http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/01/01/obryant.nbdl/index.html Warriors send lottery pick to NBDL OAKLAND, Calif. (Ticker) -- The Golden State Warriors have assigned 2006 first-round pick Patrick O'Bryant to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League. O'Bryant, the ninth overall selection this year, appeared in 12 games this season for Golden State, averaging 1.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 7.5 minutes of action. During the preseason, the 7-0, 260-pound center appeared in five games, averaging 4.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 block in 14.4 minutes. He is the highest pick this season to be assigned to the D-League. "We think this will provide Patrick an opportunity to obtain additional playing experience, which is good for any young, developing player," executive vice president of basketball operations Chris Mullin said. "We do not view this as a demotion, but rather a chance for a 20 year-old rookie to gain more experience in game situations." O'Bryant, 20, is the first Warriors player to be assigned to the D-League since the current affiliation system began during the 2005-06 season. Under the system, NBA teams can assign up to two players who are rookies or in their second season to their D-League affiliate. ----------------------------------------------- Is this draft just that weak?
I kept wondering what they were smoking when they drafted him and left players like JJ Redick, Thabo Sefolosha and Ronnie Brewer on the board. Yeah I know they really thought they needed a big man, but seriously - O'Bryant?
Well, i'm a Pittsburgher that follows Pitt basketball. Pitt's star, Aaron Gray, is a legit 7-footer that everybody is labeling a first round talent that got absolutely chewed up in last year's tourney by O'Bryant. Not sure what to think just yet if O'Bryant really is that far away from being ready.
dont understand why they drafted him, dont fit at all with their uptempo game ... they should trade him ...
correct http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2565022 so they drafted a big man in june, and hired don nelson in august, doesnt make any sense either lol
this guy, along with Seattle's Sene, have the highest standing reach in the draft. 7 footes with LONG arms, nothing more.
was watching the pitt v wisconsin game from a few weeks ago today, and yeah i know Gray was sick but almost say he looks too slow for the NBA.....
Talented centers are so scarce now that you almost have to take chances on a project. Big men usually take 2 or 3 seasons to develop, mainly because all the talented guards and wingmen are taking most of the scoring opportunities away from them. Also, a good NCAA tournament can vault even the most untalented players from undrafted to first round picks.
I only saw him in the tournament, but I wanted the Rockets to draft him. O'Bryant has a ton of post moves and is pretty athletic. Nellie just has no clue on how to use a big man. He'd rather just run out 5 guards. O'Bryant's got a lot more potential than (for example) Andrew Bynum.
No way. O'Bryant's best case scenario is developing into something like a Chris Kaman. A solid but not great player. Bynum's post skills, especially for his age, are just downright sick. Bynum is the kind of player that will probably average 20+ a season. Picture Eddy Curry with better coaching.
True on both counts. Good centers/power forwards are hard to come across and when you think you might have one you take a chance on them because of their shear potential. That's the reason Kwame Brown garnered so much attention in his last season at Washington because he was still young with a good upside to him. And yes, the NCAA tournament can vault players to lottery picks from nowhere like that but the tourney can also drop players like that in a hurry too. A prime example of somebody that I can think of is J. Noah. He was vaulted into superstar status last spring and was projected by many to be the top pick and still is expected to garner a high slot. I just don't think he is that talented and if he is chosen with a high pick I think he'll be a bust.
With the shrinking of C position, is it even worth drafting a 7-project like O'Bryant? Golden State made a mistake. Other teams have already been drafting undersized(less than 7ft) centers or PFs and using them as centers. You are better off drafting a 6'10" player now in the early rounds. Howard is 6'11". Okafor is 6'10". Bosh is 6'10". Stoudemire is 6'10". That's four of the top centers to be drafted in the last 5 years. It worked out for them. At least they have Biedrins, a C that is actually quick for a 7footer.
Go back and watch O'Bryant in the tournament (or any other game with Bradley from last year). His hook shot is the best I've seen in sometime, he has an 8/10-speed Dream Shake, and he's got a baseline spin among the best in the business. (Not to mention that he's a pretty good shot blocker and rebounder.) He's not especially strong nor is he especially quick, but although his skills need polish, they are significant. His not succeeding in Golden State has a lot more to do with Nellie's ability to coach a big man than O'Bryant's talent.
