Boris Diaw, PG/SG/SF, France
The line: 6-9, 215, 21 years old
Pronunciation Boris J-owwww
The stats: 7.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.8 apg on 60 percent shooting
NBA comparison: Softer Scottie Pippen
The skinny: He may be the toughest guy in the draft to get a good read on. He looks like a shooting guard or small forward with that body and athleticism. But no one seems to be able to explain the lack of offense in his game. He's got the tools, but he doesn't have the results. Look closer. At 6-foot-9, Diaw's one of the best passers in the draft. He has a pure point-guard mentality that has him always looking to set up his teammates. When he's in the open floor, he's always prepared to make the extra pass. He may be the most unselfish player in the draft. He has a nice body and is a great athlete with a long wingspan and quick feet. He's already an established defender. His outside shot needs work, and he looks pretty soft. How will he handle the physical grind in the NBA? There are still a ton of question marks on Diaw, but, bottom line, he's the type of guy who does all the little things that help you win games.
The context: Diaw is a teammate of Mickael Pietrus on Pau Orthez, the best team in France. They also play in the Euroleague, which means they got an extra 15 games this year against the best competition outside the NBA. Like Pietrus, Diaw is hindered to a large extent by the offense his coach runs. Diaw excels on the open floor, but in a more stagnant half-court offense, he's often left standing around. On the French Junior team, Diaw plays point guard and looks great. He also ratchets up his scoring a few notches.
The kitchen sink: Diaw has been on the NBA radar screen for year. This is the third straight year he's put his name in the draft. Two years ago, he actually got a first-round promise from the Utah Jazz, but decided to pull out anyway. Diaw was recently named the MVP of the French League. That's a pretty impressive honor for a guy who averaged just 7.3 ppg. His mother, Elisabeth, is in the French Basketball Hall of Fame and his father, Issa, is a former Senegalese high jump champion. Talk about your good genes.
Where will he go? He could go as high as the Magic at No. 15. He probably won't slip past the Grizzlies at No. 27.
Maciej Lampe, SF, Poland
The line: 7-0, 265, 18 years old
Pronunciation Ma-chick Lam-pee
The stats: 18.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg on 55 percent shooting; 44 percent from 3
NBA comparison: A less athletic Dirk Nowitzki
The skinny: Lampe's shooting stroke is one of the smoothest you've ever seen in a big kid. He's got a nice body, has a very fluid game, and can play with his back to the basket. He's an above average passer, can break you down off the dribble with a nice little crossover and does a great job of getting separation on his shot. He needs to become a better rebounder, defender and get stronger. He's just an average athlete. He runs the floor pretty well but lacks explosive leaping ability. He's much further along than teams originally had thought. He's got a great feel for the game, is aggressive when he's on the floor and is a hard worker.
The context: Lampe began the season playing for one of the top teams in Europe, Real Madrid. However, he was on a veteran team and was unhappy with his playing time. The team loaned his rights to Universidad Complutense five games into the season so Lampe could get regular playing time. While some knock Lampe for the level of competition he played against (Complutense is a Division B team) take it with a grain of salt. Several top NBA international scouts claim the competition is the equivalent of a mid-major college team. How many 18-year-olds do you know averaging those numbers on a mid-major? None. They're all just graduating from high school. He did get into four Euroleague games for Real Madrid this year and totaled 16 points and 11 rebounds in 38 minutes. As for the knocks on his post game. His teammate was Jaime Peterson, the league MVP and the team's center. In the offense Complutense ran, Lampe spent the majority of his time on the perimeter waiting for Peterson to kick it out. In a game Insider attended on the island of Menorca, Peterson was out with an injury, and Lampe dominated in the post.
The kitchen sink: Lampe took the NBA by surprise when he put his name in the draft. Many scouts thought he wouldn't for a few more years and hadn't scouted him adequately -- that led to numerous erroneous scouting reports on the kid. Lampe played division-two ball in Sweden until the age of 15. He then transferred to Real Madrid and played on the junior team for a year. Since the end of the season he's been working out with Michael Jordan's trainer, Tim Grover, in Chicago. The experience has given him the chance to play alongside guys like Elton Brand day to day. When we caught up with Lampe in Chicago, it was pretty clear that he belonged. Grover believes that with a lot of work, he'll be a much more explosive athlete by the end of the summer.
