I thought I put this on before but could not find it on the site, so maybe I did not.
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Howard, Okafor top power forwards
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford
Friday, March 26
What do Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Chris Webber, Ben Wallace, Karl Malone, Jermaine O'Neal, Kenyon Martin, and Pau Gasol have in common?
It just so happens that this year, the top nine teams in the league (according to record) also have, arguably, the top nine power forwards in the league. What a coincidence. The trend also explains why the West continues to dominate the East.
"Everyone talks about the disparity between the West and the East, but it really comes down to the power forwards," one Eastern Conference GM told Insider. "The West has a bunch of good ones, the East has three or four. And none of them are on par with the Garnetts, Duncans and Webbers of the West."
The Rockets are the only team in the West that will make it to the playoffs without an All-Star caliber power forward. In the East, Toronto's Marshall is the only decent power forward not expected to make the playoffs. The big guys matter, folks.
That's why teams go nuts over power players in the draft. In 2002, six power forwards were drafted in the lottery. In 2001, the first three picks were power forwards, and nine overall were taken in Round 1. Last year was a major aberration. Only four players in the lottery were power forwards, and only six power forwards, overall, were drafted in the first round.
That, however, was because of a lack of talent, not a lack of need. The good news is that this is a pretty decent draft at the power forward position. As many as 10 power players have a shot at getting drafted in Round 1, as many as five in the lottery.
They range from dominating players like Emeka Okafor and Dwight Howard, to big-time Euro projects like Andris Biedrins and Kosta Perovic. Like the rest of the draft, an influx of young international players is swelling the depth at the position.
Here's a look at the top 15 power forwards in the 2004 NBA Draft.
Note: The list includes players we believe might declare for the 2004 draft.
1. Dwight Howard, Atlanta Christian
The line: 6-foot-11, 245, HS Senior
The skinny: Is he the next Tim Duncan, as one scout claims? Or is he the second coming of Kwame Brown? Most scouts feel that he's much closer to Duncan than Brown which is why he gets the slight edge over Okafor as the No. 1 power forward and player in the country. That doesn't necessarily mean he'll go No. 1. Several teams in the lottery have had their fill of high school players. While Howard should progress quicker than Brown, no one is claiming he'll be LeBron-like as a rookie. If the Bulls, Suns or Magic get the No. 1 pick, expect them to go with Emeka Okafor. Just about anyone else will take the chance on Howard.
2. Emeka Okafor, Connecticut
The line: 6-10, 252, Junior
The skinny: The comparisons to a young Alonzo Mourning seem right on. He's the best power player to come into the draft in awhile. He's also the most NBA-ready of anyone in the draft. He's a rebounding and defensive machine and is now adding some offense to his game. If he was two inches taller, he'd be far and away the best prospect in the country. As it is, scouts believe Okafor to really be 6-8 or 6-9, meaning he'll have to make the transition to power forward in the pros. That and a reoccurring back injury are the only things holding him back. Unless there is something seriously wrong with his back, Okafor will still be either the first or second pick in this year's draft. It just depends on the team.
Latvia's Andris Biedrins
3. Andris Biedrins, Skonto Riga (Latvia)
The line: 6-10, 235, 17 years old
The skinny: He's very difficult to project. Biedrins has drawn comparisons to Andrei Kirilenko because of his athleticism, shot blocking and defensive prowess at such a young age. But he's very, very raw. He's a likely lottery pick based on potential, but how high will he go? Some scouts think he could eventually be the No. 3 pick after workouts. Others think the hype has gotten out of control and he'll end up slipping into the late lottery. Unfortunately, we won't be able to see him play against some of the top high school talent in the country. Biedrins couldn't get permission to leave his team in Latvia to play in the Nike Hoop Summit, his agent, Bill Duffy, told Insider. It's probably for the best. He had very to little to gain (he's already a projected lottery pick) and a lot to lose by playing there.
