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NBA Draft 2008: International Prospects & Second-Round Sleepers By Ron Jumper The NBA Draft is getting closer and closer, so I thought I would tackle some of the interesting (well, I think they are interesting anyways) topics. However, that does not mean I’m going to blab on and on about Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose. I get it, scouts are drooling over them and unanimously consider them the top 2 prospects. I don’t necessarily agree to that extent but I’m going to move on (for now). I’m going to focus more on the international prospects, as there is a much stronger class this year than in the last couple of seasons, and some guys that are currently flying under the radar that could play early in their careers. By now, would you really expect me to make a mainstream article that could be considered even borderline generic? If you were expecting me to crank out the basic boring topics of the draft, you haven’t been following my website closely enough over the years. International Prospects SF Danillo Gallinari, Italy Gallinari is an intriguing prospect, as there are a lot of different opinions on him. Some rave about his ability to be a star in one of the best leagues in Europe at only 19. On the flip side, there are scouts that are skeptical because he is not a great athlete by any stretch of the imagination. Personally, I think he is going to be a very good player in the right system. If he were to play a “Swing 4” in an uptempo scheme, his shooting and passing ability would really shine. At 6’9” 210, he wouldn’t be a defensive liability against typical NBA forwards, as I think his high basketball IQ would make up for his foot speed. (I think scouts sometimes knock a guy for the wrong reasons, it is all about fitting into a role on the team that takes you. If you have a Bruce Bowen, Tayshaun Prince, Raja Bell, James Posey, or Shane Battier then you can afford to have a great offensive player like Gallinari on the floor. Look at Michael Finley, Richard Hamilton, Steve Nash, Ray Allen, and Tracy McGrady. Because those guys all have other guys that are elite defenders on their team, they aren’t exploited for being a poor defender and can focus on offense. I tend to have a simple philosophy that you will hear from now until the draft: Unless you are that rare prospect like Beasley this season or Durant last season that can do a little bit of everything at a high level, it is most likely that you will need to do one thing really well to stick in the NBA and find a role. Whether it is shooting, rebounding, or defense, it is important for young players to find a role early in their careers. It is because of this that guys like Devin Brown, Matt Carroll, and Paul Millsap are still in the league, despite not being a lottery pick.) SG/SF Nicolas Batum, France Batum is the exact opposite of Gallinari, as he is a freak of nature athletically but is very raw. Batum is 6’8” 210 and possesses an impressive skill set. However, he just seems to struggle really grasping the game and should struggle against NBA opposition, as he won’t stand out as much in terms of athleticism. From time to time, there are guys that can get by just by being so athletic that it makes up for their lack of basketball IQ (Josh Smith). However, I wouldn’t bank on that. He also hasn’t done it on the top level in Europe yet. It is important for him to land somewhere that will be patient with him for a couple of seasons while he develops. PF Nathan Jawai, Australia Jawai is my favorite prospect in this draft, in terms of international players. At 6’10” 270, he has an incredible frame. Then, when you watch him play, you realize how athletic he is. Also, at age 21, he has begun to polish his game with a variety of post moves and a mid-range jumpshot. Some scouts compare him to Charles Oakley, but I’m going to aim a little higher than that. Think Karl Malone in his early years, before he extended his shooting range in the latter stages of his career. He runs the floor with a vengeance and attacks the rim like it dissed his mother. He reminds some scouts of Nene, but I think Jawai has a better skill set. Jawai has an interesting story, as he briefly played JUCO before injuring his knee and returning home to play professionally. He was just named All-Star MVP of the NBL in Australia. The one cause for concern is the lack of competition in terms of big men throughout the rest of that league. It would be logical to assume he won’t make it that easy against NBA talent. The NBL is not loaded with talent, consider Julius Hodge (NC State, Denver Nuggets) couldn’t hold down a spot in the NBA but averaged 24.6 “down under.” PF/C Nikola Pekovic, Serbia I’m not a big fan, I don’t really see it. I’ll be honest, he seems slow, unathletic, and limited in terms of skill set. He has great size at 6’11” 240 but that is just not enough to be able to make it in the NBA. He seems to lack that “it” factor and just doesn’t seem to be athletic enough or skilled enough to be an NBA player. Also, he is 22. The window is just about closed in terms of “untapped potential” so I don’t see why Mock Drafts have him creeping into the first round. To make matters worse, he probably won’t come to the NBA anytime soon even if he is drafted. He signed a 4.5 million Euros deal over 3 years (worth $6.55 million in US currency). If he fulfills that contract, he would be 25 when he reached the US. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen, look at Luis Scola who didn’t come over until age 27. C Alexis Ajinca, France Since when did France start pumping out athletes on a regular basis? None the less, Ajinca has a great wingspan and can get off the floor with ease. He made a name for himself on the YouTube circuit when he mimicked Vince Carter and put his elbow in the rim. While he is similar to Batum in terms of athleticism, he is also similar in terms of how raw he is. His body is not NBA-ready. He needs a little time to develop the rest of his game and to add a little weight. However, with a wingspan of 7’9” and an impressive skill set, it should be worth the risk taking him in the first round. Prospects Under The Radar SF Will Daniels, Rhode Island Daniels didn’t pop up on the scout’s radar until this season, but he is a versatile all-around player at 6’8” 225. He shoots from the perimeter well (although not the silkiest stroke) and has great size, but I think he will need to show he is willing to be a great defensive player if he wants to stay on an NBA roster. PF Joey Dorsey, Memphis Dorsey is going to fill a need for any team that needs toughness, athleticism, and rebounding. He is very similar to Ben Wallace, in that I don’t ever see him averaging double figures in point. Dorsey is a perfect example of a player that can fill a need for some team by rebounding and doing the little things, yet he is likely to be a second round pick. PF Richard Hendrix, Alabama Hendrix is very similar to Glen “Big Baby” Davis from last season’s draft, except Hendrix is much more skilled in the low post. I see him being able to stick with a roster in training camp. SG Shan Foster, Vanderbilt It is simple, every team has to have guys that can shoot the basketball. Foster won’t be a star, but his ability to shoot the basketball should keep him in the league. SG Gary Forbes, UMass He performed well throughout the season, and that transitioned into a nice showing at the Portsmouth Invitational. His size and athleticism give him the chance to become a good defender if he wants to be. SF Pat Calathes, St. Joe’s Calathes is actually very similar to Danillo Gallinari, whom many have in the top 10. Both are 6’9” and have a great feel for the game, they just lack ideal athleticism. Calathes, like Forbes, helped his stock at the Portsmouth as well. Mike Green, Butler Granted, Green played at Butler but he does have NBA athleticism and quickness. He rebounds exceptionally well for a guard and can do a little bit of everything well on offense. He has an incredibly high basketball IQ and is experienced. I would want him on my team in a heartbeat. May 15, 2008 |
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Be Careful What You Wish For
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Jumpology: My Bracket Jumpology: Scouting The Heavyweights Jumpology: Reviewing The Bracket
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