Anthony Bennett said he hasn't been sleeping well, and he's not the only one.
Most of the lottery picks admitted to nerves on the eve of the NBA draft and even in the minutes leading up to its start. But in that split second – or painfully slow-motion second, depending on who's listening – when each heard his name called by NBA commissioner David Stern, all of that changed. Away went the uncertainty, and, in its place, clarity.
A city to live in. A roster to join. Cars/houses to buy.
"It's like a weight was just taken off (your shoulders) after running, like, five miles," said Victor Oladipo, taken second overall by the Orlando Magic. "It's relaxing, man. But at the same time it's all just getting started.
"I'm looking forward to getting there to Orlando, meeting my teammates – I can't wait to meet my teammates and create a bond with them and go to war with them every night."
For Bennett, the No. 1 overall pick, hearing his name called was a shock, particularly after weeks of speculation that the Cleveland Cavaliers would be choosing between Nerlens Noel or Alex Len.
"I'm just as surprised as everybody else," Bennett said. "Everything was up for grabs."
So what's next?
Family members of potential lottery picks met with Shirley Barnes, mother of Golden State Warriors' Harrison Barnes, Wednesday night to talk about what to expect in the future. Players met with Barnes himself and Andre Iguodala earlier Thursday to offer advice and wisdom, No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett said.
"You're on a bigger stage," Bennett said of Barnes and Iguodala's message. "Stay level-headed. Stay humble. Take care of your body and everything will be fine."
Representation will be an important part of these players' lives as they move forward. Some signed with agents months ago when they declared for the draft; others went through a drawn-out process to pick theirs. They knew it was a potentially life-changing decision.
Trey Burke, who went No. 9 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, chose his father to represent him. He said after weeks of being pulled in different directions, it was the right call.
Oladipo said, "It wasn't very difficult for me. I say in every situation in my life, divine intervention leads me to my goals. … During the season, I didn't get any calls from anybody. I wasn't accepting any calls. … After the season, I sat down with Coach (Tom) Crean, all my coaches, people I trust. We picked two (agents) and interviewed them. We got down to two, and they met with family. My family has my best interest at heart."
That's how most of these lottery picks feel – this process is also all about family. Bennett said his first purchase as a pro will be "anything my mom picks out." Others want to buy cars and houses for their parents.
Otto Porter Jr., who was drafted third overall to the Washington Wizards, grew emotional when asked about what his selection means to his parents, Otto Sr. and Elnora, who raised him in a basketball-crazy town in rural Missouri.
"It was amazing to see the smile on his face and my mom's face, raising me, raising me the right way," Porter said, his eyes glassy.
Sounds like a good reason to give back. Others, like Nerlens Noel, who was drafted No. 6 overall and traded to Philadelphia, already have plans involving charity.
Noel, whose parents were both born in Haiti, wants to start a foundation in Haiti.
"I really want to give back and make that kid smile, that kid who's been going through tough times," Noel said Wednesday. "I'm really fortunate to be in this position."
For these lottery picks, life is about to change drastically, providing both opportunities and potential pitfalls. But on this night, as past, present and future collide, there were a lot of smiles – and sighs of relief.
Chris Paul and Dwight Howard are two of the biggest names in the National Basketball Association’s free agency class of 2013. One appears to be staying in Los Angeles and the other could be on the way out.
Paul and Howard are among those NBA players who became unrestricted free agents at 12:01 a.m. today. Other notable names who can now be courted include Josh Smith, Manu Ginobili, Andre Iguodala, David West, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and J.R. Smith, who won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award with the New York Knicks last season.
Paul, a six-time All-Star point guard, is expected to verbally agree to a five-year, $107 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, ESPN reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the situation. Paul, 28, has spent the past two seasons with the Clippers and has averaged 18.6 points and 9.8 assists over his eight-year NBA career.
Howard, meantime, may leave Los Angeles after one season with the Lakers, who in 2012-13 failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in six years.
The 27-year-old center, a seven-time All-Star and three-time NBA defensive player of the year, is already scheduled to meet with five teams, ESPN said, citing an unidentified person close to Howard. The Houston Rockets were the first team Howard was set to meet with, followed by the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks, ESPN said. The Lakers, who have erected billboards in and around Los Angeles urging Howard to stay, will be the last team to meet with him, according to ESPN.
Maximum Contract
The Lakers are able to offer Howard a contract worth $118 million over five years, the NBA’s maximum, while the most other teams could give him is a four-year, $88 million deal.
“It has to be his decision,” Lakers All-Star guard Kobe Bryant said of Howard on the team’s website. “The last thing you want to do is convince a person that they want to be here. When it’s something that’s rooted inside of him, it’s something he champions. I just want to be there to assist his decision.”
NBA players can agree on contracts, though they can’t officially sign new deals until July 10, when the league’s moratorium on trades and signings is lifted.
The Rockets, one of the teams in pursuit of Howard, yesterday freed up salary cap space by releasing shooting guard Carlos Delfino and point guard Aaron Brooks.
Josh Smith, a 27-year-old forward, has spent his entire nine-year NBA career with the Atlanta Hawks and averaged 17.5 points and 8.4 rebounds a game last season.
Ginobili, 35, has also played for only one team throughout his NBA career, having been with the San Antonio Spurs for the past 11 years. He averaged 11.8 points and 4.6 assists last season in helping the Spurs reach the NBA Finals.
Nuggets Exit?
Iguodala, 29, opted to become a free agent after one season with the Denver Nuggets, while West, 32, was the second-leading scorer for the Indiana Pacers team that reached the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Jefferson and Millsap, both 28, were the top two scorers for the Utah Jazz last season, combining to average 32.4 points and 16.3 rebounds a game. J.R. Smith, 27, was the Knicks’ second-leading scorer at 18.1 points a game in 2012-13, though he shot just 33 percent from the floor in the postseason.
The Knicks have agreed to acquire 7-foot forward Andrea Bargnani from the Toronto Raptors for Steve Novak, Marcus Camby and a first-round draft selection in 2016, the New York Times reported, citing an unidentified person involved in the trade talks. Bargnani was the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NBA draft and has averaged 15.2 points and 4.8 rebounds over seven seasons.
NBA Free Agency Is Highlighted by Courtship of Dwight Howard - Bloomberg
Chris Paul's answer was brief, just like his time on the free agent market. "I'M IN😡" he wrote Monday on Twitter.
He will be staying with the Clippers, the longtime losers he helped turned into a division champion in just two seasons.
Dwight Howard will need more time to think.
