HIGHLY doubtful... but this was from a <a href="http://www.chicagosports.com/bulls/content/column/0,2007,67644,00.html">Chicago Tribune article</a> basically pleading with Jerry Krause not to draft Chris Mihm. "Even the Clippers won't save Krause from himself. They took 7-foot Michael Olowokandi No. 1 two years ago. No, the three teams picking ahead of Krause will come to their senses and take three of the best big athletes available--Darius Miles, Kenyon Martin, Stromile Swift, Marcus Fizer or 6-11 Nigerian Olumide Oyedije, whom one scout compares to a young Hakeem Olajuwon." It's not that I think Olumide will go in the Top 3 ... it just makes me wonder if scouts really are raving about him if the Rockets, who have had interest in him in the past, don't think hard about him at #9. ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET
Sounds Like Nellie has interest in Olumide with that 12th pick ... God knows how Nellie loves his foreign players. <a href="http://basketball.dallasnews.com/mavs/85414_26mavslede.html">Mavs begin working out prospects</a> 89" wingspan -- impressive. Does anyone else get a strange feeling the Rockets have a good deal of interest in him? Nothing more than a hunch ... ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET [This message has been edited by Clutch (edited May 26, 2000).]
I read on another site (I think is was NBADraftReport) that Oyedije's stock is rising FAST and that he could end up as a top 6 pick before it is all said and done. The Rockets were said to have had a HUGE interest in this kid when he declared and then pulled out of last year's draft as a second round pick. I don't know if they would take him #9 unless he just looks amazing because of their pressing need for a small forward, but if he is really as good as some have said, they might considering Olajuwon's ties to Nigeria and all. ------------------ "No one gets out ALIVE!" SaveOurRockets.com
Jeff, Olajuwon may have ties to Nigeria, but Don Nelson's son Donnie is running a basketball camp with Olumide in Nigeria. I've always thought Dallas would go after him. ------------------ ?
I think Oyediji will be a dale davis type player only a bit taller/ more athletic sorry but i am a little skeptical. he averaged 14ppg. 14ppg isnt that impressive for playing in Germany. it will probably be less in the NBA. im not sure who would pick him besides dallas. ------------------ --TEX
First of all, hello from Germany to all Rockets Fans out there. I`d like to give you some info about Olumide Oyediji. He`s listed here in Germany at 6'9 1\2. His season stats were 12,4 pts./15,4 reb./1,8 blk. in 32,4 MpG while shooting 55% from the field and 50% from the line. His team finished 8-18. For a comparison Dirk Nowitzki who played just 16 games with the same team in our 1.league before going to the nba scored 22,9 pts and 8,4 reb. and the team finished 15-11. What I want to tell you with these numbers is that OO hardly has an offensive game, as many of his 12 pts. result from off.reb. He has no jump shot and can`t hit free throws. So I`m a bit confused that there are comparisons between him and Olajuwon. In my opinion, if you give him some years, he could be an exact copy of Jerome Williams, a good rebounder with a solid defense and a little offense. But I don`t think that`s worth a lottery pick.
Dirk's rebounds and scoring went down by 25%. If OO stats drop 40% across the board, ppg 7.4 rpg 9.25 bpg 1.08 Is this worth lottery? He would be the 14 best rebounder, the 36th best blocker. Is this worth a top 3 pick. Maybe to the clippers who need rebounding in the worst way. He seems like the type of player that would thrive in the open court. Collo Is he good at catching alleyoops? How is he at finishing the break [This message has been edited by Joe Joe (edited May 28, 2000).]
If he averaged over 7 points, 9 rebs, and 1 block per game last year in the NBA, he'd be one of only 12 players in the NBA that did that. He'd also be among only 5 PF's that did it (the others being Elton Brand, Dale Davis, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Chris Webber) ------------------ ?
There just aren't many players that can pull 9 boards down. Add in SA and Francis being great rebounders for there position. The problem is europe isn't known for its rebounding. ------------------ "You've got 6 fouls, use them well" -Derrick Coleman
Some more facts ans thoughts about Olumide Oyediji. Joe Joe asked whether he can run the fastbreak and catch alley-oops. Oh yes he can, he was german dunk Champ in `98 and `99 while being just 17 and 18 years old. (He just turned 19 some days ago) He was the Topscorer and MVP of this years All-Star-Game, where he was by far the most spectacular player and finished some fastbreaks with dunks. (You can see some pics under www.basketball-bundesliga.de/allstarday99/fotos99.html) 3 times this season he was among the Top 5 in the Player of the month voting. When going for a rebound it always seems as if he is first in the air and returns last to the the ground. So I can tell you he`s really spectacular and my comparison to Jerome Williams is not quite correct. I only doubted his being picked that high is because he is very young and hasn`t had munch competition in the german league. There are just a few players in this league that are athletic enough to compete with him for a rebound. He won`t have that advantage in the nba. Please remember that Nowitzki was no factor for the Mavs in his first season although he was the superstar of the german league because he needed time to adapt. Olumide is not that dominating and plays rather uneven. I`d compare him to a high school player. He needs time to develope. As he seems to be a hard worker I`m maybe wrong with my earlier prediction that he won`t be a lottery pick.
At #9 I'd be happy to get a Dale Davis type who can get us 9 or 10 rebounds a game. ------------------ http://www.gaffordstudios.cjb.net/
