Tag: NBA Draft

Nets 2020 NBA mock draft radar: Alabama guard Kira Lewis

If the NBA standings remain where they were at the start of the league’s hiatus, the Brooklyn Nets will have the No. 20 and 55 picks.

As the NBA prepares for the resumption of the 2019-20 NBA season at Disney World in Florida, organizations also have to continue their work for this year’s draft, which will take place on October 16.

It’s still a ways away, but teams haven’t been able to hold individual workouts amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

With so many members of the Nets ruled out for the Disney bubble, Brooklyn could realistically get bounced from playoff contention — which means the franchise gets to hold onto its 2020 first-round pick. Because, if the Nets make the playoffs, their first-round pick conveys to the Timberwolves.

Minnesota acquired Brooklyn’s top-14 protected pick from the Hawks, which the Nets sent to Atlanta in a trade that delivered Taurean Prince.

Either way, the Nets will have at least one first-round selection. They have Philadelphia’s top-14 protected pick, which Brooklyn acquired when they sent the No. 27 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft — which wound up being Mfiondu Kabengele — to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Nets’ second-round pick belongs to the Boston Celtics, but Brooklyn has the Denver Nuggets’ second-round selection.

Right now, the Nets have the No. 20 and No. 55 picks.

Here’s a look at one player Brooklyn could take at No. 20:

Kira Lewis | Alabama | Guard

STATS: 18.2 PPG | 36.6 3-PT% | 5.2 APG

The 2019-20 All-SEC selection can do a little bit of everything. At 19 years old, he would be a remarkable steal at No. 20 in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Although, Lewis may not be a fit for teams who need a player who can contribute right away. The skill is there, but as Gary Parrish of CBS Sports points out, he still needs to fill out — especially at 6-foot-3.

If Lewis is available at No. 20, he’d be a great investment for Brooklyn. He’d have the chance to learn from a pair of impressive point guards — Kyrie Irving and Spencer Dinwiddie — and potentially become an impactful player in time.

RELATED: 2020 NBA Draft: Nets’ 5 best options in first round

RELATED: 2020 NBA Draft: Nets’ 5 best options in second round

Nets 2020 NBA mock draft radar:

TCU guard Desmond Bane
Hapoel Tel Aviv guard Yam Madar
LSU guard Skylar Mays
Kansas guard Devon Dotson
New Zealand Breakers guard RJ Hampton
Texas Tech guard Jahmi’us Ramsey
Duke guard Tre Jones
Maryland forward Jalen Smith
Florida State wing Patrick Williams
Arizona wing Josh Green
Villanova wing Saddiq Bey
Colorado wing Tyler Bey
Florida State wing Devin Vassell
Seton Hall guard Myles Powell
Washington forward Jaden McDaniels
Ohio State center Kaleb Wesson
Oklahoma wing Kristian Doolittle
Pesaro forward Paul Eboua
Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey
Olympiacos center Aleksej Pokusevski
Western Kentucky center Charles Bassey
Arizona guard Nico Mannion
ASVEL wing Theo Maledon

RELATED: Cameroon prospect hopes Nets take him in 2020 NBA draft

Draft Rewind: Warriors select Italy’s Marco Belinelli in 2007 first round

In the 2007 edition of the NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors landed Italian shooting guard Marco Belinelli with in the first round.

As the league’s restart is looming, players across the NBA have officially entered the Orlando Bubble. However, the Golden State Warriors will be watching from home With the league’s worst record at 15-50, the Warriors are one of eight teams on the outside of the bubble.

With no hoops on Golden State’s calendar, Bob Myers and Steve Kerr can turn their attention to the NBA Draft. For the first time since 2002, the Warriors will have the opportunity to make a selection in the top-five picks.

Before Golden State hits the clock in October, Warriors Wire is rewinding through the organization’s draft history to highlight the most memorable selections — trades, surprises, busts, sleepers and everything in between.

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In 2007, the Warriors eyed an Italian shooter in the first round of the NBA Draft.

June 28, 2007

To start the 2007 edition of the NBA Draft, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Ohio State big man Greg Oden with the first overall pick. Fast forward 17 selection, Golden State’s Chris Mullin and Don Nelson were on the clock.

Coming off a dramatic playoff run, the “We Believe” Warriors were looking to add a piece that could push them deeper into the postseason. With the No. 18 overall pick, the Warriors landed Italy’s Marco Belinelli in the first round. 

Watch the moment Belinelli became a member of the Golden State Warriors via YouTube: 

Before arriving at the NBA stage, Belinelli gained experience in Italy’s Series A with Virtus Bologna and Fortitudo Bologna.

