March 2017 Basketball Wiretap

NBA Execs Split On Michael Porter Jr., Luka Doncic As Top Prospect Of 2018

Jun 23, 2017 6:49 PM

Michael Porter Jr. and Luka Doncic are expected to be the top two picks of the 2018 NBA Draft.

Porter is an elite athlete at 6'10 with a tremendously fluid and polished set of offensive skills.

Doncic is one of the most highly regarded international prospects in basketball history who can shoot, make plays off the dribble and pass.

The league is essentially divided at this point between Porter and Doncic as the best prospect. Many observers believed Porter or Doncic would have been the top overall prospect if they were in the 2017 draft class over Markelle Fultz.

Chad Ford/ESPN

Tags: Michael Porter, Jr., Luka Doncic, Missouri Tigers, Real Madrid, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, International Teams

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Lakers Were Sold On Lonzo Ball After Private Workout, Meeting In Chino Hills

Jun 23, 2017 4:50 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers requested a second workout with Lonzo Ball at their practice facility, but agent Harrison Gaines insisted the team instead see a day in Ball's life.

During a four-hour meeting in Chino Hills, LaVar Ball, trainer Darren Moore, Gaines, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka all watched his training session which included running hills, weightlifting, on-court drills and then breakfast with the entire Ball family.

“I wanted to show I don’t hide from anything,” Lonzo told The Vertical. “I just wanted to show the type of person I am. I wanted to show them what I do every day. I don’t hide. The way it turned out, I was very happy with it.”

At 8 a.m., Lonzo started the first part of a full daily routine led by Moore and LaVar. Lonzo ran a mile and then sprinted up two different steep hills near his home eight times each. 

A weight-room session in the Ball family’s garage followed at 9:15 a.m., which included a discussion of basketball philosophy between Lonzo, Johnson and Pelinka.

Lonzo then had an on-court workout with Moore at 10:30 a.m at Chino Hills High School.

LaVar then prepared a meal for the meeting with Johnson and Pelinka at the Ball residence. 

Ball was sick during his first workout with the Lakers on June 7th, but believed his adrenaline would negate any weakness. 

Shams Charania/The Vertical

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

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Lakers Offered Unprotected Future First To Teams Willing To Take Deng Or Mozgov

Jun 23, 2017 4:14 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers offered an unprotected future first round pick to every team in the NBA with cap room in order to unload the contract of either Timofey Mozgov or Luol Deng.

Without any teams taking on one of those deals, the Lakers instead traded D'Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets with Mozgov for Brook Lopez and a late first rounder.

The Lakers signed Mozgov and Deng during the final offseason of the regime of Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss.

The Lakers are attempting to clear cap space to pursue the 2018 free agency class.

Zach Lowe/ESPN

Tags: Luol Deng, Timofey Mozgov, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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ESPN's 2017 NBA Draft Coverage Up 13 Percent From 2016

Jun 23, 2017 11:25 AM

The 2017 NBA Draft received a 2.7 metered market rating, which was up 13 percent from 2016. The rating matches the third highest rated draft ever on ESPN.

The draft featured big market franchises like the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics at the top of the board.

ESPN also had an average minute audience of 135,000 viewers streaming the coverage.

ESPN was also competing against multiple live streams such as The Vertical.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Bulls Sell No. 38 Pick To Warriors For $3.5M

Jun 22, 2017 11:41 PM

The Golden State Warriors bought the 38th overall pick from the Chicago Bulls for $3.5 million to select Jordan Bell out of Oregon.

On a day in which Jimmy Butler was traded by the Bulls, the franchise sold a draft pick they acquired in the Luol Deng trade in 2014. The move saved the Bulls more than $20 million in salary and luxury tax at the time.

Golden State bought a pick last year that they used on Patrick McCaw.

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Tags: Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Jazz Select Donovan Mitchell At No. 13, Trading Trey Lyles, No. 24 To Denver

Jun 22, 2017 8:58 PM

The Utah Jazz have traded Trey Lyles and the No. 24 overall pick to the Denver Nuggets for the No. 13 pick that they used on Donovan Mitchell.

Mitchell is a combo guard out of Louisville that plays well off the ball.

Lyles was a lottery pick in 2015 out of Kentucky.

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Tags: Donovan Mitchell, Trey Lyles, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Blazers Move Up To No. 10 With Kings To Select Zach Collins

Jun 22, 2017 8:34 PM

The Sacramento Kings have agreed to trade the No. 10 pick to the Portland Trail Blazers for selections No. 15 and No. 20.

