Post by arroyo03 on May 8, 2009 0:05:50 GMT -5
Chicago Bulls - Rasheed Wallace PF 6'10'' 225 20 C+ C+ C- B+ C+ A
Pros: "Sheed" as he likes to be called is a very talented athlete coming out of UNC. He is very young, and has the ability to play 3 different positions on the basketball court. He possesses a very good low post game, and the ability to step outside and knock down some long range balls as well.
Cons: Sometimes likes to settle for the long jump shot or the 3pt shot more then going to his bread and butter in the low post. He's been hit alot in college with technical fouls, and some wonder if he has the mental ability to get it done in the professional league.
Overall: One of the best players in this years draft class. If he can keep his head on straight and not always settle for the long ball, Sheed will be a force in the league for a long time
Minnesota Timberwolves - Jerry Stackhouse SG 6'6'' 218 20 B- C+ C B- C A
Pros: Stackhouse is what they call a natural scorer who has a great inside game and is one of the best in beating defenders off the dribble. Stackhouse is also a very good scorer behind the arc and can always step back and hit a three when his team needs him to. Stackhouse is also a solid defender and when he's needed will make the big stop for his team.
Cons: Stackhouse doesn't handle the ball particularly well and even though he's solid defensively he could improve as he loses focus one in a while on the defensive end.
Overall: Stackhouse will have an immediate impact on the offensive end and if he lives up to his potential could become a star in the nba.
Atlanta Hawks - Zydrunas Ilgauskas C 7'3'' 260 20 B- C C- B- C+ A
Pros: Big Z is an extremely promising player, as he's one of the rare European big men that actually plays in the post. He's one of the top post scorers in the draft, second only to Rasheed Wallace. That, combined with his huge 7'3" frame, has scouts raving at his potential to be a go-to guy on the block. His immense size also gives him opportunities at rebounds that only he can reach, which is a big plus. As an apparent trend at the top of this draft, Ilgauskas is another big man with passing and decision-making abilities that are on par with some veteran UOSLR big men.
Cons: Very weak. Needs a good 20-25 pounds in order to compete with the true centers in the post. Not a great outside shooter, again unlike most Europeans. Needs work on the defensive end. His post defense and shotblocking are nowhere near where they should be. For a player his size, he should be a dominant defensive player.
Overall: A very good center that should have a long career ahead of him. He has drawn comparisons to Pistons center Rik Smits, and they may not be far off, especially when comparing their size and scoring ability. A lot of hard work can also make him a great defender as well, as he has all the physical tools to dominate the paint on that end.
Los Angeles Clippers - Glenn Robinson SF 6'7'' 225 21 B B- C- C+ C A
Pros: Glenn Robinson has a great slashing game. Doesn't settle for the three very often and works hard at getting inside and scoring an easy lay up or pulls back and takes an open mid-range shot. He has some quick hands on the defensive end and gets infront of you and moves his feet. He's a good rebounder for a SF and has good size at 6'7", 225lbs. Makes every other SF in this draft look that much worse.
Cons: Only one huge concern I see with Robinson. He needs to work on his ball handling. He isn't the best outside shooter so he will be driving the lane a lot. He will turn over the ball too many times against good teams if he doesn't work on it.
Overall: Glenn Robinson has a great future ahead of him. He has the potential to go very far in this league and have a hall of fame type career. He's very young and can get into the lane at ease. He needs to grow an outside jumper which he seems to be lacking.
Seattle Supersonics - Dejan Bodiroga SF 6'9'' 212 22 C B+ C- C+ C A
Pros: Has the ability of getting to the basket, very crafty scorer and posses a high IQ game.
Cons: Upside seems to be limited, he should get enough playing time on the Sonics and his defense is suspect.
Overall: Seems like a reach as he went as high, scouts probably are wondering why he was taken so high.
Portland Trailblazers - Joe Smith PF 6'10'' 225 19 C+ C C- B C+ A
Pros: Joe Smith won the James A. Naismith award for college player of the year in 1995, so you know he has game. Joe Smith's post up game is very impressive. Smith is very quick, and likes to use his quickness to get past slower players. Smith is also a very good rebounder, especially on the offensive glass. He's a hard worker that's always looking to improve.
