The point guard parade
Saturday, June 20, 2009 | Print Entry
Posted by ESPN Insider
The Saturday news from around the NBA is highlighted by point guards, with news of who is visiting where (and not), creating some interesting possibilities as the days dwindle before the draft.
• Memphis G Tyreke Evans was among five point guards visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday and surprisingly, joined the other four in a group workout, telling the Pioneer Press that "I just wanted to let people know that I'm not running from nobody." Evans matched up against a group of Syracuse's Jonny Flynn, Brandon Jennings of Italy, UCLA's Jrue Holiday, North Carolina's Ty Lawson and Wake Forest's Jeff Teague.
• In New Jersey, after avoiding the Nets for weeks, Brandon Jennings is expected to join a group for a workout on Saturday. The Star-Ledger reports that the reason for the about-face is, as one scout said, that Jennings is "sliding like a five-year-old in the park." More evidence of a fall for Jennings comes from Phoenix, where the Arizona Republic reports that Jennings will work out for the Suns, who hold the 14th pick.
• The New York Knicks have narrowed their point guard list to three players, reports the New York Post, and is bringing UCLA's Jrue Holiday back for a second look. Holiday was outplayed by Stephen Curry in an earlier workout, warranting the second look. Also in the mix is Tyreke Evans, who, like Curry, could be selected before the Knicks pick at No. 8.
• One team that can't get a look at the top point guards is the Charlotte Bobcats, where the Charlotte Observer writes that all the top prospects have declined invitations because of the presence on the Bobcats' roster of Raymond Felton and D.J. Augustin.
More Draft News
• With the No. 16 and No. 26 picks in the first round, the Chicago Tribune reports that the Chicago Bulls are looking to trade up and have targeted the New Jersey Nets and the No. 11 pick as a likely target. The Bulls have been interested in Syracuse guard Jonny Flynn, Duke swingman Gerald Henderson and Wake Forest guard Jeff Teague and forward James Johnson.
• Arizona State's James Harden is still trying to recapture his conditioning after illness and an ankle injury, but the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reports that the Pac-10 Player of the Year is still very much in the mix at the top of the Draft.
• After four years at North Carolina, Tyler Hansbrough is a known commodity - but as the Indianapolis Star reports, the perceived lack of potential makes him a longshot for NBA general managers hunting for breakout superstars.
• Arizona's Jordan Hill worked out for the Milwaukee Bucks, who have the 10th overall pick, on Friday. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes that the 6-foot-10 Hill has already performed for Washington (fifth pick), Golden State (seventh) and the New York Knicks (eighth pick), and plans to work out for Memphis (second pick) -- and may not be around when the Bucks call a name. If Hill slides, the Racine Journal-Times' Gery Woelfel writes that Hill could bring back memories of Paul Pierce and Caron Butler.
• Also in Milwaukee, former Ohio State center B.J. Mullens tells the Journal-Sentinel that he expects to prove to all the naysayers that he made the right call in declaring early. The Bucks were the 11th team Mullens has worked out for, with more to come before next week's Draft, although the Philadelphia Daily News writes that the 76ers are just honoring a commitment in working out the former Buckeye and have no interest in picking him.
• With three second-round picks, the Detroit Free Press reports that the Pistons brought in an even dozen prospects, including Syracuse G Eric Devendorf and USC G Daniel Hackett, for a final look on Friday. General Manager Joe Dumars told NBA.com that he was down to four or five players for the first-round selection and that they expected at least one of the second-round picks to play overseas next season.
• Another team mining the second round is the Portland Trail Blazers and with four second-round picks, The Columbian looks at the Blazers' focus on finding the rare hidden gem from the later portions of Draft night.
• Louisville's Terrence Williams took his tour to the New Jersey Nets with the continuing goal of proving that he can shoot as well as leap. The Newark Star-Ledger reports that Nets GM Kiki Vandeweghe, for one, is convinced that Williams has that facet to his game.
• The Sacramento Kings have USC's DeMar DeRozan in town, and despite his low ranking from ESPN.com's John Hollinger, the Sacramento Bee says that DeRozan is aiming for a high pick. The Kings also had a scheduled workout with Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio cancelled as Rubio became ill, but hope to get him back in before the Draft for another look.
• The Denver Nuggets haven't made a draft pick since 2006 and with only a second-round pick this year, the Denver Post comments that its not clear that they will pick anyone this time around either.
