The breed of NBA cat once called
“center” has changed considerably since the days when the prerequisites for the
position included being something close to 7-feet tall with offensive and
defensive skills being almost entirely low-post in orientation.
So, for definitions’ sake, we’re
acknowledging the evolution and are now listing what everyone used to refer to
as “centers” as “posts”.
These are guys who will be capable
of playing down low “in the painted era” (apologies to Hubie Brown) or in
the high post region.
And here is how we rate the top 15
of the “hybrids” in this draft pool, with a handful of other candidates who
could be selected in the second round (one or two of which could sneak into the
first) Wednesday night.
The best of the bunch is, without much
dissent to be found, LaMarcus Aldridge of Texas, who – especially in the opinion of those
who don’t think it will be Andrea Bargnani – may be the first
selection.
(*Heights, without shoes, and weights as
measured during the Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando)
LaMarcus Aldridge (*6-10,
234) Texas
Projected position: Power
forward/Center
What NBA talent evaluators like:
He’s by far the most gifted
6-10-plus player in this draft pool, with the tools to be a double-figure
rebounder and 15-point-per-game-plus scorer very early into his NBA career, and
the best opportunity among prospects of his size in this draft class to be an
all-star. He is skilled enough to be every bit as affective from the high or low
posts.
What they wonder about:
Can he hold up against the pounding
he’ll take, especially inside the lane? How quickly can he polish his low-post
offensive repertoire?
Frank says: If healthy, he might have been a top three
selection in the 2005 draft.
Draft night projection:
No. 1 or
2
Tyrus Thomas (*6-7 ¼, 217)
LSU
Projected position: Power
forward
What NBA talent evaluators like:
Vertically, he’s easily the most
explosive of the post prospects in this draft. He constantly plays well above
the rim, even in traffic, and pursues rebounds as well as anyone who’ll be
drafted Wednesday night.
What they wonder about:
How quickly can he add the bulk to
battle with NBA power forwards as a rookie? How long will it take for him to
develop the offensive fundamentals he’s lacking right
now?
Frank says: His regional play against Duke and
Texas was phenomenal.
Draft night projection:
Top
six
Shelden Williams (*6-7 ½,
258) Duke
Projected position: Power
forward
What NBA talent evaluators like:
Williams is by far the most
polished post prospect in the draft and the one most physically able to
withstand the low-post punishment – and dole out plenty of his own – from Day 1
in the NBA.
What they wonder about:
Despite his strength and power, he
is not particularly explosive, vertically, and often struggled to score against
taller defenders in college.
Frank says: He might not ever be an all-star but he could
evolve into a consistent 12-point, eight-rebound per night
contributor.
Draft night projection:
No. 5 to
8
Patrick O’Bryant (*6-11,
249) Bradley
Projected position:
Center
What NBA talent evaluators like:
He’s got “true center” dimensions,
better-than-average athletic ability and considers himself a “center”, unlike so
many 6-10 and 6-11 guys who aspire to be “wings”. He’s got the frame to carry
another 20 or so pounds quite easily.
What they wonder about:
Jim Les did a nice job with him in
two years in Peoria but he is still lacking in basketball
polish. And his instincts aren’t as pronounced as most of the other fellows who
will be lottery selections Wednesday.
Frank says: I’m not sure he’s a better prospect than
Hilton Armstrong but the consensus is that he will be selected before the
Connecticut player is.
Draft night projection:
Nine to
14
Hilton Armstrong (*6-9 ½,
240) Connecticut
Projected position: Power
forward
What NBA talent evaluators like:
He demonstrated slow, but steady,
progress over his first three years in Storrs, then blossomed into a possible lottery
selection as a senior. The comparisons to former NBA center/forward Elden Campbell are valid, although he appears to play at higher energy level on a more
consistent basis.
What they wonder about:
His offense repertoire is still
pretty much limited to short jumpers (off the pass), dunks (after penetration
passes) and follow shots.
Frank says: Long-shot special – two years from now he’ll
be the best power forward to come out of this
draft.
