Sporting Fools
Sporting Fools
Sporting Fools
Sporting Fools
Monday, June 27, 2005
Top 10: Draft Edition...The top 10 is in no order, I'm not looking for a mock top 10 but rather the ten college names that interest me the most.
-- Sean May: I would say May goes somewhere between 12 and 20. He just doesn't give you enough to warrant a top 10 pick in a pretty decent draft. He's obviously going to be branded as a complimentary player until he gets on the floor. I like him going to the Nets at 15. He'll be able to fight for rebounds there and get easy buckets. He'll have to get in better shape because I expect the Nets to try and run with the Kidd-Carter-Jefferson trio.
-- Andrew Bogut: Well there's little doubt that Bogut will be the choice of the Bucks at the top slot. The Bucks' company line is that a good big man is hard to find, but who knows if Bogut is a good big man. Terry Porter probably lost his job because he was set against Bogut. This is going to be an interesting player and I don't believe he's going to get better so either he'll come out the gate strong or be a disappointment.
-- Chris Paul: Probably the next edition of Stephon Marbury. He'll score, he's dynamic, he's not necessarily the guy that makes the team better. Most of the teams looking to trade up into the top 5 are doing so for Deron Williams. So who'll trade up? Maybe Charlotte, Maybe Utah, Maybe Toronto.
-- Deron Williams: Here's one of two gems in the lottery. I think Paul will be a better offensive player than Williams but Williams makes stars...He did it with Bracey Wright in the preps, he did it with Luther Head and Dee Brown in college. Orlando and L.A. will be in a race to trade up to get this guy. He'd be a perfect fit in Orlando if they can trade Steve Francis.
-- Marvin Williams: The Superstar of the draft. He can play the 3 or the 4, he's the most athletic, he's the most dynamic, he's got the most upside. How will he fit in Atlanta, where future stars go to die?
-- Rashad McCants: Never has one guy's stock fallen so hard based on one moment. After the Tar Heels won the national title, McCants had the ultimate "look at me" moment by seperating himself from the celebration, pulling off his jersey and holding it in hopes of attracting the camera. In that instance he went from Top 15 to late first round. The Kings at 23 or the Pistons at 26 can take a flier on McCants.
-- Ike Diogu: Who likes Ike? I think Indiana, Boston or Memphis in that 17-19 block will like Ike. He's got a good shot, he can enter the league as an offensive-minded sixth man.
-- Joey Graham: I think Graham will have either the Spurs or the Heat trade up a few spots to take him in the low 20s. I've been following Joey since his junior year at Brandon High school, he was a good shooter with good baby fat. After a waste of time at UCF, he and his brother transferred to Oklahoma St. and hit the weights. Joey is a strong 6'7 kid with accelerated shooting skills and the potential to be a major contributor for a long time. The type of pick that makes good teams very good.
-- David Lee: Whoever doesn't get Graham will take Lee. Not a great ball handler, but he's 6'9 with good jumping skills, he played out of position for four years at Florida and now he will have the opportunity to develop at the 4 position.
-- Charlie Villanueva: Surprisingly his stock has fallen, but I expect this 7-footer with the soft touch to still go at the end of the lottery to someone. Minnesota maybe? Villanueva has a lot of holes but he's got a lot of positives. He just needs the type of seasoning that the league will provide.