HoopsHype.com Rumors

Did the Suns make a promise to Syracuse shooting guard Dion Waiters? This might become a moot point as talk on Waiters increasingly puts him in the top 10 of Thursday’s draft. Whether the term “promise,” “soft promise” or “Facebook like” was used for Waiters, the Suns definitely expressed their strong interest in Waiters. Too many people inside the league are telling a similar story and citing a close enough tie to make it sound legitimate. It would be silly for the Suns to give Waiters a straight promise. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Draft, Dion Waiters 

However, Lamb went into Phoenix this weekend and toughed out a workout on the bad ankle. A source in Phoenix told me the Suns were impressed with his toughness and willingness to fight through the workout. His performance there could keep him in the lottery. If Lamb is gone, Terrence Ross, Dion Waiters and Austin Rivers are all possibilities here. So is Arnett Moultrie. ESPN.com

Phoenix Suns, Draft, Austin Rivers, Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Ross, Dion Waiters, Arnett Moultrie 

Tim Kawakami: NBA source: It's possible Harrison Barnes falls out of the top 6, but unclear if GSWs would jump on him at 7 over Waiters or Lillard. Twitter

Golden State Warriors, Free Agency, Harrison Barnes, Dion Waiters, Damiam Lillard 

Dion Waiters is a strong possibility to become the third guard behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson as Golden State hopes Curry ditches the ankle injuries once and for all after they ruined his 2011-12. Oakland product Damian Lillard would be considered as well, but may not get there with the Blazers at No. 6 and needing a point guard. Terrence Ross is also in the mix, the Bay Area News Group reports. NBA.com

Golden State Warriors, Draft, Damian Lillard, Terrence Ross, Dion Waiters 

The Pistons are hoping Drummond does fall, and there are scenarios where they could get their wish. Right now it doesn't look like Drummond has a home inside the top five. Sources say he's struggled in workouts and hasn't gotten strong feedback from teams. The Blazers are a real possibility at six. However, the team is also considering Weber State's Damian Lillard and Syracuse's Dion Waiters at six. ESPN.com

Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Andre Drummond, Damian Lillard, Dion Waiters 

(Toronto) was believed to have narrowed its list to a handful of players expected to be around at No. 8 next Thursday — Weber State point guard Damian Lillard, Connecticut guard Jeremy Lamb and Syracuse guard Dion Waiters — but another name appears to have entered the conversation. Multiple team sources told the Sun that they were impressed with North Carolina power forward John Henson’s workout at the ACC on Thursday. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Draft, John Henson, Jeremy Lamb, Damian Lillard, Dion Waiters 

According to sources, Waiters is high on the Warriors’ draft board. The 6-foot-4, 221-pound guard has impressed several teams and appears to be one of the hot names. He impresses the Warriors because of his ability to score, create offense and also play point guard. He’s got good size for a point guard. Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said Waiters’ game reminds him of Dwayne Wade. Contra Costa Times

Golden State Warriors, Draft, Dion Waiters 

Here is a couple name to throw into the mix for the No. 7 pick: Syracuse SG Dion Waiters and Washington SG/SF Terrence Ross. According to sources, Waiters is high on the Warriors’ draft board. The 6-foot-4, 221-pound guard has impressed several teams and appears to be one of the hot names. He impresses the Warriors because of his ability to score, create offense and also play point guard. He’s got good size for a point guard. Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said Waiters’ game reminds him of Dwayne Wade. Contra Costa Times

Golden State Warriors, Draft, Terrence Ross, Dion Waiters 

Steve Kyler: The belief on Dion Waiters is that its Toronto that wants him badly... and that denials or not... he's the Raptors guy at #8. Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Draft, Dion Waiters 

There are also six players who are all projected to be picked in the area where the Bucks are drafting that probably won’t travel to Milwaukee before the draft. They are Duke combo guard Austin Rivers, Washington shooting guard Terrence Ross, Syracuse combo guard Dion Waiters, Connecticut shooting guard Jeremy Lamb, Weber State point guard Damion Lillard and Ohio State power forward Jared Sullinger. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Draft, Jared Sullinger, Austin Rivers, Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Ross, Dion Waiters, Damion Lillard 

