The Best Centers Of The 2007 Draft - 猶他爵士 Utah Jazz

The Best Centers Of The 2007 Draft
5th June, 2007 - 7:58 pm
By J.T. Magee


4. Sean Williams, Boston College, 20-years-old.

It's too bad he couldn't stay away from whatever got him kicked him off
Boston College. If it was weed, that problem can be fixed a lot easier than
other drugs. While his off the court problems will likely have him hinging
his hopes on the latter half of the first round, his talent and potential is
by far Lottery-based. A great weak-side and one-on-one shot blocker, Williams
wasn't able to fully show what he could do on offense in his short stint this
season. His hooks are fairly decent and he's the prototypical center for a
fast and small team (Golden State, Phoenix, Milwaukee).

He's an NBA athlete who has the tools to compete for a long time in the NBA,
but his off the court issues will weigh heavily on how long he stays in the
League. If he can keep the issues at bay, as in don't let them happen again,
as well as grow into the center he's capable of being, Williams has a chance
to become one of the big-time sleepers in this draft due to his off the court
issues keeping him down the draft boards.

Personally, I'd still draft him in the Lottery, even ahead of Hawes. I like
what he brings to the table. I haven't seen him at 100% but I love his
potential. He was the ability to rise up over his defender and the quickness
to read where he needs to be on the boards, on offense and especially on
defense. It will be interesting to see how well he performs in the Summer
Leagues. He'll have rave reviews in most of his workouts due to being an
elite athlete for someone his size, but I'm intrigued to see him play 5-on-5.
That will be the true measuring stick on his career in the NBA.
Let's hope he figures it out.

5. DeVon Hardin, California, 20-years-old.

Athletically, Hardin is a Top 3 center, but his injuries have been a major
reason he's not in the Top 20 or so in this draft. He's a close-to-the-hoop
center and uses his athleticism to get by. His mental part of the game is a
couple of years behind his body, letting his teammate Ryan Anderson take over
on offense while manning the post without the aggression NBA heads want to
see. Defensively, he's able to alter and block a lot of shots that come in
the paint. His timing is exceptional but it can also lead to drawing easy
fouls. Offensively, he doesn't have much to show outside of ten feet and in
the NBA, a player at least has to show they can make a shot outside of 15
feet. Not every center is Shaq, so someone like Hardin will have to prove he
can do more than just compete inside.

He'll probably pull out, but if he can prove he's healthy and compete against
the likes of Williams, Kyle Visser and Aaron Gray in workouts, he may get a
late first round promise from a team like Phoenix. That may not be enough to
keep him in the draft, though. June 18th will be the determining day for that
decision.

6. Marc Gasol, Akasvayu Girona, 22-years-old.

I had a chance to see Gasol in limited action when he was playing for
Wintherfur FC Barcelona back in December of 2005. He's a true center: big,
average speed, inside player all the way. He uses his body well to get space
inside and is willing to bang. European leagues are a little more lax in
terms of rough play inside and it's refreshing. I wish the NBA would return
to those roots in some form. Not enough of that type of play. No one seems to
truly earn a rebound like forwards and centers did in the past. Anyhow.

I haven't seen Gasol since then, so I cant speak on his development. I'm not
surprised he's being considered a bubble first round pick. If Aaron Gray has
an outside shot at the first round, then Gasol definitely deserves a chance.
It will be interesting to see if he comes over to the States for workouts or
if his agent is going to secretly have him work out with only a select number
of teams.

7. Kyle Visser, Wake Forest, 21-years-old.

Surprisingly mobile for his size, Visser is a role-playing center. He won't
command the ball in the post but has the ability to throw a drop step in here
and there. He's underrated in his pick & roll ability. He's a decent rebounder
but does not fit the mold of starting NBA center. If he works at it, like 8
hours a day works at it, then he could be in the league for a while.
He definitely deserves a spot over some of the big men still in the NBA, even
if it's just for a season or two. But that's the point: he'll be in the NBA.
He may not be the most appetizing pineapple on the Pina Colada rim, but he's
worth taking a bite out of. Key word: bite.

8. Kyrylo Fesenko, SK Cherkassy, 20-years-old.

I have not seen Fesenko play. Not one second. I won't rely on highlight
footage like I have in the past. His showing at the Reebok Eurocamp could
propel him into the first round. If not, then he's guaranteed a spot in the
top half in the second round. Since 1996, there has been at least one
international player taken in the top half of the second round. Most of them
haven't panned out (Maciej Lampe, Slavko Vranes, Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje), but
there have been a few that have been able to stick in the NBA for a minimum
of seven years (Mehmet Okur, Zaza Pachulia). If Fesenko has a good showing at
the Eurocamp, he could hear his name called. Perhaps by the Pistons or Suns
in the first round. Both teams could afford to shelve him on a Euroleague
team for a year or two.

9. Miroslav Raduljica, KK Borac Cacak, 19-years-old.

Again, have not seen a single second of him play. From what I've read, he
sounds interesting. If he withdraws from the draft, then he's definitely a
guy to keep an eye on next year. Sometimes, the international player is worth
gambling on because they haven't been seen as much as an Aaron Gray, so their
games can't be as critiqued. From what I've read, he's going to surprise a
lot of people at this year’s Eurocamp.

10. Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh, 22-years-old

I feel bad for Gray. He's gotten into the best shape of his life and he'll
be lucky to be drafted in the first round. He's a decent center around the
basket but can't get off the ground. Getting off the ground is a premium for
any NBA center. Even those, like Pachulia, who can't get off the ground, find
a way to impact the defensive side of the ball. Pachulia has very nimble feet
for someone 6'11". Gray doesn't have the necessary skills that transfer over
to the NBA on a full-time basis.

Outside of 8 feet, he's nonexistent. He can run the pick and roll, but I've
yet to see him put the ball on the floor when it's necessary on a roll. He
doesn't have much touch outside of ten feet and shoots his hook at horrible
angle off the glass. They went in at Pitt, but in the NBA, anything aimed
below the white square is bound to get blocked. I hope he has a good career
and he probably will. It won't be too long in the NBA, though. Some team in
Spain, Belgium or Germany could use his services.



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