Tag: Anthony Edwards

Klutch Sports to have ‘Pro Day’ for draft picks scheduled to air on ESPN2

Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Maxey are both with Klutch Sports and expected to be first-round picks in the 2020 Draft in November.

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As the NBA and the NBPA are approaching Friday’s self-imposed deadline to make changes to the current collective bargaining agreement or agree to yet again extend the deadline, the one hard date on the NBA calendar right now is the NBA Draft on Nov. 18. Klutch Sports Group has two players scheduled to be top pros in the coming draft and both of them will be featured in an event we haven’t really seen at the NBA level.

Potential No. 1 pick Anthony Edwards and projected 1st rounder Tyrese Maxey, both Klutch Sports players, will have their own Pro Day, which will include workouts and interviews, airing Thursday evening at 8 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2. LeBron and Rich Paul promoted it on Wednesday.

We’ve seen some things at the NFL level all the time but with there being such a long gap between the last time these players had a game, they are probably doing it to show that the time off has helped them get better since their last college games.

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Report: Golden State Warriors view Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, LaMelo Ball in ‘tier above the rest’

The Golden State Warriors will hold the keys to how the rest of the 2020 NBA Draft unfolds in November with a host of potential possibilities.

While the Minnesota Timberwolves hold the No. 1 pick and are still not sold on which prospect to take, the Golden State Warriors will largely dictate how the draft plays out on Nov. 18. With the No. 2 pick, Golden State has any number of options available to them, whether they package it to land a star player, trade down to acquire more assets or simply draft a prospect.

The interesting aspect for the Warriors has been that, with their win-now philosophy, they haven’t viewed the top three prospects quite as fondly as the rest of the teams in the lottery. That has largely been due to the fact that those prospects do not mesh with the Warriors roster nor are they players that can contribute at a high level from day one.

For many, that has been enough to assume the Warriors don’t see there being a clear top three in the draft and reports have indicated much of the same. However, Tim Kawakami of The Athletic noted on Wednesday that the Warriors do in fact view the likes of Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman and LaMelo Ball in a tier of their own.

“…the Warriors almost certainly agree with the consensus that the top three guys are in a tier above the rest.”

Ultimately, that doesn’t change much of the thinking for the Warriors. It is not mutually exclusive to feel the top three are in a tier of their own as prospects and also view them as not fits with the franchise in its current state.

That being said, it does seem to indicate that they could trade down in the draft. If they are aware that the top three are clear and they also don’t want to draft one of them, they could convince another team to move up and select one of the prospects instead and gain an asset in the process.

Again, though, which teams would be interested will be determined by who the No. 1 pick is from the Timberwolves, ultimately making much of the projecting a fruitless task with so many potential possibilities.

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Warriors land athletic wing with No. 2 pick in The Ringer’s latest NBA mock draft

In Kevin O’Connor’s latest NBA mock draft for The Ringer, the Warriors landed Georgia product Anthony Edwards with the No. 2 overall pick.

In Kevin O’Connor’s latest mock draft for The Ringer, the top of the board was shaken up by a significant trade.

Instead of the Minnesota Timberwolves, it was the Charlotte Hornets on the clock with the first overall pick. In O’Connor’s post-final mock, the Hornets moved up to the Timberwolves’ position to bring James Wiseman to Buzz City.

According to O’Connor, both the Golden State Warriors and Hornets “covet” the Memphis Tigers product.

Rumblings around the league suggest Golden State and Charlotte covet Wiseman; to get him, the Hornets might need to leapfrog to trade up.

With the 7-foot center off the board, the Warriors turned their attention to Georgia shooting guard Anthony Edwards with the No. 2 overall selection in The Ringer mock draft. According to O’Connor, Edwards landing in the Bay “makes logical sense.”

Via The Ringer:

Golden State will likely target a wing if Wiseman is off the board, and Edwards makes logical sense to grow within their system. He has elite defensive upside, and could develop good offensive habits playing alongside so many proven winners.

View O’Connor’s full post-Finals mock draft here.

In his first season in the SEC, Edwards tallied 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest. In 32 games, Edwards shot 40.2% from the field and 29.4% from beyond the arc. Following his freshman campaign, the 6-foot-5 shooting guard was named SEC Rookie of the Year.

In the Warriors Wire 2020 big board, the 6-foot-5 wing was listed as the No. 1 overall player in the top-30.

Upon arrival to Golden State, Edwards would instantly provide a much-needed jolt of athleticism to Golden State’s veteran-led backcourt. As he develops into an established role at the NBA level, Edwards could serve as a change of pace guard in Steve Kerr’s rotation.

Edwards’ ability to explode to the rim could provide Kerr’s backcourt a new dynamic when it comes to attacking opposing defenses. Once Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson come off the floor, Edwards could slide in next to Eric Paschall to form a formidable scoring tandem off the bench.

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Warriors impressed by Edwards, Wiseman during pre-draft workouts

Anthony Edwards or James Wiseman could be in play for the Warriors with the second overall pick on Nov. 18.

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Recently, the Golden State Warriors hit the road to watch several prospects workout ahead of the NBA draft and the organization reportedly liked what they saw from Anthony Edwards and James Wiseman, according to Marcus Thompson of The Athletic.

The Warriors also watched Deni Avdija work out on the road trip but it was Edwards and Wiseman that left owner Joe Lacob, general manager Bob Myers and head coach Steve Kerr most impressed. Edwards and Wiseman were both “beasts” in their workouts, according to the report.

Wiseman stood out on the court and during the Warriors’ interview with him afterward while Edwards’ athleticism was on full display during his workout. The performances have Edwards and Wiseman likely atop the Warriors’ draft board if they decide to keep the second overall pick.

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Of course, the Warriors have been rumored into wanting to trade down to acquire players that can help them win now. Recently, a report surfaced that indicated the Warriors would target Villanova forward Saddiq Bey if they decide to trade down so the organization has options to consider.

The top of the draft should be interesting to watch unfold as both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Warriors have been rumored into trading down. The Warriors have created a lot of speculation regarding their draft night plans and are likely the biggest wildcard team as a result.

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Report: Top prospects James Wiseman and Anthony Edwards were ‘beasts’ at pre-draft workouts with Warriors

According to Marcus Thompson of The Athletic, Anthony Edwards and James Wiseman were “beasts” at pre-draft workouts with the Warriors.

After watching Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Deni Avdija at a pre-draft workout in Atlanta, the Golden State Warriors are continuing to do their homework on some of the top prospects in the 2020 class.

Following their workout and interview with Avdija, the Warriors were able to get a glimpse of Georgia’s Anthony Edwards and Memphis product James Wiseman, per Marcus Thompson of The Athletic.

According to Thompson, both Edwards and Wiseman were “beasts” at their pre-draft workouts in front of Steve Kerr, Bob Myers, Joe Lacob and Golden State’s director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini.

Via The Athletic:

But they did see something on this road trip, sources said, that would make them just fine with making a selection at No. 2. Two somethings actually.

Anthony Edwards. James Wiseman. I put them in alphabetical order, so don’t get ahead of yourself. Word out of the workouts is that both of them were “beasts.”

Along with his performance on the court, Wiseman made an impression on the Warriors during his “conversation/interview,” per Thompson.

Wiseman is as big and skilled as advertised. They also liked him when they had their conversation/interview or whatever it was.

Although his time at the college level was limited to three games, Wiseman showed why he’s widely considered one of the top prospects in the 2020 NBA draft. During his three-game run with Penny Hardaway at Memphis, Wiseman averaged 19.7 points on 76.9% shooting from the field with 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per contest. In each game, the former McDonald’s All-American recorded a double-double.

According to Thompson, it was Edwards’ electric athleticism that impressed the Warriors at his workout.

Edwards’ exceptional athleticism jumped out in person. He seemed to really impress the Warriors with his freakishness.

On his way to earning the title of SEC Freshman of the Year, Edwards averaged 19.1 points per game on 40.2% shooting from the field with 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest for the Bulldogs. It’s no surprise Edwards’ athletic ability caught Golden State’s eye. The 19-year-old would explode to the basketball with regularity during his time in Athens.

