Hawks halted trade with Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks took Donte DiVincenzo with the 17th pick in the NBA draft Thursday night. If it weren’t for a leak, the Bucks might have gotten DiVincenzo at No. 19 and some other considerations to boot.
According to Atlanta Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk, whose team owned the No. 19 pick, the Bucks and Hawks were engaged in talks to swap picks until Atlanta learned of Milwaukee’s inclination to pick DiVincenzo.
“We had the 19th pick, and we’re coming down and we’re talking actually to Milwaukee on the 17th pick, talking about trading up to get a guy we like,” Schlenk said during a radio appearance in San Francisco. “There were a couple of guys we felt really good about on the 19th pick, obviously Kevin (Huerter) was one of them, and it leaked who Milwaukee was going to take.
“So, all of a sudden, we were able to pull back out of that deal and keep the draft pick instead of packaging picks to move up, because we knew that (there were) two guys on the board we felt really good about and only one team in between us, so that was beneficial to us last night.”
The tipping of picks via Twitter has been a regular part of the NBA draft over the past few years as reporters have gotten information before the league’s official announcement. This year, according to multiple reports, ESPN and NBA partners Turner Sports and Yahoo all agreed not to tip picks.
As anyone who followed the draft already knows, that did not come to pass.
In the Bucks’ case, it’s not yet clear how the information leaked. However, about two minutes into Milwaukee’s time on the clock, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony was the first to make a clear assertion that the Bucks were taking DiVincenzo.
How much the Bucks may have lost from the leak is not yet known, but the price could have been a second-round pick in this year’s draft or future compensation.
No sanctions have yet been announced in regard to any of the NBA’s broadcast partners breaking the agreement to avoid tipping picks.
Strained relationship: San Antonio general manager R.C. Buford acknowledges star forward Kawhi Leonard is unhappy with the Spurs, but he remains optimistic the relationship can be salvaged.
Leonard has requested a trade from San Antonio because he is unhappy after missing most of last season with a right quadriceps injury. Buford would not comment on “speculation” of a trade demand, but agreed there is a fractured relationship between Leonard and the only franchise he has played for.
“Kawhi and his family mean a lot to the organization and to the community and while none of wish we are where we are, we’re going to do what we can to build the best relationship we can with him,” Buford said.
James, Cavs having ‘good dialogue:’ With one deadline looming on his future in Cleveland, LeBron James has been in contact with the Cavaliers through his representatives.
Cavs general manager Koby Altman said he has had positive discussions with the three-time champion’s group. James has until June 29 to tell the team if he will pick up his $35.6 million option for next season or become a free agent.
“We continue to have good dialogue with his management team,” Altman said. “I think LeBron has more than earned the right to approach his contracts the way he does.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.