In preparation for the NBA Draft, we examine several advanced statistical categories to determine which players stand out both good or bad to help solidify our opinions on their strengths and weaknesses. Read More. Written by Dan Hanner on Jun 17, 2013
Jerry Sloan maintains a close relationships with Jazz management, making his return to the franchise this summer an easy transition even without an official position as consultant to this point. Read More.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have yet to make a decision on who to select with the first overall pick.
Nerlens Noel is the favorite and he will meet with the Cavaliers on Thursday.
Alex Len is the most likely alternative option, according to sources. Len would give the Cavaliers size, defensive ability and is less raw as a prospect than Noel.
The Cavaliers are also evaluating Anthony Bennett, Ben McLemore, Victor Oladipo and Otto Porter.
Before withdrawing from this month’s NBA draft, Mouhammadou Jaiteh received first round guarantees that failed to entice the 18-year-old enough to leave his development in France, agent Herman Manakyan told RealGM on Monday.
Teams were impressed with the sharp growth in Jaiteh, and the 6-foot-11 center worked out for six organizations throughout the draft process. Even with guarantees, Jaiteh made clear he wanted to be drafted into a flourishing situation – for both himself and the team.
“The guarantees were not in attractive situations for us,” Manakyan said.
With a focus on next year’s draft, Jaiteh will now sign with a team in France, where several clubs have been vying to sign him, Manakyan said. No frontrunners have emerged, but playing time and the opportunity to continue his rapid development are key factors.
Interest in Sergey Karasev has elevated so much from seven teams between the Nos. 9 and 22 picks in the NBA draft, the Russian prospect will have those organizations fly out to meet him in Europe, league sources told RealGM.
Karasev, 19, remains unlikely to leave Russia for any workouts or interviews, but teams have insisted they come sit down with him in Russia. Even though he’ll speak to teams now, Karasev won’t work out.
When Karasev returned to Russia earlier this month, he had left teams believing they might not get the opportunity to see him before the draft. Still, Karasev hasn’t received a firm first round guarantee yet, a source said.
A 6-foot-7 swingman, Karasev has intrigued with his shooting and playmaking, following an average of 20 points on 49 percent three-point shooting in this season’s European Cup. With the ninth and 26th selections in the first round, the Minnesota Timberwolves have scouted Karasev comprehensively after bringing over Alexey Shved from Russia last offseason, but they don’t appear to be the strongest contenders for Karasev.
Nerlens Noel has hired co-agents Frank Catapano and Andy Miller to represent him.
Noel is a candidate for the Cleveland Cavaliers to draft with the first overall pick. Noel has already visited with the Orlando Magic and will meet with the Washington Wizards this weekend.
Noel tore his ACL in February and is unlikely to make his rookie debut until at least December.
During Cody Zeller's workout for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Flip Saunders let the big man know that he "got his butt kicked" in Indiana's upset loss to Minnesota last season.
Even at seven feet, Zeller is power forward in the NBA -- not a center -- according to Saunders.
“He’s not a center and anyone looking at him as a center is not evaluating,” Saunders said. “He can really shoot the ball. He’ll be a very good ‘stretch 4.’ ”
Zeller believes he would be a terrific fit with the Timberwolves.
“I think I’d fit in well,” Zeller said. “I’d be able to grow behind [Nikola] Pekovic and [Kevin] Love. I know [Ricky] Rubio would be a lot of fun to play with. I love point guards who can run … My quickness, speed, agility as a big guy, that’s what I’ve been doing in the Big Ten and that’s what translates in the NBA.”