With a modern practice facility set to open in Camden, New Jersey, and roughly $60 million in salary cap space, Philadelphia may no longer stand as the NBA’s version of Siberia to rookies and veterans.
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The Murray to Minnesota rumour gained even more steam as Kentucky coach John Calipari told reporters on a conference call that the Canadian hopes that he is drafted in Minnesota. There is a decent chance he may not be finished dealing. He is, however, allowing for the likelihood that there other teams will offer to trade up.
In short, we all love drama. The countdown to draft night in full swing.
“It will be very tough”, he said when asked about the spotlight already creeping over him.
Everyone expects the Sixers to take Simmons and there is little indication they will do anything else, but beyond that, no one knows what will happen, including perhaps general manager Bryan Colangelo. That could cause some draft night fireworks. The Michigan State standout explained that his agent had identified the Jazz as a potential landing spot.
The Sixers might not be done after their No. 1 pick. Last year’s No. 3 overall pick, center Jahlil Okafor, and the sixth pick from the 2013 draft, Nerlens Noel, both stand taller than 6 feet, 11 inches.
The Celtics reportedly looked into a handful of players including Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls, Utah’s Gordon Heyward, Jabari Parker and Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks but they were unable to pull of a deal.
“We would like to, and I’ve been pretty consistent that if it becomes available, we’ll certainly do that”, he said. “There are quite a few prospects. The challenge is dealing with more than usual”.
Simmons arrived at LSU as the seeming surefire first overall pick, a 6-foot-10 specimen with a point guard’s skills, heralded by some as the most physically advanced prospect since LeBron James or Kevin Durant.
“Barring a last-minute blockbuster trade offer, the Los Angeles Lakers intend to select Duke freshman Brandon Ingram with the second pick in the 2016 National Basketball Association draft on Thursday night, league sources told ESPN”.
Beyond those two, there are tiers, scouts say. Sooner than you think, which is why you need to learn to tell apart mock draft details from the real thing. I think he can defend. “There is a lot of talent there”.
Yet after an up-and-down season at LSU, Simmons arrived in NY on Wednesday with more scrutiny than usual for a player whose named is expected to be called first by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. The 76ers need a shooter in the wings and they already have fantastic potential in the front court in Okafor, Noel, Embiid and another big man in Croatian Dario Saric.
Melbourne guard Emmanuel Malou, who has been playing at a U.S. junior college and was expected to join division one side Iowa State, has opted to stay in the draft and miss college but he appears an outside chance to be picked.
The options, the possible twists and turns.
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The NBA Draft is on Friday morning [Melbourne time] with ESPN’s television coverage starting at 9am. Come Thursday night, the Jazz will add new players to their roster.
