2016 NBA Draft

Draft Rumors — Morning: Maker, Young, Hawes

June 23rd, 2016 at 8:36am CST by Eddie Scarito

The 2016 NBA Draft is mere hours away and trade chatter is likely to ramp up significantly as the event nears. Here’s the latest rumors and notes from around the league:

A number of teams have ruled out selecting Thon Maker in the first round over concerns that his age has been misrepresented, Jake Fischer of Liberty Ballers tweets. Multiple league sources tell Fischer they believe Maker to be 21-23 years of age, while he is officially listed as being just 19-years-old.
The Hornets are offering the No. 22 overall pick as a sweetener if teams will take the contracts of Spencer Hawes or Jeremy Lamb off their hands via trade, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical relays (via Twitter). Charlotte wants to clear cap room to aid it in pursuing free agents this offseason, Wojnarowski adds.
Several Western Conference teams have been aggressively pursuing Nets forward Thaddeus Young, who Brooklyn is looking to deal to the highest bidder in an effort to land a first round pick, Wojnarowski tweets.
Teams picking after the Grizzlies, who own the No. 17 overall pick, believe Memphis is split between selecting Malachi Richardson and Malik Beasley, Fischer tweets.
The Hawks have contacted teams drafting in the late teens of the first round offering to trade back from No. 12 overall in exchange for an established rotation player, Fischer relays (on Twitter).
The Clippers have made calls to teams owning first-rounders in the mid to late teens and are offering up the No. 25 and No. 33 overall picks in return, Fischer tweets.

Pacific Notes: Russell, Kennedy, Kings

June 22nd, 2016 at 7:28pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Lakers 2015 lottery pick D’Angelo Russell has heard the trade rumors connected to himself but isn’t concerned, especially after GM Mitch Kupchak reached out to re-assure him the team has faith in his abilities, Mark Medina of The Orange County Register relays. “You hear trade talks,” Russell said. “Then you get a text from your GM saying he trusts your work ethic and don’t worry about it.”

The young playmaker has already been picking new coach Luke Walton‘s brain about how Warriors star Stephen Curry was able to develop his game to the level it is now, Medina adds. “Please don’t take this the wrong way,” Russell said. “He didn’t compare me to Steph. But I asked him a lot about Steph. I asked him a lot of Steph questions about how he got to this point.”

Here’s more news and notes from the Pacific Division:

Former SMU power forward Markus Kennedy worked out for the Lakers today, Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders relays (via Twitter). Kennedy is the No. 77 overall senior in this year’s draft according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.
The Warriors should place a high priority on re-signing restricted free agents Festus Ezeli and Harrison Barnes, Bobby Marks of The Vertical opines in his offseason primer for the franchise. The scribe cites the team’s lack of cap flexibility and the potential for the duo to turn into high-value trade assets down the line as reasons why.
The Kings hold the No. 8 overall pick in this year’s draft, yet none of the players projected to be lottery selections worked out for the team, notes Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee. The highest-regarded prospect who worked out was former Vanderbilt guard Wade Baldwin, who is a projected mid-first round pick, Jones adds. The team downplayed the significance of pre-draft workouts, with assistant GM Ken Catanella saying, “It’s important, but I would always say we’re looking at a guy’s body of work. It is a small piece, but you still want to, if you haven’t had the opportunity to interview a player at the combine perhaps, or you haven’t had the opportunity to see a guy live, it never hurts. But again, you take the available information you have, and you make the most of it.”

