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Celtics land Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo in Draft

The Boston Celtics selected Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo and Kris Joseph with their picks in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Sullinger, a 6’9” forward, was taken with the 21st pick in the first round. The native of Columbus, OH was a consensus First Team All-American, Wooden Award finalist and First Team All-Big 10 Selection in each of his two seasons at Ohio State. He also was named the 2011 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Sullinger posted the third-most points (1,282) over his first two seasons at Ohio State behind Jerry Lucas (1,381) and Michael Redd (1,361). Sullinger also earned National Freshman of the Year honors from the Sporting News and the Wayman Tisdale Award from the USBWA. He averaged 17.5 points and 9.2 rebounds this past season in helping the Buckeyes get to the Final Four.

Melo, a 7’0” center, was taken with the 22nd pick in the first round. The native of Juiz de Forz, Brazil was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore. He is the Syracuse record holder for most blocks in a single game with 10 against Seton Hall this past season. He also was named Preseason Big East Rookie of the Year as a freshman. This past season he ranked first for Syracuse in rebounds (5.8 rpg) and blocks (2.9 bpg).

Joseph, a 6’7” forward, was taken with the 51st pick in the second round. The native of Montreal, Quebec, earned First Team All-Big East during his senior season and is one of 55 players in Syracuse University history to record 1,000 points in his career. During his senior season he ranked first on the Orange in points (13.4 ppg) and third in rebounds (4.7 rpg). During his junior season, he also was ranked first on the Orange in points (14.3 ppg) and second in rebounds (5.2 rpg).

Chicago Bulls, Tom Thibodeau must still work for extension agreement

With the draft completed, the Bulls will shift their focus to the next big issues on their docket.

Free agency opens Sunday. And while Tom Thibodeau’s contract extension talks have been ongoing for awhile, significant work remains, according to sources with knowledge of the discussions.

While one source warned the lack of a deal is typical for this stage of negotiations, it’s impossible not to see parallels with the Scott Skiles’ situation from June 2005. Thibodeau’s option for 2012-13 has been picked up. However, after progress on an extension preceding last season, the two sides lately have stalled on contract length and value.

Currently hurting Thibodeau is the fact the big-money era for NBA coaches has calmed a bit and the Bulls remain feeling a bit burned after signing Skiles to a three-year, $13.25 million extension, which came on top of his option being exercised.

— Reported by K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune

Hornets extend qualifying offer to Eric Gordon

The New Orleans Hornets announced Thursday that the team has extended a qualifying offer to guard Eric Gordon for the 2012-13 season, making him a restricted free agent.

Gordon averaged a team-leading 20.6 points in addition to 3.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals in nine games (all starts) while shooting 45.0% from the field. The Hornets were 6-3 when Gordon played this season and he led the team in scoring in all but one of those contests.

Blazers loved great Damian Lillard solo workout

Lillard’s workout wowed the Blazers’ officials, cementing the Weber State product’s spot at the top of their wish-list for the No. 6 pick, which Portland used to draft him Thursday. Even with North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes — a player many ranked higher in the draft pecking order — still available when Portland’s spot came up, general manager Neil Olshey said there was not strong sentiment in the draft room to shift the pick to Barnes.

“Not as much as you’d think,” Olshey said.

The Blazers were that focused on Lillard as their top choice for the No. 6 spot. In fact, Portland’s second choice for the No. 6 pick was gone by the time the Blazers turn came (Olshey declined to identify the player, but did confirm he was drafted ahead of Lillard).

Although the Blazers performed a lot of advance work in getting down to Lillard, the June 15 visit was the tipping point. Buchanan said the Blazers put Lillard through a variety of situations that tested his footwork and his ability to get his shot off – coming off screens, on the run, off the catch, and so on.

— Reported by Mike Tokito of the Oregonian

Led by Davis, draft is shaded Kentucky blue

No one-and-done for Kentucky’s kids in the NBA draft. The Wildcats instead became the first school to go 1-2.

After the Hornets selected forward Anthony Davis with the No. 1 pick Thursday night in Newark, the Bobcats followed by taking fellow freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

The Wildcats are the first school to have the top two picks, part of what they hoped would be perhaps five or even six players selected in the first round. The number ended up being four — Terrence Jones, 18th to the Rockets, and Marquis Teague, 29th to the Bulls.

Coach John Calipari has been criticized for recruiting ‘‘one-and-done’’ players — they stay the required one year and leave — but he looked thrilled hugging his two lottery picks.

UCLA had the first and third picks in 1969, when the Bucks took Lew Alcindor and Lucius Allen went to the SuperSonics.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Bobcats roll dice with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

The Charlotte Bobcats could have invested the No. 2 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft on a shooter such as Florida guard Bradley Beal or North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes. They could have drafted a rebounder such as Kansas power forward Thomas Robinson. They could have drafted a scorer such as Syracuse guard Dion Waiters.

