NBA AM: Is Derrick Rose On His Way Out?

Lots Of Draft Scuttle

The annual adidas Eurocamp wrapped up in Treviso, Italy, on Sunday and while NBA teams were there to see some 40 international prospects in the 2016 NBA Draft, it usually devolves into a rumor fest, mainly because NBA personnel sit shoulder to shoulder for hours on end usually watching players they have zero interest in drafting.

This year’s camp has produced no shortage of scuttle and rumors. We’ll dig into some of the more notable ones today.

Derrick Rose On The Move?

Yesterday, ESPN’s Chad Ford and Marc Stein revealed that the Minnesota Timberwolves are gearing up for a hefty offer to the Chicago Bulls for guard Jimmy Butler, suggesting a package built around the fifth overall pick and several roster players.

There is little doubt that sounds attractive to the Timberwolves. But, as the report points out, the Bulls are not actively considering trading Butler – at least not yet. League sources in Italy say the Bulls are actively open to moving guard Derrick Rose and that seems to be the first choice rather than shopping Butler.

Rose is entering the final year of his deal and has commented numerous times on the ballooning salary cap and his next contract, much to the dismay of the Bulls front office and a large number of Bulls fans. Add that to an on-again, off-again intensity and there is a sense that both sides would welcome a change, especially with Rose entering a free agent year.

At this point, it’s unclear which teams (if anyone) has made a real offer for Rose, especially given his $21.3 million salary. But it was said a few times that the name being talked about most among teams and scouts in Italy was not Butler, but rather Rose and there is a sense that a team that misses on a starting-caliber point guard in free agency may turn to the Bulls.

In July, most of the league would have the cap space to simply absorb Rose’s contract, but doing anything that gets finalized around the draft would require a lot of salary to change hands. It is not uncommon for teams to agree to deal terms on something that gets finalized in the new cap year around the draft, so it’s possible something unfolds next week. However, it seems unlikely at this point.

Where do the Bulls go for a point guard, you ask? Other scuttle from Italy is that Vanderbilt guard Wade Baldwin may have what’s called a “soft promise” from the Bulls at No. 14. The problem with a soft promise is there is no guarantee for the Bulls that Baldwin will be there when they draft or that a more attractive player won’t fall to them.

League sources pegged Baldwin and Notre Dame’s Demetrius Jackson as the top options for the Bulls at 14 and that moving Rose this summer seems to be what the Bulls are thinking. That’s at least the talk from Eurocamp.

Bulls sources have maintained since the end of the season that they were going to look at all possibilities in trade and around the draft, so rumors about Butler or Rose should not be surprising. The question is, will the Bulls ultimately pull the trigger on something? At this point, they seem pretty open to conversations.

A Lot Of Medical Issues

The list of draft-eligible players with some medical issue attached to them is pretty significant.

Word is Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine may have a fairly significant knee issue, so much so that one team sort of compared him to former Indiana Pacers All-Star Danny Granger, who came into the league with a degenerative knee condition and struggled every year to play 82 games. League sources said it’s still likely he will get drafted in the first round, but his stock looks to be a tough one to lock in with so many teams believing his knee will be a problem.

Kentucky guard Tyler Ulis is said to have a pretty significant hip issue, which some believe may require surgery down the line. A medical red flag combined with his size, Ulis could slide deep into the first round or even over into the second depending on how team medical staffs view his situation.

Florida State’s Malik Beasley was also a name that’s been mentioned since the Combine as having medical concerns. His name has come up a few times, and he had surgery at the end of FSU’s season for a stress fracture in his right leg. Because of this, he isn’t participating in workouts (although our Alex Kennedy reported that he may be shutting down his workouts due to a promise).

UNLV’s Stephen Zimmerman is said to have medical concerns, which is likely why most teams have him in the second round, despite his potential as a late first-round talent.

Virginia’s Malcolm Brogdon apparently played all season with a problematic foot. His camp has told teams it’s not an issue. Teams who have inquired were told it was not an issue by Virginia, but on draft night if you’re wondering why Brogdon slips into the second round, his foot might be a big reason why.

Michigan’s Caris LeVert is another player whose injury must be mentioned. He is still recovering from surgery on his left foot and may not be able to work out for teams before the draft. Teams are split on the long-term prognosis for LeVert, which makes him risky in the first round. Despite being a first-round talent, it’s more likely than not LeVert falls on draft night and has to prove himself after the healing is done on his foot.

Promises Galore

It’s pretty rare that an NBA team guarantees they will draft someone, but in an industry where everyone works with everyone, a “soft promise” holds value – enough so that agents will keep their player from working out below a certain pick and, in some cases, will shut down workouts altogether.

There are a quite a few guys that have “soft promises,” according to league sources.

It seems Providence guard Kris Dunn may have enough of a promise in the top six that he’s basically told teams he won’t work out for any of them one-on-zero, meaning a private individual workout. The only way he’s getting on a plane is if he gets the chance to go head to head with anyone on the board in front of him. So far, none of the teams have been able to make that happen, so Dunn seems content with the commitment he has.

There is a sense that the Boston Celtics want to trade the third overall pick, but more and more executives believe the Celtics take Kentucky’s Jamal Murray or Cal’s Jaylen Brown if they keep the pick. Washington’s Marquese Chriss could be the dark horse for the Celtics in a bet-on-the-upside move. If the Celtics do not take Brown, its believed Denver and Sacramento are the next two teams extremely high on him as a prospect.

Syracuse’s Malachi Richardson is believed to have a soft promise in the teens. He is said to be one of the favorites of the Memphis Grizzlies, who also are also said to have eyes for Demetrius Jackson. This could come down to who’s there at No. 17 for the Grizz.

Gonzaga’s Domantas Sabonis is said to have a soft promise in the top 12. It’s believed he may be Toronto’s guy at No. 9 or Orlando’s guy at No. 11, which would explain why he’s refused to work out for anyone outside the top 12. The Magic are also one of the teams linked to Kentucky big man Skal Labissiere.

International big man Georgios Papagiannis could be the Philadelphia 76ers’ pick at No. 24 or No. 27 – not as a roster player this season, but more as a draft and stash. The problem for the 76ers is they are not alone in their interest in the 7’2 big man. The Celtics are there at No. 23 and the Hornets are there at No. 22, and both are said to be very high on Papagiannis as well.

It’s believed that most of the notable international guys have promises in the first round including Ivica Zubac, Ante Zizic and Juan Hernangomez. Zizic may be the highest of the bunch. League sources said it’s unclear where Timothe Luwawu, Petr Cornelie and Zhou Qi will land in the first round, if they land there at all.

The next Basketball Insiders’ Consensus Mock Draft will drop tomorrow, and our first “Outsiders Mock Draft” featuring notable and respected NBA voices from outside our team will drop on Friday. If you are growing tired of how we see the draft, we’re bringing some fresh perspectives later this week.

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