The Blazers picked Zach Collins with the selection.

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Tags: Zach Collins, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Multiple Teams Interested In Trading Up For Josh Jackson

Jun 22, 2017 10:20 AM

As draft day begins, Josh Jackson appears to be the player multiple teams are interested in targeting.

Markelle Fultz will be picked No. 1 by the Philadelphia 76ers and it appears to be a formality that the Los Angeles Lakers select Lonzo Ball at No. 2, which means the draft will start with the Boston Celtics at No. 3.

Jackson hasn't worked out for the Celtics and there are reports he's concerned with going there due to their depth at his position and the possibility he would eventually be traded. The Celtics are believed to be considering Jackson and Jayson Tatum, but they also have interest in trading down.

"Tremendous appetite around the NBA to trade into the Top 4 to select Kansas' Josh Jackson," writes Adrian Wojnarowski.

The New York Knicks are one team considering trading into the top-4 with Jackson as their target, according to reports.

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Tags: Josh Jackson, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Clippers Intend To Buy 2nd Round Pick

Jun 21, 2017 11:39 PM

The Los Angeles Clippers don't own a single draft pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, but they plan on buying an early second round selection.

The Clippers are prepared to pay upwards of $2 million to get into the draft.

According to several NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, the Clippers have been calling teams who have second-round picks in the 35-50 range.

The Philadelphia 76ers own four second round picks, while the Boston Celtics own three. The Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz each own two first round picks, which could lead them to sell a second rounder.

Broderick Turner/Los Angeles Times

Tags: Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Knicks Would Like Top-4 Pick, Established Starter If They Trade Kristaps Porzingis

Jun 21, 2017 9:17 PM

The New York Knicks have put calls out regarding Kristaps Porzingis.

The Knicks are motivated to trade into the top-4 of the draft and Josh Jackson is believed to be their target. New York would also like an established starter.

The Knicks have attempted to frame it as though they are listening to offers for Porzingis, but they have also made calls.

The Knicks have yet to reach out to Porzingis to say they're not trading him.

It is believed that the Knicks' interest in trading Porzingis is coming strictly from Phil Jackson. Jackson reportedly has concerns about Porzingis' lack of compliance.

During an interview on MSG on Wednesday evening, Jackson spoke about his concerns with Porzingis.

"As much as we love this guy, we have to do what's best for the club," said Jackson.

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Tags: Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Mavs, Wolves Break Off Wesley Matthews For Ricky Rubio Talks

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Celtics Interested In Trading Down To Target Dennis Smith Jr.

Steve Bulpett/Boston Herald

Kings Declined Lakers' Offer Of No. 2 For Nos. 5, 10

David Aldridge/NBA.com

Celtics Leaning Towards Jayson Tatum As Josh Jackson Still Declines Workout Invite

Chad Ford/ESPN

Pacers Continue To Seek No. 2 Pick From Lakers For Paul George

Marc Stein/ESPN

Celtics Interested In Trading For Kristaps Porzingis

Stefan Bondy/New York Daily News

Lakers Offering D'Angelo Russell In Hopes Of Drafting Luke Kennard Or Zach Collins

Chad Ford/ESPN

Danny Ainge Thinks Celtics' Pick At No. 3 Likely To Have Been Their Pick At No. 1

Adam Himmelsbach/Boston Globe

76ers, Celtics Officially Announce Trade With Future Pick Protections

RealGM Staff Report

Lakers Seeking Additional First Round Pick

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Suns Discuss Moving Up In Draft With Lakers, Celtics

Chad Ford/ESPN

Lakers Moving Towards Picking Lonzo Ball At No. 2

Chad Ford/ESPN

Lakers Had Interest In Moving Up To No. 1 To Select Markelle Fultz

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Celtics Likely To Decide Between Jayson Tatum, Josh Jackson If They Keep No. 3

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Celtics Agree To Send No. 1 Pick To 76ers

David Aldridge/NBA.com

Joel Embiid Takes Selfie In Front Of Markelle Fultz's 76ers' Locker

RealGM Staff Report

76ers, Celtics Could Finalize Trade After Markelle Fultz Workout

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Dennis Smith Jr. To Work Out For Celtics

Ian Begley/ESPN

Celtics, 76ers May Not Agree Upon Trade Until Draft Night

Keith Pompey/Philadelphia Daily News

Markelle Fultz To Work Out For 76ers On Saturday

Mark Murphy/Boston Herald