<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">GREENBURGH, NY, May 18, 2005 -- Luther Head?s Fighting Illini battled their way into the NCAA Finals just last month. Chuck Hayes has won innumerable big games throughout his storied Kentucky career. Yet both players -- extremely experienced seniors of the most successful kind -- confessed to suffering a serious case of the jitters during the early part of their workouts at the New York Knicks? Madison Square Garden Training Center. ?I am keenly aware of the power of making a first impression,? a smiling Hayes shook his head afterwards. ?Too keenly, I guess.? ?I?ve been playing this game since I was ten years old,? added Head. ?And I think I?ve been pretty good at it at every level. But the NBA is an entirely different thing: much more physical play at a far higher pace. Even after this workout, I am more tired right now than I?ve been all season.? Still, once shedding the shakes, Hayes and Head -- along with Marquette point Travis Diener and Florida insider David Lee -- rose like champs to the occasion. ?(President, Basketball Operations Isiah (Thomas) told us we were the best group to come in for a workout so far,? said Head.</div> Knicks.com
Hayes would be a pretty good fit in New York, but I'd imagine he wouldn't get too much playing time considering the Knicks have a good amount of forwards as it is. But Hayes will give you great defense, he'll guard the best player on the opposing team--no matter how big they are, and is a solid shot blocker for his 6-6 size. Even though the leadership angle is overlooked in NBA basketball, Hayes is a leader nether the less.
We have more than enough powerforwards on the team. And we've already filled our quota of undersized powerforwards. There's no need to add another one(assuming Hayes is a powerforward) especially since we cant unload three of ours because of their bloated contracts. Hayes will be a better fit somewhere else. Let's look at people that are 6'10" and above.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">We have more than enough powerforwards on the team. And we've already filled our quota of undersized powerforwards. There's no need to add another one(assuming Hayes is a powerforward) especially since we cant unload three of ours because of their bloated contracts. Hayes will be a better fit somewhere else. Let's look at people that are 6'10" and above.</div> Actually, Chuck Hayes is an NBA Small Forward. Debating whether or not he'd get the playing time is really a mood point, because with the #54 pick, odds are that you won't get a player who will crack the rotation right away. There are always exceptions in the second round, such as your own Trevor Ariza, but those cases are rare. Right now I'd focus on guys who will be hard workers; you know, just good character guys who will contribute in practice and be efficient with whatever little time they give you. I think Hayes fits that bill. Aside from an asinine rape accusation a few weeks ago, his record is spotless and he has a reputation for being a workhorse and motivator. At #54, Hayes is a guy I'd be looking to draft, regardless of what team I was.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Actually, Chuck Hayes is an NBA Small Forward. Debating whether or not he'd get the playing time is really a mood point, because with the #54 pick, odds are that you won't get a player who will crack the rotation right away. There are always exceptions in the second round, such as your own Trevor Ariza, but those cases are rare. Right now I'd focus on guys who will be hard workers; you know, just good character guys who will contribute in practice and be efficient with whatever little time they give you. I think Hayes fits that bill. Aside from an asinine rape accusation a few weeks ago, his record is spotless and he has a reputation for being a workhorse and motivator. At #54, Hayes is a guy I'd be looking to draft, regardless of what team I was.</div> Hayes is a tweener. If a team tries to play him at small forward they will be sorry. His best chance at successf is playing his natural position at power forward. I like the fact that he's a hard worker and good defender but he'll just be taking up space on our roster right now. We are stocked up on powerforwards. With the 54th pick I'd just draft someone based on potential. Marcelo Huertas comes to mind as does Lucas Tischer. Someone we can just stash away in Europe and not have to pay or deal with. Anyway I think Isiah Thomas should be fired.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post">Hayes is a tweener. If a team tries to play him at small forward they will be sorry. His best chance at successf is playing his natural position at power forward. I like the fact that he's a hard worker and good defender but he'll just be taking up space on our roster right now. We are stocked up on powerforwards. With the 54th pick I'd just draft someone based on potential. Marcelo Huertas comes to mind as does Lucas Tischer. Someone we can just stash away in Europe and not have to pay or deal with. Anyway I think Isiah Thomas should be fired.