Why is everybody so nuts about Hakim Warrick?! I think he's a decent ballplayer, but I think he's a terrible fit for us. He has all the skills we're looking for in a PF, and thats the problem, he's not a PF. I get the feeling that many of you assume that he is; he's actually a skinny 6-8 SF in the NBA. Because of his height, build, and lack of a jump shot, this guy becomes a 3 year project. We don't have 3 years to coddle him. He'll have to either put on some serious muscle to play the 4 or develop a jumper to play the 3, both of these take time. I know Simeon and May aren't tremendously taller than Warrick, but both have the build to compete at the 4. Channing Frye is also a good option.
Because they saw one highlight where he dunked over his defender while leaping flatfooted from about 7 feet away from the bucket.
Great comparison (although taller): Steven Hunter. That guy was garbage for his 1st three years in the league before he put on some muscle and developed a few moves. Same type of situation: an electric college dunker/leaper without the tools to survive in the league.
Warrick is an interesting player. He is probably the most athletic player in the draft and that is something you can't teach. I would rather have Simien or Turiaf but I see why people are interested in Warrick. The guy can straight jump out of the building and he uses his ability well to get rebounds and play defense. The guy doesn't have much of an offensive game other than dunks. He obviously needs to bulk up if he wants to compete in the NBA. It would just be interesting to see what JVG could do w/ Wariick, a good example would be Camby.
Except Camby is 7 feet tall. (I was comparing Hunter's development not size). We can't have a SF who can't shoot. He'd have to play PF right now which brings the whole argument back full circle to his height...
Someone who spent a lot of time watching Warrick this season try to convince me it's a good idea. I want to be convinced, he's an exciting player. It just looks right now like an accident waiting to happen.
An accident waiting to happen? It's not like the Rockets are for sure going to draft him, he might not even be available at #24.
How about compare Warrick to Stro? Both gifted atheletes. kind of undersized PF for NBA level competition. Can't shoot outside jumper. If we pass up Warrick on draft day, while going after Stro in summer, CD gonna be a joke again.
Hunter averaged 11-6 at DePaul and came out his sophomore year. Warrick has shot above 50% in every year in college, and has averaged 8.5+ rebounds the last 3 years. He's averaged 20+ ppg over the last 2 seasons. I like the fact he got to the line nine times a game his senior year. I can see the untapped athleticism comparison, but Warrick is much more polished (compared to Hunter's rookie year, so am I) and can punish teams for leaving him. I'd liken him to playing Shawn Marion as a 4, minus the shooting (though Marion came in as an 18% 3P shooter). Without seeing them side-by-side, I'd imagine Warrick is a little bit taller and a little bit longer. I'm not completely gung ho on Warrick, and thinking of going after both he and Swift is a terrible idea, but we could use an athleticism boost at all positions not named "Tracy", and he's improved his game every year. First team All Americans with his type of athleticism aren't exactly dime a dozen. I don't think he'll make it to our pick. If he does, I can't imagine better talent- production-wise OR athleticism-wise - being available.
The year when Carmelo's Orangemen won the NCAA title, I remember the tourney announcers (Billy Packer? grain of salt) gushing over the tremendous footwork in the post that Warrick displayed, allowing him to get easy back-to-the-basket buckets.
I could say a lot here, but I'm not gonna, because I can't tell you anything about him you don't already know. You know he comes from a power forward program at Syracuse, you know he can leap, and you know he is unguardable in the post. There's no secret here. All of that feeds off his ability to jump thru the roof. The nba isn't full of leapers like everyone says. Sure. They can all leap, but you still have a top 10 group of leapers. And that is what Warrick brings to the table. He's gonna be an electric leaper. He's gonna be in that top 10. That is what has to translate into the nba game for him... Be it as a powerforward or a small forward. Anything else like muscle or jump shooting is gravy. The kid's ability to offend and defend all comes from his leaping ability. That is what you draft. Do the rockets needs that. I believe they do because Yao can't go get the ball like Warrick can on defense. Nor can howard. Nor can Weatherspoon. Nor can Padgett. You draft something you don't have. A leaper.
From New York Dialy News "The Kicks came away unimpressed from Hakim Warricks workout. They were astounded at the ex-Syracuse star's poor level of conditioning and also wondered what he can do other than dunk and run the floor." http://www.hoopshype.com/rumors.htm
As things are now, Warrick will be picked before the Rocket's pick comes around. I only see 1 mock of 10 mocks with him falling past the 23rd pick. That represents only a 10% chance of him being available.
I'm not quite sure how to read into that. While I'm inclined to believe it, almost everything that gets reported once draft stuff gets under way is misinformation. Teams tend to be ambiguous reporting anything except about what lies they want to promote.
He's shown a great improvement in his offensive game the past few years and has even developed a good mid-range jumper. I sincerely do not believe that offense is where his struggles will lie. Most of his troubles will probably be on the defensive end, at least early on. Whether he can make the adjustment to NBA power forward remains to be seen because he spent his entire collegiate career playing in a zone defense, with little more responsibility than to anticipate passing lanes and block shots from the weakside.
