2007 NBA Draft Preview: The Point Guards
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1. MIKE CONLEY JR. (6-1 Fr. Ohio State)
WHY: Super-quick extreme athlete with never-ending limbs -- inherited genes from Dad, an Olympic Champion triple-jumper -- is a well-nigh invisible penetrator and lockdown defender who generally makes good decisions with the ball.WHY NOT: Inexperience can be a problem, particularly for a point guard. Needs to get more consistent on jump shot (only 30.4 per cent from three-point range last season).
PROBABLE DRAFT POSITION: 3-8
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2. JAVARIS CRITTENTON (6-5 Fr., Georgia Tech)
WHY: Baron Davis-esque power point guard with unstoppable slashing skills off the dribble. Has size and shooting ability to also play the ”two” spot.WHY NOT: Inexperience. Plus his natural inclinations are “score-first”.
PROBABLE DRAFT POSITION: 11-20
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3. ACIE LAW (6-3 Sr. Texas A&M)
WHY: Fundamentally sound floor leader who‘s been through the wars and excels in the clutch, Law is also a very fine jump shooter (50 per cent fg, including an excellent 45.8 per cent treys).WHY NOT: Not an exceptional athlete.
PROBABLE DRAFT POSITION: Low lottery-to-22
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4. GABE PRUITT (6-4, Jr, USC)
WHY: Big, very athletic combo-guard who’s razor-tough. Can be an unstoppable shooter when hot.WHY NOT: Not a true point guard. Shot tends to be streaky rather than pure.
PROBABLE DRAFT POSITION: Late first round-to early second.
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5. TAUREAN GREEN (6-0 Jr. Florida)
WHY: Quick, versatile, shoots well with range (40.6 per cent treys) and in the clutch, has good feel for the game. At his toughest when the going gets tough, Green led Gators to back-to-back NCAA titles.WHY NOT: He’s on the small side and commits too many turnovers.
PROBABLE DRAFT POSITION: Late first round-to mid-second.
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6. AARON BROOKS (6-0 Sr. Oregon)
WHY: Owns elite quicks, can stop on a dime to get off dependable mid-range shot. A warrior, he’s also a great rebound-er for his size.WHY NOT: Small-ish, likes to shoot first, and is not a dominant defender.
PROBABLE DRAFT POSITION: Late first round-to mid-second.
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7. BOBBY BROWN (6-1 Sr, Cal-Fullerton)
WHY: An amazing athlete who can be an effective floor leader when the mood hits. Plays with boundless energy on both ends of the floor..WHY NOT: Doesn’t always make the right choices with the ball, in that he tends to go for spectacular, rather than fundamentally sound, play.
PROBABLE DRAFT POSITION: Early to-mid-second round.
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8. RAMON SESSIONS (6-3 Jr. Nevada)
WHY: Postseason riser who’s impressed at Orlando Pre-Draft Camp (13 assists vs. just 1 turnover) and team workouts with unselfish smarts and great quickness.WHY NOT: Not a great shooter.
PROBABLE DRAFT POSITION: Second round.
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9. MUSTAFA SHAKUR (6-3 Sr. Arizona)
WHY: This guy has it all: size, athleticism, uncanny quickness with the ball, penetrating ability, jumpshot. Ranked third in the nation in assists (6.9 pg.).WHY NOT: A major enigma. Can excellent postseason cover up the fact that, in a four-year college career, he’s rarely performed up to the level of his talent?
PROBABLE DRAFT POSITION: Late second round-to-undrafted free agent.
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10. JARED JORDAN (6-2 Sr. Marist)
WHY: A pure passer and old-school natural point guard who led the nation in assists last season (8.7 pg), Jordan owns outstanding team-first attitude and surgeon-like court vision.WHY NOT: May not be enough of an athlete, or shooter, for the league.
PROBABLE DRAFT POSITION: Late second round-to-undrafted free agent.
NEXT BEST
Engin Atsur (6-4 Sr. North Carolina State), Zabian Dowdell (6-3 Sr. Virginia Tech), J. R. Reynolds (6-3 Sr, Virginia).
