VITALS: 7-0, 255, junior, Central Michigan OVERVIEW: Kaman is an early entry candidate who emerged as one of the best college centers this past season at Central Michigan after being named to the Mid-American Conference first team and leading the Chippewas to the NCAA Tournament. Kaman averaged 22.4 points and 12.0 rebounds last season as a junior, one of just five players in the country to average 20 points and 10 rebounds. Kaman set a single-season record with 98 blocks for Central Michigan, the same school that produced former Phoenix Sun Dan Majerle. He led the nation with 25 double-doubles and collected 25 points and 10 rebounds in an NCAA Tournament loss to Duke and drew praise from Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski. Kaman only averaged 11.8 points and 8.3 rebounds as a sophomore, demonstrating a quantum leap this past year. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Picks 4-9. Kaman had a good workout in Toronto (4), and the club needs a center. Miami (5) and the Clippers (6) need one as well, with Alonzo Mourning and Michael Olowokandi, respectively, no longer under contract. Chicago (7) would likely pass on Kaman due to the emergence of returning pivot Eddy Curry. Milwaukee (8) needs a big man, but it is New York (9) that wants one even more. A trade between the teams is possible. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Rony Seikaly, Eddy Curry COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Chris Mihm, Alec Kessler, Cherokee Parks ROLE PROJECTION: Immediate starter. POSITIVES: There are not many legitimate centers playing in the league anymore. How often does a 7-footer with good athleticism, strength, touch and footwork come around nowadays? Kaman is not only coordinated, he is better with his left hand and than he is with his right. He has a track record of not only scoring, but more importantly rebounding and blocking shots. Given his mobility, it is difficult to believe a team could go wrong in selecting Kaman. SHORTCOMINGS: Kaman played in the MAC at Central Michigan, where there was virtually no competition. Moreover, he was far from dominant for two of his three seasons in that league. There is some justifiable cause for concern regarding Kaman in that sense, but there is very little to knock about his game. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "We watched him a lot during the year. He can score, pass and is NBA-ready. Kaman is a lottery pick." Detroit Pistons director of player personnel Scott Perry
This guy is very aggressive which i think is the make or break of his career, if he stays aggressive he will be good. more of Kaman: Chris Kaman Profile
Quick! Someone name the last white American center drafted in the lottery to be worthy of his draft position!
this kid looks like meet for the NBA to tear into and embarass... he looks like he reads comic books and is the first in line to the Star Wars movies...
Clippers selected well (for once) they need a center to replace the kandiman....and kaman is a good player..he needs to get strong but what playey doesn't..guy has a great post game...
Kaman uses both hands very well...i loved that comment just cracked me up. If the best thing they've got to say about him is he can finish from point blank range with both hands....well, welcome to the Joel Przybillia support group for white stiffs who don't live up to their expectations.
with Kandi leaving... Kaman doesn't have to fill really big shoes... at least not for producing big numbers... 12 & 9 is something Kaman can do also if he gets 38 minutes per game...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "Rocko220":</div><div class="quote_post">Kaman uses both hands very well...i loved that comment just cracked me up. If the best thing they've got to say about him is he can finish from point blank range with both hands....well, welcome to the Joel Przybillia support group for white stiffs who don't live up to their expectations.</div> haha yeah another white stiff. he'll be traded around until he's out of the league. this guy is a bust.
they have ely and wilcox, and they still might re-sign brand. i think they should have went with the BAP like Jarvis Hayes or Pietrus. they should have traded down and get some veteran help.
Ely and Wilcox are both 6-10, they are not true C's... Kaman is.. they have enough 6-6, 6-7 and 6-8 players... but if they had traded down.. who would they get and who would they have to give up? I haven't seen any possible trade rumours for the Clips...
most teams play with undersized centers so ely & wilcox are good enough. i think they might have got stromile and person from memphis for the #6 pick. it's really hard to say who the clippers could have got. they are infamous for drafting young players, developing them and then losing them via free agency. all we know is if it helps the bottomline sterling he will do it.
they are indeed famous for their bad management.. but maybe this year it will be different.. if they can keep Brand, Odom and Miller... I'm not a huge fan of Kandi... so I don't think it's such a huge loss if he leaves... I guess we just have to sit back and see what Kaman can do for them... in the MAC conference he had pretty decent numbers with 22 and 12 I believe... and above 60% FG... so I wouldn't call him a stiff right away...
IMO, they should've drafted anyone but Kaman...however GM's have been sucker's for bigs since basketball began. There really were no immediate contributing prospects at C...but tons of good teams don't have a real C....personally I think Kaman will bust...I guess he has as good a chance as anyone to break the white stiff center curse....but as my man Bill Simmons says, "Seattle takes Nick Collison at No. 12. Another nice pick. For God's sake, he tossed up a 30-20 in a national title game; Chris Kaman couldn't have matched that if he were playing against the Tennessee Lady Vols. I don't understand this league sometimes."
