clutch: source says rockets want 1 of 4-5 PG's expected to go lottery

Kings Pre-Draft Workout: 6/21/09

http://tv.kingsconnect.com/archives/928

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjPdUWrY31o

Kings Pre-Draft Workout featuring Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, Jonny Flynn, Toney Douglas, Nick Calathes, Patrick Mills.

 

NBA Draft: Point guards
Sunday, June 21, 2009
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
esefko@dallasnews.com

In the Blake Griffin draft, the only thing more certain than him going No. 1 is that there will be a slew of point guards peppering the first round.

And that crowd of ballhandlers is not without controversy at the top.

Ricky Rubio, the Spaniard regarded by many as the best point-guard prospect ever to come out of Europe, has been called "overhyped" by Brandon Jennings, the American who played in Europe last season rather than go to college for a year before becoming NBA-eligible.

Some players and executives who saw both play in Europe have stated the opposite – that it's Jennings who isn't worthy of the status heaped upon him.

Apparently, NBA talent scouts agree. Rubio will be the first point guard taken in Thursday's draft, which is rich at the position and relatively weak everywhere else.

Rubio, 19, burst onto the scene in the Beijing Olympics, where he helped Spain win a silver medal. Since then, most of the talk has been about whether he and the team that drafts him will be able to negotiate a buyout of his three-year contract with Spanish League team DKV Juventut. The issue has ended up in Spanish court.

Somehow, these things have a way of working out. While NBA teams can only help so much, American endorsements have been known to quickly cover any out-of-pocket expense players incur from getting out of European contracts.

Rubio is expected to go in the top four, with the most likely destination being Sacramento at No. 4.

Memphis, which has the second pick, has been deemed a non-player by people in Rubio's camp. Oklahoma City, picking third, also is likely to pass on Rubio since it already has Russell Westbrook, who proved to be a rock-solid point guard last season as a rookie.

After Rubio, things get interesting. Jennings will not be the second point guard taken. That honor will go to Memphis' Tyreke Evans, UCLA's Jrue Holiday, Davidson's Stephen Curry or Syracuse's Jonny Flynn.

Flynn has perhaps the most intriguing future.

"He's one of the most exciting point-guard packages in the draft," Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said. "He's got leadership, integrity, and he's a winner in every sense of the word – a big playmaker and big shotmaker."

Holiday, meanwhile, has gained a huge shot of momentum in the week leading up to the draft. He's had some impressive workouts and probably has put himself into the top 10. As for Curry, his shooting makes him more of a combo guard than a true point.

Most GMs believe Evans will be taken with the fifth or sixth pick. The success of Derrick Rose, another Memphis product, certainly doesn't hurt his status.

RANKING THE POINT GUARDS
Player, college Ht. Comment
Ricky Rubio, Spain 6-4 Big potential, just as much pizzazz
Tyreke Evans, Memphis 6-5 Stock has steadily risen in workouts
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse 6-0 A complete point-guard package
Stephen Curry, Davidson 6-3 Great shooter, suspect ballhandler
Jrue Holiday, UCLA 6-3 Split time with Darren Collison
Brandon Jennings, Italy 6-0 Year in Europe helped him a lot
Ty Lawson, North Carolina 6-0 Quick with excellent fundamentals
Jeff Teague, Wake Forest 6-2 Long wingspan; turnover machine
Also of note: Darren Collison, Patrick Mills, Nick Calathes, Toney Douglas, Rodrigue Beaubois, Curtis Jerrells.

 

^^^^
I know this has been discussed to death, but I'm really curious to see what Memphis will do with their No. 2 pick. Now that Rubio basically refuses to play for Memphis, I'd be surprised if the Grizzlies didn't trade down to a team desperate to get him or even trade out of the spot altogether to bring in some needed veteran help. I don't think Houston will offer enough to get him, however.

 

I still want Rubio of Flynn.

 

Rubio, Curry, Flynn, or Evans

 

Here is my pitch for Nick Calathes:

I'm surprised no one else has really mentioned or talked about him but I was gonna talk about Nick Calathes earlier on how the guy would be an excellent late 1st round pick(6'5 PG who avg 17.pts/6.4ast/5.3rebs as a sophomore out of Florida). Unforturenately heard that he was skipping the draft to go play in Greece so I didn't even bother too talk about him at the time. I'm not sure why he was at Sac-Town during the pre-draft workouts but if he decides to stay in the draft I think the Kings would probably want him with the 23rd pick they got from us last year. That's unless we buy that pick back from them or get another one from some other team and draft him first.

Here's other videos of him during Pre-Draft workouts and a interview of him as well:

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He's a good true PG thats been compared to Jose Calderon(but not a douchebag like him ) and he's a realistic option. With the AB, who's more of a scorer than passer, and Lowry who is only the same height as AB (6'ft), I wouldn't mind having another PG with size that can pass and shoot as well.


Nick Calathes!

 

^sorry I'm made a mistake. he's not skipping the draft he's skipping going to the NBA right away unless a team buys out his contract with Greece.

 

"Son, you ain't from these parts, are ye?"

 

Actually, I am really impressed by Flynn...

 

He isn't a Greek PG; he just signed with the Greece Basketball team to maybe play oversea. Some team could still buy him out if they wanted too.

 

he's good but he will probably be going in the top 10 so keep dreaming or start thinking realistically.

 

I heard the kings want to draft him, so #4...

 

yeah that's still top 10. so what?.....

 

the kings wanna pull their own version of russell westbrook reach huh???

I want brandon jennings btw

 

Jennings has been made out to be a selfish point guard from what I have read. I think he is a talent though. Not sure if he would be the best fit for our team.

As for guards, I think Evans looks to be the point I would most like to aquire.

 

LOL. He didn't get it.

 

get what? some kinda gay insider ****?

 

LMAO. Okay, I only aim to please.

 

T-MAC?!

IMO it's very unlikely the Rockets make a trade for another rookie PG, even more unlikely that they're willing to give up some key components from last year's team to make a huge risk. I'd be satisfied if the Rockets bought a late 1st rounder and draft a lengthy SG/SF for some mismatches.

 

It's too hard for us to get a pick high enough for Rubio IMHO, while some other decent PGs will still be availible when our turn comes. Jennings would be a nice guy to choose, according to his brilliant experiences in high school.