NBA Draft Lottery

[Dangerous A 0]

Do you really think May will go all the way down at 10? Seems to me like he was the best player in the tournament this year, completely unstoppable. Of course he won't be able to bully NBA players like he did in the tourney, but he still showed some nice athleticism and strength in the post. Despite playing for one of my least favorite colleges May was damn fun to watch...

The thing about May isn't his skills. Those are unquestioned. There is an issue about his height. He's listed as 6'9 and some sources have him at 6'8. He would have to adjust to playing PF because he is too short to play C. Also, his athleticism is in question. He isn't the most athletic guy and while he dominated in college, that might not translate to the NBA where most guys are either bigger and/or more athletic. I've read that May would be best off with a high post C or PF like Toronto has with Chris Bosh or Minnesota with KG where he can camp down low in the paint while the other big operates around the foul line.

[Spicy McHaggis 0]

They're predicting Sean May for the Lakers, but I really hope they can get Channing Frye.

Sorry to bust your bubble, but living in the Bay Area I can tell you the Warriors are set to take Channing Frye if he is still there with the 9th pick unless some sleeper comes about, which I doubt. I have seen a different scenario for the Lakers taking Raymond Felton. He is the fastest guy from endline to endline WITH the ball in his hands plus he's a natural leader and a winner. Definitely an upgrade from Chucky Atkins.

 

Aside from the top 3 guys (Bogut, Paul, Williams) Gerald Green is the top High School prospect and has as much upside as Williams. He still needs to develop his body though.(6'7, only 200 ibs)

That would make sense considering Montgomery's Pac-10 roots...but maybe LA can trade up.

[Dangerous A 0]

Depends on how hung up you are on Frye. I think he'll be a decent player, but I question some of his offensive skills. While the Lakers definitely need to address the middle, they also need a playmaker who can get Kobe and Odom good shots and run to help mask the lack of the middle. That is where Felton comes in.

 

I'm not sure if this draft has that certain person to try to trade up to get with the exception of Marvin Williams or Gerald Green and the Lakers already have a platoon of guys who play their positions.

[Dangerous A 0]

Here is Chad Ford's (ESPN Insider) Mock Draft as of today:

 

 

1) Milwaukee-Marvin Williams

2) Atlanta- Andrew Bogut

3) Portland- Gerald Green

4) New Orleans- Chris Paul

5) Charlotte- Deron Williams

6) Utah- Fran Vasquez

7) Toronto- Danny Granger

8) New York- Chris Taft

9) Golden State- Channing Frye

10) LA Lakers- Raymond Felton

11) Orlando- Martell Webster

12) LA Clippers-Martynas Andriuskevicius

13) Charlotte- Antoine Wright

14) Minnesota Timberwolves- Joey Graham

15) New Jersey- Hakim Warrick

16) Toronto- Sean May

17) Indiana- Rashad McCants

18) Boston- Nemanja Aleksandrov

19) Memphis- Marko Tomas

20) Denver- Rudy Fernandez

21) Phoenix- Audrey Blatche

22) Denver- Ersan Ilyasova

23) Sacramento- Charlie Villanueva

24) Houston- Tiago Splitter

25) Seattle- Johan Petro

26) Detroit-Yaroslav Korolev

27) Utah- Randolph Morris

28) SA- Julius Hodge

29) Miami- Jarret Jack

30) New York- Andrew Bynum

[Guest Redhawk]

12) LA Clippers-Martynas Andriuskevicius

 

Won't they ever learn? The Clips need to stop with the projects and just take the best college player on the board.

 

30) New York- Andrew Bynum

 

I'm drawing a blank. Do you mean Will Bynum from Ga. Tech?

[Guest Vitamin X]

Do you really think May will go all the way down at 10?  Seems to me like he was the best player in the tournament this year, completely unstoppable. Of course he won't be able to bully NBA players like he did in the tourney, but he still showed some nice athleticism and strength in the post. Despite playing for one of my least favorite colleges May was damn fun to watch...

The thing about May isn't his skills. Those are unquestioned. There is an issue about his height. He's listed as 6'9 and some sources have him at 6'8. He would have to adjust to playing PF because he is too short to play C. Also, his athleticism is in question. He isn't the most athletic guy and while he dominated in college, that might not translate to the NBA where most guys are either bigger and/or more athletic. I've read that May would be best off with a high post C or PF like Toronto has with Chris Bosh or Minnesota with KG where he can camp down low in the paint while the other big operates around the foul line.

Ben Wallace is about the same height, and he's doing pretty well for himself. And despite whatever they may say about his athleticism, he'd definitely be an upgrade over Mihm, and chances are he's more of an athlete in terms of conditioning than SOME center, who may or may not have played for the Lakers in the past...

 

Besides, what you mentioned about Sean May applies in this situation as well. Odom is the other big guy they need to make it work. With May, they'd be able to upgrade at center, perhaps do some work with trimming the roster with all the forwards they have (I think three of the dumbest moves the Lakers made during the past year had to have been letting Fisher sign elsewhere, re-signing Medvedenko, and also the trade for Kareem Rush to the Bobcats which gave them... what? I mean, you could point at the Miami trade too, but Odom and Butler are decent players (fuck Brian Grant), and are young and can only get better.

 

After upgrading the middle, they need to address the PG situation and most importantly the coaching as well.

[Brett Favre 0]

12) LA Clippers-Martynas Andriuskevicius

 

Won't they ever learn? The Clips need to stop with the projects and just take the best college player on the board.

 

30) New York- Andrew Bynum

 

I'm drawing a blank. Do you mean Will Bynum from Ga. Tech?

I heard Martynas might even be in the draft anyway because he broke a hand. Not 100% sure.

 

Andrew Bynum is a High School Senoir, out of NJ I believe. He's 6'11 240; had he not gone to the draft, he would have gone to UConn.

[Dangerous A 0]

This is SI.com's Ian Thomsen's Top 14 picks for the draft. I think his picks are kind of wacky though.

 

 

1) Milwaukee-Andrew Bogut

2) Atlanta-Deron Williams

3) Portland- Marvin Williams

4) New Orleans-Chris Paul

5) Charlotte- Gerald Green

6) Utah- Raymond Felton

7) Toronto- Fran Vasquez

8) New York- Channing Frye

9) Goldend State- Tiago Splitter

10) LA Lakers- Sean May

11) Orlando- Martell Webster

12) LA Clippers- Rashad McCants

13) Charlotte- Martynas Andriuskevicius

14) Minnesota0 Antoine Wright

[JustJoe2k5 0]

I can see Charlotte trading their two first-round picks to move up into the top three, they have been eyeing Marvin Williams for a while. I would rather see them stay where they are or possibly trade down one of their first-round picks to a team with two second-round picks. This year's draft is pretty deep as far as talented players. I highly doubt a franchise in their second year drafts a high school player and an unproven foreign player, or atleast I would like to think they wouldn't do that.

[Guest Redhawk]

NBADraft.net now has Portland taking Chris Paul at No. 3, which makes no sense to me since they seem to have handed Sebastian Telfair the PG keys, and Paul is not a SG.

 

They also have the Lakers taking Chris Taft at No. 10, New Jersey getting Sean May at No. 15, and Portland taking Damon's cousin Salim Stoudamire in the 2nd round. Would having family coming in be enough to make Damon stay in Portland? Probably not.

[Guest Flyboy]

This is SI.com's Ian Thomsen's Top 14 picks for the draft. I think his picks are kind of wacky though.

 

 

2) Atlanta-Deron Williams

Well, that mock is complete shit.

[nogoodnick 0]

NBAdraft.net is the most worthless site ever. Portland will probably take Gerald Green with the third pick or even trade down a few spots and still grab him. Pg is the last thing theyre looking for.

 

I dont like NJ taking May either. A more athletic player like Hakim Warrick would fit in nicely and would be able to run with the team.

[Dangerous A 0]

Here is some Draft talk from ESPN Insider Chad Ford...

 

 

We really should take more time mocking mock drafts.

 

At this stage of the game, mocks are little more than educated guesses – strategic placement based on whispers, innuendo and a whole lot of rock, paper, scissors.

 

NBA teams are fickle. The guy a general manager can't live without one day is kicked to the curb the next.

 

Draft stock rises and falls like the volatile NASDAQ. One day you're shopping for an Escalade. The next you're cruising around in a Ford Focus.

 

Remember, last year at this time we had Josh Smith in the lottery and Rafael Araujo panhandling for change in the late first round (on second thought, that's where both of them should have stayed).

 

Our mock draft drew a lot of response from NBA GMs and scouts over the past week. Based on the volume of feedback, here's whose stock is rising and whose is falling heading into the Chicago pre-draft camp.

 

 

STOCK RISING

• While most mock drafts, Insider excluded, have Andrew Bogut going No. 1, it still appears that Marvin Williams is not only in the running, but might have the edge.

 

The Bucks plan to bring in both players after the Chicago pre-draft camp and work them out. The results of the workouts probably will be the deciding factor for the Bucks. If Bogut looks stronger or more athletic than he did in college, he'll probably be a lock for the No. 1 pick. However, if Williams looks like he's ready to contribute right now, he'd be tough to pass on, especially when GM Larry Harris would then have the luxury of shopping Desmond Mason around the league.

 

The latest sign the Bucks may give Williams the nod comes from former Ute coach Rick Majerus, who reportedly is telling his close friend, owner Herb Kohl, that he's better off taking Williams. Considering how well Majerus knows Bogut (he recruited him to Utah), that should raise a few eyebrows.

 

 

• Insider readers sent a flurry of e-mails after we raised Channing Frye from a late first-round pick to a lottery pick in our first mock draft. How could a guy rise so fast – especially a college senior who should be a known product?

 

We still have the same questions, but sources in Golden State, Orlando and New Jersey told Insider that they'd have a hard time passing him up if he was on the board. The Warriors, especially, are looking for a long, athletic, shot-blocking center who is ready to step up and contribute right now.

 

I don't believe the Warriors have made him a promise, as some have suggested, but unless someone else comes in and knocks their socks off, I think Frye will be their guy.

 

 

• We have Texas A&M guard Antoine Wright going to the Bobcats at No. 13, but he might not be around that long. Sources claim the Clippers are in love with Wright and told him that they'd take him at No. 12 if he shut down his workouts. Wright's agent declined, hoping that if he impressed the Clips at 12, he might rise even higher.

 

Wright has looked very solid in individual workouts. His body has gotten stronger and he's proving to teams that his improved jumper is for real. The team is also high on Martynas Andriuskevicius, but it sounds like Andriuskevicius is likely to withdraw from the draft again this year.

 

 

• We wrote last week that we probably had Tiago Splitter way too low at No. 24. That was the general consensus among NBA scouts and GMs this week. Almost all of them had him slotted late in the lottery, going either to the Knicks at No. 8, the Lakers at No. 10, the Nets at No. 15 or the Raptors at No. 16.

 

The one big issue for Splitter, however, is his buyout. He still doesn't have a set amount, which is a major problem for teams drafting in the lottery. If his agents can't work out a deal with Tau Vitoria (the club is reluctant to let Splitter go because chances are it's losing big man Luis Scola to the Spurs this summer), there's a chance he may not be able to come to the NBA next season. That will scare off teams that think that the big Brazilian could come in and contribute right away.

 

• Two months ago we had Julius Hodge on the first-round bubble. We put him at No. 28 in our first mock draft, but chances are he's not going to be around when the Spurs pick.

 

The feedback we're getting from teams that have worked him out is extremely positive. He could now go as high as No. 17 to the Pacers. The Grizzlies will take a long look at him at No. 19. So will the Rockets at No. 24 and the Jazz at No. 27. Given the high praise he's gotten from all of those teams, it's tough to see him slipping past all four to San Antonio. Just to bolster that contention, Hodge withdrew from the Chicago pre-draft camp. That's always a pretty solid sign that a player's gotten word from a team that it will select him in the first round if he is still on the board.

 

 

• Our new first-round sleepers are Providence's Ryan Gomes and Louisville's Francisco Garcia. Both players have been playing to rave reviews at workouts over the past few weeks. Gomes has lost about 15 pounds and is showing teams he has enough of a perimeter game to make the transition to the three. A few teams have compared him to a bigger Corliss Williamson.

 

Garcia also has worked out great. He's shown a little more athleticism than scouts thought he had, and he's been shooting the lights out in workouts. We're probably going to have to find first-round spots for both of these guys in our next mock draft.

 

 

• We also had a few folks who were shocked that Croatian point guard Roko Ukic didn't make the cut. Several GMs and scouts made a recent trip to Croatia to watch him play and came back convinced Ukic might be the fourth-best point guard prospect on the board behind Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Raymond Felton.

 

That's right, they had him ahead of Jarrett Jack and as a possible mid-to-late first-round pick. We'll see him in Italy in two weeks at the Reebok Eurocamp and give you a full report.

 

The other international sleeper to watch is Italian forward Angelo Gigli. He's already in the U.S. working out, with sources saying the Sonics are giving him serious consideration at No. 25.

 

 

 

 

 

STOCK DROPPING

• How far could Chris Taft drop if he isn't selected by the Knicks at No. 8? He didn't impress Knicks exec Isiah Thomas in his first informal workout and there's word the Knicks may be looking at Frye at No. 8 instead.

 

If the Knicks pass on Taft, the Warriors might consider him at No. 9 and the Lakers could bite at No. 10. But if he gets by those three teams, he could be in a free fall. The Magic, Clippers, Bobcats and Timberwolves don't need or want him. The Nets could use him, but sources say that the Nets don't like him. The next team on the board that actually has a need for a guy like Taft is the Kings at No. 23.

 

 

• We still don't know where to put Hakim Warrick. Two weeks ago, we wrote his stock appeared to be on the rise, based on the comments of a couple of GMs who claimed he was being seriously considered in the lottery.

 

We still think there's a chance the Knicks could tab him at No. 8 and the Warriors at No. 9. However, a number of other scouts and GMs claim they have Warrick ranked in the 20s on their boards. I have a feeling we're going to go back and forth on him all month.

 

 

• This could end up being a tough year for international players fishing for first-round promises. Andriuskevicius, who many feel has the most upside of any international player in the draft, took a huge hit when the two teams most interested in him, Milwaukee and Portland, moved up into the top three. The Clippers like him, but it isn't a guarantee that they'll take him. He may have to withdraw.

 

The same goes for Nemanja Aleksandrov, Yaroslav Korolev, Peja Samardziski, Mile Ilic and, possibly, Marko Tomas and Splitter. All have yet to find teams willing to commit to them in the range they want to go in the first round. It's still early, but so far the prospects aren't looking great.

 

 

Chad Ford covers the NBA and the NBA Draft for ESPN Insider.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

No love for Alan Anderson? I think he could end up being a better pro than he ever was in college. His only drawback might be that his is only 6'6ish and might end up with the dreaded "tweener" label.

[Dangerous A 0]

More ESPN Insider news on the draft and what lottery teams are thinking...

 

 

One week after the NBA draft lottery and it seems like no one, with the exception of the Bucks, is particularly happy with where they landed in the draft.

 

While it's still pretty early in the process, there's been a flurry of draft trade talk and speculation flying around the league.

 

Who's willing to sell draft picks? Who's willing to buy? Insider breaks down the trade market for the draft this season.

 

Buy!

Charlotte Bobcats: GM Bernie Bickerstaff got screwed on lottery night. The Bobcats needed to end up with either Marvin Williams or Chris Paul, and everything would've been perfect. Both were local products who have the talent to energize the fan base in Charlotte. By slipping all the way to five, the chances of landing either are slim.

 

Bickerstaff almost immediately began exploring how to move up in the draft, sources told Insider. He has the goods to do it, but is he willing to pay the price?

 

A combination of their own No. 5 pick and the 13th pick they got from Cleveland could get them the second or third pick in the draft. That would guarantee they'd get one of the two players they want, but it's an awfully high price to pay. Bickerstaff thinks he'll get a starter at 13, and on an expansion team with just four players under contract, that's pretty important.

 

The alternative is to try to convince a team to take the fifth pick and either Melvin Ely, Jason Hart or a future first-rounder as compensation. So far, the Bobcats haven't had any luck going that route.

 

 

Utah Jazz: The Jazz slipped from fourth to sixth last week and face a dilemma similar to the Bobcats'. They need a point guard desperately, but most likely, their top choices, Paul and Deron Williams, won't be on the board when they pick.

 

In a perfect world the Jazz would move up and add another high pick. They have a thing for Andrew Bogut as well.

 

The Jazz have another first round pick to offer (No. 27) and they have a number of other assets, including Matt Harpring, Mehmet Okur, Carlos Boozer, Kirk Snyder and Kris Humphries, that they might be willing to include in the right deal. The only Jazz player who is untouchable at this point is Andrei Kirilenko.

 

Toronto Raptors: After the draft debacle of 2004, the Raptors would prefer to play it safe and move into the top four this year. Right now, they sit at No. 7 and nothing is certain about where they're drafting.

 

They'd love to add Bogut if they could, but that would mean getting at least the No. 2 pick. They also are high on Paul and Deron Williams, meaning they'd need to get to at least No. 5. Gerald Green is an option, too.

 

Toronto also has assets. In addition to their own pick, the Raptors have the No. 16 pick (from Philadelphia) as trade bait. They also have Rafer Alston, Eric Williams and Morris Peterson to offer. Given their current situation, Chris Bosh is the only guy on the team that they wouldn't be willing to trade.

 

Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers feel they must make a big splash in the draft and have also been trying to move up into the top four. They have several needs. The team loves both Williamses, Bogut, Paul and Green. None of them will be on the board when they select.

 

Their bait? The 10th pick in the draft and Caron Butler, according to sources. For a team like the Hornets, who need a good starting small forward badly, it might be a deal that makes sense.

 

Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs should have the 13th pick in the draft this year. However, they foolishly dropped their lottery protection on the pick they owed Charlotte so that they could send their 2007 first-rounder to Boston for Jiri Welsch. That worked out.

 

Now owner Dan Gilbert is trying to get back in the draft. They team has no draft picks to dangle, but the Cavs are offering teams their choice of Sasha Pavlovic or Welsch in return for a mid first-round pick. Given the number of teams in that area – Clippers, Celtics, Grizzlies – that are willing to deal out of the first round, it appears they might get their wish.

 

 

 

Sell!

Atlanta Hawks: GM Billy Knight needs a lot of help and is in a difficult position. If the Bucks select Marvin Williams, Bogut falls into their laps and the pick becomes much more valuable. However, if the Bucks take Bogut at No. 1, keeping the pick doesn't make much sense. The next best player on the board, Williams, doesn't fit a need, and there seems to be a strong sentiment coming out of Atlanta right now that the Hawks prefer Deron Williams to Paul.

 

If that's true, the Hawks could make a deal with the Bobcats, Hornets or possibly the Jazz, and still get the guy they want plus either another first-rounder or an established young player. The Hawks probably won't pull the trigger until they have a better idea what the Bucks are going to do.

 

Portland Trail Blazers: GM John Nash has been quietly calling teams such as the Bobcats, Hornets and Jazz to offer a deal. The team is drafting third, and most likely will have its choice of either Paul or Green. The Blazers would pass on Paul because they've already committed to Sebastian Telfair. They like Green a lot, but some in the organization feel they might be able to trade down, still get Green and pick up another asset in the process.

 

The Bobcats are the primary target, though it's unlikely that they'd give the Blazers both the No. 5 and the No. 13 to move up two spots. The Raptors are another possibility if they include the No. 7, No. 16 and Morris Peterson to get a deal done. That's a pretty high price to pay, but the Raptors are hungry to move up.

 

 

New Orleans Hornets: The Hornets had a lot of interest in Marvin Williams and would move up to get him – offering the No. 4 pick and either Speedy Claxton or David West as compensation. However, if that's impossible, don't be surprised if they move down in the draft. They need a starting small forward and a young backup power forward they can groom to eventually replace P.J. Brown. Where they sit right now, the best prospects on the board are guards.

 

While Paul or Deron Williams would be an upgrade from what they have, they sound willing to deal. The Raptors could offer the No. 7 and the No. 16 to move up to No. 4. The Lakers have the 10th pick and Caron Butler to dangle. And the Timberwolves might be willing to offer Wally Szczerbiak for the pick. The Hornets are actually one of the few teams that would have the cap room to absorb Szczerbiak's contract.

 

 

Los Angeles Clippers: The team has filled most of its needs in the draft the past few years and appears to be on the precipice of the playoffs. What the Clippers need most right now is the financial flexibility to re-sign Bobby Simmons and Marko Jaric and perhaps one more free agent in the open market.

 

If a team is willing to offer the Clippers a veteran who can help them now (the Clips are also willing to throw in Chris Wilcox for good measure) or future considerations and cap relief, they'll be willing to deal.

 

One deal they might want to consider: Wilcox and the No. 12 to Golden State for Mike Dunleavy, Jr. Head coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. told reporters last year that he didn't think he'd be comfortable coaching his son. However, that's changed in recent months. Dunleavy would love to get a deal done if he could.

 

If the Warriors could land a great small forward prospect like Danny Granger at No. 9, they might be inclined to move Dunleavy. With Mickael Pietrus showing improvement and a bright future for Granger, the team might be able to address two needs (defense and a long, athletic power forward) in one fell swoop.

 

 

Boston Celtics: Celtics vice president Danny Ainge has had five first-round picks in the past two years. Do they really need a sixth? If a team can offer a nice, proven young player, the Celtics will sell the 18th pick.

 

 

Memphis Grizzlies: Jerry West has also been shopping his pick along with point guard Jason Williams or Bonzi Wells. The team hasn't really had a chance to give much playing time to its picks from the past two years and doesn't need another rookie on its roster. With the 19th pick, the chances the Grizzlies get someone who could help them right away are slim anyway.

 

 

Chad Ford is a senior writer for ESPN Insider.

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

I love draft time for the NBA and NFL. Workouts, misinformation, and outright lies.

 

Personally from what I've read, I would love it if Splitter fell al lthe way to the Rockets. Doubt it's going to happen though. Blatche would be another one, but Van Gundy isn't going to draft and babysit a HSer. If I had to guess I'd go with Turiaf or Simien. They may go backup 2 or 3 though to give McGrady a break once in a while.

[Adam 0]

Andrew Sid Vicious had BETTER NOT WITHDRAW!

[Guest Vitamin X]

I love draft time for the NBA and NFL.  Workouts, misinformation, and outright lies.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, the NFL draft is at least a little more tangible. The NBA draft is a total crapshoot.

[Dangerous A 0]

Here is a report from the Chicago workouts on 2 top point guards, Raymond Felton and Dee Brown....

 

 

Live from Chicago: Felton, Brown work out

 

 

First up were the two fastest point guards in the draft – Raymond Felton and Dee Brown – joined by a surprise guest, former Bulls point guard Jay Williams.

 

Felton looked the part of a lottery pick on Monday. He has a great body and blinding speed, and he was showing off his much-improved jumper.

 

A couple of things really stood out:

 

First, Felton is an amazing athlete. He was finishing lobs from Williams with tomahawk jams. That's special when you factor in that Felton measured 6-0¾ in socks.

 

Second, Felton is super-quick laterally. Combine that with his strong upper body, and Felton has a chance to be a great pro defender. If Felton can continue to improve his jumper (he looked great from mid-range, inconsistent from NBA 3-point range), he has the chance to be a great pro.

 

Brown might be, baseline to baseline, the fastest guy in the draft. He appears to have bulked up quite a bit in the last month, and he's got a nice shot that extends beyond the NBA 3-point line.

 

The only knocks on him are size (he's only 5-11) and a lack of explosive jumping ability (he can't dunk).

 

What he can't show in a workout like this is whether he can play the point. His ballhandling skills are good, but you can't judge decision-making skills here. That's why Brown will be playing in Chicago at the predraft camp. If he runs the point well there, he's got a shot at the late first round.

posted: June 6, 2005 2:32:49 PM PDT

[Dangerous A 0]

Here is Hakim Warrick's workout....

 

 

Hakim Warrick's workout

 

The Chicago pre-draft camp doesn't start until tonight, so I took the chance to go back into Tim Grover's gym to catch Hakim Warrick's workout.

Warrick worked out for the Knicks, Hornets, Blazers, Clippers, Lakers, Raptors and Bobcats.

 

The reviews have been mixed. Teams love the athleticism and pedigree, but he plays so effortlessly that it often looks like he's coasting. He worked out vigerously for an hour alongside the 76ers' Andre Iguodala on Tuesday -- and barely broke a sweat. Despite the appearance, Grover says Warrick's one of the hardest workers in the gym.

 

Warrick was in Charlotte on Monday working out for the Bobcats. After the workout GM Bernie Bickerstaff complimented Warrick on his improved mid-range jumper. He wasn't kidding.

 

Warrick barely missed from inside 18 feet today. His shooting mechanics are silky smooth. He gets such great lift on his jumper that its going to be hard to stop at the pro level. The only real knock is that he hasn't developed real NBA 3-point range ... yet.

 

Warrick's been working out with Grover for eight weeks in an attempt to work on his perimeter skills and add weight to his super-thin frame. The shot looks great, but his body is still a work in progress.

 

Grover had him up to 228 before workouts began. But he's already dropped back down to 220. That's still an 18-pound improvement from when he came in. That's right -- he came into Grover's weighing 202 pounds.

 

Grover believes Warrick eventually will weigh around 235, but Warrick has to keep drinking his protein shakes.

 

"They're terrible," Warrick said. "Worst thing I've ever tasted. It takes me two-and-a-half hours to drink one. It's pink and tastes worse than Pepto Bismal."

 

The reason his weight is such as issue is that teams are still trying to figure out his position in the pros. Warrick has the length and leaping ability to be a dominant 4, but he's going to have to keep packing on the weight if he's going to guard NBA power forwards.

 

That's why the focus, for now, is on highlighting his skills as a 3. He still needs to work on his ballhandling and his long-range shooting, but he's improved dramatically in a short time. And in a few years, if the pounds ever come, he could be a big-time 4.

 

"Hakim's just a player," Grover said. "When you roll out the ball in a game situation, he produces. I think he'll be a lottery pick based on what I've seen."

 

If he keeps hitting that jumper and packing on the pounds, Grover might be right.

posted: June 7, 2005 10:45:44 AM PDT

[Dangerous A 0]

Here is some workout info on some Bigs who haven't gotten as much pub as guys like May or Bogut....

 

 

Big upside in Chicago

 

After the guards were done working out, several interesting big men took the floor at the West Loop Athletic Club (formerly known as Hoops the Gym).

Chicago State's Deji Akindele, Cincinnati's Jason Maxiell and Vermont's Taylor Coppenrath all have been working out here and put on a show of contrasting styles on Monday.

 

Akindele, a native of Nigeria, has the most upside. He's measured 6-foot-11½ in shoes. He has long arms, is extremely athletic, and has a ready-made NBA body.

 

Akindele's in great shape and excelled at a tap drill where the prospect must tap the ball on the backboard five times and then dunk it, then four times and dunk, etc. The best player I ever saw at this drill was Andre Iguodala last year. Akindele was just as good, finishing all five reps.

 

He also has great feet (the blessing of being a former soccer player) and likes to finish strong around the rim.

 

He isn't a perfect prospect however. He still is very raw, especially offensively. He doesn't have much of a perimeter game and was even missing on some of the close-range stuff. However, if he goes into Chicago and has a big camp, I don't think there's any question he'll get consideration in the first round based solely on potential.

 

Maxiell was the star in Portsmouth and did nothing to disappoint on Monday. No one plays harder or with more ferocity. He was bending the rim on every dunk. If he were three inches taller, he'd be a top-five pick.

 

Still, you wonder if teams are sleeping on him a bit. He measured just 6-foot-7 in shoes at Portsmouth, but with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and a big vertical jump, he plays much bigger. He could really end up being a steal in the second round.

 

Coppenrath clearly was the most skilled player on the floor. He has a soft touch around the basket and has range that extends all the way out to the NBA 3-point line.

 

But athletically, Maxiell and Akindele are in a completely different world. Coppenrath is a good basketball player. But it's going to be hard for him to make the leap to the NBA because of his average athleticism. If he doesn't hook up with an NBA team, he'll be a big time player in Europe, however.

posted: June 6, 2005 2:34:07 PM PDT

[Dangerous A 0]

And here is some workout info on potential sleeper Rawle Marshall...

 

 

Rawle Marshall a camp sleeper?

 

While Raymond Felton and Dee Brown did their thing, my eyes kept wandering to the other side of the gym where Oakland University's Rawle Marshall worked out against Michigan State's Alan Anderson.

Marshall, a razor-thin, athletic, 6-foot-7 swingman from Detroit, averaged 19.9 ppg and 7.7 rpg during his senior season at Oakland (Mich.) University and is considered a possible second-round pick.

 

He looked great in ATTACK's workouts on Monday. What stood out the most was his outside shooting. He has a super-smooth shooting stroke and was swishing NBA 3s with Joe Johnson-like consistency. He also has a very good handle for a guy his size and was excelling at several ballhandling drills meant for guards.

 

Marshall was too thin in college, but trainer Tim Grover has been working on it. Marshall has added 15 pounds of muscle since showing up in Chicago. He also has long arms that allowed him to really disrupt Anderson whenever Anderson tried to dribble the ball.

 

If he plays well in the Chicago pre-draft camp, Marshall could make a big move up the draft board.

posted: June 6, 2005 1:17:14 PM PDT

[Dangerous A 0]

Just call DA your one stop NBA Draft Watch for the 411 (ok, so I'm just cutting and pasting from ESPN Insider, sue me) Here is the latest from Chad Ford...

 

 

Stock Up

 

We've been dogging Arizona State's Ike Diogu and Kansas' Wayne Simien for years because of numerous NBA scouting reports that had them both listed at 6-foot-7 in shoes. NBA scouts hold firm to a threshold that says a player must to be a minimum of 6-foot-8 in shoes to play the power forward position (Charles Barkley notwithstanding). Neither Diogu nor Simien has the perimeter skills to make the transformation to the three, so they've picked up the derogatory "biggie smalls" designation.

 

 

Ooops. Our bad. Both players were in Denver May 31 for a workout and a startling truth was uncovered: Both guys are taller than we thought they were.

 

 

According to a source inside the Nuggets, Simien measured 6-8 without shoes. NBA teams add another 1¼ inches for shoes, bringing his height up to 6-9¼

 

 

Diogu measured 6-foot-7½ in socks, with an amazing 7-foot-4 wingspan. That means he's nearly 6-9 in shoes with the reach of a 7-footer.

 

 

Size matters in the NBA, and both players are now tall enough to be considered legit power forwards. In fact, Diogu, because of his wingspan, now figures to be on the tall end of things.

 

 

Combine that with feedback from several teams that both players have been excellent in workouts and you can expect both to rocket up the boards in the next few weeks.

 

 

Combine Diogu's toughness with a very good skill set, and he's going to look great in these types of workouts. What's surprised people is his shooting. Diogu is known as a guy who works his BUTT off in the paint. But he's shown teams that he has legitimate NBA 3-point range in workouts. Given a pretty solid handle, his size, toughness and that improving jump shot, Diogu is likely to move up our board big-time the next time our mock draft is released, after the Chicago camp. Based on what we're hearing, he might be a late lottery selection now.

 

 

"If a team wants a four who's going to know how to score and rebound in this league," one NBA scout told Insider. "I don't know how they can miss with Ike. After watching him work out, we came away a lot more impressed."

 

 

Simien also has been very good. He's not an amazing athlete, but he's shown great skills and polish at every workout. He has the ability to score down low and away from the basket. If his medicals check out at the Chicago physicals (some teams are concerned about a rash of injuries for Simien), he should be able to crack the top 20.

 

 

 

Diogu and Simien aren't the only ones measuring up. Florida's David Lee was 6-8½ without shoes at the same workout in Denver. That puts him at nearly 6-10 in shoes. Lee has also been impressive at all of his workouts, garnering high praise in Phoenix, Utah and Denver for his athleticism, motor and toughness. If he had a jump shot he'd be a lock for the first round. Even without a jumper, some teams in the 20s are saying that he's in the mix.

 

 

 

Spain's Fran Vasquez is putting on a show in his homeland at the moment. While most of the top international prospects are still young and relatively inexperienced, Vasquez is playing a major starting role on his team, averaging 12.6 points and eight rebounds per game in the playoffs for Malaga. He was very good earlier in the week in an elimination game, leading his team in both points (18) and rebounds (11).

 

 

Those might not seem like huge numbers for Americans, but in Europe, for someone age 22, they're pretty big.

 

 

The Hornets (fourth pick), Jazz (sixth pick), Raptors (seventh pick) and Knicks (eighth pick) are all showing major interest in Vasquez. He should be the first international player off the boards.

 

 

 

Louisville's Francisco Garcia is also playing to rave reviews right now. He has shot lights out in workouts and proven to be a better athlete than originally thought. Teams still worry a little about his body and lateral quickness, but he, too, seems to be a player destined to crack the first round in our next mock draft.

 

 

 

Rashad McCants has gotten his fair share of bad press over the past couple of years. Scouts uniformly rate him, on talent, as one of the 10 best prospects in the draft. But he was such a difficult player to coach in college that red flags have gone up. To make matters worse, he showed up at his first workout in Toronto with a bad case of intestinal illiness.

 

 

After the workout, another participant, Julius Hodge, unaware that McCants was ill, ripped into him, saying, "We started the workout, and I was working with Rashad. We were doing shooting drills, and I was hitting everything. I think it was getting discouraging for him and near the end he decided to go to the sidelines in an attempt to say that he was hurt. Once it was found out that he wasn't hurt, he then tried to say he was sick. That was unfortunate; he was free and able to show his stuff, and he shied away from it."

 

 

McCants ended up having to sit out the rest of the workout. So why is he on the upside list? Because sources with the Lakers and Clippers watched him work out in Los Angeles just before his trip to Toronto and both came away convinced he'll be gone before they draft at Nos. 10 and 12, respectively.

 

 

"That was as good a workout as I've seen," a source on the Lakers told Insider. "He didn't miss. He's a better athlete than we thought. It was just amazing. I know he's got some baggage, but with that much talent, it's tough to see teams passing on him at the end of the day."

 

 

 

Illinois guard Dee Brown looks like he'll be the headliner at the Chicago pre-draft camp. Most of the top prospects are pulling out even Lee and Hodge have withdrawn their names in recent days leaving Brown the guy NBA teams want to see most.

 

 

Why? Because Brown is going to get a chance to play the point at the camp, something he wasn't able to do at Illinois with Deron Williams running the show. If he's impressive, his stock will get a nice bump probably into the first round.

 

 

 

Italian big man Angelo Gigli has a name that sounds like a bad movie, but he has received high marks from a couple of NBA teams after workouts. While they say he isn't as athletic as advertised, he measured a legit 7-foot in shoes and was tougher and more skilled than teams had thought. Off the workouts, his name is generating a bit of buzz.

 

 

 

Big man Deji Akindele also has played to strong reviews. He's measuring a legit 7-foot and has tested off the charts athletically. Teams are saying he's smart and picks up things quickly, but he's still pretty raw. He'll also be playing in the Chicago pre-draft camp. If he comes up big there, he'll be another guy who could see his stock really rise.

 

 

 

Stock down?

 

 

 

It's been a tough couple of weeks for Pittsburgh's Chris Taft. First it was his lackluster workout in New York. Then he went up to Toronto and the normally reserved Rob Babcock wondered aloud about his heart.

 

 

"That's the toughest thing to measure," the Raptors GM told the Globe and Mail after the Taft workout. "Even the mind's easier to measure than the heart. It's difficult. It's very difficult.

 

"I think Chris is still very raw and he would certainly be better served & by going back to school. He has a tremendous amount of potential, there's no doubt. But there's a lot of guys with a great amount of potential. It's what you can do with that and whether you can develop that, that's the key."

 

 

Of course, Taft can't go back to school. He's already hired an agent. I wonder if his agent, Billy Ceisler, will now ban Babcock from all of his client's workouts as well.

 

 

Combine that with the recent revelations about the actual height of Simien and Diogu, and there's a good chance Taft will be sliding down to the bottom of the first round and maybe even out of it, according to one NBA director of player personnel who claims his team has Taft ranked as the 10th-best power forward in the draft.

 

 

Maybe that's why, in the past few days, Taft's agent has reversed course and agreed to start working out Taft for teams in the 20s after insisting to them for weeks that he'd be in the lottery.

 

 

 

High school guard Louis Williams said earlier in the week he won't be attending the University of Georgia and will instead keep his name in the NBA draft. From what we hear, it's a major mistake. Williams was recently destroyed in a workout against Hodge. Afterward, everyone told him he needed to go to college for a minimum of two years. Instead, he went out the next day and said he's staying in the draft. Either he knows something we don't, or he's getting some very bad advice.

 

 

Nemanja Aleksandrov has, for the most part, fallen off the radar screen since tearing his ACL earlier in the year. According to his agent, David Bauman, the chances of his playing in the NBA next year are slim. He won't be able to begin playing basketball until December, which means it's likely he'll stay in Europe at least one season to rehab.

 

 

Bauman, however, hasn't pulled him out of the draft yet. According to Bauman, Aleksandrov has received a strong nibble from a team in the mid-first round and he and Bauman are trying to decide the best course of action. If he were to recover and play well next year in Europe, his stock would be much higher. However, by agreeing to something now, he would have security.

 

 

Neither consideration is primary, according to Bauman: "He just needs to get drafted by the right team. Draft position really doesn't matter. What matters is that a player gets with the right team that believes in him and will do what it takes to develop him. That's the most important thing."

 

 

 

Insider first reported on Thursday that Croatian guard Marko Tomas had signed a five-year deal with Real Madrid. That deal doesn't have an NBA buyout for this season, and the buyout amount is pretty high in Year 2, meaning it's unlikely he'll be in the NBA for at least two more seasons.

 

 

While there are a few teams in the mid-to-late first round who are still pondering whether to guarantee him a first-round spot and keep him in Europe, the revelation probably means that Tomas withdraws from the draft.

 

 

It's unfortunate for the NBA. As far as international prospects go, he was one of the few who was actually ready to come into the league and play immediately.

 

 

 

The rest

 

 

 

New Mexico's Danny Granger has played to rave reviews in all of his workouts. But after a recent workout at Golden State, he was sent to the hospital with a serious infection.

 

 

Those with a weak stomach probably don't want to read on.

 

 

Apparently Granger split the toenail on his big toe several weeks ago and didn't have it checked. Puss started growing under the toenail and Granger decided to remove the toenail himself to clean it out.

 

 

The toe kept getting worse and Granger kept slowing down in workouts. After a so-so workout in Golden State, the team's trainer wondered if he was hurt and was shocked to see Granger's toe, which had become seriously infected.

 

 

Granger was taken to the hospital. Doctors said that the infection had spread all the way to the bone, and put him on antibiotics. Granger was forced to shut down his workouts while it healed.

 

 

However, he won't be out for long. He has a big workout schedule for Thursday in Chicago against Hakim Warrick that's open to all 30 teams.

 

 

Chad Ford covers the NBA Draft for ESPN Insider.

[Dangerous A 0]

....and of course the latest from Chicago and Chad Ford

 

 

 

Here are the 12 guys NBA teams will be watching closely:

 

Ronny Turiaf, PF, Gonzaga

Turiaf has been working out so poorly, he has had no choice but to enter the event in a last-ditch effort to resurrect his draft stock. It's not totally Turiaf's fault. The things he does well – rebound and get physical in the paint – don't show up so well in draft workouts. If he does them well in Chicago, he still has a shot at the late first round.

 

Randolph Morris, C, Kentucky

I'd be a little surprised if Morris actually shows up for camp. Big men usually struggle in Chicago. The guards dominate the ball, and few plays are run for the big fellas in the post. Obviously, he could really help himself with a great game or two, but that might be asking a bit much of Morris right now.

