Hollis Thompson Finalizes Deal With Oklahoma City Thunder

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

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

LIVE VIDEO: Wizards Introduce Bradley Beal

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.

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.

2012 NBA Draft Grades, Wizards

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

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?

NBA Draft 2012: Wizards Get It Right With Bradley Beal

You're going to love Bradley Beal. That's what I want to tell you the most, reader. But you probably already know that because the loudest cheer of the night at the Wizards NBA Draft party was for the Bobcats, who selected Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the No. 2 pick, one ahead of Washington.

Everyone thought the same thing: "We got him. Bradley Beal is coming to Washington."

Going into the 2012 NBA Draft, there were two possibilities for the Wizards: A) Draft Bradley Beal B) No Beal, and one of 756 different things happens and all our heads explode. In the end, the Wizards got the prospect they've coveted all along without having to move up. The Wizards got it right.

Look, if you're a Wizards fan, this has to be friggin' exciting:

Yessir bro RT @RealDealBeal23: Washington Wizards !!!!!!

— John Wall (@John_Wall) June 29, 2012

What Wall didn't tweet is his plans to "put a lot of popcorn" in Beal's car when he gets here. (Told of Wall's antics, Beal said he plans to walk to practice when he gets to D.C.)*

*Old Wizards: Poop in shoes // New Wizards: Popcorn ... That's some sort of progress!

Back to the Draft, look at these happy Wizards fans!

So where does this leave the Wizards?

Well, a strange thing happens you look at the roster overhaul since Washington made a deal for Nene at the trade deadline last season. The Wizards are starting to resemble an actual basketball team. This is good (and I don't need to tell you this, but I will) because they play in the NBA, a basketball league.

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.

2012 NBA Draft: Norfolk State's Kyle O'Quinn Drafted By Orlando, No Georgetown Or Maryland Players Selected

The 2012 NBA Draft is in the books and no Georgetown or Maryland players were selected as one of the sixty picks. The Hoyas' Hollis Thompson and Henry Sims were projected as potential second round picks but neither heard their names called, as the NBA front offices went on a run of international players over the final 30 picks. Maryland scoring dynamo Terrell Stoglin also went undrafted. Stoglin declared for the Draft this spring after leaving school amidst a one-year suspension for violating school policies.

One local name who's become familiar to many over the past year and was drafted is Kyle O'Quinn. The massive power forward from Norfolk State was selected in the second round by the Orlando Magic with the No. 49 pick. O'Quinn's name had surfaced as a likely second-round selection in the scouting run-up to the draft. He is, of course, best remembered for dominating Missouri in Norfolk's incredible first round upset of the No. 2 seeded Tigers in this March's NCAA Tournament. The ebullient O'Quinn was the face of the first round of March Madness, and he'll now get a shot to prove himself at the next level with the Magic.

For lots more on the 2012 NBA draft, please stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

NBA Draft Results 2012: Virginia's Mike Scott Selected By Hawks With No. 43 Pick

Local Virginia standout Mike Scott heard his name called in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft, going No. 43 overall to the Atlanta Hawks. Scott had an incredibly productive season as a fifth-year senior in Charlottesville and has the size to bang on the block at the NBA level. He was expected to go in the middle of the second round and the Hawks, the oldest team in the league, ended up calling his name.

Scott will join another college veteran in Vanderbilt's John Jenkins, who the Hawks took with their first round pick at No. 23. As a second round pick, Scott will not receive a guaranteed contract from Atlanta but he definitely has a chance to be a contributor along the front line. He will almost certainly be a part of the Hawks' summer league squad, where he'll make his debut.

For lots more on the 2012 NBA draft, please stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

NBA Draft Results 2012: Wizards Select Tomas Satoransky With No. 32 Pick

After adding Bradley Beal with the No. 3 pick at the top of the first round, Ernie Grunfeld and the Washington Wizards selected Tomas Satoransky with the 32nd pick overall. Satoransky is a Czech native and a good friend of 2011 Wizards pick, Jan Vesely. He's the second true foreign player selected in the 2012 Draft and the Wizards will likely stash him overseas for a few seasons. He is a 6'7 project who played in Spain last season, where he'll likely stay in 2012-2013. Satoransky is apparently determined to play in the NBA, alongside his friend Vesely. Via DraftExpress:

To his credit, he is reportedly very much gung-ho about the NBA style of basketball and would likely do whatever it takes to make it in the NBA, which can't be said about all young European players these days.

Barring a trade, this was the Wizards' final selection of the 2012 Draft.

For more on the Washington Wizards and their draft pick, be sure to check out SB Nation's Wizards blog Bullets Forever. For lots more on the 2012 NBA draft, please stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

PHOTOS: Bradley Beal Goes To The Wizards

NBA Draft 2012: Wizards Select Bradley Beal With No. 3 Pick

The Washington Wizards have filled their hole at shooting guard, drafting Bradley Beal out of the University of Florida with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. The Wizards traded for Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okefor in the week before the draft, leading to speculation that the Wizards would select Beal to occupy their obvious missing two-guard spot.

Beal was picked after Kentucky stars Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and his selection made history. This is the first time in the history of the NBA Draft that the first three picks have all been college freshmen. Beal is a great athlete and a very good outside shooter for his age, but will have to work on his finishing at the rim and his defense to become an elite player at the NBA level.

Here's what Bullets Forever had to say about Beal before the draft.

[He will] immediately become the best three-point shooter on a long-term deal. Currently, Cartier Martin is the only Wizard with an above average three point shot, and the organization has shown no signs of making him a part of its long-term plans yet. With athletic finishers like Nene, Jan Vesely, Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin rolling to the basket and Wall constantly slashing to the hoop, the Wizards' spacing is very poor and they lack anyone who can regularly make teams pay for playing a zone or sagging into the paint.

For more on the Washington Wizards and their draft pick, be sure to check out SB Nation's Wizards blog Bullets Forever. For lots more on the 2012 NBA draft, please stay tuned toSB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

VIDEO: With The Third Pick, Washington Selects ... Link?

Chain Reactions: Drafting a Plan for the Wizards Draft And The Deal That Got Done

This week's "Chain Reactions" reveals the Wizards draft night plan for the No. 3 pick and looks closer at their predraft deal.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Wizards Take Florida Guard

On the eve of the 2012 NBA Draft, ESPN's Chad Ford and Grantland's Bill Simmons joined forces for a collaborative mock draft to attempt to predict the first 22 picks of Thursday's draft. Following the selections of Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the first two picks, Simmons made the third selection for the Washington Wizards.

With the no. 3 pick for Washington, I'm grabbing Bradley Beal, the silky smooth two-guard who definitely bought Ray Allen's jumper on eBay. I love this pick even though I watched all four of Florida's NCAA Tournament games and never at any point thought to myself, I'm watching the no. 3 pick in June's draft.

Beal, 19, entered the NBA Draft following his freshman season with the Florida Gators in which he averaged 14.8 points per game and earned first-team All-SEC honors. While Beal has earned Ray Allen comparisons, his 34% average from beyond the arch in his freshman year raises some eyebrows. In the mock draft, Ford gives a potentially better comparison.

Everyone thinks that, returned to the right role, he's Eric Gordon 2.0. Without any other guaranteed superstars in the draft, that's worth pick three and makes him a great fit in Washington, a team without a real shooter or two-guard on their roster.

The 2012 NBA Draft begins with the New Orleans Hornets on the clock as coverage will begin Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

NBA Draft 2012: Time, TV Schedule, Results, Grades And More

The 2012 NBA draft gets underway on Thursday night and the Washington Wizards will finally know who they will add to their roster. The Wizards are set to select a player with the No. 3 overall pick, barring a trade. The Wizards have been linked to several trade rumors, but nothing has been set in motion just yet.

