Who's in, who's out of NBA Draft
posted: Sunday, June 18, 2006
The deadline for college underclassmen and international players under the age of 22 to withdraw from the draft was Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.
Based on interviews and conversations with NBA agents and team personnel, here's a closer look at some prominent names who decided either to stay or withdraw from the draft.
Look for our updated Mock Draft to appear on Monday.
IN
Renaldo Balkman, F, South Carolina: A strange decision for Balkman. While he played well at the Orlando predraft camp, he should've returned to South Carolina for another year and played the three. He's got great energy and athleticism, but he doesn't have the perimeter skills yet to make the transition to the NBA. Likely second-round pick.
Lior Eliyahu, F, Israel: A bit of a surprise. One of Eliyahu's agents, Marc Fleisher, told Insider that he had decided to remain in the draft. Not much more to say at this point. He's got a great chance to be drafted in the second round and a team may have committed to him there with an agreement to leave him overseas. With a couple of years of big-time European experience (Eliyahu is rumored to be on the way to Euroleague power Maccabi Tel Aviv), he could prove to be a steal in the second round.
Jordan Farmar, PG, UCLA: Farmar was torn right up untill the end. However, the fact that he's a virtual lock for the first round was the biggest factor. Depending on whom you talk to, Farmar is anywhere from the second-best to the fifth-best point guard in the draft. He could go as high as the Wizards at No. 18 and probably doesn't slip past the Lakers at No. 26. The Knicks, Nets, Cavs and Grizzlies also have interest in Farmar.
Joel Freeland, F, England: The kid was the star of the Reebok Eurocamp and could be a surprise late first-rounder based on the buzz he's received. At the very least, it looks like a team has guaranteed him a selection early in the second round.
Daniel Gibson, G, Texas: Gibson's decision to stay came as no surprise. He's been eyeing the draft all year. Gibson thought it was unlikely that he'd get to play the point much at Texas next season, and decided it was now or never. He's generated a fair amount of positive buzz from his workouts. A few teams, starting with the Suns at No. 27, could take a chance on him in Round 1. More likely, he's an early second-round pick.
Kyle Lowry, PG, Villanova: If Lowry had returned to school he might have been the top point guard in the draft next year. However, the feedback he's receiving from teams has him squarely in the mid-first round anyway -- somewhere between the Sixers at No. 13 and the Nets at No. 22. It's doubtful he slips past the Cavs at No. 25.
Olexsiy Pecherov, PF, Ukraine: Pecherov has been getting significant first-round buzz from teams. He could go as high as No. 14 to the Jazz and it's doubtful he slips below the Suns at No. 27. The Hornets, Bulls, Pacers, Wizards, Kings, Knicks, Cavs and Lakers all have interest.
Sergio Rodriguez, PG, Spain: The feedback he's been getting from workouts has been phenomenal. He didn't want to stay in the draft without a first-round promise that a team would draft him. Does the fact that he decided to stay in mean he got his guarantee? His agent, Herb Rudoy, wasn't saying: "Let's just say that we're very comfortable leaving him in the draft. Very comfortable."
Mouhamed Saer Sene, C, Senegal: Sene looked like a second-round prospect two months ago. But now the buzz has him ranked as the second-best or third-best center prospect in the draft, behind Patrick O'Bryant and Hilton Armstrong. He could go as high as No. 14, and it's doubtful he slips past the Suns at No. 21.
Darius Washington, PG, Memphis: Washington's father told me on Sunday that his son was staying in the draft. Washington Sr. said his son wasn't going to hire an agent at this time, which means he could retain his college eligibility if he were not drafted. Right now, Washington is a second-round pick, but a handful of teams are high on him.
OUT
Arron Afflalo, SG, UCLA: Great decision for Afflalo. He was a second-round pick, at best, this year. Another year at UCLA to work on his ballhandling and athleticism could help his stock.
Morris Almond, SG, Rice: Almond was very impressive in Orlando and put himself clearly on the NBA's radar screen for next year. If he can go and duplicate his performance at Rice last year, he's got a good shot of working his way into the first round. We'll be watching him closely next year.
Bobby Brown, PG, Cal State Fullerton: Brown's had some buzz all year, but questions about his ability to run the point combined with a so-so performance at Orlando kept him out of the first round. Another year at Fullerton focused on distributing instead of scoring would help his stock.
Rudy Fernandez, SG, Spain: Fernandez continues to play well in Spain. But NBA scouts continue to be concerned about his frail body. He's had some injury issues in Spain and teams see it being a bigger issue in the NBA. Fernandez needs to hit the weight room if he's going to move his stock back into the first round.
Aaron Gray, C, Pittsburgh: A good decision. The draft was weak for big men, but Gray wasn't generating a lot of buzz. Another strong year at Pitt should solidify his position in the first round.
Brad Newley, SG, Australia: Newley's so-so camp in Orlando didn't help his stock. He would've likely have been drafted in the second round. He's a legit NBA prospect, but he needs more time. Given his upside, another year overseas could help his stock.
Richard Roby, SG, Colorado: Roby also made the right call. Roby is a good prospect for next year. He's got a nice combination of size, athleticism and shooting ability. What he needs now is to have a big season and to be a leader on the floor. Questions about his personality hurt his stock more than anything else. But as a prospect, he has definite first-round potential with a great year at Colorado next season.
Mustafa Shakur, PG, Arizona: Shakur would've been happy with a promise in the second round, but given the volatility of the draft, he couldn't secure that before the deadline. He's going to have to improve his jump shot and his leadership skills his senior year to get back into favor with NBA scouts.
Tiago Splitter, PF/C, Spain: Splitter would've been a likely top fifteen pick in the draft. However, he was unable to secure the promise that he needed to stay in the draft. On talent, he's one of the two or three best centers in the draft. However, serious questions about his buyout have been scaring NBA teams away. It looks like he's a minimum of two years away from coming to the league.
Ali Traore, PF, France: Traore, like so many other prospects, couldn't get the first-round guarantee he was looking for. A big year in France next year could do it. He's got a great body, excellent size and length, and he really progressed from last year to this year. Another year under his belt in the French league could get him a late first-round nod in 2007.
posted: Sunday, June 18, 2006
The deadline for college underclassmen and international players under the age of 22 to withdraw from the draft was Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.
Based on interviews and conversations with NBA agents and team personnel, here's a closer look at some prominent names who decided either to stay or withdraw from the draft.
Look for our updated Mock Draft to appear on Monday.
IN
Renaldo Balkman, F, South Carolina: A strange decision for Balkman. While he played well at the Orlando predraft camp, he should've returned to South Carolina for another year and played the three. He's got great energy and athleticism, but he doesn't have the perimeter skills yet to make the transition to the NBA. Likely second-round pick.
Lior Eliyahu, F, Israel: A bit of a surprise. One of Eliyahu's agents, Marc Fleisher, told Insider that he had decided to remain in the draft. Not much more to say at this point. He's got a great chance to be drafted in the second round and a team may have committed to him there with an agreement to leave him overseas. With a couple of years of big-time European experience (Eliyahu is rumored to be on the way to Euroleague power Maccabi Tel Aviv), he could prove to be a steal in the second round.
Jordan Farmar, PG, UCLA: Farmar was torn right up untill the end. However, the fact that he's a virtual lock for the first round was the biggest factor. Depending on whom you talk to, Farmar is anywhere from the second-best to the fifth-best point guard in the draft. He could go as high as the Wizards at No. 18 and probably doesn't slip past the Lakers at No. 26. The Knicks, Nets, Cavs and Grizzlies also have interest in Farmar.
Joel Freeland, F, England: The kid was the star of the Reebok Eurocamp and could be a surprise late first-rounder based on the buzz he's received. At the very least, it looks like a team has guaranteed him a selection early in the second round.
Daniel Gibson, G, Texas: Gibson's decision to stay came as no surprise. He's been eyeing the draft all year. Gibson thought it was unlikely that he'd get to play the point much at Texas next season, and decided it was now or never. He's generated a fair amount of positive buzz from his workouts. A few teams, starting with the Suns at No. 27, could take a chance on him in Round 1. More likely, he's an early second-round pick.
