With the NBA Draft less than a week away, scouts, executives and agents are exchanging gossip while prospects finish their workout tours. As always, there is mostly guessing about what other teams will do, as their front offices try to remain tight lipped and misleading.
Here’s what we’re hearing about teams and prospects within each tier of the draft.
No. 1 overall conversation
When it comes to the Washington Wizards at No. 1, everyone is still speculating. There are no real leaks or sources suggesting what way they’re leaning right now. The guess from rival scouts/execs and agents is AJ Dybantsa, who has the obvious upside and no real worrisome flaws or concerns, while Darryn Peterson has the cramping saga to answer for and Cameron Boozer has the athletic/defensive questions.
Still, nobody is ruling out Peterson or even Boozer, who are both No. 1 for different scouts around the league.
I’ve talked to multiple people around the league who think Boozer is a Danny Ainge type with the second pick. And the fact that Carlos Boozer is on Utah’s staff is also difficult to ignore. However, if the Wizards take Peterson, most expect Dybantsa to be a lock at No. 2
The Memphis Grizzlies are operating stress free at No. 3, based on what I’m hearing from those close to their decision-makers. They’ll take whichever of the Big Three falls to them.
Lottery guards
There is absolutely no consensus when ranking the lottery guards Darius Acuff, Keaton Wagler, Kingston Flemings and Mikel Brown Jr. Sacramento at No. 7 overall sounds like Acuff’s floor. Dallas is the perceived floor for the other three at No. 9, though Nate Ament sneaking into the top 10 could allow one to slip to the Milwaukee Bucks at No. 10. And Ament has definitely helped himself with sources saying he at least put himself in the conversation for teams like the Bulls (likely trade-down situation) and Nets at Nos. 4 and 6, respectively.
Karim Lopez generating lottery interest
There’s been uncertainty throughout the year about the draft stock of Lopez, who played a second season in Australia’s NBL. Sources indicate there is serious interest in Lopez from a number of lottery teams. He worked out this week against Nate Ament for the Brooklyn Nets, where I’m told he performed very well and won the majority of matchup opportunities. He’s already visited the Milwaukee Bucks, a team that’s likely to want young players like Lopez with a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade seemingly inevitable.
Lopez has more workouts scheduled with lottery teams in the coming week. With one of the first invites to the Green Room, signs are pointing for the Mexican-born forward to go somewhere in the No. 6-14 range.
Non-lottery teams not expecting a chance to draft Cameron Carr
Carr’s performance at the NBA combine was so convincing that teams in the early teens don’t think he’ll be there for them. An explosive shotmaking wing with defensive playmaking ability is a fit for everyone, and as one executive put it, “He looked like a pro playing against kids in that scrimmage.”
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Tarris Reed, Zuby Ejiofor stock up
Teams have spoken very highly about Reed after workouts, and not just his performance on the floor. He’s generating rave reviews for his character and personality. He’s also impressed some teams with a shooting stroke he didn’t have the freedom to experiment with at UConn.
We’re hearing interest from teams as early as the late teens. And while that sounds like a reach, it sounds more likely that Reed will hear his name called somewhere in the first round.
There has also been very positive feedback on Ejifor, who measured well, clearly moves well and has demonstrated improved shooting. Both players have become better first-round bets than they were prior to the pre-draft process.
Ebuka Okorie’s wide range
A surplus of point guards means one or two may slip. Okorie has already worked out for the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls, who’ll have a second pick at No. 15. We’ve also heard interest from the Memphis Grizzlies, who could be looking for another ball-handler at No. 16 with Ja Morant presumably on the way out.
Teams in the early 20s have shown interest in Okorie, and it doesn’t seem like he’ll slip too deep into the first round.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Jayden Quaintance, Koa Peat slipping?
Lendeborg was left off the first wave of Green Room invites. Rumors are circling that he still isn’t fully healed from the leg injury he suffered in the NCAA Tournament, and that it has affected his performance and durability during workouts.
History shows that lottery teams have been afraid to draft players who’ve already turned 23 years old. Despite his impact at Michigan, Lendeborg is starting to look like a potential faller.
Quaintance was not one of the first 20 players invited to the green room, and sources around the league have him pegged as the likeliest big name to fall. While medicals will play a big role, there just wasn’t enough evidence of strong development or consistent impact since he arrived in college in 2024.
Support for Peat has gradually faded throughout the year, and even more jumped off the wagon after the combine. While some think he may be becoming a value pick, it’s widely believed that Peat will fall into the 20s.
Trade rumors
The Los Angeles Clippers, owners of the No. 5 pick, have been pinpointed as a team expected to be active in trade talks. Darius Acuff Jr. isn’t a great fit alongside another small guard in Darius Garland, and there may be other teams who see Acuff as the top point guard in the draft.
The Clippers could potentially swap with the Sacramento Kings at No. 7, where they’d still be able to get either Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr. or Kingston Flemings.
The Bucks are widely expected to add another lottery pick, with the Miami Heat the most likely team to give them one (in a trade for Giannis).
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