Chad Ford Blog - workouts

[corrado]

George

Believe me Travis Diener will NEVER last till the Suns pick late in the 2nd round. If he did I would take a flyer on him but that ain't going to happen.

 

[Errntknght]

Other guys that might be a good second round pick up - Eddie Basden (best defender in camp) and Robert Whaley (wide body)...

 

[Kolo]

Other guys that might be a good second round pick up - Eddie Basden (best defender in camp) and Robert Whaley (wide body)...

Ford mentioned Whaley had a good camp, and I was bored yesterday and read a few articles about him--was rated equal w/ Eddy Curry in high school but was charged with statutory rape (hung jury), so he went to a community college and dominated for two years (and was accused of aggravated assault in a big brawl at school), spent a year on the bench at UC after an injury, didn't seem to mesh well with Bob Huggins so he tranferred to Div. II Walsh College in Ohio and dominated again. He'd be an interesting 2nd round pick if the Colangeli can get past the criminal history.

Edit--here's Draft Express' write-up:

Robert Whaley, PF, Walsh, sr – 6’8 (6’9), 269.4, 7’2
What we knew: Somewhat of a surprise to him here – isn’t even in the official media guide. Always been talented, but flamed out after a very unproductive half season at Cincinnati. Personal problems have followed him wherever he is gone.
What we found out: Whaley shocked everybody at the camp, displaying a stunningly complete post arsenal. Whaley gets position well in the post with his bulk, is light on his feet, and utilizes a drop step or soft baby hook when scoring with his back to the basket. If that’s not enough, he hit nearly every outside jumper he took, and proved in the shooting drills that he has NBA 3-point range. Still not convinced? Whaley was a terror in the open court, handling the ball a little bit when he wasn’t beating his man down the floor for a dunk. I know it all sounds a little far-fetched, but Robert Whaley probably had the most impressive combination of size and skill of any big man at the camp. Whether this gets Whaley drafted is another story, as his past will continue to haunt him. I know that if I was a GM, I would look long and hard at taking a flyer on Robert Whaley late in the second round.

 

[mribnik]

YMMV

Help please?

That stuff always gets me too. Fortunately, http://www.acronymfinder.com/ is perfect for the job!

 

[devilalum]

That stuff always gets me too. Fortunately, http://www.acronymfinder.com/ is perfect for the job!

Its not an acronym unless you can say it like a word.

IBM is an initialism unless you call it Ibbum. WYSIWYG is an acronym.

PETA yes
NBA no
PHAT yes
USA no

 

[Kolo]

Chad Ford's blog today--


In or Out of the NBA Draft?

The deadline for college underclassmen and international players under the age of 22 to withdraw from the draft is Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. EDT.
On Monday the names of several key players have already started to trickle in:

IN THE DRAFT
• Lithuanian big man Martynas Andriuskevicius is staying in the draft "for sure," according to his agent, Herb Rudoy. Rudoy said that Andriuskevicius has not received a draft promise, but that given the amount of interest in his client, he was very confident that he'd be gone by the "middle of the first round."

• Missouri forward Linas Kleiza also appears willing to stay in. Rudoy, who has been advising Kleiza, said that he was "sure that Linas would be staying in the draft," though he said he was awaiting final word from Kleiza's father. Rudoy said that Kleiza was down to 220 pounds and that he had received positive feedback from a number of teams. Kleiza has worked out for the Grizzlies, Bucks, Celtics, Bulls, Sonics, Warriors, Kings and Blazers, with workouts scheduled with the Spurs, Nuggets, Suns, Jazz and 76ers. Right now, he's still firmly planted on the first-round bubble.

• Turkish forward Ersan Ilyasova is also likely to stay in. His agent, Lon Babby, told Insider that it is "close to 100 percent" that Ilyasova stays in. Babby also said that Ilyasova had not gotten a guarantee from a team, but felt that the feedback was strong enough to keep him in.

• SFX agent David Bauman confirmed that three of his clients, Roko Ukic, Drago Pasalic and Erazem Lorbek were staying in the draft.

• French big man Johan Petro is definitely keeping his name in, according to agent Sam Goldfeder. Petro has already worked out twice for the Lakers and had an impressive workout in Phoenix on Sunday against Ike Diogu.

• Russian forward Yaroslav Korolev is in too, according to agent Mark Fleisher. The Clippers, Timberwolves and Celtics are all showing enough interest (and possibly promises) to keep him in.

OUT OF THE DRAFT
• Is Ike Diogu returning for his senior season at Arizona State? The big man has maintained that he'll wait until the last possible minute to decide his future, but a source claims that after two lackluster workouts for the Suns this weekend, he's now leaning toward returning to school.

• Rudoy also said that another one of his clients, Brazilian big man Tiago Splitter, had withdrawn his name from the draft. Splitter received a lot of interest from teams, but had an unworkable buyout clause in his contract that will force him to stay in Spain for the next couple of years.

• Nemanja Aleksandrov is leaning strongly toward withdrawing from the draft. However, his agent, Bauman, said he'd wait until the last minute to pull him out. Bauman asserts that two teams in the mid-first round are still flirting with making Aleksandrov a promise. Three of Bauman's other clients ? Marko Tomas, Dusan Sakota and Steven Markovic ? will withdraw, according to Bauman.
posted: June 20, 2005 1:59:21 PM PDT | Feedback

 

[Chaplin]

Huge mistake for Ike to go back to school. He's done about all he could at ASU, there isn't much else for him to do--his defense can only be improved by playing at the next level, so you can throw that out--ASU has no chance of making any noise next year, so championship aspirations are also thrown out.

So the only criteria would be where he would go in next year's draft.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Well, Ike has made plenty of dumb decisions before when it comes to his future (see choosing ASU in the first place) so it wouldn't surprise me to see him back in Tempe. Guy needs to call Lawrence Roberts and ask him how coming back to school after proving everything possible can affect your draft status as an undersized big man.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Wouldn't be like the Suns to say he's had two bad workouts, he waits till the last minute, then goes into the draft and slips to the Suns.

 

[sunsfn]

This was updated today.....there are a few changes.
------------------------------------

In or Out of the NBA Draft?

The deadline for college underclassmen and international players under the age of 22 to withdraw from the draft is Tuesday evening at 5 p.m. EDT.

The deadline has passed but the names continue to trickle in. We'll keep updating this list as we hear things so that you can play along:

IN THE DRAFT
• Sources claimed at 5:00 p.m. EDT that Arizona State's Ike Diogu has decided to remain in the NBA draft.

• One big surprise. Serbian big man Mile Ilic decided at the last minute that he's staying in the draft, according to agent Marc Cornstein. Ilic was only willing to stay in if he got a first round promise. Connect the dots and it looks like someone decided to commit.

• Lithuanian big man Martynas Andriuskevicius is staying in the draft "for sure," according to his agent, Herb Rudoy. Rudoy said that Andriuskevicius has not received a draft promise, but that given the amount of interest in his client, he was very confident that he'd be gone by the "middle of the first round."

• Missouri forward Linas Kleiza also is staying in "for sure", according to Rudoy. Rudoy said that Kleiza was down to 220 pounds and that he had received positive feedback from a number of teams. Kleiza has worked out for the Grizzlies, Bucks, Celtics, Bulls, Sonics, Warriors, Kings and Blazers, with workouts scheduled with the Spurs, Nuggets, Suns, Jazz and 76ers. Right now, he's still firmly planted on the first-round bubble.

• Turkish forward Ersan Ilyasova is also likely to stay in. His agent, Lon Babby, told Insider that it is "close to 100 percent" that Ilyasova stays in. Babby also said that Ilyasova had not gotten a guarantee from a team, but felt that the feedback was strong enough to keep him in.

• SFX agent David Bauman confirmed that three of his clients, Roko Ukic, Drago Pasalic and Erazem Lorbek were staying in the draft.

• French big man Johan Petro is definitely keeping his name in, according to agent Sam Goldfeder. Petro has already worked out twice for the Lakers and had an impressive workout in Phoenix on Sunday against Ike Diogu.

• Russian forward Yaroslav Korolev is in too, according to agent Mark Fleisher. The Clippers, Timberwolves and Celtics are all showing enough interest (and possibly promises) to keep him in.

• Agent Bill Duffy told Insider on Monday evening that high school star Louis Williams is staying in the draft. Contrary to reports, Williams doesn't have a first-round promise.

• St. Joseph's Dwyane Jones and Florida's Anthony Roberson will remain in the draft.

• Our own Andy Katz reports that UConn center Andrew Bynum is staying in the draft. Bynum canceled his workout in New Jersey for Tuesday and his advisor told the Nets that he had a promise in the top 14 and was canceling his remaining workouts.

OUT OF THE DRAFT
• Rudoy also said that another one of his clients, Brazilian big man Tiago Splitter, had withdrawn his name from the draft. Splitter received a lot of interest from teams, but had an unworkable buyout clause in his contract that will force him to stay in Spain for the next couple of years.

• Agent Bill Duffy told Insider on Monday evening that he was "99 percent sure" that Kosta Perovic is out of the draft. Buyout issues and the lack of a commitment from a team in the first round has hurt his stock.

• Nemanja Aleksandrov is out. Bauman asserts that two teams in the mid-first round are still flirting with making Aleksandrov a promise. Three of Bauman's other clients ? Marko Tomas, Dusan Sakota and Steven Markovic ? will withdraw, according to Bauman. • Spanish guard Rudy Fernandez is also withdrawing from the draft and returning to Spain, according to his agent Justin Zanick.

• Serbian big man Marko Lekic and Macedonian center Peja Samardziski withdrew from the draft according to their agent Marc Cornstein.

• LaSalle's Steven Smith is out. George Washington's Pops Mensah-Bonsu is expected to withdraw his name and return to school for his senior season. Illinois Dee Brown also has announced he'll return to Illinois. So is Northeastern's Juan Jose Barea.
--

 

[sunsfn]

This adds a couple names that may go ahead of the suns to help them get someone who may drop.

Maybe ahead of the suns pick.
----------------------------------
Andrew Bynum
Martynas Andriuskevicius

After the suns pick
----------------------
Mile Ilic

 

[Kolo]

Chad Ford's Mock III:

___________

Updated: June 22, 2005, 12:56 PM ET
First round is crowdedBy Chad Ford
ESPN Insider
Archive

The deadline for withdrawing from the NBA draft passed on Tuesday with way too many underclassmen still making themselves available.

First-round hopefuls Martynas Andriuskevicius, Andrew Bynum, Yaroslav Korolev, Ike Diogu, Jarrett Jack, Randolph Morris, Roko Ukic, Ersan Ilyasova, Johan Petro, Mile Ilic, Linas Kleiza, Matt Walsh, C. J. Miles and Louis Williams all decided to roll the dice on the first round.

The good news is that the second round of this year's draft might be the strongest in the history of the draft. The bad news is that a number of those first-round hopefuls are going to be the players that make the second round so great.

There just isn't enough room in the first round for all of them.

Then factor in a new collective bargaining agreement that creates the NBA's first true minor league. In my breakdown Tuesday night of the new CBA, I wrote that the NBDL and age minimum could seriously alter this year's draft strategy for a number of teams – encouraging teams to draft younger players with big upsides because of the ability to develop players down the road.

Big-upside players such as Martynas Andriuskevicius, Andrew Bynum, Yaroslav Korolev and Ersan Ilyasova suddenly look much more interesting to teams than they did 24 hours ago.

Combine that with lots and lots of trade talk and rumors of promises, and the draft is still virtually impossible to mock just seven days before selection day.

Here's our best shot.




1. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Andrew Bogut
UTAH | SOPHOMORE | CENTER
HEIGHT: 7-0 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 20
A mock draft is supposed to tell you who the Bucks are going to take … not who they should take. I still believe that Marvin Williams should be the No. 1 pick in the draft, but all the chatter I'm hearing out of Milwaukee is that the Bucks are leaning strongly in Bogut's direction. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad pick. Bogut has the chance to be special and he's a low-risk player. But I'm still not convinced it's the right decision.

Scouting report on Andrew Bogut




2. ATLANTA HAWKS
Marvin Williams
NORTH CAROLINA | FRESHMAN | SMALL FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 18
There's talk that the Hawks want Deron Williams and are flirting with him at No. 2. He's a great point guard, but he's the wrong Williams at No. 2. If the Hawks really want Deron, they should swap with the Blazers or Hornets, both of whom would love to get their hands on Marvin. Otherwise you take Marvin and trade the other guys on the team that play the same position.

Scouting report on Marvin Williams



3. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Chris Paul
WAKE FOREST | SOPHOMORE | POINT GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-1 | WEIGHT: 178 | AGE: 20
The Blazers won't take Paul at No. 3. If, for some reason, they own this pick on draft night, Gerald Green would be the guy. So why is Paul the pick here? Because it's now almost a foregone conclusion that the Blazers are going to trade this pick. It could be to the Hawks, Bobcats, Jazz, Raptors or Lakers … but the chances of Portland selecting at No. 3 seem very slim at this point. Anyone else in this position will be deciding between Paul and Deron Williams.

Scouting report on Chris Paul



4. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
Deron Williams
ILLINOIS | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-3 | WEIGHT: 210 | AGE: 20
The Hornets have a greater need at small forward. They'd love to move up and get Marvin Williams and they're flirting with swapping with Utah and taking Danny Granger. If they stay here, Williams is the guy. They think he's a big upgrade over Speedy Claxton and Dan Dickau. It's hard to argue with that.

Scouting report on Deron Williams



5. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Danny Granger
NEW MEXICO | SENIOR | SMALL FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 225 | AGE: 22
The Bobcats are trying to move up in the draft to get their hands on Marvin Williams or Paul. If Paul, Marvin and Deron Williams are off the board, the team will choose between potential (Green) and immediate impact (Granger). Given Bernie Bickerstaff's track record last year, don't be surprised if it's Granger.

Scouting report on Danny Granger



6. UTAH JAZZ
Channing Frye
ARIZONA | SENIOR | CENTER
HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 245 | AGE: 22
Call this a hunch. The Jazz still are trying to move up to get a shot at Paul or Deron Williams. If they're unsuccessful, they'll try to address their other need for a big, athletic shot blocker. For months they were high on Vazquez, but have cooled considerably in the last week. That leaves Frye as the most logical choice. He hasn't worked out for the Jazz, but that doesn't mean they won't take him. He'd be a good fit in Utah.

Scouting report on Channing Frye



7. TORONTO RAPTORS
Gerald Green
GULF SHORES ACADEMY (Texas) | H.S. | SHOOTING GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 192 | AGE: 19
This is a dream scenario for the Raptors. Green could go as high as No. 3 and he'll get long looks from both the Hornets and Bobcats. If he falls here, the Raptors would get a potential star to pair with Chris Bosh. He reminds many scouts of Tracy McGrady and for good reason. He's a few years away from being that player, but the potential is well worth it. If he's gone, Raymond Felton, Fran Vazquez, Frye and Granger would all get serious consideration.

Scouting report on Gerald Green




8. NEW YORK KNICKS
Fran Vazquez
SPAIN | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 22
Sources claim that the Knicks made a promise to Frye and shut down his workouts. It may have been too little, too late. Other teams are on to Frye and the chances he makes it to the Knicks have now diminished. If he's not there, the Knicks will still look to go big. Vazquez is the other big guy who could come in and play right away.

Scouting report on Fran Vazquez



9. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Ike Diogu
ARIZONA STATE | JUNIOR | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 255 | AGE: 21
The Warriors want Frye or Granger, but if those two are off the board, they'll look for the next-best power forward. Sean May, Hakim Warrick and Chris Taft will all get looks here as well. Diogu gets the nod because of his length (he has the reach of a 7-footer, a la Elton Brand) and shot-blocking ability.

Scouting report on Ike Diogu



10. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Martell Webster
SEATTLE PREP | H.S. | SHOOTING GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 235 | AGE: 18
There is talk, a lot of talk, that the Lakers have promised high school center Andrew Bynum that they'll take him if they keep their pick. Bynum sure looks like Shaq, and he's worked out well, but it's just a little too much to believe right now. It would be years before Phil Jackson would give him a whiff of playing time. Until we get to the bottom of the Bynum stuff, we're moving Felton out and Webster in. With Jackson running the show, the Lakers are going to need a big shooter. Webster is the best on the board. Think of him as a young Glen Rice.

Scouting report on Martell Webster



11. ORLANDO MAGIC
Sean May
NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 260 | AGE: 21
The Magic like Webster as well, but also feel like they need a tough scorer and rebounder in the paint, and May should be a perfect fit. Though he's a little undersized to play his natural position (center) in the pros, he should be fine paired with Dwight Howard.

Scouting report on Sean May



12. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Yaroslav Korolev
RUSSIA | SMALL FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 215 | AGE: 17
We're torn. We've heard two names associated with the Clippers all month. One is Korolev, who Russian sources claim received a promise from the Clippers. The other is Antoine Wright, whom Dunleavy fell in love with early in the draft process. Whom to choose? Our Clippers source told us in Treviso that there were certain players they'd take in front of Korolev. Is Wright one of them? We're still sorting it out, but until we hear otherwise, we've got to go with Korolev here. Given the latest revelations about the new NBDL minor league, Dunleavy can bring him over and get him some valuable experience in the D league.

Scouting report on Yaroslav Korolev



13. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Raymond Felton
NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-0 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 20
This is a real steal for the Bobcats if they can land Felton here. The Bobcats need a point guard badly and he's a local kid to boot. He's the fastest point guard in the draft baseline to baseline, has improved his outside shooting and is an excellent floor leader. A major upgrade over what they have now.

Scouting report on Raymond Felton



14. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Antoine Wright
TEXAS A&M | JUNIOR | SHOOTING GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 210 | AGE: 21
There are lots of different ways the Timberwolves could go here. Bynum, Joey Graham and Charlie Villanueva could also get looks. It will be tough for them to pass on Wright's versatility and perimeter shooting – especially with Latrell Sprewell heading into free agency.

Scouting report on Antoine Wright




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

Scouting report on Hakim Warrick



16. TORONTO RAPTORS
Andrew Bynum
ST. JOSEPH (METUCHEN, N.J.) | H.S. | CENTER
HEIGHT: 7-0 | WEIGHT: 300 | AGE: 17
The talk is that he's going to either the Lakers or the Timberwolves. But if he falls this far, Raptors GM Rob Babcock will be tempted. The Raptors desperately need a big man with size and toughness. Bynum has that. He's blown people away in workouts with his skills, soft touch and intelligence. He may be a few years away, but landing two potential stars in Green and Bynum to team with Chris Bosh could completely turn the Raptors around in a couple of years. If Bynum's off the board, Croatian point guard Roko Ukic has turned a lot of heads in Toronto.

Scouting report on Andrew Bynum




17. INDIANA PACERS
Martynas Andriuskevicius
LITHUANIA | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 7-3 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 19
The Pacers do need to find a replacement for Reggie Miller's shooting, but will likely try to do that with a veteran in free agency. Guys such as Francisco Garcia and Rashad McCants are possibilities, but neither would likely be able to crack the lineup next year. Andriuskevicius could go much earlier than this, based on potential, but it's been tough to find a place for a guy who physically is still a good two years away from being able to contribute. He needs a team willing to be patient. No one has a better track record of that over the years than the Pacers. Now that teams will be able to send players down to the D League, the risk is minimized. This is a long-term project for a team that doesn't have a lot of holes to fill.

Scouting report on Martynas Andriuskevicius



18. BOSTON CELTICS
Joey Graham
OKLAHOMA STATE | SENIOR | SMALL FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 216 | AGE: 22
The Celtics were flirting with taking an international player (such as Ersan Ilyasova or Andriuskevicius) and stashing him overseas, but it's tough to see them passing on Graham, a big, physical small forward who tested out as the best athlete in Chicago. He could step in and immediately help the Celtics next season .

Scouting report on Joey Graham




19. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
Julius Hodge
NORTH CAROLINA STATE | SENIOR | SHOOTING GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 205 | AGE: 21
Hodge might not be the greatest shooter in the draft, but he has all the intangibles Jerry West loves in his players. He's tough and versatile, and he seems to want it more than most guys on the floor. The Grizzlies believe he'll be a point guard, at least part-time, in the pros. It looks as though they'll lose Earl Watson to free agency and wouldn't mind losing Jason Williams in a trade, so the position is a need. Hodge has earned good reviews in every workout and seems to have moved himself up with every one. West has a history of ignoring convention, which explains why a player like Hodge would go this high.

Scouting report on Julius Hodge



20. DENVER NUGGETS
Ersan Ilyasova
TURKEY | SMALL FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 220 | AGE: 18
With multiple picks, the Nuggets plan to leave at least one guy in Europe for a few years. Many believe Ilyasova was the best young prospect in Europe before a severe ankle injury kept him out most of the year. His workouts went well enough in Chicago to secure his place in the mid-first round.

Scouting report on Ersan Ilyasova



21. PHOENIX SUNS
Johan Petro
FRANCE | CENTER
HEIGHT: 7-1 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 19
Petro has the size and talent of a lottery pick, but he has been very slow to develop it, which has caused some NBA teams to worry. Petro is probably another year or two away from helping a team even if he does develop. However, if he ever gets it, he could be the perfect center in the Suns' system down the road.

Scouting report on Johan Petro



22. DENVER NUGGETS
Francisco Garcia
LOUISVILLE | JUNIOR | SHOOTING GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 190 | AGE: 23
The Nuggets opt for upside with their first pick and go with need for their second. The team needs perimeter shooting badly, and Garcia can deliver. He's not the greatest athlete in the world, but he can stroke it and plays with the passion George Karl likes in his players. High school guard Monta Ellis is also a possibility here. The Nuggets love him, but would Karl ever play him?

Scouting report on Francisco Garcia



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

Scouting report on Rashad McCants




24. HOUSTON ROCKETS
Wayne Simien
KANSAS | SENIOR | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 255 | AGE: 22
The Rockets could use a tough rebounder with experience, and Simien fits the bill. Concerns about injuries and size are the only things keeping him out of the lottery. He's one of the few guys who isn't afraid to go inside and bang, but also has a nice perimeter game. He has worked out really well just about everywhere.

Scouting report on Wayne Simien



25. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
Jarrett Jack
GEORGIA TECH | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-3 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 21
Jack could be off the board in the mid-first round, but it's conceivable he could slip all the way to here. He's a very good point guard prospect who just needs to cut down on his turnovers. With Antonio Daniels set to bolt in free agency, the Sonics will have a strong need for a backup point guard with size and toughness.

Scouting report on Jarrett Jack



26. DETROIT PISTONS
Ryan Gomes
PROVIDENCE | SENIOR | SMALL FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 22
Gomes is a skilled forward, an inside-outside scoring threat who reminds some scouts of Corliss Williamson. He started his career at the four, but played really well at the three this year. He's a good offensive rebounder, has extended his range to the NBA 3-point line and is a good passer. He also has a 7-foot-2 wingspan.

Scouting report on Ryan Gomes



27. UTAH JAZZ
Roko Ukic
CROATIA | POINT GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-6 | WEIGHT: 218 | AGE: 21
He has had a great year in Croatia and wowed scouts at the Reebok Eurocamp. Could go as high as No. 16 to the Raptors and will get long looks from the Celtics and Nuggets. A little wild for Jerry Sloan's taste, but he's long, plays defense, and is very tough and experienced. If he could shoot, he'd be a much higher pick. Look for the Jazz to leave him overseas for another season or two.

Scouting report on Roko Ukic



28. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Charlie Villanueva
CONNECTICUT | SOPHOMORE | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-10 | WEIGHT: 240 | AGE: 20
Villanueva has the skills of a lottery pick but proved to be a bit lazy and unreliable at UConn. He could go as high as the late lottery or he could slip all the way to San Antonio. He has all the offensive skills to be a perfect fit for the Spurs. And head coach Gregg Popovich is the right coach to motivate Villanueva to play some defense.

Scouting report on Charlie Villanueva




29. MIAMI HEAT
Mile Ilic
SERBIA | CENTER
HEIGHT: 7-1 | WEIGHT: 240 | AGE: 20
Ilic surprised a lot of people by keeping his name in the draft. He's a young, talented, big man who has really come on of late. Recently had an impressive 24-point, 10-rebound, two-block performance in front of a number of NBA scouts during the Serbia playoffs. Apparently that sealed the deal. Ilic doesn't have a buyout this year, so he may not come over right away. The Nuggets and Knicks are other teams who have shown a lot of interest in him.

Scouting report on Mile Ilic



30. NEW YORK KNICKS
Andray Blatche
SOUTH KENT PREP (Conn.) | H.S. | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 240 | AGE: 18
Blatche has been under the radar all year, in part, because he's insisted on not playing like a 7-footer in order to show NBA scouts that he's versatile. Blatche has been referred to as a poor man's Kevin Garnett and he has enough skills to be an intriguing pick for the Knicks at 30. He runs the floor well, can handle the ball, has 3-point range on his jumper and is an excellent rebounder. He may be a year or two away, but eventually he and Vazquez could give the Knicks a much taller and more talented front line.

Scouting report on Andray Blatche

 

[fordronken]

Petro makes a lot of sense to me, I think, unless somebody that's more of a no-brainer falls. I actually voted for him on our mock, as well(one of two people who did, if I remember correctly). One thing that makes me think he could be the pick; he's a shot blocking, young, athletic seven footer, and the Suns said next to nothing about him after his workout. They even went so far as to make it sound almost as if he was brought in solely as a bigger player to match up with Diogu.

 

[Chaplin]

If Villanueva and Blatche are still there, would they be more viable picks than Petro?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

i'll say this, more than any other year, it seems that the suns have a real shot at finding someone worthwhile at 21. if we blow this pick i think we'll be really bummed to see quite a few prospects selected after 21 that turn out to be decent to good nba players.

 

[Cheesebeef]

If Villanueva and Blatche are still there, would they be more viable picks than Petro?

I want no part of Villanueva. I think he was the most over-hyped kid in college. Everyone always talks about this gifted athleticism he has, but I NEVER saw any of that in the mutliple games I watched. Haven't seen Blatche play, but from scouting reports, I'd like to take a flyer on him if he's there at 21.

 

[PhxGametime]

There is no way, Felton drops that far...

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I want no part of Villanueva. I think he was the most over-hyped kid in college. Everyone always talks about this gifted athleticism he has, but I NEVER saw any of that in the mutliple games I watched. Haven't seen Blatche play, but from scouting reports, I'd like to take a flyer on him if he's there at 21.

I've seen the athleticism everyone talks about with Villanueva, unfortunately it only comes out every other game or so. The guy was one of the biggest slackers in college basketball and has the court awareness of a third grader. No thanks to the hairless one.

 

[Errntknght]

If the Suns have a chance to get someone who helps this year I'm guessing they take it and from this little blurb Simien sounds like he could help where we need it badly. Nomally, no big at #21 is a good bet but lots of people are opting in for this draft, so maybe he's a good risk. Ukic might be another possibility.

 

[Joe Mama]

I've seen the athleticism everyone talks about with Villanueva, unfortunately it only comes out every other game or so. The guy was one of the biggest slackers in college basketball and has the court awareness of a third grader. No thanks to the hairless one.

I would rather have Chris Taft then Villanueva... I think. Perhaps I haven't seen Chris Taft play enough times (only two times I think).

I'm very intrigued by Andrew Bynum (should be gone by #21) and Blatche. The biggest knock on Blatche is that he doesn't have an inside game on offense. That might be a problem for most teams, but offensively the Phoenix Suns would probably rather have a big man who can play from the perimeter.

Joe Mama