Mobile Menu
HEADLINES

2020 NBA Draft

And-Ones: P. Gasol, Draft, Barkley, 2K League

March 24th, 2020 at 9:35am CST by Luke Adams

Veteran NBA big man Pau Gasol talked a couple times in February about the possibility of suiting up for the 2020 Olympics and potentially making an NBA comeback next season. However, with the Olympics being pushed back to 2021 and the NBA currently in a state of flux, Gasol’s comeback efforts are up in the air too.

Speaking to Spanish outlet El Pais, Gasol acknowledged that retirement is an option he continues to consider, given the current global basketball situation and his own recovery from a foot injury.

“With this recovery process and the injury that I have been dealing with for more than a year, it’s undoubtedly inevitable to think about retirement,” Gasol said, per Keith Smith of NBC Sports. “Also, taking into account that I will be 40 years old in a few months. So, it’s definitely on my mind.”

Gasol says he’s focusing on the Gasol Foundation and his other off-court projects for the time being, while he continues to recover. A decision on his next professional step will come at a later date, according to the 39-year-old Spaniard, who adds that right now “the priority is to overcome this pandemic.”

Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

  • The NCAA intends to work with the NBA to adapt to any changes to the 2020 draft calendar, NCAA senior VP of basketball Dan Gavitt said on Monday (Twitter link via Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports). For now, with the draft still tentatively scheduled for June 25, NCAA early entrants have until the end of the day on April 26 to declare for the draft, and can withdraw at any time up until June 3 while maintaining their college eligibility.
  • Former NBA star and current TNT analyst Charles Barkley announced on Monday that he tested negative for COVID-19, as Marc Stein of The New York Times relays (via Twitter). Barkley was tested earlier in March after exhibiting some possible coronavirus symptoms.
  • Starting this Friday, the NBA 2K League will be hosting a completely online tournament called the Three For All Showdown, which will give fans, influencers, and top female 2K players an opportunity to challenge NBA 2K League teams. Arda Ocal of ESPN has the details on the tournament, which was created in response to the 2K League postponing its season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Retweet 2 Share 0 Send via email0

Pistons Notes: Draft, Brown, Casey, TV Workers

March 23rd, 2020 at 9:04pm CST by Dana Gauruder

If the Pistons win the lottery, Georgia guard Anthony Edwards would be their best hope of landing a potential superstar in this draft, according to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic. Edwards’ “power athleticism” gives him a slight edge over LaMelo Ball, another point guard who played in Australia this season. Edwards, who is already 225 pounds at 18 years old, can be elite offensively if he’s willing to put in the work, Vecenie adds. The Pistons currently have a 10.5% chance of landing the top pick, so Vecenie and The Athletic’s James Edwards III run through a variety of draft scenarios and prospects from 1-7.

We have more on the Pistons:

  • Second-year guard Bruce Brown will be focused on continuing to develop his jumper and improving his other ball skills during this offseason, Keith Langlois of the team’s website writes. Brown has already established himself as a solid and versatile perimeter defender and coach Dwane Casey views him in a secondary ballhandler role going forward. The franchise values Brown as a vital part of the future while reshaping many other parts of its roster, Langlois adds.
  • Casey has been spending extra time viewing film of not only NBA games but also draft prospects, according to Rod Beard of the Detroit News. The Pistons were one of the teams that went into self-isolation after the suspension of play. “Watching game film, trying to see what we can do differently defensively,” Casey said. “New ideas to experiment with for next year. Also watching a lot of draft film. Very unusual for this time of year.”
  • While the Pistons and other teams are giving assistance to arena workers and staff members during the hiatus, the team’s broadcasting crew is seeking financial help, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports. Freelancers for Fox Sports Detroit — which also broadcast Red Wings and Tigers games — are not getting paid during the hiatus. FSD was one of the regional sports networks purchased by Sinclair Broadcast Group last year and haven’t been offered any assistance from Sinclair. Most FSD workers at Pistons home games, including stage managers, camera operators, audio technicians and editors, are freelancers.
Retweet 4 Share 0 Send via email0

Daniel Oturu Headed To NBA Draft

March 23rd, 2020 at 5:55pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Minnesota sophomore big man Daniel Oturu plans to enter the draft, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

Oturu is currently ranked No. 37 overall and No. 6 among centers by ESPN’s draft experts after a breakout season.

The 6’9” Oturu averaged 20.1 PPG, 11.3 RPG and 2.6 BPG for the Golden Gophers. He posted 18 double-doubles and reached the 20-point mark in five of his last six games. He scored a career-high 30 points in a win over Michigan.

Oturu, who received second-team All-Big 10 honors, averaged 10.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 1.3 BPG as a freshman.

Retweet 1 Share 0 Send via email0

FSU’s Devin Vassell Entering 2020 NBA Draft

March 23rd, 2020 at 10:30am CST by Luke Adams

Florida State shooting guard Devin Vassell has announced he’s entering the 2020 NBA draft, publishing an Instagram post that confirms his decision.

“It is with a heart full of gratitude that I am entering my name in the 2020 NBA draft,” Vassell wrote. “I’ll never forget the amazing ride of these last two years, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

While Vassell could technically test the draft waters and retain his college eligibility before making a final decision later in the pre-draft process, the wording of his message makes it sound as if he’ll be going pro, forgoing his remaining two years of eligibility.

Vassell had a breakout season as a sophomore, averaging 12.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.4 SPG, and 1.0 BPG with a .490/.415/.738 shooting line in 30 games (28.8 MPG). He has established himself as a potential mid-first-round pick — Sam Vecenie of The Athletic had the guard at No. 14 in his latest mock draft, while ESPN’s draft experts list him at No. 19 on their big board.

Our full list of early entrants for the 2020 draft can be found right here.

Retweet 2 Share 0 Send via email0

2020 NBA Draft Early Entrants List

March 23rd, 2020 at 10:00am CST by Luke Adams

With the sports world on pause as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many pre-draft scouting events have already been nixed or are in danger of being canceled, and there are serious doubts about whether NBA teams will have the ability to work out prospects leading up to this year’s draft.

Many early entrants declare for the draft based on the belief that they’ll be able to improve their stock in those events and workouts, and may be less inclined to leave college if those opportunities aren’t available.

Additionally, with the NBA planning to resume its 2019/20 season, the 2020 draft – originally scheduled for June 25 – has been pushed back to October 16. Early entrants will need to make decisions well before then if they want to return to their college programs or international teams.

The NCAA’s withdrawal deadline, which initially fell on June 3, has been postponed until either August 3 or 10 days after the combine, whichever comes first. The NBA’s withdrawal deadline falls 10 days before the draft, so international early entrants will have until October 6 to decide whether or not to remain in the draft.

In an unprecedented twist, the NBA also retroactively adjusted its early entry deadline from April 26 to August 17, giving players a second window to declare for the 2020 draft. Bizarrely, that deadline now falls after the NCAA’s withdrawal deadline, so we’re unlikely to see any college players enter the draft waters between August 3 and August 17.

As we navigate uncharted draft waters, we’ll be using the space below to keep track of 2020’s early entrant prospects. Players who initially entered the draft and then withdrew from consideration will be noted as well.

This post, which will be updated daily, will be accessible anytime under “Hoops Rumors Features” on the right sidebar of our desktop site, or in the “Features” page found in our mobile menu. The players below are listed in alphabetical order. If you have any corrections or omissions, please contact us.

Last updated 11-11-20 (2:45pm CT)

College Players:

Expected to stay in draft:

  1. Precious Achiuwa, F, Memphis (freshman) (link)
  2. Milan Acquaah, G, California Baptist (junior) (link)
  3. Ty-Shon Alexander, G, Creighton (junior) (link)
  4. Cole Anthony, G, North Carolina (freshman) (link)
  5. Brendan Bailey, F, Marquette (sophomore) (link)
  6. Saddiq Bey, F, Villanova (sophomore) (link)
  7. Tyler Bey, F, Colorado (junior) (link)
  8. Jermaine Bishop, G, Norfolk State (junior) (link)
  9. Dachon Burke, G, Nebraska (junior) (link)
  10. Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke (freshman) (link)
  11. Nate Darling, G, Delaware (junior) (link)
  12. Lamine Diane, F, Cal State Northridge (sophomore) (link)
  13. Devon Dotson, G, Kansas (sophomore) (link)
  14. Anthony Edwards, G, Georgia (freshman) (link)
  15. CJ Elleby, F, Washington State (sophomore) (link)
  16. Malik Fitts, F, Saint Mary’s (junior) (link)
  17. Malachi Flynn, G, San Diego State (junior) (link)
  18. Josh Green, G/F, Arizona (freshman) (link)
  19. Ashton Hagans, G, Kentucky (sophomore) (link)
  20. Tyrese Haliburton, G, Iowa State (sophomore) (link)
  21. Josh Hall, F, Moravian Prep (N/A) (link)
  22. Rayshaun Hammonds, F, Georgia (junior) (link)
  23. Jalen Harris, G, Nevada (junior) (link)
  24. Niven Hart, G, Fresno State (freshman) (link)
  25. Nate Hinton, G/F, Houston (sophomore) (link)
  26. Elijah Hughes, G/F, Syracuse (junior) (link)
  27. Isaiah Joe, G, Arkansas (sophomore) (link)
  28. Dakari Johnson, G, Cape Fear CC (freshman) (link)
  29. C.J. Jones, G, Middle Tennessee (junior) (link)
  30. Mason Jones, G, Arkansas (junior) (link)
  31. Tre Jones, G, Duke (sophomore) (link)
  32. Saben Lee, G, Vanderbilt (junior) (link)
  33. Michael Lenoir, G, Creating Young Minds Academy (N/A) (link)
  34. Kira Lewis, G, Alabama (sophomore) (link)
  35. Nico Mannion, G, Arizona (freshman) (link)
  36. Naji Marshall, F, Xavier (junior) (link)
  37. Kenyon Martin Jr., F, IMG Academy (N/A) (link)
  38. Tyrese Maxey, G, Kentucky (freshman) (link)
  39. Jaden McDaniels, F, Washington (freshman) (link)
  40. Isiaha Mike, F, SMU (junior) (link)
  41. EJ Montgomery, F, Kentucky (sophomore) (link)
  42. Aaron Nesmith, G, Vanderbilt (sophomore) (link)
  43. Zeke Nnaji, F, Arizona (freshman) (link)
  44. Jordan Nwora, F, Louisville (junior) (link)
  45. Nikolaos Okekuoyen, C, Ridgeview Prep (N/A) (link)
  46. Onyeka Okongwu, F/C, USC (freshman) (link)
  47. Isaac Okoro, F, Auburn (freshman) (link)
  48. Daniel Oturu, C, Minnesota (sophomore) (link)
  49. Reggie Perry, F, Mississippi State (sophomore) (link)
  50. Nate Pierre-Louis, G, Temple (junior) (link)
  51. Immanuel Quickley, G, Kentucky (sophomore) (link)
  52. Jahmi’us Ramsey, G, Texas Tech (freshman) (link)
  53. Paul Reed, F, DePaul (junior) (link)
  54. Nick Richards, F/C, Kentucky (junior) (link)
  55. Jay Scrubb, G, John A. Logan College (sophomore) (link)
  56. Jalen Smith, F, Maryland (sophomore) (link)
  57. Cassius Stanley, G, Duke (freshman) (link)
  58. Isaiah Stewart, F/C, Washington (freshman) (link)
  59. Tyrell Terry, G, Stanford (freshman) (link)
  60. Xavier Tillman, F/C, Michigan State (junior) (link)
  61. Obi Toppin, F, Dayton (sophomore) (link)
  62. Jordan Tucker, F, Butler (sophomore) (link)
  63. Devin Vassell, G, Florida State (sophomore) (link)
  64. Nick Weatherspoon, G, Mississippi State (junior) (link)
  65. Kaleb Wesson, F/C, Ohio State (junior) (link)
  66. Kahlil Whitney, F, Kentucky (freshman) (link)
  67. Emmitt Williams, F, LSU (sophomore) (link)
  68. Patrick Williams, F, Florida State (freshman) (link)
  69. James Wiseman, C, Memphis (freshman) (link)
  70. Robert Woodard II, F, Mississippi State (sophomore) (link)
  71. Omer Yurtseven, C, Georgetown (junior) (link)

