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J.R. Smith wows scouts at McDonalds
By Chad Ford NBA Insider Send an Email to Chad Ford Friday, April 2
So how weird was it watching NBA greats like Larry Bird and Pat Riley hanging out at a high school all-star game in Oklahoma City on Wednesday?
High school guard J.R. Smith is now on NBA scouts' radar screens It was inevitable that someone was going to blow up at the McDonald's All-American Game on Wednesday, but few would've predicted that J.R. Smith was going to be that guy. As many as 10 of the players playing in the game were seriously thinking about going pro. Only two -- Smith and Dwight Howard -- looked ready based on Wednesday's game.
The funny thing is, Smith isn't one of the guys who's been flirting with the draft. He's been serious about playing at North Carolina all year. Based on his scintillating performance on Wednesday, do we have to add a 13th player to the NBA mix (two more players, Dorell Wright and Juan Diego Palacios, didn't play at the McDonald's game)?
Here's the skinny on Smith. He's a 6-foot-6 two guard with a 44-inch vertical and one of the deepest shots I've ever seen at the high school level. In other words, he's got Vince Carter hops with Steve Kerr range. How did scouts miss the boat on that guy?
"We've know about him," one scout said, "but with so many kids saying they were coming out, you tend not to focus on the ones who say that they'll stay in school. With that said, that kid has as much upside as anyone here. The NBA needs shooters and they love great athletes. This kid has both."
Another scout claimed that Smith's performance was so impressive because you couldn't just write it off on the bad defense played at all-star games. "He was shooting 30 foot jumpers with a hand in his face every time," another scout said. "The up and down game most of these kids love doesn't translate into the NBA. Most teams just don't get up and down the floor. The shooting, on the other hand, always translates. Especially with the way that kid gets lift on his shot . . . he could come in and play right now."
Scouts also point to problems with his defense and ball handling, but, for the moment, the buzz seems to be taking over.
Will he join the throng?
What happened with the rest of these guys? Remember that many NBA scouts and GMs only stick around for the practice. That means that the game is only half the battle.
Among the other players who helped or hurt themselves at the McDonald's practices and game:
# Howard won the co-MVP award along with Smith and looked very good. He ran the floor, crashed the boards and generally showed why he's competing against Emeka Okafor for the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Telfair # The much-hyped match-up between Sebastian Telfair and Shaun Livingston was a bust. Telfair played good defense and handed out a few assists, but the jumper was ugly. Scouts claim that he looked very good in practices, however. Livingston made some unbelievable passes and generally looked in control, but he scored one point and ended with just three assists.
# Josh Smith got mixed reviews. He showed off his unbelievable athleticism at his size and had the most spectacular block of the game. However, those airballs he was shooting didn't do much to help stop the rumors that he's a Darius Miles clone.
# Marvin Williams didn't do much in the game, but scouts were still buzzing about him in practice. It sounds like he may have moved himself right onto the lottery bubble.
# Another guy who looked impressive in practice was Prentiss' Al Jefferson. Scouts say that he's a little more polished and athletic than they had thought.
# I thought, for the second straight game, that Robert Swift outplayed the more hyped Randolph Morris.
# After LaMarcus Aldridge's so-so performance, he said it's 60-40 that he goes to college next season.
Hoop Summit next
Many of these kids are now off to San Antonio for the Nike Hoop Summit on Sunday. Because the hoop summit is affiliated with USA Basketball, the game does not count as a postseason all-dtar game and won't affect the eligibility of players still mulling over college.
The American squad includes NBA draft prospects Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, Sebastian Telfair, LaMarcus Aldridge, J.R. Smith, Rudy Gay and Al Jefferson along with other top high school ballers Jordan Famer, Malik Hairston, and Mike Williams.
The international squad has been weakened by visa issues and other commitments. The three top 2004 draft prospects, Pavel Podkolzine, Andris Biedrins and Ivan Chiriaev, have pulled out of the tournament.
The only real prospects left are Roko Leni Ukic (Croatia), Luka Bogdanovic (Serbia) and Juan Diego Palacios (Columbia). Yi Jian Lian of China will also play. He is widely considered the top prospect in the 2005 draft.
The other international hoop summit participants are Wojciech Barycz (Poland); Andrea Bargnani (Italy); Churchill Odia (Nigeria); Marcus Vinicius Vieira De Souza (Brazil); Sergio Rodriguez (Spain); and Michael Schroeder (Germany).
Insider will be there to give you an in-depth report of who's getting the buzz from scouts.
Who's else is hot?
High school all-star games aren't the only things going on around the league. The NCAA Final Four is this weekend and the Euros are still playing over seas. Here's the skinny on several other guys who appear to be helping their stock.
Duhon # Watch Duke point guard Chris Duhon closely. Over the past month he's been slowly gaining support from NBA scouts who feel that they may have judged him too harshly after a lackluster senior season. Duhon, who was considered a surefire lottery pick during his first two seasons, fell totally off the map this year. However, his stellar play in the tournament has generated a significant amount of buzz. His 4.8 ppg and 5.3 apg may not blow you away, but scouts love the toughness he's shown in leading Duke to the Final Four.
# UConn's Ben Gordon is playing himself back into the good graces of scouts. He's gotten enough time at the point guard position in the tournament that scouts are once again starting to feel comfortable that Gordon can make that transition in the pros.
# A less-heralded UConn guard, sophomore Rashad Anderson, is making a name for himself. His 18.3 ppg and his 51 percent shooting from behind the 3-point arc are making scouts take a serious look now. He's turning into one of the top shooters in college basketball.
Giddens # KU freshman guard J.R. Giddens played so well for the Jayhawks in the tournament that there's been some talk that Giddens may decide to test his draft stock. Giddens is a big-time athlete with a great stroke. Giddens averaged 16 ppg for the tournament. He's probably going to have to wait a year, but Giddens will be on the map big time for NBA scouts next season.
# Xavier's Lionel Chalmers was awesome in the tournament, but he doesn't have the size or the point guard mentality to really make a huge leap in the draft. He's really a two guard in a point guard's body.
# Finally, Latvia's Andris Biedrins impressed scouts in a juniors tournament in Croatia earlier this week. Biedrins posted 27 points, 17 boards and seven blocks against France's junior team led by another NBA prospect, Johan Petro.
Who's In and Out of the NBA Draft?
# Stanford's Josh Childress is going to test the NBA waters. However, he won't hire an agent until he's sure he'll be a lottery pick. According to scouts, Childress will be a likely top-10 pick. Sorry Cardinal fans.
# North Carolina State's Julius Hodge is mulling a jump to the NBA. Like many of the top prospects, he's been interviewing agents and trying to get a good feel on where he'll be selected. Right now he seems content as long as he goes in the first round. Hodge should be a first-round pick, but with all of the high school kids in the draft, there's a small risk he could slide.
# We hear that Arizona's Andre Iguodala is seriously interviewing agents and will likely declare for the draft. That comes as almost no surprise. Iguodala will likely be a lottery pick in this year's draft.
# Syracuse forward Hakim Warrick may also enter the draft and test his draft status. Warrick is all over the board right now, though scouts felt he helped himself in the tournament.
# There's talk that Utah freshman Andrew Bogut may either put his name in the NBA draft or sign professionally with a team in Europe. If he hires an agent he'll be allowed to withdraw for this draft. But if he loses his college eligibility he'll automatically be in the 2005 draft (the same way Christian Drejer was forced to be in this draft). Right now Bogut has lots of potential, but he's not a surefire first-rounder at this point. He better stay in school.
Peep Show
NBA Insider Friday, April 2 Updated: April 2 9:18 AM ET
Stackhouse Washington Wizards: Jerry Stackhouse is damned if he does play with a sore right knee and damned if he doesn't. "I think [there] is a consensus with the higher-ups, who feel if I can be out there at 50, 60 percent and do anything to help the team, do it," Stackhouse told the Washington Post. "I just roll with it, but I'm definitely not happy with who I am as a basketball player and would rather be sitting out just getting ready for next season, but I'll do what I need to do."
Those higher-ups see it a different way. "He's never told us he's unable to play, and he has medical clearance," said President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld. "We realize Jerry's not playing at 100 percent and I respect the fact he's out there trying to help us and setting a positive example for our younger players."
Either way, Stackhouse wants out. "I haven't been in playoffs the two years I've been here, so there's not a lot to be happy about," Stackhouse said. "Coming here, it's kind of been a regression, so to speak. No matter what happens, the team is going to be extremely young, and I feel like when I'm back healthy I'm going to be in my prime and I want to be in a situation where I can win," said Stackhouse, clarifying the remark by reiterating he wants to remain with the Wizards. "I think there's a lot of questions that still have to be asked and answered this summer."
Philadelphia 76ers: It may be the worst kept secret in the NBA, but the Sixers need a coach, and a former Sixer just happens to be one. The only problem is he is currently under contract in Portland. "I'm not going to get involved in my conversations with Maurice, or what others said I said," Blazers GM John Nash told the Philadelphia Daily News. "Maurice and I will talk if there is a need. At this point, there doesn't appear to be a need. It's a moot point. Chris Ford has done a remarkably good job, and Maurice has done a remarkably good job. Speculation is just that, speculation."
As expected, Cheeks is holding fast to the company line. "I try to stay focused on what our mission is [with Portland], trying to get in the playoffs, and [Ford's] mission is the same thing," Cheeks said. "I think it's a little uncomfortable for both of us to always hear our names...or [me] hear my name mentioned in some light [concerning the Sixers] while he's trying to coach the team."
