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Pistons’ Procida, Cavs’ Diop Among Draftees Expected To Be Stashed Overseas

June 24th, 2022 at 1:28am CST by Luke Adams

Italian wing Gabriele Procida, who was drafted 36th overall on Thursday night after spending last season with Fortitudo Bologna, is expected to be stashed overseas by the Pistons, reports James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link).

While Procida is the highest of this year’s draft picks reported to be a likely draft-and-stash prospect, he’s hardly the only one. Here are a few more updates on 2022’s draft-and-stash candidates:

  • After using the No. 39 pick to draft him on Thursday, the Cavaliers intend to keep 20-year-old center Khalifa Diop overseas for the 2022/23 season, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The Senegalese big man won the EuroCup Rising Star award playing for Gran Canaria in Spain this past season.
  • The Nuggets plan to stash center Ismael Kamagate in Europe next season, a source tells Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports (Twitter link). The No. 46 pick on Thursday, Kamagate had an All-Star season playing for Paris in 2021/22.
  • Italian shooting guard Matteo Spagnolo, drafted at No. 50 by the Timberwolves, will likely remain overseas next season, per president of basketball operations Tim Connelly (Twitter link via Dane Moore). Spagnolo is still just 19 years old.
  • Crotian forward/center Karlo Matkovic, selected 52nd overall by the Pelicans, is expected to join New Orleans’ Summer League roster but will continue playing in Europe for another year or two, general manager Trajan Langdon told reporters, including Andrew Lopez of ESPN (Twitter link).
  • Wizards president of basketball operations Tommy Sheppard said after the draft that No. 54 pick Yannick Nzosa will be a “stash guy” in the Spanish League next season, according to Ava Wallace of The Washington Post (Twitter link).
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Draft Rumors: Pistons, Duren, Dieng, Mavericks, Raptors, Anunoby

June 23rd, 2022 at 7:01pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Pistons, who already made news this week with their impending trade of Jerami Grant to Portland, could make another significant move this evening. They are holding ongoing conversations to acquire another lottery pick, with Memphis center Jalen Duren believed to be the target, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report tweets.

Detroit already holds the No. 5 selection in the draft. A report earlier today indicated Pistons GM Troy Weaver is a big fan of Duren.

  • Ousmane Dieng seems destined to be chosen higher than any other international prospect. The French big man, who played for the New Zealand Breakers, has been surging up draft boards and could go as high as No. 8, where the Pelicans are picking, Marc Stein tweets.
  • The Mavericks are covering all their bases, even though their first-round pick is headed to Houston and their second-rounder is headed to Washington, Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News tweets. GM Nico Harrison says they’re are not actively calling teams to trade into the draft, but have done the prep work needed in case they end up with a draft pick in either round.
  • The Raptors are unlikely to move into the lottery and trade forward OG Anunoby, Michael Grange of Sportsnet tweets. Most of the chatter surrounding Anunoby has come from the Trail Blazers, who are trying to add veterans around Damian Lillard, Grange adds, while Toronto remains in a ‘be patient and grow’ mode.
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Pacers Notes: Warren, Taylor, Sharpe, Keels

June 20th, 2022 at 10:55pm CST by Dana Gauruder

T.J. Warren has only appeared in four games over the past two seasons but he could still bring value to the Pacers, even if he’s not on the team next season, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. Warren will be an unrestricted free agent this summer but Indiana could sign-and-trade him to a team coveting his services. Warren has averaged 15.5 PPG in his career.

We have more on the Pacers:

  • Pacers assistant Bryce Taylor has been named an assistant coach for EWE Baskets Oldenburg in Germany, Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files reports. Taylor, 35, played in Germany and Italy before retiring prior to this past season.
  • Projected lottery pick Shaedon Sharpe worked out for the Pacers on Monday and feels he could be a difference-maker if they use the No. 6 selection on him, James Boyd of the Indianapolis Star tweets. “I know that (the Pacers are) a great organization, love to develop their players,” he said. “I feel like I could come in and be that go-to guy.”
  • Duke’s Trevor Keels will work out for the team on Tuesday, Boyd adds in another tweet. Keels is a candidate for the Pacers’ second-round selection at No. 31. That’s exactly where the Blue Devils’ wing is rated on ESPN’s Best Available list. As previously reported, center Kai Sotto is also visiting on Tuesday.
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Tomas Satoransky Nearing Deal With Barcelona?

June 20th, 2022 at 7:58am CST by Luke Adams

After spending the last six years in the NBA, veteran guard Tomas Satoransky may be headed back to Europe for the 2022/23 season.

According to a report from Aris Barkas of Eurohoops (Twitter link), Satoransky is closing in on a deal to rejoin Barcelona, his former team in Spain. In a full story, Antigoni Zachari of Eurohoops cautions that no formal agreement is in place yet, though the negotiations appear to be nearing the finish line.

