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MLB > (961) KANSAS CITY@ (962) SEATTLE | 06/22/2015 - 10:10 PM
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the money line in Road games in night games
The record is 51 Wins and 28 Losses for the last two seasons (+25.7 units)

MLB > (953) DETROIT@ (954) CLEVELAND | 06/22/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play AGAINST CLEVELAND using the money line in Home games in games played on a grass field
The record is 13 Wins and 21 Losses for the this season (-16.15 units)


MLB > (957) CHI WHITE SOX@ (958) MINNESOTA | 06/22/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play ON MINNESOTA using the money line in Home games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 15 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+11.4 units)


MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (961) KANSAS CITY@ (962) SEATTLE | 06/22/2015 - 10:10 PM
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the in Road games in June games
The record is 16 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+14.55 units)


MLB > (957) CHI WHITE SOX@ (958) MINNESOTA | 06/22/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play ON MINNESOTA using the in All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 28 Wins and 10 Losses for the this season (+17.25 units)

Monday's Tip Sheet


June 22, 2015




Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs | 8:05 p.m. ET

Coming off a start in which he uncharacteristically allowed a season-high four runs at home, you can bet Clayton Kershaw (5-4, 3.29 ERA) has been itching all week for his next assignment, which is slated for game one of this four-game series at Wrigley Field between two legitimate contenders in the National League. It’s been a bit of a frustrating year for the reigning NL MVP and Cy Young award-winner, even though most pitchers would love to have his current overall numbers, but up to this point, Kershaw has already surrendered 34 earned runs -- which is just five less than the 39 he gave up all of last season in 198.1 innings pitched -- and he’s already matched last year’s total of home runs allowed with nine. At the same time, he still often flashes the incredible dominance that we’ve grown accustomed to, as evident in his 122/23 K/BB ratio thus far in his 93 innings of work. He’s actually one strikeout behind Max Scherzer for the MLB-lead, and that would indicate that Kershaw is still the same remarkably dependable ace that he’s been over the past handful of seasons. Of note, he’ll be taking on the offense that leads the NL in K’s.

Opposing the Dodger left-hander is a fellow southpaw who has impressed since being called up to the big leagues, Tsuyoshi Wada (1-1, 3.68 ERA), making his seventh start of the season. Wada looked good last year as a rookie -- a 33-year-old rookie, that is, after his lengthy stint pitching in Japan and for their national team -- when he finished 4-4 with a 3.25 ERA, and has picked up where he left off after replacing Travis Wood in the rotation. He’s coming off his best performance of the season, when he fired seven shutout innings and struck out six in Cleveland, and now draws an assignment against a lineup that ranks 23rd in OPS (.680) opposing left-handed pitching. Those infamous strong Wrigley winds will be blowing out, however, which could affect each pitcher. The linesmakers haven’t released the over/under line just yet, while Kershaw is a -170 road favorite.

Philadelphia Phillies at New York Yankees | 7:05 p.m. ET

When you do this for so many years on a daily basis, it feels good being able to talk about a veteran journeyman pitcher that everyone thought was done and had faded into obscurity. Kevin Correia (0-1, 1.69 ERA) fits that bill, who is making just his third start of the year after finishing 7-17 with a 5.44 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across two different teams in 2014. With the Phillies sporting a nightmarish rotation, which is now significantly worse with ace Cole Hamels injured, Correia has been shot into duty, and he actually hasn’t been bad in his first couple of starts. However, as someone who pitches to contact and records a low number of strikeouts, he might be in for a long day at the office against the hard-hitting Yankees in the Bronx, which could yield a lot of home runs. Correia has given up two so far.


His counterpart this evening, Michael Pineda (8-3, 3.54 ERA), is certainly someone that doesn’t pitch to contact. Hence why he owns 87 strikeouts in 81.1 innings of work, compared to just 11 walks on the year for one of the best K/BB ratios in all of baseball. He’s coming off a nine-strikeout gem in six-plus frames, holding the Marlins to one run on only one hit in the process, so if he’s in his rhythm, Philadelphia may have no shot. They did pull off the huge upset yesterday against Michael Wacha as +175 home ‘dogs, but can they do it in back-to-back days? Not to mention with soft-throwing Correia on the mound going up against a stud the caliber of Pineda. As a result, the Yankees are whopping -285 favorites. The over/under line, meanwhile, is curiously low at 7.5.

Kansas City Royals at Seattle Mariners | 10:10 p.m. ET

It’s always a notable event when “The King” himself, Felix Hernandez (10-3, 3.08 ERA), takes center stage at Safeco Field before his unique and adoring “King’s Court” in attendance. What certainly was a notable event was ten days ago, when Hernandez suffered the worst start of his career, getting absolutely pounded in Houston as he was only able to record one out, while giving up eight runs. Fortunately for the former AL Cy Young winner, Hernandez bounced back his last time out with eight shutout innings against the Giants at home, and appears to be back on track. If that’s the case, you can anticipate his usual greatness, as Hernandez has given up two runs or less in 10 of his 14 starts. He’s a -160 favorite, and Seattle is 11-3 in games he’s started.

It won’t be that easy, though, as King Felix is tasked with facing the team that leads baseball in team batting average (.274). Plus, they’ll have a serviceable veteran on the hill, Joe Blanton (1-0, 1.80 ERA), who could keep them in the ballgame, if his first start was any indication. After a stint as the club’s long reliever, Blanton made his first start as a member of the Royals, amassing five shutout innings against the Brewers last Wednesday, striking out four and walking none. In any case, the over/under is currently set at 6.5, mostly because of King Felix’s amazing numbers at home over the years.

Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins | 8:10 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Guess who the worst team in baseball is against left-handed pitching… the Chicago White Sox. And it’s really not even close, as the Pale Hose are last in team batting average (.207), on-base percentage (.252), and slugging percentage (.285) opposing southpaws, adding up to a putrid .536 OPS, which is nearly a full 100 points behind the team in second-to-last (Braves, .619). With one of my top sleepers entering the 2015 campaign, left-hander Tommy Milone (3-1, 3.67 ERA), set to toe the rubber for the Twins, you have to like his outlook tonight, as he’s made three starts since being recalled from the minors, and has given up two runs or less in all of them, while producing a 13/2 K/BB ratio in his 19 innings of work. He’s a -140 home favorite as a result at Target Field.

