Some very interesting comments from unnamed GM's. I personally and without following college ball at all, see a lot of stiffs that are going to be taken in the top ten. I was watching NBATV's 2 hour preview show and got a chance to look at some of the power forwards that are going to go in the first round. (I pray the pacers don't take one of those)
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft...ftnotes-080624
Heat president Pat Riley, assured Shawn Marion won't opt out of his contract, has explored draft deals.
It's looking clearer and clearer that the Bulls will be taking Derrick Rose with the No. 1 pick, so much of the attention in the draft is turning to the Miami Heat, who are slated to select second.
Michael Beasley is the obvious choice at No. 2, but the Heat's words and actions behind the scenes continue to point to a possible trade if Rose goes No. 1.
Sources said Heat president Pat Riley made a number of phone calls on Monday trying to gauge what was available to the Heat at No. 2 after finding out that Shawn Marion will not opt out of his contract.
One source told Insider that the Heat are revisiting trade talks with the Grizzlies. Insider reported several weeks ago that there was talk that Memphis would give up Mike Miller, Kyle Lowry and the No. 5 pick as part of a package for the No. 2 pick. The same source said the Heat are asking the Grizzlies to sweeten the deal by substituting Mike Conley for Lowry. The deal would be Conley and the No. 5 pick to Miami for the No. 2 pick and Daequan Cook.
That trade would land Riley the point guard he covets and still get him a high lottery pick in the draft. The Heat would likely choose between Kevin Love or Brook Lopez at No. 5.
While the price is high for the Grizzlies, they have great depth at the point guard position and could afford to lose Conley. Memphis' biggest need is at the power forward position, and Beasley appears to be a once-in-a-decade talent at the 4 -- a perfect fit for a young and upcoming Memphis team.
The Heat are also talking to the Timberwolves, Sonics and Clippers. The problem is the Wolves don't have much to offer. The Sonics can offer Chris Wilcox and the No. 4 for a deal that brings them the No. 2 and Mark Blount. That could save the Heat cap space. But it may not be enough.
The Clippers have a player that Riley covets deeply in Elton Brand. A deal that swaps Brand and the No. 7 pick for Marion and the No. 2 pick could be another alternative for Riley if he isn't comfortable with Beasley.
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Think you've got the Rose-Beasley debate figured out? One respected NBA general manager who's drafting in the second half of the first round said the Bulls and virtually everyone else is getting it wrong.
"Michael Beasley is far and away the best player in this draft," the GM said. "He's going to dominate in this league. How could you pass on him? I know everyone is talking about character this and character that, but come on, he's not a bad kid."
As for Rose, the GM says he thinks he's overrated: "Derrick Rose is a good player, I get that. But he's not a franchise player. I don't think people are getting with Rose what they think they're getting. He's athletic and plays really hard. But he has just decent court vision and can't take over a game offensively."
When asked about the Heat possibly passing on Beasley at No. 2, the GM said, "It's a joke. He's so much better than anything the Heat are going to get offered. I don't understand it."
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Westbrook
Some veteran GMs drafting later in the first round are scratching their heads at our last mock draft -- especially some of the high risers in the draft.
"Russell Westbrook is a role player who probably is a sixth man on a good team," one GM said. "How has he risen to a top-10 pick? I'd take Leandro Barbosa over him any day of the week. Westbrook is athletic, fast and plays defense, but a top-10 pick? I don't see it."
Here's another GM on Robin Lopez: "Can you name the last time a guy who averaged five rebounds per game in college was suddenly labeled a rebounder in the draft? Robin Lopez is a backup, not a lottery or mid-first-round pick."
Said another GM: "Name one international player who has made [it] in our league who's averaged five points per game or less in his home country. Alexis Ajinca is a workout wonder, but there is no precedent for a player with his poor production making it in the league. He's going in the lottery?"
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One potential deal that could have an interesting impact on both teams? Sounds like the Suns and Clippers are talking about a deal that would send the No. 7 pick and Corey Maggette to Phoenix for Barbosa and the No. 15 pick.
That deal only works if Maggette decides not to opt out of his contract this week. If he opts out, Maggette couldn't be signed-and-traded until mid-July.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Batum
It looks like French swingman Nicolas Batum is ready to hit the workout circuit again. Batum's agent, Bouna Ndiaye, told ESPN.com (and every team in the league) that Batum was cleared this morning by the respected Cleveland Clinic Heart and Vascular Institute.
As we reported late last week, Batum ran into some trouble during stress echo testing -- a treadmill test that measures the health of the heart -- in Toronto and New Jersey, raising fears that he may have a heart issue.
Ndiaye said teams will get a full medical report on Tuesday morning detailing his physical. If teams are satisfied with the results, it should put Batum (who slipped to No. 33 in our last mock draft) back into the first round.
He works out for the Spurs in San Antonio on Tuesday.
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The NBA released its Green Room invitations Monday. No huge surprises there. Sixteen players were invited. My advice is that three of them decline. Robin Lopez, Darrell Arthur and DeAndre Jordan are predicted to go anywhere from No. 12 to No. 28.
There's a very real chance that one of those guys sits in the room a long time before hearing his name called. My gut tells me Jordan is the most likely candidate to have a long night in the Green Room.
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft...ftnotes-080624
Heat president Pat Riley, assured Shawn Marion won't opt out of his contract, has explored draft deals.
It's looking clearer and clearer that the Bulls will be taking Derrick Rose with the No. 1 pick, so much of the attention in the draft is turning to the Miami Heat, who are slated to select second.
Michael Beasley is the obvious choice at No. 2, but the Heat's words and actions behind the scenes continue to point to a possible trade if Rose goes No. 1.
Sources said Heat president Pat Riley made a number of phone calls on Monday trying to gauge what was available to the Heat at No. 2 after finding out that Shawn Marion will not opt out of his contract.
One source told Insider that the Heat are revisiting trade talks with the Grizzlies. Insider reported several weeks ago that there was talk that Memphis would give up Mike Miller, Kyle Lowry and the No. 5 pick as part of a package for the No. 2 pick. The same source said the Heat are asking the Grizzlies to sweeten the deal by substituting Mike Conley for Lowry. The deal would be Conley and the No. 5 pick to Miami for the No. 2 pick and Daequan Cook.
That trade would land Riley the point guard he covets and still get him a high lottery pick in the draft. The Heat would likely choose between Kevin Love or Brook Lopez at No. 5.
While the price is high for the Grizzlies, they have great depth at the point guard position and could afford to lose Conley. Memphis' biggest need is at the power forward position, and Beasley appears to be a once-in-a-decade talent at the 4 -- a perfect fit for a young and upcoming Memphis team.
The Heat are also talking to the Timberwolves, Sonics and Clippers. The problem is the Wolves don't have much to offer. The Sonics can offer Chris Wilcox and the No. 4 for a deal that brings them the No. 2 and Mark Blount. That could save the Heat cap space. But it may not be enough.
The Clippers have a player that Riley covets deeply in Elton Brand. A deal that swaps Brand and the No. 7 pick for Marion and the No. 2 pick could be another alternative for Riley if he isn't comfortable with Beasley.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Think you've got the Rose-Beasley debate figured out? One respected NBA general manager who's drafting in the second half of the first round said the Bulls and virtually everyone else is getting it wrong.
"Michael Beasley is far and away the best player in this draft," the GM said. "He's going to dominate in this league. How could you pass on him? I know everyone is talking about character this and character that, but come on, he's not a bad kid."
As for Rose, the GM says he thinks he's overrated: "Derrick Rose is a good player, I get that. But he's not a franchise player. I don't think people are getting with Rose what they think they're getting. He's athletic and plays really hard. But he has just decent court vision and can't take over a game offensively."
When asked about the Heat possibly passing on Beasley at No. 2, the GM said, "It's a joke. He's so much better than anything the Heat are going to get offered. I don't understand it."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Westbrook
Some veteran GMs drafting later in the first round are scratching their heads at our last mock draft -- especially some of the high risers in the draft.
"Russell Westbrook is a role player who probably is a sixth man on a good team," one GM said. "How has he risen to a top-10 pick? I'd take Leandro Barbosa over him any day of the week. Westbrook is athletic, fast and plays defense, but a top-10 pick? I don't see it."
Here's another GM on Robin Lopez: "Can you name the last time a guy who averaged five rebounds per game in college was suddenly labeled a rebounder in the draft? Robin Lopez is a backup, not a lottery or mid-first-round pick."
Said another GM: "Name one international player who has made [it] in our league who's averaged five points per game or less in his home country. Alexis Ajinca is a workout wonder, but there is no precedent for a player with his poor production making it in the league. He's going in the lottery?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One potential deal that could have an interesting impact on both teams? Sounds like the Suns and Clippers are talking about a deal that would send the No. 7 pick and Corey Maggette to Phoenix for Barbosa and the No. 15 pick.
That deal only works if Maggette decides not to opt out of his contract this week. If he opts out, Maggette couldn't be signed-and-traded until mid-July.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Batum
It looks like French swingman Nicolas Batum is ready to hit the workout circuit again. Batum's agent, Bouna Ndiaye, told ESPN.com (and every team in the league) that Batum was cleared this morning by the respected Cleveland Clinic Heart and Vascular Institute.
As we reported late last week, Batum ran into some trouble during stress echo testing -- a treadmill test that measures the health of the heart -- in Toronto and New Jersey, raising fears that he may have a heart issue.
Ndiaye said teams will get a full medical report on Tuesday morning detailing his physical. If teams are satisfied with the results, it should put Batum (who slipped to No. 33 in our last mock draft) back into the first round.
He works out for the Spurs in San Antonio on Tuesday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The NBA released its Green Room invitations Monday. No huge surprises there. Sixteen players were invited. My advice is that three of them decline. Robin Lopez, Darrell Arthur and DeAndre Jordan are predicted to go anywhere from No. 12 to No. 28.
There's a very real chance that one of those guys sits in the room a long time before hearing his name called. My gut tells me Jordan is the most likely candidate to have a long night in the Green Room.
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.
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