The NBA should be celebrated for carefully executing its safety protocols in the Orlando, Florida, area while presenting an on-court product to the standard we've all come to love and expect...
Zion Williamson Won't Play vs. Kings After Pelicans Eliminated from Playoffs
Aug 10, 2020
New Orleans Pelican's Zion Williamson warms up for the team's NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)
Williamson was one of three players listed on the team's injury report, joining Jrue Holiday (right elbow contusion) and Brandon Ingram (right knee soreness).
The Pelicans have already been eliminated from postseason contention, as they have no path to finishing eighth or ninth in the Western Conference and thus can't make the play-in tournament.
Fans may have seen the last of the 2019 No. 1 overall pick this season. New Orleans has two seeding games left, neither of which carry much stakes for the team with the playoffs no longer attainable.
As a result, playing Williamson for Thursday's finale with the Orlando Magic wouldn't make a ton of sense when adopting a pragmatic view.
The Pelicans have been carefully managing his workload all season, a process that went backward with the NBA's lengthy hiatus.
Williamson was on the court for a little more than 29 combined minutes in New Orleans' first two games after the restart. Even for what was effectively a postseason eliminator, the 6'6" forward played for 27:11 in Sunday's 122-113 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs.
By comparison, Williamson logged 30-plus minutes in each of the Pelicans' final eight games before the league suspended the season.
Should this be it for the former Duke star's season, he lived up to the hype in his limited time on the floor. Williamson is averaging 22.5 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 58.3 percent from the field.
Zion, Pelicans Eliminated from Playoff Contention After Blazers' Win over 76ers
Aug 9, 2020
New Orleans Pelican's Zion Williamson warms up for the team's NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)
That there would be a play-in tournament for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference between the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds if the No. 9 seed was within four games following the seeding contests made it seem all the more likely.
So much for that.
New Orleans was eliminated from playoff contention Sunday when the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 124-121. Damian Lillard was nearly unstoppable with 51 points and seven assists, bolstering his team's chances of making the playoffs in the process.
The Pelicans already lost earlier Sunday, 122-113 to the San Antonio Spurs.
As a result, Portland is just a half-game behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed, while the Phoenix Suns are one game behind the Trail Blazers. The Spurs are also alive a half-game behind Portland.
That race for the No. 9 seed is critical too, as being No. 10 or lower means elimination even if a team is within four games of the No. 8 spot. Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press noted the Sacramento Kings were also eliminated with the Trail Blazers' win.
As for the play-in tournament, the No. 9 seed will have to win two straight games against the No. 8 seed to get that playoff spot. The No. 8 seed will have to win just one of two contests.
The winner will get the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.
Zion Williamson: Pelicans' Effort Early in Loss vs. Spurs Was 'Not Acceptable'
Aug 9, 2020
San Antonio Spurs' DeMar DeRozan, right, goes up for a shot against New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
The rookie phenom had some strong words about the team's effort after the game.
Zion Williamson on coming out slow in loss to Spurs that pushed Pelicans to brink of elimination: “Not acceptable. The lack of spirit in the first half dictates the second half.” pic.twitter.com/MOPpBNM2zQ
The Pelicans are now just 2-4 in the Florida bubble and have fallen 1.5 games behind the Portland Trail Blazers in the race for the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference. That seed will have the chance to compete in a play-in series to reach the postseason.
If the Blazers beat the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, however, the Pelicans will be eliminated from postseason consideration.
For Pelicans to make the playoffs, they need the Suns to lose two, Blazers to go 0-3, Spurs to lose two.
The Pelicans had an excellent chance to make the playoffs coming into the bubble. But after Sunday's effort, those dreams are all but gone.
Zion Williamson Drops 25 as Pelicans' Playoff Hopes Fade with Loss to Spurs
Aug 9, 2020
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, center, with help from teammate Derrick Favors (22) takes a shot as he gets past San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
The San Antonio Spurs secured a much-needed victory over the New Orleans Pelicans as they look to qualify for the 2020 NBA playoffs.
The Spurs earned a 122-113 win Sunday in Kissimmee, Florida.
The result could have significant ramifications for the Pelicans. Should the Portland Trail Blazers defeat the Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans would be eliminated from postseason contention.
The Pelicans were down as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter before trimming the deficit to three points with 3:01 to play. The Spurs went on an 8-0 run to jump ahead 113-102 with 43.1 seconds on the clock, effectively icing the result.
Notable Stats
Brandon Ingram, SF, Pelicans: 6-14 FG, 17 points, six rebounds, five assists, one steal
Zion Williamson, SF, Pelicans: 10-20 FG, 25 points, seven rebounds, one assist
JJ Redick, SG, Pelicans: 10-16 FG, 31 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal
DeMar DeRozan, SF, Spurs: 10-16 FG, 27 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal
Dejounte Murray, PG, Spurs: 5-14 FG, 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block
Rudy Gay, SF, Spurs: 5-11 FG, 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals, one block
Gay, DeRozan Power Spurs Offense
Rudy Gay was big off the bench for the Spurs, doing a little bit of everything in addition to his 19 points. He knocked down a pair of three-pointers and attacked his defender off the dribble when he found a mismatch.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich rolled with DeMar DeRozan at the 4 to open the game. DeRozan's scoring output speaks to how successful the gambit was, and the Pelicans were unable to use their frontcourt size to their benefit on the other end.
I feel like it says a lot about where Derrick Favors is at that the Spurs are defending him with DeMar DeRozan and the Pelicans aren't even looking at Favors on offense.
— FanDuel Sports Network Southwest (@FanDuelSN_SW) August 9, 2020
DeRozan's 15 points in the fourth quarter were pivotal in keeping the Pelicans at bay.
Derrick White left the game in the third quarter, with the Spurs announcing he suffered a left knee contusion. White had 16 points prior to exiting, continuing his strong performance since the NBA restart. He had averaged 21.8 points, 5.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds in San Antonio's first five contests entering Sunday.
Given the fact that the Spurs still have some work to do, White's absence could be a big problem for them if his knee injury limits his availability over the team's final two games.
Pelicans' 2nd-Half Surge Falls Short
New Orleans outscored San Antonio 32-19 in the third quarter to turn what was shaping up to be a blowout into a tight game. Zion Williamson missed the final 7:12 of the quarter, so the Pelicans had the chance to really turn the tide in the fourth quarter.
Jaxson Hayes (+12) and Nickiel Alexander-Walker (+10) in the final 5-6 minutes of that third quarter.
Gentry rolling with both of those guys to start the fourth here with Zion Williamson, Josh Hart and JJ Redick.
That was a 32-19 third quarter for the Pelicans and it feels like there's still one more Zion Williamson scoring burst to come in the fourth quarter. What appeared to be an easy Spurs win has gotten interesting. https://t.co/cZ7GtN3KDw
Gay quickly connected on a three-pointer while getting fouled by Jaxson Hayes. That made it an eight-point game, and New Orleans couldn't string together enough defensive possessions to erase San Antonio's lead.
The Pelicans' time in the bubble isn't over, but their last two outings will feel somewhat anticlimactic with the postseason all but out the window. That, in turn, could alter how much head coach Alvin Gentry leans on Williamson.
The No. 1 overall draft pick made a positive impact in his 27 minutes on the floor, crashing the offensive glass and using his strength to muscle inside against the Spurs defense.
The backcourt combo of Lonzo Ball and Jrue Holiday struggled mightily, though, to offset Williamson's contributions. Ball and Holiday combined for 12 points on 4-of-22 shooting.
Missing the playoffs is a disappointing outcome since the offseason additions of JJ Redick and Derrick Favors spoke to the front office's ambitions. The franchise has a bright future ahead nonetheless while building around the foundation of Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
What's Next?
The Spurs and Pelicans are both back on the court Tuesday after a day off. San Antonio plays the Houston Rockets at 2 p.m. ET, while New Orleans tips off against the Sacramento Kings at 9 p.m. ET.
NBA Announces Finalists for MVP, Rookie of the Year, 6th Man of the Year, More
Aug 8, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo tries to drive past Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 111-104. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
The NBA has officially announced the finalists for each of its 2019-20 regular-season awards, highlighted by Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and James Harden in the MVP race.
The league declared the seeding games in Florida wouldn't factor into the awards races, so only everything that happened through March 11 is being considered.
Antetokounmpo has been the favorite to win his second straight MVP seemingly since the season began, but James made a late push before the play was suspended.
Here are the finalists for each of the major awards.
