Workouts
Tuesday June 3, 2008
WAYNE ELLINGTON
Who is he? 6-5 Sophomore shooting guard from North Carolina.
Last Year: Averaged 16.6 points and 4.5 rebounds for the Tar Heels while shooting nearly 47 per cent from the field, (40 per cent from beyond the arc), and nearly 83 per cent from the free throw line.
What Can He Do? Ellington was one of the smoothest shooters in the country last year for Carolina. He was one of the team’s top scorers and one of the best catch-and-shoot players in all of Division 1. His game is still a little one-dimensional and he’s undersized for the 2 at present, but he’s a scorer in the Cutino Mobley mould and possesses a skill set that should translate at the NBA level.
In fact, while not a slasher, he does have an NBA game and many scouts claimed that Ellington looked like the only definite NBA player at the recent Orlando draft camp. Right now Ellington isn’t even a lock to stay in the draft however. If he gets some first round guarantees, unlikely at this point, he’ll stick around. If not, it’s back to the Heels to join an already formidable returning cast there ready to give Duke problems for yet another season.
The Bottom Line: At present, Ellington’s not likely an option for Toronto at 17, but if he falls into the second round, his scoring ability might make the Raptors look to grab an extra pick in order to snatch him up as a potential D Leaguer.
Check out some footage of Ellington here:
SHAN FOSTER
Who is he? 6-6 Senior shooting guard from Vanderbilt.
Last Year: Averaged 20.3 points and 4.9 rebounds for the Commodores while shooting 52 per cent from the field, 76 per cent from the line and almost 47 per cent from 3.
What Can He Do? Foster is quite similar to Ellington in many respects as both exhibit smooth strokes and the ability to fill it up from anywhere on the court. Foster however has better size for the shooting guard position, better length, and is an even more deadly shooter with tremendous range. His shooting form and style of play in fact brings to mind Michael Redd from his days at Ohio State. On the flip side though, Shan lacks the scoring instincts of Ellington or Redd and is probably even more one-dimensional as an NBA prospect.
Foster had a spectacular senior season and with the success of skilled shooters like Kyle Korver and the Raptors own Jason Kapono, it looked like Foster could be a late-first round pick. However he struggled at the pre-draft camp in Orlando, failing to display even his one go-to asset, his long distance accuracy.
The Bottom Line: I’ll take a pass on Foster thanks. He’s a great senior from a winning program whose character would fit in seamlessly with the Raps. And I’m sure he’ll find his place in the league. However considering Toronto already has Jason Kapono, Foster would seem to simply be a strategic workout partner for some of the others in attendance instead of a legit option at 17 or even in the second round.
Check out some footage of Foster here:
JAMONT GORDON
Who is he? 6-4 Junior guard from Mississippi State.
Last Year: Averaged 17.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Bulldogs.
What Can He Do? Gordon is your classic combo-guard in the Fred Jones/Antonio Daniels/Flip Murray mould. He’s got great scoring instincts and was one of the best at creating his own shot in all of Division 1 last year. He’s not the most incredible athlete, but is definitely above average in this area and incredibly strong with good length, making him an excellent defender.
What seperates Gordon from being a first-round pick like many of his former Oak Hill Academy brethren, is that he’s failed to master many of the skills necessary to become an effective 1 or 2 at the next level. While he’s a great scorer, he’s undersized for the 2 and is as streaky as they come shooting wise. He hit only 41.5 per cent from the field last year (31 per cent from the line), and in terms of playing the point, does not possess the court vision of most NBA back-up point guards, let alone starters.
The Bottom Line: I really like Gordon, and in fact he was one of my favourite players in college to watch with the shot clock winding down; the dude just finds a way to get to the hoop. That’s something the Raptors could use, but not at 17 and there are other prospects I’d rather have in terms of second round flyers. That being said, his competitiveness and defensive abilities should make for a tough workout in regards to the other players participating this morning.
Check out some footage of Gordon here:
DANNY GREEN
Who is he? 6-5 Junior point guard from North Carolina.
Last Year: Averaged 11.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals last season for the Tar Heels.
What Can He Do? Besides some of the most random dance moves pre-game this side of Jonathan Papelbon, Green was the quintessential sixth man for Carolina last year, and a constant thorn in my side as a Duke fan. Green isn’t one of these players who jumps out at you because of his dunks or blocks, but he’s one of the most well-rounded players in all of college. He can be a lock-down defender in the mode of Shane Battier and while not as athletic, like Battier, has a tremendous basketball IQ.
He’s also improved his shooting and looked fantastic from long-range at the recent pre-draft camp in Orlando according to reports. Green, like Ellington, may still return to school for another year but if he looks good in workouts, could end up being a late first-round pick for a team looking for someone to contribute right away.
The Bottom Line: As much as I dislike Green from my jaded Blue Devils’ perspective, this is a player that would be worth a look at in the second round. I’m positive he would already get more playing time than Joey Graham simply because of his defense and basketball IQ (although I guess that could be seen as a backhanded compliment) and is one of those players who just always seems to be in the right place at the right time on the court. He’s also a player who should look good in workouts and reminds me a lot of Anthony Parker in terms of a well-rounded skill set. He doesn’t have mid-first round talent, but you could do worse if you’re a squad like the Spurs drafting late in round 1.
Check out some footage of Green here:
MALIK HAIRSTON
Who is he? 6-6 Senior shooting guard from Oregon.
Last Year: Averaged 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Ducks.
What Can He Do? Speaking of players who always seem to be in the right place at the right time we come to Malik Hairston. Hairston is a very strange prospect in many ways as he was one of the top recruits of his class coming out of high school, (in fact he was lauded as Oregon’s biggest basketball recruit of all time) yet never made that “next level” jump many expected.
Hairston can do a bit of everything from inside and out (he shot over 43 per cent from beyond the arc last year) and is a great passer from the post. His game has been compared to Quentin Richardson because he can play that back to the basket power game from the guard spot while still being able to thread the needle facing up.
The knock on Malik though has always been whether or not he has the passion to perform at the next level as at times he tends to disappear. His Ducks never reached the summit many thought they would in the Pac 10, and at times it seemed he deferred to other less talented teammates rather than taking the game over himself. That being said, Hairston was one of the better players at the recent pre-draft camp from all reports and looks to have dedicated himself to improving his ball handling and conditioning so far this off-season. Perhaps he’ll shed that “lack of passion” label yet.
The Bottom Line: Hairston considered coming out last season as well with the departure of Aaron Brooks but decided to try and improve his stock by returning for his senior campaign. The results were mixed but he’s the type of player who may simply be more suited for the NBA than college, where he can better take advantage of his creativity and multi-faceted skill-set. For the Raptors, Hairston makes an interesting sleeper prospect, but definitely not one worthy of a first-round pick. However Hairston could easily become one of those under appreciated second round picks like Leon Powe and Carl Landry who find themselves a nice niche in the league.
Check out a nasty dunk from Hairston on Cal’s Ryan Anderson here:
COURTNEY LEE
Who is he? 6-5 Senior shooting guard Western Kentucky.
Last Year: Averaged 20.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 steals for the Hilltoppers while shooting almost 48 per cent from the field.
What Can He Do? Lee is one of the sleepers of the draft and probably the most legitimate first-round option for the Raptors of this bunch. That’s why Lee’s play against these other four probable four second-rounders should be a good evaluation of his status in the eyes of the Raptors.
Lee lead Western Kentucky to a nice run in last spring’s NCAA tourney and while he didn’t dominate, he still did enough to put his stamp on most scouts’ minds. The knock on Lee is that he lacks consistent aggression even though he does possess the ability to at times dominate games at the D1 level. Playing in the Sun Belt conference isn’t exactly like the Pac10 either, but other recent picks from smaller conferences like Rodney Stuckey and Kevin Martin have shown that that is not always a concern.
The Bottom Line: From all accounts, Lee looks great in private workouts and could really put on a show for the Raps’ brass. He’s not the athlete or finisher that I think some other prospects available to Toronto at 17 are, but he’s a very solid player who should be in the league for years to come. Incidentally this is another player who’s drawn comparisons to Anthony Parker…
Check out one of Lee’s put-back dunks here:
RYAN ANDERSON
Who is he? 6-10 Sophomore forward from California.
