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2015 NBA Draft

Eastern Notes: Magic, Celtics, Middleton

May 2nd, 2015 at 3:11pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Magic‘s biggest need heading into the 2015 NBA draft is for a rim protector who can also stretch the floor with his shooting, Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel writes. Two players who could fill that need, and who Orlando could look to select in the first round, are Kristaps Porzingis or Willie Cauley-Stein, Robbins notes. While Porzingis may have a higher ceiling, the Magic’s need to win now may predicate the team targeting the more NBA-ready big man in Cauley-Stein, the Sentinel scribe adds. Orlando had hoped it found the stretch-four it was seeking when the team inked Channing Frye to a four-year, $32MM contract last summer. But Frye only notched averages of 7.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in his 75 appearances for the team in 2014/15.

Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

  • The Nets have not picked up the team option on assistant GM Bobby Marks‘ contract for 2015/16, Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com reports (Twitter links). The deadline to do so was May 1st, though the team could still elect to extend Marks’ deal once other offseason personnel decisions have been made, Mazzeo adds.
  • Celtics coach Brad Stevens is looking forward to what he hopes is a productive offseason for the franchise, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe writes. When asked what he was most excited about this summer, Stevens responded, “I like the draft. I think it’s a fun thing to watch guys, to come in to learn, to meet them in interviews, to talk to them. I know a lot of them or at least a lot about them. And then free agency, we didn’t get a chance to experience it much last year because we didn’t have any [salary cap] space. And we knew that. We made a couple of calls but really we didn’t have any chance, because we didn’t have very much money available.“
  • Khris Middleton, coming off of a season where he averaged 13.4 points and 4.4 rebounds, both career highs, is likely in line for a hefty pay raise this summer. The Bucks can make the 23-year-old a restricted free agent if they tender him a qualifying offer worth $2,725,003. For his part, Middleton hopes to re-sign with Milwaukee this offseason, Matt Velazquez of The Journal Sentinel writes. “I got here, nobody really knew what to expect,” Middleton said. “We had a terrible season, then this year I feel like we found our foundation of what we can be and what we can become. I feel like we have a great young team going in the right direction. Would love to be a part of that here.“
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And-Ones: Huertas, NBA Draft, Towns

May 1st, 2015 at 10:32pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Brazilian point guard Marcelo Huertas, also known as Marcelinho Huertas, was reportedly eyeing a move to the NBA next season. But it would now appear that the 31-year-old has changed his mind about leaving Barcelona, Ernest Macià of Catalunya Ràdio tweets (hat tip to HoopsHype). Huertas was expected to be in demand this offseason as a potential backup point guard if he chose to head stateside. In 29 games for FC Barcelona this past season, the 6’3″ Huertas averaged 7.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 21.7 minutes per contest.

Here’s more from around the league:

  •  Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com released his updated 2015 NBA draft rankings. The scribe’s top three players consist of Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky in the No. 1 slot, followed by Duke’s Jahlil Okafor and Emmanuel Mudiay, who played in the Chinese League last season.
  • While many draftees require at least a season before they are productive at the NBA level, ESPN.com’s Fran Fraschilla (Insider subscription required) believes there are a number of players in the 2015 class who can buck that trend and contribute immediately. In addition to Towns, the ESPN scribe also predicts that point guards D’Angelo Russell and Jerian Grant will have the opportunity to put up solid numbers early in their NBA careers.
  • Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) examined the draft needs of the Magic, Kings, Pistons and Hornets. The duo peg outside shooting and rim protection as the primary needs for Orlando, a wing who can stretch the floor for Charlotte, a solid defender for Sacramento, and both forward positions for Detroit.
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Prospect Profile: Tyus Jones

May 1st, 2015 at 7:15pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Tyus Jones‘ decision to leave Duke after a single season is a move that should pay off for the young point guard. The freshman’s stock isn’t likely to rise much higher than it is right now, with Jones having been part of Duke’s National Championship squad this season, as well as being named as the Most Outstanding Player of the 2014/15 NCAA Final Four in the process. With NBA scouts already divided in their opinions of Jones, returning to Durham would have been a big risk for the 18-year-old. His stock could have only fallen by spending another season at the collegiate level, so making the jump to the NBA at this time is firmly in Jones’ best interests.

NCAA Basketball: Final Four-Championship Game-Wisconsin vs DukeJones is quite possibly the best pure point guard in this year’s draft. He possesses remarkable floor vision, is a reliable and consistent performer, and has all of the leadership qualities that a coach could desire from a floor general. But it is Jones’ size, 6’1″, and lack of elite athleticism that have his doubters unconvinced that he can make a successful transition to the NBA.

