Latest NBA Draft Rumors

I have been glued to the internet and television today trying to glean all the last-minute rumors concerning the 2012 NBA Draft. A lot of trade rumors are swirling about contenders trying to jump into the Lottery by trading either an expiring contract or an expendable player.

I'm sure a lot of the rumors going around are teams just trying to throw teams off their scent, but some are real. For example, I do believe the Memphis Grizzlies are trying to trade Zach Randolph for Pau Gasol or basically anything they can get for him. He has a lot of money coming to him and his knee doesn't look good. The Los Angeles Lakers immediately shot down the proposal, but are rumored to be shopping Gasol.

Here are the latest NBA rumors floating around about tonight's NBA Draft...

- The Golden State Warriors are interested in San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair. The Spurs need to open up a roster spot for Erazem Lorbek. The Warriors have four draft picks and the Spurs would probably use the picks received to select a "draft and stash" player.

- The Minnesota Timberwolves are offering last year's #2 overall pick Derrick Williams for a lottery pick (reported by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com).

- Kansas Jayhawks point guard Tyshawn Taylor could be selected #29 by the Chicago Bulls. Vin Parise of NBC Sports Network reported the Bulls intentions earlier today.

- The Cleveland Cavaliers could pick Turkish forward Furkan Aldemir with one of their early second-round picks. They own the #33 & #34 picks and will most likely use one of them on a "draft and stash" player.

- Oregon State guard Jared Cunningham could end up sneaking into the first-round tonight. He is an excellent defender and a team like the Miami Heat could use him.

- Kostas Papanikolaou's stock is rising and could find himself selected late in the first-round. He wouldn't be able to play until the 2013-14 season, since he wouldn't have a reasonable buyout until then. He is currently playing in Greece with Olympiakos.

- North Carolina center Tyler Zeller is #1 on the Milwaukee Bucks 'want list' tonight. They own the #14 pick and Zeller is expected to be drafted before #14. The other players on their 'want list' include UConn's Jeremy Lamb, Washington's Terrence Ross, Kentucky's Terrence Jones, and Meyers Leonard of Illinois.

- North Carolina forward John Henson is rumored to be going #9 to the Detroit Pistons. They would draft UConn's Andre Drummond ahead of Henson, but he is not expected to fall that far in the draft.

- If the Cavaliers are unable to trade the Charlotte Bobcats for the #2 overall pick to select Florida's Bradley Beal, they are expected to draft Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Syracuse's Dion Waiters.

- If Weber State's Damian Lillard is there at #6, the Portland Trailblazers may opt to pass over him and select a less risky player. He played at a small school and doesn't project to be a point guard in the NBA.

- If Thomas Robinson of Kansas is available at #5, the Sacramento Kings are set to take him. They are rumored to like him over UConn's Andre Drummond.

- The Houston Rockets are still trying to trade the Kings for the #5 pick and possibly Tyreke Evans, but there is no word if this is anything more than a rumor.

- The Cleveland Cavaliers are dangling Anderson Varejao out there to see if anyone offers something substantial.

- The Oklahoma City Thunder are NOT moving James Harden for the #2 overall pick. They do like Bradley Beal, but not that much.

Jerry Sloan Pulls Out of the Running for Bobcats Coaching Job

Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan told SI.com he pulled out the running for the Charlotte Bobcats head coaching job. He was believed to be one of the finalists to replace Paul Silas after he was let go in late April.

There are other coaching jobs that would be more attractive to Sloan. The Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic are both looking for coaches this off-season. Could he be the lead coaching candidate for either of the teams or does he just not want the headache of trying to coach a team with the least amount of talent in the league? I would assume that it is a little of both.

Charlotte has a few other coaching candidates. If they would have been able to hire Sloan, it would have been a mandate that the front office is doing everything they can to turn the franchise around. Since Sloan is out of the question, which two young coaches does Michael Jordan have his eye on?

Charlotte's open head coaching job will most likely be filled by someone without head coaching experience. The two lead candidates are Brian Shaw, who was an assistant under Phil Jackson with the Los Angeles Lakers and most recently the associate coach of the Indiana Pacers, and Quin Snyder, former University of Missouri Tigers coach and most recently an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Shaw missed out on the vacant Los Angeles Lakers coaching job last offseason when he was leapfrogged by Mike Brown. He licked his wounds and took an assistant job with Indiana last offseason. Indiana was one of the most improved teams in the NBA, further helping Shaw's coaching stock. He is also a candidate for the vacant coaching jobs in Portland and Orlando. He is rumored to prefer either of those jobs over Charlotte. His #1 destination would be Portland, even though he has ties to the Orlando area since he once played for the Magic.