Atlantic Notes: Millsap, Gbinjie, Noah

June 22nd, 2016 at 6:01pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Here’s the latest happenings from out of the Atlantic Division:

The Raptors should look to trade away the No. 9 overall pick for veteran help rather than adding another young player to the roster, opines Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. The scribe notes the lack of star caliber players in this year’s draft as a primary reason to move the pick, adding that the team has enough developing players on its bench already.
Former Syracuse swingman Michael Gbinjie completed his string of pre-draft workouts this week with a showcase for the Nets, Donna Ditota of The Post Standard relays (via Twitter).
With the Knicks dealing away center Robin Lopez as part of the Derrick Rose trade, the team is now set up for a potential pursuit this summer of big men Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol or Dwight Howard, Frank Isola of The New York Daily News observes (via Twitter). Along with the Knicks, the Nets are also expected to have interest in signing Noah, Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops tweets.
As a result of the Rose trade, the Knicks‘ available cap space has decreased slightly, dropping from approximately $35.4MM to $35.1MM, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders notes (on Twitter).
The Sixers are in the market for a veteran point guard and were involved in trade discussions for George Hill and Jeff Teague prior to the players being dealt elsewhere, Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress tweets.
If the Hawks are unsuccessful in their attempt to re-sign Al Horford, and end up shifting into rebuilding mode, the Raptors would be interested in acquiring forward Paul Millsap, Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports notes (Twitter links). Toronto had inquired about Millsap at the trade deadline this season but were rebuffed, Lewenberg relays, adding that the Raptors view him as ideal fit next to center Jonas Valanciunas.

Deveney’s Latest: Faried, Wolves, Magic, Suns

June 22nd, 2016 at 1:00pm CST by Luke Adams

While the Sixers, Celtics, and a few other clubs have been the subject of more trade rumors in recent weeks, the Nuggets may actually be the team most likely to pull off a draft-day deal, sources tell Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. As we noted earlier this week, Denver is one of four teams holding three first-round picks, and is the only one of those clubs without a D-League affiliate, which will make it tricky for the Nuggets to use all their selections and carry all those players on their roster.

In addition to holding three top-20 picks, the Nuggets also have Kenneth Faried, who hasn’t demanded a trade, but wouldn’t mind being moved, since he doesn’t feel like he’s a part of Denver’s long-term plans, according to Deveney. The Sporting News scribe adds that the Nuggets have received offers for Danilo Gallinari as well, but would prefer to move Faried.

Here’s more from Deveney, including info on a potential suitor for Faried:

The Timberwolves have spoken to the Nuggets and have some interest in trading for Faried, Deveney writes. New head coach Tom Thibodeau observed Faried first-hand when they were both part of Team USA at the 2014 World Cup, and apparently liked what he saw.
The Magic will have interest in a handful of former Florida Gators in free agency this summer, including Al Horford, Joakim Noah, and Chandler Parsons, according to Deveney. With Orlando hoping to make a splash in free agency, Deveney also points out that the team could take a risk on a young project like Skal Labissiere in the draft, with the expectation that they’ll land veteran help a couple weeks later.
The Suns have interest in Kris Dunn at No. 4, and Eric Bledsoe would become very available in trade talks if the team were to select Dunn with that pick. However, Bledsoe’s knee issues could diminish his value, as one GM tells Deveney: “It’s definitely a case of selling low if they trade him now. Those knees are serious red flags and you figure it is only a matter of time before (his left meniscus) will be removed.” Bledsoe previously had his right meniscus removed, and has had his left meniscus repaired.
Spanish forward Juan Hernangomez is projected to come off the board in the 20-30 range in Thursday night’s draft, and Deveney says the Raptors, who hold the No. 27 pick, are particularly interested. Hernangomez seems willing to remain overseas as a draft-and-stash project, but has also said he’d love to come to the NBA immediately.

Eastern Rumors: Magic, Wizards, Noah, Knicks

June 22nd, 2016 at 12:02pm CST by Luke Adams

The Magic were prepared to make Chauncey Billups one of the highest-paid assistant coaches in the NBA, offering him a spot as the lead assistant on Frank Vogel‘s new staff in Orlando, but Billups has turned down the team’s offer, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. According to Wojnarowski, the former NBA Finals MVP gave serious consideration to joining the Magic before deciding to remain in his current role as a television analyst. However, Billups does have interest in transitioning into a front-office role in the future.

Meanwhile, the Magic are in advanced talks with Timberwolves assistant David Adelman for a post on Vogel’s staff in Orlando, sources tell Wojnarowski.