The point guard is currently ranked as the No. 19 overall prospect by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) slots Jones 21st amongst his top-100 prospects. If you added another two inches to Jones’ frame, or if he was just a bit faster, then the player would likely be thrust into the discussion when debating the potential top five picks in June’s draft.

“I want to love him [Jones],” one NBA GM told Ford. “He’s really, really good. His feel for the game is tremendous and now that his jump shot is falling, he’s very difficult to guard. I’m just worried that given the size of so many elite point guards in our league and how great so many of them are athletically, whether he can keep up on either end of the floor. That was my concern last year with Tyler Ennis and he was bigger and more athletic. I just don’t know when you take him.”

While his athleticism might not be on par with the upper echelon of point guards in the NBA, Jones has all of the intangibles you could hope for, and also demonstrated that he can perform when the lights are at their brightest. In 39 games with the Blue Devils, Jones averaged 11.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.5 steals in 33.9 minutes per contest. His shooting numbers were .417/.379/.889. In his six NCAA tournament appearances, Jones committed only eight turnovers in total, including just one in his 37 minutes of action versus Wisconsin in the title game.

The 18-year-old possesses outstanding ball-handling skills, and is a dynamic passer who sees the floor and reads defenses incredibly well for a player with his limited experience. The combination of Jones’ floor vision, ball distribution, and his ability to consistently sink jump shots off the dribble make him a handful in pick-and-roll sets, Givony notes. Jones also demonstrated good accuracy from beyond the three-point line, with nearly 38% of his deep balls finding their mark. This is a very important aspect of Jones’ game going forward, since he won’t be able to make a living in the NBA without being able to keep defenders honest with his shooting.

If Jones is to find any success at the next level, he’ll have to continue to improve on his outside game, since he doesn’t have the speed necessary to blow by most NBA guards. The freshman also isn’t especially adept at creating his own shot with any level of consistency. However, this is an area I think the young guard will improve upon as he gains more playing experience. Jones also needs to become more effective when he is able to take it to the rim, having converted just 44% of his shots in the paint while at Duke. Thankfully, Jones is quite adept at creating contact on his drives, and is a sharpshooter from the charity stripe, nailing nearly 89% of his free throws during the 2014/15 campaign.

The young point guard’s lack of explosiveness also impacts him while on defense. To put it bluntly, Jones was not a good defender during his time at Duke. His lack of lateral quickness and strength will certainly be exploited at the NBA level, though with his high basketball IQ, Jones might be able to compensate after a time. What will require immediate adjustment is Jones’ overall defensive intensity and dedication to becoming a ball-stopper. If he hopes to earn regular rotation minutes at the pro level, some serious defensive improvement will be required on Jones’ part.

Despite all of the knocks against his athleticism, Jones is quite simply a winner. One who plays his best ball when the stakes are high and the intensity is at its peak. He is also a player who can make his teammates around him better. Some serious D-League time will be required during his rookie campaign, but for a patient team Jones could be a worthwhile investment. Unless he surprises NBA scouts and executives during his pre-draft workouts, expect Jones to have his name called somewhere in the 17-25 range this June.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Atlantic Notes: Turner, Prigioni, Draft

April 30th, 2015 at 5:01pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Evan Turner said this year, his first with the Celtics on a two-year deal, has been his most satisfying in the NBA so far, as he tells Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald, and he’s sold on Boston as an attractive place for free agents to go. “Regardless, Boston is always a destination team,” Turner said. “Somebody will always come, whether we make the playoffs or not. It’s the energy and emotion. I’ve talked to some friends who have come here and played: They see that the crowd is crazy, the fan base is crazy, even when we weren’t in the playoff race at the time. People still show up. It’s about basketball, not other gimmicks. There’s certain organizations. The people who work here are classy people. The city is like that. There aren’t many people walking around parading other sports teams. It’s all Boston, compared to some of the places I’ve played in. It’s been fun.”

Here’s more out of the Atlantic Division:

  • Pablo Prigioni admitted that he had requested that the Knicks trade him prior to February’s deadline, and he is grateful to have ended up in Houston, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. “When I saw how things were going, it was so clear they were looking more to next season, the summer,’’ Prigioni said. “I felt myself at 38, I have no future on the team. I talked to Derek [Fisher] and told him my desire to send me somewhere so I can enjoy probably my last year in the league. At the deadline it was good for me and the team because they’re looking for young guys to build for the next five years.’’
  • The veteran point guard indicated that he may play professionally for one more season, though it would most likely be in Europe if he does, Berman notes. Prigioni also said that he wants to try his hand at coaching once his playing career ends, the Post scribe adds.
  • According to ESPN’s Chad Ford (hat tip to Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com), if the Knicks end up with the No. 1 overall pick this June, the franchise would use it to select Karl-Anthony Towns. Following Towns, New York’s top five ranked players in descending order are Jahlil Okafor, Emmanuel Mudiay, D’Angelo Russell, and Justise Winslow, Ford notes.

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

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Q&A With NBA Draft Prospect Richaun Holmes

April 29th, 2015 at 11:45pm CST by Zachary Links

Throughout the spring and summer, Hoops Rumors will be talking with some of the most intriguing prospects in the 2015 NBA Draft.  The Hoops Rumors Draft Prospect Q&A series begins with Bowling Green product Richaun Holmes, whom Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranks No. 45 in this year’s class and Chad Ford of ESPN.com rates 59th.

Standing at 6’10”, Holmes is a lengthy forward with athleticism that translates to both sides of the floor.  With a wingspan of 7’1.5″, the 21-year-old can disrupt passing lanes and protect the paint on defense.  Offensively, Holmes has worked hard to improve his game, transforming from a fairly one-dimensional low-post threat to a legitimately strong shooter.  Holmes can score with his back to the basket, from 15 feet out, and by driving to the hoop, and that could prove troublesome for defenders at the next level.

Holmes, a client of Keith Kreiter at Edge Sports International, took some time out of his schedule on Tuesday to chat with Hoops Rumors about his skill set, his basketball journey up to this point, and more.

Zach Links: Scouts are enamored with your athleticism, but you’ve also developed into a very solid shooter over the last couple of years. What do you attribute that to?

Richaun Holmes: Just putting the time in.  A lot of the time I wasn’t shooting the ball well or consistently, I wasn’t doing it the same way every time and I was just putting up a lot of shots.  I knew that I wanted to develop a solid outside shot because I was being left open at the top of the key so often.  So, I put the time in and made my shot better. Richaun Holmes (vertical)

ZL: What did you change in your form?

RH: My elbow was the main thing that my coaches worked on with me.  It was kind of loose and they taught me to keep it tucked in.  Once I started doing that, my shots were staying on line.

ZL: You’ve shown that you can score in the post, by driving to the basket or by spotting up from further out.  Which facet of your offensive game are you most comfortable with?

RH: I’m definitely most comfortable around the basket just because that’s the most natural thing I did in basketball. Scoring around the basket, getting boards around the rim, that’s what I’ve always done.  That’s my domain.

ZL: If you had to write your own scouting report, what NBA player(s) would you compare yourself to?

RH: I think the main guy is Serge Ibaka because of how he affects the game defensively. Obviously, he blocks a ton of shots, and on the offensive end he’s extremely active there finishing around the rim.  Now, he’s developed a very good mid-range jumper like I have, so that’s a guy I look up to as I go through this process.

ZL: In a limited sample size, you’ve done pretty well from beyond the arc, too, making 18 of 43 shots this season.  Do you feel comfortable shooting from deep now?

RH: I feel like I’m more of a mid-range guy, but I feel like I can space the floor and make three point shots.  I definitely have that in my game.

ZL: Are you looking to bulk up between now and the fall? In terms of size and conditioning, what are your goals as you get ready to make the jump to the NBA?

RH: I’m in the weight room just trying to get stronger and ready to compete against those guys. I can’t really put a number on [how many pounds] I want to be, I just want to be strong enough to compete at the highest level.  I’ve been talking to a nutritionist, trying to put the best things in my body to keep myself going, [and] doing different weightlifting programs to get more strength and explosiveness.

ZL: You have the size and strength defensively to guard big men, but I imagine that scouts also see you as a guy that can guard on the perimeter thanks to your athleticism and wingspan (7‘1.5“ wingspan, 6’10” height).  Do you feel comfortable defending against guards and smaller guys when necessary?

RH: I have the confidence to do that when my team needs me to.  I’ve been assigned to a smaller guy at times because I can move pretty well and sometimes they have me switch from 1-5 all over the court.  Also in pick and rolls, there are times where you have to switch assignments and I’m comfortable with doing that.

ZL: You took an unusual path to Bowling Green as you first began your collegiate career at Moraine Valley Community College in Illinois.  What led you to go that route rather than a four-year program right out of high school?

RH: When I got out of high school my dream was to play [NCAA] Division I basketball but I was a late bloomer in high school.  When I first came out, I didn’t have any D-I offers really.  I had a lot of D-IIs and D-IIIs interested, but i wanted to play D-I so I went to MVCC and the coach there at the time told me that if I worked hard and if I played for him, he’d get me to a D-I college. I trusted him and he came through; that’s how i ended up at Bowling Green.

ZL: Did you think it would be easier to transfer from a community college rather than a D-II or a D-III school?

RH: I knew if you transferred from a community college you could play right away at a D-I and I wasn’t sure how it worked at a D-II or a D-III, so I went to community college to be sure.

ZL: When did you take that major leap forward in high school?

RH: I didn’t step into a leadership or starting role until my senior year.  I really didn’t play much in my junior year.

ZL: What led you to break out?

RH: I went from 6’4″ to 6’6″ in my senior year and I just kept working as hard as I could.  Then, I kept growing after high school.  I measured in at 6’7″ and 3/4 inches in my sophomore year of college and now I’m 6’10”.

ZL: When did you first realize that you had an excellent chance of making it to the NBA?  After playing less than 20 minutes per night in your first year at Bowling Green, did you see yourself eventually going pro?

RH: In my junior year I would talk to the coaching staff at that time with [head] coach Louis Orr and he told me that the sky was the limit, that I could play in the pros somewhere if I worked hard enough.  I think towards the end of this year the NBA started to become a more realistic possibility for me.

ZL: What specific areas of your game do you feel like you need to improve upon?

RH: I would say for one, ball handling.  I just want to be able to create for me and my teammates.  I also want to keep developing that solid mid-range jumper because it’s so important in the NBA now for a 4 to stretch the floor and make his shots.

ZL: Have you gotten an indication of where you might go in the draft?

RH: I’m not sure.  I talk to my agent, Keith Kreiter, a lot and he tells me I’m a mid-second round guy right now with a chance to get to the first round, so I’m working hard to improve my stock every day.

ZL: What led you to choose Keith Kreiter and the team at Edge Sports International to represent you?

RH: When we sat down with him — we being me, my family, and my brothers — we all just got a really good vibe from him.  He was sincere and I knew he was gonna work hard for me and he really cared about me as a person, not just as a commodity.  He’s been doing this for a long time and all of those elements for me made this a good decision.

ZL: Have interested teams started reaching out to you?

RH: They’ve talked to Keith and had conversations with him.  They know who I am and they want to know even more about me, so that’s exciting.

ZL: What are you up to now?

RH: I’m still down at Bowling Green in school, finishing up. I work out during the week and I train back home in Chicago on the weekends, training there and working around the clock.  I’ve got a pretty full slate right now with 12 credit hours, but finals week is next week so I’m almost done.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Draft Notes: Okafor, Harrison, Tokoto

April 29th, 2015 at 4:15pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Duke freshman center Jahlil Okafor has signed with agent Bill Duffy of BDA Sports Management, Darren Heitner of the Sports Agent Blog reports (Twitter link). Okafor, 19, is a projected top three pick in June’s draft. Both Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) and Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress rank the big man as the No. 2 overall prospect behind Kentucky freshman Karl-Anthony Towns.

Here’s more news regarding June’s NBA Draft:

  • Duffy has also signed on to represent Kansas freshman Kelly Oubre, Cameron Chung of the Sports Agent Blog reports. Oubre is the No. 12 overall prospect according to both Ford and Givony. You can check out our full prospect profile for Oubre here.
  • Senior shooting guard D’Angelo Harrison has signed with agent Bernie Lee of Lee Basketball Services, Lee announced via Twitter. The 21-year-old out of St. John’s University isn’t projected to be taken in June, with ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) ranking him as the No. 104 overall prospect.
  • Projected second-rounder J.P. Tokoto has signed with agent Steve McCaskill of Relativity Sports, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports (Twitter link). DraftExpress ranks the junior out of North Carolina as the No. 42 overall prospect, while ESPN.com slots him at No. 47.
  • In a chat with readers, Ford shares his thoughts on whom the Wolves, Knicks, Lakers and Magic rank as their top five draft prospects.
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Aleksandar Vezenkov Expected To Leave Draft

April 29th, 2015 at 10:24am CST by Chuck Myron

Early second-round prospect Aleksandar Vezenkov is expected to withdraw from this year’s draft, sources tell Aris Barkas of Eurohoops.net. The 19-year-old small forward is the 32nd-best prospect this year, according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com ranks him 42nd. Vezenkov, who was born in Cyrpus but plays for Bulgarian national teams, is one of 48 players from overseas who submitted their names as early entrants for this year’s draft, with the NBA having released its official list Tuesday.

Vezenkov is without an agent since letting go of Nick Lotsos, as Barkas details. He’s had talks with Arn Tellem about hiring the Wasserman Media Group, but they haven’t reached a deal, and Vezenkov’s father, an official with the Bulgarian club Lukoil, is serving as his representative in the interim, Barkas adds.

