<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The NBA didn't take long to cut Chris Taft down to size. First, the lad listed at 6 feet 11 in this newspaper last week and 6-10 on Pitt's roster last season was found by the pro basketball measuring sticks to stand only 6-81/2. Then there was the matter of his NBA workouts. They didn't work out. He admitted to Bay Area reporters, upon his introduction as the second second-round pick -- and 42nd overall -- by the Golden State Warriors who haven't sniffed the playoffs in 11 springs, that he was a bust in Toronto and failed to finish in Charlotte because of an aching knee. It was far worse, though. Agent Billy Ceisler, as any prospect's representative is wont to do, attempted to shove his young client into lottery-pick workout slots. Then didn't return some NBA calls. Then banned ESPN.com's Chad Ford from further workouts after a less-than-glowing online review (which was still better than the DraftCity.com story quoting anonymous NBA types as saying, "Does he not get it?" and "Taft has some of the worst body language I have ever seen from a player his age.") Then, with Taft's prospects shrinking still, dispatched the lad on a final whirlwind week of workouts. Therein lies the rub: Taft isn't a workout kind of player. He is a game guy. That's where his deft passing, his ability to see the floor, his shot blocking, his athleticism come to the fore. Not while matched against a 6-foot trainer or Ceisler stablemates Charlie Villanueva (drafted No. 7 overall by Toronto) and Antoine Wright (No. 15 by New Jersey), both far more polished actors for such a small stage. Ergo, it was a mistake for Taft to sit out the Chicago showcase that catapulted Luther Head (No. 24 by Houston), Jason Maxiell (No. 26 by Detroit) plus David Lee (No. 30 by Taft's hometown Knicks). So if anybody's to blame for the Incredible Shrinking Draft of Chris Taft, start with his agent. Granted, Ceisler did well for Villanueva and Wright this year, Chicago's Ben Gordon and Washington's Jarvis Hayes earlier in his three-year career as an NBA agent. He also wasn't alone in wacky workout procedures, what with 20 players through their agents refusing to audition for Boston's No. 18 slot. Still, Ceisler neither kept Taft from falling, nor helped him get back up by the draft Tuesday. There were other inexplicable activities in between. The agent promised ESPN2's "Cold Pizza" that Taft would announce his draft eligibility on that show alongside Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, who never was asked to come. And he seemed to keep Taft incommunicado from Pitt folks, available not for cell-phone chats for a while but only via text messages. </div> Source
That is a little disconcerning he only measured at 6'8" and some change. I heard he was a legit 6'10". I sure hope he is a gamer and gets some time this season to show what he can do...
Seen what he can do-want to see him wake the hell up,learn some skills beyond the few he has,hustle,and show he's at least a reliable NBA backup. The familiar heights of players are all with shoes. That adds an inch-and then he's 6-9 1/2,and that gets rounded off-and he's 6-10. It gets funny,people here wrote off Simien as too short,and it turns out there is less than an inch between him and Taft
Yeah no kidding. It's funny how people make a big deal out of a few inches when it's really more about length. Look at J-Rich. He is not even 6'6" in shoes. Diogu and Jrich mainly compete on having solid coordination, strength and playing with desire, so they keep on improving.
Well, I hope that he works out. Between Taft and Ike, we have really upgraded our interior presence. Both guys have a measured reach (from Chicago combine) of 9-1. That's quite good length, more than Simien, and almost as long as Bogut (9-2 1/2) or Frye (9-2). Plus, they are big bodies, which we definitely need. Taft is a legit 260, Ike 255, that's getting close to Foyle size, and they are both heavier than Murphy.
If Taft faked injury and didn't participate any workout, he probably would end up late first round. But, I don't complain. After all, getting that kind of raw talent in 42 doesn't happen that often. Also, one of the reason why Taft looked much bigger than Diogu is difference in explosiveness. It's bit interesting to see how both Diogu and Taft's future unfold, because they both reminds me of Dampier and Foyle ver. 2. Of course, in this case, Diogu is much more skilled than Foyle, and Dampier has far more heart than Taft, but...
Everyone plays around with size. Duncan went from 6'10 to 7'0 to 6'11, for example (the latter being the closest to his actual height). Ben Wallace is really only 6'7ish, but he goes a little higher. Even Foyle is only 6'9 without shoes. Size does matter, but a lot of people in the NBA are smaller than they are listed. Although people say 6'10 is the ideal height, very few forwards actually match it - obviously in the 80's and earlier, most forwards were about 6'8 and only a few were taller. Then, taller players started showing up, and everyone tried to emulate them (although back then, players were much lighter and skinnier, despite being pretty strong still). It seems like there has been a shortage of taller players lately, but the NBA still goes by the same height ideals. Still, when you're listed at higher and measure lower, that's definitely a shock. I think the only guy who's actually taller than his listed height is Kevin Garnett. Garnett, who's rabidly against being called a big man and does not like to called a center, does not want to be listed at 7'0 (he's a bit more like 7'1) so he goes at 6'11.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kwan1031:</div><div class="quote_post">Of course, in this case, Diogu is much more skilled than Foyle, and Dampier has far more heart than Taft, but...</div> How much of a tin man do you have to be to have less heart than Damp? There's not having heart and there's not giving a damn. Damp doesn't have a heart, players like Derrick Coleman just don't care. I didn't think we'd ever see someone with less heart than Damp, but you're right Kwan, Taft is certainly making a case for himself. Let's hope he finds one.
I think with Baron Davis, he's like the Wizard of Oz, except he can't give out brains or a heart. Courage is no problem... Ask Mike Dunleavy, Jr. and Mickael Pietrus!