In his rookie season in the Bay Area, Belinelli slid behind Baron Davis and Monta Ellis in Golden State’s backcourt. As a rookie, Belinelli played a limited role, averaging 2.9 points on 38.7% shooting from the field and 39.0% from beyond the arc with 0.5 assists and 0.4 rebounds per game. 

As a sophomore, Belinelli increased his playing time from 7.3 minutes to 21.0 minutes per contest. Belinelli started 23 of his 33 games in 2008-09, averaging 8.9 points on 44.2% shooting from the field and 39.7% from long distace with 2.1 assists and 1.7 boards per game.

With a bevy of wings on the roster in 2009, the Warriors moved their former first-rounder to the Toronto Raptors for veteran Devean George.                                                                                                                                                   A decade later, Belinelli has some hardware in his trophy room. The former Golden State guard is an NBA Finals champion (2014) with the San Antonio Spurs and a 3-Point Contest Champion (2014).

Other notable players from the 2007 NBA draft class include Kevin Durant, Florida’s Al Horford, USC’s Nick Young and Spain’s Marc Gasol. 

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Bleacher Report’s latest NBA mock draft has Kira Lewis as No. 15 pick

Bleacher Report released its latest mock draft and has Kira Lewis as the No. 15 pick in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft

Bleacher Report released its latest mock draft and has Kira Lewis as the No. 15 pick in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft, which has been postponed until October.

Analysts continue to applaud Lewis’ speed, ability to move the ball and his ability to make big plays. Most mock drafts have Lewis being drafted anywhere between Nos. 15-29. According to this mock draft by Bleacher Report, Lewis would be drafted by the Orlando Magic in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Jan 18, 2020; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Kira Lewis Jr. (2) controls the ball against Missouri Tigers at Coleman Coliseum. Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Other mock drafts have Lewis between the No. 15-25 overall pick of the draft.

In his two years with the Crimson Tide, Lewis averaged 34.5 minutes and finished with a field goal percentage of 44.7 percent, 1,031 points, 260 assists and 183 turnovers.

He averaged 18.5 points per game, 5.2 assists per game and made 37% percent of his 3-pointers.

Lewis announced his entry into the NBA draft at the end of March by a heartfelt twitter post.

The NBA draft is scheduled to be held on Friday, Oct. 16, but Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on if that changes due to the coronavirus.

Report: Warriors prioritizing backup point guard spot over the offseason

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Golden State Warriors will prioritize the backup point guard spot over the offseason.

After years of Stephen Curry and Shaun Livingston forming a consistent one-two punch at the point guard position in Golden State, 2019-20 served as a change for the Warriors.

Livingston’s retirement paired with Curry’s hand injury left the Warriors backcourt thin. Without Curry and Livingston, shooting guard Damion Lee alongside two rookies filled in for Golden State’s longstanding point guard duo.

During the Warriors’ 2019-20 campaign, Lee, Jordan Poole, Ky Bowman and Draymond Green handled point guard responsibilities for Steve Kerr. With a healthy squad in place, Lee and Green will shift to their primary position leaving Poole and Bowman as the only players behind Curry on the depth chart.

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With two NBA sophomores filling out the second point guard unit, the Warriors could eye a new addition to the backcourt in the offseason. According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the backup point guard position will be a priority for Golden State’s front office.

Via The Athletic:

Sources indicate that backup point guard will be one of the front office’s offseason roster priorities.

In the 2020 free agent pool, Fred VanVleet, Mike Conley and Goran Dragic headline the point guard group. When it comes to potential backup guards, Kris Dunn, Emmanuel Mudiay, Michael Carter-Williams and Austin Rivers could be possible options.

If the Warriors decide to add a point guard in the draft, LaMelo Ball, Killian Hayes, Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton, Charleston’s Grant Riller and San Diego State’s Malachi Flynn could fit behind Curry as they continue to develop early in their career.

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While 22 teams are on display in Orlando, the Warriors can use their extended offseason to study the backup point guard market. Once the NBA Lottery takes place in August, the Warriors will have a better idea of where they can land a point guard in the draft.

With a depth spot behind Curry available, Poole and Bowman will have the chance to battle with a veteran free agent or a top-draft pick.

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Michigan State basketball recruiting target Karim Mane to stay in NBA Draft

The five-star point guard was considering Michigan State among other schools.

One moving part for the 2020 Michigan State men’s basketball season has settled in.