Last Year: Averaged 21.1 points and 9.9 rebounds for the Bears.
What Can He Do? Anderson was one of the best offensive players in the country last year. His Cal team underperformed, but with his size and perimeter shooting ability, Anderson emerged as a potential late first round pick as the season wore on. His shooting ability is definitely his best asset and last season he hit almost 50 per cent of his shots from the field, including over 40 per cent from beyond the arc.
The main knock on Anderson however is that he lacks the explosive agility or athletic skills of say a Joe Alexander, a very similar player in many respects. In the NBA, his size projects as a 3-4 however there are questions as to whether he can bang with the 4’s, and keep up with the 3’s.
The Bottom Line: Matt Bonner. Austin Croshere. Troy Murphy. Take your pick. Scouts have compared Anderson to all of the above and with his offensive repertoire, he should find a home late in the first round or early in the second this year.
But from a Toronto standpoint, I don’t think Anderson is a good fit as he duplicates many of the attributes of Andrea Bargnani. Really, I think Anderson was mainly brought in to match-up with the next prospect on our list, Kosta Koufos and will be earning his keep elsewhere next season.
Check the final minute of this Cal summary for footage of Anderson from inside and out:
KOSTA KOUFOS
Who is he? 7-foot Freshman center from Ohio State.
Last Year: Averaged 14.4 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Buckeye while blocking almost two shots a game.
What Can He Do? Koufos was supposed to be the next big thing at Ohio State with the departure of Greg Oden. He had a solid freshman campaign, but failed to tear up the NCAA as some expected.
He’s simply not a giant physical presence at this point in time despite his size. He’s more of a “big” in the Zydrunas Ilgauskas or Mehmet Okur mould, a sweet-shooting big man with a soft touch around the basket.
However despite his soft hands, he struggles to finish at the rim due to his lack of athletic ability and his lack of an NBA level physique. He’s just a freshman so will no doubt fill out, but Koufos is definitely still a project at this stage.
The Bottom Line: Just like Anderson, here’s another player I’ll take a pass on if I’m the Raps. Yes, stockwise he might seem like a nice option at 17 as he definitely has first round talent, but does Bryan Colangelo really want another big who avoids the paint? Koufos is no defensive force and after watching him fail to dominate smaller players at Ohio State last year, I still think he’d be best served returning to school for another season. It doesn’t look like he’s even considering that at this point though so perhaps he’ll make a great value pick for some team late in the first round. For Toronto though, this is one project I think they should stay away from.
Check out some highlights of Koufos in international play last year, dominating for Greece:
ROBIN LOPEZ
Who is he? 7-foot Sophomore from Stanford.
Last Year: Averaged 10.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks for the Cardinals.
What Can He Do? Defend. Lopez is the best defensive big-man in the draft at this point in time. He may not have the upside or athleticism of some of the other bigs like DeAndre Jordan or JaVale MaGee, but Lopez looks like a player who could come into the NBA and help a team immeidately from a defensive standpoint.
He’s definitely not as polished offensively as his twin brother Brook, but seems to have that Joakim Noah/Anderson Varejao style of game. He’s an excellent rebounder and defender, a superb shot-blocker, and is a consistently active body in the paint.
The Bottom Line: Lopez marks the first player in workouts so far that I’d like to see the Raptors take a long, hard look at when they’re on the clock at 17. Lopez might not be the slashing 3 this team needs, but you could do much worse than drafting a Noah clone (with more focussed intensity in my opinion) as he provides many things that Toronto currently lacks. Tops on this list obviously is his energy and aggressiveness on the glass, an area we all know that Toronto has had issues with seemingly forever. Lopez however could easily be gone before the Raps pick if he excels in workouts. Teams love legit 7-footers who can contribute right away and Lopez looks to fit the bill.
Check out some great highlights of Lopez here from georgerdgez:
DREW NEITZEL
Who is he? 6-foot Senior point guard from Michigan State.
Last Year: Averaged 13.9 points, and 4.0 assists while shooting almost 40 per cent from both the field and from 3 for the Spartans.
