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2016 NBA Draft

Prospect Profile: Jamal Murray (Part One)

May 29th, 2016 at 10:00am CST by ChrisCrouse

OVERVIEW: Jamal Murray was the 45th best player of his high school class, according to RSCI’s rankings last year. Murray, an Ontario native, spent part of his summer playing for the Canadian national team and he helped bring home a silver medal to his country during the 2015 Pan American Games. After that experience, and a freshman campaign at Kentucky, in which he averaged 20.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists, Murray finds himself near the top of most draft boards.

Jim Brown / USA TODAY Sports Images

Jim Brown / USA TODAY Sports Images

STRENGTHS: Murray served as Kentucky’s go-to scorer during his lone season playing for John Calipari. His 538 shot attempts were the most in the SEC last season and the 10th most in the nation. His impressive shooting was a major reason why he was able to dominate that role.  Murray shot 50.2% from the field and 40.8% from behind the arc. He was particularly effective coming off screens, shooting 56.0%, as Jonathan Givony of Draft Express details.

He dazzled teams with strong showings during workouts. During a recent workout, in which Chad Ford of ESPN.com attended, he made 25 3-pointers from various spots on the court during a two minute drill. That’s a testament to his shooting accuracy and his sneaky quick release. Don’t be surprised if he wins a 3-point contest over the course of his NBA career.

Murray has the ability to constantly get to the basket and once he’s there, he finds ways to score. He’s not the most athletic prospect, so you won’t see him posturing many defenders as he scores. Instead, he uses a variety of crafty moves to get his shot off. He possesses a nice floater and he used the backboard at Tim Duncan-like rates during his time in college.

The jury is still out on whether he can play point guard full-time in the NBA. Murray believes he can and there’s no reason he couldn’t lead a second unit at the point given his tremendous ball-handling skills. He’s drawn comparisons to Brandon Roy and C.J. McCollum and if he reaches his potential, he can be the type of player that a team can build around.

WEAKNESSES: 

His court-vision and decision making are areas of concern and improvement in those areas will likely dictate whether or not he can develop into a starting point guard in the league over the long-term. He struggled with setting up teammates in college, netting only 2.5 assists per 40 minutes, and his 2.7 turnovers per 40 minutes should be alarming to NBA front offices. He didn’t start at point guard at Kentucky, but those figures suggest he will have issues should he be placed into that role.

Murray has some work to do on the defensive end. Even with a 6’7″ wingspan, he doesn’t project to be a lockdown defender. He’ll likely need to be paired with a strong defender in the backcourt for a team to form a winning combination at the top of the key. That’ll be an easier feat if he can develop into a starting-caliber point guard given that shooting guards typically carry more size and should have the ability to cover the opposition’s best guard.

(For Part Two of our Jamal Murray Prospect Profile, click here)

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And-Ones: Carlesimo, Kings, Lee

May 27th, 2016 at 9:16pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Sixers intend to hire former NBA head coach P.J. Carlesimo as lead assistant on Brett Brown‘s staff, David Aldridge of NBA.com relays (via Twitter). Carlesimo, 66, will replace Mike D’Antoni, who is reportedly set to become the Rockets‘ new head coach. His last post in the league was with the Nets during the 2012/13 campaign, when he took over for fired coach Avery Johnson but was let go after the team was eliminated by Chicago in the first round of the playoffs that season. Carlesimo has a career regular season record of 239-315 and a postseason mark of 6-13.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • The Kings have pre-draft workouts scheduled for May 31st with Roscoe Allen (Stanford), Bryn Forbes (Michigan State), Nikola Jovanovic (USC), Manny Malou (Yuba College), Patricio Garino (George Washington) and Majok Deng (Louisiana Monroe), the team announced.
  • The reported hiring of David Fizdale as head coach signals that the Grizzlies are looking ahead to their future rather than adding a coach who is geared more toward the current crop of players, Chris Herrington of The Commercial Appeal writes. The scribe also analyzes the team’s offseason ahead, noting that Memphis will likely target depth at guard in the draft and mentions Wade Baldwin, Tyler Ulis and Demetrius Jackson as potential draftees this June.
  • The Mavericks expect the positive experience that David Lee had with the organization this season will aid it in recruiting free agents this offseason, Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com writes. “You know, we acquired David Lee two months ago. I don’t remember the exact date, but when you acquire a player like that that’s been a two-time All-Star and has been in some successful organizations, you know, you want him to have a great experience,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “He did, and he helped us get to the playoffs. We wouldn’t have got to the playoffs without David Lee, and the word spreads. You know, veterans like him know other veterans, and the word gets out that Dallas is a high-level organization. And we take great pride in that.”
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Draft Rumors: Sixers, C’s, Kings, Bucks, Jazz

May 27th, 2016 at 1:31pm CST by Luke Adams

As we passed along earlier today, ESPN’s Chad Ford said during a radio appearance that he believes the Sixers will gauge the trade value of Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor this offseason, with the team perhaps preferring to move Okafor instead of Noel. In Ford’s view, it’s unlikely that both players will be back in Philadelphia next season.