If the Minnesota Timberwolves opt to pick LaMelo Ball with the first overall selection in the draft, the Warriors will have to decide between the two impressive prospects on Nov. 18.

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Timberwolves Gerson Rosas says team is undecided on which prospect to take with No. 1 pick

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been on the clock for over seven months but still, no prospect has separated itself from the pack.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have had more time than perhaps any other team in any other draft. With their last game having taken place seven months ago, the Timberwolves have had half a year to scout players. And though they only found out they had the No. 1 pick in late August, the front office has assuredly spent the better part of the last year scouting.

In an interview with ESPN’s Eric Woodyard, Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gerson Rosas talked about the team identifying a top prospect ahead of Nov. 18’s draft.

“The analysis is fair. There’s no guy that has separated himself from the pack from public or external view, but I’m very confident that as we go through this process, the talent will rise to the top and we’ll be confident about identifying one guy as the best guy, the best talented player with the most upside and most ability for our organization.”

The Timberwolves are reportedly focused on the duo of Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball for the top pick. There are a number of other prospects that have figured into the conversation like James Wiseman or Deni Avdija but Ball and Edwards have separated from the group.

Still, the Wolves are open to trading the pick and will have discussions with teams perhaps more enticed by the likes of Ball or Edwards. Given the amount of time they’ve had to analyze prospects and the situation, the Wolves will certainly have examined all possibilities.

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Anthony Edwards projected to go No. 3 in 2020 NBA mock draft

Georgia G Anthony Edwards is projected by Rookie Wire to go No. 3 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft to the Charlotte Hornets.

The 2019-20 NBA season came to a close this October as the Los Angeles Lakers were crowned champions of the world for a record tying 17th time.  With the end of last season here, now it’s time for teams to focus on the future and look towards the ever so close 2020 NBA Draft.

Starting just last week, team personnel have been allowed to visit potential draft prospects in their hometowns in order to make evaluations.

For the first time in seven years, the Georgia Bulldogs have a lottery pick in the mix.  Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who just won his first title with the Lakers, was selected 8th overall in 2013 by the Detroit Pistons.

Rookie Wire released their 2020 NBA Mock Draft 6.0 earlier this Thursday, giving great insight as to what teams are thinking based on their draft position and needs.

Of that list of 60 picks, Anthony Edwards is projected to go No. 3 overall to the Charlotte Hornets.

The list has two superstars in front of Edwards in the NBL’s LaMelo Ball going No. 1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton going No. 2 to the Golden State Warriors.

Here’s what Rookie Wire had to say about Edwards and the fit in Charlotte:

“The Charlotte Hornets need a bona fide star on their roster, and that kind of potential is exactly what Anthony Edwards offers.

The 19-year-old wing is someone whose teams have been built around him, boasting an absurdly high usage rate through AAU and college competition. But the Hornets can give him the keys to the team as their franchise alpha, riding with the highs and letting the lows be learning experiences for his development.

During his freshman year at Georgia, his scoring output increased as the season progressed. He scored extremely well within five feet of the rim, and he can be an above-average defender by virtue of his athleticism alone.”

Many experts see Edwards going No. 1 or No. 2 behind Ball but the fit does seem right in Charlotte.  They’ve had a lack in scoring for years, especially now that Kemba Walker is no longer with them.

Edwards averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in his one season at Georgia.

The 2020 Draft is scheduled for November 18th and will be aired live on ESPN.

NBA, Union deadline for CBA modifications extended to October 30

The NBA and the NBPA have both agreed to give both sides more time to layout parameters for the upcoming 2020-21 season.

Only a few days after the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Championship and officially closed out the longest season in NBA history, both the league and the player’s union are working together to figure out what the next season will look like. They are also agreeing to give both sides more time to figure things out.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported late last week that the NBA and the NBPA extended the negotiation window to October 30. It also sounds like an outright termination of the CBA is unlikely. The NBA Draft is scheduled to take place on Nov. 18.