What Can He Do? Neitzel is a gunner, plain and simple. He’s played a point guardish role for the Spartans throughout his college career but he’s not exactly a floor general. And at 6 feet with limited athleticism, he’ll have to make his mark in the NBA by doing what he does best…shooting the rock.
Neitzel in fact represents just how good players are the NBA level. In college, Neitzel was one of the most feared players coming off screens, able to light it up from anywhere on the court. He also had adequate size and quickness to get to the rim. That won’t be the case at the next level and because of this, I don’t expect Neitzel to be chosen on draft night.
The Bottom Line: Really the bottom line here for Toronto is filling out a workout. Neitzel brings very little to the table for the Raps and besides being an excellent workout partner for Jeremy Pargo, Neitzel will probably have to hawk his basketball trade overseas next year.
Check out some Neitzel highlights here:
JEREMY PARGO
Who is he? 6-2 Junior guard from Gonzaga.
Last Year: Averaged 12.1 points and 6.0 assists for the Zags.
What Can He Do? Pargo, like his brothers, is an undersized scoring guard. At 6-2, he’s not exactly your prototypical NBA shooting guard, and with more of a scorers mentality, isn’t exactly a traditional point either. Ah yes, the dreaded combo label.
But Pargo is probably a better point guard than many give him credit for and he can certainly score off the bounce using his quickness and athletic ability. If he returns to school for another season, a distinct possibility at this point, he should be able to hone his point guard skills and work on his shot selection.
The Bottom Line: I like Pargo, but he never seems to be able to step it up on the big stage. He had a poor camp in Orlando, a rough NCAA tournament, and just never really stood out when I saw him play. That being said, he would make an interesting second round pick for a team looking for a player with plenty of potential. I just don’t think though that Toronto is that team.
Check out an example of Pargo’s athletic ability here:
JASON THOMPSON
Who is he? 6-11 Senior forward from Rider.
Last Year: Averaged 20.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks.
What Can He Do? Thompson looks like a traditional NBA power forward and has the game to back it up. He’s got legit size and athletic ability and the skill set to complement his physical attributes.
However the “who is he” piece we do for each prospect is perhaps nowhere more necessary than with Thompson, a player many know little about. I only got to see him play twice on tv last year, both times against other MAC competition in gyms that looked eerily similar to might high school gym on PEI. Yes, perhaps that means that Thompson hasn’t exactly had to bang with the big boys of the Big East or Pac10, but Thompson is no slouch. In fact, he was one of the standouts from Lebron James’ camp a while back and has played quite well against other top bigs like Michael Beasley and JJ Hickson.
The Bottom Line: I’m not sure Thompson fils a need for Toronto but he is a very nice looking prospect. Toronto has plenty at the 4 but this is a player I could very well see going late in the first round only to prove to be a steal. Does Toronto take a shot on him at 17? That I doubt, but keeping track on his draft status might not be a bad idea if the Raptors are looking to re-enter the second round.
Check out an interview with Jason Thompson here:
Thursday June 5, 2008
ALEXIS AJINCA
Who is he? 7-1 Power Forward/Center from France.
Last Year: Played for Hyeres-Toulon in France.
What Can He Do? Ajinca has been on scouts’ radars for a while however I personally have never seen him play. He’s been compared to LaMarcus Aldridge because of his size, length, athletic ability and soft touch, and is an excellent shot blocker. He’s very raw however and is rail thin for the projected positions he’ll play at the next level.
Ajinca has also had little professional basketball experience to this point and has earned few minutes in Europe’s top leagues. This probably has more to do with his age (20) than his skill-set however and might be worth a pick hoping he develops down the road. Big men with his raw abilities and quickness just don’t grow on trees.
The Bottom Line: While Toronto could use some shot-blocking help, I’m not sure Ajinca is the answer at this stage of the game, and certainly not at 17. He’s much too raw and is probably a good two years away from even being able to contribute at the NBA level if at all. However I’m really glad the Raps have brought him in for a look as down the road, he might be a nice piece of the puzzle, and perhaps another option to stash overseas if he falls into the second round.
Check out an example of Ajinca’s shot-blocking ability here:
CHRIS DOUGLAS-ROBERTS
Who is he? 6-6 Junior guard/forward from Memphis.
Last Year: Averaged 18.1 points and 4.1 rebounds for the Tigers while hitting over 50 per cent of his shots from the field.
What Can He Do? I’m not sure how much more I can drone on about my affinity for CDR. He was one of the smoothest players in all of college ball last year, can score with the best of them, can create his own shot, and can get to the rim with an uncanny series of jukes and head fakes.
Yep…just what the doctor ordered for the Raptors right? Well, I won’t let my fondness for his game cloud my judgement as there is a reason he hasn’t been ranked much higher on mock drafts than the early 20’s. He’s not an elite athlete, has a Shawn Marionesque looking shot, and as a rail-thin slasher, may have trouble at the next level finishing and absorbing contact.
The Bottom Line: That being said, if you watched CDR this season you saw a player who is probably underrated in the eyes of most scouts and GM’s. He’s not going to blow you away with his first step or ability to shoot the rock. And he’s definitely not much of a creator for his teammates. However he just gets the job done and with his excellent ball-handling skills, should translate nicely as a scoring wing at the next level. The NBA still features a tremendous amount of one-on-one play and CDR, while no Kobe, can take just about anyone off the bounce. Add in the fact that his length and lateral quickness makes him a tough defender (he averaged over a steal a game last year) and in my opinion you have a winning combination at 17. We’ll just have to see however if the Raptors agree come June 26.
Check out this great compilation of CDR highlights:
DEVON HARDIN
Who is he? 6-11 Senior power forward/center from California.
Last Year: Averaged 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks for the Bears.
What Can He Do? Hardin is an anomaly for myself, and apparently for most scouts according to reports out of the recent pre-draft camp in Orlando. Here we have a player that has all the physical tools of a Darryl Dawkins (his combine numbers in Orlando were some of the best of this draft class) yet just doesn’t always seem to “get it.”
It’s not that he has a poor attitude or work ethic (Hardin’s body fat measured out under six per cent at the pre-draft camp and he benched 185 pounds 20 times), but at times he seems to float on the court without any purpose.
It’s these same “getting it” issues that make scouts shake their heads over his disappointing numbers in his senior year at Cal, all down from his previous season with the exception of his field goal percentage. For a player who could have been drafted last year but opted to up his stock by returning for his senior year, things just didn’t quite work as planned.
The Bottom Line: Nevertheless, Hardin still makes a very interesting prospect. Like Ajinca, there just isn’t a surplus of big-men with his abilities, not to mention length (he has over a nine foot standing reach.) I’d love to see Toronto take a flyer on him if he falls into the second round. He has all the upside of a Nene with none of the weight, passion or health issues. However there’s a reason Hardin has also drawn a lot of comparisons to a slightly more nimble Erick Dampier; a player can have all the physical tools in the world but if they don’t get it, then it really doesn’t matter does it? Besides, Toronto has a living example of this on their bench right now in Joey Graham.
Check out a Hardin showing off his athletic ability in a pro-am league:
MYKAL RILEY
Who is he? 6-6 Senior guard from Alabama.
Last Year: Averaged 14.9 points, and 5.2 rebounds for the Crimson Tide.
What Can He Do? Riley is a player I know very little about. He sat out his first few years at Alabama but turned in solid junior and senior seasons for the Tide. He’s not a player on many scouts’ radars but did show some NBA skill last year in the SEC.
The problem is that Riley is only 185 pounds at 6-6 and will need to put on some serious size and strength to compete at the NBA level.
The Bottom Line: Riley was a member of a talented but underperforming Crimson Tide team that also featured 2008 draft prospects Richard Hendrix and Alonzo Gee. Both Hendrix and Gee have kept their profiles up however while Riley has flown a lot closer to the ground. He’s a fantastic shooter however (he made 43 per cent from 3) and could find himself a nice niche as a gunner with a team. I just can’t see right now it being with the Raptors.
Check out an example of Mykal Riley’s shooting stroke here:
BRANDON RUSH
Who is he? 6-6 Junior guard from Kansas.
