Tag: rj hampton

Report: Nets ‘extremely interested’ in RJ Hampton if he falls to No. 19

The Brooklyn Nets may get the chance to build for the future as they try to win now if RJ Hampton falls to them in the 2020 NBA draft.

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RJ Hampton made clear early on in the draft process, he still believes he can have a significant impact on an NBA franchise even though he has slipped significantly on some draft boards.

“I went overseas, I learned a lot, I didn’t have superior numbers and I was kind of forgotten about,” Hampton said back in September. “The message that I was trying to get across is, ‘I’m still that same player. I’m still that player that can get you 20-25 points, 6-7 assists, be that lead guard and a franchise changer.'”

One team that likes what Hampton is saying and doing is the Nets.

According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, “Brooklyn is extremely interested in Hampton if he falls to No. 19.” Also, “Hampton has impressed teams during workouts with his work ethic and form on his jump shot.”

Hampton is expected to go just outside the lottery, so the Nets should have a chance at him. But if the guard continues to impress, it’s hard to imagine other teams won’t also want to take a risk on a player who was once viewed as a potential top-five pick.

2020 NBA aggregate mock draft 8.0: Draft day ranges for top prospects

The 2020 NBA draft is fairly unpredictable and prospects have wider ranges in where they could get selected when it is all said and done. 

The 2020 NBA draft is fairly unpredictable and prospects have wider ranges in where they could get selected when it is all said and done.

We looked at mock drafts from NBADraft.net, ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, The Ringer, Stadium, SI.com, USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire, USA Today and Yahoo to give us a more clear understanding of consensus rankings and projections.

This also provided context for realistic high-end and low-end predictions for the players most often included in mock drafts.

Please note that the range included for each player is not based on our own reporting or intel and it only reflects the data pulled from the various mock drafts.

The full list of our latest aggregate mock draft rankings can be found here. HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report.

2020 NBA aggregate mock draft 8.0: Draft day ranges for top prospects

The 2020 NBA draft is fairly unpredictable and prospects have wider ranges in where they could get selected when it is all said and done. 

The 2020 NBA draft is fairly unpredictable and prospects have wider ranges in where they could get selected when it is all said and done.

We looked at mock drafts from NBADraft.net, ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, The Ringer, Stadium, SI.com, USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire, USA Today and Yahoo to give us a more clear understanding of consensus rankings and projections.

This also provided context for realistic high-end and low-end predictions for the players most often included in mock drafts.

Please note that the range included for each player is not based on our own reporting or intel and it only reflects the data pulled from the various mock drafts.

The full list of our latest aggregate mock draft rankings can be found here. HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report.

Report: Celtics have met with RJ Hampton, may meet again

The Boston Celtics have reportedly met with hyper-athletic prospect R.J. Hampton — and they may use one of their 10 in-person visits too.

The Boston Celtic have reportedly met with former New Zealand Breakers guard R.J. Hampton virtually, and intend to meet with him face-to-face, according to Forbes Sports’ Chris Grenham.

That the Celtics plan to use one of their 10 in-person visits allowed due to pandemic-related health restrictions signals real interest, assuming it actually comes to pass.

It is quite common for players and agents both to leak information in attempts to gain leverage over where they end up, but this feels different based on the range and potential.

Hampton, who has a lot to work on from jump shot to footwork, is one of the draft’s most athletic prospects, and according to Grenham he has been putting in work on his shot with NBA shooting legend Mike Miller.

“I sought out Mike for a reason,” Hampton shared with Grenham.

“I wanted to be a great shooter, so why not learn from the best. Over the last six, seven months, it’s been going really well. I’m seeing the changes. Getting in the gym, making as many shots as you can each day, seeing the ball go through the net, it definitely gives you a lot of confidence.”

“At first, I wasn’t necessarily sold on the way I was changing my shot, but over time as I became more comfortable with it, it just became natural,” he added.

