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Lots of NBA Draft news this week regarding trades and players who are hot and those that are not.
Phoenix Suns: The rumors surrounding the Suns are that they are high on UCLA Guard Russell Westbrook, however, it is possible that Westbrook could go as high as 7th to the Clippers, which means he's wouldn't be around when the Suns pick at # 15.
Here are some possible scenarios for the Suns, via ESPN's John Hollinger:
The Suns covet UCLA's Russell Westbrook, but they might need to trade up to get him. The Phoenix Suns have put Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw on the table in attempts to either move up in the draft or secure another veteran to play alongside Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal. "I think our needs are pretty clear," one Suns insider told ESPN.com. "We can't ask Grant Hill to play 40 minutes a night, and Barbosa isn't really a point guard." The Suns own the Atlanta Hawks' pick at No. 15, but the players they covet in the draft -- Russell Westbrook, Joe Alexander and Brandon Rush -- probably will be lottery picks. Small forwards on the market include Richard Jefferson of the New Jersey Nets, Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks, Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats and Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons. But there are stumbling blocks to each deal. The Mavs might not want to send Howard to a rival team. Detroit president Joe Dumars is probably not interested in Diaw. The Nets need contracts that expire by 2010. And it's unclear whether the Suns would be willing to take back Wallace's contract. (ESPN)
I think it's funny that the Suns are still trying to build around the defensively inept trio of Nash, Stoudemire, and Shaq. I don't really see how this team can win as long as they have Shaq and Amare playing defensively down low. Shaq isn't even close to the defender he used to be and Amare hasn't played good D since he came in the league. Throw in Steve Nash letting his man drive right past him to the hoop and this team doesn't have a chance in hell of making it out of the second round in the West. They'll be lucky to make it out of the first round at this point. The Spurs, Lakers, Hornets, and Jazz will still all be better than the Suns next year, unless their new head coach Terry Porter is some type of defensive genius.
Russell Westbrook: As we've just seen, the Suns are one team that is interested in Westbrook, but it seems like almost every team in the lottery from the 4th pick on has been named as possibly wanting him. This is definitely a good thing for Westbrook and he probably has some of the biggest potential of player in this draft, so it is no surprise that he is a hot commodity right now. He supposedly has a guarantee from someone in top middle part of the lottery but nobody is sure who that team is right now.
Here are some teams that have been linked to Westbrook:
The Knicks' Donnie Walsh would like to find a new home for Zach Randolph, but he has struggled to find takers. And New York would love to move up a spot or two in the draft to get O.J. Mayo or Jerryd Bayless. If it can't, much-desired Westbrook might be the target. Word of the Knicks' interest in Westbrook has generated phone calls from teams trying to get him. (ESPN)
We have, it appears, our first known promise of the draft. Multiple sources say that UCLA's Westbrook has shut down all workouts and has a promise in the mid-lottery range. Apparently the promise isn't coming from the Knicks. They like Westbrook at No. 6, but they're also looking at Mayo, Bayless, Alexander and Eric Gordon. The promise isn't coming from the Bucks or Pacers; neither team was able to get him in for a workout. That leaves the Clippers at No. 7 and the Bobcats at No. 9. As noted above, the Clippers are trying to move up to get Mayo, so I doubt it's them. That leaves the Bobcats as the most likely to have made a promise to Westbrook. One other possibility: The Seattle SuperSonics have taken a strong interest in Westbrook, according to sources. Although No. 4 is a little higher than expected for him to go, one source said it's possible that the Sonics will trade down a few spots and take Westbrook. (ESPN)
New Jersey Nets: The New Jersey Nets are all over the place in this draft. I have seen so many different rumors about what they plan to do that I have no idea what to believe.
Here are some of the rumors floating around about the Nets:
The Nets, I'm told, did not make a promise to draft Gallinari -- in part, that's because they might not keep the No. 10 pick. They are trying to find a deal that brings them a star in the draft and/or allows them to move Richard Jefferson to clear cap space for the summer of 2010. Right now, it looks as though the cap space solution is the more likely option for New Jersey. (ESPN)
Another player who could crash the lottery unexpectedly and even shockingly go just one spot below his twin brother is Stanford center Robin Lopez. Lopez reportedly canceled all his remaining workouts (with the Pacers, Kings, Sixers, and more) with a supposed “sprained ankle” after working out for the New Jersey Nets this past week. Although the tenth pick is widely believed to be Danilo Gallinari’s, no one would know better about where the Italian small forward will get drafted than his agent Arn Tellem, who also happens to represent the Lopez twins. Robin being promised to go tenth (a speculatory rumor that is definitely making the rounds) almost surely means that Gallinari is going sixth to the Knicks. The Nets can’t expect to wait and pick Lopez at #21, as there is very little chance he gets past Phoenix at 15, or at the very worst (if Donte Greene slips past Golden State), Toronto at 17, where he is extremely coveted. (Draft Express)
Yup, that's right, the Nets are looking at Robin Lopez with the 10th pick of the draft. This is either the definition of the word rumor or just a flat out bad pick. Lopez is basically an Anderson Varejao clone and has NO offensive game to speak of. I find it hard to believe he's one of the 10 best players in this draft. I have no problem with him being picked 15th or later but 10th? No way, if the Nets want Lopez that bad, then they should just trade back a few spots and pick something up for their pick as well. I have to believe that this is just a rumor and nothing more.
