2007 NBA Draft Player Previews: Afflalo - Fernandez
Bulls Draft Central | Draft Prospect Profiles: A - F |
G - R |
S - Z
Arron Afflalo – 6’5”, 210
NBA Position: Guard
College: UCLA / Junior
NBA Comparison: Raja Bell
Big-time scorer with a beautiful jumper … a dead-eye mid-range shooter … added a very reliable 3-point shot this past season … has a good feel for the game and isn’t afraid to step up at crunch time … has the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim … moves extremely well without the ball … strong understanding of how to free himself for looks at the basket … works well running off screens … good finisher in transition … strength enables him to convert difficult shots as well as finish after contact … plays with poise and maturity … shows patience—rarely does he ever play out of control … allows the game to come to him … has good leadership qualities … mentally tough … a fairly unselfish player … does a terrific job of feeding the post … excellent basketball IQ—makes smart decisions … underrated rebounder capable of making an impact on the glass … does an admirable job of staying in front of his man on defense … a quality free-throw shooter … an extremely coachable player whose work ethic is among the best.
Morris Almond – 6’6”, 215
NBA Position: Guard / Forward
College: Rice / Senior
NBA Comparison: Matt Barnes
Big-time scorer … possesses an NBA-ready body capable of absorbing contact … explosive and crafty … can put points up in a hurry … has legit NBA 3-point range … deadly mid-range shooter … makes an impact on the glass due to long arms and impressive court awareness … very advanced basketball IQ … despite having a scoring mentality, he remains unselfish … continually looks for open teammates … moves extremely well without the ball … usually gets open by effectively utilizing screens … shows a good post-up game to take advantage of mismatches … looks to attack defenders and draw fouls … a superior free-throw shooter … does a solid job of playing the passing lanes for easy steals … an very underrated athlete … has a good shot at being a mid-to-late first-round pick if he can shoot lights out during pre-draft workouts.
Corey Brewer – 6’8”, 185
NBA Position: Guard / Forward
College: Florida / Junior
NBA Comparisons: Stacey Augmon and Tayshaun Prince
An A+ lock-down defender … can guard multiple positions … long, lanky swingman with great size for a shooting guard … first-class athlete … a real game changer on the defensive end of the floor … long arms allow him to collect a ton of steals … excels in the open court … excellent finisher in transition … terrific motor and very unselfish … somewhat streaky shooter with 3-point range … good on the offensive boards … an excellent NCAA tournament helped his stock perhaps more than anyone else in the Draft … got hot from the perimeter, answering critics who said he couldn't shoot … size, versatility and defense are elite for a player at his position … if NBA teams believe he’ll score, he’s a lock to be a Top-10 pick.
Bobby Brown – 6’1”, 175
NBA Position: Guard
College: Cal State Fullerton / Senior
NBA Comparison: Damon Stoudemire, Speedy Claxton
A super-quick guard who can score in bunches … is at his best running the break … loves to push the tempo and is an absolute blur in the open court … doesn’t have great size at around 6 feet, but makes up for that with long arms and sheer explosiveness … extremely tough to stay in front of as he has terrific footwork and all the confidence in the world in his offensive abilities … knows all the tricks and gimmicks that great ball-handlers do, including the change of pace dribble, hesitation moves, a strong crossover, between the legs, behind the back, the reverse dribble, the pull-back and others … changes gears in the blink of an eye … also a prolific 3-point shooter … has a high and quick release on jumper … often makes contested shots look easy … has a good feel for making difficult passes, whether in transition, in half-court sets or with a bullet-pass down the floor to a streaking teammate … outside of height, has all the tools to be a very good defender … superb lateral movement and quick hands and anticipation skills allows him to pick-off plenty of passes and ignite the break … is an excellent athlete who possesses most of the physical attributes and skills NBA teams look for in a backup point guard … some scouts like him as a late first-round pickup because of his athletic and scoring ability.
Derrick Byars – 6’7”, 210
NBA Position: Guard / Forward
College: Vanderbilt / Senior
NBA Comparison: Shane Battier
The 2007 SEC Player of the Year … a complete player with good lateral quickness and loads of athleticism … a strong defender—does a great job of staying in front of his man … plays with moxie and toughness … an above average passer with solid court vision … has legit 3-point range … a terrific finisher on the break … decent rebounder who does a good job of collecting caroms out of position … has the ability to work off screens for the quick jumper … has the mentality and skill to take control of a game … possesses an NBA-ready body … strong enough to absorb contact and finish … unselfish … an intelligent player with a good feel for the game … viewed as one of the most complete prospects in the Draft … Positives: an interesting player who can play both the shooting guard and the small forward position … a terrific senior season and NCAA tournament have him on NBA radar screen … has a chance as a late first-round pick.
Russell Carter – 6’4”, 215
NBA Position: Guard
College: Notre Dame / Senior
NBA Comparison: Eddie Jones
A very intelligent player both on and off the court … has a super-quick release on his shot … effortless mechanics, and outstanding instincts for how to move without the ball … terrific elevation on jumper … exceptional at catching and shooting coming off screens … can also be a potent weapon spotting up off the dribble … transition to the NBA 3-point line should not prove difficult … more than just a one-dimensional shooter … has excellent defense and passing abilities … built like an NFL fullback with superb quickness and plenty of smarts … is a very willing and able perimeter defender … puts lots of pride into the defensive side of the game … stays in front of his man and is very active in the passing lanes … loves to get out in transition … overall strength allows him to finish after contact … an unselfish passer … looks to get teammates involved … was the best Draft prospect to play in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PTI) held for NBA-eligible seniors … could prove to be an effective NBA rotation player in the right system … definitely worth a look in the second-round.
Mike Conley, Jr. – 6’1”, 170
NBA Position: Point Guard
College: Ohio State / Freshman
NBA Comparisons: Chris Paul
One of the steadiest floor generals in the country … a pure point guard who always thinks team first … excellent in transition as well as the half-court … rarely turns the ball over … incredibly poised and steady … a true leader … handles pressure well … smart, heady … has a high basketball IQ … also has the ability to slash to the basket … an excellent athlete … has terrific lateral quickness and quick hands … is an excellent on-the-ball defender … very pesky … jumper needs some work—can be somewhat inconsistent ... will likely be the first point guard off the board.
Daequan Cook – 6’4”, 195
NBA Position: Guard
College: Ohio State / Freshman
NBA Comparison: Larry Hughes and Ben Gordon
A big-time scorer … possesses an excellent mid-range game … moves well without the ball, and understands how to utilize the entire court … has a quick first step … is an excellent penetrator—can get to the rim and finish … has an NBA-ready body … above average upper-body strength and body control enables him to finish after contact … possesses legit 3-point range … unselfish and shows good court vision … attempts to get teammates involved on offense … is a good athlete who often contributes on the boards … has a tremendous amount of confidence … has all the physical tools needed to emerge as a defensive presence … is a somewhat underrated shooter off the dribble as well as catch and shoot … looks to be a mid-to-late first-round pick.
Javaris Crittenton – 6’5”, 185
NBA Position: Guard
College: Georgia Tech / Freshman
NBA Comparison: Steve Francis
Has great size for a point guard … is loaded with athleticism … is also a hard-nosed competitor … sees the floor extremely well … an explosive first step allows him to get deep penetration into the paint … constantly looking for gaps or soft spots in the defense, and then attacks … equally effective going left or right … has terrific hands—rarely mishandles the ball … is a vocal leader on the court … very unselfish … a solid defender … not a pure shooter, but capable of knocking down a clutch jumper—especially from distance … a legit NBA point guard.
Glen “Big Baby” Davis – 6’8”, 295
NBA Position: Center / Power Forward
College: LSU / Junior
NBA Comparison: Hercules, Shaquille O’Neal
A unique player due to incredible strength … a skilled big man with a feathery touch … built like a tank ... is a charismatic personality ... has an excellent feel for the game ... strength is virtually unparalleled for a player his height ... has the strength and ability to overpower opponents, but also the skills to finesse an opponent ... has tremendous body control, soft hands and quick feet … sets up strong on the block … knows how to effectively seal off opponents … excels at squaring up from 12 feet and taking bigger players off the dribble ... does a good job of passing when doubled, seeing teammates on the wing ... can step out of the paint and knock down a perimeter shot—has range out to 18 feet ... a complete team and very coachable player … a leader in the locker room ... poised … should be able to defend against some centers at the next level due to his remarkable strength ... has a great touch around the basket, especially after contact ... the only knock is his lack of height for the center position … at best, a late first-round pick … more likely an early-to-mid second-round selection.
Zabian Dowdell – 6’3”, 200
NBA Position: Guard
College: Virginia Tech / Senior
NBA Comparison: Luther Head
A terrific transition player who loves to push the tempo … has excellent strength and size for his position … a lefty … turned a somewhat shaky jumper into a reliable offensive weapon during his senior year … a physical defender … a four-year starter in the ACC … was one of the best guards in one of the top conferences in America … posted career highs in nearly every statistical category this past season … a legitimate go-to scorer … a dangerous shooter if left open … able to take a hit and finish … strongly committed to keeping his man in front of him and can often be a nuisance in the passing lanes … averaged a league-leading 2.5 steals per game … doesn’t have any considerable weaknesses that can’t be overcome with continued hard work … one of the most experienced guard prospects in this year’s Draft … a potential sleeper pick … strong performances during team workouts will likely drive his stock.
Jared Dudley – 6’7”, 220
NBA Position: Forward
College: Boston College / Senior
NBA Comparison: Shane Battier
Has a great understanding of the game … his best attribute is the passion and energy he brings to court every night … is an excellent rebounder for his size … has big hands and long arms … owns a solid mid-range jumper … is a very unselfish player … very coachable—has a strong work ethic … plays more like a four, but is the size of a small forward … has been a very productive player the last three years for Boston College … a leader—possesses all the intangibles coaches look for … likely a second-round pick … could find a niche coming off the bench on a good NBA team.
Kevin Durant – 6’10”, 190
NBA Position: Forward
College: Texas / Freshman
NBA Comparisons: Rashard Lewis, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett
A super productive perimeter-oriented combo forward with excellent athleticism and terrific range on jumper … can play multiple positions … incredibly long and lanky … smooth, silky, talented … can break defenders down off the dribble and pulls up fluidly with superb body control … looks to score … can do so both inside and out ... has a quick release on jumper … also has NBA 3-point range … loves to run the floor … prefers to play outside-in, but has also proven to be a capable rebounder and shot blocker … will need to add bulk to skinny frame … all-in-all had possibly the most impressive freshman season of all-time, and is certainly in the discussion for going No. 1 overall.
Nick Fazekas – 6’11, 225
NBA Position: Forward
College: Nevada / Senior
NBA Comparison: Keith Van Horn
Long and very skilled … an excellent rebounder who does a great job of boxing out and anticipating where the ball will go … possesses an extremely high basketball IQ and is one of the most fundamentally sound players in the Draft … has the ability to face-up and shoot out to 18 feet … works well moving without the ball and excels shooting off pick and rolls … has great hands that enable him to catch most passes in the post … has improved upon his back-to-the-basket moves … has an assortment of shots, such as jump-hooks or turnaround jumpers … is an underrated passer who sees the floor well … is an excellent free-throw shooter … keeps the ball up high … has legit 3-point range … understands how to play aggressive defense in the post without fouling … added strength and rebounding this past season have helped his stock considerably.
Rudy Fernandez – 6’6”, 180
NBA Position: Guard
International Team: DKV Joventut / Spain
NBA Comparison: Kevin Martin and Manu Ginobili
Possesses legit 3-point range and excels at catch and shoot … moves particularly well without the ball as he is constantly weaving through the lane, never settles in one place … really understands how to get by opposing defenders by using a quick first step and his ball-handling skills … is a creative slasher … can finish with a multitude of reverse lay-ups, dunks or switching hands to get his shot off … a fine athlete … a very solid passer … poised—rarely looks out of control or unfocused … excellent basketball IQ … a very coachable player with a terrific work ethic … an unselfish player who looks to get teammates involved … can play either point guard or shooting guard … a strong season in Euroleague play has helped his stock.
Bulls Draft Central | Draft Prospect Profiles: A - F |
G - R |
S - ZPlayer previews written by Anthony Hyde