2008 NBA Draft: International Players

If you are in a dynasty league, it’s time to start looking at what international players could make a splash in the NBA next season. Here’s a list of player who all have a chance of being drafted in the first round.

Nicolas Batum, France
Batum is a 6-foot-8 small forward prospect who has a nice amount of skill. While he’s not a pure jump shooter yet, his all-around abilities have scouts loving his long-term potential. If he plays well in workouts, he could move into the top five players drafted in 2008.

Danilo Gallinari, Italy
Gallinari is 6-foot-9 but he has the skills to perhaps play shooting guard in the NBA. His quickness isn’t great but he’s a good ballhandler and has shown the ability to score from a lot of different areas of the court. Gallinari could become a top ten player but more than likely he’ll fall at around 15.

Serge Ibaka, Congo
Ibaka is an athletic freak who at 6-foot-10 should be able to play some minutes at center in the NBA. He’s a very raw player who could be drafted anywhere from the lottery to the end of the second round depending on his workouts. At this point, he’s basically an unknown quantity who has wowed scouts with his athleticism.

Nathan Jawai, Australia
At 6-foot-10 and 280 pounds, Jawai is a big prospect – literally. He has a good feel for the game but there are still a lot of question marks regarding his abilities. Playing in Australia, the competition isn’t too high. However, his size will get him drafted if he’s able to show potential in his workouts before the draft.