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Paul George!?

Discussion in 'NBA Draft' started by T-Slack, May 22, 2010.

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T-Slack Member

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I can't believe people haven't talked more about this guy. I know the Rockets need a big man, but if the draft shapes out like some mock draft is saying and bigs like Ekpe Udoh, Hassan Whiteside, Cole Aldrich are gone before our pick instead of reaching or trading out, the Rox should go for value and draft a top 10 talent in George. I know, I know, our team is stacked with wings but, Battier is showing his age, Ariza can't dribble or shoot stright from time to time, C Bud, has potential but unless he works on his defense, he will have to be a role player. Taylor is still a project and Martin can't defend air. U guys get what I'm saying? Instead of reaching for a guys like Solomon Alabi, Larry Sanders or even Daniel Orton who are mid to late round picks, why pick guys that may turn out to be bit to role players when you can pick a guy that may turn out to be a star. I know its a different sport but the Dallas Cowboys took that approach by drafting Dez Bryant even though they had other needs. Oh and I didn't list any of the Power forwards cause we don't need those type of players, we need players to get rebounds and protect the paint.

#1 T-Slack, May 22, 2010

2 people like this.

rocketblaze Member

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Yeah, given our need for a big guy and the depth of this draft when it comes to bigs, its only natural for us to constantly talk about the bigs available at our position.

But with that said, I agree, Paul George has been turning some heads, this kid measured 6'9 and has been killing it at team workout's against other lottery competition.(Has started to get Tracy McGrady comparison's in terms of skills and being a sleeper)

If his available at our position the rockets need to take a deep look at this guy, despite being full of wing players on our current roster. We don't want to pass up on a possible All-Star talent....

--RB

#2 rocketblaze, May 22, 2010
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If the Rockets were able to move up and get Cousins or Monroe and still be able to keep the 14th, then getting George would be perfect.

#3 coachbadlee, May 22, 2010
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He seems intriguing to me. Great length, he's actually bigger than some of the premier 4/5 in the draft like Udoh or Patterson.

Take him at 14 and buy ot trade for a pick in the 19-25 range and take Larry Sanders(if available) for our big man project instead of Whiteside?

#4 saintja2, May 22, 2010
BasketballReasons Contributing Member

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Though he has impressed in the combine, i've been reading his tweets and he really sounds r****ded.
I find that they are very similar to those of Von Wafer...

#5 BasketballReasons, May 22, 2010
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<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ivCtVeCP9XM&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ivCtVeCP9XM&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

