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Jamison signed a 4 year deal last summer for like $50M...but at least the Suns get something out of a disgruntled Amare, who sounds like he doesn't evenwant to be in Phoenix anymore.
Delete/Lock...Draft talk over in JPZ's thread....
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by doublejs07,
- Start date
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Jamison just signed a 4 year 10 mil contract. (Number might be off but he just re-signed last year with Gil)
I am not doubting Blair's talent (undersized or not) but just keep in mind guys that he has had ACL surgery on both knees already.
That is a red flag for some teams.
Clark is projected as a three or four and though the similarities to Hedo may be a little off, Lamar Odom without good ball skills is a pretty close matchupfrom what I have seen.
Stephen Curry is one of those players that he might end up like his dad. Now that is not bad for a long career but he will not be that starter or role playerwith one team for 8 to 12 years I believe. I think once that Rookie contract ends, he will be in that 2 to 5 mil range for teams.
I am not doubting Blair's talent (undersized or not) but just keep in mind guys that he has had ACL surgery on both knees already.
That is a red flag for some teams.
Clark is projected as a three or four and though the similarities to Hedo may be a little off, Lamar Odom without good ball skills is a pretty close matchupfrom what I have seen.
Stephen Curry is one of those players that he might end up like his dad. Now that is not bad for a long career but he will not be that starter or role playerwith one team for 8 to 12 years I believe. I think once that Rookie contract ends, he will be in that 2 to 5 mil range for teams.
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Isnt Jamison off the books next year? Him coming off the books, plus a rookie deal has to be much less than what STAT is owed.
James Harden has bust written all over him. I just dont see IT with this guy. 1st Round material definitely, Top 3 material, definitely not.
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[h1]2009 NBA Draft Combine: Day One[/h1]
By Aran_Smith
Thu, 05/28/2009 - 8:33pm
Day one of the NBA Draft Combine from Tim Grover's Attack Athletics gym in Chicago, IL was a chance to get to see a majority of the players who will be drafted in a controlled environment. The new combine format was successful in getting most of the top talent in front of the NBA GMs and scouts.
Unfortunately it was at the expense of seeing players in a game setting. The biggest positive of this format is that it gives GMs and scouts a chance to analyze player's shooting forms and their demeanors. Player's passing, ball handling, defense, and rebounding were not on display.
Teams also enjoy the opportunity to get a 30 minute interview with 18 of the players of their choosing during the 2 day event. Here are notes on each player after the first day of the event.
(The most telling information likely will be when the measurements are released.)
Group 1
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/nick-calathes
Rodrigue Beaubois Cholet (France) -- Has the most freakish length of any point guard in the draft with a 6-10 wingspan at 6-2. Looked good shooting the ball displaying a smooth release.
Darren Collison UCLA -- Showed his blinding speed in the full court speed dribbling drill. Knocked down some 3 balls, solid performance.
Stephen Curry Davidson -- Easily the top shooter among the group. A number of the other player's shots break down when shooting 3 pointers. His looks just as pure from deep.
Toney Douglas Florida State -- The old (draft camp) format would have been perfect for someone like Douglas to show his ability to run the show at the point guard position for 3 games. Douglas is an excellent defender and scorer but scouts are skeptical about his ability to play the point guard position.
Jonny Flynn Syracuse -- Looked to be a good inch shorter than Ty Lawson which means he's likely 5-11. Being under 6' will make it difficult to claim a spot in the lottery.
Jrue Holiday UCLA -- His fundamentals are very strong. Has a lot of potential to be a decent role player. He's bigger than the rest of the guards. Unfortunately the old format would have been perfect to get a chance to see a player like Holiday play point guard in a full court situation. Then again with the old format, it's unlikely he would have shown up. Looked good in the ball handling drill though not nearly as cat quick as his teammate Collison. What position is he?
Ty Lawson North Carolina -- In the 5 shot shooting drill dropped all 5 looking very good. His release is still extremely low as he doesn;t get much lift and shots the ball from his chest.
Eric Maynor VCU -- Shot the ball well, but doesn't have a fluid release. He's a very complete point guard but lacks huge upside and his shot is the one drawback to his game. It's effective but his slow release makes getting shots off more difficult.
Patrick Mills Saint Mary's -- Might be the fastest guard in the draft (Collison and Lawson included). The injury really diminished his play late in the season so he'll have a decision to make. Really sets his feet well on every shot, excellent form.
AJ Price Connecticut -- Shot the ball pretty well, but considering that and his size are his two greatest aspects, it's unlikely he impressed anyone to move up much.
