Deyonta Davis Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Central Notes: Bird, Swanigan, Whitehead, Dunn

May 12th, 2016 at 6:39pm CST by Arthur Hill

Larry Bird hasn’t started his search to replace fired head coach Frank Vogel, relays Candace Buckner of The Indianapolis Star. The Pacers‘ president of basketball operations, who spent several hours watching watching five-on-five competitions today at the draft combine, said he has not talked to agents for any prospective coaches. “I got a list of guys and I’m just putting it together,” Bird said. Vogel, who was fired last week, has talked to the Rockets about their open head coaching spot, but no formal interview has been scheduled. The Pacers, who hold the No. 20 pick in next month’s draft, have conducted interviews with several players and will start workouts next week.

There’s more news from the Central Division:

One of those players the Pacers interviewed is Purdue freshman power forward Caleb Swanigan, according to a tweet from Buckner. Swanigan says he will hold a predraft workout with Indiana.
Seton Hall sophomore point guard Isaiah Whitehead has interviewed with the Bulls and Pacers, tweets Zach Braziller of The New York Post.
The Pacers also talked to Indiana junior small forward Troy Williams, according to Nathan Baird of The Lafayette Journal & Courier (Twitter link).
The Bulls interviewed Providence sophomore point guard Kris Dunn, according to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). Unless they get really lucky in the lottery, the Bulls would have to make a deal to rise into Dunn’s expected draft range. Chicago currently sits at pick No. 14.
Kentucky sophomore point guard Tyler Ulis told Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv that he talked to the Pistons among nine team interviews (Twitter link).
Notre Dame junior point guard Demetrius Jackson also met with the Pistons today, tweets Rod Beard of The Detroit News.
The Pistons interviewed Florida State freshman shooting guard Malik Beasley, Beard tweets. Coach/executive Stan Van Gundy talked about toughness and what role Beasley might have in Detroit.
The Pistons also talked to Vanderbilt sophomore point guard Wade Baldwin, according to Keith Langlois of Pistons.com (Twitter link). Baldwin had an interview with the Bucks as well, tweets Matt Velazquez of The Journal Sentinel.
Michigan State freshman big man Deyonta Davis also met with the Bucks, according to Beard (Twitter link).
Virginia senior shooting guard Malcolm Brogdon interviewed with the Bucks, tweets Charles F. Garnder of The Journal-Sentinel. “I’m 23; I’m one of the oldest guys in the draft,” Brogdon said. “So I hope I come off as mature and experienced.” (Twitter link).
The Bucks also met with Washington freshman power forward Marquese Chriss, Velazquez tweets. Coach Jason Kidd was in the meeting as the team asked Chriss to write down his “personal pillars.”

Atlantic Notes: Dunn, Ulis, Jackson

May 12th, 2016 at 5:13pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Despite the reports that interim coach Kurt Rambis is team president Phil Jackson‘s choice to lead the Knicks next season, league sources have informed Ken Berger of CBSSports.com that the competition for the post is still wide open. It’s also notable that Rambis is in attendance at the scouting combine this week but Jackson is not in Chicago for the event, Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv relays. “When Larry Bird took over for the Pacers, he was the first guy in the gym in Chicago,” a league executive told Zagoria. “Jerry West was always in the gym. Those guys are not on ranches in Montana. Phil obviously doesn’t worry or care about that.” While the Knicks don’t currently own a pick in this year’s NBA Draft, the team could look to acquire one from another team.

