SB Nation DC - NBA Draft 2012: Undrafted Hollis Thompson Signs With Oklahoma City

Hollis Thompson Finalizes Deal With Oklahoma City Thunder

2012-07-11T19:36:31Z

Former Georgetown Hoya Hollis Thompson is now officially a member of the Western Conference Champion Oklahoma City Thunder, signing a rookie contract Wednesday:

Per agent for Hollis Thompson, the former Georgetown Hoya signed a 3-year deal with Oklahoma City (@OCR_team )
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) July 11, 2012

Thompson is not with the team's development league squad in Orlando, but that's not due to his contractual status - Thompson is sitting out the summer league to recover from a groin injury that kept him undrafted. Oklahoma City is hoping that the 6-8 and "lanky" Thompson's prowess behind the three point line will pay off, as the Thunder were a mere 11th in the NBA last season in three point percentage. Thompson shot 43 percent from three last season for the Hoyas.

For more on the Oklahoma City Thunder, check out Welcome To Loud City. Georgetown Hoyas news and info can be found over at Casual Hoya.

Bradley Beal Is A Smart Cookie, According To Billy Donovan

2012-07-03T18:38:37Z

Bradley Beal's college coach, Billy Donovan of Florida, appeared on 106.7 The Fan Tuesday morning with Holden Kushner and Danny Rouhier to discuss exactly how little Beal resembles the talent on Wizards teams of the past.

Here's just one example, according to Donovan.

"While he was here, he majored in pre-med. He had over a 3.5 GPA. We never, ever had one ounce of trouble with Brad, ever."

There's since been some clarification from Mike Prada over at Bullets Forever. Apparently, Florida doesn't technically have a pre-med major. But Donovan's a basketball coach, not an academic advisor, and his point is well-taken.

Mike also highlighted something that we found interesting with regard to Beal's early NBA career.

"I think Brad will have an adjustment with the NBA three-point line," Donovan said. "I think all those guys do when they get up there. It's the same way in college. Most guys don't shoot to their capabilities as freshman, and many guys, probably most guys don't shoot to their capabilities as rookie. But I think that, as he puts in the time and effort, he's going to be a terrific three-point shooter."

Should be interesting to watch.

Thanks to 106.7 The Fan for the audio.

2012 NBA Draft Grades: ESPN's Chad Ford Gives Wizards An A-

2012-06-29T23:30:13Z

The 2012 NBA Draft is over, so all of the experts are grading how each team fared and figure out who were the winners and losers this year. The Washington Wizards had the No. 3 overall pick and selected Florida's Bradley Beal and their second round pick was Tomas Santoransky who will likely play in Spain for the next few years.

ESPN's Chad Ford really liked the Wizards first pick, but not so much about the Santoransky pick. However, he still gave them one of the best grades in the draft with an A-:

I love the Beal pick for the Wizards. He was a perfect fit for them and has a chance at being the second-best player in the draft. The Wizards need a shooter and Beal has the chance to be special. Paired with John Wall, Trevor Ariza, Emeka Okafor and Nene, I think the Wizards could make a run at the playoffs next season.

I thought the Satoransky pick was a bit of a reach, however. I can't believe they passed on Draymond Green with that second-round pick.

Catch up on everything you need to know about the Wizards draft, scan our NBA Draft 2012 StoryStream. For more fan reaction, visit our Wizards blog, Bullets Forever. For more on the Draft, as well as for the latest news and notes from around the Association, check out SB Nation's NBA hub.

NBA Draft 2012: Bradley Beal Celebrates With Cake

2012-06-29T19:22:02Z

Bradley Beal turned 19 years old Thursday, the same day that he was selected by the Washington Wizards with the third overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft. Now, our 19th birthday was pretty awesome, as we remember it (not that we remember much of it), but we think that Beal has us beaten in this department.

The Washington media got its first look at Beal in the flesh Friday afternoon, and as you might expect, the organization managed to acknowledge Beal's special day.

Mmmmmm ... look at that delicious cake. That looks so deliciously unhealthy. Really, is there anything better than birthday cake? We say, "Absolutely not." Happy Birthday, Bradley, and welcome, officially to D.C. Hopefully, that pose will be the most awkward you ever look here.

Catch up on everything you need to know about the Wizards draft, scan our NBA Draft 2012 StoryStream. For more fan reaction, visit our Wizards blog, Bullets Forever.

