Ersan Ilyasova, the 6-9 small forward from Turkey, cancelled a workout Monday with the Houston Rockets, and the belief is he has been promised by some team that it will select him. Speaking of the Rockets, even though they need a power forward, they will take the best player available at No. 24. Not the best prospect – the best player. They want someone who can come in and contribute immediately.
http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/ersanilyasova.asp Strengths: A special talent ... Dynamic, charismatic player with a great feel for the game ... Combines freakish athleticism with a great skill set ... Has enormous potential ... Seems to rise when it matters most... One of Turkey's best prospects eve r... Shoots well, has a good face the basket game with the ability to shoot off the dribble ... Has great vision and creativity ... Handles the ball exceptionally well ... Perimeter skills are very advanced for his age ... Understands the game and always seems to be two steps ahead of his opponenets ... Weaknesses: Lacks experience, hasn't really proven himself on the senior level ... Has had a history of injury problems, specifically to his ankles... Still coming off an injury ... Must show that his ankle injury is not a lingering problem... Weak Physically, must develop more strength ... Notes: Had an issue with his age, there is a chance he is actually 1984 born ... NBA scouts went absolutely gaga over him playing for the Turkish U18 team during the summer... -Aran Smith 1/10/05
Please provide links to stories you post : http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=dw-rumors062805&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
I'm not knocking Turkey, but it is pretty funny to see in a scouting report "One of Turkey's best prospects ever."
Doesn't the freaking organization understand balance? Recently, it seemed like every move we made was for "potential." Now, it seems like the organization is only interested in "NOW!" players. It doesn't have to be that way. And quite frankly, it doesn't even make all that much sense. This team needs a couple of fairly major pieces before becoming a title contender (tough PF, a scoring swingman). You're not going to get that by signing 38-year-old veterans and college guys that are already maxed out potential wise. I do not want to become a team that drafts only for potential, not performance. But JVG seems to have gone way too far in the other direction.
(1) JVG's express dislike of younger players. He's voiced this. He likes having his stars, and doesn't seem to care how old they are - but has a heavy preference for veterans. And he's right - veterans are better than equally good young players. The problem is, it's far more difficult to acquire them without cap room and/or good trade bait. The spurs got Ginobli with a 2nd rounder - what would it take to get him now? (2) His history with the Knicks.
this is the second coming of boki...so i think him not working out for us is a good thing. don't need another skinny 6'9 player who chunks up and shots and doesn't rebound.
I wonder if he regrets not working out with Houston now. He still got drafted, but not until the second-round.
At least he got drafted It was probably known that the Rockets were going to pick a guard. There is probably already a deal in place for a power forward. And McGrady is about to become the best SF in the league.
