Sources: Hornets Consider Zeller with #10

After trading starting center Emeka Okafor to the Wizards on Wednesday, the New Orleans Hornets are more likely now to give serious consideration toward using their No. 10 overall pick in the draft on June 28 to select North Carolina 7-foot center Tyler Zeller, sources confirmed. Although Hornets General Manager Dell Demps won’t say for sure who they will select, their need to obtain a center has increased significantly.

With center Chris Kaman set to become a free agent July 1 and unlikely to re-sign with the Hornets, power forward Jason Smith is the only player on the roster who has played any significant time at center.

The Hornets traded Okafor and forward Trevor Ariza to Washington in exchange for forward Rashard Lewis and the 46th overall pick in the second round of the draft.

via John Reid of The Times Picayune

Lakers’ Bryant Tops Jersey Sales Again

The National Basketball Association (NBA) today released its first-ever overall international top selling jerseys list and five-time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant has the most popular NBA jersey internationally.  The top 15 list was based on sales at adidas locations outside the United States during the 2011-12 NBA season.

Chicago’s Derrick Rose, Miami’s LeBron James, Boston’s Kevin Garnett and Orlando’s Dwight Howard, round out the top five. The list features three players in the NBA Finals: James, Dwyane Wade and Kevin Durant. International stars such as Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol from Spain, Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki from Germany, San Antonio’s Tony Parker from France, and Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio from Spain made the top 15.

The NBA also announced the top five selling jerseys in key regions: China, Europe and Latin America. In China, Bryant has the top selling jersey for the sixth straight season while Rose moves up to No. 2. Bryant had the top selling jersey in Europe and Latin America this season.

Warriors Interested in Brandon Roy

Warriors general manager Bob Myers said on Friday morning that the team has interest in former Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy, who has made it clear that he will try to play in 2012-13.

“It’s a possibility,” Myers answered, when asked if the Warriors would have interest in Roy. “He’s an easy phone call to make.”

“I told (Roy) when he was amnesty-ed … ‘I hope this isn’t it for you. Make sure this isn’t it. He’s said publicly he wants to come back, so I’ll start to talk to him. It depends how everything goes for us and what his expectations are and all of that. But absolutely I’ll talk to him.”

via Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com

Cavs, Bobcats Consider Swapping Picks?

As Charlotte continues to ponder its decision at No. 2, numerous executives expect the Bobcats to be approached by Cleveland (No. 4) about the possibility of swapping picks (if it hasn’t happened already) in order for the Cavaliers to land Florida shooting guard Bradley Beal. While Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving is known to be a huge proponent of drafting North Carolina small forward Harrison Barnes, it appears Beal has shot up their big board just as he has so many others, and it’s widely believed that he won’t get past Washington at No. 3 if they don’t make a move.

The Cavs have four picks (Nos. 4, 24, 33, 34), and those could be enticing to the Bobcats as assets should they decide to pursue both quality and quantity in this draft. It would make some sense, considering they’re coming off such a horrific season (league-record-low winning percentage of .106) and need so much roster help. What’s more, if the widely held opinion that Washington would take Kentucky small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at the No. 3 spot if Beal was gone held true, the Bobcats could still get Barnes at No. 4 if that’s the direction they wanted to go. 

via Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated

Prospects Pass On Work Out with Kings

Meanwhile, somebody forgot to give the top five picks a map that included Sacramento.

Despite having the fifth pick, it appears the Kings will not work out the player that they may very well wind up taking. Someone is bound to slide from the top-tier group that includes (Bradley) Beal, (Harrison) Barnes, (Michael) Kidd-Gilchrist and (Thomas) Robinson, but they have all decided against working out in Sacramento and — unless something changes — don’t appear to be scheduling anything in the eleventh hour here, either. Nonetheless, the Kings aren’t expected to hesitate on taking any of those players just because they didn’t take part in a workout.

The Kings have drafted a player who didn’t work out for them before, as that was the case with Gerald Wallace when he was taken 25th overall by Sacramento in 2001.

via Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated

Bradley Beal No-Brainer for Wizards?

The Wizards made the first big trade of the offseason, sending Rashard Lewis and the 46th pick to New Orleans for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza. With the deal, the Wizards essentially upgraded their front court — Okafor will likely be their starting 5, Nene their starting 4 and Ariza their starting 3.

With John Wall running the point, that leaves them with one big hole at the 2. I think this makes Bradley Beal a no-brainer for the Wizards, who are lacking a lights-out perimeter shooter. He’s a perfect fit for this new roster.

via Chad Ford of ESPN

Did Mike Miller Play His Last NBA Game?

(Mike) Miller might do it to himself — to his NBA career, anyway — and he might do it soon. He says he will meet with doctors, “see what parts work and don’t,” and then talk it over with his wife, his coach, his owner, and with team president Pat Riley. Miller has three years left on the five-year, $25 million contract he signed in 2010, but he doesn’t want to steal anyone’s money. He wants to be fair to everyone, starting with his family but also including his teammates. He doesn’t want to be a burden on them, take up a roster spot next season if he can’t contribute.

This would be a hell of a way to go out, Miller knows. I told him as much, said I wasn’t trying to chase him out of the NBA but, man, what a way to go. He smiled wearily again, nodded, said it was a very real option.

“If it is [the end], I couldn’t paint a better picture to go out on top like this as a champion,” he said.

via Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports