2015 SEC Basketball Players Leaving Early for NBA Draft Watch

[jbcarol]

Since Dakari Johnson announced he was declaring for the draft, many have questioned how much he could have improved his draft stock by returning to school. Over the past two years, Dakari has slimmed down considerably, but you could argue there's not much he can do to improve his vertical or handwork. In his weekly chat today, ESPN NBA guru Chad Ford was asked about Dakari's ceiling at the next level:

Every scout I've spoken with sees him as a back-up. But back-up centers are very valuable in the NBA and could get him drafted in the 20s. Remember, this isn't the NFL draft. Most first round picks, especially those outside the lottery, are rotation players at best.

The other side is how he would have done declaring last year.

[jbcarol]

SEC players among the list of combine participants announced Thursday—not every participant will be required to participate in the on-court portion of the combine.

As expected, Duke forward Jahlil Okafor and Kentucky forward Karl-Anthony Towns were not on the list of expected participants for the 2015 NBA draft combine.

The combine will be held May 12-17 in Chicago, with an on-court portion running May 14-15.

Devin Booker, Kentucky

Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky

Michael Frazier II, Florida

Andrew Harrison, Kentucky

Aaron Harrison, Kentucky

Dakari Johnson, Kentucky

Trey Lyles, Kentucky

Jarell Martin, LSU

Jordan Mickey, LSU

Bobby Portis, Arkansas

Michael Qualls, Arkansas

Chris Walker, Florida

[jbcarol]

 Chad Ford @chadfordinsider  ·  19h 19 hours ago

Here's a list of confirmed prospects who will participate in the physical only portion of Combine

[jbcarol]

 Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress  ·  18h 18 hours ago

Why do NCAA seniors get the short end of the stick year in and year out in regard to NBA Combine Invites? We explore: http://www.draftexpress.com/article/2015-NBA-Combine-Invite-List-and-Analysis-4952 ...

You'll notice much higher figures from 2005-2008 (at link above), which is the period the NBA held branded this event as their "Pre-Draft Camp" as opposed to the "NBA Combine," starting in 2009.

39 of the 62 Invites this year were "Early-Entry" candidates, as a large number of seniors, many of whom declined to participate in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, were passed over in favor of younger players.

It's difficult to pinpoint a single underclassman "early-entry" candidate who had a real case to be invited to Chicago, but did not get in. On the other hand, the list of NCAA seniors who may be feeling snubbed is long and noteworthy, featuring some of the most recognizable names in the college game this past season:

Josh Richardson   Tennessee
...

A huge amount of ink is dropped each year about the debate around the NCAA's Early-Entry rules and how unfair they are—which they certainly are (international prospects can be in the NBA Draft up to three times, while collegiate only get one real shot). But some type of discussion should be had about the NCAA seniors who seemingly get the short end of the stick every year in the NBA Draft evaluation process. They are darned if they go to Portsmouth, and darned if they don't. These players deserve a chance to compete against the other top prospects in the draft, and it's unfortunate that they are shut out year after year due to a numbers game.

Validates the perception that if you play four years for your school, you are not NBA material under the current system.

[jbcarol]

No im the new Ras ‏@31HandsOnDeck

@GoodmanESPN please tell me Chris Walker helped himself out this week other than his measurements
9:41 PM - 15 May 2015

Jeff Goodman @GoodmanESPN  ·  16h 16 hours ago

Jeff Goodman retweeted No im the new Ras

He did not.

[jbcarol]

 Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria  ·  May 15

Dakari says Calipari brought in an NBA guy to prep all 7 Kentucky guys for interview questions by NBA teams

Jerry Tipton @JerryTipton  ·  May 15

Testing IQ, team asked Dakari how many pennies in a million dollars. "It took me a while to figure it out," Dakari said. "About 5 minutes"

[jbcarol]

Matt Jones @KySportsRadio  ·  14h 14 hours ago

Larry Bird believes Willie Cauley-Stein is "a $100-million player." http://bit.ly/1EOHT0N

Pacers are currently projected to land the 11th pick in the draft and would likely need to trade up if they're going to land WCS.

[jbcarol]

 Ron Higgins @RonHigg  ·  6h 6 hours ago

NBA Draft projections: LSU's Jordan Mickey moves up several spots, Jarell Martin falls a bit http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2015/05/nba_draft_projections_lsus_jor.html ...