Of all the players in this draft, none elicits as wide a range of responses from NBA talent evaluators as Fresno State sophomore Paul George. An extremely late bloomer from the out of reach desert town of Palmdale, California who was completely overlooked by Pac-10 teams after being deemed a two-star high school recruit, George is fairly young for his class and appears to have a huge amount of room to grow as a prospect. As we quickly found out while watching him work out in Southern California, George is an incredibly tantalizing prospect to watch in person due to his physical tools, versatile skills and considerable upside. The first thing you notice is that he is much bigger than the 6-7, 190 pounds he was listed at in high school (or even the 6-8 that Fresno State pegged him as), measuring a legit 6-9 in shoes with a solid 6-11 ¼ wingspan at the NBA combine. Clearly he has grown a few inches in the past few years and, although his body could still stand to put on weight, his frame should have no problem filling out over the next few years. The second thing that stood out about George is just how versatile and dynamic a player he is -- far more than we had given him credit for up until this point. Exceptionally smooth with terrific body control and the ability to get off the floor quickly, George is an extremely impressive athlete. The last revelation from this workout involved George’s skill level. Despite his imposing size, he is a pure swingman -- not the SF/PF we had listed him as following his freshman season (when he played primarily at the 4 spot). His ball-handling skills are excellent for a 6-9 player. He handles the ball on a string and looks incredibly confident, almost effortless, in the way he creates shots for himself in the mid-range area. As you can see in the video below (take note of the sequence starting 28 seconds in), George’s size, coupled with the elevation he gets on his jumper, allows him to get his shot off whenever he pleases in isolation situations. This was something of a curse for him in college, as he was allowed to take pretty much any shot he wanted in an undisciplined, disorganized offensive system. George clearly did not get the kind of direction and accountability that a late blooming player such as himself needs. With the right coaching (and a more serious environment), George has the tools to develop into an incredible mismatch. George scored in a variety of ways in the competitive four on four pickup games we took in: turnaround jumpers and basic post moves (video 2:07); smooth, effortless NBA 3-pointers (2:17); beautiful mid-range jumpers; off the dribble getting to the rack; and ferocious put-back dunks, which he executed with frightening ease. He’s going to be a terror in transition on the right NBA team. His length and explosiveness allow him to finish incredibly well around the basket -- check out the series of dunks we filmed in the video above, starting at the 5:10 mark, for evidence of that. The most impressive part of George’s workout from our perspective was the potential and intensity he showed on the defensive end -- something we rarely saw at Fresno State. His outstanding size, length, lateral quickness and instincts give him the potential to develop into a Trevor Ariza-type defender. He’s capable of defending up to three positions at the NBA level, and is fully capable of impacting a game on that. George’s anticipation skills were on full display. He was able to block shots, get into passing lanes, contest jumpers and generally touch everything in his area. George has been criticized for his laid-back demeanor dating back to his high school days. Seeing how easily the game of basketball comes for him, it’s not hard to see where this is coming from. He has gone from being an unheralded prospect to being discussed as a legitimate lottery candidate, which is a huge jump as far as expectations are concerned. The biggest factor for George will be whether or not he lands on a team where he’ll be pushed consistently by the coaching staff and challenged to reach his full potential as a player. While his talent is impossible to ignore (and his ceiling is obviously incredibly high), George still has plenty to prove in terms of his ability to impact the game in a manner that is conducive to winning games -- his Fresno State squad underachieved badly this year. He must show that he can play with a killer instinct and display the willingness to do whatever it takes on both ends of the floor to help his team win. To his credit, George seems to realize this and touched on that topic in the video above (1:57). Still, there’s a big difference between flashing talent in a workout setting and translating it to an actual NBA game. Much of that will come down to how hard George is willing to work (something his trainer Don McLean praised him for emphatically to us) and the situation he finds himself in. In terms of pure upside, though, there may not be five players in this draft with more overall talent than what we saw from George in Los Angeles. The buzz around him has been gradually building over the past few weeks, to the point that it’s no longer a stretch to say he could be the first wing player taken after Wesley Johnson. With teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers (his favorite team growing up), Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks all looking for a dynamic swingman who can create, shoot and defend, the chance of George being picked in the 8-15 range looks very good at the moment.
Click to expand...

Paul George has an unabashed confidence in himself as a basketball player.

“I haven’t been exposed to this game as much as a lot of other players and I think I’m already a great prospect with good potential,” he says. “Once I get that chance to really get that experience and learn about the game, I think my ceiling is pretty high.”

Modest? Not exactly.

Accurate? With the way his stock is rising the past few weeks, few of the general managers in attendance would have a hard time arguing.

Having put himself on the map as a freshman a year ago with a thunderous dunk against Saint Mary’s that quickly became a YouTube sensation, George made the best of his opportunity to show pro teams the combination of athleticism and skill that made him a matchup nightmare in his days at Fresno State.

The only thing more electrifying than George’s on-court exploits has been his meteoric rise from unheralded high school recruit to potential lottery pick in less than two years.

Growing up in Palmdale, California, the future Second-Team All-WAC performer was fixated on taking his game to the asphalt, preferring to play street ball as opposed to the organized game. It wasn’t until he enrolled at Pete Knight High School that George began to truly develop as a player, suiting up for the freshman team in his first season before starting for the varsity squad in his final three years.

