As of right now, it seems that Ndudi Ebi, T'Wolves' first rd. pick in the 2003 draft would spend next season as he spent the last one, buried on the bench. Obviousley, practicing against one of the game's best players everyday would do nothing but help him, but even Kevin Garnett had taken a little while playing in the league before he devolped to become the big force we know. I just think that McHale and Saunders should try the same philosphy they tried with Kevin when they drafted him (although they're not as desperate as they were back in the mid. 90's), which is letting him play in real games. He had amazing performances at Westbury HS, and he was looked as a 'Kevin Garnett' in his High School days, so why not play the kid, because an entire season of daily practising with McHale and Garnett makes you way better than you already are.
I really like Ebi, I think he will be a very good player with the proper development. I wish he had just gone to Arizona, because i think if he stayed in AZ for 1-2 years, he could've been a top 5-10 pick in the draft. I'm actually hoping he's traded, because i don't see him getting a spot in the rotation, I think he'll end up buried at the end of the bench.
The Wolves right now have Latrell Spreewell and Sczerbiak clogging up the minutes at small forward, so minutes would be hard to come by. I expect Ebi to really get a chance in three years when Spreewell retires, because Minnesota has too much depth right now to let their future screw up their present.
I really don't see how he can get 10 minutes a game with Hassell and Wally splitting minutes at SF and Spree taking most of the minutes at SG with Hoiberg coming off of the bench. To be honest, there doesn't seem much of any room on here. He needs to go to a team that is scarce at the SF or SG spot so he can get minutes here and there and develop into a great player. Believe me, I feel Ebi could be a star in this league. Just right now there is no room for him to develop and showcase his skill on this team.
I think he is dud, I don't think he has that edge or desire to do his very best. That's me but I hope he proves me wrong.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Originally posted by TwinTowers I think he is dud, I don't think he has that edge or desire to do his very best. That's me but I hope he proves me wrong.</div> No, your wrong on that one bro. Ebi is one of the hardest workers around, my friend's brother played him 2 years ago in a tourney where he got to go to the USA an the said the guy was the best he's ever played and he try's his hardest. Here's something on the internet that proves that. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It's a secret, Ndudi Ebi said. He said it quietly, in the hall outside the Timberwolves locker room Friday. This, apparently, is his way. Ebi speaks softly, but he appears to carry some big expectations. At least that was the lingering impression he left when he answered the question, quickly and quietly, about what his goal was for the upcoming season. "Good question," he said. "My goal for the season? That's a really good question. ... You can say it's a secret, and I don't want to tell anybody." An attempt to coax more than a few words out of Ebi quickly left one with the feeling that words aren't so important. This is not a young man -- only last month, he escaped his teens -- who needs to hear himself talk. "It came from watching my parents," Ebi said. "My mother got up at 5:30 to go to work, I woke up at 5:30 to work on my game. When my parents slept, I slept. When they didn't sleep, I didn't sleep. I took that work ethic with me to basketball." And to Minnesota, where he joined a very competitive Wolves team. He deserved credit for realizing how much work there was to be done during his rookie season, when he watched a very good team advance to the Western Conference finals. "He was able to assess his game," McHale said. "He looked at it, real honestly and saw the areas he needed to work on. He learned he was a long way away from playing, at a high NBA level, with a playoff team." </div> Link I've liked Ebi since I caught a glimpse of him in the 2 games that were televised on NBA TV which the Wolves played in. Ebi is going to be great and his work ethic is what is going to take him there. I dont think Ebi will get much time here in Minnesota because KG and Wally, Spree all able to play SF before him.
Ebi deserves to sit on the bench he is physically not ready he gained no strength he came into the league thinking he could be successful weight 5 pounds when he could have went to college and been a starter and most likely with this yrs week draft class a lottery pick because think about 2003's draft Bosh, Hinrich, Wade, Sweeny, West, Marquiese Daniels, Josh howard, Lebron, Darko, and Carmelo that class is like the 1999 class full of all stars
Right now, Ebi isn't ready to produce in the NBA. He needs more physical strength. But the best way for him to develop is by playing, ready for it or not. He wont be getting many minutes in Minnesota however. They don't need him now. He should be a good player eventually, playing alongside KG every day will help him a lot. But in Minnesota he will have to wait a few more seasons before he is needed to contribute, and by then he should be ready.
who knows? he might be another Jermaine O'Neal.. buried at the end of the bench, when his rookie contract expires he could move onto another team and with playing time, become really good.
^ Well, that's the big mistake Wolves managment might be making. The kid will look for somewhere else to play when he becomes a free agent, and as you said it could be Jermaine O'Neal all over again.
I've always been a big fan of Ebi. I love this kid. I think that some day he may develop into a solid ball player. He's got to get a big stonger to compete, though. It's tough for him to serve as a back-up PF in Minnesota though. I think if Ebi went to College he'd be much better off. Big mistake, a lot of kids are making them now, too bad.
There really is no place for him on team. What I'd like to know is why the T-Wolves would draft him, knowing they weren't gonna play him for three years anyway. Then, as soon as he starts showing signs, he'll be a free agent. In this day and time, we all know how that works. It's like a Jermaine O'Neal thing. He didn't show a lot at Portland, so they let him go. Then he blows up. The same thing could happen here.
