Latest news with #HoopsHype
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 NBA mock drafts: Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis frequently linked to Rockets
When the 2025 NBA draft lottery resulted in the Houston Rockets (via Phoenix) landing the No. 10 overall pick in the first round, Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis was a popular early projection at that slot. Two weeks later, over the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend, that largely remains the case. Advertisement This Sunday is exactly one month until the June 25 first round, and Jakucionis is still the consensus projection for the Rockets at No. 10. As part of their latest aggregate mock draft, our friends at HoopsHype explain the methodology: These rankings reflect the composite score of 10 mock drafts (ESPN, CBS Sports, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, Babcock Hoops, USA Today, SB Nation and For The Win) to get a feel for the overall consensus. Regarding Jakucionis and the Rockets, HoopsHype's Cyro Asseo de Choch writes: They would like someone who fits Ime Udoka's switchable and high-IQ system. Kasparas Jakucionis is a top guard prospect, combining elite playmaking with excellent size and offensive versatility. The Illinois freshman showcased advanced floor vision and pick-and-roll mastery (0.934 points per possession, or PPP, as ball-handler, 65th percentile), operating as a primary initiator while maintaining efficient decision-making (1.073 PPP in isolation). His ability to play both on and off-ball adds valuable lineup flexibility, though his inconsistent 3-point shooting and modest transition production (0.568 PPP) currently limit his ceiling. Defensively, he uses his length well (0.867 PPP allowed) but lacks elite quickness, raising questions about his ability to contain NBA guards. While not an explosive athlete, his high basketball IQ, international experience, and well-rounded skill set make him a strong lottery candidate for teams seeking a big, creative guard who can develop into a starting-caliber playmaker. An assistant coach told HoopsHype: 'Kasparas is the real deal. This is another classic example of a combo point guard. Look, Tyrese Haliburton is still who I love to compare him to. The difference between Kasparas and Jeremiah (Fears) is that I have fewer doubts about Kasparas's playmaking ability at the professional level. He gets to the line pretty well; maybe that's just because he's a big point guard going up against smaller defenders in college, but I'm a big fan of his. Plus, he comes from Lithuania, which adds another layer to his skill set. It wouldn't shock me if he ends up being the best out of the three guards after (Dylan) Harper.' More: Kasparas Jakucionis: NBA draft scouting report and intel As of Saturday, HoopsHype's draft predictor formula also lists Jakucionis as the most likely selection (30.8%) at No. 10. South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles (23.6%) is second. Some media reports have indicated that Houston is looking to shop the No. 10 pick on the trade market for a win-now upgrade, since the Rockets already have a deep stockpile of young players to develop. The Rockets struggled to find consistent minutes for guard prospects Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore in 2024-25, so adding Jakucionis to the mix could create a logjam. Advertisement Then again, the Rockets have shown they won't hesitate to use their NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers, for developmental purposes. So, it's possible that if they view a prospect such as Jakucionis to be the best player or asset available (relative to other potential picks or trade options), they could initially play him in the G League while waiting to see if the surrounding roster construction changes — be it from injuries or trades. With the 2025 NBA draft now approximately one month away, expect speculation to ramp up more over the days and weeks ahead. More: ESPN: Rockets willing to shop 2025 draft pick for win-now upgrade This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: 2025 NBA mock drafts: Kasparas Jakucionis frequently linked to Rockets
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
How hard will the Nets dip into the NBA restricted free-agency market?
