Philadelphis 76ers: NBA Draft

Philadelphia 76ers: 2009 NBA Draft

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:41:12 -0400

2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Team Needs/Capsules - NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects

- We’ll update our Team Capsules with more specific info once the lottery is complete.

Philadelphia 76ers

2008-09 Record: 41-41 (2^nd Atlantic; 6^th in the East)

Draft Picks: 17^th

Key Free Agents:

Andre Miller (unrestricted)

How they got here:

Philadelphia began the season hoping to pose a serious threat to Boston in the Atlantic Division, thanks to their signing of Elton Brand in the summer. But the Sixers were unable to make waves in the early going, losing Brand for the season due to injury and watching Maurice Cheeks get fired after a listless start. The resulting changes, along with Tony DiLeo being named interim head coach, allowed Philadelphia to get back to the fast pace that sent them flying into the playoffs last season. The two Andres, Miller and Iguodala, were solid throughout and allowed Philadelphis to be competitive against Orlando in the first round.

What they need:

In regards to their lone draft pick, what they plan to do with Miller will determine what kind of player they look for. If Miller does re-sign the Sixers will look more at the two-guard slot, possibly going for a combo guard to both spell Miller and provide some added scoring punch at the two. If Miller doesn’t return Philadelphia will lean more towards a pure point guard with their lone selection.

Who they’ll draft:

Look for quality guards such as Eric Maynor, Jeff Teague (should he remain in the draft), Jonny Flynn and Jrue Holiday (maybe even Tyreke Evans should he slip this far) to be part of the discussion in the Sixers’ war room. With Brand coming back and youngsters Marreese Speights and Thaddeus Young also returning Philly doesn’t need to worry much about the frontcourt. They’ll draft a guard here with the hope that they can re-sign Miller, allowing the rookie time to develop.

Draft History (since 2000)

2008: Marreese Speights (16^th)

2007: Thaddeus Young (12^th), Daequan Cook (21^st), Petteri Koponen (30^th), Kyrylo Fesenko (38^th)

2006: Thabo Sefalosha (13^th)

2005: Louis Williams (45^th)

2004: Andre Iguodala (9^th)

2003: Paccelis Morlende (50^th)

2002: Jiri Welsch (16^th), Sam Clancy (45^th)

2001: Samuel Dalembert (26^th), Damone Brown (37^th), Alvin Jones (57^th)

2000: Speedy Claxton (20^th), Mark Karcher (48^th)

2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Team Needs/Capsules - NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects

Top Prospects

Stephen Curry - PG/SG - Davidson

Tyreke Evans - PG/SG - Memphis

Blake Griffin - PF - Oklahoma

James Harden - SG - Arizona State

Jordan Hill - PF - Arizona

Ty Lawson - PG - UNC

BJ Mullens - C - Ohio State

Ricky Rubio - PG - DKV Joventut

Brandon Jennings - PG - Arizona

Hasheem Thabeet - C - UCONN

NBA: Eastern Conference Breakout Players

Hoopsworld — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:08:57 -0400

By: Mike Moreau

With NBA veterans beginning their pre-season preparation over these next few weeks, here are five players in the Eastern Conference who could be preparing to have their breakout seasons in the NBA and their stat lines from 2007-08:

Tyrus Thomas: 6.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, 18 minutes

One of the great tragedies of the Bulls dysfunctional nightmare last season was the wasted year of development of forward Tyrus Thomas. One of the most physically gifted players in the NBA, if anyone had the right to demand more playing time, it was Thomas.

Why? Because Thomas played more than 34 minutes in only seven games last season. And in those seven games, six of which were against playoff teams, these were his numbers:

19.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 59% FG shooting. Those are All-Star numbers.

The Bulls record in those games? 5-2.

With Chicago showing him no love, the Bulls got what they deserved. Thomas did not. For a player who would be the first at the morning practice, only to find the lights off and no one home in the Berto Center, the Bulls new staff and their newly demonstrated commitment to player development is a gift from above. Thomas has made a significant commitment to his offseason improvement, as well.

With an improved jump shot, more versatility around the basket and a new outlook and energy, expect more minutes, more big numbers and more production from Thomas - and more wins for the Bulls.

Wilson Chandler: 7.3 Points, 2.6 Rebounds, 19 minutes

If anyone in New York should have been doing cartwheels when Mike D'Antoni was hired as head coach, it should have been Chandler. Another player with great potential caught in a seismic disaster in New York, Chandler was buried on the bench most of the year until the Knicks finally figured out that their players were bad, their coaching staff was worse, and their season was lost.

Once Chandler got some consistent run his production spoke for itself, averaging 8 points and 4 rebounds in March, then upping those numbers in April to 12.0 points and 5.6 rebounds on 48% shooting. He put together five straight double figure scoring games in March, and added four straight in April.

During one stretch in April, he had 23 points and 8 rebounds against Orlando, 19 and 9 vs. Detroit, and 18 and 8 against Atlanta - while shooting 57%.

Chandler is an Amare Stoudamire/Boris Diaw/Grant Hill hybrid, possessing some of what each of those players can do. This makes him a perfect fit for D'Antoni's uptempo style because Chandler can face up, shoot the one- and two-dribble jump shot, and is a strong and aggressive finisher at the rim. Even the sorry Knicks through him lobs last year.

Expect to see Chandler running, slashing, finishing in the open floor and playing a significant role in the Knicks' resurgence.

Louis Williams: 11.5 points, 3.2 assists, 23 minutes

Williams has seen his scoring average go from 1.9 to 4.3 to 11.4 in his three NBA seasons, and his spark off the bench last season played a significant role in the Sixers run for the playoffs and their challenge of the Pistons in the first round. He averaged 12.2 points in the Detroit series, but struggled from three-point range as the Sixers had absolutely no inside offensive presence.

Those days are over with the addition of Elton Brand, and expect Williams - who shot 35.9% from three last year - to get more open looks and shoot a better percentage for the NBA's worst three-point shooting team.