Facing him is a bit of a similar lefty, John Danks (3-7, 5.16 ERA), but one who is largely inconsistent. Some days, Danks will have his stuff working, which was certainly the case when he surprisingly spun a complete game shutout on the Astros at the very end of May. Or, he’ll get roughed up, like in the two ensuing starts after that one when he yielded ten runs combined. It makes him a tough pitcher to handicap, as you don’t really know what you’re going to get. He’s somehow been a consistent friend for under bettors, though, posting a 8-3-2 record towards ‘under’ bets this season despite his paltry numbers. The line for this one has opened up at 8.5.

What to expect when position players pitch


June 22, 2015


There's always something oddly fascinating about a position player pitching.


Perhaps that's because it only seems to happen during the monotony of a blowout - or during a long extra-inning game in which neither team has scored in a while.


This past week was a big one for imposters on the mound, with seven position players coming in to pitch - eight if you go back to June 12. In all, it's happened 12 times this season.


What's amusing is that occasionally these players will look semi-effective, especially when compared with the pitcher who preceded them. In Seattle's 10-0 loss to Houston on June 12, catcher Jesus Sucre took the mound and threw a scoreless eighth, needing only seven pitches to get through the inning.


In that same game, Seattle star Felix Hernandez lasted only one-third of an inning while allowing eight runs. Go figure.


Sometimes, the results are more predictable. Cleveland brought in two position players in the ninth inning of its loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Ryan Raburn allowed two runs and David Murphy gave up five as 10-0 became 17-0. Raburn and Murphy could take some solace in that all of those runs were unearned - the Indians made an error during the inning.


So what's the ''expected'' performance level of a position player on the mound? Well, since the start of 2011, position players have pitched in 66 games for a total of 58 innings, according to STATS. Their composite ERA is 6.21.


To put that in context, only two pitchers last season - Andre Rienzo and Edwin Jackson - threw at least 58 innings with an ERA higher than 6.21.


Here are a few more developments from around baseball last week:


PLUNKED


There was some controversy in Washington on Saturday when Pittsburgh's Jose Tabata was hit by a pitch with two out in the ninth inning, breaking up a perfect game attempt by Max Scherzer. Tabata's elbow appeared to move ever so slightly down toward the ball, but it's hard to say if he did that on purpose. It may have simply been a reflex.


Or it may be a byproduct of his approach at the plate. Tabata has been hit 20 times in his career - once every 88 plate appearances. The major league average this season is about once every 115 PAs.


But Tabata's hit-by-pitch rate doesn't really stand out. Anthony Rizzo of the Cubs, for example, has been hit once every 51 PAs in his career.


FANTASY FOCUS


In leagues that allow daily lineup changes, owners can take advantage of platoon splits that make otherwise nondescript players more valuable. When he's not mopping up on the mound, Raburn is a good power threat against left-handed pitchers. On the flip side, Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal has struggled against lefties but is usually worth playing when there's a right-hander on the mound.


Not all leagues allow this type of day-to-day micromanagement, but matchup advantages like this can be useful in the long run.


LINE OF THE WEEK


Scherzer's no-hitter Saturday is the easy choice here, although one of his former teammates deserves quite an honorable mention. Detroit's J.D. Martinez homered three times Sunday against the Yankees, part of a three-game series in New York in which the teams combined for 16 home runs.

LEADING OFF: Cabrera set to wreck Indians, King Felix vs KC


June 21, 2015


A look at what's happening all around the major leagues today:


WALK HIM!


The Indians might want to pitch around Miguel Cabrera when Detroit visits. The Tigers star is 22 for 34 (.647) with five home runs and 15 RBIs in nine games against Cleveland this season. He's also walked seven times and scored 10 runs.


THE KING AND I


Eric Hosmer is 4 for 9 against Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, who starts when the first-place Kansas City Royals open a three-city, 10-day trip in Seattle. It will be Hernandez's first outing since throwing eight shutout innings to beat Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants.


HELP ON THE WAY


All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve could be back in the lineup when the AL West-leading Houston Astros visit the Los Angeles Angels. Altuve has been out with a sore hamstring.


HARD LUCK AT HOME


The Rays begin a 10-game homestand, hosting Toronto. Tampa Bay is just 19-19 at Tropicana Field, while its 21-12 road record is the best winning percentage (.636) in the AL.


MISMATCH, MAYBE


Yankees righty Michael Pineda (8-3) took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his last start against Miami. He now faces the Phillies, who have scored the fewest runs in the majors.

Cardinals ready to activate RHP Lynn


Jun 22, 2015


The team with the best record in baseball looks to get stronger later this week.


St. Louis right-hander Lance Lynn will come off the 15-day disabled list Thursday and face off against the Miami Marlins.


Lynn landed on the disabled list with a right forearm strain and is eligible to be activated on Tuesday.


According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, manager Mike Matheny doesn't want to push back starts for right-hander Carlos Martinez and left-hander Jaime Garcia.


Matheny said Lynn passed every test on Sunday and that "he's good to go."


Lynn has compiled a 4-4 record with a 3.07 ERA.


Left-hander Tyler Lyons replaced Lynn in the rotation and made two starts -- both wins. Matheny was unsure if Lyons would stay in the bullpen or be sent back to Triple-A Memphis.

Mariners release INF Weeks


Jun 22, 2015


The Seattle Mariners on Sunday night released veteran second baseman Rickie Weeks. The team designated Weeks for assignment last week.


Weeks started at second for the Milwaukee Brewers for nearly a decade, but lost the job to Scooter Gennett.


He signed a one-year deal worth about $2 million with the Mariners. In 84 at-bats, he hit .167 with two homers and 9 RBIs for the Pirates.

Game of the Day: Royals at Mariners


Jun 21, 2015


Kansas City Royals at Seattle Mariners (-152, 6.5)


Felix Hernandez attempts to become the American League's first 11-game winner when the Seattle Mariners open a three-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Monday. Hernandez has won at least 15 games only twice in his stellar career but has a solid chance to surpass that mark and perhaps match - or eclipse - his career-high 19 victories from 2009.


Hernandez outdueled San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner in his last start, when he allowed just four hits over eight scoreless innings. Seattle won two of three over first-place Houston over the weekend but recorded just four hits in Sunday's 6-2 loss - its second game since Edgar Martinez replaced Howard Johnson as hitting coach. Kansas City leads the American League Central by 3 1/2 games but dropped two of three to lowly Boston, including a 13-2 drubbing on Sunday. This is the first time the teams have met this season after Seattle won five of seven against the Royals last year.


TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FSN Kansas City, ROOT (Seattle)


LINE HISTORY: The Mariners opened as -160 favorites and have been bet down to -162. The total has held steady at 6.5 runs.


INJURY REPORT:


Kansas City - SP D. Duffy (probable Wednesday, bicep), SP Y. Ventura (15-day DL, hand), SP J. Vargas (15-day DL, hip).


Seattle - RP - D. Rollins (July 4, suspension), SP H. Iwakuma (Late June, back), SP J. Paxton (15-day DL, finger).


WHAT BOOKS SAY: "The M's are certainly winning more games of late, but they are still struggling to find offensive chemistry. It's a good thing they have Hernandez on the hill here as he seems to have regained good form. Under the radar yet again, the Royals are quietly getting the job done on a consistent basis. I think they have some dog value here in what should be a low-scoring matchup." John Lester of bookmaker.eu.


PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Joe Blanton (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (10-3, 3.08)


Blanton emerged victorious in his first start since 2013 as he allowed one run and five hits in five innings against Milwaukee on Wednesday. He pitched well in relief for Kansas City before landing the start and has recorded 17 strikeouts against three walks in 20 frames this season. Blanton is 8-7 with a 3.69 ERA in 18 career starts against the Mariners.


Hernandez was just 3-3 over a six-start span prior to the superb outing against the Giants, including the worst start of his career in which he was battered for eight runs while registering just one out against Houston on June 12. He has struggled this month, allowing 16 runs and 17 hits over 20 innings for an unsightly 7.20 ERA. Hernandez is 4-4 with a 2.80 ERA in 11 career outings against Kansas City.


TRENDS:


* Over is 4-0 in Hernandez's last four starts against the Royals.
* Under is 4-1-1 in the last six meetings in Seattle.
* Royals are 1-4 in the last five meetings.
* Mariners are 7-1 in Hernandez's last eight starts as a favorite between -152 and -200.


COVERS CONSENSUS: So far 57.42 percent of wagers are being paced on the Mariners.

Angels place Weaver on disabled list


Jun 22, 2015


OAKLAND, Calif. -- Right-hander Jered Weaver's rough season turned even worse Sunday when he


was placed on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his left hip.


Weaver will have a battery of tests Monday, including an MRI.


"I think it just got to a point in the last couple starts where you see mechanically he's not where he wants to be," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said before the Angels' 3-2 loss to Oakland. "His shoulder, his arm feels great, but we have to find out exactly what's going on and hopefully reset and get him back out there."


Weaver is 4-8 with a 4.75 ERA and has lost four straight starts, matching his longest such skid of his career.


Weaver said he has been dealing with some soreness in his left hip for years.


"There's always been stuff lingering," Weaver said. "Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. Most of the time I can kind of get it to where it needs to be before a start day, in between starts. But just decided to get it to where it needs to be instead of having to battle against it all the time, give it some rest and get it back to where it needs to be and get back out there."


Weaver, though, said his sore hip had "very little" to do with his rough season and a loss of velocity.


"There's more to it than just the hip stuff," Weaver said. "Obviously velocity's down, stuff isn't as crisp. There's some things that I got to get figured out so hopefully this is a good time to do it."


Scioscia said he's hopeful that Weaver will be able to recover with rest and treatment and avoid any type of surgery.


How much pain has Weaver been in on the mound?


"It was just like a sharp pain every now and again," Weaver said. "It's just one of those things where you'd get it loosened up and it would feel great but you keep pounding on it and it would tighten up again. It wasn't anything drastic, just something me and (Scioscia) thought would be better to iron out now than toward the end of the season. Go on the DL and get this figured out and move on and come back and be strong again."


Weaver gave up four runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings Saturday in a 4-1 loss to Oakland.


The Angels have an off day Thursday, which would have been Weaver's day to start. They won't need someone to fill his spot in the rotation until June 30 against the Yankees.


Lefty Andrew Heaney, who's at Triple-A Salt Lake, is one potential candidate, Scioscia said. Right-hander Nick Tropeano, who is expected to return to action for Salt Lake from a shoulder injury this week, is another possibility. Righty Cory Rasmus (abdominal surgery, March 2015), who's on a rehab assignment with Salt Lake, and Angels lefty Jose Alvarez, a reliever, are two other possibilities.


"There's a couple options where you'll probably have to expand your pitching staff, a couple where you could just plug a guy in," Scioscia said.


To fill Weaver's spot on the 25-man roster, the Angels recalled outfielder Alfredo Marte from Salt Lake.

Shields confident Padres will find form


Jun 21, 2015


PHOENIX -- Right-hander James Shields is confident that San Diego can contend this season. Why wouldn't he be? He has seen it happen.


Kansas City was 48-50 and eight games behind AL Central leader Detroit the week after the All-Star break last season, Shields' first season with the Royals, before a team meeting sparked a 25-9 run that got them back into the playoff chase. We all know what happened when the Royals made the playoffs.


Shields and Tampa Bay were 9 1/2 games back in the AL East with three weeks remaining in the 2011 season before recovering to clinch a wild card berth on the wild final day of the regular season.


"I think almost every year in Tampa we had something different. It was crazy," Shields said. "I always believe that teams go through really good stretches three times a year. The good news for us, we haven't had ours yet."


The Padres are 34-38, in fourth place in the NL West and ahead of only Colorado with three weeks remaining before the All-Star break. The middling start cost manager Bud Black his job, with Pat Murphy taking over as interim manager Tuesday.


"It's kind of cliche, but we do have a long season to play," Shields said. "We are not happy with the way we are playing right now, but I've been in way worse situations. We've just got to clean it up a little bit and move forward.


"It's a process. Any good team will tell you, you have to stick to your process, and if you stick to your process it will be good at the end of the day. If you try to change it up, it doesn't work. At the beginning of the year we had a goal, we had a plan. We're going to stick to it and go for it."

Diamondbacks make unpopular, head-scratching trade with Braves


Saturday night, the Diamondbacks and Braves announced a trade that left the masses perplexed. Utility man Phil Gosselin was sent to Arizona for injured starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo and pitching prospect Touki Toussaint. With the Braves reportedly picking up the rest of Arroyo's salary, it appears they essentially bought a prospect here.


