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Draft Combine Update: Friday Evening

May 13th, 2016 at 8:12pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Kansas freshman power forward/center Cheick Diallo intends to sign with an agent and remain in the 2016 NBA Draft, Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com reports. “My time at Kansas was hard; the beginning was really hard,” Diallo said. “The NCAA stuff made it difficult for me, but even though I didn’t always play a lot, I loved being at Kansas and loved supporting my teammates. This is the time for me to go to the next level. And I’m trying to show the NBA the things I do well: block shots, rebound and run the floor. I can guard multiple positions.”

The 19-year-old is currently ranked No. 32 overall by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express, but Diallo is likely to climb in those rankings in the near future based on his strong showing during the combine, though that is merely my speculation. Here’s more from Chicago’s big event:

A number of scouts still aren’t sold on Kentucky big man Skal Labissiere despite the reports he wowed teams with his solo workout at the combine, Sean Deveney of The Sporting News writes. “A guy makes shots in an empty gym?” a league executive told Deveney. “That makes him top 10? I don’t think so. We know he is a pretty good shooter. I think he has a lot of potential. He could go in the lottery, and maybe top 10. But he has a lot to prove in workouts.“
Former Providence point guard Kris Dunn said he’d love to play for the Pelicans if they were to select him this June, citing the presence of power forward Anthony Davis as his primary reason, Jim Eichenhofer of NBA.com relays. “[It’s] definitely [appealing],” said Dunn. “For any point guard who’s going there. Who wouldn’t want to play with [Davis]? He’s definitely a superstar, up there with LeBron James, Kevin Durant and all those guys. To be able to play with a guy like that, it’s only going to help me. He makes the game a lot easier for point guards.”
Both Jaylen Brown (California) and Gary Payton II (Oregon State) described their interviews with Kings executive Vlade Divac as “fun,” with Brown also noting that the mood was lighter and less stressful than other interviews he has participated in, Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee relays (Twitter links).
The Lakers interviewed Marquette freshman center Henry Ellenson today, Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News tweets.
Utah sophomore center Jakob Poeltl interviewed with the Pelicans, Brett Dawson of The New Orleans Advocate (Twitter links). New Orleans also sat down with Diallo, the scribe adds.

Magic Notes: Skiles, Hennigan, Draft

May 13th, 2016 at 12:31pm CST by Chuck Myron

Magic CEO Alex Martins said he tried to talk Scott Skiles into staying Thursday morning, when the coach resigned instead, tweets Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel. The DeVos family, who own the Magic, and Martins are backers of Skiles, USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt notes, wondering whether GM Rob Hennigan was truly in charge of the decision to hire Skiles a year ago, despite the GM’s assertion Thursday that he was.

See more from Orlando after a surprising turn of events:

No coach can turn around the Magic if they don’t have a star player, Schmitz opines, believing the pressure falls on Hennigan to upgrade the roster as the team embarks on its third coaching search in Hennigan’s four-year tenure. The Sentinel’s Mike Bianchi concurs, calling Skiles’ hasty exit one of the darkest days in franchise history, given the coach’s longstanding ties to the team.
One Magic player said Skiles seemed “miserable” in the last few months of the season, and the coach has grown increasingly weary with the attitudes of NBA players, as The Vertical’s Chris Mannix hears. Ultimately, the coach’s resignation underscores the need for a tight bond between NBA coaches and front offices, Mannix believes.
Michigan State swingman Denzel Valentine and forward/center Deyonta Davis, Marquette power forward Henry Ellenson and Canadian prep school power forward Thon Maker are among the draft prospects the Magic have interviewed at this week’s combine, The Sentinel’s Josh Robbins reports.

Northwest Notes: Leonard, Diallo, Felder, Davis

May 12th, 2016 at 9:15pm CST by Arthur Hill

Impending free agent center Meyers Leonard is making progress with his injured shoulder, according to The Oregonian. In a video interview posted on the paper’s website, Leonard discusses the torn labrum in his left shoulder and what he expects out of restricted free agency this summer. “The frustrating thing is I’m not in pain, but it just takes time for things to heal,” said Leonard, who faces a six- to eight-month timetable to return after undergoing surgery last month. He admits feeling jealous while watching his teammates during the playoffs. The injury could limit the offers for Leonard, who declined an extension from the Blazers in October.