Mickey had been projected as a mid-second round choice. But he played so well in the 5-on-5 combine games – he averaged 13 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 blocked shots – that CBSSports.com writer Sam Vecenie moved Mickey up to No. 32, which would be the second pick of the second round.

Wrote Vecenie, "He was terrific on the boards and the most lethal shot blocker in attendance. His offense is still a bit of a work in progress, but his jump shot looks pretty solid mechanically and could grow into a real weapon soon. . .a near-home run for Mickey over his week in Chicago."

Vecenie moved Martin from the end of the first round to early in the second round at No. 34. Martin was measured and tested at the combine, but decided not to play in the 5-on-5 games.

Wrote Vecenie, "This wasn't Martin's best week, as he decided not to play despite his 50/50 status as a first-rounder. Then, he measured out pretty poorly at 6-9 with a 6-9 wingspan. He tested well athletically with solid agility scores, but that lack of length really could cause him problems unless he becomes a knockdown shooter from midrange."

[jbcarol]

Which SEC players helped themselves at the NBA combine?

Three SEC players in particular may have helped themselves with their performances last week:

LSU'S Jordan Mickey --- He measured only 6-foot-8, but Mickey was dominant on the defensive end of the floor...

Kentucky's Devin Booker -- Booker didn't participate in the 5-on-5 portion of the combine, but reportedly excelled in agility drills, posting the best lane agility time of any player there. He's a projected first-rounder and potential lottery pick.

Florida's Michael Frazier III -- The guard averaged 15.5 points per game in 5-on-5 play, making 4-of-9 three point attempts and displaying strong defense.

Other SEC standouts did not fare so well and may have hurt their draft stock:

Kentucky's Dakari Johnson
Kentucky's Aaron and Andrew Harrison
LSU's Jarell Martin

[jbcarol]

 AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  14h 14 hours ago

Which team won the 2015 NBA draft lottery, will have No. 1 pick? | http://ow.ly/NaqKy

The complete lottery order decided by Tuesday night's drawing:

1. Minnesota Timberwolves (16-66)

2. Los Angeles Lakers (21-61)

3. Philadelphia 76ers (18-64)

4. New York Knicks (17-65)

5. Orlando Magic (25-57)

6. Sacramento Kings (29-53)

7. Denver Nuggets (30-52)

8. Detroit Pistons (32-50)

9. Charlotte Hornets (33-49)

10. Miami Heat (37-45)

11. Indiana Pacers (38-44)

12. Utah Jazz (38-44)

13. Phoenix Suns (39-43)

14. Oklahoma City Thunder (45-37)

[jbcarol]

Ben Roberts @NextCats  ·  13h 13 hours ago

On the blog: Where DraftExpress and ESPN have UK's players going following tonight's NBA Draft lottery results http://bit.ly/1eengWB

Both DraftExpress.com and ESPN's Chad Ford released updated mock drafts following Tuesday night's lottery results. Both mock drafts have UK's Karl-Anthony Towns going to Minnesota with the top pick.

DraftExpress.com and ESPN also have UK's Willie Cauley-Stein being selected with the No. 6 overall pick by Sacramento, which means he would join former Wildcat DeMarcus Cousins.

ESPN projects Devin Booker as the No. 9 overall pick to the Hornets, who already have former UK player Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on the roster. DraftExpress has him going No. 13 to Phoenix, the home of Eric Bledsoe and Archie Goodwin.

Trey Lyles is on ESPN's board at No. 12 to the Utah Jazz, while DraftExpress has him at No. 17 to the Milwaukee Bucks.

DraftExpress.com's mock draft also includes Andrew Harrison (No. 32 to the Rockets) and Dakari Johnson (No. 39 to the Hornets).

Neither mock draft mentioned Aaron Harrison.

Gary Parrish @GaryParrishCBS  ·  34m 34 minutes ago

My NBA mock draft for @CBSSports has been updated. Here's a link: http://cbsprt.co/1KvDaoo

2. Los Angeles Lakers
   Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Kentucky...

6. Sacramento Kings
   Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky

12. Utah Jazz
   Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky

15. Atlanta Hawks
   Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas: The reigning SEC Player of the Year was never the best prospect in the SEC. But he averaged 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds as a sophomore, and now he'll be the first Razorback selected in the first round since Ronnie Brewer went 14th overall in 2007. Barring injury, I think, Portis will be in the NBA for a decade based on his measurements and motor.