Ford and Marc Stein have now published a full-fledged report on the subject at ESPN.com, citing league sources who say the 76ers will explore trading Noel or Okafor during the lead-up to next month’s draft. While the report reiterates that Okafor is more likely than Noel to be moved, Ford and Stein stress that Philadelphia is considering a wide range of possibilities. In a tweet, Ford adds that the Sixers are looking into getting a top-six pick back for Okafor, since they’re really hoping to land a young guard.

As we wait to see how serious Philadelphia is about trading one of their top picks from the last two years, let’s check in on a few other draft rumors and updates…

  • As the Sixers explore trade possibilities with their previous top picks, they’re also weighing which player to select first overall this year. According to Ford (Twitter link), Ben Simmons is the current frontrunner over Brandon Ingram. Ford places the odds of a Simmons pick for Philadelphia at 60-40.
  • The Celtics, Kings, Bucks, and Jazz appear to be the lottery teams most likely to trade their picks, tweets Ford.
  • Along with Oklahoma’s Isaiah Cousins, whose scheduled workout with Phoenix was previously reported, five prospects are working out for the Suns today, according to the team (Twitter link). Those players are Wade Baldwin (Vanderbilt), DeAndre’ Bembry (St. Joseph’s), Malcolm Brogdon (Virginia), Dorian Finney-Smith (Florida), and James Webb III (Boise State).
  • The Grizzlies have a workout scheduled on Tuesday, May 31st for the following six players, per a press release from the team: Eli Carter (Boston College), Alex Hamilton (Louisiana Tech), A.J. Hammons (Purdue), Taurean Prince (Baylor), Mike Tobey (Virginia), and Troy Williams (Indiana).
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Knicks Plan To Acquire Draft Pick

May 27th, 2016 at 12:44pm CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks currently don’t hold any picks in the 2016 NBA draft, having sent their first-rounder to Toronto and their second-rounder to Houston, but the team plans to trade back into the draft, according to Ian Begley of ESPN.com. We’ve heard previously that the Knicks had been trying to acquire a pick, but Begley’s suggestion that they “plan” to land a pick sounds a little more definitive.

Of course, just because the Knicks intend to get back into the draft, that doesn’t mean it’s a slam-dunk — it takes two teams to make a deal. But there are a few clubs that have stockpiled picks and may not want to use all of them. Teams like Boston or Denver could be open to dealing with the Knicks, since those franchises hold 13 of this year’s 60 selections between them.

As our Eddie Scarito observed earlier this month, the Knicks still have up to $3.3MM that they can spend to purchase a draft pick if they’re unable to swing a deal involving a player for one. Armed with that flexibility, New York should be able to find a willing trade partner.

Assuming the Knicks do acquire a pick, it figures to be a second-rounder or something late in the first round, and the team has been eyeing prospects who figure to be available in that range. According to Begley, New York has expressed interest in Indiana guard Yogi Ferrell, Kansas guard Wayne Selden, and St. Bonaventure guard Marcus Posley, among others.

Of those names, only Posley has not yet been linked to the Knicks. The Knicks’ interest in Ferrell and Selden has been previously suggested, as the team scheduled a workout for the former, and interviewed the latter at the combine in Chicago.

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And-Ones: Noah, Nets Mini-Camp, Jovanovic

May 26th, 2016 at 10:28pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Despite the reports that Joakim Noah is ready to leave the Bulls when he becomes a free agent this summer, talks between the big man and the team have resulted in a “positive dialogue” about a new contract, a league source tells Nick Friedell of ESPN.com. Noah had reportedly told teammates in recent weeks that he’s done with the organization once free agency begins, adding that he “has no trust in the front office getting this in the right direction.” The big man’s agent disputed the reports, adding that his client has “great respect” for the city of Chicago, Bulls fans, and the organization. “Joakim and I speak on a daily basis about his future,” Duffy said. “There has been zero indication he doesn’t wish to return to Bulls.”

