Draft Grades by Chris Monter (2)
NBA Draft Grades
By: Chris Monter
Date: Jul 5, 2006
Memphis
- Rudy Gay, SF, Connecticut (# 8, acquired from Houston),
Kyle Lowry, PG, Villanova (# 24),
Alexander Johnson, PF, Florida State (# 45, acquired from Indiana via Portland)
The Grizzlies got three players that were expected to go higher in the draft.
Rudy Gay, who was acquired from Houston for Shane Battier, had been mentioned
as a possible third overall pick. He is an outstanding athlete with a
well-rounded game. He was on a Connecticut team that was loaded with NBA
draft prospects, but NBA scouts wanted to see him take over more often and
not disappear at times. Gay needs to work on his ballhandling and his ability
to move without the ball. Kyle Lowry was mentioned as a possible pick for
Phoenix and New Jersey. Lowry is a true point guard who handles the ball well.
He is a good defender who needs to improve his outside shot. Lowry made just
13 three-pointers in his two collegiate seasons. He is a bit small, but has
good strength. Villanova used a four-guard attack, so he was not the primary
ballhandler. He is a good athlete with excellent explosiveness. Memphis acquires
the draft rights to Alexander Johnson from Portland (via Indiana) for a future
second-round pick. Johnson wowed scouts in his private workout in Orlando.
He is an athletic forward who dropped 25 pounds since last summer.
He demonstrated a sculpted body in Orlando and showed more of an offensive game
than many expected. Johnson is a good leaper and athlete. He runs the floor
well, but needs to be a more consistent rebounder or shotblocker. The Grizzlies
added three athletic players who can provide immediate help and depth.
GRADE A+.
Miami- No Picks
The Heat traded their top pick for Shaquille O’Neal who helped them win the
2006 NBA title. GRADE INCOMPLETE
Milwaukee
- David Noel, SF, North Carolina (# 39),
Damir Markota, SF, Croatia (# 59 acquired from San Antonio)
David Noel is perhaps the top athlete in the draft. He finished #1 in physical
testing in Orlando. Noel improved each season at North Carolina, raising his
average from just 3.9 points as a junior. He was a standout high school football
player who has gotten some NFL interest, if basketball does not work out.
Noel made big strides as an outside shooter and passer as a senior and is a
possible second rounder, due to athletic ability and upside. Damir Markota
is an athletic forward with good leaping ability. Markota is a good rebounder
with solid strength. He has had some off-the-court issues and does not have a
large wingspan, which means he plays smaller than his listed height. Markota
may need more seasoning and might play for another year of two overseas.
GRADE B
Minnesota
- Randy Foye, SG, Villanova (# 7, acquired from Boston via Portland).
Craig Smith, PF, Boston College (# 36),
Loukas Mavrokefalidis, C, Greece (# 57)
The Timberwolves selected Brandon Roy and dealt him to Portland for the rights
to Randy Foye. He had a terrific workout for the Wolves and impressed them with
his outside shot. However, I think Brandon Roy is the better pro. The word was
that the Wolves would send Roy to Houston for the eighth pick (which they would
have selected Foye and received either Luther Head or a future first-round
pick). However, the Blazers jumped in and drafted Foye, forcing another move.
Foye is a combination guard who was named first team All-Associated Press as
a senior. He is very athletic, finishing sixth among the 81 players tested in
Orlando. He has excellent strength and can get to the hoop. Foye has improved
as an outside threat, but shot less than 40% from the field. Villanova used a
four-guard attack, so he was not the primary ballhandler. Foye has a good first
step and is a standout defender. Craig Smith is an undersized power forward,
who missed the Orlando pre-draft camp due to wrist injury. He finished his
career as Boston College's all-time leading rebounder and second in scoring.
Smith is a "tweener" at 6-5.5 without shoes as he is more of a power forward
than small forward. He made just 16 three-pointers in four years and needs to
improve his outside skills to make move to small forward. Smith is a good
low post scorer and rebounder, who tested just 74th out of 81 participants
in Chicago. Loukas Mavrokefalidis is considered a good defender with solid
quickness. He is a good shotblocker who will likely play overseas for a year.
GRADE B.
New Jersey
- Marcus Williams, PG, Connecticut (# 22),
Josh Boone, C, Connecticut (# 23), Hassan Adams, SG, Arizona (# 54)
The Nets lucked into Marcus Williams, who had been mentioned as a possible
pick by Boston with the seventh selection before the Celtics acquired
Sebastian Telfair. Williams is a well-rounded playmaker who can create for
his teammates as well as show his own offensive game. He is a playmaker with
excellent court vision who knows how to run a team. He is very effective in
the open court, but can also play in a halfcourt situation. Williams is an
excellent free throw shooter and has made strides as an outside shooter. He
needs to continue to work on his explosiveness and athleticism. He finished
73rd among 81 players in the athletic testing in Orlando and his weight at
215 pounds is high for a NBA point guard. Josh Boone had been thought of a
potential number one pick, but had an up-and-down year. Boone runs the floor
well and is good shotblocker, He is not the rebounder than you would expect.
Connecticut was loaded with pro prospects, but he was not as consistent as he
should have been. Boone is still raw on the offensive end as he relies on his
size and strength for most of his points. Alexander Johnson was thought to go
here instead, so time will tell if the Nets made the right pick at power
forward. Hassan Adams is a good athlete at shooting guard who was thought to
be a late first or early second round pick. Adams will move to shooting guard
after playing both forward positions for Arizona. He is an excellent rebounder
for his size. Adams needs to work on his outside shot and improve his shot
selection. He is a good defender with a pro body. GRADE B+
New Orleans
- Hilton Armstrong, C, Connecticut (# 12), Cedric Simmons, PF, NC State (# 15),
Marcus Vinicius Vieira de Souza, SF, Brazil (# 43)
The Hornets needed some frontcourt size with P.J. Brown getting older and the
trade of Jamal Magliore last year and loss of Chris Anderson to drug suspension
and went big with their two first round picks. Hilton Armstrong was one of the
most improved players in the country as he more than doubled his scoring and
rebounding averages from his junior season. He is an athletic big man with
good strength. Armstrong has a 7-4 wingspan, which allows him to play bigger
than his 6-10.25 size. He runs the floor well and is a good leaper. Armstrong
needs to improve his offensive moves after never averaging double figures
in his career. Cedric Simmons is an athletic forward who is an excellent
shotblocker. He has a 7-4 wingspan and is an explosive leaper. Simmons has
good low post moves, but is still raw on the offensive end. His scoring jumped
from 3.5 points per game as a freshman to 11.8 points this season. Simmons
needs to add strength, but has a good upside. Marcus Vinicius Vieira de Souza
is a long athletic forward with a good outside shooting touch. He is a good
ballhandler who often played point guard. Vinicius has good strength after
putting on close to 30 pounds in the past few months. He is a streaky shooter
and needs to improve his decision making. The Hornets added some needed size
and athleticism. GRADE A-.
New York
- Renaldo Balkman , SF, South Carolina (# 20), Mardy Collins, PG, Temple (# 29)
Renaldo Balkman was thought to be a second round pick (I had him #40) before
his name was announced as the #20 selection. Balkman is a high energy player
who played well at the Orlando pre-draft camp. He is an undersized power
forward who was measured at just 6-5 脰蘴 without shoes and he does not have
the perimeter skills of a small forward. He made just ten three-pointers the
past two seasons. Balkman made strong strides as a shooter this past season,
making 60.8% from the field this season compared to just 46.3% as a sophomore.
However, he needs to raise free throw shooting, making just 54% from the line.
He is a good rebounder and defender. Balkman needs to improve his ballhandling.
The Knicks were reportedly concerned that he would not last until the 29th
pick, but that is up to debate. Mardy Collins has excellent size at the point
guard spot. He is a good ballhandler and has good court vision. Collins takes
care of the ball, but needs to improve his shooting from the field and from
beyond the arc. He has long arms on the defensive end, which leads to his
high number of steals. Due to Temple’s matchup zone, he needs to continue
to work on his man-to-man defense. The Knicks already have Stephon Marbury,
Steve Francis and Nate Robinson at point guard and Collins does not shoot well
enough to play shooting guard. The Knicks would have likely been better going
point guard with their first pick and taking Marcus Williams. GRADE D.
Orlando
- J.J. Redick, SG, Duke (# 11), James Augustine, PF, Illinois (# 41)
The Magic needed an outside shooter, since starter DeShawn Stevenson made
just two three-pointers all season. J. J. Redick is one of the top collegiate
shooters in recent history. He finished his career as the ACC's all-time
leading scorer. Redick set the NCAA mark for three-pointers made (457) and is
second in all-time free throw shooting (91.2%). He was named Wooden Player of
the Year after finishing second in the country in scoring. Redick has shown
more athletic ability in individual workouts and has improved his mid range
game and ability to take the ball to the hoop in the past few years. He needs
to improve his defensive ability to guard the athletic shooting guards of the
NBA and his ability to create his own shots. Questions about his back arose
before the draft, but Orlando was comfortable about his condition. However,
an athletic guard like Ronnie Brewer might have been a better fit. James
Augustine has put on close to 15 pounds since the end of the season, but still
needs to add bulk to his 227-pound frame. Augustine raised his scoring each
season at Illinois and helped lead the Illini to NCAA championship game as a
junior. He is an athletic big man who runs the court well. He has good low post
moves and can hit the mid range shot. Augustine is not much of a shotblocker,
but has chance to be a solid big man off a NBA bench. GRADE B.
Philadelphia
- Rodney Carney, SF, Memphis (# 16 pick, acquired from Chicago),
Bobby Jones, SF, Washington (# 37, acquired from Minnesota),
Edin Bavcic, C, Bosnia (# 56, acquired from Toronto)
Philadelphia was busy on draft night as they acquired three players in deals.
They acquired the draft rights to Rodney Carney (the 16th pick), a 2007
second-round pick and cash considerations from Chicago for the draft rights
to Thabo Sefolosha. Carney is one of the top athletes in the draft. He measured
at bit smaller than expected at 6-4.5 without shoes. However, he is an
excellent leaper and testing fifth out of 81 players in athletic testing in
Orlando. Carney improved his offensive numbers each season. He has decent
shooting range and is a good defender. Carney needs to continue to improve his
ballhandling and passing. The 76ers acquired the draft rights to Bobby Jones
from Minnesota for a future second-round pick and cash considerations. Jones
is an athletic wing man. He is more of a slasher than pure shooter. Jones was
overshadowed throughout his career with the Huskies by Brandon Roy and
Nate Robinson, but had strong showings in the pre-draft camps. Philadelphia
acquired the draft rights to Edin Bavcic from Toronto for cash considerations.
He is a power forward with a good shooting touch. He might elect to spend
the season overseas to gain more experience. GRADE B.
Phoenix- No Picks
The Suns dealt their two first round picks for cash and a future first rounder.
Phoenix received a future first-round pick from Boston for Brian Grant,
the draft rights to Rajon Rondo and cash considerations and cash from Portland
for the draft rights to Sergio Rodriguez. These moves save them salary cap room
to re-sign several other key players and avoid the luxury cap. They could
have landed players like Shannon Brown, Marcus Williams and Jordan Farmar among
others, so only time will tell. The Suns have traded away their first round
picks for three straight drafts. GRADE INCOMPLETE.
Portland
- LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, Texas (# 2, acquired from Chicago),
Brandon Roy, SG, Washington (# 6, acquired from Minnesota),
Sergio Rodriguez , PG Spain (# 27, acquired from Phoenix),
Joel Freeland, PF, England (# 30, acquired from Detroit)
Portland was the busiest team on draft night as they made six trades. They went
into the draft, wanting LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy and Joel Freeland and
landed all three. They had been though to want local favorite Adam Morrison,
but moved with Chicago to land LaMarcus Aldridge for the rights to the fourth
pick and Viktor Khryapa. Aldridge is an athletic big man who runs the floor
well. He has the ability to face the basket or score in the low post. He needs
to continue to add strength to his 234-pound frame, but could be the top player
in this draft down the line. The Celtics dealt Dan Dickau, Raef LaFrentz and
the draft rights to Randy Foye to Portland for Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff
and a second-round pick in 2008. Portland dealt Foye for the rights to Brandon
Roy, who is considered the best complete backcourt player in the draft and some
observers feel that he might be the overall prospect in this draft. He has a
complete offensive game as he can shot, handle the ball and penetrate. Roy has
a good basketball IQ and good size at the shooting guard spot. He made strong
strides as an outside threat this season, making 39 three-pointers after making
just 14 in his first three years. Sergio Rodriguez was acquired from Phoenix
for cash. Rodriguez was considered the top foreign point guard in the draft.
He is compared to Miami Heat guard Jason Williams and is nicknamed
"Spanish Chocolate." He is a top flight ballhandler and passer with good court
vision. Rodriguez has excellent quickness. He needs to get stronger and improve
his defense to defend the quicker point guard in the NBA. He sometimes is
guilty of trying to make the flashy play. Joel Freeland saw his stock rise with
a recent strong showing at the Reebok EuroCamp. He is an athletic forward who
is a high energy player. Freeland runs the floor well and has good leaping
ability. He is a good shotblocker and solid defender. He has a good midrange
game and is a solid ballhandler for his size. Freeland needs to add strength
and could use some seasoning, but has intriguing upside. GRADE A
Sacramento- Quincy Douby, SG, Rutgers (# 19)
The Kings have drafted a shooting guard the past two seasons, but decided that
the third time is a charm as they selected Rutgers shooter Quincy Douby. He is
an outstanding outside threat who led the Big East in scoring as a junior.
He has outstanding shooting range. Douby has a quick release and is not afraid
to take big shots. He has the ability to put the ball on the floor and has a
good mid range game. Douby is thin and needs to add bulk to his frame. He is
a bit undersized at shooting guard and lacks point guard mentality. He also
needs to cut down on his turnovers. Douby could be an instant offense type.