The bare bones:


- Arroyo is expected back in August at the earliest from Tommy John surgery. He's making $9.5 million this season and has an option for 2016 worth $13 million (with a $4.5 million buyout if it's not picked up). He's 38 years old and went 26-22 with a 3.76 ERA in his last two full seasons.


- Gosselin, 26, is a career .282/.321/.345 hitter in 70 games. He can play second, third, shortstop or outfield, though he's best suited at either second or third. He's also sidelined with a broken thumb and will be out another four weeks.


- Toussaint is 19 years old and was the D-Backs' first-round pick last season out of high school. Baseball America ranked him as the 71st-best prospect in all of baseball this past spring and he's said to have "top of the rotation" potential by the time he develops. It won't be for a bit, though, as he is in Class A right now, where he has a 3.69 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 39 innings.


The part that makes this deal so funny is the giving up Toussaint for a piece that seems unnecessary and redundant. The D-Backs have Chris Owings (23 years old) at second, Nick Ahmed (25) at shortstop and Jake Lamb (24) at third. The outfield is so crowded that they've been using Yasmany Tomas (24) at third base as well. On the bench, the D-Backs have Aaron Hill and Cliff Pennington for depth pieces. The offense ranks second in the NL in runs scored, by the way.


Further, at 33-35, it's hardly like Arizona was looking to trade away prospect depth to add a final piece in July for a playoff push. Those are defensible at times. This wasn't that, though.


Maybe it was a salary dump?


That would be even more odd. The Phoenix area hardly qualifies for a "small market" (it's actually in the top half of the league) and the Diamondbacks just signed a $1 billion TV deal this past February.


On wanting Gosselin, Arizona GM Dave Stewart offered the following (via the Arizona Republic):


"He's a gritty, tough competitive type infielder," Stewart said. "He plays second, short, third -- a utility type role player. Our scouting reports liken him to (Dodgers infielder Justin) Turner. Not the same kind of power, but he possesses that same kind of ability to hit and put the ball in the gaps."
Again with the "gritty!" Fun times. Remember, previous GM Kevin Towers traded Justin Upton in an effort to make the team more gritty. So the more things change, the more they stay the same.


Not surprisingly, the prospect/scouting community didn't love this move for Arizona:


There was a lot more, but that's the general idea.


It needs to be noted, of course, that Stewart also told reporters they love their young starting pitching depth across the organization. If that's the case and they wanted to deal Toussaint, most scouting outlets have already noted that they surely could've gotten a lot more back than Gosselin/salary relief.


It'll be several years before we know what the Braves got in Toussaint, but we do know the D-Backs gave him up in order to 1) shed salary and 2) add a guy with limited upside at an area where they're already teeming with quality young players and depth.

Free Agency: Could Dwyane Wade team up with Kobe for Lakers?


As the Dwyane Wade tension with the Heat continues to percolate, you knew eventually the Lakers would wind up in the conversation. Like lottery moths to the superstar free agent flame, here comes LA and this one will surely make your head explode.


Because, really, what you want on your team is two former Finals MVPs who can no longer reliably play more than 60 games per season.


Thats said, it's not a purely crazy idea. Wade could come in on a short-term, big-money contract that allows the Lakers to be more competitive next season while keeping their money available for 2016 and beyond when they look for the next true star to put next to their two young stars, Julius Randle and whoever they draft next week. Wade can play two-guard and Bryant shifts to 3. It's not great from a defensive standpoint given where they both are physically, but there would be nights where they'd turn back the clock and dominate games.


The first part of that tweet should be noted, however. How do you put pressure on an organization to pony up? Tell them that the Lakers, with max money available, are interested and your client is, too. How do you specifically get Pat Riley's attention? Tell them the Lakers, his former team, are interested in stealing your franchise icon.


There's also a point where the smoke becomes a little indication of fire. Wade leaving Miami seemed crazy a month ago, but things have deteriorated quickly, and Wade's people are letting it be known how unhappy they are, hence all the leaks. Nevermind all of the things Wade's father said over the weekend or the shirt he was wearing. When so many trusted reporters are sending word that Wade's camp isn't happy, it's not just noise. It may be part of a negotiating contract, but once a guy at Wade's age and status starts to look around, and when he realizes how far out of the spotlight he has fallen since LeBron James' departure, a move like this gets him back on the cover of magazines. It's not like Wade would struggle with the LA lifestyle or media attention.


Meanwhile, Chris Bosh has to be wondering where all this came from. The guy left a chance to compete with the Rockets on the table to return to Miami and stick with Wade. Is his guy really going to leave him hanging? Does this affect Goran Dragic's feelings on re-signing in Miami? There's a lot of fallout if Wade winds up leaving, and the interest between the Lakers and Wade is only the latest in what is becoming a pattern that seems to point more and more to a dissolution of a career-long bond between the superstar and his adopted home of Miami.


No matter how prepostrous or short-sighted this may seem, bear in mind that the Lakers have no interest in long-term rebuilding that requires losing. They want the talent, and they will have gotten it in the past two drafts after next week. But they want to return to contention, and paying big money for short years to sell more tickets and boost ratings with their massive television deal while helping to inch open the window for Kobe Bryant to make an improbable run to the title is certainly worth it.


This talk of the Lakers may be mostly ridiculous, but the portion that isn't is 100 percent within the scope of reality.


Man, would it ever be weird to see Wade in a Lakers uniform.

Report: Trail Blazers' Arron Afflalo to opt out, become free agent


In a move aimed at improving their depth at the guard position, the Portland Trail Blazers traded away Thomas Robinson, Will Barton, Victor Claver and a lottery-protected first-round draft pick to get Arron Afflalo at February's trade deadline. However, after Wesley Matthews ruptured his Achilles' tendon, Afflalo was thrust into the starting lineup and the Blazers lost the depth he provided coming off the bench.


According to NBA.com's David Aldridge, Afflalo may be seeking a fresh start somewhere else as he has decided to opt out of the final season of his contract. Afflalo will now become an unrestricted free agent this summer.


Afflalo played 29 games with the Blazers and averaged 10.6 points and 2.7 rebounds, while shooting 41.4 percent from the field. Even though the Blazers traded a number of pieces for Afflalo, they could let him leave as the emergence of C.J. McCollum could make him expendable. Plus, Matthews is also an unrestricted free agent and is a bigger priority for the Blazers. If the Blazers choose not to re-sign Afflalo, he should get a lot of interest from other teams that are seeking help at the wing.

