http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/nicolasbatum.html Somehow, the description reminds me of the young TMac.
http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/deshawnstevenson.htm Somehow, the description reminds me of the young Michael Jordan. Lesson: NbaDraft.net sucks. He's a project and could almost go to us without having to trade down.
It looks like if he put on some real weight, his athleticism takes a huge hit. He has very long arms though. Reminds me of Tayshaun Prince
I know usually the goal with these Euro's is to stash them on your bench thereby avoiding the hype and temptation to enter in the NBA Draft but this kid's numbers are pretty unimpressive considering he's playing nearly 30 MPG. Definitely a project but looks to be a world-class athlete with a ton of upside and potential. I mean, how many GM's around the league wouldn't be interested in a 6'8" SG? Not only that but the Rudy Gay comparisons and similarities are hard to ignore if these scouting reports are accurate.
At least Rudy Gay was a stud in college. This kid averages 8.5 ppg in the Euro League. Regardless of his age, he won't be close to T-Mac ever, and if he is, it won't be for like 6 years IMO.
The great thing I love is that, of all the positions, SG/SF is the EASIEST to replace via the draft. Compare getting an athletic wing late in the first round to finding a PG with speed and a good head upon his shoulders, a center with handle and good defense, or a power forward with height and rebounding skills and you'll find that wings are more plentiful bar none. Everyone wants to be like Mike after all. Unfortunately, it's hard to find players at ANY position late in the first that can also incorporate a good jump shot into their game.
Unlikely we can get this guy, even if we manage to buy like Portland's pick, he won't fall to us that late I dont think. Just sign Carlos Delfino. He'd be a great addition for us, and after the Raptors spend heavily on contracts for Jose Calderon and Jamario Moon, he won't be expensive to get.
This scouting report is 2 years old. When looking at nbadraft.net always look at date on scouting reports. And their comparisons are wishy washy. For example Joe Alexandar is compared to - NBA Comparison: Shawn Marion/Tom Gugliotta. Quite a contrast.
This is true, but you also find more busts at the wing, imo. Actually, I'm not sure if this is even true...let's look at Picks #20 to #30 over the last 5 years. Just my ratings: Bust, Steal, or Okay 2003 20) Dahntay Jones - sf/sg - bust 21) Boris Diaw - sf/sg/pf - steal 22) Zoran Planinic - sf/sg - bust 23) Travis Outlaw - sf - steal/okay 24) Brian Cook - pf - bust 25) Carlos Delfino - pg/sg - steal/okay 26) Ndudi Ebi - sf - bust 27) Kendrick Perkins - pf/c - okay 28) Leandro Barbosa - pg/sg - steal 29) Josh Howard - sg/sf - steal 2004 20) Jameer Nelson - pg - okay 21) Pavel Podkolzin - c - bust 22) Viktor Khryapa - sf - bust 23) Sergei Monia - never came to NBA 24) Delonte West - pg - steal/okay 25) Tony Allen - sg/sf okay (major injury) 26) Kevin Martin - sg - steal 27) Sasha Vujacic - pg - okay/steal 28) Beno Udrih - pg - okay/steal 29) Davin Harrison - c - okay 2005 20) Julius Hodge - sf - bust 21) Nate Robinson - pg - okay 22) Jarret Jack - pg - okay 23) Francisco Garcia - sg/sf - okay 24) Luther Head - sg/pg - okay (I'm being generous) 25) Johan Petro - c - bust (work-in-progress) 26) Jason Maxiell - pf - steal 27) Linas Kleiza - sg/sf - steal 28) Ian Mahinmi - never came to NBA 29) Wayne Simien - pf - bust 30) David Lee - pf - okay/steal 2006 20) Renaldo Balkman - sf/sg - okay/bust 21) Rajon Rondo - pg - steal 22) Marcus Williams - pg - okay/bust 23) Josh Boone - pf - okay 24) Kyle Lowry - pg - okay 25) Shanon Brown - sg - bust 26) Jordan Farmar - pg - okay 27) Sergio Rodriguez - pg - bust (work-in-progress) 28) Maurice Ager - sg - bust 29) Mardy Collins - sg/sf - bust 30) Joel Freeland - PF - bust Summary: I'm not going to do 2007's draft because that's way to soon imo to judge, and these things are fluid all the time. Shanon Brown is a bust for now, but he might break out next year (I know there are better examples out there). So just to keep things neat, here are my guidelines for the little summary: only clear steals will be categorized as steals, bust/okay will be okay. Point Guards: 11 Players - 2 clear steals, 1 bust (sort of), 8 solid okay players Wing Players: 17 Players - 4 clear steals, 8 busts, 5 okay players Post Players: 10 Players - 1 clear steal, 5 busts, 4 okay players Over the last 4 drafts (not including last year), it seems like drafting a PG late will most likely land you a contributing player. It seems hardest to find a great or contributing post player. As for the wing players, they are the most plentiful, but you got a 50/50 chance to find a dud, which is bad like a post player, but better chance at finding a wing stud than a post player stud. Actually, I'm really surpised by the 11 PG's in the last 4 drafts (not including 2007). Non of them are clear busts yet. Sergio Rodriguez is still considered untapped potential with trade value. Marcus Williams still clearly has a future in the NBA. It's amazing that no PG's have gone the way of Zoran Planinic yet, whereas there are plenty of examples of late round wing players and post players who aren't even in the NBA anymore.
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Nicolas-Batum-537/ He's a player to keep an eye on. Although, if our goal is to acquire a young, raw, 6'8" G/F super-athlete project that's pretty much Gerald Green in a nutshell too.
thats who chard ford thinks we would take.... http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-080527
I think that the difference in developing in Europe vs High school to NBA is huge. The european leagues put a premium on experience over tallent and make a player earn his minutes and his money a little more. Gerald Green is a millionaire at 18 years of age and didn't have the desire for greatness that is needed to push him to a higher level. We don't lose anything leaving this guy in europe and if he wants to play here he will take his game to a level that will force us to bring him here, or he can stay in europe, his choice. I do like Mario Chalmers if we want to take somebody that could contribute right now.
He may be a border line lottery pick. The top international player in this draft is Danilo Gallinari. I still believe that if the Rockets does trade up, he may be one of the main target... I don't think it is fair to compare him to Gerald Green -- he has been playing in a professional league. Also he is on France youth team and national team. Those are all very valuable experience that Green never had. Therefore, mentally he will be much better prepared for NBA than Gerald Green.
Umm, Gerald Green has been playing in a league called the NBA for about 114 games over 3 year and NBA summer leagues as well. I think you kinda got it backwards, Green would be way more prepared to play in the NBA than Batum next year. Look how long it took Scola to get adjusted and he played pro ball in europe for years (MVP I might add) and he's a gold medalist from the Olympics.
He won't be anywhere near 25, but you have to like the upside of any athlete that size. I've never seen him play so I can't say too much, but I think almost all of us would approve of a gamble on a player like Batum. Remember though, trading up has a price. The question isn't 'don't you like Nicolas Batum', its what will it cost us. If trading up costs us Scola, I almost universally oppose it, but if Morey and crew do their homework and really think he is something to covet, then it may be worth losing Brooks.
I see what you're saying but I also think there's a good chance you'll see a different player in Green next year. He's completely out of the NBA right now and has bounced around on three different teams. Sure, somebody will take a chance on him this offseason (us?) but the point is i'm sure it was a humbling experience for him. To go from the "superstar", "world on a silver platter" mentality to being figured out and essentially discarded. I'm sure he realizes what he needs to do now and that just showing up simply isn't enough. If he decides to start working hard and somebody lights a fire under this kid, i'd love to be the team that benefits from it and essentially acquires a lottery-pick level talent for next to nothing.
