Michael Qualls' rookie season is over before it got a chance to start.
The Arkansas product tore his ACL in a workout with the Phoenix Suns on Friday, an injury that was diagnosed when he showed up for a workout with the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.
He's expected to miss 6-to-12 months, according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, effectively killing his chances of getting drafted. Qualls was already a bubble second-round pick - DraftExpress ranked him as the No. 40 prospect, while ESPN ranked him No. 48 - but his performance in the NCAA tournament had impressed enough that it was likely he'd hear his name called.
An incredible athlete and effective open-court player, Qualls earned praise for his toughness and his offensive versatility but was hurt by his lack of an effective jump shot. If that stroke improved, he'd have a clear place in the league, but without it, there was uncertainty about his eventual role - hard-nosed defenders who can barrel into the paint to draw contact certainly have utility, but they're a tough offensive fit if defenders can ignore him outside.
While it's still possible a team takes Qualls with a second-round pick with the intention of bringing him in for 2016-17 - the Philadelphia 76ers have five second rounders and would probably consider such a move - the injury more than likely means Qualls will have to play his way onto a roster once healthy.
Fast-rising Payne also injured
Qualls wasn't alone in getting injured at a workout in the last few days. Hot point guard prospect Cameron Payne suffered a wrist contusion in a workout with the Denver Nuggets on Monday, a relatively minor setback.
Payne's workout schedule isn't readily available, but this could keep Payne from doing a second workout with interested teams. The Murray State export has been flying up draft boards since the pre-draft process began, to the point that he's been linked to teams as high as No. 6, and is now ranked 10th by ESPN and 20th by DraftExpress.
It was believed Payne had a promise from the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 14, but it's grown increasingly unlikely he's even available at that point. A dangerous scorer with good playmaking instincts off the bounce, Payne measured and tested well at the combine and is also said to have impressed teams in his interviews.