The biggest surprise is the emergence of Quin Snyder as a coaching candidate. He has only been an assistant with the Lakers for one season, but Kobe Bryant has been outspoken about Snyder's coaching ability. Jordan is been rumored to be impressed that he has impressed Bryant so fast. Snyder has experience coaching at the NCAA level (Mizzou), NBA D-League (Austin Toros), and two seasons as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers and Lakers.

Shaw could be viewing the Charlotte job as a dead-end. If he doesn't get either the Portland or Orlando job, he has a lot going for him in Indiana. The Pacers will be good again next season and his name will be at the top of the list for coaching vacancies next offseason.

My educated guess is that Charlotte hires Snyder to be its next coach. He is young and energetic, which will keep the young talent from getting discouraged through the long rebuilding process the team will endure. It is the perfect job for a guy to cut his teeth coaching at the NBA level.

It is unknown if Charlotte plans to hire a new coach before the NBA Draft later this month. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Andre Drummond, and Thomas Robinson are the three favorites to be picked at #2 if the Bobcats keep the pick. Although, Charlotte doesn't see the value of picking either Kidd-Gilchrist, Drummond, or Robinson with the second pick. They could move the pick for a player and a mid-round first round pick and/or a 2012 first round pick.

Whomever is hired as Charlotte's next coach will be given a minimum of three years to improve the team. The organization realizes they have dug a pretty deep hole for themselves. There are no fast and easy fixes for the team, so expect the same from them in 2012-13.

2012 NBA Draft - Lottery Mock Draft

The New Orleans Hornets won the most important NBA Lottery since Lebron James was available. Anthony Davis was going #1 overall in the 2012 NBA Draft no matter which team won the lottery. He will direct the Honets in the right direction. They had the fourth best odds of winning the first pick.

I feel sorry for the Charlotte Bobcats, who had the best odds of wining the #1 pick. They had the worst winning percentage in NBA history and missed out on the biggest prize. They will still get a good player, but all their fans wanted Davis.

The order of the NBA Lottery is officially set in stone and the teams are looking towards to the future. Who will your team pick and how will that player improve their team? I breakdown the NBA Lottery and present you with my first 2012 NBA Lottery Mock Draft.

1. New Orleans Hornets - PF/C Anthony Davis (Kentucky)
This is the easiest pick to forecast in my mock draft. New Orleans won the Anthony Davis lottery. They will enjoy this more than a Mega Millions purse. The Hornets are a team that lack identity. They had to part ways with Chris Paul and David West because of salary cap issues and the team being owned by the NBA. Tom Benson stepped in and will be the future owner. Davis is the new face of the franchise and a new beginning for fans. He is the best low-post defender to come out of the draft in many years. He needs to add a lot of weight. A 220 lb. 6'10 power forward/center isn't going to be able to do everything that he wants.

2. Charlotte Bobcats - SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky)
I feel sorry for Charlotte fans. They have struggled over the last few years and their team lacks a star. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is the Bobcats star of the future. As soon as he puts on a Charlotte uniform, he will be the team's best player. He is a nice complement to Kemba Walker and Bimack Biyombo. He can defend well and out-hustle everyone on the court. He is a proven winner and will continue to improve.

3. Washington Wizards - PF Thomas Robinson (Kansas)
Washington fell a bit short and missed out on Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. MKG would have been a good fit on their team, but Thomas Robinson is more of a finished product. He can help the Wizards instantly and will be an impact player and starter in his first game. He will help in every facet of the game. John Wall will love having an inside scorer to feed all game.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers - SG Bradley Beal (Florida) (or Drummond if Beal is gone)
Cleveland was leapfrogged and fell to #4, but will still get their guy. Bradley Beal is the first tweener in the draft and fills a need for the Cavs. He is a prototypical shooting guard and has some ball handling skills if they wanted to pair him up with the second unit as point guard. He is only a year removed from high school, so he will need some molding to become a franchise player.

5. Sacramento Kings - C Andre Drummond (UConn)
The Kings have Demarcus Cousins, why would they need Drummond? Drummond is a true center and Cousins has the skills to better fit at power forward. He's a freak athlete with a 7-foot-5 inche wingspan. He is a shot blocker and can pass out of the post. If he hits his ceiling, he could be the steal of this NBAdraft.

6. Portland Trailblazers - SF Harrison Barnes (North Carolina)
Why didn't Harrison Barnes dominate in college? This is the question that every NBA team will ask themselves while evaluating him. He has a nice outside jumper and a high basketball IQ. He doesn't have the athletic ability that jumps off of the paper like most #6 picks and higher have. Portland can really improve their team in this draft with two lottery selections. They can afford to gamble a little by picking Barnes at #6.

