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Originally Posted by JPZx
I wasn't aware that pregame dunks factor into whether or not a player will succeed in the league. Thanks for giving me the heads up.
Rude
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Originally Posted by JPZx
I wasn't aware that pregame dunks factor into whether or not a player will succeed in the league. Thanks for giving me the heads up.
It’s almost a given there’ll be a player in this year’s NBAdraft that’ll take a slide.
It happens almost every year.
Last year, DeJuan Blair was the misfortunate one. The formerPittsburgh power forward was considered a lock to be a lotteryselection before teams got cold feet about his bad knees.
Blair wound up being taken in the second round by the SanAntonio Spurs, the 37th overall pick.
So, who could be this year’s slider?
There are whispers it could be former Kansas center ColeAldrich, not because of any physical issues or off-court problemsbut because many teams in the lottery have more pressing needs thancenter.
Just several weeks ago, the consensus among pro scouts was thatAldrich would be a top eight pick. There was speculation eitherPhiladelphia or Detroit would take him.
But that was before the Draft Lottery and now Philadelphia,instead of picking sixth, is picking second and certainly won’ttake Aldrich.
Detroit is picking seventh and, considering the Pistons need fora big man, still figures to have an interest in Aldrich.
But what if the Pistons opt to take another big man likeDeMarcus Cousins, Ed Davis or Greg Monroe?
If scenario unfolds, Aldrich could do a free fall. Consider:
-- The Los Angeles Clippers, who have the eight pick, have aquality center in Chris Kaman.
-- Utah, which picks ninth, and Indiana, which picks 10th,possess solid centers: Utah with Mehmet Okur and Indiana with therapidly improving Roy Hibbert.
-- The teams that pick 11 through 14 seem to be set at at centeras well. New Orleans has Emeka Okafor, Memphis has Marc Gasol,Toronto has Andrea Bargnani and Houston fully expects Yao Ming toreturn to action next season.
That brings us to No. 15 -- the Milwaukee Bucks’ pick.
The Bucks have Andrew Bogut, who is unequivocally one of thebest centers in the business.
But Bogut has been plagued by injuries the last two years andthe Bucks haven’t had anyone remotely close to filling hisvoid.
Aldrich would appear to be a terrific insurance policy for theBucks, especially if veteran Kurt Thomas doesn’t return.
But Aldrich told me at the recent pre-draft camp in Chicago thathe wasn’t scheduled to work out for the Bucks.
If the Bucks’ brass doesn’t get an up-close and personal look atAldrich and acquire a real feel for his game and personality, wouldthey roll the dice and draft him anyway?
Suffice to say, things could get quite interesting in the Bucks’war room on June 24.
Bucks’ workouts on hold
The Bucks won’t be auditioning any draft prospects this week,but they will have a full slate of workouts the following week.
The June 16 workout could be especially intriguing as Butlersmall forward Gordon Hayward, Oklahoma State shooting guard JamesAnderson, New Mexico swingman Darington Hobson and Marquette smallforward Lazar Hayward will be among those on hand.
Just asking!
The Washington Wizards have the No. 1 pick and you can go to thebank they’ll use it on John Wall, the electrifying guard fromKentucky.
Yet, Wizards officials are doing their homework and fielding asmuch information about Wall as possible. They’ve even asked otherdraft prospects about the top pick.
“I interviewed with Washington; I don’t think they’re going totake me with the No. 1 pick,’’ Gordon Hayward said smiling. “Theyasked me who I think they should take? That was kind ofweird.’’
And did Hayward say himself?
“No,’’ Hayward said. “(I told them) whoever fits your system thebest.’’
Another probing question
A question posed by a member of the Utah Jazz didn’t quite addup for former Nevada small forward Luke Babbitt.
“He asked me. ‘What does two and two means?’ ’’ Babbitt said. “Isaid two things: four, obviously, and a .500 record. That was theweirdest question anyone asked me.’’
Babbitt, by the way, has found out that all NBA measuringdevices aren’t created equal.At the pre-draft camp, Babbitt saidNBA officials measured his wingspan at 6-11½. When he recentlyworked out for the Bucks, his wingspan grew to 7 feet.
Said Babbitt: “Every time they measure me, they get somethingdifferent.’’
Sampson gets support
The scuttlebutt from the West Coast is that several Los AngelsClippers players are lobbying management to hire Bucks assistantcoach Kelvin Sampson as its next head coach.
Sampson coached Oklahoma and Indiana before joining the Bucksand has a good rapport with Clippers power forward Blake Griffin(Oklahoma) and Clippers shooting guard Eric Gordon (Indiana).
There was also a report Sampson is drawing consideration for thevacant Cleveland Cavaliers’ job, although LeBron James hasn‘t setup a formal interview with him yet.
From way down town
The perception is Butler’s Hayward will be chosen somewhere inthe vicinity of where the Bucks are picking at No. 15. However,Hayward’s stock appears to be rising with Minnesota, at No. 4, andGolden State, at No. 6, taking a close looks at him. … MitchellButler, the agent for Texas guard Avery Bradley, said his clientwon’t be working out for the Bucks. Bradley has worked out with, orwill work out with, several lottery teams, including Detroit,Toronto, Utah, Houston and Indiana … Kellen Sampson, KelvinSampson‘s 24-year-old son, has been hired as an assistant coach atStephen F. Austin University … Portland, which has the 22nd overallpick, is investigating ways in which to move into the lottery. … Along-time Eastern Conference scout claims Greg Monroe is the bestpassing big man since Bill Walton. … Former Wisconsin star guardKirk Penney has been working out at the Cousins Center in St.Francis. Bucks officials gave Penney permission to use thefacilities while he’s in Milwaukee waiting to get to married toAudra Jeffers, an ex-Badgers volleyball standout fromHartford.
Since Walton? you don't say..
Originally Posted by JPZx
Chris Paul out of the Western Conference
Originally Posted by I NaSmatic I
Jeff Bower is regarded as one of the league's top general managers?
Originally Posted by bhzmafia14
Originally Posted by JPZx
Chris Paul out of the Western Conference
Originally Posted by Buc Em
Is it just me or did Greg Monroe seem REALLY out of shape? Like he could barely get up and down the court and didn't seem to have any lift to speak of. I could hear him breathing heavy every time he was trying to start running. So many question mark guys in this lottery.....
Originally Posted by JPZx
I wasn't aware that pregame dunks factor into whether or not a player will succeed in the league. Thanks for giving me the heads up.
I was thinking the same thing
well, unless the Jazz move up for him, that's who you're drafting.
Petrie + Carrill = Monroe. (see; Patrick Ewing, JR.)