[Yahoo Sports Twitter] 34th pick (Sergio Llull) sold to Houston

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/14871938/15712362

Sergio Llull: 6-3, 176, PG, 21 years old, (Real Madrid)

Draft rank: #39

PG rank: #14

Strengths:

Has good mechanics on his shot. No wasted motion and does a good job of stepping into his shot. Has good size to play the point. Does a very good job of using his feet to turn the corner and has tremendous balance that allows him to get to the rim. Even when he is at full speed he is able to stay in control. Does a really good job of getting into the lane and getting to the rim. Does a very good job of attacking open space with the ball. Has very good speed. Does a good job of pushing the ball in transition and making the defense pay when they aren’t setup. Does a good job of penetrating and dropping passes off to his bigs. Really knows how to take advantage of the defender if he is off balance. Doesn’t settle for outside shots and is not afraid of attacking bigger players at the rim. Uses his hands to try to create steals and take off the other way in transition. Can shoot the ball even if he is moving to the left or the right because of his ability to square up to the basket. Has good hang time when attacking the basket. Does a good job of shielding his man with his shoulder and attacking in transition with an underhand scoop shot. Does a good job of floating shots over the defender and off the glass so that he can score in the lane. Really good athleticism and solid explosiveness from a point guard. Does a good job of finishing on reverses and knows how to dip his shoulder down so that he can beat his man and get to the other end of the rim.

Weaknesses:

Is right hand dominant and he often turns the ball over when he is forced to go left. Often loses his balance when someone knocks touches him while driving to the hoop which causes him to shoot bad shots or make bad decisions. Often forces passes and as a result turns the ball over. Struggles shooting the ball when there is a player in his face. Sometimes forces his shot. Doesn’t do a good job fighting thru screens. Struggles to keep quick guards in front of him. Does not do a good job of pulling for mid-range jump shots and often just forces shots around the rim instead. I am not sure he will be able to hit the NBA three consistently. Often pounds the ball. Has still only played limited minutes and has put up limited numbers in those minutes.

Mental:

When watching Llull I was very surprised at how composed he was for a 21 year old. The guy has no problem with going and getting the ball from his veteran teammates and also doesn’t have a problem with telling those same teammates where to go. I love the fact that Llull isn’t afraid of getting knocked down and how his overall aggressiveness. In the NBA where charges are few and far between a PG that can penetrate and get into the paint with a little bit of recklessness is a good thing. Mentally I really like what I see from Llull as far as confidence is concerned.

Comparison: Sergio Rodriguez, 6-3, 170, PG

Would be a good fit for: Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards, or Detroit Pistons

Conclusion:

While he is clearly a point guard, he was used a lot as a secondary point guard overseas. What I mean by that is that they had a different player bring up the ball and then would let Llull run the offense in the half court. I would love to see him have the ability to push the ball from the get go, but that’s the offense they run and Llull seemed very comfortable in the half court as well. He is a very intriguing prospect just based on his size, speed and his ability to handle the ball.

I had the fortune of watching a young Sergio Rodriguez when he was starting to make some noise in Madrid and this Spanish Sergio does remind me of Rodriguez. He has a similar flare to his game and he has a similar build. The big difference is that Llull is fearless when taking the ball to the hoop and is a lot more aggressive than Rodriguez was when I saw him play. While they may have their differences both had the ability to change the course of the game with their play making skills and that is ultimately why Llull is an attractive prospect for NBA teams.

Llull may get drafted in the 1st round, but if he doesn’t then I could think of numerous teams that should take a flyer on him. At the very least he continues to play at a high level in Spain and they can let them grow into a complete point guard. He still has to show more consistency and work on his game, but Llull is definitely an intriguing prospect that should not be overlooked in this year’s draft.

 

SERGIO LLULL Scouting report

Positives: Has greatly improved his overall game, especially shooting from the perimeter, and plays with very good aggression and maturity for a player his age (21)...Makes good decisions with the ball and has a low turnover mark (207 assists to 103 turnovers in 119 games)...Bigger than most international point guards, but has the court vision, quickness and lateral range to easily translate to the wide-open NBA attack...Needs to add strength to compete but can take his man off the dribble and has confidence playing defense off the ball...Shows good balance and a low center of gravity, is able to handle the ball and shoot with either hand...Has greatly improved his release and range -- shot 37.5 percent from 3-point range, compared to 17.1 percent the previous season...Creative playmaker, who has converted on 47 percent of his chances coming off pick-and-roll plays...Has an explosive initial step and shows the hip weave and change of direction agility to slash through and pick apart a pressure defense...Scans the court and creates opportunities for others (assists increased from 60 in 2007-08 to 138 this season)...Has the size to create mismatches vs. most international point guards with a refined high release on his mid-range jumper...Some coaches would want him to get to the line more frequently, but he has been successful at an 80-percent clip for his career (shot 92.6 percent during 2008-09 Euroleague competition)...Sets his feet and gets elevation on his jump shot...Not the strongest player on the court, but shows no flinch using his body to set up the block and has been more determined fighting through screens as he matured than he was in the past...Has the body control and glide when taking the ball on the fast break, charging through double teams to elevate and put down a resounding dunk or executing a swift move with his off-hand from the weak-side to get the defender off-balance...Can fade away and deliver off the dribble...Drives hard to the basket and shows no hesitation in catch-and-shoot situations...Unquestioned floor general who knows when to push the ball up the court and also slow the tempo for an efficient half-court game and shows good court speed to get out in transition.

Negatives: Needs to use his ability to get inside to also get to the free throw line -- is a high-percentage free throw shooter, but averaged 1.3 foul shots per game in his pro career...Has good court speed but he can get out of control pushing the ball up and is still developing a feel for when to change tempo (did a much better job as his minutes increased in 2008-09, as he became comfortable in calling plays)...Works hard to fight through screens, but will struggle doing in the NBA unless he greatly improves his strength (gets into a rhythm where he feathers the ball at the rim rather than aggressively attacking the basket)...Has two years left on his contract which invites a buyout issue with his present club...When boxed out or pushed around underneath, he backs away and settles for mid-range jumpers rather than going strong to the rim...Good ball-handler, but until this season was more of the type that looked to create his own shot rather than look for open teammates.

Compares To: JOSE CALDERON, Toronto -- Llull has been automatic at the free throw line, but he needs to finish strong around the basket and seek contact to get to the charity stripe. He has greatly improved his range and could be used as a combo guard early in his career before settling in at the point. A big draft issue will be if he can obtain a decent buyout from the final two option years in his Real Madrid contract.


SERGIO LLULL MELIA
Point Guard/Shooting Guard
Real Madrid Madridistas, Spain
#23
6:02.0-178
Menorca, Spain

OVERVIEW
Llull's athleticism has earned the attention of NBA scouts. The youngest player on what is recognized as one of the elite international basketball organizations, he is considered to be one of Spanish basketball's brightest prospects, compared by some to Jose Manuel Calderon of the Toronto Raptors.

Llull wasn't expected to make a smooth transition from an LEB team to Real Madrid, but he settled in perfectly and adapted to the needs of a big-name club. Born in Mahon on Nov. 15, 1987, Llull first showed his potential with La Salle Mahon as a 16-year-old. Just prior to his 17th birthday, he scored 71 points in one game.

In 2003, Llull was signed by Manresa, whose B team, CB i Unio Manresana Junior, was his home for the next two seasons. He was part of Spain's U-18 team that captured the gold medal at the 2004 Junior European Championship. Despite starting the 2005-06 season with Finques Olesa, he made his ACB League debut with Ricoh Manresa on Jan. 8, 2006, appearing in 11 games, averaging 8.0 minutes, 2.8 points and 0.5 assists per game.

Although the Manresa team went to the LEB circuit for 2006-07 and Llull was hampered by ankle problems, Real Madrid brought him onboard as a third point guard for its successful playoff run. He made seven appearances in postseason action, logging 11 minutes, as he converted 1 of 2 free throws with three assists and one rebound.

Injuries to Real Madrid's Raul Lopez allowed Llull to explode onto the scene late in the 2007-08 season. In an exhibition game vs. the Toronto Raptors, he scored 17 points, 12 from downtown, en route to a stunning upset win. In 32 ACB League games, he posted averages of 2.8 points, 1.5 assists and 0.5 steals per game. Appearing in 15 ULEB contests, he averaged 2.3 points and 0.4 assists per game.

Llull was listed third on the depth chart at point guard entering the 2008-09 campaign behind Lopez and Pepe Sanchez, but seized a starting opportunity, as he was named the ACB's "Revelation Player of the Season." He scored a career-high 288 points (8.2 per game) with 96 assists (2.7 per game) in 35 ACB games and averaged 6.9 points along with 2.2 assists in 19 Euroleague contests.

 

Buying two PG's picks.................must be signs that Brooks will be traded.

 

This is probably a stash pick. Every year Morey grabs a guy in the 2nd round that's going to stay in Europe until/unless they're ready to play in the nba (like Eliyahu, Newley, and Luenen).

 

why not jurdi meeks? WHY!!!

 

I like this move. But I wonder if he can come to H-town in the upcoming season?

 

I'm very high on Lull, nice pickup Morey. He must have been impressed when he went scouting him out.

 

lull is not nba ready yet, he'll prob be stashed in spain for awhile....taylor isnt a pg, he's a SG

 

He will never play for the Rockets! You suck Morey!

 

He seems a little more intriguing than the three you mentioned. Someone around here mentioned the guy when talking about Rubio, but can't recall where I read it. Just a hunch, but I think he may end up being a good stash pick.

 

Somebody to replace DaDakota's precioussssss.......?

 

You begin to wonder if any of those guys will ever end up coming over? Either way, low risk/high reward scenarios, hopefully one of them finds their grove and is able to contribute

 

WHAT!! IN MOREY WE TRUST REMEMBER!!

 

THIS IS BLASPHEMY FOR QUESTIONING THE GOD OF MOREY.

 

we may have bought another pick, so there may be a third guy...

 

Dude. You've been lurking for 2 years. Please go back into Lurk Mode.

 

Some images of the guy. Looks like he has some hops!













Not bad!

 

I don't think both of them will stay Rox.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7KRV25YBEI

He looks like he has major hops and jets on his feet