There’s more news from the Northwest Division:

Kansas freshman big man Cheick Diallo will have an interview with the Jazz on Friday, according to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (Twitter link).
Oakland junior point guard Kay Felder had meetings with the Jazz and Nuggets, tweets Rod Beard of The Detroit News.
Freshman big man Deyonta Davis of Michigan State talked with the Jazz, according to Beard (Twitter link).
The Jazz also interviewed Purdue freshman power forward Caleb Swanigan, according to Nathan Baird of The Lafayette Journal & Courier.
The Wolves, who own the league’s fifth-worst record entering the draft lottery, held interviews with Providence sophomore point guard Kris Dunn and California freshman swingman Jaylen Brown, tweets Jerry Zgoda of The Star-Tribune.
Minnesota also interviewed Dunn’s teammate, sophomore power forward Ben Bentil (Twitter link). Bentil joined several other players in a workout for the Wolves last week.
Also meeting with the Wolves was Henry Ellenson, a freshman power forward out of Marquette, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.

Prospect Profile: Henry Ellenson (Part Two)

April 24th, 2016 at 7:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

PROJECTED DRAFT RANGE: Henry Ellenson is projected as an early to mid-lottery pick based on his potential as an NBA scorer and rebounder. He is ranked ninth on Jonathan Givony’s latest Top 100 Prospects list for DraftExpress, and he’s second among pure power forwards behind international prospect Dragan Bender. ESPN’s Chad Ford ranks Ellenson sixth overall, citing his ability to score in the low post, his impressive shooting range and an “excellent motor.” Ellenson’s ability to match up with centers in smaller lineups could enhance his NBA prospects.

RISE/FALL: Ellenson is attractive because he has a natural position in the NBA and the skills to quickly become an effective scorer and rebounder. Givony says it’s easy to project him being picked fifth through 10th based on his abilities and the other talent available. The first two picks seem almost certain to be LSU’s Ben Simmons and Duke’s Brandon Ingram, but the draft gets more unpredictable from there. If a team believes Ellenson can develop into a dependable 3-point shooter and become a more polished passer, he may go earlier than expected. But if concerns about his defense persist through the predraft workouts, teams may be worried that he’ll be too much of a liability as the league moves to smaller lineups and a faster-paced game.

FIT: The Pelicans, who were trying to deal center Omer Asik earlier this year, may be interested in another big man. There has also been speculation that the Nuggets may want to unload Kenneth Faried, who still has three years and more than $38.76MM left on his current deal, and find a younger, cheaper alternative. The Raptors, who have the Knicks’ pick that is currently slotted ninth and who started 35-year-old Luis Scola at power forward, could be interested, along with the Bucks, who may well try to find a taker for Greg Monroe.

FINAL TAKE: Ellenson has proven himself at the college level and is ready to take on the NBA challenge. The team that drafts him has a fairly good idea of what it’s getting — an offensively skilled power forward who can rebound and has the size to play center when necessary. He has the potential to expand his offensive game, but that comes with defensive issues that threaten to limit his playing time until he can overcome them. Ellenson may not be a star in his first season, but he should be ready to step into someone’s rotation right away.

(For Part One of Henry Ellenson’s prospect profile, click here.)

Prospect Profile: Henry Ellenson (Part One)

April 24th, 2016 at 6:47pm CST by Arthur Hill

Jeff Hanisch / USA TODAY Sports Images

OVERVIEW: Marquette’s Henry Ellenson has been dreaming of this opportunity since he began playing organized basketball at age 2. The NBA draft is the next step for the Golden Eagles’ star power forward, who got an early introduction to the game when he joined his older brothers’ team in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

“I was pretty much born in a gym and that’s how I’ve been my whole life,” Ellenson told Tom Pipines of Fox 6 News in Milwaukee, “and so I just love the game of basketball, and maybe it’s because of that.”

