The NBA Draft takes place tomorrow.
By The Hoops Report Staff editor@thehoopsreport.com Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Here's the latest buzz as we get ready for Thursday's NBA Draft:-The top three picks appear to be set at this point. According to sources, the Hornets will of course take Anthony Davis, the Bobcats will select Thomas Robinson, and the Wizards will draft Bradley Beal.-The only thing that alter the top three selections would be a trade. However, sources say that's highly unlikely at this point, unless a team came up with an unresistable offer.-The most likely trade scenario to alter the top three would be if the Cavaliers made a trade to move up from No. 4 to No. 2. They have inquired about offering the No. 24 pick in order to move up two slots. However, there are a few wild cards there. How badly do the Cavs want Beal? How badly do the Bobcats want Robinson? Would Robinson be available at No. 4? The Wizards have done an excellent job making it public that they're entertaining trade offers for those interested in Robinson. By doing that, it scares the Bobcats from making the trade because they therefore can't be assured that they'll be able to get Robinson at No. 4.-The draft really starts at No. 4. Nobody we've talked to is too confident in who the Cavs will draft. They reportedly like Harrison Barnes and Michael Kidd-Gilcrhist. But there are other players they like as well, such as Terrence Ross and Meyers Leonard. However, it would be difficult for the Cavs to pass on Barnes and Kidd-Gilchrist.-Of Barnes and Kidd-Gilchrist, whichever player is available was presumed to be the player the Kings will draft at No. 5. However, sources say Andre Drummond has emerged as a player the Kings are favoring. The idea of having a powerful duo of DeMarcus Cousins and Drummond down low is intriguing to the Kings.-The Blazers are still, according to sources, deciding between Damian Lillard and Andre Drummond at No. 6. But if one of them is off the board, it will make their decision that much easier.-The Rockets remain the team that is most likely to trade into the top 10. They have offered a pair of picks to a handful of teams in the top 10. The Raptors are the most likely target if the player they want (Dion Waiters) is off the board before No. 8.-There are a few players who have been mentioned as players who could surprisingly go earlier than expected in the lottery. Those players are Ross, Leonard and Tyler Zeller.-The player likely to last the longest in the green room is Jeremy Lamb. Every other green room player has been mentioned with multiple possibilites of being picked by the mid-lottery. Lamb is high on the draft board for Toronto and Detroit, but if he slips past those teams he likely won't go before 13 or 14.-Point guards are more important than ever right now in the NBA. Three players who have been quiet throughout the draft process but are gaining some buzz over the last few days are Tony Wroten, Scott Machado and Marquis Teague. Don't be surprised if one or more of those players goes in the top 20. Teams have spoken highly about Wroten's ball-handling, size and athleticism, Machado's outside shooting, speed and ball-handling, and Teague's defense and constant improvement.
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