2015 NBA Draft Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Sixers Notes: Embiid, Holmes, Okafor, Draft

June 27th, 2015 at 11:40pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Sixers are adopting a take-no-chances philosophy as they wait for news on Joel Embiid, according to Tom Moore of Calkins Media. The No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft, Embiid missed all of last season after undergoing surgery in June to repair a stress fracture in the navicular bone in his right foot. It was reported two weeks ago that a CT scan on Embiid’s foot showed less healing than expected. The best-case scenario, Moore writes, is that specialists decide Embiid just needs rest and will be available for most of the upcoming season. The worst case would be another surgery and another year with no playing time. The organization is determined to have Embiid fully healthy before his first professional game.

The Sixers may have found another second-round gem in Richaun Holmes, Moore writes in a separate story. The team landed two contributors early in last year’s second round with K.J. McDaniels and Jerami Grant, and Holmes may seize the same opportunity. “Just looking at the NBA and the direction it’s kind of going in, I feel like active guys, energy guys who don’t really need the ball to be effective is kind of what this team needs,” Holmes said. The power forward from Bowling Green had much more to say in an interview with our Zach Links back in April.
Philadelphia received second round picks in 2020 and 2021 from the Knicks in exchange for the No. 35 pick in Thursday’s draft, Moore tweets. He notes that the only three transactions so far regarding those two drafts have been made by the Sixers.
The NBA is still a big man’s league, Sixers draftee Jahlil Okafor tells The Associated Press. Okafor was drafted third overall by Philadelphia after the Lakers passed him over for guard D’Angelo Russell. “For as long as I remember, big men have dominated the NBA,” Okafor said Saturday at a news conference. “People got a little excited because of what Steph Curry did — and he was fantastic. But as long as I remember, big men have been dominating and the results have been championships.”
The Sixers should have used their abundance of second-round picks to deal for a player late in the first round, contends John Smallwood of The Philadelphia Daily News. He cites trades that sent 15th pick Kelly Oubre to the Wizards, 19th selection Jerian Grant to the Knicks and 24th pick Tyus Jones to the Timberwolves. Smallwood wonders why Philadelphia couldn’t make a deal like that, especially considering its need for talent beyond the front court.

Pacific Notes: Suns, Free Agency, Lakers, Russell

June 27th, 2015 at 10:35pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Suns are expected to pursue the biggest names on the market when free agency starts Wednesday, according to Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic. Phoenix will likely make pitches to Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge, while trying to reach a deal with their own free agent, Brandon Knight. The Suns will have an estimated $12MM in cap space to work with, meaning they would have to trade away some salary before signing Love or Aldridge. “We’re going to be aggressive and target the best players,” said GM Ryan McDonough. “I think you’ll see us go after the top guys. We hope to get meetings with some of the top free agents and sell them on all Phoenix has to offer.” Knight, who was acquired from Milwaukee in February, will be a restricted free agent, meaning the Suns can match any offer he receives. He has said he would like to remain in Phoenix.

There’s more from the Pacific Division:

The Suns should base their free agent campaign on their pursuit of Steve Nash 11 years ago, writes Paola Boivin of The Arizona Republic. Nash was happy in Dallas, Boivin writes, but Phoenix showed how badly it wanted him through a combined effort of the top names in the organization. Chairman Jerry Colangelo chased Nash with a group that included team president Bryan Colangelo, new owner Robert Sarver, coach Mike D’Antoni, minority owner Steve Kerr, director of player personnel David Griffin, agent Bill Duffy and director of basketball operations Rex Chapman. Boivin contends the Suns will need a similar show of force this year to land a top-tier name like Love or Aldridge.
The Lakers‘ choice of D’Angelo Russell shows they understand the modern NBA, writes Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com. Spreading the floor and hitting three-pointers has become more important than ever, and Holmes contends a star point guard like Russell is more valuable than a low-post scorer like Jahlil Okafor. “He’s got gifts that you can work really hard and long on and still not acquire those gifts,” GM Mitch Kupchak said of his new guard. “Some of them you’re just born with or somebody sprinkles a little gold dust on you at some point. It’s just there.”
Russell may have made up the Lakers‘ mind during his second workout with the team, tweets Eric Pincus of The Los Angeles Times.

