Tag: NBA Draft

Xavier Tillman Sr. says he is still 50/50 between the NBA & MSU

Michigan State junior Xavier Tillman is still at the 50/50 mark between either going to the NBA or staying for a senior year at MSU.

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Nearly two weeks ago, Andy Katz of NCAA.com stated that Michigan State junior Xavier Tillman was “on the fence” to either go to the NBA or return to MSU. Well, Tillman recently spoke to Jack Doles of WoodTV.com in Grand Rapids about his draft situation, confirming Katz’s opinion. Tillman told Doles he is currently at the “50/50” mark between going to the NBA or returning to MSU for a senior year.

Here is a full quote from Tillman, per the WoodTV.com interview:

“I’m still at that 50/50 mark, same as I was when I put my name in. If you look at mock drafts, you would think I was for sure. But it’s all about what I hear from NBA teams and what they like about my game, what they don’t like. Whether they see me getting drafted by them or not. That’s what I’m looking for, some guarantees so that I’m more confident in teams.”

You can watch the entire interview here.

The NCAA and NCA recently decided to indefinitely postpone the NBA Draft’s June 3 early entry withdrawal deadline for draft prospects. This decision provides potential NBA draft picks, like Xavier Tillman and Aaron Henry, more time to decide on going to the NBA or returning to college.

We will provide you with more information on both players’ NBA draft decision as it is made available.

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Why is Mac McClung to leaving Georgetown?

Georgetown guard Mac McClung is entering the transfer portal, an unexpected move that will make him the most high-demand transfer in the nation.

Georgetown guard Mac McClung is entering the transfer portal, an unexpected move that will make him the most high-demand transfer in the nation.

Locked On Spartans Podcast – Karim Mane, Mac McClung, NBA Draft deadline

Wil is BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK

Wil is BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK. He and Matt talk about the NCAA moving the deadline back for underclassmen to withdraw from the NBA Draft, the latest on Karim Mane, and a hypothetical recruiting question.

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

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NBA and NCAA agree to ‘indefinitely’ postpone early entry deadline

Both the NBA and the NCAA have agreed to indefinitely extend the draft’s early entry deadline for 2020, according to Shams Charania.

Over the past 48 hours, there have been more signals popping up throughout the NBA landscape that the league is intent on making a return to play and eventually crowning a 2020 NBA Champion. Late on Wednesday, there was another one that indicates the league will take however long they need to finish the 2019-20 season.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the NBA and the NCAA have agreed to extend the early entry deadline for candidates beyond the original June 3 date indefinitely. This is an indication that the league will also be delaying the draft beyond its June 26.

This obviously is also something that helps college programs as well, allowing them to see who stays and who goes before the next college season.

As for the NBA, teams have done their homework when it comes to scouting, but they will not get to have individual workouts in which they can put players through specific drills they want to see and also have an opportunity to interview them.

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NCAA and NBA indefinitely postpone the NBA Draft’s June 3 withdrawal deadline

The NCAA and NBA have decided to indefinitely postpone the NBA Drafts withdrawal deadline for early entry for draft prospects.

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The NBA & NCAA are indefinitely postponing the NBA’s June 3 withdrawal date for draft prospects. This is an early entry withdrawal date, allowing NBA-eligible prospects the ability to return to the NCAA. As of right now, there will be not a new date set until the NBA reveals information on the updated draft process.

Here is a Tweet from Shams Charania of The Athletic:

This decision affects Michigan State players Aaron Henry and Xavier Tillman, both of whom declared for the draft. The Spartans will not know about either player’s status for quite some time now. Note, Aaron Henry recently signed with an NCAA-certified agent which provides the possibility of a return to college. Xavier Tillman, on the other hand, is probably going to get drafted.

We will provide more information on the NBA Draft & Michigan State Draft Prospects when possible.

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Warriors were Patrick Ewing’s top choice during 1985 NBA draft

Patrick Ewing’s first choice was the Golden State Warriors during the 1985 NBA draft.

Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing wanted to head to the Bay Area following his senior season at Georgetown.

Ewing, who was the No. 1 pick in the 1985 NBA draft, was selected by the New York Knicks. The Knicks had won the league’s first draft lottery, and Ewing was the prize of that draft. He won the 1985 AP Player of the Year and led the Hoyas to an NCAA title in 1984.

But Ewing’s top choice wasn’t New York — it was the Golden State Warriors.