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

The Celtics interviewed Duke freshman forward Brandon Ingram today, A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com relays. Boston also interviewed Syracuse freshman swingman Malachi Richardson, according to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (via Twitter).
The Sixers interviewed Florida State freshman shooting guard Malik Beasley, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer relays (via Twitter). The swingman noted that Philadelphia intends to bring him in for a workout, Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly.com adds (Twitter links). The team has an interview scheduled for Friday with Michigan State freshman big man Deyonta Davis, Camerato also reports.
The Sixers met with Clemson junior small forward Jaron Blossomgame on Wednesday and have a workout scheduled with him on May 20th, Camerato tweets. Philly also met with former Weber State power forward Joel Bolomboy today, Camerato notes. Also sitting down with team personnel today were Providence junior point guard Kris Dunn and Notre Dame’s Demetrius Jackson, Camerato adds (Twitter links).
North Carolina State point guard Cat Barber has a workout scheduled with the Sixers on Monday, Pompey relays (on Twitter).
Sixers GM Bryan Colangelo indicated that the team is open to trading away some of its draft picks this year in exchange for veteran players, Jake Fischer of Liberty Ballers tweets. “You can only have so many developing players,” Colangelo told Andy Katz of ESPN. “We may be in play with some of those picks.“
The Sixers met with Kentucky sophomore point guard Tyler Ulis today and intend to bring him in for a workout in the near future, Camerato tweets.
Vanderbilt sophomore point guard Wade Baldwin interviewed with the Celtics today, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe tweets, Baldwin also met with the Sixers, Camerato notes (on Twitter).
Former Syracuse swingman Michael Gbinije will interview with the Sixers on Friday or Saturday, Pompey relays (via Twitter). Gbinije is also scheduled to meet with the Knicks, Chris Herring of The Wall Street Journal tweets.

Draft Combine Updates: Thursday Afternoon

May 12th, 2016 at 1:30pm CST by Chuck Myron

The NBA draft combine began Wednesday and kicks into high gear today. The players have been measured, with the the NBA releasing the results on its website, and drills and five-on-five action will take place for willing participants. The general rule is this: The more highly regarded the prospect, the fewer combine events in which he takes part. Cameron Payne was the only eventual 2015 lottery pick who did any basketball activity at last year’s combine, notes Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress (Twitter link). Top-pick contender Ben Simmons is among those who are skipping the combine altogether, while lottery prospects Kris Dunn and Deyonta Davis will be limited participants, Givony and Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com report (Twitter links). Interviews with teams are a key part of the combine, as The Vertical’s Bobby Marks details, but teams don’t directly select the players they interview, as Marks explains.

Here’s more news on the draft:

Givony, writing for The Vertical, said the private workout Skal Labissiere had Wednesday was one of the best he’s ever seen. The big man from Kentucky also interviewed with the Sixers on Wednesday, a source told Jessica Camerato of CSN Philly (Twitter link).
Top-10 prospects Brandon Ingram, Buddy Hield and Jamal Murray are among those interviewing with the Celtics, reports Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald (Twitter link).
First-round prospect DeAndre’ Bembry will work out for the Sixers on Monday, reports Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). The small forward from St. Joseph’s met with the Nets on Wednesday, according to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (Twitter link), and Bembry also interviewed with the Thunder, Wizards, Spurs, Pelicans and Knicks, Pompey adds (via Twitter).
St. Joseph’s power forward Isaiah Miles worked out for the Celtics this week and will do so for the Nets on May 19th, Pompey also reports. The Mavericks, Spurs, Rockets, Bucks and Knicks will also work him out, according to Pompey, who adds that he’ll interview with the Pacers and Wizards at the combine and previously interviewed with the Mavs, Spurs, Magic and Grizzlies at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, a showcase for seniors.
The Nets are among the teams working out Kentucky combo guard Isaiah Briscoe, sources tell Evan Daniels of Scout.com (Twitter link), who also echoes previous reports of his workouts with three other teams.
Oklahoma senior shooting guard Isaiah Cousins will work out Tuesday for the Pacers, Zagoria tweets.
Oakland University point guard Kay Felder met Wednesday with the Suns, Pelicans, Jazz, Nuggets, Cavaliers, Celtics and Nets, reports Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link).
Evansville center Egidijus Mockevicius will work out for the Nets, Bulls and Pacers, reports Daniel Allar of the Courier & Press (Twitter links). The Nuggets, Cavaliers and Magic are also interested in scheduling workouts with him, Allar adds.