Here’s more from across the Eastern Conference:

Add the Wizards to the list of teams with interest in Joakim Noah, says Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link). Noah, who may leave the Bulls and has said he’s looking forward to free agency, is also expected to receive interest from the Timberwolves.
Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams are opting out of their contracts with the Knicks, and while Afflalo is likely a goner, Phil Jackson is fond of Williams, a source tells Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News.
Stan Van Gundy is confident that the Pistons will get a solid long-term piece at No. 18, but he isn’t counting on that player to contribute immediately, as Keith Langlois of Pistons.com details. In other words, if Detroit drafts a point guard with that first-round pick, that won’t stop the team from potentially pursuing a point guard in free agency. Van Gundy added that if the Pistons get trade inquiries on their pick, they have a good idea of “what would make us listen and what wouldn’t.”
If the right opportunities don’t arise this summer, the Celtics shouldn’t be in any rush to burn all their assets and cap room, writes Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald, making the case that “wait until next year” might not be a bad Plan B for Boston. Bulpett adds (in a tweet) that the C’s are “trying very hard” to make major deals, and are well prepared with quick counters when different scenarios are raised in trade talks.

Draft Rumors: Lakers, Ingram, Celtics, Bembry

June 22nd, 2016 at 11:14am CST by Luke Adams

With Ben Simmons having reportedly received a promise from the Sixers at No. 1, the Lakers know who will be on the board for them at No. 2, and barring a last-minute blockbuster trade offer, Los Angeles intends to select Duke’s Brandon Ingram with that pick, according to ESPN’s Chad Ford and Ramona Shelburne. The decision, which comes as no surprise, comes after the Lakers spent three hours meeting with new head coach Luke Walton on Tuesday night, per the ESPN.com report. The team did its homework on other top prospects, but this year’s class has always been viewed as having a consensus top two, so it would have been a huge upset if the Lakers had landed on anyone but Ingram.

Let’s check in on a few more draft rumors, notes, and updates around the league…

ESPN’s Marc Stein wrote last night that the Celtics‘ preference at No. 3 – assuming they keep the pick – has “emerged as one of the bigger mysteries of draft week.” Bill Simmons of The Ringer agrees, tweeting that the Suns (Marquese Chriss), Timberwolves (Kris Dunn), Pelicans (Jamal Murray), and Kings (Buddy Hield) all appear to have preferred targets, but Boston could throw a wrench into the top eight by selecting one of those players. Meanwhile, Brett Dawson of The Advocate cautions (via Twitter) that it’s not yet clear whether Murray is New Orleans’ top target.
The Hawks, Sixers, and Spurs – all of whom have picks in the 20-30 range tomorrow night – have done the most extensive research on former St. Joseph’s wing DeAndre’ Bembry, a source tells Jon Rothstein of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
Rothstein adds (via Twitter) that two names he’s hearing on the Grizzlies‘ short list for the No. 17 pick are Wade Baldwin (Vanderbilt) and Malachi Richardson (Syracuse).
The Pacers have narrowed down their list of realistic targets for the No. 20 overall pick to eight prospects, and prioritizing versatility, writes Nate Taylor of The Indianapolis Star.
ESPN’s Chad Ford (Insider-only link) has revealed his final big board for the 2016 draft, which has Kris Dunn supplanting Jamal Murray at No. 3, and Marquese Chriss cracking the top five.
The NBA has announced 19 Green Room invitees for the 2016 draft, as Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv details. The list of prospects who will be in attendance on Thursday night includes the usual suspects, such as Simmons and Ingram, but also features a handful of names further down on draft boards, including Timothe Luwawu, Malik Beasley, and Denzel Valentine.

Hoops Rumors 2016 NBA Mock Draft

June 22nd, 2016 at 10:10am CST by Hoops Rumors

Over the past several weeks, Eddie Scarito of Hoops Rumors has been conducting a community mock draft with our readers, opening up each first-round pick to a vote. The latest results of that mock draft, which is now nearly in the books, can be found right here.

With the 2016 NBA draft right around the corner, it’s time to reveal our own mock draft. Chris Crouse and Arthur Hill of Hoops Rumors have tackled the 2016 first round, alternating picks and providing their thoughts and rationale for each selection.

Our mock draft doesn’t feature trades, and in most cases, Chris and Arthur make their case for the prospect they believe a team should pick, rather than simply trying to predict what will happen. Those factors mean that the actual draft board on Thursday night could look a whole lot different from the one we have listed below, so feel free to weigh in below in the comments section with your own thoughts, opinions, and predictions.

Here are the results of Hoops Rumors’ 2016 NBA mock draft:

1. Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons, F (LSU)
CC: Simmons is the franchise player whom the Sixers have been angling for since the process began and there’s no question he should be the pick. He’s a 6’10” phenom who can handle the rock and glide up and down the court with ease, as I discussed in my Prospect Profile of the 19-year-old. Simmons should immediately contribute in Philadelphia and he’ll likely be the front-runner for the Rookie of the Year award.

2. Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram, SF (Duke)
AH: With Simmons gone, this is an easy choice for L.A. The Lakers may prefer to trade the pick to speed up the rebuilding process, but if they hold onto it, Ingram is a perfect fit with their young core. The 6’9″ forward is a born scorer who averaged 17.3 points per game and shot 41% from 3-point range in his single season at Duke. He may be more ready for the NBA game right away than Simmons is and will certainly be a Rookie of the Year candidate.

3. Boston Celtics: Dragan Bender, PF (Croatia)
CC: This is the spot where the draft starts to get interesting. The Celtics could go a few different directions with this pick. Trading the selection would be one and I wouldn’t be surprised if they send the No. 3 overall pick to Philadelphia in a deal for Jahlil Okafor. Assuming the C’s keep the selection, Bender would be a nice fit. Boston lacks a franchise player and Bender could be just that if he reaches his potential. GM Danny Ainge can afford to swing for the fences given the team’s collection of assets.

4. Phoenix Suns: Marquese Chriss, PF (Washington)
AH: The hype around the super-athletic freshman continues to grow, and it may propel him to the No. 4 pick. The 6’10” Chriss is an explosive leaper and effective rebounder who has drawn comparisons to Shawn Kemp, but he also has stretch four potential, shooting 35% from 3-point range with the Huskies. The Suns are set in the backcourt with Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight, and they own picks No. 13 and 28 in the first round, so they can afford to gamble on a raw talent like Chriss.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jamal Murray, G (Kentucky)
CC: Murray may be the best scorer in the draft, and there’s a decent chance he’ll be gone by the No. 5 pick. The Timberwolves also reportedly have interest in trading this pick to the Bulls as part of a package for Jimmy Butler, and if the Wolves can find a way to do so without including Andrew Wiggins (or, of course, Karl-Anthony Towns), they should pull the trigger. If the team holds onto the selection though, Murray would be a great fit for the Wolves, as we discussed in his Prospect Profile.

6. New Orleans Pelicans: Buddy Hield, SG (Oklahoma)
AH: With Eric Gordon possibly leaving in free agency, the Pelicans find a perfect replacement in this sharp-shooting senior Sooner. The Wooden Award winner averaged 25 points per game and shot 46% from 3-point range. Outside shooting is becoming a more valuable commodity in the NBA as more teams move to small-ball lineups and try to create space on offense. Hield developed into a star in the college game and has the ability to do the same in the pros.

7. Denver Nuggets: Jaylen Brown, SF (California)
CC: The Nuggets are starting to build a promising team with a young core that includes Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic in the front court, and the explosive Emmanuel Mudiay running the point. The team would be ecstatic to have the uber-athletic Brown fall to them at No. 7. The small forward could end up being one of the best players in the draft if he improves his jump shot — he made just 29.4% of his 3-point shots during his lone season at California. However, Brown’s ability to get to the basket should allow him to have a place in Denver’s rotation upon entering the league.

