Official Draft Combine and Workout Thread

[SJackson1]

Charlotte is a good team to join next season becasue of the new coach and MJ. whoever we get has the chance to be the main man in our roster

[dav7z]

Hope the Hornets feel the same way and a path to AD is opened up. Got a feeling in my gut we make a trade on draft night and we get our prize and they swing for the fences and take DRUMMOND.

[superb1]

here is the whole article for those without insider. it is lengthy and nothing too shocking

NEW YORK -- With the NBA draft order finally set and a definitive home in New Orleans for Anthony Davis, the Charlotte Bobcats are on the clock at pick No. 2.

Over the past few weeks I've been speaking with scouts, executives, agents and even a few NBA owners, trying to get a feel for what happens after Davis shakes David Stern's hand.

We have our Mock Draft 5.0 based on our best intel at the moment.

But teams are still weeks away from making their final decisions on whom they'll draft. Here are a few other things to consider:

• The Bobcats will likely decide between Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Kansas' Thomas Robinson at No. 2. Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond and Harrison Barnes are all in the mix there, but it seems as if Kidd-Gilchrist and Robinson are the two top guys on the board.

Another option might be for the Bobcats to go ahead and trade the pick in an effort to get more assets. The No. 2 pick, whichever player it is, isn't going to turn around the franchise next season. What the Bobcats need is depth.


Two teams to look at are Cleveland and Portland. Both would love to move up to the No. 2 pick. The Cavs would love to get their hands on Kidd-Gilchrist or Beal. The Blazers are also high on Beal.

If the Cavs offered the No. 4 and No. 24 picks, would that be enough for the Bobcats to pull the trigger? If Robinson is their target, yes. If Kidd-Gilchrist is? He's probably not on the board at No. 4.

The Blazers have the sixth and 11th picks. That's a steep price to pay to move up four spots in the draft, but if they're convinced that they don't love a player at No. 6, it might be worth it to them.

• The Wizards like where they are in the draft. They've been debating between Kidd-Gilchrist and Beal for months. If one of them is off the board, they'll be happy with the other.

• The Cavaliers were really hoping to get either Kidd-Gilchrist or Beal from this draft. Given our current mock, both players are off the board. We currently have the Cavs grabbing Barnes at No. 4. The Cavs had actually been hoping that Barnes would be in the draft last year and sources say they would have grabbed him at No. 4. Do they still love him after a disappointing sophomore season? Are they willing to roll the dice on Drummond instead? I hear Jeremy Lamb isn't out of the question here either.

• If the Kings can land Thomas Robinson at No. 5, I bet they keep their pick. He'd be a nice addition to their team and fits a need. Barnes and Drummond might also be fits. But the Kings are another team that I could see shopping their pick. They are loaded with young players who can score, but what they really need is veteran help.

It's tough to predict what the Blazers are going to do when they don't have a GM or a coach. Team president Larry Miller has been promising that they are nearing the end of the search, so we might have a better feel soon.
The Blazers have two untouchable players right now in LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum. They could use help everywhere else. It will be very interesting to see if they roll the dice on Drummond if he slides this far. The upside, at No. 6, may be too much to pass up.

But I also wouldn't be shocked to see the Blazers trade one or both picks if they can land a young point guard in return. This draft is weak on point guards and although many teams, including the Blazers, like Damian Lillard, the sixth pick may be a little high for him.

The Clippers' Eric Bledsoe, the Pacers' Darren Collison and the Rockets' Kyle Lowry are possibilities.

• The Warriors have a history of taking long, athletic players who are more about upside than production. I don't see that happening this year -- not under the new ownership and new front office.

If the top six players on our Big Board are off the board on draft day, I see the Warriors focusing on more established players. I put Ohio State's Jared Sullinger at No. 7 in the mock, and he could be the choice. The Warriors like him. But the more I sift through the information I'm receiving, the more I think we might see Kentucky's Terrence Jones here. Not every team is convinced he's a 3, but if the Warriors think he can play that position, I could see them pulling the trigger. There's lots of upside there if you can overlook the poor body language and inconsistency. We have Jones sliding to No. 16 in our latest mock. That's probably his floor. I think No. 7 may be his ceiling.

One other name to discuss in Golden State is Iowa State's Royce White. The Warriors love him. However, he canceled his workout with the team because of an injury. The suspicion is that he's still dealing with some anxiety issues over travel. If he can overcome that and prove to NBA teams that he can get on a plane and go anywhere on a moment's notice, my guess is he skyrockets up the draft board and could be in play as high as No. 7.

• The Raptors expect to have big man Jonas Valanciunas with the team this season. If he were in this draft, I think he would've been the No. 2 overall pick. At No. 8, look for them to add a player to their backcourt who can go out and get his own shot. They've been looking hard at Syracuse's Dion Waiters, Washington's Terrence Ross, Lamb and Lillard. The sleeper pick for them might be St. John's freshman Moe Harkless. Sources say he is in the mix at No. 8.

• I don't know what the Pistons are going to do at No. 9. If the draft goes to form, there isn't a perfect fit for what they need. We've had UNC's John Henson there the past few weeks because he's long and blocks shots, but no one's a perfect fit.

• We'll wrap up at the No. 10 spot, where all signals point toward the Hornets grabbing either Lillard, UNC's Kendall Marshall or perhaps Waiters to throw lobs Anthony Davis' way all day. Of the three, I'm hearing Lillard may be in the lead right now.

• NBA agents are becoming less concerned with how high their clients are drafted and much more concerned about fit and franchise stability. Two teams in particular may have a tough time bringing in top talent before the draft. GMs see Cleveland, Washington, Portland and Golden State as preferable destinations at the top of the draft. They are scared to death of Charlotte and Sacramento right now.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Bobcats and Kings struggle to get every player they want to work out into their gyms.

[ncstamey]

thanks for posting @superb1

[skratch]

If i was draft prospect i wouldnt care im bout to be guaranteed millions, whats wrong with SAC though? they look very promising

[Black]

If i was draft prospect i wouldnt care im bout to be guaranteed millions, whats wrong with SAC though? they look very promising

Questions surrounding the front office. They want a new arena, threats of relocation etc. It all falls under the heading of "stability".

[SWedd523]

Chad Ford has solidified his position as a dumbass.


They'll workout for Charlotte, I guarantee it.

[SWedd523]

merged, edited, stickied

[Chef]

Chad Ford has solidified his position as a dumbass.


They'll workout for Charlotte, I guarantee it.

not so sure swedd. the agents and players are starting to figure out that your second contract is far more important than your first. your second deal is almost entirely dependent on your growth as a player which, for all players outside of the superduper stars, is very dependent on your fit within the team that drafts you and the stability there.

however, i feel our situation is far less toxic than sac's.

[SJackson1]

hopefully Robinson impresses the Bobcats scouts