Draft buzz
• Last year virtually every NBA agent with a top pick in the draft colluded to keep their players from working out for the Sacramento Kings. The hope was that the Kings wouldn't draft a player that they hadn't worked out. We counted only one player ranked in our top 30, Vanderbilt's Wade Baldwin, who did an actual workout for the Kings despite the fact that they picked No. 8. Agents went so far as to keep medical records from them and the Kings had to resort to other means to get the physicals.
Recently the Kings hired long-time assistant GM Scott Perry, who has worked for the Pistons, Thunder and Magic, to help the front office. The hope was that Perry could use his vast network of relationships to entice agents to get their players in for workouts with the message that the Kings are finally getting their act together.
So far, the effort is coming up empty. Multiple NBA agents told me that they were determined to keep their clients from working out for Sacramento. Heading into the lottery, the Kings are slotted to pick both at No. 8 and No. 10 (via New Orleans).
"It would be malpractice to let my clients play for them," one longtime agent said. "I've had clients there. It's still the most dysfunctional front office in the league, by a mile. How can you trust those guys with one of your players? It's going to take a long time to build that trust."
I'm not sure they'll get any of the top 20 in for workouts unless someone caves.
• The Kings aren't the only team that agents are avoiding this year. Several agents told me that they were considering holding their clients out of workouts with the Boston Celtics as well. The Celtics currently have the best odds of winning the No. 1 pick, and unlike the Kings, they have one of the most respected front offices and coaching staffs in the league.
What gives?
The Celtics are loaded with players at every position. The fear is that -- much like No. 3 pick Jaylen Brown saw this year -- their clients would have to spend the next few years coming off the bench. That's not what most top prospects in the draft want. They want a chance to start and lead a franchise right away.
"I have deep respect for the Celtics," one agent said. "They may have the best GM and head coach in the league. But I'd have to understand what the plan would be for my client before I let them come. They are loaded at every position. There's a real danger that they take a player and either he plays a limited role of the bench, or he becomes an asset to be traded to a situation that we're uncomfortable with. It's tough."
Don't expect this to bother the Celtics much. They have one of the best scouting staffs in the league.
• Last year virtually every NBA agent with a top pick in the draft colluded to keep their players from working out for the Sacramento Kings. The hope was that the Kings wouldn't draft a player that they hadn't worked out. We counted only one player ranked in our top 30, Vanderbilt's Wade Baldwin, who did an actual workout for the Kings despite the fact that they picked No. 8. Agents went so far as to keep medical records from them and the Kings had to resort to other means to get the physicals.
Recently the Kings hired long-time assistant GM Scott Perry, who has worked for the Pistons, Thunder and Magic, to help the front office. The hope was that Perry could use his vast network of relationships to entice agents to get their players in for workouts with the message that the Kings are finally getting their act together.
So far, the effort is coming up empty. Multiple NBA agents told me that they were determined to keep their clients from working out for Sacramento. Heading into the lottery, the Kings are slotted to pick both at No. 8 and No. 10 (via New Orleans).
"It would be malpractice to let my clients play for them," one longtime agent said. "I've had clients there. It's still the most dysfunctional front office in the league, by a mile. How can you trust those guys with one of your players? It's going to take a long time to build that trust."
I'm not sure they'll get any of the top 20 in for workouts unless someone caves.
• The Kings aren't the only team that agents are avoiding this year. Several agents told me that they were considering holding their clients out of workouts with the Boston Celtics as well. The Celtics currently have the best odds of winning the No. 1 pick, and unlike the Kings, they have one of the most respected front offices and coaching staffs in the league.
What gives?
The Celtics are loaded with players at every position. The fear is that -- much like No. 3 pick Jaylen Brown saw this year -- their clients would have to spend the next few years coming off the bench. That's not what most top prospects in the draft want. They want a chance to start and lead a franchise right away.
"I have deep respect for the Celtics," one agent said. "They may have the best GM and head coach in the league. But I'd have to understand what the plan would be for my client before I let them come. They are loaded at every position. There's a real danger that they take a player and either he plays a limited role of the bench, or he becomes an asset to be traded to a situation that we're uncomfortable with. It's tough."
Don't expect this to bother the Celtics much. They have one of the best scouting staffs in the league.
hopefully godfather lavar can scare them away
