<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Philadelphia Inquirer - Sources have indicated to the Philadelphia Inquirer that Shelden Williams has pulled out of scheduled workouts with teams in the second half of the top 10, including Minnesota, who picks sixth. This is a possible indication that a team in the top five has made a commitment to Williams that they will select him.</div> Wow that is surprising.
While this rumor is surprising, I can actually see him as a good fit in Atlanta. A big deal is made of the fact that the Hawks need help at the point, but that's overblown because they passed up so many great point guards in last year's draft. In reality, their biggest need is probably interior defense, and it's not hard to see Williams (former NCAA DPOY) as the best interior defender in the draft. On the flip side, I think the Philadelphia Inquirer could just be misreading the fact that he's pulled out of workouts with teams picking in the top ten. The reality there could be that he impressed one of the teams he's already worked out with (ie: Seattle, New Orleans, Utah, etc.) and they gave him a guarantee, so he's taking them up on their offer and cancelling all his other workouts. Either way, he wouldn't be undeserving of a high pick. In fact, he could very well be the most proven player in the draft. Like his Duke teammate, J.J. Redick, there have been questions about his size (he recently only measured in at just under 6'8" in shoes), but aside from that, his actual game has very few holes in it. When you average 19 ppg, 11 rpg, and 4 bpg for one of the top teams in NCAA history, you deserve high draft consideration.
I see no problem whatsoever with Shelden going in the top five. Everyone believes this is a weak draft so what is the problem? Williams plays much bigger than his 6'7 frame indicates and will provide you with rebounding and a defensive presense in the interior. I believe he will be similar to Ben Wallace at the next level with a better offensive game. But a team like Atlanta would be a nice fit, because they lack a physical defensive presense in the paint and Shelden is the best player in the draft in that area, IMO. It really upsets me that guys like Aldridge and Thomas are going to go before him just because of "potential." Williams is the best big man in the draft and has the experience(played four years at Duke for the best college coach in america) to come right in and make an immediate impact unlike Thomas and Aldridge. I can only hope that this us 'rumor' is true, though.
Tyrus thomas should no go top 5 at all. top 5 should be Andrea Bargani Lamarcus Aldridge Adam Morrison Brandon Roy Shelden Williams or Marcus Williams
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">Tyrus thomas should no go top 5 at all. top 5 should be Andrea Bargani Lamarcus Aldridge Adam Morrison Brandon Roy Shelden Williams or Marcus Williams</div> I'll echo that sentiment. Thomas has really been overrated through this whole process because of his tournament performances. I've been saying for a while now that he's a late lottery type prospect, but top five would be a stretch in my opinion. First of all, there's the height issue. They list him at 6'9", meaning he'll probably measure out at about the same height as Shelden Williams. Second of all, there's the issue of inexperience. He's just been playing organized basketball on a competitive level for three years now, yet GM's are supposed to feel comfortable investing in this kid with a top five pick? Then, as far as his actual game goes, he's raw as hell offensively, where almost all of his points are a byproduct of his athleticism and nothing more, and defensively, where he doesn't get a lot of criticism because of what a great shot blocker he is but is far from perfect. He has that great athleticism, great length, and great instincts, he doesn't have the fundamental aspect of defense down like Williams does. He'll make Sportscenter highlights with his blocks, but will he ever shut down his opponent on the next level? I wouldn't expect it. Lastly, the kid's attitude is terrible. He's one of the biggest "projects" in the draft, who played high school basketball as a virtual unknown and did not fully come into his own until the last few months of this past season. Yet with seemingly no regard to any of that, he has reportedly declined competitive workouts with teams picking outside of the top three picks. I might consider him at #7-13 because of his upside, but I'd never take him in the top five and would probably take Shelden Williams over him 90% of the time.
^I'm with you on that...no doubt his tournament play did elevate his draft stock, but people need to realize that his level of play is good, but is it good enough for NBA standards? exactly
If Atlanta does take him, they must trade off some of their other forwards or somthing for a point guard.
This seems weird to me. I dont see a lot of potential in him, but more of a solid guy in a good teams post rotation. If atl thinks that he can play a little center, then i guess it makes sense, but other than that who else in the top five would wan him?
I think it's more likely that Houston promised to take him and he would rather go there which is relatively close to his home in Oklahoma plus he'll be on a successful team with good superstars surrounding them. Perhaps Atlanta promised to take him but I can't see them screwing themselves over if Aldridge, Thomas or maybe Bargnani falls to them and they're obliged to take Williams.
aldridge wont be there, but thomas is now expected out of the top 5 by a lot of people. bargnani is iffy at 5. if aldridge is there and they take sheldon anyway, i would be overjoyed!!!
I think Sheldon has enormous promise, he seems like the kind of guy that is actually willing to work hard and improve himself. I predict him being one of the top rookies next season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">aldridge wont be there, but thomas is now expected out of the top 5 by a lot of people. bargnani is iffy at 5. if aldridge is there and they take sheldon anyway, i would be overjoyed!!!</div> Don't be too sure that Aldridge won't be there. I can think of multiple scenarios in which he could slip to the Hawks, including the one posed by Chad Ford in his latest mock draft: #1 - Bargnani, #2 - Thomas, #3 - Gay, #4 - Morrison, and #5 - Aldridge. I personally don't agree with anything but the #1 pick in that scenario, but Ford's got his finger on the pulse of the draft and has a lot of credibility. Then there's the scenario that the Raptors trade the pick to a team who wants Adam Morrison, which could cause Aldridge to slip. The odds probably aren't that high of him slipping that far, but Run is right in that you don't want to guarantee a player like Shelden Williams your pick when there's such a high chance of getting a steal in Aldridge or Bargnani. There's also the fact that Williams hasn't even worked out for Atlanta yet. If he does have a guarantee, I think it would come from New Orleans or Utah. He'd make sense in Houston, but he apparently hasn't worked out for them yet. New Orleans really needs help at center more than they do at power forward, and it's hard to see Williams playing center on the next level, but he's an Oklahoma City native, and the team's currently playing there. Rumor has it that the Hornets GM was also really impressed with Williams' workout, moreso than any of their other workouts to date, which could mean that they're coveting Williams not based on team needs but just because they see him as the best player available in their picking range. If Utah gave him a promise, it would explain their recent trades, giving away two centers in return for the worthless, underachieving sloth known as Rafael Araujo.
Well listening to this it looks like Shelden will either go to the Hawks or the Rockets. Like RUN BJM said, he might have a promise from the Rockets, and he really wants to go there. Who knows at this point. The draft is a mystery and will be until David Stern announces the names of hte players. I'm pretty sure the Hawks are after a big man though (Aldridge/Shelden/O'Bryant). At this point, considering that Aldridge goes top 4, it looks like the Hawks choice will come down to Patrick O'Bryant, Shelden Williams, Randy Foye, and Marcus Williams.
I'm here to tell you that he has no such gaurantee with the Rockets at all. Rockets haven't given out a gaurantee because supposedly JVG and CD still need to meet to decide what fits the team the best. The best fit would be in this order. Rudy Gay > Ronnie Brewer > Rodney Carney > Marcus Williams > JJ redick > Shelden williams i excluded possible guys who won't drop to the rockets except Gay because there is a chance.
Whoa whoa whoa, since when is a one dimesional shooter better than the best post player in the draft?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Smitty:</div><div class="quote_post">Whoa whoa whoa, since when is a one dimesional shooter better than the best post player in the draft?</div> Ray Allen, Michael Redd, and Reggie Miller are all one dimensional. What does one dimensional shooter mean?
I've been saying that, Shelden is a strong player who should be draft high. Thank God its happening, I love this guy and I only hope the best for 'em. I cant wait to see where he goes.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Smitty:</div><div class="quote_post">Whoa whoa whoa, since when is a one dimesional shooter better than the best post player in the draft?</div> I'm talking about Houston Rocket's needs. If we were to draft, that would be our big board. JJ would go before Shelden.