Cons: While Smith's defense is solid, it could be better. His size (he's only 225 pounds) will leave him in a quandry when he's up against bigger, more powerful forwards and centers. Smith's outside game is nonexistent, and he commits a lot of turnovers, especially when he gets double or triple teamed.
Overall: With some improvement, Joe Smith can be a serious threat in this league. He already has a very solid inside and rebounding game. He just needs to put some weight on and improve his defense a little bit to hang with the big boys. He'll be just fine.
Indiana Pacers - Juwan Howard PF 6'9'' 245 22 B C C B+ C+ B
Pros: A nice powerforward with TONS of potential. He can rebound the ball very nicely and positions himself to get rebounds. He jumps after the loose balls and does all the little things. He has a nice post up game. He will find ways to score the ball. He also has a nice shot from the free throw line extended. His handling could be better but is solid for a rookie power forward.
Cons: Biggest concern here is his defense. He doesn't shuffle his feet quick enough to get infront of you and doesn't block many shots. A bit undersized to player the Power Forward Position. Needs to gain a few pounds and about an inch or two short.
Overall: He is a great player that you wouldn't want to pass up on. He has great rebounding skills and could be a great player one day. Looks like he will be a good scorer too. A great pick up for sure!
Indiana Pacers - Antoine Walker SF 6'8'' 225 18 C+ B- C C+ C A
Pros: Antoine Walker is a very versatile power forward. Not only will he be able to play Power Forward and Small Forward, but he also might be able to handle a point-forward type role. Walker can pass and handle the ball well at times. At 6'8", he'll have no problem shooting jumpers over defenders, which is probably his biggest strength. Walker can draw other big men outside and make jumpers on them if he's guarded too loosely. If the defense is too close, he'll simply slash by his defender for a layup or shorter jumper. If he remains a Small Forward, his rebounding is good for the position, considering he's also an inch or two taller than the average forward.
Cons: If at Power Forward, however, Walker will greatly need to improve his rebounding, as well as gain muscle. He'll be crashing the boards with some very strong men, and is going to be pushed around. Walker is really a horrible defender right now. He might get the occasional steal, but as far as staying in front of his man, no chance. On offense, he tends to be very out of control to the point of causing way too many turnovers with his panic dribbling and passing. He's also prone to taking too many bad jump shots, and isn't able to post enough against larger players. Walker seems like he can play both positions of forward right now, but he needs to gain weight to continue to play power forward. This could slow him down, limiting his ability to take defenders off the dribble. I'd still with small forward, 'Toine.
Overall: Antoine Walker is a a good shooter and slasher at both forward positions, but tends to make bad decisions on offense, and also can't rebound well for a power forward, nor can he play even average defense.
Cleveland Cavaliers - Ed O'Bannon SF 6'8'' 222 22 B C C B- C A
Pros: Ed O'Bannon led the Bruins to the 1995 National Championship. O'Bannon is a tremendous athlete and is quick enough to get by most defenders. His basketball IQ is very high and he knows when to use his size on smaller opponents and his quickness against bigger defenders. He has a consistent jumpshot out to 20 feet.
Cons: O'Bannon was basically a jumpshooting powerfoward for the Bruins. By playing PF in college, he was able to use his athleticism and quickness to get around bigger defenders, and against the Pac-10's smaller defenders he was able to use his size. In the UOSLR O'Bannon will have to consistently hit his outside shot. O'Bannon was also able to rely on his athleticism against smaller defenders in the post in college but in the UOSLR if he wants to bang down low, he will also have to polish up his post game.
Overall: While O'Bannon may not turn out to be the superstar he is heralded to be, he will be a very effective role player in the UOSLR. His athleticism and defense will be his greatest assets in which he will be a defensive stopper at the next level. His offensive game could use some polishing.
Miami Heat - Damon Stoudamire PG 5'10'' 171 21 C B+ B C+ C- B
Pros: Damon "Mighty Mouse" Stoudamire is by far the best PG in the draft; he is very quick and smart and uses it to take advantage of other PG's. Stoudamire has great court vision and always seems to make the right decision on the offensive end when getting his teammates involved. Stoudamire also has a great outside shot and continues to improve on that part of his game; he also uses his quickness to attack the basket when needed.