20. Toronto Raptors
   Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky

30. Golden State Warriors
   Jordan Mickey, PF, LSU

31. Minnesota Timberwolves
   Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky

32. Houston Rockets
   Jarell Martin, PF, LSU

36. Minnesota Timberwolves
   Andrew Harrison, PG, Kentucky

47. Philadelphia 76ers
   Michael Qualls, SG, Arkansas: Qualls improved his scoring and shooting numbers each season he played at Arkansas.

49. Washington Wizards
   Michael Frazier II, SG, Florida

57. Denver Nuggets
   Aaron Harrison, SG, Kentucky

[jbcarol]

 Chad Ford @chadfordinsider  ·  16h 16 hours ago

Karl Towns was an 81% free-throw shooter. Okafor 51%. That's a big deal to scouts after watching D'Andre Jordan/Dwight Howard hack-a-thons

[jbcarol]

 Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria  ·  4h 4 hours ago

Latest Mock Draft Has 6 Kentucky Guys, 3 From Duke http://zagsblog.com/articles/latest-mock-draft-has-6-kentucky-guys-3-from-duke/ ...

Two fewer than Calipari's ultimate goal for '14-15.

In 2012, Kentucky also had six players drafted, a record.

Aaron Harrison, who at one point was listed at No. 60 — or Mr. Irrelevant — did not make the final mock draft.

Here are the projected Kentucky picks:

No. 1 – Karl-Anthony Towns (MINNESOTA)
No. 6 – Willie Cauley-Stein (SACRAMENTO)
No. 13 – Devin Booker (PHOENIX)
No. 17 – Trey Lyles (MILWAUKEE)
No. 32 – Andrew Harrison (HOUSTON)
No. 39 – Dakari Johnson (CHARLOTTE)

Duke would have three players selected in the first round, while Kansas, Arizona,Wisconsin, Texas, LSU, UNLV and Arkansas would each have two players taken overall.

LSU
No. 28 – Jarell Martin (BOSTON)
No. 31 – Jordan Mickey (MINNESOTA)

ARKANSAS

No. 15 – Bobby Portis (BOSTON)
No. 46 – Michael Qualls (MILWAUKEE)

[jbcarol]

 Kevin Brockway @gatorhoops  ·  May 20

Interesting @chadfordinsider latest NBA mock draft has Florida g Michael Frazier II going 30th overall, last pick in 1st rnd, to GS Warriors

[jbcarol]

 Dave McMenamin @mcten  ·  24h 24 hours ago

Basically, the Lakers aren't locked into K-AT or Okafor no matter what at this point, per source. Intrigued by Mudiay/Russell.

[jbcarol]

 Kyle Tucker @KyleTucker_CJ  ·  2h 2 hours ago

New Story || Booker, Lyles look more and more like lotto picks. Both say sacrifice at UK worth it, didn't hurt stock: http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2015/05/22/devin-booker-trey-lyles-high-nba-draft-boards-give-kentucky-four-lottery-picks/27792219/ ...

Booker: "You have to find your niche (in the NBA) and that's how it was at Kentucky, and I'm OK with that.

"It's crazy when you focus on the team concept, and a team has success, the personal success comes with it."

[jbcarol]

NBA Draft and the free enterprise system intersect at the desk of Elan Vinokurov. He runs a private scouting and consulting firm based in Philadelphia.

It's his busy season with teams pondering what players to pick and which to avoid at the June 25 NBA Draft.

NBA officials don't laugh at the old joke: How do you know if a college coach is lying? His lips move. NBA officials like to double-check whatever college coaches say of their own players.

NBA officials will ask opposing coaches and players or teammates about a player. For instance, a typical question might be who was the most difficult player to defend?

A media type asked Aaron Harrison that at the NBA Combine in Chicago this month.

"The little shooting guard from Ole Miss, Moody?" he said in trying to remember Stefan Moody's name. "He can play. Fast and real athletic.

"And those two big guys for LSU (Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey). They're really underrated, I think."