There are a few players the Wizards have been linked to with the No. 3 overall pick, namely guard Bradley Beal out of Florida, but it remains to be seen if he'll even be available third overall.

The draft will begin on Thursday, June 28, at 7 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN. Complete draft analysis will begin at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

For more on the Washington Wizards and their draft pick, be sure to check out SB Nation's Wizards blog Bullets Forever. For lots more on the 2012 NBA draft, please stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

Wizards Draft Rumors: Washington Trade Talk Could Be A Bluff

The rumor mill has been cranking out some talk recently about the Washington Wizards and their No. 3 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Washington is said to be getting some calls about the pick. Michael Lee from the Washington Post reported that teams are interested in Kansas forward Thomas Robinson. The reality is that so much of the trade talk this time of the year is subterfuge, which makes it hard to read, much less predict.

Charlotte is said to covet Robinson. The Bobcats are eyeing a trade down, swapping places with the Cleveland Cavaliers who have the fourth pick and drafting Robinson there. Cleveland's interest in moving up to to leapfrog Washington for Florida's Bradley Beal.

Chad Ford of ESPN believes that the Washington trade talk is designed to give Charlotte pause about trading with Cleveland and costing them a chance at Beal.

Wizards want to make Bobcats nervous that if they trade 2 to Clev for 4 & 24, TRob, the guy the Cats covet, might not be there. Nice!

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 27, 2012

Is it a head fake or not? The answer should reveal itself by Thursday night.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

NBA Mock Draft 2012: Wizards Set With Bradley Beal At No. 3?

For all the pre-draft shuffling in the top five of the 2012 NBA Draft over the past few months, most mock drafts have settled on a near unanimous top three. This includes one of the best draft sites out there, Draft Express. Jonathan Givony of DX projects that the Bobcats will select Thomas Robinson at No. 2, leaving a certain Florida shooting guard for the Wizards to snatch up at No.3. Via Yahoo!:

After adding two significant contracts to their books this week in a controversial trade, the Wizards' biggest position of need appears to be at shooting guard. Beal has the perfect skills and demeanor to complement the ultra-quick but mediocre perimeter shooting John Wall, which should make him an excellent fit on Washington's roster.

Unless the Cavaliers trade with the Bobcats at No. 2 and leapfrog the Wizards, it's looking more and more like Beal will be Ernie Grunfeld's guy.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

2012 NBA Draft: Green Room Invites Announced

Last season, the NBA invited 15 players to green room, along with their families as they awaited their names to be called by commissioner David Stern. This season, that number is 14, and on Tuesday, the league announced who and how many had received invitations. The list isn't particularly surprising and carries some familiar names, but it is now official. Via Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com:

• North Carolina F Harrison Barnes
• Florida G Bradley Beal
• Kentucky F/C Anthony Davis
• UConn C Andre Drummond
• North Carolina F John Henson
• Kentucky F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
• UConn G Jeremy Lamb
• Illinois C Meyers Leonard
• Weber State G Damian Lillard
• Duke G Austin Rivers
• Kansas F Thomas Robinson
• Washington F Terrence Ross
• Syracuse G Dion Waiters
• North Carolina C Tyler Zeller

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Washington Wizards Projected To Select Bradley Beal With The No. 3 Pick

The 2012 NBA Draft is now two days away and the speculation as to who the Washington Wizards will select at the No. 3 spot is reaching a fever pitch. Chad Ford of ESPN.com projects in his latest mock draft that the Wizards will select Florida Gators guard Bradley Beal.

Washington

Bradley Beal
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 202 pounds
Age: 18
School: Florida

Analysis: The Wizards made the first big trade of the offseason, sending Rashard Lewis and the 46th pick to New Orleans for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza. With the deal, the Wizards essentially upgraded their front court -- Okafor likely will be their starting 5, Nene their starting 4 and Ariza their starting 3.

With John Wall running the point, that leaves them with one big hole: at the 2. I think this makes Beal a no-brainer for the Wizards, who are lacking a lights-out perimeter shooter. He's a perfect fit for this new roster. And if the Wizards believe they are in danger of losing Beal, don't be surprised if they offer the Bobcats the No. 32 pick to move up one spot. If Beal is off the board, it looks as if Harrison Barnes is Plan B.

Ford makes some good points in this article. With the deal to get both Okafor and Ariza done, there is not as pressing a need for help in the front court as there was a few days ago. The key need now for the Wizards is a shooter to run along side Wall.

For more information on Beal, here is a scouting report done by SB Nation.

The NBA Draft is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Television coverage of the draft will be provided by ESPN and will be live streaming on ESPN3.com.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

2012 NBA Draft: Some Scouts Believe Henry Sims Doesn't Get Drafted

Seth Davis of Sports Illustrated posted an article on Tuesday with the thoughts of scouts on just about every major NBA Draft prospect. While the quotes provided aren't the actual quotes of any given scout, Davis explains that they are the culmination of the thoughts of six different scouts, coaches and executives that he has spoken with.

Among the prospects that were discussed was Georgetown center Henry Sims:

"He had a pretty good last season, but where was he the first three? I don't know if he likes to play or not. I don't think he gets drafted. I don't know how much of that body of work I can trust."

Very few believe Sims will be drafted in the first round, but in DraftExpress's latest mock draft, Sims was projected to be taken by the Brooklyn Nets with the 57th overall selection. Sims averaged 11.6 points and six rebounds in 27.5 minutes per game during his senior season.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Georgetown Hoyas, check out the SB Nation blog Casual Hoya.

NBA Mock Draft 2012: Wizards Add 2 Guards While 2 Local College Stars Go In 2nd Round

The rumors and smokescreens are heavy with just three days until the 2012 NBA Draft. After months of variety and uncertainty in the top five, a near consensus is coalescing around the top three in most mock draft projections. Chad Ford released the ninth edition of his mock on Monday, and like the others, he thinks the Wizards end up with Florida's Brad Beal. The shooting guard has reportedly ascended ahead of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Harrison Barnes on most teams' draft boards.

The Wizards also have a pick at the top of the second round, picking 32nd overall. Ford thinks the Wizards add another point guard to back up John Wall. He predicts Ernie Grunfeld will choose Iona's Scott Machado, which would be the third point guard drafted in the past three years. Grunfeld took Shelvin Mack in almost the exact same spot last year but Ford is extremely high on Machado:

Some in Washington aren't totally sure whether John Wall is really a point guard. Machado, however, is the second-best pure point guard in the draft. He lacks Wall's athletic abilities, but some believe he sees the floor as well or better than Kendall Marshall. He'd be a very nice get for the Wizards at 32.

In addition to the two Wizards selections, Ford predicts two local college stars will hear their names called on Thursday night. Virginia's Mike Scott is also moving up draft boards, putting together solid workouts after an incredibly productive 2011-2012 season in Charlottesville. Ford's mock has Scott gong to Denver with the No. 38 pick, where he'd play alongside former Wizard Javale McGee.

For the second year in a row, Georgetown's Hollis Thompson declared for the draft, only this time he kept his name in it and is going all the way. Ford thinks the rangy LA native will go towards the bottom of the second round, with the Philadelphia 76ers drafting him at No. 54.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Washington Wizards Go With Bradley Beal In Blogger Scenario

The 2012 NBA Draft is Thursday. Predictions, rumors and mock drafts are flooding the internet in advance of the big event. As for the Washington Wizards, conventional wisdom has them taking Florida guard Bradley Beal with the third pick in the first round.