8. Sacramento Kings: Kris Dunn, PG (Providence)
AH: Given Rajon Rondo‘s looming free agency and Darren Collison‘s legal troubles, point guard is suddenly a position of concern in Sacramento. The Kings are fortunate to land the top pure point guard in the draft without having to move up from No. 8. Dunn stands out for his quickness, floor vision, scoring ability and overall athleticism. Assuming the Kings don’t trade DeMarcus Cousins, he should be very happy to team up with Dunn.

9. Toronto Raptors: Dejounte Murray, G (Washington)
CC: Nearly every mock draft has the Raptors taking a big man and they could certainly use one since they will likely lose Bismack Biyombo to free agency. The team is set in the backcourt, provided DeMar DeRozan re-signs. Kyle Lowry, who turned 30 this past season, has two years and $24MM left on his current deal. That’s a bargain, but it fair to wonder if Lowry has reached his peak. If he keeps up his level of play, he’ll be looking for a max contract at age 32 when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. That’ll be a steep price even if he’s still a top-10 point guard in the league at that time. Murray has the upside to be a better player than Lowry over the course of his career, and shrewd GMs like Masai Ujiri are always looking at the big picture. The Raptors are only picking this high in the draft because they were able to fleece the Knicks in the Andrea Bargnani deal and they likely won’t see a top-20 pick over the next several years. They should be looking to acquire a player with star potential and Murray fits the bill. He will need time and development in order to reach that potential, but the Raptors are in good position to wager that he does.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Skal Labissiere, PF/C (Kentucky)
AH: In need of a shot blocker, Milwaukee gambles on the 7’0″ freshman out of Kentucky, whose draft stock has been rising after a disappointing season with the Wildcats. Labissiere needs to gain weight and add muscle to battle with NBA big men, but his speed and athleticism makes him a risk worth taking at No. 10.

11. Orlando Magic: Jakob Poeltl, C (Utah)
CC: If Poeltl falls to No. 11, it’ll be a testament to how far the small-ball pendulum has swung. The league is devaluing the center position and Poeltl is the best one in the draft. The 20-year-old possesses excellent touch around the basket and a nice mid-range game. He can’t consistently knock down jumpers outside the paint, but he’ll excel in the pick-and-roll, and at 7’1″, he could become a monstrous defender. New coach Frank Vogel has showered incumbent center Nikola Vucevic with praise, claiming that Vucevic could be the team’s defensive enforcer under the right tutelage. I don’t know if I buy that, as Vucevic was the 47th-best defensive center according to ESPN’s Real Defensive Plus/Minus, and that side of the ball has never been his strength. I was tempted to go with Marquette’s Henry Ellenson here, but Poeltl’s potential to be a Tyson Chandler-level defender makes him the selection for Orlando.

12. Utah Jazz: Henry Ellenson, PF (Marquette)
AH: Starting center Rudy Gobert missed 21 games with injuries last season, so the Jazz wouldn’t mind picking up some frontcourt depth in case that happens again. Ellenson is a highly skilled big man who can rebound, score in the low post and stretch defenses with his shooting. There are concerns about his defense, but on a deep team like Utah he’ll have the luxury of slowly improving on that side as the court as he gradually earns minutes.

13. Phoenix Suns: Malachi Richardson, SG/SF (Syracuse)
CC: A trade in this spot is possible, considering the Suns have three first round selections. Assuming the team holds onto No. 13, Richardson is the type of high-risk, high-reward pick the Suns should make. Richardson thrived during Syracuse’s unexpected NCAA Tournament run, but he was inconsistent in the regular season, mostly due to poor decision making. Offensively, He pounds the rock way too much and ends up taking too many contested shots in the lane. He did shoot 35.3% from behind the arc and if a team can get him to play within a system, he has the potential to be an All-Star down the road.

14. Chicago Bulls: Deyonta Davis, PF/C (Michigan State)
AH: The Bulls may enter the 2016/17 season without Pau Gasol or Joakim Noah, so they need to concentrate on size in the draft. It may come down to a decision between Davis and Domantas Sabonis, but the 6’11” Michigan State product gets the nod here based on athleticism. It may take him a little while to adjust to the physicality of the pro game, but Davis has shown that he can rebound, block shots and shoot a little. The outlook for this pick could change if Chicago finds a taker for Derrick Rose, which would put Vanderbilt’s Wade Baldwin in play at No. 14.

15. Denver Nuggets: Furkan Korkmaz, SG (Turkey)
CC: The Nuggets emphasize scouting international players as much as any team in the league and they’re not afraid to draft a player who may take time to develop, or one who has played against questionable talent. Korkmaz may take some time to reach his potential, but he has the tools to get there. He’s a scorer who won’t be considered a chucker by any means. He plays smart basketball, dribbling with a purpose in order to either get to the rim or manipulate the defense into leaving a teammate open. His ability on the defensive end will be crucial to his staying power in the league. If he can bulk up and hold his own on the wing, he could be a steal at No. 15.

16. Boston Celtics: Domantas Sabonis, PF/C (Gonzaga)
AH: After taking Dragan Bender at No. 3, the Celtics add to their frontcourt depth with the talented Gonzaga big man. Sabonis averaged a double-double with the Zags this season at 17.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, and would give Boston a physical presence inside. If Jared Sullinger and/or Tyler Zeller leaves in free agency, Sabonis could step right in and take their place.

17. Memphis Grizzlies: Wade Baldwin, PG (Vanderbilt)
CC: The Grizzlies’ offseason will revolve around re-signing Mike Conley and while it’s likely he’ll be back, there’s a chance he’ll bolt in free agency. If Baldwin is there at No. 17, the franchise could have a potential long-term replacement for Conley should he leave. If Conley stays, Baldwin can slot into the backup point guard spot and his 6’10” wingspan will allow him to play some shooting guard as well. The Grizzlies could really use a small forward, but I suspect they jump at the chance to take Baldwin if he’s there.

18. Detroit Pistons: Denzel Valentine, SG (Michigan State)
AH: The Pistons don’t have to look far to find a versatile swingman with a variety of offensive skills. The 6’6″ Valentine can shoot, pass and handle the ball, and he understands the game in a way that will make coach Stan Van Gundy very happy. Detroit may consider going with a bigger player in this spot, but Valentine’s overall skill level will make him too irresistible to pass up.

19. Denver Nuggets: Ante Zizic, C (Croatia)
CC: The Nuggets go with an international prospect for the second time in this draft, nabbing a seven-footer with fantastic upside. Zizic is a 19-year-old physical big man who plays with tremendous energy and is an excellent rebounder. He’ll need time to develop and Denver is in a good position to afford him that luxury.

20. Indiana Pacers: Cheick Diallo, PF/C (Kansas)
AH: If the Pacers are ready to give up on the experiment of Paul George as a power forward, Diallo would be a nice addition to the roster. He’s only 6’9″, but he brings rebounding, shot blocking and overall good defensive skills to a team that needs more size. Diallo may never be a productive NBA scorer, but he’s a potentially very good role player who brings a lot of value at this pick.

21. Atlanta Hawks: DeAndre’ Bembry, SF (St. Joseph’s)
CC: Bembry is an excellent passer with tremendous court vision. He’s a solid ball handler who should be able to come in and play a role on the Hawks’ second unit. His jump shot limits his ceiling — think Evan Turner with better defensive skills at this stage in his career. The Hawks could certainly use another playmaker, especially if they trade away Jeff Teague this summer.

22. Charlotte Hornets: Malik Beasley, SG (Florida State)
AH: The Hornets may need to find a shooting guard with veteran Courtney Lee entering free agency, and Beasley is the best option still on the board. The 6’5″ freshman averaged 15.6 points per game with the Seminoles and showed an ability to stretch defenses, connecting on 39% of his shots from three-point range.

23. Boston Celtics: Thon Maker, PF/C (Australia)
CC: If the Celtics hold onto all their first-round picks, I expect them to take some risks. Maker is a high-risk, high-reward guy. He’ll need to bulk up at the NBA level and he’s unpolished in many areas. However, he’s an athletic big man who can shoot from outside. Boston could do a lot worse in this spot.

