NBA Rumors: Latest Rumblings Following 2016 Draft Lottery
From head coaches to high-profile prospects and risky trades, NBA rumors season has hit its peak.
Watching the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors duke it out in the playoffs is fun. The lottery itself provided a good time and a lesson as to why betting on tanking isn't such a good idea, not after the order landed exactly as the odds suggested.
But there's nothing more entertaining than the rumor mill, which provides a peek into what might just be impossible. Here, everyone is a contender with a shot at a big move.
Here's a look at the latest rumblings and what they could mean for the future of the Association.
Knicks Head Coach
The common thought, clearly now incorrect, was that New York Knicks president Phil Jackson would hire one of his guys like Kurt Rambis for new head coach and call it a day.
Then Jeff Hornacek's name popped up.
Conventional wisdom suggested Jackson was simply making the process look like a fair fight, a way to keep everyone pleased before getting what he wanted.
He did, but way out of left field, according to Bleacher Report's Howard Beck:
CBSSports.com's Ken Berger echoed the suggestion that the deal isn't complete just yet:
Hornacek taking the gig would very much be a surprise.
Not all surprises are bad, though the move is sure to get hit with plenty of scrutiny. Hornacek led the Phoenix Suns for a few years, at one point tallying 48 wins and landing behind Gregg Popovich in the Coach of the Year running in 2013.
There's much to sort out about Hornacek's arrival, should it go through. "Triangle" will likely be the buzzword, though it's also important to wonder how Hornacek wants to help the franchise get a few draft picks and whether his arrival entices or discourages potential big-name players on the open market this summer.
Regardless, Jackson and the Knicks just proved there is a plan in place, regardless of whether it's known to the public. All things have to do now is go official.
Jazz Dealing in the Lottery?
The Utah Jazz are one of those teams most just don't think about.
It's a comment made in the nicest way possible, but few were clamoring over the Jazz's lottery chances, and most probably couldn't name more than two players on the roster.
Still, Utah seems like a franchise ready to undergo some transformation and gain some relevance in the Western Conference, a budding notion confirmed by a rumor noted by ESPN.com's Zach Lowe:
"For the second straight year, rival execs expect Utah to quietly gauge the market for its lottery pick in search of veteran help at point guard or on the wing. And for the second straight year, Utah will have trouble finding a player under the right sort of contract, and in the right age range, to make a deal worthwhile.
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Utah holds the 12th pick, but it's not hard to see why the front office would want to pass on grabbing a developmental talent and waiting another year for an improvement.
The Jazz started Shelvin Mack at point last year but only got 28 games out of him alongside averages of 8.6 points and 3.6 assists. Rodney Hood was more encouraging at shooting guard after averaging 14.5 points, but more depth wouldn't be a bad thing.
It's hard to say if any team will have an interest in moving up to a rather iffy draft slot, but it only takes one front office to fall in love with a falling prospect such as, say, Thon Maker.
If the Jazz would rather bring on some proven talent to help along the roster's younger players, the best the team can hope for is some first-round chaos helping a few notable names take a fall.
Kris Dunn Avoiding Certain Teams?
Nobody could blame folks who wondered if one of Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram will find a way to slip past the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 1 and join the Los Angeles Lakers via the second pick.
Few have looked past such a scenario, though.
What about No. 3 with the Boston Celtics? According to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski, Providence point guard Kris Dunn and his representatives might try to avoid teams with a "young, established point guard." Wojnarowski mentioned withholding medical information as a way of keeping leverage over such teams.
Interesting, right? Boston just made the playoffs, but at the same time already has a crowded backcourt thanks to Marcus Smart and Isaiah Thomas. The Phoenix Suns at No. 4 got a mention as well, which again makes plenty of sense thanks to Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight and Devin Booker.
Dunn might be the best point guard in the draft, so teams he doesn't want to play for are missing out. He's 6'4" and 200 pounds with a spotty jumper, but otherwise he's an athletic freak and pro-ready force reminiscent of someone such as Rajon Rondo.
While a tad older after four years at Providence, Dunn just averaged 16.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game to flaunt his do-it-all abilities.
Maybe the drama at the top isn't what folks should watch during the draft. If Dunn takes a tumble simply because he wants to, a team without a notable starting point guard could get a major steal and impact the league standings more than any other selection.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
