NBA Draft Combine, Volume 2

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I’m at the Draft Combine, and I’ll be focusing on players the Spurs are likely to target.

There are about 50 players here, and I’ll have a chance to talk with many of them over the next 48 hours. I began the morning with interviews of James Anderson and Xavier Henry, with many more players to follow. You can follow me here or on Twitter.

Xavier Henry just told me he is only working out with teams scheduled to draft 7-17. Let the disappointment begin.

@varner48MoH.

  • http://everyspring.wordpress.com/ Jordan

    Have fun! You’ll have to tweet more than once every hour though.

  • jacob

    Grodon Hayward

  • NL

    i can’t imagine Henry would drop past 12.

  • http://www.poundingtherock.com Tim C

    I bet Xavier TURNER is an outstanding player. :P

  • http://www.48minutesofhell.com Timothy Varner

    @Tim, thanks, my man.

  • BlaseE

    That’s weird since Henry worked out with the Spurs last Thursday.

  • Drom John

    Didn’t Henry already work out for the Spurs on May 13th?
    http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2010/5/12/1466635/nba-pre-draft-workouts

  • http://www.poundingtherock.com Tim C

    Hey Tim,

    What is your impression of Babbitt? I know he said he thinks he’ll fit with the Spurs, but I’d like to get your take from watching him.

    (Sorry to leave this here, but I can’t use twitter at work)

  • http://www.thedirty.com/dallas DirtyP1

    well, the Spurs could always trade up, they’re close enough.

  • http://www.twitter.com/calebjsaenz Caleb

    I’ve already got my 10 possibilities laid out. (And I don’t really think we have a shot at Henry.) Who knows, though? We could trade out our pick. Somebody like Blair could fall. Anyway, here’s what I’ve got. Thoughts?:

    SF James Anderson
    SF Gordon Hayward
    SF/PF Stanley Robinson
    SF/PF Damion James
    PF Pablo Aguilar*
    C Solomon Alabi
    SF Luke Babbitt
    SF/PF Paul George
    PF Kevin Seraphin*
    SG Elliot Williams

    *Foreign player

  • Trent BU/SA

    Epke Udoh (Eppay You-Doe), defensive beast and can shoot the mid range jumper. 7’5″ wing span and is likely to be drafted near our pick. He will be a solid player in the NBA no doubt.

  • Big50

    Trent, I think Udoh is going before the Spurs pick. Every mock draft I’ve seen shows him going before the Spurs pick.

    I’d like the Spurs to get a stud 4/5 guy or a stud 3/4. Just as long as he’s a stud I’ll be happy.

  • bduran

    I’m excited about this draft. There are so many good wing prospects there is no way one isn’t available when we pick. I think I’m most interested in Babbitt and James among the realistic possibilites. Paul George is a good prospect as well most mocks have him going mid 20s. Hayward is another guy I’d be interested in, but I think his teams tournament run may push him out of our reach.

  • td4life

    Edoh from Baylor won’t fall to 20, and I don’t expect much from him unless he works as hard as Bonner to learn and improve, then maybe in 3-4 years he’s a real asset. The one guy I’d trade up for is the big guy from Lithuania.

    Haywood is okay, although I’d prefer a better athlete.

    James will be good, but not good enough that we won’t always be looking to upgrade over him. All I really like about this guy at the next level are his roots, but if he becomes a great defender at the 3, he’s worth the pick. Stanley Robinson is another guy who could make it if he focuses on defense, and is committed to work very hard to vastly improve as a perimeter player, which I don’t see happening: he’ll be a disappointment. Too bad, given their size and athleticism… Why can’t everyone play four years at Duke?

    No hesitation if Paul George is available! Distant second choice is Elliot Williams from Memphis, and lock him in a gym with Chip Engelland for a long, long time. I think he will improve quite a bit over his first few years.

    OSU’s Anderson doesn’t stand a chance with Popovich, but we might be able to trade his rights for something.

    I’d prefer a gamble on a Big such as Larry Sanders, Daniel Orton, or even Alabi (this means a lot of waiting, possibly for nothing (see: Ian Mahinmi))… and outside of that, although it’s not a need (unless we trade TP), I’d gamble on a big point guard (X Henry will be off the board) such as Vasquez from Maryland, or even Willie Warren (though Pop would be disinclined to develop these guys.)

    Babbitt: Geez, I really hope not.

    I hope RC and Pop strike some gold this summer.

  • Trade Tp

    I like Stanley Robinson. HE DOES WHAT WE NEED.

  • idahospur

    Chad Ford at ESPN has Spurs taking Damian Jones from Texas. They also compare him to James Posey. He seems like a good sized SF who can play Bowen-style defense and hopefully be reliable enough for 3′s.
    If we are to win by defense, I think this would be a good fit. Then maybe in Round 2 we can find a 3-Pt sniper.

  • td4life

    @idahospur,
    Where does Chad Ford project Paul George? I’ve seen him going mid to late first round, giving the Spurs a chance.
    Thanks.

  • bduran

    “who can play Bowen-style defense”

    Well, not exactly, but he can be good. He’s jumper is definitely good enough for the corner 3. Those are the two requirements I have for our 3 spot. Add to that the fact that he’s a monster on the boards and he seems like a great get to me. He’ll never be a creator at the 3, but he won’t be asked to.

    td4life,

    Why so against Babbitt? He’s a great shooter, solid rebounder, and by all accounts decent on D. He had good production as a sophmore, which means he has plenty of room to grow. Paul George is the same age and produced less, although I’m fine with picking him as well if Babbitt or James aren’t there.

  • td4life

    bduran,
    I see no significant upside to Babbitt at the next level. We need to make bolder choices than this. Guaranteed: he won’t be an adequate defender against NBA players. Not enough of an athlete. At BEST, a shooter. It’s nice to have guys to hit technicals, but this guy won’t draw fouls. He will never be that desirable a NBA player, and certainly not in the near term. Pass.

    James is a long shot to be a good role-player, depending on tremendous growth, a desire to excel at defense, and smarts… with those odds, I have to pass.

    I like George’s length and very sweet release. I’m not certain about his smarts, focus, and will, but I am optimistic that he has the character to become a true professional who will improve every year. Talk to me in 2, 4, and 7 years regarding these 3 guys… it’s either Paul George or none of the above.

  • bduran

    Paul George is one of those people who everyone loves because we talk about his athleticism and length. The problem is he didn’t excel on the court at the college level despite these natural physical advantages. Granted, he was only a sophmore, but both James and Babbitt had better numbers than he did during their first two years. This guy is more of a project and less of a guarantee. Not that James and Babbitt are guarantees either. Drafting is always almost always a gamble.

    The number one stat that translates from college to the NBA is rebounding and Paul George had a worse rebound rate than either of the other two. James was a monster rebounder throughout his whole career. At 6’7″ he averaged 10.3 boards in 30 minutes last year. At the very least this guy will bring that to the table for whomever drafts him.

    Babbitt shot ridiculously well as a freshman and sophomore, so I think it’s safe to say he’ll at least be a good shooter. George? I just don’t know. I’m happy if we get him, but not as happy as with the other two.

  • td4life

    Alright, bduran,

    remember that you chose James and, ahem, Babbitt when you look back in years to come, and are glad that the Spurs didn’t also pick them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m rooting for James to capitalize on his potential but would bet against it.

    Just noticed a new 48moh article just posted hyping George: he’s got more than the body and shot, he’s also got his head on straight which bodes well for his potential. His rising stock is bad for Spurs.

  • ITGuy

    Good news: only 5 months until the 2011 season starts, hang in there Spurs fans!!!!!

  • Jim Miller (jimjule)

    Watched Udoh at the combine. His shooting mechanics are absolutely horrific. He throws the ball at the basket, doesn’t shoot it ie: uses his elbow as an axis with a forward (think line drive) thrust instead of keeping his elbow under his shooting hand. His shot now would be slapped right back in his face by most big defenders. However, he is a strong defender and has learned not to jump to soon when contesting a shot. Definitely a project until he masters some form of offensive skills.