NBA Basketball Trade Rumors and Rumor Mill Gossip » Draft

Griffin top pick in NBA draft

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:31:51 +0000

ESPN.com news services

The Los Angeles Clippers selected Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin with the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NBA draft.

"It’s great to know exactly where I’m going and it is set in stone," Griffin said on ESPN.The 6-10, 248-pound forward averaged 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds in earning national player of the year honors as a sophomore at Oklahoma. Griffin is considered the only sure thing in a draft filled with question marks. The Clippers said they would take the forward with the pick hours after they won the draft lottery last month.

"The fact is we’re getting an incredible player, incredible person, an impeccable work ethic and a guy that we plan on having in L.A. for many years to come," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "He’s going to be a great, exciting fit for our ballclub."

The Clippers are hoping Griffin turns out better than their last No. 1 overall pick. They opened the 1998 draft by taking center Michael Olowokandi, a bust who is out of the league.

"I’m not worried about what’s happened in the past," Griffin said. "Just excited about the opportunity."

The Memphis Grizzlies then grabbed Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet, a dominant rebounder and shot blocker who doesn’t have strong offensive skills.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/news/story?id=4287558

Mustafa Shakur opting for the NBA draft

admin — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 10:19:02 +0000

""It’s official: Arizona junior guard Mustafa Shakur is making himself available for the NBA draft. He is not hiring an agent, making it possible to withdraw from the draft and return to the team if he doesn’t get a sense of being selected this summer. "I think this is a good opportunity to further showcase my skills," Shakur said through the school’s sports information office."

"I’m keeping my options open, but I’m looking forward to showing people exactly the type of player that I am."

Shakur, from Philadelphia, averaged 11.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game last season. He shot 42.3 percent from the floor, starting all 33 games.

"Obviously, we’re hoping he’s going to return," said Arizona head coach Lute Olson.

"He would be one of our captains next year and he has done a great job of providing leadership in the weight room and on the floor already this offseason.

"I’m happy that he is completing his coursework and not hiring an agent. That way he will be able to come back if he decides that it’s the best thing for him."

Shakur is expected to miss UA’s two-week tour of Europe, which begins May 21.

The predraft NBA camp is June 6-10 in Orlando, Fla., but Shakur likely do workouts beforehand."

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/sports/9127.php

Florida's Top Trio to stay in Florida?

admin — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 10:15:45 +0000

"Three Florida sophomores projected to be first-round draft picks in June have chosen college life and a chance to repeat as national champions. But there is time for each to make another decision.

If Joakim Noah, Al Horford or Corey Brewer change their minds and declare for the draft before the April 29 deadline, it might shock Gators fans. It wouldn’t surprise people close to the NBA.

"I’ll believe it when I see it," said one longtime NBA official, who requested anonymity. "Nothing surprises me anymore.

"There’s a difference between what guys say five minutes after their season has ended and what they do later. They’re still pretty much in the aura of the championship."

If any or all of the three sophomores renege on last week’s highly publicized announcement, it won’t be unprecedented. History shows some player, somewhere, will have a change of heart.

Last year Sean May, the Final Four’s most outstanding player, told a crowd of North Carolina fans he planned to come back to defend the national title. Two months later, the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats drafted May with the No. 13 pick.

"I know he said he was coming back, but he had a chance to digest things and he looked at the big picture," said Florida Atlantic coach Matt Doherty, who recruited May when he was North Carolina’s coach. "I think when he saw Raymond (Felton), Rashard (McCants) and Marvin Williams weren’t coming back… Sean didn’t want to be out there by himself with an inexperienced group.""

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2006/04/13/a1c_ufhoops_0413.html

Thomas Gardner to enter draft?

admin — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 13:55:47 +0000

"With or without the departure of Quin Snyder, Missouri’s Thomas Gardner contends he intended to gauge his value in the 2006 NBA draft. In that regard, Gardner said Wednesday in Columbia: “This year really had no determination on what I would have done. “Even if we went to the (NCAA) tournament and Coach wouldn’t have got fired, I still would have made this decision.”http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/14164077.htm