Orlando Sentinel: Teenage center impresses Magic GM

[George O'Brien]

orlandosentinel.com/

Teenage center impresses Magic GM

Davis spoke this week with Gabriel, who is scouting players overseas. He reports that Gabe has been impressed with 19-year-old Pavel Podkolzine, the 7- foot-5, 350-pound center who wowed NBA scouts last year before pulling out of the draft.

Podkolzine is playing in the Italian Cup. "You just don't find that kind of size in the middle," Davis said.

And yet how can the Magic risk taking this mystery man, Podkolzine, given this disastrous season? If you land the No. 1 pick in the draft June 24, take Emeka Okafor.

Here's what my foreign source, Israeli journalist Yarone Arbel, has to say about Podkolzine in an e-mail: "Podkolzine, well, he's doing so-so. Unlike last season, he's getting minutes. . . . What's he doing with them? Hmmmm, he's not very consistent. He just scored his season high [nine points] against one of the weakest teams in the league."

Doesn't sound that impressive to me.

 

[scotsman13]

yea personally this guy has never been what i thought the suns need. while he does have a lot of size no one has said that he is quick of foot. and i truely believe that if the suns are to be successful they must run, that is one of their biggest strenghts.

 

[slinslin]

Gabriel was impressed by Steven Hunter, Reece Gaines, Jeryl Sasser in the last 3 drafts.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by slinslin
Gabriel was impressed by Steven Hunter, Reece Gaines, Jeryl Sasser in the last 3 drafts.

Then I guess we know who to hope really tanks it.