Instead, the Bobcats invested the No. 2 pick on a player whose jump shot would not distinguish him in a pickup game at suburban Charlotte’s Morrison YMCA.

The absence of a jump shot is the reason drafting Kentucky small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is a gamble.

This is why the Bobcats had to gamble. Kidd-Gilchrist played as hard last season as any player in college basketball. He tried to impose himself every time the Wildcats had the ball, and every time their opponents did.

— Reported by Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer

Mavericks trade Darius Johnson-Odom rights to Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired the draft rights to Darius Johnson-Odom (55th overall pick) from Dallas in exchange for cash considerations and have selected Robert Sacre with the 60th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, it was announced today.

Johnson-Odom, a 6-2 guard out of Marquette, averaged 15.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 105 career games. As a senior, the Raleigh, North Carolina native led his team in scoring (18.3ppg) and earned First Team All-Big East honors in addition to being named an Honorable Mention All-American by the Associated Press.

Sacre, a 7-0 Center from Gonzaga finished his career with the Bulldogs ranked second all-time in school history in career blocks (186) while averaging 9.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 135 games. As a senior, Sacre was named the 2012 WCC Defensive Player of the Year as well as an All-WCC First-Team honoree while averaging 11.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.

Dwyane Wade needs knee surgery, will miss Olympics

Dwyane Wade needs surgery on his ailing left knee and will not play in next month’s London Olympics.

The Miami Heat guard called USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski on Thursday to break the news, which was not totally unexpected after Wade played through pain in the postseason. He appeared in all 23 Heat playoff games despite the knee problems, averaging 22.6 points during Miami’s five-game win over Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals.

”I’ve decided to listen to my doctors and get the procedure I need on my knee,” Wade told The Associated Press on Thursday. ”USA Basketball said I had to what was best for me. They want me to be obviously as healthy as possible so I can continue to play this game at a high level. They were very supportive and told me if I ever want to come around the team, I’m welcome and that I’m part of the family.”

Wade and his doctors are in the process of scheduling the surgery. Wade has been told it will be basically a ”cleanup” procedure and should have him on crutches for only about a day afterward.

If all goes according to plan, Wade will be ready for the start of training camp with the Heat this fall.

— Reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press

Mark Jackson was victim of an extortion scheme

STATEMENT FROM GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

In response to media inquiries, Golden State Warriors Head Coach Mark Jackson today confirmed that he and his family were the victims of an extortion scheme attempting to blackmail them in exchange for money. The suspects were arrested on June 25 by the FBI.

Jackson informed the Warriors of the extortion scheme in late April – three weeks after his first encounter with the extortionist – and solicited help from the organization. At that point, Jackson and the Warriors immediately contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Although not condoning his previous actions that led to the extortion attempt, the Warriors fully support Coach Jackson during this time and thank law enforcement authorities and the FBI for their prompt assistance in helping Coach Jackson and his family.

Due to the fact that this is an ongoing legal matter, the Warriors will have no further comment at this time.

Suns extend qualifying offers to Robin Lopez and Aaron Brooks

The Phoenix Suns today extended qualifying offers to center Robin Lopez and guard Aaron Brooks, making both players restricted free agents, the club has announced.

Originally selected by the Suns with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft, the 7-0, 255-pound Lopez has spent all four of his professional seasons with Phoenix, compiling averages of 5.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 14.4 minutes in 242 games (94 starts). Lopez is a career 51.7-percent shooter from the field who enjoyed his best statistical campaign in 2009-10 when he averaged career highs of 8.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.00 blocks in 51 games (31 starts) and helped lead the Suns to the Western Conference Finals.

A two-year collegiate standout at Stanford, both Robin and twin brother Brook were 2008 NBA first-round picks; Brook was selected 10th overall by the Brooklyn Nets.

The 2009-10 NBA Most Improved Player, Brooks was acquired by the Suns from the Houston Rockets at the 2011 trade deadline and appeared in 25 games with Phoenix, averaging 9.6 points and 4.2 assists in 18.9 minutes. The 6-0, 160-pound guard spent the 2011-12 season with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association, leading his team to the 2012 CBA Finals and earning a berth in the league’s All-Star game.

Brooks owns career NBA averages of 12.5 points and 3.6 assists in 272 games and is a career 36.3-percent shooter from three-point range. His best statistical season came in his decorated 2009-10 campaign in which he averaged 19.6 points and 5.3 assists in 82 games.

In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, in order for a team to retain its right of first refusal with respect to a restricted free agent, the team must tender the player a qualifying offer prior to June 30. A restricted free agent may sign an offer sheet with any team, but is subject to a right of first refusal with the team for which the player last played.