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Associated Press
an hour ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Rutgers' Harper headlines a bevy of 1-and-done guards set to go high in the NBA draft
There's a deep set of high-end guard prospects in the upcoming NBA draft. Rutgers point guard Dylan Harper is positioned to be the first name called after projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, while Baylor's VJ Edgecombe, Texas' Tre Johnson, Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fears and Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis are possible top-10 picks as one-and-done prospects. Here's a look at the guards entering Wednesday's first round: Dylan Harper, Rutgers STRENGTHS: The 6-foot-5, 213-pound son of former NBA guard Ron Harper has size at the point and two-way potential. The lefty thrived as a scorer (19.4 points) with athleticism to finish at the rim, score on stepbacks and hit catch-and-shoot looks. Notably, he went for 36 points in an overtime win against Notre Dame, then 37 more a day later in a loss to then-No. 9 Alabama during the Players Era Festival in November. Harper is a playmaker with good court vision, averaging 4.0 assists. He also averaged 1.4 steals, including six against Southern California and four more against a ranked Illinois team in February. CONCERNS: He shot 33.3% on 3-pointers while launching 5.2 per game, though shot selection against contested looks didn't always help. There's also the optics of being the NBA-bound floor leader on a team that finished with a losing record despite featuring a second one-and-done talent in forward Ace Bailey. VJ Edgecombe, Baylor STRENGTHS: Explosive athleticism stands out at both ends, notably as an above-the-rim finisher who creates highlight-reel moments. The 6-4, 193-pound Edgecombe finished in the combine's top 10 with a 38.5-inch max vertical leap, had seven games with at least three made 3s and 11 games with three-plus steals. 'I think for freshmen, the universal (issue) is just being able to sustain the level of intensity required as long as they're on the court,' Baylor coach Scott Drew said recently. 'The size, length, speed is one thing, but just to be able to compete each and every play, it's a different level. And VJ has that.' CONCERNS: Edgecombe shot just 34% on 3s, though Drew said Edgecombe could see gains after refining his shot mechanics. He could also improve in shot creation, such making just 25% (13 of 59) in off-dribble jumpers, according to Synergy's analytics rankings. Tre Johnson, Texas STRENGTHS: The 6-5, 190-pound Johnson averaged 19.9 points to lead all Division I freshmen, as well as being the Southeastern Conference's overall scoring leader. The highlight was Johnson going for 39 points against Arkansas in February to break Kevin Durant's Longhorns freshman single-game record. He thrived off screens (shot 52.1% in those scenarios to rate in the 91st percentile in Synergy) and shot 39.7% from 3-point range, including 12 games with at least four made 3s. He also shot 87.1% at the foul line. CONCERNS: The 19-year-old could use some bulk on a slender frame to help him hold up against bigger and stronger opponents at both ends. Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma STRENGTHS: The combo guard pressures defenders with his ball-handling and space creation, averaging 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. He got to the line 6.3 times per game and ranked tied for 11th among all Division I players by making 183 free throws. Fears also had a knack for clutch plays, including a four-point play to beat a ranked Michigan team along with a tough late scoring drive for the lead in the SEC Tournament loss to Kentucky. CONCERNS: He needs to get stronger (6-3, 180) and improve his outside shot. He made 28.4% of his 3s, including nine games of going 0 for 3 or worse. Reducing turnovers (3.4) would help, too. Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois STRENGTHS: Jakucionis brings size (6-5, 205) and an all-around floor game to the perimeter. He averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists with four double-digit rebounding games and eight games with at least seven assists. He was also one of the nation's best freshmen at getting to the foul line (5.1 attempts per game). CONCERNS: Jakucionis shot just 31.8% on 3s, including 5 of 22 (22.7%) in four bright-spotlight games during the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments. He averaged 3.7 turnovers — sixth-most in Division I, most among freshmen — and had 13 games with at least five turnovers. Others of note: — EGOR DEMIN: The BYU freshman from Russia is a possible lottery prospect as a playmaker with size (6-8, 199), known for elite passing and vision. He averaged 5.5 assists to rank second among all Division I freshmen. — JASE RICHARDSON: The Michigan State freshman and son of former