Jeff Teague Wake Forest -- Mentioned he was likely going to stay in the draft this year. Late season collapse dropped his stock but still has a shot to
Greivis Vasquez Maryland -- Looked a little out of place along with all the cat quick smaller guards.
Group 2
Dionte Christmas Temple -- Unorthodox release was apparent. A bigtime scorer but not athletic enough for the first round.
DeMar DeRozan USC -- Huge hands allow him to coral the ball on ally oops and control the ball on dunks. Had one impressive tomohawk dunk on the 3-2, 2-1 drill.
Wayne Ellington North Carolina -- Along with Curry the purest shooter in the draft. Looked very smooth with his effortless release.
Danny Green North Carolina -- Very stiff in his movements. Has an effortless release with great speed and accuracy on his shot.
Gerald Henderson Duke -- Shot mechanics have improved but still not tremendous. Body looks very muscular but doesn't appear able to put on much more weight.
Jack McClinton Miami -- Struggled in the ball handling drill appearing focused on speed instead of ball protection. He even
Jerel McNeal Marquette -- Shot was a bit flat. Very polished guard but size is a concern.
Jodie Meeks Kentucky -- Shot the ball extremely well. Body is ripped but looks extremely rigid. Movements are herky jerky. Meeks still has some holes to his game and may or may not get drafted. On the flip side, his stock may never be as high as it is now and he likely won't get the same chance to stand out offensively.
Jermaine Taylor Central Florida -- Looked excellent handling the ball. Shot wasn't falling
Marcus Thornton LSU -- Ball handling looked good, not great.
Terrence Williams Louisville -- Lack of shooting ability was apparent. This obviously isn't a setting that he thrives in aside from the full court drills.
Group 3
Derrick Brown Xavier -- Mentioned he's likely to stay in the draft. Mechaincs on his shot looked poor. A freak athlete but these shooting drills don't exhibit what he does well.
Chase Budinger Arizona -- Athleticism was on display. His jumpshot unfortunately was not connecting.
Omri Casspi Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) -- His best attributes (toughness and hustle) don't show up in a setting like this. His shot release is a little awkward. Needs to work on extending his range and consistency, shot off the dribble.
Earl Clark Louisville -- A phyical specimen with big upside. Needs to mature mentally. His focus comes and goes. A bigtime talent but his demeanor is questionable. Shot well from outside.
Austin Daye Gonzaga -- Did not shoot particularly well. Although he's probably the best shooter in this group (3). The t-shirt under his uniform couldn't hide his lack of strength. It will be interesting to see if he can put 185 up a few times. Looked fluid running the floor but struggles with his start stop and explosiveness. Similar to Brian Cook, a soft shooter. Needs another year to play himself into the first round. If he believes in his talent, he should return to Gonzaga.
Joe Ingles Melbourne South Dragons (Aus.) -- Left hander is still very skinny but showed a solid touch. Shot the ball well although has a slow release on his shot.
Damion James Texas -- Spent the entire year trying to prove that he can shoot. His shot is developing but still hasn't gotten there.
James Johnson Wake Forest -- Older player with a physically developed body. Looked good, strong demeanor and focus. As impressive as any of the small forwards.
Tyler Smith Tennessee -- Appeared an inch or two shorter than the rest of the group. Jump shot is a little slow, but hit 4/5 at one point on the outside shot drill.
DaJuan Summers Georgetown -- A live body. A more fluid athlete than James Johnson but lacks the all around tool box that JJ possesses.
Sam Young Pittsburgh -- Still playing with a bandage on his arm after the Raptors vertical jump accident. Form on his shot is poor but has become consistent and effective. Doesn't look fluid in his movements but long and explosive.
Group 4
Jeff Adrien Connecticut -- May be a little warn out working out with the Griffin Brothers every day. Leans back a little too much on his release.
DeJuan Blair Pittsburgh -- Appears to have concentrated on his diet and conditioning since the season ended probably dropping close to 15-20 pounds. Looked very good in the post drills hitting shots and moving well.
Dante Cunningham Villanova -- Worked out with the bigmen which was surprising considering he has transitioned into more of a SF and will need to play there at the NBA level. However some of the drills were the same with all the bigs shooting 3 pointers. He drained one three.
Taj Gibson USC -- Still has weight concerns playing in the post but very long and fluid and will have a shot to get into the late first round.
Tyler Hansbrough North Carolina -- Seems to have trimmed down a little adding speed. Shot
Luke Harangody Notre Dame -- Looked at least an inch or two shorter than Hansbrough's. His old school shot was falling. But is he a severely small PF or a severly slow SF?
Josh Heytvelt Gonzaga -- His arms looked huge, bigger than Hansbrough's. Had his shot going.
