Originally posted by Evil Ash
True, but isn't this the same things a lot of us were saying about Big Jake a couple of years ago ... and we all saw how that turned out.
Drafting big men is a crap shoot. The difference is that Lampe is a much better athlete. Here is a profile from Own the Draft:
The Info:
6/23 - Can he do it all? No. Will he be the next Dirk? Probably not, but maybe no one will ever be. He's in the classic Euro mold, versatile with a nifty inside-outside game. You can't knock him for that. He can play both forward positions and is expected to grow to 7'1" or 7'2". Not bad for an 18 year old. He could be a special player, and that's why he'll go no later than 8.
The following is part of an article in the NY Daily News:
After Sweetney, Layden drafted Lampe, an 18-year-old who was rumored to be going as high as No.5.
Lampe fell out of the first round because he is under contract with Real Madrid through 2008, although his contract can be bought out for $1 million. Lampe wants to join the Knicks for next season but it is unclear if the Knicks will buy out his contract.
NBA teams were only notified yesterday morning that Lampe's contract with Real Madrid included a buyout clause. Under league rules, the Knicks could only pay up to $350,000 of that buyout. That means Lampe would have to pick up the rest, making it unlikely that he would join the Knicks.
"We had a buyout and the thing was that a letter from FIBA (basketball's international governing body) came in telling teams that I didn't have a buyout," Lampe said. "But I thought everyone pretty much knew about the contract situation."
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Here is SI review of him:
BIO: Lampe is a 6-11 native of Poland who possesses a rare blend of skills. He is an outstanding perimeter shooter who has been compared to Dallas Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki and is considered one of Europe's rising stars. The 18-year-old Lampe spent most of this past season with Universidad Complutense in Spain, which plays in a league just below the country's top league. Lampe averaged 18.6 points and 7.5 rebounds in 17 games. Although Lampe is close to seven feet tall, he has tremendous quickness and outstanding ballhandling skills. He played briefly for Real Madrid this past season before being loaned to his current club. A member of the Polish national team, Lampe also played with Alvik in Sweden in the 2000-01 season.
ANALYSIS: Lampe is just 18 years old, but he's got a world of potential. He can shoot, handle the ball and has good quickness for a man his size, but he still might be better suited to play power forward, where he'll be tough to stop when he develops an arsenal of moves. His only drawback right now is his youth and inexperience, but most observers believe Lampe is a quick study.
POSITIVES: Lampe is a tremendous long-range shooter at 6-11. Furthermore, he is skilled with his back to the basket, unlike many face-up scorers at the 4-spot. However, Lampe is not just a 4. He can fit in at center and small forward as well.
NEGATIVES: Sure, he can shoot the rock, but can Lampe put himself in position to exploit that talent? There have been countless big men to come into the league with long-range prowess, but many of them were unable to accomplish anything because they lacked the quickness to create shots off the dribble. Lampe is not exactly light on his feet, so there is obvious reason for concern that he will be another imitator.
PROJECTION: Early First Round