Free agency opened Monday in the NBA with the focus on the pair of Los Angeles All-Stars, though Paul took himself off the market only hours after shopping season started.
Agent Leon Rose confirmed Paul's return, which had been expected after the Clippers signed Doc Rivers as their new coach. The Clippers can pay the two-time Olympic gold medalist around $108 million for five years.
Howard can make even more by staying with the Lakers, but that won't stop him from looking elsewhere.
He met with the Houston Rockets early Monday, the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks also are interested, and the Lakers have said repeatedly they want to keep him.
The Rockets got the first crack at persuading him to leave. With Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler joining its contingent, Houston pitched Howard on joining All-Star James Harden.
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey wrote on Twitter that it was a great meeting with Howard and that having Olajuwon and Drexler there "made it obvious how [Howard and Harden] could be the next [great] big/wing combo."
Hawks general manager Danny Ferry and new coach Mike Budenholzer were visiting Howard later Monday, trying to convince him to join his hometown team.
And he'll meet Tuesday with the Lakers' delegation. His first - perhaps only - season in Los Angeles was a disappointment and he acknowledged being unhappy at times. But the Lakers want to keep the former Defensive Player of the Year, believing the extra year and about $30 million more they can give him will provide a huge advantage.
Steve Nash, who like Howard had a difficult first season in Los Angeles, tweeted Monday that he was flying from New York to Los Angeles to help the Lakers make their pitch.
"[Dwight Howard] we're coming for you," he wrote. "You're going to love the statue we build for you outside Staples in 20yrs!"
Contracts can't be signed until July 10, after the next season's salary cap has been set.
The Hawks also were expected to meet with their unrestricted free agents, Josh Smith and Kyle Korver, on their trip to Los Angeles, a person with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Monday's meetings have not been officially announced.
There is plenty of interest in Smith, a versatile forward, and Deron Williams announced the Nets' interest in Korver by posting a picture of the sharp shooter in a Brooklyn uniform on social media.
Andray Blatche will return as a backup in the Nets' soon-to-be upgraded frontcourt. The 6-foot-11 forward-center agreed to a multiyear deal, his agent said. Blatche will provide minutes behind All-Star center Brook Lopez and Kevin Garnett, who will come from Boston along with Paul Pierce in a deal that was agreed to on draft night, but can't be completed until after next season's salary cap is set.
The Knicks are hoping Andrea Bargnani relocates his outside shot after agreeing to a deal with Toronto to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft. The Raptors will receive Knicks reserves Steve Novak, Marcus Camby and Quentin Richardson, who will be signed-and-traded. The Knicks are also sending the Raptors a 2016 first-round pick and two second-round picks, according to a person with knowledge of the details.
Bargnani averaged a career-best 21.4 points just three seasons ago, but finished with his worst scoring and shooting numbers last season since he posted career worsts of 10.2 points and 38.6 percent shooting in 2007-08.
Other top players that are available include Denver's Andre Iguodala and Philadelphia's Andrew Bynum - both part of the four-way trade that sent Howard from Orlando to Los Angeles last summer - and Indiana's David West. Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith of the Knicks is a free agent, as is former winner Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs, who also could lose forward Tiago Splitter.
Miami is trying to hold onto Chris Andersen, which would essentially keep together the entire core of the team that beat San Antonio in seven games to win the NBA championship.
A person with knowledge of the deal told the AP that Eric Maynor agreed to a contract with the Washington Wizards.
Maynor will serve as the backup point guard behind John Wall. Maynor confirmed the news on his Twitter account, saying he appreciated all the love and support and was "excited to be signing" with the Wizards. He averaged 4.5 points with Oklahoma City and Portland last season.
The New Orleans Pelicans made an offer to Sacramento Kings restricted free agent guard Tyreke Evans, two people familiar with the situation said Monday.
Several media outlets reported the deal was for four years and ranging between $40 million and $48 million. Because he's a restricted free agent, the Kings will have the opportunity to match any offers Evans signs. Contracts can't be inked until July 10, after next season's salary cap is set.
Paul staying in LA, Howard hears pitches to leave | NBA-com
This wasn't what Dwight Howard was hoping for, these spotlights from so many cities descending upon him and the 2013 free agency season his and his alone.
Or close to it.
Point guard Chris Paul announced his widely-expected return to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, with the recent addition of former Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers all but sealing his deal that will be for five years and $107 million when the free agency moratorium lifts on July 10. They even went shopping for more support, targeting former Dallas Mavericks shooting guard O.J. Mayo among that lot. And so it is that the Clippers' new reign as the more formidable, more appealing NBA team in Los Angeles was furthered, and this the summer of Dwight that few saw coming continued anew.
But there's nothing quite like this bit of theater that so many expect to end with Howard leaving the Los Angeles Lakers for the Houston Rockets, this Hollywood horror in the making for the Lakers in which Howard walks away from the extra $30 million he could earn by staying just so he can find a more suitable fit.
It will all come to a head Tuesday, when the Lakers will follow the Mavericks in this parade of Howard suitors meeting at a Bel Air hotel to take their last, best shot at convincing him to stay put. He already has had formal visits with the frontrunner Rockets, as well as the Golden State Warriors. But this, it's safe to say, will be different. The mega-watt smile Howard wore when he was traded from the Orlando Magic to the Lakers last summer was real, as were the visions of title contention that would have made his return a foregone conclusion. But so were the concerns, the questions about playing with Kobe Bryant and the uncertainty that surrounded his role in the offense after coach Mike D'Antoni took over five games in. These are the issues that the Lakers will have to address, the ones that are far more complex than the bed of roses being laid by their competitors.
This is new territory for the Lakers, who have given up their NBA royalty status in order to make sure Howard knows how badly they want him back. In addition to the #STAYD12 billboards all over town, the full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times and the words of praise from general manager Mitch Kupchak for Howard in the news media, there were more substantive steps taken leading to their formal meeting with him as well. Kupchak spoke with Howard on Saturday, a luxury that was only legal by NBA rules because his team is the incumbent. Then Kupchak paid Howard another visit on Sunday night, a brief well-wishing that came just minutes after the 9:01 p.m. PT buzzer sounded and before Howard headed out for dinner and a presentation with the Rockets.
