Sunday, June 10th, 2012 at 11:13 am  |  41 responses

Report: Austin Rivers Receives Promise From Team in Late Lottery


With the NBA Draft only a couple of weeks away, many potential draftees are currently working out for various teams, a process that players tend to conclude when they receive a promise from a squad that they’ll be selected if they’re still on the board when that team is picking. And according to Yahoo!, former Duke guard Austin Rivers has earned himself a promise from a franchise with a pick in the late lottery: “One NBA assistant coach said he was surprised Austin Rivers didn’t work out at the NBA’s predraft combine here Thursday. The East scout expects Rivers to be selected in the Nos. 10-20 range, but an NBA source told Yahoo! Sports that Rivers has a promise late in the draft lottery. The Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Washington Wizards and New Orleans Hornets plan to work out Rivers. Former NBA coach Flip Saunders recently worked out Rivers and said he was as talented as shooting guard he worked out over the last 15 years. Saunders loved Rivers’ quickness, first step, shooting ability and work ethic, likening him to Golden State Warriors rookie guard Klay Thompson. ‘If I was a team in the top 10, he’s a kid I would be zeroing in on because he has the ability to score,’ Saunders said. ‘Maybe I’m partial, but I’ve always said coach’s kids who have had dads who have been in the NBA, a lot of times know what it takes. They’re not intimidated by situations. They know how hard you have to work and usually have more respect for the game.’”

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  • MDubb3

    Austin Rivers, if he stayed at Duke one more year, would have been a top 5 pick in the NBA Draft 2013

  • greg

    Why isnt his stock higher? from what ive seen he looks great

  • cbb_fanatic

    Lord, please don’t let it be the Hornets. That spot is reserved for Damian Lillard or Jeremy Lamb, but if they’re not available then Terrence Ross. If Rivers family friend coach Monty Williams put that kid on this team, I’m going to lose so much respect for that organization. I’m really looking forward to seeing Gordon, AD, and Lillard play together!

  • http://www.slamonline.com spit hot fiyah

    cbb did u see lambs interview at the combine with the reporter from portland. either dude smokes major trees or something else is wrong

  • L

    Boston ahahaha.L

  • cbb_fanatic

    @hot fiyah LOL… Yeah, I saw it. I know it looked bad, but I think he was just nervous. Besides, that has NOTHING to do with his game. But I still think Damian Lillard is the one that DESERVES to be picked at No. 10 (if not higher) and is a better scorer and assister than Rivers. You get him and AD on a team with Gordon…CRAZY!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=542782613 The White Charles Barkley

    NOW WHEN I GET PAID MY CHECKS BE LOOKING LIKE PHONE NUMBERS

  • Ill Smith

    I’m hoping it’s Phoenix. Rivers would be the perfect tool to start rebuilding w/ once Nash heads out. His stock is as low as it is cause that crippling Coach K system made his game look stiff but he’s def one of the best 4 or 5 in this draft still.

  • http://www.slamonline.com spit hot fiyah

    cbb i would also prefer lillard no doubt, and yes, it would have much to do with his ability to play ball (lamb), but still, that’s a warning sign for me

  • cbb_fanatic

    @hot fiyah One bad interview doesn’t trump everything he accomplished in his two years at UConn. And if any team wants to pass over him because of something so petty, then they don’t deserve his talent. He’s still a better prospect for the Hornets than Rivers (along with most of the other SGs in this draft).

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    I think he’s going to be way better than he’s projected. His game screams “NBA” not “NCAA” or especially “Duke” too me. Plus he’s smart. Has spent his entire life being Doc Rivers son. It’s safe to say he also has access to constantly improving as a player. So I assume, if he loves the game like is being advertised, the kid is going to be pretty damn good. Probably a fringe all-star at his peak imo

  • TRUTH

    Ill Smith, don’t blame Coach K for Austin’s inconsistencies. Rivers didn’t even try to play with his team or any kind of system. If you gonna blame Coach K for anything, it’s allowing Rivers attitude and selfishness to take away the development of his other players and chuck up shots when other players were open. But Coach K is a great coach. but yeah i hope it is the suns cause im not really a fan of phoenix (with the exception of nash whose shoes he can’t fill…nobody can really!) BTW- I heard nash was going to sign a two-year contract to stay with the suns.

