Former Celtics guard Jabari Bird is awaiting sentencing after entering a plea of sufficient facts to the accusation of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, according to an Associated Press report. The plea is not an admission of guilt but acknowledges a likely conviction at trial.
Bird was released on bail after the hearing and will be sentenced May 28. He faced several charges in the alleged attack on the woman in September, including strangulation or suffocation, kidnapping, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Bird’s contract was traded to the Hawks in February, who quickly waived him.
We have more developments from around the basketball world:
- Power forward Stromile Swift has entered his name in the BIG3 draft pool, the league’s PR department tweets. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2000 draft last appeared in the NBA during the 2008/09 season with the Suns and Nets.
- NBA executives will scour the country at conference tournaments this week, looking at every possible prospect who might put his name in the draft. It’s a unique opportunity for some players to improve their stock on a big stage, ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony notes. Las Vegas will be a particular hotbed of activity, with the Pac-12, WCC, WAC and Mountain West holding tournaments there. Givony takes a deep dive in the prospects that the scouts will be perusing this week.
- Veteran forward Quincy Acy has left the Texas Legends, the G League affiliate of the Mavericks, JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors tweets. Acy, 28, played 10 games with the Suns this season.
- Murray State point guard Ja Morant has leapfrogged Duke’s R.J. Barrett as the second-best prospect in the draft behind Zion Williamson, according to Mike Schmitz of ESPN. Morant put on a dazzling display while carrying the Racers through the OVC tournament and into the NCAA Tournament. Givony maintains it’s premature to make that assessment before the draft lottery.
Uh, the ranking of prospects should not be dependent upon draft order of teams. It is a ranking of likely NBA success based upon the skills displayed. So Givony is confusing likely draft position with prospect rank. In any event, within the top 5 it is typically selection by best prospect as opposed to selection by need.
ESPN should can Giovani and hire you
That’s for sure, I would rather have RJ in my team!
Morant’s draft rise, size, and game brings to mind another point guard who started the season “off the radar” (at a mid-major) and went on to be the 4th pick overall in the ‘97 Draft…. Antonio Daniels (Bowling Green). Will his career be better than that of Daniels, who won an nba championship with San Antonio?
As a Murray State Racer Alumni, I have never seen a player like Ja at this school. I could tell Canaan was going to be limited in the NBA and don’t get me started on Cam (what a bust). This kid has the talent and hard work, he will have a damn good career from watching him two years now.
Racer from Memphis Marcus Brown ’96 is a Euroleague alltimer. If he is who I’m remembering correctly, he had about the best calves ever. Didn’t even have to run; he could just kind of flip his feet around and off he goes. Didn’t get a fair NBA shot after a decent rookie yr.
Another time warp! In 1997 the MAC should have had BG and 4 other teams in the NCAAs. In the NBA Daniels lacked adaptability and did his best work as a backup in Washington after being around for a while & learning.
Morant can take more paths to score. Like Daniels he is hard for a defender to handle, hard to ‘steer’. He goes where he wants. I hope to Cleveland!
Sexton and Morant would make a Power backcourt if Zion was not available.
That backcourt would be barbecue chicken on defense and defenders would sag to the elbows daring them to shoot. It would get them another lottery pick in ‘20 tho!
Sexton is shooting 40% from three. Like other small fast guys, he gets into trouble driving into the trees. Fun to watch him find a shot in there but his 2pt % is about the same.
The D would be poor. But the Cavs need a PG with vision. RJ Barrett would not mind playing that role I think.