March 2017 Basketball Wiretap

Adam Silver: LaVar Ball Will 'Settle Down' Once Lonzo Is Drafted

May 31, 2017 3:41 PM

Adam Silver said in an interview with ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike on Wednesday that he thinks LaVar Ball "will settle down" once his son, Lonzo Ball is drafted.

Silver has no plans to talk to LaVar Ball about his public profile.

Silver credited LaVar Ball for his promotional skills, calling his ability to generate publicity "quite incredible."

"I think here, if I were an NBA team looking at Lonzo Ball, I'm not sure how much consideration I would give to his father. I think ultimately the issue is, how much game does Lonzo have, how great a player can he be.

"I think his dad will invariably settle down once his son is drafted and a team has the appropriate discussions with him. So I'm not concerned about that," Silver said.

ESPN

Tags: Lonzo Ball, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Lonzo Ball To Hold Solo Workout With Lakers On June 7th

May 31, 2017 2:06 AM

Lonzo Ball will work out for the Los Angeles Lakers on June 7th. The Lakers are the only team Ball is scheduled to work out for though he could add one or two meetings with teams near the top of the draft.

Ball has emerged as the frontrunner to be selected by the Lakers at No. 2. 

Ball will meet with the front office and coaches while also participating in an individual workout. Ball never considered a one-on-one workout against another prospect.

The Lakers plan to work out other top prospects over the next two weeks, including Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox and N.C. State’s Dennis Smith.

Shams Charania/The Vertical

Tags: Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft Workouts

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Markelle Fultz Wants To Be Selected No. 1 'Really Bad'

May 30, 2017 7:05 PM

Markelle Fultz has had multiple conversations with Danny Ainge since the draft combine in early May.

Fultz hopes to be selected first overall by the Boston Celtics.

"I've talked to Danny a few times, and they want to get me to come out there for a visit," Fultz told ESPN. "They just want to get a chance to know me better as a person."

"I want to be the No. 1 pick really bad," Fultz added. "It's been a dream of mine since I was a little kid, and I feel like I would fit well in Boston."

Fultz has yet to decide when he will formally visit the Celtics.

Fultz said he has never been to Boston, but he has watched the Celtics closely through their postseason run that ended last week in the Eastern Conference finals.

"I don't know a ton about the city," Fultz said. "I know the tradition the franchise has, and that the fans are crazy."

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Tags: Markelle Fultz, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Misc Official Transaction, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Pistons Interested In Trading No. 12 Pick For Established Player

May 30, 2017 3:54 PM

The Detroit Pistons have interest in trading the 12th overall pick in exchange for an established player.

The Pistons received little production out of their first round picks from the past two seasons during the 16-17 season as Stanley Johnson and Henry Ellenson struggled to make an impact.

Stan Van Gundy is entering his fourth season with the Pistons and the team has made just one playoff appearance.

Marc Stein/ESPN

Tags: Detroit Pistons, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Jazz Deny Giving D.J. Wilson First Round Promise

May 28, 2017 10:44 AM

The Utah Jazz have denied a report they have promised to select D.J. Wilson with the 30th overall pick.

"Did not happen," vice president of player personnel Walt Perrin said. "Did not happen at all. I don’t know where he got that from."

Perrin said it is rare for the Jazz to make a draft promise.

"If we tell a guy we’re going to take him guaranteed, which we don’t do very often if at all, we will follow through on that honor and our word," he said. "It does put you at somewhat of a disadvantage because if someone comes to you with a great trade, you’ve made your commitment to that player, so you can’t trade. … We try to keep our flexibility."

Perrin says the Jazz have never made a promise in his 16 years with the franchise.

Aaron Falk, Tony Jones/Salt Lake Tribune

Tags: D.J. Wilson, Utah Jazz, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Lonzo Ball Considering Workout For 76ers

May 26, 2017 9:28 AM

Lonzo Ball is considering working out for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Philadelphia owns the third overall pick, directly behind the Los Angeles Lakers, who are Ball's preferred choice.

A final decision will be made once Ball's agent, Harrison Gaines, and Sixers general manager Bryan Colangelo have had an extensive conversation centered on the identity of the team.

Ben Simmons is expected to play the role of primary ballhandler for the 76ers, which is a concern for Ball as a point guard.

Danny Ainge recently said Ball had declined to work out for them for a chance to be selected No. 1 overall by the Boston Celtics.

