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The NBA Draft is scheduled later this month on June 25th and former Syracuse Orange players Rakeem Christmas and Chris McCullough are getting ready to hear their names called to be part of an NBA organization.
Christmas improved his draft stock more than any other player after he showcased what he could do in the 5-on-5 games at the NBA Combine. Christmas went from a projected late second-round pick to a potential late first-rounder. Following the combine, the big man used to manning the middle of the 2-3 zone has been invited to workout for 23 of the NBA's 30 teams. Christmas' agent has trimmed the list to workout for 17 teams that Christmas has the best chance to be drafted by. A few teams Christmas has already worked out for include the Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and the Dallas Mavericks.
Most recently, Christmas has worked out with former Syracuse star Wesley Johnson's team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers own the 27th and 34th picks in this year's draft.
McCullough, on the other hand, has been on the east coast rehabbing his knee in Manhattan. McCullough has been limited to interviewing with teams, most recently, the Brooklyn Nets. The Barclay's Center is just a short train ride away from McCullough's home in the Bronx; he and his family will be attending the draft in Brooklyn on June 25th. Like Christmas, McCullough could go as early as the latter part of the first round or slip into the early second-round.
The Draft awaits as McCullough and Christmas have both been relishing the opportunity to workout/interview with teams. They've also taken a liking to squid, apparently...
Nobody eats more calamari than me & @R_Xmas25
— Chris McCullough (@_CM5) June 2, 2015
Soak it all in guys and best of luck on Draft Night.