Ford: Toronto's dilema, Utah's draft workout

[exodus]

"People around the league are still trying to figure out what the Raptors are up to.

Are they drafting Andrea Bargnani? Are the really after UConn's Marcus Williams? Are they trading out of the draft altogether?

The latest intel is all pretty inconclusive at the moment.

The fact that GM Bryan Colangelo has sent his staff, including Wayne Embry, to Italy to watch Andrea Bargnani is significant. A source in Toronto claims that no one in the organization is as high on Bargnani as Colangelo is. In order to build a consensus on draft night, Colangelo wanted to make sure they had seen Bargnani enough to come to an educated decision.

He probably should've sent forward Chris Bosh as well. Bosh publicly said last week that he didn't think the Raptors needed Bargnani and seemed to be campaigning for LaMarcus Aldridge, a fellow Texan and former workout partner. Personal ties, more than basketball, are probably influencing Bosh. Aldridge is actually much more similar to Bosh than Bargnani is. Still Bosh's complaint is significant. He's the one guy the Raptors don't want to tick off.

If the Raptors did draft Bargnani, they could trade Charlie Villanueva (whose trade value is very high at the moment) for a player who plays the one or the five. Or they could decide to play a little like Phoenix and put Bosh at the five, Villanueva at the four and Bargnani at the three. The team would be long and athletic and could really score. Defensively they'd have some problems, but the league seems to be moving away from its obsession for bruising, physical centers.

Another option for the Raptors is to trade down a few spots in the draft and grab a player who fits a need. Numerous sources around the league are saying the Raptors are very open to trading the pick.

Bill Duffy, the agent for Williams, told me on Tuesday that Raptors loved Williams in his workout and had told him that Williams was in the mix at No. 5. The Raptors moved up to No. 1, and wouldn't consider taking Williams with the top pick. But if they swapped picks with a team like the Blazers, they could be in a position to draft him.

Here's why I think that scenario is unlikely. While Williams is the best pure point guard in the draft, he has a number of question marks that make his selection by the Raptors doubtful.

One, he went to Toronto out of shape. Duffy didn't deny that Williams was overweight, saying that Williams got a late jump on his draft training because of school obligations. Still, a point guard with a weight problem is the last thing a NBA coach or GM wants. Deron Williams overcame those objections last year by slimming down considerably before the draft. Marcus Williams, in contrast, put 15 pounds on top of his playing weight of 205.

Two, his lack of athleticism is going to be troubling to a GM like Colangelo, who had speedy point guards during his tenure on the Suns. Williams has great court vision, but his lack of speed makes him a poor comparison to Jason Kidd or Steve Nash.

Three, questions about Williams off the court, including those about his involvement in selling stolen laptops at UConn, have raised a red flag for NBA teams.

I'm not piling criticism on Williams. I've had him ranked as the best or second-best point guard in the draft all year and believe he's got a chance to be an excellent NBA player. He has an amazing feel for the game. And unlike many of this year's other prospects, he's ready to play now.

But all of those question marks, I believe, will hurt his draft stock a little.

If the Raptors do trade down to No. 4 or No. 5, I'd still expect them to target Bargnani or Brandon Roy.

Another scenario may be more plausible -- the Raptors could trade way down or out of the draft and grab a veteran player who could contribute immediately.

Sources claim that Colangelo doesn't want to delay the rebuilding process any longer than he has to and would be open to trading the pick to a team willing to give the Raptors a veteran he covets.

What makes some sense in this scenario?

The Pacers seem to be a team that might have to rethink how they're going to play in the future. Would Larry Bird trade Jermaine O'Neal for the No. 1 pick, Villanueva and cap relief?

The Grizzlies are another team that can't seem to get over the hump, and they are having financial difficulties. If the Raptors really want to go international, would the Grizzlies part with Pau Gasol for the No. 1 pick, Villanueva and cap relief?

The Knicks are the other obvious suitors, though it's hard to believe anyone on their roster could help them pry the Raptors No. 1 pick away. It would probably take Channing Frye, the one guy the Knicks seem to want to hold onto.

The Sixers are another team that would like to deal. Samuel Dalembert is on the block, and the Sixers likely would be willing to take back a player like Alvin Williams or Eric Williams, even if it meant swallowing a bad contract. The question is whether the Raptors would really take on Dalembert's huge salary ($55 million) for the next five years.

One more Raptors note:

Jay Williams' agent, Kevin Bradbury, told me that Williams will be in Toronto on Wednesday and Thursday working out for the Raptors. He'll then do a workout a week for select teams, trying to land a one-year guarantee on a roster. Williams has been rehabbing in Chicago all year and according to Bradbury is looking "100 percent better than he did last year."

Jazz like Sene, Foye, Roy, Redickposted: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 | Feedback

The rumblings coming out of Utah after a big workout that featured Hilton Armstrong, Shelden Williams, Patrick O'Bryant and Mouhamed Saer Sene suggest that Sene might have caught the Jazz' eye.

Given how raw Sene is, that's a little surprising. However, Sene has a motor that tops that of all of the other candidates. Besides, it's unlikely that O'Bryant or Williams will be there when the Jazz draft.