One of the only prospects with real star upside that the Celtics could reasonably draft without trading up, a move for Hampton would make sense so long as the team has ironclad plans for bench help.

Whether they find it in the draft, or later in free agency.

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New Ringer mock draft gambles on potential for Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics go all-in on potential in a season they need performance in the present according to a new mock draft by The Ringer.

The Ringer released an updated mock draft today that sees the Boston Celtics trade up, and with all the potential options still on the board, they manage to disappoint with their plans for Boston’s draft options.

The Celtics possess three first round draft picks (Nos. 14, 26 and 30) in this draft as well as a fourth pick late in the second round at No. 47, and at least at present do not have enough roster slots to house them all.

At the same time, given the flatness of the draft after the handful of prospects seen as having star potential are off the board, it hasn’t been a more amenable draft landscape to move back for a team either.

But the Celtics need to hit on one of their picks for a stable, useful rotation players, meaning they can afford to take a big swing with one of the picks on a player who could develop overseas.

But, they cannot afford to develop multiple young prospects while also trying to contend with so many already on the roster — even if they slim down on the youth movement currently on the roster.

So what are we griping about exactly? Let’s take a look.

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Former Nets assistant turned NBL head coach raves about RJ Hampton

RJ Hampton is among those who are projected to be selected shortly outside of the lottery in the 2020 NBA Draft.

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After Will Weaver spent a deal of time with the Brooklyn Nets organization — during which he served as both an assistant coach at the NBA level and a head coach in the G League for the Long Island Nets — he made the move to Australia’s National Basketball League for the 2019-20 season to take on the role of head coach for the Sydney Kings.

While overseas, Weaver was able to coach against two players who are expected to be selected in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft: LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton. Oddly enough, the pair could both soon call New York home, should Ball slip to the Knicks at No. 8 and Hampton the Nets at No. 19.

During his appearance on The Wingspan Podcast, Weaver made clear these two ex-NBL players have what it takes to make an impact in the NBA.

“I think that those of us that have [had] the opportunity to sit, get to know and work with, and try to maximize the odds of that happening for a number of talented youngsters appreciate just what a hard climb that is. Butm in LaMelo’s case, specifically — and throw RJ in the same category — the tools are remarkable.

Weaver also added both Hampton and Ball’s “shooting can improve a lot,” which is a must given they’re both guards.

“I think there is a reason to be excited about both of those guys, but the arc of development is long and the context that these guys go into matters so much. Everything I’ve heard is very positive about their likelihood of taking advantage of those opportunities.”

Weaver also added about Hampton:

“RJ, I’d say, his athletic traits are even stronger. So, where he goes and what his ceiling is like as a defender I think is quite high.”

Precious Achiuwa among 2020 NBA Draft prospects Nets have spoken with

The Brooklyn Nets have interviewed at least three 2020 NBA Draft prospects early on in this year’s NBA Draft Combine.

The 2020 NBA Draft Combine kicked off on Monday, allowing teams to contact this year’s group of prospects.

With the No. 19 pick this year (courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers), multiple draft analysts have projected RJ Hampton will slip to Brooklyn Nets. However, Hampton revealed on Tuesday that he has yet to hear from Brooklyn.

Maryland forward Jalen Smith, however, is on the other end of the spectrum. The Nets were among the first teams to contact him.

Additionally, the Nets have interviewed University of Memphis forward Precious Achiuwa and Stanford University guard Tyrell Terry.

In his lone year with the Tigers, Achiuwa averaged 15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Terry is also a one-and-done after averaging 14.6 points per game and shooting 40.8% from deep for Stanford this as a freshman.

RELATED: Playing with Kevin Durant would be ‘a dream come true’ for Jalen Smith

RELATED: RJ Hampton sees himself as ‘a franchise changer’

RJ Hampton yet to talk with Brooklyn, still expects Nets interview

No potential first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft has been linked to the Brooklyn Nets in mock drafts more than RJ Hampton.

