[paradigmnParticipant]

 

Marc J. Spears‏@SpearsNBAYahoo

Syracuse guard Dion Waiters canceled all team workouts and interviews at NBA pre-draft camp, source tells Y! Sports.

 So…you know what that means…he’s got a promise from a team.  Kinda similar with what happened with Reggie Jackson and OKC last year.

Rumors are it might be Toronto, Pheonix or Houston that locked him up…but not exactly sure.

Maybe Aran can crack the case!!!

Side note: Watched NBA combine today & two things were pretty obvious:

(1) Chad Ford has a man crush on Damian Lillard who by the way did look awesome

(2) Tony Wroten is not a Jr…..cuz….dude has no J….shot is broken….I think I saw him hit maybe 3 shots during the PG session.  I love his flair, athleticism & size, but defenders will just go under screens against him or send him to the line (56%) when he tries to penatrate.  Hope he can fix his shot because his potential is through the roof. 

 

[JNixonParticipant]

 Interesting stuff. Thanks, I gotta catch the combine

[JoeWolf1]

 Toronto has been rumored to be shopping their pick too.  I wouldn’t think them, but who knows with all that goes on in the next couple weeks.

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

But Portland, New Orleans and Houston have multiple picks in the top 20…I think he could go as early as 10th to The Bugs…

[TyroberParticipant]

Seems pretty quick. Somebody must have loved him. 

[JoeWolf1]

 I know and it really doesn’t give us a clue as to where he’s going either.  Jackson went #24 and Jon Brockman did the same thing 3 years ago and he was a 2nd rounder…

[kobyzParticipant]

i know the team but i can not tell as of right now…

[JNixonParticipant]

 Lol @ kobyz, alright Mr. Raptors/Rockets/Suns GM

[F_S]

i think it might be houston. 

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

They have a Restricted Free Agent in Lou Williams(who is owed 6.5 million if he returns for the last year of his Contract) 

Also Jodi Meeks and Xavier Silas are both free agents as well , they may bring back at least 1 of the 3 back up guards, of course everyone thinks the logical pick is Williams, but he’s being paid 6.5 million this year and will have to be resigned, that may be too high a price tag for a 6th man with the new CBA in place, they could cut ties to Williams and add Waiters at 15, he’s a pretty good one on one scorer so he could ease the transition period and provide bench scoring, picking a hometown kid will help the fans get over losing a fan favorite like Lou Williams…Seems like a smart move for The Team’s Salary Cap Situation and I’ve heard they like Dion Waiters a lot…

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

In this crazy unusual draft,where only Anthony Davis’s spot is carved in stone..1 of the big name players expected to go in the top 5 will fall..So Waiters will have the gas face when that team that gave him a promise pass over him…

[sheltwon3Participant]

I wonder if someone believe Waiters could be a Wade type that some people rumored about at some point.

[JrbenzCuse23]

 :-p

[JrbenzCuse23]

 He obv is trying to fall to philly

[cuseflynn10Participant]

I’d love for him to come to Philly. I’m a Cuse fan, but live closer to Philly so I’d get to watch him play more. Plus he’s from Philly so he has that going for him. I wouldn’t expect the Raptors to be the team considering him at #8. You don’t committ to a player three weeks before the draft when you are at #8. I could see the Suns, Rockets, 76ers, or maybe even the Mavs or T’Wolves being the team. My guess would be the 76ers, but if not maybe the Rockets. The Rockets could look to add another guard and with picks #14 and #16, they are in a good position to take him.

[JrbenzCuse23]

 If it was the 6ers he could still easily go before them…my guess is its either them or the hornets/blazers 10/11

[JrbenzCuse23]

 I dont think he would do it for any team in the mid teens unless it was philly

[mamadouParticipant]

PHX has actually nobody under contract at the SG spot…

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

One of those guys may be available when they draft, Terrence Ross is another option as well… 

[surveParticipant]

 I hear what you are saying, but these suits just dont think like that.  When they get TRULY enamored with a guy, its a wrap.  That team is likely going to be the Raptors.  I believe that for a few reasons.  For one, I think the 8th pick is where the true divide comes between the tiers (in this years draft, not all).  Whether you believe Davis is tier 1 and everyone down to 7 is tier 2 or if picks 1 through 7 are 1st tier.  (incidentally, the original lotteries were for the top 7 picks)  Picks 1 through 7 are all guys that GM’s consider the safest, pretty much low risk as far as bust value.  From the 9th pick on is going to be guys like Sully, PJIII, Rivers, etc…guys who could be absolute stars or could be busts.  The 8th pick is the pivotal pick.  It’s the "take a flyer" pick if you will.  This pick represents the player with probably the most combined amount of risk and reward factor.  That player is Waiters.  His tenacity at attacking the rim is what draws the Wade comparisons.  Beal wont be there at 8 and I dont believe the Raptors are sold on Lamb or Ross being future stars, but they would take them if Waiters were not available.  The thing is, Waiters will be available at 8, because no one will risk him over the first 7 guys…and I believe Lillard is one of those 7 guys.  The Raptors are going to unload Calderon….and yes, there is interest in him and his contract, particularly for teams who have decent trade exception.

