Good morning, it’s springtime for NBA draft rumors
That and much more in Tuesday’s NBA newsletter.
Good morning. Let’s basketball.
RUMOR PARTY: The Jazz have reportedly offered Derrick Favors, No. 5 and maybe Alec Burks for No. 1. Whee. The Kings are reportedly sitting on three deals for the No. 8 pick. Woo. Jabari Parker apparently wants to play in Milwaukee. Oh. Dante Exum is starting to look like a top-3 lock. Huh. Milwaukee isn't taking Joel Embiid. Yee.
OH HEY: It’s the annual SB Nation NBA Blogger Mock Draft! Always a grand time. Lots of trades from the armchair GMs this time around. Dig in.
MELODRAMA II: ESPN reports six teams plus the Knicks expect to have a chance to sit down with Carmelo Anthony as he makes his free agent decision. Even the Hawks!
NO BIDS: Tim Duncan opted into his $10 million contract instead of becoming a free agent. He’ll assess his future a year from now.
EQUIPPED: Isaiah Austin is equipped to handle the devastating blow to his NBA dream, writes Ricky O’Donnell. Bonus: two essays on Austin at The Sports Fan Journal.
UH HUH: The Warriors and Wolves have reached an impasse on Kevin Love. Golden State is choosing to die on Mt. Klay. Tim Kawakami with the necessary perspective.
WRITE FLIGHT: Interesting piece on how white basketball writers talk about white basketball players.
ON ELFRID: Nice Woj piece on Elfrid Payton.
WORLD CUP II: A reminder that the FIBA World Championship is now called the FIBA World Cup and that it’s going to be awesome later this summer. John Schuhmann previews and notes that Manu is in.
LIL’ ZEKE: Isaiah Thomas on his pending free agency. Kings fans: avert your eyes at the Lakers stuff.
50 YEARS LATER: A great piece by David D. on the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Summer and the beauty of borrowed time from the Smoking Section.
Happy Tuesday. See you next time.
