SB Nation - DeJuan Blair

Big East Media Day Commences: What Will the Coaches Predict?

Hire Esherick — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:07:38 -0000

The Big East Conference Annual Media Day starts today in New York City. It is a two-day event where coaches and players talk about expectations for the upcoming season, lessons from the past and dreams for the future. In sum, every coach will compliment every other team and talk about how great and competitive the league is. Nothing special, except for the predictions. This is where it gets interesting. Last year the coaches weren't too far off actual finishes, other than the fact they failed to predict the final ranking of all 16 teams.

Below are the predicted rankings, actual finishes, and how far off the coaches' were in their predictions.

Ranking	Predicted	Actual	Spots Off
1	Connecticut	Louisville	+2
2	Louisville	Pittsburgh	-1
3	Pittsburgh	Connecticut	-1
4	Notre Dame	Villanova	+6
5	Villanova	Marquette	-1
6	Marquette	Syracuse	-1
7	Georgetown	West Virginia	+5
8	Syracuse	Providence	-2
9	West Virginia	Cincinnati	-2
10	Providence	Notre Dame	-2
11	Cincinnati	Seton Hall	-2
12	Rutgers	Georgetown	+3
13	Seton Hall	St. John's	-2
14	St. John's	South Florida	-1
15	DePaul	Rutgers	+1
16	South Florida	DePaul	-2

The coaches also pick the best players in the conference. The only surprise from last year was the complete dismissal of DeJuan Blair, who was Big East Rookie of the Year in 2007-08 but not selected to the Preseason Big East Team in 2008-09. He ended up winning Player of the Year along with Hasheem Thabeet. Conversely, coaches thought too highly of DaJuan Summers, as he was selected to the Preseason All-Big East but did not even receive Honorable Mention honors at the end of last season. The coaches did pick Greg Monroe as Preseason Co-Rookie of the Year and he ended up going home with the award at the end of the year, and not having to share it either.

I predict Monroe nabs preseason honors this year in a much weaker conference. Georgetown will also be picked to finish 4th in the conference, behind Nova, UConn and WVU. This is what I said five months ago, I still stick by it.

Let the games begin.

Good talk.

Meet Maurice Walker - The Player Every Georgetown Fan Has Been Waiting For

Hire Esherick — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:16:25 -0000

via www.torontoobserver.ca

How many times over the past seven years have you wondered what a Georgetown team would be like if they just had a bruiser? Ever since the departure of Mike Sweetney, Georgetown has been missing some toughness and roughness in the paint. Sure Roy Hibbert held his own, but he was no DeJuan Blair or Jeff Adrien. All our Big East rivals are landing the players that put Georgetown in the national spotlight 25 years ago. But times are a changing, I hope...

Meet Maurice Walker, a 6'10'' center out of the Class of 2010. Maurice hails from the great country of Canada and ESPN states that he is very strong and not afraid of contact. When was the last time you heard that about a Georgetown recruit? Hoyaballa reported last month that Maurice was set to visit Georgetown in September, but that has not been confirmed. Regardless, Northstar Basketball is projecting that Maurice will commit to Georgetown, below is an excerpt from their report:

Maurice Walker, C, 6'10, Brewster Academy (NH)
Favorite: Georgetown
2nd in Line: Pitt
3rd in Line: Texas A&M
Watch Out for: Virginia Tech, Kansas
After playing his high school ball in Canada, the big man came to Brewster Academy for a PG year, and thus far it seems he has made a sound decision, as numerous high-major programs are on his trail. Walker has previously stated that Georgetown, Pitt, and Texas A&M are his top three, and Virginia Tech has been involved for a while. Kansas is another school that has taken notice of the low post player. It may be tough for Texas A&M to maintain the high standing with Walker, as the Aggies already have commitments from two class of 2010 big men in Tobi Oyedeji and Daniel Alexander. Mark Turgeon and Co. are definitely in play though. Georgetown may well be the favorite here. A program that has a history of producing NBA big men and one that has been quite successful under John Thompson III, the Hoyas seem to be in search of another big man to go along with Nate Lubick. Pitt is another program that is hoping to add a post player to its class of 2010, and the Big East is intriguing to a lot of top-notch prospects, such as Walker. Virginia Tech is another option here, and Kansas should never be discounted for any prospect.

He might not be at the top of the radar for the big recruiting powerhouses but that is fine by me, JT3 seems to get the most out of players who do not come in with national accolades.

Take the Northstar report was a grain of salt, however. Their report did not even mention Georgetown as a school in the running for Roscoe Smith, who recently narrowed his list of schools to Georgetown, Duke and UConn.

Good talk.

The Big Blue Daily Mail -- UK News All Over the Place

Truzenzuzex — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:25:00 -0000

More photos » by Morry Gash - AP

Scott Skiles has reason to smile after getting Jennings and Jodie Meeks in the NBA Draft.

Browse more photos »

I am going to change the format of the Big Blue Daily Mail a bit (things around here are always a work in progress) to be a bit more link based than links at the end of commentary. I find myself taking so long to do the BBDM that I simply don't have time for anything else. The new format will have the lead story on the front page, and everything else below the fold.

Today I will be at Churchill Downs all day. It is the annual trip that I do with my wife to celebrate her birthday. She absolutely loves to gamble, and especially loves to bet the ponies. So that's were I'll be all day. You can look for a tweet or two if something particularly good or bad happens there. Perhaps I'll be betting on Coach Billy G.

Today's lead story is Jodie Meeks to the Milwaukee Bucks. I am not the world's greatest NBA fan although I do watch and keep up with it, so those of you who are experts in the NBA might want to chime in and add some value to my comments.

On it's face, this looks like a good pickup for the Bucks since they recently traded away star swingman Richard Jefferson. SLAM Online grades the Bucks draft as an A-:

Meeks gives Milwaukee a solid scoring option coming off the bench to help fill some of the void left by Jefferson. While he won’t be able to attack the rim and create a ton of offense as a slasher, Meeks is a big-time scorer who can light things up from the outside as he showed countless times at Kentucky this past season. With Jennings getting into the lane, Meeks can spot up and bury jumpers from the outside when he is on the floor. These two will take some time to develop, particularly Jennings, but the Bucks addressed two needs and they did it with quality picks.

I think Meeks will definitely be able to find backup minutes right away, and I am not 100% convinced that Meeks can't get his own shot -- he just didn't do so at UK very often. He is a better spot-up, catch-and-shoot guy, but I do believe that he has the tools necessary to improve his handle and get into the lane or pull up for a jumper. The question is, will Jodie see the value in putting in the work necessary to develop those skills if he sees good minutes as a spot-up shooter? J.J. Redick as definitely worked hard on the other aspects of his game, for example, but there are others who have come in as catch-and-shoot guys that never try to expand their role. Which one will Jodie be?

SB Nations' Bucks blog Brew Hoop likes the Meeks pick, although he was hoping for DeJuan Blair. The Bucks do need some front-court help, so this makes sense. For his part, Jodie Meeks can't wait to get to Milwaukee and join the team. Of course, he first has to make the team, but I am convinced he will. If he doesn't, he is likely going to have to take the Kelenna Azubuike route and that is a tough road.

A final note on Jodie -- did you know he will be playing with former Wildcat (and one of this blog's favorites) Keith Bogans? I didn't, but I suspect there will be a lot more Bucks fans among the Big BlueNation than previously.

Now, the rest of the news:

UK Basketball News

UK Recruiting Notebook: Kyrie Irving, interesting developments and lots of notes
Dustin Rumbaugh at KSR reports on Kyrie Irving.
John Calipairi won't be taking a back seat to Traitor Rick
Via John Clay comes this piece from Luke Winn at SI.com. Calipari and Pitino at two rival schools is just one of the many great things that bringing Calipari to Kentucky created.
Quincy Miller picks up UK offer ...
... Along with about 100 others.
UK offers 2012 prospect Perry Ellis
Per Jody Demling.

UK Football News

Wallace will play at UK
Big pickup by the football team.
DeQuin Evans is enrolled at UK in summer school

Other UK Sports News

None today.

NCAA Sports News

Who is next year's No. 1 NBA draft pick?
Most agree with UK fans that it is likely to be John Wall. But Ed Davis? Really?
Alabama reportedly working on Saban extension
The Saban-Calipari comparisons will just keep getting stronger.

Other News of Interest

CatsPause.com - Fab Frosh Camp
A report on the Fab Frosh camp held this weekend at Memorial Coliseum.
No U of L coach at Kentucky Football Coaches Association clinic
Can Kragthorpe's life get any more chaotic? This poor guy steps into a cowpile and sinks up to his neck. Man, I really do feel for him.

The Daily Schadenfreude

Swopshire's little brother is a bit of a Kentucky fan
Louisville forward Jared Swopshire's brother Jordan is a UK fan. Oh, schadenfreude!
Ex-Duke guard Williams lists UK among transfer destinations
I would just love to pick up this guy. He is a very good player, and taking one away from Duke would just tickle me pink.

DaJuan Summers Drafted By the Detroit Pistons in 2nd Round

CasualHoya — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:48:26 -0000

On a night when Big East rivals Hasheem Thabeet, Jonny Flynn, Terrence Williams, and Earl Clark were all taken in the top 14 picks, Georgetown's DaJuan Summers was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the 5th pick in the 2nd Round (35th overall).

ESPN's Chad Ford:

5 (35) Detroit (from Minnesota) DaJuan Summers 6-9 243 SF Georgetown

The Pistons seriously considered Summers at No. 15, so they are thrilled to get him at No. 35. Summers is a fantastic athlete, can shoot the ball and can play both the 3 and the 4. This is a great pick this late in the draft.

With the 30th and final pick in the 1st Round representing Summers' last shot at a guaranteed contract next season, the Cleveland Cavaliers took a small forward from the Republic of Congo.

If it's any consolation to Hoyas fans, Summers was picked ahead of Pitt's Sam Young and DeJuan Blair, and Syracuse's dynamic duo of Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf will likely be looking for playing time in Romania after not being drafted at all.

Summers ranks 29th all-time in scoring at Georgetown (1,129 points), seventh in three-pointers made (141), eighth in three-pointers attempted (403), and helped lead the Hoyas to three straight postseason appearances (two NCAA Tournaments, one NIT).

More to follow tomorrow.

Hoya Saxa.

RIP MJ.

Casually.

With the 21st Pick...

atthehive — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:07:27 -0000

Slightly longish post ahead, but it should be worth it. As outlined in yesterday's post, there is some solid statistical backing for the "Blair or Bust" line of thinking. There simply is not a big worth the guaranteed dollars at 21 overall. Unless Blair falls to the level, the Hornets have to be looking elsewhere. But who?

The Candidates

Eric Maynor because... a good percentage of mocks have us taking him. He gained national attention by knocking off Duke that one time and almost knocking off UCLA this year.

Marcus Thornton because... Hornets fans seem to have fallen in love with the guy, and he's a New Orleans product. He gained national attention by winning the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year Award.

Sam Young because... he's 6'6", is athletic, shoots the three, and projects as a plus defender. He gained national attention by averaging 23 points per game in this year's Tournament.

Austin Daye because... he's super long, deep range. He hasn't really gained much national attention yet.

Danny Green because... John Hollinger loves him, and Hollinger usually nails two or three sleepers every year that nobody else is high on. He's gained no national attention despite playing for NC.

Jeff Teague because... he fills a need, he's (ostensibly) friends with Chris Paul. He gained national attention during Wake Forest's rise to #1.

Ty Lawson because... statistically, he may be the best overall player in the draft. He gained national attention by being the PG of North Carolina.

These seven guys comprise my final list, to be culled down to the best option(s). I think I have pretty good reasons for leaving other guys out, some documented towards the end. Definitely leave comments on other prospects, and we can discuss.

						3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	Height	Weight	Wingspan	Vertical	FG%	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
2008 - Eric Maynor	6'2"	164	6'2"	31.5	46.3	1.9	5.4	36.1	5.8	7.1	81.5	0.5	3.1	3.6	6.2	3.0	1.7	0.2	2.4	22.4

Draft Express says: 8th best PG in draft
Hollinger says: 21st best player in draft
Points/Possession: 1.17
FTA/Posession: 0.37
Ast/Possession: 0.32
TO/Possession: 0.16
Usage%: 28.6%
eFG%: 52%
TS%: 58%

Most people are viewing Maynor as a point guard in this draft, but there are many shooting guard aspects to his game. While he lacks range (36% from the college three isn't terribly inspiring), he took on a large role of his team's offense, accounting for almost 29% of possessions. His solid floor percentages are more due to shots in the ilk of floaters and runners than jumpers. As his career at VCU unfolded, he became more and more of a scorer. So while his 32% assist rate still seems solid, he posted a 49% rate in his first year as starter. There are many aspects of Jannero Pargo's style of play to Maynor's game; a case could be made that Maynor is Pargo with less range. That in mind, the Hornets' decision on Maynor may very well depend on their plans with Pargo. The earliest they can sign Pargo would be July 11th, more than two weeks after the conclusion of the draft. If Maynor is indeed the pick, the writing may be on the wall for Jannero.

Verdict: Maynor has a solid skill set, but his statistics simply don't compare with two point guards (who both played "purer" points in college) who may still be available. Couple that with questions about his conference, and I don't know. It'd be a solid pick, but one with minimal upside.

						3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	Height	Weight	Wingspan	Vertical	FG%	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
2008 - Marcus Thornton	6'3"	194	6'5"	33	47.2	2.2	5.7	38.8	4.3	5.7	74.5	2.0	3.5	5.5	2.1	1.8	1.6	0.4	2.1	21.1

Draft Express says: 5th best SG in draft
Hollinger says: Not in Top 31
Points/Possession: 1.24
FTA/Posession: 0.33
Ast/Possession: 0.13
TO/Possession: 0.11
Usage%: 25.0%
eFG%: 54%
TS%: 58%

Southeastern Conference Player of the Year usually doesn't mean much, because the SEC produces 1 or 2 great NBA prospects a year, max. But there's a lot to like with Marcus Thornton. Physically, he's got good tools. The 6'3" measurement is an immediate red flag for a guy that plays exclusively shooting guard, but I love his release on his shot. He gets it off quite surreptitiously, and the 6'5" wingspan aids with that. On top of that, he generally makes the most of his 33 inch vertical in terms of his jumpers- something he has to do, but something a lot of prospects don't make a habit of.

While his 38-39% three point shooting doesn't look other worldly, a lot of those looks did come under heavy pressure. I like his range overall, and I wouldn't be surprised if he could maintain a 35%-40% stroke in the NBA. He isn't the fastest guy in the world, but the Hornets wouldn't be drafting him to be a Jason Terry/Jannero Pargo-like speed option (even though that's Draft Express' comparison). Rather, they'd be drafting him to fill up the scoreboard in a hurry, mostly through sets. Thornton's 1.24 points/possession is an impressive stat indeed; he's a creative scorer. The one odd thing is, though he's more of a scoring threat (efficiency-wise) than Maynor, he used substantially fewer possessions than Maynor. Maybe this will amount to nothing, but his 25% rate is lower than a lot of the top scorers in the NCAA's. It's something of a red flag in terms of how much "volume" he could actually provide as a volume scorer.

The final stat that intrigues me is the 11% turnover rate. As much as he handles the ball, it's very impressive. Observationally, I don't think he has nearly the vision to play point guard though. His low assist rate of 13% back that up, as does his pure point ratio of -1.36 (positive indicating "purer"). So while the turnover rate may come in handy, I don't think it'd help much in terms of him getting point guard minutes. At 6'3", and with his skill set, Thornton would step in as a "pure shooting guard," a position that's disappeared a little bit in recent years, in favor of swingmen and guys that can rotate between the 2 and 3.

Verdict: Like Maynor, there are a lot of "safe" aspects to a Thornton pick. He's a very efficient scorer, he has a well set position, he doesn't turn the ball over. But again, the cost of that safety is minimal upside. Who he is today is likely very similar to who he'll be in three years.

						3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	Height	Weight	Wingspan	Vertical	FG%	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
2008 - Sam Young	6'6"	223	6'11"	33	50.2	1.6	4.2	37.3	3.2	4.3	74.0	1.9	4.3	6.3	1.1	2.4	1.0	0.8	1.7	19.2

Draft Express says: 3rd best SF in draft
Hollinger says: 52
Points/Possession: 1.17
FTA/Posession: 0.26
Ast/Possession: 0.07
TO/Possession: 0.15
Usage%: 24.4%
eFG%: 55%
TS%: 58%

Sam Young really made a name for himself this year, averaging almost 20 a night for the season, then performing even better in the Tournament. It's interesting how split analysts are on Young. There's one crowd that believes he can step in and contribute minutes to virtually any team in the league at this point. The other viewpoint is that he's an old prospect who may have been vastly overvalued by the 2008-2009 campaign.

Physically, the tools are all there. He's 6'6", athletic, has a very long wingspan at 6'11" and a decent vertical for his size. His frame could easily be more bulked up if that's what a team needs, and he's already at a good weight right now anyways. The problem is, despite the gaudy scoring averages, the underlying statistics give me reason to pause. A 15% turnover rate from a small forward who didn't do too much ball-handling (LeVance Fields was one of the top point guards in the country) is a flag. A 7% assist rate indicates that he virtually never set up teammates for anything. It's a serious flag for a wing player, as even well-reputed ballhogs often create opportunities for their teammates, via double teams. His 26% free throws per possession is more about 10% lower than either Maynor or Thornton. It makes me seriously wonder how he'll adapt to the contact game of the NBA. And if that wasn't enough, his 24.4% usage rate doesn't do much to increase his value.

Looking specifically at the Hornets, Young is a Julian Wright clone in many ways. Similar height, long wingspans, questionable ball control skills. Young clearly has the better stroke and better strange, but would it be worth using the 21st pick to get Julian Wright with a better jump shot (maybe)? And the age issue is not to be overlooked. Young is already 24 years old, way, way older than most other rookies.

Verdict: Very little upside. This is who he'll be in the NBA. His peripheral statistics are somewhat alarming, he's been overhyped a little due to Pitt's run, and he could very well be a redundant player on our roster. I'm taking Maynor and Thornton over him.

			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	Height	Weight	Wingspan	Vertical	FG%	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
2008 - Austin Daye	6'11"	192	7'3"	28	47.7	1.1	2.5	42.9	2.3	3.2	70.6	1.1	5.8	6.8	1.1	2.1	0.7	2.1	2.9	12.7

Draft Express says: 2nd best SF in draft
Hollinger says: 4th best Player in draft
Points/Possession: 1.09
FTA/Posession: 0.28
Ast/Possession: 0.09
TO/Possession: 0.18
Usage%: 16.8%
eFG%: 53%
TS%: 56%

After a freshman campaign that left Zags fans drooling, Daye's game took something of a dive this year. His points/possession went down, his assist rate went down, his turnover rate stayed poor, he drew fewer fouls. Of course, analysts are all mostly in love with the guy now. Go figure.

Statistically, Daye leaves much to be desired. His points/possession of 1.09 is far lower than any of the other guys on this list; he was simply not very efficient on offense. For his size, he doesn't get to the line very often (more than Young, but less than either Maynor or Thornton). He showed zero ability as a passing big man, averaging 9 assists every 100 possessions. Unfortunately, he did turn the ball over a ton, almost double as often as he assisted on baskets. His usage rate was quite low, as Gonzaga relied on a variety of other players to make their Tournament run.

As you might have guessed, there's a large school of people that feel statistics won't tell the whole story on Daye. I am one of those people. As poor as his stats have been, the guy is 6'11" with small forward skills. He has a 7'3" wingspan. He has a standing reach of over nine feet. Add in a 28 inch vertical, and Daye's hands will be somewhere around eleven feet and a half in the air when he jumps. His pace-adjusted block statistics aren't noteworthy, but from the four or five times I've seen him play, I've found him to be more of a "Tyson Chandler shot blocker"- he'll challenge and alter a lot more shots than the box score credits him for.

On top of that, he has range. NBA range. He shot 41.3% from three last year and 42.9% from three this year. In two years, he's averaged taking around 4 threes per game. He can shoot off the dribble, has good ball handling skills for his size, can create shots, has excellent coordination, and though is a terrible offensive rebounder, he's as good a defensive rebounder as Greg Oden and Paul Millsap were in college. He turned 21 a couple weeks ago. Does he have flaws? Absolutely. But if Daye could pass and score more efficiently, he'd be a lottery pick. Those two issues mean he's almost guaranteed to be available at 21. I'd take Thornton over him probably, but if Pargo is in our future plans, I'd take him over Maynor. Over Young, I'd take him without thinking.

Verdict: Major, major, major upside. Major crash and burn potential. The clincher for me is that John Hollinger's draft analyzer loves him. Every year, it pinpoints a couple guys that could vastly outperform their stock, and Daye looks like the pick this year. He doesn't fit an immediate need, but I wouldn't be terribly depressed if he was the pick.

						3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	Height	Weight	Wingspan	Vertical	FG%	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
2008 - Danny Green	6'5"	208	6'10"	33	47.1	2.0	4.7	43.0	1.4	1.6	85.2	1.8	2.8	4.7	2.7	1.7	1.8	1.3	2.2	13.1

Draft Express says: 9th best SF in draft
Hollinger says: 8th best Player in draft
Points/Possession: 1.20
FTA/Posession: 0.15
Ast/Possession: 0.25
TO/Possession: 0.15
Usage%: 14.3%
eFG%: 57%
TS%: 59%

This is another one of Hollinger's favorites, the only reason he's on this list. I figure if I included Hollinger's take on Daye, I had to include Green. However, I don't agree with Hollinger that Green is going to be great. The Draft Rater has him as the 3rd best wing, behind Tyreke Evans and Daye.

His efficiency numbers are all excellent, but the reason behind it is very clear- he's primarily a shooter, a very good shooter. The majority of his looks come on jumpers, often set up by his very good teammates at North Carolina. He doesn't draw fouls, and based on my observations of him, he probably won't be making many contact filled forays to the hole in the NBA. Another factor is his low usage rate of 14.3%. Essentially, Green was a very good role player at the college level. That simply isn't the player the Hornets should be targeting in this draft. Green could end up being a very good fit for a team looking to add depth (Utah? L.A.?), but he doesn't have the off-the-dribble ability of Maynor/Thornton, or the superstar potential of Daye.

Verdict: I'd take him 7th among the 7 players on this list.

						3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	Height	Weight	Wingspan	Vertical	FG%	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
2008 - Jeff Teague	6'0"	175	6'8"	37	48.5	1.5	3.3	44.1	5.8	7.1	81.4	0.5	2.8	3.3	3.5	3.4	1.9	0.6	2.2	18.9

Draft Express says: 4th best SG in draft
Hollinger says: 14th best Player in draft
Points/Possession: 1.15
FTA/Posession: 0.43 (!!!!)
Ast/Possession: 0.22
TO/Possession: 0.20
Usage%: 21.9%
eFG%: 55%
TS%: 62%

A 6 foot point guard, weighing 175 pounds, with a 38 inch vertical, a lane agility of 11.1, and a 3 quarter court sprint time of 3.2 seconds, hailing from Wake Forest University. Even if Jeff Teague was absolutely terrible, Hornets fans would've stood up and taken notice, because those were exactly the draft measurements of one Chris Paul. But Teague doesn't suck at all- far from it. According to the latest estimations, it's unlikely he falls to 21, but it's worth going over him anyway to see where he should be on our draft board.

A lot of places have Teague listed as a shooting guard, and for good reason. In two years, he posted pure point ratios of -3.04 and -3.17. He posted the measley assist rates of 19% and 22% while posting 79% and 73% FGA/possession. He's decidedly a shoot first guard, to an extreme relative to the college level. His turnover levels were 19% and 20% (better than Chris Paul in college for what it's worth). But he doesn't carry nearly the assist:turnover ratio Paul did.

In essence, Teague played shooting guard from the point guard position, inflating his PG stats tremendously. That doesn't mean he can't score at all. He certainly has some great tools. He shot 44% from three last year, displaying good range. His most promising statistic is 43% FTA/possession. That's not just promising; it's amazing. The ability to get to the free throw line is a great indicator of NBA success for college players (it's probably the definitive statistic that set Chris Paul way apart from Deron Williams in college).

So I'm not saying Teague is all hype. What I am contending is that he isn't too much of a "combo" guard like many reports suggest. I think he lacks the point guard element of the combo guard to enough of an extent that he'd struggle if played at PG without another PG on the floor. In the long run, that means he won't be an Antonio Daniels replacement. Is it worth using a draft pick on that?

Verdict: He's a legitimate scorer. If we're drafting for a combo guard, Maynor is the better option. If we're drafting for a creative scorer at the 2, Teague is a better option than Thornton, but Thornton's 3 inch advantage on Teague makes me think he'd be more successful at getting minutes and translating his game to the NBA. Overall, there's only a 1% chance we'd need to make a decision on Teague, since one of the 20 preceding teams is guaranteed to be tricked into thinking he's a full time point guard.

						3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	Height	Weight	Wingspan	Vertical	FG%	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
2008 - Ty Lawson	6'0"	197	6'1"	37	53.2	1.5	3.1	47.2	4.7	5.9	79.8	0.7	2.3	3.0	6.6	1.9	2.1	0.1	1.7	16.6

Draft Express says: 7th best PG in draft
Hollinger says: 1st best Player in draft (!!!!)
Points/Possession: 1.30 (!!!!)
FTA/Posession: 0.47 (!!!!)(!!!!)
Ast/Possession: 0.51
TO/Possession: 0.15
Usage%: 16.8%
eFG%: 61% (!!!!)
TS%: 66%

Take note of all those exclamations. Ty Lawson posted some truly off the wall statistics in 2008-2009. The contention is that there was some tremendous statistical inflation going on due to North Carolina's ridiculously fast system. But a closer look shows that Lawson actually was very, very good.

Let's start with something nobody is questioning: Lawson's shot. He has maybe the best range of any guard prospect, shooting a wacky 47% from three this year. If his three point shot doesn't translate to the NBA level, I will be absolutely stunned. Nothing's a guarantee obviously, but this is as close as it gets. I love his form, and the way he gets into position off a dribble. On top of his long range abilities, Lawson is also one of the top finishers in college basketball. So his very high eFG% is not only a reflection of his deep ball talent, but also of his skill close to the hoop. And nobody's questioning his ability to draw contact. His 47% FTA/possession rate is simply amazing, and as much as you want to talk about system inflation, it certainly points to some serious underlying talent.

The one statistic I accept may be somewhat inflated is the assist ratio. Lawson averaged a 51% rate last year (actually down from his freshman rate of 59%). Pace adjusting can simply level the possession playing field, but it can't take into account the fact that Lawson absolutely dominated the fast break. There certainly wasn't a better fast break field general in America. Will he get that many fast break opportunities in the NBA? Obviously not. The defenders are more athletic, will get back faster, and will cut off passing lanes with ease. But to point out only the inflation of assists and to ignore the turnover rate is a serious error. Lawson's 15% turnover rate, in a fast break environment requiring rapid decision making, is yet another impressive attribute.

At best, Lawson could be one of the most talented point guard prospects in a long while. At worst, his assist numbers are somewhat inflated, and he's not as good a passer as people thought. So? The shot is for real. The decision making is for real. His driving ability is real. His defense is real.

Verdict: I know I said yesterday that I'd take DeJuan Blair over any guard/wing prospects... but I don't know. If he's available, I'd take Lawson in a heartbeat out of these 7.

Who Didn't Make This List?

Chase Budinger: Great stats, but workouts have revealed that he'd much rather stand and shoot than drive and force the action. A stand-still shooter with questionable defense is the last thing the Hornets should look to add this summer.

Terrence Williams: He's primarily a defensive stopper with highly questionable offensive skills and the inability to create a shot (though he is an awesome passer). With Posey and Wright aboard, that seems redundant.

Jodie Meeks: Meeks is a terrific, undervalued scorer. I think apprehensions about his lack of athleticism will prove misguided because he has amazing range, took on a huge scoring responsibility with ease, drew a lot of fouls, and was one of the most efficient scorers in the country. But I don't think his stock is high enough for the Hornets to even think about taking him at 21. Is that undeserved? Absolutely. That's just how the draft goes some times.

Tyler Hansbrough: Very poor rebounding numbers. As much as his "toughness" has been touted, I (and the numbers) simply don't see it. See yesterday's Blair or Bust post if you're not convinced.

So Who's the Pick?

I'd put the board in this order:

DeJuan Blair
Ty Lawson
Marcus Thornton
Eric Maynor
Austin Daye
Jeff Teague
Jodie Meeks
Sam Young
Chase Budinger
Danny Green

Blair and Lawson have to be considered nearly equivalent in terms of talent, but the larger need at frontcourt puts Blair over the top. Whether or not Pargo comes back could really influence things too. If Pargo is in the Hornets' plans (as in, they know for sure they'll sign him on July 11th), I would push Daye over Maynor for sure. I've got Teague only at 6 because I consider Maynor a better version of him, more or less. Teague showed terrific scoring skills in college, but at 6'0", he won't have nearly the same scoring role or chances in the NBA. Basically, his most valuable skill set will be underutilized, and Maynor's previously shown passing ability will be given more opportunity to resurface in the NBA. So Maynor is the better combo guard in my eyes. If Blair, Lawson, Thornton, and Daye are off the board by #21, that's when I'd consider trading the pick. That would seem to be the line at which the pick ceases to have too much value to the Hornets, but could still be valuable for other teams.

If we get #1 or 2 on that list, I'll be extraordinarily happy. #3 through 6 would evoke a sound "meh" although Austin Daye is intriguing. #7 and below or any non-Blair big men could be filed into the Summer of 2008 disaster cabinet. This will truly be a difficult draft to navigate.

Ty Lawson's NBA Chances

T.H. — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:29:04 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

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Both Dave Berri and apparently John Hollinger (I don't get ESPN insider, this is via Matt Yglesias) are speaking highly of Ty Lawson's chances in NBA; Hollinger has him as he best player in the draft behind consensus top pick Blake Griffin, and Berri's numbers list him as the best point guard in the draft and third overall, behind Griffin and DeJuan Blair. The number-crunchers are pro-Lawson, the more holistic folks, like Chad Ford, put him in the bottom third of the first round.

The biggest knocks against Lawson seem to be a) his size, and b) that his stats are inflated by playing amongst the talent at UNC at the speed they run at. The first is somewhat valid, but doesn't explain the draft watchers' love of Johnny Flynn, who is also 6'0", and posted significantly worse numbers for the Orangemen this year as a sophomore. The second objection, to anyone who watched a lot of UNC games this year, is pretty ridiculous. Playing with the offensive threats he did may have inflated his shooting percentage and added the occasional assist, but where Lawson really draws attention to himself is his lack of turnovers. His ridiculously low number compared to other point guards on that score came despite the breakneck pace he and the Tar Heels were running at, a tempo that would lead you to expect more turnovers, as they have less of a deleterious effect on your team's chances. That, factored in with Lawson's speed and strength, makes him a better prospect than a lot of people are considering at this point, and definitely more likely to succeed than similarly sized guards like Flynn and Darren Collison.

The Rebound Guy

atthehive — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:51:49 -0000

More photos » by Elise Amendola - AP

Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair (45)

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It's universally agreed that the Hornets are most lacking at the 4/5 spots and at the wing. Hornets247 did a great review of some prospects while I was ~~slacking~~ curing cancer with Matt Wieters, but I figure I should expand on some of those before the draft is upon us.

Relative to the NBA, analyzing the NCAA via statistics is quite an inexact science. Pace adjustment is obviously a huge corrective step and methods of normalizing for conference do exist, but there are many, many variables that can't possible be accounted for. The shorter season. Travel within a generally smaller geographic region. The tendency of many top players to play close to home. The presence of friends and family. Less pressure from a fanbase. Etc. So I'll try and incorporate much of my own experience watching these players into the statistics because anecdotal evidence can actually have tremendous value here.

For today though, I'm going to go with almost an all stats approach. That's because the rebounders are first up.

I've mentioned this many times in the past, and it's worth saying again: rebounding may be the most consistent stat a player can have. Players from major NCAA conferences maintain remarkably similar rebounding rates in the NBA. Rebounders from minor NCAA conferences generally tend not to get picked... but I'd be willing to wager they'd do well on the boards if their other skills weren't so mediocre. The draftees with the top rebounding rates are generally the rookies the top rebounding rates. In 2007/2008, Kevin Love had the highest rebound rate among draftees, posting 5.1/9.8/14.8 offensive/defensive/total per 40 minute, pace adjusted split. He led the NBA in offensive rebound rate last year, and finished with Tim Duncan-esque defensive rebounding totals.

Most of the 2007/2008 leaders (Blair, Harangody, Griffin) returned to NCAA for one more year. In 2006/2007, the top rebounding rate belonged to Joey Dorsey. He hasn't panned out so far due to disciplinary issues, but he's rebounding decently in the D-League. The 2nd best rebounding draftee of 06/07- Greg Oden- posted a 5.0/8.5/13.5 split. He was injured all of last NBA season, but this year he would've led NBA in offensive rebound rate if he hadn't missed 20 games. The 3rd best rebounding draftee- Aaron Gray- has been widely and correctly reputed to suck, but his rebounding splits of 13.5/17.6/9.6 are absolutely rock solid good.

In 2005/2006, Paul Millsap led with an amazing 7.0/8.5/15.5 totals split. Nobody knew who he was. In three NBA seasons, he's posted rate splits of 13.3/20.6/17.0, numbers any team would drool over. I have a lot of confidence in the translation of the top rebound figures. So who's up there this year? Numbers are tabulated below, with the inclusion of comparable rebounders from years past.

Offensive/40M, pace adjusted

	Name	NCAA	NBA
1	DeJuan Blair	8.1	--
2	Paul Millsap	7.0	13.3
3	John Bryant	5.5	--
4	Jon Brockman	5.1	--
5	Kevin Love	5.1	15.1
6	Greg Oden	5.0	15.7
7	Aaron Gray	4.9	13.5
8	Jordan Hill	4.8	--
9	Michael Beasley	4.7	6.5
10	Hasheem Thabeet	4.5	--
11	Blake Griffin	4.5	--
12	Taj Gibson	4.3	--
13	Luke Harangody	4.0	--
14	Jeff Pendergraph	3.3	--

Defensive/40M, pace adjusted

	Name	NBA	NCAA
1	John Bryant	12.9	--
2	Blake Griffin	12.2	--
3	DeJuan Blair	9.9	--
4	Michael Beasley	9.9	19.8
5	Kevin Love	9.8	27.3
6	Luke Harangody	9.4	--
7	Aaron Gray	9.1	20.3
8	Jon Brockman	8.7	--
9	Greg Oden	8.5	24.5
10	Paul Millsap	8.5	20.6
11	Hasheem Thabeet	8.5	--
12	Jordan Hill	7.8	--
13	Jeff Pendergraph	7.3	--
14	Taj Gibson	6.7	--

Before delving into any of these numbers, my biggest desire for this draft was getting a bruising, battering big man. He doesn't have to be able to shoot, or even catch; he just needs to rebound the hell out of the ball and push some people while he's at it. Question is... does he exist?

Conclusions

Ability on both the offensive and defensive glass indicates a higher probability that either offensive or defensive rebounding will translate to the NBA. Paul Millsap's defensive numbers weren't otherwordly, but it appears his incredible offensive numbers translated to the defensive side somewhat. The same thing seems to have occurred with Kevin Love. Another conclusion seems to be that good college rebounders seem to become much better NBA rebounders, more often than they become awful ones. The only guy on this list that turned in a truly hideous performance was Michael Beasley on the offensive glass (his college numbers were mediocre, but I don't think many people would've pegged him to be this poor). But otherwise, Kevin Love absolutely blew up on the defensive glass, and Greg Oden blew up on the offensive glass, among others. Personally, I view this as "if you were this great in college, your rebounding skillset is only likely to get better from this point."

These two graphs also point out why so many are viewing Hasheem Thabeet as an automatic bust. A 7'3" center posting that pathetic offensive rate and mediocre defensive rate isn't awe inspiring. I still think he could develop into a guy of the Roy Hibbert mold (a player I love), but he'll need to bulk up big time, and the naysayers have plenty of statistical ammunition here. If you're wondering where Tyler Hansbrough is... he posted a 3.5/5.9 split this year. Not inspiring stuff. To me, his best case scenario is a taller Matt Harpring. Another guy not cracking the lists is B.J. Mullens, projected to go in the top 20 in many places. His 3.5/6.2 split is very poor also, but his combination of age (20) and offensive skills may make him worth it (though I doubt it).

Is there a player on here that fits that "battering, bruising" description? Absolutely- DeJuan Blair. The numbers say he is exactly that guy. The problem is, his stock has been rising very rapidly. He showed up to a bunch of workouts, 15 pounds lighter, and allaying a lot of people's fears that he could never cut down on weight. It would take a series of strange events- probably starting with a bunch of teams passing on Brandon Jennings, so Indy takes him over Blair- for him to fall to 21. Basically, Blair is last year's Courtney Lee. I drooled over him badly last year, fully aware that there was no way he'd fall to 27. Same thing this year... if Blair drops this low, the Hornets have to take him no matter what. Forget the offensive shortcomings, forget his height, forget his weight. Those rebounding numbers are a steal at 21 any way you slice it.

In regards to the others, I'd definitely steer clear of Jordan Hill if I were Washington (or whoever else is supposedly drafting him). His board numbers are decidedly mediocre. I've noticed that the Pac-10 has posted generally lower pace-adjusted numbers in recent years, so Hill's numbers may not be that terrible... but at best, they're average. We'll see, but I'm officially predicting a bust. Speaking of the Pac-10, Jon Brockman (Washington) has some above average numbers. He's one of the biggest mysteries of this draft to me. I watched him a ton at Washington, and I've always been impressed with his ball skills and touch close to the basket. The biggest knock on him is his height (6'7") but he's always used his bulk (260) to muscle opponents out of the way. His rebounding figures certainly attest to that. I'd peg him as a great second round pick for New Orleans... if we had a second round pick. Nonetheless, most mock drafts don't even have him going in the second round. I imagine Portland (4 second round picks (!!!!!!!!!!!)), Detroit (3 second round picks), and San Antonio (3 second round picks) have to be taking a serious look at him though. John Bryant's another second round gamble kind of guy since he's out of SCU, and nobody knows what lens to view his crazy rebounding numbers through.

Overall? 21 is not a good place to snare a big man. Frankly, these guys all suck. The one good guy is going to be gone by pick 16, and the two other guys that intrigue me (Bryant and Brockman) are decidedly not 21st overall selection material. Anyone think DET/IND would bite on a 21st and Daniels for the 13/15? Yeah, me neither.

The conclusion is basically: take a wing. I'll go over who my preference would be tomorrow (tons of mocks have us taking VCU's Eric Maynor). Take a wing, go get Richard Hendrix from the D-League. Get back a healthy Chandler and Peja, and hey, failing to get that big might not be the worst thing after all.

Saturday Notes: Hammond talks, Hill visits, the guards are coming, Barcelona win

Frank Madden — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 05:51:37 -0000

WSSP: Hammond press conference. This is the full version of the press conference on Bucks.com, which basically finds John Hammond saying a lot of sensible things that don't reveal all that much. But hey, that's how Hammond rolls and in the grand scheme of things a GM who telegraphs his moves isn't doing his job. So to summarize: the Bucks would like to address needs at PG/PF, but will take BPA even if it's a wing. Read: we've only been focusing on need guys, but don't accuse us of not picking the best player. They're not going to dump salary just to dump salary, but the Bucks aren't good enough to be spending luxury tax dollars on right now. Read: we're not paying the tax.
Gardner: Hill visits. There's been some talk that Jordan Hill could drop to the Bucks at 10, but they probably shouldn't hold their breath considering Washington, Golden State and New York could all be interested. What do you think, Dave Babcock?

"You never know," Babcock said. "As talented as he is, some teams may not take him because they don't know where he's going to fit on their team.
"If we took Jordan Hill, that would be a no-brainer (his game complementing Bogut). It gives you another big that's athletic, a player that could pass. You could play him high post; you could play him low post. I don't think anybody would question that."

B.J. Mullens was part of a six-guy workout earlier in the day, but Gery Woelfel reports that the Bucks aren't likely to be interested at #10. Makes sense.
Woelfel: Lawson coming, Blair back for a second workout? Woelfel is not a DeJuan Blair fan, so it's probably with gritted teeth that he reports this:

The Bucks seem to be one of the few teams who don't have serious reservations about Blair. They worked him out last week and are considering bringing him back for another visit before the draft, a clear indicator of their interest in him.
Woelfel also writes the Bucks are not going to be taking Jeff Teague with the 10th pick, despite that NBADraft.net blurb last week about them being very interested. At the time I suggested it was another smokescreen--Teague's style just doesn't seem to fit what we know about Skiles/Hammond--so I feel a little vindicated right now. And yes, I'll feel stupid on draft night if he ends up somehow being the pick. More Woelfel:

I know Bucks officials like UCLA guard Jrue Holiday, but does owner Herb Kohl and his cronies really want to deal with his agent, Dan Fegan -- especially after the latter pulled all those shenanigans on them before the draft two years ago while representing Yi Jianlian?
Fegan, by the way, also represents Louisville forward Earl Clark, who has also drawn interest from the Bucks.

Just to be clear, this should be a non-issue. There's essentially no negotiation involved in a first round contract and I feel pretty comfortable that neither Holiday nor Clark are going to threaten to play for the Guangdong Tigers next year. In other words, Herb should not give a rip who those guys are repped by.
Gardner: Flynn, Lawson, maybe Jennings expected to work out. Should be a good workout on Monday, as Jonny Flynn, Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague, and Brandon Jennings will be there. Check out this TrueHoop post with an account of those guys battling in Minnesota.
FCB.com: Barca win Spanish title. Ersan Ilyasova didn't put up big numbers like he did in game three (0/1 fg, six boards in 24 minutes), but Barcelona still took down TAU Ceramica 90-77 to claim the ACB title.
ESPN: Thorpe talks Blair, Holiday, Clark. We're used to David Thorpe's snarky player analysis at ESPN.com, but his bread and butter is training players in the offseason. So it's interesting to hear him pimping his own guys (it's about 3/4 into the show)--notably Blair and Clark. Funny to hear Thorpe talk about Blair "changing the culture" of whatever team that drafts him...gee, I wonder if the Bucks would like that. Thorpe also talks about Clark, who has been curiously absent from the Bucks' draft discussions.
Bucks.com: More season tix offers. The economy sucks. The Bucks have disappointed for years. But the good news is that it all means you can still find great deals on season tickets.

SBNation NBA Mock Draft, Pick #13: Indiana Pacers

Scott Schroeder — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:00:18 -0000

With the thirteenth pick in the 2009 SBNation Mock Draft, the Indiana Pacers, represented by SBNation's Pacers blog Indy Cornrows, select... (Drum Roll please)

From Indy Cornrows: The Indiana Pacers have a long-term need to gather talent at every position, with only three players currently under contract past the 2010-11 season. They also have a short-term need for some interior toughness to buttress (This word is my favorite for describing Blair -- Scott) a flimsy front court in their quest to make the playoffs next season. DeJuan Blair out of Pittsburgh covers both of those needs. Considering the young, high-upside guards are gone, Blair becomes an easy pick at 13 for the Pacers.

Blair was quite productive for a very good Pittsburgh team last year, but is considered undersized as a power forward in the NBA. Dude just slimmed down to 275 pounds and he's undersized? That's a big boy regardless of his height. Plus, Blair boasts a 7'2" wingspan, so you combine the reach with the booty and he should have no problem clearing space to chase down rebounds and put back buckets against taller more lithe competition.

Defensively, Blair can help immediately by simply playing the role of a Brinks truck in the lane. Pacer opponents found the path through the lane far too friendly last season. Blair's size and physical nature should make that quest to the bucket much more harrowing for opposing playmakers. So assuming the Pacers don't trade down to gather more assets, I expect Blair to be a solid addition to the roster who will quickly become a fan favorite next season.

The 2009 SB Nation Mock Draft thus far:

1. Los Angeles Clippers - Clips Nation: Blake Griffin

2. Memphis Grizzlies - 3 Shades of Blue: Ricky Rubio

3. Oklahoma City Thunder - Welcome to Loud City: James Harden

4. Sacramento Kings - Sactown Royalty: Tyreke Evans

5. Washington Wizards - Bullets Forever: Hasheem Thabeet

6. Minnesota Timberwolves - Canis Hoopus: Stephen Curry

7. Golden State Warriors - Golden State of Mind: Brandon Jennings

8. New York Knicks - Posting and Toasting: Jrue Holiday

9. Toronto Raptors - Holly MacKenzie: DeMar DeRozan

10. Milwaukee Bucks - BrewHoop: Jordan Hill

11. New Jersey Nets - Aisander "IcemanCometh" Duda: Jonny Flynn

12. Charlotte Bobcats - Rufus On Fure: Gerald Henderson

DaJuan Doin' Work: "My Stock is Rising."

CasualHoya — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:37:26 -0000

Check out this solid link to our main man at a workout with the Charlotte Bobcats on June 5th.

Nice pull up jumper! Way to use the glass!

The juice is in the Q&A session afterwards:

"Coach (Larry) Brown is a teacher, so if you make a mistake he doesn't allow you to keep making that mistake. He stops you and teaches you to do it the right way."

Hey, folks. Anyone remember how our season ended in the NIT against Baylor? Well, if you don't, here's a brief refresher:

The Bears opened 3 for 3 from the field to start the second half, while the Hoyas opened with a pair of misses from Dajuan Summers, and within 1:34, the 10 point lead was down to two and the game was on. Baylor led briefly before the Hoyas began to move the ball back inside to carve out a narrow lead, but its defense could not stop Baylor from repeated drives along the baseline, alley-oop dunks and close-in jumpers.

Do you remember who was guarding that guy who repeatedly was on the receiving end of those alley-oops? (Hint: It wasn't Derrick Brown, the kid from Xavier also featured in the Bobcats workout video.)

Repeated drives. Alley-oop dunks. Close-in jumpers.

Meanwhile, ESPN.com's Chad Ford ranks Summers in Tier 4 of the prospects in this year's Draft and still has him slated at #24 to the Blazers in his latest Mock Draft:

Tier 4

DeJuan Blair
Earl Clark
Austin Daye
Tyler Hansbrough
Gerald Henderson
Brandon Jennings
James Johnson
Ty Lawson
Eric Maynor
B.J. Mullens
DaJuan Summers
Jeff Teague
Terrence Williams
Sam Young

Note: This is a huge tier and shows the parity in the draft. Theoretically, teams are saying you can get the same quality player at 11 that you will get at 24. This is where the real depth of the draft is. A few players like Blair, Clark, Hansbrough, Henderson, Jennings, Johnson, Teague and Williams were unanimous selections. Summers was borderline between here and Tier 5.

Elsewhere, CNNSI.com's Ian Thomsen continues to show DaJuan no love in his Mock, while over at rotoworld.com, DaJuan just sneaks into the 1st round at #30 to the Cavs.

Personally I hope the Knicks take him at #8.

Casually.

Poll

You are playing third base and have a hard 12. The dealer has a 6.

Hit

33 votes

Stay

44 votes

77 votes | Poll has closed

5 (35)	Detroit (from Minnesota)	DaJuan Summers	6-9	243	SF	Georgetown
The Pistons seriously considered Summers at No. 15, so they are thrilled to get him at No. 35. Summers is a fantastic athlete, can shoot the ball and can play both the 3 and the 4. This is a great pick this late in the draft.

SB Nation - DeJuan Blair

Big East Media Day Commences: What Will the Coaches Predict?

Meet Maurice Walker - The Player Every Georgetown Fan Has Been Waiting For

The Big Blue Daily Mail -- UK News All Over the Place

UK Basketball News

UK Football News

Other UK Sports News

NCAA Sports News

Other News of Interest

The Daily Schadenfreude

DaJuan Summers Drafted By the Detroit Pistons in 2nd Round

With the 21st Pick...

The Candidates

2008 - Eric Maynor

2008 - Marcus Thornton

2008 - Sam Young

2008 - Austin Daye

2008 - Danny Green

2008 - Jeff Teague

2008 - Ty Lawson

Who Didn't Make This List?

So Who's the Pick?

Ty Lawson's NBA Chances

The Rebound Guy

Offensive/40M, pace adjusted

Defensive/40M, pace adjusted

Saturday Notes: Hammond talks, Hill visits, the guards are coming, Barcelona win

SBNation NBA Mock Draft, Pick #13: Indiana Pacers

DaJuan Doin' Work: "My Stock is Rising."

Tier 4

You are playing third base and have a hard 12. The dealer has a 6.

Hit

Stay