O'Bryant likely will be the first guy of that group taken off the board. Given his size, athleticism and skills around the basket, he could go as high as Atlanta at No. 5 and the Wolves at No. 6. His backstop is the Hornets at No. 11.

Williams doesn't have the upside teams want, but he is tough and NBA-ready and has impressed in workouts. He also measured 6 feet, 9 inches in shoes, with a long wingspan, so he'll have the size to play the four. Combine that with a decent 10-to-12-foot jumper that has surprised scouts , and he's also likely to go before the Jazz pick at No. 14.

That might leave the Jazz deciding between Armstrong and Sene.

Both are raw. Armstrong played four years of college ball, but got major minutes for only one season. He's has a lot of talent and a good motor, but he doesn't seem to have a clue how good he is. His lack of confidence is and will continue to be an issue for him. Playing for a tough coach like Jerry Sloan might not help that.

Look for Utah to be one of the teams that tries to move up in the draft. They'd love to get their hands on Brandon Roy, Randy Foye or J.J. Redick. Right now, it looks like they're in a position to miss all three.

Foye and Redick worked out on Tuesday against Mike Gansey and Brad Newley. While Foye and Redick were both impressive ( with scouts now saying Redick might be a little quicker than they thought ), it's possible both will be off the board when the Jazz select.

The problem for Utah is finding the right bait to move up. Carlos Boozer is the obvious choice, but teams are concerned about his contract, attitude and recent lack of durability."

I have been saying all year that people have been selling the Dukies short. I am not saying we should draft either at 5 but I expect their draft stock to continue to go up as the workouts progress.

[MrAloha]

Note Ford said:

Quote:

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"

O'Bryant likely will be the first guy of that group taken off the board. Given his size, athleticism and skills around the basket, he could go as high as

Atlanta at No. 5

and the Wolves at No. 6. His backstop is the Hornets at No. 11.

---

This, of course, could just be Ford-speak.

But, if O'Bryant continues to impress at workouts, should the Hawks pick him at No. 5 ?

[exodus]

I don't see it. Granted I only saw him play part of one game but averaging 13/8 at Bradley is not impressive. The only way i can see the Hawks taking him is if they trade down.

[AHF]

Quote:

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I don't see it. Granted I only saw him play part of one game but averaging 13/8 at Bradley is not impressive. The only way i can see the Hawks taking him is if they trade down.

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That is the way I feel.

[DrReality]

Bikerstaff's comment about how Toronto covet Bargnani: They are showing too much interest in him which makes me think its a smoke screen?

[MrAloha]

Based on what he did in college, I agree.

But it seems with many pre-draft workouts, what a player did or didn't do in college isn't as important as what he does in the workouts against other players.

It's been mentioned often that a player's stock can rise or fall based on pre-draft workouts.

So, if O'Bryant continues to have great workouts, should the Hawks pick him at No. 5 ?

[Diesel]

1st pick of the draft, usually don't have to lay smoke screens.

Even if they want to trade down, the trade down team would still want to trade with them and give them pick value reguardless of how much Toronto covets Bargain man.

I personally think that Toronto may make a pitch to Phoenix for Marion.

[DJ_Money]

I'm torn on O'Bryant.

Yes, he was only a 13/8 player in the MVC. The MVC is a better league than most give it credit for, but it's still not a major conference.

However, he manhandled another pro prospect in Pittsburgh's Aaron Gray in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tourney. Didn't do much against Kansas or Memphis, though.

He's a legit 7 feet tall and athletic for his size, unlike many of the stiffs we see come in overhyped today. I think he's a project, but I also think that he could be a very good player in time. Kind of like Bynum in LA...

I don't think I would take him at #5 over a guy like Foye or Roy, but he would definately be worth a shot if we were to move down to #12 or so.

Risking the #5 pick on a guy who had one good showing in the tourney is kin to giving a big contract to a guy who has a good showing in the NBA playoffs (Austin Croshere, etc.). If we blow the #5 pick and watch a guy like Foye become an All-Star elsewhere, it would be like killing our cap space and sinking $60 million into a guy who will never play at the same level again.

[swolehawk2]

Man, it will be hard to pass on the toughness and physical presence that Williams brings for O'Bryant. I would rather a player that has a game that is more defined, the only big man you draft for potential in this draft is Aldridge, after him I am taking Williams, cause I klnow what I am getting.

[KB21]

Regardless of whether or not I or anyone else think he is deserving of that spot, chances are, Patrick O'Bryant will be under serious consideration at that pick. Despite his lack of dominance overall at Bradley, he's still a seven footer that will have a huge wing span, good athleticism, and shot blocking ability. Those types of players tend to rise and go high regardless of their collegiate stats. Even then, O'Bryant really stood out against other big guys in the tourney like Sasha Kaun and Aaron Gray.

[DJlaysitup]

Quote:

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I'm torn on O'Bryant.

Yes, he was only a 13/8 player in the MVC. The MVC is a better league than most give it credit for, but it's still not a major conference...

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I'm afraid of him too DJM, my Salukis whupped Bradley both times in the MVC regular season and we didn't start a guy over 6'7".

Most MVC teams have to use undersized front lines (seldom see a 7-footer unless he's a big-w-stiff from Creighton) so 13/8 doesn't impress me that much.

I don't think he's athletic enough for the nba.