LIVE VIDEO: Wizards Introduce Bradley Beal

2012-06-29T17:52:56Z

In case you missed it, the Wizards drafted wingman Bradley Beal from the University of Florida with the third overall pick in Thursday night's NBA Draft. Beal is expected to fill a gaping void in a team that struggled on offense over the 2011-12 season, and he's expected to work well together with star point guard John Wall.

The Wizards will officially introduce Beal to D.C.'s basketball faithful at a press conference which is set to get underway at 2 p.m. at the Verizon Center. CSN Washington was kind enough to provide us with the live video of that press conference, and we've got it all set up below.

2012 NBA Draft Grades, Wizards

2012-06-29T14:05:24Z

Andrew Sharp of SB Nation's NBA page has posted his draft grades for the 2012 NBA Draft, including his thoughts on the draft of the Washington Wizards:

Considering the hype he's gotten the past few weeks, Beal's one year at Florida wasn't really thatimpressive, but all the tools are there, and just about everyone seems to agree that he's got every intangible you could ask for in a 19 year-old. His shooting is what got him drafted this high, but he can also attack the rim off the pump fake and be a scorer. So he's kind of like MKG--you don't know exactly what it's going to look like when things come together for him, but you have the sense it's going to be pretty great regardless.
As for the trade, I know a lot of people hated it, and but as a Wizards fan all I can say is this: The team hasn't won 50 games in 30 years, and the past three seasons have been especially brutal. Adding a few overpaid veterans to make things respectable makes more sense in D.C. than it would just about anywhere else.

Plus: Nene, Okafor, and Ariza are really just there as a 2-3 year bridge to the future, giving the Wizards a chance to actually win games while the rebuild unfolds. If everyone develops on schedule, those veterans will be coming off the books in 2014 and 2015--right as John Wall and Beal are coming into their prime--giving the team plenty of cap space to help fill out the roster with solid role players and maybe even one other star. It's not an overnight fix, but for the first time since, like, 2006, Wizards fan actually have reason to be excited about the near future AND the long-term. And isn't that what the draft is all about? GRADE: A.

Catch up on everything you need to know about the Wizards draft, scan our NBA Draft 2012 StoryStream. For more fan reaction, visit our Wizards blog, Bullets Forever.

NBA Draft 2012, Wizards: 'Competent Enough' Draft For Washington

2012-06-29T12:43:17Z

Following the acquisitions of both Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza it became patently obvious that the biggest hole on the Wizards roster was at the shooting guard position. Bradley Beal became the most logical solution and every team knew it. But despite much speculation that a team would trade with the Bobcats to take the Florida player, it never formulated. Instead Beal fell right into the lap of the Wizards and they got their guy.

The warm and fuzzies for Wizards fans faltered a bit, though, when the team selected Tomas Satoransky with the 32nd pick with many intriguing prospects available. A selection that one writer at SB Nation Wizards blog, Bullets Forever, called, "A hard moment."

"In the final calculation, the Wizards got their man in Beal. There's an open question as to how much credit Grunfeld deserves for that, but the fact is that the Wizards have landed perhaps the second-most coveted pick in the draft at the third spot and that doesn't count for nothing. Not having a pick at No. 46 stung (to say nothing of No. 10), but not as much as watching Ernie use the No. 32, practically a first rounder considering the depth of the year's draft class and significant talent remaining on the board, on a Euro draft-and-stash in Satoransky."

Catch up on everything you need to know about the Wizards draft, scan our NBA Draft 2012 StoryStream. For more fan reaction, visit our Wizards blog, Bullets Forever.

NBA Draft 2012: Wizards Done With Lottery?

2012-06-29T12:00:51Z

Tired of sweating out the NBA Draft lottery and obessing over morning-after NBA Draft grades? So is Ted Leonsis.

"I don't want to be in the lottery anymore," Leonsis said Thursday at the Wizards 2012 NBA Draft party. "I would find that unacceptable."

Unacceptable. That's a strong word, Mr. Leonsis.

Washington has missed the playoffs four consecutive seasons. But the Wizards owner was positive about the direction of the franchise when he met with reporters before the 2012 NBA Draft.

Look at this smile:

There's reason for optimism in D.C. The Wizards were a dramatically different team in the second half of last season. Washington went 7-4 with Nene on the floor after the trade deadline and finished the season with six straight wins.

Add Bradley Beal, Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor the mix, and that has the makings of an actual basketball team.

So, we ask: Do you agree with Ted Leonsis' expectations for the Wizards? Tell us what you think we'll see from Washington in the comments.

Catch up on the Wizards draft with our 2012 NBA Draft Results StoryStream and get more great fan perspective on our Wizards blog, Bullets Forever.