Gani Lawal Georgia Tech -- Looked a little slow moving through the shooting drill. Shot the ball extremely well. Very explosive. Has put on some weight. Legs looks thicker. Outside of Griffin and Hill, has the most upside of any of the power forwards in this draft.
BJ Mullens Ohio State -- Looked very fluid and athletic running the floor. His shooting looked solid. Didn't hit many of his outside shots but his form was good and didn't miss by much.
Jeff Pendergraph Arizona State -- Doesn't stand out athletically. Didn't have a great showing but still probably finds a spot in the second round.
Invited but not in attendance:
Jon Brockman Washington
Tyreke Evans Memphis
Blake Griffin Oklahoma
James Harden Arizona State
DeMarre Carroll Missouri
Jordan Hill Arizona
Hasheem Thabeet Connecticut
By Aran_Smith
Thu, 05/28/2009 - 8:33pm
Day one of the NBA Draft Combine from Tim Grover's Attack Athletics gym in Chicago, IL was a chance to get to see a majority of the players who will be drafted in a controlled environment. The new combine format was successful in getting most of the top talent in front of the NBA GMs and scouts.
Unfortunately it was at the expense of seeing players in a game setting. The biggest positive of this format is that it gives GMs and scouts a chance to analyze player's shooting forms and their demeanors. Player's passing, ball handling, defense, and rebounding were not on display.
Teams also enjoy the opportunity to get a 30 minute interview with 18 of the players of their choosing during the 2 day event. Here are notes on each player after the first day of the event.
(The most telling information likely will be when the measurements are released.)
Group 1
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/nick-calathes
Ty Lawson | |
Darren Collison UCLA -- Showed his blinding speed in the full court speed dribbling drill. Knocked down some 3 balls, solid performance.
Stephen Curry Davidson -- Easily the top shooter among the group. A number of the other player's shots break down when shooting 3 pointers. His looks just as pure from deep.
Toney Douglas Florida State -- The old (draft camp) format would have been perfect for someone like Douglas to show his ability to run the show at the point guard position for 3 games. Douglas is an excellent defender and scorer but scouts are skeptical about his ability to play the point guard position.
Jonny Flynn Syracuse -- Looked to be a good inch shorter than Ty Lawson which means he's likely 5-11. Being under 6' will make it difficult to claim a spot in the lottery.
Jrue Holiday UCLA -- His fundamentals are very strong. Has a lot of potential to be a decent role player. He's bigger than the rest of the guards. Unfortunately the old format would have been perfect to get a chance to see a player like Holiday play point guard in a full court situation. Then again with the old format, it's unlikely he would have shown up. Looked good in the ball handling drill though not nearly as cat quick as his teammate Collison. What position is he?
Ty Lawson North Carolina -- In the 5 shot shooting drill dropped all 5 looking very good. His release is still extremely low as he doesn;t get much lift and shots the ball from his chest.
Eric Maynor VCU -- Shot the ball well, but doesn't have a fluid release. He's a very complete point guard but lacks huge upside and his shot is the one drawback to his game. It's effective but his slow release makes getting shots off more difficult.
Patrick Mills Saint Mary's -- Might be the fastest guard in the draft (Collison and Lawson included). The injury really diminished his play late in the season so he'll have a decision to make. Really sets his feet well on every shot, excellent form.
AJ Price Connecticut -- Shot the ball pretty well, but considering that and his size are his two greatest aspects, it's unlikely he impressed anyone to move up much.
Jeff Teague Wake Forest -- Mentioned he was likely going to stay in the draft this year. Late season collapse dropped his stock but still has a shot to
Greivis Vasquez Maryland -- Looked a little out of place along with all the cat quick smaller guards.
Group 2
Wayne Ellington | |
DeMar DeRozan USC -- Huge hands allow him to coral the ball on ally oops and control the ball on dunks. Had one impressive tomohawk dunk on the 3-2, 2-1 drill.
Wayne Ellington North Carolina -- Along with Curry the purest shooter in the draft. Looked very smooth with his effortless release.
Danny Green North Carolina -- Very stiff in his movements. Has an effortless release with great speed and accuracy on his shot.
Gerald Henderson Duke -- Shot mechanics have improved but still not tremendous. Body looks very muscular but doesn't appear able to put on much more weight.
Jack McClinton Miami -- Struggled in the ball handling drill appearing focused on speed instead of ball protection. He even
Jerel McNeal Marquette -- Shot was a bit flat. Very polished guard but size is a concern.
Jodie Meeks Kentucky -- Shot the ball extremely well. Body is ripped but looks extremely rigid. Movements are herky jerky. Meeks still has some holes to his game and may or may not get drafted. On the flip side, his stock may never be as high as it is now and he likely won't get the same chance to stand out offensively.
