The NBA Combine begins next week and is the official kickoff of the NBA Draft season. With prospects from all over the world arriving in Chicago to be measured, interviewed, and run through drills and scrimmages, there should be more movement coming on teams’ draft boards. As has been the case in the past few years, some top prospects will skip the combine. Of my Top 10 listed below, five are skipping the combine. Here is the full list of attendees: Historically, the team
With the NBA Playoffs in full swing, it’s time to start looking ahead to the NBA Draft. As the NBA Combine approaches and the memories of the NCAA Tournament fade, 60 players with contrasting resumes built all over the world will hope to have their names called and join the NBA. Unlike a year ago when the draft was top-heavy, featuring elite prospects such as Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and Joel Embiid, this year lacks the sizzling star power at the
11. Indiana Pacers – Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas Like many Jayhawks prospects, Oubre should be even better in an NBA system where he will have more scoring opportunities. As a rookie Oubre should be able to hit open jumpers, and if he develops his ball-handling skills to create his own scoring opportunities he could be very good. He averaged 9.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in just 21 minutes per game for Kansas, his best game coming when he got to the line
21. Dallas Mavericks – Jarell Martin, PF, LSU Martin is a prospect with great skills and can mix it up as a rebounder, however his combine measurements will go a long way toward determining how high he is drafted. The Tigers list him at 6-foot-10. Martin will be best suited to defend PFs in the NBA, but also has some versatility facing up to draw out defenders and help space the court. He was one of three Tigers who averaged almost 35 minutes per
CLEVELAND – All day, Clevelanders were jubilant and optimistic about the season opener at Quicken Loans Arena. After four long years, LeBron James’ return to the Cavs and his home region would take its next step. For many fans, the previous night’s Bulls blowout win was a sign that the Cavs would be able to show up and run the Knicks off the court. With a city in a 50-year championship drought, the Cavs are clearly enabled to end the streak. Championships
On the evening of July 8, 2010, Cleveland was a dark, somber place. Moments after ESPN aired ‘The Decision,” the city of Cleveland and Cavaliers fans reacted to what they felt was a betrayal by their native son. Images of LeBron James’ jersey burning were on a loop around the world. Then in the morning hours, a scathing email from Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert was released. At that time it seemed like the Cavs and their fans were a world apart from LeBron
It’s draft day, and the Cavaliers are on the clock. The Cavs have made it clear to teams that if they trade the No. 1 pick, they want proper compensation in terms of a lottery pick, or two, and a veteran player capable of helping next season. I am hearing that Philadelphia and Boston are still in the mix. This morning the Orlando Magic pulled the trigger on a deal that sent Aaron Afflalo to the Denver Nuggets for Evan Fournier
It what seems like a never-ending soap opera, the Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly split on Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker. As things stand, I get the sense that the Cavs prefer to trade the top overall pick in Thursday’s draft. And if they do, I expect Joel Embiid to be a very real possibility if the Cavs move down. The significance of LeBron James opting out is that it comes early enough that all teams looking to make a play for him