April 2019 NBA Draft Wiretap

RealGM Radio: Sam Vecenie On the NBA Draft

Jun 26, 2019 7:09 PM

Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) and draft expert Sam Vecenie of The Athletic (@Sam_Vecenie) break down the 2019 NBA Draft.

They discuss big nights for the Hawks and Pelicans, the Suns’ confusing process, whether the priorities general managers showed on draft night will carry into free agency, who to watch in Summer League and much more.

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Tags: Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, RealGM Radio

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Kentucky Prospects Refused To Meet With Knicks During 2017 Combine

Jun 25, 2019 4:41 PM

According to Steve Miller, prospects from the University of Kentucky refused to meet with the New York Knicks at the combine in Chicago in May of 2017.

“It was frustrating for me because I had never been in a situation where, especially rookies, there was a narrative amongst the young guys that they didn’t want to come play for the Knicks,” Mills said. “They didn’t want to meet with us in Chicago. I said, ‘We’ve got to change that and start with the young guys.’"

De'Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Bam Adebayo and Isaiah Briscoe were in the 2017 draft class out of Kentucky.

The Knicks parted ways with Phil Jackson approximately one month later.

A year later, the Knicks drafted Kevin Knox out of Kentucky nine overall.

Marc J. Spears/The Undefeated

Tags: Kentucky Wildcats, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Taylor Jenkins Calls Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. A 'Dynamic Duo'

Jun 24, 2019 12:17 AM

Taylor Jenkins discussed the new core of the Memphis Grizzlies after selecting Ja Morant with the second pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

“A dynamic duo...two young players that are hungry (and) already developing a great relationship off the court, and that’s going to translate mightily on the court," assessed Jenkins.

Jenkins was hired by the Grizzlies from Mike Budenholzer's staff this summer.

Jenkins pointed to Morant's unselfish play as another reason why he thinks the point guard will succeed in the league.

"The few games that I got to watch and then I saw some more film, the unselfishness. That’s going to be a big part of our program. It’s a team sport and he epitomizes that.”

David Cobb/Memphis Commercial Appeal

Tags: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson, Jr., Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Wolves Had Jarrett Culver No. 5 On Draft Board Behind Darius Garland

Jun 22, 2019 4:36 PM

The Minnesota Timberwolves traded up from No. 11 to No. 6 as they didn't believe a difference-making player would be available to them that far down in the lottery.

The Wolves had a top tier of five players: Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, RJ Barrett, Darius Garland and Jarrett Culver.

The Wolves had discussions with the New Orleans Pelicans on moving up to No. 4, as well as the Cleveland Cavaliers on No. 5.

Minnesota eventually traded up to No. 6 with the Phoenix Suns and selected Culver.

The Wolves reportedly had Garland ahead of Culver, but Cleveland took him at No. 5. Atlanta selected De'Andre Hunter at No. 4.

Jon Krawczynski/The Athletic

Tags: Jarrett Culver, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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James Wiseman, Anthony Edwards, Cole Anthony Go Top-3 In ESPN's First 2020 Mock Draft

Jun 22, 2019 10:03 AM

ESPN has James Wiseman projected to go No. 1 in their first 2020 NBA Mock Draft with Anthony Edwards going No. 2.

Wiseman is a 7'1 center who will attend Memphis, while Edwards is a 6'3 shooting guard for Georgia.

Combo guard Cole Anthony is projected to go No. 3.

Jonathan Givony writes that the race for No. 1 is currently wide open, particularly because NBA teams are not valuing centers as much in recent years.

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: James Wiseman, Cole Anthony, Anthony Edwards, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Mock Drafts

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ESPN's 2019 NBA Draft Coverage Down Six Percent From 2018

Jun 21, 2019 5:31 PM

ESPN's coverage of the 2019 NBA Draft averaged 2.873 million viewers.

The telecast was down six percent from 2018 (3.066 million). The telecast was also 45 minutes longer than 2018.

The first three picks of the 2019 NBA Draft were widely reported for weeks leading to the draft.

John Ourand/Sports Business Journal

Tags: NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Nuggets Had Bol Bol Top-10 On Draft Board

Jun 21, 2019 5:14 PM

Bol Bol was the final green room player selected in the 2019 NBA Draft, going 44th overall to the Denver Nuggets.