Add to that his dribble penetration game and ability to play both guard positions and Williams will be a perfect perimeter compliment to Brand. Expect more minutes, more shots, and more production from him as the Sixers contend in the East.

Jose Calderon: 11.2 Points, 8.3 Assists, 30 minutes

A point guard who shoots over 50% from the field, 43% from three, 90% from the foul line, and dishes for this many assists should not be sharing time with anyone. Calderon's playing only 24 minutes per game was a major factor in the Raptors losing the the Magic in five games in the first round of the playoffs.

With the departure of T.J. Ford and the addition of Jermaine O'Neal, Calderon will now run this team by himself and may very well find himself running the Eastern Conference All-Star team.

When Calderon got major minutes he had major production, averaging 14.9 points and 10.5 assists when he received 38 minutes a game in February. He penetrates, creates for himself and others, finishes in the lane and shoots the three.

He's a quicker, faster and better shooting Jason Kidd, and he's as good as anyone in the league coming off the ballscreen. Calderon's three-point shooting ability will be even more of a weapon with O'Neal providing some inside scoring.

He just needs minutes and the ball in his hands, and with Ford gone, it's now Calderon's show. Prepare for an entertaining one.

Rodney Stuckey: 7.8 Points, 2.8 Assists, 19 minutes

In some ways, Stuckey began his breakout during last year's playoffs, starting for an injured Chauncey Billups. Stuckey's minutes, scoring, and assists went up, and his team won. The Pistons didn't miss a beat.

He averaged 14.0 points per game in April as the Pistons began preparing for Stuckey's larger role in the future. He is a big, physical guard who can play and defend both the point and the wing, and although his field goal percentage hovered around 40% he shot an excellent 81% from the foul line.

He already gets to the foul line a lot, averaging 6.1 free throw attempts when he played major minutes in the last few weeks of the season, and shot 51-58 from the foul line in the playoffs. He doesn't take many threes, but expect that percentage to increase and his field goal percentage to rise as decision making and shot selection improve.

Keep in mind Stuckey had an outstanding preseason last year, then missed the first two months of the schedule (25 games) with a broken hand. WIth a full training camp and exhibition season under his belt, expect Stuckey to grab more minutes from Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton, increasing his production and keeping them fresher for the playoff run. When there is a literal changing of the guard in Detroit, he could be an All-Star.

Tomorrow: Western Conference

Summer League Player Grades: Picks 11-20

Hoopsworld — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:30:32 -0400

By: Jessica Camerato

HOOPSWORLD graded the top ten picks during summer league action, but the lottery players weren't the only ones making a splash this month. From standouts to let downs, see how draft picks #11-20 performed at Orlando and Las Vegas Summer League as well as the Rocky Mountain Revue.

11. Jerryd Bayless - Portland Trail Blazers (via trade from Indiana Pacers)
Noteworthy Performance: 36 points, 14-26 FG, 3 steals against the Phoenix Suns
Grade: A+

Review: Simply put, Bayless was the best. The 19-year-old garnered MVP honors after averaging nearly 30 points and five rebounds per game and proved to be more than just a ball handler. He demonstrated fearlessness at the basket and NBA readiness in the backcourt. More importantly, he proved himself to be a reliable clutch performer. Bayless sent one game into overtime and won two others with key last-second shots. It's baffling how he fell to the 11th pick and Trail Blazers' GM Kevin Pritchard came out like a bandit yet again the in the draft.

12. Jason Thompson - Sacramento Kings
Noteworthy Performance: 20 points, 10 rebounds against the Golden State Warriors
Grade: A-

Review: Thompson entered summer league as a relative unknown and headed back to Sacramento as one of the most talked about big men of the rookie class. At 6-11 he possessed one of the more intriguing games, exhibiting skills common for a big man like rebounding while also showcasing the ability to run the fast break. Like Bayless, Thompson also hit two-game winning shots. The Kings need all the front court help they can get with Brad Miller suspended for the first five games of the regular season, and Thompson could fill in nicely.

13. Brandon Rush - Indiana Pacers (via trade from Portland Trail Blazers)
Noteworthy Performance: N/A
Grade: N/A

Review: Rush did not participate in the Orlando Summer League with the Pacers as the trade that brought him to the Pacers was not completed until July 9th.

14. Anthony Randolph - Golden State Warriors
Noteworthy Performance: 26 points, 16-18 FT, 12 rebounds against the Toronto Raptors
Grade: A-

Review: Don't let Randolph's gangly frame fool you -- he packs a lot of game in that 6-10, 205 pound body. Randolph is quick and aggressive, a combination that fits perfectly into the Warriors run-and-gun system. He averaged nearly 21 points (fifth highest among all players) and eight rebounds per game while shooting better than 45% from the field. On his last day in Las Vegas, Randolph hustled his way to the basket and got to the line 18 times. He added 16 points in his Rocky Mountain Revue debut and will play three more games before the Warriors wrap up their summer league schedule.

15. Robin Lopez - Phoenix Suns
Noteworthy Performance: 19 points, 9-11 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks against the Houston Rockets
Grade: B-

Review: Lopez isn't out of his twin brother Brook's shadow yet, but he's on his way. The 7' center (who is even more towering with a few extra inches of floppy hair) looked strong offensively in the first three games. He scored 19 points in his debut and averaged 14 during summer league, but shot 2-for-10 in his summer league finale. Despite averaging nearly eight rebounds per game, Lopez's defense was weaker than expected as well. He blocked a total of just seven shots over four games and was often late to help on D. He needs work and is not going to be an instant starter, but for now he will be more than just "Brook's brother."

16. Marreese Speights - Phildelphia 76ers
Noteworthy Performance: 24 points, 13 rebounds against the Washington Wizards
Grade: A-

Review: Kudos to the Philadelphia 76ers for hitting it big once again with their mid-first round draft pick. Speights was a beast at the basket and showed off his unexpected ball handling skills on a few fast breaks. They weren't up to par with Bayless by any means, but it showed his determination to win. Head coach Mo Cheeks raved about Speights' potential and it's easy to see why. He fed off of second-year Sixers Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith, creating a chemistry that will help his rookie transition during the regular season. Not to mention, Cheeks looks forward to Speights learning from Elton Brand on the post. Brand isn't the only reason to keep an eye on the 76ers this season.

17. Roy Hibbert - Indiana Pacers (via trade from Toronto Raptors)
Noteworthy Performance: N/A
Grade: N/A

Review: Hibbert did not participate in the Orlando Summer League with the Pacers as the trade that brought him to the Pacers was not completed until July 9th..

18. JaVale McGee - Washington Wizards
Noteworthy Performance: 9 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks against the Philadelphia 76ers
Grade: C

Review: It's disappointing when a 7' big man with arms that seem to go on forever averages less than five rebounds a game against players who have never even made it to the NBA. McGee has the physique to be a pest in the paint but didn't utilize it in summer league play. He averaged 8.4 points and 4.6 boards per game while taking just 11 free throws over five match ups. Head coach Eddie Jordan seems to be high on McGee, though, so he probably will get some playing time but this long center has a long way to go.

19. J.J. Hickson - Cleveland Cavaliers
Noteworthy Performance: 26 points, 9 rebounds against the New York Knicks
Grade: B+

Review: Hickson was not in New York City on Draft Night but he made his presence known in Las Vegas. He exploded for 26 points in his debut and averaged nearly 20 points and eight rebounds over five games. GM Danny Ferry was impressed by his offensive arsenal and was also pleased with his efforts on the glass. Hickson shot 53% from the field but just 50% from the line, so free throws will be key to his development. The Cavs have not drafted a big in the first round in over five years and the addition of Hickson will be a welcome change in Cleveland.

20. Alexis Ajinca - Charlotte Bobcats (via trade from Denver Nuggets)
Noteworthy Performance: 11 points, 4 rebounds against the New Orleans Hornets
Grade: D-

Review: Ajinca showed a glimmer of hope with an 11-point performance in his second game but then … it was gone. First came inconsistency and then a knee sprain, leaving Ajinca a near-bust in Vegas. International players usually take longer to transition to the NBA than rookies from the U.S., so there is some wiggle room, but there is more to be said for three straight scoreless games than just an adjustment period. Ajinca simply struggled. The Bobcats can only hope that an MRI will not reveal a significant injury because he needs all the time he can get on the court before the start of the season.

Philadelphia 76ers: NBA Draft Team Needs

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:47:56 -0400

2007-08 Record: 40-42; 3^rd Atlantic

Draft Picks: 16

Key Free Agents

F/G Andre Iguodala (restricted)

G Louis Williams (restricted)

How they got here and what they need

This past season the Sixers went from an early season curiosity to a late season threat to upset someone in the playoffs. While they eventually fell to Detroit in the first round, Philly made steps towards the top of the Atlantic Division, something that hasn't been said in a few years. A star was born in Andre Iguodala, and Louis Williams began to show at time just why he was a draft pick straight out of high school. In Samuel Dalembert, head coach Maurice Cheeks has a defensive presence inside for years to come.

But the missing ingredient is an offensive force on the block that can relieve some of the pressure placed on Iguodala and point guard Andre Miller. And with the trading of Kyle Korver to Utah this season, another outside shooter could also be in the offing with the Sixers' lone selection.

Who they take

There are some good options from which to choose for the Sixers. Big men such as Kosta Koufos, JeVale McGee, Marreese Speights and Robin Lopez stand to be on the board, but only Koufos can offer some relief on the offensive end right now and he'd rather face up than bang on the block in most instances. But if they go for an outside shooter, Kansas' Brandon Rush should also be available. I say they take Speights with this pick.

Draft History (since 2000)

2007: Thaddeus Young (12), Daequan Cook (21), Petteri Koponen (30), Kyrylo Fesenko (38)

2006: Thabo Sefalosha (13)

2005: Louis Williams (45)

2004: Andre Iguodala (9)

2003: Paccelis Morlende (50)

2002: Jiri Welsch (16), Sam Clancy (45)

2001: Samuel Dalembert (26), Damone Brown (37), Alvin Jones (57)

2000: Speedy Claxton (20), Mark Karcher (48)

NBA Draft Review: What I Learned..

Adam Stanco — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:50:47 -0400

The 2007 NBA Draft has taught us many things…

Joakim Noah has an interesting sense of style. The Blazers would’ve made all 60 picks if David Stern allowed it. Spike Lee likes Zach Randolph a lot more than Channing Frye. And Stephen A. Smith isn’t a big fan of Jason Richardson.

But of all the things I learned during the NBA Draft, this is what I learned the most…

1. NBA teams gave up on last year’s picks awful quickly

We all knew last year’s draft class was laughable, but most of the league acted like it never even happened. Team after team scrapped the investment they made just one year ago and nabbed shiny new prospects at the exact same positions.

Last season the Grizzlies took Kyle Lowry with their first round pick, but they selected Mike Conley – another very young point guard – this year. Atlanta grabbed Shelden Williams at No. 5 in 2006 and they took another bruising power forward, Al Horford, on Thursday. The Lakers picked incredibly talented point guard prospect Javaris Crittenton, despite picking a fairly talented point guard a year ago in Jordan Farmar.

And Philadelphia, who we’ll discuss in more detail later, snatched up Rodney Carney and Bobby Jones in ‘06, yet didn’t hesitate to draft Thaddeus Young at No. 12 this year. The Sixers are already maxed out at the wing positions, but at least Carney and Jones will have someone to hang out with on the bench as the team waits for Young to develop.

2. Joakim Noah, Marcus Williams, Aaron Gray, and Josh McRoberts lost the most financially by returning to school

After last year’s stunning NCAA Tournament run, Noah had a rush of momentum on his side. He almost certainly would have been selected before Andrea Bargnani. However, the arrival of Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, plus a year of Noah-nitpicking by NBA scouts, devoured his draft stock. He went from possibly being the first overall pick to becoming the No. 9 selection.

But, in Noah’s mind, it still worked out. He’ll be playing for a promising Bulls team and he’s got two permanents: A second ring and a secure place in college basketball lore.

Others weren’t so lucky.

McRoberts could’ve been a top ten pick in ’06. Sure his game had flaws, but the consensus was that all of his issues were fixable. Apparently, that’s no longer the consensus. The former Duke disappointment slid slowly to the second round. He was even drafted after Carl Landry and Glen Davis. Some may say that McRoberts left school too early, but he actually left too late.

Gray and Williams were also assured they’d be first rounders a year ago. That would’ve meant first round money and, even more importantly, guaranteed deals. Now, after also falling to round two, they’ll be fighting simply for roster spots.

There’s no reason to believe we won’t be seeing them all in the league next season – or even getting some quality minutes – yet they each would have been much more secure financially had they left school last year.

3. The Sixers have no idea what they’re doing

Owning three first round picks and an early second rounder in one of the deepest drafts in years, Philly ended up with Colorado State enigma Jason Smith, Ukrainian big man Kyrylo Fesenko, Thaddeus Young, and Derrick Byars.

Smith is an interesting prospect because of his athletic ability, solid skills, soft touch, and 7-foot frame. In other words, he’s brilliant in workouts. But he also averaged just 16.8 points a game against weak competition and turned the ball over far too often.

Fesenko apparently has a bunch of off-court issues and might not ever end up suiting up for the Sixers.

Young and Byars are gifted, but Philly is overloaded at the wing positions. In addition to the aforementioned Carney and Jones, the Sixers also have Willie Green, Kyle Korver, and Andre Iguodala all playing significant minutes.

Keep in mind, Philadelphia earned the No. 12 pick, but acquired the two late first rounders as part of the Allen Iverson trade. Billy King should’ve made sure he got another lottery pick in that deal.

He didn’t.

This is what King did essentially get for one of the league’s most decorated and marketable stars…

Andre Miller, Joe Smith, Jason Smith, Derrick Byars, and cash.

That’s just disgusting.

4. The Spurs know exactly what they are doing

There’s one simple reason that San Antonio is one of the best organizations in all of sports: They make informed decisions.

That well thought-out decision-making is the reason they picked talented post player Tiago Splitter at No. 28. Splitter apparently has a big buyout in his contract, meaning the Spurs will probably have to wait a year to get him, but he can play.

Despite talk of the buyout as the rumored reason teams passed on him, the real reason was more likely his poor play during the Euroleague Final Four. Instead of judging his full body of work, teams overanalyzed his putrid performance (7 points and 6 boards) against Panathinaikos in the semi-final. Considering that most scouts didn’t observe him throughout the year, his poor showing against the Greek power slanted the scouts’ opinion of him.

Combine the bad game on a big stage with the buyout and the slip seemed somewhat inevitable. But should it make Splitter an even bigger risk than the troubled Sean Williams, who was drafted No. 17 by the New Jersey Nets?

Of course not.

Yet somehow Williams – who failed to score in double-figures in four of the 15 games he played prior to his dismissal from the team – still went 11 spots ahead of Splitter.

And that’s why San Antonio won’t be leaving their perch atop the NBA’s elite any time soon.

5. The Sonics could have a groundbreaking lineup

While everyone is talking about Ray Allen going from the Pacific Northwest to the Northeast, I’m more interested in what’s staying in Seattle. If the Sonics re-sign Rashard Lewis, which now looks like a possible scenario, they will have an incredibly intriguing roster.

Three of the Seattle starters would be versatile, yet stunningly similar players.

Kevin Durant is about 6-foot-10 and can play the 2,3, or 4, but is most comfortable as a small forward.

Jeff Green is about 6-foot-10 and can play the 2,3, or 4, but is most comfortable as a small forward.

Lewis is – you guessed it – about 6-foot-10 and can play the 2,3, or 4, but is most comfortable as a small forward.

Expect Seattle to play all three at the same time with each player rotating between the shooting guard, small forward, and power forward positions. The offensive possibilities are endless. The league hasn’t seen anything even remotely like what the Sonics could put on the floor.

Of course, before Seattle starts a revolution, they need to hire a head coach first.

Unsubstantiated Speculation: Today's NBA Draft Rumors

Jason Tomassini — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:44:37 -0400
The draft is finally upon us, which means the speculation will be swirling and may be a little more substantiated as it has been the past four or five weeks. It’s kind of strange to write a column leading up to an event that, within a span of three hours, will disprove about 90 percent of what was written in this space. But, the links are heating up and I am here to provide them. Expect everything below to change before 7 p.m. tomorrow.

· We’ll start at the top of the draft, where it still appears that Portland will select Greg Oden. John Canzano of The Oregonian thinks the Blazers are foolish for pretending the decision is still up in the air. He’s got a point there. If you already know who you are going to take, be decisive about it. Showing wavering confidence in the No. 1 pick isn’t a great way to welcome him to your team. Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune is hearing that Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard is in fact split on who to pick in his look at the draft. There seems to be this growing sentiment that Durant is the more surefire bet to be a star, but it’s only coming from the media. It seems like those who spend time with him, like Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express News, come away thinking it’s his personality, not just his game, that will lead to stardom. Not sure if Greg Oden has that yet, but if you look at guys like Jordan, Bird and Magic, they had a mentality that spoke louder than ability. Maybe most people don’t know Durant well enough to see that and maybe it’s just an unfounded feeling, but you get the sense that those who have been around the game see something different about this kid. Howard Beck of the New York Times is one such person, and he turns in a great feature on Durant. The Times’ Liz Robbins has a feature on Oden as well. Oh, and via Oden’s blog, he has signed a deal with Nike, estimated worth at one gazillion dollars.

· Before we get to all the trade and pick stuff, allow me to direct you to an interesting article by John Hollinger, ESPN.com’s senior mad scientist, who has some fancy pants rating system for this year’s draft prospects. I won’t unwillingly cloud your brain with the system’s principles but here are some highlights. Kevin Durant is No. 1, and considered the best prospect of the past five years. Oden is No. 2 for this draft. Nick Fazekas and Josh McRoberts are Nos. 7 and 8 respectively, scoring big in the “Defiance of Gravity” category. Corey Brewer is No. 24. You can discover the rest of the carnage on your own.

· There’s been a million Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett trade scenarios but they don’t always affect the draft so we won’t worry about them so much. It seems the teams that are most likely to move around are the Celtics, the Bobcats, the Sixers and the Hawks. Andy Katz sat down with Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers of the Celtics, but seems no less confused by their intentions. They worked out Nick Young and some other players that are valued lower than No. 5, so that could be an indication of a trade being in the works. But it could also be an indication that Danny Ainge was bored and felt like watching some guys shoot jumpers, so you never know.

· The Bobcats seem fairly intent on trading their pick. Although yesterday’s news that Gerald Wallace will opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent could change that. I’d imagine if Corey Brewer or Jeff Green were available, either would be a good replacement. The Suns are trying to get in the lottery and one scenario has the Bobcats as a likely partner. Charlotte has No. 8 and No. 21, Phoenix has No. 24 and No. 29. I’m not going to do the math.

· Hawks beat writer/GM in spirit Sekou Smith of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution exercises his right to a mock draft and has Atlanta taking Yi Jianlian, a move that would probably cause riots. If you are into self-inflicted pain, read NBA.com’s interview with Hawks GM Billy Knight. There are rumors of a massive Garnett/Stoudemire/Hawks’ picks three-way deal but, as all other trade rumors inevitably are, they are preliminary. A more likely situation has the Hawks trading the No. 11 pick for Luke Ridnour.

· The Sixers worked out Julian Wright and are trying to get Joakim Noah in for a last minute workout. They also worked out Al Thornton, a guy they would probably have a good chance to take if they stay at No. 12. Gordie Jones at the Allentown Morning Call knows this is a big draft for the Sixers but shares the popular sentiment that GM Billy King is bound to screw it up. Philly really wants a power forward (and if they don’t get one, Shavlik Randolph will likely be a starter) so David Aldridge takes a look at some guys the Sixers might try to move up and get, using their three first-round picks (12, 21, 30). The Bobcats would be a likely trading partner; rumors with the Bucks are flying around also.

· One sign that the Suns are actively trying to cut some salary to get into the lottery is their latest workout. They had Noah, Brewer and Green in the other day, all of whom were pretty enamored with the idea of playing for Phoenix. Corey Brewer on the Suns would be a sight to behold.

· For a rundown of all the draft rumors, check Chad Ford’s blog, and this post on Sekou Smith’s blog. These guys are amongst the few that seem to actually have a grasp on this draft.

· Some less speculative links to dole out. Here’s a nice feature on Yi Jianlian, pertaining to the large shadow cast over him by Yao Ming.

· Arron Afflalo was a star in college for which next to nothing has been written about during this draft process. Apparently he measured much bigger and taller than most people expected and also performed well in athletic testing. Here’s a nice feature, finally, on a guy who will probably be drafted way too late.

· On the opposite end of the spectrum, a lot has been written of Joakim Noah. If you didn’t see the segment on him for HBO’s Real Sports, it was outstanding and goes a long way to tear down his brash public image. If you need some more, here’s another feature.

· And if you’re as tired of reading workout stories as me, here’s one that is certainly unique. “Very tall and very Romanian.”

That’s all for Unsubstantiated Speculation. There will certainly be many more rumors leading up to the actual draft so this edition couldn’t be as comprehensive as I had hoped. Bill Simmons and Chad Ford will do a mock draft on ESPN.com that might provide a little more clarity and CHN will have its share of content. This is truly my favorite event of the year because it’s the one day where the NBA and college hoops share a similar stage. Enjoy the draft as I will and thanks for reading.

Unsubstantiated Speculation: Wednesday's Draft Rumors

Jason Tomassini — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:01:14 -0400
Today’s links are a little light. Not only are there not that many but after the Spurs took another step towards a Finals sweep I anticipate an epic flood of draft links from NBA writers desperate for a story once the Finals are over, so there are plenty to come. If you ever wanted a 1,200 word feature on Kyle Visser, your time has come.

And… links…

· There seems to be quite a buzz surrounding Yi Jianlian and it’s not necessarily because he has done anything good. In the sparse video footage of him, he’s basically dunking on high schoolers, his only workouts are individual and yet some teams are enamored with him. This well-done San Francisco Chronicle piece by Janny Hu doesn’t answer too many questions about his game, but it does provide a look at who the hell this kid is and the state of basketball in China. One thing is for sure though, if Yi gets drafted in the top five and struggles like Darko Milicic and Nikoloz Tskitishvilli, it might be the last time a foreign prospect can pull the whole “mystery” thing with the draft. On second thought, some of these NBA GMs would draft a 7-foot Romanian monk who averaged 12 points in a monastery league if he had a long wingspan and was mobile.

· Speaking of overhyped international players, Chad Ford checks in with his Eurocamp wrap-up (Insiders only). Seems like the better players at the camp won’t be in the draft until 2008. Also, these international players must have learned something from the stateside draftees in Orlando because most of the best prospects didn’t show. Tiago Splitter of Brazil, Kyrylo Fessenko of the Ukraine and Petteri Koponen of Finland, probably the three top international prospects besides Yi, all declined to play. Marco Belinelli of Italy and Ali Traore of France are the only two participants with a first-round shot this year. Oh and one day, Kansas State’s Bill Walker showed up with Team Reebok, which included some high-profile high schoolers, to challenge some of the Europeans (UCLA-committed guard Malcolm Lee was apparently the best player in the whole camp). Seems like some sort of international basketball version of Bring It On, but I’m sure it was entertaining nonetheless. Walker is apparently very fat right now, sorry K-State fans. NBADraft.net and DraftExpress have daily recaps available if you’re into that sort of thing.

· Joakim Noah continues his attempts to take over this draft. After attacking bloggers, mock drafts, Yi Jianlian and, albeit nonverbally, hairstylists everywhere, he’s now saying he’s going through workouts at 75 percent because of a shoulder injury. He said it also affected him during the season. Andy Katz has the story. Apparently this time Noah is speaking the truth because NBA teams have seen an MRI that shows a slight tear in his rotator cuff. Either way it’s pretty clear Noah doesn’t feel to secure about his draft position right now. So the strategy has become to use his two most valuable assets, his motor and his mouth, to boost his stock. What has resulted is an arrogance and obnoxiousness that most people are supposed to hate, but in a strange way has made Noah likable in this process. He is complaining about all the things that fans have complained about for years. Mock drafts are stupid, players that refuse to work out against other top prospects are cowards (he made an indirect jab at Brandan Wright as well), and injuries aren’t an excuse to not go all out for every team. Even though his words and actions may be a veiled attempt to restore his draft hype, Noah’s certainly accomplishing something important in the NBA Draft: getting noticed.

· The Bulls held a pretty giant workout Monday that included the Sigfried and Roy of the 2007 NBA Draft, Corey Brewer and Al Thornton. It’s the third straight workout they have done together. Joakim Noah loudly approves. Josh McRoberts and Jason Smith were also there. Smith is becoming one of those overhyped underrated guys in the draft. Both the Chicago Daily Herald and the Chicago Tribune did the whole “this mid-major kid is so unheralded!” story. The hype is real for Smith, he has supposedly been dominating workouts and recorded a 37-inch vertical leap, the best among big men. He hasn’t hired an agent but he’s probably a lock for the top 20, maybe even the lottery. In other Bulls news, after all that, Carol Slezak of the Chicago Sun-Times doesn’t think the No. 9 pick is going to help the Bulls at all.

· Other workout news:

· The Sixers have been terrifying me with all of the local scrubs they are working out. Their latest workout included Will Sheridan who had been interning on Wall Street when he got the workout request. Maybe Sixers GM Billy King wanted to know if Sheridan’s firm was hiring. Jared Dudley, Nick Fazekas and DeVon Hardin were also there.

· At the Noah workout (he went up against Courtney Sims, by the way), which was for the Celtics, Brandan Wright did an individual workout on the other end of the court. He did not go up against the chair from Yi Jianlian’s individual workout because rumors are the chair received a late first-round promise and won’t work out for other teams.

· The Bucks are tight-lipped about their workouts but Brandan Wright will allegedly have an individual workout with them Friday. Mike Conley and Thaddeus Young should be there next week and Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Carl Landry are rumored to work out for the Bucks June 19th.

· Derrick Byars has worked out for the Sixers, Knicks, Nets and Wizards. He continues to fly under the radar but it’s rumored that if the Knicks keep the No. 23 pick and Byars is available, they promised to take him.

· Former Wisconsin Badgers Alando Tucker and Kammron Taylor have been making the rounds. Tucker has 11 workouts total, Taylor probably won’t get drafted but worked out with Minnesota and is scheduled for Portland. Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal can’t believe Tucker would get picked behind Daequan Cook. He also can’t believe Eric Crouch isn’t a starting NFL quarterback.

· The deadline for prospects to withdraw from the draft is Monday and Joseph Jones is going back to Texas A & M.

· Jaycee Carroll is 24 but appears to be headed back to Utah State.

· To no surprise, Josh McRoberts signed with an agent and is staying in the draft.

Unsubstantiated Speculation: Today's NBA Draft Rumors

Jason Tomassini — Fri, 25 May 2007 15:41:23 -0400
There seems to be an unusually high amount of fallout from the NBA Draft Lottery the other night. I’m assuming part of it is because of Durant/Oden and another part of it is Spurs/Jazz/Cavs/Pistons (although last night’s horrible officiating should help detract the talking heads from the lottery for a second). The majority of the reactions fell into two categories. The first: Hooray, we beat the lottery, our franchise is saved! The other: The lottery screwed us, the lottery sucks, our franchise is doomed for the next 30 years. There was really nothing in between.

On with the links…

·        ESPN’s Henry Abbot a.k.a. TrueHoop went boldly where no blogger had ever gone before: an actual event. He was behind-the-scenes at the lottery and just so happened to change the course of history for his beloved Blazers. Speaking of blogs, Bethlehem Shoals at Free Darko wrote this piece for the AOL Sports Fanhouse. With everyone complaining about Oden and Durant’s exile to the Northwest, he argues that this draft in itself will rejuvenate the league because there are finally some prospects with name recognition.

·        As we get into reactions from around the league, the first logical stop is the sullen emotional wasteland that is Boston right now. The Distraught Celtics Fan poster boy is ESPN’s Bill Simmons, who writes this entertaining but certainly melodramatic column the day after the lottery. He rightly points out that looking back, since the Celtics didn’t get in the top two, the tanking was a disgrace to the game rather than a viable strategy to improve. As for the organization, the Boston Herald chronicled the Celtics front office’s half-hearted attempt at the Put on a Happy Face game. The co-owner says the draft is deep. The GM says they could explore a trade (hopefully one that goes better than the Telfair deal last year). And the ~~captain of the sinking ship~~ coach just seems mostly confused. Oh and the local columnist, Tony Massarotti, is pissed at the NBA, the lottery and probably the sport of Ping Pong in general.

·        After taking time to bask in the glory that is another Celtics disappointment, let’s take on the significantly less fun task of feeling happy for the winners. Look no further for unbridled enthusiasm than the Blazers own GM Kevin Pritchard (amongst my favorite people of this draft already), who was downright giddy after the lottery. If not because of Greg Oden, then because this means he will be employed in the near future. John Canzano writes an excellent piece about how the pick will change the franchise not from a bottom line perspective, but from the perspective of the true fans that have stood by the team during all the turmoil. By the way, in regards to the idiotic notion spewed by the ESPN analysts about Portland being a playoff contender next year do me a favor. Look at the eight teams in the Western Conference playoffs this year and tell me who the Blazers could be better than next year. Thank you.

·        The Seattle Times caught up with the Sonics newest “chucker” as Doug Gottlieb called him Tuesday. If anything, this article just further cements the fact that Kevin Durant is going to be a freaking superstar. From his game to his outlook on the NBA, it’s a sure thing, mark it down. Art Thiel of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer writes the obvious, that the Sonics now have a legitimate chance to stay in Seattle because of some silly Ping Pong balls. Gotta love the NBA.

·        Perhaps lost in the shuffle is Atlanta, which keeps its pick and now have No. 3 and No. 11. Terence Moore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution will be angry if they don’t pick Mike Conley. To which I say, “What the f***?” Mike Conley is a good point guard, he is NOT the third pick of the NBA Draft. Just because the Hawks, in their glorious ineptitude, passed on Deron Williams and Chris Paul, doesn’t mean they should compound the mistake by reaching for Conley. Of all the teams that stunk last year, they actually have a chance to become good because of this draft. They should try to trade down and get Conley and a big man, but they will screw it up because they are the Hawks.

·        Everyone knows this already but Hibbert is going back and Green is going pro. Hibbert would’ve been a bust of a top ten pick but he still would’ve been in the top ten. Good for him to realize he’s not ready but all that does is save the job of the GM who would’ve wasted their pick on him. It’s bittersweet I suppose.

·        In other news, Minnesota has an NBA franchise and Patrick Reusse of the Star Tribune uses this opportunity to declare he is none too pleased with it. If you are wondering how the Wolves will use their pick, Reusse has an answer: poorly.

·        Rick Telander of the Chicago Sun-Times writes this meandering critique of the lottery process itself. Somewhere in there he hits an interesting point. If the NBA runs the lottery to avoid tanking, then they are essentially awarding franchises a savior based on blind luck. If they change it, tanking prevails. I’m not sure what the solution is, but I think we’ve reached a low point in sports when one of the important topics is how to draw Ping Pong balls out of a big wheel. John Jackson, also of the Sun-Times, points out that if Eddy Curry didn’t beat the Bulls with a tip-in on the last day of the season, the Bulls (via the Knicks), would’ve had the same odds as Portland to win the lottery. If they find a way to get Horford or Brandan Wright they still might be the Eastern Conference favorites next year anyway.

·        Stephen A. Smith departs from his usual medium of analysis — screaming — for this Philadelphia Inquirer column on the Sixers gloomy outlook sitting at No. 12. For some reason, Philadelphia is being touted as all that is right amongst the NBA’s losers for not tanking games and ending up at No. 12. I do not share the same feeling. They won three more games than Portland. The Blazers are getting Greg Oden, we are getting Spencer Hawes. It wouldn’t have hurt to lose a few down the stretch there. Pride doesn’t always get you to the playoffs, luck does.

·        Oh, and no one in Memphis really cares about NBA basketball.

Unsubstantiated Speculation: Today's NBA Draft Rumors

Jason Tomassini — Tue, 22 May 2007 11:44:06 -0400
With all the excitement of a lead-in to Jeopardy! the NBA Draft Lottery takes place tonight. It is always a glorious event. Where else can we watch the usually cocksure (and by “cocksure” I mean oblivious) NBA executives sweat through their suits and smile nervously while clutching some sort of lucky charm — like a lion’s tooth or gypsy tears or something — knowing that some stupid Ping Pong balls could savage their respective careers. Only in the NBA could this become not only a relevant event, but a weirdly entertaining one, even if only a few teams actually have a shot at No. 1 and the top prospects are usually guys like Kwame Brown, Michael Olowokandi and Andrew Bogut.

Luckily Greg Oden and Kevin Durant add a nice little twist to this year’s lottery with the teams landing in the top 2 instantly rejuvenated and teams on the outside planning for relocation.

Most importantly, the lottery marks the start of Draft prep, which comes at a perfect time given the plodding slop that is the Conference Finals (I’m way more interested in Oden vs. Durant than Spurs vs. Pistons). So as part of CHN’s NBA Draft coverage I’ll sift through the wide expanse of the Internet and try to stay up to date with all the latest ~~unsubstantiated speculation~~ buzz. And if that’s not enough, I’ll throw in my two cents as well.

·         It’s really no joke that the jobs of some NBA executives are on the line as David Aldridge writes of Sixers GM Billy King (I’m a big Sixers fan which is why this leads off the list). King has been hopelessly inept in most of his roster moves (with the exception of 2000, a year he actually made very few moves), but he’s been decent in the Draft (Iguodala, Korver in the 2nd round). If they can’t get a PF like Brandan Wright, Al Horford or Joakim Noah, the next choice should be PGs Conley or Law. That would be the logical move at least. But the pressure is as high as ever on King and I smell desperation (which smells a lot like Spencer Hawes by the way). He could take a flier on someone realizing it’s make or break time for the Sixers, who have three first-round picks and only one top 50 NBA player. Good thing us Philly fans are so accepting.

·         Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune “broke” what some would consider “news” yesterday writing that Greg Oden would like to play with Mike Conley, his high school and college teammate. First of all, no s**t. That’s like me saying I’d like my next relationship to be with Jessica Alba. The problem is it’s not going to happen. The only team with a chance at landing the two without a trade is Atlanta. If they can land the No. 1 they should also have Indiana’s pick at 11. It’s a long-shot but so is any scenario that makes the Hawks relevant again.

·         Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer says in this excellent column the lottery is another example of the problems in the NBA today. He makes a great point: The NBA has tinkered with the lottery like they have dozens of other aspects of the game to the point where the competitiveness of the league has been compromised.

·         Speaking of the Hawks, Sekou Smith of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution gives the fans — whether they asked for it or not — a look at their hapless yet resilient GM Billy Knight. The Hawks could have any number of results of lottery night but the No. 11 pick appears to be a sure thing (the Pacers have it top 10 protected). I fully anticipate they will promise that selection to Nick Fazekas.