Withdrawing from draft after testing the waters:

  1. Jordyn Adams, G, Austin Peay (freshman) (link)
  2. Abdul Ado, C, Mississippi State (junior) (link)
  3. Timmy Allen, F, Utah (sophomore) (link)
  4. Derrick Alston Jr., F, Boise State (junior) (link)
  5. Joel Ayayi, G, Gonzaga (sophomore) (link)
  6. Jomaru Brown, G, Eastern Kentucky (sophomore) (link)
  7. Marcus Burk, G, IUPUI (junior) (link)
  8. Jordan Burns, G, Colgate (junior) (link)
  9. Jared Butler, G, Baylor (sophomore) (link)
  10. Manny Camper, G/F, Siena (junior) (link)
  11. Marcus Carr, G, Minnesota (sophomore) (link)
  12. Tamenang Choh, F, Brown (junior) (link)
  13. Kofi Cockburn, C, Illinois (freshman) (link)
  14. David Collins, G, South Florida (junior) (link)
  15. Zach Cooks, G, NJIT (junior) (link)
  16. Jalen Crutcher, G, Dayton (junior) (link)
  17. Ryan Daly, G, Saint Joseph’s (junior) (link)
  18. Darius Days, F, LSU (sophomore) (link)
  19. Dexter Dennis, G, Wichita State (sophomore) (link)
  20. Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois (sophomore) (link)
  21. Nojel Eastern, G, Purdue (junior) (link)
  22. Mason Faulkner, G, Western Carolina (junior) (link)
  23. LJ Figueroa, G, St. John’s (sophomore) (link)
  24. Blake Francis, G, Richmond (junior) (link)
  25. Hasahn French, F, Saint Louis (junior) (link)
  26. D.J. Funderburk, F, North Carolina State (junior) (link)
  27. Both Gach, G/F, Utah (sophomore) (link)
  28. Alonzo Gaffney, F, Ohio State (freshman) (link)
  29. Luka Garza, C, Iowa (junior) (link)
  30. Jacob Gilyard, G, Richmond (junior) (link)
  31. Grant Golden, F, Richmond (junior) (link)
  32. Jordan Goodwin, G, Saint Louis (junior) (link)
  33. Tony Goodwin II, G/F, Redemption Academy (N/A) (link)
  34. Jayvon Graves, G, Buffalo (junior) (link)
  35. AJ Green, G, Northern Iowa (sophomore) (link)
  36. Darin Green, G, UCF (freshman) (link)
  37. Aaron Henry, F, Michigan State (sophomore) (link)
  38. Jalen Hill, F/C, UCLA (sophomore) (link)
  39. Jay Huff, F, Virginia (junior) (link)
  40. Feron Hunt, F, SMU (sophomore) (link)
  41. Chance Hunter, G, Long Beach State (sophomore) (link)
  42. DeJon Jarreau, G, Houston (junior) (link)
  43. Damien Jefferson, G/F, Creighton (junior) (link)
  44. Jalen Johnson, F, Louisiana (junior) (link)
  45. Andre Jones, G, Nicholls State (junior) (link)
  46. Herbert Jones, F, Alabama (junior) (link)
  47. Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga (junior) (link)
