Paladins

Similar to when we discussed <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-draft-combine-takeaways-from-anthro-testing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anthro testing</a>, the NBA Draft Combine provides opportunities for both fans and scouts alike to overreact. Some around the league put lots of stock into agility and strength testing, while others do not. The eye of the beholder takes each test into account in his or her own way.&nbsp;
Our Sr. NBA Draft Analyst, Matt Babcock, weighs in: &ldquo;I can't say I put a ton of stock into the physical testing, but I certainly look at them. I'm usually not too surprised at the results, as I think a decently experienced scout can generally judge a player's athleticism relatively well by watching them play in person. However, seeing results like Kennedy Chandler jumping an impressive 41.5 inches on his max vertical and Patrick Baldwin Jr. jumping a Combine-worst 26.5 inches does sway my opinion of them some.&rdquo;
Here are a few of my takeaways from agility testing:
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-nba-mock-draft/players/kendall-brown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kendall Brown</a>, Baylor
Kendall Brown leaped to a 41-inch max vertical in Chicago. This explosiveness, paired with being 6-foot, 7.5 inches and 201 pounds, gives insight into the physical athlete he really is. While there are concerns about some of Brown&rsquo;s perimeter skills, his athleticism and ability to impact the game on both ends will translate. He&rsquo;ll be a coveted player in next month&rsquo;s draft.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-nba-mock-draft/players/kennedy-chandler" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kennedy Chandler</a>, Tennessee
Although only measuring in at 5-foot, 11.5 inches without shoes, Kennedy Chandler posted the highest vertical leap of the day at 41.5 inches. Scouts and media alike were impressed with the athleticism, as he makes a strong case for himself as a first-round pick.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-nba-mock-draft/players/jalen-williams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jalen Williams</a>, Santa Clara
After registering tremendous numbers in the anthro testing, Jalen Williams then posted a 39-inch max vertical, giving real promise to how he'll fit on an NBA floor. His defense leaves a lot to be desired, but his shooting, offensive skill set and obvious athleticism may lead to a rise in his draft value.&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_18295573_lg.jpg" alt="" width="547" height="400" />
Terquavion Smith, NC State
It&rsquo;s been a solid week of measurements for Terquavion Smith as he continues to consider whether he'll stay in the 2022 NBA Draft. After measuring in at 6-foot, 2.25 inches without shoes, he then posted a 10.63 lane agility time and a 38.5-inch max vertical. He&rsquo;s twitchy and explosive, and has a chance to be a reliable guard in the NBA regardless of when he declares.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-nba-mock-draft/players/david-roddy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Roddy</a>, Colorado State
Roddy is 6-foot-6 in his shoes, 260 pounds, has a 6-foot, 11.5-inch wingspan and registers a 35.5-inch max vertical. Not only would these be strong at an NFL Combine, they were in a solid tier in Chicago as well. Roddy has a real chance to be a first-round pick next month and has helped himself this week.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-nba-mock-draft/players/patrick-baldwin-jr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Patrick Baldwin Jr.</a>, UW-Milwaukee
Baldwin Jr. recorded a 23.5-inch standing vert and 26.5-inch max vert. The 26.5-inch mark is the fourth-lowest number at the Combine since 2011, ahead of only Dakari Johnson, Dedric Lawson and Nikola Vucevic. While he shows incredible potential as a shooter at the NBA level, these numbers will likely be taken into heavy consideration around the league.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
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Derek Murray highlights key observations from the agility testing portion of the 2022 NBA Draft Combine.