The NBA and NBPA agreed on a new Oct. 30 deadline to complete ongoing discussions on modifications to the CBA for the 2020-21 season, a date that requires the league or union to provide 45 days’ notice if either decides to terminate the CBA — a scenario that sources continue to believe is a remote possibility.

A big reason why a CBA termination is unlikely is both sides made enormous sacrifices in making sure the bubble was successful and they were able to crown champions for the season.

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Report: LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards likely to battle for top pick by Timberwolves

As the Minnesota Timberwolves continue to deliberate what to do with the top pick, Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball have emerged as the most likely picks.

Once considered a three-horse race, the current trends seem to indicate a two-horse race between Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball brewing for the No. 1 pick. Likely due to fit, the Minnesota Timberwolves have hardly been linked to big man James Wiseman out of Memphis. Instead, the team is heavily considering one of the two top guards in the draft.

The latest to add fuel to that fire was Jonathan Givony of ESPN’s DraftExpress, whose recent piece about the draft included this tidbit.

Guards LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards remain the most likely candidates here if Minnesota stays put. But until we get more clarity on the Wolves’ ownership situation, it will be difficult to predict their plans.

The Timberwolves still have a month to flesh out the battle between Ball and Edwards, neither of whom is a perfect fit in the backcourt with D’Angelo Russell. Because of that, Givony notes the team is also fielding trade offers for the pick.

Teams around the league say that Minnesota has been active in trade discussions, exploring multiple options with the No. 1 pick.

A host of situations, then, could still play out. Obviously, one of Ball or Edwards could still be the top pick in the draft while any number of teams could move up. Despite a recent report suggested they were considering trading down, the New York Knicks will always be a team mentioned in trade discussions further up in the draft given how they feel about Ball.

It paints an interesting picture of the upcoming draft and makes it particularly hard to project how things are going to unfold over the next month leading up to draft night.

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John Hollinger says LaMelo Ball, D’Angelo Russell can co-exist in Minnesota

One of the biggest questions surrounding the Timberwolves debate between LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards is the fit of the two prospects.

In the Minnesota Timberwolves’ deliberation between LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards with the top pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, the topic up for debate is how the players fit with their incumbent start guard, D’Angelo Russell. While neither are perfect fits, the mission for Minnesota is to determine if one is any more of a fit than the other and if that is enough to sway them on one prospect over another.

There have been a lot of questions about Ball specifically as his playstyle as a ball-dominant guard (no pun intended) clashes with Russell’s similar style. While each has demonstrated an ability to play off the ball, it’d certainly be the biggest test of that skillset next to one another in Minnesota.

The Athletic’s John Hollinger, who served in the front office for the Memphis Grizzlies for a number of years, spoke recently on the Hollinger & Duncan NBA Show about Ball’s fit in Minnesota and why he thinks the pairing of he and Russell could work (h/t Dunking With Wolves).

“I think the general perception is that LaMelo Ball is the best talent available. Now, are there some issues here with his potential fit with D’Angelo Russell? Yeah, maybe I mean, they’re both kind of ball-in-hand point guards and haven’t been too enthusiastic about playing defense. But I think because of their heights, I do think it’s possible for them to play together, if they can kind of work out how to be comfortable playing off the ball some of the time.

“…I don’t necessarily see that as a as a deal breaker for them, especially at the point they’re at, which it’s not like they’re not trying to refine their chemistry for a run at the championship right now. Right? They’re just trying to build up enough talent to have a halfway decent team. And until you get to that point, I think, I think you don’t really worry about fit issues and things like that as much. You’re just they’re still in town accumulation face, and they need to continue that.”

More than anything else Hollinger says, the need for Minnesota to acquire talent sticks out the most. The Timberwolves lack talent outside of Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns and Ball represents someone that would step in and be the team’s third best player from day one.

That matter alone should be enough to sway the Timberwolves into selecting Ball over Edwards. Passing on a player because of fit when they’re more talented, which by most parties Ball is considered the best prospect in the draft, is a move that could quickly backfire on a franchise.