The 6’8″ Vezenkov has time to ponder a formal decision about the draft, since the deadline for him to withdraw isn’t until June 15th. He’s expected to leave the Greek team Aris BC for a lucrative deal elsewhere in Europe, with Greece’s Panathinaikos, Spain’s Barcelona and Turkey’s Anadolu Efes interested in him, according to Barkas. So, it appears that even if Vezenkov stays in the draft, there’s a decent chance he’ll wind up as a draft-and-stash prospect and remain overseas. Vezenkov wouldn’t be automatically eligible for the draft until 2017.

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Official 2015 Draft Early Entrants List

April 28th, 2015 at 3:58pm CST by Chuck Myron

College seniors and players from overseas who turn 22 this year are already eligible for the draft, but the NBA announced today that there will be 91 others seeking to hear their names called on June 25th. The league released its official list of early entrants, which is below. The most notable name who wasn’t previously reported to have entered the draft is Robert Upshaw, though the sophomore center was widely expected to end up in the field after the University of Washington dismissed him during the season. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranks him as the 30th-best prospect while Chad Ford of ESPN.com has him at No. 34, so he’s a fringe first-rounder.

West Georgia sophomore guard Deonta Stocks is the only other collegian on the list who wasn’t previously reported to have entered the draft. The rest of the new entrants come from overseas. The new names are in bold without links below, while the links on the other names go to our reports from the time they made their respective decisions.

Updated 6-16-15

The following players entered but later withdrew

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Draft Notes: Mickey, Kentucky, Walker

April 28th, 2015 at 1:15pm CST by Chuck Myron

Sam Dekker, Tyus Jones and Kevon Looney were among those who had better chances to see their respective draft stocks slip than improve if they were to have stayed in school instead of entering the draft, as Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com opines in an Insider-only piece. Caris LeVert, who opted to stay out of the draft, has a shot to go in the lottery next season, Goodman writes as he praises his decision. The ESPN.com scribe notes that he’s heard from NBA personnel who think Jordan Mickey goes undrafted as he argues the big man made a poor decision to declare for the draft. It’ll be years before we truly know whether their choices were wise, but less than two months remain before we find out just where everyone will end up on draft night. Here’s more on the draft:

  • The year’s first mock draft from Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress has Karl-Anthony Towns going to the Timberwolves, Jahlil Okafor to the Knicks and D’Angelo Russell to the Sixers. Givony’s mock shows all seven early entrants from Kentucky getting picked, including Aaron Harrison to the Sixers at No. 60.
  • The mock draft that Sean Deveney of The Sporting News put together is an unconventional one, with Okafor at No. 1 to the Wolves, Russell at No. 2 to the Knicks, and Towns at No. 3 to the Sixers.
  • Former Florida power forward Chris Walker has hired agent Travis King of Relativity Sports, as Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype hears (Twitter link). Walker is the No. 58 prospect according to Chad Ford of ESPN.com, while Givony has him at No. 73 in his rankings.
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And-Ones: Awards, Draft, Agents

April 27th, 2015 at 5:38pm CST by Chuck Myron

The media votes on most of the NBA awards, but the players will have their say with their own set of honors this year. The National Basketball Players Association announced today that it will hand out 10 awards in Las Vegas this July, as voted on by players. They’ll select their own MVP, the best rookie, and the best defender, and they’ll also hand out trophies for “Man of the Year,” “Global Impact Player,” “Hardest to Guard,” “Clutch Performer,” “Coach You Would Want To Play For,” “Best Home Court Advantage” and “Player You Secretly Wish Was on Your Team.” While we wait to see if those honors will have the resonance that the traditional ones have, here’s more from around the NBA:

  • Combo forward Beka Burjanadze submitted his name for the draft, reports Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress (Twitter link). That evidently means the 21-year-old from the nation of Georgia declared before Sunday’s deadline to do so. He’s only the 29th-best prospect from overseas among those born in 1994, according to Givony, who notes in his tweet that Burjanadze is a cousin of Zaza Pachulia.
  • Former LSU power forward Jordan Mickey has signed with agents Matt Babcock and Adie von Gontard of the APAA Sports Group, Givony reports (Twitter link). Mickey, who entered the draft this year after his sophomore season, is the 49th-best prospect overall as Givony ranks them and No. 50 in Chad Ford’s ESPN.com listings.
  • Rakeem Christmas is going with Stephen Pina of ASM Sports for his representation, according to Cameron Chung of the Sports Agent Blog. Fresh off his senior year at Syracuse, Christmas comes in 52nd in Givony‘s rankings and is 55th with Ford.
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