24. Philadelphia 76ers: Demetrius Jackson, PG (Notre Dame)
AH: The Sixers need to find a point guard on draft night, and if they can’t get one through a deal, they’ll take the best one still available at No. 24. Jackson may be a little small at 6’1″, but he understands the game and is willing to sacrifice his own offense for the sake of his teammates. His leaping ability makes up for his lack of size, and his speed and overall athleticism should give him a bright NBA future.

25. Los Angeles Clippers: Taurean Prince, SF (Baylor)
CC: The Clippers don’t have any long-term options at the small forward position on the roster. Prince is an athletic wing with good defensive instincts. He should be able to develop into a nice rotation player.

26. Philadelphia 76ers: Juan Hernangomez, F (Spain)
AH: With their third pick in the first round, the Sixers grab an overseas prospect they can stash for a season or two while he tries to build himself into an NBA player. Scouts see the 20-year-old Spaniard as a proficient shot-maker who needs to build strength and develop a low-post game. He can be part of Philadelphia’s future before the decade is up.

27. Toronto Raptors: Ivica Zubac, C (Croatia)
CC: The Raptors could very well trade one of their first-rounders, so there may be another team drafting in this position. Assuming Toronto stays put, Zubac would be a good use of the No. 27 pick. Although he’s not super athletic, he runs the floor well and has been efficient near the rim. He’s raw, but he should be able to contribute off the bench during his rookie deal.

28. Phoenix Suns – Timothe Luwawu, SG/SF (France)
AH: The 6’7″ shooting guard is highly regarded in NBA circles and could be selected much higher. This is the Suns’ third pick in the first round, and they might be looking for a draft-and-stash player, but if Luwawu is still available, he’s too good not to bring over right away. While he’s a solid defensive player, Luwawu showed this season that he can score as well, averaging 14.6 points per game in the Adriatic League. He has overcome a May ankle injury and is starting to make his way up draft boards.

29. San Antonio Spurs: Guerschon Yabusele, PF (France)
CC: The Spurs again go with a draft-and-stash player with their first-round pick. Yabusele is a versatile 6’8″ power forward who moves extremely well. He has decent court vision and he can shoot the three-ball as well. He has the potential to be one of those international players whom NBA fans forget about for a few seasons before he comes stateside and immediately contributes to a winning team.

30. Golden State Warriors: Patrick McCaw, SG (UNLV)
AH: The Warriors pick up some insurance at the wing in case Harrison Barnes receives an offer they don’t want to match. The 6’7″ Running Rebels swingman is a good passer and defender who is also dangerous from 3-point range. Whether Barnes stays or not, McCaw is a good prospect to develop for the future.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Stein’s Latest: Celtics, Suns, Hayward, Sixers

June 22nd, 2016 at 8:32am CST by Luke Adams

Earlier this morning, we passed along Marc Stein’s report on the Al Horford sweepstakes, which will feature the Magic, Pistons, and Lakers as suitors. With the draft around the corner and free agency to follow shortly thereafter, the ESPN.com scribe has several more tidbits of interest to pass along, so let’s round them up…

The Celtics are going after several established veterans in trade talks, offering up the No. 3 overall pick as part of their proposed packages. So far though, they have been rebuffed by the Bulls (Jimmy Butler), Jazz (Gordon Hayward), and Bucks (Jabari Parker and Khris Middleton), says Stein.
According to Stein, the Bulls have shown little interest in sending Butler to the Celtics, the Bucks regard Parker and Middleton as “untouchables,” and the Jazz are telling interested teams that Hayward isn’t available. The Suns have also made an effort to pry Hayward from Utah, Stein writes.
The 76ers have been “trying for some time” to make a deal for the Celtics‘ No. 3 pick, offering either Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel as part of that package, but Boston has resisted those pitches, according to Stein. The C’s likely wouldn’t have much interest in Philadelphia’s 24th and 26th overall picks as part of a package, since Boston already has more than enough draft picks this year.
Former Syracuse wing Michael Gbinije may be a late riser in Thursday night’s draft, per Stein, who tweets that Gbinije could come off the board early in the second round or even late in the first.