·         Mark Bradley, also of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, takes an interesting look at the lottery’s implications on Georgia Tech and its coach Paul Hewitt. Javaris Crittenton and Thaddeus Young both are in the draft but without agents. While the lottery won’t really affect those two — they are projected to be mid first-rounders — the Draft’s affect on college coaches must be difficult at times. Whether players withdraw or not probably doesn’t affect recruiting, but it certainly affects the playing time of incoming recruits and current players. It’s interesting stuff and yet, it seems the story goes mostly untold. Hewitt probably has more uncertainty regarding the draft than any other coach in the country. John Thompson III probably knows his guys are gone and Mark Fox could lose his backcourt, but not players like Crittenton and Young.

·         In what could be considered either very creative or the bastard child of a slow news day, Kent Youngblood of the Minneapolis Star Tribune asks some experts in probability to asses the Wolves lottery chances. He enlists a psychic named Moonrabbit to foresee the Wolves future. Here’s a snippet: “The stars indicate a major disappointment. I'm afraid there is no immediate change in store for them.” If only Moonrabbit was Kevin Garnett’s agent…

·         Down in Memphis, where they have the best odds at No. 1 but no head coach and will soon have no GM, they know it only takes one player to turn around a franchise. Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan and Lebron James are all perfect examples lottery-induced turnarounds. Pau Gasol was nowhere to be found on the list.

·         The winner for most delusional, contrived lottery interest goes to this writer in Oklahoma City who is actually rooting for Seattle to win the lottery because they are a possible relocation destination for the Sonics.

·         The increasingly more fantastic AOL Sports Blog site has The Big Lead’s list of who will be most doomed by any lottery injustice. They have Atlanta on top but I’ve got to think it’s Boston. The Red Sox should take the city’s mind off the tanking travesty that is the Celtics, but with the way they intentionally mangled the end of their season and the fact they renewed Doc Rivers contract, not getting Oden or Durant could be the final disappointment for those in Boston who care about basketball. The Sporting News decided to further torture the city with its recent cover featuring Tim Duncan in a Celtics jersey, an ode to the last time Boston tanked and were failed by the Ping Pong balls (you can see the cover on the right side). Rick Pitino is still bitter about it in this piece by Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald.

·         Sean Deveney of The Sporting News needles Boston some more in his decent, but excessively long piece, on the pitfalls of coming up short in the lottery.

·         In Denver, although they have no first-round picks, Marc Spears thinks this draft has the look of the 2003 Draft that featured Lebron, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. I see the similarity but this draft seems more top-heavy than that one. Looking past Oden and Durant, I’d be shocked if this draft produced players with the caliber of those in 2003. Chris Bosh, Kirk Hinrich, Chris Kaman, TJ Ford, David West, Leandro Barbosa, Boris Diaw, Kyle Korver and Mickeal Pietrus all came out of that draft as well.

·         If they don’t get one of the top two picks, I really think Seattle could enter the season as the worst team in the NBA. They have no coach or GM right now, they will probably lose Rashard Lewis to free agency, Ray Allen has to be dying to leave and the city can barely support a team. It’s gotten so bad that they are pleading with David Stern to fix the lottery for them, just to save the franchise. That’s asking a lot. I mean, you need to play in a much bigger market than Seattle to have the lottery rigged for you. They have an 8.8 percent chance of winning though, with some optimists in the rainy city noting Toronto’s similar position last year. Could be the Starbucks talking.

For a more realistic look, here’s an outstanding column by Ted Miller of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, who says the Sonics have put the fate of their franchise in the Ping Pong balls.

Since it seems everyone will be happy with either of the top two picks, here are the odds each team will land there:

Memphis: 46.5 percent

Boston: 38.7 percent

Milwaukee: 31.3 percent

Atlanta: 24.5 percent

Seattle: 18.5 percent

Portland: 11.3 percent

Minnesota: 11.3 percent

Charlotte: 4.1 percent

Chicago (via New York): 4.1 percent

Sacramento: 3.9 percent

Indiana: 1.7 percent

Philadelphia: 1.5 percent

New Orleans: 1.3 percent

LA Clippers: 1.1 percent

·         Jay Bilas thinks Greg Oden is dreamy for what it’s worth. But more interestingly, the ESPN draft analyst tells the Charlotte Observer Mike Conley won’t make it to the Bobcats probable pick at No. 8 but Corey Brewer, Julian Wright or Jeff Green will be available. Interesting quandary for Bobcats fans: Do you get excited about the prospect of selecting one of those three players or do you take any NBA-related analysis by Jay Bilas for what it’s worth and embrace reality? Hmmm…

·         Apparently Bucks GM Larry Harris already has made his mind up on the Oden-Durant debate. Speaking of Harris, if anyone remembers back to the 2005 lottery, you know that the Bucks won the No. 1 pick and Harris was shaking and stuttering during the ESPN interview like he had just won American Idol or something. And I guess it’s alright to be excited, but do you really want to see your team’s GM completely breaking down because he won a draft lottery? I mean, they got Andrew Bogut . Let’s say Kevin McHale calls this offseason and offers Kevin Garnett for Charlie Villanueva and Mo Williams. If Harris starts panting and trembling, don’t you think that would be a dealbreaker? I think that sums up the state of the NBA GM pretty well. They are so insecure about their jobs that if some Ping Pong balls fall their way, they are helplessly overcome with excitement. Anyways, it says in this notebook that Harris is going to be back in Jersey tonight and he vows to not act like a schoolgirl that just got asked to prom.

·         The winner for most thick-headed denial of your franchise’s impending doom (a highly competitive award, by the way) goes, once again, to Isiah Thomas who says he’s happy with Eddy Curry and isn’t too interested in the results of tonight’s lottery.

Back later in the week with some lottery reactions and a look at the first spring harvest of mock drafts.