Yet they will still have a tough sales job ahead. While the Lakers can promote the merits of their one-of-a-kind market and undeniable track record as champions, the reality is that Bryant may not return from his Achilles tear until midway through the season and the rest of their supporting cast — Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, Metta World Peace and the rest — hardly looked worthy of all the initial hype that followed when Howard joined them. And while the Lakers will be a blank canvas in the summer of 2014 when only Nash is under contract and top free agents will surely come their way, the inconvenient part for them is that Howard wants to win now. Such is the challenging irony of his free agent process, the fact that all the things they can offer and that seemed so important to Howard before - the market size, the glitz and the glamour, the off-court opportunities - now pale in comparison to the chance to win a ring sooner rather than later.
The Mavericks are part of this high-stakes game as well, having made the unpopular and calculated choice to break up their championship team in the summer of 2011 so they could savor the salary cap space that is so vital in today's NBA. But they missed out on top target Deron Williams last summer (he signed with the Brooklyn Nets) and may miss out on Howard this time around, all while future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki waits not so patiently to see who he'll be starring with in his twilight years after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2000.
The summer of Dwight continues, and it's getting hotter by the day.
Basketball Hall of Famer Larry Brown is the only coach to win an NBA title (2004, Detroit Pistons) and NCAA Division I title (1988 Kansas), which makes him a rarity. The fact that he found success at both levels is almost as rare.
Brown spoke to USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday about Brad Stevens' departure from Butler University to the Boston Celtics:
"Most of these (college) guys who go to the NBA, nobody gives them enough time to really get a chance to turn it around and do it the right way. So I hate to see him leave college because I have so much admiration for him but he's a great kid. And I think with Danny (Ainge) and that organization, it's going to be great. I am really happy for him. "Every job is a challenge. I think it would be more of a challenge if he had to coach a team expected to win. The biggest thing, he has people in place there who know what it takes. They didn't just hire this kid thinking that he is going to win an NBA championship right away. They realize that it is a learning process. And now he has to get some good people with him to sit there and help him because it is a different game.
"I always tell my assistants in college, 'An NBA coach makes 30 decisions in a game, and a college coach probably makes five.' And then you magnify that with 82 games, and exhibitions and playoffs, in college you play 30-something games. I am pretty confident that Danny will surround him with good people who are loyal and who will help him through this process. He'll do great.
"If you can coach, you can coach. I have always said that. There are great coaches on both levels. My whole thing is, as a college coach, you are in charge of your program. As a pro coach, the success ones, the GM, the owner and the coach are connected at the hip. And the ones that aren't successful, there is no connection there, only if you win there is a connection but if stuff goes bad there is no connection at all.
"Everywhere I have been, when there is one voice, at the end of the day that's when you have success. When general managers or owners are telling you what kind of guys to draft or who to coach or how to coach, then you have a disconnect."
Greece's basketball federation has strongly condemned remarks by the leader of an extreme right Greek political party who likened recent NBA draft pick Giannis Antetokounmpo to a "chimpanzee."
The federation on Thursday described the remarks as "unacceptable and racist."
Giannis Antetokounmpo, an 18-year-old Greek shooting guard and the Athens-born son of Nigerian immigrants, was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was received this week in Athens by conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. Leader of the far-right Golden Dawn party, Nikolaos Michaloliakos, likened the 2.06-meter (6-foot-9) player to a "chimpanzee" in a television interview on Tuesday.
Antetokounmpo was selected in 15th place in this year's 60-player NBA draft, announced in New York on June 27. He was seen celebrating the news at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, crossing himself in the Orthodox Christian fashion, waving a Greek flag, and hugging family members who were also present.
Golden Dawn has seen a recent surge in support as Greece endures a sixth year of recession, mounting an aggressive campaign against illegal immigration and the austerity measures imposed under the country's bailout program.
In elections last year, the party won 18 seats in the 300-member parliament, and is currently the third-strongest in opinion polls which suggest its popularity has increased further to about 10 percent.
Prime Minister Samaras has frequently described Golden Dawn as "neo-Nazis" — a label which the party rejects, though leading members of Golden Dawn have in the past openly expressed admiration for Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and denied that the Holocaust occurred.
Samaras said he felt "great emotion" at his meeting this week with the towering teenager and his parents.
"I thank you for honoring our national colors," he said. "I hope you drive them crazy with your slam-dunks ... All of Greece is so excited for you."
The burning questions for each new NBA head coach highlight the biggest challenges facing them in the first season with their new teams.
These questions include how coaches will replicate success they've achieved in previous stops along with whether or not they'll command the respect of their new locker rooms.
The burning questions also surround expectations for winning, the type of offensive system that coaches intend to implement and how much improvement can be expected from young superstars they will be leading.
This list includes rookie NBA coaches along with those in their first season with a new team heading into 2013-14.
Pictures: Burning Questions for Each New NBA Head Coach | Bleacher Report
Dwight Howard, perhaps the NBA’s most dominant and indecisive big man, who tired of Orlando and never loved Los Angeles, has made up his mind.
“I’ve decided to become a member of the Houston Rockets. I feel (it’s) the best place for me and I am excited about joining the Rockets and I’m looking forward to a great season,” Howard wrote on Twitter on Friday night.
He leaves behind an extra $30 million and an offense under Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni that he was never fully comfortable with, joining a Rockets team that could become an immediate contender in the Western Conference with the All-Star center in the middle.
“Years of work by Dwight & Rockets went into this. This team is going to be special,” Houston general manager Daryl Morey tweeted.
USA Today first reported Howard would join the Rockets, where he will team with All-Star James Harden to give the Rockets a potentially potent inside-outside combination.
That didn’t quite end the Howard saga, which has dragged on for a couple of years. He spoke again with the Lakers amid reports he was changing his mind.
Turns out, he was just saying goodbye.
“We have been informed of Dwight’s decision to not return to the Lakers,” general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. “Naturally we’re disappointed. However, we will now move forward in a different direction with the future of the franchise and, as always, will do our best to build the best team possible, one our great Lakers fans will be proud to support.
“To Dwight, we thank him for his time and consideration, and for his efforts with us last season. We wish him the best of luck on the remainder of his NBA career.”
Dallas, Golden State and Atlanta were other suitors seriously interested in Howard, 27.
But it was the Rockets, who brought Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon with them when they made their pitch to Howard on Monday, who beat out the other teams.
And now Howard will follow the likes of Olajuwon and Yao Ming in Houston’s middle.
The deal can’t become official before Tuesday night, after next season’s salary cap has been set. The Rockets can give Howard a four-year deal worth about $88 million, a year less and far below the $118 million the Lakers could have offered.
The Lakers acquired Howard in August from Orlando as part of a four-way trade that also included Philadelphia and Denver.
He averaged 17.1 points and 12.4 rebounds in 76 games, good numbers but far from his usual dominant play in eight seasons with the Magic as he played his way back into shape after back surgery.
