April 2011 Basketball Wiretap

Duke Documents Kyrie Irving's Rehab

Feb 28, 2011 2:51 PM

Duke released a video detailing Kyrie Irving’s rehab regimen.

There is no timetable for Irving's return, but Duke physical therapist Nick Potter says the healing process is going as quickly as could be expected.

"The overall progress is that he's doing fairly well," Potter said. "We knew from the beginning it's a long, gradual process. He's actually right where we expected him to be, if not maybe a step ahead.

"There's still a long way to go, but his body is responding as we hoped it would."

Jeff Eisenberg/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Kyrie Irving, Duke Blue Devils, Atlantic Coast Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Cavaliers Turn Optimistic Heading Into Draft Period With Extra Lottery Selection

Feb 26, 2011 9:56 PM

Byron Scott was very pleased with general manager Chris Grant's ability to acquire an unprotected lottery pick from the Clippers ahead of the deadline.

Scott went so far as to hug Grant.

"I told him he did an unbelievable job," Scott said.

The trade of Mo Williams and Jamario Moon for Baron Davis and the pick was Grant's first major move as general manager.

"I think he answered a whole lot of questions," Scott said. "We all felt he was definitely the right man for the job. The man knows what he's doing. He didn't panic. He wanted to stand pat and make sure we did the right thing."

"I feel great about our situation," Grant said. "We have the tools and resources to put ourselves in a position to do things the right way. From our standpoint, this is one of the best opportunities to be in."

The Cavaliers will also have their own draft pick, which is almost guaranteed to be a top-four selection.

"The draft is pretty important, I think, in all sports. It's not often you have a team that has multiple picks that are unprotected picks in the top 10 in the same year."

News-Herald

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Cavaliers Have Their Eyes On Kyrie Irving

Feb 25, 2011 4:15 PM

Sources have told Chad Ford that Duke freshman Kyrie Irving is now the No. 1 target for the Cavs.

Irving has missed the last 20 games with a right toe injury.

Chad Ford/ESPN.com

Tags: Kyrie Irving, Duke Blue Devils, Atlantic Coast Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Scout: 'Game Is Easy' For USC's Nikola Vucevic

Feb 25, 2011 10:30 AM

Nikola Vucevic scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead USC to a 65-57 win against 10th-ranked Arizona.

The performance had two rows of NBA scouts scribbling notes and nodding with approval.

"The game is easy for him," one scout told CBS Sports.

Vucevic is averaging 19.3 points and 10.9 rebounds in Pac-10 games while shooting 53.6 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from 3-point range. He's scored at least 25 points four different times.

Gary Parrish/CBSSports.com

Tags: Nikola Vucevic, Arizona Wildcats, USC Trojans, Pacific-12 Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Jordan Hamilton Excelling In Jazz-Style Pro Offense

Feb 24, 2011 6:42 PM

Texas coach Rick Barnes implemented Utah’s flex offense over the offseason, and perhaps no one has been benefited more than Jordan Hamilton.

Hamilton is averaging team highs in points (18.7) and rebounds (7.6), but more important, he is scoring in more varied ways than ever before.

From ESPN via Synergy Sports Technology, 20.5 percent of his Hamilton’s shots come off of screens or post-up moves, a 15.4 percent bump over the year prior, and he has improved his points per possession on nearly every type of play.

Ian Gordon/ESPN The Magazine

Tags: Jordan Hamilton, Texas Longhorns, Big 12 Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Kawhi Leonard Draws Comparison To Gerald Wallace

Feb 24, 2011 6:37 PM

Basketball analyst David Thorpe writes today that Kawhi Leonard has the tools to make the transition to the small forward position in the NBA.

Noting Leonard’s speed, length, and never-quit motor, Thorpe says Leonard will thrive in transition and off cuts to the rim.

Leonard leads the No. 6 ranked San Diego State Aztecs in points, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, steals and is second in assists.

