If you didn't watch ESPNU's coverage of Day 1 of the NBA Combine, you probably still don't know much about Ryan Richards. I don't either, but at least now I do know that he exists, he's big and he kind of intrigues me.
While Richards did show up, it seems Elliot Williams and Quincy Pondexter both skipped the event entirely - not just the basketball portion like nearly the entire lottery - for supposed "injuries." While this could mean they already have first round promises, it also could mean that they're hiding something (Dun dun dun!). So did Jon Scheyer, but he has mono - so I'll excuse him.
Today's schedule, at least TV wise, is the same - 9am to 1pm (Central Time) on ESPNU or the ultra-elusive ESPN3. Rumor has it that NBATV also will have coverage of the event, but I don't get NBATV. If you're watching, feel free to leave a comment in the comments and we can talk about stuff.
Without too much personal analysis on yesterday's proceedings, I've put together the important links, tweets, quotes and everything else I could find that seemed to be of note on Day 1 after the jump.
Twitter / Jonathan Givony
New Orleans canceled interview sessions w/all players that pulled out of basketball portion of Combine. 13/14 players in our mock's lottery.
For reference, New Orleans has a lottery pick (11th overall). Either they've already decided to draft Patrick Patterson (the lone wolf that worked out) or something weird is happening.
Chad Ford on Twitter
Two most surprising no shows Quincy Pondexter & Jon Scheyer. Scheyer has an excuse. He has mono per his agent.
Poor Jon Scheyer.
Twitter / Alex Kennedy
Quincy Pondexter Breaks Finger, Misses Combine - http://tinyurl.com/2gxss3r
Pondexter apparently has an excuse too, but this tweet from DraftExpress makes me confused.
Ex-Tigers guard Elliot Williams skips NBA draft combine
Former University of Memphis guard Elliot Williams' NBA draft preparation stalled Thursday in Chicago, where he did not attend the league's draft combine as scheduled.Williams withdrew late Wednesday night because of an injury, a league official confirmed. Williams, who has been training in California since declaring for the draft, did not disclose the nature of his injury.
He also didn't respond Thursday to telephone and text messages left by The Commercial Appeal.
Oh, Elliot Williams skipped too. Weird.
Twitter / Timothy Varner
@RidiculousScott Henry and George worked out against one another in Chicago, not San Antonio. George worked out for the Spurs on the 13th.
As I noted in the comments yesterday, Chad Ford has mentioned in two separate (Insider) articles that Henry worked out against Paul George in San Antonio (and was better). Either Henry doesn't know that report is out there or Chad Ford is a liar.
2010 NBA Combine Coverage - Liberty Ballers
I'm going to leave this post open for Combine coverage. Mainly, I'm going to be posting quotes in the comments, feel free to respond to those with your thoughts on them. Keep in mind, there's 53 players to be interviewed today, so I'm going to be running around like a madman. If the updates aren't coming fast enough for you, I apologize, but my primary goal is to get the information, which is an undertaking in and of itself. The quotes will make their way to the page, just be patient.
Derek Bodner has a whole bunch of stuff in the comments here from media availability so you may as well check that out.
Inside the NBA: Might Bobcats trade into the draft?
I'm at the NBA's draft combine in Chicago, and I hear the Bobcats are at least subtly investigating what it would cost to trade in -- maybe late into the first round, but more realistically into the second. If they do acquire a pick -- and it's not that hard to trade into the second round -- a name to keep in mind is Alabama point guard Mikhail Torrance.Torrance said at a media session today that he's scheduled for a job interview here with Bobcats management. That makes some sense. He's a big kid for his position -- roughly 6-5 -- who can play some at either guard spot but has demonstrated the decision-making and defense to be a pro point guard.
I would suggest they bring back Dontell Jefferson, but that isn't a bad option either.
Media Log: 2010 NBA Draft Combine Media Availability Day 1, Part I | Magic Basketball
Magic Basketball: What position do you see yourself playing in the NBA? Are you a three or a stretch four? Luke Babbitt: Well, I feel like I can do both. I feel whatever a team’s philosophy is … there are all different types of styles, from the Phoenix Suns to the San Antonio Spurs to all kinds of different styles in the NBA and I feel like I fit in well with a lot of different styles, whether it’s at the three or the four. You see players like me being successful.
Former SBNation bro Eddy Rivera is also at the combine. Since the upcoming draft can't be talked about without mention of Babbitt, I decided to excerpt that quote - but there's a lot of good stuff over at Magic Basketball as well.
Rautins A Majerle/Nash Hybrid? - Basketball News & NBA Rumors -
"I'd like to say I'm a little bit of a mix between Dan Majerle and Steve Nash," said Rautins from the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago on Thursday. "Dan for his grind it out and tough it out defensive style and the way he shoot the ball. Steve for his vision and passing ability."
He really said that.
Twitter / Derek Bodner
I have a picture of Andy Rautins, sitting at his table, alone. I felt kinda bad.
And then Derek said that.
Kings notes: Kings execs meet with three prospects
The Kings met with Oklahoma State shooting guard James Anderson, Kansas center Cole Aldrich and Kentucky point guard Eric Bledsoe."They were all very good in their own separate ways," Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie said. "Aldrich and Anderson have been in college a little longer, and Bledsoe is very prepared, very upfront about a lot of things. I think it's a first-time experience for them all."
Interesting.
Griz chat with draft prospects " The Commercial Appeal
The Griz requested to see 30 players privately. They were granted 18, which included Nevada's Luke Babbitt, Michigan's Manny Harris, Xavier's Jordan Crawford, Kansas' Sherron Collins and Fresno State's Paul George.
The Grizzlies are definitely covering their bases.
Ex-USF star Jones clarifies comment on teammates
When asked by a reporter to assess his chances in the NBA, a confident Jones talked about why he left school and how he sees himself adjusting to the pro game.Jones added: "There's a lot of things that I can do that I wasn't able to show in college because of the team that I was on and the talent surrounding me."
That's the comment that raised a few eyebrows and got his cell phone ringing Wednesday morning while he was in Chicago preparing for the first day of the NBA draft combine. Jones clarified his statement to make sure his former teammates understand what he meant.
"I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for those guys," he said. "I went to war with those guys, and they went to war with me. I love the program. I had a role at USF, and in the NBA I'll have a different role because of the players around me."
By the way, those comments were made to Bullets Forever's Mike Prada (article). Drama.
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