Kaun concludes tour

Graduated Kansas University center Sasha Kaun returned to Lawrence on Monday from his whirlwind tour of NBA camps: Indiana, Cleveland, Portland, Seattle, Utah, San Antonio, Washington, New Jersey and Detroit.

Kaun, who signed a three-year contract with CSKA Moscow over the weekend, will leave the U.S. on June 29 and does not plan to return until next summer, when he hopes to be back in Lawrence.

He will try out for the Russian Olympic team July 3 in Moscow. In all, 16 players will vie for 12 or 13 spots.

“The coach told my agent if I work hard there’s a good chance to be on the team. That would be exciting,” the 6-foot-11 Kaun said.

Thursday’s NBA Draft also will prove exciting for Kaun, whose agent tells him he likely will be tapped in Round Two despite the fact he will play in Russia at least the next two seasons. He has a buyout clause after year two.

“Some team still might want to draft me,” said Kaun, who Chad Ford of ESPN.com says will be tapped by Boston at No. 30 of Round Two. Draftexpress.com believes Utah will select Kaun at No. 23 of the second round.

“I’m going to a team that is as close to an NBA team as you can find. It’s a great organization. Last year, they had a $60 million payroll. It’s a very prestigious club.”

It’s believed Seattle, which has the No. 20 and 26 picks of Round Two, has great interest in Kaun. Kaun will be paid $1,047,042 U.S. dollars per year the next three seasons.

Chalmers rising

Mario Chalmers has vaulted ahead of KU teammates Darrell Arthur and Brandon Rush in Ford’s ESPN draft. Ford believes Chalmers will be selected No. 12 overall by Sacramento, Rush No. 15 by Phoenix and Arthur No. 18 by Washington.

Arthur picks agent

Arthur has contracted with agent Jerry Hicks, an attorney in Dallas. Arthur worked out for Memphis on Monday and today will be in the camp of the Philadelphia 76ers. Arthur and Rush will be in the “Green Room” at Thursday’s draft at Madison Square Garden.

Self speaks in Tulsa

KU coach Bill Self was keynote speaker at Monday’s Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Awards banquet in Tulsa, Okla. Today, Self will speak at 810 radio’s sports luncheon at the College Basketball Experience next to Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City, Mo.