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Ty Lawson: The biggest rumor circulating about the NBA Draft this past week is that the Denver Nuggets have given a promise to select Ty Lawson. I had speculated that Denver would be a possible landing spot for Lawson last week during the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp, so this does not surprise me at all.
Denver certainly has a need for a point guard but I do have a couple of issues with this selection if Lawson does end up on the Nuggets. While Lawson is extremely quick and should be a benefit to the Nuggets offense, he is also rather small at 5'11 175lbs. Now normally this wouldn't be an issue but the Nuggets also have a small shooting guard in Allen Iverson. If you pair Lawson with Iverson, you probably have the smallest back court in the league.
So why does that matter? Well, we already know Denver is an awful defensive team and having a small back court of Iverson & Lawson is not going to help that out at all. Sure they will be great on offense but that really isn't their problem. I don't have a problem with them drafting Lawson because they definitely need a point guard but it still doesn't address their defensive needs.
If I were the Nuggets, I would seriously think about drafting a defensive minded player instead. Perhaps someone like Robin Lopez from Stanford would be a good fit there at # 20. Lopez is considered to be a Anderson Varejao type and is in the mold of a defensive minded role player the Nuggets could really use. Their offense has been one of the better units in the league despite the lack of a point guard, so I think they can get by with what they have been using at that position.
Now maybe Lopez isn't the answer to that and they might have some trades in the works to address their defensive issues. Maybe George Karl will get the boot for a more defensive minded coach like Avery Johnson. Either way these issues need to be addressed or else the Denver Nuggets will end up in the same place they did this year: Gone Fishin'
Philadelphia 76ers: Word on the street is that the Philadelphia 76ers are looking to move up in the draft and could find a potential trading mate with the New York Knicks. One rumor is that the Knicks would give up the # 6 Pick AND Zach Randolph for a player on the 76ers with a smaller contract and the rights to the 76ers pick at # 16. Randolph would help the 76ers who have no low post scoring at this point and the Knicks would get some cap space.
However, I wouldn't be surprised to see the 76ers swing a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies at # 5 because Memphis is having a terrible time trying to bring in players for workouts. Basically, nobody wants to play for Memphis and their horrible ownership, so they won't even schedule workouts with them, so Memphis is looking to move down in the draft. Since the 76ers are looking to move up, I see this as a good fit.
They could then target whoever is left from this group: O.J. Mayo, Jerryd Bayless, Eric Gordon, Kevin Love, Brook Lopez, & Anthony Randolph.
Joey Dorsey: Dorsey seemed to be the forgotten man all week at the Orlando Pre-Draft camp and it didn't see much feed back on his performance but NBADraft.net through up some player evaluations including Dorsey's:
Joey Dorsey 6-7 265 PF/C Memphis Sr. -- 6.3 ppg, 63% fg, 4.7 rpg, 5 blk
If you’re looking for a scoring post player, than Dorsey isn’t your guy, as he may never develop any sort of reliable game from the blocks. However, that doesn’t mean that he cannot be a vital player at the next level. His athleticism, toughness, work ethic and on court demeanor are all things that almost any team would welcome to their organization. He is satisfied doing the dirty work and contributing in any way necessary in order for his team to win. Although he is undersized, he is a force to be reckoned with, both defensively and on glass. He has great energy and speed allowing him to be in great position against the much slower big men that he faces, also his anticipation is good enough to allow him to block a good number of shots from the weakside. Dorsey is a lock to be taken in the early to mid second round and should get some looks in the late first round. (NBADraft.net)
Chris Douglas-Roberts: Minnesota is reportedly looking at packaging their two early 2nd round picks (#31, #34) for a late first round pick, due to roster spot concerns. Chris Douglas-Roberts may be one of the players they are targeting. (DraftExpress)
Orlando Pre-Draft Measurements: The Orlando Pre-Draft measurement and combine results have been released and you can view the complete Orlando Pre-Draft Measurements but here are some of the highlights, via DraftExpress:
Michael Beasley measured at 6-7 without shoes, and 6-8 ¼ with. His wingspan in 7-0 ¼ and his standing reach is 8-11. He did fairly well in the combine, lifting the 185 bar 19 times, jumping 35 inches on the max vert, but measuring a slightly high body fat at 7.7%
Derrick Rose came out a bit shorter than advertised, at just 6-1 ½ in shoes and 6-2 ½ in. He has a 6-8 wingspan, a 40 inch vertical and ran the 3/4 court sprint very fast at 3.05.
Joey Dorsey measured in at only 6’6.25 without shoes, and 6’7.25 with shoes, but had a +7.5 wingspan and managed a very respectable 19 reps off 185 on the bench.
Josh Duncan put up 26 reps of 185 on the bench, recorded a 32” max vertical leap, is 6’8 without shoes, and recorded a body far percentage of only 5.4%. Patrick Ewing Jr. recorded the highest max vertical leap on the day recording 42”, but struggled on the bench, finishing with only 2 reps. His is 9.4% body fat was surprising for a player of his build as well. At only 6’6 without shoes, he’s between positions with his measurables and game very much in conflict.
Lightest Player: Mike Taylor- 166 pounds, followed by D.J. Augustin at 171.
Heaviest Player: Kentrell Gransberry- 290 pounds
Lowest Body Fat: Lester Hudson- 3.4%
Highest Body Fat: Kentrell Gransberry -17.4% body fat
Best no-step vertical: Patrick Ewing- 35 inches
Best Max-Step Vertical: O.J. Mayo- 42 inches (tied with Ewing)
Bench Press: Josh Duncan 26 reps
Fastest Lane Agility: Sonny Weems- 10.58 seconds
Fastest ¾ Court Sprint: Sonny Weems- 2.96, (Joe Alexander 2.99)
Denver certainly has a need for a point guard but I do have a couple of issues with this selection if Lawson does end up on the Nuggets. While Lawson is extremely quick and should be a benefit to the Nuggets offense, he is also rather small at 5'11 175lbs. Now normally this wouldn't be an issue but the Nuggets also have a small shooting guard in Allen Iverson. If you pair Lawson with Iverson, you probably have the smallest back court in the league.
So why does that matter? Well, we already know Denver is an awful defensive team and having a small back court of Iverson & Lawson is not going to help that out at all. Sure they will be great on offense but that really isn't their problem. I don't have a problem with them drafting Lawson because they definitely need a point guard but it still doesn't address their defensive needs.
If I were the Nuggets, I would seriously think about drafting a defensive minded player instead. Perhaps someone like Robin Lopez from Stanford would be a good fit there at # 20. Lopez is considered to be a Anderson Varejao type and is in the mold of a defensive minded role player the Nuggets could really use. Their offense has been one of the better units in the league despite the lack of a point guard, so I think they can get by with what they have been using at that position.
Now maybe Lopez isn't the answer to that and they might have some trades in the works to address their defensive issues. Maybe George Karl will get the boot for a more defensive minded coach like Avery Johnson. Either way these issues need to be addressed or else the Denver Nuggets will end up in the same place they did this year: Gone Fishin'
Philadelphia 76ers: Word on the street is that the Philadelphia 76ers are looking to move up in the draft and could find a potential trading mate with the New York Knicks. One rumor is that the Knicks would give up the # 6 Pick AND Zach Randolph for a player on the 76ers with a smaller contract and the rights to the 76ers pick at # 16. Randolph would help the 76ers who have no low post scoring at this point and the Knicks would get some cap space.
However, I wouldn't be surprised to see the 76ers swing a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies at # 5 because Memphis is having a terrible time trying to bring in players for workouts. Basically, nobody wants to play for Memphis and their horrible ownership, so they won't even schedule workouts with them, so Memphis is looking to move down in the draft. Since the 76ers are looking to move up, I see this as a good fit.
