This is funny. People are lining up beside Simmons as a mid-1st-round pick, what Badiane was supposed to be. Malick slipped, but Cedric Simmmons has been invited to the green room on Draft Day. Physically the are very close in size (6'10+ 230 w/ 7'4" wingspan). Hops and standing reach, I don't know. Badiane has good hops and I assume Simmons can hold his own. Scouting report on Simmons, and Saer Sene by the way, says he's raw offensively, but could come into the NBA and rebound and block shots, NOW! Ditto, for Malick Badiane (this is my opinion). People on this board, most of whom have never seen Malick play in a 'real game' situation, seem to think Badiane has no chance to make it to the NBA, while a number of people have pointed to Simmons as a possible second 1st round pick for the Rockets if we trade down and pick up an extra pick. The biggest difference between the two is that Malick comes from Senegal via the German Basketball League while Cedric Simmons comes the U.S. Basketball system via N. Carolina ST. The scouting report on Simmons is that he is 2-3 years away from competing and a team that drafts him, has to be willing to pay that price because he is only 20. Malick is in somewhat the same situation (drafted 2 years ago at age 20), Malick slipped to the 2nd round the and the Rockets did not have to pay him for that 2-3 years of development, the Opel Skyliners are doing that. It is possible the the European system has actually r****ded Malick's deveopment somewhat since it is not exactly famous for developing defensive, rebounding, and shot blocking C/PF's. That was a Rocket management decision, right or wrong. My question is and has been, why are fans on this board, most of whom haven't even seen him play, are so anxious and willing to write Malick off while other good basketball minds are looking to make the investment in time and money in C. Simmons because of his unique physical gifts.
I saw him, he sucks. A lot of people here saw him on TV last year. Pretty much all of them said he sucks.
Mutombo a shell of his formerself should retire and coach and let a younger player get some experience in his place.
Give it up krocket. There's a difference between "raw offensively" and "not knowing what you're doing on the court". And if you read between the lines, it's obvious that Badinae is closer to the latter than the former. Everytime we hear anything about the guy from CD or Dennis Lindsey, they use all the nice words about Badinae, that he's young, that he's athletic. But they always temper expectations and deflect anything regarding him coming over. He's not even worth bringing over for summer league. If you're not good enough for summer league, what are you good for.
Is it a fact that he is not coming for Summer League? I had not heard that. He had a better year this year than last but his team sucked. If he doesn't make it he doesn't make it, I do not hold him up as being unfairly kept out of the league. We are so obviously weak at the PF/C slot, that I am sure they will bring him when and if he can come. The truth is, WE need him more than he needs us, IMO. My major gripe is people who just out of hand want to write him off. The people who want to take their opinion and limited knowledge of the subject and state it as fact. Why? The worst thing one can say about him at this time is we don't know what will happen. Brockstapper and GermanRoxFan both watch him in real game sonditions and they seem to agree that he eventually will be here, but some folks are adamant about the inaccuracy of the thought. Those people don't have solid evidence just hunch or opinions, which is fine but should not be stated as facts. I do not consider summer league a real game environment since the coaches are/should be, trying to find out particular skills rather than winning. I watched him play myself last summer. Honestly, he didn't blow anybody out of the gym. He had some BAD plays and some good plays that I saw, but I am not a trained scout. I am just looking for him to spell Yao for 10-15 MPG and bring some rebounding and shot-blocking, I am not sure he is quick enough for todays PF's.
Pay attention.... I said he sucks and I have seen him play several times. They are expressing an opinion, just the same as I or anyone else that has seen him play and says he blows is. The fact that 2 seasons have passed since he was drafted and the dude still doesn't have a prayer to make the team says volumes. The guy doesn't even start in that crap ass German League that he plays in.
I thought he was a starter now? regardless, when a large athletic stiff with potential is needed for the season after next (when Deke retires) I have a ray of hope that he might be the man. we'll see. We drafted him to do exactly what we are doing with him, watch him grow and see what happens. He might make it, he might not. He has the work ethic and desire. He has the body. He is getting fairly consistent with the jumper. I really hope he makes it so I can write up a big "I done told ya'" thread. Chances are absolutely greater that it will be Illin' skillin' doing the laughin', but we'll see. The dude is big man. If the team needs an Otis Thorpe enforcer this guy probably has a better chance of being that man than Swift does. I'll take two highlight blocks a game - surrounded by otherwise clueless play - than two high flyin' dunks a game. all we know now is the Rockets couldn't pass up using a second round pic on the guy for the following reasons: the dude is athletic the guy is a natural rebounder and shot blocker the guy has excellent work ethic and works extremely hard he has a passion that can't be taught the reason he was a second round pic is that he didn't pick up a basketball until he was 14. Totally unproven and not very good offensively. strictly potential with no proof of whether he can succeed or not. Euroball isn't the best place for a big man to show off some skills, other than rebounding and shot blocking. I imagine that most of the rebounding takes place further outside due to lots more spot up jumpers, but I could be wrong. as has been stated, he maybe is and maybe ain't our baby. I'll take the wishful thinking route until the wishin' has gone fishin'. p.s. I now have the power to edit my posts. This might come in real handy in a few years when Ill is posting his I told ya' so threads. I can just go back and replace all my posts with "Badian't gonna' make it"
M_cable, this has been an annual affair for three years. I am glad that you joined into it this summer, the more the merrier. Glad to have you on-board, although this thread does attract some riff-raff, present company excepted. Thanx for your post.
I was here a bit last year. I didn't post that much but I really followed the draft a lot for the first time (reading up on players scouting reports, taking a look at their measurements and combine numbers etc.). But this year I finally put the Draft forum in my toolbar bookmark, so I've been coming here and posting a lot this time around.
For those of you who can't get enough Badiane, I am putting up this link for your continuing pleasure. He doesn't sound like a complete bust in this article of his history. It is about 6 months old, but should be worthy if it has not been put up before. Malick Badiane on the Rise BTW: Senegal national Team will be in the same bracket as the USA national team this summer for the FIBA World Championships! So maybe we will get to see more of Malick. He is on their roster. Senegal 2006 National Team Roster m_cable, this may be why he will not play in our summer league? I don't know for sure.
10 pts 9 rbs doesn't seem all that bad for a guy struggling with his offense. If he does play world championships it will be interesting to see how much time he gets since Diop is also on the team.
in all fairness he was asked to concentrate on defense and rebounding. but good point. he wasn't ready at that time. probably won't be ready this time around. might be ready next time. I admire the guy either way.