NBA guard Jason Richardson is small (6-1, 178), though the first-round prospect is a 41.2% 3-point shooter. — NOLAN TRAORE: The 6-5, 175-pounder is a scoring playmaker from France. The first-round prospect had previously drawn interest from programs like Duke, Alabama and Gonzaga. — NIQUE CLIFFORD: The 6-5, 202-pound Clifford spent three years at Colorado then two at Colorado State. The first-round prospect is older (23) but had career-best numbers last year (18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 37.7% on 3s). — BEN SARAF: The 6-6, 201-pound lefty from Israel is a scoring playmaker and first-round prospect. He averaged 12.8 points and 4.6 assists last season with Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany. — CEDRIC COWARD: The 6-5, 213-pound senior started at Division III Willamette, spent two years at Eastern Washington, had an injury-shortened season at Washington State and was set to transfer to Duke. Now he's a first-round prospect after testing well at the combine. — WALTER CLAYTON JR.: The 6-2, 199-pound combo guard was a first-team Associated Press All-American and Final Four's most outstanding player in Florida's national title run. He's a first-round prospect and gamer who thrived in pressure moments. — DRAKE POWELL: The North Carolina freshman wing has perimeter size (6-6, 195), athleticism, 3-point range and defensive potential to be a possible first-round pick. He has a 7-foot wingspan and had combine-best marks in standing and max vertical leap. — KAM JONES: The Marquette senior and potential first-rounder was a finalist for the Cousy Award presented to the nation's top point guard after averaging 19.2 points and 5.9 assists. He missed two games in his career. ___ AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins in Texas contributed to this report. ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Canadiens Have An Important Date On Saturday
With the draft fast approaching, the Gold Star Group is hosting its annual showcase at the Barwis Performance Centre in Deerfield Beach, Florida. The CEO and player agent, Daniel Milstein, has published his schedule on an Instagram story. On Saturday, June 21, the Montreal Canadiens are set to meet Russian prospect Alexander Zharovskyi. The 6-foot-1 and 163-pound left-shot right winger is ranked fifth amongst European skaters by the NHL Central Scouting and has an explosive mix of skills, but is still trying to put it all together. He tends to rely on his skills and abilities, perhaps a bit too much at times, which can lead to turnovers that could have been avoided. Advertisement Canadiens: Former Hab Could Come Back To Atlantic Division Canadiens: A Big Name Interested In Montreal Canadiens: Demidov Set To Take Part In Showdown With his height, he needs to put on some weight and is in dire need of time in the gym to add some muscle, which would make him harder to take off the puck. He was dominant with Tolpar Ufa in the MHL, especially in the second half of the season. He started the year with only 6 points in 15 games, but he then exploded for 26 points in 18 games which lead to 50 points and 24 goals in just 45 games. Those numbers led all players under 18 years of age and he really forced the scouting world to take notice. His offensive game is impressive not only in the opponent's zone, but also in transition to launch the attack. At this stage of his development, it's hard to evaluate what his ceiling could be, but he's an intriguing package that could fit the Canadiens' style of play in the Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton era. He looks like the kind of player who could benefit from a coach eager to teach like Martin St-Louis. His ranking amongst scouting media varies, TSN's Craig Button has him at number 36, McKeen's Hockey ranks him at 43, while Dobber prospects has him at 42, but Recrutes puts him at 58. As for THN's Ryan Kennedy, he is not enamoured with the prospect, ranking him 81st overall. Advertisement To make the trip to Florida, it seems the Canadiens are at least intrigued by the prospect and they do have two second-round picks, the round in which he's most likely to come off the board. The Canadiens have pick number 41 thanks to the trade that sent Mike Hoffman and Rem Pitlick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in return for Casey De Smith, Jeff Petry, Nathan Legare and this pick. Montreal also has its own pick which comes at 49 overall. It's hard to predict how the draft will go down, but if Zharovskyi is still on the board when the Canadiens' turn comes, it wouldn't be surprising to see them gamble on this project of a prospect. Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story. Advertisement Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @ and Threads @karinehains. Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens. Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.