  48. Kameron Langley, G, North Carolina A&T (junior) (link)
  49. A.J. Lawson, G, South Carolina (sophomore) (link)
  50. Matt Lewis, G, James Madison (junior) (link)
  51. Isaiah Livers, F, Michigan (junior) (link)
  52. Denzel Mahoney, G, Creighton (junior) (link)
  53. Makur Maker, C, Hillcrest Academy (N/A) (link)
  54. Sandro Mamukelashvili, F, Seton Hall (junior) (link)
  55. Tre Mann, G, Florida (freshman) (link)
  56. Remy Martin, G, Arizona State (junior) (link)
  57. Mac McClung, G, Georgetown (sophomore) (link)
  58. Isaiah Miller, G, UNC Greensboro (junior) (link)
  59. Matt Mitchell, F, San Diego State (junior) (link)
  60. Andrew Nembhard, G, Florida (sophomore) (link)
  61. Obadiah Noel, G, UMass-Lowell (junior) (link)
  62. Elijah Olaniyi, G/F, Stony Brook (junior) (link)
  63. Filip Petrusev, F/C, Gonzaga (sophomore) (link)
    • Note: Petrusev withdrew from the draft, but will still go pro.
  64. John Petty, G, Alabama (junior) (link)
  65. Xavier Pinson, G, Missouri (sophomore) (link)
  66. Yves Pons, F, Tennessee (junior) (link)
  67. Darius Quisenberry, G, Youngstown State (sophomore) (link)
  68. Colbey Ross, G, Pepperdine (junior) (link)
  69. Fatts Russell, G, Rhode Island (junior) (link)
  70. Joe Saterfield, G/F, Ranger CC (freshman) (link)
  71. Aamir Simms, F, Clemson (junior) (link)
  72. Javonte Smart, G, LSU (sophomore) (link)
  73. Chris Smith, F, UCLA (junior) (link)
  74. Collin Smith, F/C, UCF (junior) (link)
  75. Justin Smith, F, Indiana (junior) (link)
  76. Mitchell Smith, F, Missouri (junior) (link)
  77. Stef Smith, G, Vermont (junior) (link)
  78. Ben Stanley, F, Hampton (sophomore) (link)
  79. Parker Stewart, G, UT Martin (sophomore) (link)
  80. Terry Taylor, G, Austin Peay (junior) (link)
  81. MaCio Teague, G, Baylor (junior) (link)
  82. Justin Thomas, G, Morehead State (junior) (link)
  83. Ethan Thompson, G, Oregon State (junior) (link)
  84. Jeremiah Tilmon, F, Missouri (junior) (link)
  85. Alonzo Verge Jr., G, Arizona State (junior) (link)
  86. Chris Vogt, C, Cincinnati (junior) (link)
  87. CJ Walker, G, Ohio State (junior) (link)
  88. Trendon Watford, F, LSU (freshman) (link)
  89. Ibi Watson, G, Dayton (junior) (link)
  90. Jarrod West, G, Marshall (junior) (link)
  91. Romello White, F, Arizona State (junior) (link)
  92. Deandre Williams, F, Evansville (sophomore) (link)
  93. Keith Williams, G, Cincinnati (junior) (link)
  94. McKinley Wright, G, Colorado (junior) (link)