Jermaine Taylor Central Florida -- Looked excellent handling the ball. Shot wasn't falling
Marcus Thornton LSU -- Ball handling looked good, not great.
Terrence Williams Louisville -- Lack of shooting ability was apparent. This obviously isn't a setting that he thrives in aside from the full court drills.
Group 3
Derrick Brown Xavier -- Mentioned he's likely to stay in the draft. Mechaincs on his shot looked poor. A freak athlete but these shooting drills don't exhibit what he does well.
Chase Budinger Arizona -- Athleticism was on display. His jumpshot unfortunately was not connecting.
Omri Casspi Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) -- His best attributes (toughness and hustle) don't show up in a setting like this. His shot release is a little awkward. Needs to work on extending his range and consistency, shot off the dribble.
Earl Clark Louisville -- A phyical specimen with big upside. Needs to mature mentally. His focus comes and goes. A bigtime talent but his demeanor is questionable. Shot well from outside.
Austin Daye Gonzaga -- Did not shoot particularly well. Although he's probably the best shooter in this group (3). The t-shirt under his uniform couldn't hide his lack of strength. It will be interesting to see if he can put 185 up a few times. Looked fluid running the floor but struggles with his start stop and explosiveness. Similar to Brian Cook, a soft shooter. Needs another year to play himself into the first round. If he believes in his talent, he should return to Gonzaga.
Joe Ingles Melbourne South Dragons (Aus.) -- Left hander is still very skinny but showed a solid touch. Shot the ball well although has a slow release on his shot.
Damion James Texas -- Spent the entire year trying to prove that he can shoot. His shot is developing but still hasn't gotten there.
James Johnson Wake Forest -- Older player with a physically developed body. Looked good, strong demeanor and focus. As impressive as any of the small forwards.
Tyler Smith Tennessee -- Appeared an inch or two shorter than the rest of the group. Jump shot is a little slow, but hit 4/5 at one point on the outside shot drill.
DaJuan Summers Georgetown -- A live body. A more fluid athlete than James Johnson but lacks the all around tool box that JJ possesses.
Sam Young Pittsburgh -- Still playing with a bandage on his arm after the Raptors vertical jump accident. Form on his shot is poor but has become consistent and effective. Doesn't look fluid in his movements but long and explosive.
Group 4
Jeff Adrien Connecticut -- May be a little warn out working out with the Griffin Brothers every day. Leans back a little too much on his release.
DeJuan Blair Pittsburgh -- Appears to have concentrated on his diet and conditioning since the season ended probably dropping close to 15-20 pounds. Looked very good in the post drills hitting shots and moving well.
Dante Cunningham Villanova -- Worked out with the bigmen which was surprising considering he has transitioned into more of a SF and will need to play there at the NBA level. However some of the drills were the same with all the bigs shooting 3 pointers. He drained one three.
Taj Gibson USC -- Still has weight concerns playing in the post but very long and fluid and will have a shot to get into the late first round.
Tyler Hansbrough North Carolina -- Seems to have trimmed down a little adding speed. Shot
Luke Harangody Notre Dame -- Looked at least an inch or two shorter than Hansbrough's. His old school shot was falling. But is he a severely small PF or a severly slow SF?
Josh Heytvelt Gonzaga -- His arms looked huge, bigger than Hansbrough's. Had his shot going.
Gani Lawal Georgia Tech -- Looked a little slow moving through the shooting drill. Shot the ball extremely well. Very explosive. Has put on some weight. Legs looks thicker. Outside of Griffin and Hill, has the most upside of any of the power forwards in this draft.
BJ Mullens Ohio State -- Looked very fluid and athletic running the floor. His shooting looked solid. Didn't hit many of his outside shots but his form was good and didn't miss by much.
Jeff Pendergraph Arizona State -- Doesn't stand out athletically. Didn't have a great showing but still probably finds a spot in the second round.
Invited but not in attendance:
Jon Brockman Washington
Tyreke Evans Memphis
Blake Griffin Oklahoma
James Harden Arizona State
DeMarre Carroll Missouri
Jordan Hill Arizona
Hasheem Thabeet Connecticut
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CHICAGO -- While 50 or so prospects were working hard at Attack Athletics training facility, site of the NBA pre-draft combine, hoping to impress teamscouts and GMs, those same front-office people were stirring up things off the court. That's what happens when you get this many GMs together. Whetherevery rumor turns out to have merit is the question.
The hottest rumor at the camp Thursday had the http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=lacLos Angeles Clippers and http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=okcOklahoma CityThunder in hot and heavy talks about a swap of the No. 1 pick for the No. 3 pick. I heard a number of variations, including Oklahoma City sendingJeff Green to Los Angeles and another in which theThunder take back one of the Clippers' bad contracts, particularly those of Zach Randolph or Chris Kaman.
