The NBA Draft is ideally a process where teams have absolute control but there are some ways that prospects and agents can manipulate the outcome.
There were different stories on how an outstanding talent like Kobe Bryant ended up at the 13th overall, to the waiting arms of the LA Lakers who traded just to get him in the legendary 1996 NBA Draft. Some teams claimed that Bryant threatened not to play for them just to discourage them from picking him.
It's not the same as the college recruiting process where the players are being wooed. In the pros, a player has to wait until free agency. But for the meantime, they have to report and perform for the team that drafts them.
Kris Dunn of Providence is one player who has really planned his NBA entrance meticulously. He was a lottery prospect a year ago but he thought another impressive year could boost his stock. He was correct. The 2015 NBA Draft was one of the best in recent years and his timing will break him into the top 5.
But Dunn is not content with that, he wants to be in the perfect team with perfect situation. Today's Fastbreak reported that Dunn will do what he can, that is, refuse to provide medical records and not schedule workouts and interviews.
He reportedly prefers to be drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves at no.5, but the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns are at no.3 and 4 respectively (the assumption is that the top two picks are Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram). Nothing can stop those teams from picking him, but without the medical records and interviews, it would be a risky pick since Dunn suffered a shoulder injury in 2013 and required surgery.
Dunn reasoned that those teams have established point guards and he would like to start. He would rather duke it out with Ricky Rubio for Tom Thibodeau's starting nod.
The Phoenix Suns are likely to choose a wing scorer since they do have Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight. However, the Celtics have an interest in Dunn because they see him as a better version of Marcus Smart as Kevin O'Connor of Celtics Blog assessed.
"Dunn enters the NBA with a defensive profile similar to Smart, but he's more significantly more advanced offensively," Connor said. "He's also a more talented shooter off the dribble than Rozier, though Dunn must continue extending his range."
Dunn maybe playing a losing game here as the teams will always have the final say in whether they pick a player in the draft. Dropping to 5th overall also has financial repercussions as the rookie scale salary is based on their pick sequence. It may be best for Dunn to work out with the Celtics.