Last Year: Averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Jayhawks.
What Can He Do? Rush is a jack of all trades guard who helped lead his Jayhawks to last year’s National Title in D1. Rush almost declared a year ago but after hurting his ACL in pre-draft preparations he decided to return to school. It seemed like a wise choice but it’s only his recent play in workouts and his Final Four run that really solidified this viewpoint. From a statistical standpoint he actually played fewer minutes than in his sophomore season, scored slightly less and shot a poorer percentage from the field and beyond the arc.
However Rush looks like another David West type in this year’s draft. Not so much in terms of position or skill-set, but a player with an excellent college resume who gets overlooked because he lacks “upside” in many people’s minds. I think that Rush will be a solid addition to any team and while not a star, and important contributor.
The Bottom Line: Having said all of that, the player Rush reminds me of the most is still Morris Peterson. Both won national titles and were overlooked in the draft. Both were good but not great athletes and suffered at times with their aggressiveness attacking the rim. Both were exceptional defenders in college and great long range shooters. And both I think will have similar career paths in the league. So does Toronto grab Rush at 17? I’d personally rather have Douglas-Roberts because of his scoring or Bill Walker (our next prospect) because of his athleticism and grit. But Toronto could do far worse and it will be very interesting to hear how Rush performs against these other two. After all, Rush may not even be on the board at 17 when Toronto selects. Rumour has it that Phoenix is a big fan and they pick two spots before the Raptors.
Check out Brandon Rush highlights here:
BILL WALKER
Who is he? 6-6 Freshman forward from Kansas State.
Last Year: Averaged 16.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and shot 46.5 per cent from the field for the Wildcats.
What Can He Do? At one point in time, Walker could do anything. He was in fact compared to (gasp) Vince Carter due to his incredible ups and ability to get to the rim. However as most now know, Walker ruptured his ACL in January 2007 and his draft stock fell like his last name was Chiriaev.
However Walker bounced back quite nicely this past year. He and freshman phenom Michael Beasley rejuvinated Kansas State’s basketball program and Walker developed other parts of his game to compensate for his lack of explosion. Instead of playing the 2-3, Walker played the 3-4 and added a great amount of muscle to help him bang in the post with taller 4’s. He still possessed great moves off the bounce so therefore could be deadly from both outside and now in, using his newly minted post-game.
However even after a solid season and successful rehab process, scouts were still mixed about Billy. This was mainly because of concerns regarding his level of maturity. Numerous times last year Walker would get himself into foul trouble thereby hurting his team because of stupid retaliatory fouls. And at other times when he wasn’t getting the ball or his shots weren’t falling, Walker would get moody and sulk, thereby costing his team at the defensive end.
The Bottom Line: I’d like to see Toronto take Walker at 17, but I’m just not sure yet that the fit would be the best for all parties. Walker looks great by all accounts in offseason workouts (he’s dropped an amazing 25 pounds since the end of the season) and probably has the most upside of any swingman at this point in the draft…but I worry about his attitude. If he rarely plays in his first season, will he sulk? Will he be a distraction off the court? In many ways he’s a bit like TJ Ford, uber competitive and a player who plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. The Raptors could use a bit of a chip at times, but we’ve seen first-hand how if not given the proper outlets, that chip can quickly turn into an anvil.
Check out clips of Walker pre-ACL injury here:
Bill Walker Highlights Pre-Kansas State
Friday June 13, 2008
DARRELL ARTHUR
Who is he? 6-9 Sophomore Power Forward/Center from Kansas.
Last Year: Averaged 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds to go with 1.3 blocks for the Jayhawks.
What Can He Do? Arthur is like that hot girl in high school who would flirt with you to get at your best friend; he’s a tease. At first glance we’re talking about someone who evokes images of a certain prospect by the name of McDyess after he entered the NBA from Alabama. He’s got an NBA 4 prototype build, with excellent athleticism and scoring instincts and has the ability to score inside and out.
However for someone with his length (measured under 6-9 in shoes at the pre-draft camp but had almost a nine foot standing reach), he’s not exactly a great rebounder, and at only 216 pounds, will need to add some weight to be able to withstand abuse in the paint at the NBA level.
