NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding 1st Round of 2015 NBA Draft
At long last, the 2015 NBA draft is upon us.
With it, like a teenage love triangle (stay out of this, Phil Jackson—not that kind of triangle), comes all manner of gossip, rumors and buzz.
With teams from two of the league’s biggest markets—the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers—selecting in the top four, the grapevine has been especially juicy this year.
As the draft inches closer by the hour, let’s pick some of the juiciest rumors off the vine and give them a look.
The Zen Master Has His Three
As relayed by Ian Begley of ESPN.com, New York Knicks president Phil Jackson has narrowed his options for the fourth overall pick to three players.
Here’s what Begley transcribed from Jackson on MSG Network Wednesday night:
"We had our crack scouting and staff of guys put together a list (and) we had varied opinions. I think there were maybe about six guys for our particular pick that were chosen by them and I think we’ve narrowed it down to three. So we’re pretty content that we have a good idea of what’s going to come our way and what will be good.
"
It’s never that easy with the Knicks, though, is it? As Mike Posner croons on his new EP, “It’s not that simple type of misery.”
Misery indeed—Posner must be a Knicks fan.
According to his appearance on MSG (via Begley), Jackson is still toying with the idea of trading the pick, moving down a few spots and acquiring additional assets:
"We’re still listening to opportunities that might come our way. And drafts sometimes do that. They give you potential that you just can’t walk away from. You have to be open and ready for that. And we’re dealing with that and the information that’s coming out…. [Offers] have been enough to mostly say 'Hmm that’s nice and what else' then move on. But we’re still open.
"
If that were the case, Frank Kaminsky or Trey Lyles have to be options.
Who is Jackson’s Big Three? D'Angelo Russell, Jahlil Okafor and Kristaps Porzingis? Karl-Anthony Towns is all but certain to be off the board when the Knicks pick. What will PJax do if his three preferred players are no longer available?
It’s appropriate that the man with one of the most cryptic Twitter accounts on earth would tease fans with such a remark.
Have you ever been hit with this one? “I have to tell you something…Ah, never mind.”
It’s the kind of cliffhanger that would drive the most levelheaded person off the deep end. That’s pretty much what Jackson is doing to loyal followers of the Bockers.
Lakers to Sell Their Soul for Boogie?
What a wonderful time of the year. Happy Woj season, everyone.
Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, who is by far the deadliest offseason sleuth around the league, dropped one of his first “#WojBombs” of the summer when he reported that the Lakers and the Sacramento Kings “exchanged possible frameworks of a trade centered on All-Star DeMarcus Cousins on Wednesday, and discussions could intensify on Thursday.”
Woj went on to write that the Kings are looking to get Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, L.A.’s No. 2 pick and future draft assets in exchange for Boogie—a steep price, for sure.
In the wee hours on the morning of the draft, Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News shot off some interesting tweets:
Those came shortly after Medina posed this:
Clearly, there are more question marks in this deal than there are Nick Young contested jumpers in a game without Kobe Bryant.
It’s hard to get a good read on this whole would-be blockbuster. But on draft night, teams go wild and take risks. Don’t be surprised if Boogie is sporting purple and gold before the end of the night.
Sixers Leaning Toward No. 0 With No. 3
Finally, some common sense emanating from that organization in Pennsylvania.
According to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express, the Philadelphia 76ers are likely to take Russell with the No. 3 pick:
Back on April 27, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that a league executive pointed to D’Angelo Russell as Philly’s target.
“He's the guy they want,” the executive told Pompey. “That's the word around the league. You know the Sixers. They won't come out and say it, but he's the guy they want.”
So, after rumors surrounding Porzingis and various trades, the Sixers are right back where they were even before the lottery.
As much as general manager Sam Hinkie likes to defy conventional wisdom, taking the left-handed assassin from Ohio State is the right call. Even with Joel Embiid’s potentially disastrous injury, the Sixers are still paper-thin at guard and pretty stocked in the big-man department.
Taking D-Russ is the right move. It’s obvious, and it’s been reported by multiple outlets before the lottery, and now again hours before the draft,
But this is the Sixers we’re talking about.
Don’t you dare rule anything out when Hinkie and Co. are on the clock Thursday night.