“We were all there, watching and waiting and anticipating, you know, hoping that …” Ewing said to SiriusXM NBA Radio’s Frank Isola, via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Ali Thanawalla. “First I wanted to go to Golden State because Eric Floyd played there and he was a teammate of mine at Georgetown. And the next one was the Knicks. Once Golden State didn’t win, I definitely wanted to go to the Knicks. It was either between the Knicks or Indiana, and I’m like, ‘please let it be New York.'”

The Warriors ended up selecting No. 7 overall, and they drafted Hall of Fame wing Chris Mullin. Mullin proved to be a good selection, as he was a valuable player in the brief, but fun Run TMC era. Mullin scored 20.1 points per game, grabbed 4.4 rebounds and shot 51.3% from the field in 13 seasons with Golden State.

Ewing played 15 of his 17 NBA season for the Knicks, but he nearly made it to the Warriors during his career.

According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, the Warriors tried to acquire Ewing through free agency in 1991. Ewing had a clause in his contract where if he wasn’t one of the league’s top four highest paid players for the 1991-92 campaign, he could be a free agent.

Because of this, the Warriors tried to restructure Mullin’s contract so that he’d move to fourth and Ewing would slide down.

Dave Checketts, who was the Knicks’ president at that time, shut down the Warriors’ process, though. He told the Warriors he’d sue for contractual interference if they went through with trying to acquire Ewing.

Though Ewing didn’t win a ring, his career was stellar. He is the Knicks’ all-time leading scorer, and he was one of the best defenders of his era. He’s New York’s all-time leader in blocks, and he ranks seventh all-time in league history.

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Nets 2020 NBA mock draft radar: Maryland forward Jalen Smith

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.

Among the uncertainties surrounding the NBA as the novel coronavirus continues to be a major issue in the U.S. is the 2020 draft.

NBA teams won’t be able to look at college players during March Madness, and the rest of the pre-draft process is expected to be limited. The matter of when the draft will actually happen is up in the air, as well. Especially if the league tries to crown a 2020 champion.

For the Brooklyn Nets, based on where the standings were when the league went on hiatus, their first-round pick would convey 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.

But the Nets will not be without a 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 the Denver Nuggets’ second-round selection.

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

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

Jalen Smith | Maryland | Forward

STATS: 15.5 PPG | 10.5 RPG | 36.8 3-PT%

Although the Nets have two established big men in DeAndre Jordan and Jarrett Allen, as well as 2019 draft pick Nic Claxton, Marc Berman of the New York Post sees Brooklyn taking Smith in the first round:

Kevin Durant’s win-now Nets could use immediate bench help — not a project.

While Smith can do a bit of everything — including protect the rim (2.4 blocks per game in 2019-20) — a rookie might not be the answer for “immediate bench help.” Adding a veteran may be the preferred route for Durant and Kyrie Irving.

 

If Smith is available at No. 20, Brooklyn should still consider him. However, the Nets may feel more inclined to package him in a deal if they’re looking to add one or two more pieces.

Nets 2020 NBA mock draft radar:

Duke guard Tre Jones
Florida State wing Patrick Williams
Arizona wing Josh Green
Villanova wing Saddiq Bey
Colorado wing Tyler Bey
Florida State wing Devin Vassell
Washington forward Jaden McDaniels
Ohio State center Kaleb Wesson
Evansville forward DeAndre Williams
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

Three way-too-early questions for Wisconsin basketball next season

Early questions that we are still searching for answers to in anticipation of Wisconsin’s basketball season in 2021

With the amount of hype that justifiably surrounds Wisconsin basketball next season, it is never too early to take a look at what this team will look like in 2020-2021. The Badgers return every key contributor aside from graduating senior Brevin Pritzl, and will have one of their deepest teams in years as they bring in a solid 2020 recruiting class. So what are some early question marks surrounding a team that should be highly ranked in the preseason?