It wasn’t until he was discovered one day on an outdoor court by the Pump ‘N Run AAU team that his game truly began to take off.

“It was great exposure playing with Jrue Holiday and Malcolm Lee,” George says. “It let me learn a lot about basketball that gave me the confidence to keep going and keep going.”

Alongside the future UCLA Bruins (Holiday was a lottery pick last year), George was exposed to the elite talent on the West Coast and for the first time saw that there was more to being a great player than having off the charts athleticism.

“At that point I was just starting to learn what playing against real athletes was like,” he says. “It helped me understand how much work I needed to do. I’m just a student of the game. I love to watch it and learn about it. I think that’s really what has gotten me to where I’m at now.”

By his senior year at Pete Knight, George had started to put it all together, posting averages of 25 points and 12 rebounds, but with his late entry into the basketball pipeline, the majority of big programs around the country weren’t wise to the blossoming talent out west. Georgetown, Penn State, Pepperdine and San Diego State all actively recruited George, but after careful consideration he opted for the opportunity to be an impact player right away for the Bulldogs.

His goals quickly came to fruition as George exploded onto the scene in his first season at the college level, averaging more than 14 points and a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game, and posting the third-best 3-point shooting percentage (44.7) in program history.

Few outside of the WAC or even Fresno State knew just how good the super freshman was, but the Bulldogs’ coaches were wise to the talent they had unearthed in the recruiting process.

“I think they kind of understood that I was a diamond in the rough,” George says. “I knew whatever team I went to I’d make the most out of it. I didn’t want to go to a bigger school just for the simple fact that I wanted to be an impact guy immediately. I wanted to learn from mistakes by playing as a freshman. That’s why I went to Fresno. I think the coaches had an idea of what they were getting.”

Now the question is: what will an NBA team be getting?

George opted for the pro game after a sophomore campaign that saw him increase his production but ended on a sour note with the Bulldogs missing the postseason after a 15-18 overall record and a fifth place finish in the WAC.

While the forward insists a better team showing would have only further augmented his decision to enter his name in this year’s draft pool, he says the choice was a difficult one either way, given the NCAA’s new early entry deadline.

“It’s definitely tough on the underclassmen because it kind of takes away from being able to test the waters out,” he says. “In order for you to really give this your all, you have to set aside school for a little bit and in order for that you have to pursue the route with an agent and fully expand on basketball with training. So I think it pressures kids a little bit more than before.”

George is one of the underclassmen who likely won’t need to sweat over his decision. In recent weeks he has seen his name climb draft boards to the point that he now finds himself in the back end of the lottery, and should stay there as long as he continues to impress in workouts.

He has been hard at work improving the finer points of his game, specifically his ball handling and shooting off the dribble. As a super-athletic small forward in college, George says a large part of his intrigue as a prospect stems from the potential for him to transition to the off-guard spot down the road. Given his 6-9 frame, there certainly is the potential for the youngster to develop into a matchup problem, even at the pro level. And of course, teams love his still relatively raw game.

“I think that’s probably the most important part of my game,” he says. “I’m only 19 and I have a lot of room to keep growing. I know with the people around me and with my work ethic I’ll get to that next level. I won’t stop until I’m one of the elite players in the NBA.”

That last part is yet to be seen, but there’s little question that George has already risen to the top when it comes to generating a buzz in this draft class.
Click to expand...

Though his tweets a extremely r****ded, so are Brandon Jennings.. I think George can be a player in this league.

#6 BasketballReasons, Jun 6, 2010
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I don´t know why, but for me, this guy, for me, is going to be the better SF/SG, player in this draft, I can´t talk about the attitude problems on D that were said in that interview, but every time I see him play, I see a guy with the physical tools, and with a very very nice jump shot motor, I think he could be the total package, every time I see this guy drafted 15 or deeper in the draft in mock drafts, my heart stops beating

I could be hyping this guy to much but for me he should miles ahead of, for example, Al-Farouq Aminu.

