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If Ike's reach is as great as is being said, he seems likely to be off the board by the time the Suns pick. Taft and Villanueva are viewed as head cases and May is not in very good condition. One guy who might be available is Simien .
The knock on Simien is that he isn't very tall, doesn't have Ike's reach, and he's considered injury prone. The injury reputation might make him drop lower than he would otherwise go, but adds to the risk. On the plus side, the Suns trainers may be the best in the NBA. McDyess credits them with saving his career (why the Suns bothered is a completely different subject). If the Suns think they can cut down on Simien's injuries, he's actually a pretty attractive prospect at the 21 slot.
Wayne Simien - 6-9 255, PF, Senior, School: Kansas, Hometown: Kansas
Stats: 20.3 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.6 bpg, 55.2% FG, 81.6% FT, 28.6% 3FG in 34.3 mpg
Here is nbadraft.net:
Wayne Simien
Birthdate: 3/9/83
NBA Position: Power Forward
College: Kansas
Class: Senior
Ht: 6-8
Wt: 255
Hometown: Leavenworth, KN
High School: Leavenworth
Team Site Profile 2004 Stats
Strengths: He is an absolute beast on the block. He has an NBA body already and is very strong. Finishes with ferocity rarely seen at the college level. Loves to dunk and does so like he has a personnel vendetta against the rim. He is a dominating rebounder because of his leaping ability, strength and willingness to jockey for position as opposed to just trying to jump over people. He has a surprisingly soft touch around the bucket when he is not ripping the rim off of the backboard. He also has the ability to knock down the mid range jumper just like former KU big men Nick Collison and Raef Lafrentz. He runs well especially considering his bulk and can handle the ball fairly well for his size.
Weaknesses: Durability is a major concern for him. In each of the last three seasons he has suffered an injury that has kept him off the court for varied stretches of time. He must have basically an injury free junior campaign if he wants to be a lottery pick, and even if that happens don’t be surprised to see him stay for his senior year. He is not a shot blocker, which is odd because of how aggressive he is in all other facets of the game. He must prove that he can be a go to guy for crunch time buckets, he has had the luxury of playing alongside Drew Gooden and Nick Collison during his first seasons at KU so opposing defenses have never really been keyed just to stop him. In order to develop into a dominant PF at the next level he will need to hone his game in the post by adding a wider array of offensive moves, right now at the college level he is so much stronger then everyone he faces he can just overpower them down low but that trend will not continue on a nightly basis playing against the Karl Malone’s of the world. Maybe a little undersized.
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draft city
Wayne Simien is one of the most successful players in recent college history, playing in two final fours with one more chance to win a national title yet to come. He is one of the top post scorers in the country, period. Seemingly relishing contact on the blocks, he can score with a variety of fundamental spin moves, hooks, fadeaways, and bank shots. He is willing to take bigger players in the mid/high post, while abusing the traditional PF on the low blocks. There aren’t many college defenders that can slow Simien down. He has a very nice “traditional PF” frame, standing around 6’8 and weighing a chiseled 260 pounds. Most players simply aren’t strong enough to keep him from doing what he wants on the blocks. Simien is a standout rebounder and a physical post defender as well. Simien’s feel for how to score down low is what sets him apart from the pack. He is a very savvy, cerebral player, and understands how to get the ball in the air before help defenders can react. He has absolutely outstanding touch on the ball, and his post moves almost never do anything but swish. His midrange jumper is improving, and Simien has even started hitting an occasional three pointer. He is also an exceptional free throw shooter, and destroys teams by getting to the line multiple times in short amounts of time.