There is insider talk that the Suns gave a "soft promise" to Syracuse's Dion Waiters, who left the NBA draft combine early and has not worked out for teams since then. A rumored full promise is doubtful, considering the unknown of who could fall to No. 13, but the 6-4, 221- pounder is a match for the Suns because of his potential to be the shot creator they need. He was Syracuse's sixth man but also a go-to player in the crunch with toughness and athleticism. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Draft, Dion Waiters 

As the June 28 NBA draft nears, rumors and speculation run rampant, and the latest involving the Trail Blazers is that Syracuse shooting guard Dion Waiters has been given a promise by the Blazers that they will select him with the 11th pick. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Dion Waiters 

I asked Blazers general manager Neil Olshey about it, and I've never heard him laugh so hard. "I got the job on a Tuesday, and by the time I landed in Chicago the next day (for the predraft camp), I had convinced an owner (to pick a prospect), a player to shut down his workouts ... I mean, I hadn't even talked to my scouts yet." Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Neil Olshey, Dion Waiters 

Olshey said he hasn't given Waiters a promise, or any player, for that matter. But that's not to say Olshey is against the practice. He said he has done it before as an executive with the Clippers, and when he worked in a sports agency under Arn Tellem, he said it was not uncommon for one of their clients to get a promise from a team. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Neil Olshey, Dion Waiters 

Both of the top point guard prospects, Damian Lillard and Kendall Marshall, will get extended looks here, but we're hearing that it's Dion Waiters who has caught the eye of new GM Neil Olshey. Many teams around the league are now speculating that it's Portland who actually gave Waiters a guarantee he'll be selected if he drops to here, causing him to cancel all of his remaining workouts. Yahoo! Sports

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Neil Olshey, Damian Lillard, Dion Waiters, Kendall Marshall 

So which team has allegedly “promised” to take Syracuse guard Dion Waiters. I’ve been told by two NBA officials that it is the Phoenix Suns, who pick right after the Bucks. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Draft, Dion Waiters 

There’s also speculation that Toronto is the team that promised Syracuse guard Dion Waiters a lottery spot, but one East general manager said, “I don’t believe it is them.” The wildcard in all of this is the amnesty clause, which Toronto could use this summer to be rid of Jose Calderon’s contract and leave the team with more than $20 million in cap space. They can’t amnesty Calderon until after July 1, so that added cap space won’t be available on draft night. The Raptors have not made any decision on the amnesty clause, but Calderon’s future is clearly tied to what happens in the next two weeks. If Toronto winds up picking Lillard or Marshall, or if the Raptors take on significant salary, Calderon could be out. Oregonian

Toronto Raptors, Draft, Jose Manuel Calderon, Dion Waiters 

Waiters, a 6-4 combo guard with a knack for making pressure jump shots, suddenly cancelled workouts and interviews, setting off speculation he’s been made a promise by a team with a lottery pick. Toronto Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo (8th pick) confirmed as much to the Toronto Star, saying, “His agent has told me there’s a promise to another team.” Charlotte Observer

Toronto Raptors, Draft, Bryan Colangelo, Dion Waiters 

Speculation was rampant as Syracuse guard Dion Waiters left the NBA combine in Chicago that he didn’t go empty-handed. The NBA confirmed Waiters had left and in the process cancelled all remaining workouts with teams. The idea that he was given a promise by a team with an early pick in the draft seemed to carry weight. “His agent told me there’s a promise to another team,” said Raptors president and GM Bryan Colangelo. HoopsWorld

Toronto Raptors, Draft, Bryan Colangelo, Dion Waiters 

Regarding the alleged promise for Syracuse shooting guard Dion Waiters, a Raptors souce emphatically denies that they're the team that inspired him to cancel interviews and leave the combine. All eyes on Phoenix now. Toronto picks eighth, Suns 13th. Sulia

Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, Draft, Dion Waiters