Projected No. 1 draft pick Karl-Anthony Towns, projected top-5 pick D’Angelo Russell and projected first-round pick Devin Booker have all signed with CAA in advance of the NBA Draft, according to DraftExpress.com.
Towns and Booker both signed with Leon Rose, while Russell signed with Austin Brown.
“You only get one chance at that [picking an agent],” Towns said at a recent appearance at his high school, St. Joe’s-Metuchen. “You’ve got to make sure you get it right. I’m taking my time with that process. The NBA Draft process, that’s one of the biggest things is all the things that come other than on the basketball court. You’ve got to take your time with these decisions. Make sure you make it right. You don’t want to be making multiple decisions quickly and then regret it.”
Rose had previously signed Kentucky’s Dakari Johnson as well. CAA also reps Kentucky coach John Calipari through William “Worldwide Wes” Wesley.
The fact that Towns is signing with CAA probably doesn’t hurt the Knicks, who could end up drafting the 7-footer from New Jersey with the No. 1 overall pick if they secure it at the Draft Lottery on May 19.
CAA also represents Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, who is friendly with Towns through their USA Basketball/Dominican National Team connection, as well as Knicks assistant GM Allan Houston and player personnel director Mark Warkentien.
Rose also reps Andrea Bargnani, who played for the Knicks but whose contract is now up, as well as former Kentucky standout Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.