Category: NBA Draft

2023 Lakers draft prospect profile: Caleb McConnell

A look at Caleb McConnell, a wing from Rutgers University.

The Los Angeles Lakers significantly remade their supporting cast around LeBron James and Anthony Davis through several midseason trades. Those trades were good enough to take the team from a mediocre outfit to one that reached the Western Conference Finals.

Once there, however, it got swept by the Denver Nuggets, and the loss exposed its lack of productive wings.

The Lakers, at least as of now, have adequate backcourt depth, but they still have a lack of true wings with length. Luckily, they could find one on a team-friendly contract through the No. 17 or No. 47 picks in the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft.

One intriguing wing they recently worked out is Caleb McConnell from Rutgers University.

2023 Lakers draft prospect profile: D’Moi Hodge

A look at D’Moi Hodge, a guard from the University of Missouri.

With D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Lonnie Walker IV and Dennis Schroder all about to become free agents, the Los Angeles Lakers have a good chance of losing some key guard depth.

Retaining all four will be very difficult, if not nearly impossible. Even keeping two of them won’t be easy, which means the Lakers could be in the market for at least one replacement in the backcourt.

With the No. 17 and No. 47 picks in the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft at its disposal, Los Angeles could replenish at least some of its backcourt and/or wing depth in a hurry and at a low price.

One guard prospect they recently worked out is D’Moi Hodge.

Justice Sueing worked out for the Thunder in a pre-draft visit

The five-year college player could be an option in undrafted free agency for the Thunder.

The 2023 NBA draft is two weeks away, which means draft prospects are touring the country and meeting with several teams.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking at possibly adding three rookies to their roster. They own the No. 12 and No. 50 picks in the draft.

Undrafted free agency will also be an option for the Thunder. A potential target following the draft could be Ohio State forward Justice Sueing, who worked out for the Thunder in a pre-draft visit, per his Instagram story.

The 24-year-old played in five college seasons — the first two at California and the final three at Ohio State. In 35 games, he averaged 12.3 points on 42.4% shooting, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He also shot 28.9% from 3 on 2.8 attempts.

Sueing is likely an option in undrafted free agency, but if the Thunder like him enough, they could take him at No. 50.

The 2023 NBA draft is scheduled for Thursday, June 22. A full list of prospects who’ve met with the Thunder can be read here.

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2023 Lakers draft prospect profile: Oscar Tshiebwe

A look at Oscar Tshiebwe, a center from the University of Kentucky.

One question surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers’ chances of winning the NBA championship next season is their frontcourt rotation.

This season, Anthony Davis played almost exclusively at the 5, and when he was healthy, he played extremely well most of the time. But when L.A. was  swept in the Western Conference finals by the Denver Nuggets, it became clear it may be better off having someone other than him guard Nikola Jokic.

Since the road to the NBA Finals in the West will likely run through the Nuggets for the foreseeable future, the Lakers could use a true center or two. That would allow Davis to return to the power forward position, where he played a good chunk of his minutes when they won it all in 2020.

Could the Lakers turn to the 2023 NBA draft to snag a big man with potential? They recently worked out an interesting one named Oscar Tshiebwe from the University of Kentucky.

2023 Lakers draft prospect profile: Terquavion Smith

A look at Terquavion Smith, a guard from North Carolina State University.

Will the Los Angeles Lakers run it back, or will they be forced to once again make big changes? That is the question hanging over them right now.

They have professed a profound interest in keeping guard Austin Reaves, who could command lots of money as a restricted free agent. In addition, D’Angelo Russell, Dennis Schroder and Lonnie Walker IV, all of whom were key to their success this season, will be free agents.

If even one leaves, Los Angeles could end up looking to the 2023 NBA draft for a replacement or two. One backcourt player they recently worked out is Terquavion Smith from North Carolina State University.

2023 Lakers draft prospect profile: Cameron Shelton

A look at Cameron Shelton, a guard from Loyola Maramount University.

The Los Angeles Lakers have good depth in the backcourt, but that could change over the next several weeks.

D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Lonnie Walker IV and Dennis Schroder will be free agents this summer. It will be difficult for Los Angeles to retain all four on new contracts, and there could be a scenario in which none of the four come back.

Even if it loses just one of those players, it will need to find at least one replacement. Luckily, the Lakers have the No. 17 and No. 47 picks in the 2023 NBA draft, which could yield a solid, reliable guard.

One guard they recently worked out is Cameron Shelton of Loyola Marymount University.

Two Celtics shifting spots in reassessment of the 2018 NBA draft

One of the duo was seen as a project, but has since proven so much more.

With Hoops Hype’s Frank Urbina and Raul Barrigon keeping busy reassessing the draft order of the last several decades over the last few years, there are nearly always several Boston Celtics alumni on the move in their redrafts as a result of their efforts.

In the H/H duo’s reassessment of the NBA’s 2018 draft class, just two Celtics alumni ended up seeing their draft stock shift with the benefit of hindsight impacting their fortunes. And while they won’t see any pay raises or anything else of that sort given the fictitious nature of such an exercise, it’s also nice to see this duo get their flowers, too.

Let’s take a look at which Boston alumni landed where.

Report: Mike Miles Jr. to work out for the Thunder in pre-draft visit

Mike Miles Jr. is set to work out for the Thunder, per @Rylan_Stiles

The 2023 NBA draft is two weeks away, which means draft prospects are touring the country and meeting with several teams.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking at possibly adding three rookies to their roster. They own the No. 12, No. 37 and No. 50 picks in the draft.

A possible addition in the late second round is TCU guard Mike Miles Jr., who is set to meet with the Thunder in the near future for a pre-draft visit and workout, per “Locked On’s” Rylan Stiles.

The 20-year-old spent three seasons at college, all at TCU. In 27 games last season, he averaged 17.9 points on 49.7% shooting, 2.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds. He also shot 36.2% from 3 on 3.9 attempts.

Miles Jr. is projected to be a late second-round pick or undrafted free agent, which is in the range of the 50th pick the Thunder own.

The 2023 NBA draft is scheduled for Thursday, June 22. A full list of prospects who’ve met with the Thunder can be read here.

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Five Boston Celtics alumni on the move in 2019 NBA redraft

Five Celtics alumni ended up seeing their draft stock shift considerably with the benefit of hindsight lifting their fortunes.

With Hoops Hype’s Frank Urbina and Raul Barrigon busy reassessing the draft orders of the last several decades over the last few years, there are always a number of Boston Celtics alumni on the move in their re-drafts as a result.

In the H/H duo’s reassessment of the NBA’s 2019 draft class, a total of five Celtics alumni ended up seeing their draft stock shift considerably with the benefit of hindsight lifting their fortunes. And while they won’t see any pay raises or anything else of that sort given the fictitious nature of such an exercise, it’s also nice to see this duo get their flowers, too.

Let’s take a look at which Boston alumni landed where.

2023 Lakers draft prospect profile: Morris Udeze

A look at Morris Udeze, a big man from the University of New Mexico.

One area of needed improvement that many have identified for the Los Angeles Lakers is frontcourt depth.

In addition to superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they have Jarred Vanderbilt, who emerged as a defensive stopper, scoring threat Rui Hachmiura and 3-and-D backup center Mo Bamba. Hachimura will become a free agent soon, and Bamba’s future with the team is in question, so the Lakers could need new bodies up front.

With the No. 17 and No. 47 picks in the 2023 NBA draft, they could find one or two such bodies. One big man prospect they recently worked out was Morris Udeze from the University of New Mexico.