Jeff Goodman: Baylor’s Matthew Mayer announces he wil…

Jeff Goodman: Baylor’s Matthew Mayer announces he will declare for the NBA Draft, but will preserve his college eligibility.

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UNLV senior center Cheikh Mbacke Diong announced that he is entering the NBA draft without an agent — and the NCAA’s transfer portal — all but ending his career with the Rebels, according to an interview he did with ESPN.
Kansas forward Jalen Wilson announced that he has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft today. “I am grateful to say that with prayer and discussion with Coach (Bill) Self and my family, I will test the NBA draft process,” said Wilson. Wilson will retain NCAA eligibility while testing the draft process.
Miami Hurricanes redshirt senior guard Kameron McGusty has decided to enter his name into the NBA draft, but that doesn’t mean his time at UM is necessarily done. “I am entering my name into the 2021 NBA Draft, while maintaining my collegiate eligibility at the University of Miami,” McGusty said in a social media statement on Monday evening.
Junior center Kevin Samuel announced his intentions to test the 2021 NBA Draft waters on Monday night. Samuel, who is scheduled to graduate this spring, posted a lengthy message on his Twitter account about his decision. In part, it read: “I’ve decided to enter the NBA Draft while maintaining my college eligibility.”
Virginia guard Trey Murphy III will test the NBA Draft waters, but will not hire an agent leaving the door open to a potential return to Charlottesville next season.
Marquette’s Dawson Garcia is ready to test the NBA draft waters. The talented freshman announced on Monday night he is putting his name into the draft but will maintain his college eligibility by not hiring an agent.
Syracuse’s Alan Grifin will enter the NBA Draft and is expected to sign with an agent, according to sources. A 6-5 swingman, Griffin played one season with the Orange after two seasons with Illinois. He averaged 13.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in 28 games at Syracuse.
Sophomore guard Scotty Pippen Jr. has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft, according to his social media accounts Saturday morning. Pippen Jr. stated his intentions to declare for the NBA Draft, and he will retain his college eligibility by not signing with an agent as he initially goes through the process.
Illinois senior Trent Frazier announced Friday on social media he will use an NCAA-approved agent to help him enter the NBA draft, but he intends to maintain his eligibility as he explores the process. “To my teammates, my brothers, and all of Illini Nation, I want to say thank you for being part of this special journey,” Frazier’s announcement read. “We have created memories that will last forever. You guys took me in and helped me grow into the person I am today. The support you guys gave me has been overwhelming.”
Fighting Illini senior Trent Frazier is now the third player on the team to declare for the 2021 NBA Draft. Frazier joins Ayo Dosunmu and Giorgi Bezhanishvili as 2021 draft entrants. He is the second to confirm he plans to hire an agent, joining Dosunmu in that regard.
Moussa Cisse announced Tuesday he is declaring for the NBA Draft. The 6-foot-10 center recently completed his freshman campaign at Memphis after enrolling a year early following a standout season at Lausanne. In a statement he posted on social media, Cisse said he will not sign with an agent in order to maintain his collegiate eligibility.
In a social media post this afternoon, Coastal Carolina guard Devante Jones said he’s declaring for the 2021 NBA draft. Jones will not hire an agent, therefore he can possibly return to Conway for his senior season.
After a single season at USC in which he helped the Trojans to their first Elite Eight in two decades, point guard Tahj Eaddy is turning pro. The senior guard, who transferred from Santa Clara to USC last spring, announced his intent to declare for the NBA draft Thursday in an Instagram post. He’ll forgo the extra year of eligibility provided by the NCAA in hopes of being drafted this summer.
Arkansas freshman guard Moses Moody declared for the NBA Draft on Friday. He appeared on ESPN’s “The Jump” to make the announcement. “I would like to hire an agent and enter my name into the 2021 NBA Draft,” he said on ESPN.
Kansas forward Jalen Wilson announced that he has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft today. “I am grateful to say that with prayer and discussion with Coach (Bill) Self and my family, I will test the NBA draft process,” said Wilson.
Villanova forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl announced Friday that he is declaring for the NBA Draft and hiring an agent after a standout sophomore season for the Wildcats. Robinson-Earl averaged 15.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this season and became a double-double machine late in the season.
After one of the best seasons in Alabama men's basketball history, senior Herb Jones has announced he will enter into the upcoming NBA Draft. Jones joins fellow senior John Petty in the NBA Draft pool, due to the pandemic seniors had the option to return to universities for an additional year. Both Jones and Petty went through draft evaluations last year but opted instead to return to Tuscaloosa for their senior years.
Arizona State freshman forward Marcus Bagley has declared for the NBA Draft, he told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. Bagley told ESPN he is keeping all of his options open and has not yet hired an agent.
Sophomore guard Terrence Shannon Jr. announced via Twitter on Thursday that he’s declaring for the 2021 NBA draft. Shannon said in his post that has decided to retain his eligibility and will not sign with an agent just yet.
Yves Pons posted a thank you note to Tennessee fans on social media on Friday afternoon and appears to be moving on with his basketball career. “I’ll always cherish my four great years at Tennessee,” Pons posted on Instagram and Twitter, “and I’m proud to be a Vol For Life!” Pons could have returned next season, using the free year of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of the coronavirus pandemic, but it was widely expected that he would move on to whatever is next in his career — the NBA, the NBA’s G-League or playing overseas.
Shams Charania: Baylor junior Davion Mitchell -- a potential lottery pick -- is declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft and plans to hire an agent, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Mitchell led Baylor to the national championship on Monday.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Tennessee freshman guard Keon Johnson – No. 6 in ESPN’s Top 100 -- will enter the 2021 NBA Draft and hire an agent, Johnson tells @DraftExpress . “The NBA has always been my goal, but I never expected it to come this soon.”
Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu has decided to enter the 2021 NBA draft and forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility, he said on ESPN’s The Jump on Wednesday (link via Jonathan Givony of ESPN).
The Jump: 🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨 Ayo Dosunmu declares for the #NBADraft! 👏 #NBA #NBATwitter #TheJump
Maryland senior Darryl Morsell will declare for the NBA Draft and enter the NCAA transfer portal, he announced Monday. But he although he also hasn't ruled out a return to College Park.
Rutgers junior forward Ron Harper Jr. announced his plans to submit his name for the 2021 NBA Draft and go through the NBA’s evaluation process while maintaining his college eligibility in an Instagram post Friday.
D.J. Stewart Jr. announced Thursday that he'll enter his name into the NBA Draft pool, but unlike the other players that have decided to leave the program, the redshirt sophomore standout left the possibility of coming back.
Clemson guard Clyde Trapp announced Wednesday that he is putting his name in for the NBA Draft. Trapp, the former Lower Richland High School standout, posted on Twitter that he is entering the NBA Draft but not signing with an agent — a move that opens the door for him to return to college.
Coppin State senior guard Anthony Tarke has declared for the 2021 NBA draft, he announced on social media Wednesday night, but will maintain his college eligibility.
Arizona point guard James Akinjo has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft but may still return to the Wildcats next season, he announced Wednesday.
UNLV junior wing Bryce Hamilton is entering the 2021 NBA draft. Well, sort of. Hamilton on Tuesday announced via Twitter that he is going to partake of the draft process to “test the waters.” But he won’t be hiring an agent, allowing him to maintain his college eligibility and make possible a return to the Rebels in 2021-22.
WKU junior big man Charles Bassey has declared for the NBA draft. The original report was made by Jonathan Givony from ESPN. The announcement comes Thursday afternoon from the center who told ESPN he was declaring for the draft and hiring an agent.
Auburn’s first-year sensation has left the building. Star point guard Sharife Cooper announced on social media Friday he will be taking his talents to the NBA. “It was a tough decision, a hard decision, but with that being said, I would like to declare for the 2021 NBA Draft and hire an agent,” said Cooper.
Stanford freshman Ziaire Williams declared for the 2021 NBA Draft on Wednesday. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 10.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 20 games (14 starts) for the Cardinal in 2020-21.
For the last 10 days, Marshall guard Taevion Kinsey spent time talking with agents and NBA personnel after entering his name in the pool for the 2021 NBA Draft. The more he spoke with those representatives, the more Kinsey said his decision became clear. On Friday, Kinsey made his decision official, announcing that he remove his name from the NBA Draft pool to return to the Thundering Herd in the 2021-22 season.
Cade Cunningham announced Thursday that he will enter the NBA draft after a dynamic freshman season for Oklahoma State that saw him named a first-team AP All-American. "I see them as more human now than I used to," Cunningham said. "I've been looking at those guys since I was a sophomore in high school. Those are the guys I've got to try to outwork right now."
Cunningham knows the work is just beginning. The Texas native has already been thinking of ways to improve before the July 29 draft. "Throughout the season, I was just adding things on in my head," he said. "We don't have as much time to just get in the gym and work. I definitely want to get my fluidity and my movement better, whether that's yoga and things like that. Just getting my range of motion and things a lot better. I still want to focus on tightening my handle, shooting the ball better, just getting more consistent at a lot of the things that I do now."
It was announced today (April 2) that Providence College junior guard David Duke (Providence, R.I.) has hired an agent and he will enter the 2021 NBA Draft. "We are appreciative of everything that David has done for our men's basketball program," Providence College Head Coach Ed Cooley said. "David has always had a goal of playing in the NBA.”