 

Dee Brown and Luther Head, G, Illinois

Teammate Deron Williams is getting all the love, but Brown and Head played a huge role on a pretty terrific Illinois team this year. The goal of both players is the same. They need to prove they can make the transition to the point in the pros. Look for both to get their shot here.

 

David Lee, PF, Florida

On Thursday, it looked as though Lee was prepared to pull out of this camp. His workouts were going great; the feedback was strong; and Chicago looked like a risk. But give credit to Lee. Too many guys pull out of these camps based on fear. Although his agent advised him to drop out, Lee claimed he has nothing to hide. He wants to compete and prove he is worthy of a first-round selection. If he dominates here, he might get his wish.

 

Brandon Rush and Louis Williams, G, high school

These two kids came into the process thinking they were locks for the first round. Now ... it's not pretty. Williams, especially, has been very disappointing in workouts. Both need to go to college for at least two years. However, both seem determined to stay in the draft, regardless of the feedback they're getting. Their performance here will make or break them – especially Williams, who will try once again to show scouts he can play the point.

 

Sean Banks, SF, Memphis

Banks might be the most talented player in the camp. But his off-the-court problems have buried his draft stock. However, if he can do a good job reminding NBA teams of his potential, will all be forgiven?

 

Salim Stoudamire, G, Arizona

We know Stoudamire is the best shooter in the draft. But can he be more? Like Brown, Head and Williams, he's here to prove he can make the transition to the point at the next level.

 

Pops Mensah-Bonsu, PF, George Washington

He has the size and athletic ability of a lottery pick, but his game is still very raw. Mensah-Bonsu is the type of player who can watch his draft stock explode or implode based on how he plays here. High risk, high reward.

 

Dijon Thompson, SF, UCLA

Thompson has been lost in the draft shuffle to a certain extent. He's long and athletic, and he had a great senior season. With all the talk about upside, he's an older kid who still seems to be getting better.

 

Torin Francis, PF, Notre Dame

Two years ago, he was mentioned as potential lottery pick. But back issues and below-average production have destroyed his stock to the point that teams are no longer that interested, even in the second round. That said, Francis has the size and athleticism of a lottery pick. If he shows even a glimmer of that here, he'll help himself.

 

 

 

Chicago Sleepers

Ronald Murray has become the patron saint of guys from small schools who get discovered here in Chicago. His breakout performance for the Sonics a season ago guarantees these guys will get a close look this week.

 

Deji Akindele, C, Chicago State

Akindele is a physical wonder. He's 6-foot-11½, has long arms, is an off-the-charts athlete and has an NBA-ready body. He looks great in workouts, but what about in five-on-five? If he plays well here, he'll rocket up the boards.

 

Rawle Marshall, G/F, Oakland

Great athleticism. Pretty shooting stroke. Good defender. In other words, he does a little bit of everything. He's going to impress people when they see how he has worked on his body and his jumper.

 

Mindaugas Katelynas, F, UT-Chattanooga

Katelynas was the star of the Portsmouth tournament. He looked a little bit like a poor man's Andrei Kirilenko there. If he can repeat that performance against better competition, he's a lock for the second round.

 

Marcin Gortat, C, Poland

He got onto NBA radar screens last spring at the Reebok Big Man camp in Treviso, Italy. He actually won the camp's dunk contest. Gortat is a legit 7-footer with good athletic ability and agility for a big man. He's long and active and has turned himself into a solid shot-blocker and rebounder. He could surprise people.

 

Daryl "MaJic" Dorsey, PG, WBA

Dorsey is the ultimate sleeper. When his name first appeared, people were scratching their heads. Dorsey plays in the WBA (World Basketball Association) for the Rome Gladiators. He is averaging 25.6 points, 11.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game and is shooting 85.5 percent from the free-throw line. He's a veteran of the And 1 Mix Tape Tour and had stints in community college and the ABA. The native of Baltimore also was once charged with murder (the charge was eventually dropped). Everywhere he has gone, he has put up big numbers. At 23, he has nothing to lose.

 

 

 

Missing In Action

Who isn't in Chicago is just as interesting as who is. Some decided to skip the camp because they're confident in their draft stock. Others weren't invited at all. Here's a look at eight guys who should be here but aren't.

 

Matt Walsh, G/F, Florida

Walsh has been working out at IMG in Florida and has received encouraging feedback from teams. But his decision to skip the camp (he was invited) is a little unusual. Walsh is firmly on the first-round bubble. The only team with major interest is the Heat. Maybe he has a promise. Or maybe he's just making a bad decision.

 

Linas Kleiza, F, Missouri

Kleiza's decision is also surprising. Though a few teams like him in the first round (most notably Denver), he's the type of player who could really help his stock here. Instead, he's focusing on individual workouts. At least he has a fall-back plan. If the NBA doesn't work out for him, he has a bright future in Europe.

 

Daniel Ewing, G, Duke

No one's sure what to make of this one. One NBA source with knowledge of how the list was put together claims he wasn't invited. That's weird, considering he's a much better prospect than some others on the board. More likely, Ewing has his place in the draft already worked out and is lying low.

 

Von Wafer, SG, Florida State

Wafer wasn't invited, which is pretty stunning for a sophomore with his upside. It's hard to believe that the NBA feels that two-guards such as Larry O'Bannon, Jackie Manuel, Keith Langford, Alan Anderson and Ronnie Price (all of whom were invited to Chicago) are really better prospects.

 

Nate Robinson, Ryan Gomes, Brandon Bass and Lawrence Roberts

None of the four is a lock for the first round, but all have an excuse. Each played in Chicago last year to mixed results. Robinson was, by far, the most impressive, followed by Bass. Gomes and Roberts struggled. This year, they didn't think they had anything to gain by returning for a repeat performance.

 

 

Chad Ford covers the NBA draft for ESPN Insider.

[Guest Redhawk]

The Celtics drafted Larry Bird when he was still a junior in college, and got him the next year after he was a senior. Is there a rule in place now that says teams can no longer do that?