  • http://www.slamonline.com spit hot fiyah

    @cbb my sentance was supposed to say: it would NOT have much to do with his ability to play ball. i have played with some nut jobs that were ballers. agree with u your points

  • http://www.dimemag.com showtime

    Too me T.Ross and rivers are the best prospect in term of long run in the Nba, there absolutely better than last years sg lotto picks of alex berc or the kid that went to goldenstate, some reason i can’t think of his name.

  • http://slamonline.com Mars

    The Kyrie saga pt. 2? Toronto? Ehh. Cleveland. Hmm? Houston? Aah Haa! We have a problem. AR15 is ballin out of control. Remember where you heard it first. SLAM, give me a job. Duke freshman actually do better than some think. Maggette, Deng, Kyrie, Duke freshman. JWill shoulda left early. Damn he was so nasty, the best college player I ever seen. For you youngnz, just think DRose+RWestbrook combined! Yes he was that sick.

  • billups

    since when are these ‘promises’ getting leaked to the media???

  • BostonBaller

    Maybe Rivers will be one of the rare Duke players who make a lasting impact on the L. I hope so.

  • http://www.twitter.com/_dfrance dfrance21

    What position is he gonna play? That’s what worries me. I know the position thing can be overblown sometimes, but he’s like a 6’3″ shooting guard, thats gonna be tough, especially without a consistent J.

  • IDOT

    I read he actually stands 6’5 with shoes and 6’3 1/2-6’4 in shoes.

  • http://www.slamonline.com aman from arkansas

    He a poor man Monta Ellis.

  • T-Money

    i don’t think he can finish at the rim in the nba.

  • Da-REAL-Meat-Hook

    Bust

  • http://slamonline.com Mars

    Amare 9th. Pierce 10th. Kobe got drafted 13th. Steve Nash 15th. Rondo 21st Tony Parker 29th. Arena 31st. Boozer 35th. Monta Ellis 40th (NOT SO POOR MAN) Stephen Jackson 43rd. Ginobili 57th. Dont fall for the hype. Top 5 tend to go to bad teams and 2nd rounders tend to have more to prove. Some just need to get to the league and play for the right team.

  • toinefan88

    @mdub3 he should be top five this year. similar 1 and done year to kyree’s.

  • Phil da Windmill

    I bet his dad wanna coach him

  • TRUTH

    @Mars All those rankings do is prove that there are sleepers in every draft and Rivers ain’t one of them. People got a chance to see him play and know that he is a selfish and inconsistent player who like to chuck up shots without looking for his team mates. Dude came into college with a lot of preconceived hype and didn’t live up to it. thats it. its not like he’s damian lillard who people knew little about. when he was projected at no. 15-20 on some boards that’s where he deserved to be. there are many SGs in the draft that could take his spot like jeremy lamb, terrence ross, will barton, and john jenkins just to name a few.

  • http://www.twitter.com/_dfrance dfrance21

    @IDOT, I know what you mean, but reread that post bro. lol

  • http://fella1hoops.com fella1hoops.com

    Rivers could’ve stayed one more year in college to improve his stock, Phoenix or Portland would be good places for him. Playing in Boston would be to much pressure on him though.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I’m assuming it’s Portland that promised him. They don’t have a PG or Jamal Crawford. So Rivers can get minutes in either role. And that team desperately needs a scorer. I am also hearing that Phoenix made a promise Dion Waiters, so….likely, they wouldn’t make the same pledge to two players

  • …

    inconsistent jumper, cant shoot free throws, tunnel vision, lacks left hand, undersized sg, poor decision making. Definitely a lottery pick…

  • Bobitto

    @nbk if Rivers has to play major minutes at point, his career wont be nearly as productive as it could be. Not comparing him in any way to D wade but when he made the change to play off the ball early in his career he blossomed. If rivers can go to a situation where he isn’t the main ball handler then the same will happen to him(on a smaller level of course). If Portland grabs him with their second pick after picking up Liliard then I’d probably be ok with that but, if they take Drummond and then Rivers, and basically hand him over the reigns at point guard then they won’t be as successful as they’d hope to be.