Aaron Harrison does not get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to shooting. In his two UK seasons, he shot with only 40.9-percent accuracy (a pedestrian 33.5 percent from the college game's shorter three-point distance).

Harrison did not have to force shots with so many talented teammates to share the scoring responsibilities. Those teammates spread out opposing defenses.

"He was playing with more talent than anyone in the country," Vinokurov said. "He should be getting better looks than anyone in the country. Yet, he's still missing too many shots."

[jbcarol]

 Wes Rucker @wesrucker247  ·  25m 25 minutes ago

Not surprising to see NBA scouts/GMs admitting that not inviting #Vols' Josh Richardson to the combine was a mistake. Of course it was.

[jbcarol]

 Jeff Goodman @GoodmanESPN  ·  3h 3 hours ago

Celtics group today included Bobby Portis, Rakeem Christmas and Jordan Mickey.

Indiana Pacers Thursday workout: Terry Rozier, Andrew Harrison, Dez Wells, Terran Petteway, JP Tokoto, Rashad Vaughn, source told ESPN.

[jbcarol]

Razorback Basketball retweeted
Philadelphia 76ers ‏@Sixers  May 28
Turning our attention to the 2nd round, @MaxRappaport breaks down Michael Qualls' game. » http://on.nba.com/1HQHcIT 

Is one of the most explosive athletes in this year's class and has a motor that doesn't quit... Makes up for average height (6'5") with a massive 7'0.25" wingspan... Has big hands and the frame to add muscle mass as his body develops... Seeks out contact around the basket and gets to the line a ton (5.7 FTA/g, 77.5 FT%)... Has the tools to become a very good three-and-d/transition player if he improves his consistency from three-point range (range has improved drastically since freshman year, when he attempted just 28 threes and made 6)... Is deceptively strong... Low risk/high reward prospect.

[jbcarol]

Scrutiny of NBA Draft prospects leaves no stone unturned

As the June 25th NBA Draft nears, prospects want to put their best foot forward ... literally as well as figuratively. That applies to arms, legs and hands, too.

NBA teams increasingly use a tape measure, scale, thermometer, micrometer, stopwatch and slide rule to help determine if someone can play basketball.

This hit home at the recent NBA Combine, where there was speculation that the size and shape of Karl-Anthony Towns' feet had raised questions. Nike custom made size 20 shoes for Towns to wear as a Kentucky player last season. That's believed to be the largest size ever worn by a UK player (although there's no such "record" kept).

Former Tennessee player Jarnell Stokes also wore size 20 shoes, which had to be form fitted. By the way, Shaquille O'Neal and, going back to the 1970s, Bob Lanier wore size 22 shoes.

That Towns' feet are supposedly narrow caught the attention of NBA scouts. The player's father, Karl Towns, declined comment.

Elan Vinokurov, who runs a private consulting and scouting service, explained a possible concern. A big man with narrow feet might mean a player "more predisposed to foot injury," he said. Bill Walton and Yao Ming had careers cut short because of chronic foot injuries.

Another draft analyst, Ryan Blake, noted how teams cannot be too careful when making decisions involving guaranteed contracts worth millions of dollars. "Everybody's thinking outside the box a little bit," he said.

There can be concern about a player's hands being too big. That's supposedly why O'Neal struggled as a free-throw shooter. (The same was said about Rajon Rondo, which prompted an ever-vigilant UK fan calling in to Tubby Smith's radio show and recommending hand-reduction surgery.)

"That's ridiculous," Harris said of a connection between large hands and poor shooting. "Oscar Robertson had huge hands. That didn't prevent him from making shots."

[jbcarol]

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress May 31

If you only watch one draft workout video, make it this one w/ Bobby Portis http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Bobby-Portis-Workout-Video-and-Interview-5035 ... (via @312media)

[jbcarol]

Jeff Goodman ‏@GoodmanESPN 19m19 minutes ago

Discussion NBA Draft stock rose/fell this year at UK: Towns up a tad, Booker rose ton, WCS up bit, Lyles & Andrew same. Aaron & Dakari fell.

Not sure anyone's stock fell more than Cliff Alexander — except for maybe Chris Walker.

Guys besides D'Angelo Russell who stock improved a ton this season: Jerian Grant, Devin Booker, Cameron Payne, Justin Anderson.