Adrian Wojnarowski: UConn Huskies sophomore guard James Bouknight is entering the 2021 NBA Draft and plans to hire an agent, Bouknight tells ESPN. es.pn/31GER41
Austin Reaves will leave Oklahoma to declare for the 2021 NBA draft and will forgo his remaining college eligibility. "I have decided to declare for the NBA draft and will be hiring an agent in the near future," Reaves told ESPN. "My family and I believe this is best decision for my future and I'm super excited for the next part of my journey."
Syracuse forward Quincy Guerrier will test the NBA waters, said his Canadian prep coach at Thetford Academy and longtime advisor Ibrahim Appiah. “We’ve spoken about it briefly,” Appiah said today in a phone conversation. “We’re still stuck on details but definitely he wants to try his luck. I don’t think he loses anything by trying his luck, especially with this new way of doing it. It’s a great thing for him just to see where he stands and where he ranks. What’s the perception of him and things like that. It’s a great way to get feedback and just to see where he’s at.”
Florida starting forward Colin Castleton announced on social media that he will be entering his name in the 2021 NBA draft. However Castleton will not be hiring and agent therefore he will be able to keep his collegiate eligibility.
Syracuse forward Quincy Guerrier will test the NBA waters, said his Canadian prep coach at Thetford Academy and longtime advisor Ibrahim Appiah.
Jaden Springer is headed for the NBA Draft and will sign with an agent, he announced Monday. Springer averaged a team-best 12.5 points and shot 43.5% from 3-point range as a freshman with Tennessee basketball. He also averaged 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
Another Utah rotation piece is unlikely to return next season, but this one comes as no surprise. Alfonso Plummer, a sharpshooting, feast-or-famine shooting guard, announced on Twitter Monday afternoon that he will enter the NBA Draft to “test the waters,” while also entering the NCAA Transfer Portal in effort to survey options if he decides to return to college one more year.
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May 28, 2023 | 10:23 am EDT Update
The early around-the-league reaction to Washington’s hiring of Michael Winger to take over its front office: Pretty much every rival team I’ve spoken to is already expecting aggressive activity from the Winger-led Wizards. Don’t forget, though, that Bradley Beal can’t be in play for a trade unless he wants to be. Beal holds the NBA’s only active and full no-trade clause as he enters Year 2 of a five-year, $251 million contract, so Washington can’t send him anywhere without Beal’s consent. Also TBD: Is Kristaps Porziņģis still a near-lock to receive a contract extension from the Wizards, as it appeared earlier this season, or likely to join the in-demand Kyle Kuzma on the Wizards’ list of marquee unrestricted free agents?
One week after shocking the world in Kaunas with the two-pointer that gave Real Madrid the win against Olympiacos and the 11th EuroLeague in the club’s history, Sergio Llull wrote that history once again. The 35-year-old Spanish veteran just became Real Madrid‘s leading scorer in the ACB. With a three-pointer to give Real Madrid the 25-point lead in the last minutes of the second quarter against Gran Canaria, in Game 1 of the ACB Quarter-Finals between the EuroLeague and EuroCup champions, Sergio Llull overcame Felipe Reyes in this special ranking, crossing the line of 6.019 points.
May 28, 2023 | 7:43 am EDT Update

Mavericks not interested in Kyrie Irving sign-and-trade with Lakers for D’Angelo Russell

A popular topic all week, in the wake of Denver sweeping the Lakers out of the Western Conference finals, was the notion that L.A. could emerge as a potential sign-and-trade destination for Dallas’ free agent-to-be Kyrie Irving. While we await a clear indication about the Lakers’ intentions there, with no verifiable signal to date that pursuing Irving is among their offseason priorities, league sources say that the Mavericks would have no interest in a sign-and-trade with the Lakers that features D’Angelo Russell as the primary Dallas-bound player. All indications are that the Mavericks remain intent on re-signing Irving.
The former No. 2 overall pick has already expressed a desire to return to Los Angeles, but his future with the team remains unclear especially after Darvin Ham decided to bring him off the bench in Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets. Russell acknowledged it was a tough situation for him but wanted to remain as professional as possible about it. “I mean, it was tough,” Russell admitted. “It was tough to agree with it obviously, but in a short period of time to not become a distraction to your teammates and to everybody else that’s preparing just like you to get the one goal done which is win. I knew that was where you had to be professional. You can’t be a distraction at this point of the season and things like that, so that’s kind of how I went about it. I wanted to be professional and try to dominate my minutes when there were minutes for me.”
The Celtics had to find their togetherness and it was his job as the OG to make that happen. Horford told Mazzulla to ditch the film session, organizing a team trip to Topgolf instead. They needed to have fun with each other and feel the joy again. “We completely skipped film,” Grant Williams told The Athletic. “We kept basketball away and we just focused on each other and getting that camaraderie and team back. We disconnected from the actual pressures and we were able to just enjoy one another. We’ve done movies before, we’ve done dinners. But that was our first time doing something active like that. Then we hit the film the next day.”