ESPN.com

Tags: Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State Aztecs, Mountain West Conference, Horizon League, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Clippers, Cavs Execute Davis, Pick For Williams, Moon Trade

Feb 24, 2011 1:09 PM

The Clippers and Cavaliers have officially executed their Baron Davis for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon trade.

Cleveland will also receive the Clippers' 2011 first round pick without any slot protection.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Baron Davis, Mo Williams, Jamario Moon, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Official Trade, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Baylor Coach Scott Drew Looking To Get Perry Jones More Shots

Feb 24, 2011 10:29 AM

Perry Jones is a candidate for Big 12 Freshman of the Year and a sure-fire lottery pick should he decide to enter the draft, but his passivity has hampered his production.

“I haven’t been the type of player to just sit there and take shots when my team needed me to,” said Jones, who averaged 16.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.7 blocks as a high school senior. “I’ve always been a very passive player.”

Baylor Coach Scott Drew has been trying to change that, and there’s no doubt he’s made progress toward that end.

“Defenses have done a good job in adjusting to him and trying to limit him,” Drew said. “He’s also had an opportunity to now work on facing double-teams and different things like that, which he’s getting better at.”

Columbia Daily Tribune

Tags: Perry Jones, Baylor Bears, Butler Bulldogs, Horizon League, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Kerr: UA?s Williams Will Be 20-Point NBA Scorer

Feb 24, 2011 10:16 AM

Where does Arizona star Derrick Williams rank among pro prospects? Right at the top, according to Steve Kerr.

Kerr said Williams was "not on the Kobe level" but would be a 20-point average NBA player.

"He’s probably a top five pick looking at this year’s draft, and it’s tough to pass up that kind of money," Kerr said. "But every player has to develop his own desires and needs. If money is an issue then he should come out. On the other hand, Sean Elliott stayed and Michael Jordan stayed until his junior year. Very rarely does it happen where a guy that highly thought of actually drops down but what did happen in the past was guys got better by staying and they had better pro careers. That's something they don’t think about.

"The only question is what position he’ll play," Kerr said. "A lot of people say he’s got to learn the three (small forward). I disagree. There’s a lot of smaller guys playing the four and he's versatile enough to handle the ball. So if you play him at the four, he can cause problems for people and he's so good around the basket."

Arizona Daily Star

Tags: Derrick Williams, Arizona Wildcats, Pacific-12 Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Hofstra's Charles Jenkins Flying Under The Radar

Feb 23, 2011 7:16 PM

Charles Jenkins is one of the elite scorers in college basketball, but has received only a fraction of the attention devoted to Jimmer Fredette and Kemba Walker.

From Draft Express via Synergy Sports Technology, Jenkins ranks as the second most efficient isolation scorer in college basketball, converting on 50 percent of his isolation possessions. Jenkins also excels in pick-and-roll situations and as a spot-up shooter.

Jenkins currently trails only Kyrie Irving in both True Shooting Percentage, and Effective Field Goal Percentage

Joey Whelan/DraftExpress.com

Tags: Charles Jenkins, Hofstra Pride, Coastal Athletic Association, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Jordan Hamilton Best Player In Big 12?

Statesman.com

MSU?s Summers Struggling To Meet Expectations

Drew Sharp/Detroit Free Press

Sullinger?s Physical Tools Make Him Formidable Down Low

The Plain-Dealer

Self Wants Selby To Be More Aggressive

Kansas City Star

Efficiency Of Derrick Williams Keys Arizona?s Offense

Arizona Daily Star

Irving Has Cast Removed, Return Still In Question

USA Today

Perry Jones Goes For 19 And 7 In Loss At Oklahoma

RealGM Staff Report

Derrick Williams Trying To Play 'Underrated' Despite Climbing Draft Stock

Arizona Daily Wildcat

Leon Rose Client Barbee Expects NBA To Allow High School Players Back In Draft

Sporting News