Howard wasn’t a natural fit in D’Antoni’s offense, had what appeared at times to be a strained relationship with superstar Kobe Bryant and acknowledged not having fun at times.
Notes
• Golden State landed a coveted free agent other than Howard. The team reached an agreement with swingman Andre Iguodala on a $48 million, four-year deal, two people with knowledge of the situation said.
One source said the Warriors cleared more than $24 million in salary-cap space by sending Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins and Brandon Rush to the Utah Jazz along with draft picks.
• Guard O.J. Mayo, previously with Dallas, has agreed to a $24 million, three-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to a league source.
Mayo opted out of the second year of his contract with the Mavericks.
• Ex-Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap reportedly has agreed to a $19 million, two-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks.
Dwight Howard says he will play for Houston Rockets | NBA | The Seattle Times
Baron Davis didn't play in the NBA last season, but it appears as though a comeback could be in the works.
Davis, who last played for the New York Knicks in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 campaign, posted a telling tweet on Monday afternoon: comebacktime
In his last professional stint, the former All-Star point guard averaged only 6.1 points and 4.7 assists while shooting just 37 percent from the floor.
Though it was arguably Davis' worst season as a pro, it came on the heels of a herniated disk kept him on the sidelines for nearly two months. He did steadily improve down the stretch, though, and was playing his best basketball of the year in the first round of the playoffs before tearing both his ACL and MCL against the Miami Heat. The injury killed his hopes of landing another contract for the 2012-13 season, but it clearly didn't stop Davis from plotting an NBA return—and cashing paychecks in the meantime. The Cleveland Cavaliers used their amnesty provision on the floor general back in 2011, but had to pay him through 2013.
With that in mind, it could be that Davis is pursuing a new deal for monetary gain. However, considering his recent off-court endeavors in television and fashion, his comeback likely has more to do with the desire to win an NBA championship.
If healthy, the 34-year-old veteran could potentially be a productive member of a team looking for a change-of-pace guard off the bench and some leadership in the locker room.
If Davis can prove that he still has the athleticism and explosiveness to get to the rim, there should at least be one team out there that gives him a look.
Baron Davis Hints at Possible NBA Comeback on Twitter | Bleacher Report
Free agent center Greg Stiemsma is drawing interest from as many as 12 teams, according to Sam Amick of USA Today. Stiemsma was waived earlier this offseason by the Timberwolves after just one season in Minnesota.
It is unclear which teams are currently pursuing him, although Amick did list the New Orleans Pelicans as one of his potential suitors.
Stiemsma, 27, played overseas after not being drafted out of the University of Wisconsin. He spent a year in Turkey and South Korea before returning to the United States to play in the D-League. After failing to stick with an NBA franchise, he returned to Turkey in 2010-11. He finally made his NBA debut in 2011 with the Celtics. He spent last season with the Timberwolves, averaging 4.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while playing about 16 minutes a night.
The report of 12 teams showing interest in Stiemsma is not a surprise. He's regarded as a solid defender and shot blocker around the rim, and given that he is still relatively young and will not command a large contract, teams will waste no time calling his agent.
NBA free agency 2013: Greg Stiemsma drawing interest from 12 teams, according to report - SBNation-com
NBA executive Chris Granger is leaving the league offices to become the president of the Sacramento Kings.
Granger worked for the NBA the past 14 years. He has most recently led the league's team marketing and business operations, including assisting Sacramento's ticket and sponsorship efforts since the franchise was sold to Vivek Ranadive in May.
NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement Wednesday that "the Kings will benefit greatly from Chris' extensive experience in all facets of team business operations as well as his passion for our game — a passion he shares with the Sacramento business community and the great fans of the Kings."
Granger will oversee the Kings' business operations and direct the development of a proposed new arena in downtown Sacramento. He will start Aug. 1.
Amy Brooks, who has been a senior vice president of the NBA's team marketing and business operations, will succeed Granger in running the department.
One day after being waived by the Los Angeles Lakers via the amnesty provision, Metta World Peace said he doesn't want any NBA team to make a bid to pick him up off waivers. Not his hometown New York Knicks or the Brooklyn Nets. And not the Lakers' Staples Center cohabitants, the Los Angeles Clippers.
"I don't really want to play for anybody," World Peace said Friday at the Lakers' practice facility. "I don't want to go anywhere. I want to go to China, or coach or play arena football."
World Peace said he has spoken to Yao Ming about joining his former Houston Rockets teammate's Chinese team, the Shanghai Sharks. He said he's had conversations with representatives from "a couple other teams" in China, as well. World Peace recently completed a trip to Beijing and Qingdao, which further fueled his idea of playing in China should he be waived. A league source told ESPNLosAngeles.com that World Peace has explored the option of playing in China through conversations with former NBA players who have made the leap, figuring out if the path blazed by the likes of Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis and Gilbert Arenas would be right for him.
"You don't live twice," World Peace said. "You're not 33 twice. You won't be able to play in China at a good level again. I wouldn't be able to play in China again averaging, maybe, 40 or more points. That would be fun."
It could all just be an entertaining bluff from World Peace, of course. The Lakers still have to pay him his $7.7 million salary for next season, but he is now on the market and teams with cap room can claim him off waivers via a bidding process.
If a team puts a bid on him and World Peace chooses to retire rather than report to it, he would put his entire salary at risk, including money owed to him by the Lakers. It would be an unprecedented scenario; no player released via amnesty that has been picked up off waivers has gone that route since the current collective bargaining agreement went into place in December 2011.
Should World Peace clear the 48-hour waiver-style bidding process without any team making a bid, he would become an unrestricted free agent and would be free to sign with the team of his choice [including teams above the luxury-tax threshold, which still could offer him the veteran's minimum]. An amnestied player may not be re-signed by the team that released him, however, until the contract that was waived expired [which in World Peace's case would be the summer of 2014].
Jose Morales, a longtime friend and confidant of World Peace, told ESPNNewYork.com earlier this week that the veteran small forward would consider retirement if a team claimed him from a city for which he did not want to play.
"If one of these small-market teams picks him up, he won't be happy with that," Morales said. "He doesn't want to play there."
Morales said World Peace would be open to playing for the Clippers, but if he can't stay in Los Angeles, he would want to play only in New York.
World Peace, however, said the ship has sailed on playing in his hometown. "I had a chance to play in New York [in the past]," World Peace said. "I wanted to play in New York when I was in my prime and I was young, fierce, lock-down [defender]. Madison Square Garden, that would have been sick. But right now, China is way more adventurous for me."
