The pre-draft process is well underway in the NBA as the 2016 NBA Draft fast approaches. While this particular class has been billed as a two-player one, there are still several talented players who project as major contributors later in the draft.
Among those players is Providence point guard Kris Dunn. Currently number five on the DraftExpress big board, Dunn is seen by many as the best player in the draft after the combination of Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram.
And it appears that Dunn thinks the same way, and perhaps even sees himself as a contributor to the consensus top-two picks. At least according to Chad Ford of ESPN, Dunn’s workout schedule reflects that:
Kris Dunn hasn’t done a team workout with a little more than a week to go before the draft. He’s refusing to do 1-on-none workouts with teams. Will only workout for teams if it’s against Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram or Jamal Murray source says. Dunn is currently projected in the 3 to 8 range. Sixers, Lakers, Celtics, Wolves, Pelicans and Kings have all shown interest in Dunn.
It appears that Dunn is trying to specify where exactly he would like to be drafted. That is not too surprising as there have already been rumors that he would not release information to the Suns so that he could fall to the Wolves if he is not drafted in the top three.
As for trying to compete with Simmons and Ingram, Dunn should probably forget it. Those two are much better prospects based on superstar potential and youth. Dunn, for all his strengths, is simply not at that level. Starting from the third pick down, I would not be shocked at any team drafting him although team needs may make him drop a bit.
The decision to not workout for certain teams is probably not that big of a deal. Prospects do it all the time and it usually does not affect draft status. But it does offer some insight into how Dunn and his representation are tackling the pre-draft process.
At the point guard position, Jamal Murray is likely Dunn’s biggest competition and if Dunn wants to prove something he can try to compete with him in workouts. But Murray has already started that process and impressed while Dunn is sitting and waiting.
It would not be surprising if Kris Dunn’s strange insistence on controlling the draft backfires and he falls a bit while someone like Murray climbs up draft boards.
