Devon Dotson’s NBA Draft stock is rising, CBSsports.com says; Svi had stellar season
Former University of Kansas point guard Devon Dotson has solidified his status as a first-round draft pick in CBSsports.com’s latest 2020 NBA Draft projections.
Dotson, a 6-foot-2 Charlotte, North Carolina native who decided to turn pro after two seasons at KU, will be taken with the No. 24 pick in the first round of the upcoming draft, according to reporter Kyle Boone.
CBSsports.com’s Boone had Dotson as the 29th overall pick in his last set of predictions. The two-round, 60-player draft, which originally was set for June 25 in New York, now is expected to be held Oct. 15 after the conclusion of the 2019-20 NBA playoffs. The NBA scouting combine, which normally is held in April, will likely now be held in August, according to ESPN.com.
“The speed and toughness of Devon Dotson made him a consensus All-American for Kansas last season, and it should help him carve out a nice role in the NBA if his outside shot comes along,” Boone wrote of the first-team All-Big 12 player.
“Here, I have him going to the Utah Jazz — a team in need of help at the lead guard spot as Mike Conley ages — potentially setting him up to be the initiator for Donovan Mitchell as he preps for his prime.”
Former KU center Udoka Azubuike is not listed in Boone’s draft, which only includes 30 first-round picks.
Mykhailiuk had successful season
The NBA’s Detroit Pistons, who went 20-46 before the stoppage of play on March 12 because of COVID-19 pandemic, will not be one of the 22 teams gathering in Orlando for the resumption of the season in late July. Thus, former KU guard Svi Mykhailiuk’s second season as a pro is officially over.
Mykhailiuk, 23, averaged 9 points, 1.9 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game for Detroit in 56 games. The 6-foot-7 native of Ukraine, who started 27 games, averaged 22.6 minutes per contest.
Overall, he hit 166 of 405 shots for 41% accuracy. He launched 285 three-pointers, hitting 115 (40.4%). He made 57 of 70 free throw attempts (81.4%).
Omari Sankofa of the Detroit Free Press said Mykhailiuk would finish second to the Pistons’ Christian Wood if the team presented a 2019-20 most improved player award.
Mykhailiuk averaged 3.2 points in 42 games combined for the Los Angeles Lakers and Pistons during his rookie season in 2018-19 — one in which he averaged 10.5 minutes.
“He was among the league’s top 25 shooters. It was a major reason why he was selected for the Rising Stars Game — the first Piston on the (Rising Stars) roster since Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in 2015,” Sankofa wrote.
“He hit 39.5% of his non-corner threes, 36.4% on threes from the right corner and 46.7% on threes from the left corner. Defenses always have to account for him, making him an important weapon in (coach Dwane) Casey’s offense,” added Sankofa. “He has to continue rounding out the rest of his offensive game, which isn’t nearly as effective inside the arc. Getting to the rim at a higher rate — and improving as a finisher — would increase his ceiling as a scorer. He shot 57.1% at the rim, one of the worst marks among wings. “
Pistons coach Dwane Casey told the Free Press: “He is on track to be one of our core pieces as far as his shooting ability and his ability to make plays off the dribble. He’s right with Luke (Kennard) as far as being able to put the ball on the floor and run pick-and-rolls.”
As far as salary goes … the Pistons, according to the Free Press, have a $1.7 million team option on Mykhailiuk’s contract this summer. If they pick up the option, which is reasonable to assume since he became a starter and an integral part of their rotation, he would be a restricted free agent in 2021.
Chalmers available for rest of NBA season?
Former KU guard Mario Chalmers would apparently be interested in signing with an NBA team for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, which is set to resume in July.
Chalmers on Instagram this week responded to a comment by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that some NBA teams may need replacement players if they elect to not play because of COVID-19 concerns.
Chalmers, a 34-year-old nine-year NBA veteran who has not played in the league since the 2017-18 season (he has played overseas and in the Big3 summer league), wrote: “How true is this statement. ‘Cause there is a couple of us that’s ready and waiting.”
Chalmers, a startrer on KU’s 2008 NCAA title team, helped the Miami Heat to a pair of NBA titles in 2012 and 2013.
More talk about Calipari/NBA
Kentucky coach John Calipari has said many times he’s not interested in a return to coaching in the NBA. Still, the New York Post has sources that say he should not be counted out as a possibility to become the next New York Knicks coach.
One of Calipari’s mentors and closest friends, former KU coach Larry Brown, says he does not think Calipari, who signed a 10-year lifetime contract with Kentucky last year, is interested in the pros.
“I think he’s so happy where he is,” Brown told The New York Post earlier this week. “He’s done such a great job and is so beloved there (at UK) and he’s helping kids. Those things mean something to him. I know he’s been asked before to coach in the NBA a number of times. He hasn’t given it a second thought because of how comfortable he is where he is.
“He has a chance to win the national championship every year because of the type of players he’s allowed to recruit. I can’t imagine him leaving. I really can’t. We’ve never once talked about him going to the Knicks. But I do know how competitive he is. He didn’t like not succeeding in New Jersey (where he went 72-112 in two plus seasons with the Nets).”
Brown told the Post he’s in favor of his former Detroit Pistons assistant, Mike Woodson, getting the Knicks job. Tom Thibodeau is considered a favorite.
This story was originally published June 12, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Devon Dotson’s NBA Draft stock is rising, CBSsports.com says; Svi had stellar season."