And-Ones: Looney, Koponen, Plumlee

June 27th, 2015 at 11:20am CST by Eddie Scarito

The Trail Blazers were extremely high on Arizona swingman Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but could not pass on adding a starting-caliber player like Mason Plumlee, whom the team acquired from the Nets in exchange for Hollis Jefferson and Steve Blake, Mike Richman of The Oregonian writes. “We really like Rondae. He’s a terrific young player,” Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey said. “But we just felt like, based on some of the moves we have to make [and] some of the uncertainly regarding some of our unrestricted free agents, the opportunity to get a dynamic young center that’s a little bit more accomplished, that we know we can put on the floor this fall, that can help you win games but still has a tremendous upside because of his age and his athleticism, it was just too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

Here’s more from around the league:

The NBA is proceeding with a plan to seed playoff teams one through eight in each conference regardless of division starting with 2015/16, reports Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.
The reason that talented UCLA forward Kevon Looney lasted until the Warriors nabbed him with the 30th overall pick is that he was red-flagged with a degenerative back as well as a hip issue, Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress tweets. Looney may require surgery at some point in his career as a result, Givony adds.
There’s only a 10% chance that Finnish guard Petteri Koponen signs with the Mavericks this offseason, Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com relays (on Twitter). Dallas holds the rights to Koponen, who was selected with the No. 30 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 6/26/15

June 26th, 2015 at 11:55pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Some of the greatest joys of being a sports fan, besides your favorite team winning the championship, are the debates that arise between fellow sports nuts along the way. It’s with this in mind that we have begun providing a forum for basketball fanatics to voice their opinions, debate trending topics, and simply hang out with like-minded hoops aficionados. We’ve begun been posting a new topic for readers to discuss each weeknight, which we hope that this will become a regular part of your sports day. If you missed our previous discussions you can view them here, or simply head over to the sidebar and select “Hoops Rumors Community Shootarounds.”

Of course, there will be differing opinions from time to time. While we absolutely encourage lively discussion and debate, we do expect everyone to treat each other with respect. So, please refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults or attacks, as well as the other taboo types of discourse laid out in our site’s commenting policy. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Hoops Rumors. Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there is no need to become a registered user.

Now that the preamble has been taken care of, on to the topic of the day: Who was the most surprising pick in the 2015 NBA Draft?

With the 2015 NBA Draft now complete it’s time to begin critiquing all of the selections. Whose name being called surprised you the most? Was it the Knicks’ selection of Kristaps Porizingis with the No. 4 overall pick? Perhaps the Celtics taking Terry Rozier at No. 16? Or was it another player who you feel had his name called too high or too low during Thursday night’s big event? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and express your opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.

Pacific Notes: Speights, Davis, Looney

June 26th, 2015 at 11:07pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Warriors are leaning toward exercising their 2015/16 team option for big man Marreese Speights, Monte Poole of CSNBayArea.com relays. “He was good for us, so I think we’re inclined to,” GM Bob Myers said. “We’ve just got to meet tomorrow to discuss those options . . . I would think we’re leaning that way. But we haven’t committed to it. We haven’t talked to his agent and decided it 100 percent.” Speights is set to earn $3,815,000 for next season, and Golden State has until Wednesday to make a decision regarding the 27-year-old’s contract.

Here’s the latest out of the Pacific Division:

There is mutual interest between the team and forward Ed Davis for him to return to the Lakers next season, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets. The 26-year-old declined his player option for next season, and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Davis appeared in 79 contests for Los Angeles during the 2014/15 campaign, averaging 8.3 points and 7.6 rebounds.
Warriors first-round draft pick Kevon Looney is extremely versatile, and that’s what appealed to the team about the UCLA forward, Diamond Leung of The Bay Area News Group writes. “Drafting a player like Kevon who has a lot of different skill sets really speaks to the way we play, the way we want to play,” Myers said. “He could be out there playing five, the four, or three. That’s the way we think the NBA is trending, being able to employ multiple skill sets. Coaches love guys that can be placed in many different positions, and Kevon’s a great example of that.”
The Suns intend to keep Jon Leuer, who they acquired from the Grizzlies on Thursday in exchange for the rights to Andrew Harrison, Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic relays (Twitter link). Leuer’s salary of $1,035,000 for 2015/16 becomes guaranteed if he remains on Phoenix’s roster past Tuesday, Coro notes.

Northwest Notes: Mudiay, Radicevic, Towns

June 26th, 2015 at 9:47pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The first round selection of Emmanuel Mudiay on Thursday night all but assures that Ty Lawson‘s time with the Nuggets is up, Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post writes. Denver feels fortunate that the young point guard fell to them at the No. 7 overall pick, and the team acknowledges that Mudiay’s limitations as a shooter are why he was still on the board that late in the lottery, Kiszla notes. “If he had a jumper, we’re not getting him. He’s No. 1, with a bullet,” Nuggets GM Tim Connelly said. “His shot’s not broken. He’s confident. And he’s a worker.” Connelly insisted that Mudiay and Lawson could exist in the same backcourt, saying “Absolutely. Excited about it,” when the prospect was brought up. But the team shouldn’t risk exposing Mudiay to the potentially negative influence that Lawson could provide, and must find a trade partner to facilitate the veteran’s departure from Denver, Kiszla opines.