Michael Beasley: Numerous teams we spoke with today discussed the rumors of a potential draft-night trade that is making the rounds in NBA circles. Presuming that Derrick Rose goes #1, Miami would select Michael Beasley at #2 regardless, and wait to see if O.J. Mayo were to fall to the 5th overall pick. If that indeed was the case, Memphis would select him, and then trade him to Miami along with Mike Miller in exchange for Mark Blount and Beasley. (Draft Express)
Players Who Could Slip: Players that might find themselves being drafted a bit lower than they hoped include DeAndre Jordan, JaVale McGee, and possibly even Anthony Randolph. If Sacramento selects Darrell Arthur at #12 like many NBA sources we spoke with anticipate (this was his last workout stop before cancelling numerous workouts), then Randolph could be in for quite a tumble, as he would likely continue to slip past Portland at #13, Golden State at #14, Phoenix at #15, until reaching Philadelphia at #16. That’s about 10 spots lower than some mocks have him projected right now, but isn’t out of the question depending on how things play out next week. Randolph is not helping himself reportedly with the way he’s working out, being very average so far according to numerous people who’ve watched him, looking “laid back” or even “out of shape.” Compounding the problem is that he may have recently hurt his shoulder. (Draft Express)
Phoenix Suns: The rumors surrounding the Suns are that they are high on UCLA Guard Russell Westbrook, however, it is possible that Westbrook could go as high as 7th to the Clippers, which means he's wouldn't be around when the Suns pick at # 15.
Here are some possible scenarios for the Suns, via ESPN's John Hollinger:
The Suns covet UCLA's Russell Westbrook, but they might need to trade up to get him. The Phoenix Suns have put Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw on the table in attempts to either move up in the draft or secure another veteran to play alongside Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal. "I think our needs are pretty clear," one Suns insider told ESPN.com. "We can't ask Grant Hill to play 40 minutes a night, and Barbosa isn't really a point guard." The Suns own the Atlanta Hawks' pick at No. 15, but the players they covet in the draft -- Russell Westbrook, Joe Alexander and Brandon Rush -- probably will be lottery picks. Small forwards on the market include Richard Jefferson of the New Jersey Nets, Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks, Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats and Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons. But there are stumbling blocks to each deal. The Mavs might not want to send Howard to a rival team. Detroit president Joe Dumars is probably not interested in Diaw. The Nets need contracts that expire by 2010. And it's unclear whether the Suns would be willing to take back Wallace's contract. (ESPN)
I think it's funny that the Suns are still trying to build around the defensively inept trio of Nash, Stoudemire, and Shaq. I don't really see how this team can win as long as they have Shaq and Amare playing defensively down low. Shaq isn't even close to the defender he used to be and Amare hasn't played good D since he came in the league. Throw in Steve Nash letting his man drive right past him to the hoop and this team doesn't have a chance in hell of making it out of the second round in the West. They'll be lucky to make it out of the first round at this point. The Spurs, Lakers, Hornets, and Jazz will still all be better than the Suns next year, unless their new head coach Terry Porter is some type of defensive genius.
Russell Westbrook: As we've just seen, the Suns are one team that is interested in Westbrook, but it seems like almost every team in the lottery from the 4th pick on has been named as possibly wanting him. This is definitely a good thing for Westbrook and he probably has some of the biggest potential of player in this draft, so it is no surprise that he is a hot commodity right now. He supposedly has a guarantee from someone in top middle part of the lottery but nobody is sure who that team is right now.
Here are some teams that have been linked to Westbrook:
The Knicks' Donnie Walsh would like to find a new home for Zach Randolph, but he has struggled to find takers. And New York would love to move up a spot or two in the draft to get O.J. Mayo or Jerryd Bayless. If it can't, much-desired Westbrook might be the target. Word of the Knicks' interest in Westbrook has generated phone calls from teams trying to get him. (ESPN)
We have, it appears, our first known promise of the draft. Multiple sources say that UCLA's Westbrook has shut down all workouts and has a promise in the mid-lottery range. Apparently the promise isn't coming from the Knicks. They like Westbrook at No. 6, but they're also looking at Mayo, Bayless, Alexander and Eric Gordon. The promise isn't coming from the Bucks or Pacers; neither team was able to get him in for a workout. That leaves the Clippers at No. 7 and the Bobcats at No. 9. As noted above, the Clippers are trying to move up to get Mayo, so I doubt it's them. That leaves the Bobcats as the most likely to have made a promise to Westbrook. One other possibility: The Seattle SuperSonics have taken a strong interest in Westbrook, according to sources. Although No. 4 is a little higher than expected for him to go, one source said it's possible that the Sonics will trade down a few spots and take Westbrook. (ESPN)
New Jersey Nets: The New Jersey Nets are all over the place in this draft. I have seen so many different rumors about what they plan to do that I have no idea what to believe.