They could then target whoever is left from this group: O.J. Mayo, Jerryd Bayless, Eric Gordon, Kevin Love, Brook Lopez, & Anthony Randolph.
Joey Dorsey: Dorsey seemed to be the forgotten man all week at the Orlando Pre-Draft camp and it didn't see much feed back on his performance but NBADraft.net through up some player evaluations including Dorsey's:
Joey Dorsey 6-7 265 PF/C Memphis Sr. -- 6.3 ppg, 63% fg, 4.7 rpg, 5 blk
If you’re looking for a scoring post player, than Dorsey isn’t your guy, as he may never develop any sort of reliable game from the blocks. However, that doesn’t mean that he cannot be a vital player at the next level. His athleticism, toughness, work ethic and on court demeanor are all things that almost any team would welcome to their organization. He is satisfied doing the dirty work and contributing in any way necessary in order for his team to win. Although he is undersized, he is a force to be reckoned with, both defensively and on glass. He has great energy and speed allowing him to be in great position against the much slower big men that he faces, also his anticipation is good enough to allow him to block a good number of shots from the weakside. Dorsey is a lock to be taken in the early to mid second round and should get some looks in the late first round. (NBADraft.net)
Chris Douglas-Roberts: Minnesota is reportedly looking at packaging their two early 2nd round picks (#31, #34) for a late first round pick, due to roster spot concerns. Chris Douglas-Roberts may be one of the players they are targeting. (DraftExpress)
Orlando Pre-Draft Measurements: The Orlando Pre-Draft measurement and combine results have been released and you can view the complete Orlando Pre-Draft Measurements but here are some of the highlights, via DraftExpress:
Michael Beasley measured at 6-7 without shoes, and 6-8 ¼ with. His wingspan in 7-0 ¼ and his standing reach is 8-11. He did fairly well in the combine, lifting the 185 bar 19 times, jumping 35 inches on the max vert, but measuring a slightly high body fat at 7.7%
Derrick Rose came out a bit shorter than advertised, at just 6-1 ½ in shoes and 6-2 ½ in. He has a 6-8 wingspan, a 40 inch vertical and ran the 3/4 court sprint very fast at 3.05.
Joey Dorsey measured in at only 6’6.25 without shoes, and 6’7.25 with shoes, but had a +7.5 wingspan and managed a very respectable 19 reps off 185 on the bench.
Josh Duncan put up 26 reps of 185 on the bench, recorded a 32” max vertical leap, is 6’8 without shoes, and recorded a body far percentage of only 5.4%. Patrick Ewing Jr. recorded the highest max vertical leap on the day recording 42”, but struggled on the bench, finishing with only 2 reps. His is 9.4% body fat was surprising for a player of his build as well. At only 6’6 without shoes, he’s between positions with his measurables and game very much in conflict.
Lightest Player: Mike Taylor- 166 pounds, followed by D.J. Augustin at 171.
Heaviest Player: Kentrell Gransberry- 290 pounds
Lowest Body Fat: Lester Hudson- 3.4%
Highest Body Fat: Kentrell Gransberry -17.4% body fat
Best no-step vertical: Patrick Ewing- 35 inches
Best Max-Step Vertical: O.J. Mayo- 42 inches (tied with Ewing)
Bench Press: Josh Duncan 26 reps
Fastest Lane Agility: Sonny Weems- 10.58 seconds
Fastest ¾ Court Sprint: Sonny Weems- 2.96, (Joe Alexander 2.99)
Previously:
Orlando NBA Pre-Draft Camp - Day 1
Orlando NBA Pre-Draft Camp - Day 2 - Part 1
Orlando NBA Pre-Draft Camp - Day 2 - Part 2
Orlando NBA Pre-Draft Camp - Day 3
Orlando NBA Pre-Draft Camp - Day 4
Orlando NBA Pre-Draft Camp - Workouts
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