Great insider article on the PGs

[Admin]

What the 2005 NBA draft lacks in size, it makes up for in one of the deepest and most diverse point-guard classes in the past 10 years.

We said similar things last year about a class that included Shaun Livingston, Devin Harris, Ben Gordon (who might never actually play point), Jameer Nelson and Beno Udrih. But the emphasis is even stronger this year.

"This is the deepest point-guard class that I can ever remember," one GM told Insider. "It's not very top-heavy. Chris Paul is the only guy I think can be a superstar at the next level, but there are a lot of guys on the list this year that will play a long time in the league."

Many of them are concentrated in the ACC – as many as five ACC point guards could go in the first round this year.

They come in all sizes and flavors. There are old-school, pass-first point guards. High-octane combo guards who can score at a furious clip. There are small point guards who give you the speed to run a high-octane offense and big guards who can play multiple positions, create defensive nightmares and see over their opponents.

And then there are a handful of players whom we don't know about for sure. Some scouts say they're shooting guards. Others say they can be turned into points. Typically, the in-betweens tend to be shooting guards in point-guard clothing. But with the success of players such as Gilbert Arenas, Dwyane Wade and Chauncey Billups running and gunning, there's now a place for those guys too.

Here's our first look at what should be a decent point-guard class.

Note: The list includes all players who we believe might declare for the 2005 draft.

1. Chris Paul, Wake Forest

The line: 6-1, 170, sophomore

The skinny: Paul is a consensus top-three pick in the draft. Scouts believe he is the best point-guard prospect since Jason Kidd. Not just some of them. Everyone Insider talked to. It's easy to understand why scouts absolutely love him. He is T.J. Ford with a jumper. He's lightning quick, has unbelievable court vision, is a superb decision-maker and shoots the lights out from the field and the 3-point line. He pushes the ball relentlessly on offense and already is one of the best penetrators in the game. His defense is also top-notch. Teams wish Paul was stronger, but given his age they believe that will come. Paul continues to claim that he's returning to Wake for his junior season regardless of what the draft buzz is surrounding him. However, if his hometown Bobcats get the first pick in the draft and let him know he's their choice, he might have a tough time saying no.

2. Deron Williams, Illinois

The line: 6-3, 210, junior

The skinny: More and more scouts are claiming that the second-best point-guard prospect is Williams. While Paul is getting tagged as the best point-guard prospect since Kidd, Williams is getting the rep as the player whose style and body most resemble Kidd's. "Deron is a lot like Kidd in the halfcourt," one NBA scout said. "They play the same way. They're both straight-line guys. Once he gets his hip on you, he's gone. Deron's not as fast as Kidd in the open court, but Deron can shoot. Jason can't." Not everyone agrees. Some scouts think he lacks the speed and quickness to be a great NBA point guard. However, most scouts feel that Williams' playmaking ability, size, strength and floor vision make up for his lack of speed in the open court. Look for him to go anywhere between the late lottery to mid-first round.

3. Raymond Felton, North Carolina

The line: 6-1, 198, junior

The skinny: It's not clear whether Felton will be in the draft, but if he is he'll challenge Williams to be the second point guard taken. Felton's lack of size and his inconsistent shooting stroke hurt his cause, but his blazing speed and feel for running a team make up for it. Several scouts consider Felton the best "pure" point guard in this group. Right now, Felton is considered a late lottery to mid-first-rounder.

4. Daniel Gibson, Texas

The line: 6-2, 190, freshman

The skinny: Gibson has just about everything you could ask for in a point guard. He's an excellent athlete, he's very quick and he has good size for the position. He has the ability to score from the perimeter or by attacking the basket, and he's great in the open court. He has excellent floor vision and never lets his scoring get in the way of getting his teammates involved. But is he ready? He's still turnover-prone and makes too many mistakes. He says he'll turn pro if he's guaranteed a lottery pick. Right now, scouts have him in the 15-20 range. Another year in school and he'll be in the lottery for sure.

5. Ronnie Brewer, Arkansas

The line: 6-7, 210, sophomore

The skinny: Some scouts believe that Brewer has the tools to be a point guard in the pros. That makes him an incredibly sexy prospect at 6-foot-7. His excellent athleticism, long arms and ball-handling skills have drawn comparisons to Marquis Daniels. Brewer, however, plays with an aggressiveness that often surpasses what Daniels did at the collegiate level. Brewer is a good defender, using his long arms to swipe away passes in the lane. The only question scouts really have about Brewer is his outside shot. Despite the fact that he's shooting 41 percent from 3-point range, scouts have uniformly complained about his shooting mechanics. That concern extends all the way to the free-throw line, where he shoots just 65 percent. He's looked at as a mid-to-late first-round pick.

6. Guillermo Diaz, Miami

The line: 6-2, 183, sophomore

The skinny: Diaz is, hands down, one of the most athletic guards to eye the draft in quite a while. Depending on who you ask, his vertical jump ranges anywhere from 45 to 50 inches. This year, he's proved that he's more than just a great dunker. His outside shot and his decision-making skills have improved. No one questions his heart. Diaz is a fierce competitor whose toughness on the court has made Heat president Pat Riley a fan. While few in the league refer to him as a point guard, he sees the floor well enough to play that position in the NBA – at least part time. He still plays out of control and tries to do too much, but the talent is undeniable. Sources claim that Diaz is likely to test the draft waters this summer. With the success of combo guards such as Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas and Ben Gordon, teams are going to give him a long look in the mid-to-late first round.

7. Monta Ellis, Lanier High School (Jackson, Miss.)

The line: 6-3, 175, high school senior

The skinny: Ellis does just about everything well. But is he a point guard? He's an unbelievable scorer who averages 41 ppg. But he is also a good passer with a polished game. Scouts say that he plays with an amazing amount of control for a high school kid. He also has the rep as a great shooter with a lightning-quick release. Ellis is not an elite athlete, but he's athletic enough to play at a higher level. Word around the league is that Ellis already has decided to test the waters. His draft position is difficult to predict right now. It all depends on whether scouts see him as a real point guard or a combo guard. If they decide he's a point, he's likely to go somewhere in the 20s. If they don't, he'd better honor his commitment to Mississippi State.

8. Mardy Collins, Temple

The line: 6-5, 205, junior

The skinny: The 6-5 junior point guard has earned respect from a number of NBA scouts after putting on dominating displays against Wake Forest (25 points, five rebounds, seven steals) and Duke (23 points, six rebounds, six steals). In the Wake game, scouts walked away saying that Collins had outplayed Paul, many people's pick for the top selection in the draft. Unlike other "big" point guards, Collins isn't just a combo guard with a few passing skills. He can handle the ball, set up the offense, make the spectacular play and score when his team needs him. He's not the best 3-point shooter of the group and has trouble defensively against small, quick point guards. Still, scouts are already calling him a first-round draft sleeper if he chooses to come out. His stock has been steadily rising all year. Don't be surprised if he moves up several spots on this board by the time of the draft.

9. Jarrett Jack, Georgia Tech

The line: 6-3, 200, junior

The skinny: Jack is having another up-and-down year. That's not really the image you want to project if you're a point guard. He really knows how to run a team. He has good size and nice court vision, as well as an NBA body and athleticism. He's an excellent rebounder for a point guard. He's also a good defender who collects a decent number of steals. Still, scouts worry that he plays a little out of control at times. His 3.7 turnovers per game are fairly high for such a natural point. He doesn't have great 3-point range on his jumper, and he struggles to shoot off the dribble. Jack is all over the board as far as his draft stock goes. Some have him as a mid-first-round selection. Most, however, have him ranked in the mid-to-high 20s. He might have to return to college for his senior season.

