Who are the Sleepers in the Draft or Elsewhere?

by exult463 on May 21, 2007 4:25 PM CDT

The Chicago Bulls had a good season. Still, I can't recall notable late 1st round or 2nd round draft picks selected by the Bulls which had good success in the NBA? I know there are some. What picks can you name which fit this category? It seems that the Chicago Bears scouts always find late round talent. What about Bulls talent scouting team?

It's about time the Bulls land a poor man's Tim Duncan or find another Carlos Boozer or Paul Millsap, or Manu Ginobili, etc...

Bulls need some cheap affordable hungry talent, but, theses player will need some playing time.
Thabo taken in top 20, yet didn't get the minutes a Paul Millsap received. Was Duhon so much better than Thabo this year or is Skiles so resistant to change?

Does Skiles need to expand his coaching style similiar to Don Nelson? Nelson truly benched starters that were not performing and kept them on the bench. Will Skiles ever do that? Do the Bulls need some internal competition to light some fire? I say "Yes" Who is this GS Matt Barnes? or Andris Biedrins who kept Al Harrington benched?

Here are some ideas:

developmental league player, Elton Brown (6'9 250 lbs), age 23, (ppg 18.4/playoff 25) (rpg 9.6/playoff 11.7)

or Derrick Byars, Senior, from Vanderbilt (6'7 220 lbs) (ppg 17 - apg 3.4 - rpg 4.9 - )

or troubled Sean Williams (Boston College), (6'10" - averaged 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5 blocked )?

Who are some of the sleepers you know about?

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Comments

I've already mentioned it...

...but I think Haluska will surprise. Caveat: in the right system. There, now if he doesn't, I can always say he wasn't in the right system.

Yes, of course.

by tyger1147 on May 21, 2007 4:37 PM CDT reply actions

Haluska

Seems ok, good size and strength, offensive numbers looks good, and stated to be a strong finisher around the basket. If he establishes and separates himself defensively that might be a plus in the pre-draft camps.

by exult463 on May 21, 2007 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

I wouldn't mind taking Haluska with one of the 2nd rounders. He would be a good player to come off the bench and be a shooter when either of the guards get in foul trouble.

by vtown754 on May 21, 2007 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Sean Williams

is a flat out beast.

by bu11s on May 21, 2007 4:46 PM CDT reply actions

yea

he is also a head case. The whole Paxson/Skiles culture (which i think people exagerate) probably eliminates his prospects of being drafted by the bulls.

by Sambossanova on May 21, 2007 9:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm an ideas man, not researcher

Do this:

Find some undersized forward who rebounds like crazy. Hollinger (and I heard JeffVanGundy say this in a telecast too) has noted that rebounding is one of the few skills that have shown consistent translation from college to the pros.

If you're really serious about this sleeper business you can give some pace and minutes-adjusted rebound figures as well. You can find the next Milsap or Chuck Hayes or Reggie Evans.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 21, 2007 6:22 PM CDT reply actions

Good call.

Guys who are 6'7" or 6'8" PF without much of an offensive game aren't highly valued in the NBA draft.

Evans went undrafted. He was short (6'8"), wasn't a great jumper, had zero offensive game and had especially small hands for someone his size. A lot of his rebounding in college was attributed to just being stronger (basically) and maybe about the same height than his opponents.

But boxing out and a "nose for the ball" appears to be an skill. I never really thought about it, but these guys have some obvious skill.

Yes, of course.

by tyger1147 on May 21, 2007 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Does the NBA draft picks have a value system?

What is equivalent to a 9th, and our two second round picks. 6th? Maybe we could look to trade all three, our roster doesn't really need much more depth IMHO. We need to develop Thabo and Tyrus, and try to resign PJB. Maybe even Noce.

Like a proud papa...

by cubbybear on May 21, 2007 6:36 PM CDT reply actions

I doubt it.

If you're referring to the NFL draft one, probably not. That was something devised by Jimmy Johnson. And even he says now he thinks people take it too seriously.

Besides, the NBA is WAY different. It couldn't possibly match, especially since each draft is so different. For one, when the Knicks were around the 11-14 range, I went back and looked at the guys drafted in those areas over the past 15 years, they were maybe five that were extremely productive, another 10 that had names I even recognized as starters, and maybe another ten that I recognized at all. I'm not a basketball historian, but I it's not a high value slot at all.

Really, in the NBA, there are few sure things (superstar, or going to be solid), but it's a big crapshoot as well.

