Report: Duke's Luke Kennard moving up draft boards
Today's NBA is driven by shooters and their ability to space the floor. Duke wing Luke Kennard is capitalizing on that.
The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 19.5 points on 43.8 percent 3-point shooting in his second season with the Blue Devils, numbers which have garnered "overwhelmingly positive" feedback from NBA general managers going into the NBA draft, according to ESPN's Chad Ford.
Based on conversations with GMs this week, I put him in the third tier of first-round-caliber players, but teams are increasingly grouping him with other second-tier prospects.
An anonymous GM within the top 14 picks called Kennard "the best shooter in the draft" and noted "there's no way he gets to us," according to Ford.
Along with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kennard has also worked out for lottery teams like the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Miami Heat. Other lottery teams set to host Kennard are the Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks, and Charlotte Hornets.
Ford pegged Kennard's floor on draft night at the 12th overall pick, which currently belongs to Detroit, while the Knicks, who hold the No. 8 overall pick, are seriously considering taking the shooter.
Ultimately, his fate will be decided June 22 when the draft goes down in the Big Apple. At the moment, however, it sounds like Kennard won't have to wait long to hear his name called.