Draft night projection:
10 to
15
Cedric Simmons (*6-8 ¼, 223)
North Carolina State
Projected position: Power
forward
What NBA talent evaluators like:
He made dizzying improvement from
his freshman to sophomore seasons, especially in his assertiveness under the
backboards. He’s got very long arms, chases every missed shot and challenges
most opposition attempts. He’s a better than advertised
passer.
What they wonder about:
He’s still raw and a big mechanical
on offense. Can he go out on the floor and guard big forwards with perimeter
skills?
Frank says: Right now he looks like he’ll make more of an
immediate impact based on his ability to rebound.
Draft night projection:
10 to
17
Mouhamed Saer Sene (*6-11,
237) Senegal
Projected position: Center
What NBA talent evaluators like:
He’s got the physical dimensions
and instincts to become one of the better shot blockers in the NBA once he’s
sturdy and polished enough to stay on the court for any extended period on a
consistent basis. He’s faster than most centers he’ll compete
against.
What they wonder about:
Can his offense come along any
faster than it has for DeSagana Diop and Tyson Chandler?
Frank says: At least three high school players in the
6-10-plus range – Greg Oden, Spencer Hawes and Kevin Durant –
would have been selected before Sene had they been eligible and willing to enter
the draft.
Draft night projection:
15 to
21
Alexander Johnson (6-9, 235)
Florida State
Projected position: Power
forward
What NBA talent evaluators like:
He’s got a nifty combination of
strength and explosiveness and has reasonable range (he shot 31 percent on 3’s
last season) on his jump shot. He became a much more active player and improved
his free-throwing shoot 100-plus point to .706.
What they wonder about:
He’ll be 24 in February – 2 to 3
years older than some of the guys in the power forward category in this draft
pool. He’s not a very good passer or ball handler.
Frank says: With he and Al Thornton in the
frontcourt, how did the Seminoles miss out on the NCAA Tournament once
again?
Draft night projection:
20 to early second
round
Ryan Hollins (7-0, 240)
UCLA
Projected position:
Center/Power forward
What NBA talent evaluators like:
His “length” (one of the catchwords
of 21st century basketball scouting) and running and jumping ability
are every bit the equal of any of the guys who will be selected long before he
is. His post moves are still a bit mechanical but showed considerable
improvement over his senior season.
What they wonder about:
Is he more “big track and field
athlete” as opposed to “a future starting NBA center?” He can get frustrated
rather easily.
Frank says: He finally played like a consistently
forceful college center for the final two months of his
career.
Draft night projection:
22 to early second
round
Josh Boone (6-9, 235)
Connecticut
Projected position: Power
forward
What NBA talent evaluators like:
On his best nights, he’s springy,
active and as good a combination of shot blocker/rebounder as there is in the
draft pool. He plays within the limitation of his offensive
skills.
What they wonder about:
Why didn’t he have more “best
nights” this past season after exhibiting a seemingly “lottery selection future”
as a freshman and sophomore? Can he score on more than just dunks and
layups?
Frank says: He’s the definition of a “perplexing
prospect” but it’s still difficult to envision Boone not being chosen in the
first round.
Draft night projection:
23 to early second
round
Paul Davis (6-9 ½, 240)
Michigan
State
Projected position: Power
forward
What NBA talent evaluators like:
His offensive polish and
versatility is superior to that of nearly every other power forward prospect
that will be chosen Wednesday night. And those who don’t think he’s an
exceptional runner should recalibrate their stop
watches.
What they wonder about:
Like Josh Boone, he, too, often
seems like anything but a “high-energy” guy. And he seemed to hang his head a
bit at times, as well.
Frank says: Combine his offensive know-how with Tyrus
Thomas’ athletic ability and determination and, voila! Rookie of the
Year!
Draft night projection:
23 to early second
round
James Augustine (*6-8 ¼,
227) Illinois
Projected position: Power
forward
What NBA talent evaluators like:
Courtesy the time he spent with
Deron Williams and Dee Brown, he’s got pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop offense
mastered. He runs very well and is among the better passers among post
prospects.
