Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton is enjoying his experience with the U.S. Select Team, which is giving him a chance to test his skills against some of the NBA’s best players, writes Jason Jones of The Athletic. Haliburton had previous experience in the international format as part of the USA under-19 National Team while at Iowa State.
Haliburton has fully recovered from the hyperextended left knee that brought an early end to his first NBA season. Although he played just 58 games, he was an All-Rookie First Team selection and finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting. He has been working out in Sacramento for the past month and now gets to see how his expanded game fares against elite competition.
“For me to get out and use that stuff against other guys and see it work against them in live action, it helps a lot,” Haliburton said. “And just kind of seeing what other guys are working on at the same time, how other guys are improving. Just taking bits and pieces of that, putting that into my training and things like that.”
There’s more from Sacramento:
- The Kings, who hold the ninth pick in the draft, have conducted interviews with several projected lottery picks, sources tell Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. The list includes Florida State forward Scottie Barnes, Tennessee guard Keon Johnson, Baylor point guard Davion Mitchell and Arkansas guard Moses Moody. The team hasn’t met with a few other players expected to be taken in that range, such as Duke forward Jalen Johnson, Michigan forward Franz Wagner and Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert, but they may be brought in before the July 29 draft. The Kings’ pre-draft workouts are being held privately this year, so all information is second-hand.
- Sacramento also has pick No. 39 and has reportedly met with a number of players who could be available in the second round, Anderson adds. Some of the names are Utah Valley center Fardaws Aimaq, Belgian guard Vrenz Bleijenbergh, Texas point guard Matt Coleman, Michigan center Hunter Dickinson, Coastal Carolina point guard DeVante Jones, Loyola Illinois center Cameron Krutwig, Little Rock forward Ruot Monyyong, Virginia guard Trey Murphy, Alabama guard Joshua Primo, Tennessee forward Yves Pons, Texas center Jericho Sims, Austin Peay forward Terry Taylor and Colorado point guard McKinley Wright IV.
- A high basketball IQ and the ability to play either forward position make Wagner a good fit for the Kings, writes James Ham of NBC Sports California.
Scottie Barnes reminds me so much of a young Scottie Pippen
People throw out Scottie Pippen way too much in these player comps. I remember they said Chandler Hutchison was a young Scotty Pippen…smh
For real fame!! It’s cuz these millennials never watched him playing so they disrespecting him by comparing college kids to him. I’ve been watching the league since 86 and I can tell you that Pippen is way better than Lebron and Kobe!
I thought no one lived Pippen more than me but he is not better than Lebron or Kobe.
Nobody actually thinks these prospects are as good as Pippen. Player comparisons are used to illustrate an athlete’s style. For instance, the OP believes Barnes plays similarly to Pippen; they are not suggesting the former has the same level of talent as the latter did
Really like everything I’ve seen from the Kid – Think he would be devastating on GSW as a new Iggy/Livingston mold. That motion offence/team would suit him well and allow for time for his own personal scoring quests to begin. Green would be a great teacher too
Think he goes 5 before Kuminga
**Orlandos in a great spot but damn a little more luck with the lottery balls and they coulda had a Mobley Isaac Barnes frontcourt ! Id already have bought a seat on that bandwagon
Barnes is the one guy outside the top 5 that could end up the best player in the draft (without all the top 5 being busts).
But I would NOT comp him as a prospect to Pippen. He checks a lot of the same prospect boxes (wing span, hand size, lateral quickness, ball handling, playmaking). But Pippen was a truly elite athlete (best in his draft class, and top 5 in the league upon arriving). Barnes isn’t that, though he’s somewhat bigger and further along as a primary facilitator. Even before you get to the shooting, all that I think makes him more of a point PF (to Pippen’s point SF). It’s hard to compare the shooting ability of a 4 year college player (in an era where few 3’s were taken) to a 1 and done (in the 3 pt era), so I won’t. Suffice it to say the “bar” for what a SF needs to be in terms of the 3 pt shot has been raised, and Barnes doesn’t meet it (yet), which also pushes him more to the PF spot (right now).
IMO a better comp might be a cross between Draymond Green and Ben Simmons.
My Monopoly money is on Davion Mitchell.
Much better Barnes comps. Nothing like Pippen, who was almost too cool, and poised with the ball. I’ve seen Barnes dance on the court; Pippen may not even dance on a dance floor. Terrific vertical posture. Same first names tho.
Mitchell will find a way.
There are so many mocks putting Barnes ahead of Kuminga that I think we either have a top 4 or top 6, not a top 5.
Orlando has the #5 and Barnes is in-state for them, and they may have problems selling out, so I would put him #5 too.
i like barnes to orlando too, but i dislike guys being drafted from where they grew up or around where they went to college cuz of unneeded distractions at the beginning of their careers. get away from the noise and just hoop.
Weltman & Hammond Inc. also have a “type” (length). It points to Barnes (irrespective of geography). They did depart from the script last year with Cole Anthony. But their other 1st round picks (Issac, Bamba, Okeke) have fit the profile, and as have other acquisitions (Fultz, Hampton, MCW).
I think it would be a mistake to pass on Kuminga, or to draft another PF type with Issac and Okeke there, but when one has a type, it tends to be served.
Can’t believe how many people are sleeping on Kuminga, he is clearly one of the top 2 players in this draft together with Green!
It won’t be long before folks realize this… lettin’ him slip down in the board must be a sure fire way to get fired as aGM!
Someone please draft Cameron Krutwig
Cam is that you?!?!
sister jean?