Where will he go? He could go as high as the Heat at No. 5 He probably won't slip past the Sonics at No. 12.
Darko Milicic, PF/C, Serbia
The line: 7-1, 253, 18 years old
Pronunciation Dark-o Mil-ih-chitch
The stats: 9.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.6 bpg in roughly 20 mpg
NBA comparison: Wilt Chamberlain
The skinny: Darko is really one of a kind. He runs the floor, handles the ball, shoots the NBA 3 and plays with his back to the basket, so you can slot him in at the 3, 4 or 5 positions. OK, a few other guys can do that too; what sets Darko apart is his toughness in the post. You have to love a guy who has the footwork to spin by an opponent but still prefers to lower a shoulder and bang. Fact is, Milicic plays in attack-mode at both ends of the floor. The more you push, the more he pushes back.
The context: Darko played for KK Hemofarm, a member of the YUBA league in Yugoslavia. The Yugoslavian league is one of the best in Europe and he frequently faced the best Euroleague teams. Darko's team really misused him last season. It rarely ran plays for him, his minutes were inconsistent and he wasn't allowed to use any of his perimeter skills. Why? That's how it's done in Yugoslavia. Despite being the best player on his team, his coach, Zelijko Lukajic, was a hot-head who was infuriated with the attention Darko was receiving from NBA scouts. He often sat him on nights when a lot of NBA representatives were in attendance. In Yugoslavia, young players just don't play, period. Darko was a rare exception, but you shouldn't read too much into his low stat numbers. They're much better than anyone else his age in Yugoslavia.
The kitchen sink: Darko left his family to play pro basketball when he was 14. He came on the NBA radar screen last year during the Global Games in Dallas. Played point guard for the Hemofarm junior team until he was 16. His favorite player is Kevin Garnett.
Where will he go? The Pistons will draft him with the No. 2 pick.
Boyko Mladenov, PF, Bulgaria
The line: 7-0, 250, 22 years old
Pronunciation Boy-ko Mlad-en-nov
The stats: 9.9 ppg on 50 percent shooting
NBA comparison: Predrag Drobjnak
The skinny: A big guy with some real agility. He runs the floor very well and can be very wily around the basket. His game is more finesse at the moment, though he does get aggressive defensively and on the glass. His aggressiveness can lead to foul trouble, which is a problem. He's an effort guy who plays his heart out. But from a physical standpoint, he's a step or two behind the others.
The context: At one point Mladenov was considered one of the top young players in Europe. He played for the junior teams Partizan and Efes Pilsen before surprising a lot of folks and leaving the glitz of the Euroleague for Bulgaria. Needless to say, the competition in Bulgaria isn't that hot.
The kitchen sink: Not a lot of NBA scouts have actually seen him play. I caught him in a game in Vrsac, Yugoslavia, against Darko. That was the game that was intentionally thrown by Boyko's team, Levski, in order to help KK Hemofarm advance to the playoffs. Boyko guarded Darko and played him well before getting into foul trouble.
Where will he go? He's firmly planted in the second round.
Paccelis Morlende, PG, France
The line: 6-2, 185, 22 years old
Pronunciation Pat-ches Muh-len-dee
The stats: 14.4 ppg and 4.3 apg on 47 percent shooting and 41 percent shooting from 3
NBA comparison: Bobby Jackson
The skinny: Morlende may be a shooting guard trapped in a point guard's body. He's fast, quick and loves to get to the basket. He spends more time looking for his own shot than creating for others, though in the past year that has begun to change. He does have a great handle, and he can pass the ball. But it's in his blood to bomb away. That's partly because he's got a smooth outside jumper, and he has the quickness to beat just about anyone in France off the dribble. He loves to get out on the break and push the ball. He's widely regarded as a top-notch defender. Can he make the full transition to the point in the NBA?
The context: Morlende signed to play with Virtus Bolgona (to replace the departing Marko Jaric) last summer, but an early injury ended up pushing him back to Dijon France. Dijon is not a Euroleague team, but they do play against pretty good competition in France. It's a step above Germany and a step below the basketball in Italy and Spain. While he's always been considered a point guard prospect, he's only played the position full time for two years. This year, once he returned from injury, he posted the best numbers of his career. Scouts that saw him play in France this spring think he has a legit shot of being an NBA point guard.
The kitchen sink: Morlende was once considered a better point guard prospect than Tony Parker. With Parker's rapid development, could Morlende be the next French sensation? His workouts have been pretty impressive, according to several NBA teams, but most feel he's well behind a few American second-rounders like Troy Bell and Marcus Hatten.
Where will he go? He could be a second-round pick, or he could slip out of the draft all together.
Zaur Pachulia, PF/C, Georgia
The line: 6-11, 250, 19 years old
Pronunciation Zour Patchew-lee-uh
The stats: 9.5 ppg 5.5 rpg on 57 percent shooting
NBA comparison: Zeljko Rebraca
The skinny: Pachulia is strong, likes to mix it up down low and is an excellent rebounder. He's an average shot blocker who showed, when given the minutes, he can really score in the post. His footwork is pretty advanced. Scouts are divided about how athletic he is. That's due, in part, to the awkward way in which he runs the floor. He doesn't look the part, but I think he's more athletic than he appears. He's got great strength for his age and will be able to handle the pounding in the post better than most. He's also got a solid handle for a guy his size. The knock? He's just raw. He needs more minutes to improve.
The context: Pachulia played at Ulker in Turkey, an elite Euroleague team. Remember, the Turkish league has recently produced Mehmet Okur and Hedo Turkoglu. Pachulia spent the last year playing behind regular-season Euroleague MVP Joseph Blair. That severely limited his playing time on the court. Pachulia finally got his chance a few months ago when Blair went down with an injury. He responded with 26 points on 10 of 13 shooting and added eight rebounds, three assists and three steals in a huge win over defending Euroleague champ Panathinaikos. The game wasn't a fluke. He followed it up with a 13-point, 17-rebound performance against Skipper Bologna. Just like that, his stock soared. Pachulia might remain in Europe one more year after being drafted.
The kitchen sink: Pachulia put his name in the draft last year and wowed several teams in individual workouts, including the Pacers and Nuggets, who flirted with taking him in the first round. He thought he could help his stock by returning to Europe for another year, but the strong play of Blair really limited his minutes. Then, a deep playoff run by Ulker limited his ability to come over and work out.
Where will he go? The Celtics could take a look at No. 20. Doubt he slips past the Spurs at No. 28.
The line: 6-9, 215, 21 years old
Pronunciation Boris J-owwww
The stats: 7.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.8 apg on 60 percent shooting
NBA comparison: Softer Scottie Pippen
The skinny: He may be the toughest guy in the draft to get a good read on. He looks like a shooting guard or small forward with that body and athleticism. But no one seems to be able to explain the lack of offense in his game. He's got the tools, but he doesn't have the results. Look closer. At 6-foot-9, Diaw's one of the best passers in the draft. He has a pure point-guard mentality that has him always looking to set up his teammates. When he's in the open floor, he's always prepared to make the extra pass. He may be the most unselfish player in the draft. He has a nice body and is a great athlete with a long wingspan and quick feet. He's already an established defender. His outside shot needs work, and he looks pretty soft. How will he handle the physical grind in the NBA? There are still a ton of question marks on Diaw, but, bottom line, he's the type of guy who does all the little things that help you win games.
The context: Diaw is a teammate of Mickael Pietrus on Pau Orthez, the best team in France. They also play in the Euroleague, which means they got an extra 15 games this year against the best competition outside the NBA. Like Pietrus, Diaw is hindered to a large extent by the offense his coach runs. Diaw excels on the open floor, but in a more stagnant half-court offense, he's often left standing around. On the French Junior team, Diaw plays point guard and looks great. He also ratchets up his scoring a few notches.
The kitchen sink: Diaw has been on the NBA radar screen for year. This is the third straight year he's put his name in the draft. Two years ago, he actually got a first-round promise from the Utah Jazz, but decided to pull out anyway. Diaw was recently named the MVP of the French League. That's a pretty impressive honor for a guy who averaged just 7.3 ppg. His mother, Elisabeth, is in the French Basketball Hall of Fame and his father, Issa, is a former Senegalese high jump champion. Talk about your good genes.
Where will he go? He could go as high as the Magic at No. 15. He probably won't slip past the Grizzlies at No. 27.
