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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
Why does everyone know Saer Sene now??? Nooooooooooooooooooo
Why does everyone know Saer Sene now??? Nooooooooooooooooooo
The Rules of Pacers Digest
Hello everyone,
Whether your are a long standing forum member or whether you have just registered today, it's a good idea to read and review the rules below so that you have a very good idea of what to expect when you come to Pacers Digest.
A quick note to new members: Your posts will not immediately show up when you make them. An administrator has to approve at least your first post before the forum software will later upgrade your account to the status of a fully-registered member. This usually happens within a couple of hours or so after your post(s) is/are approved, so you may need to be a little patient at first.
Why do we do this? So that it's more difficult for spammers (be they human or robot) to post, and so users who are banned cannot immediately re-register and start dousing people with verbal flames.
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.
Whether your are a long standing forum member or whether you have just registered today, it's a good idea to read and review the rules below so that you have a very good idea of what to expect when you come to Pacers Digest.
A quick note to new members: Your posts will not immediately show up when you make them. An administrator has to approve at least your first post before the forum software will later upgrade your account to the status of a fully-registered member. This usually happens within a couple of hours or so after your post(s) is/are approved, so you may need to be a little patient at first.
Why do we do this? So that it's more difficult for spammers (be they human or robot) to post, and so users who are banned cannot immediately re-register and start dousing people with verbal flames.
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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STARBURY
08 and Beyond
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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
I'm not talking about Donnie, I'm talking about the whole draft. Usually there's a top 3, top 8, top 12, etc. Now Chad Ford has 46 guys listed as possible first-round picks.Originally posted by pacertomCome to the Dark Side -- There's cookies!
Comment
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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
Interesting piece from the Atlanta Journal Constitution...I bolded the part on Rajon Rondo as he's listed in a few mocks as going to Indiana.
I really think Rondo can be a star. He's game is very similar to that of Tony Parker, both have poor shots yet are very capable scorers because of their amazing quickness and slashing ability. The thing is, Parker is an average defender and poor rebounder, whereas Rondo is considered a potential great defender and averaged over 6 boards a game this past season at Kentucky.I may not be in Atlanta but that doesn’t mean I’m not in the mix of the pre-draft workouts that are going on. And one of my spies was in the gym today and relayed some of the goings on. All three guards who were in town this morning - Marcus Williams, Rajon Rondo and Randy Foye - were reportedly impressive. In fact, my spy went on to say that all three were “extremely” impressive.
The funny thing, he said, is that all three are so dramatically different that having them in a combined workout actually accentuated each of their finer qualities.
Marcus Williams shot the ball well and showed off what the Hawks had already seen on film, he’s a straight line PG in the “Jason Kidd” mold in terms of he doesn’t beat you with a bunch of fancy tricks. He’s great on the screen and roll and he’s going to make the other guys around him flourish because he’s such a good up the floor passer (meaning he knows how to find guys on the break and can turn the corner in the halfcourt and either get a shot or create one for someone else). As we all have read or heard before, his measurables aren’t what jump out at you. But his savvy and natural PG abilities are what set him apart.
Rajon Rondo was probably even more impressive than initially expected. He was a “terror” in the defensive drills and a guy that those who observed the workout believe can someday be an All-Defensive type of player. He’ was certainly the athlete he’s been advertised to be and is a physical specimen, perhaps without peer at his position in this draft. While his shot (the form) is in need of some tweaking, there’s nothing else in his repertoire that needs major work. According to my spy, he left everyone thinking that the unquestioned two best point guard prospects in this draft were on the floor Monday morning.
Randy Foye showed off his physical prowess in the workout and reportedly shot the ball well from deep. The most interesting comparison made of him was “a taller Ben Gordon,” thus ending the foolishness of him being compared to Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade. No offense to Foye, but after watching Wade in person for the Eastern Conference finals and now the NBA Finals, he’s one of those guys that is in a league of his own right now. Back to Foye. My spy tells me that he didn’t appear to have a PGs mentality or specified skill set, but he’s certainly a talent and a guy that can come in and contribute immediately, which is what any team trying to make the playoffs needs.
Again, the interesting thing is that because of their distinctly different strengths, the workout was less about these guys going at each other and more about the Hawks getting an extensive look at a group of players that could come into play were the Hawks to entertain offers to move out of the No. 5 spot next week and down the draft board. Stay tuned.
Rondo is definantly moving up my wish list, as a matter of fact he might be my new #1.
Here's a great Rajon Rondo highlight video. It's 4:52 long, a lot of highlights. This kid looks like an athletic freak.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scXHr...=rajon%20rondoComment
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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarti...d=print&a=1358
Word on the Street: Sene Highlight Reel Clip, Jordan, Trade Talk
Jonathan Givony - President
June 20, 2006
Sene to Chicago at #16?
A team source informed us that the Chicago Bulls were blown away by Saer Sene’s “athleticism, upside and speed” at a workout he recently conducted at the Berto Center. According to the source, Sene “blew the roof off the workout” and is now considered a legitimate option for the Bulls at #16. "He might be the longest person in the world!"
When talking about potential problems he might face in the NBA with the speed the game is played at, the source was adamant about the fact that he tested out extremely well off the court and that his learning curve appears to be very sharp.
Similar questions we posed via email to a coach he worked with this past year in Belgium garnered the following response: “If you saw the progression he’s made you would be amazed. His talent to pick up fundamentals is amazing. In the games he wasn't always ready to catch the ball, but for me it was more inexperience than bad hands. He's a good kid, with a golden heart. With the necessary aid of personal coaches who take their time, I really believe that he has a great future in the NBA.”
Sene will be working out in Philadelphia today (20th) with Hilton Armstrong, Oleksiy Pecherov and Patrick O’Bryant. After that he has the Phoenix Suns scheduled on the 22nd, a second visit with the Supersonics on the 23rd, a second visit with his biggest fan Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz on the 25th, and potentially Houston before the draft. His range appears to be somewhere in the 10-21 area, with the New York Knicks being a major hindrance to Phoenix’s hopes of him being there at 21 after having watched him work out and fallen in love with him during the week of the Orlando pre-draft camp.
Sene’s potential is not lost on the shoe companies either, as he’s recently reached a three year marketing deal agreement with Nike.
Recent talk has the Phoenix Suns potentially packaging both of their picks (#21+#27) into the teens to draft him.
DraftExpress has exclusively obtained an 8 minute long highlight reel of Sene for our users to enjoy. The clip features plenty of plays from the Nike Hoop Summit in April, as well as game footage from this past season in Belgium with Pepinster.
Jordan Running the Show in Charlotte?
Sources in Charlotte have informed us that Michael Jordan will have a major part in deciding who the Bobcats draft with the 3rd pick. The Bobcats are telling people that since Jordan did not pay close attention to the nuances of the college basketball scene this past season, whoever they draft will have to work out in front of him and prove their value.
Jordan will be sitting in on an extremely intriguing workout on Thursday scheduled for Rudy Gay, Brandon Roy and Tyrus Thomas. The day will kick off at 9 with a one on none workout featuring LaMarcus Aldridge, who continues to raise questions about his heartbeat by refusing competitive workouts. The Bobcats attempted to add Adam Morrison to the wing trio (Gay, Roy, Thomas) scheduled for 1-3 PM, but Morrison’s commitment to a late afternoon workout on Wednesday with Toronto will not permit him to join in.
The problem for Charlotte is that it’s not a given that their other invites will show up either. Tyrus Thomas is also rumored to have pulled out of the workout, as he did yesterday with the Portland Trailblazers. Many feel that a deal is already in place for a team to trade for the Bulls’ #2 pick, and that Thomas has been informed that he’ll be the one taken there. Brandon Roy is also rumored to be pulling out of the workout on Thursday, although this makes quite a bit less sense.
Information we received today says that as many as six teams are currently in the hunt to trade up for the #1 or #2 pick, and that it’s likely Adam Morrison that they covet. The six teams are Minnesota, Boston, Houston, Phoenix, Portland and Charlotte. Morrison could very well conduct workouts with the teams that appear most serious about trading up in the draft to get him.
