Sifting through NBA draft rumors | Bob Cooney
Will the top three picks go as expected on Thursday? It's getting hard to say.
And the rumors surrounding Thursday's NBA draft keep swirling like the winds before a summer thunderstorm.
For weeks, it appeared the first two picks were a given, with Washington's Markelle Fultz getting plucked by Boston at No. 1, followed by UCLA's Lonzo Ball staying home with the Lakers' No. 2 pick.
Like thunder after the lightning, rumored draft-pick selections are just as predictable, especially as the time for picking draws closer.
Let's start with the Celtics and what might happen with them at No. 1. The belief here is that they will do what many have thought since May 16, the day of the draft lottery, and stay there to draft Fultz. But now there are rumors that Kansas swingman Josh Jackson might be on their radar because he is a better fit for a lineup that just made it to the Eastern Conference finals this past season. Or could they possibly be looking to trade out of that spot to garner more assets (something Philadelphia is so accustomed to)?
A few months ago, the Lakers handed the keys of the organization to one of their all-time greats, Magic Johnson, when they named him president of basketball operations. Many viewed it as somewhat of an easy transaction for Johnson, with a lot of untapped talent already on the roster and a local hero in Ball just waiting to be groomed as the next star of Showtime 2.
Perhaps that will happen. But there is that feeling that Johnson has never been one to conform to popular belief. Remember, he was the first player at 6-foot-9 to be a true point guard, to pass the basketball with the flamboyant nature that he did. As an entrepreneur, he's made millions upon millions of dollars by building businesses in urban areas where few had the guts to do so. It makes you seriously wonder if he'll go with Ball.
According to ESPN, Ball will work out for a second time with the Lakers soon somewhere in Los Angeles. He will not speak or work out with Boston, the report says, but will consider talking with other lottery teams that have requested to do so, the report said. His dad, LaVar, is expected to attend.
While Fultz to the Celtics hasn't been speculated about much, there are now rumblings that Danny Ainge and company might be looking elsewhere, perhaps toward grabbing Jackson with the top pick. Also, there was a report from the Los Angeles Times that, according to NBA executives, the Celtics would make a bid for Clippers free agent Blake Griffin, which would cost them $130 million over four years.
Meanwhile, the Sixers worked out Kentucky shooting guard Malik Monk on Thursday, raising speculation that they would want to trade back to get more assets and select Monk with a later pick. Popular speculation has the Sixers trading with Sacramento, giving up the third pick for the Kings’ fifth and 10th selections. That might be a good move for the Sixers, but not so much for the Kings (although their making a bad move is pretty much their M.O.). The Kings, after trading DeMarcus Cousins in midseason, are pretty much in total rebuild. Would they seriously entertain giving up two picks in the top 10 of a very good draft for the right to take a player at three (whoever it might be) who most don’t think would be an organization-changing player? If they have any common sense, that answer would be no. Again, though, we are talking about the Kings.
Stay tuned.