New York Times
4 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
College hoops coaches' 2026 NBA Draft sleepers? Rivals weigh in on second-round prospects
Throughout the year, NBA scouts ask questions of the college coaches who face the prospects they're evaluating to get a handle on the upcoming draft class. You can get a good assessment of a player from his own coaches, but the most honest assessments come from those who face him. Over the last few weeks, I've done the same, calling multiple coaches from each conference to get their scouting reports on the top players in this draft class. I granted the coaches anonymity in exchange for their candor, took the best of what each coach had to say and combined the report into one voice. Advertisement Below are scouting reports on every second-round college prospect in Sam Vecenie's latest mock draft and the best of the rest. Players are listed in order of Vecenie's rankings and numbered by where they went off the board in the mock draft. I also asked every coach for any sleepers they like and included those players at the end. The coaches' assessments of projected first-round prospects can be found here. He's transitioning into being a true point guard. His passing really improved this past year. His shotmaking really did not. I think he's an elite-level finisher. He has a great touch, and obviously a lot of it is left-hand-dominant, but I believe in his finishing. His two-point scoring improved a lot as his career went on. Obviously he won't be able to get as deep as he was able to in college in the NBA because of the size, but he also can pass. I'm concerned about his overall shooting. I think he'll be an off-the-bench guy, and his ceiling, if his shooting can come around, could be better than that. He's not very big. He has to get stronger just to compete against the size that exists in that league. So he's going to have to guard points and he's gonna have to continue to develop his playmaking and his shooting has to improve. Not a great offensive player. Straight-line driver, athletic, tough. When he led them in shot attempts and scoring, they were worse off as a team. So I don't know what his upside is in the league. Maybe a Lu Dort-type guy. Somebody you can just have be on the other team's best player and try to shut them down. He's one of those guys that's a really impactful college player, does a lot of things that impact winning. And for him to make it I think you would have to be on a very specific roster because offensively in the NBA, he's not going to be able to do a lot of the things that he did in college because physically he was able to overwhelm you and he was an elite athlete, but in the NBA you're going to see that every single night. Advertisement He would have benefited from another year. But even if he had stayed another year, he was probably going to be the same guy. I don't know how much he's going to improve shooting the ball. So maybe it was the right move to capitalize on the season he had. Just don't think he's an NBA player. He's more of a G-League guy. His size and his motor are really good. He had two impressive dunks over top of guys in our game. He's a backup big. Can he develop into a guy that can play out of the short roll and make decisions, or is he just going to be a guy that rim runs and puts pressure on the rim? Can he be a professional and get better? What he is right now, is this his floor or is this his ceiling? He might be a Duke player that's undervalued. When's the last time you heard that, right? Can really shoot, can manage a game. Impressed me with his IQ, knowing which shots were good ones. He's a strong right-hand driver and we tried to push him to his left, but he is capable of going both directions. When he gets into the paint, he's a very capable passer as well. Likes to pull up in the midrange. Makes big shots. You can't go under screens with him at all. Active defender and someone that's capable of getting deflections. Good positional size. I think there's certainly an NBA role for him as a backup guard at a minimum. The shooting translates. He's competitive enough to be able to want to guard. Could he get into an Andrew Nembhard role and be a guy like that? I don't know. That's probably a little bit aggressive. As a bigger guard that can shoot, I think he's got that competitiveness and toughness about him that could allow him to exceed his draft rating. Super impressive on film and equally as impressive in person. How Wisconsin played, there were times where you could kind of take him out of the game, but when it wasn't structured and the game got kind of ratted up, he was best. He excels in transition and on broken plays, which could be a good thing for the NBA with the pace and the timing. Now, is he a good enough athlete for the NBA? We'll see. Advertisement Oh man, tough dude. Physical. You go out to warmups and you see him out there, he's just such a specimen. Looks like a Lu Dort. He's got that type of body. Can he have an impact, not to the same level, but can he be like a Dort? Somebody that's just really not going to be screened, fights over everything and is really good on that end. He's not great in pick-and-roll, but he's a good cutter, and he shot it at a really good clip. He's gonna really have to be a specialist type to have a role in the NBA. His athleticism is probably the thing that's gonna hurt him more than anything, and his age, but you can't tell me that he's not going to produce, even at the NBA level. Is he a starting center? Probably not. But is he a guy that can be in the second-unit rotation and wear people down with his size and his smarts and his ability? I think so. I don't think he's got a huge upside in the league. But I do think there is a place for veteran guys that can have an imprint on a franchise. He's going to be a G-League guy. He's a 6-2 small forward, and I just don't