This might be interesting, Chase Budinger compared himself to Tracy McGrady on the nba.com video section. Hopefully not the current McGrady.
Former Florida Gator point guard Nick Calathes worked out for the Rockets this week. He already signed a deal to play in Greece next year, so any team that drafts him must pay $500,000 to buyout his contract with Panathinaikos in order for him to play in the NBA for the 2010-2011 season. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-sportsuf-calathes-09060909jun09,0,6799820.story
How about Jonas Jerebko (Sweden) http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jonas-Jerebko-1403/ Spurs board also interested in him, could be early 2nd round stash in Europe choice. From draftexpress, sounds like Andrei Kirilenko (and given our Isreali SF/PF hasn't really worked out) ...
From Draftexpress December 3, 2007 It was just our luck that we got to witness the breakout performance of 6-9 Swedish forward Jonas Jerebko. The 1987-born player has been starting consistently over the past few weeks at the small forward position, but has usually played strictly in the 1st quarter, between 6-8 minutes per contest. Slowly but surely improving from game to game, Jerebko was able to play 23 minutes this time around, scoring 12 important points (4/6 FG) and grabbing 10 rebounds. He outplayed the more heralded Danilo Gallinari in the matchup of small forward NBA draft prospects, and surely gained a great deal of both confidence and notoriety around Europe in the process. Besides us, also here in attendance to scout him were the Houston Rockets (Sam Hinkie and Gianluca Pascucci), who were actually the first NBA team to come watch him practice this season, as well as the Seattle Supersonics (Massimo Biasin) and the Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Roth).
Chase Budinger's athleticism is overrated. Just because he can jump doesn't mean he can guard an NBA 2 guard. He's a SF in the NBA with limited ball handling ability. He doesn't drive to the basket and he has no mid range game. He's a 3 point shooter who can dunk. Don't be fooled by his ability to dunk a ball.
If we don't make any radical moves, I'd say we're going after Paul George. He's got huge upside and has not fully tapped his true potential. In the second round I'd say a possible big man, maybe Jerome Jordan or Solomon Alabi, if he falls that far. I know we don't have 2nd rounders but with all the depth in this draft I seriously doubt we won't manage to find out way back into the draft as we did last year.
Just did a quick search of the past top 10 picks over the past 4 years to see how many busts there were. I counted 5-6 out of 40 players. Whats that, 8%? So people please stop using the bust argument, because it has been worn out. As time passes, the draft process is getting better so lets throw that argument out the window.