SB Nation's NBA bloggers conducted a mock draft this week, and Beal was again the pick from Mike Prada of Bullets Forever, SB Nation's Wizards blog. Here is the rationale for the pick:

With the third pick of the 2012 NBA draft, the Washington Wizards select Bradley Beal. The Wizards badly need a shooter and secondary initiator alongside John Wall, and Beal is perfect for that role. He has optimal size, can open up the playbook with his ability to run pick and roll and will create better spacing because he is a threat from deep. His movements are efficient offensively, even if his scoring wasn't at Florida. In that respect, he's the anti-Jordan Crawford.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is the popular choice here because of his defense, leadership and position (small forward, where the Wizards are weakest), but the Wizards' biggest issue last year, especially after the trade for Nene, was perimeter shooting. Defensively, post-trade, they were actually pretty solid, all things considering. As for the leadership thing, it's very hard for a rookie to come in a chance a culture like Kidd-Gilchrist did at Kentucky. The Wizards though Wall would do that, and he hasn't. The NBA simply is a different game.

Bottom line: Beal does far more to attack the Wizards' weaknesses than Kidd-Gilchrist, and since neither has really distinguished himself as being far better than the other, I'm taking the guy who fits in best on the court.

The 2012 NBA Draft will kick off at 7:00 p.m. EST on June 28 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

Wizards Draft Rumors: Cleveland Eyeing Trade With Charlotte For Second Pick, Bradley Beal

The marriage between the Washington Wizards and Florida guard Bradley Beal has been well-established by 2012 NBA mock drafts and a variety of analysts around the league. An interloper, the Cleveland Cavaliers, may breakup that relationship, before the Wizards can select Beal with the third pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, according to a recent report.

Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer says that the Cavs could swing a deal to nab the Charlotte Bobcats' second pick in the draft, a move designed to bring Beal to Cleveland.

After calling some sources with lottery picks Saturday, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Charlotte Bobcats and Cleveland Cavaliers swap draft picks in Thursday's draft. In that sort of a deal, the Bobcats would pick fourth and 24th and the Cavs would move up to No. 2.

Bonnell says that the Cavs have a preference for Beal, and do not believe that he will make it past Washington. A player like Beal that can score from the outside would be a natural complement to rookie of the year Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson.

The 2012 NBA Draft will kick off at 7:00 p.m. EST on June 28 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

NBA Draft 2012: Former Virginia Cavalier Mike Scott Dubbed 'Underrated Draft Prospect'

The 2012 NBA Draft will take place Thursday, and while fans and the media will rightfully focus on the lottery picks and big names take early on in the process, there are gems to be found each year late in the draft.

Adept front offices such as the one in San Antonio have found an ability to properly scout and draft contributors late in the first round and throughout the second. According to Sam Amick of SI.com one such name to keep an eye on as a potential 2012 draft sleeper is former Virginia Cavalier power forward Mike Scott.

Mike Scott
Virginia, Sr., PF, 6-foot-9, 240 pounds, projected second round

The red flag: The left ankle

In a league where executives are so often obsessed with upside and potential, Scott has shown an ability to produce and improve for five straight years now. The versatile big man averaged 18 points (56.3 percent shooting) and 8.3 rebounds last season while finishing second in voting for ACC Player of the Year behind North Carolina center and likely first-rounder Tyler Zeller.

If not for a left ankle injury that required surgery in December of 2010 and a follow-up procedure a month later, Scott would have entered the draft a year ago. But he earned a medical redshirt and returned for another season, then proceeded to take his game to another level yet again despite concerns about whether he would fully return to form.

The 2012 NBA Draft will kick off at 7:00 p.m. EST on June 28 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

NBA Mock Draft 2012: Yet Another Mock Sees Bradley Beal Going To Wizards With No. 3 Pick

The 2012 NBA Draft is now just five days away, which means it is crunch time for the Washington Wizards to decided who to select with the No. 3 pick. The recent trade for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza seems to have pushed Washington away from Thomas Robinson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and towards Bradley Beal. The latest mock draft from Sheridan Hoops, version 4.0., agrees with this newly building consensus, slotting Beal to the Wizards on Thursday night:

3. Wizards - Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
With the recent acquisitions of Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, it seems the Wizards are going all in to make the playoffs. With an urgency toward winning, the Wizards are deep with bigs (Nene, Okafor, Andray Blatche, Jan Vesely and Kevin Seraphin) and have Chris Singleton and Ariza to play on the perimeter. But where is the shooting? John Wall needs spacing, and Beal would be a no-brainer. Beal is great shooter with range, can also create and handle the ball. Pairing Beal with Wall would give the Wizards an exciting young backcourt. Washington reportedly is intrigued by Barnes as well.

The 2012 NBA Draft will kick off at 7:00 p.m. EST on June 28 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

Jason Reid: Trade For Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza Doesn't Address Wizards' Long-Term Issues

On Friday, the Washington Wizards swapped Rashard Lewis, along with the No. 46 overall pick in the NBA Draft, to New Orleans for Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor. According to Washington Post columnist Jason Reid, that doesn't do much to help out in the long run.

I doubt this is an emerging prime-time group, but the Wizards continually promoted their supposedly promising youngsters. Then management potentially stunts their growth by bringing in mediocre veterans to play ahead of them?

Not to mention: Ariza and Okafor will command $43 over the next two years. As Reid notes:

That's grossly overpaying for guys who haven't been difference-makers in their careers, especially on what figures to be a middling team with no more than 30-something-victory potential.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

NBA Mock Draft 2012: Business Insider Sports Page Predicts Bradley Beal To Wizards

The 2012 NBA Draft is fast approaching, with mock drafts flying fast and furious around the world wide web. The Washington Wizards recent trade for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza has likely modified their initial draft plans, meaning Thomas Robinson or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could now be lower on the board for Ernie Grunfeld and company. The latest mock draft from the sports page of Business Insider seems to agree with that notion, predicting Washington will select guard Bradley Beal from Florida:

3. Washington Wizards - Bradley Beal (Florida)
STOCK: Holding in top 3.
Bradley Beal is a dynamic shooting guard who compares himself to Ray Allen, and NBA scouts love his game.
He could easily go at No. 2, but the Bobcats still seem to be waffling with their pick. If Beal is on the board, it seems hard to believe the Wizards would pass on a backcourt combination of John Wall and Bradley Beal.

The 2012 NBA Draft will kick off at 7:00 p.m. EST on June 28 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

NBA Mock Draft 2012: Washington Wizards Projected To Select Thomas Robinson With No. 3 Pick

So after the trade by the Washington Wizards to acquire a pair of front court veterans, it's a slam dunk that they will draft Florida Gators guard Bradley Beal with the No. 3 overall pick right? Not so fast, there is always the possibility that the Charlotte Bobcats could snatch Beal right out from their grasp. That is what Sports Illustrated NBA writer Sam Amick is projecting in his latest mock draft.

If Beal goes at No. 2 to the Bobcats, who would the Wizards take? Amick predicts that if that happens, the Wizards will select Kansas Jayhawks forward and Washington, D.C. native Thomas Robinson with the No. 3 pick.

3. Thomas Robinson, Kansas, Jr., 6-9, 244

The Wizards made a major move on Wednesday, acquiring small forward Trevor Ariza and center Emeka Okafor from New Orleans in exchange for small forward Rashard Lewis and a second-round pick. It's a win-now type of trade that could have a ripple effect on the draft. With Ariza now in town as a potential starter, the Wizards could pass up Kentucky small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who was slotted here before the trade. Ariza, like Kidd-Gilchrist, is a very good defender, so the Wizards might opt for Robinson's two-way impact. I was told early in this process that the Wizards were big fans of the D.C. native, and he could wind up being the guy despite some duplication here as well. Washington drafted a forward last year in 22-year-old Jan Vesely, but he's a very different player from Robinson. He'd have to share time and touches with Okafor and center Nene, but it could work.

