March 2016 Basketball Wiretap

Wolves Offered No. 5, Ricky Rubio To Bulls For Jimmy Butler Before Kris Dunn Slid

Jun 24, 2016 8:33 PM

The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly drafted Kris Dunn at No. 5 to keep him as he wasn't expected to drop to them.

The Wolves' offer of Ricky Rubio and the No. 5 pick to the Chicago Bulls was made before Dunn slipped and not after.

"Obviously, we liked him," Gar Forman said of Dunn. "He's a very good player."

Chicago reportedly sought Zach LaVine from the Wolves in exchange for Butler.

K.C. Johnson/Chicago Tribune

Tags: Ricky Rubio, Kris Dunn, Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

Discuss
Bulls, Celtics Discussed No. 3, No. 16, Jae Crowder For Jimmy Butler

Jun 24, 2016 8:50 PM

The Chicago Bulls involved Jimmy Butler in trade discussions with both the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Bulls and Wolves appeared to especially zero in on a trade with Butler for Kris Dunn as the primary pieces.

Chicago also held talks with Boston trading for No. 3 with Dunn as the pick along with Jae Crowder and the 16th overall pick for Butler.

Gar Forman downplayed the reports of Butler trade talks and said he doesn't feel the need to reassure him about his future with the Bulls.

"We appreciate Jimmy," Forman said. "We value Jimmy. It's our job to listen about any player on our roster when there's interest. And obviously we call teams and express interest in players that they have."

K.C. Johnson/Chicago Tribune

Tags: Jimmy Butler, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

Discuss
ESPN's Ratings For NBA Draft Lowest Since 2012 While Yahoo Gets 2.8M Viewers

Jun 24, 2016 9:11 PM

ESPN drew a 2.4 overnight rating for the 2016 NBA Draft after a record-setting 3.1 in each of the past two years.

The draft was considered weak and the first two picks, Ben Simmons to the Philadelphia 76ers and Brandon Ingram to the Los Angeles Lakers, were known in advance.

It was the lowest rated draft since 2012.

Adrian Wojnarowski's The Vertical ran a competing simulcast with analysis, news and the announcement of picks before ESPN on an online stream that received positive reviews.

A Yahoo spokesperson told Awful Announcing Friday the almost-four-hour stream drew 3.7 million total video views, reached more than 2.8 million unique viewers across all devices, and averaged 34 minutes of watch time per user.

ESPN's coverage averaged 2.994 million viewers compared to Yahoo's total number of viewers.

Andrew Bucholtz/Awful Announcing

Tags: NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

Discuss
Team Reneged On Promise To Draft Isaia Cordinier Early In 2nd Round

Jun 24, 2016 11:43 AM

Isaia Cordinier had a promise to be picked by a team selecting in the late 30s or early 40s of the second round.

Cordinier asked teams not to pick him because he was guaranteed to be brought to the NBA immediately but the team reneged on the promise at the last minute.

Cordinier ended up being picked at 40th overall by the Atlanta Hawks.

Cordinier will likely sign a one-year deal in France and join the Hawks in 2017.

Jonathan Givony/Draft Express

Tags: Isaia Cordinier, Atlanta Hawks, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

Discuss
Dunc'd On: 2016 Draft Review

Jun 24, 2016 10:36 AM

The Serge Ibaka trade, Thaddeus Young to IND (17:30), the puzzling Marco Belinelli trade, Phoenix's trade with Sacramento for Marquese Chriss, and of course analysis of every pick in the first round (29:30). Includes the Celtics' Jaylen Brown shocker, Kris Dunn to Minnesota, Jamal Murray falling to Denver as part of their great night, and everything else. Plus our favorite second round picks. 

With host Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) and Danny Leroux of RealGMThe Athletic and the Sporting News (@DannyLeroux). 

Click to subscribe using any podcast player to the RSS Feed or via iTunes.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, Dunc'd On

Discuss
Taurean Prince Thought He'd Go 20-25, Felt Like Atlanta Liked Him

Jun 24, 2016 1:06 AM

Taurean Prince was taken 12th overall by the Atlanta Hawks, who acquired the pick from the Utah Jazz in the three-team deal that shipped George Hill to Utah and Jeff Teague to the Indiana Pacers.

Prince was seen as a late-lottery pick, but was rumored to be slipping down draft boards. 

“I thought I was 20-25 range, so I mean, this is — like I said, it’s all overwhelming for me, humbling,” he said. "I’ve just got to work more to show people why I deserve this spot, and I’m going to do what I have to do in order to be somebody in the league.”

Atlanta’s slotted pick was 21st, right in the range Prince felt he’d go. The Hawks brought him in for their first workout.