World Peace also said that his surgically repaired left knee -- he had a torn meniscus repaired in March, then had approximately 20 CCs of liquid drained from a popliteal cyst in it -- is still not healthy.
"My knee is sore," said World Peace, who missed the Lakers' final playoff game due to the knee. "I'm definitely not going to be pounding my knee now that I'm amnestied. I'm not even thinking about pounding my knee right now. I'm good with just where I'm at right now."
He did not think his knee would prevent him from playing in China, however, for the next 1-2 years.
"It's a short season," World Peace said. "Thirty-something games. I could show up when I want to show up."
World Peace entered the Lakers' training facility on Friday shortly after the team introduced Nick Young as their newest signee. Young is expected to start at small forward next season, taking World Peace's place.
Despite coming off a resurgent season in which he averaged 12.4 points [up from 7.7 in 2011-12] and 5.0 rebounds [up from 3.4] and improved his shooting percentages from the floor, the 3-point line and the foul line, the 14-year veteran said he wants to "just explore something else."
World Peace met with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak on Friday and said there were no hard feelings.
"It was an extra $24 million that was going to have to come from a family-owned business," World Peace said, referring to the approximate total of what it would cost the Lakers to pay his salary, plus luxury taxes in 2013-14, if they did not waive him. "I'm really close with the [Buss] family, so I would not want the family-owned business to have to come out of pocket like that. So, I definitely supported the decision."
Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said Friday that decision to use the amnesty provision on World Peace was solely financial.
"Obviously it's a byproduct of the CBA,'' D'Antoni told the New York Post. "As a person and player, I couldn't find anyone better. He's great. I enjoyed coaching him. I hope he finds something great. He deserves it. It's not the coaches. It's management. They have to manage the cap.''
World Peace said when he heard rumors earlier in the week that he would be waived, he reached out to Kupchak immediately with an alternative plan to keep him in L.A.
"I said, 'Mitch, I want to come back and coach this year,' " World Peace said. "That was the first thing I texted Mitch. I said, 'Don't worry about it.' I said, 'I understand what you have to do and I would love to help the young guys. I want to coach. I want to help y'all win a championship.' "
From a crop of brilliant young point guards to a new generation of diverse big men, the landscape of the Association continues to change as these players emerge and make names for themselves.
What's even more surprising is the depth of young talent across the league. Nearly every team has a young asset or two to build around, and those that don't are replete with established superstars, making them perennial playoff contenders.
Pictures: Which Young Player Is the Future of Every NBA Franchise? | Bleacher Report
Everybody knows that deriving meaning from NBA Summer League stats can be tricky, but for a few of this year's top performers thus far, the numbers are especially misleading.
So before anyone starts getting excited about Austin Rivers' barrage of buckets or Michael Carter-Williams' hefty assist totals, let's all just take a step back and stay rational.
Nobody's saying these summer league stars can't eventually turn into useful players. And while there are a few standouts who figure to carry their excellent Orlando or Las Vegas performances into the regular season—Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson and rookie Kelly Olynyk come to mind—there are just as many stat-stuffers who seem more likely to fizzle when the games start to matter this fall.
Pictures: NBA Summer League Standouts Who Are Mirages | Bleacher Report
The inaugural NBA Summer League Championship, the second phase of NBA Summer League 2013 in Las Vegas, tips off Wednesday, July 17, at the Thomas & Mack Center and COX Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. The Golden State Warriors earned the first overall seed while the Chicago Bulls are the second seed. The Phoenix Suns, NBA D-League Select Team and Charlotte Bobcats round out the top five seeds.
Tournament action gets under way when the 11th seeded New Orleans Pelicans take on the 22nd seeded Denver Nuggets at 3 p.m. PT at the COX Pavilion and continues with five additional games featuring the other teams seeded 11-22. Thursday's slate tips off at 1 p.m. PT when the 7th seeded Cleveland Cavaliers take on the 10th seeded San Antonio Spurs. The eight game schedule on Thursday concludes when the top-seeded Warriors take on either the 16th seeded Dallas Mavericks or 17th seeded Los Angeles Clippers at 7:30 p.m. PT at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The participating 22 teams have each completed three games since the summer classic tipped off on July 12. Based on the outcome of those games, the teams are seeded 1-22 for the single elimination tournament that culminates in a championship game on July 22. Each team will compete in at least two more contests; a minimum of one game in the single elimination tournament, and the other in a consolation game if the team loses a game on either July 17 or July 18.
Teams seeded 11-22 will compete on Wednesday, with the winners of those contests advancing in the tournament to play Thursday against teams seeded 1-10, who earned a first-round "bye." Teams on losing Wednesday and Thursday will play on Friday. The single elimination tournament resumes on Saturday with a champion being crowned on July 22.
Seeding for the tournament was determined by won-loss records. Ties were broken using quarter-points and then point differential to determine the seedings.
NBA TV's comprehensive coverage of NBA Summer League 2013 continues live from both the Thomas & Mack Center and COX Pavilion including the championship game. Once again, all NBA Summer League games will be available via NBA Summer League Live on NBA-com and NBA Mobile. NBA Summer League Live is a subscription service offering fans a full slate of live and archived games available on the web, App Store and Google Play.
Fans who want to check out the action in person are able to purchase tickets for the NBA Summer League 2013 by calling 702-739-FANS, through UNLVtickets-com or by visiting any UNLV ticket outlet.
The complete list of team seedings, a championship bracket, and full results from the first five days of competition, is attached and available online at 2013 NBA Summer League | Schedules, Stats, Scores and Highlights | Orlando: July 7-12 | Las Vegas: July12-22 on NBA-com.
Seedings announced for Vegas Summer League Championship | NBA-com
The 2013 NBA Summer League has provided a platform for countless players to step up and shine. While there may be an expectation for the top prospects in the NBA to take control, certain players have come from under the radar to dominate the games in Las Vegas.
The question is, which low-profile prospects have maintained their production and continue to shine?
All eyes are locked on this year's first-round draft choices, but there are players who have defied the odds and become the stars of the summer league. Much like Josh Selby was able to do in 2012, the following players are making their case for the Las Vegas MVP.
And they have a legitimate chance at achieving that feat. At this point, the MVP of the 2013 Las Vegas Summer League has been Chicago Bulls guard Andrew Goudelock. He's scoring at virtual will, hitting clutch shots and has led the Bulls to three consecutive victories.
We truly shouldn't be surprised.