10. John Gilchrist, Maryland

The line: 6-2, 200, junior

The skinny: Gilchrist is tough, has great athleticism and an NBA body, can score and pass, and has hit some clutch shots for Maryland in the past two years. So why isn't he ranked higher on the list? He's so much like like Stephon Marbury in style and attitude that he's scaring off a number of scouts who feel that Marbury's style of play puts up great numbers but doesn't win in the NBA. After a great start this season, Gilchrist hit a disastrous midseason slump that sent his stock plummeting. He's still on the first-round bubble, but given the beating he's taken this year it might be wise to return for his senior season.

Best of the rest: Roko Leni Ukic, Croatia; Curtis Stinson, Iowa State; Daniel Ewing, Duke; Luther Head, Illinois; ; Chris Thomas, Notre Dame; Travis Diener, Marquette; Anthony Roberson, Florida; Aaron Miles, Kansas; Tim Smith, East Tennessee State; Jose Juan Barea, Northeastern; Ivan Koljevic, Serbia; Ender Arslan, Turkey; Marcelo Huertas, Brazil

Wait until next year: Uros Tripkovic, Serbia; Rajon Rondo, Kentucky; Sergio Rodriguez, Spain; Jordan Farmar, UCLA; Marcus Williams, UConn; Mustafa Shakur, Arizona; Justin Gray, Wake Forest; Bracey Wright, Indiana; Dee Brown, Illinois; Jeff Horner, Iowa; Taquan Dean, Louisville; Darius Washington Jr., Memphis; Churchill Odia, Xavier; George Tsintsadze, Russia; Cenk Akyol, Turkey

Draft Cards

# A number of scouts over the past few weeks have called to claim that New Mexico senior forward Danny Granger may be the most underrated prospect in the draft.

Says one NBA scout, "If he were at Duke, he'd be a top-five pick right now."

Granger has been battling injuries for the past few weeks, but if you've seen him play healthy you can sympathize. He's long, athletic, physical, has a huge heart and has even added a 3-pointer to his arsenal. At 6-8 and 230, what isn't to like?

Look for Granger to work his way into the late lottery to mid-first round once he gets into workouts. There aren't very many draft prospects who will be able to hang with Granger in an NBA draft workout.

# Another college senior on the NBA's "Most Underrated" list is Florida's David Lee. Lee has played out of position for most of his college days and hasn't performed to the level many scouts expected when he came out of high school.

But for an up-tempo team looking for a big man who can run the floor, play both inside and on the perimeter, shoot a high percentage from outside and grab rebounds, Lee has the makings of a second-round steal.

"He's never been used the right way [at] Florida," one NBA scout said. "He doesn't get enough touches on the offensive end and he's always been asked to guard people he has no business guarding. I think he's a guy who will rise once teams get their hands on him in workouts."

# Speaking of underrated college seniors, don't sleep on Charlotte forward Eddie Basden. ESPN's Jay Bilas calls him the best defender in college hoops, and scouts don't disagree. He's an athletic, physical small forward who can guard four positions on the floor.

His offensive game also has grown. He's really found a niche for himself penetrating to the basket, and his jump shot has improved every year. He's also a terrific rebounder for someone his size.

Basden is another second-round sleeper who could come in and really help a team.

# Swingman Shawne Williams, playing in Laurinberg (N.C.), is the hot name in high school hoops right now. His versatility, size (6-foot-9), wingspan, super athleticism, physical strength and improving perimeter game have scouts drooling.

Like a number of other top high school players, he's seriously considering a jump straight to the NBA. If he makes the leap, scouts say he would be one of the first three high school guys off the board – along with Gerald Green and Martell Webster – and a likely mid-first-round selection.

# A number of NBA personnel skipped the All-Star game to watch the King's Cup in Spain two weekends ago.

A number of NBA prospects are playing in Spain this season, and representatives from nearly every NBA team were there to watch prospects like Fran Vasquez, Tiago Splitter, Axel Hervelle, Sergio Rodreguiz and Mickaël Gelabale.

No one had a breakout tournament. But scouts came back claiming that Vasquez continues to firm up his draft status as a mid-to-late lottery pick.

Splitter continued to play to mixed reviews, though he's won over a few skeptics since last season.

Gelabale probably helped himself the most. The 6-8 small forward from France showed an improved jumper. Still, he's a second-round pick at this point.

[Spiral]

Good read, I think I'm starting to prefer Diaz over Jack.

[Diesel]

Is that all the PGs in the top ten except the HSer are guys who Paul has played against this year.

I can't help but think that BK would lean towards taking Ronnie Brewster midround if we could get the Lakers Pick... Think about it. 6'7" 210... Defensive, long, versatile... This is a BK pick. However, I think that we shouldn't pass up Paul and I would look at Gibson (if he comes out). Gibson may beat out M. Williams for ROY in college Basketball.

[Weez]

not as a pg. it sounds like he'd drive you nuts, especially on a young team/players without solid passer/established game(s) of their own. We'd end up floundering even more, with no one knowing exactly how to operate.

[Spiral]

If we were able to procure someone like a Jeff McInnis to tutor Diaz, I think he'd be fine in a few years. Diaz hasn't been playing organized basketball but for a few years, he's got alot of catching up to do.

[emorystar]

What a load of crock.

Give me Jack over all of them.

[Admin]

much as Jack does......no way would I want a guy with a 3:1 assist to TO guy like Paul who is the starting PG for one of the best teams in the country and whom most scouts say will be a star in the NBA. Talk about a load of something......sheesh.

[tmac13]

Who was the last NBA star under 6' tall? I like Paul but I watch him get outmuscled by almost every bigger guard he faces..He reminds me of Damon Stoudamire, a pretty good but certainly not great player.

[Packfill]

Terrell Brandon, Kevin Johnson, Mark Price, and many others have excelled as NBA point guards despite being short in stature. Height has nothing to do with success, it is all about heart and ability. It is not like we are talking about an undersized center. A guard with great quickness can cause plenty of matchup problems in his own right.

[Peoriabird]

Quote:

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Terrell Brandon, Kevin Johnson, Mark Price, and many others have excelled as NBA point guards despite being short in stature. Height has nothing to do with success, it is all about heart and ability. It is not like we are talking about an undersized center. A guard with great quickness can cause plenty of matchup problems in his own right.

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How many Championships do those guys have again? Because that is the goal right?

[Packfill]

Well the lakers won three championships with 5'11" Derek Fischer as the starting point guard. The Bulls won several with barely six foot point guards John Paxson and BJ Armstrong. The rockets won two with 6' Kenny Smith. The Pistons won two with 6'1" Isaiah Thomas. The Spurs won a championship with 5'10" Avery Johnson, and then another with 6' Tony Parker. So not sure what your point is.

Other then Magic Johnson, has the size of a point guard had an effect on whether the team wins a championship or not? Has 6'4" Jason Kidd won more championships then 6'1" John Stockton? Gary Payton is 6'4" but has not won a championship, nor have 6'5" Alvin Williams, 6'4" Jeff McGinnis, 6'2" Stephon Marbury, 6'3" Jamal Tinsley, 6'3" Steve Nash or 6'3" Steve Francis.

[Peoriabird]

Quote:

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Well the lakers won three championships with 5'11" Derek Fischer as the starting point guard. The Bulls won several with barely six foot point guards John Paxson and BJ Armstrong. The rockets won two with 6' Kenny Smith.

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The were point guard? Right!

[Packfill]

Quote:

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Quote:

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Well the lakers won three championships with 5'11" Derek Fischer as the starting point guard. The Bulls won several with barely six foot point guards John Paxson and BJ Armstrong. The rockets won two with 6' Kenny Smith.

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The were point guard? Right!

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Live in denial all you want, the proof is in the pudding. Being undersized is not that big a deal when it comes to point guards.

You can add to the list of successful undersized points Tim Hardaway and now Jameer Nelson.

Other then Magic what "tall" point guard has had success because of his size (and you could argue that Magic had enough talent to succeed at any size).

I hate it when people cite the party line on something without doing any research to back up their statements.

[mrhonline]

Quote:

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Well the lakers won three championships with 5'11" Derek Fischer as the starting point guard. The Bulls won several with barely six foot point guards John Paxson and BJ Armstrong. The rockets won two with 6' Kenny Smith. The Pistons won two with 6'1" Isaiah Thomas. The Spurs won a championship with 5'10" Avery Johnson, and then another with 6' Tony Parker. So not sure what your point is.

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That's funny. I wasn't aware that players like Armstrong and Fisher were the ones that led their teams to an NBA championship.

So, what you're saying is that if the Hawks can get their hands on a player like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, or Hakeem Olajuwon, then the point guard position isn't so important?

Hmm...now we're on to something!

[Packfill]

I think you missed the point, but nice try.

[Admin]

their teams to the championship? However, if you accept the fact that the PG is the leader of the offense 90% of the time or more, at least setting up the play, then yes, those guys did lead their teams to championships.

We arent drafting Paul asking him to be the team leader as in being the superstar, but we would be asking him to come here, run the offense, be a team leader on and off the court, and to play good defense. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he can do that. Not to mention with 3-4 other guys on the court who are tall and athletic for their positions, you can get away with a PG who is only about 6' tall. Mo Williams is barely 6' tall but he broke us down like a shotgun last night and was almost single handedly the reason they came back from 4 down late to give the Bucks a lead within minutes of coming back into the game.

[TheRedStripes]

i think it could be that the hawks are trying to lose...i mean they had leads when Smoove was in there, googs absolutely sucks now, he should retire

[Admin]

thats why he wasnt getting minutes in the 2nd half. In the 3rd quarter when the Bucks made their run Mason was beating Smith like a drum out there. Thats why he had to get pulled from the game. Googs was making intelligent plays and playing good defense, thats why he was playing. At a certain point this team has to try and get wins otherwise this losing could become a very bad thing for the rookies. Once Smith realizes that he needs to stay on his man and stop worrying about blocks so much he will get more minutes, but right now he is losing his assignment and his man is killing him.

[Traceman]

to be a superstar. Period. That's just how it works. Anything less than superstardom if he is taken #1 overall will be a disappointment. That being said, I think he CAN be a superstar and I don't know if there is a sure fire superstar in this draft. He has as good a chance as any to become one. He has all the tools, he just needs to get in the weight room so he doesn't get pushed around by the stronger guys.

I can't believe that no one mentioned AI when talking about the last NBA superstar under 6 feet tall. AI gets listed a 6'0" but he is no more than 5'11" with shoes on. Not that Paul has AI's quickness and athleticism but he is quick enough and athletic enough and he is more of a pure PG than AI ever was.

All that being said, I think Paul is going to be a lot like Mike Bibby. It might even take him a few years to "get it" like it did for Bibby. I think calling him the best PG prospect since J Kidd is a bit much though.

[emeans]

I am totally split on this subject. While I think Paul is going to be a solid PG in the NBA. Is he trully worth the No. 1 pick.

I tend to go with the popular thinking that you go with the big body over the little guy if they are basically ranked the same on the draft board.

If we get he 1st pick, I would have to go with Bogut before Paul. If the balls don't fall our way and we end up getting 2 - 3 then I would get Paul or the big kid from North Carolina.

It all depends on the Lottery Balls.

Lets put it this way, this year I wouldn't be disappointed to get either 1 - 3 because there is no clear cut No. 1 pick in this years draft!!! I think there is a clear cut 1 - 4 picks in this years draft if you include the 7'4" European player. But know one is truly standing out as the No. 1 consensus player in the world like Lebron James was.