With the NBA’s withdrawal deadline for early entrants right around the corner, top prospect Luka Doncic will keep his name in the 2018 NBA draft, a source tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com. While that doesn’t mean he’s obliged to come to the NBA next season, it makes Doncic draft-eligible next week, when he’s expected to come off the board within the first four or five picks.
According to Givony, a number of teams have inquired about the possibility of acquiring a top-three pick, with an eye toward nabbing Doncic. We heard previously that the Clippers had explored that possibility, but it sounds like they’re not the only team weighing that scenario.
Meanwhile, Givony has several more updates on international prospects who have decided to either keep their names in the draft or withdraw from the 2018 pool. Here’s the latest:
Staying in the draft:
- Elie Okobo, G, France (Twitter link via Givony): No. 22 prospect on Givony’s top 100.
- Tryggvi Hlinason, C, Spain (Twitter link via Givony): No. 69 prospect on Givony’s top 100.
- Arnoldas Kulboka, F, Italy (Twitter link via Givony): No. 70 prospect on Givony’s top 100.
Withdrawing:
- Etienne Ca, F, France (Twitter link via Givony)
- Yago Dos Santos, G, Brazil (Twitter link via Givony)
- Gabriel Galvanini, F, Brazil (Twitter link via Givony)
- Louis Olinde, G/F, Germany (Twitter link via Givony): No. 64 prospect on Givony’s top 100.
- Tadas Sedekerskis, F, Lithuania (Twitter link via Givony): No. 65 prospect on Givony’s top 100.
- Shekinah Munanga, F, France (Twitter link via Givony)
- Michael Uchendu, C, Brazil (Twitter link via Givony)