We're just hours away from the 2015 NBA draft (7 p.m. ET, ESPN), and our writers are already busy gathering the latest news and rumors ahead of tonight's action at Barclays Center. Check back all day for the latest intel.
Mock Draft 8.2
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7:05 p.m. ET: Chad Ford has his final mock draft out and there's a pretty decent shake-up with Karl-Anthony Towns going No. 1 overall. But the Lakers making a surprise choice with D'Angelo Russell, which sets up an interesting domino effect behind them. Brian Windhorst said on SportsCenter that if the 76ers have an opportunity at Jahlil Okafor at No. 3, the Celtics, among other teams, could step in with significant trade offers.
6:58 p.m. ET: Marc Stein reports the Lakers could potentially be smoke-screening, but most believe the Lakers are zeroed in on D'Angelo Russell for No. 2 overall.
4:12 p.m. ET: Marc Stein reports that despite growing chaos within the Kings organization, they're likely to stand pat at No. 6. Their interests are a bit all over the place with Willie Cauley-Stein, Emmanuel Mudiay and Justise Winslow all candidates, although in Chad Ford's latest mock, he has the Kings taking Mario Hezonja.
3:55 p.m. ET: Chris Broussard reports the Knicks are leaning toward Emmanuel Mudiay if they remain at No. 4 but will look at Frank Kaminsky if they move down. The Knicks are said to have their fingers crossed that either Jahlil Okafor or D'Angelo Russell drops to them, but if that scenario doesn't play out, they could be tasked with moving back in the draft to likely target Kaminsky. But with Mudiay a possible candidate, the Knicks may stick at No. 4 after all.
3:20 p.m. ET: Ramona Shelburne reports the Lakers are still "undecided" on whom they're taking at No. 2, with Jahlil Okafor and D'Angelo Russell the two in consideration. GM Mitch Kupchak will be the one to make the final decision, per Shelburne, and he plans to keep the choice quiet.
2:55 p.m. ET: Andy Katz reports a number of teams believe the Pacers will take Murray State guard Cameron Payne at No. 11. Payne has seen his stock rise in recent weeks, with some speculation around the Thunder having promised the lefty point guard.
2:44 p.m. ET: Marc Stein reports the Celtics would be willing to trade guard Marcus Smart if it were to land them high in the lottery. Drafted sixth overall in 2014, Smart had a solid rookie season for the Celtics, averaging 7.8 points and 3.1 assists. He's known for his defensive tenacity, but pairing him in the backcourt with Avery Bradley leaves the Celtics limited scoring options, especially with the emergence of offensive sparkplug Isaiah Thomas, who was acquired at the trade deadline.
2:25 p.m. ET: The league tells Katz no draft pick trades were completed before the 2 p.m. ET deadline, meaning the draft order is set. Trades can still be done after a team picks a player, though. Just the pick itself can no longer be moved.
1:07 p.m. ET: Marc Stein reports the Houston Rockets' price for the No. 18 pick or Terrence Jones is higher than originally thought. But they are still exploring all options to create the necessary cap space to chase either LaMarcus Aldridge or Kevin Love. The Rockets have around $54.6 million guaranteed on their cap for next season, and that's with both Josh Smith and Corey Brewer coming off the books. The Rockets are always one of the most aggressive transactional teams, making an effort last offseason to sign Chris Bosh. With a potential chance at another premier power forward, the Rockets are looking to position themselves to at least be in the mix.
11:47 a.m. ET: Broussard reports the Knicks are leaning toward either Kristaps Porzingis, Frank Kaminsky or Trey Lyles, if both Jahlil Okafor and D'Angelo Russell are off the board. With the Knicks sitting at No. 4, they could be a candidate to trade down to a lower slot in the lottery if both Okafor and Russell have been taken ahead of their pick.
11:18 a.m. ET: Chris Broussard reports LaMarcus Aldridge is expected to leave the Trail Blazers, with one source saying, "There's a 99.9 percent chance that he's out of Portland." Broussard says the likely contenders for Aldridge include the Spurs (who top his list), along with the Lakers, Knicks, Mavericks and Hawks, with the Cavaliers in the mix as a long shot.
10:59 a.m. ET: Stein reports the Grizzlies are among teams pursuing Danilo Gallinari as they look to try to add some additional perimeter scoring, along with recently acquired Matt Barnes. Gallinari, who is making $11.5 million next season, played in 59 games last season after returning from a torn ACL. The Grizzlies already have Jeff Green on the wing, who recently exercised his player option to return next season, so adding Gallinari, along with Barnes, could create a bit of a logjam.
10 a.m. ET: Chad Ford notes if defensive big man Willie Cauley-Stein doesn't have his name called at No. 6 by the Kings, he could slip well into the later part of the first round. The Pacers are interesting at No. 11, but he could potentially fall as far as 21 to the Mavs.
10 a.m. ET: Frank Kaminsky's stock is soaring, Ford reports. His new draft range is said to be between No. 4 and No. 9, with Phil Jackson and the Knicks infatuated at No. 4 as well as Michael Jordan and the Hornets at No. 9. Another candidate could be the Kings at No. 6 as Vlade Divac is said to like the sweet-shooting 7-footer from Wisconsin.
10 a.m. ET: Ford reports a number of teams are talking trades, including the Magic, Lakers, Sixers, Knicks, Hornets and Pacers.
9:50 a.m. ET: Jeff Goodman reports the Nets are aggressively trying to move up in the draft, using big man Mason Plumlee as the main piece to attract a trade partner. Plumlee had a breakout year for the Nets last season, but with Brook Lopez appearing to be back in the team's long-term plans with his troublesome foot fully healed, Plumlee could see his role decreased.
11:30 p.m. ET (Wednesday): Ramona Shelburne reports the Lakers continue to pursue a deal for DeMarcus Cousins but understand it will take a lot to get him. The Lakers' best assets are the No. 2 overall pick, last season's first-rounder Julius Randle and breakout rookie Jordan Clarkson. That's a high ransom for Cousins, considering how Randle is impressing a lot of people in the Laker organization right now with his workouts.