NBA MVP Finalists
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
James Harden (Houston Rockets
NBA Rookie of the Year Finalists
Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)
Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
Kendrick Nunn (Miami Heat)
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Finalists
Montrezl Harrell (Los Angeles Clippers)
Dennis Schroder (New Orleans Pelicans)
Lou Williams (Los Angeles Clippers)
NBA Most Improved Player Finalists
Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans)
Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Finalists
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
NBA Coach of the Year Finalists
Nick Nurse (Toronto Raptors)
Billy Donovan (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Mike Budenholzer (Milwaukee Bucks)
The most fascinating race could be the battle for Coach of the Year.
The National Basketball Coaches Association voted Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks and Billy Donovan of the Oklahoma City Thunder as co-winners, but ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors was one vote short of making it a three-way tie.
Antetokounmpo's quest to become the first back-to-back MVP winner since Stephen Curry (2014-15, 2015-16) seems like a safe bet. He averaged 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists in his 57 games being considered.
In addition to those traditional counting stats, Antetokounmpo's defensive contributions are instrumental to Milwaukee's success. He's also a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. His 32.04 player efficiency rating in 2019-20 is the highest single-season total ever tracked by Basketball Reference.
No player has won MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1993-94.
James will attempt to spoil Antetokounmpo's MVP party by winning the award for the fifth time. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar hasn't won the award since the 2012-13 season. He led the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference this year and is averaging a career-high 10.3 assists per game.
Harden can join Moses Malone as the only Houston Rockets players to win multiple MVP awards if he pulls off an upset in the voting. The Beard leads the NBA in scoring for the third straight season (34.3 points per game), in addition to averaging 7.5 assists and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Rookie of the Year seems like Ja Morant's to lose, though Kendrick Nunn has been a vital part of the Miami Heat's success in the Eastern Conference. Nunn ranks fourth on the team in scoring (15.2 points per game) and shoots 35.6 percent from three-point range.
Zion Williamson is expected to become the biggest star from this year's rookie class. The New Orleans Pelicans standout offered a glimpse of what his future could look like, leading all first-year players with 22.4 points per game.
Unfortunately for Williamson, his pre-hiatus resume only consists of 19 games because of a torn meniscus that kept him out of action until Jan. 22.
Morant was drafted to be the centerpiece of the Memphis Grizzlies' next successful era. The 20-year-old wasted no time in making a positive impact, averaging 17.8 points and 7.1 assists per game and posting a 48.1 shooting percentage.
The Grizzlies are the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference thanks in large part to Morant's scoring and playmaking skills.
While the NBA hasn't offered a date for when the awards will be given out, an official release from the league issued on July 21 stated that TNT will announce the winners during its coverage of the postseason.
Zion Williamson Will Rest for Pelicans vs. Wizards Because of Back-to-Back Games
Aug 7, 2020
CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 6: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during the game against the Chicago Bulls on February 6, 2020 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
The 2019 No. 1 overall pick underwent surgery in October for a torn meniscus, which kept him out until January.
Williamson didn't disappoint in his debut, dropping 22 points and grabbing seven rebounds in a 121-117 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 22. He scored 17 straight points during a three-minute stretch of the fourth quarter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF6O_wV_4qY
That game also showed how the Pelicans are taking every precaution with the rookie phenom. Alvin Gentry took him out of the game with five minutes, 23 seconds remaining in the fourth rather than extending his playing time more than what had been recommended by team trainers.
While fans obviously want to see Williamson play without any minutes restrictions, Gentry has said New Orleans is firmly looking at the bigger picture.
That holds even more true with the NBA resuming the 2019-20 season following a lengthy hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many are left wondering whether staging games now—a time when many players are enjoying their offseason—could increase the risk of injury.
The Pelicans face a delicate balance between managing Williamson's workload and maintaining their push for a playoff berth.
Williamson's health will take priority. For every game he's absent, though, New Orleans risks slipping further out of the postseason race.
It's far from time for the Los Angeles Lakers to panic, but following a 113-97 loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday, they're now 2-3 in the NBA 's reboot...
Zion Williamson, Pelicans Defeated by De'Aaron Fox, Kings in High-Scoring Battle
Aug 6, 2020
Sacramento Kings' Alex Len (25) reacts while dunking on the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
The Sacramento Kings are still alive in the Western Conference playoff race thanks to their 140-125victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.
Zion Williamson had his best game of the restart, scoring 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting in just 22 minutes.
Entering the day, the Kings had lost each of their first three games since the NBA season restart and had the worst record among all teams still playing in the West at 28-38.
Thursday's victory moves the Kings into a tie with the Pelicans and Phoenix Suns, but they are still 2.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for eighth and 1.5 games back of the Portland Trail Blazers for ninth.
