2010 Draft Preview (3 of 3)
By Ben Couch
June 24, 2010
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—With the NBA Draft taking place at 7 p.m. tonight in the Theater at Madison Square Garden, and the Nets holding the Nos. 3, 27 and 31 picks, it’s time to take a look at how things might shake out. Let’s finish up by reviewing some possibilities at No. 27 and 31 who worked out for the Nets. All players listed alphabetically.
Quincy Pondexter
What We Said Then: The 6-foot-6, 225-pound swingman made impressive strides during his senior season at Washington, increasing his scoring average by seven points, earning All-Pac-10 First Team honors with a final line of 19.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG and .528 shooting.
Still only 22, Pondexter’s length and athleticism have enabled him to become a strong defender, possibly able to guard NBA 2’s, 3’s and even 4’s in time.
What Pondexter Said Then:
What We Say Now: Pondexter – a high school teammate of the Lopez twins – polished his game at Washington, which bodes well for his draft prospects considering the success of recent Huskie draft picks (Brandon Roy, Nate Robinson, Spencer Hawes, Jon Brockman). Pondexter also impressed executives during workouts, showcasing his maturity during interviews and surprising with his skillset, perhaps sublimated during college. He seems likely to develop into a rotation player and potentially a defensive stopper.
Stanley Robinson
What We Said Then: The 6-foot-9, 210-pound Robinson is known for incredible athleticism, and has been working to show teams he can shoot from distance better than he’s shown at UConn. Also showcasing his work ethic and aggressiveness, Robinson belives he’ll make his earliest NBA impact on defense.
What Robinson Said Then:
What We Say Now: Robinson’s got NBA athleticism, but the level of commitment he makes to improving his shot will impact his NBA ceiling. He didn’t work out well for the Nets, but there’s a body of work that shows it might have been an off day. He’s projected to be among the highest-drafted seniors, and might not last to the end of Round 1.
Larry Sanders
What We Said Then: Sanders – 6-foot-10 ½ with 4.6-percent body fat – weighs in at only 222 pounds. Though he’s concentrating on adding bulk, Sanders ably wields an astounding 7-foot-5 wingspan, having blocked at least 90 shots in each of his three college seasons for the Rams (2.75 BPG) and earning recognition as the Colonial Athletic Association’s Defensive Player of the Year.
What Sanders Said Then:
What We Say Now: Sanders will be drafted somewhere toward the end of the first round – he’s risen to late lottery in recent mocks ’s mostly due to his astounding length and athleticism. Offense is secondary with this pick, but look for a team in need of a second-unit spark to take a chance on the lithe big man.
Mikhail Torrance
What We Said Then: Thus far, Torrance believes he’s showed teams he can knock down open shots and defend either guard position while wielding a surprisingly quick first step.
Despite the impressive workouts – which Torrance says have him moving up draft boards – the 21-year-old senior’s transition to the point remains a progression.
What Torrance Said Then:
What We Say Now: The 6-foot-5 Torrance, who wields great height for a point guard, first impressed the Nets during the Portsmith (Va.) Invitational. DraftExpress praised his passing ability as “innate,” even as they waved a caution flag due to a high turnover rate. He should be able to contribute limited minutes early before developing into a capable backup at either guard spot.
Terrico White
What We Said Then: White is also attempting to convince teams he can play either guard position, though he currently projects as a shooting guard, due to a low assist rate (1.9 APG in 66 games). The 6-foot-5 guard has a 6-foot-9 wingspan that should allow him to easily slide to the 2, and hoped to solidify a first-round selection through workouts.
What White Said Then:
What We Say Now: The 6-foot-5 Torrance, who wields great height for a point guard, first impressed the Nets during the Portsmith (Va.) Invitational. DraftExpress praised his passing ability as “innate,” even as they waved a caution flag due to a high turnover rate. He should be able to contribute limited minutes early before developing into a capable backup at either guard spot.
Previous:The 27th and 31st Picks, Part I
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