Here’s more from around the league:

  • The Nets are planning on holding another free agent mini-camp next month and the invitees will include Quinn Cook, Alex Stepheson, Scotty Hopson, Jerrelle Benimon, Alex Kirk, Kwame Vaughn and McKenzie Moore, international journalist David Pick reports in a series of tweets. Moore is also scheduled to work out for the Mavericks, Pick notes.
  • USC junior big man Nikola Jovanovic has hired Bill Duffy of BDA Sports Management to represent him, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today relays (via Twitter). The 22-year-old is no lock to be selected this June and isn’t among the top 100 players, according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.
  • Former Oklahoma shooting guard Isaiah Cousins has a workout scheduled with the Raptors on May 31st, Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv tweets. Cousins is a potential second-rounder, with Givony slotting him No. 67 overall.
  • D’Andre Downey (Stillman College) and Alec Wintering (Portland) have withdrawn from the 2016 NBA draft and are returning to school, Dan Feldman of NBCSports.com relays.
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Atlantic Notes: Hornacek, Noah, Bender

May 26th, 2016 at 8:01pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The biggest beneficiaries from the Knicks hiring of Jeff Hornacek may be the team’s young point guards, Jerian Grant and Tony Wroten, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Hornacek, whose offense depends on strong point guard play, should immediately improve the team’s woeful backcourt production, Lewis notes. “Jeff played in the league for years, coached in Phoenix,” Grant’s father, Harvey, said of the new coach. “His system was mostly pick-and-roll. Jerian, once he learns the system, he can flourish in that system. And Jeff can tell him the ins and outs of being a guard in this league.”

“Jerian, this guy gets in the gym and he puts the work in,” the elder Grant continued. “You have to be on the floor, you have to be on the floor and you’ve got to work through your mistakes and get that confidence. The last 12, 14 games, the fans in New York got to see what Jerian can do.”

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

  • Jordan Ott, an assistant coach with the Hawks and former assistant at Michigan State, is joining new Nets coach Kenny Atkinson‘s staff as an assistant coach and manager of advanced scouting, Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets.
  • If Joakim Noah decides to leave the Bulls this summer, the Knicks would have interest in signing him, provided it was at a discounted rate, Howard Beck of Bleacher Report relays (Twitter links). Beck points to Noah’s New York roots and the mutual respect between the big man and team president Phil Jackson as reasons the two parties could come together, but adding that Noah’s potential desire to start could prove problematic.
  • Celtics personnel, including president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, took a recent trip to Israel to scout potential top three pick Dragan Bender, international journalist David Pick relays (via Twitter). In a recent poll, Hoops Rumors readers predicted that Boston would select Bender with the No. 3 overall pick.
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NCAA Early Entrant Decisions For 2016 NBA Draft

May 26th, 2016 at 11:38am CST by Luke Adams

The deadline for NCAA underclassmen to withdraw from the 2016 NBA draft and retain their remaining college eligibility came and went on Wednesday night, giving us a much clearer picture of which prospects are still draft-eligible and which ones are returning to school for at least one more year. International prospects have until June 13th to make a decision on whether or not to remain in this year’s draft, but this year’s NCAA draft class is mostly set.

As Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com tweeted this morning, Valparaiso’s Alec Peters was the last remaining NCAA underclassman of note who had yet to make his intentions clear after last night’s deadline — sources tell Goodman that Peters has withdrawn from the draft and will go back to school for his senior season after testing the waters.

Now that all those draft decisions are in, let’s go through the list of NCAA early entrants and check in on which players can still be drafted this year.

Read more

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And-Ones: Borrego, Onuaku, Swanigan

May 25th, 2016 at 10:25pm CST by Eddie Scarito

With the Grizzlies reportedly offering their head coaching spot to David Fizdale, the Rockets are set to be the lone NBA team without a head coach in place for the 2016/17 campaign. Spurs assistant James Borrego, who appears to have emerged as a serious candidate for Houston’s post, had his scheduled second interview today with team owner Leslie Alexander, Marc Stein of ESPN.com tweets. Houston is also believed to be considering Magic assistant coach Adrian Griffin, Sixers assistant Mike D’Antoni, and Hornets assistant Stephen Silas for its head coaching opening.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • Louisville sophomore center Chinanu Onuaku will remain in the NBA draft and will not return to school for his junior campaign, coach Rick Pitino informed Jeff Greer of The Courier Journal (via Twitter). The 19-year-old is a projected second round pick with Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress slotting him as the No. 38 overall prospect.
  • New Mexico State sophomore power forward Pascal Siakam intends to remain in the 2016 NBA draft, Jon Rothstein of CBSSports.com tweets. Siakam is the No. 54 overall prospect according to Givony.
  • Purdue freshman power forward Caleb Swanigan is withdrawing from the draft and will return to school next season, Rothstein relays (Twitter link). The 19-year-old is ranked No. 83 overall by Givony, who projects Swanigan as a late first-rounder in 2017.
  • Former Michigan State swingman Denzel Valentine is working his way up draft boards and is now a potential lottery pick, writes Michael Singer of USA Today. Valentine appeared in 31 contest for the Spartans this past season and averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 33.0 minutes per outing.
  • Nebraska junior small forward Andrew White will return to school for his senior campaign, Rothstein relays (via Twitter).
  • Sophomore point guard Melo Trimble is withdrawing from the draft and will return to Maryland next season, Rothstein tweets.
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Pacific Notes: Hornacek, Bogut, Lemon Jr.

