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Below are the rules of Pacers Digest. After you have read them, you will have a very good sense of where we are coming from, what we expect, what we don't want to see, and how we react to things.

Rule #1

Pacers Digest is intended to be a place to discuss basketball without having to deal with the kinds of behaviors or attitudes that distract people from sticking with the discussion of the topics at hand. These unwanted distractions can come in many forms, and admittedly it can sometimes be tricky to pin down each and every kind that can rear its ugly head, but we feel that the following examples and explanations cover at least a good portion of that ground and should at least give people a pretty good idea of the kinds of things we actively discourage:

"Anyone who __________ is a liar / a fool / an idiot / a blind homer / has their head buried in the sand / a blind hater / doesn't know basketball / doesn't watch the games"

"People with intelligence will agree with me when I say that __________"

"Only stupid people think / believe / do ___________"

"I can't wait to hear something from PosterX when he/she sees that **insert a given incident or current event that will have probably upset or disappointed PosterX here**"

"He/she is just delusional"

"This thread is stupid / worthless / embarrassing"

"I'm going to take a moment to point and / laugh at PosterX / GroupOfPeopleY who thought / believed *insert though/belief here*"

"Remember when PosterX said OldCommentY that no longer looks good? "

In general, if a comment goes from purely on topic to something 'ad hominem' (personal jabs, personal shots, attacks, flames, however you want to call it, towards a person, or a group of people, or a given city/state/country of people), those are most likely going to be found intolerable.

We also dissuade passive aggressive behavior. This can be various things, but common examples include statements that are basically meant to imply someone is either stupid or otherwise incapable of holding a rational conversation. This can include (but is not limited to) laughing at someone's conclusions rather than offering an honest rebuttal, asking people what game they were watching, or another common problem is Poster X will say "that player isn't that bad" and then Poster Y will say something akin to "LOL you think that player is good". We're not going to tolerate those kinds of comments out of respect for the community at large and for the sake of trying to just have an honest conversation.

Now, does the above cover absolutely every single kind of distraction that is unwanted? Probably not, but you should by now have a good idea of the general types of things we will be discouraging. The above examples are meant to give you a good feel for / idea of what we're looking for. If something new or different than the above happens to come along and results in the same problem (that being, any other attitude or behavior that ultimately distracts from actually just discussing the topic at hand, or that is otherwise disrespectful to other posters), we can and we will take action to curb this as well, so please don't take this to mean that if you managed to technically avoid saying something exactly like one of the above examples that you are then somehow off the hook.

That all having been said, our goal is to do so in a generally kind and respectful way, and that doesn't mean the moment we see something we don't like that somebody is going to be suspended or banned, either. It just means that at the very least we will probably say something about it, quite possibly snipping out the distracting parts of the post in question while leaving alone the parts that are actually just discussing the topics, and in the event of a repeating or excessive problem, then we will start issuing infractions to try to further discourage further repeat problems, and if it just never seems to improve, then finally suspensions or bans will come into play. We would prefer it never went that far, and most of the time for most of our posters, it won't ever have to.

A slip up every once and a while is pretty normal, but, again, when it becomes repetitive or excessive, something will be done. Something occasional is probably going to be let go (within reason), but when it starts to become habitual or otherwise a pattern, odds are very good that we will step in.

There's always a small minority that like to push people's buttons and/or test their own boundaries with regards to the administrators, and in the case of someone acting like that, please be aware that this is not a court of law, but a private website run by people who are simply trying to do the right thing as they see it. If we feel that you are a special case that needs to be dealt with in an exceptional way because your behavior isn't explicitly mirroring one of our above examples of what we generally discourage, we can and we will take atypical action to prevent this from continuing if you are not cooperative with us.

Also please be aware that you will not be given a pass simply by claiming that you were 'only joking,' because quite honestly, when someone really is just joking, for one thing most people tend to pick up on the joke, including the person or group that is the target of the joke, and for another thing, in the event where an honest joke gets taken seriously and it upsets or angers someone, the person who is truly 'only joking' will quite commonly go out of his / her way to apologize and will try to mend fences. People who are dishonest about their statements being 'jokes' do not do so, and in turn that becomes a clear sign of what is really going on. It's nothing new.

In any case, quite frankly, the overall quality and health of the entire forum's community is more important than any one troublesome user will ever be, regardless of exactly how a problem is exhibiting itself, and if it comes down to us having to make a choice between you versus the greater health and happiness of the entire community, the community of this forum will win every time.

Lastly, there are also some posters, who are generally great contributors and do not otherwise cause any problems, who sometimes feel it's their place to provoke or to otherwise 'mess with' that small minority of people described in the last paragraph, and while we possibly might understand why you might feel you WANT to do something like that, the truth is we can't actually tolerate that kind of behavior from you any more than we can tolerate the behavior from them. So if we feel that you are trying to provoke those other posters into doing or saying something that will get themselves into trouble, then we will start to view you as a problem as well, because of the same reason as before: The overall health of the forum comes first, and trying to stir the pot with someone like that doesn't help, it just makes it worse. Some will simply disagree with this philosophy, but if so, then so be it because ultimately we have to do what we think is best so long as it's up to us.

If you see a problem that we haven't addressed, the best and most appropriate course for a forum member to take here is to look over to the left of the post in question. See underneath that poster's name, avatar, and other info, down where there's a little triangle with an exclamation point (!) in it? Click that. That allows you to report the post to the admins so we can definitely notice it and give it a look to see what we feel we should do about it. Beyond that, obviously it's human nature sometimes to want to speak up to the poster in question who has bothered you, but we would ask that you try to refrain from doing so because quite often what happens is two or more posters all start going back and forth about the original offending post, and suddenly the entire thread is off topic or otherwise derailed. So while the urge to police it yourself is understandable, it's best to just report it to us and let us handle it. Thank you!

All of the above is going to be subject to a case by case basis, but generally and broadly speaking, this should give everyone a pretty good idea of how things will typically / most often be handled.

Rule #2

If the actions of an administrator inspire you to make a comment, criticism, or express a concern about it, there is a wrong place and a couple of right places to do so.

The wrong place is to do so in the original thread in which the administrator took action. For example, if a post gets an infraction, or a post gets deleted, or a comment within a larger post gets clipped out, in a thread discussing Paul George, the wrong thing to do is to distract from the discussion of Paul George by adding your off topic thoughts on what the administrator did.

The right places to do so are:

A) Start a thread about the specific incident you want to talk about on the Feedback board. This way you are able to express yourself in an area that doesn't throw another thread off topic, and this way others can add their two cents as well if they wish, and additionally if there's something that needs to be said by the administrators, that is where they will respond to it.

B) Send a private message to the administrators, and they can respond to you that way.

If this is done the wrong way, those comments will be deleted, and if it's a repeating problem then it may also receive an infraction as well.

Rule #3

If a poster is bothering you, and an administrator has not or will not deal with that poster to the extent that you would prefer, you have a powerful tool at your disposal, one that has recently been upgraded and is now better than ever: The ability to ignore a user.

When you ignore a user, you will unfortunately still see some hints of their existence (nothing we can do about that), however, it does the following key things:

A) Any post they make will be completely invisible as you scroll through a thread.

B) The new addition to this feature: If someone QUOTES a user you are ignoring, you do not have to read who it was, or what that poster said, unless you go out of your way to click on a link to find out who it is and what they said.

To utilize this feature, from any page on Pacers Digest, scroll to the top of the page, look to the top right where it says 'Settings' and click that. From the settings page, look to the left side of the page where it says 'My Settings', and look down from there until you see 'Edit Ignore List' and click that. From here, it will say 'Add a Member to Your List...' Beneath that, click in the text box to the right of 'User Name', type in or copy & paste the username of the poster you are ignoring, and once their name is in the box, look over to the far right and click the 'Okay' button. All done!

Rule #4

Regarding infractions, currently they carry a value of one point each, and that point will expire in 31 days. If at any point a poster is carrying three points at the same time, that poster will be suspended until the oldest of the three points expires.

Rule #5

When you share or paste content or articles from another website, you must include the URL/link back to where you found it, who wrote it, and what website it's from. Said content will be removed if this doesn't happen.

An example:

If I copy and paste an article from the Indianapolis Star website, I would post something like this:

http://www.linktothearticlegoeshere.com/article
Title of the Article
Author's Name
Indianapolis Star

Rule #6

We cannot tolerate illegal videos on Pacers Digest. This means do not share any links to them, do not mention any websites that host them or link to them, do not describe how to find them in any way, and do not ask about them. Posts doing anything of the sort will be removed, the offenders will be contacted privately, and if the problem becomes habitual, you will be suspended, and if it still persists, you will probably be banned.

The legal means of watching or listening to NBA games are NBA League Pass Broadband (for US, or for International; both cost money) and NBA Audio League Pass (which is free). Look for them on NBA.com.

Rule #7

Provocative statements in a signature, or as an avatar, or as the 'tagline' beneath a poster's username (where it says 'Member' or 'Administrator' by default, if it is not altered) are an unwanted distraction that will more than likely be removed on sight. There can be shades of gray to this, but in general this could be something political or religious that is likely going to provoke or upset people, or otherwise something that is mean-spirited at the expense of a poster, a group of people, or a population.

It may or may not go without saying, but this goes for threads and posts as well, particularly when it's not made on the off-topic board (Market Square).

We do make exceptions if we feel the content is both innocuous and unlikely to cause social problems on the forum (such as wishing someone a Merry Christmas or a Happy Easter), and we also also make exceptions if such topics come up with regards to a sports figure (such as the Lance Stephenson situation bringing up discussions of domestic abuse and the law, or when Jason Collins came out as gay and how that lead to some discussion about gay rights).

However, once the discussion seems to be more/mostly about the political issues instead of the sports figure or his specific situation, the thread is usually closed.

Rule #8

We prefer self-restraint and/or modesty when making jokes or off topic comments in a sports discussion thread. They can be fun, but sometimes they derail or distract from a topic, and we don't want to see that happen. If we feel it is a problem, we will either delete or move those posts from the thread.

Rule #9

Generally speaking, we try to be a "PG-13" rated board, and we don't want to see sexual content or similarly suggestive content. Vulgarity is a more muddled issue, though again we prefer things to lean more towards "PG-13" than "R". If we feel things have gone too far, we will step in.

Rule #10

We like small signatures, not big signatures. The bigger the signature, the more likely it is an annoying or distracting signature.

Rule #11

Do not advertise anything without talking about it with the administrators first. This includes advertising with your signature, with your avatar, through private messaging, and/or by making a thread or post.
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2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

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  • #1

    2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

    NBADraft.net - Rashard McCants SG

    NBA Comparison:     Gilbert Arenas

    Strengths: Very smooth, athletic guard with an amazing feel for the game. Takes over games as a freshman. Can get hot and bury an opposing team with his offensive prowess. Has a diverse offensive game with three pointers, intermediate jumpers, and a quick first step to take his man off the dribble. A player with great scoring instincts. Makes great decisions and passes the ball extremely well for a shooting guard. Has excellent quickness and terrific speed running the floor. Can easily gain separation on a defender in the open court. Handles the ball very well, and is adept at creating off the dribble. Has good lateral quickness and foot speed defensively. Fred Jones went 14th in the 2002 draft giving athletic, but undersized shooting guards such as McCants great optimism about their draft potential. In Comparison McCants is a little less explosive but has a far better overall game.

    Weaknesses: Undersized 2-guard. Just a shade over 6-3, but plays bigger than his size with long arms and great leaping ability. Still at 6-3, he will struggle to an extent guarding and getting easy looks over 6-6 players night in and night out on the next level. Probably doesn't have the instincts to be a NBA PG. Has the talent to overcome the height deficiency, but remember how great another Carolina freshman Joseph Forte looked. McCants is a more explosive and quicker athlete than Forte, so he will likely make a better pro, however college stars don't always translate on the next level, especially ones a few inches short for their positions. Will need to improve some defensively, as guarding college guys is much easier than pros.

    Notes: Was considered a top 10 prospect by many recruiting gurus entering college.


    Hoops Hype -     Martell Webster SG

    NBA Comparison: Glen Rice

    Strengths: The total package ... Has the ability to score from anywhere on the court against any defender ... Unstoppable mid-range pull up J off the bounce ... Acrobatic finisher on the break ... Unlimited arsenal of offensive moves that allow him to tear through opposing defenses ... Threat from both inside and out ... Very active on the boards ... Tight handles, effortless drives to the hole, and an overall ease to which he plays the game ... 20 and 10 capabilities every time he plays ... At 6-6 and a rock solid 215 pounds has the size and versatility to play any position at the next level.

    Weaknesses: Relies on outside shot too much ... Must learn to move his feet and play better on ball defense. Notes: At 16 years of age has an understanding of the game that few high school players have ... Has suffered from the injury bug during his Junior season, (specifically an ankle problem) so he needs to show that he can stay healthy ...

    DraftCity.com - Hakim Warrick SF/PF

     NBA Comparison: Marcus Camby

    Strengths: An unbelievable athlete who can jump out of the gym with the best of them. A highlight real waiting to happen. His incredibly long arms and intensity make him a ferocious offensive and defensive rebounder. Gets off the floor almost instantaneously. Possesses a nice turnaround jumper and decent ball handling skills for a player his size. Has the potential and desire to not only become an offensive force, but a shut down defender as well. A very exciting player to watch with huge potential.

    Weaknesses: Everything he does is based on his superior athletic ability. Despite his ball handling skills, Hakim is still very raw. His points usually come from fastbreaks, tip-ins, and putbacks. He tries to dunk everything on the offensive end and block everything on the defensive side. Perimeter game is suspect, despite good form on his outside shot. MUST put on muscle if he has any plans of ever playing pro ball, he is very thin and is easily out-muscled. Free throw shooting and interior defense are also concerns.

    Notes: Hakim has the potential to become a very good player, but must learn to rely on more than his other worldly athletic ability. If he learns to collect himself and show some patience, his offense will improve dramatically. It seems as though Coach Boeheim is going to use Hakim on the interior in his early years at SU and then slowly bring him out to the perimeter as his shot and ball handling mature....Nicknamed "Skinny" by his friends due to his extremely slender frame. Upside is definitely there.

    CollegeHoopsnet.com - Channing Frye PF/CNBA Comparison: Jarron Collins

    Strengths: Very skilled bigman...Fundamentally sound in nearly every area...Runs the floor well on the break...Great base mechanics on his jumper...Keeps the ball high in the post...Good footwork on the block...Soft hands...Can make his post move with either hand...Steadily improving jump-hook and drop-step...Surprisingly effective spot-up shooter, which makes him a dangerous scoring threat on the pick-and-roll...Outstanding free-throw shooter (about 83%)...Crashes the offensive boards hard...Solid help defender and shot blocker...Enormous wingspan...Boxes out well...Excels at the tip-in and follow-up dunk...Terrific passer out of the post...Solid ball-handler..Defends both the center and power forward position effectively...Always improving his overall game...Even though his scoring average is slightly down, he’s a much better overall player now than he was as a junior...Has impressed many scouts with his stand out senior season.

    Weaknesses: Still suffers in lapses in concentration/intensity/consistency...Vanishes for large chunks of time (especially on the glass)...Could use another 20-25 pounds of muscle...Has made nice strides in this area, but still lacking a true killer instinct...Has a tendency to commit stupid fouls/turnovers at the worst times...A “tweener”...Lacks lateral footspeed to keep up with most NBA power forwards...Lacks necessary bulk to bang with NBA centers night in and night out...Not a great leaper...Even with his improvements in these areas, strength and stamina still must improve to compete at the professional level...Can let his emotions get the best of him...Lack of lower body strength occasionally leads to him getting muscled off his spot.

    Notes: Named to the Pac-10 First Team as a junior...Go-to move is a power-dribble from the left block into the middle of the lane and a mid-range jump-hook with his right hand.

    NBA Wire -     Charlie Villanueva SF/PF

    NBA Comparison: Lamar Odom

    Stregnths: A strong all around talent. Charlie excels at passing the ball, scoring from the perimeter and handling the ball on the break. His inside/outside game makes him a virtual lock for a double-double every night. His athleticism makes him an excellent rebounder and perimeter defender. Scores his points from all over; his height allows to shoot over almost everyone on the outside and also allows him take the ball down low. He's just starting to live up to his unbelievable potential.

    Weaknesses: A bit laid back at times, which leads to scoring in bunches and then going cold. Must understand that he will not always be the biggest and most athletic player on the floor. Strictly an inside talent, and could use some post development. Still soft at times, which leads to him being a weak interior defender. Not a great shot blocker, despite his athleticism and height. Needs to develop a killer instinct.

    Notes: If Charlie ever plays with the intensity that his teammate, Luol Deng plays with, he would be unstoppable. Great size and skill, a player who does a bit of everything.

    HoopsVibe - Nemanja Aleksandrov SF
    Strengths:
    Nemanja Aleksandrov is one of the most gifted prospects seen lately in Europe. He is a player that shows an amazing combination of size, athleticism and skills; the combination that all NBA teams dream of. He's really long, with a great wingspan, has great mobility, a nice vertical, and he is very coordinated. He can run the floor almost like a guard, and thrives when doing so.

    He enjoys a beautiful jumpshot; fluid, just perfect. It’s a real jumper, as Nemanja elevates more like a guard than like a forward to release it, making his shot nearly impossible to block on the perimeter. Everything is performed in a very quick movement, so he needs very little time and space to execute it.

    Aleksandrov can produce in the paint thanks to a variety of post moves, a soft touch and, of course, his height and long arms, ala Pau Gasol. His favourite move is spinning after a fake to deliver a semi-hook. He has very good handles and can pass the ball. He can eventually lead the break and feed his teammates. He finds the right man to pass to in every situation, keeping the ball moving on the offensive end. You won't see him spending valuable seconds of a possession thinking what to do with the ball. He just has a great feel for the game and a very fast mind. He sees the best option right away.

    Nemanja has huge potential as a slasher. He has a great first step, being too fast for most of the forwards to stop him, and nice handles. A couple of steps and he’s right at the rim. With his size and long arms it’s very easy for him to leave the ball in the net. Also, you can see him finishing alley-oops, effortlessly as usual.

    The kid enjoys a very good lateral speed, being able to stop almost any forward and also making sure to take care of the team defense, always helping his teammates when needed. He can also grab a good amount of rebounds and block shots on a regular basis. Great basketball IQ. Aleksandrov knows the game and makes very few mistakes.

    Nemanja is a humble player. He plays for the team, he is a hard worker. He never forces shots or plays just to fill the box-score. He's not cocky at all, and you won't notice any sign of disrespect to his rivals, nor his teammates.

    Weaknesses:
    Many questions have been asked about Aleksandrov’s character. He’s a player that doesn’t seem to have enough killer instincts, perhaps not being able to become a clear leader, a go-to guy to assume the offensive responsibility of his team. He could also use some extra aggressiveness in certain situations.

    Beyond that issue, Nemanja needs to bulk up. Right now he’s a boy playing against grown men, and he physically suffers. He’s pushed around the rim both on the offensive and defensive ends. He finds it difficult to play in the post, he gets banged defending the paint and he gets out-muscled when it comes to gaining rebound positioning. Gaining strength will be necessary for him, but he should be careful in order to keep his athleticism intact, or even improved. That’s one of the reasons why he’s spending so much time at the small forward position playing far from the basket right now.

    One of the biggest concerns for him right now, especially if we consider that he’s playing mainly SF, is his shooting percentage. He’s struggling big time to find consistency in his perimeter stroke. As a consequence, he’s finding less spaces to penetrate, as his defenders don’t worry that much about his shooting threat. I expect him to recover, because he shows great mechanics, and sooner or later the shots will start falling. Also, his shot is still mainly static, although he’s working on his off-the-dribble jumper.

    Although showing some improvement lately, he still finds it difficult to penetrate in traffic in the paint, but that's logical given that he's a forward, and doesn't dominate the ability to make sudden changes of direction in a confined space, like many guards can. He should also try to polish his post up moves, as once he gets strong enough, he would be able to take big advantage in the low post against any small forward with his size, and against any power forward with his quickness.

    With his athleticism, height and long arms, you might expect more blocks out of him. The truth is he doesn't go up wildly for blocked shots, like many players his age, and usually won't risk his defensive position to take one.

    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: 2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

    ESPN (Chad Ford) - Rashad McCants SG

    NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | SHOOTING GUARD
    HEIGHT: 6-4 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 20

    McCants may be the toughest guy in the draft to project. On talent, he's easily a top-10 pick, maybe top five. But just about every team in the league has uncovered a number of red flags on the background check. He's going to have to prove to teams that whatever problems he had at North Carolina are behind him. If he does, he'll go higher. If he doesn't, he'll slip down to a team like Indiana, which is willing to take the risk on such a talent.


    Basketball.com Andray Blatche - PF

    NBA Comparison: Steven Hunter

    Strengths: Long and athletic prospect with good potential... Plays well facing the basket and can put the ball on the floor as he has a great handle for someone his size. Has shown a good outside shot but needs to work on his consistency... Gets off the floor quickly and blocks or alters shots... Runs the floor well and gets rebounds do to his length and leaping ability.

    Weaknesses: Needs to play with more effort and consistency. Dominates some games and is non-existent in others... While he has range on his outside shot he needs to work on being a consistent shooter... Like many of the Kevin Garnett clones these days, Blatche is infatuated with the perimeter. Floats around on the outside at times when he should be down low posting up... Decent speed, but isn’t quick enough to get by defenders at the next level... At almost seven feet tall, Blatche has all the physical tools to make it big in the NBA one day, it just won’t be anytime soon... Will be a project for whichever team decides to select him.

    Notes: Has made it clear he intends to bypass college and go straight to the league. Will need to show solid progress to be a first round selection.


    Savior Self - Sean May PF/C

    NBA Comparison: Zach Randolph     Strengths: May possesses all the skills to become a complete post player in the NBA. He has excellent touch, strength, and footwork that allowed him to out muscle and maneuver around anyone on the college level ... His soft hands allow him to catch almost everything thrown his way and make him an extraordinary rebounder and finisher ... May has a nice wingspan, which allows him to play bigger than his 6-8 size, and is very crafty at getting shots off against bigger opponents ... He also possesses an excellent mid range jumper from 18- 20 feet…As college progressed he became an excellent free throw shooter ... May also has a high basketball IQ and good vision, making him an outstanding passer ... His leadership ability as shown in the Final Four tournament should not be overlooked ... Overall, May is a fundamentally sound interior player and should develop into a quality NBA player ...

    Weaknesses: May's most glaring weakness is his size. Listed at 6'8", he will find difficulty shooting over the much larger power forwards and centers in the NBA. He will also need to tone his bulky frame in order to take the wear and tear of an 82 game schedule. In addition, May is not the greatest athlete and will struggle against the more athletic power forwards...

    Notes: Comes from a basketball family. Father Scott was an All-American at Indian and went on to play in the NBA. His brother Scott Jr. also played at Indiana….should ease Sean's transition.


    Savior Self - Uros Slokar PF (R2)

    NBA Comparison: Troy Murphy

    Strengths:
    A finesse player. You can see the talent and his elegance as soon as he touches the ball. A left handed player, he can shoot the ball from anywhere. He has very solid mechanics for a power forward that will allow him to improve even more. Never the less, he's not a great shooter yet. More of a reliable post player right now, but feels more comfortable facing the basket. Fine passer, good decision maker with the ball in his hands. He plays under control. Can put the ball on the floor and go strong to the hoop. Slokar started to play basketball really young, and it's easy to notice it because of his fundamentals. Decent mobility, rather fast for a big man, he can run the floor quite well, although he doesn't excel here.

    Weaknesses:
    Like many European prospects, Uros is still a skinny player. He needs to bulk up, as he can get easily banged in the paint. He's not always the most intense player on the floor, sometimes losing his concentration on the game. Because of this certain lack of intensity and his thin frame, his rebounding production is poor for a player of his height and position on the court. Slokar had a knee injury in 2000 that needed re-constructive surgery, but he seems now fully recovered.


    InsideHoops - Tiago Splitter PF

    NBA comparison: Pau Gasol

    Strengths: In 3 years will surely be a top 5 player internationally, he has the typically strong Brazilian offense game. He's a scorer, and can shoot from everywhere on the court. He plays one-on-one very well, has nice moves around the basket where he usually finishes with power plays. He has excellent mobility and great foot work for a player his size. He already has more international experience than Nene and Anderson combined. His future is at the SF position, so you can imagine the troubles that a 6-11 guy can cause in this situation. It's possible that he is not finished growing!

    Weaknesses: His body still very weak to play the PF position. He has problems defending stronger guys and playing post up on offense, has to improve his timing on rebounds and his patience on defense. His defense can improve a lot playing in Europe and his body will certainly develop.

    Notes: Made the Brazilian National team as a 17 years old and competed in the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis. Very athletic player. Prefers to play on the outside. Shies away from contact. A bigtime scorer. Somewhat similar to Kirilenko with his rangy frame. Has a ways to go skill-wise.

    Any mock drafts I'm missing?

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: 2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

      Ford has us picking McCants as well.

      17. INDIANA PACERS

      Rashad McCants

      NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | SHOOTING GUARD
      HEIGHT: 6-4 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 20

      McCants may be the toughest guy in the draft to project. On talent, he's easily a top-10 pick, maybe top five. But just about every team in the league has uncovered a number of red flags on the background check. He's going to have to prove to teams that whatever problems he had at North Carolina are behind him. If he does, he'll go higher. If he doesn't, he'll slip down to a team like Indiana, which is willing to take the risk on such a talent.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: 2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

        Thanks for compiling these. The only thing is most of these mocks are strictly rankings of players, and not based on perceived needs of the teams who will be picking. ESPN's is one exception here. The other sites will probably modify their mocks now that the teams' drafting positions are known.
        "I'll always be a part of Donnie Walsh."
        -Ron Artest, Denver Post, 12.28.05

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: 2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

          If Mcants drops to us I will be thrilled. That would be a major steal. He is gonna be a stud in the NBA.
          Dallas Clark>Tony Gonzalez

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: 2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

            No way on Channing Frye. I'm going to laugh at the team that picks him and hopefully it isn't us, because I guarantee he'll be a bust.

            There's a pretty good reason why no University of Arizona big man has really ever been successful in the NBA, at least recently. They are way too soft, and frail, all of em.

            McCants would seem like overkill on the Pacers with Fred Jones already there, unless he were to be traded. I really am hoping Tiago Splitter would fall to the Pacers for some reason but I really doubt it.
            "It's just unfortunate that we've been penalized so much this year and nothing has happened to the Pistons, the Palace or the city of Detroit," he said. "It's almost like it's always our fault. The league knows it. They should be ashamed of themselves to let the security be as lax as it is around here."

            ----------------- Reggie Miller

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: 2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

              Originally posted by blanket
              The only thing is most of these mocks are strictly rankings of players, and not based on perceived needs of the teams who will be picking.
              I skipped the ones that did not specifically say Indiana - picking whoever. Granted, some still had Atlanta #1, but by the time you get to 17 the changes at the top won't have much effect.

              It seems like the "experts" are all over the board on us. That's probably because the Pacers have no glaring holes, and will likely draft for depth. A little suprised so many SG's are mentioned. I think a backup PF/C with offense is more of what we need.

              I'll try to keep the top two posts edited and up to date.

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: 2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

                Hey Jose, if you're not busy, could you post the whole 1st round of that article, or at least until the Pacers pick? I'm wondering what prospects they think are going where, since most of the rest as Grant said, have just been player rankings.
                "It's just unfortunate that we've been penalized so much this year and nothing has happened to the Pistons, the Palace or the city of Detroit," he said. "It's almost like it's always our fault. The league knows it. They should be ashamed of themselves to let the security be as lax as it is around here."

                ----------------- Reggie Miller

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: 2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

                  1. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
                  Marvin Williams
                  NORTH CAROLINA | FRESHMAN | SMALL FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 18
                  Most scouts feel Williams is the guy with the most upside in the draft and Milwaukee's roster puts the Bucks in good position to take him. While Andrew Bogut could help too, Williams gives the Bucks the best shot at being a contender someday.

                  Scouting report on Marvin Williams




                  2. ATLANTA HAWKS
                  Andrew Bogut
                  UTAH | SOPHOMORE | CENTER
                  HEIGHT: 7-0 | WEIGHT: 260 | AGE: 20
                  Atlanta slips a spot in the lottery but still gets its guy. The team has nothing in the middle and Bogut should be able to anchor that position immediately. Bogut doesn't play the up-tempo style that GM Billy Knight likes to play, but they just can't pass on a legit center.

                  Scouting report on Andrew Bogut



                  3. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
                  Gerald Green
                  GULF SHORES ACADEMY | H.S. | SHOOTING GUARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 19
                  The Blazers wanted Bogut but are happy at No. 3 because it guarantees they get Green. Chris Paul is rated higher, but the Blazers don't need another small point guard. Next to Marvin Williams, Green has as much upside as anyone in the draft.

                  Scouting report on Gerald Green



                  4. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
                  Chris Paul
                  WAKE FOREST | SOPHOMORE | POINT GUARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-1 | WEIGHT: 195 | AGE: 20
                  The Hornets' biggest need isn't at the point, but Paul is a big upgrade over Speedy Claxton and Dan Dickau. Suddenly the loss of Baron Davis doesn't sting as much. In fact, Paul's a better prospect than Baron was.

                  Scouting report on Chris Paul



                  5. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
                  Deron Williams
                  ILLINOIS | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-3 | WEIGHT: 210 | AGE: 20
                  The Bobcats were the biggest losers tonight. They wanted either Paul or Marvin Williams and got neither. Look for them to try to use the No. 13 pick to move up in the draft. If it doesn't work, they settle for the next best point.

                  Scouting report on Deron Williams



                  6. UTAH JAZZ
                  Fran Vasquez
                  SPAIN | POWER FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 22
                  The Jazz desperately need a point guard. But they also need more size and athleticism up front. If Paul or Deron Williams were available, they'd go that route, but they aren't high enough on Raymond Felton to pick him here. Vasquez is a safe pick who can play.

                  Scouting report on Fran Vasquez



                  7. TORONTO RAPTORS
                  Danny Granger
                  NEW MEXICO | SENIOR | SMALL FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 235 | AGE: 22
                  Granger's stock just keeps climbing. He's one of the most complete players in the draft and should have the Shawn Marion-type ability to play like a four while playing the three. He has a good handle, a dramatically improved 3-point shot and he's unselfish. He also has a great body and big-time athleticism. He's already an upgrade from Jalen Rose at the three. While the Raptors have greater needs at center and point guard, they'll settle this year for the best prospect on the board.

                  Scouting report on Danny Granger


                  8. NEW YORK KNICKS
                  Chris Taft
                  PITTSBURGH | SOPHOMORE | POWER FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-10 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 20
                  At the beginning of the year, scouts had Taft penciled in as a potential No. 1 overall pick. A lackluster sophomore season hurt his stock, but he still has the tools scouts love. He's big, athletic and strong. If he played harder, he'd be atop the board. As it stands, he slips to the Knicks, who don't have a decent player on their roster taller than 6-foot-9.

                  Scouting report on Chris Taft



                  9. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
                  Channing Frye
                  ARIZONA | SENIOR | CENTER
                  HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 22
                  Two months ago we thought Frye would be a late first-rounder. But on second thought, Frye has the makings of a lottery pick. Great size, great athleticism and four years of experience. He would be perfect on a team like the Warriors. They need a young, athletic shot-blocker badly and Frye would be a safe and solid choice for Golden State.

                  Scouting report on Channing Frye



                  10. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
                  Raymond Felton
                  NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-0 | WEIGHT: 180 | AGE: 20
                  This is a real steal for the Lakers if they can land Felton here. He has the potential to go as high as No. 5 and the Raptors will give him a strong look at No. 7. He's the fastest point guard in the draft baseline to baseline, has improved his outside shooting and is an excellent floor leader. A major upgrade over Chucky Atkins.

                  Scouting report on Raymond Felton



                  11. ORLANDO MAGIC
                  Martell Webster
                  SEATTLE PREP | H.S. | SHOOTING GUARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 235 | AGE: 18
                  The Magic could go several ways here, but after shipping their best shooter off to Sacramento for Doug Christie, the Magic would find that Webster has a skill they really could use. He's the best pure shooter in high school and one of the four or five best in the draft. He has great size for his position, is mature beyond his years and already has an NBA body. As far as high school guys go, he's the most ready to contribute right now.

                  Scouting report on Martell Webster



                  12. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
                  Martynas Andriuskevicius
                  LITHUANIA | POWER FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 7-3 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 19
                  Andriuskevicius could go much earlier than this, but it's hard to see him slipping past the Clippers. They have a robust international scouting department and have been high on him for several years. Andriuskevicius is 7-foot-3 but his game is closer to Dirk Nowitzki than it is to a traditional big man. He's a good athlete for his size and an excellent shooter and ball handler, but he's going to have to add 30 pounds of muscle before he can even step into the paint in the NBA. This is a long-term project for a team that doesn't have a lot of holes to fill, for once.

                  Scouting report on Martynas Andriuskevicius



                  13. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
                  Antoine Wright
                  TEXAS A&M | JUNIOR | SHOOTING GUARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 210 | AGE: 21
                  Wright's versatility, perimeter shooting and athleticism make him a great fit in Charlotte. The Bobcats' front line is already set and if they land a point guard with their first pick, they can afford to address the swing position with the other.

