Pavel May Not Be As Tall As Listed

[George O'Brien]

Orlando Sentinel

The Pavel Report

The Magic braintrust was recently overseas trying to unravel the mystery of Pavel Podkolzine, 19. They aren't comfortable talking about an "underclassman," but here's some things that we have gleaned:

He's listed at 7-feet 5, but that may be a program height. He' s likely two inches shorter.

Podkolzine is 300-plus pounds, but coaches don't pound the ball into him down low. He`s on the perimeter setting screens.

He still has a pituitary gland problem (go figure), but it can be treated with medication.

He was at the Chicago Combine last year. I is hard to figure out how he got away with not being measured then.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

He was measured then.

That's why everyone was so excited about him because his size was legit.

Sounds like the Orlando Sentinel is trying to turn public opinion against him so that the Magic won't draft him.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Chris_Sanders
He was measured then.

That's why everyone was so excited about him because his size was legit.

Sounds like the Orlando Sentinel is trying to turn public opinion against him so that the Magic won't draft him.

Or they're trying to make sure they DO draft him...

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Originally posted by Chaplin
Or they're trying to make sure they DO draft him...

True, no guarantee that they end up with even a top 3 pick. Start the negative buzz now and let it steam roll.

That said, if Podkolzine wows scouts for 2 years in a row, I don't doubt he will be a top 5 pick.

Hopefully Lampe will blow up these last few months so we won't be too tempted to take him. He worries me, and I still think that given the Suns current Center situation, they would take him.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Chris_Sanders
True, no guarantee that they end up with even a top 3 pick. Start the negative buzz now and let it steam roll.

That said, if Podkolzine wows scouts for 2 years in a row, I don't doubt he will be a top 5 pick.

Hopefully Lampe will blow up these last few months so we won't be too tempted to take him. He worries me, and I still think that given the Suns current Center situation, they would take him.

I can't really see Pavel as a good fit on the Suns, especially with the health issue. I'm intrigued by Andris Biedrins because he is described as a low post defender, rebounder, and shot blocker. He is only 7'0" 240 but is still growing. nbadraft.net has Biedrins at #6 and Draft City has him at #10.

 

[elindholm]

If all the Suns want in a center is someone big, Jake Tsakalidis will probably be available as a free agent.

 

[slinslin]

Originally posted by Chris_Sanders


That said, if Podkolzine wows scouts for 2 years in a row, I don't doubt he will be a top 5 pick.

Maybe, maybe not.

He couldn't get a lottery promise from any team last season why could he get one now?
Kaman, Sweetney etc were lottery picks last year and the draft lacked big man.

He is still a bench warmer on his team and hardly ever plays.

And I don't think Pavel was ever measured. He wasn't in the pre-draft camp and only had an open workout.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Slin,

He was measured and weighed...when the NBA did his physical that found his pituitary problem.

Again his glandular problem is the only reason he withdrew from the draft. It had nothing to do with lottery promises. He wanted to get the condition treated before he risked his health in a NBA environment. A wise choice.

I don't know why you continue to distort what has been reported on Podkolzine. You seem to pick players you don't like and they can do nothing right in your eyes...meanwhile guys like JJ get nothing but praise from you even when they stink.

 

[George O'Brien]

I expect that the debate over Pavel will heat up over the next few months. There are mock drafts that see him going as high as #3 and others see him late lottery or later.

Last year Pavel did not visit the various teams for individual testing. Everyone agreed that he looked very good in the brief demonstration he gave, but they wanted to see a lot more.

Why doesn't he dominate at the level he's playing? No one has given an explanation except that early on his coach refused to play him. More recently he has received playing time and had some good games against the top team in Isreal.

The real answer is probably the one that no one likes. He has talent, but may not produce for three years. (Look at how long it took K Brown to become a factor). Pavel is just a teenager and has a lot to learn. That's the problem with the Euro big men this year. All of them are really young and none are ready to do much right away.

 

[Joe Mama]

There is another guy who is starting to get some attention. Supposedly he looks very good in workouts. I believe he then outperformed Pavel in his last tournament. I admit I have trouble following some of the Europeans and European tournaments. I believe his name is Martynas Andriuskevicius. If that's the same guy and thinking of he is 7'3" and 250 lbs.. I think he's only 18 years old.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
There is another guy who is starting to get some attention. Supposedly he looks very good in workouts. I believe he then outperformed Pavel in his last tournament. I admit I have trouble following some of the Europeans and European tournaments. I believe his name is Martynas Andriuskevicius. If that's the same guy and thinking of he is 7'3" and 250 lbs.. I think he's only 18 years old.

Joe Mama

I've been reading about him, but he has not been listed on the mock drafts yet.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by George O'Brien
I've been reading about him, but he has not been listed on the mock drafts yet.

NBADraft.net has him at #11 right now.

http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/martynasandriuskevicius.asp

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
NBADraft.net has him at #11 right now.

http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/martynasandriuskevicius.asp

Joe Mama

nbadraft.net has stopped listing Kosta Perovic of Serbia (I think I read he was injured). Right now they rank the Euro bigs:

#6 Andris Biedrins
#8 Pavel Podkolzine
#11 Martynas Andriuskevicius
#30 Anderson Varejão (playing in Spain)

The have Ivan Chiriaev #12 even though he is playing HS ball in Canada.

I've been watching Beidrins drift up in the more recent mock drafts for a couple of months. The description of him being a solid rebounder, shot blocker and back to the basket offensive player is interesting.
nbadraft.net

draftcity.com

 

[F-Dog]

No thanks to Podkolzine. He's raw as hell, his pituitary problem usually leads to weak bones, and he's carrying 300 pounds; whichever team winds up with him is going to have to race to try and get something out of him before his body breaks down entirely. Even if he's 7'8", I don't want to see him in a Suns uniform.

Now that Splitter and Perovic are out, Andriuskevicius is my 'great Euro hope' to break the Suns center curse. I hope he's as good as the most recent reports say...

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

From what I understand, his pituitary problem was nothing major. It posed no short term health risk, and he underwent minor surgery to get it fixed.

Chris, Pavel's explanation for withdrawing was that he wanted to be sure he would be a top 3 pick. He said he didnt want to come out unless he was ready to be a top draft choice. Even after his pituitary problem, it was a very large surprise to see him withdrawl.

My problem with him is he is 7'5" and already had bad ankles at 18. A person that large will most likely have problems later in life, but to have the signs already be visably apparent at such a young age is alarming.