International Players:

Note: The country indicates where the player had been playing, not necessarily where he was born.

  1. Deni Avdija, F, Israel (born 2001) (link)
  2. Adrian Bogucki, C, Poland (born 2000) (link)
  3. Leandro Bolmaro, F, Spain (born 2000) (link)
  4. Imru Duke, F, Spain (born 1999) (link)
  5. Paul Eboua, F, Italy (born 2000) (link)
  6. Killian Hayes, G, Germany (born 2001) (link)
  7. Vit Krejci, G, Spain (born 2000) (link)
  8. Yam Madar, G, Israel (born 2000) (link)
  9. Theo Maledon, G, France (born 2001) (link)
  10. Karim Mane, G, Canada (born 2000) (link)
  11. Aleksej Pokusevski, F, Greece (born 2001) (link)
  12. Marko Simonovic, C, Serbia (born 1999) (link)
  13. Mouhamed Thiam, C, France (born 2001) (link)

Withdrawing from draft after testing the waters:

  1. Berke Atar, C, Macedonia (born 1999) (link)
  2. Brancou Badio, F, Spain (born 1999) (link)
  3. Darko Bajo, F, Croatia (born 1999) (link)
  4. Philippe Bayehe, F, Italy (born 1999) (link)
  5. Marek Blazevic, C, Lithuania (born 2001) (link)
  6. Vinicius Da Silva, C, Spain (born 2001) (link)
  7. Henri Drell, G/F, Italy (born 2000) (link)
  8. Michele Ebeling, F, Italy (born 1999) (link)
  9. Osas Ehigiator, C, Spain (born 1999) (link)
  10. Joel Ekamba, G, France (born 2001) (link)
  11. Selim Fofana, G, Switzerland (born 1999) (link)
  12. Miguel Gonzalez, G/F, Spain (born 1999) (link)
  13. Sehmus Hazer, G, Turkey (born 1999) (link)
  14. Rokas Jokubaitis, G, Lithuania (born 2000) (link)
  15. Georgios Kalaitzakis, G, Lithuania (born 1999) (link)
  16. Arturs Kurucs, G, Latvia (born 2000) (link)
  17. Dut Mabor, C, Italy (born 2001) (link)
  18. Sergi Martinez, F, Spain (born 1999) (link)
  19. Nikola Miskovic, F, Serbia (born 1999) (link)
  20. Aristide Mouaha, G, Italy (born 2000) (link)
  21. Caio Pacheco, G, Argentina (born 1999) (link)
  22. Joel Parra, F, Spain (born 2000) (link)
  23. Sander Raieste, F, Estonia (born 1999) (link)
  24. Nikos Rogkavopoulos, F, Greece (born 2001) (link)
  25. Yigitcan Saybir, F, Turkey (born 1999) (link)
  26. Njegos Sikiras, F, Spain (born 1999) (link)
  27. Aboubacar Traore, G, Canada (born 2001) (link)
  28. Uros Trifunovic, G, Serbia (born 2000) (link)
  29. Arnas Velicka, G, Lithuania (born 1999) (link)
  30. Andrii Voinalovych, F, Ukraine (born 1999) (link)

Note: A number of other players, including LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton, became automatically draft-eligible for 2020 as a result of playing professionally last season. However, the NBA didn’t publicly release the list of auto-eligible players, so we’re not including those names here, since there would be gaps in our list.

Retweet 18 Share 0 Send via email0

Draft Notes: Bruner, Graves, Gaffney

March 23rd, 2020 at 8:41am CST by Luke Adams

If not for the coronavirus pandemic, the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament would have taken place over the last few days, with draft hopefuls getting a chance to show their skills – and potentially improve their stock – on a national stage.

Instead, college basketball – like virtually every other sport in North America – has been shut down indefinitely, leaving possible early entrants for the 2020 draft to make their decisions under unusual circumstances.

Here are a few updates on college players who may end up being part of the 2020 NBA draft class:

  • A report earlier this month indicated that Jordan Bruner is expected to declare for the draft and go pro. However, as Evan Daniels of 247Sports details, the former Yale forward has also entered the NCAA transfer portal and is drawing plenty of interest. Bruner explained to Daniels that he wants to keep his options open, given the uncertainty created by the coronavirus crisis. “I’d like to keep my options open and hear what NBA scouts and other people think I’m capable of and what they think about me,” he said. “I don’t want to get stuck in a place where I can’t play in college if I want to.”
  • Buffalo junior guard Jayvon Graves announced on Twitter that he intends to test the draft waters. Graves bumped his scoring average from 9.7 PPG as a sophomore to 17.1 PPG as a junior, chipping in 5.4 RPG, 2.5 APG, and 1.2 SPG in 32 games (34.4 MPG) for Buffalo.
  • Ohio State forward Alonzo Gaffney won’t be returning to the Buckeyes for his sophomore season, sources tell Brian Snow of 247Sports. According to Snow, Gaffney – who played very limited minutes as a freshman – will likely pursue professional opportunities rather than transferring to another college program.
Retweet 2 Share 0 Send via email0

Draft Notes: Hayes, Mannion, Warriors, Mamukelashvili 

March 22nd, 2020 at 11:12am CST by Arthur Hill

Killian Hayes, who skipped college basketball to play professionally in Germany, might be the answer the Knicks are looking for at point guard, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Hayes was born in Florida, but has spent much of his life in France, where his father was a pro.

“He’s got good size for a young point guard, close to 6’5″, and he’s got a feel for the game,’’ said former Sixers general manager Brad Greenberg, who has spent several years coaching in Europe. “He’s used to having the ball in his hands and playing in a ball-screen offense. A very nice feel.’’

