Category: General NBA insight

The Philadelphia 76ers announced that they have traded the draft rights to Tornike Shengelia, who was the 54th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, to Brooklyn in exchange for cash considerations.

More on this on the morning.

The Philadelphia 76ers announced that they have acquired the draft rights to Arnett Moultrie, who was the 27th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, from Miami in exchange for the draft rights to Justin Hamilton (45th overall pick) and a protected future first round pick. Moultrie was an early entry candidate for the draft following his junior season at Mississippi State.

Moultrie (6-11, 249) was named First Team All-SEC after averaging 16.4 points,10.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists this past season while shooting 54.9% from the floor. He led the conference in rebounding and ranked tied for 10th in the nation. Moultrie also shot 78.0% from the line in 2011-12 after shooting 58.7% his first two seasons combined.

The 21-year-old averaged 3.7 offensive rebounds this past season,grabbing 6-plus seven times including a career-high 11 vs. Northwestern State. Moultrie recorded 18 double-doubles in 30 games.

Moultrie spent his first two seasons at UTEP before transferring to the Bulldogs. He sat out the entire 2010-11 season due to NCAA transfer regulations. Moultrie was born in Queens but grew up in Memphis. He shot over 70% from the floor during his final two seasons of high school.

The Portland Trail Blazers selected point guard Damian Lillard out of Weber State with the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft on Thursday night.

Lillard, the Big Sky Conference player of the year last season, averaged 24.5 points, five rebounds and four assists as a junior with the Wildcats before declaring early for the draft.

The 6-foot-3 guard had a solo workout with the Blazers earlier this month and reportedly dined with Portland owner Paul Allen afterward.

— Reported by Anne M. Peterson of the Associated Press

The Sacramento Kings selected Kansas forward Thomas Robinson with the fifth pick in the NBA draft on Thursday night.

Robinson was considered perhaps the most NBA-ready player in the draft and the Kings need plenty of immediate help after missing the playoffs for a sixth straight season.

Robinson, the first unanimous first-team All-American since Blake Griffin, led the Jayhawks to the national championship game against Kentucky, where they lost 67-59. He averaged 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in 31.8 minutes in his junior season and led the nation with 27 double-doubles.

Robinson broke down and hugged his 9-year-old sister, Jayla, after Commissioner David Stern announced the Kings had drafted him in an emotional scene.

— Reported by Josh Dubow of the Associated Press

The Cleveland Cavaliers have selected Syracuse guard Dion Waiters with the No. 4 overall pick in the NBA draft.

The Cavs envision Waiters as a perimeter scorer and backcourt running mate for point guard Kyrie Irving, last year’s No. 1 overall pick who didn’t disappoint this season and was named rookie of the year.

Waiters didn’t start a single game last season for the Orange, averaging 12.6 points in 37 games. At 6-foot-4, 221 pounds, he’s not afraid to drive to the basket and many feel he’s got a pro-ready game.

— Reported by Tom Withers of the Associated Press

The Washington Wizards have chosen Bradley Beal of Florida with the No. 3 pick in the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-4 freshman guard averaged 14.8 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Gators last season. Beal, who turned 19 on Thursday, joins a backcourt headlined by John Wall, the first selection in the 2010 draft.

The Wizards finished were 20-46 last season. Washington closed the season on a six-game winning streak, but missed the playoffs for a fourth straight campaign.

Lamar Odom is headed back to Los Angeles for a second chance with the Clippers and Mo Williams will be reunited with the Utah Jazz, a person with knowledge of the deal said Thursday night.

That person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because a three-team deal between the Dallas Mavericks, Clippers and Jazz is contingent on Williams exercising his $8.5 million player option for next season. That person said that was expected to happen by Friday.

Williams was drafted by the Jazz in 2003, and played 57 games as a rookie before going to Milwaukee, Cleveland and then the Clippers.

— Reported by Stephen Hawkins of the Associated Press

Michael Jordan’s Charlotte Bobcats have selected Kentucky small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the second overall pick in the NBA draft, marking the first time two players from the same school have gone first and second overall.

The Bobcats had been in trade talks with several teams regarding the No. 2 pick before making Kidd-Gilchrist their highest draft pick in franchise history since selecting Connecticut center Omeka Okafor second overall in 2004.

— Reported by Steve Reed of the Associated Press

The New Orleans Hornets have selected Kentucky forward Anthony Davis with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

Davis will begin his pro career in the same city where he ended it with a national title. College basketball’s player of the year as a freshman was the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four despite shooting just 1 for 10 from the field in the championship game, grabbing 16 rebounds and blocking six shots in the victory over Kansas.

The 6-foot-10 Davis averaged 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.7 blocks, becoming a dominant defender after growing 7 inches from the start of his junior year of high school.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Sacramento Kings’ forward Tyler Honeycutt had X-rays taken today at the UC Davis Sports Medicine Clinic, which revealed a stress fracture in the head of the second metatarsal on his right foot. He will use a walking boot for the next three weeks and be out of action for approximately four to six weeks overall.

Honeycutt finished his rookie campaign (2011-12) averaging 1.3 points (.333 FGs,.333 3FGs,.600 FTs) in 15 games off the bench for the Kings.