Over the next two days, the NBA will hold its first Draft Combine in Chicago. The NBA hopefuls will be poked, prodded, measured and run through drills. Hopefully, we'll get a look at all the measurables for guys like Jrue Holiday, Stephen Curry and Eric Maynor in short order. After the jump we'll take a look at a couple of updated mock drafts and a Q&A with Courtney Witte, director of player personnel for the Sixers.
Witte does a great job of explaining the changes to the NBA pre-draft workouts in this
Q&A with Sixers.com.
There were two sessions a day. The morning consisted of individual skills and the afternoon or early evening was the five-on-five format. On the back end of that, the medical representatives from each team are allowed to observe the more specific medical tests that are done on each player.
This year, it's going back to Chicago and is now called the NBA Draft Combine and consists of the same standardized tests done in the past. There's no longer a five-on-five format; it will be replaced by a light-skill workout with one-on-none situations.
The nice thing about this year is that each team can conduct a maximum of 18 interviews with players of their choosing for a 30-minute period each. That's what we're really looking forward to. The standardized testing is fine, it's something we need, but we have obviously seen a majority of these kids play numerous times. However, to be able to sit across from a young man and get a feel for him as a person, to see what's inside his head, what his goals are, what his objectives as a basketball player are and what type of interaction there is between him and us, is very important.
I know players have seriously hurt their draft stock in the past with poor performances in the five-on-five format, so I don't really know how I feel about it's removal from the process. The Sixers have typically taken workout warriors (DraftExpress ranked Thad #7 in 2007, Carney #5 in 2006. Speights apparently did not participate last season), so I don't know how much the five-on-five influenced them.
The one piece of information I'd love to get my hands on is who the Sixers choose to interview. I suppose with 18 possible names, they'll touch all the bases. Kick all the tires. Simply interviewing Stephen Curry doesn't mean they're scheming a way to get up to draft him, they're probably doing due dilligence. But maybe a few interviews with guys considered to be second rounders could hint at the possibility of purchasing a late pick.
While we anxiously await the measurements from the combine, let's check in with Chad Ford and DraftExpress for their latest mock drafts.
- Ford still has the Sixers taking Maynor at #17. The shocker on his updated list is Jrue Holiday going #4 to Sacramento. Some draft boards had him slipping below the lottery.
- DraftExpress has had a change of heart, with the Sixers now taking Lawson at #17, with Maynor falling to the Hawks at #19. (Ford flipflops the two, with Lawson going to the Hawks). The shocker on DX's draftboard is James Harden going number three to OKC with Rubio falling to Sacramento at #4.
- Arin from ArinItOut also has the Sixers taking Lawson at #17.
There's a new mock in the 'network' of this blog from airinitout - also has lawson at #17
The NBA scouting/draft process is just messed up - and removal of the 5 on 5 just seems stupid to me.
DX is probably adjusting Rubio based on all the rumor nonsense of his agent maneuvering him away from Memphiis and OKC towards the Kings and one other team
I don't know. I mean, you put five guys on the floor, all trying to make an instant impression on the powers that be, can you really expect to glean useful information from that?
I'm torn. I'd like to know what scouts and gms think of the changes after the fact.
THere are ways to make it work i'm sure - you don't throw the five out there and just have em run playground ball.
It's got to be more usefull than a one on none - there's just so many wrong picks in the NBA draft you gotta think that it could be better
Maybe this will be a step to make it better?
Somewhat breaking news. Dwayne Casey gets a second interview. Sounds like Ed is intrigued. From what I saw it looked like he did a nice job in Minnesota with a sinking ship there. He seems to have a real defensive mindset as a coach.He also seems to be somewhat of a disciplinarian.I think both these things are needed to coach this club. Certainly not a sexy name but wouldn't be a bad choice. I would love to see Ed talk to JVG which it looks like he is trying.
Do you have a link?
Matches the rumor I heard that Thibodeau and Casey are running neck & neck with everybody else pulling up the rear. Let's hope Thibs doesn't bomb the 2nd interview, or rather Sac chooses to chase Jordan.
Removed the 5 on 5 because no one the teams really wanted to see play participated. Ideally you see top prospects competing against other top prospects in an effort to see direct competition among position players and against equal competition. What it turned out to be was second rounders and undrafted players (expected) competing against each other. NBA decided to cut costs there because of it.
Word coming from the players agents this year is that many of the top prospects aren't even going to participate in the individual skills drills this year. Only the measurements, medical physical and interviewing.
Also it's televised this year on ESPNU Thursday (1pm) and Friday (9am).
How many of the 'top prospects' skip the NFL combines without at least an injury excuse...this is just more evidence of how messed up I think it is...the agents have WAY too much control and say in this process
I don't even know if I get ESPNU. Guess I'll check tonight. Hopefully they'll rerun it.
Nice, I do get it. Have to remember to set the Tivo tonight.
Also the link about Casey is on Sixerville. Jasner is reporting this:
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sixerville/Casey_At_The_Bat____Again.html
As far as Harden going #3, it seems their front office doesn!t know if Westbrook is a pure p.g. but would rather put a facillitating 2 next to him than move him to the wing [inconsistant jumper].The more I read about Rubio, the more I wouldn!t sacrafice anything to get him.Gold. St. would be a good situation for him, running team with shooters, and a good market.A.Randolph and #5 probably would satisfy Memphis and would be better than taking Dalemb &*^%$%#, I mean Thabeet.