April 2018 Basketball Wiretap

Mohamed Bamba Would Have Preferred Going Straight To NBA

Apr 27, 2018 10:12 AM

Mohamed Bamba says he would have preferred the opportunity to go directly from high school to the NBA Draft.

Bamba spent one season at Texas before declaring for the draft.

Bamba said that it would have "taken my game to the next level."

"But at the same time, I could have had a year of NBA development and had a year head start," Bamba said. "So, obviously, I would love to have that opportunity if it was there for me."

Bamba averaged 12.9 points and 10.5 rebounds while ranking second in the country at 3.7 blocks per game.

"I don't want to take away from anything from my time at Texas," he told ESPN host Rachel Nichols and analysts Byron Scott and Tracy McGrady. "I think it was actually pretty darn special. The relationships that I've built there, and the people that I've come across, I met some of my best friends in life at the University of Texas."

ESPN

Tags: Mohamed Bamba, Texas Longhorns, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA CBA

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LiAngelo Ball, LaMelo Ball Leave Lithuanian Team

Apr 25, 2018 8:17 PM

LiAngelo Ball and LaMelo Ball have ended their tenure in Lithuania playing for BC Vytautas citing injuries.

There are only two games remaining in the season, but head coach Virginijus Seskus said he was shocked at the departure.

"It's just another proof they came here to make a show, not for basketball. It's sad they didn't understand what we gave them. We understand how they helped us, but they don't," Seskus told Lithuanian outlet 15min.let.

LaVar Ball, the brothers' father, told 15min.let that LaMelo would not return to the team next season.

"You really ask me this? Coach ruined everything, and he'll have to pay the price that Melo is not coming back," he said.

LiAngelo Ball will work towards preparing for workouts for the 2018 NBA Draft.

Chris Haynes/ESPN

Tags: LiAngelo Ball, LaMelo Ball, Vytautas Prienu, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, International, NBA Draft General, International Teams

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NBA, NBPA Could End One-And-Done Rule For 2020 Draft

Apr 25, 2018 9:19 AM

The earliest the NBA will be able to change the one-and-done rule is for the 2020 NBA Draft.

The NBA and NBPA have held conversations centered on the elimination of the rule, which took effect for the 2006 NBA Draft.

Support has grown in recent years amongst many circles for the rule to be eliminated.

The growth of the G League over the past 10-plus years will help the NBA absorb more players.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, D-League, NBA Draft General, NBA CBA

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Rodions Kurucs Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 21, 2018 2:45 PM

Rodions Kurucs has declared for the 2018 NBA Draft.

Kurucs is a probable first round pick as a 6'10 combo forward.

Kurucs has received little playing time with Barcelona.

Kurucs entered the 2017 NBA draft against the wishes of Barcelona but was forced to withdraw at the deadline despite strong interest in the late first round, as his exorbitant buyout, which reportedly was around €4 million, would have made it difficult for him to have joined the NBA immediately. 

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Rodions Kurucs, Barca, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, International, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations, International Teams

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Luka Doncic Officially Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 21, 2018 1:41 PM

Luka Doncic has officially declared for the 2018 NBA Draft.

Doncic submitted his paperwork to formally enter his name.

Doncic is a candidate to go first overall in the draft.

Doncic is averaging 14.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists this season for Real Madrid.

Shams Charania/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Luka Doncic, Real Madrid, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, International, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations, International Teams

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Tyus Battle Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 20, 2018 1:31 PM

Tyus Battle has declared for the 2018 NBA Draft but he will not hire an agent.

Battle is a projected first round pick.

Battle averaged 19.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 38.9 minutes per game in his sophomore season at Syracuse.

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Tyus Battle, Syracuse Orange, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Zhaire Smith Hires Agent, Will Remain In 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 18, 2018 7:16 PM

Zhaire Smith has hired an agent and will remain in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Smith said he is signing with Roc Nation. 

Smith averaged 11.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in his lone season at Texas Tech.

Smith is a projected lottery pick.

Matthew Cardenas/Dallas Morning News

Tags: Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech Red Raiders, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Hamidou Diallo Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 16, 2018 5:28 PM

Hamidou Diallo has declared for the 2018 NBA Draft and will sign with an agent.

ESPN ranks Diallo as the No. 35 prospect in the 2018 draft class and projected him as an early-second-round pick in its most recent mock draft.

“A year ago I tested the waters to get some feedback and then make the best possible decision for my career," Diallo said. "I chose to come back and I’m so happy I did. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Nothing made me prouder than to put that Kentucky name across my chest.

"Coming back to school I knew wasn’t going to be easy Coach Cal told me it would be the hardest thing I would ever have to do and it was. But I grew up and became a man this year on and off the court. I know I’ve only scratched the surface with my game, but I’m now prepared to do it because of the work I’ve put in at Kentucky and the support of everyone at this university. With that said, I’m entering my name into the 2018 NBA Draft and am ready to take the next step.

"Thank you to the Big Blue Nation. You took in a kid from New York and made him once of your own. I love you guys and can’t thank you enough for believing in me and supporting me through everything."

Jon Hales/Louisville Courier Journal

Tags: Hamidou Diallo, Kentucky Wildcats, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Wendell Carter Jr. Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 16, 2018 12:32 PM

Wendell Carter Jr. will leave Duke to declare for the 2018 NBA Draft.

Carter needed more time to make his decision than most other projected lottery picks.

“I want to thank Duke University, my coaches and teammates for helping me so much, not only on the court, but off it as well,” Carter said in a statement on his Instagram account. "We’re all brothers, we all have each others’ backs. I’m really going to miss being around my friends, but I’m really going to cherish the moments we had together. I’m very excited and very happy to say I was part of something special here at Duke.”

Carter averaged 13.5 points per game and 9.1 rebounds this past season at Duke.

Steve Wiseman, Jonathan M. Alexander/News And Observer

Tags: Wendell Carter, Jr., Duke Blue Devils, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Moe Wagner Leaves Michigan For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 14, 2018 3:37 PM

Moe Wagner will forgo his final season in college and enter the 2018 NBA Draft.

"I've decided to sign with an agent and enter the 2018 NBA draft," Wagner wrote for The Players' Tribune.

He also wrote in his native German, "Alle träume klingen verrückt. Bis sie wahr warden." It's a saying he took from a Dirk Nowitzki poster, and in English it means, "All dreams are crazy. Until they come true."

Last year, NBA executives told Wagner he was a likely second-round pick who might even go undrafted.

Wagner could be picked late in the first round this year.

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Tags: Moe Wagner, Michigan Wolverines, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Ties Broken For 2018 NBA Draft Order

RealGM Staff Report

Dzanan Musa Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Wendell Carter Jr. Undecided About Declaring For NBA

Marc J. Spears/The Undefeated

Jalen Brunson Leaves Villanova For 2018 NBA Draft

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leaves Kentucky For 2018 NBA Draft

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Mikal Bridges Leaves Villanova For 2018 NBA Draft

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Khyri Thomas Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Luka Doncic Compares His Game To Ben Simmons

Mina Kimes/ESPN

Collin Sexton Leaves Alabama For 2018 NBA Draft

Alex Byington/Montgomery Advertiser

Gary Trent Jr. Leaves Duke For 2018 NBA Draft

Jonathan M. Alexander/News & Observer

Kevin Knox Leaves Kentucky For NBA Draft

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Vasilis Charalampopoulos Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Trevon Duval Leaves Duke For 2018 NBA Draft

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Troy Brown Leaves Oregon For 2018 NBA Draft

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Jaren Jackson Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Dan Murphy/ESPN

Jacob Evans Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Jonathan Givony/ESPN