(risers & fallers below)
New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
NBA Draft Preview
Compiled by Mitch Lawrence
Saturday, June 21st, 2003
Your guide to Thursday's NBA draft, with comments from several team executives and scouts:
TOP 5 PLAYERS - BY POSITION
POINT GUARDS
1. Kirk Hinrich, 6-3, 190, Kansas: "He's a combination 'one-two' with good size. A good shooter, solid player who struggles when he has to run a team."
2. T.J. Ford, 5-10, 165, Texas: "Everybody raves about his speed, quickness and passing ability. His size and inability to make outside shots is a problem."
3. Reece Gaines, 6-6, 205, Louisville: "You've got to love the fact that he's 6-6. He played for Rick Pitino, so you know he can cover people."
4. Luke Ridnour, 6-2, 175, Oregon: "He's a true point with great speed. But there are questions about his physical toughness."
5. Leandro Barbosa, 6-4, 185, Brazil: "He's 6-4, a super athlete, a nice kid with no baggage. But he has a very unorthodox way of shooting and can have his shot blocked."
SHOOTING GUARDS
1. LeBron James, 6-8, 240, St. Vincent-St. Mary HS, Ohio: "He already has a five-year NBA body, has an explosive first step and is an explosive jumper. With all that talent, he's going to be something else."
2. Dwyane Wade, 6-4, 210, Marquette: "Oustanding athlete who's a great creator and finds a way to get to the rim. For someone who's just 6-4, you wished he could shoot it better from the perimeter."
3. Jarvis Hayes, 6-7, 220, Georgia: "He's the best shooter at this position, and he'll be great in the catch-and-shoot game. But he can't handle the ball a lick."
4. Mickael Pietrus, 6-6, 210, France: "A great athlete, he can come in and put up points. But will he be able to adapt to the team game?"
5. Boris Diaw-Riffiod, France: "He's soft and doesn't play hard all the time, but he's 6-8 and has skills."
SMALL FORWARDS
1. Carmelo Anthony, 6-8, 220, Syracuse: "He's a lot like Jamal Mashburn, but he's a better rebounder and runs the floor better. He could develop into a big-time scorer."
2. Aleksandar Pavlovic, 6-7, 207, Serbia: "A great shooter with range, but not a great athlete. Needs to put on weight so he can take the pounding."
3. David West, 6-9, 232, Xavier: "Does a lot of things decently, but isn't the kind of athlete you want at this position. He has limited range and doesn't do well when he has to put the ball on the floor."
4. Josh Howard, 6-6, 203, Wake Forest: "His workouts haven't created any buzz, but this is a weak crop of small forwards. He might go at the end of the first round."
5. Carlos Delfino, 6-7, 200, Argentina: "He first applied for the draft in 2001 but now he feels he's ready. He can shoot it and get to the basket."
POWER FORWARDS
1. Chris Bosh, 6-10, 210, Georgia Tech: "Lefthanded with a David Robinson-type body but he's 6-10. He's got to put on 25 pounds, at least."
2. Mike Sweetney, 6-8, 260, Georgetown: "You want a 6-7 power forward? Has average footwork, not great against double-teams and needs to play beneath the rim."
3. Nick Collison, 6-9, 255, Kansas: "Plays hard, hustles and has very good footwork. Not a great shooter."
4. Brian Cook, 6-10, 240, Illinois: "He didn't do much at Illinois before this season. He has range up to 17 feet, but he's not a physical player."
5. Maciej Lampe, 6-11, 240, Poland: "He's a soft player who's 6-11 and loves to play out on the perimeter. You don't see a lot of fire there."
CENTERS
1. Darko Milicic, 7-0, 245, Serbia: "He's got skills you don't normally see in an 18-year-old 7-footer, but he needs to grow up."
2. Chris Kaman, 7-0, 255, Central Michigan: "He's got good footwork and can score inside with both hands. He's a plodder, but knows how to play."
3. Sofoklis Schortsanitis, 6-9, 287, Greece: "He's not as big as everybody first thought. He's a big, wide body with okay skills."
4. Zaur Pachulia, 6-11, 250, Rep. of Georgia: "Has size and strength. Only a role player with his Turkish team."
5. Kendrick Perkins, 6-10, 290, Ozen HS, Tex.: "He's an immobile power forward who looks to be a second-round pick."
HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS
1. LeBron James, G, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Ohio: "The Cavaliers are getting a special player."
2. Travis Outlaw, F, Starkville, Miss.: "Has great athleticism, but doesn't have a great body."
3. Ndudi Ebi, F, Westbury Christian, Tex.: "He's a great athlete with decent offensive skills, but his body needs lots of work."
4. Kendrick Perkins, C, Ozen, Tex.: "He's 6-10, but he's a project and has a long way to go."
5. James Lang, C, Central Park Christian, Ala.: "Reminds you of Tractor Traylor - a wide-body who lumbers up and down the court."
FOREIGN PLAYERS
1. Darko Milicic, Serbia: "He'll go to Detroit at No. 2. Whether or not he's second coming of Dirk Nowitzki remains to be seen."
2. Mickael Pietrus, France: "He's the foreign Ricky Davis - a guy who loves to shoot and doesn't care what anybody else thinks."
3. Aleksandar Pavlovic, Serbia: "He's 6-7 and can really shoot it, but he's not great off the dribble."
4. Maciej Lampe, Poland: "He's fallen out of the top 10, but he had several good workouts last week and is considered a top 20 pick."
5. Boris Diaw-Riffiod, France: "He does a little bit of everything, but he doesn't do any NBA thing real well."
RISERS
1. Kirk Hinrich, Kansas: "Seattle wants to move up into No. 5 spot to fill a need at point guard."
2. Jarvis Hayes, Georgia: "His shooting in workouts has taken him from mid-first round to potential top-seven pick."
3. Mickael Pietrus, France: "Bulls and Celtics went overseas this past week to work him out."
4. Reece Gaines, Louisville: "In workouts, has raised his stock from a mid-20 pick to a top-15."
5. Marcus Banks, UNLV: "Projected for second round until solid workouts put him into the first round. Is 6-2 with quickness and knows how to play."
FALLERS
1. T.J. Ford, Texas: "Because he's a bad shooter, he could slide all the way out of the Top 10."
2. Chris Kaman, Central Michigan: "People wonder if he's second coming of Big Country Reeves."
3. Luke Ridnour, Oregon: "He's another Dan Dickau, a defensive liability."
4. Maciej Lampe, Poland: "You want a finesse player who has to be constantly pushed?"
5. Leandro Barbosa, Brazil: "Several teams needing point guards, including Utah at No. 19, won't take him because he doesn't speak English."
New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
NBA Draft Preview
Compiled by Mitch Lawrence
Saturday, June 21st, 2003
Your guide to Thursday's NBA draft, with comments from several team executives and scouts:
TOP 5 PLAYERS - BY POSITION
POINT GUARDS
1. Kirk Hinrich, 6-3, 190, Kansas: "He's a combination 'one-two' with good size. A good shooter, solid player who struggles when he has to run a team."
2. T.J. Ford, 5-10, 165, Texas: "Everybody raves about his speed, quickness and passing ability. His size and inability to make outside shots is a problem."
3. Reece Gaines, 6-6, 205, Louisville: "You've got to love the fact that he's 6-6. He played for Rick Pitino, so you know he can cover people."
4. Luke Ridnour, 6-2, 175, Oregon: "He's a true point with great speed. But there are questions about his physical toughness."
5. Leandro Barbosa, 6-4, 185, Brazil: "He's 6-4, a super athlete, a nice kid with no baggage. But he has a very unorthodox way of shooting and can have his shot blocked."
SHOOTING GUARDS
1. LeBron James, 6-8, 240, St. Vincent-St. Mary HS, Ohio: "He already has a five-year NBA body, has an explosive first step and is an explosive jumper. With all that talent, he's going to be something else."
2. Dwyane Wade, 6-4, 210, Marquette: "Oustanding athlete who's a great creator and finds a way to get to the rim. For someone who's just 6-4, you wished he could shoot it better from the perimeter."
3. Jarvis Hayes, 6-7, 220, Georgia: "He's the best shooter at this position, and he'll be great in the catch-and-shoot game. But he can't handle the ball a lick."
4. Mickael Pietrus, 6-6, 210, France: "A great athlete, he can come in and put up points. But will he be able to adapt to the team game?"
5. Boris Diaw-Riffiod, France: "He's soft and doesn't play hard all the time, but he's 6-8 and has skills."
SMALL FORWARDS
1. Carmelo Anthony, 6-8, 220, Syracuse: "He's a lot like Jamal Mashburn, but he's a better rebounder and runs the floor better. He could develop into a big-time scorer."
2. Aleksandar Pavlovic, 6-7, 207, Serbia: "A great shooter with range, but not a great athlete. Needs to put on weight so he can take the pounding."
3. David West, 6-9, 232, Xavier: "Does a lot of things decently, but isn't the kind of athlete you want at this position. He has limited range and doesn't do well when he has to put the ball on the floor."
4. Josh Howard, 6-6, 203, Wake Forest: "His workouts haven't created any buzz, but this is a weak crop of small forwards. He might go at the end of the first round."
5. Carlos Delfino, 6-7, 200, Argentina: "He first applied for the draft in 2001 but now he feels he's ready. He can shoot it and get to the basket."
POWER FORWARDS
1. Chris Bosh, 6-10, 210, Georgia Tech: "Lefthanded with a David Robinson-type body but he's 6-10. He's got to put on 25 pounds, at least."
2. Mike Sweetney, 6-8, 260, Georgetown: "You want a 6-7 power forward? Has average footwork, not great against double-teams and needs to play beneath the rim."
3. Nick Collison, 6-9, 255, Kansas: "Plays hard, hustles and has very good footwork. Not a great shooter."
4. Brian Cook, 6-10, 240, Illinois: "He didn't do much at Illinois before this season. He has range up to 17 feet, but he's not a physical player."
5. Maciej Lampe, 6-11, 240, Poland: "He's a soft player who's 6-11 and loves to play out on the perimeter. You don't see a lot of fire there."
CENTERS
1. Darko Milicic, 7-0, 245, Serbia: "He's got skills you don't normally see in an 18-year-old 7-footer, but he needs to grow up."
2. Chris Kaman, 7-0, 255, Central Michigan: "He's got good footwork and can score inside with both hands. He's a plodder, but knows how to play."
3. Sofoklis Schortsanitis, 6-9, 287, Greece: "He's not as big as everybody first thought. He's a big, wide body with okay skills."
4. Zaur Pachulia, 6-11, 250, Rep. of Georgia: "Has size and strength. Only a role player with his Turkish team."
5. Kendrick Perkins, 6-10, 290, Ozen HS, Tex.: "He's an immobile power forward who looks to be a second-round pick."
HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS
1. LeBron James, G, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Ohio: "The Cavaliers are getting a special player."
2. Travis Outlaw, F, Starkville, Miss.: "Has great athleticism, but doesn't have a great body."
3. Ndudi Ebi, F, Westbury Christian, Tex.: "He's a great athlete with decent offensive skills, but his body needs lots of work."
4. Kendrick Perkins, C, Ozen, Tex.: "He's 6-10, but he's a project and has a long way to go."
5. James Lang, C, Central Park Christian, Ala.: "Reminds you of Tractor Traylor - a wide-body who lumbers up and down the court."
FOREIGN PLAYERS
1. Darko Milicic, Serbia: "He'll go to Detroit at No. 2. Whether or not he's second coming of Dirk Nowitzki remains to be seen."
2. Mickael Pietrus, France: "He's the foreign Ricky Davis - a guy who loves to shoot and doesn't care what anybody else thinks."
3. Aleksandar Pavlovic, Serbia: "He's 6-7 and can really shoot it, but he's not great off the dribble."
4. Maciej Lampe, Poland: "He's fallen out of the top 10, but he had several good workouts last week and is considered a top 20 pick."
5. Boris Diaw-Riffiod, France: "He does a little bit of everything, but he doesn't do any NBA thing real well."
RISERS
1. Kirk Hinrich, Kansas: "Seattle wants to move up into No. 5 spot to fill a need at point guard."
2. Jarvis Hayes, Georgia: "His shooting in workouts has taken him from mid-first round to potential top-seven pick."
3. Mickael Pietrus, France: "Bulls and Celtics went overseas this past week to work him out."
4. Reece Gaines, Louisville: "In workouts, has raised his stock from a mid-20 pick to a top-15."
5. Marcus Banks, UNLV: "Projected for second round until solid workouts put him into the first round. Is 6-2 with quickness and knows how to play."
FALLERS
1. T.J. Ford, Texas: "Because he's a bad shooter, he could slide all the way out of the Top 10."
2. Chris Kaman, Central Michigan: "People wonder if he's second coming of Big Country Reeves."
3. Luke Ridnour, Oregon: "He's another Dan Dickau, a defensive liability."
4. Maciej Lampe, Poland: "You want a finesse player who has to be constantly pushed?"
5. Leandro Barbosa, Brazil: "Several teams needing point guards, including Utah at No. 19, won't take him because he doesn't speak English."