During the 2012-13 season, Goudelock was the NBA D-League MVP. He averaged 21.1 points and 5.2 assists per game, shooting 47.5 percent from the field. After playing in just one NBA regular-season game, Goudelock was thrown into the fire during the playoffs with the Los Angeles Lakers.
His response was stepping up and averaging 12.0 points and 1.7 steals in 26.7 minutes of action.
At this rate, Goudelock will be able to carve out a role on an NBA team. The 24-year-old can flat out score, and after playing well in the 2013 NBA playoffs, he's continuing the process of catching the eye of general managers across the league.
There may be more high-profile names, but Goudelock has been the Las Vegas Summer League's best player.
Mike Scott received just 12 minutes during his opening game of Las Vegas Summer League play, scoring nine points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting. During his second game, Scott scored 13 points in 23 minutes of action.
In his past two games, Scott has taken it to another level.
During the Atlanta Hawks' 96-87 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Scott picked up 27 points and seven rebounds in 32 minutes. Two days later, Scott went off for 19 points and nine rebounds, thus proving that this was no fluke.
For a Hawks team with a strong front line of Al Horford and Paul Millsap, but an absence of NBA-ready depth, Scott could carve out a role in Atlanta.
Scott is built in the same mold as Horford and Millsap, thriving as a jump-shooter and crashing the boards hard. With a powerful frame and the semblance of game behind the three-point line, there is reason to believe that his recent string of success could have an impact on his usage in 2013-14.
If nothing else, he'll go down as one of the best players of the summer. During the 2012 NBA draft, the Charlotte Bobcats selected Vanderbilt swingman Jeffery Taylor with the No. 31 overall draft choice. Working under the belief that he could either back Michael Kidd-Gilchrist up at the 3 or step in at shooting guard, Taylor was skilled enough to serve as a three-and-D specialist.
During the 2013 Summer League, he's displaying flashes of legitimate NBA potential.
Taylor is currently averaging 21.0 points and 1.7 steals on 38.5 percent shooting from three-point range. As the numbers display, Taylor seems to have found a way to complement his elite athleticism with timely contributions.
While that was to be expected, few labeled Taylor as a player who would dominate the Las Vegas Summer League.
Taylor is a player who has shown significant levels of progression in each season he's played basketball. The hope in Charlotte is that he can continue that progression, as Gerald Henderson remains a free agent.
If we've learned anything from the summer league, Taylor certainly has the talent.
NBA Summer League 2013: Unheralded Prospects Who Continue to Shine | Bleacher Report
Former All-Star guard Baron Davis shook the foundation a bit recently by coming up with a story about a recent alien abduction, animal-style, on Neal Brennan and Moshe Kasher’s podcast. That’s the most we’ve heard from Baron in a while, especially since he tore his ACL, MCL and PCL in a horrific injury during the first round of the 2012 NBA playoffs. While speaking with MSG Network’s Alan Hahn recently, Davis gave credibility to the idea that he’d like to update that resume before all is said and done.
From Hahn’s Sulia feed:
Between attempts at comedy, Davis says he has continued the rehabilitation process on the gruesome knee injury he suffered in the 2012 playoffs while playing for the Knicks. After taking the last season off (he spent a lot of time around the Knicks), he 34-year-old said he plans to return to the NBA this season.
"My whole thing is to get in the best shape of my life and by September or October be ready to showcase my talent and try out for whoever I need to try out for," he said. "I think the most important thing is being in shape."
He’s right, because this has long been the most important thing with Davis, with the possible exclusion of his shot selection.
Before we can get into any of the usual quibbles with Davis’ game, though, we have to step back and look at the obstacles that he’ll be asked to overcome.
Baron Davis was not that great a basketball player when he went down with that injury in 2012. Conditioning issues from the lockout the year before could explain away some of his declining production, but Davis’ poor play with the New York Knicks in 2011-12 seemed the logical extension of a player that had bounced to his fourth team in less than four years, shooting low percentage shots and turning the ball over far too much along the way.
More than a quarter of the possessions Davis used up in 2011-12 ended in turnovers, and if you run a 22 percent mark in that field (an infamous title that usually goes to a stone-handed big man) you’ll “lead” the league. And this was no small sample size, because the guy played nearly 600 minutes that year. Meanwhile, Davis’ shooting from the floor (37 percent on the season) dipped under 40 percent for the fifth time in his career, as his long-range gunning (5.1 three-pointers for every 36 minutes played, despite shooting just 30.6 percent) dominated his contributions. Davis rarely penetrated, shooting a free throw every 24 minutes, a miserable mark considering just how many other possessions he used up with missed bombs from outside, or turnovers.
This wasn’t a lost year. After years of declining fortunes and a refusal to admit that, hey, Baron Davis is not all that great of an outside shooter, this was the appropriate result at age 32. This is what happens when you don’t change your on-court habits, and I don’t think any amount of off-court changes can help the guy. Baron could be in fabulous shape this October. What will it matter if he’s still chucking away at his career percentages, and once again rarely getting to the line?
People get caught up in the name and the potential for this stocky, springy, sometimes-shoot-y point guard to dominate games. They forget that, throughout his career, he really never was the guy that we wanted him to be all that much. Baron averaged 4.1 free throws for 36 minutes played in his career, hardly the mark of some athletic basher that wants to get into the lane.
As a person, I like Baron Davis a lot. And I want this to succeed – especially if Davis is allowed to end his final NBA game by walking off the court under his own power. Before moving on to a post-playing career that could be pretty entertaining; Baron’s a clever guy, still young in the non-basketball realm, and he can always come back to the league in some sort of coaching capacity down the road.
As even a short-term investment, though, can’t there be other point guard options out there that should grab the spot that Davis covets? Surely some D-Leaguer could, at the very least, top what Davis gave the Knicks some two years ago.
Two years ago, before the crippling knee injury, and entrance into his mid-30s. That’s a lot to overcome.
The playgrounds and school yard courts come alive when the temperature warms up, with kids watching the NBA Finals and mimicking their favorite players. High school players hit the AAU circuit, crisscrossing the country for premier tournaments and college recruiting is in full effect.
And for years, the NBA simply sat out. The championship would conclude in June, the draft would take place a week later and then the league would go dark for the rest of the summer.
"The problem was in the old days, they would build up the draft, then nothing because they'd concede to baseball," Warren LeGarie said. "That was a mistake."
LeGarie, an agent who represents some prominent NBA coaches, has helped turn the Las Vegas summer league into an event that keeps the league in the headlines well into July. What started as a six-team gathering that was thrown together on the fly in 2004 has blossomed into a 22-team summit that includes a tournament, owners' meetings and one of the few chances for agents and representatives from all 30 teams to meet in one place to hash out contracts, discuss trades and lay the groundwork for future deals.