But Clippers general manager Mike Dunleavy told meThursday afternoon that all of this talk about his team trading the No. 1 pick to the Thunder (or any other team) is hooey. While Dunleavy has had to backtrackafter saying publicly that the Clippers would draft Blake Griffin with the top pick(which violated the unwritten rule that you're not supposed to announce your pick until draft night), all signs are pointing strongly toward L.A. selectingGriffin and keeping him.
"I know there's a lot of talk about who's the best fit or the best team need," Dunleavy said. "But to me you pick the best playeravailable and you make it work. That's what we're going to do."
The Clippers have a glut of highly paid players on their front line, including Randolph ($16 million next year), Kaman ($10.4 million) and Marcus Camby ($9.1 million next year). Add in the roughly $4.9million that Griffin would earn next year and you're talking about $40 million on the front line of a lottery team.
But Dunleavy is adamant that the Clippers' 2009-10 season could be very different from this past 19-win campaign. He points first to all the injuriesthe team suffered last season and says that, with a little more luck, the Clippers could be playoff contenders.
"I think when you look at our roster, with everyone healthy and a No. 1 pick, I think we have a lot of talent and will win a lot of basketballgames," Dunleavy said.
Dunleavy was emphatic that the team is no longer looking to trade point guard Baron Davis. The team flirted with trading Davis at the Februarydeadline but now feels as though he could be a big asset.
"When he's healthy, he's one of the best point guards in the game," Dunleavy said. "The issue has always been conditioning. This yearhe's already working out. He wasn't happy with his performance last season. I think you'll see a different Baron this fall."
Dunleavy is high on rookie Eric Gordon, second-yearforward Al Thornton and two recent second-round picks,DeAndre Jordan and Mike Taylor. He went as far as to compare Jordan to a youngTyson Chandler.
Could a healthy Clippers team with Davis, Gordon, Thornton, Griffin, Randolph, Kaman and Camby reach the postseason while playing in the ultra-competitiveWestern Conference?
Said a rival GM: "It will be tough, because there's so many good teams in the West. But yes, if they're healthy and everyone is getting along,they would be tough with Griffin."
• I also caught up with Memphis Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace in Chicago. I was curious about a number of reports that have suggested that the Grizzlies aresettling on Ricky Rubioas the No. 2 pick.
Wallace said he, coach Lionel Hollins and center MarcGasol had traveled to Barcelona to meet Rubio and his family. He said Rubio was in a mix of players that also included UConn's Hasheem Thabeet, amongothers.
"We don't know who we're taking at No. 2," Wallace said. "There's still a lot of homework we have to do."
I asked Wallace about the team's potential glut of point guards. Mike Conley was the No. 4 pick in the draft just two years ago. And last year's first-rounder, O.J. Mayo, also can play the point.
Wallace said the Grizzlies were happy with Conley's improvement under Hollins and believe Mayo could become a combo guard, playing both the 1 and the 2.But Wallace said that even with those assets, he wouldn't shy away from taking Rubio or another point guard, if the team thought he was the bestplayer.
All that said, I have a hard time believing, given the factors in play, that Rubio will be wearing a Grizzlies uniform next season.
• Speaking of Rubio, I encountered a number of NBA GMs and scouts this week who were pretty skeptical about Rubio's NBA future. They see him as anaverage athlete who can't shoot well and who is turnover prone, and wonder aloud why he's ranked so high.
A few GMs said Rubio isn't in their top five. While I've heard doubts expressed before, the skepticism was expressed much more strongly this week bymore execs. I'm going to keep digging. Maybe Henry Abbott struck a chord with his TrueHoop post onRubio.
In any case, if Memphis and Oklahoma City decide against Rubio and don't trade either of their picks to a team that wants to move up to get him,it's hard to see the http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=sacSacramento Kings passing on Rubio at No. 4.
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPNInsider
The hottest rumor at the camp Thursday had the http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=lacLos Angeles Clippers and http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=okcOklahoma CityThunder in hot and heavy talks about a swap of the No. 1 pick for the No. 3 pick. I heard a number of variations, including Oklahoma City sendingJeff Green to Los Angeles and another in which theThunder take back one of the Clippers' bad contracts, particularly those of Zach Randolph or Chris Kaman.
But Clippers general manager Mike Dunleavy told meThursday afternoon that all of this talk about his team trading the No. 1 pick to the Thunder (or any other team) is hooey. While Dunleavy has had to backtrackafter saying publicly that the Clippers would draft Blake Griffin with the top pick(which violated the unwritten rule that you're not supposed to announce your pick until draft night), all signs are pointing strongly toward L.A. selectingGriffin and keeping him.
"I know there's a lot of talk about who's the best fit or the best team need," Dunleavy said. "But to me you pick the best playeravailable and you make it work. That's what we're going to do."
The Clippers have a glut of highly paid players on their front line, including Randolph ($16 million next year), Kaman ($10.4 million) and Marcus Camby ($9.1 million next year). Add in the roughly $4.9million that Griffin would earn next year and you're talking about $40 million on the front line of a lottery team.
But Dunleavy is adamant that the Clippers' 2009-10 season could be very different from this past 19-win campaign. He points first to all the injuriesthe team suffered last season and says that, with a little more luck, the Clippers could be playoff contenders.
"I think when you look at our roster, with everyone healthy and a No. 1 pick, I think we have a lot of talent and will win a lot of basketballgames," Dunleavy said.
Dunleavy was emphatic that the team is no longer looking to trade point guard Baron Davis. The team flirted with trading Davis at the Februarydeadline but now feels as though he could be a big asset.
"When he's healthy, he's one of the best point guards in the game," Dunleavy said. "The issue has always been conditioning. This yearhe's already working out. He wasn't happy with his performance last season. I think you'll see a different Baron this fall."
Dunleavy is high on rookie Eric Gordon, second-yearforward Al Thornton and two recent second-round picks,DeAndre Jordan and Mike Taylor. He went as far as to compare Jordan to a youngTyson Chandler.
Could a healthy Clippers team with Davis, Gordon, Thornton, Griffin, Randolph, Kaman and Camby reach the postseason while playing in the ultra-competitiveWestern Conference?
Said a rival GM: "It will be tough, because there's so many good teams in the West. But yes, if they're healthy and everyone is getting along,they would be tough with Griffin."
• I also caught up with Memphis Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace in Chicago. I was curious about a number of reports that have suggested that the Grizzlies aresettling on Ricky Rubioas the No. 2 pick.
Wallace said he, coach Lionel Hollins and center MarcGasol had traveled to Barcelona to meet Rubio and his family. He said Rubio was in a mix of players that also included UConn's Hasheem Thabeet, amongothers.
"We don't know who we're taking at No. 2," Wallace said. "There's still a lot of homework we have to do."
I asked Wallace about the team's potential glut of point guards. Mike Conley was the No. 4 pick in the draft just two years ago. And last year's first-rounder, O.J. Mayo, also can play the point.
Wallace said the Grizzlies were happy with Conley's improvement under Hollins and believe Mayo could become a combo guard, playing both the 1 and the 2.But Wallace said that even with those assets, he wouldn't shy away from taking Rubio or another point guard, if the team thought he was the bestplayer.
All that said, I have a hard time believing, given the factors in play, that Rubio will be wearing a Grizzlies uniform next season.
• Speaking of Rubio, I encountered a number of NBA GMs and scouts this week who were pretty skeptical about Rubio's NBA future. They see him as anaverage athlete who can't shoot well and who is turnover prone, and wonder aloud why he's ranked so high.
A few GMs said Rubio isn't in their top five. While I've heard doubts expressed before, the skepticism was expressed much more strongly this week bymore execs. I'm going to keep digging. Maybe Henry Abbott struck a chord with his TrueHoop post onRubio.
In any case, if Memphis and Oklahoma City decide against Rubio and don't trade either of their picks to a team that wants to move up to get him,it's hard to see the http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=sacSacramento Kings passing on Rubio at No. 4.
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPNInsider
CHICAGO -- The NBA draft combine officially got under way on Thursday at ATTACK Athletics, and the first day was, to put it politely, sort of a dud.
As expected, Oklahoma's Blake Griffin, UConn's Hasheem Thabeet, Arizona's Jordan Hill and Arizona State's James Harden skipped the first day of draft workouts. They were joined by Memphis guard Tyreke Evans.
The drills weren't particularly telling. However, there were a few highlights from the first day of workouts. We'll break it down by the four groups that participated, starting with the point guards.
[h3]Point guards[/h3]
• Nine point guards ranked in our Top 30 participated in the first workout of the day: Jrue Holiday, Jonny Flynn, Stephen Curry, Jeff Teague, Ty Lawson, Eric Maynor, Darren Collison, Patrick Mills and Toney Douglas. The workout was, by far, the highlight of the camp so far.
Holiday
"I think it was really important to see all of the top point guard prospects on the floor at the same time," one NBA GM told me. "You could measure up guys, compare speed, jump shots and athleticism. It's a small piece of the puzzle, but it helped our staff get a little separation on these guys. That's going to make our job easier."
