Members of the Cavaliers‘ front office attended the pro day for Jonathan Kuminga on Saturday, and the G League standout will receive consideration with the No. 3 pick, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The team plans to bring Kuminga to Cleveland for a private workout sometime in July, Fedor adds.
As a 6’8″ forward who offers both athleticism and skill, Kuminga is expected to be taken in the first half of the lottery. Conventional wisdom has Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green and Jalen Suggs going in the top four, but Kuminga may be a better fit for Cleveland.
“He showed up and shot it well,” a scout told Fedor after Kuminga’s workout. “He really helped himself today. He won’t fall past No. 5.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- The Bucks are focused on reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in 50 years and they could do without the controversy that happens every time Giannis Antetokounmpo steps to the foul line, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic. The two-time MVP has a lengthy free-throw routine that seems to exceed the 10-second limit for taking a shot, and fans have started counting to 10 every time he gets the ball. “Usually I take eight to nine seconds,” Antetokounmpo claims. “Borderline 10 seconds. When my coaching staff tells me to like, speed it up, I know that maybe I’m around 10. Or sometimes the referee talks to me and tells me, ‘You’ve got to speed it up.’ Then I make an effort to maybe take it a second or two seconds faster. But my mindset going into this game was go through my routine, get as many dribbles as I can, get my breath and just shoot my shot.”
- Bucks guards Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday have committed to play for Team USA in the Olympics, but they insist it won’t be a distraction, per Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. Along with the Suns’ Devin Booker, they are they the only Team USA members still active in the playoffs. “I think I’m always focused on the immediate, what’s happening right now. That’s been my main focus, and it’s going to continue to be that,” Holiday said. “If we go the finals or whatever happens, up until that point, this is what matters.”
- The Pistons should make the obvious choice and take Cunningham with the No. 1 pick, argues Rod Beard of The Detroit News (subscriber only).
The G man does whatever he wants on the court to any player in the league why should it be any different at the charity stripe.
Kuminga is being HEAVILY slept on by casual fans simply bc they haven’t seen him play. He’s pretty much exactly what u want from an elite wing prospect & would be perfect for Cleveland’s roster, especially of Cedi & Taurean are elsewhere next season. I’d personally take EMobley if I’m them bc I’m not nearly as high on Jarrett Allen as others are & I think Mobley will be a much better nba player than Allen, maybe even as soon as next season. But trading back to 4 might be a really good move for both Cleveland & Toronto bc I’m sure Toronto would love to get Mobley if possible
This is what I keep saying about this draft: there’s like 12 guys who are going to be at minimum rotation regulars immediately and they all could land in the top 5. Cunningham is most likely #1, but after that any of those 12 guys could jump from now til draft day. Barnes is the guy I could see jumping due to predraft hype, but everything you said about Kuminga was spot on as well, and yeah, he could jump into the top 5 easily.
Yea this is definitely a strong draft. Kuminga won’t have to jump into the top5 tho. He solidified his top5 status in this class long ago. Only question now is where he goes in that top5. As far as Scottie he’s probably my favorite guy in the class along with Charles Bassey & Josh Giddey. I just know that the majority of casual fans are gonna turn on him as soon as they get to see him play in the league tho, for same reasons they turned on Ben Simmons, Lonzo & others like them. Scottie is gonna be a great player overall but he isn’t a pure scorer & obv A LOT of guys have serious trouble reconciling those 2 things. Much like Ben, Scottie is an elite defender, great ballhandler for his size, great passer, very good rebounder & a great teammate. Vast majority of casuals only care about scoring/shooting tho & are blind to the other facets of the game. Some team is gonna get a really good player in Scottie but fans are definitely gonna be horrible toward him
Totally agree. Also “Some team is gonna get a really good player in Scottie but fans are definitely gonna be horrible toward him” – will argue GSW fans will not, as Draymond already has numbed us to perfectly-abled players not scoring on purpose, or passing up a wide-open shot just to look for a triple teamed Steph. I also was pining for GSW to get Lonzo all year (dumbest non-move of season was turning down the Oubre-Ball trade).
Was just saying this to someone that its entirely on NBA teams not developing players or evaluating them properly that lead to players not succeeding and not enough people (casuals) recognize this. The way, almost always, for young players to have success is to use them sparingly in situations where they can use only their strengths, then see how they adapt before giving them larger roles. Not “Hey Wiseman, be Giannis right now–oh wait, Kerr would rather you be Bogut, be him–oh wait, we want you to be Giannis again but without the types of players who surround Giannis, oh wait–now youre injured”
Think about every young player on a championship team: it’s almost always when putting young players in specific roles that allow them to succeed at what they are good at already who are the ones who actually help their team. Not having any kind of plan other than “let the kid play/try and figure out my overly complicated plays”.
Sankara why do you think fans will be mean to Kuminga? “Simmons, Lonzo and others like them”… What?
Marty this draft is more secure about the top 5 (which includes Kuminga) than most. Jumps from 6 through 12, to 1 through 5, are LESS likely than usual. Something makes you be wrong even when it is not necessary. Opinions on development are funny from a fool.
@Sankara… I agree with you that Kuminga is slept on… I do think he & Green should be the 1/2.
Also I agree that Allen ain’t as good as people think, I did quite like him, but last season in CLE once they benched Drummond, he was pretty poor to the point that I now think BRK did do well by gettin’ rid of him & keeping Claxton instead. So there is no doubt that Mobley will be better, even in his rookie season he should already be there.
Has Giannis ever heard the saying “dont overthink ****”???
This is the most excited I’ve been for the draft in a while. The Raptors are in a great position; any of Mobley, Green, or Suggs would be a great fit.
Basically, if you pick in the top 15: you are getting at minimum an immediate rotation player and at best (Cade) a superstar. All others will be in between (stars, solid regulars). Be excited! Huge influx of talent into the league, way WAY more than last year. The quality of the game is only going to go up from here, can’t wait!
Giannis’ foul shot routine is dumb. But suggesting that routine actually matters in terms of their playoff chase is even dumber.
Doesn’t SEEM to take over 10 seconds… It does. I timed every one of them for the past 2 series, and only twice has he beat the 10 second mark. There’s been some that took 16 seconds…
Plus refs are unusually delicate when getting him the ball, adding to the count.
Opposing teams should thank him for that routine. He’s shooting worse than he did his fist three seasons in the league, since he started thinking about a routine at all.
If I’m Atlanta, I’m glad he psyches himself out at the line.
First rd is a strong draft. Plenty of players that can help next yr. You could luck out with a 15-20 pick. But if you need help next yr. Unless it’s a big. You need to be in top ten. Cavs would be dumb to pass on Green. Kuminga is a nice player. Would love him on Knicks. But you have Okoro who plays same position. Green can start and they can move Sexton and move on. Just too easy why complicate it. Green is a big time talent. Could be in a few yrs best one. I don’t pass on him if I’m Cavs.