Terry Atlanta Hawks: Jason Terry is no Joe Namath, but he doing his best with what he has. "I don't care, they can put it up on their bulletin board, but we're going to put it on ours -- we're not going to get swept by this team," Terry told the Atlanta Journal Constitution, speaking of the Orlando Magic. "And we're going to do everything we can to win this game. This is a big game for us." Currently, the Hawks are 24-51 while the Magic are an NBA worst 19-57.
Phoenix Suns: This is either a legitimate vote of confidence or the kiss of death in the Valley of the Sun. "He's done an outstanding job as has the entire staff," team president Bryan Colangelo said of head coach Mike D'Antoni in the East Valley Tribune. "We feel the things that needed to be accomplished are being accomplished. We are happy with the production of the young players and how the team is coming together. He's under contract, and he's doing a great job. He's dealing well with the hand he's been dealt." It isn't always that clear when you've had six different head coaches since 1996, but the current one is taking it in stride. "All the indications are good," D'Antoni said. "I haven't heard anything to the contrary. We're moving in the right direction. I think we'll have a good chance next season."
Pierce Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce may do more work for the Celtics this year off the court than he was able to on it. "I think this is a big summer for me, for Danny (Ainge) and for the organization," Pierce told the Boston Herald. "We have a chance to do something, to turn this franchise back to where it should. I mean, this is the Boston Celtics, man. We should never have years like this. Ever. But I think we're in a good position, because we got rid of all of our contractual problems. I don't know what the deal's going to be with Vin (Baker), but we're going to have no real big salaries other than me and Raef (LaFrentz). We have a lot of good young players, we've got the (mid-level) exception, we've got draft picks. I think we've got a lot of leverage. If we do everything we can and make the right moves, then we've put ourselves in good position right now as far as the future -- as far as building something up here and getting players in here to build a championship team. I think we've put ourselves in that position."
And his boss, Danny Ainge, agrees. "If Paul wants to come into my office every day this offseason and talk about what we're doing, I'd be happy to tell him and talk it over with him," Ainge said. "I love having that kind of open communication. Paul's been a help this year, telling me about players he knows. He had relationships with Ricky and Raef, so it would have been crazy of me not to ask him about their games and their character and things like that. Paul's an important part of what we're doing. I'd be stupid not to involve him."
Cleaves Cleveland Cavaliers: Mateen Cleaves is making himself at home with the Cavaliers after being signed to fill in for an injured Jeff McInnis. "I thought it would be difficult, but once I got here, coach (Paul) Silas called me up to his room," Cleaves said. "He told me, 'I'm not looking for anything spectacular. I just want you to do what you do -- play hard, take open shots and be a leader.' He just asked me to do the things I've been doing my whole life. I knew a lot of these guys and after meeting the rest, they made it easy to come in and play. I felt real comfortable out there."
And you'll get no complaints from upstairs. "He's doing fine," Silas told the Plain Dealer. "He gets us into an offense, pushes it very well, finds the open man, plays tough defense, all the things I knew he would do. It's very important at this point. We needed that. He's a good kid, a real good kid."
Toronto Raptors: According to the coach, it isn't the general manager's fault the Raptors stink this year. Or his, either. "I think whoever leaked those things last week did a lot to submarine this team and submarine the players on this team," coach Kevin O'Neill told the Toronto Sun of reports that he and former GM Glen Grunwald didn't get along. "That made a difference with the performance of our players in the last 12 to 14 games. And that's what I think is unfortunate in all of this. As coaches, we're professionals and we can deal with these things. Unfortunately, those people chose to involve our players. Any NBA season is tough enough without those kinds of things happening." Even if it means he suffers the same fate as Grunwald. "I think anytime going into a lame-duck year you want to know sooner rather than later," he said. "But I'm just going to wait until the end of the year and coach the team's final eight games."
Miller Sacramento Kings: If Brad Miller had his way, he'd be playing right now. "If you can walk and run," Miller told the Sacramento Bee, "then you should be able to play." Even if you're suffering from bursitis in the right elbow? "I'm trying to get back to where the extension on a shot is there," Miller continued. "It's something where I really felt it when I was trying to follow-through on my shot. I just felt I could still help the team by doing the little things -- set picks and hustle, all the little things you don't need your elbow for."
Ginobili San Antonio Spurs: Greg Popovich means monster in a good way. "It's hard to stay stone-faced with that guy," Popovich said of Manu Ginobili in the San Antonio Express News. "It's beyond a job for him. It's such a passion. I saw him play like that when he was with the Argentine national team, and he's the same way here. He's just a monster."
Ginobili's teammates agree. "We're putting in votes for him to be our Sixth Man of the Year," Tim Duncan said. "He's done it for us. He's our sparkplug off the bench." But Ginobili didn't see what all the fuss was about. "Thinking about those things doesn't help," Ginobili said. "When I was Rookie of the Year in Argentina, I didn't think about it at all. I just got a call one day."
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