From Chad Ford ESPN Insider Interesting mention of Jared Jordan the PG from Marist. Day 2. ----------------------------------------------------------------- LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Once again, folks at the predraft camp seemed preoccupied with non-draft business. First it was the Kobe Bryant mess dominating discussion here, and then it was new coaches Marc Iavaroni, Jim O'Brien and Billy Donovan. As for the play on the court, a number of general managers questioned whether there are any first-rounders playing in this camp. "I think there are some guys who will stick in the league," one GM said. "But I have 30 guys I like better who aren't here. I'm not disappointed -- some guys have played well and helped themselves. But realistically, we're looking here for guys who might make a team." Here's a look at which players NBA executives and scouts liked and didn't like on Thursday. The Good Demetris Nichols, F, Syracuse 17 points, 6-for-7 shooting Nichols has shot the lights out here and created enough buzz to bump his stock up seriously, moving him from being a possible second-rounder to a guy who could get a sniff in the first round. The league needs shooters and Nichols has shown here that his range extends well beyond the college 3-point line. He's been the most consistent player in drills and games of anyone here. Jared Dudley, F, Boston College 13 points, 8 rebounds, 5-for-7 shooting Dudley rebounded from a disappointing first day to show his trademark hustle and basketball IQ on the floor. Dudley has lost some weight and looks a little quicker than he did in college. I can't find a GM who likes him as a first-rounder, but most think he's got a chance to stick with a team. Said one, "He doesn't have a definable NBA skill, but he really knows how to play." Knowing how to play has to count for something, right? Jared Jordan, PG, Marist 8 points, 7 assists, 0 turnovers, 3-for-4 shooting The biggest debate in the gym is about whether Jordan is an NBA player. Jordan played another flawless game, and wowed observers with his court vision and pinpoint passes. Many of the GMs and scouts I spoke with think that his lack of quickness and shooting ability doom him to playing in Europe or the NBDL. But a few believe he's worth a look in the late first round. Said one longtime scout, "When Steve Nash played at the old Desert Classic in Phoenix, all the scouts said he couldn't guard anyone and was too little to be a NBA player. Ninety million dollars later and two MVPs, it shows you what we know. All I can say is that I'd rather have this kid, weaknesses and all, run my team than any other point guard in this draft -- including Mike Conley." That's an extreme view, but it shows the disparity between the scouts who value production and the scouts who value tools. Taurean Green, PG, Florida 10 points, 5 assists Green had former teammates Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer cheering him on from the sidelines today. Along with Jordan, Green is the steadiest guard here -- which makes it odd that they were put on the same team. Green isn't great at anything, but he shoots the ball well, runs the offense and showed again that he can get to the rim. I doubt he'll be a starter in the NBA, but he'll be a good backup point guard for someone. Ramon Sessions, PG, Nevada 16 points, 5 assists, 0 turnovers Sessions has been the big surprise here. He continues to break down the defense, get to the rim and find the open man. With another year at Nevada, he should have some draft buzz going into next year. Renaldas Seibutis, G, Lithuania 8 points, 6 rebounds, 4-for-7 shooting Seibutis cuts to the basket, hustles for loose balls and spots up for jumpers. He is not a great shooter and needs to get stronger, but there's a strong chance that someone gives him a shot in the second round. Chris Richard, F/C, Florida 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4-for-6 shooting Richard has an NBA body and he uses it around the basket. He was outplayed by Ali Traore in the first game because of Traore's superior offensive skills. But on Thursday, Richard delivered a bruising down low and looked every bit the sleeper he was billed to be. Brandon Heath, G, San Diego State 12 points, 4 assists, 6-for-10 shooting He's not a point guard, but as a combo guard, Heath's been impressive with his midrange game. Daryl Watkins, C, Syracuse 7 points, 9 rebounds, 3-for-4 shooting He's got NBA size and an NBA body, and he's shown enough hustle here to pass the smell test. He didn't do much at Syracuse, but big men always rise late in the draft. Sammy Mejia, G, DePaul 14 points, 7-for-12 shooting I'm not sure how well he fits into the NBA, but he knows how to play and has stood out on both days. As with several other guys here, his tool list is a little light, but it's difficult to deny the production. The Ugly Aaron Brooks, PG, Oregon 5 points, 4 assists, 2-for-6 shooting Brooks has great speed, but he has tunnel vision. He missed a number of chances to dish it to teammates for layups and instead took ill-advised, off-balance jumpers or made errant drives to the basket. He's not a good enough scorer to play the 2 or a good enough passer to play the 1. Ron Lewis, G, Ohio State 9 points, 3-for-14 shooting Lewis looked great in the NCAA Tournament, but he's been a disappointment here. He had to shoot the ball well to keep the buzz alive. He's still a possible second-round pick, but has lost some buzz here. J.R. Reynolds, G, Virginia 7 points, 3 turnovers, 2-for-6 shooting He made a big mistake when he took over the point from Jared Jordan and committed two quick turnovers trying to force things. He hasn't been moving without the ball, just spotting up and waiting. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DD