“Man, those guys are great, straightforward, which I love,” he said. “No gray, it’s black and white-type of guys, and those are the type of guys you need to be behind you, that’s going to tell you when you’re wrong and let you know when you’re right. I love those guys up there, man. They brought me up for a second workout so I knew they were really interested and we were vibing the entire time, and I enjoyed every single minute in Atlanta."

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Tags: Taurean Prince, Atlanta Hawks, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

Discuss
Buddy Hield Ready To Space Floor For Pelicans

Jun 24, 2016 1:03 AM

The New Orleans Pelicans drafted Buddy Hield with the sixth overall pick on Thursday, adding perhaps the most proven scorer available. 

“I’m a scorer,” Hield said in his opening remarks to the media. “I can shoot the ball a lot. Love to shoot. I feel like when I go there I can open up the floor for Anthony Davis and other guys to be able to penetrate. And for a guy like Anthony Davis, they have a guy like me who can shoot the ball really well, can keep the floor spaced.” 

Alvin Gentry traveled to the Bahamas to watch Hield play and the two discussed playing fast together if New Orleans was in position to take the Oklahoma senior. Hield is just the third player from the Bahamas to be drafted. 

“I’m so happy, man, not only for me but for all the kids back in the Bahamas,” Hield said. “The norm is that we never make it out of there. So being one of the few that makes it out there helps me give to the kids and inspire them, like OK, there will be more that will make it out. 

“I’m just happy for the Bahamas, really. Put them back on the map, and for all my friends and family."

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Tags: Buddy Hield, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

Discuss
Ron Baker, Knicks Agree To Partially Guaranteed Deal

Jun 24, 2016 12:28 AM

Ron Baker has agreed upon a one-year, partially guaranteed deal with the New York Knicks.

Baker went undrafted out of Wichita State.

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Tags: Ron Baker, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

Discuss
Gary Payton II Agrees To Three-Year Deal With Rockets

Jun 24, 2016 12:20 AM

The Houston Rockets will sign Gary Payton II to a three-year deal.

Payton went undrafted in Thursday's draft out of Oregon State.

Chris Haynes/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Tags: Gary Payton II, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

Discuss
Cavs Pay $2.4M For 54th Overall Pick, Select Kay Felder

Jun 24, 2016 12:17 AM

The Cleveland Cavaliers bought the 54th overall pick from the Atlanta Hawks to select Kay Felder.

LeBron James was reportedly a proponent of selecting Felder.

Cleveland paid $2.4 million to the Hawks to buy their way into the draft to select Felder.

Shams Charania/The Vertical

Tags: Kay Felder, Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

Discuss
Warriors Buy 38th Pick From Bucks For $2.4 Million, Select Pat McCaw

Shams Charania, Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Jaylen Brown Didn't Expect To Be Picked By Celtics, Excited For Playoff Basketball

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Brandon Ingram Feels 'Good Pressure' Going To Lakers

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, Jaylen Brown Go Top-3 In 2016 NBA Draft

RealGM Staff Report

76ers Offering Nerlens Noel, 24, 26, Robert Covington To Celtics For No. 3

Marc Stein/ESPN

Kings Receiving Offers Of Multiple Future 1st Round Picks For No. 8

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Raptors Interested In Skal Labissiere At No. 9

Chad Ford/ESPN

76ers Increase Efforts To Acquire 3rd Overall Pick From Celtics

Chad Ford, Marc Stein/ESPN

Suns Offered Eric Bledsoe, Lottery Pick To Jazz For Gordon Hayward

Marc Stein/ESPN

76ers Decided To Select Ben Simmons On Lottery Night

Chad Ford/ESPN

Nets Working To Trade Thaddeus Young For First Rounder

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Hornets Offering No. 22 Pick Attached To Jeremy Lamb Or Spencer Hawes

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Lakers Plan On Selecting Brandon Ingram 2nd Overall

Chad Ford, Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Ben Simmons Informed 76ers Will Select Him 1st Overall

Chris Haynes/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Ben Simmons Works Out For 76ers

Keith Pompey/Philadelphia Inquirer

Dunc'd On: NBA Draft With Mike Schmitz

RealGM Staff Report

Buddy Hield Has Second Workout With Lakers

Jesse Dougherty/Los Angeles Times

Simmons, Ingram, Murray Headline Green Room Invites For Draft

Chad Ford/ESPN

Ben Simmons, Rich Paul Meet With Reps From 76ers

Marc Stein/ESPN

Bryan Colangelo: 76ers' Preference At No. 1 'Changes Every Day'

ESPN