                  Scouting report on Antoine Wright


                  14. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
                  Joey Graham
                  OKLAHOMA STATE | SENIOR | SMALL FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 220 | AGE: 22
                  The Wolves could go in a lot of different directions here. Kevin Garnett is the only guy on the team who's safe at the moment. They would like to get tougher and more athletic and Graham would be a great choice. He's a hard worker who can play both the three and the four. Reminds some of a bigger Corey Maggette.

                  Scouting report on Joey Graham



                  15. NEW JERSEY NETS
                  Hakim Warrick
                  SYRACUSE | SENIOR | POWER FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 218 | AGE: 22
                  He's not Kenyon Martin, but he's long, athletic, runs the floor, and has the experience to contribute immediately. With Jason Kidd running the show, he should get a lot of dunks.

                  Scouting report on Hakim Warrick



                  16. TORONTO RAPTORS
                  Sean May
                  NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | POWER FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 260 | AGE: 21
                  The Raptors need a tough scorer and rebounder in the paint and May should be a perfect fit. Though he's a little undersized to play his natural position (center) in the pros, he should be fine paired next to Chris Bosh. Bosh's ability to dominate in the high post along with May's ability to finish around the rim should give the Raptors an effective high-low punch in the paint.

                  Scouting report on Sean May



                  17. INDIANA PACERS
                  Rashad McCants
                  NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | SHOOTING GUARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-4 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 20
                  McCants may be the toughest guy in the draft to project. On talent, he's easily a top-10 pick, maybe top five. But just about every team in the league has uncovered a number of red flags on the background check. He's going to have to prove to teams that whatever problems he had at North Carolina are behind him. If he does, he'll go higher. If he doesn't, he'll slip down to a team like Indiana, which is willing to take the risk on such a talent.

                  Scouting report on Rashad McCants



                  18. BOSTON CELTICS
                  Nemanja Aleksandrov
                  SERBIA | SMALL FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-10 | WEIGHT: 220 | AGE: 18
                  Last year, many had Aleksandrov projected as the potential No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft. An average summer and season combined with recent knee surgery to repair a partially torn ACL have really damaged his stock. Chances are he'll withdraw and try again next year. If he doesn't, it will be hard for the Celtics to pass up on such a talent. Given that they've had five first-round picks in the past two seasons, they can afford to wait for Aleksandrov to develop in Europe for the next couple of years.

                  Scouting report on Nemanja Aleksandrov



                  19. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
                  Marko Tomas
                  CROATIA | SHOOTING GUARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 210 | AGE: 20
                  Tomas is a sleeper who might move up if he could ever get to America for workouts. He absolutely dominated the Adriatic League this year. He has great size, can play three positions and plays aggressively. The Grizzlies have been shopping their first-round pick around. But if they keep it, they'll use it on a player such as Tomas, who can stay in Europe another year or two to develop.

                  Scouting report on Marko Tomas


                  20. DENVER NUGGETS
                  Rudy Fernandez
                  SPAIN | SHOOTING GUARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-5 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 20
                  Last year, Fernandez was projected as a late lottery pick, but an injury-marred season has hurt his stock a bit. While no one questions his skills or athleticism, scouts wonder if his body can handle the rigors of the NBA. The Nuggets need a sweet-shooting two-guard badly and it would be tough to pass on a player with Fernandez's talent.

                  Scouting report on Rudy Fernandez



                  21. PHOENIX SUNS
                  Andray Blatche
                  SOUTH KENT PREP | H.S. | POWER FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 240 | AGE: 18
                  Blatche has been under the radar all year, in part, because he's insisted on not playing like a 7-footer in order to show NBA scouts that he's versatile. Most scouts shook their heads in disgust. But that ability is more appreciated in Phoenix. Blatche has been referred to as a poor man's Kevin Garnett and he should be a perfect fit in the Suns run-and-gun offense. He runs the floor well, can handle the ball, has 3-point range on his jumper and is an excellent rebounder. He may be a year or two away, but eventually he and Amare Stoudemire could be a great pair on the Suns front line.

                  Scouting report on Andray Blatche



                  22. DENVER NUGGETS
                  Ersan Ilyasova
                  TURKEY | SMALL FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 220 | AGE: 18
                  With multiple picks, the Nuggets' plan is to leave at least one guy in Europe for a few years. Many believe that Ilyasova was the best young prospect in Europe before a severe ankle injury kept him out most of the year. He's now back and playing well in Turkey and the lucky scouts that have seen him play claim he's the real deal. If he pulls out of the draft, he has a shot at the lottery next season. If he stays in, the Nuggets get a steal whenever they decide it's time to bring him over.

                  Scouting report on Ersan Ilyasova



                  23. SACRAMENTO KINGS
                  Charlie Villanueva
                  CONNECTICUT | SOPHOMORE | POWER FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 240 | AGE: 20
                  Villanueva has the skills of a lottery pick and the heart of an NBDL all-star. He has all the skills to be a perfect replacement for Chris Webber on the Kings front line. But will Rick Adelman, or whoever is coaching the Kings, ever be able to trust him? For all of his skills, Villanueva has always been a "me first" player. Then again, maybe that's what makes him the perfect replacement for Webber.

                  Scouting report on Charlie Villaneuva



                  24. HOUSTON ROCKETS
                  Tiago Splitter
                  BRAZIL | POWER FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-10 | WEIGHT: 240 | AGE: 20
                  It's probably a stretch that Splitter falls this far. He's got enough talent to warrant a late lottery selection. However, he isn't generating any buzz right now. Teams love his size, rebounding and toughness. But he's very raw offensively and is just starting to emerge in Spain. Another year in Spain would do him good and chances are, if he thinks he's slipping this far, he'll withdraw and try again next year.

                  Scouting report on Tiago Splitter



                  25. SEATTLE SONICS
                  Johan Petro
                  FRANCE | CENTER
                  HEIGHT: 7-1 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 19
                  The same may hold true for Petro. He has the size and talent of a lottery pick, but he's been very slow to develop it, which has caused some NBA teams to worry. Petro is probably another year or two away from helping a team, even if he does develop. However, if he ever gets it, he and Robert Swift could turn into a nice center duo for the Sonics.

                  Scouting report on Johan Petro



                  26. DETROIT PISTONS
                  Yaroslav Korolev
                  RUSSIA | SMALL FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 215 | AGE: 17
                  Korolev is another young international player who could dramatically raise his stock in the next few years if he stayed in Russia. However, his stellar play in the junior tournament at the Final Four in Europe was enough to get him on every radar screen. He reminds me a little of a young Toni Kukoc. The Pistons, who have an eye for international talent, won't let him slip by.

                  Scouting report on Yaroslav Korolev



                  27. UTAH JAZZ
                  Randolph Morris
                  KENTUCKY | FRESHMAN | CENTER
                  HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 19
                  The big kid from Kentucky should probably head back to school. One good year at Kentucky and he's in the lottery. As it stands, he won't slip past Utah, which is looking for a legit center to back up Mehmet Okur.

                  Scouting report on Randolph Morris



                  28. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
                  Julius Hodge
                  NORTH CAROLINA ST | SENIOR | SHOOTING GUARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 205 | AGE: 21
                  Hodge may not be the greatest shooter in the draft, but he has all the intangibles the Spurs love in their players. He's tough, versatile and he seems to want it more than most guys on the floor. He's earned good reviews in every workout and seems to have moved himself into the late first round.

                  Scouting report on Julius Hodge



                  29. MIAMI HEAT
                  Jarrett Jack
                  GEORGIA TECH | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD
                  HEIGHT: 6-3 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 21
                  Jack could be off the board in the mid-first round, but it's conceivable that he slips all the way to the end of the round. He's a very good point guard prospect who just needs to cut down on his turnovers. With Damon Jones possibly hitting free agency this summer, Jack would be a great fit in Miami.

                  Scouting report on Jarrett Jack



                  30. NEW YORK KNICKS
                  Andrew Bynum
                  ST. JOSEPH, N.J. | H.S. | POWER FORWARD
                  HEIGHT: 7-0 | WEIGHT: 300 | AGE: 17
                  Bynum has the size to rise much higher in the draft if he works out well. Right now, the general consensus is that he's too big a project to take much higher than this. Still, the Knicks aren't likely to pass. They need size and upside and Bynum has both.

                  Scouting report on Andrew Bynum



                  Other first-round possibilities: Monta Ellis, G, HS senior; Peja Samardziski, C, Serbia; Kennedy Winston, G/F, Alabama; Wayne Simien, PF, Kansas; Ike Diogu, PF, Arizona State; Nate Robinson, G, Washington; Roko Ukic, PG, Croatia; Ronny Turiaf, PF, Gonzaga; Francisco Garcia, G/F, Louisville; Matt Walsh, G/F, Florida; Linas Kleiza, F, Missouri; Mickael Gelebale, F, France; David Lee, F, Florida

                  Chad Ford is a senior writer for ESPN Insider.
                  Here, everyone have a : on me

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: 2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

                    Wow, Andrew Bynum is only 17 years old and he doesn't turn 18 until Oct. 27.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: 2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

                      26. DETROIT PISTONS
                      Yaroslav Korolev
                      RUSSIA | SMALL FORWARD
                      HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 215 | AGE: 17
                      Korolev is another young international player who could dramatically raise his stock in the next few years if he stayed in Russia. However, his stellar play in the junior tournament at the Final Four in Europe was enough to get him on every radar screen. He reminds me a little of a young Toni Kukoc. The Pistons, who have an eye for international talent, won't let him slip by.

                      Scouting report on Yaroslav Korolev
                      If we draft a kid that can call DARKO "old man," I will personally walk into Joe's office and punch him in the face.

                      It wasn't about being the team everyone loved, it was about beating the teams everyone else loved.

                      Division Champions 1955, 1956, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
                      Conference Champions 1955, 1956, 1988, 2005
                      NBA Champions 1989, 1990, 2004

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: 2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

                        Originally posted by PacersRule05
                        Wow, Andrew Bynum is only 17 years old and he doesn't turn 18 until Oct. 27.
                        Um, in that case how is he eligible? Don't you need to be 18 by draft day?
                        The poster formerly known as Rimfire

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: 2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

                          Originally posted by DisplacedKnick
                          Um, in that case how is he eligible? Don't you need to be 18 by draft day?
                          I believe JO was 17 when he was drafted. Must have to be 18 by the season opener? Good question.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: 2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

                            I swear if Splitter falls to us, I'll be jumping in the streets if we take him.

                            They said the same things about Kirilenko, he isn't a "flashy" offensive player. He would be exactly what this team needs off the bench at PF, quick, defensive energy, and toughness.

                            If Euro's already have that then 3/4 of the risk is gone, they usually are only offensivly gifted players.
                            "It's just unfortunate that we've been penalized so much this year and nothing has happened to the Pistons, the Palace or the city of Detroit," he said. "It's almost like it's always our fault. The league knows it. They should be ashamed of themselves to let the security be as lax as it is around here."

                            ----------------- Reggie Miller

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: 2005 NBA Mock Drafts - A Compiliation

                              I'll be shocked is Splitter drops that low - I can't figure out whether I want him or Taft at 8 if Green's gone by then. Taft has a bit more potential I think but the mental drive doesn't seem to be there.
                              The poster formerly known as Rimfire

                              Comment

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