Yes, of course.

by tyger1147 on May 21, 2007 7:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Chinese Connection

If the Bulls do land Yi Jianlian,as a few mocks have it wouldn't the transition be easier if he had a 6'9" PG/SG/SF (named Sun Yue) countryman to help? If you have ever seen Yi's Nike commercial Sun is his point guard!

by A Train Afro 53 on May 21, 2007 8:15 PM CDT reply actions

sleepers

Senior who dominated the boards at portsmouth invitationall. Some inf from draft express:

http://draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=1274

Herbert Hill from providence college blossomed and might be available in the second round but I dont think he is under the radar.

Some international players like marc gasol and ali traore could turn out to be useful big men.

http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/alitraore.html

Oh and there's this finnish point guard who looks awesome based on potential:

http://draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=1273

by Sambossanova on May 21, 2007 9:07 PM CDT reply actions

hmmmmmmm

remember roger mason jr. and lonny baxter?

Bears moving dynamic Hester to offense!

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on May 22, 2007 12:56 AM CDT reply actions

Not the same.

He only averaged around 8.0 rpg. He was an all-around "good" player.

Matt was talking about prolific rebounders in college. In Millsap and Evans, we're talking about guys who averaged 13.0 and 11.0 rpg in college.

Yes, of course.

by tyger1147 on May 22, 2007 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions

Fazekas?

Could guys like Fazekas, apparently quite skilled and big, go under the radar and once in the NBA do a Boozer ?
What's wrong with him ?
(I do not live in the US, do not have access to US Basketball on TV, so I've never seen him play)

The Game chose him !

by Diabolo on May 22, 2007 8:37 AM CDT reply actions

I think he could.

He'd be an excellent prospect except he has (relatively) not much athleticism or strength. But he's a great basketball player. He could be someone that could fall to the Bulls, and I'd be happy if they took him, but I bet he goes to one of the good teams towards the end of the 1st.

Yes, of course.

by tyger1147 on May 22, 2007 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Sounds a bit like...

what people thought of Pau Gasol (and still think). Maybe at a slightly lower level obviously.

The Game chose him !

by Diabolo on May 22, 2007 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions

Sleeper candidates

in no particular order w/ stats from last year, some second round guys I think would be worth a shot for some teams, good news first...

Ivan Radenovic, Arizona, PF: 25.7 Pts/100 possessions (53.5 2PT%, 37.3 3PT% (51 att), 87.2 FT% (50.7 FT Rate), 10 OR%/15.5 DR%

also only 1 BS/100 and 1.5 S/100

Carl Landry, Purdue, undersized PF: 37.9 Pts/100 (61.8 2PT%, 72.6 FT% (54.8 FT Rate), 11.9 OR%/17.7 DR%

also 6 TO/100 and a knee surgery veteran

Reyshawn Terry, UNC, SF: 24.8 Pts/100 (53.1 2PT%, 43.7 3PT% (103 att), 4.2 A/100, 20.2 DR%, 1.6 BS/100

also 4.6 TO/100, 6.6 OR%

by Hoopinion on May 22, 2007 11:32 AM CDT reply actions

Big Baby

from LSU might be overweight, short, and not terribly explosive...

but the man can score in the post. He's also got excellent hands, agility, and a fine outside shot. If he could lose some weight (Sweetney flashback alert!) he might by able to add some vertical lift to all that...well, mass.

Assuming Davis falls to the second round, he might just be worth gamble for our Bulls. As Tyger adroitly pointed out, those 6'7/6'8 guys (like Millsap, Evans, Maxiel, Boozer) can often slip, and have considerably more success than you'd think at first glance. Beside, Tyrus might like a buddy from Louisiana in the event that PJ goes AARP on us.

by Freethefro on May 22, 2007 4:30 PM CDT reply actions

I like Big Baby

From what I saw last year in tourney he looked like he had some skills and I heard he dropped weight and got in better shape this year. Haven't figured out why he seems to be so under the radar but I never saw LSU play this year so I don't know.

Based on all the college "stars" that don't make it and the sucess of some your wouldn't expect my only conclusion that the difference between a good NBA player and a bust is either all attitude / right place/time or just a slight difference in skill. Here's to Bulls continued recent scouting sucess and that we see Tyrus and Thabo really make jump next year

by NY Chicago Fan on May 22, 2007 11:38 PM CDT up reply actions