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Trail Blazers

<p>After an impressive season that culminated in a third-place finish for the NBA's Rookie of the Year award, Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham recently opened up about a valuable lesson he learned during his first year as a pro.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I think the biggest thing I learned is that the league, the media, nobody will care until you&rsquo;re winning,&rdquo; Cunningham <a href="https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/cade-cunningham-slam-238/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told SLAM</a>. &ldquo;I could feel bad for myself all I want about [how] people didn&rsquo;t respect or appreciate the season I had or anything, but I didn&rsquo;t win a lot of games.</p>
<p>"I think that&rsquo;s been the biggest thing that I&rsquo;ve locked in on and I decided within: I have to win games if I want people to respect my name. And if not, then I can&rsquo;t be mad at people not watching enough games and how I really play. That&rsquo;s the challenge that I&rsquo;ve tried to take on. I&rsquo;ve talked to teammates [and] we&rsquo;re all trying to take that challenge on. I think that&rsquo;s the next step for us.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Cunningham played well as a rookie, averaging 17.4 points, 5.6 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 threes and 1.2 steals in 64 games. And he looked significantly better in the second half of the season, posting 21.1 points, 6.5 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 threes and 1.1 steals per game after the All-Star break.</p>
<p>However, to his point, the Pistons finished the season 23-59, which was the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference (and the third-worst record in the NBA). Detroit boasted the league's 28th-ranked offense (scoring 103.3 points per 100 possessions) and 23rd-ranked defense (allowing 111.1 points per 100 possessions).</p>
<p>Cunningham seems determined to change that. It's not uncommon for a young player to spend years trying to put up numbers and prove he is a star, so it's great to see Cunningham already prioritizing team success over individual accolades and taking a mature approach as a 20-year-old.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Perhaps Hall-of-Famer Isiah Thomas has helped Cunningham see the bigger picture, as SLAM notes that Thomas has had several conversations with Cunningham about leadership and other topics.</p>
<p>Fortunately, the Pistons are in excellent position to add some some reinforcements alongside Cunningham. Detroit has the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and our <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/nba-draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock currently projects</a> that the Pistons will select Kentucky's Shaedon Sharpe.</p>
<p>Also, the Pistons currently project to have the second-most cap space in the NBA this offseason ($25.80 million), trailing only the Orlando Magic ($28.67 million). If Detroit is able to add some key pieces alongside Cunningham, perhaps the organization can right the ship and return to the playoffs sooner than later.</p>
<p>Cunningham was also asked about this season's Rookie of the Year award, which went to Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (with Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley finishing as the runner-up). While Cunningham felt he should have won the award, he's happy for his former high-school teammate and he's glad the debate is over.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Scottie is my brother, I&rsquo;m happy that he got that award," Cunningham said. "I feel like it&rsquo;s great that it&rsquo;s him, [my] Montverde teammate. I&rsquo;m super excited [for him]. I mean, it&rsquo;s never really been about that award for me. I&rsquo;ve had a ton of questions asked about it, you know&mdash; 'Rookie of the Year, what do you think about you winning?' So, I&rsquo;ma answer the question, you know? I feel like I should win it. That&rsquo;s natural. But it was never a knock on those guys. I love their game and I&rsquo;m happy that now we can quiet that question down. Congrats to Scottie, man, I love my dog.&rdquo;</p>
<p>While Cunningham didn't win the Rookie of the Year, award there's no question that he has a bright future and the Pistons are thrilled to have him.&nbsp;</p>
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Cade Cunningham learned a valuable lesson during his rookie season — something that many young players take years to grasp.