Here are some of the rumors floating around about the Nets:
The Nets, I'm told, did not make a promise to draft Gallinari -- in part, that's because they might not keep the No. 10 pick. They are trying to find a deal that brings them a star in the draft and/or allows them to move Richard Jefferson to clear cap space for the summer of 2010. Right now, it looks as though the cap space solution is the more likely option for New Jersey. (ESPN)
Another player who could crash the lottery unexpectedly and even shockingly go just one spot below his twin brother is Stanford center Robin Lopez. Lopez reportedly canceled all his remaining workouts (with the Pacers, Kings, Sixers, and more) with a supposed “sprained ankle” after working out for the New Jersey Nets this past week. Although the tenth pick is widely believed to be Danilo Gallinari’s, no one would know better about where the Italian small forward will get drafted than his agent Arn Tellem, who also happens to represent the Lopez twins. Robin being promised to go tenth (a speculatory rumor that is definitely making the rounds) almost surely means that Gallinari is going sixth to the Knicks. The Nets can’t expect to wait and pick Lopez at #21, as there is very little chance he gets past Phoenix at 15, or at the very worst (if Donte Greene slips past Golden State), Toronto at 17, where he is extremely coveted. (Draft Express)
Yup, that's right, the Nets are looking at Robin Lopez with the 10th pick of the draft. This is either the definition of the word rumor or just a flat out bad pick. Lopez is basically an Anderson Varejao clone and has NO offensive game to speak of. I find it hard to believe he's one of the 10 best players in this draft. I have no problem with him being picked 15th or later but 10th? No way, if the Nets want Lopez that bad, then they should just trade back a few spots and pick something up for their pick as well. I have to believe that this is just a rumor and nothing more.
Michael Beasley: Numerous teams we spoke with today discussed the rumors of a potential draft-night trade that is making the rounds in NBA circles. Presuming that Derrick Rose goes #1, Miami would select Michael Beasley at #2 regardless, and wait to see if O.J. Mayo were to fall to the 5th overall pick. If that indeed was the case, Memphis would select him, and then trade him to Miami along with Mike Miller in exchange for Mark Blount and Beasley. (Draft Express)
Players Who Could Slip: Players that might find themselves being drafted a bit lower than they hoped include DeAndre Jordan, JaVale McGee, and possibly even Anthony Randolph. If Sacramento selects Darrell Arthur at #12 like many NBA sources we spoke with anticipate (this was his last workout stop before cancelling numerous workouts), then Randolph could be in for quite a tumble, as he would likely continue to slip past Portland at #13, Golden State at #14, Phoenix at #15, until reaching Philadelphia at #16. That’s about 10 spots lower than some mocks have him projected right now, but isn’t out of the question depending on how things play out next week. Randolph is not helping himself reportedly with the way he’s working out, being very average so far according to numerous people who’ve watched him, looking “laid back” or even “out of shape.” Compounding the problem is that he may have recently hurt his shoulder. (Draft Express)
Other Rumors & Tidbits: Here's a few other rumors & tidbits that are minor but still worth noting:
- The hottest rumor of the day has the Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets talking about a swap that would send Kyle Lowry and the No. 28 pick to Denver for the No. 20 and Linas Kleiza. (ESPN)
- The Cleveland Cavaliers have been talking to a number of teams about Anderson Varejao. One possible destination for Varejao is the Golden State Warriors. According to a source familiar with the talks, the Cavs would send Varejao and the No. 19 pick to Golden State for Brandan Wright. The Warriors hold a $10 million trade exception that allows them to take back a lot more money than they send out in a trade. (ESPN)
- With the Lakers flaming out in the Finals, it didn't take long for speculation about Lamar Odom to begin. A number of teams covet Odom because of his expiring contract. I'd expect the Lakers to hear from the Nets (for Richard Jefferson), the Bulls (for Andres Nocioni), the Kings (for Ron Artest) and the Grizzlies (for Mike Miller). (ESPN)
- Shaun Livingston, who seriously injured his left knee 18 months ago, is back in action and even dunking the ball again. Good to see that Livingston is making progress and I hope he makes it all the way back.
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