you can. Things like this don’t really tell you much and can, in fact, be dangerous. We saw these guys exactly how Calipari wanted us to see them. But this event isn’t reality. The game is reality. Watching Cal in a real practice when he’s really getting on guys is reality. This was a show. I keep reminding my scouts of that.”
More from around the Association..
- Executives from teams who’ve spoken with TNT’s David Aldridge are eyeing a 2016/17 salary cap anywhere from $75MM to $101MM, though the figures are merely “guesstimates,” as Aldridge notes in his Morning Tip column for NBA.com.
- Former Sixers and Clippers point guard Maalik Wayns and Zalgiris Kaunas of Lithuania have mutually agreed to end their contract, the team announced via Twitter (hat tip to Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia). Wayns will undergo surgery on his left knee according to the Euroleague’s website and David Pick of Eurobasket.com tells Hoops Rumors the injury is severe. Wayns played in 27 NBA games over the past two seasons before signing this summer with the Lithuanian team.
- Heat rookie James Ennis isn’t a lock to make the Heat roster, but he’s helping his chances with strong play in the preseason, writes Joseph Goodman of The Miami Herald. Ennis has a three-year deal with Miami that includes a partial $200K guarantee for this season that becomes a full guarantee if he’s on the roster through opening night.
Zach Links contributed to this post.