The 2013 NBA Draft is only one week away, and the excitement and intrigue of the event is already building up in the rumor mill as "sources" around the association continue to leak information intended to sway draft experts and team executives on the value of certain players in the draft. The latest draft talk suggests Ben McLemore's stock is falling, the Golden State Warriors have the green light from ownership to acquire a pick and the Portland Trail Blazers have set up a workout between two highly-regarded big men.
NBA Draft rumors roundup: Ben McLemore has teams ‘worried,’ Warriors could acquire a pick
With one week to go until the 2013 NBA Draft unfolds, there are plenty of rumors and whispers circulating in the association.
Jamie Squire
Ben McLemore (scouting report) has firmly held the No. 2 spot on the SB Nation Big Board for some time, but in the last three months he has fallen from the top spot to No. 5 overall on ESPN's Big Board due to concerns about his lack of an alpha-dog mentality. In Chad Ford's mock draft 5.0, he reports that McLemore's lack of preparation for the draft process and a battle between overnearing handlers is hurting his stock. Ford suggests his workout with the Suns was unimpressive, but Dave King of Suns blog Bright Side of the Sun says he would still be ecstatic if McLemore fell to No. 5.
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The Golden State Warriors do not own a draft pick this year, but general manager Bob Myers recently told the Contra Costa Times that if the front office identifies a player worth pursuing the purchase of a draft pick, ownership is “willing to spend” and will give the “green light.” For the Warriors, everything will be contingent on how their board develops on draft day as other teams select prospects. Buying a second-round pick certainly seems like an option for Golden State.
The Portland Trail Blazers own the No. 10 pick in the first round and a trio of second-round selections, and the workout they have scheduled for Thursday may determined what they do on June 27. Big men Steven Adams (scouting report) and Rudy Gobert (scouting report) will work out for Portland in an event that has been deemed "Paul Allen apprearance worthy" by Chris Haynes of CSN-Northwest. The Blazers drafted a high-ceiling big last year (Meyers Leonard), but Adams and Gobert have been rising on draft boards and are considered two of the most interesting talents in the 2013 draft. This is a matchup plenty of teams would love to see, because Adams has the bulk to test the wiry Gobert down low.
Finally, Chris Mannix of SI.com reports that the Cavaliers continue to "aggressively shop" the No. 1 overall pick, but rival executives insist they are overvaluing it. Nerlens Noel is scheduled to visit the team on Thursday.
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