  1. How will the depth “problem” play itself out? — The luxury that Wisconsin has in terms of seven of the eight rotation players returning next year and the potential for an all-senior starting lineup will prove invaluable. The questions will start early and often, however, about what other guys step into the rotation. We know that returners Micah Potter, Nate Reuvers, Aleem Ford, D’Mitrik Trice, Trevor Anderson, Brad Davison, and Tyler Wahl will be major factors all year long. Those seven players were seven of the eight players who received consistent minutes for Greg Gard’s group in 2019. The question is who else will step in and how deep will the Badgers go down their bench? With a six-person recruiting class that includes three 247sports top-150 players in Johnny Davis, Ben Carlson, and Steven Crowl, there will be freshman that deserve minutes. Will returners such as Walt McGrory or Joe Hedstrom find their way into the rotation? UW will certainly be mixing and matching early in the year as they find a rotation amongst the luxury of the depth they have.
  2. Who takes a redshirt in the class of 2020? With the depth question and with a six-person recruiting class, you would have to imagine that at least a few Badgers will be redshirt candidates next season. Does class of 2020 PG Lorne Bowman crack the rotation or does he wait another year in order to save eligibility? The same question could be asked of fellow 2020 signees Steven Crowl or Jordan Davis. Without the room to play more than two or three freshman from the 2020 class, the incoming Badgers will have important decisions to make regarding their future.
  3. How does the 2020 NBA draft change the landscape of the Big Ten? This question is vastly more complex than we would have thought a few months ago. Given the state of the world, the NBA draft has been postponed without definite re-scheduling. There are significant impacts for multiple Big Ten contenders this year in terms of who stays and who goes to the league. Iowa big man and reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Luka Garza is among the names of Big Ten players that are draft eligible but left the door open to return to school. How does the lack of a pre-draft process or the delaying of the draft itself impact players like Garza in terms of their decision? It certainly has an impact, the question to be answered will be what impact. A player of Garza’s caliber returning or staying has massive ripple effects throughout the conference.

 

 

NBA Draft: Warriors land LaMelo Ball with the first pick in CBS Sports Mock

Is LaMelo Ball be destined to don blue and gold?

With no hoops on the schedule, NBA mock draft season is heating up.

For the first time in years, the Golden State Warriors will have the opportunity to land a blue-chip prospect in the draft. Golden State’s league-worst 15-50 record has already eliminated their chances for the playoffs with 17 games remaining on the schedule.

With the draft lottery and combine getting postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Steve Kerr and Bob Myers will have plenty of time to decide how to attack their top selection. The Warriors could use the pick as an asset to acquire a veteran, move back in the draft or add a top-rated prospect to their championship core.

If the Warriors decide to stick at the top of the draft, Georgia’s Anthony Edwards and Dayton’s Obi Toppin have been popular names projected to Golden State in mock drafts.

In CBS Sports’ mock draft 1.0, a pair of analysts penciled in LaMelo Ball to the Golden State Warriors with the first overall pick. Both Gary Parrish and Kyle Boone have Ball landing in the Bay Area with their round one mock drafts.

According to Parrish, the former Illawarra Hawks point guard has “the best chance to be a future All-Star” out of any player in the 2020 field.

Via CBS Sports:

I’m a big believer that the first pick in any NBA Draft should be the player the franchise selecting thinks has the best chance to be a future All-Star. Period. And, in this draft, I believe Ball is that player. The 6-6 point guard, who is still only 18 years old, has developed into an incredible playmaker and passer who faired well playing professionally in Australia this past season. Some will choose to focus on his perceived negatives and low shooting percentages. But when you focus on what he can do, and how rare it is for somebody his age to do the things he can do, Ball becomes the most sensible option to be picked first.

Early in the season, it was reported Myers and the Warriors were planning a trip to Australia for a chance to scout Ball live. In 12 games for the Illawarra Hawks in Austalia’s NBL, the 18-year-old averaged 17.0 points on 37.5 shooting from the field with 7.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists and in 31.3 minutes per game.

The Warriors desperately need a playmaking option behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in their backcourt. Ball’s addition to the Golden State Warriors’ rotation would immediately provide firepower to their thin bench unit with Eric Paschall and Jordan Poole.

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Cameroon prospect hopes Nets take him in 2020 NBA draft

Aristide Mouaha, a 19-year-old Cameroonian who played in Italy the last two seasons, wants to learn from Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Aristide Mouaha may not show up in most mocks for the 2020 NBA Draft, but the Cameroon native still has hopes of making it to the next level. The 19-year-old spent the last two seasons in Italy, though he didn’t exactly post dazzling numbers throughout the 2019-20 season (6.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game).

Still, the guard hopes he’ll get a shot. He even has a preferred team: the Brooklyn Nets. His reasoning is simple, “I could learn a lot from them,” he told Basketincontro, referring to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

There are several other draft-and-stash options in this year’s draft, but perhaps Mouaha’s interest in the team could earn him a second look, should there league host a Draft Combine — it was postponed earlier in May.

If nothing else, Mouaha’s interest in learning from the Nets’ two superstars shows how much the franchise’s brand can grow as long as Irving and Durant call Brooklyn home.