[jbcarol]

NBA History ‏@NBAHistory  Jun 4
Since 1960, every NBA Champion has had a top-5 Draft Pick on the roster. #FinalsTrivia

[jbcarol]

ESPN analyst Chad Ford acknowledged a sometimes significant credibility gap between what NBA teams say about their draft intentions and what they actually intend to do.

It's a crapshoot," he said. "Every year at this time I get great picks and bogus picks. Sometimes from the same team."

A private workout in Los Angeles last week thickened the fog. Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein were among three players who worked out. Agents who set up the workout added to the mystery by not inviting NBA personnel. Only two analysts from DraftExpress.com and Ford were allowed to watch.

That heightened the suspense. Ford said 20 NBA teams called him wanting "a play by play" of who did what.

This did not surprise another ESPN analyst, Jay Bilas, who noted how "people want to know what happened at the party I wasn't invited to."

With agents being a valuable source of information, there's a question about whether someone who watched the workout felt free to criticize. For instance, Cauley-Stein supposedly made three-pointers with Steph Curry-ish accuracy.

Said Bilas: "I'd like to see that before I'd believe it."

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway ‏@gatorhoops Jun 10 Florida, USA

Former #Gator G Michael Frazier II projected as 2nd round pick to T'wolves (52) in latest draftxpress mock draft: http://tinyurl.com/qekt6mv

[jbcarol]

Matt Jones ‏@KySportsRadio 12h12 hours ago

Demarcus Cousins wants Willie Cauley-Stein in Sacramento: http://kentuckysportsradio.com/nba-cats/boogie-wants-willie/ ... (TT)

DeMarcus Cousins wants, nay, needs another Wildcat on the Sacramento Kings. That player is none other than Willie Trill Cauley-Stein, mainly so Cousins doesn't have to play the center position as much and can move to his preferred role of power forward.

The Kings have the No. 6 pick, which is right in the landing spot where most mock drafts have WCS going. ESPN's Ryen Russillo tweeted out "The scouts put WC Stein in special tier as a defensive player. Heard Cousins wants him at 6 so he doesn't have to play C."

The question is whether or not the Kings will need to trade up to get Cauley-Stein, who has worked out for the Knicks (4th pick) and the Magic desperately need rim protection help (5th pick). Kings head coach George Karl also likes to play a run-n-gun style, which would be a perfect setup for Willie...

[jbcarol]

I really hope things come together for Michael. He has had a singular focus of getting better from the day he stepped on campus. He has put the work in and improved as much in three years as anyone I remember. He made it known he was determined to work hard and put himself in a position to be able to take care of his child. The guy was an outstanding Razorback that always represented the program in the best light. Wishing him all the luck in the world!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEG0wjRiqjQ

[jbcarol]

http://arkansas.247sports.com/Bolt/Former-Razorback-trying-to-impress-Lakers-brass-today-37744712

[jbcarol]

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress 10m10 minutes ago

Terrible news: Arkansas wing Michael Qualls tore his ACL in a workout in Phoenix. Injury diagnosed by the Lakers next day. Out 6-12 months.

Michael Qualls' knee procedure will be conducted by renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. No MCL tear reportedly, just ACL.

[jbcarol]

Sam Vecenie of CBS, who specializes in NCAA Basketball, NBA Draft and the international players of the NBA Draft tweeted out today a plethora of international players pulling out of the draft.

Most of these guys were likely to get drafted as the new trend is taking a second round pick on an international player and storing him in Europe while he develops. Vecenie said "Man, the second round in this draft is just getting totally decimated. Weak NCAA class, lot of Int'l guys pulling their names."

[jbcarol]

Sam Vecenie ‏@Sam_Vecenie  1h1 hour ago
Some quick thoughts on Michael Qualls tearing his ACL. Mostly, I just can't help but feel awful for him: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25215474/ex-arkansas-wing-michael-qualls-tears-acl-in-workout-with-suns ...

Qualls declared for the draft to provide for his family/son. I think we often forget about the very human aspects of professional decisions.

Hopefully he recovers and has a shot at an NBA career. Definitely has the kind of athleticism and motor to be a player if he gets back.

