Saturday Non-NBA News and Notes (Okay, some NBA)
by Jon L on May 16, 2009 9:00 AM EDT
in D-League News
12 comments
Scott expressed a desire to handle more player profiles, so I'll be taking on the non-profile duties for awhile. Switch! I'm going to ease into this with some bullets from around the D-League and Summer League. Let's go!
2007 D-League player and current Boston Celtic Gabe Pruitt will be in Orlando this year. He hasn't gotten a ton of playing time this year, but wisened NBA veteran Rajan Rondo likes the progress he's made on his game. I'm actually kind of curious as to why Pruitt didn't play in the D-League again this past season, especially since Boston has been pretty set at guard, though the article suggests that it could be to let him learn Boston's plays, which he wouldn't necessarily have done with the Flash.
Austin Daye's name has been mentioned around here, but BuffZag at the Gonzaga blog The Slipper Still Fits thinks his teammates Jeremy Pargo and Micah Downs could join the D-League next year.
John Wall has apparently narrowed his college list to Duke, Miami and Kentucky. Yawn.
Here's a brief interview with San Antonio Spurs/Austin Toros center Ian Mahinmi...in French. Babelfish tells me that his ankle still feels a little uncomfortable in the mornings, that Mahinmi will be in Vegas for Summer League and gives me the phrase "The life is not summarized with the tennis shoe."
An article about U-Conn center Hasheem Thabeet working on improving his game in advance of the NBA Draft. Of note to us is that D-League coach Scott Roth is working with him. To quote the article, Roth specializes in "helping big men make the transition to the pros." Here's a question: will Jeremy Tyler be able to work with a guy like Roth in Europe?
Speaking of Europe, DraftExpress took a recent look at Brandon Jennings. Bottom line: he's been productive when he's played, but he's barely played. He also has shot 38 percent from the field and still can improve his point guard skills, mostly because he hasn't played point guard much. This is where I insert the disclaimer that neither I nor Scott (I think?) are opposed to players going to play in Europe, but...Jennings would likely have been playing the point, and more consistently, in the D-League. (I'm in this same boat as well... But I would prefer special cases like this go D-League rather than overseas, for this exact reason. -- Scott)
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John Wall said...
that he will narrow his list to 2 schools by next october and more than likely announce his decision by 2011.
By the way Jon, was it busy in the Post Office plast night? Because a D-League bullets post, without actual bullets is considered a mail in.
by Aisander D on May 16, 2009 9:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You're right, sorry about that.
Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, where we think the Nuggets should play Sonny Weems more.
by Jon L on May 16, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That video didn't work
But was Manute Bol involved? I’ll give you an A+ if so.
Blogging at RidiculousUpside, where we converse with recently fired mascots.
by Scott Schroeder on May 16, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He did not
though Gheorge Muresan made a brief appearance at the end.
Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, where we think the Nuggets should play Sonny Weems more.
by Jon L on May 16, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also involved
Chris Webber picking Nick Van Exel’s pocket.
Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, where we think the Nuggets should play Sonny Weems more.
by Jon L on May 16, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
C-Webb's a thug
But pick pocket? Yikes.
Blogging at RidiculousUpside, where we converse with recently fired mascots.
by Scott Schroeder on May 16, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pargo
If Pargo left school last year, he would’ve been a late first rounder considering the weak PG draft after Rose and Augustin. A few months removed from a down year and he’s strictly D-League bound. This is no doubt because of the 9 point guards that will get taken in the first round, and at least 4 or 5 more for round 2. However, the kid can play.
He’s Ty Lawson lite with size, and can develop into a better defender. He’s 6’2, can’t shoot from beyond 15, but has the ability to make good decisions with the basketball. In his last 3 years at Zaga, he shot 49% from the field. That’s impressive from the point with little shooting ability while still averaging about 11 points.
I think he should get a shot at some point in his career as a backup point guard, because there’s not too many 6’2 guys as quick as Pargo.
President and Personal Escort of the Gerry McNamara Fan Club
by TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsMichaelBourn on May 16, 2009 12:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Interesting
I liked him last season, but didn’t really hear much this season until tourney time.
So are you saying he should be a stud in the D-League this season? Like first-year callup potential?
Blogging at RidiculousUpside, where we converse with recently fired mascots.
by Scott Schroeder on May 16, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
I don’t think he’ll get drafted based on the stockpile of PGs coming out, but he’ll find a spot on somebody’s summer team and make some noise. D-League for a year or two but he’s got the ability to be in the NBA. I wouldn’t be surprised at a year in Europe just because of how little attention most NBA teams pay to the D-League. Solid backup.
President and Personal Escort of the Gerry McNamara Fan Club
by TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsMichaelBourn on May 16, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Blazers worked him out last week. He reportedly wasn't very convincing
That sequence was more cause for meditation on the open-ended question I asked this morning. And despite the effervescent personality of a guy like Jeremy Pargo, these players are fully aware of the odds stacked against them. They are smart enough to say all the right things to the press, shake hands with the coaching staff before, during and after practice, keep a smile on their faces and be vocal leaders during workouts. They do these things because, despite being closer than 99.9% of society to their dream of being an NBA player, they realize their professional trip, which is likely to be long, winding, exhausting and involve many, many stops, is just beginning.
As easy as it is to rip on a player like Steve Blake, Sergio Rodriguez or Jerryd Bayless, the gulf between their talents and a guy like Pargo’s is vast and is most obvious when watching them in the exact same setting. Watching Pargo shoot (and miss) his pocket jumper from where Bayless regularly drills NBA 3s was painful. And that is no specific knock on Pargo, he was far from the worst shooter over the last two days. Watching passes sail into the wall during 3 on 3 games yesterday made me, yes me, nostalgic for Sergio to Rudy alleyoops. Watching a guy like Chris Johnson sport an Anthony Randolph physique (6’11", 190) and go 0-5 and, eventually, 1-10 on uncontested 18 foot jumpers even had me briefly reconsidering the merits of re-signing Channing Frye.
Of course these workouts were set up, in part, to test these players’ specific weaknesses. The many skills that carried them this far were on display too. Alonzo Gee sprung with ease to throw down an alley oop pass; Demarre Carroll battled for rebounds like you would expect from a backup 4; Joe Krabbenhoft went diving on the ground Matt Bonner style. There were NBA plays being made. Just not enough of them. And not from any one player in particular.
http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/5/12/873570/draft-workouts-report
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
by Norsktroll on May 16, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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