Michael Jordan a Fan of Harrison Barnes’?

The Bobcats continue to talk with teams about trading the No. 2 pick. But if they keep it, most of the signals coming out of the organization point to (Thomas) Robinson being the man. He is a super athletic, physical 4 who should be an instant upgrade over Tyrus Thomas and D.J. White.

I’m hearing Harrison Barnes may be in second place on their wish list. Apparently, MJ is a fan. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bradley Beal are in the mix, too, though I’m told MKG didn’t blow anyone away in his workout for the Bobcats on Monday and also hurt his back a little.

via Chad Ford of ESPN

Pepsi MAX & Kyrie Irving Present: "Uncle Drew"

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