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Player:
|
Yi Jianlian. C. 7'1".
|
|
Comparison:
|
A taller but less defensively inclined Cliff Robinson
|
|
Projection:
|
Top ten pick.
|
|
Summary:
|
tall, athletic, and skillful. Prefers to face the basket – can shoot the pullup Js, knock down open jumpers or slash to the basket. Will draw many contacts and a good free throw shooter. Runs the break like a guard. Not very strong. Decent, but not good in the paint. Not a good rebounder or shot-blocker. Defense remains the biggest question mark.
|
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NBA Role:
|
Will be a solid starter in the right system and has the potential to be a borderline all-star.
|
|
Verdict:
|
Yi reportedly refused to work out for smaller market teams like Memphis and Milwaukee, and
his agent has stressed the importance of Yi going to the "right" team; ie teams in California
or other major cities. Yi can go as high as #3. But his antics has muffed some GMs.
If he falls this far, the Kings will snap him up in a heartbeat!
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| |
|
Player:
|
Joakim Noah. C. 7'0".
|
|
Comparison:
|
Marcus Camby meets Tyson Chandler
|
|
Projection:
|
Top ten pick
|
|
Summary:
|
Long, athletic, and gives 110% every time he's on the court. Good rebounder, shot-blocker,
and help defender. Has the potential to be an elite defender. Skinny.
Very limited offensively.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Will be the big man who protects the paint. Solid starter. Won't be asked to score much.
|
|
Verdict:
|
Noah is projected to be picked as early as #4. If he is still on the board, the Kings
will take him, unless for some unthinkable reason Yi is also on the board.
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Brandan Wright. PF. 6'10".
|
|
Comparison:
|
A less skilled Chris Bosh cross with a skinny Chris Wilcox
|
|
Projection:
|
Top ten pick
|
|
Summary:
|
Long and athletic. Good rebounder/shotblocker. Likes to play in the post, but post footwork
and overall offense is not polished. Relies too much on athleticism. Very, very skinny. Not ready
for big minutes. A project; not a risky project, but a project nonetheless. Very stoic demeanor, some
questioned his motivation.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Starter. Potential All-Star.
|
|
Verdict:
|
Projected to go as high as #3, the Kings will jump all over it if Wright is still on the board.
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Spencer Hawes. C. 7'1".
|
|
Comparison:
|
A shorter but slightly more mobile Zydrunas Ilgauskas
|
|
Projection:
|
Middle to late lottery.
|
|
Summary:
|
Big, slow, and skillful. Has inside/outside skill. Very good post footwork. Can hit the open
jumpers with consistency. Will be able to put up some points in the NBA. Not a good shot-blocker.
Questions about his rebounding and his post defense. Needs to get stronger.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Will likely be the primary post scorer and a solid #2 to #3 offensive option;
while his coach hopes he doesn't give up as many points as he scores.
|
|
Verdict:
|
Hawes is one top-tier big man that the Kings legitimately has a chance to get. Although at least
a couple of teams drafting ahead of the Kings are also enamored with him. If Hawes is still on
the board, the Kings will most likely pick him.
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Mike Conley. PG. 6'1".
|
|
Comparison:
|
T.J. Ford meets Tony Parker
|
|
Projection:
|
High lottery pick.
|
|
Summary:
|
Very good slasher to the basket. Excellent finisher in traffic. Pass-first PG who
reads defense like an open book and is usually a few steps ahead of the opposition.
Excellent defender. Very quick hands and moves his feet well. Not a good shooter.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Starter. If he can develop a consistent jumper, an all-star.
|
|
Verdict:
|
Projected to go as high as #3, if Conley is still there when the Kings pick, it'll be hard for Petrie to resist.
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Al Thornton. SF. 6'7".
|
|
Comparison:
|
A rawer Shawn Marion?
|
|
Projection:
|
Late lottery to mid first round.
|
|
Summary:
|
Strong and athletic. Style of play is very similar to Marion, but not as polished and lacks 3-pt range.
Ball hog. Is he a selfish player? Late bloomer.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Role player. Has a chance to be an impact starter.
|
|
Verdict:
|
Geoff Petrie is reportedly very high on Thornton.
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Jeff Green. SF/PF. 6'10".
|
|
Comparison:
|
Billy Owens
|
|
Projection:
|
Top ten pick.
|
|
Summary:
|
Combo forward. Can do a bit of everything, great at nothing. High basketball IQ.
Played the high post in the Georgetown's Princeton offense. Average defender and rebounder.
Is he a SF or a PF?
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Complementary role player.
|
|
Verdict:
|
Green is a less risky pick than other players, but his ceiling is also not as high as theirs.
His versatility and knowledge of the Princeton offense would have attracted Petrie two years ago,
but what about now?
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Corey Brewer. SG/SF. 6'8".
|
|
Comparison:
|
Stacy Augmon
|
|
Projection:
|
Lottery pick.
|
|
Summary:
|
Tall, quick and athletic. Lock down defender. Limited offense - cannot create his own shot and has a very inconsistent jumpshot.
Good rebounder. High basketball IQ.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Defensive stopper.
|
|
Verdict:
|
One of those players more loved by coaches than by fans. His defense could prove enticing to the Kings.
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Julian Wright. SF/PF. 6'8".
|
|
Comparison:
|
Boris Diaw meets Hakim Warrick?
|
|
Projection:
|
Lottery pick.
|
|
Summary:
|
Athletic combo forward. Good defender. Good handle. Good passer. Good rebounder.
Very unselfish.
Very, very bad shooter who usually bricks anything that is not a dunk or layups.
Has trouble creating his own shot.
Big question mark on whether he can be an effective offensive player.
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Can be anything from a journeyman to the next Boris Diaw/Josh Howard/Gerald Wallace.
|
|
Verdict:
|
A high risk / high reward pick. Will Geoff Petrie roll the dice on Wright?
|
| |
|
Player:
|
Acie Law. PG. 6'4".
|
|
Comparison:
|
Sam Cassell or Jeff McGinnis?
|
|
Projection:
|
Mid lottery to late first round
|
|
Summary:
|
Shoot-first big guard. Has good offensive skill.
Good size but not very quick or athletic.
Not asked to be a playmaker in college. Still questions concerning whether he can
run a team. Maybe an undersized SG in disguise?
Is he a better prospect than Douby or Price?
|
|
NBA Role:
|
Possible journeyman to solid starter.
|
|
Verdict:
|
Will likely gets drafted by the Kings only if Mike Bibby is (or planning to be) traded.
|
| |
Corey Brewer - SG/SF 
Al Thornton - SF 
Spencer Hawes - C 
Julian Wright - SF/PF 
Mike Conley - PG 
Yi Jianlian - PF/C 
Joakim Noah - C 
Jason Smith - PF/C 
Jeff Green - SF/PF 
Acie Law - PG