Maciej Lampe, SF, Poland
The line: 7-0, 265, 18 years old
Pronunciation Ma-chick Lam-pee
The stats: 18.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg on 55 percent shooting; 44 percent from 3
NBA comparison: A less athletic Dirk Nowitzki
The skinny: Lampe's shooting stroke is one of the smoothest you've ever seen in a big kid. He's got a nice body, has a very fluid game, and can play with his back to the basket. He's an above average passer, can break you down off the dribble with a nice little crossover and does a great job of getting separation on his shot. He needs to become a better rebounder, defender and get stronger. He's just an average athlete. He runs the floor pretty well but lacks explosive leaping ability. He's much further along than teams originally had thought. He's got a great feel for the game, is aggressive when he's on the floor and is a hard worker.
The context: Lampe began the season playing for one of the top teams in Europe, Real Madrid. However, he was on a veteran team and was unhappy with his playing time. The team loaned his rights to Universidad Complutense five games into the season so Lampe could get regular playing time. While some knock Lampe for the level of competition he played against (Complutense is a Division B team) take it with a grain of salt. Several top NBA international scouts claim the competition is the equivalent of a mid-major college team. How many 18-year-olds do you know averaging those numbers on a mid-major? None. They're all just graduating from high school. He did get into four Euroleague games for Real Madrid this year and totaled 16 points and 11 rebounds in 38 minutes. As for the knocks on his post game. His teammate was Jaime Peterson, the league MVP and the team's center. In the offense Complutense ran, Lampe spent the majority of his time on the perimeter waiting for Peterson to kick it out. In a game Insider attended on the island of Menorca, Peterson was out with an injury, and Lampe dominated in the post.
The kitchen sink: Lampe took the NBA by surprise when he put his name in the draft. Many scouts thought he wouldn't for a few more years and hadn't scouted him adequately -- that led to numerous erroneous scouting reports on the kid. Lampe played division-two ball in Sweden until the age of 15. He then transferred to Real Madrid and played on the junior team for a year. Since the end of the season he's been working out with Michael Jordan's trainer, Tim Grover, in Chicago. The experience has given him the chance to play alongside guys like Elton Brand day to day. When we caught up with Lampe in Chicago, it was pretty clear that he belonged. Grover believes that with a lot of work, he'll be a much more explosive athlete by the end of the summer.
Where will he go? He could go as high as the Heat at No. 5 He probably won't slip past the Sonics at No. 12.
Darko Milicic, PF/C, Serbia
The line: 7-1, 253, 18 years old
Pronunciation Dark-o Mil-ih-chitch
The stats: 9.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.6 bpg in roughly 20 mpg
NBA comparison: Wilt Chamberlain
The skinny: Darko is really one of a kind. He runs the floor, handles the ball, shoots the NBA 3 and plays with his back to the basket, so you can slot him in at the 3, 4 or 5 positions. OK, a few other guys can do that too; what sets Darko apart is his toughness in the post. You have to love a guy who has the footwork to spin by an opponent but still prefers to lower a shoulder and bang. Fact is, Milicic plays in attack-mode at both ends of the floor. The more you push, the more he pushes back.
The context: Darko played for KK Hemofarm, a member of the YUBA league in Yugoslavia. The Yugoslavian league is one of the best in Europe and he frequently faced the best Euroleague teams. Darko's team really misused him last season. It rarely ran plays for him, his minutes were inconsistent and he wasn't allowed to use any of his perimeter skills. Why? That's how it's done in Yugoslavia. Despite being the best player on his team, his coach, Zelijko Lukajic, was a hot-head who was infuriated with the attention Darko was receiving from NBA scouts. He often sat him on nights when a lot of NBA representatives were in attendance. In Yugoslavia, young players just don't play, period. Darko was a rare exception, but you shouldn't read too much into his low stat numbers. They're much better than anyone else his age in Yugoslavia.
The kitchen sink: Darko left his family to play pro basketball when he was 14. He came on the NBA radar screen last year during the Global Games in Dallas. Played point guard for the Hemofarm junior team until he was 16. His favorite player is Kevin Garnett.
Where will he go? The Pistons will draft him with the No. 2 pick.
Boyko Mladenov, PF, Bulgaria
The line: 7-0, 250, 22 years old
Pronunciation Boy-ko Mlad-en-nov
The stats: 9.9 ppg on 50 percent shooting
NBA comparison: Predrag Drobjnak
The skinny: A big guy with some real agility. He runs the floor very well and can be very wily around the basket. His game is more finesse at the moment, though he does get aggressive defensively and on the glass. His aggressiveness can lead to foul trouble, which is a problem. He's an effort guy who plays his heart out. But from a physical standpoint, he's a step or two behind the others.
