NBA draft rumors: Latest reports around teams, players

The latest news and rumors on top prospects and where they might be headed as the NBA draft approaches.

The NBA rumor mill continues to churn as we move closer to the June 25 NBA draft. The Warriors finished off the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals on Tuesday, setting the off-season in motion. Check back often as we update below with the latest draft scoops, news, rumors and possible transactions.

For more on the NBA draft, check out Chris Mannix’s latest first-round mock draft and Jake Fischer’s Q&A with Kristaps Porzingis, a Latvian prospect who has reportedly climbed up many teams’ draft boards.

The draft will be held June 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Minnesota Timberwolves hold the No. 1 pick, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers.

June 18

• Willie Cauley-Stein had his best workout with the Knicks, reports the New York Post.

• Kentucky head coach John Calipari said on a teleconference on Thursday that he had spoken to Knicks director of player personnel Mark Warkentien about Cauley-Stein, but not president Phil Jackson or head coach Derek Fisher.

• Calipari also said he heard Jackson walked away from a Kentucky practice impressed by forward Trey Lyles.

• D’Angelo Russell said he “killed” his workout with the 76ers on Wednesday, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.

• The Raptors are working out six guards on Thursday, including R.J. Hunter, Terry Rozier and J.P. Tokoto, according to TSN's Josh Lewenberg.

• Hornets general manager Rich Cho said his team will take the best player available with its No. 9 pick. Cho also said that he would “love to move up,” but it depends on what it would take to do so.

• D’Angelo Russell is working out for the Timberwolves on Thursday, reports ESPN's Chad Ford.

• If the Celtics move up in the draft to No. 9, they may target Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein, according to ESPN's Chad Ford. 

• Texas' Jonathan Holmes is a fan of Stan Van Gundy and the Detroit Pistons, the former Longhorn told the Detroit Free Press. Even though Detroit wouldn't select him until the second round—the 38th pick of the draft—Holmes visited the Pistons on Wednesday. Holmes is projected by some to be a late first-round pick. 

June 17

• Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler is reportedly seeking a short-term deal, according to Yahoo! Sports. Butler is an unrestricted free agent and made $4.4 million last season.

• The Minnesota Timberwolves will meet with Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns on Friday, Real GM's Shams Charania reports. It remains unclear whether he will workout for the team. 

• The Milwaukee Bucks will hold workouts for R.J. Hunter, Jerian Grant, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Bobby Portis, and Justin Anderson. The Bucks have 17th pick and the 46th pick in the draft. 

• Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the Knicks’ unsigned 2014 second-round pick from Greece, could return overseas if the team does not sign him after the draft, reports the New York Post.

• Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smithtold ESPN.com's Chris Broussard that he will likely opt out of the final year of his contract. Smith is scheduled to make $6.4 million next season. Smith added that he “absolutely” wants to be back in Cleveland. 

• Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Greentells the San Jose Mercury News that he is likely returning to the team next season. Green will be a restricted free agent this summer.