Satoransky was a regular rotation player in Washington and Chicago from 2016-21, but had a down year in 2021/22 after being sent to New Orleans as part of last summer’s Lonzo Ball sign-and-trade deal. Satoransky was traded twice more during the season – first to Portland, then to San Antonio – and then signed with the Wizards after being waived by the Spurs. In total, he appeared in 55 games for three teams, averaging 3.6 PPG and 3.3 APG on .377/.208/.796 shooting in 16.5 minutes per contest.

Satoransky, 30, began playing professionally in the Czech Republic in 2007 and eventually moved to Spain, where he played for Sevilla from 2009-14 and Barcelona from 2014-16. He was named the Spanish League’s Most Spectacular Player in 2016 before heading stateside to join the Wizards later that year.

Satoransky has appeared in a total of 388 regular season NBA contests (22.2 MPG) in the last six seasons, averaging 6.9 PPG and 4.1 APG with a shooting line of .468/.354/.820.

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And-Ones: Options, Free Agents, Motley, Blakeney

June 19th, 2022 at 10:09pm CST by JD Shaw

As with every offseason, several NBA veterans have player options in their contracts that must be exercised or declined before free agency. Others have team options in their deals, which means their clubs must decide whether to keep them on their current contracts for next season or let them enter free agency.

This year is no different. Players such as James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Bradley Beal all have player options, and Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype made predictions about what might happen with each talent. Gozlan also predicted the outcome of every team option, which will impact players such as Ivica Zubac, Luguentz Dort and Hamidou Diallo.

Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:

  • John Hollinger of The Athletic ranks the top free agent shooting guards using his BORD$ formula. While we’ve already relayed his top free agent point guards list, Hollinger also ranked the top small forwards, power forwards and centers for the upcoming free agency period.
  • Johnathan Motley and Russian club Lokomotiv Kuban have officially parted ways, according to Sportando. Motley is expected to join Fenerbahce in Turkey. The 6’8 big man holds three years of NBA experience with the Mavericks and Clippers from 2017-20.
  • Former Bulls guard Antonio Blakeney is receiving interest from Alba Berlin in Germany, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando reports (via Twitter). Blakeney appeared in 76 games with Chicago between 2017-19. Carchia reports Alba Berlin is also expressing interest in Ariel Hukporti, a 20-year-old center who recently played in the NBL.
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And-Ones: Wembanyama, Russia, Draft’s Top 75, East Asia League

June 16th, 2022 at 10:11pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Victor Wembanyama, the potential No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, may be leaving Asvel of the EuroLeague, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando relays. The 7’3” big man has an opt-out clause that must be exercised before June 26. He signed a three-year deal with Asvel last summer but only averaged 6.5 PPG and 3.8 RPG in 13 games last season. Paris Basketball, which will be competing in EuroCup next season, is pursuing him, according to L’Equipe.

We have more from around the basketball world:

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Northwest Notes: Jazz, Workouts, Jokic, Wolves, Roddy

June 15th, 2022 at 7:45am CST by Luke Adams

The Jazz hosted another free agent mini-camp this week, bringing in 20 players on Monday and Tuesday for a closer look, as our JD Shaw relays (Twitter links). While not all of the invitees have NBA experience, there are a handful of noteworthy names in the group, including former No. 2 overall pick Jabari Parker. Big man Reggie Perry, swingman Denzel Valentine, forward Bruno Caboclo, and guards Langston Galloway, Sindarius Thornwell, and Grant Riller were among the other players to audition for Utah.

Here’s more from around the Northwest:

  • The Jazz are working out six more draft-eligible prospects on Wednesday, according to Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune, who tweets that Collin Gillespie (Villanova), Tommy Kuhse (Saint Mary’s), Josh Minott (Memphis), Darryl Morsell (Marquette), Henri Drell (G League), and Jermaine Samuels (Villanova) will be in town.
  • Nuggets star and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic has committed to playing for the Serbian national team this offseason, the Serbian Basketball Federation announced on Wednesday (hat tip to Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops). Jokic likely won’t participate in the qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup that will take place in a couple weeks, but he’s expected to be available later in the summer for the 2022 EuroBasket tournament.
  • Colorado State forward David Roddy, who went to high school in Minnesota, is working out for his hometown Timberwolves on Wednesday, tweets Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News. Roddy, the No. 30 prospect on ESPN’s big board, could be an option for the Wolves in the first round at No. 19 or in the second round if he slips — Minnesota holds the 40th, 48th, and 50th overall picks.
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Draft Decisions: Travers, Badji, Nakic, Zugic, Cazalon, Maronka

June 13th, 2022 at 9:57pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The early entry deadline to withdraw from the draft was 5 p.m. on Monday. It’s mostly relevant for international prospects, since the deadline to retain NCAA eligibility was June 1.

Several more international prospects have made their draft decisions, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony (Twitter links):

  • Wing Luke Travers, who played for the Perth Wildcats in Australia’s National Basketball League, is staying in the draft. He averaged 7.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 2.3 APG last season.
  • Ibou Badji, a 7’1” center from Senegal, is also staying in the draft. He played for ICG Força Lleida last season, averaging 8.5 PPG and 4.3 RPG in 36 games.
  • Spanish forward Mario Nakic is removing his name from the draft.
  • German guard Fedor Zugic has withdrawn from the draft.
  • Serbian guard Malcolm Cazalon has withdrawn from the draft.
  • Spanish forward Zsombor Maronka has also withdrawn from the draft.

As our early entrant tracker shows, there are still over a dozen international prospects whose intentions haven’t been reported. We expect the majority of those players pulled their names out of the draft, but we should get official confirmation from the league within the next day or two.

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Draft Decisions: Diop, Spagnolo, Savkov, Nzosa, Matkovic

June 13th, 2022 at 5:17pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The early entry deadline to withdraw from the draft was 5 p.m. on Monday. It’s mostly relevant for international prospects, since the deadline to withdraw while retaining NCAA eligibility was June 1.

Several more international prospects have decided to stay in the draft, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony (Twitter links available right here). Here is that list:

  • Big man Khalifa Diop, is ranked No. 39 on ESPN’s Best Available list and the fourth-highest at the center spot. The 7-footer had a solid season in the ACB with Gran Canaria, winning the EuroCup’s Rising Star award.
  • Italian guard Matteo Spagnolo is another potential second-rounder, rated No. 59 overall and No. 11 among point guards. He shot 44% for 3 this season for Cremona in the first division.
  • Russian wing Pavel Savkov isn’t listed among ESPN’s top 100 prospects. The 6’7” Savkov shot 40% on 3-pointers in Spain the past two seasons.
  • Congolese big man Yannick Nzosa is the youngest player in the draft class. He’s played for Unicaja Malaga in Spain. Ranked No. 54, Nzosa is an extremely mobile big man with an excellent motor and strong defensive versatility, according to Givony.
  • Croatian power forward Karlo Matkovic is also staying in the draft after a last-minute change of heart. He’s slotted at No. 60 on ESPN’s list.

You can check out all early entrant decisions here.

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Draft Decisions: Dieng, Jovic, Besson, Kamagate, L. Miller, More

June 13th, 2022 at 12:52pm CST by Luke Adams

The players who declared as early entrants for the 2022 NBA draft have until 5:00 pm Eastern time on Monday to decide whether or not to keep their names in this year’s draft pool.

Since the NCAA’s own withdrawal deadline passed earlier this month, today’s deadline doesn’t have a real impact on most college players — if they were going to withdraw, they’ve probably done so already to avoid forgoing their remaining NCAA eligibility. However, today’s deadline is an important one for non-college prospects, including those who are playing in professional leagues in Europe and around the world.

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has provided a series of updates on top international prospects who are finalizing their early entry decisions today. Let’s round them up…

(Note: The country listed for each prospect is where he has been playing, not necessarily where he’s from.)

Staying in the draft:

Dieng, the No. 12 player on ESPN’s big board, and Jovic, ESPN’s No. 24 prospect, are considered good bets to be first-round picks, so it comes as no surprise that they’ll remain in the draft. The other players in this list may not be first-rounders, but most of them have a good chance to be drafted.

Besson comes in at No. 38 on ESPN’s board, while Kamagate is No. 40. Procida is the 52nd on player on ESPN’s list, but has received “strong reviews” during the pre-draft process, according to Givony.

Samar, the No. 61 player on ESPN’s board, has also gained traction recently due to his strong workouts for teams and the fact that his NBA buyout is flexible and inexpensive, making him an appealing draft-and-stash option, Givony explains.

Santos is the No. 76 player on ESPN’s top 100.

Withdrawing from the draft:

Miller, the No. 43 prospect on ESPN’s big board for 2022, will sign with the G League Ignite, he tells Givony.

“My decision to withdraw from this year’s draft is based on what’s best for my long-term development,” Miller said. “With another year of development both on and off the court, I will put myself in an even better position for the 2023 draft. Going through the pre-draft process, I learned about what it takes to be a successful professional. Whether it’s the daily on-court work, off-court work, diet, or recovery, I have gained a much greater understanding of the habits it takes to get to the top of this field.”

Givony is bullish on Miller’s chances of boosting his draft stock for next year, tweeting that the young forward will likely be a top-20 pick in ESPN’s next 2023 mock draft.

Matkovic was the No. 60 prospect on ESPN’s board, while Ivisic was No. 63, which made them borderline candidates to be drafted. Strazel was unranked.

A total of 37 international prospects declared for the draft as early entrants and typically no more than about 10 or 15 of those players keep their names in the pool. In other words, it’s a safe bet that many more players on our list of international early entrants will withdraw by today’s deadline, even if it those decisions aren’t reported immediately.

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