WizBlog RSS FeedPre-Draft Camp Over, Individual Workouts Begin
Well now that the Pre-Draft camp is officially over it is time to move onto individual workouts. The Wizards will start bringing in players later this week (sounds like they are currently scheduled to begin Thursday).
Assumming its thursday we will have announce who is coming on Wednesday afternoon/night, and we will have quotes and videos of all the players that come to DC for workouts.
Click here for a recap of day four of the camp. For day four the other 15 players that most likely will be high 1st rounders went through workouts. There’s a good chance many of those guys won’t be around at #18 but guys like Javale McGee could be there (although draftexpress says he didn’t look so good.).
May 31st, 2008 at 11:06 AM
SportsWiz…. please *no Javale McGee* aaarrrgh! He is raw, raw, raw.
Always remembering that if guys move up, someone has to move down — who do you guys most hope will move down? Lets not think about the likely first 8 players, but what about the next bunch?
Anyone know and like Donte Greene, Joe Alexander, Darrell Arthur, Kosta Koufos, et. al.???
May 31st, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Noo…not JaVale McGee…he is another Andray Bltache..i would rather take another SG or SF than him…he is everything we dont need..he is an “atrocious defender”…yea he an run the floor..but so can Blatche…
May 31st, 2008 at 3:05 PM
I completely feel you on this one Tom. If we can get Joe Alexader i would be a steal. He can headbutt the rim. Imagine how much he can energize the crowd…he an do all G-Mans stunts without the trampoline..
May 31st, 2008 at 3:24 PM
I saw him play in the tournament and liked him. He has the potential to be a ferocious defender and rebounder, and he seems to have a mid-range game from what I saw.
On the other hand, if you look at this table (from the Wages of Wins blog, where else:) ), there is reason to be pessimistic about Joe’s game.
Look for Pat Calathes on the same table; there is reason to be quite optimistic about him. Ditto Marreese Speights. I continue to hope we can grab Calathes in round 2. The guy he reminds me of most is Mike Dunleavy — not everyone’s favorite player, I know. But, Mike is actually pretty good; just not good enough to live up to being chosen #3 overall in the draft.
May 31st, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Here are efficiency stats on all the NCAA SFs in the draft, sorted by Win Score. Calathes ranks second to Beasley. If you prefer John Hollinger’s PER ranking, click on that heading; Calathes is still near the top. In both cases, he is above Joe Alexander. If you want to look at raw stats per 40 minutes, click on “Basic Stats” in the “Stat Type” pull-down.
Btw, in defense of the Win Score methodology — you want to know why Dominic McGuire turned out to be so good, despite being drafted #48? According to Win Score analysis, he was the 5th best shooting forward in the ‘07 draft, behind Kevin Durant, Julian Wright, Jared Dudley (who turned into a rotation player) and Al Thornton. Win Score predicts success better than any other metric available.
May 31st, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Another potential round 2 steal might be George Hill, whose Win Score stats are comparable with the best Point Guard prospects.
May 31st, 2008 at 5:12 PM
DraftExpress: “George Hill showed why so many scouts have been saying positive things about him throughout the course of this camp, scoring 15 points to go along with 6 assists and a lone turnover in 24 minutes of action. He ran his offense smoothly and effectively, looking comfortable executing his team’s sets and finding the open man confidently. He shot the ball very well from behind the arc (3-7) as well.”
May 31st, 2008 at 5:37 PM
I guess I’m just talking to myself today (w/ a brief visit from ws-7). Hey, yesterday I shot an 84, a very good score for me. Anyone care? Nah. Anyone listening? I mean… I know it’s Saturday and all….
May 31st, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Joe Alexander - he’s got IT!!! The kid’s gonna be a star in the League.
And not just that he can jump… but that he can jump outta the gym. AND, he’s got a tremendous motor. High energy. Smart. Good mid-range jump shooter (and I mean jump shooter - he gets maximum lift, combined with a very high release, it makes his shot almost impossible to bother, much less block). Great off-the-ball help defender - with tremendous timing on blocks. Pretty good one-on-one defender. Very good rebounder…
Take a look at this youtube video of him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdAYyqSOuPc
Dunk, after dunk, after dunk, after dunk……………on and on… (throw in a block every now and then)
I really don’t think he’ll fall to the Wizards, but on the other hand, most mock drafts I see show him somewhere around 13 - 15….. it’s not that far to # 18…?!?!?
We can only hope.
May 31st, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Here’s a little show of Joe Alexander’s lift (aka Vanilla Sky)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PKY3ashUMI
May 31st, 2008 at 11:45 PM
If Joe Alexender falls to us..i will cry if we dont get him…that man can literally head-butt the rim…
Joe Alexander:
H: 6′ 8″ W: 230 lbs Bday: 12/26/1986 (21 Years Old)
Strengths:
• Size
• Frame
• Length
• Athleticism
• Shooting mechanics/High release point
• Finishing around basket
• Mid-range jumper
• Ability to score in the post
• Turnaround jumper
• Ability to get to FT line
• Productivity at high level
• Shot-blocking
• Passing ability
• “Maniacal” work ethic/Self-made player
• Stepped up big in March
• Extremely competitive
• Intangibles
• Only playing organized basketball for five years
• Huge upside
Weaknesses:
• Lacks polish offensively
• Mechanical/Not very fluid
• Shooting range
• Ability to create own shot
• Ability to pull-up off the dribble
• Ball-handling skills
• Lateral quickness/Ability to defend NBA SFs
• Bread and butter offensively?
• Unorthodox game
• Needs time to develop
Even if he is a SF..we may actually have someone here that will be ale to give Caron a rest…he could be someone we could trust offensivley and defensively…can some one say alley-OOP..especailly if Nick gets time on the court..
June 1st, 2008 at 6:26 AM
I love Joe Alexander; as I said above, I saw him in the tournament and, yes, he has a mid-range game to go with his athleticism.
In a way, he is similar to Dominic — about the same length and jumping ability but 10 lbs heavier, all in a very strong upper body. He doesn’t rebound like Dominic but of course he has more offense at this stage.
It’s a bit academic to talk about him, as he is no way falling to us — if anything his stock is still rising and he may wind up in the top 10. All the same, it’s worth mentioning that beyond athleticism his game is still kind of rough. He has no outside shot (27% from the college 3pt line), and he doesn’t rebound much. Definitely gifted, but very much a work in progress with the outcome being uncertain.
June 1st, 2008 at 8:09 AM
After seeing a few of those Joe Alexander highlights I would love him to come to DC.
June 1st, 2008 at 10:40 AM
NbaDraft.net on the last day of Orlando games and the measurement/workouts of more elite players.
They continue to like George Hill a lot, as does DraftExpress.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:19 AM
One of my favorites is the kid from Florida (Mareese Speights) He has NBA PF potential big time. I doubt if he would be there for the WIZ. I really like him.
In case you have not heard. Andray Blatche has been arrested again for doing 86 mph in VA.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:35 AM
anyone got any news on the blogger party dave clonsor and i discussed over the season?