I just knew this kid was special. This guy had amazing work outs and stunned everyone. HE is 7-4 and JUST 18. He might go to the raptors or Heat. The Raptors can really use a guy like him and some scouts think he is better than drako. He has excellent foot work and amazing speed for a 7-4 guy. The team who drafts him is going to have a great player He is ranked 4th in nbadraft.net and I believe 5 in espn
I don't really like how a guy suddenly pops into the top 5, I still don't think this guy is special. Pavel=Georghe Mearusean
Geesh what a joke... the guy was expected to be a 15-20 pick..not a top 5 pick..the guy isn't quick all he has is good size......if he goes top 5 that team will regret it big time..better than darko? give me a break....he isn't close to darko's talent and skills....
the guy was expected to be a 15-20 pick the guy was expected to be a 15-20 pick CHICAGO -- There he was, 7-foot-5 of long, strong proof that the legend of Pavel Podkolzine, the Siberian Shaq, the Ivan Drago of basketball, was, indeed, very much a reality. In front of about 100 representatives from all 29 NBA teams, Podkolzine went through a private workout here at the Gold Coast Multiplex health club Friday. He showed he could handle the ball. He showed he could shoot the ball. He showed he could get up and down the court with stunning speed and ease. And mainly he showed he is every bit the 7-5, 295 pounds of hoops prodigy that had the league buzzing with intrigue all year. Darko Milicic, the 7-1 Serbian 17-year-old, may be the toast of the international players in the draft -- almost certain to go No. 2 to Detroit. But Podkolzine, an 18-year-old from remote Siberia, Russia, is gaining fast. After an impressive showing Friday, he may wind up as high as No. 4. Or who knows, maybe higher? "He is big," said Toronto Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald, whose team just happens to pick fourth. "He showed pretty good athleticism and he is skilled. For 18-years-old, he obviously has a bright future. Just seeing him here, he can move pretty well, his feet are pretty good. It looked like he had decent hands. "His size is," Grunwald smiled before pausing. "Well, you just can't really teach that." This was truly something else. Watching Podkolzine go through a work out run by CBA coach Bill Bayno left mouths agape across the league. As these events are prone to be about, there was no competition and nothing was attempted that could put the big Russian in a bad light. But it was a sight to see nonetheless. Before the workout Podkolzine was little more than a rumor to most NBA execs. "He was a 7-foot-5, 300 pound figment of imagination," said one Western Conference scout. By the time he showed light feet, skilled hands and a decent jump shot -- not to mention Shaqesque size -- he had turned almost the entire draft on its ear. If last year's was about the arrival of mammoth Yao Ming of China, then Russia, the other old communist empire of Asia, is poised to answer this time around. "He reminds me of Yao because he combines skills with that size," Bayno said. "I think he is heavier and stronger than Yao although Yao is more skilled. He has a great lower body. He could be in shape at 350 down the road. And he can really run. He is faster than he knows." One thing that is appealing to scouts is that Podkolzine is a true, massive man. Although he says Tracy McGrady is his favorite player, there is no would-be shooting guard trying to break out of his shell. This is a guy who is willing to bang Shaquille O'Neal on the blocks. In two years he could be a serious offensive force. "A lot of European big guys like to stay on the perimeter, you can't move them into the post," said Bayno. "He likes it inside even though he likes to shoot the ball." Podkolzine hails from the city of Novosibirsk, the capital of Siberia and home to about 1.5 million people. The teenager said through his translator that it was, yes, very cold there. It was a tough place to grow up and poverty is extreme in the harsh region of a depressed empire. He played the past two years for Varese, an A1 team in the Italian Professional League, which is where he gained a cult following from scouts. But for a variety of reasons he often saw only limited playing time. So no one was completely certain about him. Friday he became the talk of a draft that had been searching for a fourth pick after the lock top three of LeBron James, Milicic and Carmelo Anthony. Podkolzine could now be that guy. In one half-hour workout he blew American big men Chris Kaman and Chris Bosh out of the water. "That is why he just made (the league execs) jobs tougher," said Bayno. "If you look at potential, I don't know how you can pass on him." Despite all the fuss and pressure of Friday afternoon's workout, Podkolzine was relaxed and smiling. He doesn't speak much English but he obviously has