2022 NBA Draft Combine: Takeaways from agility testing

Perhaps the biggest frenzy of the NBA Draft cycle comes after the draft is completed.&nbsp;
Mere minutes after pick No. 60 is revealed, newsbreakers are reporting out fully-guaranteed deals, two-way contracts and Summer-League additions around the NBA. We've created a place for you to keep track of these moves.
Below are the notable reported agreements, listed by team.
Atlanta Hawks
Ibi Watson (G), Dayton --&nbsp;agrees to Exhibit 10 deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/JShawNBA/status/1421137851316592641" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JD Shaw/HoopsRumors</a>
Boston Celtics
Sam Hauser (F), Virginia&nbsp;-- two-way contract agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1420983228396101637" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania/The Athletic</a>
Brooklyn Nets
David Duke (G), Providence --&nbsp;agreed to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/John_Fanta/status/1420974779868266496" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Fanta/Fox Sports</a>
Brandon Rachal (F), Tulsa --&nbsp;agreed to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/TUMBasketball/status/1421125766197047296" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tulsa Athletics</a>
Charlotte Hornets
DJ Carton (G), Marquette --&nbsp;agrees to Exhibit 10 deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1420986452947648515" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania/The Athletic</a>
Chicago Bulls
Ethan Thompson (G), Oregon State --&nbsp;agrees to Exhibit 10 deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeAScotto/status/1420978552816738304" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Scotto/HoopsHype</a>
Cleveland Cavaliers
Chandler Vaudrin (F), Winthrop --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/Winthrop_MBB/status/1421089611539955715" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Winthrop Athletics</a>
Dallas Mavericks
Carlik Jones (G), Louisville --&nbsp;agrees to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1420991380395073537" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
Eugene Omoruyi (F), Oregon --&nbsp;agrees to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1420979430927777792" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
E.J. Onu (F), Shawnee State --&nbsp;agrees to training camp deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/JeremyWoo/status/1420979723069427713" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeremy Woo/Sports Illustrated</a>
Feron Hunt (F), SMU --&nbsp;agrees to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/GrantAfseth/status/1420993320994721799" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Grant Afseth/Sports Illustrated</a>
LJ Figueroa (G), Oregon --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamZagoria/status/1421280618210603009" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adam Zagoria</a>
Denver Nuggets
Giorgi Bezhanishvili (F), Illinois -- Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamZagoria/status/1421113026917412871" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adam Zagoria</a>
Detroit Pistons
Chris Smith (F), UCLA&nbsp;-- agrees to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1420979150559535104" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
John Petty (G), Alabama --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/mikerodak/status/1421109144896032776" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Rodak/AL.com</a>
Anthony Tarke (F), Coppin St. --&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/AnthonyTarke/status/1420988333094801412" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agrees to unspecified deal</a>
Spencer Littleson (G), Toledo --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeAScotto/status/1420998599605985284" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Scotto/HoopsHype</a>
Golden State Warriors
Jaquori McLaughlin (G), UCSB&nbsp;-- agrees to unspecified deal, <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1421072913881567233" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
Jordan Schakel (F), San Diego State -- Summer League agreement, <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanKalbrosky/status/1420999272997261313" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today</a>
Colbey Ross (G), Pepperdine --&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/cdot_ross/status/1421145317387366410" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Summer League agreement</a>
Houston Rockets
Matthew Hurt (F), Duke -- <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1421275019322306560" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agrees to two-way contract, per Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
Indiana Pacers
Terry Taylor (G), Austin Peay -- agrees to training camp deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1420984014735872000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
Duane Washington Jr. (G), Ohio State --&nbsp;agrees to two-way contract, per <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1420969644601614337" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
Los Angeles Clippers
-- None reported so far --
Los Angeles Lakers
Mac McClung (G), Texas Tech --&nbsp;agrees to training camp deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1420976989918441472" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania/The Athletic</a>
Joel Ayayi (G), Gonzaga --&nbsp;agrees to two-way contract, per <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1420969546995933186" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
Austin Reaves (G), Oklahoma --&nbsp;agrees to two-way contract, per <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanKalbrosky/status/1420972297150779394" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today</a>
Chaundee Brown (G), Michigan --&nbsp;agrees to Exhibit 10 contract, per <a href="https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1420984245250674693" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jonathan Givony/ESPN</a>
Alan Griffin (G), Syracuse --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamZagoria/status/1421204946226143232" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adam Zagoria</a>
Memphis Grizzlies
Romeo Weems (F), DePaul -- agrees to Exhibit 10 deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1420969722217209856" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania/The Athletic</a>
Yves Pons (F), Tennessee&nbsp;-- agrees to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1420972279698231296" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
Keaton Wallace (G), UTSA --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/1421143975965175811" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alex Kennedy/BasketballNews.com</a>
Miami Heat
RJ Nembhard (G), TCU --&nbsp;agrees to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1420989119702970369" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
AJ Lawson (G), South Carolina --&nbsp;agrees to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1420987461744959489" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
Javonte Smart (G), LSU -- agrees to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1420981941042622464" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
D.J. Stewart (F), Mississippi St. -- Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/1420974202774040576" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alex Kennedy/BasketballNews.com</a>
Marcus Garrett (G), Kansas --&nbsp;agres to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/IraHeatBeat/status/1421138197623492618" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ira Winderman/South Florida Sun Sentinel</a>
Dejon Jarreau (G), Houston&nbsp;-- agrees to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/IraHeatBeat/status/1421138197623492618" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ira Winderman/South Florida Sun Sentinel</a>
Micah Potter (C), Wisconsin -- agrees to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/IraHeatBeat/status/1421138197623492618" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ira Winderman/South Florida Sun Sentinel</a>
Dru Smith (G), Missouri --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanKalbrosky/status/1421127877521707011" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today</a>
Milwaukee Bucks
Mike Smith (G), Michigan -- Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeAScotto/status/1420974489488314371" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Scotto/HoopsHype</a>
Jalen Crutcher (G), Dayton --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/JonChep/status/1421174764979298307" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jon Chepkevich/Rookie Scale</a>
Minnesota Timberwolves
McKinley Wright IV (G), Colorado -- agrees on two-way contract, per<a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1420970500071858176" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
Isaiah Miller (G), UNC Greensboro --&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Nike_Beast23/status/1420982966201749506" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agrees to unspecified deal</a>
Matt Lewis (G), James Madison --&nbsp;agrees to unspecified deal, as announced on Instagram
New Orleans Pelicans
Jose Alvarado (G), Georgia Tech --&nbsp;agrees to two-way contract, per <a href="https://twitter.com/ksugiuraajc/status/1420975067232718850" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ken Suguira/Atlanta Journal-Constitution</a>
New York Knicks
Aamir Simms (F), Clemson -- agrees to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1421068449963548676" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
Oklahoma City Thunder
-- None reported so far --
Orlando Magic
Asbjorn Midtgaard (C), Grand Canyon -- Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1420993281954045954" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania/The Athletic</a>
Jeremiah Tilmon (F), Missouri --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/1420977542056534017" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alex Kennedy/BasketballNews.com</a>
Philadelphia 76ers
Aaron Henry (G), Michigan State --&nbsp;agrees to two-way contract, per <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1420968768130404353" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
Daishen Nix (G), G League Ignite --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamZagoria/status/1421183526666481668" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adam Zagoria</a>
Phoenix Suns
-- None reported so far --
Portland Trail Blazers
Trendon Watford (F), LSU --&nbsp;plans to sign two-way contract, per <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1420972774269628423" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
Mark Vital (F), Baylor --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1421126065183985671" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jonathan Givony/ESPN</a>
Sacramento Kings
D.J. Steward (G), Duke --&nbsp;agrees to training camp deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1420981965608693760" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania/The Athletic</a>
Matt Coleman (G), Texas --&nbsp;agrees to training camp deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/JeremyWoo/status/1420979002383142914" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeremy Woo/Sports Illustrated</a>
Damien Jefferson (F), Creighton --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1421098072759799810" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jonathan Givony/ESPN</a>
San Antonio Spurs
Justin Turner (G), Bowling Green --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1420986657222897667" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania/The Athletic</a>
Matt Mitchell (F), San Diego Sate --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanKalbrosky/status/1420996575120314368" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today</a>
Biram Faye (F), Gran Canaria --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1421100846201417733" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jonathan Givony/ESPN</a>
Toronto Raptors
Justin Champagnie (F), Pittsburgh --&nbsp;agrees to unspecified deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1420978690935169027" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
Moses Wright (F), Georgia Tech --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-tech/moses-wright-going-to-summer-league-with-raptors/DUKAEVIODRFQ7BUBD56U6VUDO4/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ken Suguira/Atlanta Journal-Constitution</a>
Utah Jazz
MaCio Teague (G), Baylor --&nbsp;agrees to Exhibit 10 contract, per <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeAScotto/status/1420974669235200005" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Scotto/HoopsHype</a>
D.J. Funderbunk (F), NC State --&nbsp;Summer League agreement, per <a href="https://twitter.com/JShawNBA/status/1421212803151671312" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JD Shaw/HoopsRumors</a>
Washington Wizards
Jay Huff (C), Virginia -- agrees to Exhibit 10 contract, per <a href="https://twitter.com/FredKatz/status/1420983981667983361" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fred Katz/The Athletic</a>
Jordan Goodwin (G), St. Louis --&nbsp;agrees to Exhibit 10 contract, per <a href="https://twitter.com/FredKatz/status/1420983666877075457" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fred Katz/The Athletic</a>

BasketballNews.com tracks every report of Summer League signings and pending contracts.

Undrafted Free Agent Tracker: Reported contracts and Summer League deals

Last season, South Carolina Gamecocks guard A.J. Lawson averaged 16.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 threes and 1.5 steals, while shooting 45.0% from two-point range and 35.1% from three.
Now, Lawson is ready to take his talents to the NBA, and he's hoping to hear his name called tonight.
BasketballNews.com caught up with the 21-year-old to discuss his game, which NBA players he studies, the sacrifices he's made to get here, the best advice he's ever received, his off-court interests and more.
What&rsquo;s it been like going through this process?
A.J. Lawson: "I feel like the process has been going amazing so far. My first time going all the way through it. Right now, I&rsquo;ve just been enjoying myself, having fun. Being on the road so much, definitely get a little fatigue, but that&rsquo;s why you gotta take care of your body. I feel like I&rsquo;ve been doing a good job with that. Each workout I&rsquo;ve been going through, I&rsquo;ve been having high energy and learning through each one. Throughout this whole process, it&rsquo;s been helping myself out more by just going hard and playing the best I can."
What are some things you wanted to prove throughout this process in interviews and workouts?&nbsp;
Lawson: "Something I wanted to prove is that I&rsquo;m not just a shooter. I can be a playmaker. I&rsquo;m athletic. I can make plays with the ball and without the ball. I feel like I&rsquo;ve been showing that real well. During the [NBA Draft] Combine, I feel like I did a good job showing my versatility &mdash; getting rebounds, setting [up] assists and scoring the ball. Throughout these workouts, I&rsquo;ve been shooting the ball well and making plays for others, so I feel like I&rsquo;ve been doing a great job with that.
"The misconception is [that] people think I&rsquo;m just a 3-and-D guy, but I definitely can defend, I definitely can shoot, but I&rsquo;m also more than that. I feel like I&rsquo;m a playmaker, too. I can do a lot more things on the court. Whatever coaches want me to do, I can do it, I feel like."
Who are some NBA players that you&rsquo;ve studied over the years?
Lawson: "I definitely studied a lot of the Canadians like Jamal [Murray], Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], Andrew Wiggins when he was coming up. The whole quarantine I was watching the whole [Michael] Jordan documentary when it came out, [and] watching Kobe [Bryant] and Scottie Pippen."
What do you think you can bring to a team off the court? How do you think you fit into a locker room?
Lawson: "Off the court, I&rsquo;m going to bring positive spirits, great energy. I&rsquo;m always going to be that guy that brings positive vibes into the locker room, so you&rsquo;re never going to have to worry about a guy that&rsquo;s going to bring the team down. I&rsquo;m always going to elevate a team with my personality and my spirits. Off the court and in the locker room, they're just going to have a guy who&rsquo;s willing to work. A good teammate that&rsquo;s there for the players, and then just a workaholic. I&rsquo;m going to be in the gym all the time trying to get better, and I feel like teammates are going to love me for that."
Has it sunk in that you could hear your name called in the NBA Draft?
Lawson: "Man, it&rsquo;s definitely sinking in. I&rsquo;ve been thinking about this every day. (laughs) I&rsquo;m just blessed to be in this position, because not a lot of people make it this far. I&rsquo;m just happy to be where I&rsquo;m at. If I hear my name called, I&rsquo;m still going to be working."
Can you speak to the sacrifices and everything that got you to this point?
Lawson: "There&rsquo;s tons of sacrifice. Starting way before I even got to college, like high school when I was just an underdog. I felt like I didn&rsquo;t even hit my growth spurt until grade-10. A lot of the work happened beforehand. Waking up at 5:00 in the morning in high school to work out with my coach at LA Fitness, then going to school. After practice, studying film, putting up extra shots, working on my body. There&rsquo;s so many things that people don&rsquo;t know, a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff that I&rsquo;ve put in. I feel like I&rsquo;ve done a lot, just for my body, watching film, working on my game. There&rsquo;s a lot of work that has been done."
What are the biggest areas of your game that you still feel like you have to improve? What&rsquo;s a weakness in your game?
Lawson: "For me, I got a skinny frame. I have to work on getting my body a little bit stronger. I feel like I definitely am strong, but I just feel like I need to put on some more weight, so I can handle the physicality of the NBA. I want to work on my consistent shooting. I feel like I&rsquo;m a good shooter, but I just want to make it more consistent to be a knockdown shooter, of course. Also, I want to work on my ball-handling so I can make plays with the ball and feel comfortable with it."
What are some of your off-court interests?
Lawson: "Definitely trying new foods, eating out. I like watching movies. Hanging with friends. I play video games sometimes. That&rsquo;s basically what I do. If it&rsquo;s not basketball, that&rsquo;s probably what I&rsquo;m going to be doing. [Or] on my phone, talking to family because I&rsquo;m never really home like that."
What&rsquo;s the biggest thing outside of basketball that&rsquo;s motivated you?
Lawson: "Something that&rsquo;s definitely motivated me is definitely my parents (Kathleen and Anthony). Growing up, seeing them work as hard as they did, trying to provide for me to eat, to [let me] play the sport. They were always going to AAU tournaments. They&rsquo;ve been working their tail off, being blue-collar workers to try to provide for me. That&rsquo;s my motivation right there. I owe them the world right there. And I just love the game, so I want to make something out of it."
What&rsquo;s the best piece of advice you were ever given?
Lawson: "The work will always come to light. Growing up, I always had to work hard. You never see immediate results. Keep working hard. It will pay off one day. That&rsquo;s probably the best advice, because the work will pay off eventually."
What would you tell an NBA GM if they walked up to you and asked why they should draft you?
Lawson: "I would tell them I&rsquo;m a high-character man that can bring positive spirits to the team. I can come in and defend 1-through-3. I can shoot the ball. I can make plays. I&rsquo;m great in transition. And I&rsquo;m ready for whatever task you put me in. I&rsquo;ll do the best I can, and even more than need be."
You mentioned earlier you felt like an underdog. Do you still feel like you&rsquo;re an underdog who doesn&rsquo;t get the credit he deserves?
Lawson: "Oh, for sure. I&rsquo;m always going to play with that chip on my shoulder. I always feel like people overlook me, but I feel like as things come closer to the draft, people are starting to buzz more on my name. But I still work like I&rsquo;m an underdog. I still feel there&rsquo;s not 30 guys better than me in this draft. I&rsquo;m going to keep playing like that, like there isn&rsquo;t."

2021 NBA Draft prospect A.J. Lawson discusses his game, NBA players he studies, the best advice he's received and more.

A.J. Lawson Q&A: 'I still feel there’s not 30 guys better than me in this draft'

NEW YORK&nbsp;&ndash; The NBA G League today announced the field of&nbsp;40 prospects for NBA Draft 2021 presented by State Farm&reg;&nbsp; who will attend the 2021 NBA G League Elite Camp, which will take place June 19-21 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
The 2021 NBA G League Elite Camp gives players an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of NBA and NBA G League scouts, coaches and front-office executives by playing in five-on-five games and participating in strength and agility drills throughout the three-day event.
A select number of players from the NBA G League Elite Camp will be invited to participate in the 2021 NBA Draft Combine based on their performance.&nbsp; The NBA Draft Combine will be held June 21-27 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago.
Below is a list of attendees for the 2021 NBA G League Elite Camp*.
<table style="width: 95.1767%;" width="510">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 179.362%;" colspan="2" width="510">NBA Draft-Eligible Players (College/Club)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Alston Jr., Derrick (Boise State)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Koprivica, Balsa (Florida State)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Aluma, Keve (Virginia Tech)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Lawson, A.J. (South Carolina)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Alvarado, Jose (Georgia Tech)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Liddell, E.J. (Ohio State)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Begarin, Juhann (Paris, France)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">McClung, Mac (Texas Tech)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Brown, Chaundee (Michigan)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">McLaughlin, JaQuori (UCSB)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Burns, Jordan (Colgate)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Mitchell, Matt (San Diego State)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Carr, Marcus (Minnesota)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Nembhard, RJ (TCU)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Carton, DJ (Marquette)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Omoruyi, Eugene (Oregon)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Cisse, Moussa (Memphis)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Onu, E.J. (Shawnee State)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Cockburn, Kofi (Illinois)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Pippen Jr., Scotty (Vanderbilt)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">da Silva, Oscar (Stanford)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Robinson Jr., Orlando (Fresno State)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Days, Darius (LSU)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Simms, Aamir (Clemson)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Dickinson, Hunter (Michigan)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Smart, Javonte (LSU)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Garcia, Dawson (Marquette)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Smith, Mike (Michigan)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Garrett, Marcus (Kansas)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Stewart Jr., D.J. (Mississippi State)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Guo, Haowen (Shanghai, China)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Teague, MaCio (Baylor)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Huff, Jay (Virginia)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Walker, M.J. (Florida State)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Jarreau, DeJon (Houston)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Washington Jr., Duane (Ohio State)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Jones, Carlik (Louisville)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Wiggins, Aaron (Maryland)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.971%;" width="240">Jones, DeVante (Coastal Carolina)</td>
<td style="width: 129.391%;" width="270">Wilson, Jalen (Kansas)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

The NBA G League announced the field of 40 prospects for NBA Draft 2021 who will attend the NBA G League Elite Camp, which will take place June 19-21 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

2021 NBA G League Elite Camp announces field of 40 prospects

Not an ounce of luck. Not a scintilla.
And obviously, not a Nugget.
With his team trailing by seven points in the final minute against the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, Jamal Murray watched as Steph Curry hoisted a 28-foot stepback three-pointer that found the back rim.
Perhaps it was the fact that just five seconds remained on the shot clock... Maybe that's why Curry opted to heave the shot rather than whip the ball to Draymond Green, who was 12 feet to his left. Or maybe Curry, who ended up with 53 points, realized that his 18th three-point shot of the night had a good chance of sealing the game, defenders be damned. After all, Facundo Campazzo, Will Barton and many of their teammates had already been resolved to bystanders on a number of occasions. Curry connected on 10 threes to that point.
Whatever the reason, Curry took the shot.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Murray rebounded the miss, opted to attempt a quick score and tore his left ACL on the ensuing play.
&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s go,&rdquo; Murray said as he skyed for the rebound. He instructed Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. to beat feet down the floor. Tough but not impossible, the obvious desire was to get a quick two points and preserve his team&rsquo;s opportunity to score a victory.
It&rsquo;s that never-say-die attitude that caused the basketball viewing public to believe in these Nuggets in the first place, and it&rsquo;s exactly why Murray&rsquo;s season-ending injury has caused hearts to bleed.
National Basketball Association, P.D.E.
Strange times we&rsquo;re living in. The Post-Decision Era.
LeBron James took his talents to South Beach, Kevin Durant opted for the path of least resistance and Brooklyn became the epicenter of the league&rsquo;s talent arms race. In a world where MVPs conspire to join forces, it stands to reason that there will be fewer and fewer occurrences of teams being given the opportunity to grow organically and congeal.
In that regard, the Nuggets are in the minority.
Led by Jokic and Murray, Mike Malone&rsquo;s team became the first in NBA history to erase a 3-1 series deficit twice in one postseason. The world bristled as Porter voiced his displeasure with a small role during the playoffs, but all he&rsquo;s done since then has been prove that his bite is just as sharp as his bark.
Coach of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Most Improved Player... These Nuggets have put themselves in every conversation worth having this season. And with the addition of Aaron Gordon, the world, at least the basketball world, was interested in seeing if he could be the piece to put them over the top.
Now, it seems that we&rsquo;ll all have to wait at least a year to get the answer, and it just doesn&rsquo;t seem fair.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon... Who would've thought? <a href="https://t.co/gZ6KnsIuQA">pic.twitter.com/gZ6KnsIuQA</a>
&mdash; Joel Rush (@JoelRushNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoelRushNBA/status/1380201493207244804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2021</a></blockquote>

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If there&rsquo;s something to take away from Murray&rsquo;s sudden season-ending injury, it&rsquo;s this: success in the NBA isn&rsquo;t necessarily promised to a team that seems to have all the ingredients. Dumb luck or good fortune, somehow, always end up factoring in, as well.
Winning a championship is hard. Not too long ago, the Boston Celtics had Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, Terry Rozier and Marcus Morris on one roster, and they all played with Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
They won as many championships as me.
Once upon a time, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jackson flanked Durant and James Harden. And before them, the late, great Kobe Bryant ran beside Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash and Metta World Peace. Throughout modern history, we&rsquo;ve been served constant reminders of the fact that collecting talent doesn&rsquo;t necessarily guarantee a success story.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Indeed, dumb luck tends to rear its ugly head at the most inopportune times, and often, impacts those who seem to &ldquo;deserve&rdquo; it least. And that&rsquo;s not to say that any player or franchise &ldquo;deserves&rdquo; to have a season derailed, but in the 10 years since Carmelo Anthony decided to pursue his goals in New York, the Nuggets struggled a bit before eventually figuring things out.
George Karl and Brian Shaw held the clipboard before Malone got his opportunity, while the likes of Ty Lawson and Emmanuel Mudiay were among those who barked out plays before Murray ascended. Jokic had to beat out Kenneth Faried and Jusuf Nurkic to get his shot, but he did, nonetheless.
When you scour the Denver Nuggets organization and you learn the personal stories of so many of those who are responsible for the team&rsquo;s success, you realize that &mdash; led by the team&rsquo;s head coach &mdash; the common thread connecting them is how they've pulled themselves up by their bootstraps.
Even Tim Connelly, Denver&rsquo;s president of basketball operations, had to take a long road to his chair, beginning his career as an assistant video coordinator after beginning as an intern for the Washington Wizards way back in 1996.
To a man, the Nuggets never had the benefit of taking a shortcut.
No, it was the path less traveled.
So in it all, it seems unfair now that they&rsquo;ll have to continue to take the long road. &nbsp;
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In many ways, Denver has come to represent what is good about professional sports &mdash; the grind, the natural ascension, the camaraderie, defying expectations &mdash; and they also represent a sad truth.
In an instant, it can vanish.
Coach Malone is a fighter, and his team is talented. There&rsquo;s no question that they&rsquo;ll show up every night ready to play. Jokic&rsquo;s MVP odds have increased dramatically, and Gordon will get more offensive reps., but the team&rsquo;s hopes of contending for the 2021 NBA Finals, without Murray, are now pie in the sky.
Capable of becoming champions one day, after one fateful play, the Nuggets will have to wait until next year.
"Jamal is devastated, understandably so,&rdquo; Malone <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31259492/nuggets-star-jamal-murray-devastated-season-ending-acl-injury-michael-malone-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on Wednesday.</a>
And for the basketball purists who root for small-market teams and organically grown programs?
It&rsquo;s simply impossible to not be.

We'll have to wait until the 2022 postseason to see the Nuggets at full strength, and it just doesn't seem fair, writes Moke Hamilton.

On Jamal Murray, a lost season and the Nuggets deserving better

The University of Maryland has a history of not recruiting local talent.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m not from Maryland, but I have lived in Prince George&rsquo;s County for 20 years now since coming here to play with the Washington Wizards back in 2001. I&rsquo;ve never understood why the Maryland Terrapins refuse to take advantage of the incredible talent that&rsquo;s surrounding them.
On New Year&rsquo;s Eve, former DeMatha standout Hunter Dickinson absolutely shined against the Terps to the tune of 26 points, 11 rebounds and 1 block (while shooting 10-11 from the field and 6-7 from the free-throw line). The 7-foot-1 center completely dominated the game.&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t get me wrong: Maryland played a good game right up until the end of the second half when Michigan pulled away. The final score, 84-73, definitely isn&rsquo;t indicative of the quality of the game. Maryland had great play from Donta Scott, Eric Ayala and Jairus Hamilton in particular, but Hunter was just too much to deal with down low. He scored on an array of duck-ins and post moves that made every old-school big across the country proud. Two feet in the paint, jump hooks coming across his right shoulder; two dribbles to the middle, reverse drop-step, hook off the backboard. We&rsquo;re talking classic big-man moves. And every time he scored in the first half, he stared down the Maryland coaching staff. At halftime, the announcers explained why.&nbsp;
Last year at DeMatha Catholic High School, Hunter won every accolade possible. Dickinson earned All-Met Player of the Year and WCAC Player of the Year honors, and he was named Maryland&rsquo;s Gatorade Player of the Year. He graduated as a three-time First-Team All-WCAC selection and was even invited to play in the Jordan Brand Classic.&nbsp;
I personally saw him score 40 points against St. John&rsquo;s his junior year, and that&rsquo;s when I heard the buzz that he wanted to go to the University of Maryland. However, as the announcers explained, Maryland never recruited him -- hence the staredowns. He even received a tech one time (which I thought was a very weak call, but I digress).
This made me think about all of the local recruits that Maryland has passed on over the years.
Back in 2009-10, I played with Kevin Durant on the Oklahoma City Thunder. He told me that he grew up wanting to go to Maryland (like most PG County kids), but they never recruited him.&nbsp;
<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/kd21_lg.jpg" alt="" width="771" height="AUTO" />
DerMarr Johnson, who many were saying could&rsquo;ve left high school after his junior year and been a lottery pick, also wanted to go to Maryland.&nbsp;
Johnson was essentially LeBron James before LeBron James, according to <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/pg-county-legend-dermarr-johnson-was-dmvs-lebron">NBC Sports Washington</a>: &ldquo;Picture a 16-year-old kid with tons of basketball skill, athletically gifted and a mind for the game tearing up courts in the area in the late 1990s. Sounds like a phenom from Akron, Ohio just a few years later. And if not for an NBA rule at the time restricting non-high school graduates from entering the NBA Draft, DerMarr might have made that leap to the highest level of basketball even before graduating.&rdquo;
I asked DerMarr multiple times why he didn&rsquo;t go to Maryland and he always said that they didn&rsquo;t show interest in him.
&ldquo;They barely recruited me,&rdquo; Johnson said. &ldquo;They didn&rsquo;t do a good job of trying to get me at all. If I went there, a lot of the guys who came after me probably would&rsquo;ve gone there too. They made it seem like, basically, I should be happy they even kind of wanted me. I was like, &lsquo;Are you serious? I&rsquo;ve been the best player in the country for a few years now.&rsquo;&rdquo;
Jeff Green, who is currently playing with the Brooklyn Nets, is also a Prince George&rsquo;s County product. Like Durant and Johnson, he aspired to play for the Terps. When he joined me on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-jeff-green-houston-rockets-okc-oklahoma-city-thunder-kevin-durant-james-harden-russell-westbrook-trade-open-heart-surgery-etan-thomas">my show, &ldquo;The Rematch,&rdquo;</a> I asked him why he didn&rsquo;t go to Maryland.