"We want it so that people know that there's great basketball, but there's also a way to break down the walls so that people can reacquaint, develop new acquaintances or in some cases repair old acquaintances," LeGarie said. "There was a lot of face to face. We created something like the winter baseball meetings, where people can come in converse, do business, and then get down to the business of basketball."
LeGarie had been lobbying the league for quite some time to bring the summer league to Las Vegas for a centralized event. Several satellite leagues had been run in the past, in places like Colorado, Boston and on the campus of Loyola Marymount in California. But the fractured nature of the meetings made it difficult for schedules to be coordinated, and the door opened for LeGarie in 2004. Boston hosted the Democratic national convention, leaving a dearth of hotel rooms for the teams scheduled to participate in the summer league.
LeGarie got Boston, Washington, Cleveland, Phoenix, Denver and Orlando for the first Vegas summer league, and it quickly grew to a 16-team field. At the behest of Adam Silver, who will take over for David Stern as NBA commissioner in February, the NBA got directly involved in 2007, paying LeGarie, Albert Hall and VSL Properties to put on the event while helping with promotion and organization.
"It's highly successful," Silver said. "The competition is terrific. We feel very much a part of the community in terms of our participation, our owners, GMs and coaches feel very welcome here and it's created fantastic programming."
The summer league games are broadcast on NBA TV and ESPN has a SportsCenter set on scene at the Thomas and Mack Center. The games feature high-profile rookies, but most of the scouts and executives watching from the stands are more interested in evaluating the many players who come to Vegas with no contract for the coming season. Everyone is constantly searching for the next diamond in the rough, the unknown talent who is either coming off an injury or hasn't been put in the right situation yet.
A player like Gary Neal.
The Spurs guard went undrafted in 2007 and played in Spain, Turkey and Italy for three years before San Antonio invited him to play for its summer league team in 2010. He played well enough to earn a three-year contract and has established himself as a key cog for a team that lost to the Miami Heat in seven games in the finals this season.
Read more here: LAS VEGAS: Vegas league puts NBA on summer map - Business Breaking News - MiamiHerald-com
The playgrounds and the schoolyard courts come alive when the temperature warms up, with children watching the N.B.A. finals and mimicking their favorite players. High school players hit the Amateur Athletic Union circuit, crisscrossing the country for premier tournaments. College recruiting is in full swing. And for years, the N.B.A. simply sat out. The finals would end in June, the draft would take place a week later and then the league would go dark for the rest of the summer.
“The problem was in the old days, they would build up the draft, then nothing because they’d concede to baseball,” said Warren LeGarie, an agent who represents several N.B.A. coaches. “That was a mistake.”
LeGarie has helped turn the Las Vegas summer league into an event that keeps the league in the headlines well into July. What started as a six-team gathering that was thrown together on the fly in 2004 has blossomed into a 22-team assembly that includes a tournament, owners’ meetings and one of the few chances for agents and representatives from all 30 teams to meet in one place to hash out contracts, discuss trades and lay the groundwork for future deals.
“We want it so that people know that there’s great basketball, but there’s also a way to break down the walls so that people can reacquaint, develop new acquaintances or in some cases repair old acquaintances,” LeGarie said. “There was a lot of face to face. We created something like the winter baseball meetings, where people can come in, converse, do business, and then get down to the business of basketball.”
LeGarie had been lobbying the league to bring the summer league to Las Vegas for a centralized event. Several satellite leagues had been run in the past in places like Colorado and Boston and on the campus of Loyola Marymount in California. But the fractured nature of the meetings made it difficult for schedules to be coordinated, and the door opened for LeGarie in 2004. Boston hosted the Democratic National Convention, leaving a dearth of hotel rooms for the teams scheduled to participate in the summer league.
LeGarie enrolled Boston, Washington, Cleveland, Phoenix, Denver and Orlando for the first Vegas summer league, and it quickly grew to a 16-team field. At the behest of Adam Silver, who will take over for David Stern as the N.B.A. commissioner in February, the league got directly involved in 2007, paying LeGarie, Albert Hall and VSL Properties to put on the event while helping with promotion and organization.
“The competition is terrific,” Silver said. “We feel very much a part of the community in terms of our participation; our owners, G.M.’s and coaches feel very welcome here; and it’s created fantastic programming.”
The summer league games are broadcast on NBA TV, and ESPN has a “SportsCenter” set at Thomas & Mack Center. The games feature high-profile rookies, but most of the scouts and the executives watching from the stands are more interested in evaluating the many players who come to Las Vegas with no contract for the coming season. The teams are searching for the next diamond in the rough, the unknown talent who is coming off an injury or has not been put in the right situation.
A player like Gary Neal, the Spurs guard who went undrafted in 2007 and played in Spain, Turkey and Italy for three years before San Antonio invited him to play for its summer league team in 2010. He played well enough to earn a three-year contract. And Jeremy Lin started to make a name for himself with the Dallas Mavericks summer league team in 2010, earning a contract with the Golden State Warriors.
There are also mirages in the desert, players like Anthony Randolph, Jonny Flynn and Randy Foye, who starred in the summer league but had trouble gaining traction in the N.B.A. And although most of the rosters are peppered with no-names, journeymen and guys who will never become stars, it feeds the hard-core basketball fans who were left for too long without anything to sink their teeth into once the draft concluded.
“They never understood the kind of appetite there was from not the normal fan, the rabid fan,” LeGarie said. “The guy who lives and breathes with stats, with information and stories and background and all these things that sound quaint, but to these guys it’s the lifeblood, their passion.”
Over the years, the summer league has expanded to two gyms on the Nevada-Las Vegas campus and is holding a tournament that will crown a champion for the first time. “That’s making it way more competitive out here,” said Shabazz Muhammad, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first-round pick, out of U.C.L.A. “Guys are trying on defense and making each other better for the season, which is a good thing.”
When Mike Brown first got into coaching in the early 1990s, veteran Bernie Bickerstaff would pull him aside for little chats on climbing the ladder in the NBA. One lesson stood out more than any other.
"He told me, 'Young buck, don't ever burn any bridges in this business or in life,'" Brown said. "It was an easy piece of advice for me to follow because that's how I'm built. You appreciate any opportunity that you are given in life and try to make the most of it."
