KSR Today: Kentucky’s draft night, portal and injury news
The 2023 NBA Draft has come and gone, ”graduation day” as John Calipari likes to call it. Four Kentucky Wildcats decided to forgo the remainder of their eligibility in hopes of reaching their professional dreams, and two of them heard their names called inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, while a third didn’t have to wait long to find a new home as an undrafted free agent. The fourth hasn’t picked his destination, but he’s got plenty of options to choose from, as well.
Some important transfer portal news also dropped during the draft in the form of a name to keep a very close eye on as Calipari looks to round out his upcoming 2023-24 roster. And it goes hand-in-hand with a major injury update for a current Wildcat set to play the same position this season that also conveniently dropped Thursday.
Needless to say, a hectic day for the Kentucky basketball program. Let’s recap it this morning, shall we?
Cason Wallace goes No. 10 to OKC (via Dallas)
Calipari added yet another lottery pick to his long list of draft accolades during his time in Lexington, as former Wildcat Cason Wallace came off the board at No. 10 overall.
The pick was made by the Dallas Mavericks and quickly traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, setting up a pairing of Wallace and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the OKC backcourt.
“Kentucky guards, Kentucky players in general, they get to the league and stick,” Wallace said during his live draft interview with ESPN.
The 6-foot-4 guard out of Texas — he wore an HPT suit in honor of Hamilton Park, TX, his old neighborhood — extends Calipari’s streak of 14 consecutive drafts with a selection in the first round, the longest streak in the modern draft era (since 1966). In that 14-year span, the Wildcats have totaled three No. 1 selections, 35 first-rounders and 23 lottery picks.
Chris Livingston picked No. 58 by Milwaukee Bucks
From there, a wait right up until the very end for fellow freshman Chris Livingston, who became Kentucky’s 47th overall draft pick under Calipari — that’s 12 more than the next closest school (Duke).
The Milwaukee Bucks chose Livingston with the last pick of the draft at No. 58 overall, the sixth Kentucky player to be taken by the franchise and the first since Doron Lamb was taken 42nd overall in 2012.
“I couldn’t be happier for Cason and Chris,” Calipari said. “I’m looking forward to seeing Cason make an impact alongside Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) in Oklahoma City and Chris to continue to showcase his growth in Milwaukee.”
Though the wait was long, it was reportedly where Livingston planned to land all along. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Thursday evening that the 6-foot-7 forward received a draft guarantee from the Bucks two weeks ago and shut down the process immediately after. Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul ultimately called teams in the second round requesting they not select his client — at least that’s the post-draft spin.
The selection also created an awkward moment on draft night, as Calipari took to social media immediately after Wallace heard his name called to say he was “out of the building” to watch the rest on TV with his wife since the other Wildcats weren’t in attendance.
Then after seeing Livingston and his camp — Rich Paul prominently showcased on national television — walk down from the stands and up on stage to shake deputy commissioner Mark Tatum’s hand for the final selection inside the Barclays Center, Calipari released a follow-up statement.
“I am so happy for Cason and Chris to be drafted. We had some miscommunication and I didn’t realize Chris was at Barclays until I saw him on TV,” he said. “I let him know last night that I would’ve stayed and sat with him if I had realized he was there.”
Awfully convenient on Klutch’s end to not relay that message to Calipari, who was front and center on the draft floor with Wallace during his selection.
Oscar Tshiebwe and Jacob Toppin go undrafted
There was an outside shot Tshiebwe and Toppin hearing their names called on draft night — the former finished as ESPN’s No. 60 best-available prospect in the 58-man draft — but neither was ultimately selected.
Shortly after things wrapped up, though, Toppin quickly reached an agreement with the New York Knicks on a two-way deal to team up with his brother, Obi Toppin.
As for Tshiebwe, his landing spot has not yet been found, though Calipari says he’s weighing several different NBA options.
“I was disappointed Oscar (Tshiebwe) and Jacob (Toppin) didn’t get drafted but they will have a chance to prove themselves in this league because they’re both guys who will impact winning,” Calipari said. “… Jacob has a two-way with the Knicks and Oscar has options too that he’s weighing right now. I’m excited for them to go show who they are and carve out their spots in the League!”
Tre Mitchell hits the transfer portal
In the midst of the draft chaos came significant news regarding a potential addition for the Wildcats in 2023-24. West Virginia standout Tre Mitchell, a player with deep ties to Calipari and the staff, reportedly entered the portal and will take his talents elsewhere for his final season of eligibility.
Prior connections as a Pittsburgh native and former UMass standout make Mitchell a name to keep a very close eye on for Kentucky as it looks to add experience and frontcourt depth. Multiple sources tell KSR that Kentucky would be at the top of the 6-foot-9 forward’s priority list should he ultimately enter, as expected. And the interest would be mutual, a clear plug-and-play fit for Calipari.
The fifth-year senior averaged 11.7 points on 47.0% shooting, 36.4% from three and 78.9% at the line for WVU this past season while adding 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest.
He’s averaging 13.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game over the course of his career. Mitchell started his career at UMass (2019-21) before transferring to Texas in 2021-22.
One to watch, BBN.
Aaron Bradshaw will miss GLOBL JAM
Mitchell’s potential interest comes alongside freshman forward Aaron Bradshaw’s foot injury, an issue expected to keep him off the floor during Kentucky’s upcoming trip to Toronto.
The 7-foot-1 native of Rahway, NJ said on Instagram Live on Thursday that he would join the Wildcats in Canada, but will not play in the 2023 GLOBL JAM. His absence leaves Ugonna Onyenso as the lone big man currently available for Kentucky in the four-game event — barring an imminent commitment from Mitchell.
The good news? Bradshaw believes he’ll be “cleared soon” after suffering the foot injury during the McDonald’s All-American Game. How long until he returns to basketball activities? The five-star freshman said he hoped to be back in 3-6 weeks — a timeline that could get him back on the floor in time for workouts in August.
“We’re good, BBN,” he said.
Sources tell KSR the versatile big man — represented by Klutch Sports and Rich Paul — underwent surgery this past week to repair the foot fracture and September to October was a realistic timeline for return to live action. Assuming there are no setbacks, that could put him back on the floor in time for the regular season.
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