2009 NBA Draft Combine: Day One

Day one of the NBA Draft Combine from Tim Grover’s Attack Athletics gym in Chicago,
IL was a chance to get to see a majority of the players who will be drafted in
a controlled environment. The new combine format was successful in getting most
of the top talent in front of the NBA GMs and scouts.

Unfortunately it was at the expense of seeing players in a game setting.
The biggest positive of this format is that it gives GMs and scouts a chance to
analyze player’s shooting forms and their demeanors. Player’s passing, ball handling, defense, and rebounding were not on display.

Teams also enjoy the opportunity to get a 30 minute interview with 18 of the players
of their choosing during the 2 day event. Here are notes on each player after
the first day of the event.

(The most telling information likely will be when the measurements are released.)

Group 1


	Ty Lawson

Rodrigue Beaubois
Cholet (France) — Has the most freakish length of any point guard in the
draft with a 6-10 wingspan at 6-2. Looked good shooting the ball displaying a
smooth release.
Darren Collison UCLA
— Showed his blinding speed in the full court speed dribbling drill. Knocked
down some 3 balls, solid performance.
Stephen Curry Davidson
— Easily the top shooter among the group. A number of the other player’s shots
break down when shooting 3 pointers. His looks just as pure from deep.
Toney Douglas Florida
State — The old (draft camp) format would have been perfect for someone
like Douglas to show his ability to run the show at the point guard position for
3 games. Douglas is an excellent defender and scorer but scouts are skeptical
about his ability to play the point guard position.
Jonny Flynn Syracuse
— Looked to be a good inch shorter than Ty Lawson which means he’s likely 5-11.
Being under 6′ will make it difficult to claim a spot in the lottery.
Jrue Holiday UCLA
— His fundamentals are very strong. Has a lot of potential to be a decent role
player. He’s bigger than the rest of the guards. Unfortunately the old format
would have been perfect to get a chance to see a player like Holiday play point
guard in a full court situation. Then again with the old format, it’s unlikely
he would have shown up. Looked good in the ball handling drill though not nearly
as cat quick as his teammate Collison. What position is he?
Ty Lawson North Carolina —
In the 5 shot shooting drill dropped all 5 looking very good. His release is still
extremely low as he doesn;t get much lift and shots the ball from his chest.
Eric Maynor VCU — Shot the ball well,
but doesn’t have a fluid release. He’s a very complete point guard but lacks huge
upside and his shot is the one drawback to his game. It’s effective but his slow
release makes getting shots off more difficult.
Patrick Mills Saint Mary’s
— Might be the fastest guard in the draft (Collison and Lawson included). The
injury really diminished his play late in the season so he’ll have a decision
to make. Really sets his feet well on every shot, excellent form.
AJ Price Connecticut
— Shot the ball pretty well, but considering that and his size are his two greatest
aspects, it’s unlikely he impressed anyone to move up much.
Jeff Teague Wake Forest
— Mentioned he was likely going to stay in the draft this year. Late season collapse
dropped his stock but still has a shot to
Greivis Vasquez Maryland
— Looked a little out of place along with all the cat quick smaller guards.

Group 2


	Wayne Ellington

Dionte Christmas Temple
— Unorthodox release was apparent. A bigtime scorer but not athletic enough for
the first round.
DeMar DeRozan USC — Huge hands allow him
to coral the ball on ally oops and control the ball on dunks. Had one impressive
tomohawk dunk on the 3-2, 2-1 drill.
Wayne Ellington North Carolina —
Along with Curry the purest shooter in the draft. Looked very smooth with his
effortless release.
Danny Green North Carolina
— Very stiff in his movements. Has an effortless release with great speed and
accuracy on his shot.
Gerald Henderson Duke
— Shot mechanics have improved but still not tremendous. Body looks very muscular
but doesn’t appear able to put on much more weight.
Jack McClinton Miami
— Struggled in the ball handling drill appearing focused on speed instead of
ball protection. He even
Jerel McNeal Marquette — Shot was a bit flat.
Very polished guard but size is a concern.
Jodie Meeks Kentucky — Shot the ball
extremely well. Body is ripped but looks extremely rigid. Movements are herky
jerky. Meeks still has some holes to his game and may or may not get drafted.
On the flip side, his stock may never be as high as it is now and he likely won’t
get the same chance to stand out offensively.
Jermaine Taylor Central
Florida — Looked excellent handling the ball. Shot wasn’t falling
Marcus Thornton LSU — Ball handling looked
good, not great.
Terrence Williams Louisville —
Lack of shooting ability was apparent. This obviously isn’t a setting that he
thrives in aside from the full court drills.

