The NBA Draft process is in full swing with teams gearing up for workouts and the annual NBA Draft Combine.
Last week, draftable seniors took the floor at the annual Portsmouth Invitational, and while the quality of the players that take part in Portsmouth has diminished over the years, that did not stop NBA executives from piling in and start working the back channels of the draft process, with fellow executives and agents.
Amusingly, some teams have already started to promise Summer League spots to obvious players that will go undrafted, and even have started to gauge interest on fringe draft guys in being a second-round pick and agreeing to a two-way deal.
While it’s way too early in the process to buy into interest from one team or another, it is interesting to hear how aggressive teams are being this early in the process to stake out guys they have interest in after the draft.
There were a few notables from Portsmouth worth watching in the work out process, including Nebraska’s James Palmer Jr. and Campbell’s Chris Clemons, who tied as the tournament’s leading scorers at 18.3 points per game. UNC Wilmington’s Devontae Cacok was the tournament leading rebounder at 10.3 per game.
FSU’s Christ Koumadje measured in as the tallest player at Portsmouth with an official measure of 7 feet, 4.25 inches, and a standing reach of 9 feet, 9.5 inches. He also notched the second highest field goal percentage at 76.5 percent on 13 of 17 shooting.
There are a few dates to keep in mind as the draft process ramps into full speed.
The NBA deadline to declare for the 2019 NBA Draft is 11:59 p.m. on April 29. Players must submit in writing to be a part of the draft.
The NBA Draft lottery, which will determine the top four selections of the 2019 NBA Draft, will be held in Chicago on May 14, just as the annual Draft Combine kicks off.
Players seeking to leave the door open to return to college must declare their intentions to withdraw from the draft by May 29.
The last date to withdraw from the draft by NBA is 5 p.m. on June 10. This is usually not college level players, this date is typically international players that opt out of the draft.
The 2019 NBA Draft is set for June 20th.
Here is this week’s 60-pick Mock Draft:
Here are the first-round picks that are owed and how those picks landed where they are.
The Atlanta Hawks were to receive the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first-round pick as a result of the Kyle Korver trade in 2017, which is top-10 protected. But based on the final standings, that pick will not be conveyed.
The Boston Celtics were to receive the Memphis Grizzlies first-round pick as a result of the three-team Jeff Green trade in 2015; the pick is top-eight protected and, based on the final standings, that pick will not be conveyed.
The Atlanta Hawks are to receive the Dallas Mavericks first-round pick as a result of the Luka Dončić – Trae Young swap on draft night in 2018. The pick is top-five protected and, based on the final standings, that pick will be conveyed.
The Boston Celtics are to receive the more favorable of either the Sacramento Kings or Philadelphia 76ers first-round picks as part of the Markelle Fultz pre-draft trade in 2017. Based on the final standings, that pick will be conveyed; the Kings pick is the more favorable and would convey to Boston.
The Boston Celtics are to receive the LA Clippers first-round pick as a result of the Deyonta Davis draft day trade with Memphis in 2016. The Grizzlies got the pick in their Jeff Green/Lance Stephenson deal at the deadline in 2016. The pick is lottery protected and, based on the final standings, that pick will be conveyed.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are to receive the Houston Rockets first-round pick as a result of the three-team deadline deal that sent out Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss.
The Brooklyn Nets are to receive the Denver Nuggets first-round pick as a result of the Kenneth Faried – Darrell Arthur trade in July 2018. The pick is top-12 protected and, based on the final standings, that pick will be conveyed.
The San Antonio Spurs are to receive the Toronto Raptors first-round pick as a result of the Kawhi Leonard – DeMar DeRozan trade in July 2018. The pick is top-20 protected and, based on the final standings, that pick will be conveyed.
The Phoenix Suns are to receive the Milwaukee Bucks first-round pick as a result of the Eric Bledsoe trade in 2017. The pick has top 3 and 17-30 protections, designed to yield a lottery-level pick to Phoenix. Based on the final standings this pick would not convey. Given that the debt is not settled this year, the Bucks pick in 2020 would be top-7 protected.
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