April 2011 Basketball Wiretap

Shabazz Muhammad's No. 1 Asset Could Be Intangibles

Jul 29, 2011 12:40 PM

Shabazz Muhammad is immensely talented but is receiving rave reviews for his intangibles.

"He really brings his A game every time he steps on the floor, which is really rare in summer ball," writes Davis.

Muhammad battled through an ankle injury to recently play in the championship game of the tournament in Las Vegas.

"Muhammad is a crafty lefty wing player, and while he isn't a great three-point shooter, he has a terrific midrange floater than he can get off anytime he wants. But what he does best is attack, attack, attack. Muhammad is a classic example of someone who is a great scorer more than a great shooter."

Davis writes that UCLA has the inside track to sign Muhammad, but UNLV could keep him at home.

Seth Davis/Sports Illustrated

Tags: Shabazz Muhammad, UNLV Runnin' Rebels, UCLA Bruins, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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League Postpones Rookie Transition Program

Jul 26, 2011 4:40 PM

The NBA has postponed a program that provides rookie players with skills and information necessary for a successful transition into the league until it can resolve the lockout.

The Rookie Transition Program, scheduled for August 9-11, will be rescheduled once the NBA and players reach a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement.

"Without a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players' union, we will be unable to hold RTP as originally scheduled," NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.

"This is an important educational program for our incoming players, and it will be rescheduled once the parties agree on a CBA."

Reuters

Tags: NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA CBA

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Mirotic Set Scoring Record At Under-20 European Tournament

Jul 25, 2011 10:33 AM

Real Madrid forward Nikola Mirotic, chosen as the 2010-11 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Rising Star, made history at the European under-20 Championships in Bilbao, Spain.

Mirotic, chosen as the tournament's MVP, led the Spanish national team to the gold medal and broke the competition's scoring record, averaging 27 points and 10 rebounds in 9 games.

He led Spain with 29 points and 11 rebounds to an 82-70 win against Italy in the title game on Sunday. Mirotic had done even better - 37 points, 8 rebounds - in the semifinals against Russia and helped Spain to finish the tournament unbeaten.

Euroleague.net

Tags: Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Mirotic Leads Spain To Under-20 European Championship

Jul 24, 2011 10:56 PM

Bulls draft pick Nikola Mirotic produced 29 points and 11 rebounds, leading Spain to an 82-70 win over Italy in the U20 European championship game.

The 6-foot-10 Mirotic was the tournament’s leading scorer. In nine games, he averaged 27 points, 10 rebounds, shot 59.5 percent from the field, 85.1 percent at the foul line and knocked down 10-of-25 attempts from 3-point range.

The Bulls traded two picks and cash to Minnesota in order to select Mirotic with the 23rd pick of this year’s draft. The Montenegro native is under contract with Spain’s Real Madrid and not expected to join the NBA for a few years.

Mike McGraw/Arlington Heights Daily Herald

Tags: Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, National, NBA Draft General, National Euro Championship

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Wolves Expect Favorable Ruling On Tanguy Ngombo's Draft Eligibility

Jul 7, 2011 3:14 PM

Sources say the Wolves expect a favorable ruling from the NBA office that they will be able to keep No. 57 pick Tanguy Nbombo despite a dispute over his age.

Though information has come to light that Ngombo is 26 – and thus ineligible for the draft – sources say the Wolves have government documentation from multiple entities that Ngombo is, in fact, 21.

The belief among some executives is that a team should not be punished if government documentation is inaccurate.

Ken Berger/CBSSports.com

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Incoming Kentucky Recruit Anthony Davis Patterns Game After Durant

Jul 7, 2011 10:31 AM

Five star Kentucky recruit Anthony Davis patterns his game after Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant.

“Entering my junior year (of high school), I was 6-2 or 6-3,” he said. “Then last summer, I sprouted up to 6-10. That’s when all the madness started to happen.”

He doesn’t shoot quite like Durant, who spent one year at Texas before becoming the No. 2 pick in the draft. But he has the same frame and athletic build.

“Me being a guard last year, I still have the same skills (as Durant),” the Chicago native said.

Bob Finnan/News-Herald

Tags: Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kentucky Wildcats, Southeastern Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA Draft General

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Sullinger Has No Regrets About Remaining With Buckeyes

Jul 7, 2011 10:23 AM

Sophomore Jared Sullinger, 19, has some unfinished business at Ohio State, which finished 32-2 during his freshman year in 2010-11.

"I wanted to be a kid," he said on Wednesday at the LeBron James Skills Academy at the University of Akron. "I wanted to play basketball. Obviously, there is an NBA lockout. But that had no influence on my decision.

"I wanted to live college life. You only get to live life once. I can't go back to college and be a college athlete if I go to the pros. I just decided to wait."

Scouts thought he would be a top 10 selection in the draft, quite possibly in the top five. That's a risky move, not to mention all the potential money he left on the table.

"I could care less, honestly," Sullinger said. "People can say it's risky. People can say it's good for me or bad for me. I really don't care. It's my life. I made the decision that was best for me. You only live life once. Why not live it to the fullest?"

Bob Finnan/News-Herald

Tags: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State Buckeyes, Big Ten Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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KU's Self Against NBA's Age Limit

Jul 6, 2011 10:26 AM

If Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self had his way, the NBA’s next collective bargaining agreement would include an alteration of the so-called “one-and-done rule.”

“I’d say leave (for NBA) out of high school or stay three years in college,” said Self, who would settle for a two-year minimum stay on campus for those who don’t declare for the draft following high school graduation.

“I don’t like what is in place now. It’s not because we’ve had two one-and-dones the last two years. Some people have had more. I don’t think what we have is fair to the kid. We say, ‘Come here to get a degree and help us win, and in turn, when the time is right, we’ll support any decision you make.’ That’s what we’ll say whether it’s one year or two years. The mind-set some kids have coming in is they can be a one-and-done guy. I can understand that. It’s the landscape of where we live and what we do, but it’s not the way it should be.

“It should be kids go to school first, and after they go to school and the time is right, they should be able to jump. I think making them stay a minimum of two would definitely help that cause.”

Gary Bedore/Lawrence Journal World

Tags: Kansas Jayhawks, Big 12 Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Kanter Named To Turkey's National Team

Jul 6, 2011 10:19 AM

Jazz center Enes Kanter has officially been named to Turkey's 2011 EuroBasket roster.

Kanter will join Hedo Turkoglu (Orlando), Omer Asik (Chicago), Semih Erden (Cleveland) and Ersan Ilyasova (Milwaukee) on the team.

The tournament is scheduled August 31-September 18 in Lithuania. If Kanter plays, it could mark his first significant 5-on-5 action in more than a year.

Brian T. Smith/Salt Lake Tribune

Tags: Enes Freedom, Utah Jazz, NBA, National, National World Championships, NBA Draft General

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Morris Twins To Train With Pooh Richardson

Jul 6, 2011 10:14 AM

Marcus and Markieff Morris plan to train with former NBA point guard Pooh Richardson this summer.

Richardson is the president of basketball operations for Rival Sports Group LLC, a company that represents Markieff and Marcus in business affairs.

Richardson spent 10 seasons in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Clippers.

FOXSportsArizona.com

Tags: Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Motiejunas Returns To Italian Club

Jonathan Feigen/Houston Chronicle