The 2017 NBA Draft prospect pool is set following the deadline for early entrants to withdraw from the draft last week, and teams are now starting to plan workouts with the draft's top players. As such, the rumor mill is kicking into high gear. Here are all the latest rumors you need to know:
76ers interested in Jayson Tatum
The Philadelphia 76ers hold the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, and have expressed interest in a number of prospects, including Kentucky's De'Aaron Fox, NC State's Dennis Smith Jr. and Kansas' Josh Jackson. According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, the Sixers are also considering Duke's Jayson Tatum.
Jayson Tatum, source says, can go as high as 3 to Philly. Draws Paul George/Carmelo comparisons w/leadership ability. Has risen as result.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 27, 2017
Tatum averaged 16.8 points with 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game this past season.
Jazz did not give D.J. Wilson first-round guarantee
Michigan forward D.J. Wilson announced his decision to remain in the draft on deadline day, and is expected to be late first- or early second-round pick.
Wilson had said he would not stay in the draft unless he thought he was going to be a first-round pick, and it was reported that he had received a guarantee from the Utah Jazz that they would select him in the opening round. However, that does not appear to be the case.
Jazz vice president of player personnel Walt Perrin told the Salt Lake Tribune they didn't give Wilson a guarantee.
"Did not happen," he said. "Did not happen at all. I don’t know where he got that from."
Perrin shot holes in the report, which was tweeted by The Detroit News after Wilson elected to stay in this year’s draft instead of returning to school. While he called Wilson (who worked out with the Jazz in April) an "interesting" and "intriguing" player, he said the organization would be put in a serious bind by guaranteeing to draft someone, particularly with the draft a month away.
"If we tell a guy we’re going to take him guaranteed, which we don’t do very often if at all, we will follow through on that honor and our word," he said. "It does put you at somewhat of a disadvantage because if someone comes to you with a great trade, you’ve made your commitment to that player, so you can’t trade. … We try to keep our flexibility."
Wilson averaged 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game last season.
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Mavs workouts include Malik Monk, Harry Giles, Zach Collins
The Dallas Mavericks hold the No. 9 pick in the draft and figure to have a wide range of options at the position. As such, they are holding workouts with five projected first-round prospects, according to Mike Fisher of Scout.com.
The Dallas Mavericks sent scouting department representatives on an Eastern swing this week, sources tell DallasBasketball,com, to observe workouts sponsored by some of the most powerful agencies in the business. The locations: Virginia on Wednesday. New York on Thursday. Chicago on Friday. Of even more importance, among the participants: Kentucky guard Malik Monk, Gonzaga center Zack Collins, Texas center Jarrett Allen, Duke center/forward Harry Giles and UCLA power forward T.J. Leaf.
Of those prospects, Monk and Collins figure to be the only ones in play with the ninth pick, but Giles is the wildcard. Some teams reportedly like him in the 5-10 range, and if he performs wells and is medically cleared, he could be a factor at No. 9 as well.
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