NBA teams may realize size doesn't matter, Sam Smith on NBA Draft Options

[dasox24]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...,7006699.column

NBA teams may realize size doesn't matter


So whom do the Bulls select in the June 26 NBA draft? Will they have a shot at Kansas State's Michael Beasley or Memphis' Derrick Rose? Perhaps someone like Russell Westbrook or a sleeper like Hales Franciscan grad JaVale McGee, a 7-footer whom one NBA executive told me he'd take if he were drafting for the Bulls?

The NBA guys will be filling out their brackets and pools this week as the NCAA tournament begins. But they'll be looking at something other than which 12th seed can beat a fifth.

The tournament represents the last time the pro scouts will see the college talent in games before the draft. A lot changes when players come in for workouts. However, it's not always for the best.

In interviews with about a dozen team executives and talent evaluators in the last week, the consensus is that Kansas State's Beasley will be the No. 1 pick, though without complete certainty. They point out that Beasley has had maturity issues and in the wrong setting could have trouble. Rose, from Simeon, is said to be the consolation prize, though if I were the Bulls and was picking No. 1, that's whom I'd take.

But pros are reluctant to take a small player No. 1. If you could go back, you'd take Brandon Roy over Andrea Bargnani in 2006 and Chris Paul or Deron Williams over Andrew Bogut in 2005. Plus we've seen how much a point guard can mean for an NBA team today in light of rule changes that aid perimeter players. The Bulls are said to be interested in upgrading at point guard, but it remains unclear whether they'll be in the lottery or make the playoffs.

At their current spot, they'd be in the lottery. Without moving up, they would pick 10th. That likely would give them a shot at someone like UCLA's guards, Westbrook and Darren Collison, or even Stanford sophomore center Brook Lopez, who could slip as the pros get enamored of the athletic freshmen. One veteran talent evaluator pointed me toward McGee for the Bulls, saying he'd be the best big man from this group in three years.

The chart at right shows an early look at how the pros, with some of my biases included, see the first round of the draft with everyone in college included. This is a first look and will change as players decide to stay in school and move up or down in workouts.

1. Derrick Rose, 6-3, 190, Memphis. Potentially great point guards are toughest to find and most important to have.

2. Michael Beasley, 6-10, 235, Kansas State. Impact power forward likened to Derrick Coleman (overwhelming skills, potential distraction).

3. Brook Lopez, 7-0, 260, Stanford. Mechanical, but he can score. One GM said with two more years in college, he could be Tim Duncan.

4. Eric Gordon, 6-4, 215, Indiana. Somewhere between Ben Gordon and Chauncey Billups. Pros don't know if he can play point.

5. Jerryd Bayless, 6-3, 199, Arizona. Tough competitor and scorer who also is bit small for shooting guard but not true point.

6. Kevin Love, 6-10, 260, UCLA. Not really athletic enough for NBA but will make plays and is best outlet passer since Wes Unseld.

7. Russell Westbrook, 6-3, 187, UCLA. Playing shooting guard in college but said to have potential for point and is big-time prospect.

8. O.J. Mayo, 6-5, 200, USC. Not quite athlete—or problem—he's advertised as. Smallish shooting guard who'll also defend.

9. Blake Griffin, 6-10, 243, Oklahoma. Good all-around big man who has had some injury concerns but is regarded as future NBA All-Star.

10. Anthony Randolph, 6-10, 205, LSU. Athletic, versatile LSU big man on rise. Heard that before? Likened to Chris Bosh, Brandan Wright.

11. DeAndre Jordan, 7-0, 260, Texas A&M. One of those young big men who's not ready but could come on.

12. James Harden, 6-4, 218, Arizona State. All-around athlete and scorer who is saying he'll return for sophomore season.

13. Chase Budinger, 6-7, 203, Arizona. Sean Elliott type who's skilled and leaper but not enamored of contact.

14. JaVale McGee, 7-0, 237, Nevada. Dad is George Montgomery from Illinois, and mom is USC's Pam McGee. Project with big upside.

15. Danilo Gallinari, 6-9, 210, Italy. Tall small forward who has drawn comparisons to Toni Kukoc.

16. D.J. Augustin, 6-0, 180, Texas. Point guard who can run team with good feel for game, but small.

17. Serge Ibaka, 6-10, 220, Congo. There's always an international guy on rise, and this power forward is drawing attention.

18. Darren Collison, 6-1, 165, UCLA. Smallish point guard who has been opening some eyes with defense and improved driving ability.

19. Tyler Hansbrough, 6-9, 250, North Carolina. Doesn't measure up and lacks hops. An upscale Mark Madsen but will play for long time.

20. Darrell Arthur, 6-9, 225, Kansas. Physical specimen who isn't quite rebounder he should be, causing him to drop.

21. Roy Hibbert, 7-2, 278, Georgetown. Should have come out last year. Pros have picked apart his game and decided he's too slow.

22. Hasheem Thabeet, 7-3, 265, Connecticut. Can't score in empty gym, but he's big and you can't teach that.

23. Donte Greene, 6-11, 225, Syracuse. Versatile big man who can play small forward but probably will stay in school.

24. Joe Alexander, 6-8, 230, West Virginia. Skinny jumping jack who is coming on fast and should move up in workouts.

25. J.J. Hickson, 6-9, 242, North Carolina State. Skilled player who can play with back to basket and has NBA game.

26. Gerald Henderson, 6-4, 210, Duke. Son of NBAer by same name is likened to Corey Maggette and will improve as he develops ballhandling.

27. Brandon Rush, 6-6, 210, Kansas. Shooter who'll have place in NBA for several years.

28. Jason Thompson, 6-10, 245, Rider. Senior whom pros found as he kept putting up big numbers, even against bigger schools.

29. Nicolas Batum, 6-8, 210, France. Shooting guard who has had down season after being ranked highly last year.

30. Jeremy Pargo, 6-2, 219, Gonzaga. Underrated point whom some like better than Kansas' Mario Chalmers and Carolina's Ty Lawson.

[bschmaranz]

Great point guards are the most important thing to have? Tell that to every team Phil Jackson coached to a title and while I like Tony Parker, is he great?