4. Kosta Perovic, Partizan (Serbia)
The line: 7-2, 230, 19 years old
The skinny: Perovic has great skills for a big kid. He also has more experience than most young Euros entering the draft. For much of the season he was the starting center on a Euroleague team. Strength is the biggest question mark. He doesn't have the bulk to play in the paint right now, which is why we're projecting him at the four instead of the five. Scouts project Perovic as a top-10 pick who could go as high as No. 3 this year. While the concerns about his strength are real, people said the same thing about Pau Gasol when he came out, and look what happened.
5. Kris Humphries, Minnesota
The line: 6-9, 240, Freshman
The skinny: Humphries put up enormous numbers this season for Minnesota. He has a nice blend of athleticism, strength in the paint, quickness and a soft touch from the perimeter. He's an above-average rebounder and a good defender. He's basically a double-double waiting to happen every night. He's already got an NBA body and projects to be a prototypical NBA power forward -- though he may be a little undersized to play that position full time. His quick feet and emerging jump shot suggest Humphries also will be comfortable at the three spot, when needed. The fact Gophers coach Dan Monson compares him to a young Karl Malone certainly isn't hurting his prospects. Right now scouts see him as a late-lottery to mid-first-round pick.
6. Hakim Warrick, Syracuse
The line: 6-9, 205, Junior
The skinny: The best athlete in the draft. Jumps like he's on a trampoline. Had a great season at Syracuse this year, and at the start of the season was a consensus lottery pick. Why is he slipping? No one is sure exactly what position he would play in the NBA. He doesn't have the perimeter or ball-handling skills to really be a three. He doesn't have the strength or low-post moves to excel at the four. Scouts wonder if he's the second coming of Darius Miles, an athletic big man without a go-to skill. Some scouts think he could be a very good four, because of his length and quickness. They believe he'll get stronger once he gets on an NBA strength training regimen and be just fine in the post. Only a few of them see him having a future at the three. He could go anywhere between the late lottery to early 20s.
LaMarcus Aldridge (No. 12)
7. LaMarcus Aldridge, Seagonville (Texas)
The line: 7-0, 225, HS Senior
The skinny: He's a quick, athletic, big kid with great feet and some pretty nice moves in the paint. Aldridge worked hard to improve his outside shooting and ball handling over the summer. He has succeeded to the point many scouts feel he could end up playing some three in the league. He's very thin, and some scouts have wondered about his effort and toughness in the paint. There's no question he needs to get much stronger, but so did Chris Bosh. Aldridge has made dramatic improvements over the past year, leading NBA scouts to take a second look. Will he enter the draft? If he does, he's projected as mid-to-late first-rounder right now.
8. Al Jefferson, Prentiss (Mississippi)
The line: 6-9, 265, HS Senior
The skinny: Anyone who averages 42 ppg is going to get the attention of NBA scouts. Jefferson already has NBA strength and really knows how to score in the post. Jefferson gets the Eddy Curry comparisons constantly thrown his direction. He's that type of skilled, low-post scorer, with the same type of conditioning issues Curry faced. The difference is he's a few inches shorter and can't play center. That's a pretty big difference. Scouts say he could really help his stock by going to school, but the word is that he wants to go straight to the NBA. He's a likely late first-rounder.
9. Ronny Turiaf, Gonzaga
The line: 6-10, 230, Junior
The skinny: Scouts are very high on Turiaf. Though he struggles with inconsistency and hasn't lived up to his full potential in college, when he's on, he's one of the most devastating low-post scorers in the country. He had a good, but not great, tournament, so it's tough to read exactly where his stock is right now. Most of the scouts I trust think he'll be taken somewhere in the 20s.
Anderson Varejao
10. Anderson Varejao, F.C. Barcelona (Spain)
The line: 6-10, 235, 22 years old
The skinny: The native of Brazil is a very active, energetic forward who runs the floor, crashes the glass, dives for loose balls and is really all over the court. But, he doesn't appear to be the type of guy who could ever average more than 10 ppg in the pros. Had a great game against Team USA in the Olympic qualifying tournament, scoring 16 points and dunking on Jermaine O'Neal. At this point, Varejao is a little underrated. Some scouts still swear he's one of the best international prospects. Others think he'd never develop into anything more than a role player at best. Right now the consensus is he's a late first-round or early second-round pick.
11. Lawrence Roberts, Mississippi State
The line: 6-9, 235, Junior
The skinny: One of the most improved players in the country. Roberts is a big-time rebounder on both the offensive and defensive boards. He's a pretty good athlete who can run the floor and has good strength for the position. Scouts worry a little bit about his size (they think he's closer to 6-8) and his perimeter skills. He's not much of a ball handler or face-up shooter, but he's a pretty good prospect. Most scouts believe he should return to school for another year, but he'll be a bubble first-rounder if he applies now.
12. Uros Slokar, Benetton (Italy)
The line: 6-10, 230, 20 years old
The skinny: The Slovenian native is one of the best-shooting big men in the draft. Has a silky smooth stroke and even has some NBA 3-point range. The question really is about his position. He's too thin and weak to guard NBA fours, not quick enough to stop an NBA three. A few international scouts believe he's a very good prospect, reminiscent of the Warriors' Troy Murphy. The problem for Slokar is that there are younger, taller and more athletic international prospects already in the draft. It's a horrible year for him to declare. Likely a second-round pick at this point.
13. Sergei Lishouk, Rovno (Ukraine)
The line: 6-11, 232, 22 years old
The skinny: The big man from Ukraine is the type of player who does nothing great but everything well. Good scorer with great range on his jumper. He can score anywhere on the floor. He's not very long, and he's not a great athlete. He's more seasoned than many of the Europeans in the draft, and some scouts are intrigued. He's probably not a first-rounder, but he could be one of the more popular names in the second round.
14. James Lloreda, LSU
The line: 6-9, 245, Senior
The skinny: Lloreda is a big-time rebounder who left LSU under somewhat mysterious circumstances. The native of Panama is very long with a great wing span. Lloreda is pretty versatile offensively and has drawn comparisons to the Hornets' David West. He can step back and knock down the 18-foot jump shot or take the ball in the paint and punish people. He's a good passer and ball handler for his size. Has some quickness and excellent footwork. Gets off the floor quickly. A good, but not great athlete. Scouts wonder a little bit about his defense. Does plenty of things well, but nothing great. Lloreda is an emotional player who plays with a fury. He actually went to counseling for anger management. An Achilles' tendon problem ended his season early, and he left LSU before the season ended after coach John Brady told him not to come back. He's now working out in Florida preparing himself for the draft. He was once thought to be a first-round lock, but his injuries and emotional issues have hurt his stock a bit. Could still recover in workouts.
15. Arthur Johnson, Missouri
The line: 6-9, 250, Senior
The skinny: Think Lonny Baxter. Johnson is a big kid who is going to have to make the transition from college center to NBA four in the pros. He has a wide frame, is powerful and also has unusual quickness for his size. He's very long, which helps him out on the boards. No perimeter game and just so-so athleticism hurt his stock. If he were three inches taller, he'd go much higher based on his skills.
Best of the Rest: Erazem Lorbek, Skipper Bologna (Italy); Pape Sow, Cal State Fullerton; Drago Pasalic, Split (Croatia); Andre Brown, DePaul; Mo Ke, China; Deng Gai, Fairfield; Amit Tamir, Cal; James Thomas, Texas; Jamar Smith, Maryland; Slobodan Ocokoljic, Weber State; T.J. Cummings, UCLA
Wait until next year: Nemanja Aleksandrov, Serbia; Tiago Splitter, Brazil; Paul Davis, Michigan State; Wayne Simien, Kansas; Torin Francis, Notre Dame; Diego Brezzo, Argentina; Chris Taft, Pittsburgh; Andrew Bogut, Utah; Johan Petro, France; Linuys Kleiza, Missouri; David Lee, Florida; Leon Powe, Cal; Wojciech Barycz, Poland; Brandon Bass, LSU; Ike Diogu, Arizona State; Andrea Bargnani, Italy; Craig Smith, Boston College; Taylor Coppenrath, Vermont; Kresimir Loncar (Benetton)
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Howard, Okafor top power forwards
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford
Friday, March 26
What do Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Chris Webber, Ben Wallace, Karl Malone, Jermaine O'Neal, Kenyon Martin, and Pau Gasol have in common?
It just so happens that this year, the top nine teams in the league (according to record) also have, arguably, the top nine power forwards in the league. What a coincidence. The trend also explains why the West continues to dominate the East.
"Everyone talks about the disparity between the West and the East, but it really comes down to the power forwards," one Eastern Conference GM told Insider. "The West has a bunch of good ones, the East has three or four. And none of them are on par with the Garnetts, Duncans and Webbers of the West."
The Rockets are the only team in the West that will make it to the playoffs without an All-Star caliber power forward. In the East, Toronto's Marshall is the only decent power forward not expected to make the playoffs. The big guys matter, folks.
That's why teams go nuts over power players in the draft. In 2002, six power forwards were drafted in the lottery. In 2001, the first three picks were power forwards, and nine overall were taken in Round 1. Last year was a major aberration. Only four players in the lottery were power forwards, and only six power forwards, overall, were drafted in the first round.
That, however, was because of a lack of talent, not a lack of need. The good news is that this is a pretty decent draft at the power forward position. As many as 10 power players have a shot at getting drafted in Round 1, as many as five in the lottery.
They range from dominating players like Emeka Okafor and Dwight Howard, to big-time Euro projects like Andris Biedrins and Kosta Perovic. Like the rest of the draft, an influx of young international players is swelling the depth at the position.
Here's a look at the top 15 power forwards in the 2004 NBA Draft.
Note: The list includes players we believe might declare for the 2004 draft.
1. Dwight Howard, Atlanta Christian
The line: 6-foot-11, 245, HS Senior
The skinny: Is he the next Tim Duncan, as one scout claims? Or is he the second coming of Kwame Brown? Most scouts feel that he's much closer to Duncan than Brown which is why he gets the slight edge over Okafor as the No. 1 power forward and player in the country. That doesn't necessarily mean he'll go No. 1. Several teams in the lottery have had their fill of high school players. While Howard should progress quicker than Brown, no one is claiming he'll be LeBron-like as a rookie. If the Bulls, Suns or Magic get the No. 1 pick, expect them to go with Emeka Okafor. Just about anyone else will take the chance on Howard.
2. Emeka Okafor, Connecticut
The line: 6-10, 252, Junior
The skinny: The comparisons to a young Alonzo Mourning seem right on. He's the best power player to come into the draft in awhile. He's also the most NBA-ready of anyone in the draft. He's a rebounding and defensive machine and is now adding some offense to his game. If he was two inches taller, he'd be far and away the best prospect in the country. As it is, scouts believe Okafor to really be 6-8 or 6-9, meaning he'll have to make the transition to power forward in the pros. That and a reoccurring back injury are the only things holding him back. Unless there is something seriously wrong with his back, Okafor will still be either the first or second pick in this year's draft. It just depends on the team.
Latvia's Andris Biedrins
3. Andris Biedrins, Skonto Riga (Latvia)
The line: 6-10, 235, 17 years old
The skinny: He's very difficult to project. Biedrins has drawn comparisons to Andrei Kirilenko because of his athleticism, shot blocking and defensive prowess at such a young age. But he's very, very raw. He's a likely lottery pick based on potential, but how high will he go? Some scouts think he could eventually be the No. 3 pick after workouts. Others think the hype has gotten out of control and he'll end up slipping into the late lottery. Unfortunately, we won't be able to see him play against some of the top high school talent in the country. Biedrins couldn't get permission to leave his team in Latvia to play in the Nike Hoop Summit, his agent, Bill Duffy, told Insider. It's probably for the best. He had very to little to gain (he's already a projected lottery pick) and a lot to lose by playing there.
4. Kosta Perovic, Partizan (Serbia)
The line: 7-2, 230, 19 years old
The skinny: Perovic has great skills for a big kid. He also has more experience than most young Euros entering the draft. For much of the season he was the starting center on a Euroleague team. Strength is the biggest question mark. He doesn't have the bulk to play in the paint right now, which is why we're projecting him at the four instead of the five. Scouts project Perovic as a top-10 pick who could go as high as No. 3 this year. While the concerns about his strength are real, people said the same thing about Pau Gasol when he came out, and look what happened.
5. Kris Humphries, Minnesota
The line: 6-9, 240, Freshman
The skinny: Humphries put up enormous numbers this season for Minnesota. He has a nice blend of athleticism, strength in the paint, quickness and a soft touch from the perimeter. He's an above-average rebounder and a good defender. He's basically a double-double waiting to happen every night. He's already got an NBA body and projects to be a prototypical NBA power forward -- though he may be a little undersized to play that position full time. His quick feet and emerging jump shot suggest Humphries also will be comfortable at the three spot, when needed. The fact Gophers coach Dan Monson compares him to a young Karl Malone certainly isn't hurting his prospects. Right now scouts see him as a late-lottery to mid-first-round pick.
6. Hakim Warrick, Syracuse
The line: 6-9, 205, Junior
The skinny: The best athlete in the draft. Jumps like he's on a trampoline. Had a great season at Syracuse this year, and at the start of the season was a consensus lottery pick. Why is he slipping? No one is sure exactly what position he would play in the NBA. He doesn't have the perimeter or ball-handling skills to really be a three. He doesn't have the strength or low-post moves to excel at the four. Scouts wonder if he's the second coming of Darius Miles, an athletic big man without a go-to skill. Some scouts think he could be a very good four, because of his length and quickness. They believe he'll get stronger once he gets on an NBA strength training regimen and be just fine in the post. Only a few of them see him having a future at the three. He could go anywhere between the late lottery to early 20s.
LaMarcus Aldridge (No. 12)
7. LaMarcus Aldridge, Seagonville (Texas)
The line: 7-0, 225, HS Senior
The skinny: He's a quick, athletic, big kid with great feet and some pretty nice moves in the paint. Aldridge worked hard to improve his outside shooting and ball handling over the summer. He has succeeded to the point many scouts feel he could end up playing some three in the league. He's very thin, and some scouts have wondered about his effort and toughness in the paint. There's no question he needs to get much stronger, but so did Chris Bosh. Aldridge has made dramatic improvements over the past year, leading NBA scouts to take a second look. Will he enter the draft? If he does, he's projected as mid-to-late first-rounder right now.
8. Al Jefferson, Prentiss (Mississippi)
The line: 6-9, 265, HS Senior
The skinny: Anyone who averages 42 ppg is going to get the attention of NBA scouts. Jefferson already has NBA strength and really knows how to score in the post. Jefferson gets the Eddy Curry comparisons constantly thrown his direction. He's that type of skilled, low-post scorer, with the same type of conditioning issues Curry faced. The difference is he's a few inches shorter and can't play center. That's a pretty big difference. Scouts say he could really help his stock by going to school, but the word is that he wants to go straight to the NBA. He's a likely late first-rounder.
9. Ronny Turiaf, Gonzaga
The line: 6-10, 230, Junior
The skinny: Scouts are very high on Turiaf. Though he struggles with inconsistency and hasn't lived up to his full potential in college, when he's on, he's one of the most devastating low-post scorers in the country. He had a good, but not great, tournament, so it's tough to read exactly where his stock is right now. Most of the scouts I trust think he'll be taken somewhere in the 20s.
Anderson Varejao
10. Anderson Varejao, F.C. Barcelona (Spain)
The line: 6-10, 235, 22 years old
The skinny: The native of Brazil is a very active, energetic forward who runs the floor, crashes the glass, dives for loose balls and is really all over the court. But, he doesn't appear to be the type of guy who could ever average more than 10 ppg in the pros. Had a great game against Team USA in the Olympic qualifying tournament, scoring 16 points and dunking on Jermaine O'Neal. At this point, Varejao is a little underrated. Some scouts still swear he's one of the best international prospects. Others think he'd never develop into anything more than a role player at best. Right now the consensus is he's a late first-round or early second-round pick.
11. Lawrence Roberts, Mississippi State
The line: 6-9, 235, Junior
The skinny: One of the most improved players in the country. Roberts is a big-time rebounder on both the offensive and defensive boards. He's a pretty good athlete who can run the floor and has good strength for the position. Scouts worry a little bit about his size (they think he's closer to 6-8) and his perimeter skills. He's not much of a ball handler or face-up shooter, but he's a pretty good prospect. Most scouts believe he should return to school for another year, but he'll be a bubble first-rounder if he applies now.
12. Uros Slokar, Benetton (Italy)
The line: 6-10, 230, 20 years old
The skinny: The Slovenian native is one of the best-shooting big men in the draft. Has a silky smooth stroke and even has some NBA 3-point range. The question really is about his position. He's too thin and weak to guard NBA fours, not quick enough to stop an NBA three. A few international scouts believe he's a very good prospect, reminiscent of the Warriors' Troy Murphy. The problem for Slokar is that there are younger, taller and more athletic international prospects already in the draft. It's a horrible year for him to declare. Likely a second-round pick at this point.
13. Sergei Lishouk, Rovno (Ukraine)
The line: 6-11, 232, 22 years old
The skinny: The big man from Ukraine is the type of player who does nothing great but everything well. Good scorer with great range on his jumper. He can score anywhere on the floor. He's not very long, and he's not a great athlete. He's more seasoned than many of the Europeans in the draft, and some scouts are intrigued. He's probably not a first-rounder, but he could be one of the more popular names in the second round.
14. James Lloreda, LSU
The line: 6-9, 245, Senior
The skinny: Lloreda is a big-time rebounder who left LSU under somewhat mysterious circumstances. The native of Panama is very long with a great wing span. Lloreda is pretty versatile offensively and has drawn comparisons to the Hornets' David West. He can step back and knock down the 18-foot jump shot or take the ball in the paint and punish people. He's a good passer and ball handler for his size. Has some quickness and excellent footwork. Gets off the floor quickly. A good, but not great athlete. Scouts wonder a little bit about his defense. Does plenty of things well, but nothing great. Lloreda is an emotional player who plays with a fury. He actually went to counseling for anger management. An Achilles' tendon problem ended his season early, and he left LSU before the season ended after coach John Brady told him not to come back. He's now working out in Florida preparing himself for the draft. He was once thought to be a first-round lock, but his injuries and emotional issues have hurt his stock a bit. Could still recover in workouts.
15. Arthur Johnson, Missouri
The line: 6-9, 250, Senior
The skinny: Think Lonny Baxter. Johnson is a big kid who is going to have to make the transition from college center to NBA four in the pros. He has a wide frame, is powerful and also has unusual quickness for his size. He's very long, which helps him out on the boards. No perimeter game and just so-so athleticism hurt his stock. If he were three inches taller, he'd go much higher based on his skills.
Best of the Rest: Erazem Lorbek, Skipper Bologna (Italy); Pape Sow, Cal State Fullerton; Drago Pasalic, Split (Croatia); Andre Brown, DePaul; Mo Ke, China; Deng Gai, Fairfield; Amit Tamir, Cal; James Thomas, Texas; Jamar Smith, Maryland; Slobodan Ocokoljic, Weber State; T.J. Cummings, UCLA
Wait until next year: Nemanja Aleksandrov, Serbia; Tiago Splitter, Brazil; Paul Davis, Michigan State; Wayne Simien, Kansas; Torin Francis, Notre Dame; Diego Brezzo, Argentina; Chris Taft, Pittsburgh; Andrew Bogut, Utah; Johan Petro, France; Linuys Kleiza, Missouri; David Lee, Florida; Leon Powe, Cal; Wojciech Barycz, Poland; Brandon Bass, LSU; Ike Diogu, Arizona State; Andrea Bargnani, Italy; Craig Smith, Boston College; Taylor Coppenrath, Vermont; Kresimir Loncar (Benetton)