76ers Draft Needs: Will Sam Hinkie finally take his guard of the future?


The 76ers' rebuilding plan has been discussed ad nauseum throughout the past two seasons. You either believe in Sam Hinkie's plan and think he's a mad genius, or you cannot fathom how a general manager can be so nonchalant about hemorrhaging losses for so many consecutive weeks. It's the most polarizing thing that's happening in basketball circles right now, and it's going to be incredibly hard to evaluate their progress over the course of the next two seasons. The jury is still out, and that's fine with the Sixers and their owners.


But because Hinkie has brazenly decided to field a roster of borderline NBA players and D-Leaguers, the team does have needs all over the floor. So whatever direction they decide to go in, they'll be able to address something they don't currently have on the team. And also because Hinkie is among the most secretive general managers in the NBA, we don't know what direction that could be. Only one thing is for sure: he's going to take the best player on his draft board, with no regard for positionality.


The way Hinkie values asset accumulation above roster fit means that literally every option is on the table here. But let's try to explain those options as well as the roster's needs anyway. Here's a look at what the Sixers' outlook could be in Thursday's NBA Draft.


NEEDS -- BACKCOURT, WING, SHOOTING


The Sixers have needs everywhere, but the largest ones come on the offensive end. Defensively, they were actually an above-average team this season, finishing 13th in defensive rating at 104.8. However, the offense was pretty much a disaster, as they possessed far and away the worst offensive rating in the NBA at 95.5.


On that end, the team lacks all basic NBA-level skill beyond offensive rebounding. There's a complete lack of shooting on the roster, as evidenced by the team's 49.4 true-shooting percentage and 32 percent mark from 3. They also don't really have any playmakers who can consistently get into the lane without turning the ball over or knock down shots themselves. Ish Smith and Tony Wroten profile has backups due to their turnover tendencies and inability to knock down shots, and guys like Hollis Thompson and Jerami Grant just can't create offense for themselves.


So unsurprisingly, the biggest need here is someone who can create offense and space the floor either from the backcourt or on the wing. Getting a guy like that would not only improve the offense through their own skill levels, but also through the ability to help the development of Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid inside or in the pick-and-roll, where they were the worst team in the league last season according to Synergy.


Basically, the goal here should simply be to simply become a more competent offensive team in 2015-16.


FIVE POTENTIAL OPTIONS


D'Angelo Russell | SG | Ohio State | Ranking: No. 4


Russell would pretty much be everything the Sixers need. He's a terrific pick-and-roll point guard that can make shots from distance and really make plays for others. He'd not only help them with his own talent on the perimeter, but he'd also foster the development of the rest of their roster. If he's there at No. 3, the team should think long and hard about selecting him.


Emmanuel Mudiay | PG | Guangdong, China | Ranking: No. 3


Mudiay is another point guard that would improve the Sixers' offense through his ability in the pick-and-roll. He's not quite as strong a fit as Russell due to his lessened shooting ability, but he's also a guy that has a high upside due to his greater athletic ability. It's also worth noting that he should be a pretty immediate impact player after playing in the physical Chinese league last year, meaning he may have less of an adjustment to the NBA than some.


Kristaps Porzingis | PF | Sevilla | Ranking: No. 5


It's very plausible that this is the direction Hinkie looks to go. The Sixers general manager was at Porzingis much-ballyhooed workout in Las Vegas 10 days ago, watching intently as the Latvian put on a show for a room filled with scouts. Porzingis is among the highest upside players in this draft, so it would make sense as to why he could be high on Hinkie's board. He'd also add shooting and athleticism to a roster that could really use it, and he'd fit well in theory next to Joel Embiid because of it.


Jahlil Okafor | C | Duke | Ranking: No. 2


Okafor seems likely to be the second choice in the draft, but if the Lakers do something weird then he could be sitting on the board. Given that the Sixers have been going toward a pace-and-space scheme, it's hard to see how he fits with Embiid and Noel in the front court. But a dominant low-post player offensively is useful to spacing the floor, and fit problems don't look like they'll stop Hinkie if he rates Okafor as the best player in this draft.


Mario Hezonja | SG/SF | FC Barcelona | Ranking: No. 7


Hezonja is a terrific athlete that plays with a fiery demeanor. He always believes he is the best player on the floor at all times, both to his benefit and his detriment. He'd help with their shooting and would really fill their hole on the wing. He has a ton of upside, and could legitimately be a sleeper pick here at No. 3.


TRADE


Trade up: That would be a surprise, given that they'd have to move up to either No. 2 or No. 1. At No. 3, Hinkie is in a great spot to get an elite talent. It mostly does not make sense to use further assets to move up only one or two spots, even if Karl Towns is by far the best player on their board.


Trade down: As I mentioned in my Orlando draft needs post on Saturday, it's pretty easy to envision the 76ers' supposed interest in Porzingis being a smokescreen to try and draw further assets out of Orlando at No. 5, a team that is also supposedly very interested in him. Porzingis is the hot new kid on the block, and the Sixers know that means that he's probably the player most likely to garner the most in a trade. It'll be interesting to see if that pays off.


However, it's also worth stating that the Sixers are driven partially by the desire to bring a star to Philadelphia to build around, so it's tough believe they would want to move outside of the top-six or so.


SOMETHING OUT OF THE BOX


Three of the 76ers' last four picks have given them absolutely nothing in their rookie seasons. Now, I don't think that means they're going to go with Michael Qualls at No. 3 or anything, but it does suggest that Hinkie will do whatever he wants with no regard for fit. Even if, say, both guards and big men are available, you can expect the 76ers to simply just take whoever they think has the best chance to be a franchise centerpiece, then deal with the fallout later. That's slightly out of the box thinking compared to most teams who look to address needs.


But hey, would you expect anything else from the most polarizing team in the league?

Obama on his own basketball game: 'I'm the weak link on the court'


Back in April, President Obama talked a little trash to Paul Pierce after he made a few jumpers. Obama was quite confident in his shot that day but in a recent interview with Marc Maron, the President opened up about his game and admitted that he is not the player he used to be.


"I used to play basketball more but these days I've gotten to the point where it is not as much fun," Obama told Maron. "Because I'm not as good as I used to be and I get frustrated. I was never great but I was a good player and I could play seriously. Now I'm like one of these old guys whose running around.


"The guys I play with who are all a lot younger," Obama continued. "They sort of pity me and sympathize with me. They tolerate me but we all know that I'm the weak link on the court. And I don't like being the weak link."


At 53 years old, it is understandable that Obama's basketball skills are not as sharp as they once were. However, if he is able to knock down jumpers in front of NBA players from time to time, that is all we can really ask for from the President.

NBA Draft: A look at each team's needs


The NBA Draft figures to be a big occasion -- at least for the first two picks.


The Minnesota Timberwolves hold the No. 1 overall selection, and the Los Angeles Lakers pick second, and their choices are expected to Kentucky power forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns and Duke center Jahlil Okafor -- in some order.


A look at how the draft is likely to shake out for all 30 teams, according to The Sports Xchange's national network of NBA writers:


BOSTON CELTICS


--2015 draft picks: 16th, 28th, 33rd, 45th


--Draft needs: The Celtics, who might well be wheeling and dealing with four picks in the top 45, are looking for a rim protector as well as help at both forward spots. They have cap flexibility and all kinds of future picks, so Draft Night figures to be interesting. The team seems set at the guard spot so think 6-8 or taller. Possible targets could include 6-foot-9 Wisconsin forward Sam Dekker, 6-foot-11 Arkansas forward Bobby Portis, 6-foot-10 Kentucky forward Trey Lyles or taller.


BROOKLYN NETS


--2015 draft picks: 29th, 41st


--Draft needs: The Nets realistically can't be choosers with the 29th pick (their No. 15 pick was swapped with Atlanta as part of the Joe Johnson deal), so they basically have to be lucky to get someone to drop down, perhaps someone recovering from an injury that no one else wants to touch. They would probably like to take a big man with their pick, with Syracuse 6-foot-10 power forward Chris McCullough a possibility. McCullough was thought to be a possible lottery selection, but he tore his ACL and watched his draft stock plummet. The Nets also showed some interest in Oregon point guard Joseph Young, but he sprained an ankle at an Indiana Pacers workout and missed most of his appointments.


NEW YORK KNICKS


--2015 draft picks: 4th


--Draft needs: Knicks president Phil Jackson is committed to running his successful triangle offense. New York worked out D'Angelo Russell, the best playmaker/passer in the draft, who would be ideal in the triangle. However, the combo guard out of Ohio State might not be available at No. 4. If Russell is off the board, the Knicks can look to another guard, Emmanuel Mudiay, the draft's most unknown commodity having played in China last year. Mudiay also could fit in the triangle, and his explosiveness to the basket would give New York something it lacked the past few seasons from the backcourt.


PHILADELPHIA 76ERS


--2015 draft picks: 3rd, 37th, 47th, 58th, 60th


--Draft needs: General manager Sam Hinkie is notoriously secretive about his intentions, and the roster is of D-League quality, meaning the Sixers could go in any direction. Suffice it to say they will select the best player available at No. 3 overall -- and should, despite the recent setback C Joel Embiid sustained in his recovery from foot surgery. That could mean taking G D'Angelo Russell, G Emmanuel Mudiay, C Jahlil Okafor or even F Kristaps Porzingis.


TORONTO RAPTORS


--2015 draft pick: 20th


--Draft needs: Arizona swingman Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, a monster on defense but offensively limited, and Notre Dame point guard Jerian Grant were headliners at the Raptors' first predraft workout. Georgia State shooting guard R.J. Hunter is another possibility. All figure to be taken about where the Raptors will pick. It is hard to assess who would be the better fit for a team that has needs but not one specific, glaring one. Toronto is known for drafting long-term future prospects, and having acquired a D-League team this offseason, it might do so again.


CHICAGO BULLS


--2015 draft picks: 22nd


--Draft needs: With only one selection in the draft, the Bulls likely will make a safe pick rather than target a high-risk, high-reward prospect. Virginia guard Justin Anderson could be a perfect fit. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound swingman offers positional flexibility and is reliable on defense -- perfect attributes to strengthen the Bulls' rotational depth. Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (6-7, 220) is a great fit for similar reasons. If the Bulls bypass a wing player, they could add a point guard to back up Derrick Rose. Two options at the point include Notre Dame's Jerian Grant and Utah's Delon Wright.


CLEVELAND CAVALIERS


--2015 draft picks: 24th, 53rd


--Draft needs: The Cavaliers' biggest day of the season used to be draft day, but no more. After winning the lottery three of the past four years, the Cavs enter this summer in the enviable position of not having to rely on the draft following the return of LeBron James and their march to the NBA Finals. In fact, whomever they take at No. 24 is no lock to make the rotation next season -- or even the team for that matter. While they could use an upgrade at backup point guard, that likely will come through free agency. For the second straight year, the Cavs could wind up packaging this pick in a July trade after sending Andrew Wiggins to the Minnesota Timberwolves last summer for Kevin Love. Any trade this summer, however, won't come close to reaching that magnitude.


DETROIT PISTONS


--2015 draft picks: 8th, 38th


--Draft needs: The acquisition of power forward Ersan Ilyasova from the Milwaukee Bucks on June 11 increases the likelihood that the Pistons will draft a small forward with their lottery pick. Ilyasova gives coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy the stretch-4 that he coveted, allowing him to concentrate on the team's gaping hole at the other forward spot. Mario Hezonja, Justise Winslow, Sam Dekker and Stanley Johnson are the top candidates. The latter trio all came in for workouts, while Van Gundy made a postseason trip to Europe to see Hezonja up close. Sharpshooting guard Devin Booker and defensive-minded center Willie Cauley-Stein are long-shot possibilities. The Pistons also could trade down and pick up an additional assets while still snagging one of their forward targets.


INDIANA PACERS


--2015 draft picks: 11th, 43rd


--Draft needs: Look for the Pacers to draft a mobile big man and a point guard to complement veteran George Hill. Team president Larry Bird said the Pacers are looking to go with a smaller lineup, which would indicate a big man who can play in the middle and yet be more mobile than veteran center Roy Hibbert and able to guard pick-and-rolls. The other issue centers on the fact that Hill currently is the only point guard under contract. Bird said there is no plan to bring back point guard C.J. Watson, and there is a chance they also will not retain Donald Sloan. The Pacers appear to like Wisconsin big man Frank Kaminsky, Texas center Myles Turner and Murray State point guard Cameron Payne, a left-hander who fractured the ring finger on his right hand during a June 15 workout with the Denver Nuggets.


