Start of the Conference Finals, Draft Lottery Results, and More
WCF Game 1: #1 Nuggets beat #7 Lakers 132-126
ECF Game 1: #8 Heat beat #2 Celtics 123-116
DRAFT NEWS:
Draft Lottery Order:
#1 Spurs: Victor Wembanyama responded by Tweeting “Today was a good day.” Wembanyama was telling people close to him that he wanted to play for San Antonio (according to Marc J. Spears).
#2 Hornets
#3 Trail Blazers
#4 Rockets
#5 Pistons
#6 Magic
#7 Pacers
#8 Wizards
#9 Jazz
#10 Mavericks
#11 Magic (via Bulls)
#12 Thunder
#13 Raptors
#14 PelicansList of 37 players not scrimmaging at the Combine:
Adem Bona, Amen Thompson, Anthony Black, Ausar Thompson, Brandon Miller, Brice Sensabaugh, Cam Whitmore, Cason Wallace, Chris Livingston, Colby Jones, Dariq Whitehead, Dereck Lively II, Gradey Dick, GG Jackson II, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Scoot Henderson, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Jarace Walker, Jett Howard, Jordan Hawkins, Julian Phillips, Julian Strawther, Keyonte George, Kobe Brown, Kobe Bufkin, Kris Murray, Leonard Miller, Marcus Sasser, Maxwell Lewis, Mouhamed Gueye, Nick Smith Jr., Noah Clowney, Rayan Rupert, Sidy Cissoko, Taylor Hendricks, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Zach Edey.NBA personnel are widely convinced that Victor Wembanyama is the greatest prospect to enter the league since LeBron James (according to Jake Fischer).
NBA executives told Woj that Victor Wembanyama could be the best player in the league on offense and defense by year 3. He is the most-highly anticipated player to ever enter the NBA (per Woj).
Some league personnel consider Scoot Henderson a suboptimal fit with LaMelo Ball (according to Fischer). The Hornets have the 2nd pick.
An NBA executive told Michael Scotto that “If Scoot Henderson did what he did against Victor Wembanyama in October at a later date closer to the draft, Brandon Miller wouldn’t even be in the conversation for the No. 2 pick. People forget about that.”
After lottery buzz in the season, Jett Howard is now seen as a mid-to-late 1st round pick (according to Kevin O’Connor).
There is a lot of hype surrounding Leonard Miller (according to Brett Siegel). Multiple scouts told Siegel they very impressed with Miller's shooting the last few days.
Brandon Miller is seen around the league as a potential high-end offensive weapon who can be a top 2 option long-term on a good NBA team (according to Sam Vecenie).
NBA executives believe that Taylor Hendricks an ideal frontcourt player because of his ability to play PF or small-ball C, spread the D beyond the arc with his shooting, switch and defend guards and wings on the perimeter, and block shots at the rim (according to Michael Scotto).
While Nick Smith Jr. is streaky, many scouts project that he will become a reliable shooter (according to Kevin O’Connor).
While he is a bit polarizing for scouts, some love Keyonte George's ball-handling and playmaking (according to Sam Vecenie).
There are mixed reviews around the league on GG Jackson II - some scouts love him, while others think that the youngest prospect in the draft isn't worth the risk with his raw ability (according to Kevin O’Connor).
Some evaluators are really intrigued with GG Jackson II's shot creation (according to Vecenie).
Rob Perry is withdrawing from the draft and returning to Murray State for his senior year. H/t Jon Rothstein.
NCAA:
Tyrce Radford announced via Instagram that he is returning to Texas A&M next season using his additional year of eligibility.
UNC transfer Caleb Love decommitted from Michigan and is back in the transfer portal (according to Eric Bossi). Love did not have the subsequent credits to transfer in to Michigan and returning to North Carolina is not on the table (according to Matt Norlander).
Wagner transfer Delonnie Hunt announced that he committed to Richmond. H/t Jeff Goodman. He has 2 years of eligibility left.
Zyon Pullin of UC Riverside plans to enter the transfer portal, his agent Scott Nichols of Rize Management told Jeff Borzello. He still plans on going through the pre-draft process. He was First-Team All-Big West.