Group 3

Derrick Brown Xavier
— Mentioned he’s likely to stay in the draft. Mechaincs on his shot looked poor.
A freak athlete but these shooting drills don’t exhibit what he does well.

Chase Budinger Arizona
— Athleticism was on display. His jumpshot unfortunately was not connecting.
Omri Casspi Maccabi Tel
Aviv (Israel) — His best attributes (toughness and hustle) don’t show
up in a setting like this. His shot release is a little awkward. Needs to work
on extending his range and consistency, shot off the dribble.
Earl Clark Louisville
— A phyical specimen with big upside. Needs to mature mentally. His focus comes
and goes. A bigtime talent but his demeanor is questionable. Shot well from outside.
Austin Daye Gonzaga
— Did not shoot particularly well. Although he’s probably the best shooter in
this group (3). The t-shirt under his uniform couldn’t hide his lack of strength.
It will be interesting to see if he can put 185 up a few times. Looked fluid running
the floor but struggles with his start stop and explosiveness. Similar to Brian
Cook, a soft shooter. Needs another year to play himself into the first round.
If he believes in his talent, he should return to Gonzaga.
Joe Ingles Melbourne South
Dragons (Aus.) — Left hander is still very skinny but showed a solid touch. Shot
the ball well although has a slow release on his shot.
Damion James Texas — Spent the entire year
trying to prove that he can shoot. His shot is developing but still hasn’t gotten
there.
James Johnson Wake Forest — Older
player with a physically developed body. Looked good, strong demeanor and focus.
As impressive as any of the small forwards.
Tyler Smith Tennessee —
Appeared an inch or two shorter than the rest of the group. Jump shot is a little
slow, but hit 4/5 at one point on the outside shot drill.
DaJuan Summers Georgetown — A live
body. A more fluid athlete than James Johnson but lacks the all around tool box
that JJ possesses.
Sam Young Pittsburgh
— Still playing with a bandage on his arm after the Raptors vertical jump accident.
Form on his shot is poor but has become consistent and effective. Doesn’t look
fluid in his movements but long and explosive.

Group 4

Jeff Adrien Connecticut
— May be a little warn out working out with the Griffin Brothers every day. Leans
back a little too much on his release.
DeJuan Blair Pittsburgh — Appears to have
concentrated on his diet and conditioning since the season ended probably dropping
close to 15-20 pounds. Looked very good in the post drills hitting shots and moving
well.
Dante Cunningham Villanova — Worked out
with the bigmen which was surprising considering he has transitioned into more
of a SF and will need to play there at the NBA level. However some of the drills
were the same with all the bigs shooting 3 pointers. He drained one three.
Taj Gibson USC — Still has weight concerns
playing in the post but very long and fluid and will have a shot to get into the
late first round.
Tyler Hansbrough North Carolina — Seems
to have trimmed down a little adding speed. Shot
Luke Harangody Notre Dame — Looked at least
an inch or two shorter than Hansbrough’s. His old school shot was falling. But is he a severely small PF or a severly slow SF?
Josh Heytvelt Gonzaga — His arms looked
huge, bigger than Hansbrough’s. Had his shot going.
Gani Lawal Georgia Tech — Looked a little slow
moving through the shooting drill. Shot the ball extremely well. Very explosive.
Has put on some weight. Legs looks thicker. Outside of Griffin and Hill, has the
most upside of any of the power forwards in this draft.
BJ Mullens Ohio State — Looked very fluid and
athletic running the floor. His shooting looked solid. Didn’t hit many of his
outside shots but his form was good and didn’t miss by much.
Jeff Pendergraph Arizona State
— Doesn’t stand out athletically. Didn’t have a great showing but still probably
finds a spot in the second round.