Seventeen years later, Ellenson can expect to hear his name called early on draft night. He posted 17 double-doubles at Marquette, ranked third in the Big East in scoring at 16.8 points per game and led the conference in rebounding with 9.8 boards per night. He was a first-team all-Big East selection and a finalist for the Wayman Tisdale national freshman of the year award.

STRENGTHS: Ellenson, 19, already has the makings of an NBA body. At 6’10″and 240 pounds, he has a 7’2″ wingspan and 9’1″ standing reach, giving him the size to handle playing center in the pros, according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress. Ellenson’s mobility and dexterity are impressive for his size, Givony notes, although he lacks quickness and explosiveness and has to be careful of a weight problem that he developed when he was younger. Ellenson handles the ball extremely well for a big man, with the ability to grab a rebound and lead the break, and he possesses a variety of shot fakes, moves off the dribble and body control that help him create his own shots. ESPN’s Chad Ford praised Ellenson’s athleticism and notes that he complements his inside game with “shooting range out to the 3-point line.” Ellenson averaged nearly one made 3-pointer per game in college, but shot just 29% from long distance. However, his proficiency from the foul line (75%) suggests he can improve as a 3-point shooter.

WEAKNESSES: NBA scouts are concerned about Ellenson’s development on defense, Givony writes, noting that he has trouble guarding quicker opponents on the perimeter and doesn’t have the timing or explosiveness to be an effective rim protector. Givony also cites problems with Ellenson’s “instincts, awareness and intensity level,” adding that he isn’t quick enough to be effective in pick-and-roll defense and often gets caught between the shooter and the roll man. Ford says Ellenson needs to develop his defensive skills and get in better shape to make an impact in the NBA on that side of the floor. Offensively, Ellenson’s abilities don’t always transfer into positive results, as his true shooting percentage of 54% this season reflects. He often has problems with “efficiency and rhythm,” notes Trevor Magnotti of Upside and Motor, who says Ellenson touched the ball on a lot of possessions at Marquette but didn’t make the most of his opportunities. Some scouts believe Ellenson often tries to force things on offense and is prone to making poor decisions with the dribble and pass. There were also concerns about his passing ability and willingness to give up the ball at Marquette.

(For Part Two of our Henry Ellenson Prospect Profile, click here.)

Draft Rumors: Zizic, Baldwin, Greene, Wizards

April 18th, 2016 at 9:47pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Croatian center Ante Zizic, who is under contract with Cibona Zagreb, is open to going the draft-and-stash route, according to international journalist David Pick (Twitter links). The 19-year-old, 6’11” Zizic is considered a first-round talent. He’s ranked No. 26 by DraftExpress’ Jonathan Givony and No. 22 on ESPN Insider Chad Ford’s Big Board. Several international scouts have told Ford that Zizic, the fourth-ranked center, could be a steal in this year’s draft because of his low-post game, rebounding and toughness. Zizic declared for the draft earlier this month, but with his contract tying him to Cibona for another year, it’s either become a draft-and-stash pick or pull out of the draft by June 13th, Pick notes.

In other developments regarding the June 23rd draft:

Forwards Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram are the top two picks in ESPN Insider Chad Ford’s latest mock draft. Ford projects that the Sixers, who have the best odds of gaining the No. 1 selection, will grab Simmons because of the higher upside he has compared to Ingram, with the Lakers then taking the Duke freshman. Point guard Jamal Murray (Celtics) and power forwards Dragan Bender (Suns) and Henry Ellenson (Timberwolves) round out Ford’s top five.
Vanderbilt point guard Wade Baldwin has signed with Priority Sports, tweets ESPN’s Jeff Goodman. Baldwin was linked earlier this month to Priority Sports as his potential representative, according to a tweet from Pick. The 6’3” Baldwin is currently ranked No. 16 by Givony, while Ford pegs him at No. 23.
Kansas swingman Brannen Greene has signed with Sam Goldfeder of Excel, Goodman reports in a separate tweet. Greene barely cracks the Top 100 list by Givony at No. 99, while Ford doesn’t list him on his Big Board.
UNLV’s Derrick Jones is officially staying in the draft and has signed with Aaron Turner, Goodman reported in another tweet. The 6’6” small forward is not ranked in the Top 100 by either Givony or Ford.
The Wizards do not plan to trade into the draft despite the strong possibility they will lose their first-rounder, writes Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post. Washington sent a top-nine protected pick to the Suns in the deadline deal for power forward Markieff Morris. Unless the Wizards get a top-three selection via the lottery, they’ll lose the pick. Team president Ernie Grunfeld told Castillo and other media members he’s not keen on making a draft-related deal. “We look at Markieff as being our draft pick, and I don’t think we’ll get a player where we’d be drafting that can do the kind of things that he can do, and be under contract for three years like that, and still be young but proven,” Grunfeld said.