May 25th, 2016 at 6:31pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Jeff Hornacek, who is reportedly set to become the Knicks new head coach, was sabotaged during his tenure with the Suns by injuries and a toxic environment created by the trade demands of Markieff Morris, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. “There were circumstances around him that caused us to not meet expectations more than his style of coaching or ability to coach,’’ Mark West, Phoenix’s vice president of player relations, told Berman. “If you look at a thin slice of the pie and not the whole body of work, [Knicks president] Phil Jackson is smarter than that. I’m sure he didn’t judge it over Jeff’s career in basketball. He was in a tough spot. It unraveled. We won 48 games his first year, lost some of those players that helped achieve those goals, and it went the other way.”

Discussing what Hornacek has to offer as a coach, West said, “He has a combination of different influences since being in the league — Cotton Fitzsimmons with the up-and-down, run-and-gun the Suns played — and playing for Philly in the East, more grinding, half-court set-it-up. With Utah, it was a blend of both. The best thing about Jeff is incorporating different styles, but he’s better coaching the up-and-down. He’ll morph the team to what they need to do.’’

Here’s more from the Pacific Division:

  • The Clippers held workouts today for A.J. English (Iona), Gary Payton II (Oregon State), Malcolm Brogdon (Virginia), Danuel House (Texas A&M), Marshall Plumlee (Duke) and Josh Scott (Colorado), Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times relays (via Twitter).
  • The Warriors saved $4MM in luxury tax penalties as a result of Andrew Bogut not being named to the NBA’s All-Defensive team, Bobby Marks of The Vertical notes (on Twitter). Golden State’s tax bill for 2015/16 is now $14.9MM and Bogut’s cap hit for next season drops to approximately $11MM, Marks adds.
  • The Clippers are bringing in point guard Walter Lemon Jr. for their veteran mini-camp, Michael Scotto of Bleacher Report tweets. Lemon Jr. spent last season with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Pacers’ D-League affiliate, averaging 13.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 24.7 minutes per outing.
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Jaron Blossomgame Withdraws From Draft

May 25th, 2016 at 1:19pm CST by Luke Adams

Clemson forward Jaron Blossomgame has decided to withdraw from the 2016 NBA draft, sources tell Jon Rothstein of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). The decision comes in advance of tonight’s deadline for NCAA underclassmen to remove their names from the draft and retain their college eligibility.

Blossomgame, who will return to Clemson for his senior season, had a strong junior year with the Tigers, averaging 18.7 points per game to go along with 6.6 boards per contest. He ranked 38th overall on Chad Ford’s list of 2016’s top 100 prospects, and placed just outside the top 50 on Jonathan Givony’s list at DraftExpress, at No. 51.

Before deciding that he would return to Clemson for another year, Blossomgame worked out for the Suns, Sixers, Clippers, Jazz, and Grizzlies, so he likely received a good deal of feedback from teams about his draft prospects.

Here are a few more updates on this year’s underclassmen draft decisions:

  • USC big man Nikola Jovanovic will remain in the 2016 NBA draft, reports Rothstein (via Twitter). Jovanovic, a junior in 2015/16, will forgo his final year of college eligibility.
  • Stanford’s Rosco Allen will keep his name in the 2016 NBA draft, sources tell Rothstein (Twitter link). Although Allen is technically coming off his senior year, he had one more year of college eligibility remaining, which he’ll forgo.
  • ESPN’s Jeff Goodman previously reported that Malik Newman‘s father, Horatio Webster, told him Newman would withdraw his name from the draft and return to college. However, Goodman follows up with another comment from Webster, who says, “We haven’t made a decision yet. Right now he’s still enrolled at Mississippi State” (Twitter link).
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