The context: At one point Mladenov was considered one of the top young players in Europe. He played for the junior teams Partizan and Efes Pilsen before surprising a lot of folks and leaving the glitz of the Euroleague for Bulgaria. Needless to say, the competition in Bulgaria isn't that hot.
The kitchen sink: Not a lot of NBA scouts have actually seen him play. I caught him in a game in Vrsac, Yugoslavia, against Darko. That was the game that was intentionally thrown by Boyko's team, Levski, in order to help KK Hemofarm advance to the playoffs. Boyko guarded Darko and played him well before getting into foul trouble.
Where will he go? He's firmly planted in the second round.
Paccelis Morlende, PG, France
The line: 6-2, 185, 22 years old
Pronunciation Pat-ches Muh-len-dee
The stats: 14.4 ppg and 4.3 apg on 47 percent shooting and 41 percent shooting from 3
NBA comparison: Bobby Jackson
The skinny: Morlende may be a shooting guard trapped in a point guard's body. He's fast, quick and loves to get to the basket. He spends more time looking for his own shot than creating for others, though in the past year that has begun to change. He does have a great handle, and he can pass the ball. But it's in his blood to bomb away. That's partly because he's got a smooth outside jumper, and he has the quickness to beat just about anyone in France off the dribble. He loves to get out on the break and push the ball. He's widely regarded as a top-notch defender. Can he make the full transition to the point in the NBA?
The context: Morlende signed to play with Virtus Bolgona (to replace the departing Marko Jaric) last summer, but an early injury ended up pushing him back to Dijon France. Dijon is not a Euroleague team, but they do play against pretty good competition in France. It's a step above Germany and a step below the basketball in Italy and Spain. While he's always been considered a point guard prospect, he's only played the position full time for two years. This year, once he returned from injury, he posted the best numbers of his career. Scouts that saw him play in France this spring think he has a legit shot of being an NBA point guard.
The kitchen sink: Morlende was once considered a better point guard prospect than Tony Parker. With Parker's rapid development, could Morlende be the next French sensation? His workouts have been pretty impressive, according to several NBA teams, but most feel he's well behind a few American second-rounders like Troy Bell and Marcus Hatten.
Where will he go? He could be a second-round pick, or he could slip out of the draft all together.
Zaur Pachulia, PF/C, Georgia
The line: 6-11, 250, 19 years old
Pronunciation Zour Patchew-lee-uh
The stats: 9.5 ppg 5.5 rpg on 57 percent shooting
NBA comparison: Zeljko Rebraca
The skinny: Pachulia is strong, likes to mix it up down low and is an excellent rebounder. He's an average shot blocker who showed, when given the minutes, he can really score in the post. His footwork is pretty advanced. Scouts are divided about how athletic he is. That's due, in part, to the awkward way in which he runs the floor. He doesn't look the part, but I think he's more athletic than he appears. He's got great strength for his age and will be able to handle the pounding in the post better than most. He's also got a solid handle for a guy his size. The knock? He's just raw. He needs more minutes to improve.
The context: Pachulia played at Ulker in Turkey, an elite Euroleague team. Remember, the Turkish league has recently produced Mehmet Okur and Hedo Turkoglu. Pachulia spent the last year playing behind regular-season Euroleague MVP Joseph Blair. That severely limited his playing time on the court. Pachulia finally got his chance a few months ago when Blair went down with an injury. He responded with 26 points on 10 of 13 shooting and added eight rebounds, three assists and three steals in a huge win over defending Euroleague champ Panathinaikos. The game wasn't a fluke. He followed it up with a 13-point, 17-rebound performance against Skipper Bologna. Just like that, his stock soared. Pachulia might remain in Europe one more year after being drafted.
The kitchen sink: Pachulia put his name in the draft last year and wowed several teams in individual workouts, including the Pacers and Nuggets, who flirted with taking him in the first round. He thought he could help his stock by returning to Europe for another year, but the strong play of Blair really limited his minutes. Then, a deep playoff run by Ulker limited his ability to come over and work out.
Where will he go? The Celtics could take a look at No. 20. Doubt he slips past the Spurs at No. 28.