Ainge, McHale Working Together Again
Former teammates Danny Ainge and Kevin McHale are taking the somewhat unorthodox approach of sharing workouts in order to get a better read on some of the prospects they are interested in watching. The Minnesota Timberwolves had an intriguing workout on Sunday featuring Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, Shawne Williams, Thabo Sefolosha and Marcus Vincius Viera de Souza, and allowed both the General Manager and President of the Boston Celtics, Chris Wallace and Danny Ainge, to attend. At that workout,
Marcus Vincius (Marquinhos) banged his finger on Rudy Gay's hip, and broke the ring finger on his non-shooting hand. He will be out of action for 3-4 weeks at least, which makes the Timberwolves his last workout.
To return the favor, the Celtics will reportedly host the Timberwolves for a workout in Boston on June 23rd.
Consistent information out of Minnesota says that the #1 player on their board is combo guard Randy Foye, as he had one of the most impressive workouts they’ve conducted this far and are enamored with his toughness, perimeter defense, shooting and all-around attitude. He was particularly impressive with the work he did against Ronnie Brewer, showing his potential to defend either the 1 or 2 positions in the NBA. He also did a good job off the court in the interviews.
Minnesota also supposedly has the option of moving down in the draft, as an offer is on the table from the New Orleans Hornets to trade the #6 pick in return for the #12 and #15 picks. In that scenario, the Hornets would likely draft Rudy Gay should he be available.
Shelden Williams Guaranteed by Atlanta?
Not one NBA source we’ve spoken with over the past week puts any stock in the rumors of Atlanta guaranteeing Shelden Williams with the 5th pick in the draft. The arguments have been made numerous names, mostly centering around the fact that he will surely be on the board at #5 regardless of whether they guarantee him or not and is still yet to workout for the Hawks. Most believe that Williams has a promise either at 12 to New Orleans or at 13 with Philadelphia.
Trade Talk
-The San Antonio Spurs are searching for a first round draft pick, presumably to take an athletic defensive oriented wing player to back up and eventually replace Bruce Bowen.
-Houston and Orlando are talking about swapping picks.
-The Hawks are exploring trading down in the draft, likely to a spot where it would make more sense to draft Shelden Williams."I'll always be a part of Donnie Walsh."
-Ron Artest, Denver Post, 12.28.05Comment
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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
The higher Sene goes.....the more likely we will have a chance to pick up a decent player like Carney.Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.Comment
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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
I'd like to believe that, but I think it'd take more than just Sene moving into the lower lottery/15-16 to drop a lottery-projected player into our laps again. Other players who could crack the lottery and possible push a good player to us include Rondo, Pecherov, Sefolosha, and Armstrong, along with Sene. But I think it would take at least 3 players like these rising into the lottery for a player like Carney, Brewer, or Redick to slip to 17.Originally posted by CableKC
Another thing working against us getting a lottery-projected player at 17 -- particularly a SG like the players mentioned above -- is the fact that 3-4 of the teams picking right before us are also looking for backcourt players when they pick, so if one of those players slips then those teams will probably take them before we get a chance.
I think we'll have to settle for one of these kinds of players at 17: Rondo, Armstrong, Farmar, Al. Johnson, Sha. Williams, Ager, Collins, Douby.
...or trade up to get who we really want."I'll always be a part of Donnie Walsh."
-Ron Artest, Denver Post, 12.28.05Comment
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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
Hoopshype/Draft Express have updated their board. They still have us taking Rondo at 17.
http://www.hoopshype.com/draft.htmCome to the Dark Side -- There's cookies!
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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
I was against Rando at first.Originally posted by Kegboy
But now, I am confident that he can run a team. He will be able to improve his shooting, as long as he works at it which I think he will.
I love his defense and quickness/wingspan. Man he would really solve our problems of guys penatrating into the lane.Comment
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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
interview with Thabo Sefolosha with Pacers-related stuff in bold:
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1364
Interview: Thabo Sefolosha
Jonathan Givony - President
Eric Weiss
June 23, 2006
Jonathan Givony: How have your workouts been going so far?
Thabo Sefolosha: I feel ok. I was a little tired because I just had a lot of workouts in a row, but they’ve been good I think. So things are going well.
Jonathan Givony: Which teams have you worked out for so far?
Thabo Sefolosha: I worked out for: Golden State, Phoenix, Orlando, Chicago, Minnesota, and Indiana.
Jonathan Givony: What workouts do you have coming up?
Thabo Sefolosha: New Orleans, Houston, Seattle, Utah…I’ve got a couple more.
Jonathan Givony: Which workout did you think was your best so far?
Thabo Sefolosha: The best one? It was either Chicago or Minnesota, I did pretty good there. I didn’t do too good in Indiana, but I was real tired then.
Jonathan Givony: What are the differences between your good workouts and your bad ones?
Thabo Sefolosha: Well, all the workouts I’ve shot fairly well except Indiana and Golden State, which was my first one. The rest of the workouts I shot well and in all of the exercises I did really well.
Jonathan Givony: What type of feedback have you been getting after the workouts? What have they told you?
Thabo Sefolosha: They tell me they like the intensity that I put into it. But, they don’t tell me much. I think they’ve liked what they’ve seen so far though.
Jonathan Givony: Which players have impressed you out of those you worked out with?
Thabo Sefolosha: Brandon Roy. I like his game. I think he’s really good. Cedric Simmons. He’s very big, he can run, jump, he’s very athletic. Also, Louis Amundson.
Jonathan Givony: It seems like you’re one of the hottest names in the draft right now…Most draft experts besides DraftExpress had you in the 2nd round or undrafted up until just 2 weeks ago. What have you done to change people’s minds?
Thabo Sefolosha: I just don’t think people really saw me that much, especially with the differences in the game coming from Europe. But, I think I’ve competed very well against the players who I’ve gone up against, players like Rudy Gay and Brandon Roy. So, those players can go top 10 and I think I can compete with that type of player, so….
Jonathan Givony: What do you think are the differences between the skills you use the most in Europe and the skills they test you on in these NBA workouts?
Thabo Sefolosha: Well, the main thing is that most of these other players have had two months to prepare for the draft. Coming over from Europe, I just finished the season and have only had one week to prepare for the workouts. During the season I don’t really have time to work on my own game. With practice and the games there is really no time to prepare.
Jonathan Givony: Do you think there is more of a focus on individual skills in the NBA as opposed to Europe?
Thabo Sefolosha: I think that in the NBA it is more based off one-on-one skills, where in Europe it is more based off of the team. So, I think in these workouts the teams are really looking at how you do with those things; how you dribble the ball, one-on-one, two-on-two, how you beat other people…so for me its very different, but it’s still basketball.
Jonathan Givony: So do you think you are able to show what you’re really good at in these type of workout situations?
Thabo Sefolosha: Not really. I’m good at the five-on-five, reading the defense and the offense and all that. I think I can show my athleticism and my ability to dribble the ball and things like that. But, I think I’ll do much better in the five-on-five.
http://www.pallacanestrobiella.it/
Eric Weiss: Earlier you were talking about the differences between the NBA and Europe as far as team play. Do you think there are some teams in the NBA who are playing more of a team game?
Thabo Sefolosha: Yes. You’ve got teams like Dallas with Dirk Nowitzki and the other players who move the ball around a lot. Phoenix that runs and moves the ball a lot. There’s more and more of that type of game I think.
Jonathan Givony: Coming off such a grueling season in Italy with the playoffs, is it really tough coming straight into the pre draft workouts? How are your legs?
Thabo Sefolosha: Well, I try to do my best and prepare myself, but to be honest I am a bit tired. I haven’t had a chance to rest in months, but hopefully I’ll have a chance to rest afterward.
Jonathan Givony: How do you feel about Summer League? There’s not much of a break between the draft and the start of games there.
Thabo Sefolosha: I’ll be ready for that for sure.
Jonathan Givony: It seems you’ve really improved over the last two years, what happened over the last two years?
Thabo Sefolosha: I think it’s just more exposure. I also just improved a lot. I got a lot of experience going from 1st division France to Italy. I also work hard and that comes with it. As long as I work, I improve.
Jonathan Givony: Is the plan to come over right away or wait a year?
Thabo Sefolosha: Depends on the team and the situation, but I think I’m ready next year.
Jonathan Givony: Is there a big difference shooting the NBA 3 as opposed to shooting it from International distance?
Thabo Sefolosha: It’s a little bit difficult because of the distance, but with some work it should be ok. That’s not what I’m worried about right now.
Eric Weiss: Talking about your daily routine, what have you been working on specifically and how long do you work at it?
Thabo Sefolosha: Shooting mostly. Coming over from the season in Italy I only had one week to prepare. So I’ve mostly worked on my shot, spotting up and from the NBA 3 point line.
Eric Weiss: When you say you are working on you’re shot, what are you doing? Are you putting up 600 shots a day, are you working on technique? What goes into that?
Pallacanestro Biella Official Site
Thabo Sefolosha: With such a short time to prepare it’s not good for me to change anything right now. So, I’ve just been putting up a lot of shots, working on catch-and-shoot and off the dribble.
Jonathan Givony: Watching the NBA growing up, is there any player you’ve tried to pattern your game after. Maybe some of the European players who made it, like Boris Diaw or Manu Ginobilli.
Thabo Sefolosha: Not really. I watch a lot of games and I try to take something from many different players, not one or two specifically.
Eric Weiss: Looking at yourself right now, what do you think you bring to the table immediately? What are you best at?
Thabo Sefolosha: Just giving my best effort every game and helping the team anyway I can. If it’s rebounding, I’ll rebound. If it’s pushing the ball up the floor than I’ll do that. I just play with the team. Defense, I can help with that. Hit open jump shots.
Eric Weiss: Do you feel you can play multiple positions defensively?
Thabo Sefolosha: Oh yeah. I think I can guard a lot of different positions on the court. One, two, or three.
Eric Weiss: What areas do you think you can improve in?
Thabo Sefolosha: Everything. My shot. My body: I’ve got to work a lot on that. My dribble. I mean, every aspect of my game can be worked on.
Jonathan Givony: What are some of the main differences you’ve seen in the workouts between European and American players?
Thabo Sefolosha: More athletic. But mainly, there are a lot of 19 and 20 year old kids that have a man’s body. In Europe, if you’re young they say “he’s got to work on this”, but here there are a lot of guys that come ready to play physically.
Jonathan Givony: What do you think of the Italian prospects Bargnani and Belinelli?
Thabo Sefolosha: Bargnani is good, he can play. He can shoot the ball and do a lot of other things real good. I think he’s got a chance to be a really good player over here in time. Belinelli is a great shooter, that’s what he does. But, he needs to work on other areas of his game because he’s mainly just a shooter.
Eric Weiss: Personally, coming so far away from home and going through all of this, do you plan to bring anyone with you to help you make the adjustment? Are you going to live alone?
Thabo Sefolosha: Right now it is a little difficult because I haven’t gotten to see my family due to the season ending and me having to come here right away. But, next year I plan to bring my girlfriend with me to stay. My mother will probably come over and help me move, she’ll stay for a few weeks.
Jonathan Givony: Isn’t your mom an artist or something like that?
Thabo Sefolosha: Yes, she paints and she has some galleries in the States, including New York.
Jonathan Givony: Your background has got to be one of the most interesting of all the players in this years draft. Tell us something about that. Doesn’t your father play music?
Thabo Sefolosha: Yes, African music. He plays saxophone and drums.
Jonathan Givony: His band is pretty famous, no?
Thabo Sefolosha: He used to have a well know band in South Africa. But now he plays with some blues musicians, he’s got a CD coming out.
Eric Weiss: Coming from a family of artists, how did you find basketball to be your avenue of expression?
Thabo Sefolosha: One day my neighbor was going to play basketball and he asked me and my brother to come along. We ended up playing all day until the sun went down and just loved it. I’ve been playing ever since.
Jonathan Givony: How old were you?
Thabo Sefolosha: I was 11 at the time.
Jonathan Givony: Do you have a following in Switzerland?
Thabo Sefolosha: Yes, basketball isn’t the main sport in Switzerland, but they’re interested to see the first Swiss-born player make it in the NBA.
Jonathan Givony: Well, good luck the rest of the way. We look forward to seeing your success and we’ll speak again in the future.
Thabo Sefolosha: Thank you.
Feedback for this article may be sent to jonathan@draftexpress.com eric.weiss@gmail.com ."I'll always be a part of Donnie Walsh."
-Ron Artest, Denver Post, 12.28.05Comment
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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
PACERS STUFF IN BOLD
http://draftexpress.com/viewarticle....d=print&a=1367
NBA Draft Chat: 6/23/2006
Jonathan Givony - President
June 24, 2006
A wide-ranging interview conducted with Toronto Raptors blog RaptorsHQ.
Thanks to Howland of RaptorsHQ. for conducting and transcribing the interview.
Howland: Obviously with the draft coming up you guys have been super busy. What have you been up to the past few weeks?
Jonathan Givony: Past two weeks? Today is Saturday the 17th? Exactly two weeks ago I got in my car with our Director of NCAA Scouting Jonathan Waters and we drove to Orlando for the start off of our NBA pre-draft coverage. On Sunday we went out to watch Alexander Johnson, Guillermo Diaz and Jeremy Kelly work out and then on Sunday we were at IMG to watch Patrick O’Bryant, Thabo Sefolosha, Kyle Lowry and Cedric Simmons. Then the pre-draft camp. Coverage there, and I’ve been home since working the phones and going back and forth with some people trying to get as much info as I can and relay to others. Been following the trade stuff, and breaking down a lot of tape. We have a cool tool now we can use now where if you want to study every move that say Tyrus Thomas has ever made, every isolation or post move this season, or any move he’s made on the perimeter, it breaks it down for you into about a three minute stretch. So we have been looking at that a lot which helps us break down some isolated things you can’t see on tape as much. And that is pretty much what we do, watch a lot of tape, talk to a lot of people, etc.
The thing that needs to be mentioned is, we did most of our work in November, December, January, February and March. Now we tighten the screws a little bit. We still have a little more tape to break down, but we have done most of our work already. In terms of analyzing the prospects, the pre-draft camp…I don’t think really swayed me that much, or the workouts. The games are what decide how good these guys are going to be as NBA players in my mind.
Howland: We have checked out your site for a long time and really enjoy it. When did you start this?
Jonathan Givony: We started in December 2003, I believe. It had a couple of different names. It started off as NBADraftZone, and after about two days we thought it would be a bad idea to use the word “NBA” in our name, and then it went to DraftCity. We did that for about a year and a half, and then the **** hit the fan, so we switched to DraftExpress with all of our important old staff members, and it has done well. Just looking at our traffic we have about three times as many people today as we had at the same point last year, and about fifty times what we had two years ago.
With all the interviews we get, the tapes we acquire and the great contacts we have, we’ve become pretty well established at this point I feel. We still have a lot of work to do, but we are doing well for ourselves so far, far better than I ever imagined at least.
Howland: So when you decided to do this, what was the thought process? Was it simply thinking “I love ball, I love the draft, so let’s do a site?”
Jonathan Givony: The thought process was, we looked at what was out there at the time and thought “This is not really an accurate assessment of the NBA Draft landscape.” We really just didn’t like what was out there, or thought that there was room for someone to come in and expand on what was already out there. So instead of complaining about it, we decided to do something on our own. I just didn’t think that the level of pure basketball analysis on the prospects and games was sufficient. We also really felt that a lot of bad messages were being sent out about certain kids rising to the top five in one week and the next he would be in the second round. Too many exterior motives coming into play if you know what I mean. I know for a fact that all the players visit the site, all the family members. I felt like a bad message was being sent and we kinda wanted to be a balancing force in this and bring a little bit more level headedness to the process....and then it blew up more than we ever thought it would. We thought we would just be a couple of hacks ya know, but it turned into something a lot more professional very soon, which forced us to become much more professional as well as you’ve seen. We got into the pre-draft camp on our first year, and we were the only NBA Draft site there, as well as last year. It has been going pretty good and we are pretty pleased with it.
Howland: Yeah that is sorta the same thing we did. We looked around at what was being covered for the Raps and thought “This is all just garbage.” So you went to the O’Bryant work out. How was that?
Jonathan Givony: I saw him work out twice. It was fun. He is an impressive guy to watch in a setting like that. He’s got some tools, I can tell you that…
Howland: So when you go to these workouts do people recognize you now?
Jonathan Givony: Well we’re usually invited there. A lot of times what will happen is we will be talking to their representatives, or maybe even someone in their family, and they will tell us “We think this guy is a lot better than what you think, a better ball handler than you give him credit for” or “He’s a much better shooter”....or just “You have to come see how good this guy is.” So we ask whether we can go and watch them work out. We did that a few times and it went well and people liked the reports and now we are pretty much invited to a lot of workouts that we even have to turn down. With O’Bryant it was specifically IMG.....we have been going there for a couple of years, and they were pretty happy with how professional the coverage was, the level of analysis, and they did not have a problem with us coming in again, and taking a look.
Exposure is what this business is all about, and people understand that we are not just going to give favorable reviews before we walk into the gym. People respect that and they value our professional opinion and that is why we are invited back. People can’t fault you if you make the extra effort to come see a guy. No one can question you if you put the legwork in. And as you’ve seen this year, we’re working non-stop to cover everything in a way that hasn’t been done before.
Howland: So how many site visitors do you get in a day?
Jonathan Givony: About 100,000 visitors these days. This is our peak time and it rises every day. We usually break our traffic record every day now. There is a lot of interest, we have done a lot of interviews with some big papers, like the LA Times, the Washington Post, and I do a half a dozen radio interviews a day or more in some really big cities, but most of it really is word of mouth. People love the draft and they want more detailed coverage on it and that is why the word spreads.
Howland: Now, have you ever been asked specifically by an GM or a scout for an opinion at a work out?
Jonathan Givony: Absolutely. It happens all the time. Everyone wants to know what other people think and compare it with what they think and it’s just a back and forth. Especially during the middle of the year that happens a lot, now people are a little more tight-lipped about their opinions on prospects. During the season I will make my top 100 list of prospects, sorted by position, and send it out to a few select NBA teams that ask me for it. So they do their own homework but I feel that they respect what we do, we bring a bit of a fresh perspective because we have been putting the time and the legwork in and they respect what we have to say. It doesn’t mean they listen, but again, we are out there watching as many games and tapes as they do, so at least our opinions are well-founded.
Howland: Ok, so we only have a short period of time between now and the draft. So what is the next week like for you? You said it’s down time, but are there more workouts to go to?
Jonathan Givony: No more workouts, because most are now private workouts with specific NBA teams over the next 10 days, and it will mostly be working the phone, watching tape and finalizing scouting reports, and making sure we are in the loop....analysis, articles, and just try and keep it going. For us this is kind of a dead time. I’m much happier in February and March when there are a lot of games going on, and I prefer writing about basketball....there are some times when we have to be more journalists than scouts, and that’s fine, but now is more the journalism part of the business, investigative reporting, and keeping guys in the loop and trying to sort out what’s real and what not. DraftExpress is the middle-ground between being a journalist and a scout, and at this time of the year there is more journalism than I’d probably prefer. Put me frontrow at a Euroleague or SEC game and I’m the happiest guy in the world, the other stuff not as much, but its part of the business and we enjoy that too. The hype definitely generates more interest and controversy than the pure basketball analysis, and that’s kind of a shame.
Howland: You obviously watch a ton of NCAA, but how do you cover all the Euros? Do you get tape from over there? Dish?
Jonathan Givony: Well we have Luis Fernandez who lives in Spain, we have a guy in Croatia, Greece, Italy, France, etc....so these guys do great coverage for us, and we also trade a lot of tape. Having people who actually live and are from the countries these guys play in is a huge plus that even NBA teams don’t have, and it gives us a perspective that you normally wouldn’t get. There are also a lot of people in Europe who have great interest in college basketball players who are not going to make the NBA, so we will record games for them and then trade tape, they will record games for us and we trade it back and forth. Luis has been great about taping a lot of games, and sending DVDs, and the internet is great because it is not that hard to put video up online and people share that way. So it takes a couple of hours to download an Andrea Bargnani game and that is how I have 10 of them now. We have a lot of tape, the problem is finding enough time to watch it. We have tape on every prospect in the draft....all the international guys, the problem is actually finding time to watch. It is a little more difficult to evaluate European prospects then NCAA, because the style of play is so different than what you are going to see in the NBA. Often these guys only play 10-15 minutes and they are the 5th option on their team so it is a little more difficult and requires more experience. This is where our outstanding International scouts come in.
Howland: So let’s get some overview and your thoughts in general on the draft. Everyone says there is no Tim Duncan or Lebron James, which the haters keep bringing up, but how do you compare this years draft to say the past 2 or three?
Jonathan Givony: I think it compares pretty well to last years draft. Last year there really wasn’t a sure fire no-brainer number one pick. Andrew Bogut pretty much became the consensus number one guy but that was more for a lack of other superstar players, and people were afraid to think outside the box a little bit with Chris Paul, because you never take a PG who is six feet tall #1, but in hindsight that was erroneous. But I think it is a good draft, particularly once you get passed the fact that there isn’t a surefire superstar in the top 3 and realize that there are still some damn good players that will be in the league for a long time well into the teens. People are underrating a little bit, I felt like it was a much deeper draft before I went to the pre-draft camp, where guys who I thought were going to be NBA players ended up looking horrible, I mean that’s just one small part of it, but you did kinda get the feeling that there is more room for some European guys who you can store overseas. But I think it’s a good draft, it’s probably the craziest draft I can remember, and I have been following the draft for as long as I can remember, and I don’t remember a year where we have no idea who is going to go #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 and we are ten days before the draft. I mean last year we pretty much had the top four figured out at this point and this year we are not even close.
Howland: So how disappointing was the draft camp in Orlando?
Jonathan Givony: Well I thought what was most disappointing was the fact that there was so little energy in the building, the atmosphere, and we were kinda stuck behind the basket....it wasn’t really the nosebleeds because we had a pretty good view, but I felt that Chicago was a lot more intimate and we were just right there courtside, right in the middle and we could get a much better feel for the players and there was a sense from the players....you could see the disappointment, in how the games were being conducted. The level, I thought, was just as good as last year, last year was a little disappointing too, a few years ago was probably the best I’ve been to, with players like Nate Robinson, Damien Wilkens, Tony Allen, Delonte West, and Beno Udrih. All in all it was a little disappointing, but for us it is just a great experience and a great time to go up and meet a lot of NBA guys who are sitting right next to you and wearing the DraftExpress shirt...and you just get approached by so many people saying, “You guys do a great job, we read you every day,” and that validates what we do, all the hard work we put in.
Howland: So when you guys go to Chicago do you bankroll it yourself?
Jonathan Givony: I pay for it off the banners that we have. Advertising pays the hosting costs, and a little bit of travel. No one is ever going to get rich off of doing something like this but the advertising money is enough to get by if you are in a position like ours when you don’t mind being modest....as long as you are not trying to finance a house or a family. There really isn’t any money in this, but I look at this as an investment in my future, which has paid off very nicely so far. It’s really disappointing how poorly internet advertising pays, though, relative to the work we put in, I can tell you that.
Howland: Ok, back to this years draft. Say you are an expansion team now, and you have to take one guy to build a franchise around....who do you take?
Jonathan Givony: That’s a real tough question. I would probably take Adam Morrison, I mean, just looking at it from a complete picture...in terms of getting fans excited, getting a guy who is ready to play right now, getting someone that is charismatic, and that will have a great work ethic in practice, passion to win, leadership skills and all those things, and being a really damn good player besides the fact, I think Adam Morrison is that guy.