Four players really seemed to catch the attention of the GMs I spoke with after the event, with UCLA's Jrue Holiday garnering the most attention. He was the biggest point guard of the top group and seemed to tower over several of the smaller guys on the floor.
During one 3-on-2 full-court drill, Holiday looked like a power forward running on the wing. And while his size was impressive, so was his game. He was hitting his jump shot, finishing with both hands and showing versatility and an excellent handle.
"I was skeptical when I read the report out of IMG about Holiday," one NBA executive said. "Now I get it. That's the kid we fell in love with in high school. He was really impressive."
• Curry put on a shooting show -- no surprise there -- but many GMs commented that he really looked like he belonged when he participated in a number of ballhandling and full-court drills. If Curry can prove to teams that he can play point guard, he'll go somewhere between No. 5 and 13. If he can't, he could slip out of the lottery. The results of the first day of camp had to be encouraging.
• Flynn continues to generate buzz with his combination of speed and power -- even if he was the shortest guy on the floor. Every GM I spoke with now sees him as a lottery pick, with many projecting him in the Top 10.
• Maynor also generated some significant buzz with his decision-making and shooting.
"He looked like he was totally in control out there. There's a smoothness to his game that I really like," an NBA head coach said.
• Australia's Patrick Mills also turned some heads with his speed. It will be interesting to see who wins the three-quarter sprint drill on Friday. Mills, Collison and Lawson are the likeliest contenders for the fastest player in the draft -- all three guys are a blur.
• Not everyone impressed, however. Lawson continues to take a little bit of a beating. His small stature and so-so performance in the combine didn't help dispel a growing chorus of scouts who seem to feel that his game won't translate to the pros.
[h3]Shooting guards[/h3]
• The talent dropped off tremendously when the 2-guards stepped onto the floor. With Harden and Evans sitting it out, the best prospect on the floor was USC's DeMar DeRozan, who didn't disappoint.
DeRozan
DeRozan showed off his terrific athleticism. But more impressive was the solid shooting display he put on. While he still isn't a sharpshooter, he showed range out to the NBA 3-point line. For a guy who shot 18 percent from the college arc as a freshman, that has to come as a big relief.
"As far as upside goes, he's second only to Blake Griffin in this draft," one NBA GM noted. "He has all the physical tools to be a superstar. The question is -- is he Vince Carter or Gerald Green?"
There is evidence that points in both directions, but DeRozan's late-season flourish for USC combined with his improved stroke shows he is willing to work hard to get better at his game. The NBA teams I spoke with all had his range from No. 5 to 9. Looks like I'll be adjusting my next mock draft next week.
• There wasn't much else to report in this group. A number of teams noted that Terrence Williams looked smaller than they thought.
Several GMs made comparisons between Miami Hurricanes guard Jack McClinton and Boston Celtics guard Eddie House.
Everyone continued to talk about UNC's Danny Green as an underrated player, but no GM I spoke to seemed to be considering him as a first-round pick.
Duke's Gerald Henderson played well in the combine, but teams are sharply divided about his NBA future. A handful see him as a lottery pick. Many more feel like he could really slip on draft night.
[h3]Small forwards[/h3]
• This was the second-most talented collection of prospects here. A number of players in this group are ranked in our Top 30, including James Johnson, Earl Clark, Austin Daye, Chase Budinger, Sam Young and DaJuan Summers.
Daye
Of the group, Gonzaga's Austin Daye helped himself the most. He was flawless in the drills, launching and hitting shots from everywhere on the floor and showing a very high basketball IQ.
"You see him in an environment like this and you want to fall in love," one NBA GM said. "This is the perfect scenario for him. Show off your skills and don't worry about having to face contact or play physical defense. It's when those tough defenders come that you start to see the other side of Daye."
That may have been true this season at Gonzaga, but one NBA team said it wasn't true in their workout. "He was amazing," one GM said. "We threw everything at him and he handled it all. I think he's tougher than people think."
How good was Daye's workout? Several lottery teams told me that they were ready to give him a second look.
• Louisville's Earl Clark also got some love. "He so fluid," one GM said. "He plays an effortless game."
And Georgetown's DaJuan Summers also impressed people with his play.
• A couple of players didn't fare as well. Israel's Omri Casspi had a shaky shooting day, throwing up a few air balls and bricks during the shooting drills. No worries, however -- he's much better in a real game with real defenders.
Wake Forest's James Johnson also took some flak for a number of reasons. Some teams didn't like his body language. Some teams thought he had bulked up too much. Others felt that he would've been better off working with the power forwards.
There definitely seems to be a concerted downgrading of Johnson. The question is: Are teams doing it deliberately to push his stock down to a place where they can draft him?
