March 2017 Basketball Wiretap

Mavs Willing To Take On Salary In Exchange For Draft Picks

Feb 20, 2017 11:58 PM

With the Dallas Mavericks finally taking a longer term view, they are willing to take on contracts before Thursday's deadline if draft compensation is attached.

The Mavericks have rebounded from their slow start to the season and are only three games out of the eighth seed despite being 12 games under .500.

Mark Cuban has been committed to staying as competitive as possible for as long as Dirk Nowitzki continues to play.

Marc Stein/ESPN

Tags: Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Teams Can Now Place Protections On Traded Picks

Feb 20, 2017 9:27 PM

The Boston Celtics can now place pick protections on the draft pick they're owed from the Brooklyn Nets, which is a new rule for the NBA.

While teams can place protections when trading their own picks, they were unable to place new protections when trading those along to other teams.

Boston, for example, could place a top-1 or top-2 protection on the Brooklyn pick in a trade to protect themselves with an alternative pick compensation.

The Celtics have been seeking a superstar via trade and have been reluctant to move any of their Brooklyn picks for anything less.

Zach Lowe/ESPN

Tags: Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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NBA Expects To Revisit Age Limit Talks With Union In Near Future

Feb 19, 2017 7:45 PM

Adam Silver talked about the possibility of the NBA and NBPA revisiting the current age limit for draft entry despite already completing a new collective bargaining agreement.

"First of all, we absolutely need the union to revisit the current age minimum of 19 years old," said Silver. "But something Michele (Roberts) and I discussed directly, and this is different than last time we negotiated a collective bargaining agreement, is rather than say to you 'talk to us in seven years when we sit back down to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement'. I think she and I both agree it is the kind of issue that needs to be studied in essence outside of the bright lights of collective bargaining. I think both of us, while our traditional positions have been: the league would like to raise the minimum age from 19 to 20, and at least Michele has stated her position is she would like to lower it from 19 to 18.

"I think there's an acknowledgement that the issue is far more complex than that," Silver continued. "It requires all the constituent groups to be at the table. We have to understand sort of where those players are coming from before they get, in the case of the lottery picks, before they get to that one year of college. How is the AAU system working in practice? How is the high school system (working)? What access do coaches have to them once they're in college under NCAA rules. There's the potential loss of eligibility if we have contact with them at a younger age.

"I think rather than standing here and saying 'the league's goal is to get from 19 to 20.' I think I have a better understanding of the issue now as well, as I talk to some of the young players who are coming into our league who have completed only a portion of their freshman year in college and have a better understanding of what the conditions are for them both academically and their basketball requirements.

"It's one of those issues that doesn't lend itself well to one of 50 issues we're trying to get through in a collective bargaining session, but again, I think both Michele and I agree that it's something we should turn back to right away, partly to have a better understanding."

In the 2005 CBA, the NBA and NBPA raised the age limit to eliminate high school players from the draft.

RealGM Staff Report

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

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Pacers Shopping 2017 First Round Pick Concerned About Window With Paul George

Feb 17, 2017 10:02 PM

The Indiana Pacers are shopping their 2017 first round pick in order to improve their roster immediately around Paul George.

The Pacers would like to acquire either an established wing or frontline player.

The draft is considered one of the strongest in recent memory.

Indiana also traded their first round pick last year to acquire Thaddeus Young.

With Paul George able to opt out of his contract in 2018, the Pacers have a small window to build a title-level supporting cast around him.

Chris Haynes/ESPN

Tags: Paul George, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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BPI: Lakers Have 44.4 Percent Chance Of Landing Top-3 Pick

Feb 7, 2017 12:59 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers have a 44.4 percent chance of landing a top-3 pick in the draft according to BPI, which would allow them to keep their pick this year.

The Lakers currently have the third worst record in the NBA but could soon be passed in the standings by the Phoenix Suns.

If the Lakers don't convey their pick to the Philadelphia 76ers this year, they also benefit by converting a first round pick owed to the Orlando Magic from the Dwight Howard trade into two second rounders.

Chad Ford/ESPN

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Luka Doncic Receiving Buzz To Go First Overall In 2018

Apr 8, 2017 2:48 AM

Luka Doncic of Real Madrid is receiving attention as a possible first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Doncic is 17 but already producing in the Euroleague. Doncic can play point guard, shooting guard and small forward at 6'8.

NBA personnel have already begun to make the trip to Europe to scout Doncic, who is one of their biggest prodigies since Ricky Rubio.

Michael Porter Jr. and DeAndre Ayton are also expected to compete for the first overall pick in 2018.

Jonathan Givony/The Vertical

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

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