Short draft, but came out w/ an OK grade... http://sports.espn.go.com/nbadraft/d03/story?id=1573414 Houston Rockets Round 1: No pick Round 2: Malick Badiane, F, Germany (No. 44) The Rockets made the most of their only pick. The team knows a thing or two about African players and they believe Badiane could be a force in the paint someday. He'll probably spend the next year or two playing in Europe, but down the road he could give them a big defensive presence down low. Grade: B+ And a little about our pick: Full Name: Malick Badiane Position: Forward/Center Height/Weight: 6-10 (2.08 m)/ 230 (104.3 kg) Birthdate: January 1, 1984 (Senegal) Team: Langen (Germany) NBA DRAFT 2003 Selected in the second round (44th overall) by the Houston Rockets Langen (Germany) Season G GS FGM FGA PCT FTM FTA PCT REB AST STL BL PTS AVG 2002-03 29 127 263 .483 84 147 .571 258 17 20 338 11.7 Three-point field goals: 0-for-0. An early entry candidate for the 2003 NBA Draft. Career Highlights: A native of Senegal, he played there for the US Rail team until moving to Langen, a Bundesliga II (second division) team in Germany, in April 2002. Langen is a farm team for the Opel Skyliners, a team in Germany’s top division (Bundesliga I). He has been a member of Senegal’s Junior National Team and is poised to join the Senior National Team as it attempts to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games. (2002-03): In his first season in Germany, averaged 11.7 points and 8.9 rebounds as a 19-year-old. In one of his top games, posted team-highs of 27 points and 15 rebounds vs. Ansbach. Once again led the team in points and rebounds with 27 points and 14 rebounds vs. Troster Breitengubach. In a 106-105 overtime loss to Ansbach, scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while adding three blocked shots in 39 minutes of play. Tallied 20 points, a season-high 16 rebounds and three blocked shots vs. KuSG Leimen. Scored 16 points (on 8-for-12 shooting) and added nine rebounds vs. Ratiopharm Ulm. Although the league does not publish a total of blocked shots for the season, a review of most box scores suggests he is averaging about two blocks per game. Strengths: Was among the leading rebounders in Gremany’s second division despite playing only 23.4 minutes per game. Has long arms to snatch rebounds away from his body and has shown great timing on blocked shots. Scouting reports praise his work ethic and desire to improve his overall game. Personal: According to an interview conducted by africabasket.com, he said his favorite NBA player is Kevin Garnett, but his favorite team is the Dallas Mavericks.
Grade sounds about right. If he lives up to his potential (he's only been around basketball for 5 years!) this could be another great 2nd round pick for the rockets.
He's going to play the next year or two in Europe?!?!?!? Well he's only 19. Too bad there's no minor league... He seems all right...not that great. A defensive presence down low in a couple of years?!? That's when Eddie should be one!
Questions on Badiane: (1) They speak French in Senegal, mostly. Does this guy speak much if any English? Will he get a Colin Pine if he gets signed? (2) He's on the team that will play in the African Championships to qualify for the Senegalese Olympic bid. Is everyone going to freak out that he won't be in Houston training during the offseason?