• Local prospect Luke Nevill and Pittsburgh F Sam Young highlight a group workout for the Utah Jazz today, the Deseret News reports.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 | Print Entry
Posted by ESPN Insider
The Saturday news from around the NBA is highlighted by point guards, with news of who is visiting where (and not), creating some interesting possibilities as the days dwindle before the draft.
• Memphis G Tyreke Evans was among five point guards visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday and surprisingly, joined the other four in a group workout, telling the Pioneer Press that "I just wanted to let people know that I'm not running from nobody." Evans matched up against a group of Syracuse's Jonny Flynn, Brandon Jennings of Italy, UCLA's Jrue Holiday, North Carolina's Ty Lawson and Wake Forest's Jeff Teague.
• In New Jersey, after avoiding the Nets for weeks, Brandon Jennings is expected to join a group for a workout on Saturday. The Star-Ledger reports that the reason for the about-face is, as one scout said, that Jennings is "sliding like a five-year-old in the park." More evidence of a fall for Jennings comes from Phoenix, where the Arizona Republic reports that Jennings will work out for the Suns, who hold the 14th pick.
• The New York Knicks have narrowed their point guard list to three players, reports the New York Post, and is bringing UCLA's Jrue Holiday back for a second look. Holiday was outplayed by Stephen Curry in an earlier workout, warranting the second look. Also in the mix is Tyreke Evans, who, like Curry, could be selected before the Knicks pick at No. 8.
• One team that can't get a look at the top point guards is the Charlotte Bobcats, where the Charlotte Observer writes that all the top prospects have declined invitations because of the presence on the Bobcats' roster of Raymond Felton and D.J. Augustin.
More Draft News
• With the No. 16 and No. 26 picks in the first round, the Chicago Tribune reports that the Chicago Bulls are looking to trade up and have targeted the New Jersey Nets and the No. 11 pick as a likely target. The Bulls have been interested in Syracuse guard Jonny Flynn, Duke swingman Gerald Henderson and Wake Forest guard Jeff Teague and forward James Johnson.
• Arizona State's James Harden is still trying to recapture his conditioning after illness and an ankle injury, but the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reports that the Pac-10 Player of the Year is still very much in the mix at the top of the Draft.
• After four years at North Carolina, Tyler Hansbrough is a known commodity - but as the Indianapolis Star reports, the perceived lack of potential makes him a longshot for NBA general managers hunting for breakout superstars.
• Arizona's Jordan Hill worked out for the Milwaukee Bucks, who have the 10th overall pick, on Friday. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes that the 6-foot-10 Hill has already performed for Washington (fifth pick), Golden State (seventh) and the New York Knicks (eighth pick), and plans to work out for Memphis (second pick) -- and may not be around when the Bucks call a name. If Hill slides, the Racine Journal-Times' Gery Woelfel writes that Hill could bring back memories of Paul Pierce and Caron Butler.
• Also in Milwaukee, former Ohio State center B.J. Mullens tells the Journal-Sentinel that he expects to prove to all the naysayers that he made the right call in declaring early. The Bucks were the 11th team Mullens has worked out for, with more to come before next week's Draft, although the Philadelphia Daily News writes that the 76ers are just honoring a commitment in working out the former Buckeye and have no interest in picking him.
• With three second-round picks, the Detroit Free Press reports that the Pistons brought in an even dozen prospects, including Syracuse G Eric Devendorf and USC G Daniel Hackett, for a final look on Friday. General Manager Joe Dumars told NBA.com that he was down to four or five players for the first-round selection and that they expected at least one of the second-round picks to play overseas next season.
• Another team mining the second round is the Portland Trail Blazers and with four second-round picks, The Columbian looks at the Blazers' focus on finding the rare hidden gem from the later portions of Draft night.
• Louisville's Terrence Williams took his tour to the New Jersey Nets with the continuing goal of proving that he can shoot as well as leap. The Newark Star-Ledger reports that Nets GM Kiki Vandeweghe, for one, is convinced that Williams has that facet to his game.
• The Sacramento Kings have USC's DeMar DeRozan in town, and despite his low ranking from ESPN.com's John Hollinger, the Sacramento Bee says that DeRozan is aiming for a high pick. The Kings also had a scheduled workout with Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio cancelled as Rubio became ill, but hope to get him back in before the Draft for another look.
• The Denver Nuggets haven't made a draft pick since 2006 and with only a second-round pick this year, the Denver Post comments that its not clear that they will pick anyone this time around either.
• Local prospect Luke Nevill and Pittsburgh F Sam Young highlight a group workout for the Utah Jazz today, the Deseret News reports.
