Adam Zagoria: Former Kansas F Cheick Diallo works out today for the Celtics.
More on Draft Workouts
Tip-in: The Grizzlies will conduct another pre-draft workout Wednesday with Kellen Dunham (Butler), DeAndre Bembry (St. Joseph's), Wes Washpun (Northern Iowa), Fred VanVleet (Witchita State), Damian Jones (Vanderbilt) and Marshall Plumlee (Duke). Memphis owns the 17th and 57 picks in the June 23 NBA draft.
Alex Kennedy: After shining in his workout for the Toronto Raptors, Elgin Cook's next workout stop is the Brooklyn Nets (who are trying to land a pick).
Tony Jones: Dejounte Murray's workout for the Jazz tomorrow will be individual, I'm told
Gery Woelfel: Ex-Michigan State star Denzel Valentine tells me it's "50-50'' on whether he'll work out for Bucks.
The Suns have a six-man pre-draft workout group lined up for today, according to the team (Twitter link). The prospects participating in that session are Josh Adams (Wyoming), Gerry Blakes (Arizona State), Petr Cornelie (France), Juan Hernangomez (Spain), Mamadou Ndiaye (UC Irvine), and Georgios Papagiannis (Greece).
Chris Dempsey: #Nuggets pre-draft workouts continue on Wednesday with a good group. Participants: Malcolm Brogdon, Juancho Hernangomez, Demetrius Jackson, Diamond Stone, Tyler Ulis & Stephen Zimmerman
Brown checks a few other boxes on NBA wish lists. He previously worked out in Boston (the Celtics have the No. 3 pick) and New Orleans (No. 6). “Not concerned with being a top-five pick in the draft,” Brown said. “I want to be a top-five player in the league.”
Neither scenario is unrealistic. As in most draft years, once you get past the top 20 or so players, the difference in talent narrows. After that, it’s about finding someone with one or two NBA-caliber skills and determining the best fits. Zimmerman isn’t sure exactly how teams view him. “I have no clue where they’re looking at me,” he said after his Pistons workout, “but I do like to look at that as a strength, to be able to play and guard the four and the five.”
Alex Kennedy: The Knicks, Wizards and Suns have worked out/met with draft prospect Sterling Gibbs (who played at Texas, Seton Hall and UConn), per source.
Marc J. Spears: Greek 7-2, 275 pound center Georgios Papagiannis is working out for Suns today & has workouts with the Celtics, Bulls and Pistons up next.
Mike Bresnahan: Lakers haven't scheduled a workout with Ben Simmons yet. Draft is 17 days away...
David 'Dubi' Pick: Source: Dragan Bender has NBA workouts scheduled in US with Celtics, Suns, Twolves.
Adam Himmelsbach: Dragan Bender visit to Boston is still likely, but nothing is set just yet.
Ryan McDonald: Weber State's Joel Bolomboy won't be working out for the Jazz
Alex Kennedy: Former Cincinnati guard Farad Cobb turned some heads at Elite Skills Training pro day. Some teams are setting up a workout for closer look.
Alex Kennedy: Former Army player Tanner Plomb worked out for Celtics today. Finished first in famed "Boston Marathon" run the Celtics make prospects do.
Alex Kennedy: Notre Dame's Zach Auguste will be a busy man before the NBA draft. He has scheduled 19 workouts with teams.
Adam Zagoria: 7-footer Thon Maker worked out today for the @Memphis Grizzlies
Marko Arapovic: Just finished my first @NBA workout for the @HoustonRockets! Great experience. #iskustvo
On Monday, the Celtics brought in 12 more players for pre-draft workouts, six apiece in two sessions. The workouts featured two from Kansas (Perry Ellis, Hunter Mickelson) and two from Brad Stevens’ old employer – Butler (Kellen Dunham, Roosevelt Jones).
The Celtics also worked out two players from France (Isaia Cordinier, Guerschon Yabuele) and one from Spain (Jordan Sakho). “We really enjoy it. Get to know their level of English and get them outside of their systems a little bit, compare them against some of the college guys. I think it’s very valuable.”
What are they looking for from the European kids? “Really, the same stuff as the college guys. We look for just how they’ll fit with the Celtics and get to know their personalities a little bit,” Austin Ainge said. “Obviously, most of the things we judge them on we see in the games but this is a just a nice little piece. It is hard for young guys to earn minutes on professional teams sometimes. Sometimes we have a limited number of minutes we’ve seen them. This is always good to have them here.
Paul Coro: California swingman Jaylen Brown will work out alone for the Suns today. He is the highest-rated draft prospect to visit Phoenix thus far.
Adam Zagoria: Jermaine Lawrence's workout with the Warriors has been pushed to June 11 from today, source tells @SNYtv
Born in Sudan and raised in Australia, Maker has been known to NBA scouts for quite a while but seen rarely. And not at all as a college player. Thus the common reference to him as the “mystery man.” “I don’t know why they gave me that name, but I hear it a lot through interviews,” Maker said Friday after working out for the Pistons. “I tend not to read all that.”
Josh Lewenberg: Raptors will have Gonzaga F/C Domantas Sabonis (son of Arvydas and Lithuanian National Team teammate of Valanciunas) in for a workout Monday
Adam Zagoria: Former Iona G A.J. English works out this coming week for the Bulls, Magic and Raptors.
David 'Dubi' Pick: Source: Twolves like Dragan Bender with No. 5 pick. Scouts Calvin Booth and Zarko Durisic seen him here in workouts.
Alex Kennedy: Spurs GM R.C. Buford, Pelicans GM Dell Demps, Nuggets GM Tim Connelly and many other execs at Relativity Pro Day. Draft eligible: Skal Labissiere, Juan Hernangomez, Elgin Cook, Shaq Goodwin, Kyle Collinsworth, Jaleel Cousins, Ilja Gromovs, Jamari Traylor, Torrance Rowe, Anthony Odunsi. Free Agents: Jarnell Stokes, Alex Stephenson, Bernard James, Dwight Buycks, Adonis Thomas, Ognjen Kuzmic, Chris Walker, Arnett Moultrie, Boubacar Moungoro, Ronald Reis, Antonio Barton.
Ian Begley: Isaiah Whitehead has several fans in the Knicks organization, including star forward Carmelo Anthony. Whitehead has worked out with Anthony at the Knicks star's Terminal 23 gym in Manhattan. Anthony came away from the workouts impressed with the Seton Hall guard, according to people in the gym. Whitehead also worked out for the Knicks on Saturday at their training facility in Tarrytown. At 6-5, Whitehead has the kind of size that Phil Jackson coveted in his backcourt during his coaching days with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. Oftentimes, the Knicks have to consider how a potential prospect will handle life in New York. That doesn't seem like it would be an issue for Whitehead. The 21-year-old thrived at Coney Island's Lincoln High School, winning a city championship at Madison Square Garden; he also was named MVP of the 2016 Big East Tournament at MSG, helping Seton Hall stun eventual national champion Villanova in the title game. By all accounts, Whitehead is well-mannered and well-liked by teammates. The Knicks, who plan to acquire a draft pick, may have to trade to a spot in the late first round to land Whitehead.
Adam Zagoria: Former St. Joe's star DeAndre' Bembry worked today for Golden State after Clippers this week.
Adam Zagoria: Former Iona G A.J. English works out this coming week for the Bulls, Magic and Raptors.
Relativity Sports is holding a Pro Day on Sunday at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., a workout that will include likely lottery pick Skal Labissiere of Kentucky, Elgin Cook of Oregon, and Spanish standout Juan Hernangomez. The academy will also hold a workout session for NBA free agents looking for nonguaranteed deals or summer league invitations .