And-Ones: Colangelo, Luwawu, Motiejunas

April 11th, 2016 at 10:27pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The NBA placed restrictions on Jerry Colangelo after the Sixers hired him as chairman of basketball operations in December, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. Rival executives were concerned about Colangelo’s access to star players as USA Basketball’s managing director, fearing he would have an advantage in courting top free agents, Wojnarowski continues. The limitations include Colangelo’s ability to communicate directly with players outside of USA Basketball activities, as well as his impact on the final voting process for national team and Olympic rosters, league sources indicated to Wojnarowski. The limitations will remain in place even though he relinquished his title as the Sixers’ chairman of basketball operations after his son Bryan was hired as president of basketball operations. Jerry Colangelo will now serve as a special adviser to the team’s ownership group, Wojnarowski notes.

In other developments around the league:

Timothe Luwawu, a lottery-level prospect from France, has no intention of withdrawing from the draft in the wake of agent Misko Raznatovic’s announcement earlier today that he’s entered, tweets international journalist David Pick. “I’m ready,” Luwawu told Pick. “I’m going to the NBA.” The swingman is the No. 12 prospect in Jonathan Givony’s DraftExpress rankings, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com lists him 19th.
Marquette freshman power forward Henry Ellenson has signed with agent Joe Branch of Roc Nation, Michael Scotto of SheridanHoops tweets. Ellenson, who declared for the draft earlier this month, is the No. 6 prospect on Ford’s Big Board, while Givony ranks him at No. 9.
Donatas Motiejunas started Sunday’s game for the Rockets, his 20th of the season and 82nd since the start of 2014/15, enough to trigger the NBA’s starter criteria, as we explained Friday. That means the Rockets will have to make a qualifying offer worth $4,433,683 instead of just $3,278,998 by June 30th to retain the right to match competing bids for the power forward, who’s headed into free agency.
Bob Donewald, Jr. will not return next season as the head coach of the Grizzlies’ D-League affiliate, the Iowa Energy, the team announced on its website. Donewald compiled a 52-48 record with the Energy, including a 26-24 record this season.
The Cavaliers recalled center Sasha Kaun and shooting guard Jordan McRae from their D-League affiliate, the Canton Charge, according to the team’s website. They had been assigned to the Charge earlier in the day. The pair will be reassigned to the Charge on Tuesday, Josh Weir of The Repository tweets.

And-Ones: Jersey Ads, Ellenson, Valentine

April 5th, 2016 at 10:17pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The NBA is giving serious consideration to allowing advertising on the jerseys of teams beginning in 2017/18 and the Raptors have suggested to potential advertisers that the on-jersey ads will cost between $4MM and $5MM per season, Rick Westhead of TSN.ca relays. During their sales pitches, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment executives have discussed the prospect of ads of about 2 1/2 inches in diameter, which would be the same size as the Kia Motors Corp. ad that appeared on the NBA All-Star Game jerseys this year in Toronto, Westhead notes. MLSE is looking to set the precedent that advertisements are worth as much as $5MM per season because officials are concerned that marketers might try to use contract values secured by smaller-market teams as a bargaining chip, the TSN scribe adds.

It remains unclear how on-jersey ads would affect the revenue sharing around the league. One possible scenario drawing mention would see teams keep 50% of the revenue they generate from such ads and put the other half into a league-wide fund that is split equally between franchises, Westhead writes.