How hard will the Nets dip into the NBA restricted free-agency market? The Brooklyn Nets head into the 2025 NBA offseason with a myriad of ways in which they can improve the roster, from the 2025 NBA Draft to free-agency. Brooklyn has four first-round picks to use in the upcoming Draft, but they will have to use free-agency to build the rest of the team around their incoming rookies, but it will be interesting to see how they approach free-agency. "Others around the league have wondered if Brooklyn would dip into the restricted free agent market this summer with players such as Josh Giddey, Jonathan Kuminga, Santi Aldama, and Quentin Grimes all available," HoopsHype's Michael Scotto wrote earlier in May. Free-agency in this current landscape in the league is usually not about the best players given that those guys usually have player options, but the restricted free-agents are the interesting cases. Per HoopsHype, the best player available this summer that doesn't have a player option is Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner and the run that the Pacers are on right now in the Eastern Conference playoffs, it's safe to say that Turner is returning to Indiana. Giddey, who played for the Chicago Bulls this season, is coming off an impressive season as he averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 37.8% from three-point land. Kuminga, who has had an uneven career during his time with the Golden State Warriors, is coming off a season with averages of 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per contest while shooting 45.4% from the floor and 30.5% from deep. Aldama, who played power forward and center for the Memphis Grizzlies, has an interesting profile heading into restricted free-agency as he is averaging 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game on 48.3/36.8/69.1 shooting splits. Lastly, Grimes, who split last season between the Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers, increased his status significantly since landing in Philadelphia as he averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 46.9% from the field and 37.3% from behind the three-point line. All four of these players are sure to get significant pay raises this summer, but it will be interesting to see if any of them will be in Brooklyn next season.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA mock drafts: Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis frequently linked to Rockets
When the 2025 NBA draft lottery resulted in the Houston Rockets (via Phoenix) landing the No. 10 overall pick in the first round, Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis was a popular early projection at that slot. Two weeks later, over the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend, that largely remains the case. Advertisement This Sunday is exactly one month until the June 25 first round, and Jakucionis is still the consensus projection for the Rockets at No. 10. As part of their latest aggregate mock draft, our friends at HoopsHype explain the methodology: These rankings reflect the composite score of 10 mock drafts (ESPN, CBS Sports, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, Babcock Hoops, USA Today, SB Nation and For The Win) to get a feel for the overall consensus. Regarding Jakucionis and the Rockets, HoopsHype's Cyro Asseo de Choch writes: They would like someone who fits Ime Udoka's switchable and high-IQ system. Kasparas Jakucionis is a top guard prospect, combining elite playmaking with excellent size and offensive versatility. The Illinois freshman showcased advanced floor vision and pick-and-roll mastery (0.934 points per possession, or PPP, as ball-handler, 65th percentile), operating as a primary initiator while maintaining efficient decision-making (1.073 PPP in isolation). His ability to play both on and off-ball adds valuable lineup flexibility, though his inconsistent 3-point shooting and modest transition production (0.568 PPP) currently limit his ceiling. Defensively, he uses his length well (0.867 PPP allowed) but lacks elite quickness, raising questions about his ability to contain NBA guards. While not an explosive athlete, his high basketball IQ, international experience, and well-rounded skill set make him a strong lottery candidate for teams seeking a big, creative guard who can develop into a starting-caliber playmaker. An assistant coach told HoopsHype: 'Kasparas is the real deal. This is another classic example of a combo point guard. Look, Tyrese Haliburton is still who I love to compare him to. The difference between Kasparas and Jeremiah (Fears) is that I have fewer doubts about Kasparas's playmaking ability at the professional level. He gets to the line pretty well; maybe that's just because he's a big point guard going up against smaller defenders in college, but I'm a big fan of his. Plus, he comes from Lithuania, which adds another layer to his skill set. It wouldn't shock me if he ends up being the best out of the three guards after (Dylan) Harper.' More: Kasparas Jakucionis: NBA draft scouting report and intel As of Saturday, HoopsHype's draft predictor formula also lists Jakucionis as the most likely selection (30.8%) at No. 10. South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles (23.6%) is second. Some media reports have indicated that Houston is looking to shop the No. 10 pick on the trade market for a win-now upgrade, since the Rockets already have a deep stockpile of young players to develop. The Rockets struggled to find consistent minutes for guard prospects Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore in 2024-25, so adding Jakucionis to the mix could create a logjam. Advertisement Then again, the Rockets have shown they won't hesitate to use their NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers, for developmental purposes. So, it's possible that if they view a prospect such as Jakucionis to be the best player or asset available (relative to other potential picks or trade options), they could initially play him in the G League while waiting to see if the surrounding roster construction changes — be it from injuries or trades. With the 2025 NBA draft now approximately one month away, expect speculation to ramp up more over the days and weeks ahead. More: ESPN: Rockets willing to shop 2025 draft pick for win-now upgrade This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: 2025 NBA mock drafts: Kasparas Jakucionis frequently linked to Rockets
USA Today
24-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NBA mock drafts: Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis frequently linked to Rockets
2025 NBA mock drafts: Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis frequently linked to Rockets HoopsHype's aggregate mock draft and draft predictor both have Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis as Houston's most likely pick at No. 10 overall. When the 2025 NBA draft lottery resulted in the Houston Rockets (via Phoenix) landing the No. 10 overall pick in the first round, Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis was a popular early projection at that slot. Two weeks later, over the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend, that largely remains the case. This Sunday is exactly one month until the June 25 first round, and Jakucionis is still the consensus projection for the Rockets at No. 10. As part of their latest aggregate mock draft, our friends at HoopsHype explain the methodology: These rankings reflect the composite score of 10 mock drafts (ESPN, CBS Sports, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, Babcock Hoops, USA Today, SB Nation and For The Win) to get a feel for the overall consensus. Regarding Jakucionis and the Rockets, HoopsHype's Cyro Asseo de Choch writes: They would like someone who fits Ime Udoka's switchable and high-IQ system. Kasparas Jakucionis is a top guard prospect, combining elite playmaking with excellent size and offensive versatility. The Illinois freshman showcased advanced floor vision and pick-and-roll mastery (0.934 points per possession, or PPP, as ball-handler, 65th percentile), operating as a primary initiator while maintaining efficient decision-making (1.073 PPP in isolation). His ability to play both on and off-ball adds valuable lineup flexibility, though his inconsistent 3-point shooting and modest transition production (0.568 PPP) currently limit his ceiling. Defensively, he uses his length well (0.867 PPP allowed) but lacks elite quickness, raising questions about his ability to contain NBA guards. While not an explosive athlete, his high basketball IQ, international experience, and well-rounded skill set make him a strong lottery candidate for teams seeking a big, creative guard who can develop into a starting-caliber playmaker. An assistant coach told HoopsHype: 'Kasparas is the real deal. This is another classic example of a combo point guard. Look, Tyrese Haliburton is still who I love to compare him to. The difference between Kasparas and Jeremiah (Fears) is that I have fewer doubts about Kasparas's playmaking ability at the professional level. He gets to the line pretty well; maybe that's just because he's a big point guard going up against smaller defenders in college, but I'm a big fan of his. Plus, he comes from Lithuania, which adds another layer to his skill set. It wouldn't shock me if he ends up being the best out of the three guards after (Dylan) Harper.' More: Kasparas Jakucionis: NBA draft scouting report and intel As of Saturday, HoopsHype's draft predictor formula also lists Jakucionis as the most likely selection (30.8%) at No. 10. South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles (23.6%) is second. Some media reports have indicated that Houston is looking to shop the No. 10 pick on the trade market for a win-now upgrade, since the Rockets already have a deep stockpile of young players to develop. The Rockets struggled to find consistent minutes for guard prospects Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore in 2024-25, so adding Jakucionis to the mix could create a logjam. Then again, the Rockets have shown they won't hesitate to use their NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers, for developmental purposes. So, it's possible that if they view a prospect such as Jakucionis to be the best player or asset available (relative to other potential picks or trade options), they could initially play him in the G League while waiting to see if the surrounding roster construction changes — be it from injuries or trades. With the 2025 NBA draft now approximately one month away, expect speculation to ramp up more over the days and weeks ahead. More: ESPN: Rockets willing to shop 2025 draft pick for win-now upgrade
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carlos Boozer expected to join Utah Jazz as a scout
According to Michael Scotto, the Utah Jazz are expected to bring Carlos Boozer into the organization as a scout. From HoopsHype: In other news, former two-time Jazz All-Star forward Carlos Boozer is with the team here at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago and is expected to join the organization as a scout, league sources told HoopsHype. This is a fun move by the Jazz to have Boozer close to the organization. But it's also a smart idea, Boozer should bring great insight with the different big men the Jazz might bring in. The other obvious wrinkle to this is the fact that Boozer's son, Cam Boozer, will very likely be a top-3 pick in the draft next season. The fact that Boozer is happy to join the Jazz and be in Utah, bodes well for the future of Cam Boozer potentially being in Utah. Advertisement It's very likely that Utah will be in a similar spot in the lottery next season, and I hope the Jazz get a Boozer AND 1!!! and bring Cam Boozer into the organization next year as the star they've been waiting for. This is looking like the beginning of a really fun story. In case you haven't seen Cam Boozer play, here are some of his highlights: More from