[h3]Bigs[/h3]
• The last group was the bigs. As everyone knows, this isn't a great strength of this draft. With Griffin, Hill and Thabeet sitting it out, the best player on the floor was Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair.
Blair
Blair wowed a lot of people with his new, more toned and chiseled physique. There seems to be a controversy about how much weight Blair has actually lost, but there there's no question that his body looks much better.
The most intriguing name out there was Ohio State's B.J. Mullens. Many NBA scouts had Mullens as a top-five pick at the start of the season, but downgraded his stock after he failed to get significant minutes as a freshman.
Thursday was a bit of a coming-out party for Mullens. He passed the smell test for big men with flying colors.
"You watch him in a workout setting like that and there's a lot to love," one GM said. "He keeps working out like that for teams, and he's moving up the draft."
• North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough was there, but he didn't seem to draw a high level of buzz one way or the other. "He looked like the same guy we saw for four years at North Carolina," one NBA GM said. "I wanted to see him try to score over longer, more athletic players. If he showed that, I'd be impressed."
• The big mystery was the no-show of Washington's Jon Brockman. The NBA just shrugged its shoulders when asked where Brockman was. His absence fueled a number of (unsubstantiated) rumors. I heard everything from a promise by a European team to a first-round promise from an NBA team to an injury. We're digging to find out the truth.
Play resumes on Friday with a slightly different skills workout format, plus athletic and agility testing. ESPNU will be televising the event live starting at 10 a.m. ET.
Coming on Monday: NBA draft combine wrap
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Austin Daye is going to cost a coach/GM their job. Trash.
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Apparently the Raptors are going to take Blari with 9 and buy a pick to get Daye if he slips. That would make swallowing the Blair pick a little easier.
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I completely agree.
not even you believe that
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Quick, list negatives to Austin Daye's game outside of strength (which can be taken care of very easily).
Please say defense so I can tell you how much it doesn't matter in the NBA. Regardless, he's not even a terrible defender.
He's tall, he's long, he's quick, he's athletic, he can shoot, he can pass, he can rebound, he can handle the ball, he has an incredibleunderstanding of the game and he cares. And although it makes absolutely no sense, people like to mention Steph Curry's father's NBA background as anattribute to his game, so I guess we can say the same about Daye.
And I want the dude to go back to school...
Please say defense so I can tell you how much it doesn't matter in the NBA. Regardless, he's not even a terrible defender.
He's tall, he's long, he's quick, he's athletic, he can shoot, he can pass, he can rebound, he can handle the ball, he has an incredibleunderstanding of the game and he cares. And although it makes absolutely no sense, people like to mention Steph Curry's father's NBA background as anattribute to his game, so I guess we can say the same about Daye.
And I want the dude to go back to school...
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he is soft and is just not that good
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Daye is extremely over rated.
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At least TD getting mentioned
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http://www.nbadraft.net/players/austin-daye
Austin Daye Gonzaga -- The t-shirt under his uniform couldn't hide his lack of strength.
I wanna see my dude ball out in the A
D
Deleted member 38182
Guest
Sounds like a Anthony Randolph clone perhaps? or am i completely off...
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He's not Randolph athletic at all, but he's a better basketball player in general.
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I don't think Daye has Randolph's athleticism or motor.
More athletic Mike Dunleavy Jr.? (I know it's blasphemy to compare black players to white players).
More athletic Mike Dunleavy Jr.? (I know it's blasphemy to compare black players to white players).
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our days of drafting Forwards are over.. I hope..
I wouldn't mind Daye tho, _ be ballin'
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Lottery
If Memphis could pick him up with their 2nd rounder, it would definitely be a steal. They have us getting him on draftexpress with our 35th pick.
jpzx
Supporter
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I agree..his strength (or lack there of) is a weakness but that can be taken care of pretty easily.
When Durant came out everyone was buzzing about how he couldn't bench the minimum weight, and that was a huge knock on him. Obviously, Durant didn'tdrop, but if people are using Austin's lack of strength as a factor to determine his stock they'd be very unwise.
And yes, defense is important. Well, at least being an average defender is important. If you have a guy that is purelya scorer and can't play a lick of defense then you have a problem (i.e. Rashad McCants). What happens when that player goes on a cold streak scoring-wise?The only thing he can contribute to the team is scoring and if he goes cold for a stretch of games he'd be literally useless to the team. That's whatwent down with McCants in Minnesota this season.
But you said Daye is not a terrible defender...so he'll likely be fine.
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for his lack of strenght KD had no problem banging down low(NO DRECLARK) and mixing it up for boards with the big boys, Daye is a outside player and plays SOFT
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Rashard Lewis?