While selecting Robinson with the pick is a decent enough idea, it causes a log jam in the front court with players like Ariza, Okafor and Nene, so there is the question about whether or not the Wizards would want to draft another forward when they just traded for a pair of them.

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NBA Draft 2012: Wizards To Workout Henry Sims And Tyshawn Taylor

The Washington Wizards will be able to chose from a handful of top tier NBA draft prospects in the upcoming 2012 NBA Draft. While mocks are starting to point the Wizards to Florida Gators guard Bradley Beal, the Wizards are still making sure all of their ducks are in a row by working out some other later round prospects.

Georgetown center Henry Sims and Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor working out for the #Wizards on Thursday. #Hoyas

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) June 20, 2012

Henry Sims is a big power forward/center prospect out of Georgetown and is expected to be a late second-round pick, while Tyshawn Taylor is a tall guard out of Kansas and is expected to be a late first-round or early second-round pick.

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2012 NBA Mock Draft: Bradley Beal Likely To The Wizards After Trade

The Washington Wizards have a few players they can pick up in the top of the 2012 NBA Draft, but with the recent roster moves the team has made some expects think the Wizards have a specific player in mind. ESPN's Chad Ford has the Wizards drafting Florida Gators guard Bradley Beal in his latest 2012 NBA mock draft (ESPN Insider).

The Wizards made the first big trade of the offseason, sending Rashard Lewis and the 46th pick to New Orleans for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza. With the deal, the Wizards essentially upgraded their front court -- Okafor will likely be their starting 5, Nene their starting 4 and Ariza their starting 3.

With John Wall running the point, that leaves them with one big hole at the 2. I think this makes Bradley Beal a no-brainer for the Wizards, who are lacking a lights-out perimeter shooter. He's a perfect fit for this new roster.

The Wizards recently picked up Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor from the New Orleans Hornets in return for Rashard Lewis and the No. 46 overall pick in the second-round of the 2012 NBA draft. Picking up Okafor and Ariza gives the Wizards the chance to target a player like Beal to play as the other starting guard, who Ford thinks would fit in perfectly on the new-look Wizards.

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Wizards Trade Rashard Lewis And No. 46 Draft Pick To New Orleans For Trevor Ariza And Emeka Okafor

The Washington Wizards traded forward Rashard Lewis and the No. 46 overall draft pick to the New Orleans Hornets for forwards Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor.

NBA Mock Draft 2012: Bradley Beal Projected To Be Selected By Washington Wizards At No. 3

The Washington Wizards are in a position almost seemingly where they can do no wrong in the NBA Draft. With the No. 3 overall pick, short of Kentucky Wildcats forward Anthony Davis, there are at least four other players that could be coming to Washington.

Tom Ziller of SB Nation says that the Wizards need shooting help most of all. And to address that need, he projects the Wizards will select Florida Gators guard Bradley Beal with the No. 3 pick.

3. WASHINGTON WIZARDS: BRADLEY BEAL

SI.com's Sam Amick did a quick survey of front office types on the most popular prospect behind Davis, and Beal actually tied Robinson with six votes, with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist falling behind. The Wizards' desperate need for shooting help -- the one thing that could make John Wall look better instantly -- and Beal's top-line promise should help make this choice for Washington.

Beal is the kind of shooter that could come in and make an impact right away. Since Nick Young never developed into the shooter the Wizards thought he could be, Beal could be the player that immediately.

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Wizards Draft Rumors: Harrison Barnes Works Out In Washington

The Washington Wizards had three players in town on Tuesday for a pre-draft workout. Forwards Kris Joseph of Syracuse and John Shurna of Northwestern joined potential top-six pick Harrison Barnes of North Carolina at the team facility on Tuesday. Barnes is a player to keep an eye on in the lead up to the draft, as his name has recently been mentioned as an outside possibility for Washington's third pick in the draft.

Media was not allowed to watch the workout, but Barnes talked to the press after the workout. He told the Washington Post that landing with the Wizards would be a good opportunity, especially for the chance to play alongside John Wall:

"I feel like I'd fit right in," Barnes said. "Obviously you've got John [Wall], who's a good playmaker. Extremely quick. He can get guys open shots. Then with the addition of Nene, I think that helped this team mature a lot. I feel like I'd fit in nicely and help their perimeter scoring."

Washington could use a shooter like Barnes. Conventional wisdom is still linking them to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the third pick.

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NBA Mock Draft 2012: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Goes No. 3 To Wizards In Chad Ford's Latest Mock

The Washington Wizards appear to be in a pretty prime position to choose someone they want with the No. 3 overall draft pick on June 28. Though Kentucky forward Anthony Davis is almost a sure lock for the No. 1 overall draft pick for the New Orleans Hornets, there are many scenarios that could play out on draft night. The popular opinion for the Wizards is that they are deciding between Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Florida guard Bradley Beal at No. 3.

Chad Ford of ESPN.com recently released his latest mock draft. He has the Wizards selecting Kidd-Gilchrist at No. 3, but acknowledges the fact that either player would be a good selection.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 233 pounds
Age: 18
School: Kentucky
Analysis: The Wizards are happy at No. 3 and I continue to hear it will come down to Kidd-Gilchrist or Bradley Beal. Harrison Barnes, I'm told, is also now in the picture. Andre Drummond is too, but he's much further down the list. So who gets the nod?

The Wizards really need shooting, which should give Beal or Barnes a leg up. But I continue to hear that Kidd-Gilchrist remains the favorite. It's very close.

The Wizards have plenty of options with this draft pick so it'll be hard for them to possibly make a wrong decision.

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NBA Draft 2012: Harrison Barnes To Bobcats Could Shake Up Draft For Wizards

On a day when North Carolina's Harrison Barnes is in Washington to work out for the Wizards, there comes news that could potentially change the draft for the team selecting third.

A ton of chatter around North Carolina that the Bobcats could potentially take Harrison Barnes w/ the 2nd pick. #NBA

— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) June 19, 2012

As Tom Ziller said earlier today, it would be the "most Charlotte Bobcat thing ever" to take Barnes with the second pick and such a move would leave the Wizards in prime position to scoop up a top talent at No. 3.

Among the potential options for the Wizards in such a scenario are Florida's Bradley Beal and Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the consensus top two players following Kentucky's Anthony Davis.

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NBA Mock Draft 2012: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Goes No. 3 To Wizards In CBS Projection

The NBA Draft is less than two weeks away and the Washington Wizards hold the No. 3 overall pick. They have the ability to dramatically alter the rest of the top ten. Anthony Davis is the consensus No. 1 pick, but after that, there are still plenty of rumors and speculation about who the Bobcats favor at No. 2 and who the Wizards are zeroing in on at No. 3. Bradley Beal and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are generally considered the next top prospects after Davis, with DC native Thomas Robinson potentially breaking into the top three. But Jeff Goodman of CBS thinks Charlotte will take Beal with the second pick, leaving MKG for Ernie Grunfeld:

Randy Wittman could use a skilled shooter to pair with John Wall, but we hear that they like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and his high-motor. He'll never be a pure shooter, but his work ethic will certainly allow him to improve in that area.

Kidd-Gilchrist has already professed an affinity for playing alongside Wizards point guard John Wall, and the two former Kentucky Wildcats would certainly create an enticing one-two punch in transition.