&ldquo;I would like to place the blame on Gary Williams,&rdquo; Green said. &ldquo;They gave their last scholarship away. I actually told him this a few years ago. I wanted to go there. I bled [Maryland colors]; like, fear the turtle! Like you said, anybody who is from Maryland who&rsquo;s a baller, you fear the turtle. That&rsquo;s the first college you know. But they gave their last scholarship away. They wanted me to go prep, but I didn&rsquo;t want to go prep, so I said, &lsquo;Try to figure out a way.&rsquo; They didn&rsquo;t. So Georgetown was recruiting me and so I was like, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m going to Georgetown.&rsquo; That was the only visit I took. I went there and when I signed, JT3 got the job.&nbsp;
&ldquo;So, in my mind, I wanted to make Georgetown the best area school during the years I&rsquo;m there. Because Maryland didn&rsquo;t recruit me, you guys are going to have to pay somehow. They actually didn&rsquo;t want to play us. We wanted to play them my junior year. You know you sign the contract and you play at the Verizon Center or on their campus for a couple years, but they didn&rsquo;t want to do it! So that&rsquo;s when I knew I had them (laughs).&rdquo;
<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/ggf_lg.jpg" alt="" width="780" height="AUTO" />
Coach Gary Williams has admitted to missing out on local talent during his time at Maryland. He said that not offering Victor Oladipo a scholarship was perhaps his biggest recruiting regret.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure there was others, but he&rsquo;s the one that comes to mind right away for me when I think about that,&rdquo; Williams said, according to <a href="https://www.si.com/college/maryland/basketball/gary-williams-recruiting-miss-victor-oladipo-pg-county-basketball-in-the-water">Sports Illustrated</a>.&nbsp;
Yes, there were plenty others including Michael Beasley, Quinn Cook and Ty Lawson (just to name a few).
Williams said he was unsure if Oladipo would&rsquo;ve selected Maryland if he offered him a scholarship, but regrets not making more of an effort.
&ldquo;I know that I could&rsquo;ve recruited him harder if I had done a better job,&rdquo; Williams said, per SI. &ldquo;If I give it my best shot and we don&rsquo;t get a player, okay, we move onto the next guy and see what you can do. But in that case he was sitting right there.&rdquo;&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re a Maryland fan, these stories are tragic and heartbreaking. Prince George&rsquo;s County is a special place and it&rsquo;s been a hotbed for basketball talent for decades. Durant produced a great documentary over the summer called &ldquo;Basketball County: In the Water,&rdquo; which showcased Prince George&rsquo;s County basketball to the entire world.&nbsp;
Current Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon is a solid leader who runs a good program, but he cannot continue the Gary Williams tradition of overlooking the tremendous talent that's right in his backyard. Coach Turgeon has had some success landing local products since taking over the program (such as Melo Trimble, Jalen Smith and Anthony Cowan among others).&nbsp;
However, in June, Hunter Dickinson tweeted: &ldquo;Imagine if the two HM programs in the DMV actually recruited kids in this area for basketball... They&rsquo;d be top 5 in the country every year.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Imagine if the two HM programs in the DMV actually recruited kids in this area for basketball... They&rsquo;d be top 5 in the country every year
&mdash; Hunter Dickinson (@H_Dickinson24) <a href="https://twitter.com/H_Dickinson24/status/1270110454325657602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2020</a></blockquote>

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I&rsquo;ll take it a step further: With the amount of talent in this area alone, the University of Maryland could create a Fab Five made up solely of Prince George&rsquo;s County players. Wouldn&rsquo;t that be something?

There are plenty of examples of the Maryland Terrapins missing out on superstar recruits right in their backyard, writes Etan Thomas.