Utah will host another pre-draft workout Sunday, including Utah State guard Chris Smith, Wichita State guard Ron Baker, USC forward Nikola Jovanovic, Wake Forest guard Codi Miller-McIntyre, Spain center Jordan Sakho and California guard Tyrone Wallace.
Alex Kennedy: In addition to working out for the Bucks and Suns, Kansas' Perry Ellis worked out for the Spurs today. He'll work out for the Hawks soon.
Kyle Wiltjer had good things to say about Saturday’s workout and the group of NBA hopefuls who joined him in Utah for this audition with the Jazz. The former All-West Coast Conference first-teamer tried to show the Jazz that he can play tough and be aggressive, that he can fight through adversity in a draining tryout and that he can provide coveted stretch-the-floor shooting like he did for the Zags. “I think,” he said, “I can help a team out by doing that.”
Kevin Ding: Brandon Ingram (@Brandon Ingram) scheduled for private workout with Lakers on Thursday, according to league sources.
“He’s a high energy kid, who plays with a lot of passion and a lot of emotion,” said Marc Eversley, the Philadelphia 76ers vice president of player personnel, who brought Cordinier in for a workout this past week. “[He] can make shots, and he’s a high twitch guy,” Eversley continued, referring to Cordinier’s quick reflexes and reaction time. Eversley also referred to Cordinier as a strong leaper capable of making plays at the rim.
Darren Wolfson: Utah big man Jakob Poeltl currently scheduled for a #Twolves visit + workout June 17, I hear. Layden/Thibs due-dilegence continues.
On Saturday, the Sixers were one of 20 teams that sent a representative to the Elite Skills Training pro day held at Chaminade-Madonna prep school north of Miami. Vince Rozman, Sixers director of basketball operations/scouting innovation, was in attendance. The Sixers hold the first, 24th and 26 picks in the first round of this year's draft. The event, organized by trainer Tony Falce, included 35 players. Among those were Baylor forward Taurean Prince and LSU guard Tim Quarterman, both of whom have already worked out for the Sixers.
Alex Kennedy: Kansas' Perry Ellis worked out for the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, and participated in a Chicago pro day. Many more workouts soon.
Alex Kennedy: UNC's Brice Johnson is working out for the Phoenix Suns on June 8. Then, he'll be working out for the Denver Nuggets on June 9.
John Gambadoro: Hearing Providence point guard Kris Dunn wants to go to Minnesota, will not work out for Phoenix or share medical records.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Marquette forward Henry Ellenson has a workout with the Lakers on Saturday, league sources say.
Adam Zagoria: Phil Jackson and Jeff Hornacek ran the #Knicks workout today for former Iona G A.J. English, source tells @SNYtv. pic.twitter.com/AEFzTX0o76
It's no secret the Indiana Pacers are still searching for a solution at point guard. On Thursday, the team continued its pre-draft workouts with two intriguing point guard options at Bankers Life Fieldhouse: Oregon State's Gary Payton II and North Carolina's Marcus Paige. When the Pacers enter the draft June 23, they will have just one true point guard on their roster: Joe Young, a second-round pick who just finished his rookie season. Ty Lawson, who the team signed in March, is an unrestricted free agent. For most of the season, the Pacers used Monta Ellis and George Hill to initiate the offense, although both aren't known as pass-first players.
For Payton, Thursday’s workout in some ways felt like a small homecoming. When Payton was growing up in Seattle, his father was teammates with Pacers coach Nate McMillan on the SuperSonics. For eight years, the elder Payton and McMillan played together in the Seattle backcourt. Before and after games the younger Payton would shoot on the court inside KeyArena.
Payton was hoping to have McMillan watch him during Thursday’s workout, but McMillan missed it because of a prior engagement. That did not stop Payton of thinking about the possibility of McMillan being his first coach in the NBA if the Pacers select him.
The 76ers liked what they saw Thursday from former Imhotep Charter standout Brandon Austin in his pre-draft workout at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. The 6-foot-7 point guard was by far the best shooter in the portion of the workout that was visible to media. He also had a nice feed to Isaia Cordinier on a fast break.
