NBA Rumors: Latest Outlook on Draft-Day Buzz and Speculation
Rumors in the NBA are a year-round thing, but there's no bigger single day for player movement and front-office phone calls than the day of the draft. 2015 looks to be no exception.
Not lost in the chaos of trying to find the right player in the draft class is the impending roster shakeups that follow. Veteran players with sizable contracts often see a change of scenery with front offices trying to stay below the cap, and a toxic situation has one franchise centerpiece being shopped around in a deal that could impact the very top of the draft.
The draft is just hours away, which means the rumors have kicked into another gear on this draft day. Take a look below at some of the biggest draft-day talking points.
It's All About the Lakers
Their franchise is in turmoil, but the Los Angeles Lakers eye Thursday as the day that could begin to shape their future era. But it all depends on what they do—or don't do—over the coming hours.
The Lakers have looked at selecting one of the star-studded big men—Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor—ever since they nabbed the second overall pick in the draft. However, that's not what many in the Lakers organization are aspiring to do with the pick Thursday night.
Instead, Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell has wooed L.A., per Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding, while Okafor has tapered off: "It didn't help that, according to team sources, Okafor's second predraft workout with the Lakers was a distinct drop-off from the first—whereas Russell was channeling Stephen Curry's velvety stroke in his follow-up workout with the team."
That's not to say the Lakers aren't eyeing a big man. Towns would be a welcome commodity if the Timberwolves somehow didn't take him at No. 1 overall, but the selection between Russell and Okafor isn't nearly as simple, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported:
Of course, this is all assuming the Lakers choose to make their pick at No. 2. They could still entice Sacramento in a DeMarcus Cousins trade, but the asking price is catastrophic, as Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported the No. 2 pick along with Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson are all on the table for Cousins.
Although it would take mortgaging a ton of future commodities, Jimmy Spencer of Sporting News likes the fit between Cousins and Kobe Bryant:
Needless to say, the Lakers can go in a multitude of different directions Thursday. They can throw Russell or Okafor in along with a young core of Randle and Clarkson or mortgage off all of those prospects just for the chance to pair Cousins with Bryant in what's likely the Black Mamba's last go-around.
One thing is certain—L.A. will have much more going on roster-wise by the end of Thursday night, whether it comes in a trade or by picking prospects.
Grizzlies Up their Toughness; Shooting Next?
As if Memphis needed any more grittiness on its roster, the Grizzlies traded for arguably the grittiest player in the NBA early Thursday, as ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported they landed Matt Barnes, recently acquired by Charlotte in the Lance Stephenson trade.
But for a team that seemingly has the physical part down and struggles to score points, there's no doubting what is needed next. As Stein reported on Twitter Thursday, the Grizz have their eye on a veteran sharpshooter:
The Hornets landed veteran point guard Luke Ridnour in the deal, whom the Grizzlies recently acquired from the Magic only to ship him off a day later. While Ridnour might be waived by Charlotte, there's no such plan for Barnes in Memphis, per Wojnarowski:
If the Grizzlies aspire to make a move for Danilo Gallinari, they're going about it at the right time. The Nuggets just reportedly made Gallinari available in trade talks, as Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears reported Wednesday.
Perhaps it would take the Grizzlies' 25th pick in Thursday night's draft, but that would be a small price to pay for Gallinari—should he put his injury troubles in the past and stay on the court. Other than Courtney Lee and the occasional flurry from Jeff Green, the Grizzlies are short on perimeter shooters, and Gallinari could offer that while spacing the frontcourt.
Willie Cauley-Stein: Low, High or Somewhere in Between?
Not to be lost alongside potential No. 1 overall pick Towns while at Kentucky, Willie Cauley-Stein emerged as a stalwart defensive presence in his junior season with the Wildcats and is looking the part of an impact-wreaking athletic center.
He has his fair share of suitors in the lottery, but should they pass up on the newly named "Trill" Cauley-Stein, he could be doomed for a tumble down the draft board.
With the Kings mired in trade discussions for Cousins and sitting pretty with the sixth overall pick, they could be in the mood to move down should Cauley-Stein still be there at No. 6, per Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated:
With that in mind, ESPN.com's Chad Ford noted a more sobering potential reality for Cauley-Stein, should the Kings not opt to select him:
While No. 21 seems like a stretch considering mid-round picks could be had in trade scenarios, it's not the most welcoming news for a lottery hopeful.
The 7-footer's defensive ability, with incredibly long arms and a physical frame, is not easily questioned. But it remains to be seen how Cauley-Stein will hone an offensive game that remained raw at Kentucky despite playing for three years in John Calipari's system.
Either way, it promises to be a nerve-racking hour or two for Cauley-Stein as he finds out whether a lottery team will pick him up.
