Liberty Links: Bryan Colangelo embarks on European tour

Since the Sixers are sitting out postseason play for a fifth straight year, general manager Bryan Colangelo is working on trying to ensure that doesn’t happen again next season. He’s been spotted in Europe checking up on two potential free agents, and will be visiting a Sixers prospect on his next stop.

Here’s what’s happened on Monday:

Colangelo takes in Euroleague action

International basketball reporter Chema de Lucas noted that Colangelo and Sixers vice president of player personnel Marc Eversley were in attendance for yesterday’s Euroleague game between CSKA Moscow and Baskonia.

As de Lucas noted, Colangelo was likely there to watch the matchup between point guards Milos Teodosic and Shane Larkin. The 30-year-old Teodosic has been a member of CSKA Moscow since 2011, and is widely regarded as the best point guard outside of the NBA. He was named Euroleague MVP last season, and a member of of All-Euroleague first team the past two years. He mentioned at the beginning of the year that he’s finally interested in testing the NBA waters this summer, and he won’t have a shortage of suitors.

Larkin should be a much more familiar name. He was the 18th pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, and spent three years in the league before bolting for Europe. International basketball guru David Pick reported earlier this week that Larkin is expected to regain attention from NBA teams this summer.

Moscow won 90-88. Teodosic finished with 13 points (3-4 FG, 6-6 FT) and four assists. Larkin had 13 points (4-10 FG, 2-5 3PT) of his own and five assists.

Colangelo plans to visit Furkan Korkmaz

Keith Pompey is reporting that Colangelo and Eversley will check in on Sixers prospect Furkan Korkmaz in Spain during their European basketball trip. Korkmaz is on loan from Anadolu Efes to fellow Turkish team Banvit, who are slated to play AS Monaco on Friday. The winner of that game will advance to the Basketball Champions League final on Sunday.

Korkmaz has a buyout with Efes this season, and could come over in the fall. I imagine that’s a conversation Colangelo might have with the 19-year-old. We’ll have a scouting report on the Turkish gunner later today.

The NBA Draft early entry list is revealed

The NBA revealed their list of underclassmen who have declared for the upcoming NBA Draft. Draft Express has sorted them according to their top 100, while also separately categorizing players outside their top 100 and international players. A friendly reminder that most of these players outside the top 25 or so have not hired agents, and can return to school if they so choose. They’ll have until May 24th to make that decision.

Dion Waiters is a national treasure

Waiters penned an article for The Players Tribune titled “The NBA Is Lucky I’m Home Doing Damn Articles.”

It includes passages like this one:

Fourth quarter, 10 seconds left. Tie game. I got the ball in my hands with the game on the line, and I already knew what was gonna happen. F*** an overtime, let’s get up outta here.

What’s the analytics on that?

That’s a W.

Then I hit ’em with the pose.

It is worth your time.

Why Draymond Green, the NBA's best defender, is at his best when guarding nobody

That title comes courtesy of SB Nation’s Mike Prada, who puts together a nice film review on Draymond’s defensive impact. He touches on some other notable themes in the playoffs, including how the Grizzlies are able to keep their offensive action away from Kawhi Leonard.

Tomorrow’s slate of NBA games:

• Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards - 6:00 p.m. (TNT)
• Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics - 8:30 p.m. (TNT)