HoopsHype.com Rumors

The deadline to withdraw for the NBA draft has now passed. The biggest name to exit was Dario Saric, the Croatian forward who was rumored to be a possible lottery pick. Aside from a few names pulling out, the draft is now set. According to sources, the Cleveland Cavaliers – if the draft were held today – would select Alex Len with the top pick. The Cavs believe he is the best fit longterm alongside Kyrie Irving. SheridanHoops

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Dario Saric, Alex Len 

Niki Bakouli: So Dario Saric is officially out of the #NBA draft and his twitter accound is gone. Better luck next year Twitter @Eurohoopsnet

Draft, Dario Saric 

Multiple sources say it's unlikely the Mavs will be selecting for themselves when they make this pick on draft night. However, if they do keep the pick, selecting an international player that the Mavs can stash in Europe offers the cap flexibility Dallas is seeking. With their favorite, Dario Saric, out of the draft, a player such as Karasev seems like a great fit. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Draft, Dario Saric, Sergey Karasev 

David Aldridge: League announces Dario Saric, Jaiteh, Philipp Neumann among international players withdrawing from draft. Saric only likely first-rounder. Twitter @daldridgetnt

Draft, Dario Saric, Mouhammadou Jaiteh, Philipp Neumann 

Croatian forward Dario Saric will withdraw his name from the 2013 NBA draft, his agent, Marc Cornstein, told ESPN.com on Sunday. Saric has signed his letter of withdrawal from the draft and Cornstein will deliver it to the NBA on Monday, the deadline for players to withdraw. ESPN.com

Draft, Marc Cornstein, Dario Saric 

In recent weeks Donnie Nelson, GM of the Mavs, and Dell Demps, GM of the Pelicans, flew to Croatia to see Saric play. Despite the interest, Saric was concerned he wouldn't get playing time in the NBA or would spend all of his time in the D-League. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Draft, Donnie Nelson, Dell Demps, Dario Saric 

Saric believes that with another season of experience, he'll guarantee a higher spot in the draft and a bigger role with the team that drafts him, Cornstein said. ESPN.com

Draft, Marc Cornstein, Dario Saric 

Chad Ford: Interesting: One team in the lottery just told me they DID promise to draft Saric if he'd guarantee he'd play in NBA nxt year. Saric said no Twitter @chadfordinsider

Draft, Dario Saric 

Chad Ford: Think Saric's withdrawal helps Shabazz Muhammad & Sergey Karasev the most. 13 Draft gets a little weaker. 14 Draft just got stronger. Twitter @chadfordinsider

Draft, Dario Saric, Shabazz Muhammad, Sergey Karasev 

Cibona GM Vlado Vanjak tells @sofoklo13 Dario Saric "has not yet withdrawn his name from the NBA Draft," and is having "second thoughts. Vanjak told @sofoklo13 Dario Saric will "definitely play in Cibona next season," and he'll decide whether to withdraw "in a couple of days." Sportando

Draft, Dario Saric 

Saric, as we reported last week, is leaning toward withdrawing from the draft. However, despite reports to the contrary, he hasn't officially pulled his name (he has until June 17 to do so). Why? He's still listening to teams that would be willing to draft him in the lottery and leave him in Croatia for a year. ESPN.com

Draft, Dario Saric 

There are a handful of teams that believe Saric is a top five talent in the draft. I believe the Pelicans are one of them. So, yes, if the guys they have ranked ahead of him are all gone, I do think they'd take him at 6. However, they could probably trade down to a pick like 9 or 10, pick up an asset and still get him. The scouts that REALLY know Europe say that there's not a huge difference between Saric and Otto Porter. ESPN.com

New Orleans Pelicans, Draft, Trade, Dario Saric, Otto Porter 

All indications are that Croation small forward Dario Saric will withdraw from the draft before the June 17 deadline for international players. While his agent, Robert Jablan, told BourbonStreetShots.com that the decision has been made, some teams are understandably wondering if this is an attempt to secure a promise. After all, Saric previously went from signaling he would stay in Europe to applying for the draft and now has turned around again about five weeks later despite no change in his standing with his stock still somewhere around the teens. One executive said chances are “about 99.9” Saric will jump out of the pool, meaning the NBA is not yet closing the door on 2013. Another said “It sure sounds like it,” when asked whether Saric is staying in Croatia. They’re waiting for 100 percent by June 17. NBA.com

Draft, Dario Saric 

There are a handful of teams that believe Saric is a top five talent in the draft. I believe the Pelicans are one of them. So, yes, if the guys they have ranked ahead of him are all gone, I do think they'd take him at 6. However, they could probably trade down to a pick like 9 or 10, pick up an asset and still get him. The scouts that REALLY know Europe say that there's not a huge difference between Saric and Otto Porter. ESPN.com

New Orleans Pelicans, Draft, Dario Saric, Otto Porter 

Croatian forward Dario Saric is leaning toward not entering the NBA draft, but his representatives will use the next week to continue to research where Saric would be selected, an NBA source told SI.com. SI.com

Draft, Dario Saric 

Saric has been maddeningly non-committal about his desire to play in the NBA next season. Saric’s agent, Robert Jablan, told ESPN blog Bourbon Street Shots that Saric will withdraw from the draft, but a source familiar with the situation said Saric’s representatives will hold off on submitting any paperwork. SI.com

Draft, Dario Saric 

"He's really not even that good," says another NBA exec drafting outside the lottery. "He played in a terrible league and he was just average there. Which coach will play him as a point forward in the NBA? I don't see it unless he significantly improves his defense and shooting. He's not a guy that can create his own shot in the half-court in our league." DraftExpress.com

Draft, Dario Saric 

One main topic of conversation among scouts in attendance this morning was Dario Saric's reported decision to withdraw from the 2013 NBA Draft. Raising the ire of many, one team picking in the teens opined, “[Saric was] not as accessible as he needed to be during the draft process; information hasn't been forthcoming outside of one draft blog. We can't draft a guy like that without getting him in our gym and without a physical or interview." DraftExpress.com

Draft, Dario Saric 

Most teams we talked to say that in all likelihood he did not like the information was receiving about being projected to be picked in the 20-30 range and that concerns about his buyout were the key factor in his decision to pull out considering his draft range. His "rights" are owned by a shady third party in Croatia and they may prefer to sell him to a big team in Europe to get more money. DraftExpress.com

Draft, Dario Saric 

After Chad Ford reported yesterday that Dario Saric is “leaning towards withdrawing from the draft”, I decided to take it upon myself to dig a little dipper. After all, I had plenty invested following a 4000+ word piece on Saric yesterday. I reached out to several people, including Saric’s agent Robert Jablan. I asked for a quote or comment on the record regarding Saric’s status for my piece and Jablan responded with the following: "We make decision this morning that we will withdraw Dario from the 2013 draft. Best regards, Robert Jablan" Bourbon Street Shots

Draft, Dario Saric