Jeremy Wise Working Out For Blazers Today; Latavious Williams For Rockets; Other Workouts Abound

Before you read the headline and comment "Wait, why is the headline talking a bout NBA D-League players?  Ridiculous Upside is supposed to be focusing on the NBA Draft right now!" (and I know if you ever commented, today would be the day), I want to explain that we're getting the best of both worlds during the early, early NBA pre-draft tryouts.

First, sources close to the situation have confirmed that Bakersfield Jam point guard Jeremy Wise is in Portland today to work out for the Trail Blazers' brass.  Others players that have been confirmed include that have been confirmed for this workout are Mike Davis, a forward from Illinois, and South Carolina guard Devan Downey. Talor Battle, a point guard from Penn State, will attend the workout though his mother has said he will be returning to Penn State.

I plan to have more information on Wise's workout later today.

The other NBA Draft eligible D-Leaguer, Tulsa's Latavious Williams, will also workout with an NBA team today according to Mark Berman:

The six players who are in town Friday include: center Brian Davis from Texas A&M, guard Demetri McCamey from Illinois, guard Manny Harris from Michigan, forward Latavious Williams from Tulsa of the NBA Development League, forward JaJuan Johnson from Purdue and guard Kelvin Lewis from the University of Houston.

More workout news and NBA Draft notes from from around the league after the jump.

Cougar Tracks -  Jimmer's in a New York State of Mind
Jimmer Fredette's father Al told me today that Jimmer worked out (Thursday) morning for the New Jersey Nets, and will work out for the crosstown New York Knicks (Friday). That will complete Fredette's four-team NBA workout tour; Jimmer will be back in Provo Friday night and is expected to formally announce his decision to stay in or withdraw from the NBA Draft on Saturday--deadline day.

Fredette also worked out with the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder, according to that blog.  Tomorrow will be interesting to see if he was able to get the first round guarantee he said he'd need to stay in the draft.

KNICKS: Prospect Profile: Bobby Maze
In the days leading up to the NBA Draft, NYKnicks.com will look at the players brought in by the Knicks for Predraft Workouts. A player's inclusion in this series of articles does not necessarily reflect the Knicks organization's preferences for the June 24 Draft at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

We continue our series with a profile of Tennessee point guard Bobby Maze.

According to his agent's twitter page, Maze will be busy as he tweeted Bobby Maze "have sneakers will work out" 2010 pre draft world tour starts tommorow w/the Knicks, names go out the window time 2 go 2 work.

Dick Vitale: Roundball Chatter - ESPN
• Why in the world are Daniel Orton and Eric Bledsoe leaving Kentucky? There is no way they are going to get any playing time in the NBA. They would be picked based on potential, potential, potential and they would be better off as stars in college -- improving and working on their respective games! There are too many kids in the draft right now, and several underclassmen will get burned based on numbers alone.

Thanks for your input, Mr. Vitale.  Unfortunately, I think it's wrong.

Chad Ford: DeMarcus Cousins, Ed Davis among rising prospects - ESPN
Over the course of the past week, as I put together my mock draft, I've been talking to front-office personnel about what they've learned in the film room and from the stat geeks. Here's a look at a few prospects who have gotten a boost during the process:

It's insider content, but I'll reveal that Cousins, Davis, Damion James, Kenneth Faried, Kevin Seraphin, Dominique Jones and Jimmer Fredette were the players mentioned.  This all makes sense.