Kyle Lowry, PG, Villanova: If Lowry had returned to school he might have been the top point guard in the draft next year. However, the feedback he's receiving from teams has him squarely in the mid-first round anyway -- somewhere between the Sixers at No. 13 and the Nets at No. 22. It's doubtful he slips past the Cavs at No. 25.
Olexsiy Pecherov, PF, Ukraine: Pecherov has been getting significant first-round buzz from teams. He could go as high as No. 14 to the Jazz and it's doubtful he slips below the Suns at No. 27. The Hornets, Bulls, Pacers, Wizards, Kings, Knicks, Cavs and Lakers all have interest.
Sergio Rodriguez, PG, Spain: The feedback he's been getting from workouts has been phenomenal. He didn't want to stay in the draft without a first-round promise that a team would draft him. Does the fact that he decided to stay in mean he got his guarantee? His agent, Herb Rudoy, wasn't saying: "Let's just say that we're very comfortable leaving him in the draft. Very comfortable."
Mouhamed Saer Sene, C, Senegal: Sene looked like a second-round prospect two months ago. But now the buzz has him ranked as the second-best or third-best center prospect in the draft, behind Patrick O'Bryant and Hilton Armstrong. He could go as high as No. 14, and it's doubtful he slips past the Suns at No. 21.
Darius Washington, PG, Memphis: Washington's father told me on Sunday that his son was staying in the draft. Washington Sr. said his son wasn't going to hire an agent at this time, which means he could retain his college eligibility if he were not drafted. Right now, Washington is a second-round pick, but a handful of teams are high on him.
OUT
Arron Afflalo, SG, UCLA: Great decision for Afflalo. He was a second-round pick, at best, this year. Another year at UCLA to work on his ballhandling and athleticism could help his stock.
Morris Almond, SG, Rice: Almond was very impressive in Orlando and put himself clearly on the NBA's radar screen for next year. If he can go and duplicate his performance at Rice last year, he's got a good shot of working his way into the first round. We'll be watching him closely next year.
Bobby Brown, PG, Cal State Fullerton: Brown's had some buzz all year, but questions about his ability to run the point combined with a so-so performance at Orlando kept him out of the first round. Another year at Fullerton focused on distributing instead of scoring would help his stock.
Rudy Fernandez, SG, Spain: Fernandez continues to play well in Spain. But NBA scouts continue to be concerned about his frail body. He's had some injury issues in Spain and teams see it being a bigger issue in the NBA. Fernandez needs to hit the weight room if he's going to move his stock back into the first round.
Aaron Gray, C, Pittsburgh: A good decision. The draft was weak for big men, but Gray wasn't generating a lot of buzz. Another strong year at Pitt should solidify his position in the first round.
Brad Newley, SG, Australia: Newley's so-so camp in Orlando didn't help his stock. He would've likely have been drafted in the second round. He's a legit NBA prospect, but he needs more time. Given his upside, another year overseas could help his stock.
Richard Roby, SG, Colorado: Roby also made the right call. Roby is a good prospect for next year. He's got a nice combination of size, athleticism and shooting ability. What he needs now is to have a big season and to be a leader on the floor. Questions about his personality hurt his stock more than anything else. But as a prospect, he has definite first-round potential with a great year at Colorado next season.
Mustafa Shakur, PG, Arizona: Shakur would've been happy with a promise in the second round, but given the volatility of the draft, he couldn't secure that before the deadline. He's going to have to improve his jump shot and his leadership skills his senior year to get back into favor with NBA scouts.
Tiago Splitter, PF/C, Spain: Splitter would've been a likely top fifteen pick in the draft. However, he was unable to secure the promise that he needed to stay in the draft. On talent, he's one of the two or three best centers in the draft. However, serious questions about his buyout have been scaring NBA teams away. It looks like he's a minimum of two years away from coming to the league.
Ali Traore, PF, France: Traore, like so many other prospects, couldn't get the first-round guarantee he was looking for. A big year in France next year could do it. He's got a great body, excellent size and length, and he really progressed from last year to this year. Another year under his belt in the French league could get him a late first-round nod in 2007.