Arthur also will need to wow scouts and GM’s in individual workouts as his body of work from Kansas just wasn’t consistent. He’s got as much or more potential than anyone else in this draft class really, but the question is, can he make good on it.
The Bottom Line: Arthur was one of the more maddening prospects for me to watch last year. Sometimes (like his performance against Memphis in the Championship game where he put up 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds), you’d look at him and wonder why he couldn’t be right up there with Michael Beasley in terms of NBA potential. At others, (his 7 point – 5 rebound performance against the much smaller Davidson only days before playing Memphis) you’d wonder why he’s declaring for the draft at all.
So is he worth a look at 17? I think so, only because on potential and size alone, it’s doubtful he drops this far. He looks like a late lottery pick so if he’s around when Toronto makes their selection, it might be tough to pass on his upside. However while he might be worth a strong look, I’d rather not see his name called by the Raps. Kansas power forwards have not exactly lived up to NBA expectations (see Gooden, Drew and LeFrentz, Raef) and with Chris Bosh in tow, this is one position Toronto can leave alone for a while with others needing more serious attention.
Check out highlights of Arthur here:
TYRONE BRAZELTON
Who is he? 6-0 Senior guard from Western Kentucky.
Last Year: Averaged 14.4 points and 2.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Hilltoppers.
What Can He Do? Some of you may remember Brazelton for the blistering offensive performance he put on during the NCAA tournament. He dropped 31 on UCLA in a losing cause and 33 on Drake in the game that featured the soon-to-be classic buzzer-beating 3 pointer from teammate Ty Rogers.
Brazelton is not exactly your prototypical point guard but had a great, albeit short, career at Western Kentucky. He’s a solid long-range shooter and can score off the dribble in a variety of fashions.
However he measured under 6 feet even in shoes at the recent combine in Orlando and posted mediocre numbers in terms of strength and athleticism. Therefore he’s going to have a tough time in the league considering he doesn’t have the floor vision or scoring ability of some of the draft’s other small guards like DJ Augustin or Jerryd Bayless.
The Bottom Line: Brazelton is definitely an “under-the-radar” type prospect who may have been brought in to match up with DeMarcus Nelson more than anything. He’s definitely not an option for Toronto at 17 and I doubt he’ll hear his name called at all on June 26th. That being said, this is a player with some nice skills who could find great success by taking his game overseas.
Check out some highlights of Brazelton here:
JAMES GIST
Who is he? 6-9 Senior forward from Maryland.
Last Year: Averaged 15.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks for the Terrapins.
What Can He Do? Potential, potential, potential. This really is all you need to say about Gist at this point in time. Gist came on strong towards the end of the season for the Terps and created a nice buzz for himself at the recent Orlando pre-draft camp.
This is an energy player in the same vein as Mikki Moore, who uses his strength and athleticism to impact games on the glass and in the paint. He’s constantly active while on the court and posted over a steal a game last year on average.
However his game does have a number of holes, especially at the offensive end. His scoring arsenal is quite limited to dunks and put-backs and as he’s actually closer to 6-8, many wonder how his game will translate at the NBA level.
The Bottom Line: Gist is an interesting player in that he does a lot of the things Toronto needs assistance with. He can be a ferocious player to contend with at times because of his athleticism (he dropped 31 and 11 on Wake Forest in late February and 26 on Duke earlier in the year) and could become a very nice energy player off the bench in the NBA. I expect him to be a second-round pick and if he falls late into the draft, Toronto could do worse if they’re looking for a player who could help down the road. However right now he’s still quite raw, even for a college senior, and I expect to see him putting in his time via the summer league with a team other than the Raps.
Check out Gist at both ends of the court in this clip against Delaware:
J.J. HICKSON
Who is he? 6-9 Freshman forward from NC State.
Last Year: Averaged 14.8 points, and 8.5 rebounds for the Wolfpack along with over a block a game.
What Can He Do? Hickson is a similar player to Gist in that he’s an athletic big man who finishes well in close and can be a monster on the glass. However Hickson shows more potential as a freshman entering the league and already has NBA level size.
