Tag: Jonathan Wasserman

Chet Holmgren refuse to give medical information to Magic and Thunder, per Bleacher Report

There are contradicting reports out there on whether or not Chet Holmgren has given his medical records to the Thunder.

Bleacher Report draft expert Jonathan Wasserman dropped some interesting and contradictory information on Wednesday during a live stream where he said he’s heard Gonzaga forward Chet Holmgren has not given his medical records to the Orlando Magic or Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Magic and Thunder are the top two teams selecting in the 2022 NBA draft and Wasserman suggests Holmgren not giving the teams his full medical access could mean he could drop in the draft.

“There’s some questions about his medicals. I’ve been told — I’ve heard mixed things. I’ve also been told that he’s not given his medicals to Orlando or Oklahoma City. Whether that matters, we’ll find out. But it’s possible if anybody slips at the top three to number four, in my opinion, it’s Chet. Just based on the medicals. There are going to be doctors who question — there are some questions about whether he took the heart test with the NBA. I don’t know for sure, so I don’t want to say he didn’t. But there are definitely gonna be some doctors who think there’s too much risk at number one. So he’s certainly an option — a candidate to slip if there is going to be a slider. And Jaden Ivey would be the guy who slides into the top three.”

While Wasserman has reported this, other NBA insiders like ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the opposite and that Holmgren has only provided his medicals for the Magic and Thunder.

Who knows who’s telling the truth, but Wojnarowski is basically gospel when it comes to his reporting, so I lean towards him more than Wasserman in this case.

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Either way, things are going to shake out Thursday night on the draft whenever the Thunder are on the clock and Holmgren will likely be there.

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Rival teams believe Thunder are ‘entice’ with Jaden Ivey at No. 2, per Bleacher Report

How shocking would it be if OKC picked Jaden Ivey at 2?

In the latest 2022 NBA mock draft, Bleacher Report draft expert Jonathan Wasserman reported that several teams around the league think the Oklahoma City Thunder could be enticed with Purdue guard Jaden Ivey enough to select him No. 2.

“Holmgren has also been linked to the Thunder at No. 2, and most around the league are hearing that he’ll be the Oklahoma City Thunder’s pick if Orlando takes Smith. Meanwhile, there is belief from multiple rival teams that the Thunder figure to be enticed by Ivey as well. “

This comes off the heels of ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony reporting that the Thunder are acting aggressively with trading up from the No. 12 spot to potentially the No. 4 spot to select someone like Shaedon Sharpe or Ivey himself.

Even if the Thunder are interested in Ivey, it’s hard to see them take such a huge swing on Ivey at No. 2 overall. While general manager Sam Presti has been described as an outside-the-box thinker, selecting Ivey at No. 2 would be a bit too extreme.

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Three most realistic options at No. 2, No. 12 for the Thunder in 2022 NBA draft, per Bleacher Report

The three most realistic options at No. 2 and No. 12 for the Thunder in the 2022 NBA draft, per Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman.

Bleacher Report draft expert Jonathan Wasserman published an article on Tuesday that detailed the top three most realistic prospects for teams to select with their picks in the 2022 NBA draft.

For the Oklahoma City Thunder, since they own three picks at No. 2, No. 12 and No. 34, Wasserman decided to just write about the team’s two top-12 picks. The Thunder originally had four top-34 picks before trading one of them on Monday in a trade with the Denver Nuggets.

Let’s take a look at the six candidates Wasserman laid out for the Thunder in terms of realistic options when the team is on the clock for No. 2 and No. 12.

James Wiseman lands with the Warriors in latest Bleacher Report NBA mock draft

In the latest NBA mock draft from Bleacher Report’s lead draft writer Jonathan Wasserman, the Golden State Warriors land James Wiseman with the No. 2 pick.

After an extended wait, the 2020 NBA Draft is finally less than a month away. As draft night approaches, mock drafts continue to release predictions for the Golden State Warriors top pick.

In Jonathan Wasserman‘s latest mock draft for Bleacher Report, the Warriors landed big-man prospect James Wiseman with the No. 2 overall selection.

According to Wasserman, there is “more support” for the Memphis big man in Golden State’s front office over Georgia’s Anthony Edwards if the Warriors don’t move the No. 2 pick in the draft. 

Via Bleacher Report:

Odds are, the Warriors stay put despite all the trade chatter, and we’re hearing there is more support for James Wiseman than Anthony Edwards in Golden State’s front office. Deni Avdija, Obi Toppin and Tyrese Haliburton figure to remain in play, but it’s presumed they’re more trade-down targets.

If Bob Myers and Steve Kerr do select Wiseman with the No. 2 pick, the 19-year-old could serve as a “rim runner and finisher” as he adjusts to the NBA level, per Wasserman.

Though Wiseman isn’t considered as NBA-ready as others, the game would come easier to him in Golden State, where he could play off the team’s shooters and passers and work exclusively as a rim-runner and finisher. He’d give a rotation fueled by skill a useful jolt of athleticism in the middle.

Vie Wasserman’s full mock draft on Bleacher Report here.

Although Wiseman’s only college basketball season was cut short, his stint at Memphis resulted in three double-double performances in three games. During his run with Penny Hardaway and the Tigers, the highly touted prospect averaged 19.7 points on 76.9% shooting from the field with 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per contest.

Prior to his time at Memphis, Wiseman earned bids to the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. The Nashville product was named Gatorade National Player of the Year and Tennessee Mr. Basketball.

In the Warriors Wire Big Board 1.0, Wiseman was the No. 4 ranked prospect in the top-30.

While Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green advance to the next stage of their careers, Wiseman’s presence underneath could give the Warriors the flexibility to reimagine their rotation inside out for the future.

With his 7-foot size paired with elite athleticism, the Warriors would add a new dynamic underneath upon Wiseman’s arrival.

While Kevon Looney and Marquese Chriss have proven they can contribute to Golden State’s frontcourt, the Warriors haven’t had a center prospect of Wiseman’s caliber in the Kerr era.

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