June 9th

The latest (and best) NBA Draft news, rumours, analysis, prospects performances, and reporting for June 9th.

Jun 09, 2024

News and Rumours

All the news and rumours from the past 24 hours.

Colorado Forward Works Out With Wizards

The Washington Wizards completed a pre-draft workout with Colorado forward Cody Williams, per source. The 19-year-old forward is a projected lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Williams Works Out With Hornets

James Plowright: The Charlotte Hornets hosted Auburn’s Jaylin Williams yesterday per source. Williams is likely an UDFA who would be auditioning for the Hornets G-League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.

Bulls To Explore Trading Up For Buzelis

Matas Buzelis is projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2024 NBA draft and is reportedly drawing interest from several teams positioned at the top of the board. One of those teams is the Chicago Bulls. They have reportedly shown an interest in potentially moving up from No. 11 to have the opportunity to take Buzelis, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN. They have kept up with him throughout the predraft process and could target him. Sources say Buzelis’ hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, watched him work out privately in Los Angeles early in the pre-draft process. Chicago has shown a willingness to explore moving up in the draft for the right price. The Bulls’ Lithuanian president, Arturas Karnisovas, has extensive knowledge of Buzelis, who is also Lithuanian.

Clippers Hold Pre-Draft Workout

The Los Angeles Clippers held a pre-draft workout yesterday that included four senior guards in Southern Illinois’ Xavier Johnson, UConn’s Tristen Newton, North Carolina’s Cormac Ryan and Hofstra’s Tyler Thomas according to league sources.

Salaun To Work Out With Thunder

Sources indicate that Tijane Salaun will work out for the Oklahoma City Thunder, though he also has big workouts scheduled with top-10 teams, including the San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers.

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Expert Analysis

What are the ‘experts’ saying?

Carrington With a ‘Long Way to Go’

Defensively, Carrington has a long ways to go. He struggles with screen navigation, which can be rooted in some of his frame woes, and his reaction time can be iffy when defending on the ball. As he gets stronger, he should better learn to use his body, including his lateral quickness, to his advantage. In the games I saw, I never saw a glaring mistake on the defensive end from him, but rather plays that are fixable with age, ranging from P&R awareness, getting in a better stance to avoid getting bullied, and he generally knew where to be.

- Richard Stayman, MavsDraft’s Substack

Risacher Fits Hawks Coach To a Tee

Risacher shows the potential to develop as an impactful defender while offensively flashing the tools desired by head coach Quin Snyder. The ability to make shots and play ‘off the catch’ is prescriptively what Snyder prioritizes in players to place around Trae Young.

- Glen Willis, The Vic-and-Roll

Holland Offers Offensive ‘Punch’

Holland is impressive in the air and quick laterally. He offers not only some punch guarding the ball, but his team defense can be very impactful. He’s reactive, capable of covering a lot of ground, and he communicates. There are legit defensive playmaker flashes, including moments of weakside rim protection.

- Brian Geisinger, The Vic-and-Roll

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Prospect Performances

Every notable prospect performance from the last 24 hours.

Canadian Guard Contributes as Canada Fall

Efeosa Oliogu chipped in with seven points, three rebounds, two steals and a block as Canada fell to the United States in the FIBA U18 Americas, 69-107. The guard is a consensus top-55 player in the 2025 class.

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