DRAFT COMPARISONS:
Jarace Walker has drawn comparisons from NBA executives to Paul Millsap and Larry Johnson (according to Michael Scotto).
Among the comparisons that Keyonte George has drawn from NBA executives is Eric Gordon (according to Scotto).
One long-time NBA executive compared Cason Wallace to Immanuel Quickley (according to Scotto).
DRAFT TRADE RUMORS:
Joe Cronin to Yahoo Sports: “We’re a team that’s trying to win and trying to maximize Damian’s timeline. This was an important night for us. Front offices around the league think highly of this draft, so you would think that a lot of teams that were sitting [on stage] tonight will be getting a lot of calls from teams trying to move up and maneuver.” H/t Jake Fischer.
E-Mail from the Trail Blazers: “We’ve secured the #3 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Our Basketball Ops team is working behind the scenes to improve our roster and build a team ready to complete alongside Damian Lillard, who had his best season to date last year. Stay tuned, this offseason is sure to be exciting! PLUS, we have the #23 pick in the first round, received in our mid-season trade with the NY Knicks.” H/t Alex Tam.
Damian Lillard at his exit interview said he "wasn't interested" in adding more youth to the roster. "That's not a secret. I want a chance to go for it. And if the route is to [draft youth], then that's not my route." H/t Jason Quick.
The Trail Blazers' move up to #3 in the draft lottery raised eyebrows all over the league. Rival executives think that the Blazers will explore the possibility of trading the pick for win-now help. Portland is expected to be in the market for wings and big men (according to Zach Lowe).
The Trail Blazers are expected to make #3 available for trade in an effort to continue building a contending roster around Damian Lillard. The Blazers are in the process of evaluating the trade market for #3 as well as examining incoming rookie prospects that will be available at #3 (according to Chris Haynes).
Rival executives are closely monitoring the Trail Blazers (according to Michael Scotto). An agent who spoke with Scotto after the Draft Lottery said that if the Blazers put Damian Lillard on the trade market, the enter NBA would stop until he is moved.
The Rockets expect there to be a good amount of trade interest in #4 and they will listen to inquiries. They are also open to potentially moving down or acquiring a win-now veteran if the opportunity presents itself. Things are still preliminary (according to Kelly Iko).
Rival executives believe that the #4 pick in the draft will be used as trade bait as Houston is preparing to make an aggressive push to sign James Harden this summer (according to Scotto).
After the Draft Lottery, Troy Weaver said that the Pistons would "turn over every rock" and explore trades involving #5. H/t Scotto.
The Mavericks are expected to explore the trade market for #10 in hopes of adding to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Kyrie will be an unrestricted free agent this summer (according to Jake Fischer).
Rival teams expect the Mavericks to dangle #10 as trade bait to improve the team in the immediate future around Luka Doncic along with the hope of re-signing Kyrie Irving in free agency (according to Scotto).
The Kings are a team to monitor for 1st round trade possibilities with #24 (according to Fischer).
At the trade deadline, the Pacers had explored trading the draft that ended up #26 and #29 for veteran talent (according to Fischer).
TRADE RUMORS:
There is a sentiment among league personnel in Chicago (Draft Combine) that this upcoming offseason will be "rife with player movement and franchise-altering transactions" (according to Jake Fischer).
The Pistons have interest in competing for a Play-In Tournament spot next season (according to James L. Edwards III).
Executives in Chicago are buzzing about what the future holds for the Warriors and the 76ers (according to Zach Lowe).
There's a strong level of trade interest in Jonathan Kuminga around the league (per Lowe).
FREE AGENCY:
James Harden intends to opt-out of his $35.64 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent in order to secure a long-term deal. He will only entertain suitors with a competitive roster and the basketball freedom for Harden to be himself (according to Chris Haynes).
While James Harden and the Rockets have mutual interest in a reunion, Harden's return to Houston is no lock after the 76ers fired head coach Doc Rivers (according to Zach Lowe).
The Suns will likely fully guarantee Chris Paul's $30.80 million for next season that is partially guaranteed for $15.8 million until June 28, and Phoenix is currently of the mindset that he will open up next season as their starting PG (according to Haynes).
Rival teams are expecting the Trail Blazers to re-sign Jerami Grant in unrestricted free agency (according to Zach Lowe).
RULE CHANGES:
At the annual Chicago Draft Lottery day meeting between the NBA GMs, there were lively discussions this year about a handful of competition-related issues (according to Zach Lowe).
Much of the NBA GMs' talks were on load management. There may be more load management-related rules implemented as soon as next season. Some GMs believe the NBA may revisit when teams can rest players and the penalties for violating this rule (per Lowe).
The NBA GMs talked about the idea of turning the draft into a 2 day event (per Lowe).
Some executives suggested brining back escalating fines as a penalty for players who flop (per Lowe).
The NBA GMs discussed whether the modern game has tilted too far toward offensive production and considered what could be done to help defenses (per Lowe).
COACHING/FRONT OFFICE:
Of the three finalists for the Pistons' vacant head coaching job, Kevin Ollie, Bucks associate head coach Charles Lee, and Pelicans lead assistant coach Jarron Collins, Ollie is widely considered the favorite of Troy Weaver (according to Jake Fischer).
The Clippers love having Tyronn Lue as their head coach and are happy to remind teams interested in him that he remains under contract (according to Zach Lowe).
Steve Ballmer is a huge fan of head coach Tyronn Lue and the two have a great relationship, holding routine game-day meetings in Lue's office (according to Chris Haynes).
Tyronn Lue's representatives met with the Clippers this week to discuss Lue's future with Los Angeles. If both sides agreed to extending his tenure, it would likely come as a new deal rather than a contract extension (per Haynes). He has 2 years left on his current deal.
The Bucks interviewed University of Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson for their vacant head coaching job (according to Woj). GM Jon Horst was a member of Milwaukee's front office when Sampson was an assistant coach for them from 2008-2001.
The Bucks interviewed Wizards assistant coach Joseph Blair for their vacant head coaching job (per Woj).
The Suns will interview associate head coach Kevin Young for their vacant head coaching job as early as next week (according to Chris Haynes).
The Wizards formally interviewed Pelicans GM Trajan Langdon for their vacant president of basketball operations/GM job (according to David Aldridge and Josh Robbins).
BUSINESS:
The Magic, in partnership with the City of Orlando, plan to submit a bid for 2027 All-Star Weekend. They last hosted in 2012.
2023 commit 4 star PG Dai Dai Ames signed on with FR Action for NIL (according to Guido Guida).
RECRUITING:
2023 3 star PG Jayden Reid committed to USF. H/t Dushawn London.
2024 4 star C Thomas Sorber committed to Georgetown. H/t Joe Tipton.
2024 5 star PG Tre Johnson, the #1 recruit in his class, is down to 6 schools: Kentucky, Baylor, Kansas, Alabama, Texas, and Arkansas. H/t Tipton.
2024 4 star PG Del Jones, the #1 recruit in his class from Virginia, said that he plans on announcing his top 8 list cut sometime this week and announcing his decision after Peach Jam in July. H/t Brandon Jenkins.
2024 4 star SF Tyrone Riley said that his plan is to make his top schools in July and commit in the fall before his high school season. H/t Jamie Shaw. 24/7 lists Texas A&M as the favorite.
2024 4 star PG Mikey Lewis said that Illinois, LSU, and Syracuse are the 3 schools that he hears from the most. He said that he will likely announce a list cut prior to the Nike EYBL’s fourth session in Memphis. H/t Brandon Jenkins.
LINEUPS:
There is concern the Lakers could “lose” D'Angelo Russell if he views being benched as a demotion after starting every other game this postseason (according to Dave McMenamin).
Tyler Herro (right hand surgery) has yet to begin shooting or dribbling (according to Barry Jackson).
STATS:
In Tuesday's Game 1, Nikola Jokic extended his record for most career playoff triple-doubles by a center with his 12th, as he had 34 pts, 21 rebounds, 14 ast, 2 blk, 12-17 FG (3 3s) in 42 minutes. Jokic became the 1st player in NBA playoff history with a 34+ point, 21+ rebound, 14+ assist game.
Anthony Davis had 40 points, 10 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk, 14-23 FG (1 3), 11-11 FT in 42 minutes in Tuesday's Game 1. He started off 2-8 from the field.
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