think that really translates in the NBA. The one thing that could be said about him is that he's a winner. He's been to two Final Fours, won a national championship, and so he impacts winning on both ends of the floor. I love Peavy. From a defensive standpoint, his versatility is real. He has a competitive spirit. He could impact the game just by being an elite defender. He was probably the best defender in our league on the perimeter. He could impact the games without scoring His offense really improved this year. He's really worked at it through all the stops (Texas Tech, then TCU, then Georgetown). He seems to have an understanding of who he is as a player, which allows him to play to his strengths really well. Shooting is still going to be a question. Decision making is always gonna be a question, but his size and tenacity on defense can impact the game. He's old, so his ceiling is a little bit limited, but physically he's so ready. He was so ball-dominant at VCU, and I think there's teams that probably look at that and will be very intrigued. You can tell he's a high-IQ player. He makes good decisions in the pick-and-roll, whether it's for himself or the proper reads first level, second level and beyond. He's the guy I hated to guard or play against because he knew the game and had those European tricks — the push-offs and a lot of different things that help you win games. I hated it, but I respect it. I just don't know if that s— helps in the NBA. The questions are: How does he play in a system where in the NBA his usage rate will be much lower? Then, how does he hold up defensively against quicker, more athletic guards? He is a good, not great 3-point shooter. He's an awesome college player because of the way (former VCU coach Ryan Odom) used him, but if you can crawl into him and be physical and do certain things to him that you can't really do in the A-10, I just don't know if he's an NBA player. He'll be a high-level guy in Europe. Advertisement His inconsistency on a night-to-night basis could hurt him. He doesn't handle the ball very well. But without question, NBA range, size, can make a pull-up in the lane. The way they were running off screens was very reminiscent of how UConn and Detroit used Rip Hamilton all those years. But Rip could really put the thing on the ground. That was the difference. Lanier's not a great ballhandler. He's a specialist. Somebody you have to identify and know where he is at all times. Defensively, I thought he made some strides this past year under (Tennessee coach Rick Barnes). But I think he'd be more of like a 3-and-D guy in the NBA, more of a role player. Not that you're gonna put the ball in his hands and ask him to make plays. But physically, definitely checks off some boxes. And then obviously has a unique ability to make shots at a really high clip. He's strong. Could be a rotation big. Probably could be a starter on some teams as he matures and gets better. I think he'll be a legit NBA player because of his size, his ability to score around the basket and his ability to defend at the rim. At Michigan, I didn't love some of the histrionics, but he could almost be like a goon in the NBA, the big man version of Jose Alvarado. He comes in and picks up 94 feet. Vlad Goldin is the big who comes in and beats the mess out of people, gets a couple fouls and a double technical, changes the mentality of the team and sets the temperature a little bit hotter. I always thought he was an NBA player, and I didn't realize until we played them that he was 6-7 and he's legit 6-7. That's a guy I can see in the NBA for a long time. I don't know how you can replace what he can do with it. He gets it off so quickly. Can't really play-make for anyone else but himself, but if you need a guy to go out there and just make shots, at one point he was shooting 50 something percent from 3 during the year. Now, he's a horrible defender. I get that. And so you're gonna have to protect him on the other end. He's got to learn how to defend by taking deep angles. His feet aren't great as a defender, but man, as a shooter, not a lot of guys that could do what he does and shooting at that high of a clip in this league and throughout his college career. There's got to be a place for that. Love him. I talked to a lot of scouts about him during the year, and I was surprised that people were not as high on him. He is big. He can handle the ball. You could say he's a jump shot away from being an impact NBA player, but I believe in his shooting. His body type's different. He can be an elite defender. Plays hard. He's tough. He can guard multiple positions. He's switchable. That is a guy that I would absolutely take and think that he will make it and has a high ceiling. Advertisement Super talented. Long and rangy. Can handle the ball, shoot the ball, pass the ball. But in my opinion, no toughness. His numbers are really good and he's able to do a whole bunch of stuff and he looks the part, but something's just kind of missing. I think part of his deficiency is he doesn't defend. He'll give you 17, but he'll give up the same, and when it's time to win the game he's just not going to do it. He doesn't shoot it well enough, doesn't handle and burst well enough for that level. Potentially he could be a Kyle Anderson-type guard, but is he worth building stuff around? He was the main guy at Nevada — him and Nick Davidson — and they were just OK and they were supposed to be really good. He's going to have to really find a way to impact the game with his length and athleticism in more ways on the defensive end and on the glass to make it. He has the stuff within him to be able to figure it out to be a backup point guard in the league. Always comes up with a big shot. Good defensively. We called him Chucky the Gambler. He was so disruptive on defense and active. Got steals. Played with such a high motor. He has a good feel for how to play. Doesn't force anything. Makes pull-up jumpers, 3s, good in transition. Every time we made a mini run, he was the one that would stem the tide because he would make a big play. He's undersized, and he'll need to be a guy who picks up 94 feet. He's going to figure out a way to make it. I'll never bet against that kid. Skilled, tough, nasty. He's one of those dudes that'll carve out a role. If he makes it to the NBA, it'll be because it's straight toughness and his relentlessness. It won't be because he's overly athletic. It won't be because he can shoot better than this person. It'll be just because he's just nasty and he'll get s— done. Tough one because he's a high-usage guard that won't be in that role anymore, and so how does he scale down and really impact the team? He does have good size as a lead guard/combo guard. A legit three-level scorer. Strong finisher at the rim. I just don't know if he has that NBA skill — any one particular — that's really going to allow him to hang. Could he be somebody's backup point guard? Maybe. He's not necessarily a driller that you're going to play off the ball. He's not going to be good enough to run second-unit offense through. He's not an outstanding defender. What is that guy gonna bring? A boom-or-bust type guy. Great rebounder and excellent defender. He improved as a shooter, but I don't know if I fully trust his shot yet. I do trust his motor, his competitive spirit, his energy. I think that'll translate really, really well. Probably wouldn't say I'd predict he was going to be Big East Player of the Year, but he has a toughness to him. He has all the tools to do everything that's needed at that level. It seems like he's a guy that really, really wants to score the ball and kind of bases how his game is going on that, and he'll probably be a role guy at that next level. How does that go? Who knows? I don't think there's many players in the league that can make other people around them better like he does. He's an incredible pick-and-roll player. He sees every pass. Guys don't even know they're open, and he throws to a spot where he gets them open. You play him as a passer, and he still gets every pass. In the last 10-15 years, I can't remember a point guard that enjoyed passing the ball the way that he does. People always say, well, he didn't score enough. I think he can score. I just think he has an incredible ability to see a pass ahead and takes great pleasure in making other people better. I don't think there are that many guys at the next level that can pick defenses apart the way that he can. Advertisement He's really, really small up close. Can he consistently keep defenses honest by just being able to make an adequate amount of 3s? He's streaky as a shooter, and I think that's gonna be something that he'll need to improve on if he wants to really stick. But he's as elite as they come from a passing standpoint. Can he be a guy like TJ McConnell? He's a pest on the ball. He can get steals. He just kind of knows how to play and has a knack for it. Love his physicality, love his motor, love his ability to pass the ball. Kentucky would use him in the middle of the floor and have him initiate different actions, and he was great at that. His decision making was questionable at times. Obviously one of the best rebounders in the country this past season. He doesn't shoot the ball, but physically he was one of the more imposing players in our league. He was one of those guys that I thought really stood out in the SEC, somebody that has really continued to improve and somebody that I think could have some success at the next level because he does a couple things at a really high level. Too small. Offensively, does a lot of good things, but I think he really took a step back from last season. He dropped 9 percent from 3 in a year and dropped 10 percent from 2. He doesn't have the point guard's mentality he's gonna need in the NBA. Not fast enough and doesn't have enough wiggle to be able to really get by you at that level. And he's not very good defensively. He was a great, great college player. I just don't think it translates to the next level because athletically, physically, he's just not really gonna be able to do much with his stature. He was very soft coming out of high school, but he had the talent to really shoot the ball, instincts were pretty decent. Just not tough, not gritty. And then I see him over the last couple years what he did at BYU and Kentucky. He's gotten better, but he's always had those dimensions as an NBA player. He's going to have to play more off the ball. And defensively, he was solid, not great. So I think he's the guy that could potentially develop in the G-League and find his way onto a roster. RJ Luis was an absolute load to deal with, and Zuby Ejiofor was good too, but I think Richmond was such a domino in them winning. He has real size as a point guard and great feel defensively. At times it looks like he's somewhat lost out there, but then he makes these plays that are incredible. Advertisement It's hard to play guys who can't shoot. That's going to be something that is going to get scrutinized to the highest level because it's so important up there. But playing against him, he feels like a guy that over time as you've coached and watched guys who have made it, you watch him and think, that guy makes it. If you were to look at his stats over his career, when he actually played versus when he didn't play and the impact it had on his team, even going back to Seton Hall, he impacts winning. It seemed like his decision making really improved this past year. He was just more sound, not as loose with the ball. His deal might be a guy that has to bounce around some, but wouldn't be shocked if he gets up there and finds a role somewhere. The numbers he put up this year were crazy. He showed that he can do more than just post up and