[jbcarol]

ESPN's Jay Bilas likes Jahlil Okafor over Karl-Anthony Towns for next week's NBA Draft. Bilas writes of Okafor, "A dominant low-post scorer who is an excellent finisher around the basket. Great hands, outstanding footwork on the offensive end, and a great shooting touch to 15 feet. Very good passer, and a really good "feel on the offensive end. Outstanding offensive rebounder."

[jbcarol]

Sam Vecenie ‏@Sam_Vecenie Jun 14

Indiana Pacers draft needs: A frontcourt pick works, especially if they want to go uptempo: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25214274/pacers-draft-needs-if-they-want-to-win-now-frank-kaminsky-fits ...

Bobby Portis | PF/C | Arkansas | Ranking: No. 12

Portis is a high-energy player with a strong motor that can step away to shoot the ball as well as finish near the rim. His defensive ability would also fit well with the Pacers. This would probably be a perfect situtation for Portis as well, as he could really benefit from being around a similar guy in David West. Neither is particularly explosive vertically, and Portis could learn from West how to use his intensity positively.

Willie Cauley-Stein | C | Kentucky | Ranking: No. 8

Cauley-Stein would require some maneuvering on the part of the Pacers. It's rather unlikely that he drops to No. 8 --

Frank Kaminsky | C | Wisconsin | Ranking: No. 14

[jbcarol]

Matt Jones ‏@KySportsRadio 6h6 hours ago

John Calipari says the motto for next season is "Next Man Up." http://kentuckysportsradio.com/basketball-2/cal-says-the-motto-for-next-season-is-next-man-up/ ...

Karl Towns: "He will be the number one pick, unless something crazy happens."

Willie Cauley-Stein: "Four, five, six. I don't think any later than six."

Devin Booker and Trey Lyles: "No later than 13 and as low as 6, 7. It all depends on where things fall."

Dakari Johnson and Andrew Harrison: "Anywhere from 23 to 32."

Aaron Harrison: "I don't have a good read on Aaron," Cal said...

[jbcarol]

Gary Parrish ‏@GaryParrishCBS 12m12 minutes ago

My updated mock draft for @CBSSports has @kporzee going in the top three. NBA Mock Draft: http://cbsprt.co/1fjEthR

2. Los Angeles Lakers
   Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Kentucky

7. Denver Nuggets
   Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky

10. Miami Heat
   Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky

16. Boston Celtics
   Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky

17. Milwaukee Bucks
   Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas

28. Boston Celtics
   Jordan Mickey, PF, LSU

32. Houston Rockets
   Jarell Martin, PF, LSU

35. Philadelphia 76ers
   Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky

39. Charlotte Hornets
   Andrew Harrison, PG, Kentucky

47. Philadelphia 76ers
   Michael Frazier II, SG, Florida

52. Dallas Mavericks
   Aaron Harrison, SG, Kentucky

60. Philadelphia 76ers
   Chris Walker, PF, Florida

[jbcarol]

Sam Vecenie ‏@Sam_Vecenie 20h20 hours ago

Some other stuff in the mailbag: Bobby Portis potential paths of success, small school talents, and Kelly Oubre: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25217613/nba-draft-mailbag-kristaps-porzingis-mania-edition ...

Q: Bobby Portis will have a career similar to ___________? -- Joseph Nardone (@JosephNardone)

A: Good question. Portis is one of those guys that I would be surprised if he totally failed. Having said that, his upside is a bit limited below the traditional superstar level due to a lack of explosiveness. Here are some career paths he could go on:

David West: West profiles similarly due to his jump-shot and lack of explosiveness, but he's also a bit different because his feel for the game is greater. But the jump shot, scoring near the basket, rebounding, and versatile defensive game all fit, as does the emotional aspect of their games. Both are high motor, intense players, and Portis would do well to learn some of the tricks of the trade from West. That would be darn near a best-case scenario though.

Donatas Motiejunas: We don't exactly know what Motiejunas will become quite yet, but the two have some pretty interesting comparable skills. Both were solid all-around prospects that just had some slight questions regarding their athleticism and explosiveness. Particularly, both profiled well as jump shooters, although Portis needs to iron out his mechanics a bit. Finally, they're both big enough and just fluid enough to play both big man positions, which is intriguing in its own right.