Cons: The only weakness that Stoudamire has is that he's not a very good defender and it's mostly because of his lack of height that allows other PG's to take advantage of him on post moves as well as being able to take Jump shot over him.
Overall: Stoudamire is the best point guard in the draft and even though he might struggle on the defensive end there are too many positives in his game and he will be a solid PG and a possible all-star for many years to come.
Dallas Mavericks - Randolph Childress SG 6'2'' 188 22 C+ B C+ C D+ A
Who?
Portland Trailblazers - Theo Ratliff C 6'10'' 225 22 C+ C- C- B C+ B
Pros: Theo Ratliff is one of the best rebounding big men in this year's draft class. He's a hustle player. He loves to get on the offensive boards and crash them. He will try to go after every loose ball. He is a great defender. Very lengthy and tall. He will try to block every shot because of his mad hops he usually gets most of them. A very good player who can start right away.
Cons: He has a terrible jump shot. Anything Outside of 10 feet is an adventure of him. Outside of 10 feet he is pretty much useless offensively. He has bad hands that we hope will get better over time. His free throw percentage will be as low as a baseball player's batting average. Needs to gain weight. The Blazers GM will need to be patient.
Overall: One of the best C's in the draft. If he ever get's better rebounding then he will be one of the best Center's in the league! His offensive game needs some work but you expect that from a rookie center.
Golden State Warriors - Gary Trent PF 6'8'' 250 20 B- C- C C+ C B
Pros: Gary Trent has a nice inside game. His mini-hook is his patented shot, and he doesn't miss it often. Because of his strength, he often gets good position offensively, defensively, and when getting rebounds. Despite being shorter than most PFs and Cs, Trent is a better rebounder than most. He also has pretty good hands.
Cons: Trent has no jumpshot. If you put a stronger, taller player on him, he will have trouble on the offensive end, despite his good inside game. As I said before, he is shorter than most players at his position, so it's not hard to shoot over him.
Overall: While Trent's size is a problem, he's still going to be a solid player, but I don't see him being more than a bench player.
Pros: "Sheed" as he likes to be called is a very talented athlete coming out of UNC. He is very young, and has the ability to play 3 different positions on the basketball court. He possesses a very good low post game, and the ability to step outside and knock down some long range balls as well.
Cons: Sometimes likes to settle for the long jump shot or the 3pt shot more then going to his bread and butter in the low post. He's been hit alot in college with technical fouls, and some wonder if he has the mental ability to get it done in the professional league.
Overall: One of the best players in this years draft class. If he can keep his head on straight and not always settle for the long ball, Sheed will be a force in the league for a long time
Minnesota Timberwolves - Jerry Stackhouse SG 6'6'' 218 20 B- C+ C B- C A
Pros: Stackhouse is what they call a natural scorer who has a great inside game and is one of the best in beating defenders off the dribble. Stackhouse is also a very good scorer behind the arc and can always step back and hit a three when his team needs him to. Stackhouse is also a solid defender and when he's needed will make the big stop for his team.
Cons: Stackhouse doesn't handle the ball particularly well and even though he's solid defensively he could improve as he loses focus one in a while on the defensive end.
Overall: Stackhouse will have an immediate impact on the offensive end and if he lives up to his potential could become a star in the nba.
Atlanta Hawks - Zydrunas Ilgauskas C 7'3'' 260 20 B- C C- B- C+ A
Pros: Big Z is an extremely promising player, as he's one of the rare European big men that actually plays in the post. He's one of the top post scorers in the draft, second only to Rasheed Wallace. That, combined with his huge 7'3" frame, has scouts raving at his potential to be a go-to guy on the block. His immense size also gives him opportunities at rebounds that only he can reach, which is a big plus. As an apparent trend at the top of this draft, Ilgauskas is another big man with passing and decision-making abilities that are on par with some veteran UOSLR big men.
Cons: Very weak. Needs a good 20-25 pounds in order to compete with the true centers in the post. Not a great outside shooter, again unlike most Europeans. Needs work on the defensive end. His post defense and shotblocking are nowhere near where they should be. For a player his size, he should be a dominant defensive player.
Overall: A very good center that should have a long career ahead of him. He has drawn comparisons to Pistons center Rik Smits, and they may not be far off, especially when comparing their size and scoring ability. A lot of hard work can also make him a great defender as well, as he has all the physical tools to dominate the paint on that end.
Los Angeles Clippers - Glenn Robinson SF 6'7'' 225 21 B B- C- C+ C A
Pros: Glenn Robinson has a great slashing game. Doesn't settle for the three very often and works hard at getting inside and scoring an easy lay up or pulls back and takes an open mid-range shot. He has some quick hands on the defensive end and gets infront of you and moves his feet. He's a good rebounder for a SF and has good size at 6'7", 225lbs. Makes every other SF in this draft look that much worse.
Cons: Only one huge concern I see with Robinson. He needs to work on his ball handling. He isn't the best outside shooter so he will be driving the lane a lot. He will turn over the ball too many times against good teams if he doesn't work on it.
Overall: Glenn Robinson has a great future ahead of him. He has the potential to go very far in this league and have a hall of fame type career. He's very young and can get into the lane at ease. He needs to grow an outside jumper which he seems to be lacking.
Seattle Supersonics - Dejan Bodiroga SF 6'9'' 212 22 C B+ C- C+ C A
Pros: Has the ability of getting to the basket, very crafty scorer and posses a high IQ game.
Cons: Upside seems to be limited, he should get enough playing time on the Sonics and his defense is suspect.
Overall: Seems like a reach as he went as high, scouts probably are wondering why he was taken so high.
Portland Trailblazers - Joe Smith PF 6'10'' 225 19 C+ C C- B C+ A
Pros: Joe Smith won the James A. Naismith award for college player of the year in 1995, so you know he has game. Joe Smith's post up game is very impressive. Smith is very quick, and likes to use his quickness to get past slower players. Smith is also a very good rebounder, especially on the offensive glass. He's a hard worker that's always looking to improve.
Cons: While Smith's defense is solid, it could be better. His size (he's only 225 pounds) will leave him in a quandry when he's up against bigger, more powerful forwards and centers. Smith's outside game is nonexistent, and he commits a lot of turnovers, especially when he gets double or triple teamed.
Overall: With some improvement, Joe Smith can be a serious threat in this league. He already has a very solid inside and rebounding game. He just needs to put some weight on and improve his defense a little bit to hang with the big boys. He'll be just fine.
Indiana Pacers - Juwan Howard PF 6'9'' 245 22 B C C B+ C+ B
Pros: A nice powerforward with TONS of potential. He can rebound the ball very nicely and positions himself to get rebounds. He jumps after the loose balls and does all the little things. He has a nice post up game. He will find ways to score the ball. He also has a nice shot from the free throw line extended. His handling could be better but is solid for a rookie power forward.
Cons: Biggest concern here is his defense. He doesn't shuffle his feet quick enough to get infront of you and doesn't block many shots. A bit undersized to player the Power Forward Position. Needs to gain a few pounds and about an inch or two short.
Overall: He is a great player that you wouldn't want to pass up on. He has great rebounding skills and could be a great player one day. Looks like he will be a good scorer too. A great pick up for sure!
Indiana Pacers - Antoine Walker SF 6'8'' 225 18 C+ B- C C+ C A
Pros: Antoine Walker is a very versatile power forward. Not only will he be able to play Power Forward and Small Forward, but he also might be able to handle a point-forward type role. Walker can pass and handle the ball well at times. At 6'8", he'll have no problem shooting jumpers over defenders, which is probably his biggest strength. Walker can draw other big men outside and make jumpers on them if he's guarded too loosely. If the defense is too close, he'll simply slash by his defender for a layup or shorter jumper. If he remains a Small Forward, his rebounding is good for the position, considering he's also an inch or two taller than the average forward.
Cons: If at Power Forward, however, Walker will greatly need to improve his rebounding, as well as gain muscle. He'll be crashing the boards with some very strong men, and is going to be pushed around. Walker is really a horrible defender right now. He might get the occasional steal, but as far as staying in front of his man, no chance. On offense, he tends to be very out of control to the point of causing way too many turnovers with his panic dribbling and passing. He's also prone to taking too many bad jump shots, and isn't able to post enough against larger players. Walker seems like he can play both positions of forward right now, but he needs to gain weight to continue to play power forward. This could slow him down, limiting his ability to take defenders off the dribble. I'd still with small forward, 'Toine.
Overall: Antoine Walker is a a good shooter and slasher at both forward positions, but tends to make bad decisions on offense, and also can't rebound well for a power forward, nor can he play even average defense.
Cleveland Cavaliers - Ed O'Bannon SF 6'8'' 222 22 B C C B- C A
Pros: Ed O'Bannon led the Bruins to the 1995 National Championship. O'Bannon is a tremendous athlete and is quick enough to get by most defenders. His basketball IQ is very high and he knows when to use his size on smaller opponents and his quickness against bigger defenders. He has a consistent jumpshot out to 20 feet.
Cons: O'Bannon was basically a jumpshooting powerfoward for the Bruins. By playing PF in college, he was able to use his athleticism and quickness to get around bigger defenders, and against the Pac-10's smaller defenders he was able to use his size. In the UOSLR O'Bannon will have to consistently hit his outside shot. O'Bannon was also able to rely on his athleticism against smaller defenders in the post in college but in the UOSLR if he wants to bang down low, he will also have to polish up his post game.
Overall: While O'Bannon may not turn out to be the superstar he is heralded to be, he will be a very effective role player in the UOSLR. His athleticism and defense will be his greatest assets in which he will be a defensive stopper at the next level. His offensive game could use some polishing.
Miami Heat - Damon Stoudamire PG 5'10'' 171 21 C B+ B C+ C- B
Pros: Damon "Mighty Mouse" Stoudamire is by far the best PG in the draft; he is very quick and smart and uses it to take advantage of other PG's. Stoudamire has great court vision and always seems to make the right decision on the offensive end when getting his teammates involved. Stoudamire also has a great outside shot and continues to improve on that part of his game; he also uses his quickness to attack the basket when needed.
Cons: The only weakness that Stoudamire has is that he's not a very good defender and it's mostly because of his lack of height that allows other PG's to take advantage of him on post moves as well as being able to take Jump shot over him.
Overall: Stoudamire is the best point guard in the draft and even though he might struggle on the defensive end there are too many positives in his game and he will be a solid PG and a possible all-star for many years to come.
Dallas Mavericks - Randolph Childress SG 6'2'' 188 22 C+ B C+ C D+ A
Who?
Portland Trailblazers - Theo Ratliff C 6'10'' 225 22 C+ C- C- B C+ B
Pros: Theo Ratliff is one of the best rebounding big men in this year's draft class. He's a hustle player. He loves to get on the offensive boards and crash them. He will try to go after every loose ball. He is a great defender. Very lengthy and tall. He will try to block every shot because of his mad hops he usually gets most of them. A very good player who can start right away.
Cons: He has a terrible jump shot. Anything Outside of 10 feet is an adventure of him. Outside of 10 feet he is pretty much useless offensively. He has bad hands that we hope will get better over time. His free throw percentage will be as low as a baseball player's batting average. Needs to gain weight. The Blazers GM will need to be patient.
Overall: One of the best C's in the draft. If he ever get's better rebounding then he will be one of the best Center's in the league! His offensive game needs some work but you expect that from a rookie center.
Golden State Warriors - Gary Trent PF 6'8'' 250 20 B- C- C C+ C B
Pros: Gary Trent has a nice inside game. His mini-hook is his patented shot, and he doesn't miss it often. Because of his strength, he often gets good position offensively, defensively, and when getting rebounds. Despite being shorter than most PFs and Cs, Trent is a better rebounder than most. He also has pretty good hands.
Cons: Trent has no jumpshot. If you put a stronger, taller player on him, he will have trouble on the offensive end, despite his good inside game. As I said before, he is shorter than most players at his position, so it's not hard to shoot over him.
Overall: While Trent's size is a problem, he's still going to be a solid player, but I don't see him being more than a bench player.
or Childress