personality. It's sort of like the likeable Yao. "I was very surprised to see this much people (at the work out)," Podkolzine said through a translator. "I thought less people. All the famous players, the GMs in the history of the NBA. I am only a young prospect but I will work very hard to be a player. I hope one team signs me for this project." Can you imagine the marketing possibilities here? Somebody get Sylvester Stallone out of mothballs and film a Rocky IV remake as a Sprite commercial. At this point anything is possible. He has only seen minimal coaching and only played three years of competitive ball. His upside is immense. Which is why the top half of the lottery was reshuffled after one very simple workout on a rainy Chicago afternoon. Big is always big in the NBA. And Podkolzine almost redefines the word big. "He works hard, he is coachable," said his U.S.-based agent Justin Zanik. "The kid is a blank slate. He could go as high as top 10, top five. The sky is the limit." Have you seen his videos? I don't think so
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "allnet":</div><div class="quote_post">Geesh what a joke... the guy was expected to be a 15-20 pick..not a top 5 pick..the guy isn't quick all he has is good size......if he goes top 5 that team will regret it big time..better than darko? give me a break....he isn't close to darko's talent and skills....</div> exactly
Shawn Bradley was a top 5 pick too you know... how many guys that are 7'4 hae been any good? none really..ming is the only guy who could become a force at that kind of height...my bet is that he will be a wasted pick as guys that height do nothing in the NBA..because of the lack of quickness..time will tell
He was Keyword was not is Any ways <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Geesh what a joke... the guy was expected to be a 15-20 pick..not a top 5 pick..the guy isn't quick all he has is good size......if he goes top 5 that team will regret it big time..better than darko? give me a break....he isn't close to darko's talent and skills....</div> Who said he isn't quick? How's is drako better?
This kid could put these numbers and maybe better http://aol.nba.com/playerfile/zydrunas_ilg...x.html?nav=page
I've heard pavel isn't very quick in the low block....how is darko better? where do i start..he has better post moves...he can score,shoot,very quick around the basket..rebound,block shots..and is a very good defensive player... and it is Darko!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "Knicks":</div><div class="quote_post">This kid could put these numbers and maybe better http://aol.nba.com/playerfile/zydrunas_ilg...x.html?nav=page</div> Big Z or in other words..big softy If a player can't put up decent stats on the cavs then you have problems...big Z isn't that good....he is a poor FG shooter for his size...
professional scouts and GM's, whose jobs are on the line when they bank on players, are not going to talk about a Pick this glowingly if he is anything like Shawn Bradley or George Mureshan. Nobody in a million years would insinuate that he could move past Carmello if he was anything resembling Bradley or George. He's closer to Yao than he is to those two.
Well Jonathan Bender had a lot of hype, same situation as Pavel, look at him now? Anything special? no... Scouts can be wrong ya'know
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "t.mcbraggart":</div><div class="quote_post">Bender wasn't this hyped up. Some GM's think he has Yao like potential. Not reporters, GM's.</div> he kinda was, 5th pick...
Bender might be good you never know..pavel might be also..but saying he is as good as darko is just plain wrong...he isn't as good as james,darko or melo...they are a class above everyone else
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "thefranchise3":</div><div class="quote_post"><div class="quote_poster">Quoting "t.mcbraggart":</div><div class="quote_post">Bender wasn't this hyped up. Some GM's think he has Yao like potential. Not reporters, GM's.</div> he kinda was, 5th pick...</div> GM quotes from ESPN "I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW, thats the most potent combination of size, strength and agility I've seen since Shaq." "Thats one amazing prospect right there." "Based on potential he's right up there with Lebron and Darko" I don't remember anyone taling about Bender like that. The guy could suck for all I know, but those are GM's talking. He can't be anything like Muresan.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "allnet":</div><div class="quote_post">Bender might be good you never know..pavel might be also..but saying he is as good as darko is just plain wrong...he isn't as good as james,darko or melo...they are a class above everyone else</div> Darko and James are. I'm not sure Mello is as far ahead of Bosh, or Pavel as far as potential as the other two.