MILWAUKEE BUCKS


--2015 draft picks: 17th, 46th


--Draft needs: Despite their surprising turnaround last season, the Bucks are still in rebuilding mode, so don't look for them to be picky when their name is called. Shooting and rebounding were two of the Bucks' biggest weaknesses last season, so look for general manager John Hammond to address those needs first. UCLA forward -- and Milwaukee native -- Kevon Looney impressed at a recent workout, and many think the 6-foot-9 forward will still be on the board when Milwaukee makes its first pick and would fit in with the length and athleticism already on the roster. He is young, though, and would be a bit of a project. The Bucks don't have a lot of open roster space, making them likely to use their second-round pick on a European draft-and-follow prospect.


ATLANTA HAWKS


--2015 draft picks: 15th, 50th, 59th


--Draft needs: With an uncertain free agency period ahead, versatility will be key with the Hawks' first-round pick. Forwards DeMarre Carroll and Paul Millsap are free agents. Their future is up in the air. Both very well may return, but a versatile small forward capable of stretching the floor and defending multiple positions certainly would provide insurance. The Hawks' executives insisted publicly that they will go the "best player available" route instead of drafting for need. Wisconsin forward Sam Dekker, Kentucky guard Devin Booker, Notre Dame guard Jerian Grant, Kentucky forward Trey Lyles, Kansas forward Kelly Oubre and Arkansas forward Bobby Portis are options.


CHARLOTTE HORNETS


--2015 draft picks: 9th, 39th


--Draft needs: The conventional wisdom is that the Hornets will take a shooting guard, perhaps Kentucky's Devin Booker or Arizona's Stanley Johnson or Croatia's Mario Hezonja, depending on how the draft shakes down. It is likely that at least two of those three will be available at No. 9. However, general manager Rich Cho insists that he is keeping all his options open and will take the best player available. He also talked about the possibility of trading up or down. The Hornets could junk the shooting guard mentality quickly if Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein drops far enough. The Hornets selected power forwards with their first-round picks in each of the past two drafts, so that probably is the one position they would steer clear of.


MIAMI HEAT


--2015 draft picks: 10th, 40th


--Draft needs: With three impending or potential free agents on the perimeter, the Heat would be wise to build their depth in that area. Among the potential targets with the 10th pick are 6-foot-6 forward Stanley Johnson of Arizona, 6-6 shooting guard Devin Booker of Kentucky, 6-9 forward Sam Dekker of Wisconsin, 6-7 forward Kelly Oubre of Kansas and 6-6 forward Justin Anderson of Virginia. Options with the 40th pick could include 6-9 power forward Rakeem Christmas of Syracuse. However, don't rule out 6-5 wing Pat Connaughton of Notre Dame -- the Heat are in dire need of 3-point shooters. Miami finished 24th in the NBA in 3-point shooting, and the top 10 teams in that category made the playoffs.


ORLANDO MAGIC


--2015 draft picks: 5th, 51st


--Draft needs: The Magic would love to trade up and add either Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns or Duke's Jahlil Okafor -- who would fit the best -- but it is unlikely to happen, and both are likely to be gone before they pick at No. 5. They fawned over the all-around skills of one likely pick, power forward Kristaps Porzingis (7 feet, Sevilla). However, he will require time to mature physically, and this already is a very young team. If Porzingis is gone, they may turn to Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein, another center who could become an elite NBA defender, or they might go with small forward Justise Winslow from Duke.


WASHINGTON WIZARDS


--2015 draft picks: 19th, 49th


--Draft needs: The Wizards can consider the "best player available" path, especially if forward Paul Pierce decides he will spend another season in Washington. The playoff series loss to the Atlanta Hawks confirmed the need for a stretch-4-type big man. Arkansas' Bobby Portis and UCLA's Kevon Looney are the likely candidates at No. 19. If the Wizards decide to replicate the Golden State Warriors' plan of using waves of wings and guards, Georgia State's R.J. Hunter, Virginia's Justin Anderson and Notre Dame's Jerian Grant make sense.


DALLAS MAVERICKS


--2015 draft picks: 21st, 52nd


--Draft needs: With just three key players -- shooting guard Monta Ellis, small forward Chandler Parsons and power forward Dirk Nowitzki -- signed for the 2015-16 season, the Mavericks will enter the summer in desperate need of point guards and centers. History says they will have a better chance finding the former than the latter late in the first round of the draft. A new little guy would land a favorable position, as he would have very small shoes to fill. He would be replacing banished point guard Rajon Rondo, whose in-season addition to the club turned out to be a complete disaster.


HOUSTON ROCKETS


--2015 draft picks: 18th, 32nd


--Draft needs: As James Harden wore down under the inordinate weight of being both the Rockets' leading scorer and primary facilitator, the need for a playmaking guard crystallized. Even if the Rockets re-sign Patrick Beverley, he might be better served coming off the bench, where his manic defense is a greater asset. While the Rockets sorely need a point guard (Jerian Grant?) capable of scoring and relieving pressure off Harden, their options at No. 18 might be so severely limited that selecting the best available player could be the lone, wisest option.


MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES


--2015 draft picks: 25th


--Draft needs: Judging by the Grizzlies' predraft workouts, the team has not dialed in on one particular strategy. Part of that is Memphis' draft position; it is difficult to know what will be available at No. 25. The general consensus is that the Grizzlies' greatest need -- dependable 3-point shooting -- can't be addressed with this pick. The team seems to like the athletic Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, a 6-foot-7 forward from Arizona, but most mock drafts don't have him lasting until No. 25. Utah point guard Delon Wright is a possibility, especially with Beno Udrih coming off ankle surgery and starter Mike Conley potentially gone as a free agent after next season. A big man is also in play. If center Marc Gasol re-signs with Memphis, even short-term, backup center Kosta Koufos certainly will go elsewhere in search of more playing time.


NEW ORLEANS PELICANS


--2015 draft pick: 56th


--Draft needs: As the Golden State Warriors celebrated their NBA championship with a locker room champagne shower, Warriors assistant Alvin Gentry -- the Pelicans' new head coach -- gazed at the Larry O'Brien trophy and then shouted into the camera: "Hey, A.D., we're going to be right back here!" In homage to All-Star power forward Anthony Davis' athleticism, rare ability to run the court and expanded shooting range, Gentry will build an up-tempo offense. However, because of the Omer Asik deal, in which the Pelicans surrendered a 2015 first-round pick, they don't draft until No. 56. The Pelicans need an athletic small forward with shooting range to help space the floor, but they would have to trade assets to move into the first round.