Cade Cunningham shares valuable lesson he learned as a rookie

<p>May 5, 2006.<br /><br />That was the last time the Sacramento Kings <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200605050SAC.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">played in a playoff game</a>. That contest took place 5,863 days ago.&nbsp;<br /><br />To put that into context: During that 2005-06 season, Chris Paul was a rookie and Bruce Bowen, who was born in 1971, was named to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team. Steve Nash won his second consecutive MVP award and Boris Diaw was named the league's Most Improved Player.</p>
<p>The Kings made history last month, the type of history that no organization wants to be known for. Sacramento, who finished the 2021-22 campaign with a 30-52 record, failed to qualify for the postseason for the 16th straight season, breaking the NBA record for the longest playoff drought. (The Kings had been tied with the Buffalo Braves and Los Angeles Clippers prior.)</p>
<p>So, while <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-draft-lottery-teams-who-should-trade-to-win-now-or-at-least-sooner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">many teams in this year's draft lottery</a> are rumored to be interested in potentially trading their pick, arguably no team is more motivated to add an established player (as opposed to an unproven rookie) in hopes of avoiding a return trip to the all-too-familiar lottery dais next May than the Kings.</p>
<p>As proof of their urgency to win now, the Kings shocked pundits back in February by trading away Tyrese Haliburton, one of the league's most promising young point guards, to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a package that included Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb and two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Thus, it isn't shocking to learn that Sacramento, who jumped up to land the No. 4 overall pick in last week's lottery, is reportedly willing to wheel and deal if presented with the right offer.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10036369-nba-draft-buzz-insiders-explain-why-chet-holmgren-makes-sense-at-no-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report</a>, "there's a strong belief among rival teams that Sacramento will explore trading the fourth selection, either out of the draft entirely for an impact veteran or down later in the lottery to net a contributing rotation player in the process."</p>
<p>The other issue likely factoring into the Kings' thought process is that the top tier of the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 NBA Draft</a> consists of three players (Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero), with a bit of a dropoff after those elite prospects. Nonetheless, "the uncertainty of the fourth selection could prompt eager teams to leap up to secure their prized prospect" which puts the Kings' front office in a "<a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10036369-nba-draft-buzz-insiders-explain-why-chet-holmgren-makes-sense-at-no-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strong trade position</a>," per Fischer.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Additionally, Mike Scotto of HoopsHype recently <a href="https://hoopshype.com/lists/aggregate-nba-mock-draft-lottery-jabari-smith-chet-holmgren-paolo-banchero-trade-rumors/">reported</a> that NBA executives "are monitoring the Sacramento Kings" as a team that could trade their pick "in search of player(s) that can help immediately." Scotto added that after acquiring Sabonis, the Kings have "made it clear the goal is to end the franchise's playoff drought" and that "rival teams are keeping an eye on Sacramento to trade this pick."</p>
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<p>So, let's examine some deals that might make sense for both the Kings and a potential trading partner.</p>
<p><strong>Detroit Pistons send Jerami Grant, Saben Lee, Isaiah Livers and a second-round pick (No. 46 overall) to the Kings in exchange for the No. 4 overall pick, Richaun Holmes, Maurice Harkless and Alex Len</strong></p>
<p>Earlier this offseason, Sacramento general manager Monte McNair <a href="https://account.sacbee.com/paywall/subscriber-only?resume=260358905&amp;intcid=ab_archive">conceded</a> that the team needs to add players who can knock down shots and fit in alongside the franchise's cornerstones, Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox.</p>
<p>"I think shooting, we can clearly acknowledge, will be a huge priority," McNair declared. "Length, athleticism, versatility &mdash; we've talked about all that as well. Obviously, you want the whole package, but shooting will be a big priority for us."</p>
<p>Grant most certainly checks those boxes. During his two years in Detroit, he has averaged 20.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.0 made treys and 1.1 blocks per game. He has shot over 37% from downtown on 4.5 attempts over the past four seasons and is a versatile, plus defender. As a stretch-4, Grant &mdash; who just turned 28 and is in the heart of his prime &mdash; could conceivably fit in well in the frontcourt alongside Sabonis, who likes to operate on the low block and is a good passer from the post. Moreover, Fox-Grant pick-and-rolls would be difficult to defend.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The issue in this potential trade is that Grant has just one season left on the three-year, $60 million deal he signed in 2020. However, as long as Grant is traded before Aug. 9, he is eligible to sign an extension with his new team for up to $112 million over four years. After previously spurning the Nuggets to sign with the Pistons, we know that Grant is not afraid to join a team that hasn't enjoyed recent success. Would he be willing to commit to Sacramento long-term? If so, a Big Three of Fox, Grant and Sabonis might be talented enough to finally push the Kings into the postseason.&nbsp;</p>
<p>For the Pistons, they would add Holmes (a quality center on a team-friendly contract) and enter next month's draft with 2 of the top 5 picks, which would allow them to add a pair of promising prospects to a core centered around Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and Killian Hayes.<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><strong>Washington Wizards send Kyle Kuzma and the No. 10 overall pick to the Kings for the No. 4 pick, Justin Holiday and Terence Davis</strong></p>
<p>After a disappointing end to his tenure as a Los Angeles Laker, Kuzma bounced back with a very productive season for the Wizards in 2021-22. He averaged 17.1 points and 1.9 made three-pointers while setting career-highs in rebounds (8.5), assists (3.5) and blocks (0.9) per game. He led the Wiz in double-doubles with 24 (which ranked tied for the sixth-most among all forwards in the NBA). Adding Kuzma's offensive versatility would provide Sacramento with some much-needed depth at forward. In addition, the Kings would still have a lottery pick, dropping back just six spots, which would allow them to add another young asset to the roster.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>The Wizards would likely entertain such a deal if they fell in love with a prospect &mdash; such as Keegan Murray, Jaden Ivey or Shaedon Sharpe &mdash; whom they feel relatively sure won't still be on the board at 10.</p>
<p>Kuz has two years left on his current contract but can opt out in the summer of 2023. However, he will be eligible to sign a four-year extension for up to $70 million this October if his $13 million player option for 2023-24 is declined.&nbsp;</p>
<p>A similar package featuring one of the Wizards' other young forwards (Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija or Corey Kispert) instead of Kuzma might also be feasible, depending on the value the Kings/Wizards place on the respective players.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Houston Rockets send the No. 3 overall pick and Eric Gordon to the Kings for the No. 4 pick, a (protected) future first-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick, Richaun Holmes and Justin Holiday</strong></p>
<p>Is it possible that Sacramento views Smith, Holmgren or Banchero as talented enough to make a substantial impact as a rookie? If so, would the team be willing to pony up sufficient capital to move up one spot?</p>
<p>The Kings would snag one of this draft's three most prized prospects in this hypothetical scenario. The 7-foot Holmgren is one of the most versatile prospects to enter the draft in recent history. Banchero possesses a freakish combination of size, strength and athleticism. Smith projects as a lethal stretch-4 who could fit in nicely alongside Sabonis.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Gordon is a respected, established veteran with just one year of guaranteed money left on his contract. He shot a scorching 41.2% from three-point territory this past season, the second-best mark of his career.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Such a deal would make sense for the Rockets if they feel whichever of the top-tier prospects that falls to them isn't significantly better than the next highest-ranked player on their board. During a post-lottery press conference last week, Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said Houston is <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/1526739178557517824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1526739178557517824%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F10036145-rockets-open-to-trading-3rd-pick-in-2022-nba-draft-if-a-deal-makes-sense-gm-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">open to trading the No. 3 pick</a>.</p>
<p>"I'm definitely not gonna block them out," Stone <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/1526739178557517824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1526739178557517824%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F10036145-rockets-open-to-trading-3rd-pick-in-2022-nba-draft-if-a-deal-makes-sense-gm-says">told reporters</a>. "If they wanna talk, I'm always available to talk... If it's the case that they're interested in doing something, we're always available to listen. If there's something that makes sense for both teams, something will get done."</p>
<p>Adding a quality young center in Holmes would give the Rockets leverage in negotiations with Christian Wood, or potentially enable them to trade him out of Houston.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>New York Knicks trade Julius Randle and the No. 11 overall pick to the Kings for Harrison Barnes, the No. 4 pick and a second-round pick (No. 37 overall)&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Randle playing alongside Sabonis could be viewed as a clunky fit, but Sabonis did play 80% of his minutes at center for Sacramento after arriving via the midseason trade. The pairing would undoubtedly be problematic defensively, but the duo would be dynamic on the offensive end. Over the past two seasons, Randle and Sabonis were 2 of only 4 NBA players to average double-digit boards and more than 5 assists per contest. (The other two players in this club were Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo.)</p>
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<p>After being named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2020-21, Randle's offensive inefficiency regressed dramatically this past season. In addition, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/julius-randle-and-the-knicks-should-part-ways-this-summer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the relationship between Randle and Knicks fans turned toxic</a> at various points during the year. Yet, even in a "down year," he averaged 20.1 points, 9.9 boards and 5.1 dimes per game. A fresh start in California might help Randle regain his All-Star form. Also, he is under team control for at least three more years (he has a player option for 2025-26), which means the Kings wouldn't have to worry about their key players entering free agency anytime soon.&nbsp;</p>
<p>From the Knicks' perspective, this move would allow them to jump up and snag a highly-touted prospect, possibly combo guard Jaden Ivey, who New York was rumored to be interested in. And, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/julius-randle-and-the-knicks-should-part-ways-this-summer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as I wrote last month</a>, moving Randle would enable the Knicks to insert Obi Toppin (who averaged 27.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.8 made three-pointers per game in April) into the starting lineup while also clearing Randle's contract off their books. Barnes will celebrate his 30th birthday next week, but is still playing at a high level and has just one year left on his current deal.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Atlanta Hawks trade John Collins and the No. 16 pick to the Kings for Harrison Barnes and the No. 4 pick</strong></p>
<p>After signing a massive five-year contract worth $125 million last summer, Collins struggled with injuries and inconsistency in 2021-22. His disappointing production was one of the reasons Atlanta failed to meet lofty expectations this season. One year after advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Hawks spent much of this past season below .500 and were easily eliminated by the Miami Heat in the first round.</p>
<p>Would they be willing to part way with Collins (and his contract) to jump 12 spots in the draft?&nbsp;</p>
<p>Much like the aforementioned Randle/Knicks deal, the Kings would have to decide if Collins could mesh with Sabonis and Fox.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Charlotte Hornets trade Gordon Hayward, the No. 13 pick and the No. 15 pick (via NOLA) to the Kings in exchange for Harrison Barnes, Maurice Harkless, Alex Len and the No. 4 pick</strong></p>
<p>Attempting to determine Hayward's value league-wide is difficult. When healthy, he's been remarkably productive throughout his career. However, he's been plagued by injury issues and has missed 58 games since signing a four-year, $120 million pact with the Hornets in 2020. He has two years and $61.5 million left on his current contract, which also contains a 15% trade kicker.&nbsp;</p>
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Tommy Beer highlights a number of possible trades that the Kings could execute to improve their roster this summer.

Breaking down 6 hypothetical trades for the Kings' fourth draft pick

<p>Following the Phoenix Suns&rsquo; shocking postseason exit, all eyes are now on Deandre Ayton's free agency.</p>
<p>After the Suns declined to sign Ayton to a five-year, rookie-scale max extension before the 2021-22 season, restricted free agency is now on the horizon for the athletic big man. During the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Ayton&rsquo;s agent Bill Duffy discussed Ayton's future on SiriusXM&rsquo;s NBA show.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re disappointed. We wanted a max contract,&rdquo; Duffy <a href="https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1527772160923619328" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &ldquo;He went out and was a solider the whole year, played well, improved his statistics. So, we&rsquo;re proud of him. A lot of guys handle things differently, but he was very mature about it. Things will work out for Deandre. He&rsquo;s a valuable player. There&rsquo;s other teams in the league as well. He&rsquo;s a restricted free agent, so we&rsquo;ll see how this process unfolds.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Ayton averaged 17.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.7 blocks on a career-high 65.6% True Shooting percentage during the 2021-22 campaign. Ayton was a key asset for the Suns on both ends of the court, especially around the basket as an easy lob threat and defensive anchor. Ayton has been a key piece for the Suns, but is he worth a max contract? Based on Duffy&rsquo;s comments earlier this week, it sounds like Ayton&rsquo;s camp won&rsquo;t settle for anything less than the max entering free agency.</p>
<p>From the Suns&rsquo; perspective, they saw improvement from the 2018 No. 1 overall pick this season before the team's disappointing postseason showing.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I think he&rsquo;s shown that he&rsquo;s improved each year, helps us on both the defense and the offense,&rdquo; Suns owner Robert Sarver told <a href="http://BasketballNews.com">BasketballNews.com</a> recently about Ayton. &ldquo;I think offensively, you see this year he&rsquo;s taken another good step in terms of his touch and his ability to score around the basket. So, he&rsquo;s been a key part of what we&rsquo;re doing.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Taking all of this into consideration, what if Ayton's days in Phoenix are numbered? Here's a look at the most realistic sign-and-trade destinations for Ayton this summer.</p>
<p><em>Note: It's important to remember that sign-and-trade deals rarely return the same value as a traditional trade. The Suns have let it be known that they won't simply let an asset like Ayton walk for nothing. If Ayton&rsquo;s time in Phoenix is indeed over, the Suns won&rsquo;t be leaving the relationship empty-handed.</em></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">San Antonio Spurs</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Spurs receive: Deandre Ayton</strong></p>
<p><strong>Suns receive: Jakob Poeltl, Devin Vassell, Tre Jones</strong></p>
<p>San Antonio is one of the few teams this offseason with secured max-level cap space. All that needs to be done in order to chase Ayton is renounce the restricted rights to Lonnie Walker.</p>
<p>Being at the bottom of the NBA standings is new for the Spurs. After being one of the league's model organizations for over two decades, they have officially hit a playoff drought. San Antonio was hoping for some lottery luck, but now they have to try another plan to bring in a star.</p>
<p>San Antonio&rsquo;s dynamic young duo of Dejounte Murray and Keldon Johnson is so fun to watch, but the they need a third game-changer to take this rebuild back into playoff mode. Ayton would be an ideal solution, mainly because of his excellent two-way fit in the Spurs&rsquo; system. Dropping Ayton into the Spurs&rsquo; player-development program could make some in Phoenix worry about the long-term consequences of this deal.</p>
<p>For Phoenix, cooperating with a long-time rival would hurt. However, if the relationship between team and player becomes fractured, the Suns won&rsquo;t have much of a choice if he finds a max offer on the open market.</p>
<p>The Suns won&rsquo;t let Ayton leave Phoenix unless they receive strong assets in return. The Spurs can actually provide a solid package that helps in the short and long-term.</p>
<p>In this deal, Phoenix could land one of the most underrated big men in the Association as well as two young players who have shown flashes. The Jalen Smith experiment was a disaster for the Suns after taking him No. 10 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, and Vassell went one pick later. Phoenix can right that wrong while also obtaining an intriguing point guard to develop in Jones.</p>
<p>This feels like a win-win for both sides. San Antonio would have a new Big 3 in Ayton, Murray and Johnson, while the Suns could acquire their new starting center and two pieces to bolster the bench unit.</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Charlotte Hornets</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Hornets receive: Deandre Ayton</strong></p>
<p><strong>Suns receive: Terry Rozier, PJ Washington and draft compensation</strong></p>
<p>There might not be a team with a more dire offseason need than the Hornets and their hole at center. Charlotte was one of my NBA League Pass teams this season due to their fun offensive pace, but the defense often bordered on disastrous. Montrezl Harrell and Mason Plumlee aren&rsquo;t going to cut it, so it&rsquo;s time for Charlotte to get aggressive.</p>
<p>Given Charlotte&rsquo;s roster, they would have to move some salaries around to make an Ayton chase realistic. Offloading Gordon Hayward&rsquo;s contract is going to be a tough task and they may even have to relinquish one of their top-15 picks to do so, but it would have to happen in order for them to pursue Ayton. Hayward is due $61.6 million over the next two seasons, and Charlotte simply can&rsquo;t afford to keep biting that bullet with restricted free agent Miles Bridges due for a payday and LaMelo Ball&rsquo;s own rookie-scale extension on the horizon. Trading away Hayward and Mason Plumlee would give the Hornets max space.</p>
<p>Landing Ayton is Charlotte's dream scenario. Not only would Ayton continue to get spoon-fed easy looks from an elite point guard, he would help stabilize the Hornets' defense to respectable levels. Thanks to his freakish athleticism, Ayton would be able to cover up a lot of holes around him defensively.</p>
<p>Phoenix would love to pull off a double sign-and-trade to nab Bridges, but that seems unlikely. Instead, this deal allows them to find their long-term answer at point guard post-Chris Paul. While Terry Rozier is a shot-chucker, he has improved as a playmaker in Charlotte. In the short-term, Rozier could step in as the Suns&rsquo; sixth man and provide the exact boost that they need in offensive guard creation. PJ Washington is an interesting add because he could slide right into the small-ball 5 role played previously by Dario Saric.</p>
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<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Indiana Pacers</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Pacers receive: Deandre Ayton</strong></p>
<p><strong>Suns receive: Myles Turner, Chris Duarte, TJ McConnell</strong></p>
<p>What&rsquo;s the next step for Indiana? Long gone are Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis and Caris LeVert. Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner and Buddy Hield could be the next Pacers veterans to be shipped out via trade as Indiana fully embraces a rebuild attempt. It&rsquo;s been long overdue for the Pacers to pull the plug on the core that continued to stagnate once the postseason arrived.</p>
<p>A year later, Indiana&rsquo;s future looks much brighter with a talented, new-look core of Tyrese Haliburton, Chris Duarte, Isaiah Jackson and whoever is selected at No. 6 overall.</p>
<p>Ayton couldn't ask for a better pick-and-roll partner than Haliburton. Already making magic happen with CP3, Ayton&rsquo;s rolling ability would help accentuate Haliburton&rsquo;s biggest strengths. Also, Ayton&rsquo;s defensive versatility would be a welcome arrival for a team that nosedived in that category last season.</p>
<p>For Indiana, the price would be hefty. Not only would this trade require a four-year max contract for Ayton, but the Pacers would likely need to ship out a key piece of their young core via sign-and-trade (such as Duarte).</p>
<p>This trade would be a huge win for Phoenix, but it also looks great for the Pacers. The Suns would have a starting center who adds floor-spacing equity and elite rim protection, a capable veteran backup point guard who can spell Paul at times, plus one of the most impactful rookie wings in the Association. Having to include Duarte could leave the Pacers apprehensive, but they are reportedly enamored with adding another explosive piece via the draft, as Jaden Ivey (Purdue), Shaedon Sharpe (Kentucky) and Bennedict Mathurin (Arizona) have all been linked to Indiana early in the pre-draft process.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Detroit Pistons</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Pistons receive: Deandre Ayton</strong></p>
<p><strong>Suns receive: Jerami Grant, Isaiah Stewart, Cory Joseph and draft compensation</strong></p>
<p>Another team that has considered making a run at Ayton this offseason is the Pistons, and they can create max space very easily: trading away Kelly Olynyk&rsquo;s contract.</p>
<p>The Pistons struck gold with Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey and they are helping usher in a new era in Detroit. Ayton&rsquo;s arrival would be the final piece to the puzzle for a team seemingly pushing their chips in on postseason play as early as 2023.</p>
<p>It would be best for Ayton to land with a capable lead guard who can feed him regularly. Already capable of tallying 20 and 10 most nights, Ayton would be set up for long-term success alongside Cunningham and Bey.</p>
<p>The question is, what would the Pistons need to send Phoenix&rsquo;s way in order for this sign-and-trade to go through? It&rsquo;s going to be a lot, and it would be a blockbuster-type transaction.</p>
<p>Blockbuster indeed, because Grant is now heading back to the Valley in this scenario. If the Suns and Pistons want to cooperate on a Ayton deal, I have to imagine one of Grant or Bey would have to be involved. Stewart is another enticing trade chip because he&rsquo;s shown the versatility to space the floor from three-point range. While he doesn't have the same touch as Ayton, Stewart brings nastiness and a tenacity on both ends of the court that Phoenix would absolutely love.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/ayton1.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="373" /></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Atlanta Hawks</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Hawks receive: Deandre Ayton</strong></p>
<p><strong>Suns receive: Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic</strong></p>
<p>No ifs, ands or buts about it, Trae Young would make Ayton an All-Star next season. What a fun inside-out duo this is to envision. While Atlanta is nowhere close to reaching the necessary cap space to absorb a massive Ayton deal on their own, a sign-and-trade becomes feasible with all of the talent that could fit into the Phoenix roster.</p>
<p>For the Hawks, Ayton represents another foundational building block to place alongside Young for the long-term. John Collins could be the guy, but he&rsquo;s been in trade rumors for the past year with no signs of those slowing down. Onyeka Okongwu could also grow into that role, but the Hawks signing Clint Capela to a long-term extension perhaps signals that they see him more as a piece to the puzzle rather than a true building block.</p>
<p>Ayton would arrive in Atlanta and instantly average around 23 points and 12 rebounds per game. On box-score fit alone, this would be the best landing spot for Ayton thanks to the greatness of Young.</p>
<p>If Phoenix had drafted Luka Doncic rather than Ayton at No. 1 overall in 2018, Phoenix may have considered adding Clint Capela to their frontcourt. Four years later, Capela being re-routed to Phoenix in an Ayton sign-and-trade is a plausible scenario to imagine. Capela would provide similar numbers to Ayton while requiring less of an offensive workload. Meanwhile, Bogdan Bogdanovic might vault to the top the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year leaderboards in the near future. Bogdanovic and Cameron Johnson leading the Suns&rsquo; second unit? That&rsquo;s a filthy thought.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>None of these trades are perfect, but they do illustrate how challenging it will be for Phoenix to find a home for Ayton while also returning the value they'd love to get back for him. Ultimately, it may be in the Suns' best interest to re-sign Ayton this offseason and trade him at some point down the road when his value isn't so depressed.</p>
<p>Whatever happens, Ayton&rsquo;s name will continue to pop up in rumors throughout the spring and summer until the Suns and Ayton's camp find common ground at the negotiation table. This situation could become awkward and dragged out, which would surely kick the trade rumors into high gear. This isn't the last we'll hear about Ayton and the possibility of him changing teams.</p>
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With Deandre Ayton's future in Phoenix becoming murky, it's time to examine potential destinations for the former No. 1 overall pick.

Examining potential sign-and-trade destinations for Deandre Ayton

<p>As the NBA pre-draft process chugs along, the NBA Draft Combine marks the next milestone in prospects' journey to draft day.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The league announced that <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-announces-76-prospects-who-will-attend-2022-nba-draft-combine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">76 players have been invited to this year's combine</a>, which runs from May 16-22 in Chicago. Scouts and teams will receive an up-close look as prospects undergo physical testing and compete in five-on-five scrimmages. The NBA Draft Lottery takes place on May 17, adding more clarity to the draft board.</p>
<p>Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock answered some questions about the combine process, prospects to monitor in the events and more as the pace picks up in this scouting season.&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BkmvI4UUjBM" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><strong data-stringify-type="bold">1. How do you approach scouting the NBA Draft Combine, and what events are most valuable to your scouting process?</strong></p>
<p>The NBA Draft Combine is an excellent opportunity to see a large bulk of the draftable prospects all at once. Unfortunately, most top players don't participate in competitive play. Still, it allows us to evaluate players looking to move the needle or establish their draft standing. The NBA Draft Combine is also critical for prospects who are weighing out whether to stay in the draft or return to school.</p>
<p><strong data-stringify-type="bold">2. Which prospects do you think could stand out in the athletic testing portions of the combine?</strong></p>
<p>A few of the better athletes in this draft would be Jaden Ivey from Purdue, Shaedon Sharpe from Kentucky, Bennedict Mathurin from Arizona and Kendall Brown from Baylor. I'm looking forward to seeing their test results, as that group of players is about as athletic as they come.</p>
<p><strong data-stringify-type="bold">3. Which prospects do you think could shine in the 5-on-5 scrimmages?</strong></p>
<p>Well, let's see who decides to play. I've been talking to some agents who are in the proccess of deciding whether to have their clients participate in the live-play or not. Last year, Bones Hyland was the big winner of the live play. He was terrific. His play at the combine led to him becoming a first-round pick. So to me, Bones Hyland is a perfect example of why it makes sense for a player to bet on himself and play in front of the entire NBA.<br /><br /></p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p><strong data-stringify-type="bold">4. Who do you think has the most to gain or lose in the combine process?</strong></p>
<p>I think some of the younger players that possess significant upside but might not have had the opportunity to fully show their stuff throughout the year have the most to lose. A few guys that come to mind are Peyton Watson from UCLA, Josh Minott from Memphis, JD Davison from Alabama and Leonard Miller from Canada. I wouldn't be surprised to see any of these players go in the first round due to their raw talent despite not being overly productive this past season.</p>
<p><strong data-stringify-type="bold">5. Are there any draft entrants you could see surprising people by returning to school or overseas? </strong></p>
<p>Everything has been changing so dramatically recently with the emergence of NIL deals, and I think there could be some good players who elect to return to school partially as a result of that. For example, I heard some rumblings that one player is likely to return to school if he doesn't get a guarantee that he'll be selected in the first round. I also heard another player is interested in returning to school if his NIL income gets to a certain level. I worked as an agent for more than ten years, and I think a lot of the dialogue between agents, players, parents and coaches is changing quite a bit. The pros and cons for players deciding to go pro or stay in school are very different. However, I think it's all for the better in the long term.</p>
<p><strong data-stringify-type="bold">6. How do players prepare for the NBA Draft Combine? Do they specifically train for certain events?</strong></p>
<p>Every trainer has their own strategy, but generally, players are doing workouts comparable to what they'll do at the NBA Draft Combine and at workouts when they visit teams.</p>
<p><strong data-stringify-type="bold">7. Is it possible for prospects' stock to rise or fall between the end of the college season and now? If so, why?</strong></p>
<p>Between the college season and now, there hasn't been much action on the court, so you might be asking what would cause a player's stock to rise or fall during that time. Well, I'll tell you: intel. NBA scouts, executives and people like myself spend a lot of time talking to folks on the phone, trying to learn more about draft prospects. We're trying to learn more about players' character, work ethic, habits on and off the court and things like that on these calls. I think some teams value intel and certain traits differently than others, but overall, intel certainly plays a part, and sometimes a significant part, in players' draft value and stock.</p>
<p><strong data-stringify-type="bold">8. Aside from the combine, what other important procedures are involved in the pre-draft process during the month of May?</strong></p>
<p>My process is a little different from a team's, as I don't have to follow NBA rules or guidelines. During May and June, I typically travel all around the country to watch prospects work out and get a chance to sit down and talk with them. It's an essential part of my evaluation process, but it's also my favorite part. I spend years watching most of these guys develop. So it's just neat to get an up-close look at the players and get a chance to speak to them right before their dreams of being drafted come to fruition. It's something I don't take for granted. It's certainly a fun part of my job.</p>
<p><em>Be sure to check out BasketballNews.com's full <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 NBA Mock Draft</a>, with profiles for each prospect selected.</em></p>
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Matt Babcock sets the stage for the NBA Draft Combine, which begins Monday.

2022 NBA Draft: Q&A with Matt Babcock on the NBA Draft Combine

<p style="font-weight: 400;">The NBA announced the 76 players who are expected to attend the 2022 NBA Draft Combine, which is scheduled for May 18-20 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The 2022 NBA Draft Combine is an important step in the draft process for NBA prospects, leading up to 2022 NBA Draft on June 23.&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Players will have interviews with NBA teams and participate in five-on-five games, shooting drills and strength-and-agility drills from May 18-20. Coverage of the 2022 NBA Draft Combine begins Thursday, May 19 on ESPNews from 3-5 p.m. ET and transitions to ESPN2 from 5-7 p.m. ET. The coverage continues on Friday, May 20 from 1-2 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and 2-5 p.m. ET on ESPNews.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Additionally, a select number of standout players from the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-announces-field-of-44-draft-prospects-for-g-league-elite-camp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 NBA G League Elite Camp</a>, which takes place May 16-17 at Wintrust Arena, will be invited to participate in the 2022 NBA Draft Combine.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Here is the complete list of expected attendees for this year's NBA Draft Combine (and check out <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Mock Draft</a> to see where each player is projected to go):&nbsp;</p>
<table style="font-weight: 400;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" width="832">
<p><strong>Player (College/Club)</strong></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Ochai Agbaji (Kansas)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Jake LaRavia (Wake Forest)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Patrick Baldwin Jr. (Milwaukee)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Justin Lewis (Marquette)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Paolo Banchero (Duke)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>E.J. Liddell (Ohio State)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Dominick Barlow (Overtime Elite)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Bennedict Mathurin (Arizona)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Marjon Beauchamp (G League Ignite)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Matthew Mayer (Baylor)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Hugo Besson (New Zealand Breakers)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Bryce McGowens (Nebraska)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Malaki Branham (Ohio State)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Leonard Miller (Fort Erie Intl. Academy [Canada] )</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Christian Braun (Kansas)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Josh Minott (Memphis)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Kendall Brown (Baylor)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Aminu Mohammed (Georgetown)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>John Butler Jr. (Florida State)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Iverson Molinar (Mississippi State)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Julian Champagnie (St. John&rsquo;s)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Jean Montero (Overtime Elite)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Kennedy Chandler (Tennessee)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Wendell Moore Jr. (Duke)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Max Christie (Michigan State)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Keegan Murray (Iowa)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Kofi Cockburn (Illinois)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Andrew Nembhard (Gonzaga)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Dyson Daniels (G League Ignite)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Scotty Pippen Jr. (Vanderbilt)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Johnny Davis (Wisconsin)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Gabriele Procida (Fortitudo Bologna [Italy] )</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>JD Davison (Alabama)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Orlando Robinson (Fresno State)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Moussa Diabate (Michigan)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>David Roddy (Colorado State)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Ousmane Dieng (New Zealand Breakers)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Ryan Rollins (Toledo)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Khalifa Diop (Gran Canaria [Spain] )</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Dereon Seabron (North Carolina State)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Jalen Duren (Memphis)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Shaedon Sharpe (Kentucky)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Tari Eason (LSU)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Jabari Smith (Auburn)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Keon Ellis (Alabama)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Terquavion Smith (North Carolina State)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Michael Foster Jr. (G League Ignite)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Jeremy Sochan (Baylor)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Collin Gillespie (Villanova)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Matteo Spagnolo (Cremona [Italy] )</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>AJ Griffin (Duke)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Julian Strawther (Gonzaga)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Jaden Hardy (G League Ignite)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Dalen Terry (Arizona)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Ron Harper Jr. (Rutgers)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Drew Timme (Gonzaga)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Jabari Walker (Colorado)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Harrison Ingram (Stanford)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>TyTy Washington Jr. (Kentucky)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Jaden Ivey (Purdue)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Peyton Watson (UCLA)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Blake Wesley (Notre Dame)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Nikola Jovic (Mega [Serbia] )</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Alondes Williams (Wake Forest)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Johnny Juzang (UCLA)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Jalen Williams (Santa Clara)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Ismael Kamagate (Paris [France] )</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Jaylin Williams (Arkansas)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Trevor Keels (Duke)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Mark Williams (Duke)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Walker Kessler (Auburn)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Trevion Williams (Purdue)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="390">
<p>Christian Koloko (Arizona)</p>
</td>
<td width="442">
<p>Fanbo Zeng (G League Ignite)</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>

The NBA announced the 76 players who are expected to attend the 2022 NBA Draft Combine, which takes place May 18-20 in Chicago.

NBA announces 76 prospects who will attend 2022 NBA Draft Combine

<p>Projected lottery pick Shaedon Sharpe announced that he's entering the 2002 NBA Draft rather than returning to Kentucky.</p>
<p>Initially, Sharpe enrolled at Kentucky for the spring semester in order to practice with the team and then play the following season. But now, the 18-year-old has an opportunity to be a top pick in the 2022 NBA Draft without playing a minute of college basketball.</p>
<p>Matt Babcock, our senior NBA Draft analyst, got a chance to scout Sharpe a few months ago and was impressed:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shaedon Sharpe is the 6th pick on the <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@basketbllnews</a> 2022 NBA Mock Draft, so I can't say that I'm surprised that he entered the draft. It's just too good of an opportunity to pass up.<br /><br />I had the chance to watch Sharpe in Kentucky a couple of months ago. Here are some clips: <a href="https://t.co/fp4URD8TC6">pic.twitter.com/fp4URD8TC6</a></p>
&mdash; Matt Babcock (@MattBabcock11) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattBabcock11/status/1517191908451250176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p>&ldquo;Shaedon Sharpe's situation in regards to the 2022 NBA Draft is interesting. On the one hand, he's an incredibly explosive athlete with impressive physical tools and after last year's AAU circuit, he proved to be a dangerous shot-maker with range and a knack to put the ball in the hole," Babcock said. "Subsequently, he was widely regarded as one of the top prospects in his high-school class. However, he finished high school early and enrolled at Kentucky midway through the season but did not play. As a result, NBA teams have had limited exposure to evaluate Sharpe, making his current draft value hard to pinpoint.</p>
<p>"Luckily, I do not have the same limitations as NBA scouts regarding what high-school events I'm allowed to attend, so I have seen Sharpe more than NBA scouts. My evaluation of Sharpe leads me to think that after teams gain a better grasp of him as a prospect throughout the pre-draft process, he will be selected high. I do not expect him to get out of the Top 10.&rdquo;</p>
<p>In BasketballNews.com's most recent <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 NBA Mock Draft</a>, Sharpe is projected to go No. 6 overall to the Portland Trail Blazers.</p>

In BasketballNews.com's most recent 2022 NBA Mock Draft, Sharpe is projected to go No. 6 overall to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Projected lottery pick Shaedon Sharpe enters 2022 NBA Draft

<p>Deep down, everyone knew.</p>
<p>All of you knew once you finalized your picks: The half-ass research, the questions to your even less knowledgeable friends, the &ldquo;expert&rdquo; analysis &ndash; none of it was going to matter. Your bracket was going to be busted by the end of the night. You didn&rsquo;t know how, you didn&rsquo;t know by whom, but you had an idea that even on day one of the men&rsquo;s NCAA Tournament, your bracket would get cooked.</p>
<p>You probably just didn&rsquo;t know it would be by Saint ******* Peter&rsquo;s University &ndash; against <em>Kentucky</em>, at that &ndash; who won 85-79 in overtime, destroying the evening of bracket-builders, parlay-players and spread-bettors alike.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">PEACOCKS. WIN. <a href="https://t.co/Jf10r5zyb4">pic.twitter.com/Jf10r5zyb4</a></p>
&mdash; Saint Peter&rsquo;s Athletics (@SPUAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/SPUAthletics/status/1504634900875550723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
<p>If you don&rsquo;t know, Saint Peter&rsquo;s is a private Jesuit school in the middle of Jersey City, New Jersey. And if you&rsquo;ve ever been to the campus, you'd be even more surprised by this upset. Depending on who you ask, Saint Peter&rsquo;s could have either <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanFieldABC/status/1504645256586973185" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2,300</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryGrumbach/status/1504634530338160642" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2,600</a>, or <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanAGraham/status/1504634903484375043" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3,500</a> students; either way, we know the University of Kentucky likely has 10x that, if not more.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">How's that bracket looking??<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StrutUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StrutUp</a>🦚 <a href="https://t.co/c5JXAN2kzb">pic.twitter.com/c5JXAN2kzb</a></p>
&mdash; Saint Peter's Men's Basketball (@PeacocksMBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeacocksMBB/status/1504664039338782721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
<p>The gap actually has nothing on the wage disparity between each team&rsquo;s head coaches. John Calipari reportedly banks in $8.5 million annually from Kentucky, which doesn&rsquo;t included bonuses of any kind. Shaheen Holloway was hired as Saint Peter's head coach in 2018, and he reportedly made less than $270,000 (<em>including</em> bonuses) in 2019. That means Coach Cal is paid 30x more than Coach Holloway before his first bonus check.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">St. Peter's men's basketball coach Shaheen Holloway made $266,344 in 2019, including bonuses paid and value of benefits, per school's most recent federal tax dox.<br /><br />John Calipari's basic pay from UK for this season -- not including bonuses, benefits and perks -- is $8.5 million.</p>
&mdash; Steve Berkowitz (@ByBerkowitz) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByBerkowitz/status/1504647038163726362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
<p>More on the financial side, <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/saint-peter-kentucky-win-marks-111130742.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a Yahoo Sports report says</a>, &ldquo;In the 2019-20 school year, the most recent season unaffected by COVID-19, Kentucky outspent Saint Peter&rsquo;s $18.3 million to $1.6 million in men&rsquo;s basketball, per the U.S Department of Education. In terms of both expenditures ratio and raw difference between budgets, that is the biggest disparity since 2007, as far back as data is publicly available... Kentucky outspends Saint Peter&rsquo;s in basketball by a multiple of 11.7, just edging out the 11.5 ratio from CJ McCollum and Lehigh&rsquo;s win over Duke exactly 10 years ago.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Furthermore, Kentucky reportedly spent over $138 million for its sports teams in 2020. Saint Peter&rsquo;s? Only $7.2 million.</p>
<p>We&rsquo;ve watched the University of Kentucky become a factory for producing countless pros. And it's not just the high-level NBA stars we see thriving in the league today like Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, Bam Adebayo and Karl-Anthony Towns. On opening night of the 2021-22 NBA season, <a href="https://ukathletics.com/news/2021/10/19/mens-basketball-uk-mbb-leads-nation-with-27-players-on-nba-opening-day-rosters.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kentucky had 27 alums on rosters around the league</a>. In their history, they&rsquo;ve had <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/colleges.cgi?college=kentucky" target="_blank" rel="noopener">125 players appear in the NBA</a> &ndash; a number that's sure to increase following the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 NBA Draft</a>. The Wildcats have potential 2022 lottery picks in TyTy Washington and Shaedon Sharpe, and a possible late-first-rounder in Oscar Tshiebwe, among other expected NBA prospects.</p>
<p>Kentucky has the most wins, highest winning percentage, second-most national titles, most national-title-game appearances (tied with UCLA), most NCAA Tournament appearances, most <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2021-07-30/these-college-basketball-teams-and-conferences-have-most-nba-first-round-draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first-round draft picks</a> and most NCAA tournament wins.&nbsp;</p>
<p>By the way, how many NBA players came from Saint Peter&rsquo;s program? <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/colleges.fcgi?college=stpeters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Four. Just four</a>.</p>
<p>Bill Smith played nine NBA games in 1962. Harry Laurie played nine games in 1971. Elnardo Webster played 24 games in 1972. And Rich Rinaldi played 84 games between 1972 and 1974. That&rsquo;s it. Even Keydren Clark &ndash; who was the <a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/keydren-clark-1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NCAA's scoring leader in 2004 and 2005</a> while at Saint Peter&rsquo;s &ndash; didn&rsquo;t sniff the league after graduating in 2006.</p>
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<p>Four is also the number of NCAA Tournaments that MAAC Champion Saint Peter&rsquo;s has made in their history, with zero victories until last night. Their 85-79 win over Kentucky nuked all your hopes of a perfect bracket, and simultaneously reminded us why March is one of the best sports months on the calendar.</p>
<p>This only marked the ninth time in tournament history that a No. 15 seed knocked off a No. 2, and all of them have happened since 1991, including Oral Roberts taking down Ohio State &ndash; also in overtime &ndash; just last year. This one, because of the distinctions between the two institutions both in size, recruiting advantages, budgets and basketball history, could be the biggest upset we&rsquo;ve ever seen.</p>
<p>People love blue-blood programs, and in the case of Kentucky, love to hate them. But this is why people gather around TV screens this time of year, to see improbable stories like these unfold.</p>
<p>Others say they want the best facing the best with no upsets, and that&rsquo;s cool, but where&rsquo;s the enjoyment in that? If you only watch basketball for &ldquo;starzzzzz&rdquo; and &ldquo;hooperzzzzz,&rdquo; this probably doesn&rsquo;t excite you, but if <em>this</em> level of improbability<em> </em>can&rsquo;t resonate with you, why? That&rsquo;s strange. The fact is, in life, more people can and should be able to identify with the Saint Peter&rsquo;s element of this. Chances are, if you&rsquo;re reading this, you&rsquo;re closer to them than Kentucky, and that&rsquo;s OK. So don&rsquo;t be disappointed that Kentucky blew it. Embrace the uncanny underdog Peacocks from Jersey City, led by their badass head coach from New York City, who reminded you after the game, that it&rsquo;s just ball after all.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Q: &ldquo;Did you ever get nervous.&rdquo; <br /><br />Shaheen Holloway after No. 15 Saint Peter&rsquo;s upset No. 2 Kentucky in OT<br /><br />&ldquo;For what? It&rsquo;s basketball.&rdquo; <br /><br /><a href="https://t.co/t0odjVyGWb">pic.twitter.com/t0odjVyGWb</a></p>
&mdash; George Balekji (@GeorgeBalekji) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgeBalekji/status/1504637225685987342?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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No. 15 Saint Peter's managed to beat No. 2 Kentucky in overtime. Bryan Fonseca explains why it may be the biggest upset ever.

Putting Saint Peter’s shocker over Kentucky in historical context

<p>Approximately two months remain in the college basketball schedule and several players have used the conference slate to raise their stock.</p>
<p>Jaden Ivey is on fire at Purdue and has correspondingly broken into the top-three on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock's Big Board, updated for February.</a> Other risers, such as Blake Wesley and Dereon Seabron, are appearing in the ranking for the first time this season.</p>
<p>The most notable new name might be Shaedon Sharpe. The five-star talent enrolled at Kentucky but has yet to play, and has not made a decision on entering the upcoming NBA Draft despite reportedly being eligible. With that recent news, Babcock has Sharpe ranked No. 5 overall.</p>
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<p>I had several questions for Babcock after his recent update. Here are his thoughts:</p>
<p><strong>1. How did you assess Shaedon Sharpe's place on your new Big Board?</strong></p>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">I find Shaedon Sharpe&rsquo;s situation to be unique. He finished at Dream City Christian early and enrolled at Kentucky recently. He&rsquo;s practicing with the team, but there is not a clear answer as to whether he&rsquo;ll play this year or not. NBA scouts are limited, per NBA rules, which high school events they are allowed to attend. From my understanding, Peach Jam was the only event that teams had a chance to see Sharpe play. Luckily for me, I don&rsquo;t have to deal with any restrictions at all, so, therefore, I&rsquo;ve had the chance to see Sharpe several times.</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">At 6-foot-6, he has a tremendous physical profile, is incredibly explosive, and he&rsquo;s an excellent shot-maker with range &mdash; a great combination of attributes if you ask me. His circle has publicly said he plans to be at Kentucky next year, but history would suggest that an opportunity to be a high lottery pick is too appealing to pass up. If he does decide to enter the draft, I think he&rsquo;ll be in the mix with teams picking at the top of the draft, and rightfully so.</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section"><strong>2. What has Jaden Ivey done to break into the top tier at No. 3?</strong></div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">I recently watched Purdue at Iowa and had the chance to see Ivey play in person. I find it challenging to properly grasp players' physical tools and body movements on film, among other things. In Iowa, I was blown away by Ivey's elite athleticism and ability to create with the ball in his hands. Considering that the NBA is such a guard-driven league at the moment, I put a lot of value in Ivey's style of play and his potential to develop into a primary scorer.</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">My current rankings of the top four or five players are certainly not written in stone by any means. I can't say I'm overly excited about this year's draft from top to bottom, but I think the first group is legit.</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section"><strong>3. What inspired the new appearances by Blake Wesley and Dereon Seabron?</strong></div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">I did not have Blake Wesley or Dereon Seabron as high-priority prospects to watch prior to the season, but both of them have been great this year. Wesley has good size and length for a guard and a knack to score the ball. He has stepped into a primary role for Notre Dame as a true freshman after not being all that highly touted out of high school.</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">Seabron is a little older, but he does a lot of good things too. He is really good going to the hole, is very active and well-rounded. In fact, he&rsquo;s averaging nine rebounds per game, impressive for a perimeter player.</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">I do have questions about both prospects' outside shooting, but I like their games regardless. I'm looking forward to continuing to familiarize myself with both of them.</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section"><strong>4. Who are some other notable risers&nbsp;in the early weeks of conference play?</strong></div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">A few players that are trending up recently for me are A.J. Griffin from Duke, Jeremy Sochan from Baylor, and Tari Eason from LSU.</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section"><strong>5. How would you rank the top prospects on UCLA at this stage?</strong></div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">I think Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jaquez would be good options for teams selecting in the second round. I think Juzang&rsquo;s outside shooting ability will translate to the next level well, and Jaquez is a tough and solid player that does a lot of little things that contribute to winning basketball.</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">At UCLA, the tricky one is freshman Peyton Watson; he has tons of upside but plays a minimal role. I&rsquo;m intrigued by him, but I find it challenging to determine how he&rsquo;d fit in this draft exactly. Therefore, we didn&rsquo;t include him in our latest big board update, but I&rsquo;m keeping a firm pulse on his situation.</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section"><strong>6. How would you compare Isaiah Mobley to his brother, Evan?</strong></div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">Evan is a terrific player, but I think Isaiah is a good player in his own right. At 6-foot-10, Isaiah has excellent size and length. I think he can play the four or five, and he's highly skilled. He&rsquo;s not overly athletic, but there&rsquo;s a place for him in the NBA.</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section"><strong>7. Where is the Baylor wing duo of Kendall Brown and Jeremy Sochan at in their growth?</strong></div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">Oh, I love the Baylor kids! I just saw them play at Alabama. Brown has been high on our list all season long. He has a great frame and is about as athletic as it gets. We moved him back a touch because I&rsquo;m a little concerned with his lack of creation skills, but he could develop into an elite complementary player.</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">Sochan has continued to impress me more and more as I&rsquo;ve gotten to know his game better. He&rsquo;s naturally big and has incredible defensive feet that could allow him to become an elite defender. He&rsquo;s also shown flashes of versatility on the offensive end, as he can put it on the floor and shoot from outside a little bit. I wouldn&rsquo;t be surprised to see him continue to move up our board.&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section"><strong>8. Which college basketball team (that you've seen recently) has done an especially great job maximizing their draft-eligible players?</strong></div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">Keep in mind that many of the top college prospects I focus on are freshmen, and many of them are not put into roles to properly display their talents. In most cases, college coaches prioritize winning games and depend on veteran players rather than showcasing NBA potential, which is understandable. Some coaches hold back their young players, though, in hopes they return to school for another season. From an evaluation standpoint, it can be frustrating.</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">To answer your question, I think Jaden Ivey of Purdue, Keegan Murray of Iowa, and Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jaquez of UCLA are all used well. Unsurprisingly, none of them are freshmen.</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">&nbsp;</div>
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Jaden Ivey and Shaedon Sharpe are two of the trending names in Babcock's newest Big Board.

2022 NBA Draft: Q&A with Matt Babcock on Shaedon Sharpe, Jaden Ivey, more

<p>Shaedon Sharpe, a five-star prospect who is enrolling at Kentucky for the spring semester, is eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33109452/shaedon-sharpe-18-apply-2022-nba-draft-joining-kentucky-wildcats-january" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Jonathan Givony</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Sharpe is eligible to play for the Wildcats but has yet to appear in a game. Basketball News Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock offered his insight on Sharpe's looming decision and his thoughts on Sharpe as a prospect:</p>
<p><em>"In early November, it was brought to my attention by Wes Brown, a top talent evaluator from Canada, that Sharpe could be eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft. So I'm not surprised to hear this news. However, from my understanding, although certainly possible, I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that he will be in this upcoming draft.</em></p>
<p><em>"I had the chance to watch Sharpe several times last spring when he played with his traveling team, UPLAY Canada. His athleticism and length were the first things that I noticed. Throughout the spring and summer, he elevated his game by proving to be a reliable shot-maker in addition to being such an explosive athlete.</em></p>
<p><em>"If Sharpe does decide to enter his name in the 2022 NBA Draft, he will likely receive legitimate interest from teams selecting in the lottery. So, naturally, I will be monitoring his situation closely.</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Sharpe is eligible to play for the Kentucky Wildcats but has yet to appear in a game.

Report: 5-star prospect Shaedon Sharpe eligible for 2022 NBA Draft

<p>Five-star high school wing Chris Livingston has committed to the University of Kentucky.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/kentucky-basketball-recruiting-five-star-chris-livingston-nations-no-6-recruit-commits-to-wildcats/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyle Boone/CBS Sports</a></p>
<p><strong>ANALYSIS:&nbsp;</strong>Livingston joins Shaedon Sharpe as 2022 five-star prospects who recently committed to the Wildcats. He is a 6-foot-6 combo forward who currently plays for high school stronghold Oak Hill Academy.</p>

Livingston joins Shaedon Sharpe as 2022 five-star prospects who recently committed to the Wildcats. 

5-star 2022 high school recruit Chris Livingston commits to Kentucky

<p>Shaedon Sharpe, the top-ranked prospect in the class of 2022, has committed to the Kentucky Wildcats. He announced the news via his Twitter on Tuesday evening.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">And I rock Kentucky Blue 😼🔵⚪️ COMMITTED! <a href="https://twitter.com/KentuckyMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KentuckyMBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bbn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bbn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mytoolbox?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mytoolbox</a> <a href="https://t.co/YedAGBFyhq">pic.twitter.com/YedAGBFyhq</a></p>
&mdash; Shaedon Sharpe (@ShaedonSharpe) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShaedonSharpe/status/1435377545940111364?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>Our NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock had this to say about Sharpe:</p>
<p>"The first time I really took notice of Shaedon Sharpe was last May at an event in Indianapolis called Midwest Mania, which was put on by MADE Hoops. At the time, Sharpe was not garnering all that much attention nor was he very highly ranked. But right away, his elite athleticism caught my eye and I thought that he could be a player on the rise.</p>
<p>"In a short amount of time since then, he has come into his own, proven to be more than just a high flyer and turned himself into arguably the top prospect in his high school class. I&rsquo;m certainly looking forward to seeing Sharpe play in Lexington next season, but I wouldn&rsquo;t get too comfortable with him in Kentucky blue because, like most of Coach Cal&rsquo;s top recruits, I don&rsquo;t expect him to be there long."</p>
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The top-ranked prospect in the class of 2022 has committed to the University of Kentucky.