That approach paid off in a big way for Brown this summer. He made those comments while standing outside of the Cleveland Cavaliers summer league team locker room at the Thomas and Mack Center, dressed in a polo shirt with the Cavaliers logo on the left breast. Three years after being fired by the Cavaliers, Brown was rehired to run the show for a second time in Cleveland. "It was weird for a while," Brown said of wearing the wine and gold colors again. "But it was a seamless transition for myself and my family. It almost, to a certain degree after we got over the initial shock of it, it almost felt like we never really left. It was almost like we went on vacation or something like that for a little bit."
He's not the only one. Many have learned this summer that you can go home again.
Reunions are all the rage across the league these days, with some more surprising than others. Flip Saunders has taken over as president of basketball operations in Minnesota eight years after the Timberwolves fired him as head coach. Larry Bird has returned to Indiana's front office after a year away, and Kurt Rambis has been talking to the Los Angeles Lakers about returning to the bench as an assistant coach under Mike D'Antoni.
Chauncey Billups signed with the Detroit Pistons, the team that he led to a title in 2004 and then traded him four years later. And Metta World Peace is joining the New York Knicks 14 years after they passed on the local St. John's star in the 1999 NBA draft.
"He's really excited to be joining his hometown team," said his agent Marc Cornstein. "That's obviously been something that's been a dream of his since growing up in Queensbridge."
In many of those cases, the key to the reunion lies in how both sides handled the initial exits. Firings and trades in the NBA often can be about more than simply business. Feelings are hurt. Egos are bruised. Bridges aren't just burned, they're vaporized.
Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor fired Saunders as coach in 2005, about half a season after Saunders led the team to the Western Conference finals. He didn't take the news well, feeling like a scapegoat for a team that had much deeper issues. But through the years, including during coaching stops in Detroit and Washington, Saunders maintained contact with Taylor, and the two repaired any ill will and became confidantes again. Saunders had some discussions last year about helping a group buy the Timberwolves. When it became apparent that Taylor wasn't ready to sell, Saunders was hired to replace David Kahn as the team's top basketball executive. Saunders also became a minority partner.
"I never feel that whenever I leave that I try to burn bridges. I try to look at the positives," Saunders said. "Would I envision being back here in this position? Probably not.
"But what's different is that when I left and went through maybe that mourning period, Glen and I talked and we still shared a lot of the same philosophies. I think if you ask me over the last five years, did I ever think that it would never happen? No I always thought there was a possibility because of the relationship that we had."
Even more startling has been the candor expressed by Taylor, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and Pistons GM Joe Dumars. Admitting mistakes isn't common for men in power in professional sports, but all three have been candid while welcoming Saunders, Brown and Billups back into the fold.
"I've said that to him — do it all over again, absolutely not," Dumars said of trading Billups to Denver in a package for Allen Iverson in 2008. "Wouldn't have ever made that move with him. Whatever you do in these seats, you have to own it, good and bad."
Brown coached the Cavaliers for five seasons and led them to the playoffs in each year. He teamed with LeBron James to take the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2005, but Gilbert fired him after they lost to the Celtics in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals in the hope of keeping James happy. James left for Miami and Gilbert was left with regret.
"Maybe he's meant to be here," he said at Brown's introductory press conference.
Brown may be the same person who coached in Cleveland three years ago. But after parting ways with the Cavs the first time, and spending just over a season with the Los Angeles Lakers, he said he returns to the city a different coach.
"When you go through trials and tribulations, whether it's positive over negative or whatever, you grow in all types of ways," Brown said. "I felt like I've grown. I've felt like I've matured not only on the floor as a coach, but even off the floor, too."
Most of the lottery picks admitted to nerves on the eve of the NBA draft and even in the minutes leading up to its start. But in that split second – or painfully slow-motion second, depending on who's listening – when each heard his name called by NBA commissioner David Stern, all of that changed. Away went the uncertainty, and, in its place, clarity.
A city to live in. A roster to join. Cars/houses to buy.
"It's like a weight was just taken off (your shoulders) after running, like, five miles," said Victor Oladipo, taken second overall by the Orlando Magic. "It's relaxing, man. But at the same time it's all just getting started.
"I'm looking forward to getting there to Orlando, meeting my teammates – I can't wait to meet my teammates and create a bond with them and go to war with them every night."
For Bennett, the No. 1 overall pick, hearing his name called was a shock, particularly after weeks of speculation that the Cleveland Cavaliers would be choosing between Nerlens Noel or Alex Len.
"I'm just as surprised as everybody else," Bennett said. "Everything was up for grabs."
So what's next?
Family members of potential lottery picks met with Shirley Barnes, mother of Golden State Warriors' Harrison Barnes, Wednesday night to talk about what to expect in the future. Players met with Barnes himself and Andre Iguodala earlier Thursday to offer advice and wisdom, No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett said.
"You're on a bigger stage," Bennett said of Barnes and Iguodala's message. "Stay level-headed. Stay humble. Take care of your body and everything will be fine."
Representation will be an important part of these players' lives as they move forward. Some signed with agents months ago when they declared for the draft; others went through a drawn-out process to pick theirs. They knew it was a potentially life-changing decision.
Trey Burke, who went No. 9 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, chose his father to represent him. He said after weeks of being pulled in different directions, it was the right call.
Oladipo said, "It wasn't very difficult for me. I say in every situation in my life, divine intervention leads me to my goals. … During the season, I didn't get any calls from anybody. I wasn't accepting any calls. … After the season, I sat down with Coach (Tom) Crean, all my coaches, people I trust. We picked two (agents) and interviewed them. We got down to two, and they met with family. My family has my best interest at heart."
That's how most of these lottery picks feel – this process is also all about family. Bennett said his first purchase as a pro will be "anything my mom picks out." Others want to buy cars and houses for their parents.
Otto Porter Jr., who was drafted third overall to the Washington Wizards, grew emotional when asked about what his selection means to his parents, Otto Sr. and Elnora, who raised him in a basketball-crazy town in rural Missouri.
"It was amazing to see the smile on his face and my mom's face, raising me, raising me the right way," Porter said, his eyes glassy.
Sounds like a good reason to give back. Others, like Nerlens Noel, who was drafted No. 6 overall and traded to Philadelphia, already have plans involving charity.
Noel, whose parents were both born in Haiti, wants to start a foundation in Haiti.
"I really want to give back and make that kid smile, that kid who's been going through tough times," Noel said Wednesday. "I'm really fortunate to be in this position."
For these lottery picks, life is about to change drastically, providing both opportunities and potential pitfalls. But on this night, as past, present and future collide, there were a lot of smiles – and sighs of relief.