I doubt that he could be there at 14th, but If we move up in the draft I doubt he is on our radar, I would hope so, but I guess only myself is hight on this guy

PeAcE

#7 Houston_Rockets, Jun 6, 2010

desi tmac91 Member

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Like Saintja I find him to be a very intriguing prospect but I feel like we are fine with the wings we have right now. I much rather draft a big man, even if he is going to be a project. Although George wouldn't be a bad backup plan.

#8 desi tmac91, Jun 6, 2010
rocketblaze Member

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If we to draft Paul George with the 14th pick I would look to purchase a late 1st/early 2nd rd pick to go after either Larry Sander or Solomon Alabi, still giving us that project big!

--RB

#9 rocketblaze, Jun 6, 2010
desi tmac91 Member

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Just saw this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H51_RekGcb4

Wow.

#10 desi tmac91, Jun 6, 2010
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Scary thing is, he isn't even trying on those dunks in that interview. George has at least a 38 inch vertical (to bad he didn't do the athletic workouts).

I really like the kid, but there is no doubt he is raw, but I'm glad to here he is working on footwork which is his only flaw I can really see.

Skills wise, I would say he is more Rudy Gay than he is TMac, but from a demeanor standpoint, I can see that. Laid back and quiet but has that focus to take over.

#11 Coherent, Jun 6, 2010
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desi tmac91 said:

Just saw this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H51_RekGcb4

Wow.
Click to expand...

Budinger+George=Mad Air

#12 BasketballReasons, Jun 6, 2010
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Couple of videos of George I haven't seen around. Thought it would be nice for people to catch more of his stuff:

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#13 BasketballReasons, Jun 9, 2010

m_cable Contributing Member

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This guy really intrigues me. Could this guy be another Danny Granger, do-everything-forward that gets over-looked because he plays in the WAC?

#14 m_cable, Jun 9, 2010
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m_cable said:

This guy really intrigues me. Could this guy be another Danny Granger, do-everything-forward that gets over-looked because he plays in the WAC?
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. VERY similar body frame, with same skills. I think George is more athletic though, judging from the videos.

#15 CJLarson, Jun 9, 2010
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The arguement not to take hime because of our abundance of wings holds not water. Morey is more than likely going to make a trade, and someone like Battier, Bud, or Ariza will get moved.

Take George if he is BPA and stop worrying about his position.

#16 Phillyrocket, Jun 9, 2010
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m_cable said:

This guy really intrigues me. Could this guy be another Danny Granger, do-everything-forward that gets over-looked because he plays in the WAC?
Click to expand...

We need a SG, and Paul George is a SF. I'd much rather draft Xavier Henry to back up Martin rather than have four SFs (Budinger, Ariza, Battier and George), three of whom will be sitting on the pine.

If we took Henry, we could use Battier + whatever other incentives necessary to acquire a quality backup center (Frye/Haywood/?) who could move up to starter if needed.

#17 thumbs, Jun 9, 2010
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thumbs said:

We need a SG, and Paul George is a SF. I'd much rather draft Xavier Henry to back up Martin rather than have four SFs (Budinger, Ariza, Battier and George), three of whom will be sitting on the pine.

If we took Henry, we could use Battier + whatever other incentives necessary to acquire a quality backup center (Frye/Haywood/?) who could move up to starter if needed.
Click to expand...

Please, never mention Haywoods name here again.

#18 coachbadlee, Jun 9, 2010

thumbs Contributing Member

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coachbadlee said:

Please, never mention Haywoods name here again.
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Haywood is decent -- not great -- but he has been a starter for a long time. He's not a scorer, but he is a solid defender, shotblocker and outlet passer. Also, he doesn't create any waves as long as he's not competing with Etan Thomas. Oops, I guess I mentioned him again.

#19 thumbs, Jun 9, 2010
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Babbitt

#20 jopatmc, Jun 10, 2010

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