Here’s the latest out of the Northwest Division:

The Thunder had been making a push to acquire the No. 12 pick from the Jazz before the draft, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (on Twitter).
The Nuggets‘ plan for Serbian point guard Nikola Radicevic is for him to remain overseas next season with Sevilla in Spain’s Liga ACB, Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post tweets. Denver selected Radicevic with the No. 57 overall pick on Thursday night.
Karl-Anthony Towns was the Timberwolves‘ primary target in the draft from day one, writes Sid Hartman of The Star Tribune. Minnesota coach/executive Flip Saunders believes that the 2015 No. 1 overall pick has only scratched the surface of his ability, Hartman notes. “The thing about Towns is he has great versatility, I mean, he handles the basketball extremely well for a guy that is just under 7-foot,” Saunders said. “He is a two-way player. He can block shots and score offensively. He didn’t show it in college, because [Kentucky coach John] Calipari didn’t ask him to do it, but he’s a very, very good perimeter-type shooter. So I just think his versatility, and then he’s very charismatic.“

Atlantic Notes: Anthony, Sixers, Hernangomez

June 26th, 2015 at 7:30pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Knicks star forward Carmelo Anthony is upset with the team’s dealings on draft night, Frank Isola of The New York Daily News writes. Anthony’s displeasure centers around team president Phil Jackson selecting Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis with the No. 4 overall pick, as well as the trade of Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Hawks in exchange for the rights to Notre Dame combo guard Jerian Grant, Isola notes. Porzingis, while talented, is considered a project who won’t contribute immediately. Anthony told a close friend regarding Porzingis, “Are we supposed to wait two or three years for this guy?” The veteran also reportedly called Hardaway after the trade was announced to express his frustration with the team’s moves, Isola adds. Knicks officials are aware of Anthony’s feelings, the Daily News scribe notes.

Here’s more from around the Atlantic Division:

The Nets did not dangle forward Bojan Bogdanovic as trade bait in an attempt to move up from the No. 29 overall pick, a league source told Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News (Twitter link).
Spanish center Guillermo Hernangomez, for whom the Knicks dealt two future second-rounders and cash to the Sixers, will likely play overseas during the 2015/16 campaign, Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com relays (on Twitter).
The Sixers‘ selection of Duke big man Jahlil Okafor with the No. 3 overall pick has done nothing to move the team closer toward contending, Bob Ford of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes. Ford cites the presence of big men Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid on Philadelphia’s roster, and the team’s needs for outside shooting and backcourt depth as reasons why the pick could be considered a setback in GM Sam Hinkie‘s rebuilding plan.
With improving their defense a priority this offseason, the Raptors are optimistic about what first round pick Delon Wright can do to help the team in that regard, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca writes. “We’re really excited about Delon,” GM Masai Ujiri said. “We saw him as a big point guard that can guard and takes great pride in it. [He] still needs to develop even if he’s a four-year [college] player. I think we also see him as a late bloomer a little bit, so we’re hoping there’s a little bit more development there. But he knows how to play. We watched him a lot and we like what he does.“

Texas Notes: Singh, Rondo, Milutinov

June 26th, 2015 at 1:58pm CST by Chuck Myron

Mavs GM Donnie Nelson said No. 52 overall pick Satnam Singh will play with the D-League’s Texas Legends this coming season, tweets Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com, presumably meaning that Dallas will stash the Indian center with its D-League affiliate rather than sign him to the NBA roster. Singh may still pay dividends for the Mavs next season, since his agents, Happy Walters and Dan Fegan, also represent apparent free agent target DeAndre Jordan, notes Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News. While we wait to see if that connection works for the Mavs, here’s more:

It’s doubtful that soon-to-be former Mavs point guard Rajon Rondo ends up with the Lakers now that they’ve drafted D’Angelo Russell, a source tells Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, though it’s unclear if that indicates a lack of interest from the team, from Rondo, or both. In any case, the Lakers once seemed the inevitable destination for the veteran.
The Rockets are reportedly aiming to pursue Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency, but GM Daryl Morey suggested that it’s a long shot they’ll open the cap room necessary to make a marquee free agent signing like that, as Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle relays. “I think there’s possible opportunities we have to explore that are bigger, but I think they’re unlikely,” Morey said. “It’s probably likely we’ll stay over the cap and use our mid-level [exception].”
Morey “wanted my first-born” for the No. 18 pick, Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders said jokingly of talks with the Rockets, tweets Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press. Houston used the 18th pick on Wisconsin forward Sam Dekker.
No. 26 pick Nikola Milutinov is likely to remain overseas this season rather than sign with the Spurs, notes Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. The center spent this past season with KK Partizan in his native Serbia.
Mavs assistant coach Monte Mathis is leaving to take an assistant’s job with the Magic, the Mavs confirmed, as Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com tweets.