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Before RJ Hampton went overseas to play for the New Zealand Breakers — after he elected to forego college — the guard was projected as a high lottery pick for the 2020 NBA Draft.

After his lone year of professional basketball, Hampton’s draft stock slipped. He’s now expected to be a late lottery pick at best.

In fact, the team he’s been linked to most in mock drafts is the Brooklyn Nets, whose pick (via the Philadelphia 76ers) falls outside the lottery at No. 19.

However, Hampton told reporters on a Zoom call on Tuesday that he has yet to interview with the Nets, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post. So far, he has spoken to the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers and Chicago Bulls.

Lewis also reported Hampton expressed he wouldn’t be shocked to talk with Brooklyn in the future, and the guard heard a lot about Aukland native and Nets general manager Sean Marks while playing in New Zealand.

RELATED: RJ Hampton sees himself as ‘a franchise changer’

RJ Hampton says he hasn’t talked to Sixers, intrigued by Ben Simmons

Draft prospect RJ Hampton has not talked with the Philadelphia 76ers, but he is intrigued by the fit with Ben Simmons.

Possessing the 21st pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers have a couple of different ways they can go with this pick. One option is to bring in a point guard who can play with Ben Simmons and have him play more off the ball,

That is why New Zealand guard RJ Hampton is a guy who has been mocked to the Sixers in some mock draft projections. He stands at 6-foot-5 and he has a 6-foot-7 wingspan so his length is something that should interest general manager Elton Brand when the draft rolls around.

During a media session through Zoom on Tuesday, Hampton did say that he hasn’t talked with the Sixers yet. He has talked with a handful of teams that aren’t Philadelphia, but he is still intrigued about the possibility of playing with Simmons and causing a lot of problems for teams in defense.

“I think that would work out great,” Hampton said of the idea. “Ben Simmons is a long, lanky guard and I feel like I’m the same, well he’s quite taller than me, but at the same time, I feel like it would be a nightmare for offensive players going against two guards on defense with Matisse (Thybulle) too being a great defender. I definitely feel like it will be a great 3-guard setup.”

The Sixers will probably focus their efforts on a guy like Tyrell Terry who has interviewed with the Sixers thus far, but Hampton would be a guy who can run the offense smoothly. The defensive potential of Hampton, Simmons, Thybulle, and Josh Richardson should excite people. After all, the Sixers do want to build a very good defensive team. [lawrence-related id=37990,37987,37973]

Potential Sixers draft pick RJ Hampton believes he’s a franchise changer

Potential Philadelphia 76ers draft pick RJ Hampton believes he can be a franchise changer in the NBA.

The Philadelphia 76ers have a lot of different ways they can go with the 21st pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. They can go after shooting, they can go after ball-handling, or maybe even some scoring to add to their bench.

One guy who has come up recently in mock drafts for the Sixers is RJ Hampton who decided to go overseas and play for the New Zealand Breakers rather than go to college. For those reasons, some seem to have forgotten about the lanky point guard, but he is hoping to change all of that.

In an interview with SNY’s Ian Begley, Hampton believes he has what it takes to change a franchise.

Hampton told Begley:

“I was a projected Top 5 pick last year. I went overseas, I learned a lot, I didn’t have superior numbers and I was kind of forgotten about,” Hampton said in an interview with SNY. “The message that I was trying to get across is, ‘I’m still that same player. I’m still that player that can get you 20-25 points, 6-7 assists, be that lead guard and a franchise changer.’”

Standing at 6-foot-5, Hampton averaged 8.8 points and 3.9 rebounds with 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals for the Breakers in the 2019-20 season and the fact that he can handle the ball is something that will be attractive for Philadelphia. The team wants to try and move Ben Simmons off the ball more and use his athleticism that way and a guy like Hampton could make that happen. [lawrence-related id=37771,37768,37764]