BLAKE GRIFFIN
Age: 19
College: Oklahoma
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6-10
Weight: 245
Class: Sophomore
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The unquestioned favorite to garner the No. 1 pick in the June draft. Griffin returned for his sophomore year and dominated the Big 12 by increasing his scoring and rebounding averages. The 6-10, 251-pound bruiser in the post has an NBA-ready body with extreme athleticism around the basket. Griffin is strong with his back to the basket and facing opposing defenders but he is most dangerous in the open floor, finishing above the rim. During March Madness, college basketball fans witnessed an impressive run from the Sooners as Griffin led Oklahoma to the Elite Eight, where they eventually fell to North Carolina. Griffin outplayed Tyler Hansbrough with 23 points and 16 boards after scoring 30, 33, and 28 in the previous rounds to further improve his draft stock.
The biggest knock on Griffin’s game is his lack of range from the perimeter. At the next level, Griffin may struggle when bigger and stronger defenders force him outside of the paint. A glaring issue for Griffin is the poor 59 percent clip at the free throw line. The team that decides to draft Griffin will expect him to improve at the charity stripe to take advantage of opportunities that his physical style presents. Consistent play on the defensive end of the floor was also a point of contention for the detractors.
The debate differs among teams in the war room regarding drafting for talent or need. On paper, Griffin does not fit a desired need for this Wolves' roster with Al Jefferson and Kevin Love suiting up at the power forward position. There is really no way to ignore Griffin's overwhelming talent, which could force Minnesota to take the best player on the board and worry about lineup adjustments during training camp. Griffin's athletic build is also attractive for this Wolves team after Kevin McHale installed an up tempo style of offense.
Sludge's take on JERRYD BAYLESS
Round 1: West Virginia 75, Arizona 65
Chad Ford's Top 100
"Bayless's combination of elite athleticism, shooting ability and quickness make him an excellent NBA prospect. One scout compared him to a better shooting, more intelligent Monta Ellis, another to Gilbert Arenas. He's projected in the mid lottery."
Draft Express
"Bayless is in a bit of a tough situation: when he’s extremely aggressive looking for his own shot, people say he’s selfish, but when he lets things come to him, he’s criticized for being too passive … Offensively, Bayless can do it all and has basically everything you look for in a scoring guard. He’s an outstanding shooter first and foremost, showing terrific shooting mechanics, superb elevation creating separation from his defender, and all the confidence in the world to fire away in any situation imaginable."
NBADraft.net
"In a word: special. Bayless combines incredible speed, quickness and athleticism with a high level of intelligence and composure ... Winners mentality ... Must become better at running the PG position ... More of a scoring point, but his PG abilities are improving ... Can be prone to trying to do too much, must be more patient and composed."
Real GM
"Bayless initially looked like he was a long ways away from being comfortable on the college floor, but that has very quickly disappeared and he has begun showing his amazing promise. What has and will be the most immediately impressive aspect of his game is his extreme elevation on jumpers. It really is extraordinary and makes it possible for the 6-3 guard to be a shooting guard."
HoopsHype
"Quick, fluid, explosive guard with possibly the best shot-creating ability in this draft. A scorer’s deluxe--terrific perimeter shooter, with a great mid-range game, but also gets to the free throw line at an excellent rate. Superb confidence in his abilities, a go-to guy. Great intangibles, but more of a combo guard than a true point at this juncture of his career. Too small to defend shooting guards. Shot-selection is questionable at times."
Fox Sports: Mayo or Bayless? Who should be No. 3?
The GM at pick No. 3 will likely be choosing between Arizona's Jerryd Bayless or USC's O.J. Mayo. Both are coming off stellar freshman seasons in the Pac-10. Both can be destructive forces on the offensive end of the floor. Both have their share of red flags that might keep them from reaching their full potential. However, if a general manager values his job, he'll pick Mayo.
Bayless Adjusting to Constant Defensive Pressure
"Already, in just four months of college basketball, Bayless has become a team leader. He’s learned to combine handling the ball, being the team’s leading scorer and pacing himself for 40 minutes a game. But there’s one aspect that is still an ongoing project - how to deal with the constant defensive pressure he faces."
UA’s Bayless Piles Up Numbers
"Bayless is doing it at a near-record pace. At his current 21.1 points-per-game average, he would be tied with former California star Shareef Abdur-Rahim for the Pac-10 record by a freshman. Bayless' recent three-game splurge - 103 combined points - is second only to Coniel Norman's 104 of 34 years ago. In the three games, Bayless shot 51.8 percent from the field and made 52.2 percent of his 3-pointers."
Bayless Always Driven to Win
"The 6-foot-3 Bayless has it. You see it on the court when he's attempting to will UA to victory. You see it in his eyes when he's accomplished it; and you see it in his eyes when he hasn't."
Bayless, Budinger Shrug at News of Pac-10 Honors
"Maybe Jerryd Bayless should have been a first-team all-Pac-10 player. Maybe not. He certainly was not worried about it Monday. When asked about being named to the conference's second team, Bayless seemed indifferent."
Chad Ford Mock Draft 1.0
No. 4 to Seattle
Ford's Mock Draft 3.0
No. 4 to Seattle
Ford's Mock Draft 5.0
No. 4 to Seattle
NBADraft.net
No. 4 to Seattle
Draft Express
No. 4 to Seattle
Reports Compiled By:
Mike TrudellWolves Reporter
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With contributing writers Matt Tiano and Jude Harder