He’s been compared by many to Chris Wilcox because of his leaping ability and powerful dunks and he has a much more advanced offensive game than Gist, even though he sported a lower scoring average on the year. He struggles though with his left hand and at times this year showed that he’s definitely a freshman still learning many of the nuances of the game.
The Bottom Line: Hickson is already climbing the board in many mock drafts as he’s now seen as a potential late first round pick. Could Toronto take a look at him when they pick 17th? I think he’s a bit too raw for that but perhaps if he really impresses against the other bigs today, he might be worth a look. The problem is, he’s definitely not a center as with the exception of his excellent length, is almost undersized as a 4 in the league. And as we’ve previously mentioned, some back-up potential behind Chris Bosh would be nice, but there are other areas needing more immediate attention right now.
Check out this fantastic compilation of Hickson from georgerdgez:
DeMARCUS NELSON
Who is he? 6-4 Senior guard from Duke.
Last Year: Averaged 14.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists for the Blue Devils.
What Can He Do? As a senior with Duke, Nelson showed that he can do a bit of everything. He’s a great scorer (he holds the all-time scoring record for California HS basketball) who can put the ball on the deck and get to the rim with the best of them in D1. On the other side of the ball, while undersized (he measured closer to 6-2 in Orlando) he makes up for it with his ridiculous wingspan (nearly 6-11) and was one of college’s best on-the-ball defenders last year.
The problem is, that was in college and it’s tough to predict how his game will impact at the next level. He’s been compared to the likes of Tony Delk because of his size and strength however Delk had a sweeter stroke and perhaps former Blue Devil Dahntay Jones is a more suitable comparison. Both did not exactly have the prettiest form but were excellent athletes who could finish at the rim.
The Bottom Line: Nelson was one of my favourite Blue Devils the past few years because he never took a play off defensively. However I’m not sure how successful he’ll be in the NBA. He’s undersized for his position, hardly possesses a jump shot, and doesn’t have the court vision to play the 1 like some of his Duke predecessors (Duhon, Ewing etc.) However he is a superb athlete (tested as one of the best in the recent draft combine), a potent scorer, a tenacious defender and an excellent rebounder for his size, all traits that will probably land him on a team’s summer-league roster. I’m not sure he’ll hear his name called in such a deep draft, but he’s the type who should look great in workouts and may dazzle a GM enough to be a late second-round option.
Check out this example of Nelson’s athletic ability against North Carolina:
DAVID PADGETT
Who is he? 6-11 Senior center from Louisville.
Last Year: Averaged 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and shot 66.7 per cent from the field for the Cardinals.
What Can He Do? Watching Padgett last year for the Cardinals was painful at times. Why? Because I always felt that Padgett was more talented than Rafael Araujo yet Hoffa went in the top 10 of the draft and Padgett will probably be a late, late, second-round pick.
But I digress. Padgett is not exactly your typical college center in that he’s an excellent passer from the post, and is not simply a “jump hook and done” type guy. He possesses an excellent basketball IQ doing a great job of using cutters and seeing angles and his absence will be severely felt by Rick Pitino’s crew next season.
As an NBA prospect, I’d put him above the Jake Voskuhls and Paul Davises of the league and slightly below the Mark Madsens and the Eduardo Najeras. He’s not the most athletic player, in particular after undergoing a series of knee operations, but he makes everyone around him better and no doubt will find a niche role with some team’s bench.
The Bottom Line: Will it be with the Raptors? I doubt it. He’s definitely not one of the horses in the running for the 17th pick, and in terms of a late second-round flyer should BC want to take someone, I’d rather see Toronto grab a more athletic “upside” type big man.
However I’d have no problem with Padgett getting an invite to summer league and/or training camp. I think he’d be much more of an asset to the Raptors than Maceo Baston and could be a good practice and spot minute type. Think of it this way…he’d be one less player that Sam Mitchell would have to yell to much at. Padgett just gets it and while he’s no Brad Miller, promises to find a role in the league provided he can stay healthy.
Check out this praise for Padgett prior to this past year’s NCAA Tournament:
