<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MikeDC)</div><div class='quotemain'>I'm gonna start a happy dance, I think </div></p> Just make sure you wear damn pants!</p> -Petey</p>
<h2>Bobcats opt for F Brandon Wright with eighth pick in draft</h2> Thursday, June 28, 2007 08:23 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) - Score one - or make it eight in this case - for potential and raw athleticism. Brandon Wright continued the wave of freshmen going high in the NBA draft, when he was selected No. 8 by the Charlotte Bobcats on Thursday night </p> Despite his lithe frame at 6-9, 2-5 pounds, Wright's enormous wingspan evokes images of a player several inches taller. He was the fourth freshmen taken in the top eight. </p> The Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year, his ascension up the draft charts is eerily similar to that of former North Carolina standout Marvin Williams, who was the No. 3 pick overall in 2005 despite spending just one season in Chapel Hill. </p> His Carolina pedigree did not hurt with former Tar Heels superstar Michael Jordan running the draft for the Bobcats. </p> Starting all but one game, Wright scored 14.7 points, grabbed 6.2 rebounds and blocked a team-leading 1.8 shots. Most impressively, he led the ACC in field goal percentage (.646). </p> An athletic marvel, Wright manages to create his own offense due to his spectacular leaping ability, timing and athleticism around the rim. </p> That may not translate well to scoring from a set offensive pattern, but that was also the case at North Carolina where he managed to four or five baskets per game with absolutely no plays being run for him. </p> Wright does need to bulk up and improve on his woeful (.567) free-throw shooting percentage. </p>
Joakim Noah, decent pick for Bulls but seems kinda redundant?</p> 10. Spencer Hawes</p> 11. Acie Law</p>
I think his (Noah) mom should get a DNA test as there might have been a mix up at the hospital.</p> -Petey </p>
<span class="main"><span class="spacing">Noah reminds me of a bigger Tayshaun Prince. <font size="3">He wasn't an especially good shooter coming out of UK and he has that really goofy looking skinny/narrow body. But he's skilled and works his *** off, and that'll get him minutes.</font></span></span>
I told you all about Spencer Hawes, all of you!</p> </p> Now, Acie Law IV is next - but hopefully a trade.</p>
<h2>Bulls make F Noah third Gator to be taken in first round</h2> Thursday, June 28, 2007 08:35 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) - Joakim Noah completed the trifecta. Noah, who was taken ninth overall by the Chicago Bulls, became the third member of the Florida Gators' back-to-back national championship teams to be taken in the first round. </p> Al Horford went third to the Atlanta Hawks, and Corey Brewer was selected seventh to the Minnesota Timberwolves. It is the earliest three players from the same school have been selected in the draft. </p> The Bulls received the pick from the New York Knicks two years ago in a trade that sent center Eddy Curry to the Knicks. </p> An emerging team in the Eastern Conference, Chicago swept the then defending NBA-champion Miami Heat in the first round of last month's playoffs. Chicago then was eliminated by the Detroit Pistons in the conference semifinals. </p> But the future looks good for the Bulls, who have restructured their squad behind youngsters Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas with veteran defensive-specialist Ben Wallace. </p> Noah adds another talented piece. The son of former French Open tennis champion Yannick Noah, the power forward played a major role in the Gators becoming the first team to repeat as national champions since Duke in 1992. </p> Noah is an exceptional athlete who happens to be nearly seven-feet tall. He can run the court like a small forward and can impact games on both ends of the court as an offensive rebounder and a shot-blocker. </p> He is a smart player who will figure out what his team needs him to do and then go out and do it. He cannot be measured by statistics, but in a few years he will be known as a "stat sheet stuffer," someone who contributes a few points, a few rebounds, a few blocks and a few steals. </p> But, ironically, experts warn that is the problem with Noah, who may not possess an above-average skill on either end of the floor. </p>
<h2>Kings take Washington C Hawes with 10th pick</h2> Thursday, June 28, 2007 08:41 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) - The Sacramento Kings selected Washington center Spencer Hawes with the 10th pick in the NBA draft on Thursday night. An attractive commodity if not for other reason that he is one of the few true scoring centers to come out of college game, Hawes likely will serve as a backup after spending just one year with the Huskies. </p> However, he will join the Kings, who need an upgrade to their aging and relatively soft frontline. </p> A 7-0, 235-pounder, Hawes has a soft shooting touch and an array of low-post moves, reminiscent of Kevin McHale. </p> Finishing fourth in the Pac-10 Conference in field goal percentage (.532), Hawes led Washington in scoring at 14.9 points per game while averaging 6.4 rebounds. </p> Overall, Hawes has a good feel for the game, with a nice passing touch, which he'll need to overcome his lack of athleticism. </p> However, he did blocked 54 shots and in a hyped-up matchup against Louisiana State's Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Hawes had one of his best games of the season with 23 points and 12 rebounds. </p> Hawes played well with his back to the basket and grew more comfortable stepping out to take the outside shot as the season progressed. </p>
<h2>Hawks selected PG Law with No. 11 selection </h2> Thursday, June 28, 2007 08:44 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) - The Atlanta Hawks ignored an area of need with the top pick. But they made up for it eight slots later Atlanta selected point guard Acie Law Iv with the No. 11 selection in the NBA draft. He joins Florida forward Al Horford, who went to the Hawks at No. 3. </p> Law won the Bob Cousy Award as the nation's top point guard as a senior. </p> Perhaps the most clutch player in the country, with a penchant for hitting buzzer-beating shots, Law has the ability to lead by example. A shoot-first point guard, he was a prolific scorer at Texas A&M with a magnetic personality. </p> Law was fifth in the Big 12 Conference in scoring at 18.1 points. He scored a career-high 33 points against lottery-pick Kevin Durant's Texas Longhorns and went over the 20-point mark 18 times. </p> While Law is unselfish and will make the pass and run the offense, he is not a prescient passer in the manner of Jason Kidd. Asked who he admired in the NBA, Law tabbed Ray Allen. </p> </p><div class="pre">However, the quick guard may be a taller version of Damon</div> Stoudamire, who also had a lefty stroke and a similar ability to score from all angles. But, like Stoudamire, he does not have the prototypical NBA body and will not fit a point guard's mold. Law has been projected as a backup point guard who does not have the ability to carry the scoring load at the next level in some quarters. If his college career was any indication, Law will start his career trying to prove others wrong. </p>
Thaddues Young at 12, bit of a suprise</p> </p> New Orleans ... gonna guess Rodney Stuckey for a random bit of fun</p>
I think Stuckey could end up as one of the big time players in the draft. I'm not sure I'd want to put him next to Chris Paul though... that'll exaccerbate his small size for the SG slot and take away some of his PG value
