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Kevin Garnett on Victor Wembanyama: One thing I want to speak on is just Wemby's development. If I'm him, I’m working on core strength because when… Paul will tell you, I'm not the biggest guy, right? But he'll tell you when I sit down and post up, can you move me? Paul Pierce: No, he's strong. Garnett: I'm probably one of the strongest people you could ever run up on and look like how I look, but when it came down there to setting up on that block and then pitching and getting it off down there, yeah, I was the best at that. I would love to work with Big Fella, but this generation has a preference on how they want to work out. And I have to respect that. But yeah, I'm open to all… Listen, I'm looking for big years from not just Wemby. I'm looking for big years from Chet Holmgren. I'm looking for a big summer from Zion Williamson. I'm looking for a big summer from Kyrie Irving. I'm looking for Jayson Tatum to have a big summer.
Sam Amick on Ja Morant: "The only two teams I have heard and I will pick one of them is New Orleans and Sacramento. I will probably push it the New Orleans way."
The reporting that ties Dallas to Ament comes from Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, who listed the Los Angeles Clippers (No. 5), Brooklyn Nets (No. 6), and Mavericks (No. 9) among the teams that have shown interest, with some rival executives viewing the Milwaukee Bucks at No. 10 as Ament’s floor. Fischer also linked the New Orleans Pelicans, who do not own a lottery pick, as a team interested in trading to gain positioning to select Ament. Two of the four teams Ament named, Brooklyn and the Clippers, also appear on Fischer’s list of interested suitors. Dallas does not appear among Ament’s stated workouts, even as it has been tied to interest at No. 9. Interest reported by league sources does not always translate to a completed workout.
Then again, the Celtics’ desperation level simply isn’t at the level of the Heat’s. By all accounts, Boston could forge ahead with the Brown-Jayson Tatum dynamic duo and look for other ways to upgrade the frontcourt. To that end, league sources say the Celtics are among the many teams with interest in the New Orleans Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III (if they don’t land Antetokounmpo).
Kevin O'Connor says Warriors still covet Kawhi Leonard: [Anthony] Slater goes on to write how 'Trey Murphy is the more obtainable wing for the Warriors to target.' He said 'The Pelicans have clung tightly to Trey Murphy, but league sources tell Slater that New Orleans has been signaling a desire to jump into the first round of the draft.' That last line is 150% true. The Pelicans are trying to get a pick in the top 20. The Warriors are definitely a team that we could see trade the number 11 pick to New Orleans for Trey Murphy. All that said though Tom, I do think the Warriors still want Kawhi Leonard. I still think the Warriors are still going for Kawhi Leonard. The Warriors still want Kawhi. Trey Murphy, as Anthony Slater says, seems to be just the more obtainable guy, but I don't think this Warriors' love for Kawhi Leonard has declined at all.
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Shamit Dua: Pelicans have hired AJ Meyer as Director of Analytics. Meyer comes from the Suns with previous stints in Dallas and San Antonio.
The Pelicans are known to "want a lot" for Trey Murphy, as one interested team told The Stein Line last week, but they will at least listen. The Pelicans, furthermore, are also known to be very interested in acquiring a lottery pick for next week's festivities. New Orleans, at present, only holds No. 58 at the end of next Wednesday's second round.
With Charlotte considering a starting-caliber center upgrade, other centers besides Sabonis are on their radar, including Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton, league sources told HoopsHype. In addition, it’s worth noting that the Nets have expressed interest in Hornets free agent guard Coby White in the past when he was on the Chicago Bulls, sources said. In other Hornets news, assistant coach Zach Peterson is a candidate to become the franchise’s next head coach of their G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. DJ Bakker, who’s been an assistant coach for the Hornets and head coach of the Swarm in the G League, is a candidate to join Sean Sweeney’s staff as an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic, league sources told HoopsHype.
New Orleans Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III could be more obtainable in this transaction cycle, league sources said. Murphy is a player the Warriors front office has circled for years as a prime wing who fits a need, the Kerr system and, at 25, accomplishes the goal of getting younger. The Pelicans have clung to him tightly, but league sources said New Orleans has been signaling a desire to jump into the first round of next week's draft. The Warriors have the 11th pick and control of their future firsts.
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Will Guillory: The Pelicans hosted pre-draft workouts today with Maliq Brown (Duke), Malik Dia (Ole Miss), Xavian Lee (Florida), JJ Starling (Syracuse) and Peter Suder (Miami OH), league sources tell @TheAthletic.
Among the most interesting outcomes that will affect the rest of the NBA will be how an expansion draft is structured -- the last time was in 2004, and it was for just one team, the Charlotte Bobcats. At that time, teams were able to protect eight players and lose only one. There is also the question of how the league will realign the conferences. Different possibilities are being discussed, including moving one team from the Western Conference to the East -- with Memphis, Minnesota and New Orleans all "competing" to do so.
It'll take plenty of work, but Thomas Scott is willing to put that work in. He has seen hard work all of his life watching his dad. It’s one of the things his father passed down to him. “I’ve always observed my dad being very disciplined and always moving as a professional,” he said. “Very punctual. Very consistent on a day-to-day basis. Somebody that knew how to lock in and stay very focused. He has a lot of personality off the court. But when it came down to working, his work ethic is unmatched.”
“Life has a way of doing that to you and taking you full circle,” Byron Scott said. “My son’s time in New Orleans is when he really started getting the bug about getting involved in basketball. One thing about him is he’s worked his (butt) for years to get in position to do something like this. I’m so proud and happy for him."