NEW YORK — Twenty-four of the NBA Draft’s top prospects filed into the second-floor ballroom at the Lotte New York Palace on Tuesday afternoon, all hoping to hear their names called in the first round of Wednesday night’s event.
Alex Sarr, the 2.15m phenom who last played for Perth in the Australian NBL, has declined the offer AtlantaSarr made an effort to accommodate him for a workout, but told Yahoo Sports that wouldn’t deter him from reporting to the Hawks if he’s ultimately selected first overall. “I’ll play for any team that drafts me,” Sarr said Tuesday. “For me, the biggest thing is if a team is willing to take a chance on you, you just have to go out there and play hard. There’s no such thing as being difficult or not wanting to go somewhere.”
Washington, picking No. 2, was designated by league personnel as the preferred destination for the Sarr camp, as The Wizards The Red Sox are in the early stages of a long rebuild without a clear cornerstone for the franchise. “They’re a great organization,” Sarr said. “They’re a young team and I think they’re headed in the right direction.”
UConn Center Donovan Clingan He appears destined to be the next big player off the board, if not Atlanta’s first pick. Clingan has worked out for the Hawks and told reporters he sees the potential for strong pick-and-roll chemistry with Atlanta’s guards. The Hawks, of course, would have to engage rival teams on trade scenarios for both Trae Young And Dejounte Murray throughout this offseason. The Lakers, Pelicans and Spurs There are three destinations that could lure Young, league sources told Yahoo Sports, and lottery teams aren’t ruling out the possibility that the Spurs could engineer a move to the No. 1 spot, which could open the door for Atlanta to potentially select Clingan at No. 4.
The Spurs currently hold the fourth overall pick in addition to the No. 8 pick, and San Antonio was able to book Clingan for a Zoom meeting last weekend, sources said. With both Portland and Memphis is known to be interested in a trade and acquiring Clingan, according to league personnel, there is no shortage of NBA figures who believe San Antonio’s late interest in Clingan could simply be a ruse in an effort to entice another front office to move up and bring in the UConn center. The Spurs have focused on pinning him first Victor Wembanyama next to a powerful shooting center, like Zach Collinsand Clingan, for all his defensive qualities, is not really a proven long-distance player.
But after his interview with the Spurs, Clingan seemed intrigued by the option. “It was nice to get to know (San Antonio) a little bit better and show them who I am as a person and let them learn a little bit more about me,” Clingan said. “And I feel like the connection between me and Wemby could really work. I’m looking forward to tomorrow night.”
The general sense of uncertainty surrounding Wednesday night’s draft was palpable throughout the three sessions that scattered eight prospects around the ballroom. In the absence of a breakthrough prospect, NBA teams braced for all sorts of volatility and movement down the draft board, while players echoed that sentiment. “I have no idea where I’m going to go,” the Colorado forward said. Cody Williams“There’s going to be a lot of trades.” Williams said he’s worked out for every team that’s picked in the top 10. Ron Holland, a G League Ignite product, agreed. “There’s so much uncertainty,” said Holland, who has worked out for Atlanta, Charlotte, Portland, San Antonio, Chicago, Miami, Sacramento And Oklahoma City.
There has been a lot of buzz surrounding Providence guard Devin Carter, who could be selected by San Antonio at No. 8. Carter smiled as he imagined throwing lobs to a “big target” like Wembanyama. Carter has been one of the biggest prospects in this class. He has worked for Memphis — where his father, former NBA player Anthony Carter, is an assistant coach — Utah, Chicago, Miami and the Lakers in addition to San Antonio.
Nikola Topic, the 6-foot-1 Serbian point guard, has also been a name rival executives are considering for the Spurs. Topic said Wednesday he has visited San Antonio, Utah, Portland, Memphis and Houston as he nurses a partially torn ACL. When asked about his selection range, Topić also projected uncertainty. “I hope by 15th,” Topić said with a smile. “I hope by 20th.” League officials don’t expect him to fall that low and have pinned a possible backstop for Topić at No. 18. Orlandosince the Magic hired Topić’s father, Milenko Topić, a former Serbian head coach, to run the team last season, league sources said. The point guard confirmed as much to Yahoo Sports on Wednesday, saying, “He didn’t really enjoy coaching. This scouting job, he has a lot of fun traveling and watching players.”
Oklahoma City is currently ranked 12th with a ton of future first-round picks that could potentially move up in this draft. One name that has been mentioned repeatedly for the Thunder, if OKC sticks with it, is Pittsburgh point guard Bub Carrington. Carrington quickly rose up the rankings thanks to his dynamic play as a freshman for the Panthers. He even admitted that being invited to the green room, let alone being in this draft, was a pretty unexpected jump. “The plan was to stay at Pitt for two, three years,” Carrington said. In addition to OKC, Carrington revealed that he has worked out for San Antonio, Utah, Orlando and Miami.
Baylor Freshman Center Yves Missi is another young player who is on the verge of being selected in the top 20. Missi has been linked to the Lakers in recent days, and he told Yahoo Sports that Los Angeles was one of his first practices. “They’re looking for a big man that can sometimes play with AD and sometimes play without AD as a backup,” Missi said. The Baylor product also mentioned Philadelphia cream as another potential landing spot.
Ke’lel Ware, the Indiana sophomore, is right in the mix with Missi among that second group of big men behind Sarr and Clingan. Ware confirmed Tuesday that his pre-draft process consisted of workouts with 16 different teams. He continues to be mentioned by league personnel as a candidate for Toronto at no. 19.
Finding a Home for a USC Guard Isaiah CollierThe former top high school prospect in that class, was a little tougher than most of the green room guests. To his credit, Collier was relaxed at his podium, upbeat and hopeful for what might unfold Wednesday night.
“I still think I’m the best player in the draft,” Collier said. “I know what I’m capable of.” Collier cited Chicago, San Antonio and Miami as three potential destinations.
Draft Notes from Across the League
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Clevelandwho picked No. 20, is receiving numerous incoming calls from teams late in the first round regarding a move up, league sources say. From Houston picking No. 3 to Philadelphia picking No. 16 and on and on, many teams appear willing to wait to receive the best and final offers for their selection before moving forward on any trade scenario.
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As the Roe deer assess the commercial market for Brook LopezThey left rival teams with the impression that the No. 23 spot could be centered around a potential long-term replacement at center. Milwaukee tried to bring the big man from Dayton DaRon Holmes I’m ready for a workout, sources said. Holmes declined the invitation, but not because of a widely whispered promise with Denver at No. 28, according to league sources. While Holmes has effectively closed his workout program — prompting teams to suspect promise somewhere in the late first round — and Holmes could certainly be an option for the Nuggets At that point, there was no guarantee Denver would select him, sources said. Holmes drew interest from enough teams to earn an invite to the green room. He was also put in touch with Sacramento by league personnel.
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If Memphis ultimately decides to move down from No. 9, Miami, at No. 15, has been considered a possible move-up team mentioned by NBA figures.
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There continues to be buzz about Dallas League officials believe the Mavericks have a deal on the table, but one that would still recoup the salary. Dallas must shed Hardaway’s $16.2 million cap for the 2024-25 season in order to pay the star forward. Derrick Jones Jr. above the taxpayer’s $5.2 million mid-level exception. If Dallas trades Hardaway and still can’t reach an agreement with Jones on a return after his starting role in the NBA Finals, the Pelicans forward Naji Marshall should attract interest from the Mavericks, sources said, and the Pistons.
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Team officials continue to talk about Sacramento’s efforts to trade for veteran help with the No. 13 pick and a combination of Kevin Huerter And Harrison Barnesbut there have been no credible rumors yet of major deals involving the Hawks’ All-Star guard or the Pelicans’ All-Star forward. Brandon Ingramor any other actor of this magnitude.
