NBA Draft Rumors

[Blick]

I was gonna start a thread about sleepers, but this can just go in here I guess.

Nobody is talking about Jacob Pullen and I don't get it. I understand the flaws, but there are a lot of positives there as well. He's a scorer, he's a good defender, he can create, he's got toughness, he's clutch, he has a high basketball IQ, etc.

I haven't seen any buzz on him at all. His workouts have apparently gone well and teams have been ringing Frank Martin's phone nonstop, but I haven't seen any type of "expert" make a peep about him. Maybe that's a good thing.

I think Jake will be a nice get for a team in the 2nd round.

/homer rant

[EmpireWF]

Rumors/Stories from Wojo at Yahoo!:


- Atlanta is "gauging interest" in Josh Smith around the league and he's not necessarily anti-trade, although he isn't requesting one either. Has told friends around the league his "preferred" teams would be the Celtics, Nets, Rockets or Magic if he is moved.

They want to shed some money but obviously, Joe Johnson's bloated deal is staying put (who could've figured they'd regret giving him all that money? lol).

- The Indiana Pacers really want Derrick Williams and have discussed a trade with Minnesota revolving around the #15 pick & C Roy Hibbert for the #2 pick. Apparently, Minnesota is not enthralled with that proposal.

- The Lakers and Kings want PG Ray Felton from the Nuggets and he's expendable because he has an expiring contract and Denver really likes Ty Lawson.

- The Rockets are offering the #14 and #23 picks to get in the top 10 and the Pistons may be a partner at #8. The Pistons however have said they won't move down until they see who's on the board for them.

Elsewhere, some believe F Kawhi Leonard has a guarantee from Detroit that they'd take him at 8. Reason being he worked out for them last Monday, then cancelled a Wednesday practice with Milwaukee.

- Fastest riser up draft boards may be dual guard Iman Shumpert. Phoenix will consider him at #13 and the Nets are interested in him but they have to move up from #27 to get him.

- The Suns are willing to "take back a so-so" deal for Vince Carter as long as they acquire a 2012 first round pick.

- Despite the public pressure to go with Fredette, Utah is leaning towards Chris Singleton, "perhaps the best pure defender in the draft."

- An eastern conference exec said the entire Bobcats roster is available.

- G Marshon Brooks is getting a lot of attention from the Knicks and could be their #17 pick (his "scoring ability" appears to be the big selling point).

[Obst]

Three days before the NBA draft, here’s a smattering of news, info, and informed opinion culled from conversations with team executives, agents, and others in the know:

• Sources would be stunned if the Cavaliers did anything but use the No. 1 pick to select Duke point guard Kyrie Irving. He’s the perfect package of talent and presence to shoulder the burden of carrying the franchise to new heights after the departure of LeBron James. The Cavs, however, are more than open to trading the No. 4 pick.

• The Timberwolves are comfortable with the outstanding consolation prize that comes with the No. 2 pick, and will get one of the only impact players in the draft in Derrick Williams. Plus, they won’t have to deal with the burden of having to choose between Irving and Williams. The Cavs, after all, could be wrong. The Wolves can’t. The only way Minnesota trades the pick is if someone “blows them away,” according to a source, and that would have to be a trade involving a superstar-caliber player.

• The Jazz and Kentucky point guard Brandon Knight are a sensible match with the third pick, as Utah looks to replace the gaping hole left by the trade of Deron Williams to the Nets. Some execs have gotten indications that Utah also is considering Enes Kanter.

• The Raptors, who agreed in principle Monday with defensive-minded coach Dwane Casey to replace Jay Triano, are sending out signals that they’re all about Bismack Biyombo with the fifth pick, but rival executives are skeptical. One such exec is banking on Toronto taking 6-11 forward Jan Vesely, regarded as the best international prospect in the draft.

• If Toronto passes on Biyombo, some execs believe he could slide as far as 14-18, and the Knicks, with the 17th pick, are known to be high on him. But the apple of the Knicks’ eye is BYU sharpshooter Jimmer Fredette, and New York officials are trying to compute how far they’d have to trade up for him and what it would cost. The Knicks also like Michigan point guard Darius Morris, and one exec said the word Monday had New York looking into trade-up options for Georgia Tech shooting guard Iman Shumpert.

• One rival executive is “almost positive” the Wizards will take Kanter with the sixth pick, or look to trade down. Washington would grab Biyombo with the 18th pick if he’s still available, and otherwise would be comfortable with Kenneth Faried.

• Kings officials are split between Fredette (beloved by ownership) and Alec Burks (favored by the basketball staff).

• The Pistons have a key workout scheduled for Tuesday, hosting Biyombo, Marcus Morris, Tristan Thompson, and Kawhi Leonard. Word among rival execs is that Detroit will take one of those players or Kemba Walker with the eighth pick.

• The Bobcats are said to be all over Chris Singleton with the ninth pick, but would take Marcus Morris if they’re stuck. Nicola Vucevic would be Charlotte’s choice with the 19th pick if he’s still there.

• It’s sort of the opposite situation with the Bucks, who are looking to trade the 10th pick but would take Burks if they can’t.

• The Warriors are enamored of Washington State shooting guard Klay Thompson, which would seem to cast doubt on GM Larry Riley’s denials of exploring trade scenarios for Monta Ellis. Singleton and Biyombo also are on Golden State’s list with the 11th pick.

• Singleton would be the pick for Utah at No. 12 if he’s still there, sources say.

• The Suns appear to be focused on Thompson or Walker with the 13th pick. But this is the area to start thinking about Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas, whose touchy buyout situation is the only thing knocking him out of being a top-five pick.

• The Pacers appear to be comfortable with either Thompson or Fredette with the 15th pick, but if neither is there, they’d take Markieff Morris, sources say.

• Jordan Hamilton appears headed to Philly with the 16th pick, and sources said Monday the Timberwolves have offered point guard Jonny Flynn in a package deal for swingman Andre Iguodala. Philadelphia officials, however, have let it be known that they are not interested in a salary-dump deal for Iguodala and want an impact veteran in return.

• Faried also is on the Trail Blazers’ wish list at No. 21, but the Blazers also are said to be high on Marshon Brooks.

Per Ken Berger, CBS Sports - http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.co...38893/30162715

[A Tasty Burgerr]

There are a LOT of solid point guards that I like in the 2nd round this year.

Reggie Jackson, Charles Jenkins, Darius Morris, Nolan Smith, Norris Cole, Shelvin Mack, Diante Garrett, Andrew Goudelock, Demetri McCamey

I'd take any of them to be a backup point guard for shitty Jennings over shitty shitty Keyon Dooling.

[MRN]

Bad is an understatement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDqJGJwAU0M

That along with little high competition experience and questions about his age, pretty high risk pick. Of course he will be a monster shot blocker wherever he goes, but when you are that weak on offense you shouldn't be a top 10 pick.

EDIT: To his credit he was probably very nervous, and he is much more suited for a 5v5 game than this.

He seems incredibly nervous.

[MRN]

There are a LOT of solid point guards that I like in the 2nd round this year.

Reggie Jackson, Charles Jenkins, Darius Morris, Nolan Smith, Norris Cole, Shelvin Mack, Diante Garrett, Andrew Goudelock, Demetri McCamey

I'd take any of them to be a backup point guard for shitty Jennings over shitty shitty Keyon Dooling.

I wouldn't be too high on McCamey. Poor athleticism, great body control though. One thing is how streaky he is, could work out for the better, but he's an odd PG, not very fast. He has an attitude problem as well, but that could be said for and Illinois player with Bruce Weber as the coach.

Any news on Jereme Richmond?

[A Tasty Burgerr]

I wouldn't be too high on McCamey. Poor athleticism, great body control though. One thing is how streaky he is, could work out for the better, but he's an odd PG, not very fast. He has an attitude problem as well, but that could be said for and Illinois player with Bruce Weber as the coach.

Any news on Jereme Richmond?

He is stupid for entering the draft, but he seems pretty well-spoken based on interviews. He's projected late 2nd on DX and undrafted on nbadraft.net.

[A Tasty Burgerr]

My board for the Bucks at 10 right now is:

1. Jonas Valanciunas
2. Enes Kanter
3. Alec Burks
4. Marcus Morris
5. Jan Vessley
6. Marshon Brooks
7. Klay Thompson
8. Jimmer Fredette
9. Chris Singleton

[TheImmortalGoud]

My board for the Bucks at 10 right now is:

1. Jonas Valanciunas
2. Enes Kanter
3. Alec Burks
4. Marcus Morris
5. Jan Vessley
6. Marshon Brooks
7. Klay Thompson
8. Jimmer Fredette
9. Chris Singleton

Valanciunas number one even though he won't play next season, interesting.

[A Tasty Burgerr]

Not like we're going to win next season anyways.

[TheImmortalGoud]

Not like we're going to win next season anyways.

True.

[MRN]

He is stupid for entering the draft, but he seems pretty well-spoken based on interviews. He's projected late 2nd on DX and undrafted on nbadraft.net.

I completely agree. He is very well spoken, comes from a good family. Just made some bad mistakes when he butted heads with Weber.

[Juggernaut]

- Atlanta is "gauging interest" in Josh Smith around the league and he's not necessarily anti-trade, although he isn't requesting one either. Has told friends around the league his "preferred" teams would be the Celtics, Nets, Rockets or Magic if he is moved.

A Howard-Smith reunion would be insane, and I would assume that Howard wouldn't leave his bff growing up to go sign anywhere. This could be a trade that locks Howard in Orlando, or he burns some bridges by leaving Smith.

[FedEx227]

I completely agree. He is very well spoken, comes from a good family. Just made some bad mistakes when he butted heads with Weber.

He also had a lot of problems in high school too.

[MRN]

He also had a lot of problems in high school too.

Yeah, he's definitely got to shake that bonehead rep he's gotten.