shoot 3s. I think he's a high-floor guy, limited ceiling. Shotmaking was real. He does take some bad ones and struggles to create his own one against better athletes. Positionally, what will he be at that level? He seems to be OK with a lot of different roles, which I think would benefit him for the next step. On a winning team, I could see him making it, at least for a cup of coffee where he can make shots as a small-ball four. He's got to prove he can guard perimeter at that level. For a guy his size, he can really move his feet. He could switch and move in college. Another one I like and mentioned to NBA guys during the year and didn't quite understand why people didn't like him. So smooth. Gets to the rim. He can play in pick-and-roll. He rejected us a couple times and got to his pull-up and made it look effortless. Good size for a guard. Can really defend. I did see a couple of times when physicality hurt him. But he was one of the best guards in the ACC. I would bet on him for the mix of toughness, athleticism, offensive skill that he is going to stick at least as a backup point guard. Unbelievable shooter. He's got a rifle. When he gets that thing going, it's automatic. Probably can't guard me or you, and I think he'll have trouble guarding in the NBA, but he can really shoot the ball. Kind of like a Duncan Robinson. Houston guard LJ Cryer Because he can flat out score and shoot. There's a niche for a guy like that to have a bench role and come in and make baskets. St. John's wing Aaron Scott Aaron Scott will surprise some people in workouts. Not to get drafted, but I could see him playing Summer League and getting an Exhibit 10 or a two-way and making it from there, because he's a better shooter than his percentage. Butler wing Jahmyl Telfort He didn't impact winning at the level you thought he was capable of. Who knows all the reasons, but his versatility and his size were always something hard to deal with. He really improved his shooting. Defensively, I do think there's some limitations. Advertisement Missouri guard Caleb Grill He might have a place in the league as a specialist. I know he's old, but man can he shoot that rock. And he's an asshole… in a good way. He came in and just lit our ass up. Some of the shots he was making, they were ridiculous shots. With his quick release and ability to sprint off screens and still get his feet set, he's got to have a role somewhere with that skill set. San Francisco guard Marcus Williams He's got NBA size at the position. He's really athletic. He's tough. He can defend. And he makes big, big shots. Like big shots. I don't know what happened with him at the end of the year, but I thought he would be a guy that would have a chance to play at that level because he's got the whole package. (Top illustration photos: Emilee Chinn, Sam Hodde / Getty Images)
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Andrew Nembhard drills the trey
Could The Canadiens Take A Big Swing On Mason West? The NHL draft is now less than two weeks away, and we've covered a lot of the prospects likely to go in the first round, but there is more to a draft than its first round. Sure, the big guns tend to go early, but it's still possible to uncover some hidden (or not-so-secret) gems on day two of the event. 2:24 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hawks rumors: What Jake Fischer is hearing about draft trades, free agency
The post Hawks rumors: What Jake Fischer is hearing about draft trades, free agency appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Atlanta Hawks made a run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2021. However, the Hawks have participated in the Play-In Tournament in every season since then. With one NBA expert backing Atlanta's plan to hold on to Trae Young, how the team approaches the draft and free agency is crucial. With Bryson Graham and Onsi Saleh in new roles, NBA Insider Jake Fischer reported that Caris LeVert could remain with the Hawks as the team continues to climb the ranks in their conference. Advertisement Atlanta holds the 13th and 22nd pick in this year's draft. In the past, teams with multiple picks in the first round package them together in an effort to move up. However, it appears as though the Hawks will make both picks instead of making a trade. In a draft class as deep as this year's is expected to be, taking multiple bites at the apple could help Atlanta unearth another solid role player. Their dynamic trio of Young, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu have talent, but need 3-and-D players around them. Graham joined the front office and Saleh taking the mantle as general manager earlier this year. Because of their lack of cap space, they could be biggest changes the team makes. Both bring experience into their positions and face pressure to help the Hawks improve. With Jayson Tatum's torn ACL ruling him out next season, the Eastern Conference is wide open. Atlanta's last deep playoff run was as a dark horse team. Next season provides them a perfect opportunity to do it again. In order to do that, they need to retain their rotation this offseason. LeVert was a part of the return that the Hawks got when they traded DeAndre Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to Fischer, Atlanta wants to bring him back this summer. Advertisement 'Sources say Atlanta has shown a keen interest in retaining free agent guard Caris LeVert after bringing the veteran scorer to the Hawks as part of the return for trading De'Andre Hunter,' said Fischer. Despite being in trade rumors all season, it appears that Young could be in Atlanta for the long haul. If they capitalize in the draft and stay healthy, the Hawks have what they need to make noise in the Eastern Conference. Related: Trae Young gives inside look at Oklahoma basketball job Related: Zach Lowe drops firm take on Trae Young's future with Hawks
