/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69600566/usa_today_15759236.0.jpg)
The NBA Draft is scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 29 and while there are no Wisconsin Badgers expected to be selected, that doesn’t mean no Badgers will end up in training camp with an NBA team. Former Badgers Micah Potter and D’Mitrik Trice have been crisscrossing the country over the past few weeks to show off their skills to various NBA teams in person.
With the draft 13 days away, looks like D’Mitrik Trice just wrapped up a workout with the Lakers. #Badgers pic.twitter.com/LZWdThIUSS
— Raul Vazquez (@RaulV45) July 16, 2021
Trice posted on his Instagram Story over the weekend that he got a workout in with the defending NBA champs, the Los Angeles Lakers. His current story shows him in a hotel room in Sacramento, so perhaps he has an upcoming workout with the Kings? It’s hard to say because he was watching Spike Ball, but why else would he be in Sacramento?
Good weekend for former Wisconsin big men in Milwaukee. Frank Kaminsky gets his first finals points and now Micah Potter adds the Bucks to the list of the teams he’s worked out with. From his Instagram: #Badgers pic.twitter.com/nAYQwkceqc
— Raul Vazquez (@RaulV45) July 12, 2021
Potter has had a whole bunch of visits over the past few weeks, including the Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Golden State Warriors and the Detroit Pistons. This list was cobbled together from his Instagram Story, NBA teams’ Instagram posts, Potter’s agent’s Instagram and other quotes he has given. Journalism is weird in 2021.
Both Potter and Trice starred at the inaugural Tampa Bay Pro Combine, making the all-tournament team, and showcasing their skills against other players trying to get a crack at an NBA lineup. Potter stood out in the four games he played, averaging 17.8 ppg (52% from the field /36% from three/60% from the free throw line), 8.3 rpg, 1.3 apg and 0.5 bpg. Trice averaged 17.8 ppg (52%/55%/67%), 2.8 rpg, 6.8 apg (led the tournament) and 1.5 spg. Trice did average 3.0 turnovers per game, which is higher than he normally had at UW, but his improved assist numbers offset that.
If I’m being optimistic, I could see Potter getting an invite to an NBA training camp but I struggle to see where he would fit in on a roster. Unfortunately I think that Trice is just not big enough to hold up on an NBA team and I don’t see him even getting an invite to a training camp. Both should have decent careers in Europe though.