Howland: Ok, so can you give me some more info on this Tyrus Thomas bit? The whole agent thing, and having him going 7?
Jonathan Givony: Well they just thought that it was a stupid move to make. I mean the day before I came in to watch him workout and all…I tried to explain that the lottery happened, and that based on team needs, we felt there was a legit chance that he might end up slipping a little bit and they disagreed. I guess Tyrus was the one that really decided to call it off. I mean what happened after…we still talk to them, we are still on good terms, we met up, had dinner, shook hands, said let’s let bygones by bygones and that was it. We are not going to hold any grudges against them or Tyrus Thomas. It’s water under the bridge now.
Howland: Shows how many people read your site at the end of the day.
Jonathan Givony: Yeah. People do care about what’s written, which is why we have to be a little more careful than I’d like sometimes, being kind of a loose cannon by nature. I personally think that our mock draft is not really going to have a huge impact on where guys end up going, I mean General Managers have done their research, I think the mocks in November and December are more influential because it tells guys who they have to scout and it builds them up. Look at the top 6 guys on our board right now; they have been the top six guys over the last three months. Nobody would have told you that Brandon Roy is even a first round pick before the year started. We had him going late first round, I thought that was a good call on our part, and he consistently rose until he became a consensus top five pick. He was like our Ike Diogu of last year’s draft, sort of similar to Thabo Sefolosha this year as well. So I think in that regard, it helps establish who the top prospects are. Once we are into late May and the lottery happens, I am not sure how much our mock influences anyone. The Chicago Bulls are not going to look and say, “oh they only have him at 7" so we can’t take him second. I don’t think we have that kind of power at this point.
Howland: A good example of that, if the rumours are true, that Atlanta has a promise to take Shelden at 5.
Jonathan Givony: Exactly. That is pretty much what everyone is saying, although I don’t buy it for a second.
Howland: Ok, so you said you would take Morrison if you had to start from scratch....and you had Bargnani at one for the Raps, and now you have them taking Morrison. What changed your mind there to do that?
Jonathan Givony: Just from what we are hearing the Toronto Raptors have no idea at this point who they are going to draft, which makes the draft so hard to predict, they are really shopping that pick pretty heavily, but their asking price is probably a little too high, so it’s hard to say what they will end up doing. I feel like there are a lot of teams that want to trade up to get Adam Morrison, which is the most realistic scenario right now, and I feel like when Adam Morrison goes in there and if they do decide to go number 1 that he is going to make them feel like he is the guy to go with. He fits their needs pretty well, he can really help them and I think he has a legit chance to go number one even if Toronto keeps the pick.
Howland: So you would say this whole Bargnani thing is a bit of a smokescreen? In all the papers up here that is all they talk about is Bargnani.
Jonathan Givony: Toronto’s doing a great job of establishing that they might take him, they are setting the table for it, so it would not be a shock if it does happen. I think what he (Colangelo) is really doing, is that of they do trade down to #3 or #4, and gets a nice asset in return then he’ll look like a genius, cause he will have not only gotten the guy he would have taken at 1 but also got a great building piece so that’s making him look like an awesome GM, which he is obviously.
Howland: So Portland and Charlotte are the teams you think have the most interest in trading up for Morrison at this point?
Jonathan Givony: Well there are definitely some other teams out there. I think Indiana definitely has some interest, Minnesota has some interest in him....I think there are a lot of teams that really like him....Boston in particular, even Houston or Phoenix. There are some teams looking to move up...it just depends on how high the asking price is. But the most likely movement will happen within the top 4 it seems.
Howland: Thing is on the Raps front is that we have not seen that much tape on Bargnani. He does play 20 minutes or so a game, but still it’s not like NCAA.
Jonathan Givony: We have a lot of tape on him. I probably have about a dozen games here, and I have watched them a lot and he has been on the radar a long time. He was at the Hoop Summit two years ago, Benetton came to Toronto to play, and anyone can watch him practice because they are so open about getting to see him. He has been around for a while, so he isn’t as much as an unknown as most international guys usually are.
Howland: Biggest sleeper in the draft?
Jonathan Givony: Would have to say Thabo Sefolosha. I don’t get where the hell everyone else has been on this kid. It’s not like he’s playing on Mars or anything. I also really like Jose Juan Barea. That’s a guy who is getting no love from a lot of people, just because he is only about 5'11'. He doesn’t have a great wingspan, but just watch him play on the court. I have very little doubt that he will have success in the NBA. Whether it is in a backup role playing 15-20 minutes, or maybe even being able to start at some point. I am very high on competitiveness and heart, and feel for the game, how smart a guy plays and I think he has it all and he is just really really skilled. He’s an amazing point guard and I am shocked that more people are not considering him in the first round....but that’s just how it works. Size, and physical attributes speak a lot more right now than skill or work ethic. That’s why someone is going to make a mistake because I really feel like he is going to be a contributor whether it is next year or a year down the road. But this is a kid that might go undrafted when it’s all said and done, and who knows if he’ll ever get the shot he deserves then. I can already see the article in three years talking about how he “came out of nowhere.”
Howland: Who is the most over-hyped?
Jonathan Givony: Bargnani. Not because he is not a great player, but just because I feel like he is a guy that in any normal draft would probably go somewhere between 5-15. He’s a guy that is not going to fit in on just any team. He has some pretty glaring weaknesses, in terms of his rebounding and his defense, and watching him on tape you get the feeling that when things are going well he’s a great player, but when things really are not going well you don’t really see that mental toughness or that great intelligence like you see in a lot of European player. Not that he is a dumb guy, but he is a little individualistic, and for all the talk of how incredible of a scorer he is, you would like to see him do some other things like passing a little bit better, rebounding, just being more of a complete all around guy. When you have someone like LaMarcus Aldridge, I don’t think there is any question as to who is the better all around player right now or especially down the road. I am just surprised that he is getting consideration for the number 1 pick, and I think he would be a great pick from 5 on down. To consider him number 1, that to me shows where we stand right now in this draft.
Howland: Now this is a debate between myself and another writer on the site, but if you had to take a point guard, who is the first guy you take?
Jonathan Givony: Absolutely Marcus Williams. There is no doubt.
Howland: You guys do a lot of interviews with all kinds of players, Jay Williams etc. Who is the best guy you have talked to...a guy who will give you the straight up goods?
Jonathan Givony: What’s great about this draft is that almost all of these guys are really awesome kids off the court too. That just makes things easier in terms of projecting them into the NBA. You can see it in the way that they talk that they really do want to become great basketball players. I was very very impressed by Adam Morrison, people say that he is cocky and arrogant, and I don’t see that at all, he’s just a really good, ‘normal’ guy. Ronnie Brewer impressed the heck out of me. He comes from a great family, really well spoken, and he has it all figured out.
Marcus Williams is a guy who is very charismatic, even though people like to rag on him a lot because of the lap-top issue, and sure that was a horrible decision on his part, but I think that will make him a better person down the road. Brandon Roy impressed me, Randy Foye really impressed me....Cedric Simmons is a guy who is very shy, he doesn’t really know how good he is going to be at this point....but all of them come from good families, all well spoken kids, very humble. Most of these guys are great off the court which is a huge plus in my book. About the others, its not that they aren’t great guys, but more of the fact that I haven’t spoken to them as much.
Howland: So you take Morrison over Aldridge if you are the Toronto Raptors where you have zero at centre...sure Aldridge plays 4/5, but we have Charlie at 3 and we drafted Joey last year. Still Morrison?
Jonathan Givony: I still take Morrison. I just think he is a sure fire guy, he’s going to be a 20 ppg scorer, maybe not in his first season but very soon. I think the Raps need to get better a lot quicker, and if you have the number one pick, you have to get some sort of return on it pretty soon, and Morrison is that guy and he is going to get a lot better down the road. He also fills a great need for the Raptors in terms of having that perimeter scorer, having a great shooter, having someone with the work ethic and the passion and coming from a winning system. The guy is just programmed to succeed and I feel like wherever he goes he will do whatever he can to win and that’s what the Raps have a need for being so young.
