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Shaquille
O'Neal: "When you are 60, hang out with 60-year-olds, not 20-year-olds.
That is all I got to say about Jerry Buss."
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HoopsHype.com Articles What
the scouts think
Jason Filippi (Consultant for several NBA teams, including Sacramento and Miami): I think it’s gonna be a pretty good draft as far as the number of Europeans... Because there are always many Europeans -- six, seven -- even in the first round. There is a big difference between now and three or four years ago. We have players like Radmanovic, Ginobili or Gasol that were more than ready to play in the NBA. Steve Young (Scout, Toronto Raptors): I would say this year and the last year are about the same. Danny Ferry (Director of Basketball Operations, San Antonio Spurs): I don't know. I just started in the job and I'm learning. Gary Brokaw (Director of Player Personnel, Charlotte Bobcats): The draft was pretty good the last couple of years. This is not considered to be a good draft. Masai Ujiri (Scout, Denver Nuggets): I think it's gonna be average. It’s not going to be great -- not too many standouts -- but average. - In your opinion, what is the deepest and the worst position in this draft? Jason Filippi: Big man position is pretty deep. Europeans draft prospects are usually big men. Steve Young: The deepest position is the frontcourt and the weakest position is the first (point guard). Danny Ferry: The deepest is the three. And center is the worst. Gary Brokaw: The best position is guard, and the worst... forward. Masai Ujiri: I think the big guys are always difficult to find. There are a couple of Europeans... They’re OK. I just think it's an OK draft. - Do you think the first overall pick in this draft is going to be a college player, a high school player or an international player? Jason Filippi: I don’t know. They say it's going to be a high school player. Steve Young: High school. Danny Ferry: This is interesting, There are guys from each situation that are gonna have a chance -- especially from high school and college. I don't think we (the Spurs) will have that choice, so I don't worry about it. Gary Brokaw: The No. 1 pick I think will be either a college player or a high school player. Masai Ujiri: I can’t say... I don’t know.. I think it's wide open. - How many college, high school and international players do you expect to be selected in the first round? Jason Filippi: 15 to 20 from college and four or five high schoolers. And five to 10 Europeans. Steve Young: I think there is gonna be a lot of high school kids -- more than in any other draft in the first round. Danny Ferry: Again, I don’t know. That depends on who's coming out. Gary Brokaw: I will probably say about 10 or 12 college players. And international players, 10 or 12 as well. Masai Ujiri: Very difficult question... You'd better you ask my boss. - If it was up to you, would there be an age limit to enter the NBA? Jason Filippi: I’m not a lawyer, but I think there should be -- for the good of the league and also for the good of the players. Steve Young: I don’t think we should stop anybody. Danny Ferry: If is up to me, yes, because I think it will be better for the players and the NBA. Masai Ujiri: I think is OK now. Teenage players are OK. - Is there any sleeper we still have not heard about that could go in the first round? Jason Filippi: This is hard to say because scouting has become so detailed even in Europe... Pretty much everybody knows the top players. Steve Young: I can't answer that one. Danny Ferry: Why I'm gonna tell you? Gary Brokaw: We know that it is hard to find sleepers these days... There is always a surprise in every draft. Rather than calling them sleepers, we can call them surprise players. You can always pick at least one. Masai Ujiri: There will be a couple. But If I tell you... - The NBA is following European players closely now. Which continent is going to follow Europe in terms of getting more players scouted? Jason Filippi: Africa has great players but there are no leagues. Maybe the South American leagues will catch up, but I think Europeans will remain the top basketball candidates outside of USA because the leagues are better. Steve Young: Asia, China... Because there are a lot of unknown people and because of Yao's success and other Chinese players. Gary Brokaw: I think for a while is going to continue to be Europe, because European professional basketball has more money to pay players from around the world. Perhaps the next place will be Asia. Masai Ujiri: Africa for sure. Jose Ajero is a regular contributor to HoopsHype.com Tell us what you think about this article. E-mail us at HoopsHype@HoopsHype.com _____________________ |
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