Roundball Direct

General Manager Lance Blanks said the Suns are “aggressively looking” at wing players as the NBA pre-draft camp begins today in Chicago. Arizona Republic

“Our perimeter is an area that we’d like to add a little youth, whether it’d be the one (point guard), the two (shooting guard) or the three (small forward),” Blanks said. “We want to inject some youth in that. When you look at our roster and compare it to the draft, we feel like we’ll be able to do that in a big and impactful way.” Arizona Republic

Blanks said the group of swingmen has “potential game-changers,” although that might not show until after their rookie seasons. The Suns have wanted to find a player who could generate scoring to relieve Nash and the pick-and-roll offense, and that mission was restated. Blanks took umbrage with the notion that there has been a defensive slant to what the new brass has done since taking over in 2010. Arizona Republic

JT: Is there any player you model yourself after in the NBA? Bradley Beal: Shooting-wise, I’d say Ray Allen, but in terms of attacking the basket, I’d say D-Wade, because we’re kind of the same height and he has a strong build and likes to get to the basket. I like to get to the basket similar to the way he does. DraftExpress.com

Bradley Beal: I can’t go wrong with any team I play with, really. All these teams are great teams, no matter who I play for in the NBA, it’s just a blessing to be able to have the opportunity to be able to play in the NBA. I’d play for anybody. DraftExpress.com

Bradley Beal: I like teams that try to get up and down, as that’s kind of the style I’m used to and the kind of style I’ve played all my life, but I’m adjustable to any style of play, so it really doesn’t matter. DraftExpress.com

More proof that the NBA combine is getting worse: Source says Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond, Dion Waiters, and Harrison Barnes are declining to take part in skills drills that involve running and shooting tomorrow. This list is likely to get longer, as agents try to limit the chances that their prospect works out in front of a large group and instead prioritize individual team workouts. Sulia

Sam Amico: One Western Conference GM just told me: “Every NBA first-round mock draft we see today is likely 80-90 pct wrong. Dead wrong.” He’s right. Twitter

The team is considering a number of options for its four draft picks, according to Warriors and league sources, including trading some or all of them for a current NBA starter such as Andre Iguodala, trading up in the draft to get a top-five prospect like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or even moving back in the draft to secure future assets. San Francisco Chronicle

The Warriors ideally would like to deal the No. 7 pick, one of their selections in the 30s and Dorell Wright for an upgrade at small forward. Then, they could use the remaining pick (No. 30 or 35) on a big man, like St. Bonaventure’s Andrew Nicholson, and have the mid-level exception to offer an experienced free-agent point guard. San Francisco Chronicle.

“I’m not ashamed that I have anxiety disorder and I hope that people do take it into account, not to be sensitive to it or insensitive to it but just know it and try to understand it and learn just like I am,” said (Royce) White, one of six players in the Pacers’ first pre-draft workout Monday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. NBA.com

Royce White: “I have anxiety and 18 percent of Americans have it, as well. I like talking about it because there are other people out there who need help and draw inspiration from athletes or whoever it may be that is talking about it.” NBA.com

LeBron James made his Decision to head for Miami a year before, and in his rookie year, Irving was facing more than enough pressure without the burden of replacing The Departed One at the three position. A year later, North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes could wind up playing that role. Sources say the Cavaliers are very high on the 20-year-old small forward and appear unlikely to let him slip past them at the No. 4 slot in the June 28 draft. While this week’s predraft combine in Chicago (June 6-7), and the team workouts thereafter, could always change things, rival executives are planning for Barnes to be off the board by the time the fifth pick (Sacramento) rolls around. SI.com

If the Cavs did indeed take Barnes, it would make things very interesting for Sacramento at the No. 5 spot (which was Barnes’ initial landing spot in the Mock). I’m told the Kings have a similarly high opinion of Beal, like most teams do, but they’re also overloaded with expensive wing scorers in Marcus Thornton (three years and $24.4 million remaining), combo guard Tyreke Evans (extension talks possible this summer and $5.2 million remaining in final season of deal in 2012-13), and John Salmons (two seasons and $15.5 million remaining). SI.com

It sounds as if the Kings like — to varying degrees — Barnes, North Carolina big men Tyler Zeller or John Henson, or even Kentucky forward Terrence Jones more than risky prospects such as Connecticut center Andre Drummond or Baylor forward Perry Jones III. SI.com

Bradley Beal: My biggest strengths playing-wise would be my ability to get my teammates involved, as well as being able to shoot the ball pretty well. I think I’m a pretty good defender. I take pride in my defense, and I’m a great rebounder as well. I really focus in on my defensive rebounding. DraftExpress.com

Bradley Beal: I’m a much better shooter than what I showed this season. There were some games where I really had struggles, but at the end of the year, in the SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament, I shot like 43% from three [editor's note: this is an accurate statistic], so I really shot better towards the end of the season than I did in the beginning of the season DraftExpress.com

“I think my game is very unique, but I will look to some of the great point guards for little things they do that I can add to my game,” Marshall explained. “[Rajon] Rondo and his ball fakes, Steve Nash with the bounce pass and scoop shots. These are the type of things I want to include in my game, so I work on adding to them to what I already have.” SLAM

Ref: Hoops Hype