NBA Blog

The Portsmouth games just ended for guys hoping to slip into the second round of the upcoming NBA Draft.

Well, I’ll talk about two guys I think NEED to be drafted in the second round.  (Note:  I talked to my Dad at length about both of these guys while I was home for spring break, so I’m claiming to have beaten Chad Ford to the punch.)

1.  Steve Novak (F) - Marquette - One question: When has a 6′11″ lights out 3-point shooter been a bad thing?  Novak is already a better shooter and taller than Kyle Korver, and Korver starts for the Sixers.  He’s not the athlete that Vladamir Radmanovic is, but I’ll bet you he’s got more heart, and more willing to take the tough shots.  He’s like a really, really poor man’s version of Dirk.  Perhaps he’s more of a rich man’s Brad Lohaus.  Either way, I’d pick him in the second round.

2.  Justin Williams (C) - Wyoming - He’s a shot-blocking machine who attacks the glass on both ends.  And he only played two years of college ball.  His stats for his senior year at Wyoming were 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 5.4 blocked shots per game!  That is freaking outrageous no matter what conference you play in.  Those are better numbers than what Theo Ratliff put up in college.  And Williams is a legit 6′10″ with outrageous leaping ability.  Imagine what he could do with some refined work on the offensive post and on putbacks.

You can put it on the board, YES!  LaMarcus Aldridge should be the number one pick in this year’s draft.  Tyrus Thomas hasn’t declared yet, but I would take him second only to Aldridge.  I know Aldridge struggled against LSU’s big men, but come on.  The guy can score with his back to the basket, and he can block shots.  Two things that pseudo 7-footers must do. 

Thomas is a freak talent.  However, when the comparisons coming in are about Stromile Swift, I’m not picking you number 1.  Thomas is extremely raw, and I don’t think even he knows how good he is going to be.  Then again, they said the same thing about Kwame Brown.  (For the record, I think Thomas will be better than both of the aforementioned names.)

The Florida trio said they were coming back next year.  That’s nice and all, but so did Sean May last year.  If I were a Florida fan, which I’m not and never will be, I’d hold my breath until the deadline has passed for players to declare.  That’s just me.  By the way, I think Noah blew a chance at a HUGE payday.  If he were to come out, he would have been vying for the number one spot with Aldridge.  After his tourney, I think Noah would have been in the driver seat.  I personally don’t think he’ll be anything special at the next level, but that’s just me.  And I’m extremely jaded against the Gators at this point.  (You try living with two guys from that school, and I guarantee you’ll be in the same boat as me.)  I think Brewer and Horford will be better pro players, because Noah will never get any bigger.  He won’t be able to handle the physical NBA game, and his jumper is so atrocious that he’ll never be able to score.  I think he’s a more defensive-oriented, taller version of Jared Jeffries.  Jeffries was a better scorer, and oh, Jeffries had a career high tonight of 16 points.  For you doubters about the similarities, go back and watch that IU run in the tournament when Jeffries carried his squad to the final game.

P.S.  I got a job offer this past week.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t from anybody or anything closely related to the NBA.  It’s with a law firm in Elizabethtown, KY doing insurance defense work.  It ain’t glamorous, but I can finally sleep at night.  The night I received the offer, I went to bed at midnight.  That is impressive, because I had not gone to bed before 3 am for about 8 months.  But you can rest easy my friends, for eventually, I will make it to the show.