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NBA Draft 2012: Harrison Barnes Will Work Out For Wizards On Tuesday

The Washington Wizards continue to do their due diligence in advance of this month's draft, hosting yet another potential No. 3 pick on Tuesday. North Carolina's Harrison Barnes will be in town to run through drills and workout for the Wizards' brass. The small forward was considered the top prospect in his high school class, but his play has been underwhelming at times in Chapel HIll. But he's still a consensus top-five pick worth scouting further, and he'll come in tomorrow with two fellow forwards. Via Bullets Forever:

Harrison Barnes will work out for the Wizards tomorrow, along with Syracuse's Kris Joseph and Northwestern's John Shurna.

Joseph is from Montreal but played his high school ball locally at Archbishop Carroll for his final two seasons. His brother is also on Mike Lonergan's staff at George Washington. He has the size, athleticism, and shooting range to make an NBA roster.

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NBA Draft Rumors: Georgetown's Hollis Thompson Works Out With Indiana, Hangs Out With Roy Hibbert

Georgetown's Hollis Thompson worked out with the Indiana Pacers on Monday. On hand to watch Thompson workout was Roy Hibbert, his fellow Georgetown alum.

Asked about being picked up at the airport by Hibbert, a surprised Thompson asked the person from the Pacers media staff how she knew that. Twitter, she replied, as Hibbert shared that detail with the world the night before Thompson's workout.

Thompson went on to say, "in a weird way, Roy is like a brother to me."

Working out with Thompson were Reggie Hamilton, Tu Holloway, Julian Mavunga, Ricardo Ratliffe and Alex Young . Thompson was pleased with the workout, telling reporters that he felt it went very well.

Thompson worked out with the Wizards last week, along with Bradley Beal. Bullets Forever was on hand, and described Thompson's workout as leaving something to be desired.

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NBA Draft 2012: Andre Drummond Is Not Renowned For His Free Throw Shooting

NBA Draft 2012: Washington Wizards Likely To Select Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Per Report

The 2012 NBA Draft is less than two weeks away. Already speculation about what the Washington Wizards will do with the third overall pick is heating up as reports and smokescreens continue to draft upwards throughout the media landscape. On Monday, there was another report linking the Wizards to Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

The latest report comes from Ohio.com, discussing the potential picks for Cleveland at No. 4.

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson is expected to go second overall to the Bobcats, and while it's difficult to decipher smokescreens from truth this time of year, the Wizards have made it clear they won't let Michael Kidd-Gilchrist fall beyond them at No. 3.

Several recent mock drafts have linked Washington to the Kentucky product. He worked out for the Wizards last Friday. A solid defensive player with a tough streak, some feel like he could complement John Wall well.

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NBA Draft 2012: Latest Mock Has Wizards Taking Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Will Barton And Jae Crowder

The mock drafts continue to roll in as the 2012 NBA Draft nears, and Joe Kotoch over at Sheridan Hoops has compiled a complete, two-round mock.

He, like many others, believes that the Washington Wizards will select Michael Kidd-Gilchrist out of Kentucky with the third overall selection. Kotoch believes that Kidd-Gilchrist compliments young Wizards star John Wall very well and has tremendous room for growth.

As for the second round, the Wizards have two selections, and Kotoch believes that the Wizards will split the picks between the frontcourt and backcourt. He has Memphis shooting guard Will Barton going to the Wizards with the 32nd pick and Marquette power forward Jae Crowder being picked by Washington with the 47th selection.

Kotoch feels that Barton is another wing that provides solid value, and could be another piece to help Wall succeed.

"Barton can give the Wizards the spacing they need to allow John Wall to slash. Another wing that could easily go in the 20's."

As for Crowder, Kotoch says he could be a solid mid-to-late second round selection.

"Crowder was one of the most productive players in college, and while there are questions about his pro position, he gets the job done on the court."

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NBA Draft 2012: Harrison Barnes To Work Out For Wizards On Tuesday, According To Report

The Washington Wizards will select third in the 2012 NBA Draft, to be held June 28 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. In recent days the Wizards have worked out possible selections Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and according to Chad Ford of ESPN.com Washington will be bringing in Harrison Barnes for a workout on Tuesday:

Upcoming Workouts: MKG & Beal in Charlotte on Mon. Lillard in GS on Sun. Drummond in DC on Mon. Barnes in DC on Tues

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 16, 2012

A consensus seems to be forming that the Wizards will select Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the third pick, but of course Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Bobcats could throw a wrench into those plans by taking MKG. Robinson, Beal or Barnes would certainly be an acceptable consolation prize.

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NBA Draft 2012: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Works Out Friday, Andre Drummond And Harrison Barnes Scheduled To Work Out Next Week

As he has done during this week of pre-draft workouts, SB Nation DC editor emeritus and Bullets Forever boss Mike Prada went down to the Verizon Center to check out Michael Kidd-Gilchrist go through his paces. Sadly, that plan went awry, as Mike explains below.

I wish I could tell you more about Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's individual workout prior to the group one later in the day, but we literally saw none of it. The whole situation was very strange, with the Wizards announcing 45 minutes before the workout ended that he would work out alone instead of with [Duke guard Austin] Rivers and Terrence Ross. He had finished up by the time media was given access, and all we got was three minutes to talk to him. I think this was agent-driven more than anything, but I'm not going to speculate about the reasons why ... For what it's worth, I did hear that Kidd-Gilchrist's workout went well, but that's about all I know. I really wish I could tell you more, but we just didn't see anything.

The media did get to see some of Austin Rivers' workout, and here's what Mike saw.

Ten minutes had passed since Austin Rivers looked dejected after struggling with the "7 drill," a Wizards shooting workout favorite. The drill asks players to hit seven shots in a row, but for every miss, they must hit one additional shot before the drill can end. Twenty-five shots and four minutes later, coach Randy Wittman had to cut the drill short, telling Rivers that if he just hit six shots, he could stop. Rivers finally did.

And yet ... these were the first words out of Rivers' mouth.

"I think this was my best workout yet," he said. "I had a great workout shooting the ball."

To read the full piece, as always, check out Bullets Forever. Meanwhile, according to Michael Lee of the Washington Post, the Wizards have scheduled more workouts next week, with Connecticut's Andre Drummond scheduled to drop in Monday, while North Carolina's Harrison Barnes set to appear Tuesday.

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NBA Draft 2012: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Never Saw Michael Jordan Play For Chicago

Bradley Beal On Jesse Jackson: 'He Talked A Lot. I Put My Headphones On.'

NBA Draft 2012: Bradley Beal Works Out For Wizards, Discusses His Sudden Stock Rise

Florida's Bradley Beal was a latecomer to most people's mock drafts and big boards. While the likes of Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Thomas Robinson were eyed as potential draft picks throughout the 2011-12 college basketball season, Beal struggled at the beginning of his only season with Billy Donovan's Gators before rebounding to average 14.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

On Thursday, he worked out for the Wizards at the Verizon Center, and Mike Prada of Bullets Forever was there.

"Throughout the year, I was struggling because I wasn't having too much fun," Beal told reporters. "I was too worried about my shot rather than doing other things to impact the game. [But] once those things started happening, my shot started falling and I started having fun again."

[snip]

Suddenly, Beal now feels like he can do anything. He thinks he can show teams he can make plays with the ball in his hands, saying he wants to "showcase" his pick and roll game. He thinks he's a better defender than people realized, proving it in one drill where he had to double-team the post, then close out on the shooter in the weakside corner. With Sam Cassell standing there ready to pounce, Beal initially gave him some space, but then slid over beautifully to cut off Cassell's driving lane and force him into a fadeaway 18-foot jumper. The other two participants -- Hollis Thompson and Quincy Roberts -- did not fare quite as well.

