Following the Hornets' lottery win, ESPN.com's Chad Ford published his newest mock draft, which includes a handful of interesting scenarios, including Dion Waiters jumping to eighth overall and Austin Rivers slipping to 18th. With less than four weeks until draft day, Ford continues to talk to sources and visit workouts to get a better sense of how things will play out on June 28th. His latest draft blog (Insider link) explores potential options for the top 10 picks and is chock-full of interesting tidbits. Let's round up some of the highlights….
The Warriors were one of a few teams to benefit from Wednesday night's draft lottery results, hanging onto their lottery pick for another year. According to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle, GM Bob Myers doesn't intend to use all four picks the Warriors hold, but views them as valuable trade assets. Myers also aims to land a starter with the seventh overall pick, pointing out that "I don't think anyone would accept the thought of drafting a backup" with a top-10 pick. Here are a few more of the morning's Warriors updates:
While the Warriors await the May 30th draft lottery with crossed fingers, hoping they don't slide below their projected seventh slot and lose their pick to the Jazz, there are a few items of note from the Bay Area:
- The team has promoted Kirk Lacob, son of co-owner Joe Lacob, to assistant GM, according to a statement. He previously served as director of basketball operations for the Warriors and general manager of the Dakota Wizards, the team's D-League affiliate. Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle provides detail.
- A "big" upgrade at small forward is on tap this summer, according to Tim Kawakami of the Bay Area News Group. It's increasingly clear that the team has soured on Dorell Wright, Kawakami says, and the team will seek a replacement who can have an impact on both sides of the floor.
- In the same piece, Kawakami says the draft is the most likely means the team will use to get a new starter at the 3, and mentions Harrison Barnes, Terrence Jones and Perry Jones as possibilities at No. 7, with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in play if the team moves up into the top three picks. If they make a deal to move into the middle of the first round, they're high on Meyers Leonard, Kawakami reports.
- San Francisco mayor Ed Lee, along with all 11 city supervisors, sent a letter to the Warriors that said the city would cooperate to help the team return to San Francisco by 2017, according to Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross of the San Francisco Chronicle. The city, home to the Warriors from 1962-71, is likely seeking a privately financed arena near the Bay Bridge. The news comes on the heels of the state's demand that Oakland return $3.5MM it had hoped to spend on planning for a new arena.
Terrence Jones announced his intent to enter the NBA Draft on April 16th. The 6-foot-8 sophomore lefty was the starting small forward for the NCAA champion Kentucky Wildcats. After averaging 15.7 points per game as a freshman as one of the top dogs at UK, Jones' scoring average fell to 12.3 as a sophomore. With all-world freshmen Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague coming aboard, Jones had to share the rock in more of a supporting role.
Although his scoring declined, his shooting percentage jumped from 44 percent to 50 percent and he still averaged 7.2 rebounds per game despite Davis grabbing nearly every board in sight. Loaded with talent, Jones is a very interesting prospect. He is at least 6-foot-8 with an impressive build and huge wingspan. He can shoot and dribble like a guard and can therefore play almost any position on the floor.
At times, Jones looks like a future superstar. His game is well rounded – his skills and natural ability allow him the potential to do almost everything on the basketball court at a high level. He rebounds, passes and shoots well and when he is on, he can score from anywhere. His ball handling is a strength and he is versatile because of it. Jones, like many southpaws, has a smooth look to him on the court.
So the obvious question is why isn't Jones being pegged as a top five pick? Well for one, sometimes what looks like smooth on the court is in actuality a lack of maximum effort. While characterizing Jones as having a "bad attitude" seems a bit harsh, he is susceptible to losing focus and sulking that is easily visible through bad body language. Kentucky head coach John Calipari publicly challenged him in the media on several occasions in an effort to motivate the talented forward.
In terms of tangible basketball weaknesses, Jones still needs to refine his shot. While he shoots well for someone his size, he will need to work on his mechanics to be able to consistently connect from three from NBA distance. This could prove especially important because Jones occasionally tends to fall in love with the three pointer when he should be spending more time inside utilizing his size and strength. Jones has good strength and appears to work hard in the weight room, but sometimes shies away from contact. If this is something he can fix, his game would improve dramatically. Jones also needs to work on finishing with his right hand.
The most obvious comparison for Jones would be Marvin Williams, who was also a physically gifted and versatile wing on a loaded college team. Another interesting comp is fellow lefty Lamar Odom. Both of these guys are loaded with natural ability but never were dominant NBA players for reasons ranging from attitude problems to lack of motivation or competitiveness. Sound familiar? Odom was at his best as a supporting player on a championship Lakers team, much like Jones at Kentucky.
