VITALS: 6-1, 179, Arizona OVERVIEW: Stoudamire led the nation in 3-point shooting at 50.4 and finished his four-year career fifth on the NCAA Division I list at 46 percent. His 91 percent free throw percentage ranked fourth nationally and was a school record. The All-Pac 10 performer hit a conference and school record 120 3-pointers. Stoudamire averaged a team-high 18.4 points and 2.1 assists this season, posting a career high-tying 37 points and 11 3-pointers against Washington in the conference championship game. He hit game-winning shots at the buzzer in the regular season against UCLA and Arizona State and also against Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Late first round or early second round. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Jason Terry COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf ROLE PROJECTION: Instant offense guard off the bench. POSITIVES: Stoudamire might be the best pure shooter in the draft. Amazingly, his size and the fact he is not a true point guard had many people theorizing that he would not be picked in the first round. Stoudamire has a lightning-quick release on his shot and has "in the gym" range. He is one of the few college players who rarely looked to see whether he was just behind the 3-point line. His comfortable shooting range extends to the NBA arc. He is a player that can provide a spark with his offense. SHORTCOMINGS: Stoudamire is short and not a point guard. His cousin, Damon Stoudamire, has been a very effective NBA player and is even shorter than Salim, who never has been praised as an especially adroit defender. Then again, defending is not likely to be what gains him minutes in the NBA.
Who the hell is Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, I never heard of this guy. Salim at least has a college reputation, he will be an okay player, but no Jason Terry. What exactly is an adroit defender? Lute Olson awarded him as his teams best defensive players last 2 years, those teams include Hassan Adams, Iguodala,and Chris Rodgers.
This guy is going to be a solid role player or a Trajon Landgon. I think he'll be a solid player but nothing ever more than a 6th man, or a starter on a REALLY crappy team.
Hey did you know Tranjan Langdon is tearing up Europe right now, so that isn't that bad. If he can develop Point guard skills, he could become a very good starter.
Stoudemire will be the 7th or 8th man off the bench, strictly to provide instant offense and long-range shooting...the only issue is that he doesnt penetrate well and doesnt score a lot on drives, hes mostly a long-range specialist...it would benefit him if a contender picks him up so that he can be a specialist and not have to be asked to do any more...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">Hey did you know Tranjan Langdon is tearing up Europe right now, so that isn't that bad. If he can develop Point guard skills, he could become a very good starter.</div> Yeah, I heard about that somewhere, but in the NBA, Landgon never cut it, even though he was a good shooter.
Man, it just shows how much people watched Arizona, didn't you see him on Espn, against Arizona St., He drove and nailed a 4 foot jumper over Diogu, hello isn't that good enough.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">Who the hell is Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, I never heard of this guy. Salim at least has a college reputation, he will be an okay player, but no Jason Terry. What exactly is an adroit defender? Lute Olson awarded him as his teams best defensive players last 2 years, those teams include Hassan Adams, Iguodala,and Chris Rodgers.</div>That is Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. The only thing is though, I don't see how that is a comparible downside. Mahmoud (aka Chris Jackson if that helps anyone) had a good NBA career, averaging close to 15 ppg throughout it, and had a couple years close to 20 ppg. If anything, it's almost another comparible upside for him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">Who the hell is Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, I never heard of this guy. Salim at least has a college reputation, </div> Abdul-Rauf (aka Chris Jackson) had a tremendous college reputation, much much more heralded than Salim's. He even overshadowed Shaq when they played together. He averaged about 30 ppg for his college career, and was drafted top 5 in the draft... In the NBA, he almost broke Calvin Murphy's single season NBA record for FT%, but choked and missed a FT in the last game of the season. However, he was infamously known for not honoring the national anthem, and that was the start of him getting pushed out of the league...he bounced around a few teams and was out of the league within a few years, although some speculate that he was blackballed by the league for his strong beliefs..
Chris Jackson was hot in college, even made the cover of sports illustrated. His beliefs blackballed him out of the NBA. Back to the topic.. Salim's gonna make teams that did not draft him pay. Imagine the guy after 3 to 5 years in the NBA. He will be a very very tough guy to guard, like he was in college.
Oscar Robertson was not a point G in college,he wasn't even a g,he played F. He also is still one of the 2 best PG's ever. The other guy is Magic-who many exprts said could not play point in the NBA. Salim played pg in HS. His cousin is an NBA PG. Before him,Gilbert Arenas,and Jason Terry,NBA point G starters,played 2-G at Arizona for olsen. Bibby played point at AU. Salim is very quick-which is why he could get his shot off so effectively. While Deron Williams was Illinois PG,Dee Brown and Luther Head may both have carreers as PG's. At Fla St,Charlie Ward was the PG,but Temmates Sam Cassell and Bobby Sura have played a lot of point in the NBA. While NBA teams want those classic PG skills,the reality is they need the PG to also be able to score. Aaron Myles will get drafted later than Luther Head,Myles is a real PG-Head is a better Scorer. Salim is a competitor and will come up with enough PG skills to be a pretty good starter within 2 years
Arizona ain't known as "PG U" for nothing. Salim also is very quick with the dribble, and now that he'll have all the time he needs to develop and learn the NBA game, he can only get better and better. Somehow I see him being a good fit in Cleveland, where he can receive some of LeBron's passes and launch treys.
