Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | June 27, 2006
As it has been over the last five years or so, power forward remains the marquee position in this year's NBA Draft. It's not out of the realm of possibility that the first three players taken could all be power forwards, and it's considered very likely that fours go one-two at the top of the Draft. There's depth too, with five power forwards likely to go in the lottery and a couple of other possible first-round picks. Now, the only question is who is your guy - Aldridge, Bargnani or Thomas?
LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE
From: Texas | Height: 6-11 | Weight: 240 | Top 15 Breakdown
Considered a candidate to go in the top five two years ago out of high school before opting to attend Texas, LaMarcus Aldridge has done nothing to hurt his stock since then. At the moment, Aldridge appears to be the favorite to be the first pick of Wednesday's Draft. A First Team All-Big 12 performer and the conference's Player of the Year as a sophomore, Aldridge was fully recovered after missing the final half of his freshman season with a hip injury. Aldridge averaged 15.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game and shows the potential to do more as a pro.
TYRUS THOMAS
From: LSU | Height: 6-9 | Weight: 215 | Top 15 Breakdown
Like Aldridge, Tyrus Thomas was part of the prep class of 2004. The difference in attention paid to the two players was immense, to say the least. Thomas was lightly recruited before ending up at hometown LSU. He redshirted after suffering a preseason neck injury, but a growth spurt and massive improvement in his game quickly turned Thomas into a star. He solidified himself as a top-five pick by dramatically outplaying Aldridge head to head in the NCAA Tournament's Atlanta Region final. Thomas had 21 points on 10-for-14 shooting, 13 rebounds and three blocks, while Aldridge was limited to four points on 2-for-14 shooting (he did have 10 rebounds and five blocks). There's some concern about whether he can play inside after measuring in smaller than expected and Thomas does not have a lot of high-level experience, but he still is a prospect with a high ceiling.
ANDREA BARGNANI
From: Italy | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 225 | Top 15 Breakdown
The longest NBA career by an Italian thus far belongs to guard Vincenzo Esposito, who played 282 minutes over 30 games for the expansion Toronto Raptors in 1995-96. Andrea Bargnani is posed to shatter that by the All-Star break. A candidate to be the first player selected, Bargnani is a lethal outside shooter (43.4% from downtown in Euroleague play last season) with legitimate size for a power forward or even center. That's drawn the requisite Dirk Nowitzki comparisons. Bargnani isn't that athletic, limiting his upside, but he could be a very valuable player nonetheless. Though just 20, Bargnani should be ready to contribute right away in the NBA. He played serious minutes in the competitive Euroleague, averaging 10.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Toronto has long been linked to Bargnani and signed his Benetton Treviso club's GM, Maurizio Gherardini, last week.
SHELDEN WILLIAMS
From: Duke | Height: 6-9 | Weight: 250
With his First Team AP All-American season as a senior, Shelden Williams capped a remarkable four-year career at Duke. While often overshadowed by classmate J.J. Redick, Williams ended up one of three players in NCAA history to record 1,500 points, 1,000 rebounds, 350 blocks and 150 steals (along with David Robinson and Pervis Ellison). Williams' defensive statistics are impeccable, as he averaged 3.8 blocks per game as a senior without regularly getting himself into foul trouble. Williams also developed into a solid offensive player who averaged 18.7 points on 58.4% shooting as a senior. Williams might not have the upside of the players ahead of him, but he's ready to step in and contribute immediately. As a result, his stock has jumped lately, making him a probable top-eight pick.
CEDRIC SIMMONS
From: N.C. State | Height: 6-9 | Weight: 235 | Top 15 Breakdown
After a quiet freshman season, Cedric Simmons blossomed as a sophomore at N.C. State, averaging 11.8 points and 2.5 blocks per game. Simmons has a 7-4 1/4 wingspan and was a very good per-minute shot blocker, averaging 3.6 per 40 minutes. The big weakness for Simmons is rebounding, as he averaged just 9.2 per 40 minutes. He got a lot of easy looks and shot 58.3% on two-pointers, but his offensive game is not polished and Simmons has much development yet to do.
ALEXANDER JOHNSON
From: Florida State | Height: 6-9 | Weight: 240
After two years at Florida State, Alexander Johnson was a role player whose future looks limited. Following his sophomore season, however, Johnson hooked up with noted trainer David Thorpe to improve his body and his game. He broke out during the second half of last season and ended up averaging 13.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in an ACC that was chock-full of NBA prospects at power forward. Johnson has been solid in individual workouts and looks like a probable first-round pick on the strength of his all-around low-post game.
JOEL FREELAND
From: England | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 225
Speaking of countries without a reputation for developing NBA players, the United Kingdom's basketball background is limited at best. Joel Freeland aims to change that. A largely unknown 19-year-old who played low-level pro ball in Spain last year, Freeland is a true sleeper pick. Still, on the strength of his size and skills, Freeland projects as a possible pick late in the first round. He can rebound the basketball and has decent touch, but is a long ways away from contributing.
LEON POWE
From: California | Height: 6-8 | Weight: 240
A highly-touted recruit entering Cal, Leon Powe did not disappoint as a freshman, averaging 15.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Powe was sidelined for the entire 2004-05 season after having a second surgery on the left ACL he initially tore while in high school. Back last season, Powe was dominant, leading the Pac-10 in both scoring (20.5 ppg) and rebounding (10.1 rpg). The history of knee trouble and Powe's smallish size keep him from being a top prospect, but he could still go late in the first round or early in the second. Powe is skilled at getting to the free-throw line (precisely 10 attempts per game last season) and knows how to play through his size limitations.
JAMES AUGUSTINE
From: Illinois | Height: 6-9 | Weight: 220
The consummate role player, James Augustine helped Illinois to the NCAA title game in 2005 (where his foul trouble was a key reason why North Carolina emerged victorious) before taking on a larger role as a senior. Augustine averaged 13.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game as a senior, shooting an impressive 62.4% from the field. Augustine is at his best in the high post, where he's got soft touch on his southpaw shot and can handle the basketball. Augustine is low on star potential, but could step in for a team if needed as a rookie.
PAUL MILLSAP
From: Louisiana Tech | Height: 6-8 | Weight: 245
Louisiana Tech product Paul Millsap is the only player in the history of NCAA Division I basketball to lead the NCAA in rebounding three straight seasons. Let that sink in for a second. Since Millsap is an early entrant, nobody had a better rebounding season than him during his entire NCAA career. But Millsap is not just a rebounder. He averaged 18.6 points per game during his career and posted 1.9 steals and 2.3 blocks per game last year, impressive versatility. Millsap is not big at 6-8 and played against relatively weak competition in the WAC, but he could develop into a rebounding specialist a la Reggie Evans.
OTHER POWER FORWARD PROSPECTS
Kenny Adeleke, Hartford - Hofstra transfer battled Millsap for NCAA lead in rebounding, added 20.7 ppg. Louis Amundson, UNLV - Active athlete could stick as role player. Taj Gray, Oklahoma - JC transfer earned First Team All-Big 12 honors as a senior. Pops Mensah-Bonsu, George Washington - Quality defender was First Team All-A-10 as senior. Vladimir Veremeenko, Belarus - Double-figure scorer in EuroCup.