Chriss has caught the fancy of NBA scouts and executives who have marveled at his leaping ability and potential to develop a perimeter shot. “A guy that I think may be the best athlete in the entire draft is going to be in that range,” former St. John’s coach and ESPN draft analyst Fran Fraschilla said. “That’s Marquese Chriss from University of Washington, a freak-ish athlete, young, one of the youngest players in the draft, and improving skill level.”
Cal freshman Jaylen Brown worked out for the Celtics this week, but according to a source at the workout, it was Danuel House who stole the show, matching up nicely against Brown and showing he has the potential to be a steal as a 3-and-D wing in the second round.
Orazio Cauchi: Adam Pechacek will have a workout with the Los Angeles Lakers tomorrow, per source.
Scott Agness: Pacers pre-draft workout No. 5 with Gary Payton II, Robert Carter Jr, and more. https://t.co/fnZ8oX64O5
Brett Dawson: Jaylen Brown will be in New Orleans tomorrow to meet with the Pelicans. Jamal Murray was in earlier this week.
Maker said he has used workouts to prove to executives and coaches that he is talented enough for the NBA. “I’ve played against most of these guys already when they were in high school,” he said. “Sure enough in college they developed a lot more in terms of physically getting stronger. But I’ve held my own. They’ve watched me and they see that – and I see that – not much has changed since they were in high school.”
But in order to reach his potential in the NBA, Maker said, he understands that he will have to get stronger and add weight to his 216-pound body. “I’ve gotten better, I’ve matured and physically I’ve gotten stronger,” he said. “Over the years I’ve gradually put on weight and gradually gotten stronger. I’ve always done it the right way and I’ve always put on the right amount of weight so that it’s not too much because I have to be able to hold on to that weight. We’re taking our time.”
Keith Pompey: Former #Syracuse G Malachi Richardson will workout for the #AtlantaHawks Thursday. He's on the #Sixers radar ... https://t.co/6EDhYENCD1
Ian Begley: The Knicks will workout Iona guard AJ English on Thursday, league sources confirm.
Ian Begley: Also, a Knicks executive was among six other teams to watch UConn's Sterling Gibbs and Eastern Kentucky's Jarrelle Reischel earlier this week, sources confirm. SNY.tv earlier reported the Gibbs/Reischel workouts and Thursday's workout with English.
Adam Zagoria: Former Iona G A.J. English and former Stony Brook F Jameel Warney work out today for the @WashWizards
The 7-foot-1 Croatian, as athletic as he is tall, impressed with great shooting form, 3-point range, world-class length and a sharp instinct to pass. He’s skinny — a bony 223 pounds — but so is Kristaps Porzingis, the improbably successful Knicks rookie who has Danny Ainge wondering if the European talent pool can produce legitimate high draft talent for the second year in a row. The Celtics president and his son, director of player personnel Austin Ainge, watched Bender in two practices with Maccabi Tel Aviv last weekend. Bender told them he will fly to Boston for a workout once Maccabi’s playoff season ends, at the latest, on June 9.
Darren Wolfson: Hear Kentucky big Skal Labissiere will workout for the #Twolves on June 14. Henry Ellenson due in this week. @ Jon Krawczynski first on Henry.
Adam Zagoria: Former Kansas big man Cheick Diallo impressed in San Antonio workout against Stephen Zimmerman & Damian Jones, source says. Has Phoenix Thurs.
The Pacers will hold their fourth pre-draft workout on Wednesday, June 1 in preparation for the 2016 NBA Draft. The six players scheduled to participate in workouts are Jake Layman (Maryland), Thon Maker (Athlete Institute Basketball Academy High School), Retin Obasohan (Alabama), Shavon Shields (Nebraska), Fred VanVleet (Wichita State), and Stephen Zimmerman (UNLV).
