|
Player:
|
D.J. Augustin. PG. 5'11".
|
|
Age:
|
20
|
|
Team:
|
Texas. Sophomore.
|
|
Comparison:
|
Jameer Nelson/Terrell Brandon
|
|
Projection:
|
mid to late lottery
|
|
Summary:
|
All-around guard - a playmaker who can really score.
Good three-point stroke and slasher. Good passer. Good quickness. Undersized.
Not a good defender. Turnover prone. Very athletic but not a freakish athlete like a Chris Paul.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Starter. Augustin can solve most teams' PG situation for the next ten years.
His defense is a drawback, but his offense should be more than enough to keep him on the floor.
|
|
Verdict:
|
Augustin seems to fit what the Kings are looking for: a young dynamic PG with star potential. He is projected
around the late lottery and if he is
available the Kings will take a very long look at him.
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Joe Alexander. SF. 6'8".
|
|
Age:
|
21
|
|
Team:
|
W. Virginia. Junior.
|
|
Comparison:
|
Eric Williams. Corliss Williamson with more athleticism.
|
|
Projection:
|
Mid lottery
|
|
Summary:
|
Outstanding size, strength, and athleticism at the 3 spot.
Started his college career as a guard and has since developed an array of post moves.
Most effective in the post, where his combination of physical gifts and footwork simply
overwhelms his defender. Good mid-range jumpshot. Very streaky and un-dependable beyond
15 ft. Good passer and dribbler thanks to his earlier life as a guard. Good rebounder for a 3.
Very hard worker. High basketball IQ.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
A SF that plays in the post is an acquired taste. In the right system, Alexander
will absolutely strive. The question is: does he need to adopt to being a more traditional SF?
|
|
Verdict:
|
Petrie will no doubt loves Alexander's work ethic, but will he fall for that
Eric Williams's type game?
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Anthony Randolph. SF/PF. 6'10".
|
|
Age:
|
18
|
|
Team:
|
LSU. Freshman.
|
|
Comparison:
|
Lamar Odom / Darius Miles
|
|
Projection:
|
Mid-lottery
|
|
Summary:
|
Long, athletic, with good handle and good vision. Hybrid forward.
Jumpshot is very inconsistent beyond 12 ft.
Can play with back to the basket but is too skinny to be a post player in the NBA.
Very raw. Lacks fundamentals. A very playground-like game.
There is two school of thoughts on Randolph. One is that he is an athletic but skinny PF a la Chris
Bosh. The other is that he is really an oversized slasher SF a la Odom. Regardless,
this skinny, long, and athletic player with good handle is all about potential. A project.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Potential All-Star or potential bust.
|
|
Verdict:
|
A high-risk, high reward pick.
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Roy Hibbert. C. 7'2".
|
|
Age:
|
21
|
|
Team:
|
Georgetown. Junior.
|
|
Comparison:
|
|
|
Projection:
|
Mid to late first.
|
|
Summary:
|
Oversized center. Hard worker. Plays within himself; shoot only shen
he's close to the basket. Good FT shooter. Shooting range to 15 ft. Not
as good a rebounder/shotblocker as you'd expect. Good work ethic. Not
fast nor athletic.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
borderline starter.
|
|
Verdict:
|
Hibbert was brought in for a second workout with the Kings that sparked rumor of
being the Kings' target. However, he would be a reach at #12 and remains a dark horse
to be a King.
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Javale McGee . C. 7'0".
|
|
Age:
|
20
|
|
Team:
|
UNR. Sophomore.
|
|
Comparison:
|
Loren Wood or KG-lite?
|
|
Projection:
|
mid first
|
|
Summary:
|
A center who runs and jumps like a guard. Huge wingspan. Good rebounder/shot blocker. Can shoot the long Js and take guys off the dribble.
Potential is out of this world. Very raw. Very skinny. Awful man to man defender. Not good in the post.
Ball hog.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Project.
|
|
Verdict:
|
McGee is beyond high risk / high reward. One of those players who can get a GM fired for drafting him; or fired for not drafting him.
|
| |
|
Player:
|
DeAndre Jordan. C. 6'11".
|
|
Age:
|
19
|
|
Team:
|
Texas A&M. Freshman.
|
|
Comparison:
|
Adonal Foyle or Tyson Chandler??
|
|
Projection:
|
Mid to late lottery
|
|
Summary:
|
Rare combination of size and athleticism. Physcial gift is off the chart.
Very good rebounder.
Poor defender. Not as good a shot-blocker as he should be. Low baller IQ.
Offense is almost non-existent. Still on the skinny side but has the frame to put on more muscle.
Very, very raw. Has a lot of learning to do. A project.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Jordan's size, athleticism, and defense seems to indicate at least a decent rotation player
in his future.
|
|
Verdict:
|
High risk / high reward.
Like any center project, it's a crap-shoot how well Jordan turns out.
It's up to Jordan how good he wants to be.
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Darrell Arthur. PF. 6'9".
|
|
Age:
|
20
|
|
Team:
|
Kansas. Sophomore.
|
|
Comparison:
|
Orlando Woolridge
|
|
Projection:
|
Mid to late first round.
|
|
Summary:
|
Long and athletic but skinny. Has some post skill and a decent mid-range jumper.
Plays within himself, will rarely forces his offense.
Not a good rebounder or good passer. Has a good motor: good pick and roll defender.
Prone to mental laspes and inconsistent from game to game.
Always in foul trouble. A 12 and 6 PF that has the potential to be a 15 and 8 guy.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Role player. Borderline starter. Probably needs to be in an up tempo system in order to strive.
|
|
Verdict:
|
His lack of rebounding does not seem to cater to Petrie's usual preference from a PF but
Arhtur is a known quality and while he'll never be a star, can turn into a useful role
player.
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Marreese Speights. PF. 6'10".
|
|
Age:
|
20
|
|
Team:
|
Florida. Sophomore.
|
|
Comparison:
|
Chris Wilcox
|
|
Projection:
|
Mid to late first round.
|
|
Summary:
|
Strong and athletic. Wide body. Good rebounder. Good mid-range shooter.
Poor fundamentals. Poor defender. Decent skill. Not much of a shot-blocker.
Uses his size and athelticism to bully his way around.
Loves to play in the post but post moves are limited. Low baller IQ.
Questions about his work ethic and desire.
A double-double player with room to grow. Very good potential if he's willing
to put in the work.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Starter.
|
|
Verdict:
|
Speights has the combination of size and athleticism that entices the Kings, but he's not ready for the NBA yet.
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Donte Greene. SF. 6'9".
|
|
Age:
|
19
|
|
Team:
|
Syracuse. Freshman.
|
|
Comparison:
|
Tim Thomas / Rashard Lewis
|
|
Projection:
|
Mid first
|
|
Summary:
|
Three-point specialist with size and athleticism. Always looks to score and comfortable
being the go-to guy. Decent handle. Tends to settle for the long jumpshots. A scorer's mentality,
not a well-rounded player. Still learning defensively. Did not have the monster season that some
expected, but he's still a pup. Very good potential. Barely ready for the NBA.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
At the minimum he's a rotation player. Potential starter. Potential All-Star.
|
|
Verdict:
|
Petrie likes shooter, especially shooter with size. Greene would join a very crowded
wing position but he's too talented not to get consideration.
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Nicolas Batum. SG/SF. 6'8".
|
|
Age:
|
19
|
|
Team:
|
Le Mans (France)
|
|
Comparison:
|
T-Mac or Mickael Pietrus?
|
|
Projection:
|
Mid to late first round
|
|
Summary:
|
Explosive swingman with good size and a lot of skill. Good scorer and creator for his teammates.
When he's on, he's unstoppable. Makes the game looks effortless. Has the desire and athleticism to
be a very good defender. Potential is off the chart. Very inconsistent. Will disappear for long stretches.
Does not always look to dominate. Too often settle for the jumpshots. His offensive is very streaky -
can look awesome or downright pathetic. Not as good as creating his own as you'd expect.
Asked to carry his team and sunk in that role. Seems more
comfortable being a role player than a star. But if he ever "gets" it, watch out.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
At the minimum he's a rotation player. Potential starter. Potential All-Star.
|
|
Verdict:
|
Batum's stock has dropped after a disappointing season in Europe but
there's too much talent here not to grab Geoff Petrie's attention.
|
| |
