HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Cleveland Cavaliers are going into Thursday night's draft hoping to land a starting wing with the No. 4 pick to play alongside last year's Rookie of the Year, Kyrie Irving. According to sources, the Cavs have narrowed their list down to three players: Florida's Bradley Beal, Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and North Carolina's Harrison Barnes. ESPN.com

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Harrison Barnes, Bradley Beal, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Though most executives see Charlotte's taking Robinson if it keeps the pick, a source close to the Wizards said they are fielding an increased number of trade calls for their pick and that the most targeted prospect is the one who isn't supposed to be here in this scenario: Robinson. And Washington is listening now, after sending the early message that it wanted to keep its pick. But that may not be an indication that Robinson will be around at No. 3 as much as it could be a reflection of the situation between the Bobcats and Cavaliers. If the Cavs acquire the second pick, they are expected to choose Beal, and Robinson would then be available. In the absence of that, the Wizards give former No. 1 pick John Wall a big-time backcourt mate if they make this selection. SI.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, Draft, Trade, Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal 

The Cleveland Cavaliers' intrigue with selecting Syracuse guard Dion Waiters with the fourth overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft has gathered significant momentum, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Cavaliers haven’t been able to get Waiters to visit Cleveland for a workout and meeting with officials, but it hasn’t extinguished management’s ever-evolving fascination with choosing Waiters at No. 4 – especially if the Cavaliers are unable to secure Florida guard Bradley Beal. Yahoo! Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Bradley Beal, Dion Waiters 

Cleveland has intensified its background checks on Waiters, and sources in direct contact with Cavs officials believe Waiters would be the franchise's choice over Kansas’ Thomas Robinson should the Charlotte Bobcats select Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at No. 2, and the Washington Wizards take Beal at No. 3. Yahoo! Sports

Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, Draft, Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Dion Waiters 

Cleveland still has a strong desire to move to No. 2 to get Beal, but has resisted Charlotte’s attempts to attach Tyrus Thomas to a trade. Thomas has three years and $26 million left on his contract and has become unproductive and largely uncaring as a pro. Yahoo! Sports

Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Trade, Tyrus Thomas, Bradley Beal 

“I talk to those guys all the time,” Wall said of Beal and Kidd-Gilchrist. “It would be an exciting opportunity to play with either one of those guys. They’re my homeboys. They’re very talented players. Mike won a championship and Bradley had a great season at Florida. It would be great to play with either of those guys. I really like watching those guys play and I think they’ll both have great NBA careers.” HoopsWorld

Washington Wizards, Draft, John Wall, Bradley Beal, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Mike Prada: Bradley Beal to media on teams moving up today:"There's teams outside of those three who are trying to come get me." Twitter

Draft, Bradley Beal 

Mike Prada: Bradley Beal on the question he is tired of hearing from teams. "Describe yourself. Because I don't like to talk about myself at all" Twitter

Draft, Bradley Beal 

The chances of a playoff team getting Beal are slim, but Finals runner-up Oklahoma City has invested quality time figuring out a way to get up high enough to land Beal. Beal told ESPN/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 currently isn't until No. 28. "He told me he was going to decide what they're going to do and considered getting up there," said Beal. Beal said Denver, which picks at No. 20, also made a similar statement. ESPN.com

Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Draft, Trade, Sam Presti, Bradley Beal 

To get Beal the Thunder would undoubtedly have to move James Harden, the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year. League sources said the Thunder wouldn't be able to avoid serious tax issues if they had to pay lucrative contracts to all four of their marquee players in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and Harden. The first two aren't going to be moved. But to trade Harden to a team like Charlotte would be a risk for the receiving team since there is no guarantee Harden would sign a long-term deal beyond the one year remaining on his current contract. Also, the Thunder would be disrupting a team that was three wins away from winning an NBA title. ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Draft, Trade, James Harden, Bradley Beal 

"I've heard it a lot," Beal said of the Thunder scenario. "It's really interesting. I would love to play with Kevin Durant. (Russell) Westbrook, great point guard. Just the whole team. It's young, I would love to play with a young team. They play fast. I'd love to get up and down, shoot the ball. Overall, whatever situation I Iand in I'll be happy." ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Draft, Trade, Bradley Beal 

Presti has seriously considered finding a way to get to Beal. A number of sources said that Presti spent three days in Gainesville during the lockout watching the Gators practice, a fact that Beal confirmed Wednesday. A source also said that Florida coach Billy Donovan met with Presti in Dallas when he took his two nephews to the Oklahoma City-Dallas first-round playoff series in May. Presti and Donovan have had multiple conversations on the phone about Beal, as well. ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Draft, Trade, Sam Presti, Bradley Beal 

San Antonio, which doesn't pick until No. 59 in the second round, as well as Atlanta, which does have a first-round pick at No. 23, also made a number of calls to Donovan and Florida in the hope that each team could move up to land Beal. ESPN.com

San Antonio Spurs, Draft, Trade, Bradley Beal 

Michael Lee: Bradley Beal was asked if he was aware of #wizards reputation as league-wide laughingstock last season. "No. I never noticed any of that..." Twitter

Washington Wizards, Draft, Bradley Beal 

Scott Howard-Cooper: Thomas Robinson said he thinks his chances of going 2nd improved with Bobcats acquiring Ben Gordon. Decreases need for SG (Bradley Beal). Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Draft, Ben Gordon, Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal 

Bobcats' trade of Ben Gordon makes it less likely they draft Bradley Beal, sources say. And may make them more willing to deal with Cavs, and even take a second-round pick (Nos. 33 or 34) in a swap of 2 and 4, rather than insist on No. 24. Sulia

Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Trade, Bradley Beal 

What are NBA executives saying about the quality of the draft? All in all, they appear content with the level of talent -- maybe three and a half stars out of four if we're going movie-review style. But no one expects a bevy of future All-Stars. The execs I've spoken with mention Kentucky power forward Anthony Davis and Florida shooting guard Bradley Beal as the only players who seem bound for that status. But the talent evaluators also see a long list of dynamic players who could be quality contributors for years to come. SI.com

Draft, Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal 

Charlotte isn’t the only upper-echelon team that’s fielding calls for its premium pick. So is Washington , which has the third pick. Several teams covet the Wizards’ third pick in order to draft either Kansas power forward Thomas Robinson or Florida shooting guard Brad Beal Racine Journal-Times

Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards, Draft, Trade, Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal 

According to multiple sources, Beal is most likely to go third to the Wizards if the draft order stays as is. If the Bobcats take him at No. 2, you can probably assume there is some sort of deal in the works, said one source. FOXSportsOhio

Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards, Draft, Bradley Beal 

Marc J. Spears: Kidd-Gilchrist, Beal, Barnes & Robinson declined to work out for Kings (5th pick). “I guess guys don’t want to go there," an NBA exec said. Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Draft, Harrison Barnes, Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist