2006 NBA Draft
July
6, 2006
by Bob Radl, Staff Writer
The next generation of possible NBA stars was drafted last Wednesday night in New York. There were no high school players taken in this draft under the new NBA collective bargaining agreement. Players coming directly out of high school are no longer eligible to be drafted. The NBA draft means more to teams than its counterparts in other pro sports. The 2006 NBA draft was one where teams were drafting for need as much as upside ability with their draft choices. This draft also lacked the appeal of potential marquee players.
This was a draft of surprises as several players of promise fell down the draft board for various reasons. Several trades were made in the first round with the Portland Trailblazers moving players almost at will. Three college seniors were amongst the first seven picks for the first time since 1997. International players, lead by Andrea Bargnani the first pick of the draft, were well represented once again as NBA teams continue to scour the globe for talent.
1. Andrea Bargnini, SF, Toronto, Bargnani was the consensus top international player in this draft. At 6’ 11”, the comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki are inevitable. Despite his size, he prefers to play on the perimeter. Bargnani is very athletic and a skilled offensive player. His range extends out to the three-point line and he is considered to be a mechanically sound shooter. His ball-handling skills are good, and he has the coordination, footwork and body control to weave his way in and out of traffic. He’s a creative but not an explosive finisher. Bargnani will need to get stronger to play in the NBA, but makes for an intriguing choice to play alongside Chris Bosh in Toronto.
2. LaMarcus Aldridge, C, Portland, Aldridge was generally considered to be the most complete big man in the draft and also the most polished. He can play with his back to the basket or facing it. Aldrige recorded 17 double-doubles this past season for Texas. He added 25 pounds to his frame last summer and can withstand the banging down low every night in the NBA. He is very athletic and possesses great court sense. In today’s NBA – where quickness and athleticism are more important than brute strength - he has the ability to play either the 4 or the 5 spot. Offensively, Aldridge is a talented, versatile big man who is also fundamentally sound.
3. Adam Morrison, SF, Charlotte, Morrison has an NBA style game and can move without the basketball. He has a nasty competitive streak that should serve him well in the NBA. Morrison led the nation in scoring this past season at 28.1 points per game. He can score from anywhere on the court. He has a nice mid-range jumper and can also score from the three-point line. Despite his seemingly awkward athleticism, Morrison showed the ability to create his own shot at will against the best and most athletic defenders in college basketball. His ball-handling skills are very good. Morrison may be overmatched by some of the quicker more athletic small forwards in the league. He will also need to improve his defense and lateral quickness.
4. Tyrus Thomas, Forward, Chicago, Thomas was an early entry into the draft as a freshman. He runs the court very well for man of his size at 6’ 9”. Thomas was considered by some to be the most athletic player available in this draft. He was the SEC freshman of the year. Thomas has a limited offensive game at the present time. He gets most of his point on dunks, offensive rebounds and in transition. He will need to add some bulk to play in the NBA and also must extend the range on his jump shot. Thomas has a huge upside that has many scouts salivating over his potential for the next three to five years.
5.Shelden Williams, PF, Atlanta, Williams was one of the more complete players entering this draft as he had played four years of college basketball. He is a strong rebounder and blocks more shots than many would expect. In fact, Williams lead the nation in blocked shots per game as a junior with 3.7 blocks per game. He is very muscular and can appear to be a little mechanical at times. Despite his size, he can run the floor fairly well. Williams has a long wingspan that will also enable him to play some center in the pros if teams want to play small ball.
6. Brandon Roy, SG, Portland, Roy’s stock rose dramatically during his senior year. He averaged 20.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game as a senior. Roy was considered to be one of the more complete guards in the draft. He can take players off of the dribble and also is a good ball handler. Roy plays under control and makes good decisions on the floor. He may be a bit overmatched by some of the larger and quicker off-guards in the NBA.
7. Randy Foye, Guard, Minnesota, Foye was considered to be one of the more polished guards in this year’s draft class. He has good size for a combo guard at 6’ 4”. He is a strong guard and possesses a great first step. He has a smooth first step and possesses a couple of different gears to go with solid leaping ability. Foye is a slasher with good ball handling skills and rebounds well for his size. He can guard most point guards buy may struggle against larger off-guards. He is also not considered to be a creative passer.
8. Rudy Gay, SF, Memphis, Gay has the potential to either All-NBA or a complete bust of a lottery pick. Here is players with a world of talent but can play very indifferently at times. He can stroke the three or explode to the basket when properly motivated. At times, Gay appeared to disappear on the court in games. He can score at will when he wants but tends to get lost in the flow of the game. Gay has all of the requisite tools to be a star at the next level. If he can put together all of the talents that he has on the court in a consistent fashion, gay could average over 20 points a night in the NBA. If he fails to do this, he will be a wasted lottery pick.
9. Patrick O’Bryant, Center, Golden State, O’Bryant is a legitimate 7 footer with a 7’6” wingspan. He can run the court well for his size and has good agility. His long wingspan allows him to block many shots. Some scouts considered O’Bryant to be the top true center prospect in the draft. Other scouts were not quite as impressed. O’Bryant made a name for himself with his dominating performance against Pittsburgh in the NCAA tournament. He has dent moves in the low post, but is far from a polished product.
10. Saer Sene, Center, Seattle, Sene was one of the many surprise picks in the first rounds. He came out nowhere this past spring’s Nike Hoop Summit when he blocked nine shots in one game. Sene is a classic example of teams always willing to draft a true seven footer with potential. He is very athletic and can jump well for his size, but has very limited offensive skills at present. Sene will need to add weight but could become a low post force on the defensive end of the court. This pick may have been a reach at this point in the draft.
11. J.J. Redick, SG, Orlando, Redick is one of the best pure shooters to enter the NBA since Reggie Miller in 1987 or Chris Mullin in 1985. He is a pure shooter with virtually unlimited range on his shot. He is deadly when left open or coming off of a screen. He also has a quick release and is great free throw shooter. The question will be if Redick can create his own shot in the NBA. He will be facing bigger, stronger and faster players every night. Redick will also need to improve his lateral quickness and his defensive game at the next level.
12. Hilton Armstrong, F/C, New Orleans, Armstrong has good athleticism; decent size and can leap well for a man of his heights. He is a solid rebounder and shot blocker who possesses a long wingspan and large hands. Armstrong runs the floor well for s size and will see time both as a power forward and center in the NBA. He was the Big East Defensive Player of the year. Offensively, his game is considered to be raw, but is considered to have a large upside to it. He will need to get stronger to hold his spot down in the low post.
13. Thabo Sefalosha, G/F, Chicago, Sefalosha is another European prospect that came on strong this past year. He is a good catch and shoot player with good size for the shooting guard slot. Defensively he has shown the ability to guard positions 1-3 as he has good footwork, quickness and intelligence. He is a decent ball handler for his size and is also a good passer. Sefalosha is weak on the offensive end. He will need to improve his mechanics and learn to create his own shot at the next level.
14. Ronnie Brewer, G/F, Utah, Brewer brings good size and versatility to the Jazz for their perimeter game, especially on defense. He has very long arms to disrupt the passing lanes. He broke his right arm when he was younger, contributing to an unorthodox shooting style. Offensively, Brewer is more of a slasher who attacks the basket. He should be able to help immediately as a high-energy guy off of the bench.
15. Cedric Simmons, PF, New Orleans, Simmons is a good rebounder and shot blocker for his size with a reported wingspan of 7 feet 4 inches. He should receive minutes off of the bench as rookie for his defense alone. Offensively, he will be a bit of a project, as he needs to work on his low post game. He gets most of his points on put backs and offensive rebounds. Simmons held his own this past season when he played against other top flight forwards. He will need to work on his face to the basket game along with his passing skills.
16. Rodney Carney, G/F, Philadelphia, Carney could see time at both the small forward and shooting guard for the Sixers next year. He was the 2006 Conference USA player of the year and has elite athletic ability. With the ability to leap out of the gym, Carney will add some excitement to his new team. His shooting stroke is suspect and will need work. He will need to work on his ball handling and shot selection as his raw athletic ability can only carry him so far at the next level.
17. Shawne Williams, Forward, Indiana, Williams was one of the more versatile and gifted big men in this year’s draft. He played one year for Memphis before deciding to go pro. He has tons of talent that needs to be harnessed as he has skills to play at the NBA level. Williams also has a tendency to disappear at times and can get lost for long stretches in games. He will need to work on his suspect shot selection also at the next level. Williams can finish with the best of them and has a very long wingspan.
18. Oleksiy Pecherov, C/F, Washington, Pecherov is a stereotypical European big man, a skilled 6-11 power forward with decent athleticism that loves to play on the perimeter. He is a nice jump shooter with excellent mechanics either with his feet set or off the dribble, and is also capable of scoring with a turnaround jumper from the post. His first step and ball-handling skills are good for a player his size, and could eventually become a nice tool in his offensive arsenal. His lateral quickness is average. He will also need to get stronger to bang down in the low post every night in the NBA.
19. Quincy Doby, SG, Sacramento, Douby is considered to be a scoring machine and can score from anywhere on the floor. He can create his own shot and has a nice release on his jumper. Douby may see playing time immediately in Sacramento if free agent Bonzi Wells bolts town for more money. Although he is a capable ball handler, Douby will need to improve his strength. Some scouts doubt his ability to play the point. Defensively, bigger guards will be able to overmatch him physically.
20. Renaldo Balkman, Forward, New York, Balkman was without a doubt one of the most puzzling draft choices in recent years. He was a consensus second round choice by almost all draft scribes. He was the 2006 NIT MVP for South Carolina this past season, but averaged only 9.6 points per game in the regular season. Considered to be an undersized interior player, Balkman is an explosive athlete who took over this year's NIT tournament, but he's probably not polished enough to contribute at the NBA level immediately.
21. Rajon Rando, PG, Boston, Physically, Rondo possesses
everything the NBA looks for in a successful starting point guard, minus
possibly an inch of height. He is a phenomenal athlete with an incredibly quick
first step, awesome foot-speed in the open floor, and great leaping ability.
Rondo also has a gigantic wingspan and enormous hands, which allow him to play
much bigger than his size. He has excellent court vision and passing ability.
Defensively, he has excellent lateral quickness and superbly quick hands. Rondo
is also a terrific rebounder who indeed led his team in this category from the
point guard position. Rando must improve his perimeter shooting. He will also
need to get stronger to survive in the NBA.
22. Marcus
Williams, PG, New Jersey, Williams
was considered by many to be the top point guard in this draft. He slid this
far in the draft over character issues surrounding the theft of four lap top
computers. This incident caused him to be suspended for the first semester. He
lead the nation in assists at 8.6 per game this past year. Williams sees things on the floor in half-court sets that
most point guards don’t and reacts to these opportunities instantaneously. Williams has the size, quickness and ability
to play at the next level. He has problems when going up against
smaller, quicker guards. He will
also need to improve his strength and conditioning at the next level.
23. Josh Boone.
F/C, New Jersey, Boone is
considered to be a good transition player and a high-energy guy for a big man.
He is a good defender and a good rebounder for his size. Boone has good physical attributes for the NBA with a solid
6-10 frame, an excellent wingspan, and very nice all-around athletic ability.
He runs the floor extremely well, has nice quickness, and is strong enough to
hold his own in the paint. He has very little offense outside of five feet, and
can be extremely passive on this end of the floor. Boone will need to vastly improve his offense at the next level.
24. Kyle Lowry, Guard, Memphis, Lowry is a tough, physical player with a
NYC lead guard’s mentality. He has outstanding quickness in the open floor and
excellent ball-handling skills to create shots. Lowry is fearless taking the ball
to the hoop and finishes strong even with contact. Lowry
can play tough defense and uses his hands well to disrupt the offensive
players. He needs to improver his mid-range jumper and his outside shooting
along with some poor decision making at times.
25. Shannon Brown, Guard, Cleveland, Brown is
hopefully one of the pieces needed to lift the Cavs to the next level of play
in the NBA. At 6’ 4”, Brown has an NFL type body and was an outstanding
defensive player in the Big Ten. He was one of the most explosive
athletes in this draft and possesses good length, huge hands and excellent
strength. His first step is terrific and he finishes with reckless abandon
thanks to his impressive strength, body control, tenacity and outstanding
vertical leap. Brown has been inconsistent during his collegiate career. He
lacks the polish to truly utilize his excellent physical gifts on a nightly
basis.
26. Jordan Farmar, PG, LA Lakers, Farmar has outstanding
court vision, is an excellent passer and a good ball handler. At 6’ 2”, he is
big enough to play the point in the NBA. Possessing good poise, he has a nice
feel for the game and knows when to push the tempo and when to slow play down.
He is a streaky shooter, especially from the outside. Farmar will need to
improve his shot selection at the next level.
