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By
Shawn Siegel
collegehoopsnet@aol.com
June 22nd, 2005
NBA Draft Mailbag
Each week, Shawn Siegel, CHN's NBA Draft
expert answers fan questions in the NBA Draft
Mailbag. Siegel receives emails each and every day from fans
trying to find out about their favorite player or favorite team.
***
Dear Shawn,
When the Suns traded Stephon Marbury to the
Knicks, they acquired the rights to a highly touted guard from Europe.
Do you know who I am referring to, and what the current status of that
situation is? Thank you,
Dave
Colorado
Dave,
The player you are referring
to is Milos Vujanic. Milos is a 6-3 guard, who has still been
playing in Europe for Fortitudo Bologna for the past couple of seasons
after being drafted by the Knicks in 2002 (34th pick.) Vujanic
recently injured himself, but he was having a very impressive season for
his club team, averaging 17 ppg for his Euroleague season. The
Suns still hold his rights, but the more time that goes by, the less
likely it seems he will ever play in the NBA. However, Vujanic is
still only 24, and I can guarantee you many teams (like the Knicks)
could use him on their roster.
***
Dear Shawn,
Who do u think would be a better pick for
the Lakers, Charlie
Villanueva, or Sean May?
Thanks,
JR
Harbor City, CA.
JR,
If you would have asked me this 2
years ago, I would have said that Villanueva is far and away the better
talent. However, Charlie's college career was somewhat disappointing,
and his development has come on rather strongly. At this point, I
think that May is the safer pick, and as the Lakers already have Kobe, they
don't need to take risks, but just stockpile their roster with solid role
players. May fits better into their roster, as he's more comfortable
sticking to his role of inside presence, unlike Villanueva who you could
easily see becoming a distraction and continually wanting to do more.
***
Dear Shawn,
There have been some nasty rumors going around with regards to a
Utah/Portland swap which would include trading the #6 pick, Gordan G. and
Kirk Snyder for the #3 pick, Sergei Monya and someone like Ruben Patterson.
Have you heard if there is any truth to these rumors and do you think either
team would go for a trade like this? Is there any way that the Jazz could
trade up in the draft to land one of the “coveted” point guards? Thanks,
Jeff
Salt Lake City, UT
Jeff,
While I have not heard any
validity to the specific trade your proposed, besides some creation of a guy
on Hoopsworld.com, the rumors about the Jazz wanting to move up to the 3rd
pick are more than hot air. Even more substantial than the Jazz desire
to move up to 3rd, is the Blazers efforts to move the 3rd pick to any
willing taker. The Jazz obviously make the most sense with their need
for a franchise point guard, and the 6th pick which they can dangle as a
nice carrot. One problem for the Jazz is that the Blazers supposedly
want either Gerald Green or
Martell Webster, and with
Green most likely being gone by 6, the Blazers could trade even lower down
than 6th and still get Webster.
***
Dear Shawn,
Many have said that
Brandon Bass made a huge
mistake by entering the NBA draft this season. Do you agree?
Thanks,
John
Baton Rouge, LA
John,
I really do like Bass as a
player, and I truly believe that he would have easily been in line to be a
late 1st round pick had he waited a year. Especially with the new NBA
age limit, which should limit the player pool for next year's draft, Bass
probably lost himself a lot of money by entering this draft. The SEC
as a whole lost a lot of talent to the Draft, and LSU had a real chance to
be a special team behind Bass and Davis. On the flip side of the age
limit, however is that NBA rosters have expanded to 14, so perhaps teams
will be more willing to keep their 2nd round picks under contract.
***
Dear Shawn,
As
you said it seems Byron Scott prefers
Deron Williams over
Chris Paul (I too can't
understand that). But I think a possibility is that he is bluffing to make
the Bobcats, who are interested in Paul, relax. Can you please give me your
thoughts.
Thanks,
A Hornets Fan
Louisiana
Hornets Fan,
When I first heard about the
Hornets' preference for Williams, I thought that perhaps what you are
suggesting is true. Personally, I'm not a big fan of Byron Scott, and I
wouldn't give him enough credit to do that. With the strong
possibility still looming that the Blazers trade down, and the moving team
takes Paul 3rd, the Hornets might end up being stuck with Williams whether
they truly prefer him or not.
***
Dear
Shawn,
Who do u think the Clippers
will end up drafting in both rounds? How do u see Shaun Livingston
running this team?
Thanks,
DE
California
DE,
In terms of Livingston, I've been
a huge fan of his since high school, and I feel that the Clippers are safe
assuming that he will be their franchise point guard for years to come.
In terms of the Draft, you probably have read the rumors about the Clippers
guaranteeing that they will take Yaroslov Korolev with the 12th pick.
While Korolev would be a solid addition to the team, as far as I know, there
is absolutely no validity to that rumor. The Clippers are in a tough
spot, because they don't need another 6-10 forward which seems so prevalent
in the draft, and they'd love to see Martell Webster or
Antoine Wright available at
12.
***
If you have a question
which you'd like Shawn to answer, email
collegehoopsnet@aol.com
He’ll post and answer as many questions as possible in the
NBA Draft Mailbag. Please
include your first name and home town when contacting Shawn.
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