Preseason is when teams want to work through mistakes and identify the most pressing issues. Camps have now given way to games, which offer a different level of looking at a team’s identity. It would be asking for the impossible to have every problem identified, let alone remedied, by the end of October; the best-case scenario is to simply not carry too many from the start into the season. What should every team be asking itself during the preseason? We’ve got you covered. Today, we look at the Western Conference. Read More »

As part of our blowout rookie class and NBA Draft coverage in Dime 70, we ranked the top 30 first-year players coming into the league. To see this feature in its entirety, check out the issue now on newsstands nationwide.

As the NBA Draft is now over and rookies are infiltrating organizations throughout the league, you need to be able to keep up heading into next year. Here, I ranked the top 30 prospects of the 2012 NBA rookie class, regardless of position… Read More »

The Sacramento Kings selected Thomas Robinson with the No. 5 pick, gaining stability and a first class work ethic for their eclectic roster. Remember, we’re less than a season removed from the DeMarcus Cousins-Paul Westphal drama, and the Kings are embroiled in a battle to keep the franchise in Sacramento. So it’s nice for the city to acquire a player that everybody can like right off the bat – and it doesn’t hurt that he’s supremely talented as well. Read More »

Rece Davis: “We go to the stage now with the commissioner of the NBA, David Stern.”

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

David Stern: “Whoaaaaa (weird smile). Thank you for that warm welcome and good evening. Welcome to the 2012 NBA Draft.”

Ah yes, the annual booing of David Stern. Is there anything more emblematic of the NBA Draft than the antagonistic heckling of the NBA commissioner? Besides hats that don’t fit, excessive hugging and terrible questions from Mark Jones, no, probably not. Read More »

So how about that 1-2 Kentucky punch? Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist became the first teammates to ever go 1-2 in the NBA Draft and it wasn’t something many saw coming until the final minute. All the hubbub was about what Michael Jordan would do with No. 2. We mean, the Bobcats are so bad (qualifier: worst ever) they needed as many picks as possible, but they’re putting their faith into a big, strong wing defender who can throw down hard on you, too. The initials MKG were trending in the U.S. right after the bold pick. We hope it’s right because we liked him in Kentucky. Read More »

5. Sacramento – Thomas Robinson 6-9, 240 lbs. PF Kansas, Jr.

We’ve been comparing Thomas Robinson to Al Horford since the beginning of this process, and while the comparison fits, we think he has the chance to be a little better. He’s a ferocious rebounder, and an explosive athlete. And while he played three years at Kansas, it wasn’t until this past year that Robinson was truly unleashed. Read More »

This season Thomas Robinson played as a man would given the chance to step in against a JV team. A feeling of control stuck with him as a breakout junior closer than many defenders did as he averaged 17.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. Kansas has always been prolific at putting out the fundamentally sound star with Mario Chalmers, Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison. All the stars from Lawrence who gave off their own vibe to match — J.R. Giddens and Brandon Rush, for a few — never seemed to transition into the pros nor fit the Kansas archetype. Robinson, though, was one of the best to mix that panache, power and team concept this season. Read More »

They used to call it one of the best draft classes of the last 25 years. Now, it’s looking more and more like Anthony Davis… and then everybody else. Still, this Thursday, the 2012 NBA Draft will bring hope, and hopefully new talent to some teams that desperately need it.

As we do every year, Dime will be holding you down with mock drafts, player interviews and diaries (you should check out Dion Waiters‘ draft diary), and we will also be bringing you draft profiles for every potential prospect deemed worthy. With this year’s crop of talent, that list is long. Our last profile was on the future of Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger. Today, we’re looking at Kansas’ Thomas Robinson. Read More »

Following the shocking NBA Draft Lottery in New York City where everyone and their momma is now saying David Stern and the NBA rigged it to make sure the top prize landed in New Orleans, now we can now begin to get an idea of how the first round of the draft will play out after the top spot. After we took a stab at the first round just a few weeks ago, here is the fourth of many Dime mock drafts leading up to June 28. As usual, it’s a combination of what we think teams should do and what we think they will do. Read More »

Following the shocking NBA Draft Lottery in New York City where everyone and their momma is now saying David Stern and the NBA rigged it to make sure the top prize landed in New Orleans, now we can now begin to get an idea of how the first round of the draft will play out after the top spot. After we took a stab at the first round just a few weeks ago, here is the third of many Dime mock drafts leading up to June 28. As usual, it’s a combination of what we think teams should do and what we think they will do: Read More »