Less than two weeks until the 2014 NBA Draft, and now the pecking order is taking shape. Teams are conducting pre-draft workouts, but no visit was more important than Joel Embiid’s to Cleveland on Wednesday. While the Cavs have had Embiid on top of their board, their were concerns over his back, and Cleveland insisted they would conduct their own medical exams to ensure Embiid is worthy of being the top choice. According to my sources, the Cavs came away comfortable with
We are just over three weeks away from the 2014 NBA Draft, and now that the order is set, it’s time for pre-draft workouts. Now is the time when prospects can distinguish themselves and improve their stock like Elfrid Payton and Zach LaVine have done. On the other hand, players such as Laquinton Ross and Kyle Anderson have failed to impress scouts. According to sources, Cleveland has locked in on Kansas center Joel Embiid, and barring an unexpected surprise medically, will tab him
As we get closer to the NBA Draft with its four-headed monster at the top (one head is an Aussie, mate!), the headaches GMs are having makes for a sugar rush for the rest of us. Here is a look at the three prospects coming from UCLA who will challenge the NBA’s general managers and scouts in very different ways. [Read more…]
Who are this year’s international men of mystery whose names will be called at the 2014 NBA draft? We already have looked at Dante Exum, who is a near lock for the top five, as well as Dario Saric and Jusuf Nurkic, a pair of bigs playing in Croatia who could be in the lottery. However, this international class goes a bit deeper, with a few established players who can play right away, plus the usual draft-and-stash candidates who could come to the league after a few years of
We can be fairly certain that Dario Saric and Jusuf Nurkic did not watch the Cleveland Cavaliers win the draft lottery. Yes, they have a vested interest in knowing who is picking where. But business comes first, and both players were sound asleep, resting up for the final round of the Croatian League before their domestic Final Four. The 6-10 Saric, a 20-year-old forward for Cibona Zagreb, has been having fantastic season, averaging 16.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists in the Adriatic League,
With the lottery over and the Sacramento Kings picking eighth in June’s draft, now the real hard work begins for Kings general manager Pete D’Alessandro and his staff. D’Alessandro and the Kings are one of the more open-minded, data driven front offices in the league, and the team appears willing to explore all possible options and avenues with their first-round selection. “Now you could start making all the calls to your counterparts and say, ‘How flexible are you with your pick?’ Are
The 2014 NBA draft lottery came and went Tuesday night, and now that teams are on the clock, there is more clarity as to the draft order. In what seems like a scene from Groundhog Day, the Cleveland Cavaliers emerged as the winner for the second straight year. And they even won without human good luck charm Nick Gilbert on hand as the Cavs were represented by new GM David Griffin. In the last four years, the Cavs have won the top overall
NEW YORK – There were simultaneous senses of shock, joy, exuberance and disgust Tuesday night at Times Square Studios in Manhattan where the Cleveland Cavaliers drew the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft Lottery for the second straight year and the third time in four years. Cleveland had the ninth best odds to claim the top pick and, percentages be damned, landed numero uno again. “It was incredible,” said Cavs general manager David Griffin. “When Cleveland didn’t pop up at nine,