Bol entered his freshman season as a probable lottery pick, but his stock fell following his broken foot.

"Tim Connelly told me that they had him top-10 on their board," said Jonathan Givony on The Lowe Post podcast. 

"They had him top-10 on their board yesterday?" asked Zach Lowe.

"Yes. A couple of teams told me they had him top-20 so it's not like he was universally red flagged and people just took him off and said 'do not draft.' Honestly, I don't know what happened."

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Bol Bol, Denver Nuggets, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Cavaliers Preferred De'Andre Hunter Over Darius Garland

Jun 21, 2019 2:18 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers preferred to take De'Andre Hunter over Darius Garland in the draft, league sources tell Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

The New Orleans Pelicans traded out of No. 4 to the Atlanta Hawks, who selected Hunter and left Cleveland with Garland at No. 5.

The Cavaliers selected another point guard last year in the lottery as well in Collin Sexton.

Joe Vardon/The Athletic

Tags: De'Andre Hunter, Darius Garland, Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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RealGM Radio: Dan Feldman On the NBA Draft and Offseason So Far

Jun 21, 2019 7:35 PM

Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) and Dan Feldman of NBC’s Pro Basketball Talk (@DanFeldmanNBA) break down the 2019 Draft and the offseason so far.

They discuss the Pelicans’ massive overhaul, Anthony Davis’ fit on the Lakers, where the Warriors go from here, the Conley trade and much more.

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Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, RealGM Radio

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David Griffin After Draft Night: Pelicans Are 'Jrue Holiday's Team'

Jun 21, 2019 2:25 AM

David Griffin carefully managed expectations for Zion Williamson after the New Orleans Pelicans selected the Duke forward with the first pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Griffin warned overeager fans that Williamson still needs to learn how to win in the NBA.

"This is Jrue Holiday's team. Zion is going to be learning how to win at a really high level. At some point, if there is a time that the baton gets passed in terms of who is expected to carry us to win games, it will. That is not now," said Griffin. 

Griffin also added that Williamson's role is not to be a franchise savior. 

"Let Zion be that kid. Don't write this like he is here to save this franchise. He is not. He is here to join this family."

Malika Andrews/ESPN

Tags: Jrue Holiday, Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Dean Wade Agrees To Two-Way Contract With Cavaliers

Chris Haynes/Yahoo! Sports

Blazers Had Nassir Little 12th On Draft Board

Ryen Russillo/ESPN

Nuggets Select Bol Bol At No. 44

Shams Charania/The Athletic

76ers Trade Jonathon Simmons, No. 42 To Wizards

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Cavaliers Send Four 2nd Round Picks, $5M To Pistons For Kevin Porter Jr.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Celtics Trade No. 24, Aron Baynes To Suns For Bucks' 2020 First Round Pick

Zach Lowe/ESPN

Pelicans Select Zion Williamson With First Overall Pick

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Cavaliers Still Listening To Offers For No. 5

Adrian Wojnarowski, Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Wolves Trade No. 11, Dario Saric To Suns For No. 6

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Hawks Acquire No. 4 Pick From Pelicans For Nos. 8, 17, 35

Chris Haynes/Yahoo! Sports

Knicks Decide To Pick RJ Barrett At No. 3

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Knicks Willing To Trade Frank Ntilikina For 2nd Round Pick

Ian Begley/SNY.tv

Pelicans Targeting Veteran Stretch Big In Exchange For No. 4

Malika Andrews/ESPN

Knicks Host Coby White For Draft Day Workout

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Warriors Acquire No. 41 From Hawks For $1.3M, 2024 2nd Rounder

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Pelicans Could Trade No. 4, Solomon Hill's Contract To Hawks

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

RJ Barrett Says Potentially Playing For Knicks 'Would Mean A Lot'

Ian Begley/SNY

Wolves Aggressively Trying To Acquire No. 4 From Pelicans

Marc Stein/New York Times

Heat Acquire No. 44 Overall Pick From Hawks

RealGM Staff Report

Knicks Expected To Select RJ Barrett Despite Last Minute Darius Garland Workout

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN