2011 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Thunder Really Likes Kyle Singler? - May 21


At the 2011 NBA Draft Combine Thursday in Chicago, almost all of the players fielded questions about which teams they met with and worked out for. Most of the answers were pretty standard, but a couple responses stood out.

Like this one from former Duke Blue Devil forward Kyle Singler.

"I had three different meetings yesterday: Detroit, Oklahoma City and Memphis, and Oklahoma City's pretty interested," Singler confidently said to me.



If you check out our latest 2011 NBA Mock Draft, you'll coincidentally see we had Singler going to... yes, the THUNDER!

A team without a glaring need, Oklahoma City could use a true small forward to back up Kevin Durant. Kyle should be able to adequately fulfill that role due to his ability to shoot the ball, experience and work ethic without affecting Oklahoma City's young chemistry.

The 6-9 native of Medford, Ore. has not worked out with any teams yet, but he is scheduled with the San Antonio Spurs. He was also scheduled to meet with six league teams this week at the Combine. Singler sharpened his skills last summer with the USA Select Team, and said that the toughest guy he went against in camp was Kevin Durant (praising his "future teammate?") as the best player in camp.



Singler also played the four in college, and is among the best offensive rebounders in Duke history. His draft stock, and his college basketball career, peaked as a junior when he averaged 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds while leading Duke to the NCAA Championship, its second-straight ACC Tournament title, and a 35-5 record overall. He earned first team All-ACC accolades as well as NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player and ACC MVP honors as a junior.

Singler underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee at the Duke University Medical Center last summer, fully recovering to have a very solid, but somewhat unspectactular senior season which caused his stock to drop a bit. So what is the Thunder, or any team that is, to draft him getting?

"A solid player, well-rounded, can do a lot of things, does the small things, and I'm a winner," he said when I asked what his best selling points are.

And conversely, what does Singler need to show to increase his draft stock?

"I probably have to show my athleticism a little more and get a little bigger," he responded.



Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:

2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
2011 NBA Offseason Winners - 12/23
2011 NBA Offseason Losers - 12/23
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/22
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/20
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/16
Chris Paul Trade Analysis - 12/15
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/14
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/10
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/9
Five Players Likely to Be Traded After NBA Lockout - 7/7
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southwest Division - 7/6
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Northwest Division - 7/5
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Pacific Division - 7/3
Cavaliers-Kings Trade Recap - 7/1
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Atlantic Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Central Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southeast Division - 6/29
2011 NBA Draft Trade Recaps - 6/25
2011 NBA Draft: Bobcats-Kings-Bucks Three-Way Trade - 6/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: How Kyrie Irving Compares to John Wall and Derrick Rose - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Kyrie Irving Ready to be a Franchise Point Guard - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kemba Walker is the Most Undervalued Player in the Draft - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Derrick Williams a Power Forward or Small Forward? - 6/22
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Wait, Kansas' Marcus and Markieff Morris are Twins??? - 6/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Jordan Hamilton Using Yoga to Help His NBA Draft Stock - 6/18
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Tristan Thompson Benefits from Weak Draft Class - 6/17
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kawhi Leonard's Versatility is His Biggest Asset - 6/14
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Chris Singleton is a Lottery Sleeper - 6/13
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Where Does JaJuan Johnson Fit in the NBA? - 6/11
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kentucky's DeAndre Liggins Made Right Decision in Entering NBA Draft - 6/10
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Should a Marijuana Arrest Affect NBA Draft Stock? - 6/9
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Nolan Smith Has Different Identity On and Off Court - 6/7
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Wall Mentoring Darius Morris - 6/5
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Brandon Knight Worth Third Overall Pick? - 6/2
Rumor: Cavs, T-Wolves, Pistons Discussing 3-Way Trade - 5/29
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Josh Selby Putting Kansas Behind Him - 5/28
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Marshon Brooks Rising Up Draft Boards - 5/26
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Alec Burks Connected to Bobcats - 5/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Combine Measurements - 5/21
Thunder Really Likes Kyle Singler? - 5/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Day 1 - 5/20
2011 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/16
2011 NBA Free Agents - 5/3
NBA Offseason and Draft Blog - Home

Leave a comment Name Comment Verification: click on image to refresh it   A Chris Paul Fan 12-16-2011 12:23 am xxx.xxx.xxx.216 (total posts: 1) 19     20 Chris Paul is a great player, I think he's the best PG in the NBA and capable of making any team into an instant playoff team. That said the Clippers gave up way to much for a player with bad knees who may leave in a two years. If they'd been able to keep Gordon or the draft pick then i'd like the deal a lot more. If Paul stays healthy and long term it'll make it a lot less lopsided. As of now i'd say it's a big win for the Hornets considering that Paul was leaving anyways and this was the best deal they could have gotten. Of course if Eric Gordon realizes that New Orleans is a crappy basketball market and leaves as soon as possible it'll make it much worse for the Hornets. David 12-10-2011 09:40 am xxx.xxx.xxx.159 (total posts: 2) 42     17 Glen Davis was traded to the Magic... Bass was on the Magic and got traded to Boston Yung Rapist Killa 07-09-2011 10:59 am xxx.xxx.xxx.189 (total posts: 1) 23     20 Lebron James trade? John L. 07-07-2011 01:25 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.140 (total posts: 2) 21     22 "I don't quite completely understand. If the team cuts a player, and still has to pay the player's salary, what's the point of it?" So that they don't have to pay the luxury tax for that player. Which is eight figures for the likes of Walton/Haywood/Arenas. John L. 07-07-2011 11:20 am xxx.xxx.xxx.140 (total posts: 2) 24     21 You forgot the most likely - Pau Gasol. The Lakers know they need to make a move, and Gasol wants out. Don't be shocked when he's sent to an Eastern Conference team like Atlanta or Orlando. Dave 07-07-2011 09:23 am xxx.xxx.xxx.159 (total posts: 2) 21     21 I don't quite completely understand. If the team cuts a player, and still has to pay the player's salary, what's the point of it? nycsportzfan 07-07-2011 05:44 am xxx.xxx.xxx.134 (total posts: 1) 25     23 I think it would be wise for the knicks to look into trying to obtain Chris Kaman, and going way of hte Mavericks and builidng like that.. Give em Landry Fields and toney douglas, and then u got Melo, Amare, Kaman, Billups, Shumpert, re-sign Shawne Williams, Turiaf, harrelson, re-sign ant carter, sign Deshawn Stevenson, rautins, and re-sign bill walker..THen u have more money after the season as well.. Kaman Amare Melo Shumpert Billups Shawne Williams(re-signed Turiaf Deshawn Stevenson(sign) Harrelson Ant Carter(re-sign) Rautins Bill Walker(re-sign) jgardner12 07-02-2011 01:21 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.37 (total posts: 2) 21     21 Ahh did not know that part of the rule, thanks for clearing that up for me. David Kay 07-01-2011 04:51 pm xxx.xxx.xxx5.17 (total posts: 1) 21     21 @jgardner12 The rule in 2005 stated a team cannot re-sign the player they cut... which is why I would be hesitant to cut Johnson especially with Crawford a free agent, suddenly you have no shooting guard. @waltair I believe the fifth year has an option on it, so I should have stated three-years, $21 million guaranteed waltair 06-30-2011 02:56 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.199 (total posts: 3) 21     21 LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT waltair 06-30-2011 02:55 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.199 (total posts: 3) 25     20 outlaw has 4 year 28 mil on his contract jgardner12 06-30-2011 01:01 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.37 (total posts: 2) 30     21 While I understand staying loyal to your star, the hawks should defiantly use it on Johnson. JJ is a wonderful player and they want him in ATL but seriously the dude isn't worth it. I mean the money he has left is close to the amount that Wade took to stay in Miami.. Again while I understand the predicament a JJ led team isn't going to win anything so might as well admit your mistake of signing him and sign him if possible to a more in line contract.. Walter 06-30-2011 01:24 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10) 22     22 @Dave - Now I do. The only Allen error was in the header, hence it was an editing mistake on my part. David spelled Allan correctly everywhere else. Dave 06-29-2011 04:59 pm xxx.xxx.xxx0.25 (total posts: 1) 21     20 You do know it's spelled A-L-L-A-N, right? Mile High 06-25-2011 11:20 am xxx.xxx.xxx.153 (total posts: 1) 21     21 the reason the Nuggets dealt Felton was because he wants to be a starter, which he will never be in Denver. Ty Lawson is the Franchise guard, and keeping Felton impedes his progress. Therefore, they traded Felton, a rising star with high value, for Miller, who will accept coming off the bench, plus they picked up Hamilton who they were targeting. Pages: 1 2 3 4 56 7

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22

2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25

2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG

2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23

2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)

2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports

2010-11 NBA Season Previews

2009 NBA Draft Grades





2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 25


2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22


2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21


Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20


NFL Picks - Feb. 3