VITALS: 6-11, 240, Skonto Riga (Latvia) OVERVIEW: Biedrins is a powerful, potent big man who has developed quickly and is just 18 years old. The Latvian native is a major presence around the basket and a ferocious shot blocker. Biedrins has played two seasons in the Latvian League with Skonto Riga and averaged 18.0 points and 14.4 rebounds while shooting nearly 62 percent from the floor. His offensive game is crude and still needs development and he currently relies on his immense raw physical ability. American scouts got a glimpse of Biedrins last July when he played a few games with the D.C. Assault AAU team and dominated the action. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: The favorite to draft Biedrins is Washington (5). The club already has too many perimeter players and needs help in the paint, even if that means having to play Biedrins and former No. 1 pick Kwame Brown alongside each other. Atlanta (6) could also bite, Phoenix (7) likes internationals but likely would pass due to the presence of Amare Stoudemire, Toronto (8) needs size but has a similar player in Chris Bosh and Philadelphia (9) would strongly consider. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Chris Bosh, Jermaine O'Neal COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Chris Andersen, Joe Smith ROLE PROJECTION: Reserve, future starter POSITIVES: By all accounts, Biedrins was a warrior in the FIBA Europe League this season, scoring points and grabbing rebounds in high volume despite his youth. Biedrins' length, mobility, toughness and intensity level figure to make him a solid rebounder and shot-blocker at the NBA level once his body fills out. Those attributes also make him a potential scorer if he adds the necessary polish. SHORTCOMINGS: As one might expect, the 18-year-old Biedrins is still raw. His low-post game is in need of development, and he hasn't had a lot of experience facing foes who physically match up with him. Furthermore, Biedrins' wiry frame could be a liability in the NBA, especially if he is forced to play center. To his credit, he has added more muscle in preparing for the draft.
Of all the international prospects, I consider him the one with the least risk. I am expecting him to get chosen by Washington. If not, he won't go any further than the tenth pick.