27. Sergio Rodriguez, PG, Portland, Rodriguez is
considered to be a fabulous passer and a magician with the ball. He has been
called the Jason Kidd of Spain by some scouts. His big downside is the fact
that he is turnover prone and must also learn to improve his defense. Rodriguez essentially plays like a “European
streetballer” according to one NBA scout. He is an incredibly dominant player
offensively who needs the ball in his hands at all times to be effective.
Continuing to add strength to his frame will help him finish stronger at the
basket and will help him out on the defensive end. Rodriguez is a poor shooter with limited range. At the ripe old
age of 19, Rodriguez has a nice upside to his game.
28. Maurice Ager,
Guard, Dallas, Ager is a nice
up-tempo player who runs the court well and can attack the basket in
transition. At 6’5”, he could be a nice wing player in the NBA. He is an excellent
athlete with solid quickness, an excellent first step and terrific leaping
ability. He is long-armed and very well built.
As a defender, Ager has nice potential but has yet to put everything
together. He will need to improve his ball handling and overall understanding
of the game.
29. Mardy Collins, PG, New York, Collins was good value pick for the Knicks at this slot. He is a good character guy with good size and strength to help at the point guard position. A legit 6-foot-6 point guard, Collins has great size for the position, and unlike many converted wing-to-point prospects, he really plays like one. He’s a coach’s dream because he always plays within himself, never forces things and rarely makes unforced errors. Smart and fundamentally sound, he seems to have a great understanding of the game, knowing when to look for his shot and when to get his teammates involved. He has superb hands and outstanding anticipation skills, and his excellent footwork, wingspan and lateral movement do the rest. The big knock on Collins is his poor shooting, especially from behind the three-point line.
30. Joel Freeland, Center, Portland, Freeland was one the surprise picks of the first round for many NBA fans. At age 19, he is considered to be very raw, as he has played the game for only a few years. He was the surprise of the Euro-Reebok camp this spring. Freeland has to be considered a pick for the future, as he is at least two years away from contributing. He will most likely stay in Europe to develop his game.
31. James White, SG, Portland, White is a 6’7” wing player who
can finish well. He is a good instinctive passer for his size. As an athlete, White is one of the premier
leapers in this draft. Defensively, he’s capable of playing lock down defense
thanks to his length and outstanding lateral quickness. He will need to improve
his shooting and ball handling.
32. Steve Novak,
SF, Houston, Novak is a
classic catch and shoot guy with very good range from deep on the court. His
ability to stretch the defense could be a huge plus in Houston. He will need to
work on his lateral quickness and strength.
33. Solomon Jones, PF, Atlanta, Jones is versatile
and athletic enough to help off of the bench. Jones has good height at 6-10, but plays much bigger than his size
thanks to his pterodactyl-like wingspan. Athletically, he is outstanding,
featuring great foot speed, an excellent (and very quick) vertical leap and all
the quickness he needs to make his presence felt on the floor. Jones has a
knack for shot blocking that can’t be taught, averaging three per game last
season. He will need to add weight to his frame, get stronger and improve a
limited offensive game.
46. Dee Brown, PG, Utah, Brown slipped to the second round due to concerns over his size (6’0”) and shooting ability. He has blazing speed and can pass and dribble at full speed. With his outstanding quickness and speed, he can drive to the basket quite easily. Brown has good leadership qualities, but needs to improve his decision-making ability. He will also need to get used to guarding bigger point guards in the NBA.
47. Paul Millsap, PF, Utah, Millsap is the only player to lead the NCAA in rebounding for
three consecutive seasons. Millsap has
an NBA body minus an inch or two, an excellent frame and very long arms. He has
decent quickness, good leaping ability and excellent strength, especially in
the lower body. Offensively, Millsap
was able to do a lot of damage at the mid-major level thanks to his bulk, athleticism,
tenacious attitude and the way he runs the floor. He could be a real force
after he adjusts to a much higher level of competition. As power forward, he may also be a bit
undersized.
49. Leon Powe, PF, Boston, Powe led the Pac-10 in scoring
(20.5 ppg) and rebounding (10.1 rpg) last season, helping the Golden Bears to
the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2003. He is a physical specimen
capable of scoring inside or out, and he overpowered much of his college
competition. NBA personnel worry about Powe's injury history because he has had
reconstructive knee surgery twice and missed his sophomore season (2004-2005).
He also suffered a stress fracture that sidelined him the first month of last
season. He has a 7-foot-2 wingspan to go with his great upper body strength.
The biggest questions about Powe revolve around his injury history and the fact
he is undersized to play power forward in the pros.