I was absolutely correct about this Sky Walker cat.

He is now dunking on all types of folks in the NBA, albeit in preseason tune ups, but it’s spectacular stuff nonetheless. Especially when dunking on Theo Ratliff, even though Theo has been in the NBA since the Jimmy Carter days.

You Got Dunked On has the video.

Update- YouTube does have video of this dunk party… apparently adding “Bill Walker dunk” was not enough to warrant YouTube finding the video for me. Adding “Bill Walker Ratliff” was.

Post from: EveryJoe

Way back in June

My NBA draft predictions weren’t exactly Matt Millen-esque, actually far from it, however a couple of glaring mistakes certainly overshadowed the brilliant gems.

Like anyone is keeping score at home, besides me that is.

I keep score.

In previous posts I predicted

Shawn James, a shot blocker out of Duquesne, would be drafted.

I also was high on St. Joes forward Pat Calathes. He too was not drafted. However, I happened to notice that Jay Bilas had Pat Calathes on his list of 6 best remaining players not yet drafted, though that was after pick # 59.

My big monstrosity of an error was the George Hill prediction. Plain and simple I didn’t expect teams to have much respect for George, the little Summit League star from IUPUI.

I will say it again for whoever may have missed it: Seeing George Hill play in person, as I did late in the season last year, didn’t really allow me to gage his full repertoire and potential.

Obviously that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

Now my opinion about the kid could have been swayed because of the complete beating Oakland U put on IUPUI that night, though I would have hoped it would not have because that’s not a sensible way to go about forming opinions on players. Thinking back I probably let the outcome of the game affect what I thought about George Hill.

Still doesn’t mean he will be any good but…

The guy was picked in the first round and by the San Antonio Spurs no less!

Victories

At least Sasha Kaun and Malik Hairston were drafted. And at least D.J. White was drafted in round one, even though the team who drafted him didn’t keep him.

Another little victory for me was Bill Walker. Yeah, he slipped a bit, but he’s on the best NBA team out there right now.

And finally I’d like to take credit and say I knew Jason Thompson would be a top #15 pick, but that would be a lie. Though I did say he was intriguing…

A morsel of my last post discussed Chris Douglas-Roberts’s draft night gag, and as expected, nothing much was accomplished. I guess the post was a good excuse to get Shawn Marion’s name out there, Kevin Martin’s as well, but of course I whiffed at the chance to link out to some frequently visited pro basketball blogs.

Lesson learned.

Mental note forwarded.

Will whore myself out more for the chance of getting more pv’s in the future.

So anyway, the whole story of why CDR’s stock dropped so excessively can be explained quite simply. It’s not as wondrous as a Harry Potter adventure… or an ominous kidney—but it will do for now, at least until Joe Dumars can escape the area so the steadfast anti-Tayshaun Prince portion of Metro Detroit doesn’t tear down his residence with him in it, or worse, leak out malicious, yet well meaning, trade proposals of a re-acquisition of Darko!

CDR apparently took the easy route during the draft workout period. It seems that CDR was extremely confident he would not be around at #20. Thus not only did he decline a workout with the Detroit Pistons, an organization’s fan base who is desperately wondering why Walter Sharpe was picked instead of CDR, he also most likely declined workout invitations from various other teams selecting after pick #20. If that assertion is valid, then shame on CDR for having a bigger head than Placido Polanco and for not putting himself out there to the best of his ability. After all, jobs are hard to come by in the NBA, very hard. There aren’t many openings, but when there are, there’s dozens and dozens of talented guys who would do anything to fill them.

Being picky about who you workout for not only sends a bad message to the teams he blew off, but the league as a whole. You can be sure other teams took note of his behavior.

So it seems that the “unorthodox” label was only part of the pie.

But being that CDR is from Detroit, there could be even more to the story.

Maybe a demon or two lurk in CDR’s Detroit past? Maybe he’s acutely aware of a leech like entourage waiting for him, waiting to engulf him, to suck from him the very strength and focus he had in order to make it out in the first place.

But that would only explain Detroit.

Everything aside,

CDR and I will still get paid.

Post from: EveryJoe

CDR and I: Licking our wounds, but still getting paid, probably

Well, they didn’t.

Walker’s decision wasn’t a big surprise, but Gordon’s was. But even more surprising was the college departures of George Hill and Luc Richard Mbah A Moute and the withdrawing of Ty Lawson, Chase Budinger and the nearly 24 year old Lester Hudson.

The league will have an official list out later on Tuesday.

Below is a list of the guys who were undecided going into Monday, per ESPN.

Staying In Draft
Player School
Joe Alexander, Jr. WVU

Ryan Anderson, So. Cal
Mario Chalmers, Jr. Kansas

Jamont Gordon, Jr. Mississippi St.
Richard Hendrix, Jr. Alabama

J.J. Hickson, Fr. NC State
George Hill, Jr. IUPUI

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Jr. UCLA
Marreese Speights, So. Florida

Bill Walker, RS Fr. Kansas St.

Returning To School
Player School
A.J. Abrams, Jr. Texas

Josh Akognon, Jr. Cal St.-Fullerton
Chase Budinger, So. Arizona

Lee Cummard, Jr. BYU
Robert Dozier, Jr. Memphis

Wayne Ellington, So. UNC
Danny Green, Jr. UNC

Lester Hudson, Jr. Tennessee-Martin
Ty Lawson, So. UNC

Jeremy Pargo, Jr. Gonzaga
Ronald Steele, RS Sr. Alabama

Robert Vaden, Jr. UAB

source

Lester Hudson, a guard from Tennessee-Martin, could not ask for any better of a draft stock than he has now, yet he still withdrew from the draft. He more than likely didn’t feel confident in the feedback he received from the teams, so his decision is probably a wise one, except for the fact that by this time next year he will be almost 25 years old. A bit old for a rookie point guard? 1st round pick… no. But 2nd round pick… yes. I would have liked to see him go. How much more can you prove by dominating Ohio Valley Conference competition again?

One of the smartest decisions was made by Gonzaga guard Jeremy Pargo. The player has a future in the league, but just didn’t fit well in this year’s draft. He needs to improve his ball handling and decision making skills to really reap the benefits of coming back to a very dangerous Gonzaga team. I see him being a mid to late 1st round pick next year.

I don’t believe Hill will be drafted, nor do I believe Moute will be drafted. Unless of course, both have verbal 2nd round guarantees. Could be the case, but things change. Don’t count on anything in the NBA, well, except for questionable refereeing.

Questions, comments and beefs are always appreciated.

And please take a second to vote on the poll question seen on the right hand side of the page regarding who will be the best 08/09 freshman.

Post from: EveryJoe

Surprise Surprise

DECISION TIME

A.J. Abrams, Texas
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: The 5-10 shooting guard shocked everyone – including the Texas coaching staff – when he entered the draft. It would be an even bigger shock if he gets drafted.

Joe Alexander, West Virginia
STATUS: Likely to stay in
THE BUZZ: Nobody may have seen his stock rise more since early March. Alexander averaged 23.8 points over his last nine games, then excelled in the combine portion of the pre-draft camp. He is projected as a late lottery pick.

Josh Akognon, Cal-State Fullerton
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: At best, this 5-11 guard has an outside chance at being a second-round pick. He was not invited to the pre-draft camp.

Ryan Anderson, California
STATUS: On the fence
THE BUZZ: Anderson is looking for a first-round guarantee. If the forward doesn’t get it, new Cal coach Mike Montgomery may have the best player in the Pac-10 next season.

Chase Budinger, Arizona
STATUS: Likely to stay in
THE BUZZ: It’s tough to envision any scenario where Budinger slips out of the first round — which likely means he’s staying in the draft. His other option is to return to a program whose coaching staff seems to be in constant limbo.

Mario Chalmers, Kansas
STATUS: Likely to stay in
THE BUZZ: After a recent workout with the Denver Nuggets, Chalmers told reporters he has no intention of staying in school. He probably will be taken between the 20th and 40th picks.

Lee Cummard, BYU
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Four NBA teams are bringing in Cummard for workouts, but he didn’t receive an invitation to the pre-draft camp. Unless the swingman plays extraordinarily well at those workouts, he’ll be suiting up for the Cougars next season.

Robert Dozier, Memphis
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Dozier has been criss-crossing the country working out for teams, but Memphis coach John Calipari expects the big man to pull out of the draft. He would be fortunate to be selected in the second round.

Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis
STATUS: A lock to stay in
THE BUZZ: Signing with an agent is a mere formality for CDR. He has made it clear his college career is over. He is expected to be taken between the 20th and 30th picks.

Wayne Ellington, North Carolina
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Ellington looked great at times at the pre-draft camp — but he also looked terrible at times, too. He is a second-round pick at best.

Jamont Gordon, Mississippi State
STATUS: Likely to stay in
THE BUZZ: Gordon, who has been busy on the workout circuit, is committed to staying in the draft even though it’s a deep class for point guards and he probably won’t be taken until the second round.

Danny Green, North Carolina
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Racked up multiple injuries at the pre-draft camp. He’s hoping to get a second-round guarantee, but that is a long shot.

Richard Hendrix, Alabama
STATUS: On the fence
THE BUZZ: He put together a solid performance at the pre-draft camp, but remains a borderline first-round pick at best.

J.J. Hickson, N.C. State
STATUS: On the fence
THE BUZZ: Needs to impress in workouts to lock up a spot in the first round. Otherwise, draft day will be a nerve-wracking experience
.
George Hill, IUPUI
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Played well at pre-draft camp, but with so many point guards available, he likely would go undrafted.

Lester Hudson, Tennessee-Martin
STATUS: On the fence
THE BUZZ: A lot of teams are showing interest, but this small-school star measured a shade under 6 feet (5-11 3/4). That’s a big concern, especially when you’re not a true point guard.

Ty Lawson, North Carolina
STATUS: Likely to stay in
THE BUZZ: Remains a probable first-round pick despite a recent arrest for driving after drinking alcohol. The Denver Nuggets may take Lawson with the 20th pick.

Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Showed he could score at the pre-draft camp but had problems taking care of the ball. He would be better-served by using his senior year to sharpen his skills.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Not returning to school would be a big mistake. He has little chance of being drafted.

Ronald Steele, Alabama
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Had a so-so performance at pre-draft camp. Questions remain about whether Steele can regain the quickness he had two years ago. If he stays in the draft, he can do no better than a second-round pick.

Robert Vaden, UAB
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Vaden was at the pre-draft camp and has been working out for teams, but he’d be risking going undrafted if he doesn’t pull out.

Bill Walker, Kansas State
STATUS: Likely will stay in
THE BUZZ: Walker, who elected not to go to the pre-draft camp, is banking on impressing scouts at workouts. He is projected as a borderline first-rounder.

source

First I’m somewhat surprised at the Luc Richard Mbah A Moute buzz.

Could have sworn he was listed as a first round pick in at least 3 different mock drafts I looked at.

Of course I’m not exactly sure how informed those particular sites are (can’t remember which sites either), not to say somebody can’t ever be right who is uninformed, but usually … well it goes without saying.

It’s like those NBA trade proposals certain fans make up that are so one-sided that it just leaves you saying,

“The other team(s) would not do that!”

You know, those kinds of people.

Having internet access doesn’t mean you’re qualified at putting together a mock draft.

Just be careful what mock drafts you look at.

Post from: EveryJoe

Mock Drafts are just that, Mock

Unless, of course, Kersey believes the Celtics can be beat four straight times?

During the game I was making my way through both rosters and began to think– who is going to have a similar impact in the league as a Paul Pierce? Luke Walton? Derek Fisher? Glen Davis?

Are there any guys in the upcoming 08 draft who remind you of certain current NBA role players, or who embody the personality or mentality of a perennial All-Star?

Kevin Love Freshman UCLA

Love could be chosen anywhere between 5 and 15 according to the gazillion mock drafts circulating the web. The role player tag will probably end up defining the career of Love, however, only if he can get himself into better playing condition. Optimistically I could see Love turning out to be a slightly less athletic version of Brad Miller. Brad has never quite been a three point gunner, but has the range. Linas Kleiza has also surfaced as a comparable player in my basketball database of a head. But these similarities are only based off of Love’s ability to shoot the ball from anywhere past 16 feet, especially three point land. But neither Milller nor Kleiza are thick, grind it out post players like Love can be. But I do know of one very thick post player who did not see any action in Game 1 that Love reminds me of. That would be Glen “Big Baby” Davis. If Kevin Love didn’t have any shooting or passing skills he’d be almost an exact copy of Glen Davis.

Lester Hudson Junior Tennessee-Martin

The D-Fish prototype could very well fit Lester Hudson. Small school– check. Quality shooter—check. Hard nose defensive attitude–check. Good head on shoulders–check. Sounds like a guy who could carve out a Derek Fisher type career. And that’s just fine by Hudson, “I would like to have a career just as successful.”

Pat Calathes Senior St. Joes.

The unbridled fondness for Calathes continues, but listen, I need this kid to have a fine career so when I interview for a NBA GM spot I can say I knew he was going to be good… and I have the proof! Pat plays kind of like Luke Walton. Pat handles and passes the ball like a guard and has the shooting touch of a guard, all the while being 6′10 and rather unathletic. I’m not saying that Walton is that great of a shooter, but the comparison is still mostly there in my eyes. Let it fester awhile. You’ll see it.

Bill Walker Sophomore Kansas St.

Bill’s name has shown up on mocks as early as a lottery pick and as late as a 40 something pick. Quite frankly the guy would be a great fit in Detroit, maybe backing up Prince, provided Tayshuan is still in a Piston’s uniform next year. Bill’s strength reminds me of Paul Pierce. Bill will definitely get the nod in terms of athleticism, though both have similar bodies and are about the same size (6’6). Both sometimes methodically make their way to the basket using their muscle and brute force. If Walker can improve is outside shooting as his career moves on, he could put up Paul Pierce like numbers. Though I’m not saying he will average 16ppg like Pierce accomplished in his rookie year.

Any players in this draft remind you of current NBA’ers?

If you got any, just leave a comment!

Post from: EveryJoe

The next Paul Pierce?