The Pelicans' loss is devastating to their playoff pursuit, even with a favorable schedule remaining. They entered the day tied with the San Antonio Spurs and one game back of the Blazers for the No. 9 seed.
New Orleans doesn't have any games remaining against teams with winning records, but it will need help over the final week of the season to reach the postseason.
Amid all the excitement about Zion Williamson's potential to be part of the NBA playoffs in his first season, one thing that got overlooked is how bad he—and the Pelicans—have been on defense all year.
They entered Thursdayranked18th in defensive efficiency and 27th in points allowed per game (116.7).
Things have been especially alarming since the restart, beginning with the Los Angeles Clippers shooting 25-of-47 from three against New Orleans on Aug. 1.
The Kings had no problem taking advantage of New Orleans' defense from the jump with 49 points in the first quarter.
Bogdan Bogdanovic is on pace to go 20-for-20 from three today.
Pelicans really are a bigger name/higher profile version of the Kings
Low effort vs. teams they feel are inferior & can just roll the balls out against & beat. No defense. Dudes who think they’ve arrived that haven’t done s—t. https://t.co/uhh9IRax28
Sacramento did slow down in the second quarter with just 28 points, allowing the Pelicans to get within seven at halftime. Ultimately, though, the Kings kept the pressure going and were too much to overcome.
It's plausible to assume this is merely a one-season anomaly and things will get better for the Pelicans. They didn't have Williamson for most of the year because of injuries and minutes restrictions. Rookies are also known for struggling on defense out of the gate.
The Pelicans do have a lot of defensive talent. Jrue Holiday is one of the most respected players on that side of the ball among his peers:
"You are the best one-on-one defender I have ever seen in my entire life," JJ Redick to Jrue Holiday@Jrue_Holiday11 is the latest guest on The JJ Redick Podcast!
As long as head coach Alvin Gentry preaches to his players the importance of locking down opponents, the Pelicans should be fine next season. They haven't looked ready for the challenge since the season restarted, which could cost them a spot in the playoffs.
Fox, Bogdanovic Give Kings Hope
When the Kings were at their best during the 2018-19 season, there was an air of excitement around the franchise for the first time in years.
The Ringer'sDan Devine included the Kings among his five most interesting teams last season:
The Kings lead the Pelicans 77-70 at the half. Bogdanovic has 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 shooting from 3-point range. Fox has 16 points and six assists. Sacramento is shooting 59.2% from the field and 62.5% from beyond the arc.
"Sacramento's ignominious league-leading playoff drought will indeed continue for another year, but there's something to be said for the fact that the Kings remained alive until the end of March and did so by playing a vibrant, frenetic brand of basketball that revitalized a long-moribund franchise and introduced the NBA to some young players on the road to stardom."
At the heart of Sacramento's surge was an offense capable of scoring with anyone in the NBA. De'Aaron Fox was a budding star; Buddy Hield earned a contract extension after averaging 20.7 points per game and shooting 42.7 percent from three; and Marvin Bagley III showed promise as a rookie with 14.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
This season has been much more in line with the Kings teams that came before 2018-19. Hield has regressed and is shooting under 40 percent from three (38.9) for the first time since he was a rookie in 2016-17. Bagley's season ended after 13 games because of a foot injury.
Despite a number of issues, Thursday did offer a glimmer of hope for the Kings' future. Fox and Bogdan Bogdanovic were at the peak of their powers on offense.
Bogdan Bogdanovic sets his career high for PTS (19) and 3PM (5) in a quarter❗️
The Kings lead the Pelicans 77-70 at the half. Bogdanovic has 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 shooting from 3-point range. Fox has 16 points and six assists. Sacramento is shooting 59.2% from the field and 62.5% from beyond the arc.
Bogdanovic is eligible for restricted free agency this offseason, but The Athletic'sJason Jonesreported in April that Sacramento intends to match any potential offer the 27-year-old might receive.
A nucleus of Fox, Bogdanovic and a healthy Bagley is a good start for the Kings. Hield has a high ceiling if he can return to the shooting form he displayed before this season.
There is something for Sacramento to build around. It will require a lot of things to go right for the franchise to make the playoffs in the Western Conference, but Thursday was a good indication of what the team can be in a best-case scenario.
What's Next?
The Pelicans will be back in action on Friday when they take on the Washington Wizards at 8 p.m. ET. The Kings will play the Brooklyn Nets at 5 p.m. ET on Friday.
NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz on Zion Williamson, Pelicans' Restart Schedule, More
Aug 4, 2020
New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson (1) shoots in front of Memphis Grizzlies' Brandon Clarke (15) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 3, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
New Orleans Pelicans rookie sensation Zion Williamson's minutes have been a major talking point during the NBA restart in Orlando, Florida.
The No. 1 overall pick had some dominant spurts in the team's first seeding game against the Utah Jazz on Thursday, scoring 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting as New Orleans built an early lead. But as the Pelicans' lead slipped away, fans were left wondering why he wasn't on the floor.
Williamson played just over 15 minutes against the Jazz, and he was on the court for just over 14 minutes of action during a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.
Writers such as The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor wondered at the timing and allocation of these minutes, suggesting the Pelicans lost a "winnable" game against the Jazz by keeping the 20-year-old off the floor. The player himself addressed the minutes restriction on Sunday, saying it has been a tough adjustment.
Pelicans president of basketball operations David Griffin tried to explain New Orleans attempts to get Williamson a lot of work in during warmups so he can provide those explosive bursts in the first few minutes of quarters.
Or, perhaps there is another rationale for the Duke product's pregame structure: The Pelicans are still working to get him back up to speed.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported on his podcast that he spoke to a scout who claimed Williamson was "moving worse than he did" in the NBA Summer League last year. This same scout also suggested he should not even be playing in the restart.
There are other components to this whole situation. Zion displayed what appeared to be a much different physique at the beginning of July. But he was apart from the the Pelicans for nearly two weeks due to a family medical emergency, and he was not a certainty to play against Utah until a few days prior. As a result, he has occasionally looked to be stuck in the mud defensively.
Seth Partnow of The Athletic noted the Jazz and Clippers combined to score 152.5 per 100 possessions in the 29 minutes Williamson was on the floor. Utah and L.A. shredded the Pelicans both from the perimeter and at the rim with Zion in the game, also dominating the offensive glass. Indeed, Williamson was -16 during the loss to the Jazz and -17 against the Clippers.
However, the former Blue Devils star showed signs of life in a win against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday. He played 25 minutes, scoring 23 points on 9-for-21 shooting after making just two of his first seven attempts. He also chipped in seven rebounds and five assists, and he was plus-8 for the contest.
The Pelicans are fighting for a playoff spot. One team source told Joe Vardon of The Athletic they expected to possibly struggle in its first two games, irrespective of the noise surrounding Williamson.
But Monday's win was a big step forward for New Orleans. Not only was Zion more active and impactful, but the Pelicans also dropped the Grizzlies—who entered the restart as the eighth seed in the Western Conference—to 0-3 in Orlando.
The Pelicans still trail Memphis by 2.5 games, and they are also still a half-game behind the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs. However, the team's next five games are much friendlier.
New Orleans has a couple days off before a matchup with the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. Their next four games include another tilt with the Kings, as well as the Spurs, Washington Wizards and Orlando Magic.
The schedule seems to line up well for the Pelicans, but all eyes will continue to be on Williamson as New Orleans looks to secure a spot in the play-in tournament for the eighth and final seed.
Xavier Tillman Could Fall to Second Round
Michigan State big man Xavier Tillman established himself as a force to be reckoned with for the Spartans during the 2019-20 NCAA basketball season.
The 21-year-old entered MSU as a backup, but his prowess especially on the defensive end of the floor helped him become entrenched in Tom Izzo's lineups.
Tillman started all 31 games for the Spartans, averaging 13.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists to go along with 1.2 steals and 2.1 blocks.
The Grand Rapids native's two-way versatility and efficiency (55 percent shooting last year) would seem to make him a top frontcourt target in the draft this fall.
However, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic reported "people in front offices" are not high on Tillman, and he expects him to fall between the 25th and 40th picks:
"Right now, I’d say the consensus on him from NBA teams is somewhere in the 25 to 40 range. I’d be pretty surprised if he got beyond No. 45, and I’ll be stunned if he doesn’t end up with a guaranteed deal by the end of the offseason. But teams are worried that the shot won’t ever fully come along, and that they’ll be drafting a backup center."
At just 6'8," Tillman does not have a ton of size. He also isn't much of a shooter from the perimeter, though he might be able to become a pick-and-pop threat in the NBA.
However, what he lacks in physical attributes and overall upside, he seems to make up in sheer dedication and effort.
Tillman might not be a first-round pick, but it seems likely he will be drafted come October.