2015 NBA Draft Results

June 26th, 2015 at 8:00am CST by Chuck Myron

The NBA draft came and went with its fair share of movement and surprises. Here’s a look at every pick from No. 1 through No. 60, along with links to our reports on each of the picks that changed hands via trade:

First Round

Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns, F/C, Kentucky
Lakers: D’Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State
Sixers: Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis, F, Latvia
Magic: Mario Hezonja, SG, Croatia
Kings: Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky
Nuggets: Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, Guangdong Southern
Pistons: Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona
Hornets: Frank Kaminsky, PF, Wisconsin
Heat: Justise Winslow, SF, Duke
Pacers: Myles Turner, C, Texas
Jazz: Trey Lyles, F, Kentucky
Suns: Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
Thunder: Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State
Hawks (traded to Wizards): Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas
Celtics: Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville
Bucks: Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV
Rockets: Sam Dekker, F, Wisconsin
Wizards (traded to Knicks, via Hawks): Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
Raptors: Delon Wright, PG, Utah
Mavericks: Justin Anderson, F, Virginia
Bulls: Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
Trail Blazers (traded to Nets): Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona
Cavaliers (traded to Timberwolves): Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
Grizzlies: Jarell Martin, F, LSU
Spurs: Nikola Milutinov, C, Serbia
Lakers: Larry Nance Jr., PF, Wyoming
Celtics: R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State
Nets: Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse
Warriors: Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA

Second Round

Timberwolves (traded to Cavaliers): Cedi Osman, G/F, Macedonia
Rockets: Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
Celtics: Jordan Mickey, PF, LSU
Lakers: Anthony Brown, SF, Stanford
Sixers (traded to Knicks): Guillermo Hernangomez, C, Spain
Timberwolves (traded to Cavaliers): Rakeem Christmas, F/C, Syracuse
Sixers: Richaun Holmes, PF, Bowling Green
Pistons: Darrun Hilliard, SF, Villanova
Hornets (traded to Nets): Juan Vaulet, SF, Argentina
Heat: Josh Richardson, SG, Tennessee
Nets (traded to Trail Blazers): Pat Connaughton, SG, Notre Dame
Jazz: Olivier Hanlan, G, Boston College
Pacers: Joseph Young, G, Oregon
Suns (traded to Grizzlies): Andrew Harrison, G, Kentucky
Celtics: Marcus Thornton, G, William & Mary
Bucks (traded to Raptors): Norman Powell, SG, UCLA
Sixers: Arturas Gudaitis, C, Lithuania
Thunder: Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky
Wizards: Aaron White, F, Iowa
Hawks: Marcus Eriksson, SG, Sweden
Magic: Tyler Harvey, SG, Eastern Washington
Mavericks: Satnam Singh, C, India
Cavaliers: Sir’Dominic Pointer, SF, St. John’s
Jazz (traded to Blazers): Daniel Diez, SF, Spain
Spurs: Cady Lalanne, F/C, Massachusetts
Pelicans (traded to Clippers): Branden Dawson, F, Michigan State
Nuggets: Nikola Radicevic, PG, Serbia
Sixers: J.P. Tokoto, G/F, North Carolina
Hawks: Dimitrios Agravanis, F, Greece
Sixers: Luka Mitrovic, PF, Serbia

Hawks Acquire Tim Hardaway Jr.

June 25th, 2015 at 8:42pm CST by Chuck Myron

9:59pm: The deal is official, both teams have announced. The Knicks get to create a $1,250,640 trade exception for Hardaway’s salary.

8:42pm: The Hawks and Knicks have struck a deal that sends Tim Hardaway Jr. to Atlanta, which will use the No. 19 pick to select Notre Dame point guard Jerian Grant for New York, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (on Twitter).

It’s no shock to see Hardaway in a deal, though the Pistons reportedly appeared to be the most interested team. New York drafted Hardaway 24th overall two years ago, and parlays him into a higher selection in this evening’s draft.

Grant spent five years, including a red-shirt season at Notre Dame. He spoke with Zach Links of Hoops Rumors about why he didn’t declare earlier and the progress he made as a senior this past season. He’ll represent a cap hold of $1,310,300 on New York’s books, slightly more than the nearly $1.305MM Hardaway is to make next season.

Hardaway will give Atlanta depth on the wing with DeMarre Carroll a free agent this summer. The Hawks are clearing about $300K in extra cap flexibility as they moved down from the No. 15 pick in a deal with the Wizards before reaching the agreement with New York.