Hayes, who turns 19 in July, is ranked 10th in ESPN’s latest list of draft prospects and is the third point guard on the board behind LaMelo Ball and Tyrese Haliburton. Under the current standings, the Knicks’ pick could be as high as No. 1 and as low as No. 10.

There’s more draft news to pass along:

  • Arizona’s Nico Mannion makes sense for the Suns if they opt for a point guard in the draft, contends Jeremy Cluff of The Arizona Republic. Cluff rounds up draft projections for Phoenix, which is currently slotted at No. 10. Ricky Rubio is under contract for two more years, but he’s 29 and the Suns may be looking for his long-term replacement.
  • Despite an adjusted pre-draft schedule that has already resulted in the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament and the Nike Hoop Summit, the Warriors believe they will be prepared whenever the draft arrives, according to Wes Goldberg of The San Jose Mercury News. Assistant general manager Larry Harris said the team was about 90% done with its evaluations when the sports world was shut down last week, adding that everything else would have been “finishing touches.”
  • Seton Hall forward Sandro Mamukelashvili plans to declare for the draft without hiring an agent, reports Adam Zagoria of NJ.com. The 6’11” junior averaged 11.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game this season. “It’s a great opportunity to see where he is at and where we go from here,” Pirates coach Kevin Willard said. “The draft process now helps kids make educated decisions and we are looking forward to going through the process with him.”
Retweet 2 Share 0 Send via email0

Elijah Hughes Declares For NBA Draft

March 21st, 2020 at 6:15pm CST by Arthur Hill

Elijah Hughes of Syracuse announced on Twitter that he will be entering the NBA draft.

The small forward averaged 19.0 points and 4.9 rebounds this year as a redshirt junior and earned first-team All-ACC honors.

“I want to thank my family, close friends, teammates throughout the years, and coaching staff for supporting me throughout my basketball career,” Hughes wrote. “I cannot thank the Syracuse community and fans enough for embracing me and making me feel welcomed and comfortable. You guys believed in me from the jump and I will be forever thankful for that. I plan to enter the NBA Draft process and try and fulfill my childhood dream.”

Hughes, who transferred from East Carolina after his freshman season, is ranked 57th on ESPN’s latest list of the best available prospects.

Retweet 4 Share 0 Send via email0

NBA Teams Preparing To Conduct Draft Business Remotely

March 21st, 2020 at 12:00pm CST by marksuleymanov

Given the uncertain nature of how the 2020 NBA draft will transpire due to the coronavirus crisis, teams are preparing to go through the scouting process via Skype interviews and based on prior in-person interviews, says CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein (Twitter link).

As we relayed on Friday, the June 25 draft may be pushed back, since the NBA still wants to resume its 2019/20 season. Per the report, the draft is not a high priority for the league as it weighs all options and works through potential scenarios for the suspended season.

“The draft is the last thing on their list,” one executive told ESPN. “We saw it in the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations in 2016. They never even got to (the draft). Revenue drivers will come first, and then we’ll see what happens with the draft after all that gets figured out. It might be a while.”

It’s an unusual scenario for the league and this year’s prospects, as the outbreak will reduce the capability of further scouting the players in person. However, given the fluidity of the situation, it’s unclear if and when the process can resume with normalcy.

Retweet 3 Share 0 Send via email0

Duke’s Tre Jones To Enter NBA Draft

March 21st, 2020 at 9:17am CST by marksuleymanov

Duke sophomore point guard and ACC Player of the Year Tre Jones will enter the NBA draft, he told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. We relayed yesterday that Jones was expected to enter the draft, with Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski all but confirmed the guard’s decision before it was made official.

“Obviously, Tre Jones we know is going to go, whenever he announces,” Krzyzewski said on The 247Sports College Basketball Show podcast.

Jones will join a recent glut of talent from Duke to join the NBA — Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish all made the jump last season.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak shuttering professional sports, Jones was in the midst of a strong collegiate season. Ranked No. 33 overall and No. 12 among point guard prospects on ESPN’s Best Available list, Jones averaged 16.2 PPG, 6.4 APG and 1.8 SPG in 29 games for the Blue Devils.

Retweet 7 Share 0 Send via email0
Load More Posts