Whatever team promised to take Waiters will get him.  If it happens that a player slips and is too good to pass up in favor of Waiters, they will take that player and have deals in place for the next team(s) pick Waiters for them.  In that scenario, even better….that team still gets Waiters, plus a lil something in addition.  My gut feeling tells me that if that is a likely scenario, then the two teams working on this deal is N.O. and Portland.  I actually think that N.O. could pick Ross and have Portland select Waiters and they do a swap.  They may be in preparatory mode in case they dont want to match offers on EJ.  If that is the case, then Portland is the team that covets Waiters the most…..outside of my Raptors theory.

[Toronto16Participant]

 I think he got a promise from Phoenix

[akhan786Participant]

If he got a promise from Phoenix than I can see Austin Rivers falling big time…

I was sure they were going to pick him at 13.

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

I’m almost sure it’s Toronto. He wouldn’t cancel workouts for a team outside the top 10 when he’s been projected by scouts to possibly go that high.
Wouldn’t surprise me though, if Philly really loves him, if they moved Iguodala to GSW for the 7th and a bad contract (Jefferson/Biedrins) and swooped in to snatch him from the Raps.

[Sewok15Participant]

What sense would it make for Philly to trade Iggy for a bad contract and use the 7th pick on a player they might be able to get at 15. Waiters could possibly go as early as 10th but I would not trade a proven player to move up and make sure you get him.

[Toronto16Participant]

 Oh Lord I hope it’s not Toronto.

[The8thDeadlySinParticipant]

@Sewok

I dont they would be trading Iggy to draft anyone.. The primary reason they would be getting rid of Iggy is to open up time for Turner at the 3.  Then, the 76ers would becoe Turners team and they would build around him. If they get the 7th pick, they would take Lamb or Beal depending on who fell.  If they couldnt get either one of those guys, they may take a PF and get a shooter at 15..

They arent trading Iggy for Waiters.

[JoeWolf1]

 Brian Coloangalo just said on camera it wasn’t Toronto, and the he didn’t understand why someone would make a promise in the top 10.  

[The8thDeadlySinParticipant]

They were also saying that it could just be a stratigic move by his agent.. There is nothing confirmed about a promise.. Just that he was shut down..

Personaly, I think he is trying to hide something.. IDK what it would be but he is hiding something..

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Guys have been giving promises for years and when a certain player falls in the draft that nobody expects to fall a team wont hesitate to select them later they making a deal for the guy they promise…Boozer,Nick Van Exel and Arenas all said teams had promised to take them ,but didnt…

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

LMAO..When 8thDeadly says someone is hiding something.it makes you think it might be true….8th just has that Mystic

[WizardofOzParticipant]

I’m hearing that it’s Pheonix @ #13 that likely gave him a promise and not Toronto.

[JNixonParticipant]

 Waiters is a good scorer, he could end up being one of the best offensive players in this draft class. He’s a pretty natural and well-rounded threat putting the ball in the hole. Also has nice instincts on D, even though he played mostly in a zone in college. I’d like him in Phoenix.

[kobyzParticipant]

i know for sure it’s the Dallas Mavericks with the promise!

[The8thDeadlySinParticipant]

@RUDEBOY

I am confused.. Are you taunting me or praising me? Its hard to read tone on the internet..

[JrbenzCuse23]

Well then they are f*cked because hes not falling that far lol. Unrelated note, according to DraftExpress, Fab Melo skyrocketing up draft boards.

[JoeWolf1]

 Surve, it’s all smoke and mirrors, at this point.  We all know this,  I was just watching the combine this morning and saw Andy Katz interview him and thought it was relevant information to put on this post for others who weren’t watching the combine.

 

[surveParticipant]

 If they ask Lance Blanks did the Suns make a promise to Waiters, do you think he will say yes?  Even if these guys wanted to, they cant.   They will be fined.

Many of you have read my posts about the confirmation of #1 picks and now in this year’s combine it has been confirmed that it is an actual rule that teams cannot say who they are picking.  Keep that in mind.  N.O. knows they are taking Davis, no mystery or suspense there, regardless of the rule.  There are other teams that already have their minds set as well.  It is possible that one of these teams have made up their mind about Waiters….but they just CANNOT say it.  Think about this, GM’s lie all the time now.  Suppose Toronto still picks Waiters, but denies that they ever made a promise to him.

If a team cant say they are taking Davis with #1, they obviously cant say they are taking someone else, especially in the top 10.

[surveParticipant]

 yeah, exactly, smoke and mirrors….so what do you think?  do you think its Toronto?  N.O. or Portland?  Phoenix?  or do you think Waiters agent is taking a gamble?

I still contend that Waiters is going to Toronto or N.O.  

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

8thDeadly you seem so mysterious and kind of scary…so of course im praising you

[The8thDeadlySinParticipant]

 Well thank you.

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