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NBA Draft: Scouting the power forwards
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 2:24 am PDT Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C3
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[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Brandan Wright of North Carolina is the great possibility, a power forward reminiscent of Chris Bosh at a similar stage, a fluid, athletic big man.
Joakim Noah is the hair and the heritage, the son of former tennis star Yannick Noah and a Miss Sweden who with his energetic play, gregarious personality and ponytail became the most recognized member of Florida's back-to-back NCAA title teams.
Yi Jianlian is the gamble, a prospect with a high upside, but also a prospect from China, where competition is weak and birth dates are considered untrustworthy by NBA front offices.
Al Horford is none of those. He is, to the contrary, the most ready, the safest bet among prospects at power forward, starting with a pro body and an aggressive inside game to match.
Horford played on the same college team as Noah but often in the shadow of the player who might have gone No. 1 had he entered the 2006 draft. Now, Horford should go several picks before Noah and also ahead of another Gators teammate, small forward Corey Brewer. Meanwhile, Noah has been so heavily scrutinized that some teams rate him a difference maker because of an expected impact on defense and others downgrade him to a probable role player unworthy of being taken in the top 10.
"I think it's very good, the level of talent we have in this draft," Horford said of the power forwards. "It's very exciting."
The top of the depth chart at the position:
Al Horford, 6-foot-10, Florida, junior: It became obvious midway through the push to the Gators' second national title that Horford had passed the more publicized Joakim Noah as a draft prospect. Horford plays physically, handles the ball well for a big man and makes the right pass.
Yi Jianlian, 6-11: Skilled and aggressive on offense, with enough mobility and ballhandling skills that some observers could see him playing small forward at that end of the court, though initially he will get pushed around on defense by true power forwards. Given the chance to use the workouts to prove that his client will stand up well to the huge jump in competition, Yi's agent has gone to great lengths to avoid any such comparison. Yi was even the only projected lottery pick to refuse to so much as take a physical in the recent pre-draft camp.
Brandan Wright, 6-9, North Carolina, freshman: He has very good mobility for his size and long arms, the makings of a future inside force as a shot blocker and in getting his own shot. Wright is only about 200 pounds, though, lighter than some of the top prospects at shooting guard, so it will be a lottery pick on potential.
Joakim Noah, 6-11, Florida, junior: With his limitless energy, bouncy personality and ability to handle the spotlight, Noah is destined to become a fan favorite in his next home city. But he's so weak offensively that his offense will be whatever comes on rebounds and loose balls.
Jason Smith, Colorado State, 7-0, junior: A big 2006-07 -- his rebounding average jumped from 7.3 as a sophomore to 10.1, ninth in the country -- has Smith quickly moving up draft boards. His offense was impressive all along with a nice shooting touch, good mobility for a big man and solid fundamentals.
Kings' needs: Not as pressing as other positions, even though Kenny Thomas turns 30 next month, and Shareef Abdur-Rahim is 30, and neither averaged better than 9.9 points (Abdur-Rahim) or 6.1 rebounds (Thomas).
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Who the hell is this nuff nuff?! Kings need for a PF is not as pressing as others?! I'll have some of what he is having!
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NBA Draft: Scouting the power forwards
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 2:24 am PDT Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C3
Print | E-Mail | Comments (0)| Digg it | del.icio.us
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Brandan Wright of North Carolina is the great possibility, a power forward reminiscent of Chris Bosh at a similar stage, a fluid, athletic big man.
Joakim Noah is the hair and the heritage, the son of former tennis star Yannick Noah and a Miss Sweden who with his energetic play, gregarious personality and ponytail became the most recognized member of Florida's back-to-back NCAA title teams.
Yi Jianlian is the gamble, a prospect with a high upside, but also a prospect from China, where competition is weak and birth dates are considered untrustworthy by NBA front offices.
Al Horford is none of those. He is, to the contrary, the most ready, the safest bet among prospects at power forward, starting with a pro body and an aggressive inside game to match.
Horford played on the same college team as Noah but often in the shadow of the player who might have gone No. 1 had he entered the 2006 draft. Now, Horford should go several picks before Noah and also ahead of another Gators teammate, small forward Corey Brewer. Meanwhile, Noah has been so heavily scrutinized that some teams rate him a difference maker because of an expected impact on defense and others downgrade him to a probable role player unworthy of being taken in the top 10.
"I think it's very good, the level of talent we have in this draft," Horford said of the power forwards. "It's very exciting."
The top of the depth chart at the position:
Al Horford, 6-foot-10, Florida, junior: It became obvious midway through the push to the Gators' second national title that Horford had passed the more publicized Joakim Noah as a draft prospect. Horford plays physically, handles the ball well for a big man and makes the right pass.
Yi Jianlian, 6-11: Skilled and aggressive on offense, with enough mobility and ballhandling skills that some observers could see him playing small forward at that end of the court, though initially he will get pushed around on defense by true power forwards. Given the chance to use the workouts to prove that his client will stand up well to the huge jump in competition, Yi's agent has gone to great lengths to avoid any such comparison. Yi was even the only projected lottery pick to refuse to so much as take a physical in the recent pre-draft camp.
Brandan Wright, 6-9, North Carolina, freshman: He has very good mobility for his size and long arms, the makings of a future inside force as a shot blocker and in getting his own shot. Wright is only about 200 pounds, though, lighter than some of the top prospects at shooting guard, so it will be a lottery pick on potential.
Joakim Noah, 6-11, Florida, junior: With his limitless energy, bouncy personality and ability to handle the spotlight, Noah is destined to become a fan favorite in his next home city. But he's so weak offensively that his offense will be whatever comes on rebounds and loose balls.
Jason Smith, Colorado State, 7-0, junior: A big 2006-07 -- his rebounding average jumped from 7.3 as a sophomore to 10.1, ninth in the country -- has Smith quickly moving up draft boards. His offense was impressive all along with a nice shooting touch, good mobility for a big man and solid fundamentals.
Kings' needs: Not as pressing as other positions, even though Kenny Thomas turns 30 next month, and Shareef Abdur-Rahim is 30, and neither averaged better than 9.9 points (Abdur-Rahim) or 6.1 rebounds (Thomas).
_____________________________________________________________
Who the hell is this nuff nuff?! Kings need for a PF is not as pressing as others?! I'll have some of what he is having!
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