7. Golden State Warriors - PF Perry Jones III (Baylor)
Perry Jones III is listed as a power forward, but he plays more like a guard. I would compare him to Lamar Odom, since he still has rebounding ability. He is very streaky and should have dominated in college. He is a guy that scouts have mixed feelings about. He disappears in games, but with the right coaching, he can get rid of those issues.

8. Toronto Raptors - SG Dion Waiters (Syracuse)
If a player is getting comparisons to Dwyane Wade and Tyreke Evans, he definitely has a shot at being a star in the NBA. He is an explosive scorer who is a bit undersized for his position (i.e. Wade & Evans). The Raptors are in need of a player like Waiters. They struggled to put points up on the scoreboard. He needs to improve his jumper...a recurring theme in this draft.

9. Detroit Pistons - C Tyler Zeller (North Carolina)
When he chose to play at North Carolina, Tyler Zeller was a lock to leave school after his freshman year. He had all of the accolades and talent, but he lost most of his freshman year to injury. He waited his turn and developed into a better player by staying in school. The Pistons need another big to put besideGreg Monroe. They have different styles and it would be a nice marriage in the paint.

10. New Orleans Hornets - PG Damian Lillard (Weber State)
A lottery pick from Weber State?! Don't let the small school throw you, Lillard has NBA talent. He can shoot from long-range and limits turnovers on the offensive end. The only knock on him would be that he is a tweener. The emergence of Russell Westbrook has definitely helped his stock. Every team is looking for his clone.

11. Portland Trailblazers - SG Jeremy Lamb (UConn) 
You first heard of Lamb last season when his UConn Huskies won the NCAA Tournament. He could have went out last year and been a higher pick in a much weaker draft. He is a talented two-guard that impresses with his defensive ability. He has a long wingspan and reminds me of a Tayshaun Prince coming out of college. Portland will always miss Brandon Roy, Lamb can help them move on.

12. Miluwakee Bucks - PF Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)
He's one of the best low-post scorers and rebounders in this draft. He is too small to play center (6'9) and plays low to the ground. He has a low center of gravity and can defend players taller than him. He struggled against Kansas in the NCAA Tournament. If he had a solid game, you would be picked higher in the draft. His talent ceiling is Charles Barkley to Anthony Mason and his basement is Sean May.

13. Phoenix Suns - SG Austin Rivers (Duke)
If high school players were still allowed to be eligible for the NBA Draft, Austin Rivers would have been the #1 overall pick last year. He will help the Suns get back to their old offensive ways. He is great at going to the hoop, but is very streaky. His free-throw shooting percentage is not where you would like it to be for his position. Rivers has all of the tools to be an star in the NBA, but he's very young and will need some molding.

14. Houston Rockets - PF Terrence Jones (Kentucky)

He is one of the most versatile players. He can help you in many ways around the court. He can rebound, block shots, and even has 3-point range. He is a player who has a position and could draw out defenses from the paint. He is another player that can disappear and have scouts scratching their heads. He would have been a top-3 pick in last year's NBA Draft.

Next 10 Best Players Available:
PG Kendall Marshall (North Carolina)
PF John Henson (North Carolina)
SF Terrence Ross (Washington)
SF Quincy Miller (Baylor)
SF Moe Harkless (St. John's)
PG Marquis Teague (Kentucky)
C Meyers Leonard (Illinois)
SG/SF C Evan Fournier (International)
PF Royce White (Iowa State)
C Fab Melo (Syracuse)

2012 NCAA Tourney - Midwest Region Picks

The Midwest region has some heavy hitters at the top and some mid-major powerhouses that are sprinkled in the middle. North Carolina and Kansas have been two of the top teams in the country and they have a shot at facing each other in the Elite Eight. Could a team like St. Mary's or Temple upset the top teams and destroy some brackets? A lot of question marks in this region and the games should be pretty entertaining.

#1 North Carolina (29-5) vs. #16 Lamar/Vermont - The play-in game between Lamar and Vermont will be won by the Lamar Cardinals. I like Lamar's Mike James and Devon Lamb against lower-level teams. Saying all of that, the Tar Heels will cruise into the second-round against either one of these teams. On paper, the Tar Heels might have the best talent in college basketball. The Tar Heels have looked bad in some games this season. The team with the best talent doesn't usually win the NCAA Tournament. There's some correlation between "on paper talent" & team-play that doesn't always go together. The Ta Heels could run into issues in the later rounds.


