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Nets General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe

On the format of this year’s pre-draft workouts:
“You have a lot of NBA teams here, I think we have 23 or 24 teams. It’s the same as an individual workout, there are six guys on the floor, they do all of the same things, but it’s just way more efficient. You have to fly these guys all over the place and in the past the players have gotten very, very tired, beat up, and a lot times they are hurt and can’t come to you. So this is a format where everyone gets an equal look at them and I think it works out very well.”

On if he can tailor the workout to get specific results out of players:
“I think you can fit it in slightly but what we try to do is keep the workouts very similar to what happened in Golden State and the other group workouts, so you are comparing apples to apples for everybody.”

On how the group workouts came to be:
“I think that we are all challenged to be more efficient. This makes a lot of sense for a lot of reasons. Logistics for players to get around to every team is very difficult; this allows 23 teams to see all of these players on one day. We’re going to have three days in a row, we’re all together, we can talk and I really think it’s a wave of the future.”

On what the Nets are looking for specifically out of these workouts:
“You always have some needs, you have some guys that you like in the draft specifically. But I’m of the view that you always go with the best player available. I think it’s very dangerous to pass up what you think is the best player to take a positional need.”

On Omri Casspi:
“I think that when I’ve seen him play, both here, out in Golden State and on DVD, he’s extremely active, he’s a tough player and a better shooter than you think. I like him as a player and I think he’ll be very effective in the NBA.”

On if Casspi will definitely be in the NBA this year:
“Well I don’t know. My understanding is he’s under contract for next year, probably has a buyout but I think he could be very effective in the NBA.”

On how many guys the Nets actually have a shot at drafting:
“It’s still early believe it or not. We still have a couple of weeks until the draft and a lot of things can happen. Guys start getting promises and guys start to separate themselves. What we try to do going into the draft is have a short list of five or so players in order and then you monitor what other teams are doing and if there’s other deals out there that are possible to either move up or move back, you always want to make sure you know what other teams are trying to do.”

On taking Devin Harris’ comments about drafting another point guard into account:
“I think it’s important to listen to your players, and we do that. All of last year we were lucky and got away with having two point guards. We had Vince Carter at times as our third point guard and obviously he can do that but another point guard along with Keyon Dooling and Devin would certainly be a positive.”
Omri Casspi
Currently Playing: Israel Height: 6-8 Weight: 220 Position: SF

On his expectations coming into the workout:
“Same expectations that I had when I came over to the states. I came here to play aggressive, to come and play my game and hopefully it will raise my stock. This was the only thing I thought about.”

On his thoughts of whether or not playing in the NBA was his dream as a kid:
“Yes. I am very excited about it. I’m here to show my skills and for me to be on the NBA courts, the NBA gyms, practice facilities, it’s amazing and I’m just excited about it.”

On his thoughts of how he competed today:
“The same way I compete everyday. The same way I have competed all of my life. I work hard, play aggressive, and I think I did good.”

On if the workout process is more draining physically or mentally:
“Physically I think. Actually, we are doing a lot of work. Other guys are doing like six workouts as opposed to the 11-12 workouts that I am doing, flying from city to city, competing everyday with all of these great players is very hard. But it’s a process, the draft is right around the corner and I am very excited about it.”

On his thoughts of whether or not things were surprising during the workouts in which he participated:
“No.”

On his thoughts of which NBA skills he already has to offer:
“I come in and compete everyday. I play tough, I play hard. Everybody is a good shooter and can penetrate but when you watch the NBA Finals you see the toughest guys playing and you don’t see any kids. You see players that come in and play hard and play with your team to win… I feel like I can bring that to a team.”

On his thoughts of what he will be doing on June 26th:
“Hopefully it’s going to be the happiest day of my life and I want to be with my friends and my family. It’s going to be amazing. I don’t know, I haven’t really thought about it yet.”



Chase Budinger
College: Arizona Height: 6-7 Weight: 218 Position: SG/SF

On his expectations coming into the workout:
“Just like every other workout, come in there and try to show what you got.”

On his thoughts on how he competed today:
“I thought I did alright. It was kind of different because I was the big guy out there and I definitely don’t play down low so it was a different kind of workout for me.”

On his thoughts of if the workout process is more draining physically or mentally:
“A little bit of both. Probably more mentally just because this is your career that you’re playing for and just knowing that everything that you do, people are watching which is kind of stressful. But also the physical part between the traveling and the workouts start wearing on you as time goes on.”

On his thoughts of whether or not things were surprising during the workouts in which he participated:
“No, it was a fairly normal workout for me. A lot of playing, a lot of 1-on-1, set plays, getting up and down, so there was really nothing new that I saw.”

On which NBA skills he already has to offer:
“I would have to say my all around game. I know I can score, I’m a good passer, I can rebound and I am pretty long for being a wing which, I think, is unusual for most wing players.”

On his thoughts of what he will be doing on June 26th:
“(Chuckles) June 26th, I mean mostly you’re going to be on a plane flying out to the city wherever you get drafted.”



Paul Harris
College: Syracus Height: 6-4 Weight: 220 Position: SG/SF

On his expectations coming into the workout:
“The main thing was going in there to compete and play hard. I knew I was going in there against tough competition like Chase Budinger, Patrick Beverley and a lot of great players so you just have to compete and go hard.”

On his thoughts of how he competed today:
“Always at a high level, always 110 percent, always.”

On if the workout process is more draining physically or mentally:
“I don’t know, I think both. You’re so worried about how you’re doing and how you’re competing, it’s tough.”

On his thoughts of whether or not things were surprising during the workouts in which he participated:
“No, because I’m up in Chicago working out with Tim Grover. Everything that we went through here, they were teaching us up in Chicago.”

On his thoughts of which NBA skills he already has to offer:
“Just working hard and I am a great rebounder and defender.”

On his thoughts of what he will be doing on June 26th:
“(Laughs) I don’t know man, hopefully I’m on a team and from there I’ll get ready and go to work.”