Day 1 report LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- With Kobe Bryant dominating the chatter and many general managers disappointed about who didn't show up, the Orlando predraft camp got fully under way on Wednesday. For the most part the talent was surprisingly strong, with a number of players putting on intriguing performances. Still, one longtime GM put it all in perspective: "There are six to 10 guys here who will stick in the league. Right now it's a process of elimination." Here are the players who stood out -- for good and bad -- in the first day of games, based in part on conversations with numerous GMs and scouts. The Good Taurean Green, PG, Florida 11 points, 3 assists, 3-for-4 on 3-pointers Green is the guy most likely to move himself into the first round if he continues to play this way. He wasn't spectacular, but he ran his team with a steadiness that is pretty rare in this type of situation, and he shot the ball very well. Green won't wow anyone, but his stellar play at Florida the past two years combined with his strong showing here could end up pushing him into the first round. From what I hear, the Heat are looking at him at No. 20. That's probably where the Green watch starts. James Mays, F, Clemson 13 points, 9 rebounds Mays most likely will return to school, but he helped himself here with excellent energy on both ends of the floor, and scored with several good moves in the paint and a few jumpers. Every scout and executive I spoke with thought he needs another year at school. But he did raise his profile. Aaron Gray, C, Pittsburgh 15 points, 9 rebounds Gray probably will move up a few spots in the draft just by showing up to camp in great shape. His body is clearly more chiseled, his abs ripped and his stamina better than at Pittsburgh. He put up a very solid performance on both ends of the floor -- though he was lacking much in the way of competition. Despite the weight loss, Gray is still fairly slow and struggles in transition. Ryvon Covile, PF, Detroit 19 points, 6 rebounds, 8-for-11 shooting He's a physical player who cleaned up in the paint. If he measures out OK, he'll be an interesting second-round pick. Zabian Dowdell, PG, Virginia Tech 8 points, 6 assists His numbers don't blow you away, but Dowdell looked good running his team. He has the ability to get just about anywhere he wants to on the floor. He shot the ball well in drills, though only so-so in the game. He definitely caught the eye of numerous executives who put him near the top of their lists. Demetris Nichols, F, Syracuse 18 points, 4-for-5 on 3-pointers Nichols made a name for himself with his sharpshooting at Syracuse this year, and he got off to a hot start, going 5-for-5 from the field in the first half. He tried to put the ball on the floor more than usual and create for himself, which was good news to scouts. He's a little quicker and more athletic than some think but still pretty one-dimensional. Jared Jordan, PG, Marist 6 points, 5 assists, 3-for-4 shooting He is the best floor general here, making jaw-dropping passes in both the scrimmage and the game. He sees things before they happen and his team ran very well when he was in the game and allowed to control the flow of the offense. Some NBA executives think Jordan doesn't possess the quickness or shooting ability to make a roster. Others are much higher on him, focusing on what he can do as well as anyone else in the draft: lead a team. Right now I'm siding with the latter, though I understand why some scouts think he won't make it. Reyshawn Terry, SF, North Carolina 13 points, 5-for-7 shooting Terry got a quiet 13 points, fitting into the flow of offense. He's got great size and athleticism and he can shoot the ball. He didn't do much on the other end of the floor, but he's interesting. Coby Karl, G, Boise State 11 points, 6 assists, 3-for-4 on 3-pointers George Karl's son moved out of his father's shadow today, running the point, making some impressive 3s and playing with a great feel for the game. If the doctors clear him in the physicals (Karl had cancerous lymph nodes removed in April), I think he's got a chance to get drafted. Like Jordan, he lacks great athleticism, but the kid clearly knows how to play and there's something to be said for that. Ali Traore, PF, France 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, 6-for-8 shooting I got a lot of "tell me about the French kid" from NBA executives who know I've seen him play in Treviso at the Reebok Eurocamp the past two seasons. Traore stood out at both camps and has stood out here by showing excellent footwork on the post. He pushed around Florida's Chris Richard on the block and made a number of clever moves around the basket. If he measures out to be 6-foot-10, as he did in Treviso, he'll earn a spot in the second round. Ramon Sessions, PG, Nevada 10 points, 7 assists Sessions surprised some here with his slashing ability. He did a good job breaking down the defense (he gave Virginia's Sean Singletary fits) and getting to the basket. He didn't shoot the ball great, but his 7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio was the best here. Sessions will likely return to Nevada for another year, as it's unlikely that he'll get a first-round promise. But he did help put himself on the map. Sun Yue, G/F, China 7 points, 3 assists Sun was the biggest surprise here. Expectations were very low, but everyone was impressed with how he handled himself on the floor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DD
Sounds like some team will take a flyer on him in the 2nd round, sort of a low risk potential High reward player. He may be too slow to make it, but seeing the floor well and making good anticipation passes is a real gift. Not many in the NBA today possess that skill.....Nash & Kidd.....that may be it.... DD
Wow... So I decided to do a little research. Jones is an excellent FT shooter. Can't trust anyone. So who the hell knows whats going on?