For all Beal's promise, both Chad Ford of ESPN and Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated see the Wizards taking Kentucky's Kidd-Gilchrist with the third overall pick in this month's NBA Draft. Ford has the Cleveland Cavaliers taking Beal with the No. 4 overall pick, while Amick sees Beal dropping to the Kings at the No. 5 spot.

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2012 NBA Mock Draft: Wizards to Take Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, According to Chad Ford

With the No. 3 overall pick, the Washington Wizards will have a lot of options. Presumably, they'll be picking from a full pool of players -- except for Anthony Davis and whoever the Charlotte Bobcats take with the No. 2 pick.

In Chad Ford's latest mock draft for ESPN, he has the Bobcats taking Thomas Robinson, the power forward out of Kansas, with the second pick. With two big men off the board -- Davis the other -- Ford sees the Wizards going with Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist:

The Wizards are happy at the No. 3 spot and I continue to hear it will come down to Kidd-Gilchrist or Beal. In this mock, both players are still on the board, so the choice is difficult.

Kidd-Gilchrist would give the Wizards some much-needed toughness and defense at the 3, albeit with a less advanced offensive game. Meanwhile, Beal would give them a dominant 2-guard, who can shoot the basketball, to pair with John Wall. I'm still not sure which way they'll go, but either player would be a very good addition to their roster.

As Ford mentions, Florida's Bradley Beal seems to be the other realistic possibility for Washington.

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NBA Draft 2012: Thomas Robinson Works Out For Wizards, Would Love To Return Home

With just over two weeks remaining before the 2012 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards continue their individual workouts with the top prospects in this year's class. DC native Thomas Robinson worked out for the Wizards on Wednesday. Robinson could certainly be an option for the Wizards at No. 3, with some even projecting that he's off the board by then, going No. 2 overall to Charlotte. He's an extremely active and athletic power forward who can likely contribute right away in the NBA, even if his offensive game needs burnishing.

Robinson told the media on Wednesday that he would love to return home and play for the Wizards. Mike Prada of SB Nation's Bullets Forever spoke with him about his desire to return to the area:

This is not the first time Robinson said he wanted to play for the Wizards, but it was one of the most emphatic. When asked to describe his feelings on being able to work out for the franchise he grew up following, he called it a "dream come true." So, yeah, he's being pretty transparent about this whole thing.

He had a solid workout with the Wizards and repeatedly stated that he felt comfortable going through drills. Ernie Grunfeld could do worse with the third overall pick.

Read Prada's full report from Robinson's workout at Bullets Forever.

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2012 NBA Mock Draft: Washington Wizards Projected To Pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist At No. 3, According To Sports Illustrated

The Washington Wizards are going over every possible thing to do with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. The Wizards have been linked with several players, such as Florida Gators guard Bradley Beal and Kansas Jayhawks forward and D.C. native Thomas Robinson.

The one player that seems to be a popular name for the Wizards to draft is Kentucky Wildcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Sports Illustrated's NBA writer Sam Amick believe that the Wizards will draft him in his latest mock draft.

The Wizards' trade of young, maturity-challenged center JaVale McGee to Denver for veteran center Nene in March had as much to do with changing their culture as it did adding to the talent pool. In that regard, Kidd-Gilchrist would be a phenomenal fit. He was a leader of the highest order at Kentucky. His focus on defense would set the right kind of tone for a rebuilding team, and he also has the ability to get to the rim at will.

An emphasis on defense is certainly the way to go for a team like the Wizards right now. While they ended the season well, they need impact players to help improve the team for the 2012-13 season.

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2012 NBA Draft: Athletic Testing Results From NBA Combine Released

With a little over two weeks to go until the 2012 NBA Draft, the athletic testing results from the NBA Combine were released on Tuesday morning. The Washington Wizards have the No. 3 pick, so, basically, the testing results of every player not named Anthony Davis -- who didn't even participate -- are relevant to Washington's scouting process.

Over at Bullets Forever, Mike Prada has a rundown of the performances of every player the Wizards could possibly consider with their pick. Here are the numbers for five of the guys most likely to be selected by the Wizards:

Check out DraftExpress for a complete rundown of the best and worst performers.

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2012 NBA Draft: Wizards To Workout 6 Players On Tuesday

The Washington Wizards are busy this week as they are bringing in multiple players to work out this week as they prepare for the NBA Draft. The Wizards plan on bringing in six players to workout for the No. 3 pick:

#Wizards workout tomorrow: Jason Clark, Matt Gatens, Bernard James, Scoop Jardine, Miles Plumlee, Darius Miller.

— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) June 11, 2012

2012 NBA Draft: Wizards Schedule Workouts This Week

The Washington Wizards have the third pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and it's anybody's guess which direction they go in. In order to help ascertain which prospect will be the best fit, the organization has scheduled three workouts this week with Thomas Robinson from Kansas, Brad Beal from Florida and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist from Kentucky according to Wizards beat writer for the Washington Post, Michael Lee:

#wizards have workouts scheduled for No. 3 pick: Thomas Robinson up 1st on Wed; Bradley Beal coming Thurs; Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in DC Fri

— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) June 11, 2012

Robinson from Kansas would be a great pick because not only is he a Washington, D.C. native, he and Nene could make for a formidable front line and make John Wall's life much easier

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2012 NBA Mock Draft: Will Bradley Beal Be The Choice For The Wizards At No. 3?

The 2012 NBA Drafts is just three weeks away, with means three more weeks of speculation and conjecture as to what player teams might select when their number is called. The Washington Wizards, sitting at the number three spot in the draft, have been attached to numerous players, including Thomas Robinson of Kansas, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of Kansas and Bradley Beal of Florida. The latest mock draft from Sheridan Hoops, in fact, has Washington taking the former Gator, Beal.

3. Wizards - Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
Washington is looking to put talent around John Wall, and Beal compliments him very well. With his ability to score in a variety of ways, Beal and Wall have the chance to be one of the best backcourts in the NBA. After the NBA Combine, size concerns appear no longer relevant.

Long road ahead, Wiz fans, so expect to see the No. 3 pick attached to a new name a day up until the night of the draft. Let's just hope Ernie Grunfeld and company get the choice right when the time comes.

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NBA Draft Rumors: Washington Wizards Still Interested In D.C. Native Thomas Robinson

While the early rumors have had the Washington Wizards interested in Florida guard Bradley Beal and Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at the No. 3 overall draft pick, an article published by Sam Amick of SI.com says that interest in Kansas forward and D.C. native Thomas Robinson is still pretty high.

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson could be a good fit alongside third-year center DeMarcus Cousins, but the buzz that Washington will take him at No. 3 remains strong (that is, of course, if Charlotte opts for Kentucky small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at No. 2).

If the Wizards do indeed draft Robinson at No. 3, he could be a player that the Wizards would need to give them some help in the front court. While Robinson is not the biggest player, measuring in at 6'10" and 237 pounds, his on court contributions, 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in his last year at Kansas, should give the Wizards a player with desire and a will to win.