Brandon Bass: Bass is another guy with solid midrange jump shooting potential at the 4-spot. He was also pretty solid rebounder and team defender as a role player in the early part of this decade. This would represent a lower point for Portis if he's unable to continue improving upon his skills, although Portis does have a height advantage on him that should allow him some further versatility.

[jbcarol]

Jon Rothstein ‏@JonRothstein 2h2 hours ago

Three players rising in next week's NBA Draft: Murray State point guard Cameron Payne and Kentucky's Trey Lyles and Devin Booker. #BBN

[jbcarol]

Andy Katz ‏@ESPNAndyKatz 10h10 hours ago

NBA expected to invite at least 20 players to Thursday night draft http://es.pn/1H4uIQU

The NBA is expected to invite at least 20 players to the draft Thursday in Brooklyn, with as many as three from national champion Duke, two from national runner-up Wisconsin and four representing 38-1 Kentucky, multiple sources with knowledge of the such things said.

Duke's Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones will be in attendance, sources said. So, too, will Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker, as well as Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, Trey Lyles and Devin Booker.

Towns is the favorite to be the top pick when the Minnesota Timberwolves select No. 1 at the Barclays Center on Thursday night (7 ET on ESPN and WatchESPN)...

The rest of the invites, according to multiple sources, are expected to be Arizona's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arkansas' Bobby Portis, Georgia State's R.J. Hunter and Notre Dame's Jerian Grant.

[jbcarol]

Jon Rothstein ‏@JonRothstein 2h2 hours ago

Interesting NBA draft note: most GM's have three players who didn't play in college - Mudiay, Hezonja, Porzingis - among top six prospects.

[jbcarol]

Jon Rothstein ‏@JonRothstein 2h2 hours ago

Karl Towns, Draymond Green, and why St. John's fans should temper expectations. Observations @CBSSports http://cbsprt.co/1Sw2zUM

1. Karl-Anthony Towns should be the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft

This isn't a slap in the face to Duke's Jahlil Okafor, who is going to have a terrific career at the professional level, but taking anyone other than Towns at the top spot doesn't make much sense. After watching the New Jersey native in practice this past season at Kentucky, it's evident that there are elements of Towns' game that will shine brighter on the NBA level than they did in college. Towns is a capable pick-and-roll player which is a vital part of the pro game on offense. He can bring opposing defenders away from the basket with Channing Frye like ability to stretch the floor while still possessing the ability to be an effective low post scorer. In terms of overall skill level, several college coaches have told me that Towns has the best combination of skill and size that any big man has had entering the draft since Tim Duncan left Wake Forest in 1997.

Towns wasn't featured at Kentucky the way Okafor was featured at Duke and if he was, there'd be no debate who would be going first overall. Towns is a complete two-way player and a guy who still doesn't get as much credit as deserves on the defensive side of the floor.

[jbcarol]

Jeff Goodman ‏@GoodmanESPN  3h3 hours ago
Kinda cool that RJ Hunter has decided to decline invite to NBA draft in NYC. Was invited, but wants to share with entire family in Atlanta.

[jbcarol]

Adam Zagoria ‏@AdamZagoria 9m9 minutes ago Manhattan, NY

Latest Kentucky on @DraftExpress : 1. Towns 9. Booker 11. Cauley-Stein 13. Lyles 40. Johnson 43. An Harrison

[jbcarol]

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress 43m43 minutes ago

New mock draft released on DX today. Here's an extended look, with pick by pick explanation: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft-extended.php ... pic.twitter.com/SfweGkkxw2

Bobby Portis
PF (Arkansas - Sophomore)
20.3 years old | 6'11" | 246 lbs

Celtics need a true rim protector, but that will be difficult to find at this stage of the draft. Instead, they may look to add some depth at power forward, where they've been starting 30-year-old Brandon Bass, who becomes a free agent this summer (as does his backup Jonas Jerebko). Portis is one of the safer picks in the draft, a tough and active big man who has nice versatility and looks almost certain to develop into a solid rotation player.

[jbcarol]

Kyle Tucker ‏@KyleTucker_CJ  2h2 hours ago
NBA confirms UK's Towns, Cauley-Stein, Booker, Lyles all attending the draft. Trying to be only second school (UNC '05) with 4 lotto picks.

[jbcarol]

Just a couple of days away from the NBA Draft, we've now entered the crazy rumors and wild trades zone.

Lakers are trying to put together a deal that would pry DeMarcus Cousins from the Sacramento Kings. And the Phoenix Suns are dangling Eric Bledsoe at the Knicks in exchange for New York's No. 4 pick overall.

Meanwhile, ESPN's Jay Bilas likes Duke's Jahlil Okafor over Karl-Anthony Towns in the debate over whether the Duke center (Okfaor) or the Kentucky center (Towns) should be the No. 1 pick by Minnesota on Thursday night.

Timberwolves have told Towns he's No. 1, but Towns denies that's the case.

Willie Cauley-Stein penned a post for Players Tribune about being involved in this year's draft. An excerpt: "For some reason, people love to project things onto your appearance. There's definitely one thing I love more than basketball, and it's proving to people that I can do the things they say I can't do. The story on me going into this draft is that I'm an elite defender with a raw offensive game. In my head I'm thinking, How would you even know what I'm capable of offensively? At Kentucky, I shot about 25 jumpers my entire career. I didn't major in statistics, but that's a pretty small sample size, bruh."

Mark Story argues that if Cauley-Stein's stock is dropping because of worries about his foot, it could be good for Trill in the long run. "Slippage in Thursday night's draft would cost Cauley-Stein money on his rookie contract. Yet a player whose calling card is his defensive versatility could prove more valuable — and earn a better second contract — on a stronger team that does not need him to score."

[jbcarol]

Sam Vecenie ‏@Sam_Vecenie 8h8 hours ago
... I released my final top-100 prospect list with notes: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25223190/nba-draft-karl-anthony-towns-tops-final-top-100-prospect-list ...

If you want to think of the draft in tiers -- an exercise that I find to be tremendously beneficial -- here is where I think the tiers end on the big board. Tiers 1 and 2 are your potential all-stars (some more likely than others). Tier 3 is a group of potential starters. Tier 4 is who I think of as more likely to be backups with some upside. Tier 5 are guys who could turn into rotation players, but are probably more likely than not to make the NBA in the end. Tier 6 are your long shots, and Tier 7 is guys who are deep sleepers that will likely not play in the NBA.

        Tier 1: No. 1 to No. 2
        Tier 2: No. 3 to No. 8
        Tier 3: No. 9 to No. 15
        Tier 4: No. 16 to No. 26
        Tier 5: No. 27 to No. 47
        Tier 6: No. 48 to No. 75

Again, it's worth noting that very few NBA teams are excited about this draft after the No. 24 to No. 26 range. That doesn't mean that nobody in that range will end up making the NBA, just that I think it's fair to expect fewer of those guys than normal to end up carving out a career.

1. Towns, UK
8. WTCS, UK
11. Portis, AR
12. Booker, UK
15. Lyles, UK
27. Mickey, LS
33. Martin, LS
36. Frazier, II, UF
41. An Harrison, UK
43. Dakari, UK
48. Qualls, AR
50. Richardson, TN
60. Aa Harrison, UK
77. Walker, FL

[jbcarol]

Frank Martin ‏@FrankMartin_SC 12h12 hours ago Anguilla

Frank Martin retweeted Bobby BP Portis

Happy for u and proud of how u represented Arkansas and the SEC. Will b rooting for u

Bobby BP PortisVerified account ‏@BPortistime

Made it to NYC safely for the @NBADraft ✈️Excited for what's to come this week.

2:55 PM - 23 Jun 2015

[jbcarol]

NCAA men's basketball oversight committee officially sponsored a proposal to change the NBA Draft withdrawal date for college underclassmen

Currently, college underclassmen are required to remove their name from the NBA Draft a week after the Final Four comes to a close, which is nearly three weeks prior to the NBA's deadline for declaring for the draft. There is, essentially, no process for testing the waters.

But the new proposal, which was reported back in March, college underclassmen will have (sic) until mid-to-late May — after the NBA's Draft combine —

[jbcarol]

Clay: Five predictions for the NBA Draft

1. The 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year will be D'Angelo Russell.

2. Five years from now, the best 2015 NBA Draft pick will be Karl-Anthony Towns

3. The ex-Cat most likely to be overrated is Willie Cauley-Stein.

4. The ex-Cat GMs (sic) will look back and wish they had picked when they had the chance is Trey Lyles.