Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | June 21, 2005
The buzzword for small forwards this year is athleticism (close runner-up: defense). Shawn Marion actually played power forward this season for Phoenix, but players like him - with the ability to potentially play the four if teams want to go up-tempo - are hot. Also, scouts continue to scour Europe for the next Andrei Kirilenko, with a couple of possibilities this year. After the top five or six prospects, you get a bunch of tweeners from the NCAA, many of whom boosted their stocks with their performance in the Chicago Pre-Draft Camp.
Sonics Outlook: With 
Rashard Lewis under contract and coming off of his first All-Star appearance, the Sonics have no opening in the starting lineup at small forward. Backing up Lewis, however, is less certain. 
Vladimir Radmanovic, who played some three in addition to the power forward, and 
Damien Wilkins, who emerged at the end of the season, are both restricted free agents. The Sonics could look for a solid perimeter defender at the position or someone capable of playing both forward positions a la Radmanovic.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-9, 225
College: New Mexico
The skinny: Under the radar before his senior season, Granger has blown up over the last six months. He keyed the Lobos' late push to win the Mountain West Tournament and earn an automatic NCAA Tournament bid, and became a likely lottery pick in the process. Granger is a tremendously versatile player who at 6-9 often ran the point for New Mexico and canned 43.3% of his 3s as a senior. But Granger really stands out at the defensive end of the court, where he's long and quick and averaged 2.0 blocks and 2.1 steals per game as a senior, Marion-esque defensive statistics. Granger has the ability to become an NBA stopper while also contributing on the glass and being a quality offensive player. That's a rare and valuable package.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-7, 215
College: Oklahoma State
The skinny: Graham's biggest asset in the Draft process might be Eddie Sutton. The legendary Oklahoma State coach has reputation for pumping out NBA-ready players, with recent swingmen including Desmond Mason and Tony Allen. Like them, Graham will be a first-round pick, and he could go in the lottery. Graham wasn't a great defender in college, but as a chiseled 6-7, he has all the tools necessary to shut down opponents. Primarily a power forward in college, Graham needs to polish his perimeter skills. While he shot 47.6% from 3-point range during his career, he made less than one a game and was not a huge perimeter threat. His ballhandling is also a little weak. Still, Graham is a savvy shot-maker who should be an immediate NBA rotation player.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-9, 205
From: Russia
The skinny: The next Kirilenko? That's probably will be what the NBA team that takes Korolev will be hoping. At a skinny 6-9 - though not as skinny as Kirilenko - Korolev has the right body type, and he plays for Kirilenko's old team (CSKA Moscow). He's also a well-regarded athlete who, as the son of a coach, plays a heady brand of basketball. At 18, however, Korolev is a long ways away from being a finished product. With CSKA in win-now mode last season, Korolev played only four games at the highest level of Russian League basketball (he spent most of the season in the Juniors league). A team expecting immediate results will likely be disappointed (keep in mind that Kirilenko, though also drafted at 18, didn't come over to the NBA for two more years). There's still the chance that Korolev could go in the lottery; teams don't want to miss on the next Kirilenko.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-9, 210
From: Turkey
The skinny: The other "next Kirilenko" does not spring from Russia, but instead Turkey. Ilyasova is another 18-year-old with limited major experience; this was his first season in the Turkish League, and he averaged just 12.5 minutes per game. But scouts like his long arms and athleticism. He projects as a better outside shooter than Korolev (he shot 41.7% in the Turkish League this season, though in limited attempts) and possibly a better rebounder, but without the kind of all-around talent. The lottery would be a stretch for Ilyasova, but look for him to go in the middle of the first round.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-7, 215
From: France
The skinny: On the older side for a European prospect, Gelabale is automatically eligible at age 22. He spent 2004-05 playing a key reserve role for Real Madrid in Spanish League and Euroleague play and should be more ready to contribute than the other two top foreign small forward prospects. Gelabale doesn't have their upside, but is also an athletic player with the ability to shoot the basketball (60.7% shooting in Euroleague). He'll have to get stronger to battle NBA small forwards on a regular basis.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-7, 250
College: Providence
The skinny: An outstanding college player, Gomes was a First-Team All-American as a junior and earned First-Team All-Big East each of the last two seasons, leading the conference in scoring as a senior. A powerful player, Gomes started his NCAA career largely playing on the block but became more versatile in response to concerns from NBA scouts because he's too small to play power forward as a pro. He hit 29 3-pointers as a junior and 52 as a senior after none his first two seasons, and handed out a career-best 3.2 assists per game in 2004-05. Gomes' game has been compared to that of NBA veteran Corliss Williamson, and Gomes could come off the bench and overpower smaller small forwards. He'll go late in the first round or early in the second.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-6, 210
College: Charlotte
The skinny: Basden will likely be a second-round pick on the strength of his defense. Conference USA's Defensive Player of the Year each of the last two seasons, Basden is also the conference's all-time leader in steals (264) and averaged more than three per game as a senior. Basden's offensive game is behind his defense, but he improved over the course of his career, averaging 15.2 points per game as a senior. He'll have to improve his shooting ability after making only 42 3-pointers in his four years at Charlotte. Capable of playing either swing position, Basden is probably best suited at off guard, but his shooting is less of a liability at forward.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-6, 225
College: Michigan State
The skinny: Anderson might have helped his stock more than anyone at the Chicago Pre-Draft Camp. Anderson led all scorers with 17.7 points per game, shooting an impressive 55.6% from the field. That's more offense than Anderson provided at Michigan State; his 13.2 points per game as a senior were a career high. The upshot of that is that Anderson already knows and understands the supporting role he'll be asked to play in the NBA. A heady player, Anderson could step in and contribute next season.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-6, 185
College: Oakland
The skinny: An obscure name even amongst NCAA fans, Marshall played in the Mid-Continent Conference and led Oakland to its first conference title as a senior. After scoring 26 points in the play-in game, he had 16 points and five boards against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament. Marshall put up some nice defensive stats in college, recording 199 steals and 101 blocks in three years at Oakland (the latter mark a school record), but was playing against limited competition. He averaged 19.9 points per game as a senior, but his shooting percentage was just okay and he shot under 30% from 3-point range.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-8, 220
College: North Carolina
The skinny: After three good but not great seasons, Williams settled into his role as a senior and helped lead the Tar Heels to the NCAA title. Williams was ultra-efficient as Carolina's fourth option on offense, shooting 54.1% from the field and averaging 13.1 points per game. Williams did it largely on the interior - he played power forward in college, but will probably have to move to the wing in the pros - but did hit 40 3-pointers at a 38.1% clip. A hustle player, Williams got lots of easy shots and was a factor on the offensive glass. That could make him a solid role player in the NBA.
| OTHER SMALL FORWARD PROSPECTS |
Sean Banks, Memphis - ESPN.com's 2003-04 Freshman of the Year was sidelined second half of last season by academic problems.
Sharrod Ford, Clemson - All-ACC Third Team as a senior; shot 54.0% from the field during his career..
Stephen Graham, Oklahoma State - Joey's twin brother had middling career with Cowboys but has impressed in workouts with athleticism.
Mindaugas Katelynas, UT-Chattanooga - Athletic Lithuanian won 2005 NCAA Slam Dunk Contest.
Stefano Mancinelli, Italy - 22-year-old is member of Italian National Team.