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NBA Draft 2012: ESPN's Fran Fraschilla Calls Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 'Great Fit' For Wizards

With the Draft Lottery now completed, the Washington Wizards know they are locked into the No. 3 pick for the upcoming 2012 NBA Draft. The question now of course is who do the Wizards choose with that third selection. Names like Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are most often being associated with pick No. 3, with Fran Fraschilla of ESPN.com even going so far as to call Kidd-Gilchrist a "great fit" for the Washington organization:

No. 3: Washington Wizards
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky Wildcats
In another draft, Gilchrist's overall skill package would relegate him to a lower slot in the lottery. Even as a rookie, he may struggle to score and even consistently knock down outside shots. But, the one thing he would be able to hang his hat on in any draft is his competitiveness. And nowhere is that needed more than in Washington.

Gilchrist was the de facto leader of this year's young Kentucky national championship team, setting the tone with his energy, toughness and athleticism. He ran the floor relentlessly and attacked the rim with abandon. He'll rebound his position as well as anyone. And hopefully the way he's conditioned himself to play will rub off on a Wizards team that went 20-46 this season.

If Gilchrist can polish up his offensive game -- he shot 26 percent from beyond the college arc -- he'll start from Day 1 and compete for NBA rookie of the year award. This is a great fit because he will play a prominent role immediately on a team that has to learn how to win.

The knock against Kidd-Gilchrist, as Fraschilla notes above, is his shooting prowess, but his energy, intensity, and athleticism on the wing might outweigh any initial shooting concerns for a Wizards team that needs to get John Wall all the help it can before the point guard chooses to take his craft to another NBA city.

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VIDEO: John Wall Weighs In On What Wizards Should Do With No. 3 Pick IN 2012 NBA Draft

NBA Draft 2012 Rumors: Wizards Debating Between Taking Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bradley Beal With No. 3 Pick, According To Report

With the New Orleans Hornets expected to take Anthony Davis with the number one overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, either Florida's Bradley Beal or Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Glichrist -- if not both -- will be available when the Washington Wizards make the No. 3 pick.

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, the Wizards have been eyeing Beal and Kidd-Gilchrist for a while now:

The Wizards like where they are in the draft. They've been debating between Kidd-Gilchrist and Beal for months. If one of them is off the board, they'll be happy with the other.

Beal averaged 14.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists for Florida, while Kidd-Gilchrist put up 11.9 points. 7.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Both declared for the draft after one year of college ball.

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Thomas Robinson: 'To Come Back Home Would Mean A Lot To Me'

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Wizards Could Land Kentucky Duo Of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Doron Lamb

While the Washington Wizards dropped a spot as the Hornets moved up to No. 1 in Wednesday's Lottery, Ernie Grunfeld will still have the opportunity to select an elite talent with the No. 3 pick. The 2012 Draft will be dominated by the uber-talented crop of Kentucky Wildcats. John Calipari has always prided himself on his program's ability to develop pros, and this year may be a high-point, eclipsing the five first rounders in 2010. Coming off an NCAA Championship, it's almost a certainty that six Wildcats will be selected.

And DraftExpress thinks two of the six will land in Washington with former UK standout John Wall. At No. 3 overall, DX thinks Grunfeld will select Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a rangy wing who lacks ideal shooting range but is super athletic and gives everything on every possession. Here's what DraftExpress has to say about MKG:

Kidd-Gilchrist has an excellent feel for the game, which shows up in the way he moves intelligently without the ball, as well as with his passing skills, which are very well developed considering his age.

Not someone who can be expected to shoulder an offense considering his somewhat limited skill-set, he is the type of player who needs good teammates around him to fully utilize all the different things he does well. He really understands the nuances of making others better with his ability to set screens, pass, and make hustle plays, which is likely a big reason why he's always been considered such a winner from very early on in his career.

In addition to the No. 3 pick, the Wizards also hold two second round selections. With their first pick in the second round, DraftExpress has an early prediction that Washington will pair MKG with his sophomore teammate Doron Lamb. He was one of two sophomores who played key roles for Calipari last season, and was often the go-to guy on the offensive end when UK needed a bucket. As a 6'4 solid shooter, it's likely he'll find a spot on an NBA roster and could be a good fit in Washington playing alongside some familiar faces from college.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

Chain Reactions: Wizards Lottery Losers Again

The Wizards are unable to strike lottery gold for the second time in three years, Who's at No. 3?, and who's the coach? All questions are answered (for the most part) in this week's edition of "Chain Reactions."

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Wizards Projected To Take Thomas Robinson

Could Kansas big man Thomas Robinson end up with the Wizards on draft day?

NBA Draft Order 2012: Wizards Pick Third Overall

The Washington Wizards were awarded the third overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, as their name was drawn from the hopper. Now that the Wizards know which pick they have in the draft, they can now begin to look for which player they will select.

There are a few players who the Wizards could pick with their selection, here's some information on a few of them courtesy of Draft Express.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky:

Standing 6-7 ½ in shoes, with a 6-10 wingspan and a chiseled 228 pound frame, he has ideal physical attributes for a NBA wing prospect, and a versatile skill-set to go along with that. Offensively, Kidd-Gilchrist is far from what you would consider a go-to guy, as he actually took the smallest percentage of shots (18.6%, 7th on the team) of any player in Kentucky's rotation, relative to minutes played, according to Ken Pomeroy.

Bradley Beal, SG, Florida:

Nevertheless, Beal's draft stock has remained steady all season, as he occasionally shows flashes of being able to make plays that only elite level talents can, but just not consistently yet. Standing somewhere between 6-4 and 6-5, Beal has decent size for a NBA shooting guard, to go along with a solid frame and average length. While not possessing rim-rocking explosiveness, he's an extremely smooth and fluid athlete with excellent mobility.

Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

Much of the intrigue with Robinson prior to this season revolved around his outstanding physical tools for an NBA power forward prospect. Listed at 6-10 this season (he measured the same in shoes at the LeBron James Skills Academy over the summer) with a 7-1 wingspan, broad shoulders, and a chiseled frame, Robinson also possesses excellent quickness and explosiveness for a player his size, which he further enhances by playing with tremendous energy.

Andre Drummond, C, UConn

On one hand, Drummond's long-term potential is obvious. With his tremendous size, frame, length and mobility, his elite physical tools put him in the same class as NBA centers such as Andrew Bynum, Greg Oden, Dwight Howard and Derrick Favors. Not turning 19 until August, he was the second youngest prospect in college basketball this year after Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. On the other hand, Drummond's actual on-court production this season was nowhere near what you would expect from a future NBA lottery pick, at least on the offensive end. He ranks just 76th in points per-40 minutes pace adjusted among the 85 collegiate players in our top-100 prospects ranking, and 47th in PER.

Any of these five players should be able to immediately contribute and help out a struggling Wizards team. Pairing another good young player with John Wall on the floor can only help spark the long rebuilding process.

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NBA Draft Lottery History

The NBA Draft is a little unique when compared to things like the MLB Draft or the NFL Draft. While the NFL has turned the combine into a pre-draft event, there's nothing quite like the NBA Draft Lottery, which has an odd and short history.

Early on in the NBA Draft's history, teams would draft in reverse order of their win-loss record, but there was a rule for special "territorial picks". This rule allowed teams to draft a player from the team's local area, but doing so would forfeit their first-round draft pick. This means that back in the day, the then Washington Bullets could have used a "territorial pick" on someone like Georgetown's Roy Hibbert.

In 1985 the NBA put in a lottery system to battle allegations of teams losing on purpose to gain the first overall draft pick. The lottery system involved a random drawing from a hopper. Inside each envelope were names of the non-playoff teams. The team whose name was drawn first would get the first pick, the second the next pick, and so on.

Unfortunately, that could shift power to some fringe teams by giving them the first overall pick and instantly making them a title contender while the worst team in the league could have the final lottery pick and left with fringe talent that wouldn't really improve their team. Think of the Washington Wizards getting Patrick Patterson instead of John Wall?

