NBA Draft Rumors: Smoke Gets Heavy Ahead Of Thursday's Derby

NBA Trade Rumors: Rockets, Cavaliers Involved With Potential Bobcats No. 2 Pick Swap

Bradley Beal is at the focus of what could be either a three-team deal or a bidding war for the Charlotte Bobcats' No. 2 pick in Thursday's 2012 NBA draft.

Andy Katz of ESPN continues to report that Charlotte is close to agreeing on a deal to give up No. 2 to the Cleveland Cavaliers so that the Ohio club can add Beal. ESPN's Chris Broussard reports that the Houston Rockets are also involved, potentially also bidding for No. 2 or looking to land No. 4 in the deal. They have dangled Kyle Lowry in previous attempts to move into the high end of the lottery, most notably in rumors involving the Sacramento Kings.

Additionally, CBSSports.com's Jeff Goodman reports that the Cavaliers are pushing for No. 2.

Follow our 2012 NBA draft results StoryStream for live pick-by-pick coverage. See our NBA draft rumors StoryStream for full coverage in the run-up. For more on the Bobcats, please visit Rufus On Fire.

Rockets-Kings Trade Currently Off The Table, According To Report

The Houston Rockets have certainly been the busiest team in the run-up to the 2012 NBA draft. Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey has burned up the phone lines and now holds three first-round picks, at Nos. 12, 16 and 18. Morey was reportedly trying to use those assets to move up in the draft, potentially in a deal with the Kings for the No. 5 pick.

But reports now indicate that the Kings plan to stay at No. 5 and have cooled on a deal with the Rockets. Via Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated:

With the obligatory "things can change" caveat attached, I'm told that the Kings are likely to keep their pick despite Houston's well-chronicled attempts to acquire it. Reports of the Rockets' push to get No. 5 continued on Thursday, but a source with knowledge of the situation said "no deal" when prompted in the afternoon.

The Kings are currently projected to pick Damian Lillard with the No. 5 pick in SB Nation's Mock Draft.

Follow our 2012 NBA draft results StoryStream for live pick-by-pick coverage. See our NBA draft rumors StoryStream for full coverage in the run-up. For more on the Kings, visit Sactown Royalty or SB Nation Bay Area. For more on the Rockets, please visit The Dream Shake and SB Nation Houston.

NBA Draft Rumors: Royce White Drawing Interesting From Rockets In Middle Of First Round

Iowa State forward Royce White is in play for the Houston Rockets should the team keep its picks at No. 12, 16 or 18, reports Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports Network. White had fallen of late due to his inability to work out for many teams; he has anxiety issues and fears flying. But it appears that his initial stock -- placing him just outside the lottery -- may hold. Rothstein also notes that the Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies are interested in selecting White. The latter jives with a report out of Memphis early Thursday.

The Rockets have been tied to talks to move up to the No. 5 pick owned by the Sacramento Kings, where Connecticut center Andre Drummond is believed to be the target.

Follow our 2012 NBA draft results StoryStream for live pick-by-pick coverage. See our NBA draft rumors StoryStream for full coverage in the run-up. For more on the Rockets, please visit The Dream Shake and SB Nation Houston.

Bobcats 'Closer' To Trading No. 2 Pick In 2012 NBA Draft, According To Report

The Charlotte Bobcats are getting "closer" to agreeing to a trade involving the No. 2 pick in Thursday's 2012 NBA draft, reports ESPN's Andy Katz. The Bobcats have been involved in any number of rumors, though the most persistent version has had Michael Jordan's club dropping only as far as No. 4 in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers are said to be interested in vaulting in front of the Washington Wizards, who pick No. 3, to lay claim to Florida guard Bradley Beal. The Cavaliers also have the No. 24 pick, as well as two choices in the top several picks of the second round. The understanding is that if the Bobcats trade down to No. 4, they could then grab Thomas Robinson, whom they likely would have taken at No. 2 anyway.

Follow our 2012 NBA draft results StoryStream for live pick-by-pick coverage. See our NBA draft rumors StoryStream for full coverage in the run-up. For more on the Bobcats, please visit Rufus On Fire.

Celtics To Pick Up Coach's Son Austin Rivers In NBA Draft?

According to reports, the Boston Celtics are aggressively trying to move up from the bottom half of the first round into the lottery of the 2012 NBA draft. The Celtics currently hold the No. 21 and No. 22 picks but Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated reports that they are looking to move up and land Duke's Austin Rivers, the son of Celtics head coach Doc Rivers:

Sources say Boston's push to move into the lottery is partly driven by a desire to land Duke's Austin Rivers, son of Cs coach Doc Rivers. Celtics have the No. 21 and No. 22 picks.

Rivers is considered one of the best shooting guards in this year's class, just a tier below Bradley Beal. He's expected to go just outside the top 10 in the second half of the lottery.

Follow our 2012 NBA draft results StoryStream for live pick-by-pick coverage. See our NBA draft rumors StoryStream for full coverage in the run-up. For more on the Celtics, visit CelticsBlog.

NBA Trade Rumors: Kings, Rockets In Talks For No. 5 Pick

Trade talks between the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets are continuing in the hours before the 2012 NBA draft, according to Marc Stein and Chad Ford of ESPN.com. The duo reports that Houston has apparently improved its most recent offer, which included Kyle Lowry and at least one mid-first-round pick. Houston holds the Nos. 12, 16 and 18 picks on Thursday.

The Kings reportedly turned down a deal that would have brought them Lowry and No. 16 in exchange for No. 5 and Chuck Hayes on Wednesday. Ford and Stein report that the Kings will hold off on any trade until it's certain that they cannot grab Kansas forward Thomas Robinson with that No. 5 pick.

Follow our 2012 NBA draft results StoryStream for live pick-by-pick coverage. See our NBA draft rumors StoryStream for full coverage in the run-up. For more on the Kings, visit Sactown Royalty or SB Nation Bay Area. For more on the Rockets, please visit The Dream Shake and SB Nation Houston.

Final Chad Ford Mock Draft Has Bobcats Taking Thomas Robinson At No. 2

Chad Ford, ESPN's top NBA mock draft hound, has the Charlotte Bobcats selecting Kansas forward Thomas Robinson with the No. 2 pick, setting up a cascade of decisions that lands Bradley Beal with the Washington Wizards, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the Cleveland Cavaliers and, stunningly, Andre Drummond with the Sacramento Kings, or whichever team ends up with the Kings' pick.

Ford also has Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger slipping all the way down to No. 22, and Baylor's Perry Jones III unbelievably dropping to No. 24. Jones may have been a top-five pick had he entered the 2011 NBA draft, and has been projected to land in the lottery for the past year. Falling all the way to No. 24 would be a disastrous drop for Jones, though he would end up in a decent situation.

Follow our 2012 NBA draft results StoryStream for live pick-by-pick coverage. See our NBA draft rumors StoryStream for full coverage in the run-up. For more on the Bobcats, please visit Rufus On Fire.

Josh Smith Trade Rumors: Hawks Resisting Offers On Star Forward For Now

Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith has been on the trading blocks for years now, and teams continue to express interest in acquiring him. However, for now, it looks like he will not be dealt. New Hawks general manager Danny Ferry is resisting offers for Smith, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

The Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers are among the teams that have expressed the most serious interest in Smith, according to Stein. The Lakers are offering Pau Gasol in exchange for Smith, while it's less clear what the Celtics, Magic and Rockets would like.

Smith has one year and $13.2 million left on his contract. He had another strong year in 2011-12, averaging a career-high 18.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game last year. However, he has made it be known several times that he would prefer to be playing elsewhere.

For more on the Hawks, visit Peachtree Hoops and SB Nation Atlanta.

NBA Draft Rumors: Timberwolves Offered Derrick Williams For No. 2 Pick, Trade Rejected

Do you remember back in elementary school when you got a king-sized candy bar in your lunch bag by surprise, and some kid at your lunch table attempted to trade you a couple of fun-sized candy bars and some Tootsie Rolls for that candy bar? Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn is that guy.

Sources say Minnesota offered Derrick Williams to Charlotte in exchange for the #2 pick. Bobcats quickly rejected.

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 28, 2012

The jury's still out on who the Charlotte Bobcats are going to select with the No. 2 pick in the draft, but they obviously like their options enough that they're not interested in a straight swap with the Timberwolves for forward Derrick Williams.

Williams was the second overall pick in last year's draft and only managed to score 8.8 points per game playing with Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love. He had a small handful of games in which he looked like he had a chance to fulfill his promise, but given his inconsistency last season, it's not surprising that Charlotte would rather roll the dice with the players in this year's draft.

For more on the T'Wolves, head over to Canis Hoopus and SB Nation Minnesota. For more on the Bobcats, check out Rufus on Fire. For more on the draft in general, check out SB Nation's NBA Draft Hub.

NBA Draft Rumors: Spurs Looking To Trade DeJuan Blair, According To Report

San Antonio Spurs big man DeJuan Blair fell out of the rotation during the 2012 NBA Playoffs. Now, he may be looking for a new team. The Spurs are looking to deal Blair to create roster space to bring over past European picks like Erazem Lorbek and others, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.

Blair averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game during the regular season, but averaged just 7.6 minutes per game in the playoffs and did not even make it into two games. The former 2nd-round pick would welcome a trade out of San Antonio, according to Wojnarowski.

It remains unclear how the Spurs will deal Blair without taking on another player to add to their roster. They could send him somewhere in a salary dump or for a future draft pick if need be, but that's about the only avenue to make a deal happen under these conditions.

Follow our 2012 NBA Draft results StoryStream for live pick-by-pick coverage. See our NBA Draft rumors StoryStream for full coverage in the run-up.

NBA Mock Draft: Meet Your Fate, Kids

Our final 2012 NBA Mock Draft is about as sensible as the first one was three months ago. Come check it out!

NBA Draft Rumors: Kings Won't Trade No. 5 Pick Until Draft Plays Out, According To Report

The Sacramento Kings are widely believed to be shopping the No. 5 overall pick in a trade. The Kings sit one spot below the consensus top four (Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, Thomas Robinson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, in some order), and they aren't necessarily looking to add a young player to their already-inexperienced roster. But it appears the Kings will not just deal the pick before they know which players will be available with their selection.

Kings will not entertain trading 5th pick until they see who is available, sources tell Y! Word is Sacramento loves Kansas' Thomas Robinson.

— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) June 28, 2012

The Kings have been in discussions about a potential deal involving Kyle Lowry, but don't seem willing to pull the trigger. Robinson could very well fall in the draft if the Bobcats trade down or select Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at No. 2, because the Wizards, picking third, and the Cavaliers, picking fourth, don't have much of a need for a power forward like Robinson.

For more on the Kings, visit Sactown Royalty and SB Nation Bay Area.

NBA Draft Rumors: Celtics Won't Pass Up Andrew Nicholson

The Boston Celtics hold the Nos. 21 and 22 picks in Thursday's NBA draft, meaning they'll have an opportunity to add some role-playing prospects to their squad. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, one of those two players will be St. Bonaventure's big man Andrew Nicholson.

St. Bonaventure forward Andrew Nicholson is unlikely to get past the Boston Celtics at Nos. 21 and 22, but the Houston Rockets (Nos. 12, 16 and 18) and Denver Nuggets (No. 20), also have interest in him sources said.

So at the very least, he'll likely be off the board by No. 22. Nicholson is a 6'9 player with length, scoring abilities in the post, and an accurate shot beyond the three-point arc. He could be a good addition any team in the mid-to-late 1st round. ESPN's Chad Ford had previously reported that one of the Celtics' picks would go towards selecting Royce White, so we might already know their two selections.

However, Wojnarowski had one last tidbit about the Celtics' plans:

Boston is aggressively working to move up into the late lottery, if not higher, league sources tell Y!. Celtics own No. 21 and 22 picks.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 28, 2012

With the aforementioned interest by the Rockets and Nuggets in Nicholson, that upward mobility could be sparked by Boston's desire to make sure it gets its hands on Nicholson.

NBA Draft 2012: Perry Jones III Sliding Due To Medical Concerns, According To Report

Baylor forward Perry Jones III has been sliding down the draft boards, and many believe it has to do with his inconsistent play and so-so college career at Baylor. However, there could be another factor causing his drop. Several team doctors have red-flagged Jones because they are concerned about his knee, according to ESPN's Chad Ford.

It looks like Jared Sullinger isn't the only big time NBA draft prospect to have medical issues hurt his stock.

Multiple league sources say that NBA team doctors are concerned about a meniscus issue in Baylor forward Perry Jones III's knee.

Medical red flags are common, but they aren't universal across the board. Some teams are more cautious with handing them out, while others tend to ignore them. It's a safe bet that Jones' medical issues are just a small reason why his stock is hitting a snag.

That said, the prospect of future knee issues isn't helping Jones either.

For more on Jones, visit Our Daily Bears and SB Nation Dallas.

NBA Draft 2012: Charlotte Bobcats Have 'Five Legit Offers' To Trade No. 2 Pick

The good news for fans of predictability is that Anthony Davis will almost definitely be the first overall pick by the New Orleans Hornets. After that, things will get really, really shaky, starting with the Charlotte Bobcats' No. 2 pick. David Aldridge reports the Bobcats are shopping their pick and have some people willing to buy:

Source: Bobcats have five legit offers they're currently exploring to trade the second pick overall in tonight's NBA Draft.

— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) June 28, 2012

So in addition to the five or so players that could be up for grabs in that spot -- Thomas Robinson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bradley Beal, and Harrison Barnes have all been bandied about as potential Bobcats' picks -- there's apparently five or so teams interested, too. The Bobcats have already done some dealing, taking on Ben Gordon's ugly contract for Corey Maggette and a future first-rounder. It would be a bummer for Charlotte fans to suffer through one of, if not the worst, season in NBA history, only to see their team come away without a top draft pick. So these deals had better be worth it for Charlotte.

For more on the 2012 NBA Draft, visit SB Nation's NBA Draft page. the NBA in general, visit SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

NBA Draft: Grizzlies Reportedly Focused On John Jenkins, Royce White With No. 25 Pick

On Wednesday, Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley insisted that the team would not be selling the No. 25 pick to the highest bidder, despite salary concerns and the reality of guaranteed contracts for first-round picks heading into next season. On Thursday, Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reported that with that No. 25 pick, the Grizzlies are receiving an internal push -- one we'll attribute to Heisley -- for John Jenkins and Royce White.

White, a 6'9 forward from Iowa State, apparently canceled a workout with Memphis. He's had a rough draft season due to anxiety with regards to flying. (That tends to be a problem when you need to work out for 10-15 teams in three weeks.) Jenkins is a 6'4 two-guard from Vanderbilt, and had excellent scoring and shooting numbers in three college seasons.

The Grizzlies need help at back-up point guard and center, though power forward could also be a running concern as Darrell Arthur will become a restricted free agent on Sunday.

For more on the Grizzlies, please visit Straight Outta Vancouver.

Follow our 2012 NBA Draft results StoryStream for live pick-by-pick coverage. See our NBA Draft rumors StoryStream for full coverage in the run-up.

Who Is Damian Lillard? Meet The NBA Draft's Rising Star

Damian Lillard, a point guard from little-known Weber State, could be one of the top prospects selected in the 2012 NBA Draft. Where did he come from, and why is he rising so high after toiling in obscurity?

2012 NBA Draft Rumors: Could The Cavs Take Dion Waiters?

In the days leading up to Thursday's NBA Draft, there have been a lot of trade rumors involving top five picks. Most of the names thrown out have been the usual suspects, but, it wouldn't be a NBA draft without a surprise or two. This year, that surprise may come from the Cleveland Cavaliers, who according to reports are considering Syracuse's Dion Waiters with the No. 4 pick.

Y! Sources: Cleveland's intrigue with selecting Syracuse's Dion Waiters at No. 4 gathering momentum. tinyurl.com/7jbws6n

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 28, 2012

The Cavs have been frequently mentioned as a possible trade partner with the Charlotte Bobcats. Cleveland was rumored to be interested in moving up to No. 2 in order to select Bradley Beal. If the Cavs were to take Waiters at No. 4, it would come as a surprise as most analysts and mock drafts have Waiters going somewhere from the No. 7 pick to the early teens.

For more on the Cavs, head over to Fear The Sword and SB Nation Cleveland.

NBA Trade Rumors: Grizzlies Offer Zach Randolph To Lakers For Pau Gasol

Dean of the NBA rumor mill Peter Vecsey* reports via Twitter that the Memphis Grizzlies are interested in bringing back Pau Gasol now that he's done with that "championship phase." The Viper says that Memphis offered up Zach Randolph to the L.A. Lakers in exchange for Pau.

Memphis, by the way, says a source, is offering Zach Randolph, another solid citizen, for Pau. Rudy Gay, as of now, is not available

— Peter Vecsey (@PeterVecsey1) June 28, 2012

If trading Pau is a financial decision, Z-Bo would not be an acceptable return. Randolph is due $50 million over the next three seasons, while Pau is due $38 million over the next two seasons.

Via HoopsHype.

* Sam Smith is the vice chancellor for Invention at the NBA rumor mill.

2012 NBA Draft Rumors: Rockets Possibly Looking For Kings' No. 5 Pick, Tyreke Evans

The consensus is that the Rockets didn't move to get the No. 12, No. 16, and No. 18 picks just so they could draft three middle-tier first round prospects. They seem to have something else in mind, and that something else could belong to the Sacramento Kings. Ken Berger from CBS has a report:

Among several avenues the Rockets are exploring would be a trade with Sacramento for the No. 5 pick in a deal that likely would send Tyreke Evans to Houston, sources said. The teams have discussed several scenarios, and while one person briefed on the talks described the deal as "getting close," rival executives have gotten the strong impression that the Kings are steadfastly resisting the Rockets' overtures.

While three first-rounders is very, very nice, Evans is two years removed from being Rookie of the Year and there's sure to be a ton of talent available at No. 5. The Kings seem to be well aware that the will have to give up more to work this scenario out.

We'll probably hear more from the Rockets before the draft is over: Daryl Morey has already shipped two players in return for three others and two draft picks, and definitely has more up his sleeve.

For more on the Rockets, visit The Dream Shake and SB Nation Houston.

NBA Draft Rumors: Bradley Beal Says Thunder Interested In Trading For Him

It's commonplace for general managers of NBA teams that are not in the NBA Draft lottery to make phone calls to teams with high draft picks, just in case the guy on the other line overvalues a piece on their team and/or he's a crazy person. Sam Presti, a smart GM for a good team outside of the lottery, is doing his due diligence on high-end draft prospects. He's spoken to Bradley Beal, who spoke to ESPN.com and said things Presti probably didn't want him to say.

Beal told ESPN.com Wednesday that Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti told him during an interview in Chicago that he was interested in trying to move up to draft him. The Thunder's first-round pick isn't until No. 28.

"He told me he was going to decide what they're going to do and considered getting up there," Beal said.

Beal said Denver, which picks at No. 20, also made a similar statement.

Masai Ujiri won't be too thrilled to read this either, but he doesn't have the same kinds of sexy assets that Presti has at his disposal. One of those sexy assets is James Harden, who is entering the last year of his contract. Presti will almost certainly have to pay one of Harden or Serge Ibaka, while getting rid of the other for salary cap reasons.

Beal would make a great replacement for Harden if he can make a deal, and the likes of the Charlotte Bobcats and Washington Wizards would undoubtedly be willing to at least listen to any offers that involved Harden, but it would be surprising to see this go past some friendly phone calls. Especially since Beal went and blew the lid off of everything.

For more on the Thunder, head over to Welcome To Loud City.

NBA Trade Rumors: Rockets No Longer Pursuing Pau Gasol, Looking To Move Up In Draft

The Houston Rockets recently moved up in the 2012 NBA Draft, sending the No. 14 pick and Samuel Dalembert to the Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 12 pick, Jon Leuer, Jon Brockman and Shaun Livingston. Most believe the Rockets are trying to stockpile picks to put together in a trade package for Dwight Howard, while Lakers' star Pau Gasol was floated as a backup choice. However, recent reports suggests Gasol is not an option for them after all.

Via CBS Sports' Ken Berger:

While rival executives believed Houston's target was Lakers forward Pau Gasol, a person familiar with the team's strategy debunked that idea and said the Rockets front office has cooled significantly on the Spanish 7-footer. Gasol made sense when Houston was pursuing him in the past year and was trying to set up a three-year window with Kyle Lowry, Gasol and another big-man target, Nene. But the person briefed on the Rockets' current plan doubted Gasol would make sense for the franchise anymore.

Berger suggests the Rockets' goal is to move into the top 10 of the draft, either to select a star player or deal the pick in a package for Howard.

For more on the Rockets, visit The Dream Shake and SB Nation Houston.

Rockets Trade Again: Swap Draft Picks With The Bucks, Deal Dalembert

The Rockets may not get Dwight Howard, but it won't be for lack of trying. Houston traded the 14th pick in the draft and Sam Dalembert to the Bucks for their 12th pick, moving up again in Thursday's draft.

Pau Gasol Rumors: Lakers Offering Star Big Man In Trade For Lottery Pick, According To Report

The Los Angeles Lakers could be looking to deal center Pau Gasol in hopes of trading up for a lottery pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, sources told ESPN.com. The Lakers have been gauging Gasol's value around the NBA, and are reportedly hoping to pick up an established player along with a high draft pick.

The Atlanta Hawks and the Houston Rockets are among the teams that may strike a deal with the Lakers. The Hawks have reportedly been pursuing Gasol for a while now, and could offer up Josh Smith in a trade. The Rockets, meanwhile, are stockpiling first round picks as useful leverage in a trade for either Pasol or Dwight Howard. On Wednesday, they sent the No. 14 pick and Samuel Dalembert to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for the No. 12 pick as well as Shaun Livingston, Jon Brockman and Jon Leuer.

As part of any deal, the Lakers are also reportedly asking teams to assume the final two years and $38 million of Gasol's contract. They are also shopping Metta World Peace, though the two years and $15 million remaining on his contract may deter suitors.

For more on Gasol and the Lakers, head over to the SB Nation blog Silver Screen And Roll.

NBA Draft 2012: The Scariest Prospects And Boldest Of Opinions

The 2012 NBA Draft is Thursday, and after a thousand mock drafts and wall-to-wall analysis for weeks, we still don't know what to expect. Let's run down some of the bigger stories.

NBA Draft Rumors: Denver Nuggets And Golden State Warriors Could Make A Deal

The Denver Nuggets have a lot of good young players with reasonable contracts so, not surprisingly, the team's phone is apparently ringing off the hook with trade offers before Thursday night's NBA Draft.

There are probably going to be quite a few new rumors posited over the next 36 hours, but one of the more interesting deals being discussed would be between the Nuggets and Golden State Warriors (via ESPN's Chris Broussard).

Lots of teams calling Denver to trade for Nuggets' young players. 1of several moves being discussed: Wil Chandler to G State for 7th pick

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) June 27, 2012

The above mentioned deal wouldn't work under the salary cap as is, but if Wilson Chandler was traded to Golden State for the No. 7 pick and Dorell Wright, this trade would be possible. That isn't quite as nice for the Warriors, but they're still likely going to be declared winners under that scenario.

For more on the Warriors, please visit Golden State Of Mind and SB Nation Bay Area.

NBA Mock Draft: A Tip Of The Dunce Cap

What if an NBA mock draft wasn't so focused on pretending that all NBA GMs were rational since, you know, they are not? This is what happens.

NBA Trade Rumors: Bobcats Looking To Package Tyrus Thomas With No. 2 Pick

The Charlotte Bobcats have the second overall pick in Thursday night's NBA Draft and, considering Anthony Davis is going to New Orleans with the top selection, No. 2 is where things are expected to get exciting. Charlotte has quite a few positions of need, obviously, but the latest rumors indicate that they're willing to trade the pick.

Michael Jordan's team of experts have already made one trade this week, but the Washington Post is reporting that the Bobcats are interested in making more deals ... as long as they're able to package an underachieving Tyrus Thomas with their top pick, anyway.

According to multiple sources, the Bobcats are trying to convince teams interested in the second pick to also take back disappointing power forward Tyrus Thomas, who has more than $26 million remaining on his contract. Thomas is coming off the worst season since his rookie year as he averaged just 5.6 points and 3.7 rebounds.

When asked if teams would be willing to touch Thomas, one Western Conference executive said, "I don't think so."

Considering it sounds like that might not work out as well as the Bobcats brain trust is hoping, there's apparently one other option on the table the team is considering:

That about sums it up RT @Aykis16: Charlotte Bobcats seriously considering drafting Thomisson Kidd-Bealchrist with the #2 pick.

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 27, 2012

For those not familiar with this situation, it'd essentially be Michael Jordan finding the people in charge of creating the Monstars in Space Jam and then having them mix the talents of Thomas Robinson, Harrison Barnes, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bradley Beal into one super player.

It's currently unclear whether the Bobcats have a better chance of convincing a team to take on Tyrus Thomas or creating Thomisson Kidd-Bealchrist in time for Thursday night's draft.

For more on the Bobcats, please visit Rufus On Fire.

NBA Draft 2012: Andre Drummond, Meyers Leonard Lead Center Class

Andre Drummond and Meyers Leonard lead our top 10 centers available in the 2012 NBA Draft. But both need plenty of proper development to reach their considerable potential.

NBA Draft Rumors: Wizards Entertaining Trade Of No. 3 Pick Likely A Bluff

The Washington Wizards hold the No. 3 overall draft pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, and all indications are that the team will hold on to the choice, but there are some late rumors flying around that the team is taking calls for the pick. The Washington Post's Michael Lee reports that several teams are calling the Wizards for the choice in order to draft Kansas Jayhawks forward Thomas Robinson.

Robinson is also a player of interest to the Charlotte Bobcats at No. 2 overall. The team is reportedly looking to move out of the No. 2 spot, and there are rumors that the Cleveland Cavaliers would give up the fourth and 24th overall picks to move up to the second pick. If the Bobcats make that rumored trade and the Wizards move their pick to a team that wants Robinson, well, tough luck for Charlotte.

ESPN's Chad Ford believes this is definitely a ploy to make Charlotte nervous. As long as Wizards owner Ted Leonsis wants the team to keep the No. 3 overall pick, that is how things will be.

For more on Washington as we approach the draft, check out Wizards blog Bullets Forever and SB Nation DC.

NBA Draft Rumors: Deron Williams Has No Interest Playing For Rockets, According To Report

The Houston Rockets' maneuvering for additional draft picks is being done to pursue Dwight Howard in a trade, according to multiple reports. Howard has no interest in staying in Houston, according to reports, but the Rockets believe they could keep him if they find another star to acquire in a deal.

However, if we get to that point, it doesn't look like Deron Williams qualifies. The Brooklyn Nets' guard, who is a free agent after the season, likely will not add Houston to his wish list, even if the Rockets land Howard. Via Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick:

Source close to Brooklyn PG Deron Williams says Houston not likely to be added to his free agency wish list even if the Rockets get Dwight Howard. Williams is focused on the Nets or Dallas, his hometown team. If Williams felt differently and headed for Houston, and Howard signed the extension that no one thinks he'd ever sign, I'm guessing Rockets GM Daryl Morey would then be given a 27-year extension of his own.

It's unclear if this would stop the Rockets' pursuit of Howard, because even if they fail, they'll be able to begin rebuilding rather than being stuck as a mediocre team.

For more on the Rockets, visit The Dream Shake and SB Nation Houston.

Check out SB Nation Studios' draft profiles here:

Are The Kings Holding Up A Rockets Dwight Howard Trade?

Credit Houston GM Daryl Morey for his ambition, but as the Rockets try to position themselves for a Dwight Howard trade, the Sacramento Kings may not play along with Morey's master plan. After the Rockets acquired an additional first round pick from the Timberwolves Tuesday, there were reports that they would then offer two of their first round picks plus Kyle Lowry to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for the No. 5 pick and Tyreke Evans.

This would allow the Rockets to then offer the Orlando Magic a package of Evans, Kevin Martin and the No. 5 and 18 picks to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Dwight Howard. All in all, that would be a pretty tremendous haul for the Magic. The problem is the Kings.

TNT's David Aldridge reports that there is "no way" Sacramento would do the deal that the Rockets were rumored to be offering. Whether Houston ever even offered the deal remains speculation, but at least for now, Sacramento's answer is clear. And that leaves Houston in limbo.

The Rockets have stockpiled assets -- three first round picks, plus Kyle Lowry and his very attractive contract, and even including Kevin Martin. Now the question is whether they can turn those assets into Dwight Howard or any other superstar before draft day arrives Thursday. It's still early, and Sacramento's not the only team willing to deal before the draft, they were just the most attractive option.

For now, we know this much: Nobody will work harder than Daryl Morey to try and pull a miracle here, but with Sacramento's apparent refusal to deal, it won't be as easy as some thought.

For more on the Kings, visit Sactown Royalty. For more on the Rockets, visit The Dream Shake and SB Nation Houston. For more on the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Check out SB Nation Studios' draft profiles here:

NBA Draft Rumors: Rockets, Kings May Be Discussing Trade Involving Kyle Lowry, Tyreke Evans, According To Report

Fresh off acquiring the No. 18 pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Houston Rockets have another big move on the horizon. The Rockets have reportedly offered a deal that would send Kyle Lowry and the No. 14 and No. 16 picks in the 2012 NBA Draft to the Sacramento Kings for Tyreke Evans and the No. 5 pick, according to Draft Express' Jonathan Givony.

However, Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick reports that the trade offer never happened.

The Rockets continue to look to assemble assets in a trade package for Dwight Howard, and if this offer was indeed on the table, it would provide them with two strong assets in Evans and the No. 5 pick. Evans has fallen out of favor with the Kings after struggling with a move to small forward, but he is only two years removed from winning the rookie of the year award in a landslide. The Rockets could use Evans and the No. 5 pick as their top assets in a Howard trade, or they could keep them.

The Kings, meanwhile, would acquire Lowry, one of the league's top bargains, if they make this deal. Lowry was in the running for an All-Star berth before suffering a midseason illness, and he has a very friendly contract ($5.7 million next year, $6.2 million, but only $1 million guaranteed, in 2013-14). Lowry would play alongside promising rookie Isaiah Thomas and shooting guard Marcus Thornton. The Kings also would be able to take on two draft picks in a deep draft.

It remains to be seen if this proposal goes through. Stay tuned.

For more on the Kings, visit Sactown Royalty. For more on the Rockets, visit The Dream Shake and SB Nation Houston.

Why 2013 Is Dictating The NBA Rumors We See In 2012

Why are you hearing the same names pop up in trade rumors leading up to the draft? All you have to do is look a year down the line.

Chase Budinger Traded To Minnesota Timberwolves For No. 18 Pick

The Houston Rockets have big plans to potentially acquire Dwight Howard, and they may have taken their first step to putting those plans into action. The Rockets have dealt reserve swingman Chase Budinger to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for the No. 18 overall pick, according to Draft Express' Jonathan Givony. The Wolves also receive the rights to Israeli player Lior Eliyahu, who will reportedly join Minnesota for summer league play.

The Rockets may very well use the 18th pick, along with their current selections at No. 14 and No. 16, to put together in a trade package for Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard. Houston probably will need one more selection to entice the Magic, but they could accomplish that goal by trading point guard Kyle Lowry, as has been rumored.

Even if the Rockets pull that off and put together a good trade package, they will have to overcome Howard's own misgivings with the franchise. NBA.com's David Aldridge reports that Howard has no interest in signing with the Rockets long-term right now.

The Timberwolves, meanwhile, secure a player that had success in coach Rick Adelman's system when Adelman coached there. Budinger is a strong three-point shooter that has struggled to carve out a consistent role because of his poor defense.

For more on the Rockets, visit The Dream Shake and SB Nation Houston. For more on the Timberwolves, visit Canis Hoopus and SB Nation Minnesota.

NBA Draft 2012: Anthony Davis Is Top Power Forward, But Perry Jones, John Henson Are Close Behind

Anthony Davis is the 2012 NBA Draft's obvious best power forward. Who lands behind him in Jonathan Tjarks' top 10 may, however, surprise you.

NBA Draft Rumors: John Henson Separating Himself From The Pack

The 2012 NBA Draft lottery is an especially fickle beast, as there are quite a few players that have been unable to separate themselves from the pack. Things are getting a bit clearer following individual teams' group workouts, though, and North Carolina big man John Henson seems to be the most recent beneficiary.

Henson worked out for the Detroit Pistons on Monday and was apparently really, really good. So good, in fact, that ESPN's Chad Ford felt forced to alter his most recent mock draft after hearing the results.

Meyers Leonard occupied this spot for roughly six hours before Henson reclaimed it. Why? Henson, Leonard, Tyler Zeller, Perry Jones, Terrence Jones and Jared Sullinger all worked out in Detroit on Monday and the consensus was that Henson really shined. The Pistons really need a shot-blocker and Henson fits the bill.

It's unclear what person would be telling Ford that Henson was so outstanding without something to gain from the process, but we'll trust his judgment if he was willing to alter his entire mock draft.

For more on the 2012 NBA Draft, stay tuned to SB Nation's NBA hub.

NBA Draft Rumors: Moe Harkless Workout A Sign Sacramento Kings Are Trading Down?

The 2012 NBA Draft rumors are sure to get interesting over the next 48 hours, but fallout from the weekend's trade talk is still coming to the surface. Some of the latest is seeming confirmation that the Houston Rockets will make a deal with the Sacramento Kings in their convoluted approach to acquiring Dwight Howard.

The Rockets were said to be trying to use their 14 and 16 picks to move up into the first round with the Kings and Toronto Raptors, respectively. Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick connected the dots in his latest column and explained how it seems the Kings are definitely involved, among other things.

Sources confirmed an ESPN.com report from Sunday night that Sacramento was among the teams talking with the Rockets, and it made perfect sense then that the Kings were suddenly bringing in a number of prospects expected to be taken later than their fifth pick. St. John's small forward Moe Harkless is among them, and the way in which he agreed to a Monday workout was revealing.

Harkless worked out for Golden State (No. 7) on Sunday, and was then asked by the Kings to come by on Monday before leaving the region. The unique part, I was told, was that the workout was enough of an organizational priority that at least one member of the Maloof family that owns the team was among those team representatives doing the asking.

Whether a trade ultimately gets done probably depends on if the Orlando Magic is going to accept the Rockets' new package, but it seems that Sacramento is at least preparing to move down on Thursday night.

For more on the 2012 NBA Draft, stay tuned to SB Nation's NBA hub.

Jeremy Lamb Says Andre Drummond Can Be Great 'If He Wants To Work'

All bets are off ahead of the NBA Draft as players position themselves in hopes of moving up boards through workouts and interviews. On Monday, we saw a bit of friendly fire as Jeremy Lamb threw former UConn teammate Andre Drummond right under the bus with a quote that just isn't a good look for either of the two.

Ben Golliver has the full transcript of Lamb's interview. The key quote, about whether or not Andre Drummond can be great, is last.

It depends on if he wants to work. He's a great athlete. He can jump. He can block shots. He can rebound. I always say, it's funny, we will have an early practice at like 8 AM, and everyone is trying to get warmed up and stuff. He'll just come out and do a windmill to warm up. His bounce is amazing. I believe he's going to work hard, develop post moves, I think he can be a great pro.

For Drummond, it's not a great sign that a teammate is saying he can be great if he puts in the work. For Lamb ... dang, why are you throwing a teammate under the bus? This isn't something that reflects well on either player at all.

2012 NBA Draft: Full List Of Green Room Invitees

Anthony Davis headlines the list of green room invitees at the NBA Draft, which features surprise choice Terrence Ross. Jared Sullinger and Kendall Marshall were the most notable omissions.

NBA Draft 2012: Jared Sullinger Won't Be Invited To Green Room, According To Report

Ohio State power forward Jared Sullinger will not get to sit in the green room for the 2012 NBA Draft on June 28 at the Prudential Center, ESPN.com reports. NBA executive vice president Stu Jackson said that the league has received reports that Sullinger is not likely to be draft in the Top 15. Only potential lottery picks earn invites.

Sullinger will wait to hear his name called from a Columbus, OH, restaurant instead. His father and high school coach, Satch Sullinger, said that his son isn't discouraged by the snub.

"He wants the opportunity to play," Satch Sullinger said. "He knows he'll play in the NBA. All it does is give him motivation. This just keeps him hungry and he'll earn it. It's a business. He's going to play in the NBA, whatever number he goes doesn't matter. He's going to be like a top five pick in the NBA."

Jared Sullinger's stock has fallen since the end of his sophomore season with the Buckeyes due to perceived back problems. Sullinger's camp maintains that the issue is only muscular, and is not a disk problem.

The official list green-room list will be released by the NBA on Tuesday.

For more on the 2012 NBA Draft, stay tuned to SB Nation's NBA hub.

NBA Trade Rumors: Luol Deng Assured He Won't Be Traded To Warriors, According To Report

Luol Deng and the Chicago Bulls have been together for quite awhile, but while the former is preparing to play for Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics, the latter is popping up in quite a few NBA trade rumors.

One of those rumors had the Bulls trading Deng to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Andris Biedrins, Dorrell Wright and the seventh pick in this week's NBA Draft. That apparently won't be the case, however, as Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday morning that Deng has been told he won't be going to Golden State.

The Bulls have privately assured Luol Deng that there's "no chance" of a deal sending him to the Warriors, league source tells Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 25, 2012

The key caveat in that Tweet is that the Bulls have simply told Deng that he won't be headed to the Warriors, not that he won't be traded at all. This could get interesting.

For more on Deng and the Bulls, head over to Blog a Bull and check out SB Nation Chicago.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: SB Nation Bloggers Take Over

What happened when SB Nation's NBA team bloggers got together to mock up the 2012 NBA Draft?

More: Rumor Mill In High Gear

NBA Draft: Top 10 Small Forwards Led By Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

A few small forwards in the 2012 NBA Draft have lots of hype, but Michael Kidd-Gilchrist stands out from the pack.

NBA Trade Rumors: Dwight Howard The Ultimate Target Of Houston Rockets Draft Deals

NBA trade rumors are going to get hot and heavy leading up to the 2012 NBA Draft, but the biggest deal out there still involves Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. The two worlds are going to collide by Thursday night, though, if Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has anything to say about it.

News broke over the weekend that the Rockets are trying to deal picks 14 and 16 to get into the top 10 -- the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors seem to be their willing trade partners -- but that would only be the first part of a complex trade, apparently. That's because, according to ESPN's duo of Marc Stein and Chad Ford, the Rockets would then look to trade those picks to the Orlando Magic for a Dwight Howard rental.

Upon hearing of Sunday night's developments, one rival general manager told ESPN.com that he believes Houston's real aim is acquiring two top-10 picks this week to turn around quickly and offer both to the Orlando Magic as part of a considerable trade offer for Dwight Howard.

The Rockets' willingness to trade for Howard -- even without the All-Star center's signature on a contract extension -- is an open secret around the league. But it's believed that two top-eight picks, assuming Houston managed to complete trades with both Sacramento and Toronto, would seriously pique the interest of new Magic general manager Rob Hennigan, who could then quickly start following the same sort of roster-building blueprint relied on by his previous employers in Oklahoma City.

If newly-hired Magic GM Rob Hennigan is able to pull off this deal -- a very good one if he's looking to start from scratch -- he'll have made the Magic an almost 100 percent different team, considering he's already cleaned out the entire former front office regime and is looking for a new head coach as well.

For more on the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post.

2012 NBA Draft: Celtics Could Consider Moving Up

The Boston Celtics are going to have to make some decisions when it comes to NBA free agency and could need a contingency plan if the team loses Ray Allen. Even if Allen returns, Boston could consider moving up in the first-round of the 2012 NBA Draft, according to Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald.

Regardless of whether Ray Allen returns - a good question both in the minds of the player and the team - the Celtics have to get younger and more athletic on the wing. The Celtics, with the 21st and 22nd picks in the first round, aren't currently in line for a Cadillac scorer. But they have hinted at a desire to move up.

Murphy mentions that two of the players Boston could be targeting are North Carolina's Harrison Barnes and Washington's Terrence Ross. There is also a mention that the Celtics could consider head coach Doc Rivers' son, Austin Rivers, who has impressed scouts through his workouts.

For more on the Celtics, head over to CelticsBlog. Stay tuned to SB Nation's NBA hub for more news surrounding the 2012 NBA Draft.

2012 NBA Draft: Rockets Look To Move Up In Draft

There have been various rumors on what the Houston Rockets could do with their pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, most thinking it would be involved in a trade of some kind. According to Chad Ford and Marc Stein of ESPN, the thought now is that the Rockets will be looking to move up in the draft.

Sources say that Houston has discussed deals with several teams in the top 10 about moving up in the draft. And the Rockets might have found two willing partners.

Although sources stressed that no deal is imminent, Sacramento (No. 5) and Toronto (No. 8 ) have let Houston know that their top-10 selections are available. Sources say that the Rockets, in turn, have made both of their first-round picks available (No. 14 and No. 16), but the key to any trade going through could be point guard Kyle Lowry.

According to the report, the Rockets have an affection for Connecticut big man Andre Drummond. The 18-year old 7-footer is believed by many to have massive upside in the draft and Houston could be prepared to part with both of their first-round picks to move up for Drummond.

For more on the Rockets, head over to The Dream Shake. Stay tuned to SB Nation's NBA hub for more news surrounding the 2012 NBA Draft.

NBA Draft Rumors: Hornets Considering Tyler Zeller At No. 10

The New Orleans Hornets are considering UNC center Tyler Zeller with the No. 10 pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, sources tell the New Orleans Times-Picayune. The Hornets are in need of a big man after trading Emeka Okafor to the Washington Wizards last week.

Coupled with the expected selection of Kentucky power forward Anthony Davis with the first overall pick, New Orleans would be giving its frontcourt a major (and much-needed) infusion of talent. Zeller was the 2012 ACC Player of the Year and a second team All-American after averaging 16.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for the Tar Heels last season.

With Okafor gone and Chris Kaman not expected to re-sign, Zeller could potentially see a lot of minutes in New Orleans if selected. Jason Smith and Gustavo Ayon are the only other players on the roster who spent any significant time at center.

Zeller worked out for the Hornets on June 4, along with Illinois' Meyers Leonard, Mississippi State's Arnett Moultrie and Kentucky's Terrence Jones.

For more on the Hornets, head over to At The Hive. Stay tuned to SB Nation's NBA hub for more news surrounding the 2012 NBA Draft.

Kings Could Trade NBA Draft Pick, According To Report

The Sacramento Kings are weighing all of their options with the No. 5 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, including whether to trade the selection. Player personnel director Jerry Reynolds told the Sacramento Bee that the team will entertain trade proposals through the June 28 draft date.

"We're going to have some decent choices, maybe more than one," Reynolds said. "This is the weekend before the storm, so to speak. Geoff (Petrie) will start to get flooded with calls. As time goes by, there might be trade possibilities that would be better than the pick. We'll have options."

If the Kings do elect to keep the pick, they could have their pick of a number of quality prospects, including Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Harrison Barnes.

For more on the Kings, head over to the SB Nation blog Sactown Royalty. Stay tuned to SB Nation's NBA hub for more news surrounding the 2012 NBA Draft.

NBA Draft Rumors: Cavaliers May Explore Trade To Get No. 2 Pick, According To Report

The 2012 NBA Draft is less than a week away, so there will likely be a number of rumors to hit the airwaves. The latest one suggests that the Cleveland Cavaliers, who own the No. 4 and No. 24 picks in the first round, may look to move up to the No. 2 pick, currently owned by the Charlotte Bobcats. Via Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick.

As Charlotte continues to ponder its decision at No. 2, numerous executives expect the Bobcats to be approached by Cleveland (No. 4) about the possibility of swapping picks (if it hasn't happened already) in order for the Cavaliers to land Florida shooting guard Bradley Beal.

Why would the Cavaliers move up? The likelihood of Beal being available with their own No. 4 pick may be slim. The Washington Wizards, who pick at No. 3, just completed a deal to land Trevor Ariza, making it more likely that they draft Beal to fill a hole at shooting guard and provide much-needed perimeter shooting. If the Cavaliers decide they desperately need to draft Beal, trading up may be the only way it happens. On the other hand, Amick reports that star Kyrie Irving would like to see the Cavaliers draft Harrison Barnes, and they could also take Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

For more on the Cavaliers, visit Fear the Sword and SB Nation Cleveland. For more NBA Draft rumors, visit this StoryStream.

2012 NBA Draft: Is Bradley Beal The Best Shooting Guard?

Bradley Beal is expected to go No. 3 in the 2012 NBA Draft, but Jonathan Tjarks ranks him as only the No. 3 shooting guard prospect available, behind Terrence Ross and Jeremy Lamb.

Report: Royce White Promised No. 21 Pick By Celtics

Iowa State power forward Royce White has apparently been given a promise by the Boston Celtics that he will be selected with the 21st overall pick. Chad Ford reported the news via Twitter.

Looks like a team may have promised Royce White. He's pulled out of all remaining workouts and gone silent. Not injured.

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 22, 2012

More on Royce White. Now hearing more definitely promise is from Celtics at 21.

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 22, 2012

White's an interesting story: He was originally a player for Minnesota, but after a laptop stealing incident, decided to leave the school by posting a melodramatic YouTube video saying he'd never play college basketball again. He ended up at ISU, where he averaged 13.4 and 9.3 in his only collegiate season, including a double-double against UConn in the NCAA Tournament and 23 and nine in the next round against Kentucky. Most mockers have him somewhere in the 20's, so a promise by Boston at 21 would make some sense.

However, there could be another explanation: White has long suffered from a severe anxiety problem, mainly surrounding getting on planes, which could be an issue in a potential draftees' schedule of jetting across the country from team to team. Jonathan Givorny of Draft Express had this to tweet:

Its possible that White feels good about where he's getting drafted, but also possible that he really can't get on a flight to work out.

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 22, 2012

Hopefully, that isn't the case -- it would be sad to see White's career derailed by his anxiety. Even if he makes the NBA, it's unclear how his fear of flying will work out.

For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston. For more on the upcoming NBA Draft, stick with SB Nation's NBA Draft page.

2012 NBA Draft: Damian Lillard Leads Top 10 Point Guards Available

The 2012 NBA Draft will not be supplying any great point guards, but there are some interesting prospects. Jonathan Tjarks runs down the top 10.

NBA Draft 2012: Harrison Barnes To Work Out For Bobcats On Thursday

The Charlotte Bobcats might be for real, they might just be doing their due diligence, or they might just be trolling. In any event, here's the news everyone's been waiting for.

Harrison Barnes works out for #Bobcats Thursday.

— Rick Bonnell (@rick_bonnell) June 20, 2012

Harrison Barnes, who went back to college last season to 'work on his brand' only to see his brand diminish significantly, could actually be a consideration for the Charlotte Bobcats with the No. 2 overall pick. For months, Charlotte's presumed choice was between the athleticism of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the relative polish and safety of Thomas Robinson and the seven feet of unfulfilled potential that is Andre Drummond, but they could be flying in the face of conventional wisdom.

Whether it's because the Bobcats are banking on a Tar Heel putting butts in seats or they actually think Barnes is the second best player in the draft, word is that they are seriously considering him at No. 2. Maybe they know something about him that everyone else doesn't.

For more on professionalish basketball in Charlotte, check out Rufus On Fire.

Wizards-Hornets Trade Increases Likelihood Washington Will Select Bradley Beal In 2012 NBA Draft

The Washington Wizards swapped Rashard Lewis and a second round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft for a couple of probable frontcourt starters on Wednesday, adding Emeka Okefor and Trevor Ariza from the New Orleans Hornets. They should slot into the Wizards' starting five alongside Nene next season if the team doesn't make any more big moves.

They already have one other starter set in point guard John Wall, leaving a gaping hole at shooting guard. Most pegged the Wizards to take whichever one of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Thomas Robinson didn't go to the Charlotte Bobcats at No. 2 overall, but they might be taking a player for need instead of taking the player that most analysts believe is the best player available.

Florida Gators shooting guard Bradley Beal is a lottery lock and a top-5 talent in the eyes of many, and he could be headed to Washington as a result of Wednesday's trade. If the Wizards don't have a large gap between Beal and the other available players on their draft board, it makes sense, but many are going to see the selection as a reach for need if it does happen.

For more on the Wizards, head over to Bullets Forever and SB Nation DC. For more on the upcoming NBA Draft, stick with SB Nation's NBA Draft page.

NBA Mock Draft: Question Marks Abound!

We're about a week away from the 2012 NBA Draft ... and no one has any clue what will happen after the No. 1 pick. Let's randomly list 29 names!

Harrison Barnes At No. 2: The New Most Charlotte Bobcats Thing Ever

NBA Draft Rumors: Hornets Looking At Power Forwards With No. 10 Pick

The New Orleans Hornets will certainly select power forward Anthony Davis with the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft on June 28. But it looks like they may take another big man with the No. 10 selection. John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune talked to Hornets coach Monty Williams about recent workouts and the type of players New Orleans is looking for.

"There is more bigs, in my opinion, that fit what we're looking for," Hornets Coach Monty Williams said after Monday's workout at the Alario Center. "With the number of guards available, most of them are going to go a lot of higher than our 10th pick, so that may have something to do with it."

The Hornets have huge needs at point guard and small forward; beyond Davis, the team has high-paid Emeka Okafor and Gustavo Ayon up front, plus free agents Chris Kaman and Carl Landry. The draft's best point guard, Damian Lillard, is expected to go as high as No. 6 and probably no lower than No. 8. That could leave Kendall Marshall for the Hornets at No. 10, if they're convinced he can affect the game as much as an available second big like Jared Sullinger, John Henson or Perry Jones III could.

For more on the Hornets, visit At The Hive.

Jared Sullinger's Back Raises Red Flags Among NBA Teams, According To Report

Jared Sullinger's balky back was red-flagged by NBA doctors, according to a report.

NBA Draft 2012: Detroit Pistons Plan Critical Workout For Next Monday

The Detroit Pistons probably have a draft board set, along with some idea of who they want to select at No. 9 overall, but a few players are going to have a chance to influence the organization's opinion of them with a big workout next week. Six players will be traveling to Detroit for a workout where they'll probably be playing a good deal of basketball against each other in a fight to be the ninth overall pick.

Awesome workout in Detroit next Monday for No. 9 pick: Sullinger, Zeller, Leonard, Henson, T. Jones, P. Jones

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 18, 2012

There's a very good chance that all six of those players will be available when the Pistons pick. Currently, in Sam Amick's mock draft at SI.com, only Jones is projected to be selected before the Pistons make their selection. Amick currently has the Pistons taking Tyler Zeller.

For more on the Pistons, head over to Detroit Bad Boys and SB Nation Detroit.

NBA Rumors: Bulls May Look To Trade Luol Deng, According To Report

Luol Deng may be on the trading block for the Chicago Bulls, league sources told The Daily Herald. The forward was a valuable asset on both ends of the floor last season, and even led the league in minutes per game. The Bulls are running up against the luxury tax, however, with $56 million tied up in the salaries of Deng, Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah.

Of the four, Deng seems to make the most sense as trade bait. Rose is too invaluable to the team, and it will be difficult to spark much interest for the aging Boozer. Mobile seven-footers like Noah are hard to come by, leaving Deng as the potential odd man out.

Also factoring into a potential trade is Deng's decision to wait until after the 2012 London Olympics to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. As a result, he could miss the start of the 2012-13 season.

The Bulls could find several interested suitors. Minnesota, Toronto, Portland, Milwaukee, New Orleans and Sacramento are all young squads potentially willing to trade away a lottery pick for a veteran presence.

Chicago doesn't have an eye on a specific target in the 2012 NBA Draft. The team had a draft camp meeting with UNC's Harrison Barnes, though Duke's Austin Rivers, UConn's Jeremy Lamb and Syracuse's Dion Waiters are also options.

For more on Deng and the Bulls, head over to Blog a Bull and check out SB Nation Chicago.

NBA Draft 2012: Anthony Davis To Work Out For Hornets On Tuesday

Anthony Davis, the likely No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, will conduct a solo workout with the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday, the team announced. Davis will almost certainly be the Hornets' pick when the 2012 NBA Draft kicks off on June 28, so the workout is mostly a formality.

The Hornets have not officially declared their intentions to select Davis with the No. 1 pick, but it's all but a foregone conclusion that he will be the guy. The NBA refuses to let the team with No. 1 pick announce its selection before the live broadcast of the draft, which explains why the Hornets have not said anything.

Davis has not conducted any workouts to this point, but his body of work in college is enough to make him the obvious top pick. The Kentucky star recently announced his decision to have Wasserman Media Group represent him, ending the last bit of suspense surrounding his draft status.

For more on the Hornets, visit At The Hive.

NBA Draft 2012: Bradley Beal, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Work Out Together For Bobcats

In what may be the most critical team workout to date, the Charlotte Bobcats are hosting top draft picks Bradley Beal and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist together on Monday. Both players are expected to be among the top five selected in the draft, so their performance against each other could go a long way in determining the Bobcats' decision with the No. 2 pick.

Both Kidd-Gilchrist and Beal have begun to work out for more teams. Kidd-Gilchrist conducted a solo workout with the Wizards, who hold the No. 3 pick, on Friday. Beal worked out for the Wizards on Thursday, then joined fellow potential top five pick Harrison Barnes for a workout with the Cavaliers, who hold the No. 4 pick, on Saturday.

The Bobcats are rumored to be open to trading the pick, but if they make the selection, most believe the team will decide between Kidd-Gilchrist, Beal, Barnes and Kansas forward Thomas Robinson.

For more on the Bobcats, visit Rufus on Fire.

Tony Wroten Admits Trouble Defending Retired Brandon Roy, Which Says Something

NBA Draft 2012: Trade Rumors Swirl Around Houston Rockets

The 2012 NBA Draft is slowly but surely creeping closer, and although most basketball aficionados have been watching the finals, there's still plenty of buzz happening when it comes to the new class of rookies. It's difficult to say where exactly the players will go considering there are plenty of workouts still planned, but the trade rumors are in full blossom.

One of the teams reportedly willing to make a deal are the Houston Rockets, according to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express. The Rockets currently own the No. 14 and 16 picks, but it likely won't stay that way, according to a tidbit Givony included in his most recent mock draft.

This pick is widely assumed to be in play, as the Rockets have a number of young prospects on their roster and may not be looking to bring two more rookies into the fold. Regardless of whether its them making the pick, Tyler Zeller is a safe bet to come off the board at this stage, as he's simply too big, talented and productive not to have an impact on someone's rotation.

The Rockets are likely going to need to invest in a Kyle Lowry replacement just in case with one of their two first round picks, but the second could look pretty attractive if a team's interested in picking up a guy that starts to fall on draft night.

For more on the Rockets, be sure to visit The Dream Shake and SB Nation Houston. For more coverage of the 2012 NBA Draft and all of the rumors that come with it, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated StoryStream.

NBA Draft 2012: Bradley Beal Impresses At Wizards' Workout

Former Florida Gators guard Bradley Beal participated in a workout with the Washington Wizards on Thursday, along with two other players who intend to enter the upcoming 2012 NBA draft: Hollis Thompson and Quincy Roberts.

Mike Prada at Bullets Forever reports that Beal definitely impressed, looking like the clear standout among the three soon-to-be rookies. Beal spoke to reporters about how he was able to really start putting his game together over the past year:

"Throughout the year, I was struggling because I wasn't having too much fun," Beal told reporters. "I was too worried about my shot rather than doing other things to impact the game. [But] once those things started happening, my shot started falling and I started having fun again."

Washington fans will see whether Beal ends up being the top pick for the Wizards in this year's draft. Prada has many more notes from Beal's workout, so click through and give that a read.

For lots more on the Washington Wizards, please visit Bullets Forever or stop by SB Nation D.C.

NBA Draft 2012: Jeremy Lamb Injures Ankle During Workout With Raptors

Early June is one of the worst times for an NBA draft prospect to suffer an injury, but luckily for Connecticut's Jeremy Lamb, it doesn't appear that the ankle injury he suffered during a Thursday workout with the Toronto Raptors is serious.

Lamb limped off the court two minutes into his session with the Raptors, but Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick reports that Lamb will be OK:

UConn guard Jeremy Lamb turned an ankle at his Toronto workout today that was cut short as a result, but I'm told it's not serious.

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 14, 2012

Draft Express' Jonathan Givony confirmed that the injury wasn't that big a deal, but did add that Lamb had to cancel an upcoming workout with the Portland Trail Blazers and may have to do the same for future workouts with the Suns and Cavaliers. Lamb is projected to be selected by the Suns with the No. 13 pick in Amick's latest NBA mock draft.

For more on Lamb, visit The UConn Blog. For more on the Raptors, visit Raptors HQ.

2012 NBA Draft Rumors: Thomas Robinson To Work Out For Bobcats On June 22

The Charlotte Bobcats still seem willing to trade the No. 2 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft if they can receive an established player in return, but if they keep the selection, it looks like Thomas Robinson is edging into the lead. The Kansas big man will work out for the club on June 22, and he appears to be their top choice right now, according to Draft Express' Jonathan Givony.

Robinson will likely perform for other teams before then, but as of right now, his only workout was with the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

In his latest NBA mock draft, Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick has the Bobcats taking Robinson with the No. 2 pick, but notes that Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is another possibility. The Bobcats continue to shop the pick, though, with the latest rumor suggesting they may be eying Oklahoma City Thunder sixth man James Harden.

For more on the Bobcats, visit Rufus on Fire.

NBA Draft Rumors: Bobcats Looking To Trade No. 2 Pick, May Be Targeting James Harden

One of the worst-kept secrets of the 2012 NBA Draft is that the Charlotte Bobcats are looking to trade the No. 2 pick for an established player. Having failed to win the Anthony Davis derby, the Bobcats seemingly would rather have several young assets or a more established player than the No. 2 pick.

A new potential trade target has emerged, and he is currently playing in the 2012 NBA Finals. James Harden, the Oklahoma City Thunder's ace sixth man, was mentioned as a possible return for the No. 2 pick, according to CBS Sports' Jeff Goodman.

One source said that Oklahoma City's James Harden could be in play due to the Thunder's salary situation following next season. GM Sam Presti already has Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook on the books for more than $29 million next season -- and both Harden and Serge Ibaka will command huge contracts after the 2012-13 campaign.

This does not mean that the Thunder will look to trade Harden, though. From the sounds of it, Goodman's source is not affiliated with the Thunder and is only guessing a possible target based on the Thunder's salary-cap quandary.

Earlier Thursday, SB Nation's Tom Ziller argued that, if the Thunder can only keep one of Harden and Ibaka due to money concerns, it should be Ibaka.

For more on the Bobcats, visit Rufus on Fire. For more on the Thunder, visit Welcome to Loud City and SB Nation Kansas City.

Jesse Jackson Bores Bradley Beal

NBA Draft 2012: Harrison Barnes, Bradley Beal Working Out Together For Cavaliers Saturday

The Cleveland Cavaliers are holding a workout over the weekend that could potentially decide the No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Harrison Barnes and Bradley Beal, two lottery locks who are not expected to go in the first three picks of the draft, will both be working out for the Cavs over the weekend according to Jeff Goodman at CBS Sports.

Harrison Barnes vs. Bradley Beal in Cleveland on Saturday, source told CBSSports. Should be interesting to see what happens in that one.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanCBS) June 14, 2012

Cleveland will almost certainly have both Barnes and Beal available to them when they make their selection. Unless one of them does something in workouts to make the Charlotte Bobcats or Washington Wizards absolutely fall in love with them, the teams picking at Nos. 2 and 3 overall are probably going to take two of Thomas Robinson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Andre Drummond. One of those players, along with Barnes and Beal, are likely to be Cleveland's biggest considerations.

For more on the Cavs, head over to Fear The Sword and SB Nation Cleveland.

NBA Draft Rumors: Hornets Looking To Trade No. 10 Pick For Future Assets

The New Orleans Hornets have all but already selected Anthony Davis with the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Draft rumors still surround the team, however, because New Orleans is also in possession of a second lottery pick they're not 100 percent sure what to do with.

The latest "buzz" (get it?) according to Hoops World, however, is that the Hornets are hoping to find a suitable trade that will help them get better -- and younger -- in the near future.

The buzz in Chicago during the Draft Combine was that the Hornets wanted a lot in return for the 10th pick, and that could include the absorbing of some unfavorable contracts -- Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza get mentioned a lot -- but more importantly any deal needs to return draft assets down the road.

Most teams that are holding on to more than one first round pick are trying to deal the lesser pick this year in exchange for a second round pick this year and a future first rounder down the road. The Hornets seem to be looking at something similar. Sources close to the situation say the team is not trying to shed dollars as much as they are trying to reshape the roster. Don't expect them to "dump" guys like Okafor or Ariza just for cap space or to dump their contracts.

The Hornets shouldn't have much trouble finding the necessary suitors, but it's always a gamble to trade a lottery pick this year for what one hopes will be a better pick next year.

For more on the Hornets, be sure to visit At The Hive. For more coverage of the 2012 NBA Draft and all of the rumors that come with it, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated StoryStream.

Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones III Among Top Draft Prospects Working Out For Blazers Wednesday

The Portland Trail Blazers hosted a group of 12 players for a pre-draft workout on Wednesday. During the workout, the prospects split up into two separate workouts. The first workout included players who are widely considered to be second-round talents or players who will not be drafted while the second workout was for four players who are considered lottery picks, plus a couple of borderline first-round talents.

Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones, Terrence Jones, John Henson, Darius Johnson-Odom and Marquis Teague were the six players who participated in the second workout. The first four of that group could all be reasonable considerations for the Blazers at No. 6 overall. The team also has the No. 11 overall pick, and it's very possible that a couple of those players could fall that far. Blazers owner Paul Allen reportedly attended the workouts.

In Sam Amick's latest mock draft for SI.com, none of those four players are going to the Blazers. Amick currently projects center Andre Drummond as the No. 6 overall pick and guard Dion Waiters as the No. 11 overall pick.

For more on the Blazers, head over to Blazer's Edge. You can read more about Jared Sullinger at Land-Grant Holy Land and more on Perry Jones at Our Daily Bears.

NBA Draft 2012: Thomas Robinson Works Out For Wizards

It's the time of year when NBA Draft prospects start working out for individual teams and the Washington Wizards conducted what could ultimately be an important workout on Wednesday. Washington, D.C. native and presumed top-three draft pick Thomas Robinson was at the Wizards' practice facility to strut his stuff for the coaching staff, but the media in attendance wasn't allowed to see much.

Bullets Forever was on the scene and relayed some quotes from Robinson after the workout.

Robinson's jump shot appears to be a focus of his as he prepares for the draft ... "I just want to keep playing my game. That's what got me here, and it's what's going to keep me here," he said when asked if his jumper was a point of emphasis for him in these workout. "But if I can hit an open shot, that'll help once I get into the league. ...That's not the main focus of my game, but if the ball is thrown to me and I'm open, I want to be able to hit the shot."

Over at SI.com, Sam Amick has Robinson going No. 2 overall to the Charlotte Bobcats in his most recent mock draft. The Kansas power forward appears to be in contention with Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to be that No. 2 overall pick, and the Wizards might end up stuck with whichever one the Bobcats don't prefer.

For more on the Wizards, head over to Bullets Forever and SB Nation DC. For more on Robinson, check out Kansas Jayhawks blog Rock Chalk Talk.

NBA Draft Combine: Athletic Testing Results Add To Intrigue

The NBA Draft Combine was held in Chicago last week, and while there have been plenty of things taken away from the on-court drills and such, the majority of the top prospects didn't participate in them. Everyone participated in the measurements and athletic testing, however, making Tuesday's release of that data especially intriguing.

It's not quite as easy to get overwhelmed by amazing results at the NBA combine as it is in the NFL's version, but there's likely still going to be some decision-makers breaking ties between potential prospects based on their athleticism.

So, with all of that in mind, the database over at Draft Express should be carefully pored over throughout the next couple of weeks. There you'll learn Harrison Barnes is fast and can jump high, Miles Plumlee could leap up and grab something over 12 feet in the air, Meyers Leonard is pretty strong, Jared Sullinger isn't very agile, and Will Barton isn't exactly an athletic specimen according to the numbers.

After looking at all of that, though, NBA decison makers: please remember to go back and watch these players actually play basketball before making picks that are going to alter your franchise for the next ten years.

For more coverage of the 2012 NBA Draft and all of the rumors that come with it, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated StoryStream.

NBA Draft Rumors: Perry Jones, Terrence Jones Fail To Impress In Warriors Workout

With last week's NBA Combine now in the rearview mirror, individual teams' pre-draft workouts are going to be the focus of the NBA for the next couple of weeks. One of the first big ones featuring top prospects took place on Monday with the Golden State Warriors hosting potential lottery picks Terrence Jones, Perry Jones III and Tyler Zeller.

The Warriors were hoping that one of the Joneses would show his ability to play the small forward. That didn't end up being the case, however, according to Marcus Thompson.

When all was said and done Monday, neither Baylor's Perry Jones nor Kentucky's Terrence Jones wowed Warriors management, according to sources. They're good players with top-level talent, sure. And both played well. But they didn't do enough to make the Warriors fall in love, which is probably what had to happen for either of them to be the No. 7 overall pick.

Both players still have one major question hanging over their heads: can they play small forward at the NBA level? Neither answered that question, at least not definitively, with their performance in Monday's workout, which means No. 7 may be too high for either.

The good news is that Zeller apparently was pretty impressive, according to Thompson. The best news, though? One of the six players the Warriors worked out was named Jet Chang ... and another was Festus Ezeli!

For more coverage of the 2012 NBA Draft and all of the rumors that come with it, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated StoryStream.

NBA Draft Rumors: Quincy Miller Says He's Healthy, But Questions Still Surround His Stock

Quincy Miller wasn't the story of the Baylor Bears this season like some had figured he would be coming out of high school. The small forward was still able to earn Co-Freshman of the Year honors in the Big 12 conference as he recovered from an ACL injury, but rumor has it that NBA executives still aren't sure of his health heading into the 2012 NBA Draft.

It didn't help that Miller apparently struggled a bit at last week's NBA Draft Combine, but he told Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick that he felt good in Chicago.

"I'm physically back to 100 percent," Miller said. "During the season it was progressively getting better, but now I'm back to 100 percent. I think teams believe that I'm back. They've seen me play enough. They see my movement is way better than it was during the season. They see a different player now."

While that's better than being less than 100 percent, of course, Amick's notes went on to implicate that NBA decision makers aren't quite as sure of Miller as he is of himself.

Miller said he expects to go anywhere from the late lottery to "the 20s," but one general manager said he could fall to the second round. Miller said he has workouts scheduled with Cleveland (Nos. 4, 24, 33 and 34 picks), Detroit (9, 39 and 44), Golden State (7, 30, 35 and 52), Houston (14 and 16), Denver (20, 38 and 50) and Dallas (17 and 55).

This will definitely be an interesting story to keep an eye on going forward as Miller goes through workouts, giving a better indication as to where he'll end up being selected in the Draft.

For more coverage of the 2012 NBA Draft and all of the rumors that come with it, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated StoryStream.

NBA Draft Rumors: Meyers Leonard Shooting Up Draft Boards

At this stage in the pre-draft process, one of the hottest names is Illinois center Meyers Leonard.

Leonard was under the radar for most of the season for an Illini team who had a head coach (Bruce Weber) that was fired for missing the NCAA Tournament. He has impressed NBA scouts with his "tremendous upside potential", as Hubie Brown would say.

A chiseled and athletic 7'1 250 center, Leonard has the type of frame and coordination that excites NBA front offices, and as one executive told the Philadelphia Inquirer, he may be moving up team's draft boards and into the lottery:

"No question about it," one executive said, speaking under condition of anonymity. "[Tyler] Zeller is better now because he's got more experience, having gone through four seasons at UNC. That makes a difference now. But Leonard is the better athlete and will ultimately be the better professional."

Leonard averaged 13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks on 58% shooting as a sophomore. While few of his points came off traditional back-to-the-basket moves, he'd be an excellent pick-and-roll finisher for an NBA team with a solid point guard.

NBA Draft Rumors 2012: Bradley Beal Will Only Work Out For Top 4 Teams

Bradley Beal wasn't the most talked about prospect during his freshman season with the Florida Gators, but that's changing these days. In fact, following the recent NBA Draft Combine, it's been revealed that the 6'5 shooting guard has decided he'll fall no lower than the fourth overall pick.

Beal was profiled in a Sunday column by Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick (where he revealed he believes he's more like the old Ray Allen, not old Ray Allen), but the most interesting part to draftniks may have come regarding his schedule for individual workouts.

Agent Mark Bartelstein told SI.com that he has no plans for Beal to conduct workouts with teams beyond the top four. Beal is tentatively scheduled to work out for Washington on Thursday, Cleveland on Saturday and Charlotte on June 18.

That obviously leaves quite a few teams on the outside looking in, but this isn't a bad move considering that he'll likely be snatched up very quickly if he drops further than Cleveland's No. 4 pick -- with or without an individual workout.

Aside from the knowledge dropped on Beal, Amick's must-read column also has a mini-feature on Kendall Marshall, discusses Baylor's Quincy Miller and notes the players that made the biggest positive impressions at the combine.

For more coverage of the 2012 NBA Draft and all of the rumors that come with it, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated StoryStream.

NBA Draft Rumors: Austin Rivers Reportedly Has A Lottery Promise

The 2012 NBA Draft is still three weeks away, but the promise rings are going out! Dion Waiters, the Syracuse guard, was the first prospect to reportedly earn a promise from a team picking in the lottery (ignoring Anthony Davis's unspoken No. 1 overall promise); Waiters left the draft combine early. According to the excellent Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, fellow two-guard Austin Rivers will do the same.

One NBA assistant coach said he was surprised Austin Rivers didn't work out at the NBA's predraft combine here Thursday. The East scout expects Rivers to be selected in the Nos. 10-20 range, but an NBA source told Yahoo! Sports that Rivers has a promise late in the draft lottery.

Teams looking for two-guards in the late lottery include the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns. There is expected to be a nice chunk of trade action this year as well, which will open up more possibilities.

Rivers spent one season at Duke before turning pro. His father is Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers. The Spears piece has great background on their relationship and Doc's coaching of Austin through the draft process.

2012 NBA Draft Combine: Andre Drummond, Damian Lillard Jump High; Austin Rivers Unknowingly Shows Flaw

NBA Draft Combine: Measurements Show Thomas Robinson Has Less Questions To Answer

The 2012 NBA Draft Combine is underway in Chicago, giving the top prospects an excellent opportunity to woo all of the decision makers that weren't able to watch them during the course of the college season. On-court abilities aren't the only things one has to worry about, which is why the measurements have been getting so much publicity in recent years.

A player can be a dominant force in the college game, but occasionally his skill set is unable to translate to the big leagues due to size -- or more specifically, length -- concerns. This has forced the NBA to go through an increasingly thorough checklist to decide if a player is going to measure up once he reaches the NBA by checking his wingspan, height (with and without socks), hand length, standing reach and nearly everything else that can be measured.

The results of said measurements were released on Friday morning, and courtesy of ESPN's Chad Ford, the two-page list (first, second) is digestible for those of us on the Internet who weren't privy to the information when it was handed out at the Combine. The best news resulting from that list, according to Ford, comes for Kansas Jayhawks big man Thomas Robinson.

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson measured 6-foot-8 3/4 in shoes with a huge 7-3 wingspan. Any concerns teams had about him being undersized for the position will start to melt away after those numbers.

This is good news for Robinson considering he also stood out on the court during the opening day of the Combine.

For more coverage of the 2012 NBA Draft and all of the rumors that come with it, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated StoryStream.

Dion Waiters Got A Promise At The NBA Draft Combine, According To Reports

Dion Waiters didn't receive the most buzz during the most recent college basketball season while playing for the Syracuse Orange. At least one NBA team was enamored with him enough at this week's NBA Draft Combine, however, that it has apparently promised to pick him in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Waiters was in attendance for the beginning of the combine and even interviewed with several teams on the first night of the event before things got weird. The guard left Chicago on Thursday with many in attendance speculating he's received a promise from a lottery team that they'll select him.

While there are plenty of teams that have been rumored to be the culprit, with the Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns among them, the only response the Internet has seen thus far comes from the Raptors.

Sources say Waiters was immediately on a flight home to Philadelphia and has indeed shut down workouts... sources peg Phoenix as the spot

— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) June 8, 2012

Raptor GM Bryan Colangelo was genuine in his denial on Dion Waiters... went on a rant saying "Why Me? Why am I the guy making promises"

— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) June 8, 2012

For what it's worth, Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears was still reporting as of Friday morning that Waiters' promise is indeed from Colangelo up in Toronto.

Risky business, yeah?

For more coverage of the 2012 NBA Draft and all of the rumors that come with it, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated StoryStream.

NBA Rumors: New Orleans Hornets Open To Trading Their 'Other' Draft Pick

The New Orleans Hornets lucked out and won the lottery last month, giving them the first choice in the upcoming 2012 NBA Draft. The NBA-owned team also holds the No. 10 pick in their possession due to the Chris Paul trade, but the latest rumors indicate that choice might be on the move once again.

The No. 10 pick, originally owned by the Timberwolves before it was rerouted to the Clippers and then the Hornets, is quite the luxury for New Orleans considering the depth of the draft. It makes sense, then, that general manager Dell Demps answered questions regarding a trade of the pick with "Yes, we will if it makes sense,'' according to the Times Picayune.

That trade comes with a caveat, however, says the story.

According to league sources, the Hornets are not expected to make any decisions regarding trades until after the NBA's Board of Governors approve the sale of the franchise to Saints owner Tom Benson, which is expected to happen later this month.

It really makes things interesting when the NBA owns one of its teams, doesn't it?

For more coverage of the 2012 NBA Draft and all of the rumors that come with it, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated StoryStream.

NBA Draft Rumors: Trade Could Happen With Charlotte Bobcats Second Overall Pick

The Charlotte Bobcats are giving off quite a few indications, according to the rumor mill, that they're interested in moving the second overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.