Chad Ford's Top 15 Internationals

Top 15 International Players

* - player can withdraw from the draft by the June 16 deadline


Gallinari

1. Danilo Gallinari, F, Italy*

Only 19 years old, Gallinari has already had a significant impact on European basketball -- in both the Euroleague and the Italian league. He plays very hard, possesses great leadership skills and has an extraordinary basketball IQ for a player his age.

There are some questions about his NBA 3-point range and what position he'd play in the NBA. He can play the point-forward role on offense, but scouts don't believe he has the lateral quickness to guard 3s. A few GMs see him as a skilled 4, similar to Lamar Odom.

Right now, Gallinari could go as high as No. 3 to Minnesota; I doubt he slips past Portland at No. 13.


Batum

2. Nicolas Batum, G/F, France*

Batum looked like a lock for the 2007 lottery after last year's scintillating Hoop Summit performance. But inexplicably, Batum decided against entering the draft. And he has fallen under much harsher scrutiny this year.

Batum has the athleticism, size and skill set to thrive in the NBA. But he lacks the assertiveness (or confidence) to live up to his potential right now -- he struggles to create offense for himself. An unimpressive performance at the Reebok Eurocamp this month didn't help his cause.

A lot of teams will look at him closely from No. 15 on down, but who will pull the trigger? As it stands, there's no guarantee Batum goes in the first round; teams later in the draft will worry about getting Batum to come to the NBA on the cheap.


Ibaka

3. Serge Ibaka, F, Congo*

Ibaka is an NBA athlete all the way. He is an explosive leaper who can perform jaw-dropping dunks a la Tyrus Thomas.

But it's unclear if he really knows how to play the game. Despite being just an OK shooter, Ibaka often settles for perimeter shots. And he hasn't developed anything resembling a low-post game yet.

He has significant upside, but he's a real project at this point, which casts his draft status in uncertain terms. I could see a team with multiple first-round picks -- like the Nets, Sonics or Grizzlies -- taking a flier on Ibaka in the first round. But if they were not to bring him over right away, they would run the risk of him blowing up in Spain and never coming to the NBA.


Ajinca

4. Alexis Ajinca, F/C, France*

An athletic big man who runs the floor well and has a certain smoothness to his game that most big men lack, Ajinca has been on the NBA radar since he was 16. He was the best international player at this year's Hoop Summit and won over some fans.

His production in France has been inconsistent. He's considered project with significant upside, but at age 21, how much longer can he be discussed in terms of potential.

Tomic

5. Ante Tomic, F/C, Croatia*

Another very productive player in Europe, Tomic has the size and skill to be an excellent high-post center in the pros. On talent, he's a late lottery pick.

But he is paper-thin, and scouts worry he'll get pushed around in the pros.

Even more troubling for NBA teams is the fact that Tomic still has two years left on his existing deal, without an NBA buyout. If he continues to play well in Europe, a late-first-round salary just won't cut it. Therefore, he might be better off as an early second-round pick. That way, if he develops, a team can afford to pay him.

Some teams believe Tomic will pull out of the draft, but don't count on it. His agent Marc Cornstein has scheduled a big team workout for him in New York after the pullout date.

Jawai

6. Nathan Jawai, F/C, Australia

With huge hands and a long wingspan, Jawai is a load in the paint. He also moves well for a big man and shows a solid perimeter game. He had a big year in the Australian pro league and has had solid reviews in workouts so far.

Jawai also isn't a risk for teams because players make significantly less in the Australian league, so he won't refuse to come to the NBA after being drafted.

7. Omer Asik, C, Turkey

Asik is a long, physical big man with good athleticism and a great motor -- he can be relentless on both ends of the floor.

Unlike most other European players, Asik isn't highly skilled. He relies on hustle and energy, which has made him a really intriguing prospect.

Asik has two more years on his contract in Turkey and doesn't have an NBA buyout. Teams will likely want to take him in the second round so they can afford to bring him to the NBA in the future if he continues to develop.


Casspi

8. Omri Casspi, F, Israel*

Casspi is the latest in a line of athletes to earn the designation as the best NBA prospect in Israel. He is a tough, aggressive player. If his shot develops, he could be a serious first-round contender.

A few teams like the Pistons will give him a look because of his toughness and grit.

But it's unclear whether Casspi is in the draft for good or he'll pull out by the deadline.

Claver

9. Victor Claver, F, Spain*

Claver is a young prospect who probably has first-round talent. But a subpar year at Valencia has hurt his stock a little. He has been playing better lately, and he is currently in the United States going through draft workouts.

A team could take a flier on him late in the first round, but that would come with the risk of being unable to pay him if he were to pan out. He would most likely be a second-round pick this year, which means he'll probably pull out of the draft.

10. Nikola Pekovic, F/C, Serbia

Pekovic has dominated in Europe this year, averaging 17.6 ppg in the Euroleague this season. He's a tough, physical player with a great motor, but he lacks the ideal size and athleticism to be a great NBA big man.

Pekovic is another player who might be considered for the first round, but he just signed a lucrative deal with Greek powerhouse Panathanikos. His agent, Jeff Schwartz, has been telling teams not to draft him in the first round to ensure that, if he wants to come to the NBA, he won't have to take an unfavorable contract to do so.

Said Schwartz: "He's going to make too much money in Europe to take such a huge pay cut to come to the league given the first round rookie salary scale restrictions."


Mbemba

11. Rudy Mbemba, PG, Sweden
Mbemba might be the toughest player in the draft to project. He is a great athlete -- very quick, with an NBA body. In the past few Reebok Eurocamps, he's been quite impressive.

But his lack of size and playing experience at a high level, along with questions about his floor management skills, have a lot of GMs asking questions about his long-term future in the pros.

I think Mbemba has a chance to be a real talent in the NBA, but someone is going to have to roll the dice on him in the second round.

12. Goran Dragic, G, Slovenia

The athletic, Slovenian guard plays with aggression and intensity. But teams question his shooting ability and aren't sure he's a pure point guard.

He's one of those players, like countryman Beno Udrih, who is a better player in games than he is in workouts. He is a second-rounder, but he could turn out to be one of the better international players in this draft.

13. Semih Erden, C, Turkey

Erden has been on the NBA radar for years. He's slowly progressing as a player, but right now it's fair to say he's still a project.

A team might be willing to draft him in the second round and keep him overseas for the next few years to see if he develops.

14. Giorgi Shermadini, F/C, Georgia*

The mystery man from Georgia isn't much of a mystery anymore. I saw the Mr. Bean lookalike in Las Vegas a few weeks ago and didn't come away all that impressed.

He is skilled and plays hard, but he lacks the physical strength or athleticism to be a surefire NBA player. Still, a lot of teams are interested in him as a second-round project.

15. Nando De Colo, PG, France*

De Colo is a crafty combo guard who is really fun to watch -- he has a lot of tricks up his sleeve as a playmaker. But teams question his athleticism and his ability to guard quicker players.

He probably will pull out of the draft, but teams are watching his development closely.

Best of the rest: Rodrigue Beaubois, PG, France; Anton Ponkrashov, G, Russia; Mantas Kalnietis, PG, Lithuania; Luc Louves, F, France; Uros Tripkovic, G, Serbia; Peja Samardziski, C, Macedonia; Vladimir Gulubovic, F, Serbia; Nikita Shabalkin, F, Russia.