Howland: Let’s talk about one last guy. Is Redick going to make it in the NBA?
Jonathan Givony: I think so. Redick is going to find success and he is going to be a nice third option on a team as a starter. I just look at the guy, the way he competes, skill level, and putting the ball in the basket, he is great at all those things. All the other things, defense, putting the ball on the floor and those things...he’s going to get better. There aren’t that many guys who can come off screens, space the floor and shoot with the type of range and accuracy he has. That’s a skill that every team needs, but few have. He has an amazing work ethic and it’s a shame about the DUI, and his back coming out now, but it really doesn’t take away from what he did during the season and I think that he is more ready and more of a sure fire guy and anywhere between 10 and 15 he’s a steal.
Howland: Last question...obviously it depends on who goes where but who is your ROY?
Jonathan Givony: Adam Morrison. It kinda depends like you said, but Morrison is the guy who wins ROY and if it is not Morrison it’s Roy just because he is going to come in and play 30 minutes a game wherever he goes. That’s a pretty safe bet there.
Howland: So you say Morrison in a Toronto Raptors uniform wins ROY?
Jonathan Givony: Yes, because he actually compliments Mo Pete and Joey Graham pretty well. He’s a two guard offensively, and it’s nice to have him next to a guy like Mo Pete who can guard either the two or the three and maybe Joey is not a great defender right now but I think he will end up figuring out how to utilize his tools to become a better defender. Morrison could play either the two or three spot for Toronto or Charlotte and he’ll have a huge impact right off the bat. I mean Amare Stoudamire had how many points when he won ROY, 13? So essentially the threshold is not always that high."I'll always be a part of Donnie Walsh."
-Ron Artest, Denver Post, 12.28.05Comment
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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
I've watched some highlight videos on YouTube, and read some reviews of Rondo, and he seems like the perfect player for us. He's a physical marvel, as quick as Iverson, with freakishly long arms and big hands. He's a great defender, great rebounder, great penetrator, and has the potential to be a great team leader. His only glaring flaw is his shooting, and with guys like Peja, Bird, and Reggie working with him, that can be fixed.Comment
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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
Peja might not be here, Reggie won't be.
Chuck Person will be around & from what I understand does a pretty good job as a shooting coach.Comment
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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
I'm still not sold on Rondo, I don't like that he is such an awful shooter. But he is certainly someone who could 'go very high or fall to 17.' And someone that Bird could have watched with regularity this year, though he didn't have a very good year. Douby reminds me a lot of Ben Gordon, who Bird LOVED...but I haven't seen him projected higher than about 20. This is an awfully tough year to guess isn't it?Comment
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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
Chad Ford's latest: Marcus Williams!
Chad Ford's Mock Draft, Version 4: Picks 1 to 30
By Chad Ford
We're two days away from the NBA Draft, and GMs are calling it the most unpredictable draft in the last five years.
The last time we had this much uncertainty at the top was 2001, and Michael Jordan was presiding over his first draft for the Washington Wizards.
Kwame Brown and Tyson Chandler worked out against each other the day before the draft in a competition to become the No. 1 pick. Brown bested Chandler and walked over to Michael and said, "If you draft me, you'll never regret it."
We all know how that worked out. Brown was a bust. Jordan lost his job.
This year, things are even more unstable. Adding to the chaos is the fact that multiple teams are talking about multiple trades -- some that move them up in the draft, others that move them down.
The uncertainty creates confusion and paralysis. "It's like traffic gridlock," one NBA executive told Insider. "There are too many cars on the road. Even when you get the green light, you're still stuck in traffic. Too many trades, too many contingencies. It's never been this bad."
Here's where we stand at the top:
We believe the Toronto Raptors have narrowed their list down to three players.
The Chicago Bulls, who have the No. 2 pick, appear to have their list down to three as well.
The Charlotte Bobcats are in a quandary. Jordan, now making the basketball decisions for the 'Cats, has yet to see in person some of the players under consideration.
And let's not even get started with the Blazers. If they find a way to get Adam Morrison, fans in Portland will rejoice. If they fail in their quest, the villagers may storm the castle.
Mock drafts are an inexact science, this year more than usual. Why? Because we're two days away and few teams, if any, know for sure what they're doing. We're trying to tell you before even they know.
Here's our latest take, after talking to numerous NBA team sources, on how Wednesday night's draft will play out.
On Wednesday, we'll unveil our final mock draft.
CHAD FORD'S MOCK DRAFT
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Toronto
Andrea Bargnani Position: PF
Height: 7-0
Weight: 225
Age: 20
Country: Italy
The skinny: Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo continues to assert that the Raptors haven't made up their mind about whom they'll draft if they keep the No. 1 pick.
Meanwhile, talk continues to circulate that the Raptors are going to trade down or out of the draft.
If they do keep the pick, all signs point to three players -- Bargnani, LaMarcus Aldridge and Adam Morrison, probably in that order.
None is a perfect fit in Toronto. Bargnani plays the same position as Charlie Villanueva. Aldridge is a Chris Bosh clone. Morrison has star power, but will he be a star?
Until we hear differently, we're expecting the pick to be Bargnani. But that might change on our last mock draft on Wednesday. We're starting to hear Aldridge's name more and more the last 48 hours.
Chicago
(via New York)
Tyrus Thomas Position: PF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 229
Age: 19
School: LSU
The skinny: A few days ago, this one seemed like a lock. Thomas had started pulling out of workouts, and rumors were flying that the Bulls had told Thomas' agents he was coming to Chicago.
But since then, things have been pretty fuzzy. The Bulls and Thomas' agents denied that a deal was in place. Thomas started visiting places like Minnesota (No. 6) and Houston (No. 8). Meanwhile, LaMarcus Aldridge refused to workout for Charlotte, with his agent claiming that Aldridge had been locked up. And then there's the ongoing talk that Brandon Roy is the Bulls' choice.
At the end of the day, I think Thomas is the pick. The Bulls have been high on him all year and none of the strange happenings the past few weeks (including Thomas cutting short two Bulls workouts because of stomach problems and a pulled groin) should change that.
Charlotte
Adam Morrison Position: SF
Height: 6-8
Weight: 205
Age: 21
School: Gonzaga
The skinny: On lottery night, in our first full mock draft, we put Morrison here. The thinking was that he made the most sense for Charlotte. The franchise is struggling with fans, Morrison is the most popular player in the draft and he would give them the scoring punch the team desperately needs.
We changed our projection to Rudy Gay in the second mock draft after getting some feedback that GM Bernie Bickerstaff thought Gay had more upside than Morrison.
We went with Brandon Roy in Mock Draft 3.0 after getting word that new co-owner Michael Jordan preferred Roy to either Morrison or Gay.
So why are we back to Morrison? Gay worked out for Jordan and, from what we hear, didn't really impress. Jordan has not seen Roy work out, because Roy skipped out on the Bobcats for the second time last week -- he seems to have his heart set on joining the Rockets. That might dissuade Jordan from taking Roy.
All of which brings us back to Morrison, a guy that Bickerstaff and company have continued to warm up to the last few weeks. Morrison has the killer competitive instinct that Jordan loves. But more importantly, Jordan's a businessman and Morrison's arrival in Charlotte could mean big business.
I think they should take Roy, but for now, we're putting Morrison here.
Portland
LaMarcus Aldridge Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 240
Age: 20
School: Texas
The skinny: With the top three unsettled above Portland, this could play out in several ways.
The Blazers (and their fans) want Morrison, and they'll grab him if he's there. The team's performance and reputation have suffered so much under team president Steve Patterson that some fans are yearning for the good old Bob Whitsitt "JailBlazer" days. Morrison's the kind of player who could heal some of that.
If Morrison is not there, the Blazers should get a good player, though the fans might not be happy.
Head coach Nate McMillan is a big Brandon Roy fan. Much of the Blazers' staff is high on Bargnani, who could slide if Toronto passes on him.