Five-star Canadian point guard Karim Mané has told ESPN that he will be signing with an agent and keeping his name in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Mané, who is eligible for the draft as a 19-year-old international prospect, was reported to be heavily interested in attending Michigan State if he elected to remove his name from the draft. Marquette, Memphis, DePaul, and Pittsburgh were also involved in the six-foot-five point guard’s recruitment. Mané is projected as a late second round pick or undrafted free agent in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Michigan State will head into 2020 with sophomore Rocket Watts, junior Foster Loyer, and freshman AJ Hoggard all as options at point guard.

MSU is still waiting on whether or not Xavier Tillman and Aaron Henry will return to school or stay in the draft. They have until August 3 to decide.

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Locked On Spartans Podcast: Xavier Tillman rumors courtesy of DICK VITALE BABY

What to make of Dick Vitale saying he’s heard Tillman will return to Michigan State.

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Wil and Matt talk about Dick Vitale tweeting that he is hearing Xavier Tillman will be returning to Michigan State. They wonder what the 2020 MSU basketball team might look like and Matt is concerned about Emoni Bates for no reason.

You can find the episode on iTunes, Spotify and Google Podcasts.

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Draft Rewind: Warriors select Maryland’s Joe Smith with first overall pick in 1995

With the first overall selection in the 1995 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors landed forward Joe Smith out of the University of Maryland.

As the Golden State Warriors sit on the outside of the Orlando Bubble, Bob Myers and Steve Kerr will have a jumpstart preparing for the NBA Draft.

For the first time since 2002, the Warriors will have the opportunity to make a selection in the top-five picks. While it’s still a mystery on whom Golden State could add alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors will have a better idea of whom they can select after August’s NBA Lottery.

With months on the calendar until October’s draft, Warriors Wire is rewinding through Golden State’s draft history to highlight the most memorable selections — trades, surprises, busts, sleepers and everything in between.

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In 1995, the Golden State Warriors were the owners of the top overall selection.

June 28, 1995

After the offseason trade of Chris Webber and the early season resignation of Don Nelson, the 1994-95 Warriors struggled. Despite Latrell Sprewell’s All-Star game nod, The Warriors finished with a 26-56 record. With new head coach Rick Adelman in place, Golden State landed the first overall selection in the lottery.

To open the 1995 NBA Draft, the Warriors selected forward Joe Smith out of the University of Maryland. In his sophomore year with the Terrapins, Smith filled the boxscore, averaging 20.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 1.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

In 1995, Smith earned ACC Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year and AP Player of the Year honors. However, Smith’s Terrapins were eliminated in the Sweet 16 of the 1995 NCAA Tournament.

In 82 starts as a rookie, Smith tallied 15.3 points, 8,7 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, one assist and one steal in 34.4 minutes per game. The 20-year-old finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and was named to the All-NBA Rookie First Team.

The 6-foot-10 forward doubled-down during his sophomore season, averaging a career-high 18.7 points per game in 1996-97. Despite a pair of impressive seasons, Smith was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers during the 1997-1998 season for Clarence Weatherspoon and Jim Jackson.

Over his 16-year-career, Smith wasn’t able to match his production from his first two seasons in Golden State. The 1995 first overall pick bounced around to 12 different teams in his career.

Other notable prospects from the 1995 NBA Draft class included Kevin Garnett, Alabama’s Antonio McDyess, North Carolina’s Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace.

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Nets 2020 NBA mock draft radar: Hapoel Tel Aviv guard Yam Madar

If the NBA standings remain where they were at the start of the league’s hiatus, the Brooklyn Nets will have the No. 20 and 55 picks.

As the NBA prepares for the resumption of the 2019-20 NBA season at Disney World in Florida, organizations also have to continue their work for this year’s draft, which will take place on October 16.

It’s still a ways away, but teams haven’t been able to hold individual workouts amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

With so many members of the Nets ruled out for the Disney bubble, Brooklyn could realistically get bounced from playoff contention — which means the franchise gets to hold onto its 2020 first-round pick. Because, if the Nets make the playoffs, their first-round pick conveys to the Timberwolves.

Minnesota acquired Brooklyn’s top-14 protected pick from the Hawks, which the Nets sent to Atlanta in a trade that delivered Taurean Prince.

Either way, the Nets will have at least one first-round selection. They have Philadelphia’s top-14 protected pick, which Brooklyn acquired when they sent the No. 27 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft — which wound up being Mfiondu Kabengele — to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Nets’ second-round pick belongs to the Boston Celtics, but Brooklyn has the Denver Nuggets’ second-round selection.

Right now, the Nets have the No. 20 and No. 55 picks.

