HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Philadelphia 76ers are keying in on Donatas Motiejunas with the No. 16 pick, according to a source. The Sixers want to add size and post depth, and Motiejunas is a 7-footer that can really score well in the post. The Sixers are also hoping that a guy like Jonas Valanciunas or Tristan Thompson could fall to them. Nikola Vucevic could also be a sleeper for the Sixers' pick. There is a chance that Motiejunas and/or Valanciunas could withdraw from the NBA Draft by the June 13 deadline. If this were to happen, the Sixers could explore trading their pick to move later in the first round or possibly even out of the first round. The Hoops Report

Philadelphia 76ers, Draft, Donatas Motiejunas 

Montiejunas, a 6-foot-11 power forward, is playing for Benetton Treviso in the Italian League. Benetton has advanced to the semifinals of the Series A League. After the playoffs, Montiejunas plans to attend the adidas EuroCamp June 11-13. As such, Herb Rudoy, Montiejunas' agent, said his client won't be able to work out for any NBA teams before the draft. "It's not that he doesn't want to; he just can't," Rudoy said. Racine Journal-Times

Draft, Donatas Motiejunas 

Rudoy also said he is in the process of setting up a physical for Montiejunas with an NBA team and then having the results forwarded to other teams interested in Montiejunas. A native of Kaunas, Lithuania, Montiejunas is regarded as one of the more skilled big men in the draft. Some NBA officials project him to be selected anywhere from 6 to 14. Racine Journal-Times

Draft, Donatas Motiejunas 

Does Motiejunas want to be great? Some scouts have concerns that he doesn't have the drive/passion to maximize his vast potential. HoopsHype

Draft, Donatas Motiejunas 

This entry comes somewhat reluctantly, but a source who has spoken to the Jazz insists that they are seriously thinking about taking the (Fredette) this high. The departures of coach Jerry Sloan and Williams mean the business folks want a new addition about whom the fans can get excited. The basketball part would be challenging for new coach Tyrone Corbin, as the pressure to play Fredette even if he didn't always want to would be significant. Lithuanian big man Donatas Motiejunas is also a possibility with the second of Utah's two lottery picks. SI.com

Utah Jazz, Draft, Jimmer Fredette, Donatas Motiejunas 

Vincent Goodwill: Jan Vesely, Donatas Motiejunas, Bismack Biyombo and Jonas Valanciunas will NOT attend. Twitter

Draft, Jonas Valanciunas, Jan Vesely, Donatas Motiejunas, Bismack Biyombo 

As he has matured physically, Motiejunas' game has changed from a perimeter-based offense to include more of a low-post game, though he is by no means a finished product inside. He can score, especially on the wings, and displays point-forward skills as a passer; one personnel man compared him with former Clippers forward Danny Manning (though another personnel guy strongly disagreed with that notion). But scouts remain concerned about several aspects of his game. "He doesn't really love basketball," a Central Division executive says. "He doesn't seem to appear to like to do anything that's even a little difficult. That scares you a little bit. The only thing he gets an excellent on is offensive rebounding and putbacks, and that's because he's doing it against midgets." NBA.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Draft, Donatas Motiejunas, Danny Manning 

Said an Atlantic Division exec: "Right now, it's not even close. Vesely is a player and Motiejunas is an unknown. I've seen him play too many times when he would get two rebounds, three rebounds. He's projected in all these mocks to go top 10. I don't think so. I think he lacks passion for the game. He looks like he's got short arms. That might be a factor. NBA.com

Draft, Jan Vesely, Donatas Motiejunas 

According to a source, there's a chance Donatas Motiejunas may not work out for any NBA teams before the draft. Motiejunas's team is still in the playoffs and it may not be over until June, so he may not have the time/energy left by then. A source also said Motiejunas plans on playing in the NBA next season and that he definitely will if he's drafted in the top 10. A name to watch out for in the upcoming NBA Draft is Fresno State's Greg Smith. There wasn't much talk about him during the season, but now the 6-foot-10 sophomore center is picking up steam. He is reportedly doing very well in workouts and I wouldn't be surprised if he found his way into the late first round on draft night. The Hoops Report

Draft, Donatas Motiejunas, Greg Smith 

The agent for Motiejunas, Herb Rudoy, said of his client: “I don’t know how high he will be drafted, but it’s going to be in the lottery.” FIBA.com

Draft, Agents, Donatas Motiejunas 

The Milwaukee Bucks received some potentially good news Friday. Donatas Montiejunas of Lithuania has decided to test the NBA draft waters. "He applied today,'' Herb Rudoy, Montiejunas' Chicago-based agent, told me. "I don't know where he'll go in the draft, but he'll be a lottery pick. I'm pretty sure of that.'' Racine Journal-Times

Draft, Donatas Motiejunas 

In a recent informal poll of several NBA GMs, player personnel directors and scouts by The Journal Times, Montiejunas was considered one of the top 10 prospects for the draft. Barring an unlikely change in their draft position in the upcoming Draft Lottery, the Bucks will have the 10th overall selection in the June 23 draft. Montiejunas, who is 20, has outstanding basketball skills: He is a high-percentage shooter and capable scorer from around the basket and on the perimeter. Racine Journal-Times

Draft, Donatas Motiejunas 

Gery Woelfel: Herb Rudoy, the agent for power forward Donatas Montiejunas, confirmed his client just applied for the NBA draft. Twitter

Draft, Donatas Motiejunas 

The current field could challenge the 2003 draft class for historic international appeal, with eight such prospects being taken in that first round. Detroit's ill-fated selection of Darko Milicic with that year's No. 2 pick clearly scared the trend away, with the numbers never returning to those levels and the latest round reaching new lows. Kevin Seraphin was the only international player to be taken in the 2010 first round, as the French power forward was taken 17th overall by Chicago. None of the executives polled by SI.com sounded pleased with this development, though. In fact, the reality that these particular players are on the rise is seen by some as an indictment of the American-born crop as it currently stands. "I guarantee you, if this was next year's class, with the guys that are going back to school and the incoming freshmen, nobody would feel the need to spend months of time in Kaunas, Lithuania (Motiejunas' hometown)," one general manager said. "But you start staring at Kemba Walker and [Kentucky guard] Brandon Knight and [Kentucky forward] Terrence Jones, and Kawhi Leonard in the lottery, and you start going, 'Oh my God, I'd better get on a plane and go find somebody.'" SI.com

Draft, Terrence Jones, Kemba Walker, Donatas Motiejunas, Kawhi Leonard, Brandon Knight 

There is a real possibility that the NBA will have a lockout next season. What are your thoughts on that? Motiejunas: We’ll see. The season is not finished and we’ll see what’s going to happen. If there’s going to be a lockout, if I get drafted - it’s the same to me. If I go to the draft, or if I don’t go to the draft. One more year in Europe is not going to be bad for me. HeinNews.com

Draft, Donatas Motiejunas 

You also said you like the European team game and aren’t the biggest fan of the one-man NBA game. With the improving money in European basketball and the team game, why don’t you just stay in Europe and not play in the NBA? Motiejunas: My goal is to improve as much as I can. Wherever I improve that’s most important. I want to have someone work with me all the time. Passing the ball to me in practice, or giving me advice what moves I should use. For me it’s important to step forward as a player right now. That’s the most important thing for me. HeinNews.com

Draft, Donatas Motiejunas