The Kings could have used point guard help with playmakers like Marcus Williams
or Rajon Rondo available. GRADE: C
San Antonio- No picks
The Spurs traded out of the draft as they dealt Damir Markota to Milwaukee
for future second-round pick. GRADE INCOMPLETE.
Seattle
- Mouhamed Saer Sene, C, Senegal (# 10), Denham Brown, SG, Connecticut (# 40),
Yotam Halperin, PG, Israel (# 53)
The Sonics drafted centers Robert Swift and Johan Petro the past two drafts
and were thought to be looking for perimeter help such as Ronnie Brewer or
J. J. Redick. However, they drafted center project Mouhamed Saer Sene. He is
an athletic shotblocker who was measured with a 7-8.5 wingspan. He shined in
this year's Hoops Summit game as he finished with 15 points, six rebounds and
nine blocked shots and at last year's EuroCamp. Sene runs the floor well and
plays hard. He needs to get stronger and improve his offensive game, but he has
made big strides in the past year. Denham Brown is a Canadian native who led
Orlando in scoring with 45 points in three games. He improved his numbers each
year at Connecticut, despite being overshadowed by several talented teammates.
Some observers feel he will be a better pro than college player. He is a
well-rounded player who was thought to be headed to hometown Toronto.
Yotam Halperin is considered more of a combo guard than a true point.
He is a good passer and playmaker. He is a good outside threat with a strong
mid range game. Halperin is not overly athletic, which could be a problem
against quicker, smaller point guards. GRADE B-
Toronto
- Andrea Bargnani, PF, Italy (# 1), P.J. Tucker, SF, Texas (# 35)
The Raptors decided to pick Andrea Bargnani over LaMarcus Aldridge as the top
overall selection. He is a skilled big man who has drawn comparison to Dirk
Nowitzki. He is a strong perimeter player who has worked hard on his low post
moves. Bargnani is a skilled big man who is a good defender and decent
defender. He plays for a top European team and shined in an exhibition game
against Toronto and has more playing experience than other top European picks
like Darko Milic or Nikoloz Tskitishvili, who have not lived up to their high
draft status. He needs to continue to work on his strength. His addition
allowed the Raptors to deal Charlie Villanueva for point guard T.J. Ford.
P.J. Tucker is an outstanding rebounder for his size. However, he needs to
work on his outside skills as he has made just two three-pointers in his
college career. Tucker made good strides as a passer and solid ballhandler.
He is undersized, but plays so hard, that several teams had talked about him
as a late first round pick. GRADE B .
Utah
- Ronnie Brewer, SG, Arkansas (# 14), Dee Brown, PG, Illinois (# 46),
Paul Millsap, PF, Louisiana Tech (47)
Utah got three solid players in this year's draft. Ronnie Brewer is an
athletic player whose father Ron played in the NBA. He is very athletic,
finishing second overall among the 81 players tested in Orlando. He is a
standout defender who can also play some minutes at point guard. Brewer has a
quick first step and a high basketball IQ. He broke his right arm as a child
and can not fully extend it, which affects his shot. He has made strides as
an outside threat, but it is still an area of concern. Brewer added some
needed athleticism to a Jazz backcourt that was last in scoring last year.
Dee Brown has excellent quickness, but scouts wonder about his abilities at
point guard. His shooting numbers fell with the loss of backcourt mates
Luther Head and Deron Williams this past season as he shot just 35.9% from
the field. He is a bit undersized, which works against him. Brown is an
explosive athlete and will rejoin his former college teammate and give the
Jazz a change of pace off the bench. Paul Millsap led the country in rebounding
the past three years to become the first player in NCAA history to accomplish
that feat. Millsap was second in that category in the Orlando pre-draft camp
with 26 caroms. He needs to get in better shape after he weighed 258 in Orlando
after being listed as 245 in college. He is an aggressive rebounder with a nose
for the ball. He is a good low post scorer who draws fouls due to his
aggressive play around the basket. He is a bit undersized at power forward,
but his rebounding ability and nose for the ball could make him a solid
bench player. Millsap attended Louisiana Tech, the same school as Jazz star
Karl Malone. GRADE A.
Washington
- Olexsiy Pecherov, PF, Ukraine (# 18),
Vladimir Veremeenko, PF, Russia (# 48)
Oleksiy Pecherov is a skilled big man with a good outside touch. He needs to
get stronger, but is not afraid to bang. Pecherov has been compared to Keith
Van Horn. He may need more seasoning, but has good potential. Vladimir
Veremeenko has good size and scoring ability. He is considered a bit of
tweener and could spend a season overseas. The Wizards did not get much
immediate help, but this draft could pay dividends down the road. GRADE C.
http://collegebasketballnews.scout.com/2/544698.html
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 58.62.103.60
→
07/13 12:42, , 1F
07/13 12:42, 1F
NBAGM 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
65
140
-4
11