Here’s a look at one player Brooklyn could take at No. 20:

Yam Madar | Hapoel Tel Aviv | Guard

STATS: 9.3 PPG | 44.3 FG% | 3.2 APG

Madar is strictly a draft-and-stash option. At 19 years old, the 6-foot-3 guard still has to grow a lot as a player.

Sam Vecenie of The Athletic likes what Madar brings on the defensive end. He competes on offense, too, but Vencie cites Madar’s shot as the component of his game that needs improving:

The swing skill will be the jumper, which has been hit or miss so far in his career. he’s shot it well in international youth competitions for Israel, but hasn’t really made them professionally yet.

With the Nets not necessarily needing help in the short term from whoever they take at No. 55, combined with his youth and intensity, Madar seems like a decent investment — though, not the best one that’s come up as a possible pick in the second round.

RELATED: 2020 NBA Draft: Nets’ 5 best options in first round

RELATED: 2020 NBA Draft: Nets’ 5 best options in second round

Nets 2020 NBA mock draft radar:

TCU guard Desmond Bane
LSU guard Skylar Mays
Kansas guard Devon Dotson
New Zealand Breakers guard RJ Hampton
Texas Tech guard Jahmi’us Ramsey
Duke guard Tre Jones
Maryland forward Jalen Smith
Florida State wing Patrick Williams
Arizona wing Josh Green
Villanova wing Saddiq Bey
Colorado wing Tyler Bey
Florida State wing Devin Vassell
Seton Hall guard Myles Powell
Washington forward Jaden McDaniels
Ohio State center Kaleb Wesson
Oklahoma wing Kristian Doolittle
Pesaro forward Paul Eboua
Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey
Olympiacos center Aleksej Pokusevski
Western Kentucky center Charles Bassey
Arizona guard Nico Mannion
ASVEL wing Theo Maledon

RELATED: Cameroon prospect hopes Nets take him in 2020 NBA draft

Onyeka Okongwu goes to Warriors in The Athletic’s latest mock draft

Onyeka Okongwu was mocked to the Golden State Warriors in The Athletic’s latest mock draft.

The Golden State Warriors have a bevy of options with their lottery pick in this year’s draft, and one of them could be their big man of the future.

The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie released his latest mock draft Tuesday, and the Warriors picked at No. 5 in this one. According to Tankathon, the Warriors, which have the NBA’s worst record, cannot pick lower than fifth overall.

Vecenie mocked USC big man Onyeka Okongwu to Golden State, and the simulation had the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers drafting ahead of the Warriors. The 2020 NBA draft is scheduled for Oct. 16.

Okongwu is one of the top big men in this draft, and his interior game is NBA-friendly. He positions himself well down low for easy buckets, and he is a stellar roll man in the pick-and-roll. Okongwu was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team, and he was on the All-Pac-12 first team.

He scored 16.2 points per game, grabbed 8.6 rebounds a game and swatted 2.7 blocks a game in his lone season with the Trojans.

Okongwu would fit in Golden State’s offense because of his athleticism around the rim, but Marquese Chriss already fits that archetype. He had his best season during the 2019-20 campaign, and he showed he could be a valuable player for Golden State.

Chriss scored a career-high 9.3 points per game on a career-best 54.5% shooting this season, along with grabbing a career-high 6.2 rebounds.

The Warriors will have a decision to make as to whether they’ll trade or keep their pick. If they fall out of the top three, another team could see value within the top five and want to trade up.

Golden State still has a good opportunity to be a contender for the next few years, with Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson boasting a championship pedigree. Still, choosing to place value on the future in this year’s draft could help the Warriors maintain long term.

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Xavier Tillman & Cassius Winston first-round draft picks in CBS Sports virtual NBA Mock Draft

Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman were both selected as the first-round draft picks in the CBS Sports virtual 2020 NBA Mock Draft.

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CBS Sports held another virtual NBA Mock Draft recently in which a team of experts picked players in the draft, acting as the General Manager of a specific team. This virtual Mock Draft featured two Michigan State basketball draft prospects in Xavier Tillman and Cassius Winston.

In this virtual Mock Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Xavier Tillman with the No. 25 pick and the Toronto Raptors selected Cassius Winston with the No. 28 pick.

First, let’s talk Tillman to OKC. I think this could be a nice spot for Tillman, especially playing alongside veteran Point Guard Chris Paul. Paul will maximize a lot of Tillman’s abilities in pick-and-roll situations.

Next, let me say I might just love Cassius Winston landing in Toronto. The Toronto Raptors are a very well-run organization from the top to the bottom. Nick Nurse is great at developing talent, like Fred Van Fleet. Nurse will really help get the best out of Winston on the court.

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