<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> LAKE BUENA VISTA - Not since 2001, when the Washington Wizards gambled and lost on high school bust Kwame Brown, has there been this much uncertainty at the top of the NBA Draft. Toronto, Chicago, Charlotte, Portland and Atlanta hold the top five picks, but that will likely change in the days leading to the June 28 draft. With so much uncertainty, there could be more teams wanting to trade down for multiple picks than looking to jump up to the top. "This year isn't a bad draft, but it just doesn't have that special feeling to it at the top," said Denver head coach George Karl, who was in Orlando this past week scouting players at the NBA's Pre-Draft Camp. "It has good quantity to it, but I'm not sure about the quality." Is the top pick Tyrus Thomas, the jumping-jack forward from LSU whose star power exploded in the NCAA Tournament? Is it Gonzaga's Adam Morrison, the prolific scorer who has so patterned his game after Larry Bird that he's even grown in the wispy mustache? Could Italian 7-footer Andrea Bargnani, the draft's international man of mystery, intrigue the Raptors? Or are teams willing to gamble on the tremendous potential of college sophomores Rudy Gay or LaMarcus Aldrige? "Man, it's crazy right now because one day you're hearing that you could be the top pick and the next you hear you could slide all the way down to sixth," said Gay, who was in Orlando on Saturday for his official physical and testing by the NBA. If the top five teams don't have a concrete idea on what they are doing in the draft, the Orlando Magic are understandably undecided over who will be available at No. 11. The Magic worked out seven players -- guards Randy Foye, Rodney Carney, Ronnie Brewer, Quincy Douby, Hassan Adams and Mardy Collins -- in a private session Thursday. The Magic have another pivotal session set Wednesday, this one featuring Naismith and Wooden award winner J.J. Redick. Redick, who measured 6-foot-4 and 189 pounds Saturday, figures to be available for the Magic. He averaged 26.8 points this season at Duke but is eager to prove to the Magic he is more than a scorer and spot-up shooter. "I want to do well in every workout, but I've definitely circled that date on my calendar and I've looked forward to working out for them for a few weeks now," Redick said of the Magic, who already watched him drill once in Los Angeles. "I can play basketball. I know how to play and I'm effective at what I do," Redick continued. "I've proven myself for four years and I got better every season." Shelden Williams, Redick's former Duke teammate, was one of the most impressive athletes tested Saturday by NBA trainers. Williams bench-pressed 185 pounds 25 times. Comparatively, the rail-thin Aldridge, an athletic power forward, lifted 185 pounds just eight times. Quipped Aldridge: "Shelden did it 25 times. That's what four years of college will get you." Brewer, whose father played for the Portland Trail Blazers, was also quite impressive. Not only did he lift 185 pounds 19 times, but he also reached 12 feet, 1 inch off a running leap. Only Thomas and Gay jumped higher, at 12-3. The athleticism and stamina of Morrison, the nation's leading scorer this past season (28.1 ppg), might preclude him from being the sure-fire top pick. Morrison has Type I diabetes and wears an insulin pump in his abdomen. Morrison, a 6-foot-8, 205-pound small forward, has to closely monitor his blood-sugar levels, eating the same meals every day on game nights. For example, it's steak, baked potato and green vegetable precisely two hours and 15 minutes before games. NHL Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke and former NBA center Chris Dudley are two prominent athletes who played professionally while successfully managing the disease. "I think it's overblown," said Morrison, who will work out Thursday in Portland. "People act like since it's another jump that I'm not going to take care of myself. But I understand where they're coming from because if you are going to pay a 21-year-old kid a lot of money, they have the right to know the whole process." Washington shooting guard Brandon Roy and Bradley center Patrick O'Bryant are two players whose stock seems to be soaring. Roy feels his draft hopes are aided by high school players no longer being eligible. Because players now must be 19 and out of high school at least one year, that rules out Indianapolis center Greg Oden. If he were available, that would likely clear up the debate over the top pick. Andrew Bogut (2005), Dwight Howard (2004), LeBron James (2003) and Yao Ming (2002) were clear-cut top choices the past four years.</div> Source I didn't realize Aldridge was that weak. Only benching 185lbs 8 times?
Yeah, 8 reps for Aldridge is dissapointing. Shelden Williams doing 25 is good, for comparison Joey Graham did the most with 26 last year and Ike Diogu (similar dimensions to Shelden) did the second most with 21. 19 for Brewer is very impressive and he was only outjumped by Gay and Thomas. Didn't expect that at all since I've been following him and really like him.
It's pretty obvious that Aldridge is 'soft' and lacks toughness in the paint. He relies too much on his outside game and his nifty hook shot. He has yet to show me that he can post-up on big and stronger players..and if he doesn't add a few more pounds to his 6'11 frame, I don't think he can be a legit center at the next level.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UKFan33:</div><div class="quote_post">It's pretty obvious that Aldridge is 'soft' and lacks toughness in the paint. He relies too much on his outside game and his nifty hook shot. He has yet to show me that he can post-up on big and stronger players..and if he doesn't add a few more pounds to his 6'11 frame, I don't think he can be a legit center at the next level.</div> Haven't you ever heard of Kevin Garnett, Chris Bosh, Pau Gasol, or Jermaine O'Neal? There are tons of players with weak frames that make it on the next level. Length is almost as important, if not moreso, than strength, and Aldridge is a lot longer than Williams. You also have to consider that length as a factor in the bench pressing. Aldridge has to lift the bar a lot further over his body. Williams is also a lot slower and more lethargic than Aldridge, whose game depends on his quickness. You can't really knock his outside game and his hook shot either, because both are extremely effective, and both are very reminiscent of the way Kevin Garnett and Pau Gasol play.
I would still not mind at all if my team picked him with our pick, just like I am sure you are. Aldrige is still smooth, and he could be the next Chris Bosh with the small frame just like VC said.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Haven't you ever heard of Kevin Garnett, Chris Bosh, Pau Gasol, or Jermaine O'Neal? There are tons of players with weak frames that make it on the next level. Length is almost as important, if not moreso, than strength, and Aldridge is a lot longer than Williams. You also have to consider that length as a factor in the bench pressing. Aldridge has to lift the bar a lot further over his body.</div> I'm not saying Aldridge can't be effective at the next level-- because I think he can be, but it won't be at center. He showed last offseason that he can add a few more pounds if needed by putting up 25 more pounds, so if he can do that this offseason, I don't see why he can't be the best player in the draft.