Play-In Game Winner: Lamar Cardinals

Predicted Winner: #1 North Carolina Tar Heels


#8 Creighton (28-5) vs. #9 Alabama (21-11) - Creighton was ranked for a good portion of the season, so having #8 seed is a tad low for them. The Bluejays have played some elite talent, but have a few bad losses earlier in the season. Alabama have played elite teams all season, but failed to win many of the games against the Top 25. I like Creighton's team lead by Doug McDermott, who averages 23.2 points per game. He is also the team leader in rebounds and Gregory Echenique is close to averaging a double-double. The Missouri Valley conference is one of the best mid-major conferences and I see Creighton advancing over Alabama.

Predicted Winner: #8 Creighton Bluejays


#5 Temple (24-7) vs. #12 California/South Florida - I like California in the play-in game against South Florida. Cal was favored to get a much higher seed before losing three games late in the season. I have liked Temple since they were one of "13 Possible Underdogs" before the tournament field was set. They have a very high RPI and have length in the backcourt, since three of their top guards are all at least 6'4. Unfortunately for Temple, Cal have tall guards as well. If those areas cancel each other out, I like the rest of the Golden Bears team. This game will be very close, but California will pull off the upset.

Play-In Game Winner - California Golden Bears

Predicted Winner - #12 California Golden Bears


#4 Michigan (24-9) vs. #13 Ohio (27-7) - As much as I want to hate Michigan, I can't do it, I have always liked John Beilein. He coached West Virginia with Mike Gansey and Kevin Pittsnogle, who are both in the "White Boy Hall of Fame." They went far into the NCAA Tournament that year, but this Michigan team is built very different. Beilein loves to play the 1-3-1, but he's still recruiting guys to play in that system. Michigan will beat an Ohio team that lack size and any wins that they can hang their hat on. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke will need to be consistent if they look to beat Cal or Temple in the second-round.

Predicted Winner - #4 Michigan Wolverines


#6 San Diego State (26-7) vs. #11 NC State (22-12) - The one glaring difference between San Diego State and N.C. State is that all of SDSU's losses came against elite talent. N.C. State have losses against Georgia Tech and Clemson on their resumé and couldn't beat any of the top teams in the ACC. I love San Diego State's backcourt of Jamaal Franklin and Chas Tapley. The Aztecs take a lot of 3-point shots, but make a lot of them per game. It is a risky way to play in the NCAA Tournament, but they seem to be a team that is made to play in that system. I like San Diego State to win easily against the Wolfpack.

Predicted Winner: #6 San Diego State Aztecs


#3 Georgetown (23-8) vs. #14 Belmont (27-7) - Belmont is a scrappy team with size, but Georgetown is a powerhouse with size. Belmont have played up the level of their competition in the NCAA Tournament and nearly beat Duke in 2008. I love Georgetown's big man duo of Hollis Thompson and Henry Sims. These guys can match up well against any other front-court in the country. The Hoyas have a shot at advancing deep into the tournament, but need maximum output from those guys.

Predicted Winner: #3 Georgetown Hoyas


#7 Saint Mary's (27-5) vs. #10 Purdue (21-12) - Robbie Hummel has been in college for a long time. Last season, he missed his chance of being on a special team. JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore are in the NBA and this year's Purdue roster doesn't hold up to the 2010-11 team. The St. May's Gaels are always an underrated team going into the NCAA Tournament. The only West Coast Conference team that the nation pays attention to is Gonzaga. St. Mary's have a strong program and a team filled with skilled players. Rob Jones is averaging a double-double and doesn't have trouble scoring. Purdue will have matchup problems with the Gales. This first-round game will officially be known as the end of Robbie Hummel's collegiate career.

Predicted Winner: #7 St. Mary's Gaels


#2 Kansas (27-6) vs. #15 Detroit (22-13) - Kansas is one of the most-talented teams in the nation and have top-notch talent. Thomas Robinson will be a lottery-pick in this year's NBA Draft and Tyshawn Taylor should have a nice NBA career too. I don't see them losing in the first-round and they should be there in the Elite Eight to face North Carolina. If you watch this game and it gets out of control early, keep the game on and watch Detroit's Ray McCallum Jr., he'll be in the NBA soon. Kansas played Duke and Kentucky early in the season, but lost both of those contests. They are a stronger team now and survived the top-heavy Big 12. I don't see any upset in their immediate future.

Predicted Winner: #2 Kansas Jayhawks

White Boy's 2012 NCAA Tournament Coverage
2012 NCAA Tournament: West Region Picks
2012 NCAA Tournament: South Region Picks
2012 NCAA Tournament: East Region Picks
2012 NCAA Tournament: 13 Possible Upsets


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