Jones showed focus and was excellent in the NCAA Tournament. His play was integral in Kentucky giving Calipari his first national title. While that will certainly ease some of the concerns of NBA teams, Jones' mental approach to the pre-draft process will likely be just as important. Look for him to land in the late lottery unless a top ten team is overwhelmed by his potential. It's just speculation, but perhaps Houston's two first round picks would make them more willing to take on the enigmatic Jones.
On Tuesday, NCAA champion University of Kentucky's full starting five declared for the 2012 NBA draft. Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb, and Marquis Teague will all be going pro, with Davis expected to be the first pick overall. Which of these highly-touted prospects do you think will have the best NBA career?
Five players from the NCAA Champion Kentucky Wildcats declared for the 2012 NBA Draft in a press conference on Tuesday (Associated Press link via ESPN.com). As expected, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Marquis Teague, and Doron Lamb, the entire Kentucky starting five, will all turn pro.
Davis, the winner of the 2012 Naismith College Player of the Year award, is the overwhelming favorite to go first overall in June's draft, with Kidd-Gilchrist and Jones also expected to be lottery picks. HoopsRumors writers have previously covered Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist in our Prospect Profile series.
TUESDAY, 9:41am: The press conference for the five Kentucky underclassmen has been delayed until Tuesday evening at 7:00pm local time due to travel issues and class schedules, tweets Kyle Tucker of the Courier-Journal.
MONDAY, 4:09pm: Five Kentucky underclassmen expected to declare for the NBA draft will announce their decisions at a Tuesday afternoon press conference, according to Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com. Barring a surprise, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Marquis Teague, and Doron Lamb will all officially declare for the NBA draft.
Earlier today, it was reported that Davis, Teague, and Jones will be entering the draft pool, though Kidd-Gilchrist's and Lamb's final decisions were still unknown. The five underclassmen made up most of the core of a Wildcats team that won the 2012 NCAA national championship.
Davis, a freshman, will likely be picked first overall, while Kidd-Gilchrist (freshman) and Jones (sophomore) are also expected to be lottery picks. Teague (freshman) is also a likely first-rounder, while Lamb (sophomore) could crack the first round as well.
Hoops Rumors' full list of early entrants for this June's draft can be found here.
Kentucky's Anthony Davis and Marquis Teague will join teammate Terrence Jones in entering this year's NBA draft, reports Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (via Twitter). Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Doron Lamb are also expected to forgo their remaining college years, though nothing is official yet.
Davis is, of course, a near-lock to be the first overall pick in June. The AP Player of the Year averaged 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.7 blocks per game during his first and only season at Kentucky. While Davis is considered the number one prospect by both DraftExpress and ESPN.com, his teammate Teague is ranked 18th and 25th respectively. Both freshmen helped lead the Wildcats to a national championship.
Earlier today, it was reported that Jones would enter the draft, with an official announcement coming as early as tomorrow. Players have until April 29th to formally declare their intent to enter the draft pool. Hoops Rumors' full list of early entrants can be found here.
10:02am: The official word from Kentucky is that none of their underclassmen have finalized their decisions yet, reports Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv. The NBA's early-entry deadline is April 29th, so Jones and his fellow Wildcats still have a couple weeks to formally announce their decisions.
9:32am: Kentucky sophomore Terrence Jones will forgo his final two seasons of NCAA eligibility and declare for the NBA draft, tweets Dan Rieffer of ABC 36 in Lexington. An official announcement could come as soon as tomorrow, according to Rieffer.
Listed 11th overall among this year's draft prospects by DraftExpress.com, Jones still ranks behind two Wildcats teammates, Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Neither Davis or Kidd-Gilchrist have officially entered the draft yet, though it would be a huge surprise if either of them played another season at Kentucky.
Jones, who is ranked eighth overall by ESPN.com's Chad Ford, averaged 12.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in 29 games for the national champion Wildcats this season.
Two lottery picks officially entered the draft today, in Andre Drummond and Bradley Beal. As the 2012 class continues to expand, let's round up a few of today's draft-related items….
- At Rivals.com, Brett Dawson writes that Kentucky coach John Calipari is anticipating losing five underclassmen to the NBA draft — Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquis Teague, Doron Lamb, and Terrence Jones.
- Sophomore C.J. Leslie, ranked 34th among this year's prospects by DraftExpress.com, is undecided on his future, tweets Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com. People close to Leslie think he's a good bet to return to N.C. State.
- Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor has signed B.J. Armstrong as his agent, according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times (via Twitter). The senior point guard is ranked 68th by DraftExpress.
- A lot of teams rank Kentucky's Davis as a better prospect than former first overall pick Blake Griffin was, tweets Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com. Howard-Cooper spoke to one executive who cited "substance over style" when comparing Davis to Griffin (Twitter link).
- Drummond has "other-worldly" potential and will be a top-five pick, an NBA scout told Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv.