Insider - Chad Ford - Who's declared for the 2006 NBA Draft?

[sunsfn]

Who's in and who's out of the 2006 NBA Draft?

By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider

College underclassmen and international players who don't turn 22 this year have until April 29 to declare themselves eligible for the NBA draft.
College underclassmen who previously have not declared for the draft and who have avoided hiring an agent can withdraw from the draft without penalty (provided that they pay for all of their expenses related to draft workouts) until June 18. International players have no restrictions on how many times they can declare and withdraw from the draft.
Last year, 61 college underclassmen, 12 high school seniors, and 35 international players declared for the 2005 draft. Fifty of those players withdrew their names before the deadline. This year high school seniors are ineligible for the draft.
ESPN.com will use our contacts throughout the league to provide daily updates of who's in, who's out and who's still sitting on the fence up until the April 29 deadline. Click on a player's name to read Chad Ford's projected draft ranking.
IN THE DRAFT
(Players who officially have declared for the 2006 NBA draft)
* = player has not hired an agent to preserve college eligibility

Will Blaylock, PG, Iowa State*
Guillermo Diaz, G, Miami
Brandon Heath, PG, San Diego State*
Thomas Gardner, SG, Missouri*
Trey Johnson, G, Jackson State*
Richard Roby, SG, Colorado*
Rajon Rondo, PG, Kentucky
Marcus Slaughter, F, San Diego State
Curtis Stinson, PG/SG, Iowa State*
ONE FOOT IN THE DOOR
(Players who are leaning toward declaring for the draft, but officially haven't announced their intentions)

LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, Texas
Ronnie Brewer, PG/SG, Arkansas
Bobby Brown, PG, Cal-State Fullerton
Alexander Johnson, PF, Florida State
Cartier Martin, SF, Kansas State
Paul Millsap, PF, Louisiana Tech
Adam Morrison, SF, Gonzaga
Leon Powe, PF, Cal
Al Thornton, PF, Florida State
Darius Washington, PG, Memphis
Marcus Williams, PG, UConn
Shawne Williams, SF, Memphis
Josh Boone, PF/C, UConn
Corey Brewer, SG, Florida
Shannon Brown, SG, Michigan State
Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas
Quincy Douby, SG, Rutgers
Glen Davis, PF, LSU
Jordan Farmar, PG, UCLA
Nick Fazekas, PF, Nevada
Rudy Gay, SF, UConn
Daniel Gibson, PG/SG, Texas
Aaron Gray, C, Pittsburgh
Jeff Green, SF, Georgetown
Malik Hairston, SG, Oregon
Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown
Al Horford, PF, Florida
Joseph Jones, PF, Texas A&M
Kyle Lowry, PG, Villanova
Josh McRoberts, F, Duke
Joakim Noah, PF/C, Florida
Patrick O'Bryant, C, Bradley
Gabriel Pruitt, PG/SG, USC
Brandon Rush, SG/SF, Kansas
Cedric Simmons, PF, NC State
Ronald Steele, PG, Alabama
Tyrus Thomas, PF, LSU
Alando Tucker, SG/SF, Wisconsin
P.J. Tucker, F, Texas
Marcus Williams, F, Arizona
Julian Wright, F, Kansas

INTERNATIONAL MEN OF MYSTERY
(International players under 22 years old who have declared or who are likely to declare)

Andrea Bargnani, F, Italy
Goran Dragic, PG, Slovenia
Lior Eliyahu, F, Israel
Rudy Fernandez, SG, Spain
Marko Lekic, PF, Serbia
Damir Markota, SF, Croatia
Brad Newley, SG, Australia
Olexsiy Pecherov, F, Ukraine
Kosta Perovic, PF/C, Serbia
Tiago Splitter, F/C, Brazil
Ali Traore, PF, France
OUT (Players who have officially announced that they will return to college next year)

Jermareo Davidson, PF/C, Alabama
C. J. Giles, C, Kansas
Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina
Jason Smith, PF/C, Colorado State

 

[PhxGametime]

Man I was hoping Marcus Williams (UofA) would stay another year...

 

[Chaplin]

Man I was hoping Marcus Williams (UofA) would stay another year...

Don't worry, he probably will.

 

[myrondizzo]

i think its funny that they have their links switched.

 

[nathan]

With the Lakers doing well this draft is looking worse (20). I would like the Suns to take a look at trading up, but I am expecting them to do everything possible to trade the picks (at a discount if necessary). If a team like Orlando (which has two big men) has a shot at Lamarcus Aldridge, would the Hawks pick+20+27 be enough to get a deal done? They'd probably ask for a player as well.

 

[Chaplin]

With the Lakers doing well this draft is looking worse (20). I would like the Suns to take a look at trading up, but I am expecting them to do everything possible to trade the picks (at a discount if necessary). If a team like Orlando (which has two big men) has a shot at Lamarcus Aldridge, would the Hawks pick+20+27 be enough to get a deal done? They'd probably ask for a player as well.

3 first rounders for Aldridge? You've got to be kidding me.

 

[panfolk]

3 first rounders for Aldridge? You've got to be kidding me.

Does seem like a bit much. Maybe the Atlanta pick plus the Lakers pick for one of the higher picks. I'd rather have Noah than Aldridge due to the ammount of effort each puts out. The Atlanta couldn't be used to get Oden as it's top 3 protected next year, right?

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

The Atlanta couldn't be used to get Oden as it's top 3 protected next year, right?

Right. I would say that it could be packaged to try and move up to number 1, but I'm pretty sure that there is no way that pick gets traded


I agree about Noah over Aldridge. It will be interesting how the top of the lottery pans out with 3 big men looking like top 5 picks (Aldridge, Noah, Thomas) and another not far behind (Horford).....

I would love to be able to move up and get any of those players, and would probably be willing to use the Atlanta pick as bait for the first 3. For some reason I'm starting to get a feeling that Atlanta may pull a Chicago on us and actually get better next season.

 

[nathan]

3 first rounders for Aldridge? You've got to be kidding me.

1) More underclassmen are coming out and this will have a cushioning effect on the lack of HS players. Will this be enough to produce possible contributors at #20 and #27.

2) This kind of trade is not that unprecedented.
Nets trade the rights to Eddie Griffin (#7) to the Rockets for the rights to Richard Jefferson (#13), Jason Collins (#18) and Brandon Armstrong (#23)

3) There is no guarantee that the Hawks' pick won't be top 3 next year. Aldridge (or Noah) would be an upgrade over Thomas and more NBA ready than any inside player in the 2007 draft that the Suns would have a shot at.

 

[nathan]

I would love to be able to move up and get any of those players, and would probably be willing to use the Atlanta pick as bait for the first 3. For some reason I'm starting to get a feeling that Atlanta may pull a Chicago on us and actually get better next season.

Exactly. There is no certainty with that pick. It may have its highest value at this point. And if Amare can come back at 90% of his 2004-05 level, all the stops should be pulled out to put the team in a position to win a title.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

2) This kind of trade is not that unprecedented.
Nets trade the rights to Eddie Griffin (#7) to the Rockets for the rights to Richard Jefferson (#13), Jason Collins (#18) and Brandon Armstrong (#23)

That trade worked out great for Houston if I remember right.....


Those late picks could very well turn into some good players this season. People have said that you could easily wind up with a better player at 25 that 10 this year just because everyone seems to be on the same level.

Hell, draft expres has Foye and Rondo going 16 and 17! Then you have Hassaan Adams at the first round bubble, Corey Brewer is listed at 20 on draft express.

I just get the feeling that there could be some good players slipping this year.

 

[hcsilla]

I agree about Noah over Aldridge. It will be interesting how the top of the lottery pans out with 3 big men looking like top 5 picks (Aldridge, Noah, Thomas) and another not far behind (Horford).....

I'm not sure at all that Horford is a lottery pick material. He is definitely below Shelden Williams and probably Bargnani and Splitter as well.
I think he is right now a mid-late 1st rounder similar to Armstrong and Boone.

 

[nathan]

That trade worked out great for Houston if I remember right.....

It would have worked out if Eddie Griffin wasn't such a nut case. What a taste of talent.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

It would have worked out if Eddie Griffin wasn't such a nut case. What a taste of talent.

Maybe...

He has been on great behavior the last 2 years in Minny. He is a nice player, but definitely no where near RJ.