Jared Sullinger was once a shoe-in for the NBA Draft lottery. Had he come out last year, instead of this year, he probably would have been top 6 or 7. Now with news stories about his back issues swirling about, he’s fallen out of the top 20, maybe even the top 25, probably.
The fact that he’s not even invited to the NBA Draft in New York City means he’s almost certainly out of the top 15.
NBA executive vice president Stu Jackson told ESPN.com that Sullinger would not be invited based on the reports the league had received that Sullinger wouldn’t be selected in the top 15.
“He’s more likely to go in the teens or in the 20s,” Jackson said. “We continue to have contact with teams, but at this late date we don’t anticipate inviting him.”
The official green-room list of projected lottery players will be released Tuesday. The players must be notified by late Monday since they have to be in New York by Tuesday night.
Sullinger , a two-time All-American who led the Buckeyes to the Final Four this season, came back to school to learn how to adjust to playing the four instead of the five. He worked out Monday for the Pistons, who pick ninth, and has also worked out for numerous teams that hold picks within the top 15.
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