Durant in town
Durant in Town
posted: 6/21/2007 at 10:43 PM
The reception at the airport wasn't quite the same for Kevin Durant on
Thursday afternoon when he arrived. No one really expected it to be equal to
what Greg Oden experienced on Tuesday. Most of that has to do with Oden
himself, and that most everyone expects the Blazers to select him with the
first pick in the NBA Draft. I can't help but wonder what things would have
been like if Durant's workout would have come first. Perhaps it would have
been different. And, perhaps this could work in Durant's favor.
The consensus number-two pick in the draft will workout for the Trail Blazers
on Friday morning at the team's practice facility in Tualatin.
Durant and Oden have become friends, and talk and text each other all the
time, according to the two players. I would imagine Oden has given Durant a
scouting report, as far as what to expect in his workout with the Blazers.
One of the first things Oden told me on Wednesday is that he didn't expect to
be pushed as hard as he was by the Blazers coaching staff in his workout.
Even if he hasn't given Durant details personally, you know Aaron Goodwin,
Durant's agent, is aware of it, and has his client ready.
Oden was also the first to say he didn't have a good workout for the Blazers.
Could Durant perhaps be feeling like the door is at least slightly now ajar?
He knows pretty much everyone is predicting Oden will be the top pick. He now
has the opportunity to push some doubt in the minds of Kevin Pritchard and
his staff. Will it make a difference if he comes in and just blows the doors
off the place? I honesty think it could.
I realize many fans feel the Oden/Durant debate has been simply a marketing
ploy by the Blazers to build drama. If you believe that, then you don't
believe what you've been hearing from the men who will be making the
decision. Pritchard is a huge Durant fan, and maintains that a decision
hasn't yet been reached. Most of all, KP has said he trusts his system, and
his staff, and will let things run the course before he makes a final
decision here in the 11th hour.
The media crush won't be what it was on Wednesday, but it will still be
substantial. It should be. And, Blazers owner Paul Allen, who was there for
Oden's workout, will be on hand to meet, and watch, Durant as well.
Allen was on hand for the workouts on Thursday. In the morning workout, two
big men went against each other. Brazil's Ralfi Ansaloni worked out with
Serbia's Zoran Erceg.
The second group put on one heck of a show, and just about no one was there
to see it. It was easily the most entertaining workout I have seen in the
past few weeks. Oden's college teammate from Ohio State, Daequan Cook was
there. He had a lackluster showing at the pre-draft camp in Orlando, but his
stock is back on the rise. This was his 12th workout, and he's no doubt ready
to collapse. He was very solid in this workout, however.
The others involved were Demetris Nichols, the dead-eye shooter from
Syracuse, Jackson State's Trey Johnson, who struggled with a sore back, and
Renaldas Seibutis, of Lithuania. Seibutis was absolutely fantastic. The 6-5
shooting guard had perhaps the best workout I've seen in three years. His
energy was incredible, and unlike a lot of European sharpshooters, he is a
stud defensively. Seibutis also handles the ball very, very well, and is
explosive. He is projected as a mid-second round guy, and his stock was sent
soaring after a great workout in Orlando. It's easy to see why. He's also a
very nice kid, and speaks very good English. I spent several minutes with him
answering questions about the Lithuanian legend, and former Blazer, Arvydas
Sabonis.
Nichols, according to scouts, was also tremendous in Orlando, and has a very
pure shooting stroke. He's over 6-7, and has a sleek, NBA-ready body. His
stock is also said to be sharply rising through this workout process. He and
Seibutis had some great individual battles, and Nichols paid the price,
picking up a gash on his chin from Seibutus. That's the kind of intensity
that was on display in this workout. Again, it was easily the best workout
yet, and the Blazer scouts agreed.
I'm looking forward to seeing what's on tap for Friday. It's more difficult
to have an intense workout when you're by yourself, and Durant will be. He
understands that this is a huge opportunity for him, and he'll no doubt be
ready.
As always, I'll recap his workout for you here.
http://mikebarrettsblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/durant-in-town.html
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