Although foot issues have prevented former Duke guard Frank Jackson from working out for teams in recent weeks, he has been visiting and meeting with several clubs, per Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. Deveney reports that the Hawks, Knicks, and Jazz have all brought in Jackson.
Elsewhere in his piece, Deveney provides updates on OG Anunoby and Luke Kennard, writing that the Lakers are holding out hope that Anunoby will fall to them at No. 28, though he’s receiving interest from plenty of teams picking earlier. As for Kennard, one scout who spoke to Deveney wasn’t overly bullish on Kennard’s ability to sneak into the top 10.
“I understand that everyone wants shooters,” the scout said of Kennard. “No one questions that the kid can shoot. But I can’t see him becoming a good defender. You just hope that he develops into a neutral defender, that he does not hurt you. He might go in the lottery in this draft because of the way he can shoot, but in most drafts he is more down in the late teens.”
Here are a few more draft-related rumors and notes from around the league:
- On his Scoop podcast this week, Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN said that he’s been told Jonathan Isaac is currently only working out for teams picking in the top four. According to Wolfson, Isaac’s camp could have a change of heart, but for now he has no interest in working out for the Timberwolves or any other team outside of the top four (link via Dan Feldman of NBC Sports).
- ESPN’s Chad Ford (Insider-only link) has ranked this year’s draft prospects by tier, with Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball as the only tier-one players. Tier two, reserved for potential All-Stars, includes eight more prospects, which Ford suggests is abnormally high.
- Point guard prospect Dennis Smith Jr. will have a Pro Day today, according to Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders, who tweets that the Timberwolves, Knicks, Mavericks, Hornets, Pistons, and Heat will be in attendance.
- Thomas Bryant (Indiana), Caleb Swanigan (Purdue), Antonius Cleveland (SE Missouri St.), Charles Cooke (Dayton), Kobi Simmons (Arizona), and Justin Robinson (Monmouth) worked out for the Trail Blazers earlier this week, according to the team.
If the heat get Dennis smith it would be a dream come true
I see OG going 13 to Denver, 14 to Miami, or 16 to Portland. I don’t think he drops further than that
Lol oops, that was supposed to be a stand alone comment….
But ya, I’d be pretty surprised if Dennis Smith somehow falls to us