Here’s more from around the league:

Marquette power forward Henry Ellenson has not officially chosen an agent yet, but the freshman is likely to sign with Roc Nation, relays Gery Woelfel of The Racine Journal Times (Twitter links). The 6’10” Ellenson is initially expected to play the four in the NBA, but a number of scouts project that his best position will eventually be center, Woelfel adds. Jonathan Givony’s DraftExpress list of the top 100 prospects ranks Ellenson ninth overall, while Chad Ford has him sixth in his latest ESPN Insider rankings.
Michigan State senior shooting guard Denzel Valentine has signed with the Wasserman Media Group and agent B.J. Armstrong, Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated tweets. Dana Gauruder of Hoops Rumors profiled Valentine last month.
UConn small forward Daniel Hamilton, who’s planning to enter this year’s draft, intends to hire an agent, Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv reports (Twitter link). If the sophomore does secure representation, it would prevent him from withdrawing from the draft and returning to school for his junior campaign.

Marquette PF Henry Ellenson To Enter Draft

April 3rd, 2016 at 8:29pm CST by Arthur Hill

Freshman power forward Henry Ellenson of Marquette plans to declare for the NBA draft and hire an agent, tweets Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com. The move has been expected as Ellenson projects as one of the top players in the June 23rd draft. Jonathan Givony’s DraftExpress list of the top 100 prospects ranks Ellenson ninth overall, while Chad Ford has him sixth in his latest ESPN Insider rankings.

The 6’10” Ellenson, who hails from Rice Lake, Wisconsin, came to Marquette as a top prospect. He was listed as the ninth-best high school senior in the nation in the Recruiting Services Consensus Index. Ellenson averaged nearly a double-double in his only season with the Golden Eagles with 17.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. He shot 45% from the field, but only 29% in 104 attempts from 3-point range.

Ellenson was named Big East Rookie of the Year and was a first-team all-conference selection. Givony says his height, length, reach and strength all project well for an NBA power forward. He’s also mobile and can handle the ball well for his size. Potential drawbacks include weakness as a passer and a lack of explosiveness on defense. He has also struggled with weight problems in the past.

And-Ones: Rose, Lillard, Bazemore, Labissiere

January 12th, 2016 at 12:00pm CST by Chuck Myron

Derrick Rose has said in the past that he wants to play with the Bulls for the rest of his career, and while he raised eyebrows with his comments on media day that indicated he was looking forward to hitting free agency in 2017, he recently told Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com he still intends to stay put. The same is true for Damian Lillard, who said Friday that he plans to remain with the Trail Blazers until his playing days are over, calling his relationship with the organization “a hand-and-glove fit” for the way the Blazers have embraced him as a player and a person, as Jason Quick of CSNNW.com notes. Lillard is fresh off signing a five-year extension in the summer, so the matter of his free agency isn’t as pressing as Rose’s, though Lillard’s remarks are nonetheless soothing for Portland, given its history of star defections, Quick posits. See more from around the NBA:

Rose also told Friedell for the same piece that he doesn’t have any contact with Tom Thibodeau and doesn’t even think about his former coach, despite having had a “good relationship” with him, because he’s focused on adjusting to new Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg. He also spoke fondly of Jimmy Butler, despite reports of friction between the two, answering affirmatively when Friedell asked if Butler is the most talented teammate he’s ever had.
The Hawks unsurprisingly view 2016 free agent Al Horford as a building block for the long-term, writes Zach Lowe of ESPN.com, though he’s not the only player the team will have to pay if it wants to retain this summer. Estimates of the starting salary Kent Bazemore will be able to command on his next deal range from the mid-level, which tops out at $5.628MM, to $12MM, according to a dozen league executives to whom Lowe spoke.
The top three, including LSU combo forward Ben Simmons, are unchanged in the latest 2016 draft prospect rankings from Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider only), but Marquette big man Henry Ellenson is up to No. 4 from No. 6. Kentucky big man Skal Labissiere, who was Ford’s previous No. 4 and once a serious challenger for the No. 1 pick, has dropped to No. 10.