Swirsky

by Chuck Swirsky
--raptors.commentator
May 27, 2002

The Raptors resume workouts with potential draft candidates this week welcoming a host of players including Oregon's Fred Jones, Illinois' Frank Williams and Marcus Taylor from Michigan State.

Draft Prospect Workout Schedule
May 28
Theron Smith, F	Ball State
Andy Ellis, F	Texas Tech
Aaron McGhee, F	Oklahoma
May 29
Steve Logan, G	Cincinnati
William Parker, G	Fordham
Marcus Taylor, G	Michigan St.
Frank Williams, G	Illinois
May 30
Lenny Cooke, G	N. Valley HS
Fred Jones, G	Oregon
Tamar Slay, G	Marshall
Vincent Yarbrough, F	Tennesse

Jones is a gifted, athletic guard who could be the sleeper in the draft. Ask any scout who covered the Pac 10 and he'll tell you just how good Jones is.

Williams has a boatload of potential but the question is, How badly does he want it on a nightly basis?

Taylor has a ton of upside, a little raw, but a player that could blossom in time. In my opinion another year under Tom Izzo would have improved his standing in the 2003 draft.

Izzo is an excellent coach and rejected a lucrative offer to join the Hawks two years ago to remain at MSU. He is the real deal and if and when the time comes for him to jump to the NBA he'll have a ton of offers on the table.

The latest buzz:

Houston remains very high on Yao Ming and Chicago has invited Duke's Jay Williams to tour the city and its facility. Williams has expressed interest in playing for the Bulls. The 'X" factor remains Mike Dunleavy. He has refused to grant individual workouts and if a team is remotely interested in him they must travel to Duke's campus to interview him. Of course all this could change if Dunleavy's father is named new coach at Memphis. I am not a big proponent of a father-son professional relationship in pro sports. How awkward will it be for a reporter asking Mike Sr. to assess his son's play? Human nature tells you the coach will give the player/son the benefit of the doubt in tough situations. How can Dunleavy the player hang with his teammates knowing things that are discussed privately about the coach or players not get back to his father? No thank you.

Cleveland's Andre Miller on the block? Not a surprise. Look for Milwaukee to make a run at him along with Golden State and the Clippers. The Knicks would love to have him but I don't see a good fit there.

Is Wally Szczerbiak available? If I'm the Raps I've got to check it out. However there's a catch. Marc Jackson has to be in the deal. As you know he had about 30 good games for Golden State two years ago and parlayed his success into a mammoth contract. The T-Wolves are now trying to dump a bad contract. Stay tuned.

If I were a General Manager I want players who have skill, who come to play every night and who are hungry. I want passion. I want love for the game. I want players who are ready to allow a teammate to be a star. I want egos checked at the door. Easier said than done but that's what winning is all about.

Other thoughts ...

Are you a fan of the WNBA?

Does it bother you that the Memorial Cup received more attention than the NBA Conference Finals?

Should I go to Hairline Creations? Only kidding.

Are you excited about the off season?

Think Portland misses the leadership and guidance of Kings GM Geoff Petrie?

As fans of the NBA/Raptors what do you expect on and off the floor?

What turns you on about the NBA?

E-mail me at cswirsky@torontoraptors.com

Always a pleasure!

Chuck Swirsky