SAN ANTONIO SPURS


--2015 draft picks: 26th, 55th


--Draft needs: When you have a roster as deep and accomplished as San Antonio's, the term "needs" hardly applies. Sure, the Spurs would like to get younger at several positions, particularly at the extremes of the height spectrum. But are the Spurs likely to find a future replacement for power forward Tim Duncan or point guard Tony Parker there with the 26th pick? Not likely. However, tapping the foreign market once again in search of the next Manu Ginobili is at least somewhat realistic and would add much-needed athleticism to the age-challenged roster.


DENVER NUGGETS


--2015 draft picks: 7th, 57th


--Draft needs: The Nuggets have several holes to fill. The only true center is Jusuf Nurkic, who is coming off an up-and-down rookie season and is recovering from left knee surgery. Denver needs to bolster its backcourt, too. Backup point guard Jameer Nelson is expected to opt out of his contract, and it is no given that starter Ty Lawson will be around at training camp; the Nuggets are shopping him as well as power forward Kenneth Faried, but so far there are no takers. The hiring of Michael Malone as coach just 10 days before the draft leaves wide open what direction the team will take in the draft and in free agency.


MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES


--2015 draft picks: 1st, 31st, 36th


--Draft needs: Early steam had the Timberwolves favoring Duke center Jahlil Okafor, but the latest buzz has Minnesota focusing on Kentucky big man Karl-Anthony Towns, who visited with team brass Friday and Saturday. President of basketball operations and head coach Flip Saunders is also intrigued by Ohio State combo guard D'Angelo Russell, but with Ricky Rubio entering the first year of a four-year, $55 million contract and with plenty of long-term uncertainty down low, it would be shocking if Towns weren't the first overall pick Thursday. With a pair of picks early in the second round, don't be surprised if Saunders tries to find a way back into the middle of the first round to select Duke guard Tyus Jones. Saunders has been enamored with Jones, a Minnesota native, since watching him play in high school.


OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER


--2015 draft picks: 14th, 48th


--Draft needs: Picking at No. 14 in the first round is a blessing and a curse for the Thunder. While they can grab a lottery selection, the choice is too low find a game-changer. Even so, they could find a player who can help the franchise. Kentucky forward Trey Lyles, Georgia State guard R.J. Hunter, Kentucky guard Devin Booker and Murray State point guard Cameron Payne have been highlighted as possible targets. A long shot is Wisconsin forward Frank Kaminsky. They don't think the college player of the year will still be around at No. 14, but if he is, it could make for an interesting selection by a team in need of more low-post scoring.


PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS


--2015 draft picks: 23rd


--Draft needs: Everything is fluid until the situation with Portland's free agents (forward LaMarcus Aldridge, shooting guard Wesley Matthews and center Robin Lopez in particular) is taken care of. If there is a position at which the Blazers know they can use help, it might be small forward, where only starter Nicolas Batum returns for sure. If Arizona's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson were still available at No. 23, he would be a likely target. If not, Virginia's Justin Anderson would fill the bill.


UTAH JAZZ


--2015 draft picks: 12th, 42nd, 54th


--Draft needs: While Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert are solid starters on the frontline for Utah, the team needs big-man depth. A stretch-4-type player would be ideal for coach Quin Snyder's spread-out system. The Jazz also are in need of more offensive threats from the perimeter. That seemingly puts them in a decent position with the No. 12 pick, as there will likely be multiple wings and power forwards available that late in the lottery. Don't rule out a draft-day trade, which general manager Dennis Lindsey said he would do if it can help the team get one step closer to ending a rebuilding project and beginning a new era of playoff appearances.


GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS


--2015 draft pick: 30th


--Draft needs: While many analysts are focused on the Warriors' apparent need for a shooting guard off the bench, they forget the biggest reason the club won the 2015 championship: defense. With power forward David Lee reportedly having played his last game with the club, what the Warriors really need is another Draymond Green -- a polished collegian from a winning program who is big, versatile and smart. Another Draymond Green with the last pick of the first round? Well, sure. After all, the Warriors got the former Michigan State standout five picks later -- No. 35 overall -- in 2012.


LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS


--2015 draft picks: None


--Draft needs: The Clippers would have to be very creative to get back into the draft, being that they already traded away their first-rounder to Boston to bring in coach Doc Rivers. That said, they could use a second-rounder or two to add depth to arguably the weakest bench crew among elite teams.


LOS ANGELES LAKERS


--2015 draft picks: 2nd, 27th, 34th


--Draft needs: With guard Kobe Bryant and forward Julius Randle onboard, the Lakers don't have needs at two positions. The other three -- and their bench -- remain wide open. The Lakers reportedly are focused on one of the two standout big men in the draft -- Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns and Duke center Jahlil Okafor -- and with good reason. Both would complement Bryant well -- Towns in the pick-and-roll game on the offensive end, and Okafor as the defensive anchor in the middle. Too bad they can't have them both. No doubt, the Lakers will go shopping for a point guard at No. 27 or No. 34 ... or perhaps both.


PHOENIX SUNS


--2015 draft picks: 13th, 44th


--Draft needs: While their guards are still a work in progress, the Suns are in need of a power/stretch forward to replace the shooting threat lost when Channing Frye left last summer. Markieff Morris was ill-equipped to handle the position and is seen as a sixth man -- or less if the felony assault charge he faces with twin brother Marcus is proven in court. Texas' Myles Turner was brought in for an unannounced workout Wednesday, and he fits the mold of what the Suns are looking for. His defense mobility is questioned and he is inconsistent, but he is 19 and does two things the Suns love -- he blocks shots and shoots lights out. Phoenix's last two No. 13 overall picks -- Markieff Morris and Kendall Marshall -- weren't what the doctor ordered.


SACRAMENTO KINGS


--2015 draft picks: 6th


--Draft needs: The Kings would benefit from having a big man to complement center DeMarcus Cousins, who led the team in scoring, rebounding, and blocks last season while often facing double teams on defense. That person could be out there in 21-year-old Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein, a 7-foot, 242-pounder who can block shots and might ease Cousins' load just by his presence alone. History shows that coach George Karl prefers two point guards, and 19-year-old Emmanuel Mudiay might be a target if he remains available at No. 6.