Zach LaVine is not excited* to join the Minnesota Timberwolves

With their 13th overall pick in Thursday night’s NBA draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected UCLA’s Zach LaVine. He was not thrilled.

To be fair, LaVine isn’t headed into an ideal situation. The 6-foot-5 guard had predicted going to the Phoenix Suns –likely one spot later rather than at No. 18 — and he’ll instead join a franchise that ranks among one of the most inept in the league. With star forward Kevin Love almost certainly on his way out, the roster might only return three players who average double-digit scoring.

As a consolation (?), he could play alongside fellow former UCLA guard Shabazz Muhammad, whom the Timberwolves picked 14th overall in 2013.

Also, I hear it’s cold in Minnesota. Good luck, Zach.

*UPDATE: Reporters asked LaVine whether or not he was aware that Twitter thought he was upset.

“No man, I’m completely ecstatic,” he said. “I couldn’t be more happy. I’m a very emotional person, so I might’ve uttered something completely wrong but I put my head down, thanked God, kissed my mom, kissed my dad, couldn’t believe this was happening to me right now. I’m going into Minnesota full-fledged ready to become a Timberwolf.”

NBA Mock Draft roundup: Where will LaVine, Anderson and Adams go?

Thursday could mark a new milestone for UCLA basketball.

Guards Zach LaVine, Kyle Anderson and Jordan Adams each have a chance to go in the first round — setting up what could be the program’s largest draft class in more than three decades.

The last time three Bruins were taken in the first round was 1979, when David Greenwood, Roy Hamilton and Brad Holland went second, tenth and 14th, respectively. UCLA came close to matching that in 2008; Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love went off the board at fourth and fifth on their way to All-NBA resumes, but Luc Richard Mbah a Moute slipped into the second round at 37th overall.

Here’s a roundup of where LaVine, Anderson and Adams are projected to go on various NBA mock drafts, in this order: ESPN’s Jay Bilas, Draft Express, ESPN’s Chad Ford, Yahoo! Sports’ Marc Spears, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, CBS, and Dick Vitale.

Bilas DX Ford Y! USA SI SN CBS Vitale
Zach LaVine 10 13 18 21 10 18 14 17 11
Kyle Anderson 24 25 21 17 15 27 18 14 26
Jordan Adams n/a 24 29 24 n/a 29 n/a 21 27

Average draft positions: LaVine — 14.67; Anderson — 20.78; Adams — 25.67 (out of six mocks)

UCLA’s Jordan Adams changes decision, declares for NBA draft

Nine days after announcing his decision to stay at UCLA, leading scorer Jordan Adams will declare for the NBA draft.

A UCLA spokesperson confirmed the news late Saturday night. Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski first broke the story.

Adams’ departure robs the Bruins of their top returning player, one that averaged 17.4 points and set a school-record 95 steals. After reaching the Sweet Sixteen in the first year under head coach Steve Alford, and for the first time since 2008, UCLA will return a roster that looks almost entirely different. Continue reading “UCLA’s Jordan Adams changes decision, declares for NBA draft” »

Kyle Anderson, Zach LaVine officially declare for the NBA draft

Guards Kyle Anderson and Zach LaVine have officially declared for the NBA draft, UCLA announced today.

Anderson’s father, Kyle Sr., told numerous outlets at various points in before, during and after the Bruins’ Sweet Sixteen run that his son was bound for the pros after his sophomore season. LaVine’s decision was reported last month.

“My two years at UCLA were two of the best years of my life,” Anderson said in a statement. “It was a tough decision to make with my family since our last game, but I have decided to enter my name into the NBA Draft. I will still continue to embrace the UCLA community, and I hope they will do the same with me.”

The school did not release any information regarding leading scorer Jordan Adams, who led the team with 17.4 points last season. The 6-foot-5 wing is still considering going pro, and has until the NBA early entry deadline on April 27 to make a decision. Continue reading “Kyle Anderson, Zach LaVine officially declare for the NBA draft” »

Report: Jordan Adams, Norman Powell file paperwork for NBA draft status

According to the Los Angeles Times, both Jordan Adams and Norman Powell have filed paperwork for NBA draft evaluations.

However, a source told me Powell will return to UCLA, though Adams is still undecided. The NBA draft early entry deadline is April 27.

Adams led the team in scoring last season with 17.4 points per game, and set a new school record with 95 steals. Bruin 247’s Neal Nieves first reported last month that Adams was exploring the possibility of going pro.

Powell was the Bruins’ best man-to-man defender, and ranked third on the roster with 11.4 points per game. The junior had a breakout year in Steve Alford’s transition offense, averaging 14.2 points on 53.8 percent shooting.

UCLA is already losing to the draft one of the most versatile players in the country in All-American point guard Kyle Anderson, as well as reserve guard Zach LaVine.