VITALS: 7-4, 250, Buducnost (Serbia) OVERVIEW: Vranes is a 7-4 native of Serbia who has played on three different top European clubs, including a stint with Buducnost last season. Vranes played an average of 9.9 minutes per game in Euroleague competition and scored a total of 38 points in 10 games. Vranes played more in the Yugoslavian league when he averaged 3.8 points and 1.8 rebounds. Vranes' best game came in a win over Beograd when he scored 13 points. Vranes is best known for his defense and possesses excellent shot blocking skills in addition to his size. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Second round. Many thought Vranes would pull out of this year's draft because he does not appear to have secured a position in the coveted first round. Nevertheless, he remains available. Among the teams that viewed a private audition of Vranes are Minnesota (26, 55), Milwaukee (35, 43), New York (30, 39), Philadelphia (50), San Antonio (28), Seattle (41) and Toronto (52). COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Gheorghe Muresan COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Priest Lauderdale, Luther Wright ROLE PROJECTION: Reserve. POSITIVES: Vranes has been listed as 7-6, 7-5 and 7-4. Measurements in visits with teams tended to support that he is 7-6. However tall he is, his height is his strength. You cannot teach size, and Vranes is among the biggest players in the world. Playing in his club team's domestic league in the former Yugoslavia, Vranes received sparse minutes but converted on an impressive 14-of-20 shots on the year. In Buducnost's participation in the Euroleague, however, Vranes went just 5-of-17. SHORTCOMINGS: If Vranes was the average man's height, he would get killed in a game at the YMCA. There is no question that Vranes is largely a tall player without any real skills. In the NBA, physical specimens usually do not make it without some semblance of ability.