Atlantic Notes: Raptors, Draft, Sixers

June 21st, 2016 at 9:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Raptors own the No. 9 overall pick in Thursday night’s NBA draft, but the team doesn’t expect to land a player who can provide immediate help at that slot, writes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. “I don’t know if it’s a draft where we can go and get somebody who will impact our team right away,” GM Masai Ujiri said. “And we have to take that . . . and look at it a different way. Is it a player that’s three, four years down the road and that player has a high upside? We have to look out for the organization that way.”

The team also holds the No. 27 overall pick and Ujiri is pleased with the opportunities owning two first-rounders will provide, Smith adds. “You continue to narrow and narrow [list of possible suggestions] and when you have a bunch of guys you have different options,” Ujiri said. “You can look at trading the pick, you can look at drafting a guy who doesn’t come right away, you can look at a player you can draft and develop slowly. We just feel it’s a great position for us to be in.”

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

The Sixers have a group workout scheduled for Wednesday with Trevor Cooney (Syracuse), Quenton DeCosey (Temple), Alex Hamilton (Louisiana Tech), Brice Johnson (North Carolina), Devonta Pollard (Houston) and Kyle Wiltjer (Gonzaga), the team announced via press release.
Former Arizona big man Kaleb Tarczewski will work out for the Celtics on Wednesday, Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com relays (on Twitter).
The Raptors held a group workout on Friday that included potential lottery picks Jakob Poeltl and Skal Labissiere, the team announced.
While many have suggested that the Sixers trade away a number of their big men, Bob Cooney of The Philadelphia Inquirer argues that Philly should instead look to build around Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor. The scribe cites the small sample size of pairing Noel alongside Okafor, as well as Embiid’s in jury history as reason for his stance.

Central Rumors: Cavaliers, Love, Bucks, Pistons

June 21st, 2016 at 2:23pm CST by Luke Adams

After winning a championship, the Cavaliers may not be as inclined to retool their roster as they otherwise might have been, but the team is still expected to listen to any trade inquiries it receives on Kevin Love, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Appearing on Zach Lowe’s podcast (hat tip to RealGM.com), Windhorst identified the Celtics as the ideal trade partner for Love, suggesting that the Cavaliers “really like” Avery Bradley and could also ask for Marcus Smart and a draft pick (not the No. 3) if Boston shows interest in making a deal.

While we wait to see if those hypothetical trade talks come to fruition, let’s round up a few more items from out of the Central division…

While plenty of reports have suggested Thursday could be a busy trade night around the NBA, Bucks general manager John Hammond isn’t expecting much movement at the top of the board, telling reporters that “people feel good about this draft” (Twitter link).
Hammond spoke a little more about the Bucks‘ draft and trade options, telling reporters that Milwaukee is targeting three or four players with the No. 10 pick, and hasn’t ruled out a big man at that spot (Twitter links via Charles F. Gardner of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). Hammond was also asked about rumors that the Celtics may be targeting Khris Middleton, and while he declined to comment on that report, he noted that many Bucks players have “great value around the league” (Twitter links via Gardner).
Wes Washpun (Northern Iowa), Fred VanVleet (Wichita State), Retin Obasohan (Alabama), Marcus Georges-Hunt (Georgia Tech), Cinmeon Bowers (Auburn), and Gracin Bakumanya (Democratic Republic of Congo) participated in a workout for the Bucks today, the team announced in a press release.
The Pistons are hosting Florida State’s Malik Beasley for a workout today, according to David Mayo of MLive.com (Twitter link). Beasley is ranked 17th on Chad Ford’s ESPN big board and 23rd at DraftExpress.com, so he’s a candidate to be on the board when Detroit picks 18th overall.
Rod Beard of The Detroit News doesn’t mention Beasley in his list of five potential targets for the Pistons at No. 18, instead naming Demetrius Jackson (Notre Dame), Denzel Valentine (Michigan State), and Ivica Zubac (Croatia), among others.

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