Weaknesses:
While Simien is clearly one of the top college basketball players in the nation, it remains to be seen whether his game translates into the NBA. While he doesn’t have any trouble scoring in college, he is a bit undersized to play PF in the league, and it’s been well documented how unpopular undersized 4’s are on draft night. Despite being quite fluid and running the floor well for a big man, his game is always going to be rooted in the post. He is an adequate athlete for a post banger, but doesn't have the burst, lateral quickness, or ballhandling ability to play out on the perimeter. This limits his upside. For every Elton Brand, there is a John Wallace, Marcus Fizer, or Corliss Williamson. To separate himself from this group, Simien is going to have to prove that he can defend NBA big men. He has the strength and nature to bang with anybody, but he may not have the length. He is not a shotblocker, even on the college level. The other weakness to talk about is his tendency to get injured, which has plagued him most of his career. Simien has had recurring shoulder problems, and missed time due to injury as recently as January. Other than these two issues, there is little not to like about Simien. However, these aren’t minor gripes. It’s not good to see a player who will be forced to rely on brute strength and physicality come up lame so often.
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College Hoops
NBA Draft Profile: Wayne Simien
College: Kansas
Class: Senior
Stats: ESPN Statistics
Height: 6-9
Weight: 255 lbs.
Accolades: 2003-04: 1st Team All Big-12; 3rd Team All-American
Scouting Report:
Bruising big man with an array of finesse moves around the basket… really knows how to use his body… very smart player who is fundamentally sound… exudes leadership… injury prone throughout college career… plays under the rim
Strengths: Bulk, touch, leadership
Weaknesses: Athleticism, sometimes struggles in big games
Projected Draft Range: Late First Round
Siegel's Take - Top 30 Scouting Reports
“Similar to fellow Big 12 forward Joey Graham, Simien’s greatest asset in college has always been his mature, physically developed body. The questions about Simien are the same you ask about most college to NBA forwards: when you take away the pure physical advantage, what can he really do that great? So much of Simien’s success at Kansas was about overpowering guys down low, so he’ll need to refine his post moves, and work on moving without the ball. It would also be nice if he could be an inch or two taller or be a better shot blocker. And of course, you have all the questions about his injury-prone past. Even if Simien manages to stay healthy for the rest of his career, he will never be a consistent starter in the NBA.”
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If healthy, he appears to be a solid prospect to back up Marion at PF. None of the negitives appear to be fatal but may lead teams to pass on him for taller, more athletic guys.
The knock on Simien is that he isn't very tall, doesn't have Ike's reach, and he's considered injury prone. The injury reputation might make him drop lower than he would otherwise go, but adds to the risk. On the plus side, the Suns trainers may be the best in the NBA. McDyess credits them with saving his career (why the Suns bothered is a completely different subject). If the Suns think they can cut down on Simien's injuries, he's actually a pretty attractive prospect at the 21 slot.
Wayne Simien - 6-9 255, PF, Senior, School: Kansas, Hometown: Kansas
Stats: 20.3 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.6 bpg, 55.2% FG, 81.6% FT, 28.6% 3FG in 34.3 mpg
Here is nbadraft.net:
Wayne Simien
Birthdate: 3/9/83
NBA Position: Power Forward
College: Kansas
Class: Senior
Ht: 6-8
Wt: 255
Hometown: Leavenworth, KN
High School: Leavenworth
Team Site Profile 2004 Stats
Strengths: He is an absolute beast on the block. He has an NBA body already and is very strong. Finishes with ferocity rarely seen at the college level. Loves to dunk and does so like he has a personnel vendetta against the rim. He is a dominating rebounder because of his leaping ability, strength and willingness to jockey for position as opposed to just trying to jump over people. He has a surprisingly soft touch around the bucket when he is not ripping the rim off of the backboard. He also has the ability to knock down the mid range jumper just like former KU big men Nick Collison and Raef Lafrentz. He runs well especially considering his bulk and can handle the ball fairly well for his size.
Weaknesses: Durability is a major concern for him. In each of the last three seasons he has suffered an injury that has kept him off the court for varied stretches of time. He must have basically an injury free junior campaign if he wants to be a lottery pick, and even if that happens don’t be surprised to see him stay for his senior year. He is not a shot blocker, which is odd because of how aggressive he is in all other facets of the game. He must prove that he can be a go to guy for crunch time buckets, he has had the luxury of playing alongside Drew Gooden and Nick Collison during his first seasons at KU so opposing defenses have never really been keyed just to stop him. In order to develop into a dominant PF at the next level he will need to hone his game in the post by adding a wider array of offensive moves, right now at the college level he is so much stronger then everyone he faces he can just overpower them down low but that trend will not continue on a nightly basis playing against the Karl Malone’s of the world. Maybe a little undersized.
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draft city
Wayne Simien is one of the most successful players in recent college history, playing in two final fours with one more chance to win a national title yet to come. He is one of the top post scorers in the country, period. Seemingly relishing contact on the blocks, he can score with a variety of fundamental spin moves, hooks, fadeaways, and bank shots. He is willing to take bigger players in the mid/high post, while abusing the traditional PF on the low blocks. There aren’t many college defenders that can slow Simien down. He has a very nice “traditional PF” frame, standing around 6’8 and weighing a chiseled 260 pounds. Most players simply aren’t strong enough to keep him from doing what he wants on the blocks. Simien is a standout rebounder and a physical post defender as well. Simien’s feel for how to score down low is what sets him apart from the pack. He is a very savvy, cerebral player, and understands how to get the ball in the air before help defenders can react. He has absolutely outstanding touch on the ball, and his post moves almost never do anything but swish. His midrange jumper is improving, and Simien has even started hitting an occasional three pointer. He is also an exceptional free throw shooter, and destroys teams by getting to the line multiple times in short amounts of time.
Weaknesses:
While Simien is clearly one of the top college basketball players in the nation, it remains to be seen whether his game translates into the NBA. While he doesn’t have any trouble scoring in college, he is a bit undersized to play PF in the league, and it’s been well documented how unpopular undersized 4’s are on draft night. Despite being quite fluid and running the floor well for a big man, his game is always going to be rooted in the post. He is an adequate athlete for a post banger, but doesn't have the burst, lateral quickness, or ballhandling ability to play out on the perimeter. This limits his upside. For every Elton Brand, there is a John Wallace, Marcus Fizer, or Corliss Williamson. To separate himself from this group, Simien is going to have to prove that he can defend NBA big men. He has the strength and nature to bang with anybody, but he may not have the length. He is not a shotblocker, even on the college level. The other weakness to talk about is his tendency to get injured, which has plagued him most of his career. Simien has had recurring shoulder problems, and missed time due to injury as recently as January. Other than these two issues, there is little not to like about Simien. However, these aren’t minor gripes. It’s not good to see a player who will be forced to rely on brute strength and physicality come up lame so often.
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College Hoops
NBA Draft Profile: Wayne Simien
College: Kansas
Class: Senior
Stats: ESPN Statistics
Height: 6-9
Weight: 255 lbs.
Accolades: 2003-04: 1st Team All Big-12; 3rd Team All-American
Scouting Report:
Bruising big man with an array of finesse moves around the basket… really knows how to use his body… very smart player who is fundamentally sound… exudes leadership… injury prone throughout college career… plays under the rim
Strengths: Bulk, touch, leadership
Weaknesses: Athleticism, sometimes struggles in big games
Projected Draft Range: Late First Round
Siegel's Take - Top 30 Scouting Reports
“Similar to fellow Big 12 forward Joey Graham, Simien’s greatest asset in college has always been his mature, physically developed body. The questions about Simien are the same you ask about most college to NBA forwards: when you take away the pure physical advantage, what can he really do that great? So much of Simien’s success at Kansas was about overpowering guys down low, so he’ll need to refine his post moves, and work on moving without the ball. It would also be nice if he could be an inch or two taller or be a better shot blocker. And of course, you have all the questions about his injury-prone past. Even if Simien manages to stay healthy for the rest of his career, he will never be a consistent starter in the NBA.”
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If healthy, he appears to be a solid prospect to back up Marion at PF. None of the negitives appear to be fatal but may lead teams to pass on him for taller, more athletic guys.
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