What they wonder about:
Can he be physical enough to
rebound against NBA power forwards? Can he create offense off the dribble on the
wing?
Frank says: He was under-appreciated in some media
circles during his four years in college. But NBA scouts definitely have an
appreciation of his skills.
Draft night projection:
23 in first round to first 10
picks, second round
Leon Powe (6-8, 245) Cal
Projected position: Power
forward
What NBA talent evaluators like: Inside
the lane, he’s as strong as they come in this draft pool. He was nearly
impossible to check, one-on-one, in the low post for the Bears last season and
evolved into a more than adequate shooter to the 15-to-17 foot range while being
the dominant inside player in the Pac 10.
What they wonder about: Some think he
is a lot closer to 6-6 than the 6-8 he was listed at in high school and college.
Can he guard skilled forwards on the perimeter?
Frank says: Assuming his perimeter skills
improve, he could probe to be a “steal” if he is selected in the second
round.
Draft night projection: Late first
round to early second round
Joel Freeland (6-11,
230)
Projected position: Power
forward
What NBA talent evaluators like:
His stock rose immensely after his
recent performance in the Reebok Camp in
Italy. He’s a bouncy and aggressive athlete who,
because of his age and lack of experience, could evolve into a center with
perimeter skills some day.
What they wonder about:
He didn’t play against a high level
of competition in Europe (he’s from England) and seems like a guy destined to
spend some more time seasoning overseas (or in the Development League) before
becoming an NBA factor.
Frank says: Like Mouhamed Saer Sene, he can almost be
looked upon as being on par with some of the elite
U.S. high school players of the class of 2006 –
he’s only 19.
Draft night projection:
First 10 selections in second
round
Matt Haryasz
Projected position: Power
forward/Center (*6-9 ¾, 219) Stanford
What NBA talent evaluators like:
He has excellent hands, is a pretty
good athlete and has a dependable jump shot (especially of the turn-around
variety) up to 17 feet away.
What they wonder about:
His strength and “toughness” and
his inability to be a more forceful performer during the Pre-Draft Camp in
Orlando.
Frank says: A variety of injuries kept him from having
the kind of senior season that was anticipated of
him.
Draft night projection:
Mid to late second
round
Paul Millsap (*6-6 ¼, 258)
Louisiana Tech
Projected position: Power
forward
What NBA talent evaluators like:
He’s got a nose for the ball and is
one of the better offensive rebounders in the draft. He uses his bulk and
strength to gain advantageous scoring position in half-court
situations.
What they wonder about:
He’s not an exceptional athlete and
must tighten up his body. He also needs to expand his perimeter
skills.
Frank says: If he can get into better shape and stay
there, he’ll be on an NBA roster next season.
Draft night projection:
Mid to late second
round
Other second-round
possibilities:
Power forward: Yemi Nicholson (6-7 ¾, 258) Denver;
J.P Batista (*6-7 ½, 265) Gonzaga; Christian Maraker (6-9,
235) Pacific; Kenny Adeleke (*6-6 ½, 250) Hartford; Taj Gray (*6-7 ¼, 231) Oklahoma;
Marcus Slaughter (*6-7, 220) San Diego State; Craig Smith (*6-5 ½,
259) Boston College; Curtis Withers (*6-6, 227) Charlotte; Justin Williams (*6-7 ¼, 211) Wyoming; Eric Williams (*6-7 ¼, 285) Wake Forest.
Center: Frans Steyn (*7-1 ¼,
280) Southwest
Baptist
University; Michael Southall
(*6-9 ½, 241) Louisiana-Lafayette; Solomon Jones (*6-8 ½, 224)
South Florida.
Inducted into the USBWA Hall of
Fame in April, 2005, Frank Burlison is Scout.com’s national basketball expert and is
also a columnist for the Long Beach (Calif.) Press-Telegram. He can be reached at
frank.burlison@presstelegram.com. Read more of Burlison’s pieces at
www.frankhoops.com