After more allegations of rigging and it not really working out, the NBA moved to a more weighted system in 1990, which gave the team with the worst record the best chance to win the first over all pick. The worst team would get a 25 percent chance to win the first overall pick with the chances decreasing for each respective team, with the 14th ranked team having a 0.5 percent chance to get the top overall pick. This didn't necessarily guarantee that the worst team would get the top overall pick, but it also created a more level playing field when it came to accusations of tanking games. Tanking no longer guaranteed you anything.

Currently, the Wizards have a 19.9 percent chance to land the top overall pick, finishing with the second worst record in the NBA. The Wizards haven't always had much luck in the lottery, or the NBA Draft itself, as Bullets Forever describes:

Since the inception of the Draft Lottery in 1985 (27 seasons ago), the Washington Wizards have missed the NBA playoffs 17 times. Over that time, the Wizards have stayed at the same position in the draft five times, moved up two times (2001 Kwame Brown, and 2010 John Wall) and moved DOWN 10 times.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Wizards Select Michael Kidd-Gilchrist In Latest Scenario

The Washington Wizards and their fans will know on Wednesday night where the team will be picking in the 1st round of the 2012 NBA Draft on June 28. Where the Wizards pick will go a long way toward determining who they pick. The most recent 2012 NBA Mock Draft from Draft Express has the Wizards picking second and drafting another member of the National Championship Kentucky Wildcats team.

Draft Express projects the Wizards to select Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a 6'7" freshman forward who averaged 11.9 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game for the Wildcats last season.

This is what Draft Express had to say about Kidd-Gilchrist:

Standing 6-7 ½ in shoes, with a 6-10 wingspan and a chiseled 228 pound frame, he has ideal physical attributes for a NBA wing prospect, and a versatile skill-set to go along with that.

At Bullets Forever, SB Nation's Wizards blog, the verdict on a possible MKG pick is a cautious one, in that he might not be the right fit for what this Wizards team is trying to do.

He's a very solid player, but as great as what he brings to the table is, his lack of an outside shot doesn't mesh that well with the pieces that the team already has in place. It's very possible that Washington acquires a power forward with a three-point shot in the next year or two, but it's a lot harder to find someone who can shoot from the four spot than it is to find a small forward who can shoot and defend. His inability to create shots -- he was the fifth option on an NCAA team, although in all fairness that team was completely stacked -- could cause the Wizards' offense to get bogged down very easily, especially if they don't manage to acquire a stud shooting guard.

Florida freshman shooting guard Bradley Beal is the third pick in mock draft from Draft Express. Beal, as Bullets Forever explains, might be a better pick for the Wizards.

Wednesday's draft lottery will help clarify things, at least a some things, for the Wizards' draft this year.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

NBA Draft 2012: Everything You Need To Know About The 2012 Lottery

The 2012 NBA Draft does not happen until June 28, but the excitement around the annual event will get bumped up to 11 on Wednesday with the draft lottery. An annual event that decides the first three picks in the draft, 14 teams left outside looking in on the playoffs this year will have a shot to land one of those coveted picks.

The Washington Wizards, who finished the year with a 20-46 record, have the second-best odds of any of the 14 teams to draw the first overall pick. To be exact, they have a 19.9 percent chance of coming out on top with the right to draft Kentucky's Anthony Davis. Washington has a 55.8 percent chance to get a top-three pick, and will be picking somewhere in the first five picks regardless of how the lottery shakes out on Wednesday.

Wednesday's lottery happens at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, from Seacaucus, NJ. It will be broadcast live on ESPN.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

NBA Draft 2012: Washington Wizards Work Out Ohio State Guard William Buford

The Washington Wizards are starting the process of working out players for June's NBA Draft. A player that the Wizards are working out at their facility is Ohio State guard William Buford according to an article posted by Ben Standig of CSNWashington.com.

Buford went over what Draft Express has said about him.

Draft Express ranks the 6-foot-5 swingman as the No. 52 overall prospect after he averaged 14.5 points and shot 36 percent from 3-point range as a senior.

The Wizards do have a pair of second-round picks in this year's NBA Draft. With those picks, the Wizards could get some much-needed depth for the 2012-13 season.

Five other players are working out with the Wizards in addition to Buford.

Scott Christopherson, Iowa State
Kenny Gabriel, Auburn
Chris Johnson, Dayton
Gerald Robinson, Georgia
Charlie Westbrook, South Dakota

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NBA Draft 2012: Georgetown's Hollis Thompson And Henry Sims, UVA's Mike Scott To Participate In NBA Draft Combine

The NBA Draft Combine will occur on June 7 and 8 in Chicago. Dozens of potential NBA players will descend upon the city as they attempt to impress NBA scouts. Three local college basketball players will be participating in the Combine. Hollis Thompson and Henry Sims of the Georgetown Hoyas will both be participating, as will Mike Scott from the Virginia Cavaliers.

Thompson, the junior forward, averaged 12.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season. Sims, the senior center, averaged 11.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Both players helped Georgetown reach the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament before losing in the round of 32 to North Carolina State.

Scott, the senior forward, averaged 18.1 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game as he helped lead the Cavaliers to their first NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament since 2007.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

NBA Mock Draft 2012: UVA's Mike Scott Projected To Be Selected Late In Second Round

Virginia Cavaliers power forward Mike Scott is anxiously awaiting the NBA Draft on June 28. Right now he is trying his best to make sure that he is in position to be drafted. DraftExpress.com currently has the former Cavalier being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, late in the second round of the draft.

Scott played five years at Virginia, getting a medical redshirt because of his injury during the 2011-12 season. That season he helped Virginia reach their first NCAA tournament since 2007. His senior year he averaged 18.1 points per game scoring along with 8.4 rebounds per game.

DraftExpress.com predicts that in the three picks the Washington Wizards have, they will select Andre Drummond of Connecticut, John Jenkins of Vanderbilt and J'Covan Brown of Texas.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

NBA Mock Draft 2012: SB Nation Predicts Washington Wizards Will Select Thomas Robinson

With the NBA Draft coming soon, the focus for a team like the Washington Wizards is on who they can take from the college ranks of basketball that can help the Wizards entering the next season. SB Nation's NBA Editor Tom Ziller has published his latest mock draft. In there he has predicted that the Washington Wizards will select Kansas Jayhawks guard Thomas Robinson with the No. 2 overall draft pick.

2. WIZARDS: Thomas Robinson, Kansas

A franchise that so believed in its ability to morph men it gave Gilbert Arenas a near-max after an ACL tear, extended Andray Blatche before he hit the market and hung with JaVale McGee for more than three years has changed so much that there's no chance it touches Andre Drummond with a fishing pole. Robinson's heart and work ethic will make some GM overlook his size and potential to be great in any one area.

Thomas Robinson helped get the Jayhawks all the way to the National Championship Game back in March. He measures in at 6'10" and 237 pounds. This past season, he scored 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, which included 18 points and 17 rebounds in the Championship Game against Kentucky.

A player like Robinson could be the inside player that the Wizards have been looking for for years. His aggresiveness on defense as well as his work ethic is something the Wizards could desperately need to wash the bad memories of JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche out of their system.

For more information on the NBA, please check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page. For more information on the Washington Wizards, check out the SB Nation blog Bullets Forever.

NBA Draft Lottery 2012 Odds: Washington Wizards Have A 19.9 Percent Chance Of Landing No. 1 Pick

The Washington Wizards have the second best chance to get the No. 1 overall draft pick at the NBA Draft Lottery in May. How good of a chance do they have numbers wise?