</div> I think you've got the wrong image of Hayes. I think he could easily adapt to the Small Forward role. He's not a great shooter, but he has all of the other necessary tools. When he played with Team USA in 2003, he may have started as a Power Forward, but when they brought Arthur Johnson or Ike Diogu into the frontcourt with Okafor, a lot of times Hayes would shift to the wing. There's a lot of people out there who view Hayes as more of a true Small Forward that was just forced to play in the post at Kentucky. I'm not so sure if I'd take an international player just to avoid another salary, because this is one draft where a second round draft pick could turn out to be just as good as a late first round pick if used properly. The brilliance of the NBA draft this year is that it's so deep that if you're not looking for a player like Hayes who doesn't have high potential but will give you a solid work ethic and attitude at the end of the bench, you can always gamble on guys like Brandon Rush, Sean Banks, and Pierre Pierce who have high risks but could be very rewarding.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple Fever:</div><div class="quote_post">I am almost certain that if Zeke doesn't take Hayes in the 2nd Rd, Babcock is gon grab him.</div> That's great. Btw - Purple Fever your signature violates JBB guidelines and is considered baiting. You should remove it or it will be removed for you.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">I think you've got the wrong image of Hayes. I think he could easily adapt to the Small Forward role. He's not a great shooter, but he has all of the other necessary tools. When he played with Team USA in 2003, he may have started as a Power Forward, but when they brought Arthur Johnson or Ike Diogu into the frontcourt with Okafor, a lot of times Hayes would shift to the wing. There's a lot of people out there who view Hayes as more of a true Small Forward that was just forced to play in the post at Kentucky. I'm not so sure if I'd take an international player just to avoid another salary, because this is one draft where a second round draft pick could turn out to be just as good as a late first round pick if used properly. The brilliance of the NBA draft this year is that it's so deep that if you're not looking for a player like Hayes who doesn't have high potential but will give you a solid work ethic and attitude at the end of the bench, you can always gamble on guys like Brandon Rush, Sean Banks, and Pierre Pierce who have high risks but could be very rewarding.</div> You think so? From the scouting reports I've read he doesnt have the quickness or athleticism to play small forward amd that he'd get exploited out on the perimeter by average NBA small forwards. So you're basically saying Hayes is like Ryan Gomes? I wouldnt take an international player just to avoid salary. I would take an international player so they could develop overseas and I wont have to pay them until they come over nice and polished. Marcelo Huertas and especially Lucas Tischer both can be very rewarding players as well(heard of them?). These are guys who have alot of potential and have a very good chance(considering their being selected at the 54th spot) of realizing that potential. Anyway I think Isiah Thomas should be fired.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post">You think so? From the scouting reports I've read he doesnt have the quickness or athleticism to play small forward amd that he'd get exploited out on the perimeter by average NBA small forwards. So you're basically saying Hayes is like Ryan Gomes? I wouldnt take an international player just to avoid salary. I would take an international player so they could develop overseas and I wont have to pay them until they come over nice and polished. Marcelo Huertas and especially Lucas Tischer both can be very rewarding players as well(heard of them?). These are guys who have alot of potential and have a very good chance(considering their being selected at the 54th spot) of realizing that potential. Anyway I think Isiah Thomas should be fired.</div> With Hayes, it seems like you're letting sites like DraftCity make up your mind for you instead of watching these kids. Hayes doesn't have Michael Jordan-like athleticism, but it's definitely enough to get by on the NBA level. He's just as gifted as an Alan Anderson or a Jawad Williams athletically. Of course I know who Huertas and Tischer are. I've seen them both play before. If you have your heart set on an international kid, then that's fine with me, but for every Mehmet Okur, Eduardo Najera, Marco Jaric, or Emmanuel Ginobili, there are twenty Slavko Vranes. At 6-10, you'd need more of an offensive game to play Center than Tischer has. When I saw him, I couldn't figure out what all the hype was about. He's Erazem Lorbek Part II in my book; a player who gets scouts intrigued through his size and thus gets that "potential" label but is ultimately too raw to become a decent NBA Center. On the other hand, I actually like Macelo Huertas' game, but I still think that if a player like Rush or Banks is available, then there's no way you should pass them up for international talent. Before their academic issues, Rush was the #4 recruit in the nation and Banks was the NCAA Freshman of the Year. Thanks to the depth in the draft his year, those minor academic issues will be magnified and both players will probably slip to where the Knicks are picking.
Well, Hayes' stat sheet may not impress you, but his defense is magnifcent. Hayes was 8th in steals (169) and 9th in blocked shots (128) in his career at Kentucy. He also was named the 2004 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and we often asked to guard the opponent's best big man. He may not be the most athletic, but he gives 110% all the time and is a leader on the floor! He can shoot the jump shot but really need to work on ball handling skills to make the transition that much easier. I really think you need to see Chuck play before you say he can't make the transition to SF, because I actually think he may just do it!
