May 2018 Basketball Wiretap

Rodions Kurucs Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 21, 2018 2:45 PM

Rodions Kurucs has declared for the 2018 NBA Draft.

Kurucs is a probable first round pick as a 6'10 combo forward.

Kurucs has received little playing time with Barcelona.

Kurucs entered the 2017 NBA draft against the wishes of Barcelona but was forced to withdraw at the deadline despite strong interest in the late first round, as his exorbitant buyout, which reportedly was around €4 million, would have made it difficult for him to have joined the NBA immediately. 

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Rodions Kurucs, Barca, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, International, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations, International Teams

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Luka Doncic Officially Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 21, 2018 1:41 PM

Luka Doncic has officially declared for the 2018 NBA Draft.

Doncic submitted his paperwork to formally enter his name.

Doncic is a candidate to go first overall in the draft.

Doncic is averaging 14.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists this season for Real Madrid.

Shams Charania/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Luka Doncic, Real Madrid, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, International, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations, International Teams

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Tyus Battle Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 20, 2018 1:31 PM

Tyus Battle has declared for the 2018 NBA Draft but he will not hire an agent.

Battle is a projected first round pick.

Battle averaged 19.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 38.9 minutes per game in his sophomore season at Syracuse.

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Tyus Battle, Syracuse Orange, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Zhaire Smith Hires Agent, Will Remain In 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 18, 2018 7:16 PM

Zhaire Smith has hired an agent and will remain in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Smith said he is signing with Roc Nation. 

Smith averaged 11.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in his lone season at Texas Tech.

Smith is a projected lottery pick.

Matthew Cardenas/Dallas Morning News

Tags: Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech Red Raiders, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Hamidou Diallo Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 16, 2018 5:28 PM

Hamidou Diallo has declared for the 2018 NBA Draft and will sign with an agent.

ESPN ranks Diallo as the No. 35 prospect in the 2018 draft class and projected him as an early-second-round pick in its most recent mock draft.

“A year ago I tested the waters to get some feedback and then make the best possible decision for my career," Diallo said. "I chose to come back and I’m so happy I did. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Nothing made me prouder than to put that Kentucky name across my chest.

"Coming back to school I knew wasn’t going to be easy Coach Cal told me it would be the hardest thing I would ever have to do and it was. But I grew up and became a man this year on and off the court. I know I’ve only scratched the surface with my game, but I’m now prepared to do it because of the work I’ve put in at Kentucky and the support of everyone at this university. With that said, I’m entering my name into the 2018 NBA Draft and am ready to take the next step.

"Thank you to the Big Blue Nation. You took in a kid from New York and made him once of your own. I love you guys and can’t thank you enough for believing in me and supporting me through everything."

Jon Hales/Louisville Courier Journal

Tags: Hamidou Diallo, Kentucky Wildcats, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Wendell Carter Jr. Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 16, 2018 12:32 PM

Wendell Carter Jr. will leave Duke to declare for the 2018 NBA Draft.

Carter needed more time to make his decision than most other projected lottery picks.

“I want to thank Duke University, my coaches and teammates for helping me so much, not only on the court, but off it as well,” Carter said in a statement on his Instagram account. "We’re all brothers, we all have each others’ backs. I’m really going to miss being around my friends, but I’m really going to cherish the moments we had together. I’m very excited and very happy to say I was part of something special here at Duke.”

Carter averaged 13.5 points per game and 9.1 rebounds this past season at Duke.

Steve Wiseman, Jonathan M. Alexander/News And Observer

Tags: Wendell Carter, Jr., Duke Blue Devils, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Moe Wagner Leaves Michigan For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 14, 2018 3:37 PM

Moe Wagner will forgo his final season in college and enter the 2018 NBA Draft.

"I've decided to sign with an agent and enter the 2018 NBA draft," Wagner wrote for The Players' Tribune.

He also wrote in his native German, "Alle träume klingen verrückt. Bis sie wahr warden." It's a saying he took from a Dirk Nowitzki poster, and in English it means, "All dreams are crazy. Until they come true."

Last year, NBA executives told Wagner he was a likely second-round pick who might even go undrafted.

Wagner could be picked late in the first round this year.

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Tags: Moe Wagner, Michigan Wolverines, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Dzanan Musa Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 12, 2018 4:57 PM

Dzanan Musa has submitted paperwork to make himself eligible for the 2018 NBA draft.

"I decided to declare for the NBA draft because I think it's a great opportunity to make my dreams come true, and I think I'm ready for it," Musa told ESPN. "It was not a difficult decision, because I have my goal and the goal is to play in the NBA."

Musa plays for KK Cedevita Zagreb.

Musa is the No. 21 prospect in the ESPN Top 100 and is considered a strong first-round pick candidate by NBA teams.

 

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Dzanan Musa, Cedevita, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations, International Teams

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Jalen Brunson Leaves Villanova For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 11, 2018 8:30 AM

Jalen Brunson has declared for the 2018 NBA Draft.

"After careful consideration and prayer, I have decided to enter the June NBA Draft and hire an agent," Brunson wrote in an ESPN.com essay.

Brunson is expected to be a late first round pick.

Brunson leaves Villanova with two NCAA championships, two USA Basketball titles, Big East Player of the Year and the Wooden and Naismith National Player of the Year awards in 2018.

 

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Jalen Brunson, Villanova Wildcats, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leaves Kentucky For 2018 NBA Draft

Apr 10, 2018 11:06 AM

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has declared for the 2018 NBA Draft, leaving Kentucky after his freshman season.

"After consulting with my coaches at Kentucky and those involved with my process, I have weighed the pros and cons, and I would like to renounce my college eligibility in order to enter the 2018 NBA Draft," Gilgeous-Alexander told ESPN via text. "I would firstly like to thank God, who made all of this possible and has covered me in his mercies from day one. I have worked really hard to get to this point, and because of the sacrifices and support of others, I am closer to my dreams."

Gilgeous-Alexander is the No. 12 prospect in the ESPN 100 despite coming into the season as Kentucky's 9th highest rated player.

"This was a very difficult decision," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "I've loved every moment at Kentucky with my coaches and support staff. Big Blue Nation provides the best support on the planet, and of course my brothers that I've been blessed to learn and grow with. I could not have been placed in a better situation. It's hard to think about what I'd be leaving behind at UK. I love my BBN! They are the best you can ask for."

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kentucky Wildcats, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Mikal Bridges Leaves Villanova For 2018 NBA Draft

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Collin Sexton Leaves Alabama For 2018 NBA Draft

Alex Byington/Montgomery Advertiser

Gary Trent Jr. Leaves Duke For 2018 NBA Draft

Jonathan M. Alexander/News & Observer

Kevin Knox Leaves Kentucky For NBA Draft

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Vasilis Charalampopoulos Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Trevon Duval Leaves Duke For 2018 NBA Draft

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Troy Brown Leaves Oregon For 2018 NBA Draft

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Jaren Jackson Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Dan Murphy/ESPN

Jacob Evans Declares For 2018 NBA Draft

Jonathan Givony/ESPN