But the Blazers' most acute need is in the middle. LaMarcus Aldridge might be able to play center next to Zach Randolph, who is big and physical. And Aldridge has none of the off-court issues that have plagued the Blazers.
Atlanta
Brandon Roy Position: SG
Height: 6-5
Weight: 195
Age: 21
School: Washington
The skinny: Here's where things get really interesting.
From all the evidence we can gather, Hawks GM Billy Knight has committed to Duke's Shelden Williams. If Roy slips to No. 5, as he does in this scenario, I think the Hawks will select him for the Rockets and then trade him to Houston in return for the No. 8 pick and either Luther Head or a future No. 1 pick. That would give the Hawks a great chance of landing Williams at No. 8 and picking up an asset in the process.
If Roy ends goes before the Hawks pick, then expect Williams to be the pick.
Minnesota
Randy Foye Position: SG
Height: 6-4
Weight: 205
Age: 22
School: Villanova
The skinny: The Wolves are hoping that LaMarcus Aldridge or Tyrus Thomas slips to them here.
If he doesn't, look for them to take a player who can help them in the backcourt -- either Randy Foye or Marcus Williams. Rashad McCants is coming off of microsurgery and the Wolves need someone who can step in immediately and help.
Williams is more of a pure point guard, but Foye's versatility, toughness and athleticism give him the nod.
Boston
Cedric Simmons Position: PF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 235
Age: 20
School: NC State
The skinny: I wish I could tell you what the Celtics are going to do, but the truth is they're the hardest team to figure out. They've worked out just about everyone and could go in just about any direction.
For the longest time we thought this looked like a two-man race between point guards Marcus Williams and Rajon Rondo. But in the past week, we've heard that Randy Foye, Ronnie Brewer and Cedric Simmons are in the mix.
Simmons appears to be the frontrunner. The Celtics have some young talent on the front line, but none with Simmons' athletic or defensive abilities. He'd be a nice fit or great trade bait for team looking for a big.
Houston
Shelden Williams Position: PF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 250
Age: 22
School: Duke
The skinny: The Rockets are trying to move up and get their hands on Roy. Under this scenario, the Rockets would trade Luther Head and Williams to the Hawks for Roy.
If that doesn't work, they're hoping one of the top players in the draft falls to them. The two most likely to slide this far are Tyrus Thomas and Rudy Gay.
J.J. Redick is still a real possibility here, too. But ongoing questions about his back, combined with his recent DUI arrest, have hurt his stock.
That's why the Rockets have been ramping up their efforts to land Roy. If Gay, Thomas and Roy are off the board, Redick could still be the guy, however.
Golden State
Rudy Gay Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 222
Age: 19
School: UConn
The skinny: This is a major score for the Warriors if Gay slips this low. He could easily go as high as No. 3 in the draft and fits a need for the Warriors. With Mike Dunleavy out of favor, the team is looking for a small forward.
Gay's a super athlete, a good defender and an emerging shooter. The big question mark: Does he have the heart to be a star? Dunleavy's lack of improvement the past few years might scare the Warriors a bit.
If so, two options are Rodney Carney and Shawne Williams, both from Memphis.
While Patrick O'Bryant has held this slot for a month, we learned on Sunday night that O'Bryant never worked out for Golden State. That's going to hurt his chances of going to the Warriors.
Seattle
Hilton Armstrong Position: C
Height: 6-11
Weight: 235
Age: 21
School: UConn
The skinny: The Sonics really would like to get their hands on Shelden Williams or Cedric Simmons. So, with both players looking like they'll be off the board when the Sonics pick, don't be surprised if they move into trade mode.
A number of teams, including the Knicks, the Suns and the Nets, are trying to move up in the draft, and the Sonics should be willing to sell.
If they keep the pick, the Sonics may grab the best big man still on the board. Armstrong is raw, but not as raw as Johan Petro and Robert Swift. Armstrong has the tools to be a big presence at either the four or the five.
Orlando
Ronnie Brewer Position: SG
Height: 6-7
Weight: 220
Age: 21
School: Arkansas
The skinny: The Magic have been trying to move up in the draft for the past several weeks to get Brandon Roy or Shelden Williams. Redick was also in their sights, but his off-court problems and health issues may have hurt the Magic's view of him a bit.
That's probably a good thing for the Magic, because what the team really needs is a big guard to pair in the backcourt with point guard Jameer Nelson. Brewer would be a great fit. He can swing to the point, plays aggressive defense and knows how to get to the basket.
New Orleans/
Oklahoma City
Patrick O'Bryant Position: C
Height: 7-0
Weight: 250
Age: 19
School: Bradley
The skinny: After giving up Jamaal Magloire and losing Chris Andersen to a drug suspension, the Hornets need an athletic defender who can rebound and block shots. They're hoping O'Bryant, the best center in the draft, is still on the board.
O'Bryant is still very raw, but he has the size and athleticism to be a significant presence in the paint down the road.
Cedric Simmons and Hilton Armstrong, if available, would be options here as well.
Philadelphia
Shawne Williams Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 225
Age: 20
School: Memphis
The skinny: The Sixers have a lot of needs right now, but the talk is that they've fallen for Williams.
He's not a perfect fit, but he has a rare combination of size, athleticism and shooting ability.
The Sixers also have the option of moving down in the draft a few spots and probably still being able to get him.
If they're thinking point guard, the Sixers could also take Marcus Williams here, if available. He fits the Eric Snow model that once got them to the Finals.
Utah
Mouhamed Saer Sene Position: C
Height: 7-0
Weight: 232
Age: 20
Country: Senegal
The skinny: The Jazz's first priority is finding a scoring two guard. Roy, Foye and Redick are at the top of the list, and under this scenario Redick is available.
The problem is that concerns about the long-term health of his back combined with his DUI arrest are scaring teams like the Jazz and Magic, who tend to be more conservative. I'm not saying that they won't take him, but it's not a slam dunk the way it was two weeks ago.
So the Jazz might look at their other need, the center position. The team could use an athletic shot-blocker to help out Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer in the paint.
That means Mouhamed Saer Sene could be their man. He's a project, but he is huge and physical, with great upside. And Karl Malone loved him when he came in for a workout.
NO/OC Hornets
(via Milwaukee)
Rodney Carney Position: SF
Height: 6-7
Weight: 205
Age: 22
School: Memphis
The skinny: The Hornets will be psyched if Carney is still on the board here. The team could use an athletic, sweet-shooting swingman and Carney has the experience to step right in and compete right away. Questions about Carney's toughness and desire are the only reasons he might slip this far.
If Carney is off the board, Thabo Sefolosha and Marcus Vinicius Viera de Souza are possibilities.
Chicago
Thabo Sefolosha Position: SF
Height: 6-6
Weight: 215
Age: 22
Country: Switzerland
The skinny: If the Bulls address their frontcourt with pick No. 2, look for them to try to add a big two guard to fill their need in the backcourt. Ronnie Brewer and Rodney Carney would be likely targets if still on the board.
If they're not, the Bulls could turn to Sefolosha. He's long, athletic and experienced, with a balanced all-around game. Temple's Mardy Collins would be another option.
If the Bulls decide to go for Brandon Roy with the No. 2 pick, then an athletic forward like Alexander Johnson or a center like Mouhamed Saer Sene could be the guy, depending on who's available.
Indiana
Marcus Williams Position: PG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 205
Age: 20
School: UConn
The skinny: According to this scenario, the Pacers, once again at No. 17, would find themselves in a situation similar to last year's, with two potential lottery picks to choose from.
In this case, Marcus Williams and J.J. Redick are the guys. Both players could go as high as the mid-lottery but could also slip to here.
The Pacers need the shooting more than they need another point guard, but Rick Carlisle's frustration with Jamaal Tinsley may have reached the point that the Pacers decide to go that direction.