Chris Haynes/ESPN

Tags: Lonzo Ball, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Workouts

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73 Early Entry Candidates Pull Out Of 2017 Draft

May 25, 2017 8:19 PM

Seventy-three players have notified the NBA that they wish to be removed from the list of “early entry” players eligible for selection in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Following the NBA’s early entry withdrawal deadline of 5 p.m. ET on June 12, 2017, a comprehensive release will be distributed listing the additional players who provided the NBA with timely notice that they wish to be removed from the list of “early entry” players eligible for selection in the 2017 NBA Draft.

The following 73 players have withdrawn their names from consideration for the 2017 NBA Draft:

Player, School, Height, Status
Shaqquan Aaron USC 6-7 Sophomore
Jaylen Adams St. Bonaventure 6-2 Junior
Deng Adel Louisville 6-7 Sophomore
Jashaun Agosto LIU 5-11 Freshman
Bashir Ahmed St. John’s 6-7 Junior
Rawle Alkins Arizona 6-5 Freshman
Mark Alstork Wright State 6-5 Junior
Jaylen Barford Arkansas 6-3 Junior
Trae Bell-Haynes Vermont 6-2 Junior
Joel Berry II North Carolina 6-0 Junior
Trevon Bluiett Xavier 6-6 Junior
Bennie Boatwright USC 6-10 Sophomore
Jacobi Boykins Louisiana Tech 6-6 Junior
Rodney Bullock Providence 6-8 Junior
Jevon Carter West Virginia 6-2 Junior
Joseph Chartouny Fordham 6-3 Sophomore
Donte Clark Massachusetts 6-4 Junior
Chris Clemons Campbell 5-9 Sophomore
David Collette Utah 6-10 Junior
Angel Delgado Seton Hall 6-10 Junior
Hamidou Diallo Kentucky 6-6 Freshman
Vince Edwards Purdue 6-8 Junior
John Egbunu Florida 6-11 Junior
Jon Elmore Marshall 6-3 Junior
Obi Enechionyia Temple 6-10 Junior
Drew Eubanks Oregon State 6-10 Sophomore
Tacko Fall Central Florida 7-6 Sophomore
Brandon Goodwin FGCU 6-2 Junior
Donte Grantham Clemson 6-8 Junior
Isaac Haas Purdue 7-2 Junior
Aaron Holiday UCLA 6-1 Sophomore
Chandler Hutchison Boise State 6-7 Junior
Justin Jackson Maryland 6-7 Freshman
Alize Johnson Missouri State 6-9 Junior
B.J. Johnson La Salle 6-7 Junior
Robert Johnson Indiana 6-3 Junior
Andrew Jones Texas 6-4 Freshman
Kerem Kanter Green Bay 6-10 Junior
Braxton Key Alabama 6-8 Freshman
George King Colorado 6-6 Junior
Khadeem Lattin Oklahoma 6-9 Junior
William Lee UAB 6-9 Junior
Zach Lofton Texas Southern 6-3 Junior
Daryl Macon Arkansas 6-3 Junior
Marin Maric Northern Illinois 6-11 Junior
Yante Maten Georgia 6-8 Junior
Markis McDuffie Wichita State 6-8 Sophomore
MiKyle McIntosh Illinois State 6-7 Junior
Matthew Morgan Cornell 6-3 Sophomore
Shaquille Morris Wichita State 6-8 Junior
Svi Mykhailiuk Kansas 6-8 Junior
Divine Myles Stetson 5-11 Junior
Derick Newton Stetson 6-6 Sophomore
Randy Onwuasor Southern Utah 6-3 Junior
Theo Pinson North Carolina 6-6 Junior
Martavius Robinson Lewis & Clark CC (Illinois) 6-10 Sophomore
Corey Sanders Rutgers 6-2 Sophomore
Victor Sanders Idaho 6-5 Junior
Jaaron Simmons Ohio 6-1 Junior
Fred Sims Jr. Chicago State 6-4 Sophomore
Zach Smith Texas Tech 6-8 Junior
Kamau Stokes Kansas State 6-0 Sophomore
James Thompson IV Eastern Michigan 6-10 Sophomore
Stephen Thompson Jr. Oregon State 6-4 Sophomore
Moritz Wagner Michigan 6-11 Sophomore
Tevonn Walker Valparaiso 6-2 Junior
Thomas Welsh UCLA 7-0 Junior
Thomas Wilder Western Michigan 6-3 Junior
Cecil Williams Central Michigan 6-6 Junior
Johnathan Williams Gonzaga 6-9 Junior
Kam Williams Ohio State 6-2 Junior
Christian Wilson UTSA 6-2 Junior
Omer Yurtseven North Carolina State 7-0 Freshman