i like sessions. if that battier trade for lewis goes through, we need to pick up one of seattle's 2nd rounders to take sessions or herbert hill.
I'm glad Taureen Green is making a name for himself. He ran a 2 yr championship team w/ 3 other college superstars who all have a very legit chance at starting in the NBA. No one else has that experience.
Final Analysis of camp LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Another NBA pre-draft camp has come and gone without any clear first-rounders emerging from the pack. In fact, the 62 participants in Friday's games were largely ignored once the NBA began working out many of the lottery prospects on another court at the other end of the arena. Roughly 20 to 30 people watched the second and third games of the day while hundreds crowded at the other end to get a look at all the guys who skipped the five-on-five part of the event. On the second level, prospects were tested on strength, vertical jumps, shuttle drills and sprints. They were also measured and weighed. Down below, 18 of the best prospects integrated with the other 62 prospects to run four-man weaves, shooting drills and post work. Just about all of the top prospects looked really good in that environment. Greg Oden showed excellent athleticism and dexterity. Kevin Durant showed off his trademark intensity and shooting prowess. Nick Young barely missed in the shooting drills. Al Horford and Spencer Hawes looked awesome in post drills. Joakim Noah and Jason Smith ran the floor well. There were really only two significant exceptions. Mike Conley really struggled shooting the ball in drills. Brandan Wright struggled a little bit with the more complicated drills -- he looked a little lost at times. Overall the workouts were light and noncompetitive, so there wasn't much to be gleaned. Still, they kept scouts and GMs firmly planted in their seats for nearly four hours. Now everyone will wait breathlessly for the testing results. One result leaked early on Friday, thanks to some detective work by a Grizzlies scout. There has been a rumor going around that Horford would measure considerably shorter than his listed height of 6-9. But Horford measured nearly 6-9 in socks and 6-10 in shoes. With those measurements and his 7-3 wingspan, he has great size for a power forward. I think he's a lock for the Grizzlies at No. 4 if Jerry West is running the draft. The downside of the drills was that NBA teams didn't really get to see much of the last two games. In the first game of the morning, Ohio State freshman Daequan Cook put on perhaps the best performance of the camp, scoring 22 points on 9-for-14 shooting. France's Ali Traore also continued his hot streak, scoring 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting. Both players are on the first-round bubble. Ditto for Florida point guard Taurean Green, who was widely credited as the best player at the camp. Pittsburgh center Aaron Gray played well enough and looked trim enough to get consideration in the first round. The same could be said for Boston College's Jared Dudley, though I think he's a long shot. A number of other players shored up their claim to the second round. Syracuse's Demetris Nichols, Nevada's Ramon Sessions, Florida's Chris Richard, Marist's Jared Jordan, UMass's Stephane Lasme, Maryland's D.J. Strawberry, Lithuania's Renaldas Seibutis, Jackson State's Trey Johnson, North Carolina's Reyshawn Terry, Providence's Herbert Hill, and Virginia Tech's Zabian Dowdell played well enough to hear their names called on draft night. The sleepers of the camp were China's Yue Sun and Virginia Tech's Coleman Collins, who came out of nowhere to play well here. Several underclassmen may have hurt their chances of being drafted. Marquette's Dominic James, Fresno State's Dominic McGuire, Texas A&M's Joseph Jones, Virginia's Sean Singletary, Nevada's Marcelus Kemp, and Clemson's James Mays need to return to school. They didn't play well enough to warrant a first-round selection, and even a second-round selection is questionable for some of them. That may be a problem for James and McGuire, who are rumored to be unwilling to return to school. Likewise, several seniors might have hurt their chances to be drafted with with poor performances. Virginia's J.R. Reynolds, Ohio State's Ron Lewis, Oregon's Aaron Brooks and Wake Forest's Kyle Visser underperformed here. Coming Monday: our new mock draft, based on what we saw and heard in Orlando.