If neither Williams nor Redick is on the board, the team has a number of other options. Shannon Brown has the potential to be a better version of Fred Jones. They also like Florida State's Alexander Johnson, a super-athletic power forward who can play a little like Kenyon Martin. With Jermaine O'Neal constantly nursing injuries, and potentially on the trading block, finding someone to support or replace O'Neal is important. Olexsiy Pecherov and Quincy Douby also makes some sense here.
Washington
Rajon Rondo Position: PG
Height: 6-2
Weight: 171
Age: 20
School: Kentucky
The skinny: This would be a steal for the Wizards. A handful of GMs have Rondo ranked as the top point guard in the draft. He could go as high as Boston at No. 7 or Philly at No. 13.
Arenas has been great at the point, but he's not a true point guard. Neither is Antonio Daniels. Adding Rondo would allow Arenas to swing to the two at times.
Mouhamed Saer Sene and Olexisy Pecherov are also options here, if available.
Sacramento
Alexander Johnson Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 230
Age: 23
School: FSU
The skinny: We've had Sergio Rodriguez here for several weeks, but now we hear that the Kings are worried about his defense and lack of athletic ability. Besides, we're hearing that the Kings want to go big.
Johnson's athleticism, toughness and game-readiness would be a great fit for the Kings.
Rajon Rondo and Olexsiy Pecherov could also be a fit here, if available
New York
(via Denver)
Olexsiy Pecherov Position: PF
Height: 6-11
Weight: 222
Age: 21
Country: Ukraine
The skinny: Now that Isiah Thomas has to coach the team, he's going to have to figure out how to win -- now.
No one available at No. 20 is likely to help, meaning the Knicks could go for the best big man on the board and leave him overseas for a few years while they clear out some of the roster clutter.
Pecherov is a big shooter who can rebound and run the floor.
P. J. Tucker, Josh Boone and Marcus Vinicius Viera de Souza are also options here.
Phoenix
(via L.A. Lakers)
Sergio Rodriguez Position: PG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 170
Age: 19
Country: Spain
The skinny: The Suns have been trying to move up in the draft to get either Hilton Armstrong or Mouhamed Saer Sene. They also are fond of Rajon Rondo.
If all are off the board, they may choose to go with Rodriguez. After Marcus Williams and Rondo, he's the best pure point guard in the draft and he has some big-time experience in Spain. At some point the team is going to need to rest Steve Nash, and Rodriguez is an intelligent point guard who can play the way Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni wants to play.
Shannon Brown is another strong option here.
New Jersey
(via L.A. Clippers)
J.J. Redick Position: SG
Height: 6-4
Weight: 190
Age: 21
School: Duke
The skinny: It's hard to believe Redick could slip this far.
But it's quite possible that if he gets past Houston at No. 8, the Magic at No. 11 and the Jazz at No. 14, he could be in for a slide, for several reasons. Most of the teams selecting below the Jazz haven't worked him out, he doesn't fit a need for most teams and concerns about his back injury will scare teams away from being adventurous.
At No. 22, though, he's a no-brainer for a Nets team that's in constant need of a big-time shooter.
If Redick is gone, P. J. Tucker is a real possibility.
New Jersey
Kyle Lowry Position: PG
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
Age: 20
School: Villanova
The skinny: The Nets have been trying to package the No. 22 and No. 23 picks to move up and draft an athletic big man. But if they can't, they'll probably try to address their need at backup point guard here.
Lowry is an athletic, scrappy point guard who could help Nets move at the frantic pace they like to play. He's not the best shooter in the world, but he does just about everything else well. If he had stayed another year in college, he'd have had a shot at the lottery. That would make grabbing him here a steal.
Rajon Rondo (if he were to slip this far) or UCLA's Jordan Farmar would also be possibilities at this spot.
Memphis
Jordan Farmar Position: PG
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180
Age: 19
School: UCLA
The skinny: The Grizzlies have been searching for a center ever since Bryant Reeves retired. With Lorenzen Wright hitting free agency this summer, the need has never been greater. However, with Patrick O'Bryant, Hilton Armstrong, Mouhamed Saer Sene and Alexander Johnson likely to be off the board, there won't be many options left.
If they can't find anyone for the frontcourt, they'd be smart to grab Farmar. They have a pretty big question mark at the point. No one is sure whether Damon Stoudamire will return at 100 percent this season, and Chucky Atkins is a free agent.
Cleveland
Shannon Brown Position: SG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Age: 20
School: Mich St
The skinny: Danny Ferry is praying that one of the top point guards -- Rajon Rondo, Kyle Lowry, Sergio Rodriguez or Jordan Farmar -- falls to him here. Eric Snow peaked years ago and it looks like Damon Jones is on the downslope of his career, too.
If they're all gone, the Cavs might try to go for a combo guard like Brown or Daniel Gibson. Brown in particular seems as though he has the toughness to be a factor off the bench for Cleveland from either guard position.
L.A. Lakers
Quincy Douby Position: SG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 175
Age: 22
School: Rutgers
The skinny: The Lakers don't need pure point guards in the triangle and Douby should be a good fit. Next to J.J. Redick, he may be the best shooter in the draft. Douby would give Phil Jackson another backcourt scoring option besides Kobe Bryant.
However, the Lakers' ideal plan is to move up in the draft and upgrade this position to someone like Brandon Roy.
An athletic swingman like James White of Cincinnati would also make some sense here. His agent says he wowed the Lakers in a workout.
Phoenix
Joel Freeland Position: PF
Height: 7-0
Weight: 225
Age: 19
Country: England
The skinny: The Suns have been trying to either package this pick with the No. 21 pick to get higher in the draft or move it to a team in the second round for cash and a future pick. As trade partners, the Heat, Blazers and Spurs are all possibilities.
If the Suns keep the pick, they'll likely go international. Freeland has been playing basketball for only three years, but he showed well enough in the Reebok Eurocamp for a team to take a chance on him at the end of the first round. They could leave him in Spain for a couple of years and end up with a very good, energetic big man who's ready to step in and play in 2008.
Croatia's Damir Markota and Brazil's Marcus Vinicius Viera de Souza are also possibilities here.
Dallas
Maurice Ager Position: SG
Height: 6-5
Weight: 202
Age: 22
School: Mich St
The skinny: The Mavs can always use a player who can stroke the ball, and Ager was that guy for the Spartans all year. His combination of athleticism, defense and shooting ability should make him a nice replacement for Jerry Stackhouse when Stack's contract expires in the summer of 2007.
New York
(via San Antonio)
Guillermo Diaz Position: SG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Age: 20
School: Miami
The skinny: We've had UConn's Josh Boone in this spot for a month, but it's looking more and more like the Knicks didn't give him a promise.
Diaz isn't a fit, but don't worry, Knicks fans. Most likely, the Knicks will use the pick as bait for Miami, who's been trying to move up to get Diaz.
Portland
(via Detroit)
Yotam Halperin Position: SG
Height: 6-5
Weight: 200
Age: 22
Country: Israel
The skinny: The Blazers don't need more rookies, so don't be shocked if they take a flier on an international kid with some upside. Halperin can play both the point and the two, and he thrived in the Euroleague this year. He could either stay in Europe for another year or come over now.
Other potential first rounders: Other potential first rounders: Mardy Collins, James White, Marcus Vinicius Viera de Souza, Leon Powe, Daniel Gibson, P. J. Tucker, Josh Boone, James Augustine, Paul Davis, Darius Washington, Damir Markota, Mike Gansey, Will Blalock, Taj Gray, Dee Brown, Paul Millsap.
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.The poster "pacertom" since this forum began (and before!). I changed my name here to "Slick Pinkham" in honor of the imaginary player That Bobby "Slick" Leonard picked late in the 1971 ABA draft (true story!).Comment
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Re: The mock draft thread, 2006 NBA draft
I'm sorry, but Knicks fans need to worryThe skinny: We've had UConn's Josh Boone in this spot for a month, but it's looking more and more like the Knicks didn't give him a promise.
Diaz isn't a fit, but don't worry, Knicks fans. Most likely, the Knicks will use the pick as bait for Miami, who's been trying to move up to get Diaz.
Slug 'em Sabres!!!!!
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