    And also as a Syracuse fan, I wouldn’t be mad if waiters went to Phoenix. With or without Nash I could see him doing well there.

  • http://www.myspace.com/gemaraqians LisaBonardelliBASSBABEBBKRZI**####

    I’M SO XCITED. SO when is the date they;ll have it official 4 who he’s playing for. AUSTIN RIVERS is so commanding on the floor, the game i saw versus kentucky reminded me of supermariobros….xo BB****

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Bobitto, i feel the same way that Rivers will ultimately benefit the most from playing off the ball. BUT, in his rookie year, he just needs to see the floor. the only thing i’m not sure about with Portland is if they are going the rebuilding route, or if they are trying to jump right back into the playoff hunt. If they are, then I would wager they make a move for a starting PG and draft Rivers to replace Crawford as a scorer off the bench, just with less responsibility then Crawford shouldered.

  • TRUTH

    @Lisa Calm down!!! And Duke never had the pleasure (or should I say displeasure) of playing against Duke this season.

  • http://www.nba.com VanCityBBall

    i just hope he doesnt go all gerald green and get sent to the DL for not maturing enough to the game… solid talent i hope him the best

  • jonnyg

    Rivers is SOOOOO OVERRATED!! Dude, was a dick to his teammates, shot his arm off, and has ZERO vision of the floor. If he doesn’t pass it back to you before he starts dribbling, you may as well go rebound cuz he’s shooting it. In college he was the most talented player on his team, so it didnt matter as much if he took alot of shots or didnt pass it, but in the NBA everybody is as athletic as he is, and can score, so he’s gotta learn how to dish it out when he drives to the basket outta control. He’s not a GREAT shooter like ppl think, he’s what is called a VOLUME SHOOTER. His FG% doesn’t look as bad at the end of games cuz he took 15-20 shots and got on a roll. I hope the kid does great, but I think its gonna take him smarting off to a veteran and getting his ass kicked before he realizes he aint all that.

  • ClydeSays

    First off, draft ‘promises’ aren’t worth the paper they’re not written on. If a higher rated player drops, and they usually do, your promise gets thrown out the window. Draftees would be wise to try out & interview for every team that asks. As for Rivers Jr. he looks to be another undersized college gunner who doesn’t play much D. At best, those guys wind up being solid bench players (Gordon, Reddick, etc)

  • TRUTH

    @jonnyg—100% correct, bro. but i wouldn’t say he was the most talented on the team. in the beginning of the season, seth curry was the guy with the highest ppg and fg% and 3p%. plus it was more ball movement. but i guess rivers didn’t like being second so he start hogging and that got the rest of the team out of their groove. you would think shooting over 400 shots his fg% would be higher than 43%. but i understand he’s on the coach’s son plan where he’s givin the benefit of the doubt in spite of. btw- LOL. you aint got to worry about him mouthing off to any vets. the last thing they gone tolerate is some average-shooting, entitled, prima donna coach’s son trying to tell them how to run game.

  • Basketball iQ

    the kids name you cant remember is klay thompson & he will be a star in this league. Once they add another guy like Ross, Lamb or Rivers, goldenstate will be a contender for the pacific this year

  • Basketball iQ

    john jenkins& will barton will not be near rivers.. read’m & weep draft day. the kid rivers is good. hes a scorer, he does what i expect him… and “inconsistant” jumpshot??? i dont think so, this kids work ethic is already off the charts. you can be a pre madonna when you work hard like madonna..lol ijs. bc he does!

  • Basketball iQ

    everyone has their own opinion, i know but there are some bad ones on here. too many to respond to. most of all… the kid made it. he got a lottery promise, your hate aint changing nothing

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