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Withdrawals

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Raptors Acquire 2018 2nd Round Pick From Magic For Jeff Weltman

May 25, 2017 2:16 PM

The Toronto Raptors will acquire a second round pick in 2018 from the Orlando Magic as compensation for Jeff Weltman.

Weltman was hired by the Magic this week as president of basketball operations.

Orlando will send the Raptors the least favorable of two second round picks they control in 2018. The Magic have their own second round pick in 2018 along with the second round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers as part of the Dwight Howard trade.

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Tags: Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Danny Ainge Confirms Lonzo Ball Won't Work Out For Celtics

May 25, 2017 10:57 AM

Danny Ainge has confirmed that Lonzo Ball will not work out for the Boston Celtics despite the team owning the first overall pick.

With the Los Angeles Lakers selecting second overall, Ball hopes to be picked by his hometown team.

"We don't deal with [Ball's camp] all that much," said Ainge. "They didn't show up at the combine, which is very common -- many of the top 10 or 15 players don't show up for the [NBA's] combine. ... We just tried to get him in for a workout and they politely said no."

The Celtics are widely expected to select Markelle Fultz with the first overall pick if they keep it.

Toucher and Rich

Tags: Lonzo Ball, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Workouts

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Hamidou Diallo Withdraws From 2017 NBA Draft

May 25, 2017 10:51 AM

Hamidou Diallo has decided to withdraw from the 2017 NBA Draft and return to Kentucky.

Diallo graduated from high school and enrolled at Kentucky in January. Diallo didn't play in any games and redshirted the spring semester.

Diallo participated in the combine, posting the second highest vertical lead in history.

Several teams in twenties of the first round were serious about selecting Diallo but he didn't receive a guarantee high enough to stay in the draft.

"Just isn't enough of a body of work to make a commitment on him now," said one general manager high on Diallo.

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Tags: Hamidou Diallo, Kentucky Wildcats, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Withdrawals

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De'Aaron Fox: I Feel Like I'm The Best Player In This Draft

Adam Caparell/Complex

Isaiah Thomas Talks To Markelle Fultz About Playing Together With Celtics

Chris Forsberg/ESPN

Lonzo Ball May Only Work Out For Lakers

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Mavs Have Scouted Frank Ntilkina More Than Any Other Team

Chad Ford/ESPN

Markelle Fultz Considered 'Clear Choice' For Celtics If They Keep No. 1

Chad Ford/ESPN

Celtics Win 2017 Lottery, Lakers Pick 2nd, 76ers Get 3rd

RealGM Staff Report

Markelle Fultz, CAA Clients Won't Avoid Kings

James Ham/CSN Bay Area

Wiggins, Embiid, Booker Headline Lottery Participants

RealGM Staff Report

Draft Prospects Could Avoid Boston Workouts Due To Playing Time Concerns

Chad Ford/ESPN

Agents Continue To Push Draft Prospects Away From Kings

Chad Ford/ESPN

LaVar Ball Not Impacting Lakers, Suns' Draft Evaluation Of Lonzo Ball

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Harry Giles Could Go In 5-10 Range If Cleared During Medicals

Chad Ford/ESPN

Some Teams Now Ranking De'Aaron Fox Ahead Of Lonzo Ball

Chad Ford/ESPN

GM: Jordan Bell Will Earn His Way Onto NBA Roster

Chad Ford/ESPN

Frank Jackson To Remain In Draft

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Markelle Fultz Interviewing With Celtics, Lakers, 76ers, Kings, Knicks

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Knicks Targeting Frank Ntilikina, De'Aaron Fox, Malik Monk

Ian Begley/ESPN

Mark Cuban To Represent Mavericks At Lottery

Dwain Price/Star-Telegram

Joel Embiid To Represent 76ers At Lottery

Keith Pompey/Philadelphia Inquirer

Frank Vogel To Represent Magic At Lottery

Chris Haynes/ESPN