Prospect Profile: Deyonta Davis (Part Two)

April 18th, 2016 at 8:40pm CST by Dana Gauruder

PROJECTED DRAFT RANGE: Draft experts peg Deyonta Davis as a late lottery selection due to his athleticism and upside. He ranks No. 11 overall and fifth among power forwards on ESPN Insider Chad Ford’s Big Board. He’s currently No. 13 on Jonathan Givony’s DraftExpress Top 100 Prospects list. Ben Simmons, Dragan Bender, Henry Ellenson and Skal Labissiere are the other players listed as power forwards for either their primary or secondary positions that Givony rates ahead of Davis. In a league where smaller lineups have become fashionable, Davis could also find himself playing center quite a bit.

RISE/FALL: Davis could slide down some draft boards if the concerns over his lack of offensive polish grow. He’s got to show in predraft camps and workouts that he has the tools to become a reliable low-post scorer. He’s also got to prove that he can make defenses pay if they give him some space in midrange areas and at the elbow. It’s tough for most lottery teams to sell their fans on a player with a limited offensive repertoire. If Davis makes a good impression on the offensive end, he could convince a team in the top 10 that he’s worth the gamble. His length and athleticism aren’t going anywhere, and it will be easy for scouts and coaches to fall in love with his ability to impact a game defensively while he develops his raw offensive moves.

FIT: The Raptors, who will receive a first-rounder from either the Knicks or Nuggets, could solidify their interior defense with a shotblocker like Davis. It’s unlikely that the Kings, who drafted a similar player last year in Willie Cauley-Stein, would be interested in Davis, but he could be a nice fit for the Bucks as an alternative to the defensively challenged Greg Monroe. Magic coach Scott Skiles would welcome any defensive help he could get, while the Bulls could snare Davis to replace free agent Joakim Noah. The Suns and Celtics could also find a role suited to Davis’ gifts, and Davis might even wind up with the Nuggets if they decide to restructure their frontcourt. Should Davis tumble out of the lottery, he would make sense for an aging team like the Grizzlies, who need a jolt of youth and athleticism at power forward.

FINAL TAKE: The team that drafts Davis must exercise patience. He could carve out a rotation role as a defensive specialist in the right situation. More likely, he’ll spend a good portion of his rookie year refining his skills on a D-League roster. The payoff could be substantial if Davis eventually turns into a low-post monster.

(For Part One of our Deyonta Davis Prospect Profile, click here.)

Prospect Profile: Deyonta Davis (Part One)

April 18th, 2016 at 7:39pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports Images

OVERVIEW: Deyonta Davis did not post big numbers as a freshman at Michigan State. That failed to deter the 6’10” power forward from entering the draft after his lone college season. Davis, who was ranked No. 28 by the Recruiting Services Consensus Index out of high school, became a starter during the Big Ten portion of the Spartans’ schedule. He made his mark on the defensive end, averaging 1.9 blocks in 18.7 minutes while also finishing as the team’s third-leading rebounder at 5.5 per game. He wasn’t a big part of the offense, scoring at a 7.4-point clip, but the 19-year-old oozes potential because of his length and athleticism. Davis did not immediately declare for the draft but ultimately bolted when he was convinced he could be a lottery selection.

STRENGTHS: Davis can impact the game with his physical gifts. Davis displayed defensive versatility with his ability to switch on screens and keep a wide range of opponents in front of him, as DraftExpress’ Jonathan Givony notes. His ability to protect the rim with his 7’2” wingspan and snare rebounds in traffic helped the Spartans enter the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed, despite Michigan State’s overall lack of physicality. ESPN Insider Chad Ford credits Davis for his shooting range out to 17 feet, though the Spartans didn’t run plays for him, and he got most of his points on put-backs and dunks. He shot 59.7% from the field because he didn’t try to do too much or take questionable shots. He’s also considered a hard worker and high-character player who blends well with his teammates.

WEAKNESSES: Most draft experts felt Davis should have stayed in school another year to develop his game. As Ford described in his draft analysis, Davis is a “pure upside play” because he’s so raw offensively. While he displayed a nice shooting touch on his short and midrange jumpers, Davis is by no means a stretch four. He did not even attempt a 3-pointer, so he’ll need to work extensively on his post moves to become a significant offensive threat. Like most young frontcourt players, Davis also has to become much stronger. He could get overpowered in one-in-one matchups early in his career until he fills out and gets accustomed to the banging. His college coach, Hall of Famer Tom Izzo, wished he had another season to work with Davis. “Would a second year have helped him? No question,” he said in a radio interview with WQTX-FM that was quoted by the Lansing State Journal’s Chris Solari. “We didn’t think we might have him for more than two years when it all started. So it wasn’t like we were thinking of this as a four-year deal, either. “

(For Part Two of our Deyonta Davis Prospect Profile, click here.)

Michigan State F/C Deyonta Davis To Enter Draft

April 12th, 2016 at 10:52am CST by Chuck Myron

Michigan State freshman forward/center Deyonta Davis will enter this year’s draft and sign with an agent, the school announced. The 6’10” 19-year-old is 11th in Chad Ford’s ESPN.com rankings and 13th with Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress. He won’t be able to return to college ball once he formally hires an agent.

Davis had been “50-50” on the idea of entering the draft, Spartans coach Tom Izzo said earlier this month, and Davis told Jake Fischer of SI.com in December that he planned to stay in college for two years (Twitter link), but it’s no surprise to see him head to the NBA, since few turn down strong chances to become lottery picks. The native of Muskegon, Michigan, played a limited role for his home-state school, averaging just 18.6 minutes per game, but he still managed 1.8 blocks per outing, the third-best average in the Big Ten. His 64 total blocks this year were the most ever by a Michigan State freshman and the second-most that any Spartan has ever recorded in a single season. He also collected an impressive 5.5 boards per game in his short minutes.

The Recruiting Services Consensus Index listed Davis at just No. 26 coming out of high school last year, though he was a McDonald’s All-American. His physical tools and defensive versatility have impressed NBA types, as Givony wrote last month, but questions surround his offensive polish inside, according to Ford. Davis notched just 7.5 points per contest and scored in double figures only three times in 12 games during February and March. One of those occasions was his 10-point, 15-minute performance in Michigan State’s first-round upset loss to Middle Tennessee State in the NCAA Tournament.

Draft Notes: Davis, Ingram, Hield, Trier

April 4th, 2016 at 6:40pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Michigan State freshman Deyonta Davis is “50-50” on entering the draft, his coach Tom Izzo told the Detroit News’ Matt Charboneau and other media members at the Final Four. Izzo isn’t sure if Davis is ready physically and mentally for the next level and believes he could benefit from staying in school, the story adds. The 6’10” big man is ranked No. 12 by ESPN Insider Chad Ford and No. 13 by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress. “To me, if he is drafted 12 or 25, it doesn’t change my opinion,” Izzo said. “Maybe there is a little more money but I think it’s more what he can handle and what is good for him to get to the second contract. That’s how I’m going to give my final advice, but he’s gonna make his own decisions.”

In other news regarding this year’s NBA draft:

Duke freshman and potential top pick Brandon Ingram, who declared for the draft on Monday, isn’t quite the prospect that Kevin Durant was coming out of college but there are similarities, as Mike Schmitz of The Vertical examines in great detail. Ingram was more of a facilitator in his freshman year, though Durant has developed into a superior passer as a pro, Schmitz continues. Durant was a prolific scorer and threat from anywhere on the court at Texas while Ingram only showed flashes of taking over games in his season at Duke, Schmitz adds.
Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield gets the nod over Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine in NBA.com David Aldridge’s rankings of the top shooting guard prospects. Though scouts that Aldridge interviewed do not consider Hield a “turnaround kind of talent,” his shooting ability stands out among his peers. France’s Timothe Luwawu, who’s played in Serbia this season, is ranked third on Aldridge’s list.
Arizona shooting guard Allonzo Trier will return to school for his sophomore season, ESPN.com’s Jeff Goodman tweets. The 6’5” Trier, who averaged 14.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in his freshman season, is rated No. 79 by Ford and No. 76 by Givony.