Back on the Mock
Nathan Jawai had a brief stint on the TDR board back in mid-October and has been ranked #9 on our 1986 International Rankings since November. After talking with my Australian contacts, he’s back on the board, but only in the 2nd round at #36. Jawai is the perfect example of the points made in my recent podcast regarding internet hype and how it affects a player’s draft stock. Teams are intrigued by his talent and my sources label him a good prospect, but deny the baby Shaq comparisons. There will be more on Jawai after I personally review his tape.
New to the Mock
I slept on Gary Forbes for a hot minute, but after catching up to review his tape, I’m impressed. His ball handling is very good despite his 6'7 size. He could be the best slasher in the 2008 NBA draft, which is saying a lot when you consider other prospects like Ty Lawson, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose. The biggest issue holding Forbes back from the first round is inconsistent shooting.
Jamar Butler had to make big adjustments after the explosion of freshmen talent on the Buckeyes roster last year (Daequan Cook, Mike Conley Jr. and Greg Oden); he had to switch to shooting guard because of Conley. Butler knows that the point guard position is his this year and lost weight in the off season to prepare, but most importantly, he's taken leadership of the team.
Despite Shawn James’ new found surroundings in the Atlantic-10 with Duquesne, he has played just like he did at Northeastern. James is a talented, athletic shot blocker, but his numbers on the defensive end and sub-par rebounding numbers remind me historically of a young Theo Ratliff when he came out of Wyoming. The biggest issue facing James is his junior status as a 25 year old after transferring, with a prior year at Notre Dame Prep as a post graduate.
Although Kevin Love and Darren Collison are getting all the headlines, Josh Shipp is quietly putting together a very solid season. Unlike last season, Shipp has been very consistent shooting from the perimeter and is making smarter decisions with the ball. Although his defense and overall athleticism are areas for improvement, the chance of Shipp declaring for the draft is a definite possibility.
Biggest Risers
Tyler Smith made one the biggest jumps on the board, moving up seven spots. The reasons are simple - NBA teams love his all-around game and competitive nature. His biggest blemishes are his perimeter ball handling and shooting, but like many coaches say, you can teach those things. Smith owns a great basketball IQ and understands what his role is on the floor. It 's not really out of the question to start talking late lottery with Smith, but much of his status will depend on who comes out at small forward.
I still feel that James Mays would have benefited by staying in last year’s draft, but there’s no doubt he’s again making moves to climb up the charts. After watching him play against the North Carolina Tar Heels it’s not hard to see why some think he’s a later first rounder. I personally don’t agree, but I do think he has a little of that Anthony Mason playing style where he can set up defenders with his ball handling. Teams could find Mays intriguing enough to take a gamble.
D.J. Augustin continues to show that the Texas Longhorns were more than just Kevin Durant. Augustin has quickly become one of America’s top talents with many of the qualities that you look for at the point guard position. If there’s any cause for concern, it’s the fact that Augustin is still learning certain point guard skills, like controlling tempo. His height will also play a factor. Most guards under 6-0 are usually tremendous athletes, but Augustin isn’t.
Biggest Drops
Kevin Love isn’t a huge drop-off, moving down only four spots, but those that follow him may see this as a sign that pedigree and high school careers are overrated. Many named him the top high school player in the nation, and Love certainly has all the fundamental skills someone his size can possess (thanks to his father Stan Love). But Love’s average athleticism and height (6-8) raises questions of his long term potential. Drafting a player on pure potential has proven to be a mistake in the past, but so is taking someone off pure fundamentals.
Off the Board
Mickell Gladness has great shot blocking ability, but there’s too many other questions. At 205 pounds Gladness is underdeveloped and offensively lacks basic skills. I know that NBA teams are eyeing him, but in what way remains to be seen. Do teams see Gladness as a potential NBA draftee or an NBDL candidate?
Some close to the Omri Casspi situation say he’s frustrated with his lack of playing time. His Maccabi team was coached by Oded Katash, who many people consider the finest player to ever come out of Israel. Casspi grew so frustrated with his lack of minutes that his father was quoted by Israeli newspapers as saying Katash was jealous of his son because he knew the Casspi would eventually be better than him. Katash was later released by Maccabi management after leading the team to its worst start in history (5-3). Perhaps Casspi can now begin to concentrate on getting his confidence back, and most importantly, earn playing time.