NBA Draft Profiles: Enes Kanter, Kentucky

Stats: Ineligible for 2011 NCAA Season

Age: 19, freshman

Size:

•Listed: 6'11", 260 lb

•Official: 6'9 3/4" (no shoes), 6'11 1/4" (shoes), 7'1 1/2" (wingspan), 9'1 1/2" (standing reach), 259 lb

Strengths: Kanter is a big, physical body on the block. He's an excellent rebounder, much of which is the result of his ability to establish and hold position on the block. His strength allows him to finish through contact, and he has a sense of where defenders are when he is around the rim. He's shown the ability to back down defenders and has an adequate post game; he's very patient when he has the ball and understands how to score inside. He's a smart player with a high basketball IQ. Kanter also has a solid midrange jumper when facing up, he knocks down his free throws, and he has a good-looking technique on his shot.

Weaknesses: Kanter's post game right now is mostly the result of his strength. He still needs to develop his back-to-the-basket moves, but that should come with time. Ball security may end up being an issue at a higher level of play. Kanter's not exactly and explosive athlete and he doesn't run the floor particularly well. He's also not an imposing defender and won't be much of a shot blocker at the next level.

Comparisons:

•Best Case Scenario: Al Jefferson. Aggressive offensive player who has an impressive post game and loves to attack the basket. Very similar in terms of build in addition, although Kanter has trimmed some lb.s to move better, which he displayed at the Draft combine. Nonetheless, he is a physical post player who establishes positions, goes after rebounds, but isn’t the best defender due to lack of athleticism.

•Worst Case Scenario: Andray Blatche. In terms of raw talent, Kanter definitely has it like Blatche and may actually play more disciplined and already has a more mature game than Blatche currently does. Both have great motors and the ability to play physical, which translates to success at any level with natural gifts like Kanter.

Outlook: The surprise player and star of the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit, Kanter dominated the game in the paint for the international team. He had 34 points and 13 rebounds in 24 minutes against the best high school players in the nation, including Jared Sullinger. He averaged 18 points and 16 boards in the Euro leagues. I think he is an amazing draft prospect with a skill set and game that is beyond his years, as he is only 19. His frame and length are everything you would hope for from an ideal post player, and his skill set take it up yet another notch. Should be an intriguing prospect to many NBA GM’s because of his combination of size, length, skill, and intrigue based on last years Nike Hoop Summit performance, although the fact that he hasn't played in two years will be a concern. He was ineligible at Kentucky and bounced around high schools the year before that. Nonetheless, a rare and incredibly gifted post player at a young age who is capable of eventually putting up 20 and 10 in the NBA.

Draft Range: 1st Round Pick, 2nd-5th overall

And the experts say...

•Fran Fraschilla: "While international players are still met with skepticism by some, ultimately evaluating them is no different than evaluating a player in the Big Ten or ACC. International draft busts are not the only kind found in the first round. Kanter's situation is unique in that there is a small body of work that shows a high level of potential for success in the NBA. Some NBA teams will see Kanter's situation as a crapshoot. Cleveland has three viable options with the No. 1 pick -- Kanter, Duke's Kyrie Irving and Arizona's Derrick Williams. If I were the Cavaliers, I'd analyze Kanter closely before passing on him at No. 1. I don't see him being available when they select again at No.4. "

•Draft Express: "As we mentioned above, this has been a productive couple of days for Enes Kanter who has impressed in workouts and measured out at nearly 6-10 without shoes with a 7-1 ½ wingspan and 260 pounds frame. His wingspan doesn't compare favorably to recently drafted PF/C's like Derrick Favors (7-4 wingspan) or Ekpe Udoh (7-4 ½ wingspan), but puts his right on par with Al Horford (6-8 ¾ without shoes, 7-0 ¾ wingspan, 246 pounds) and Nick Collison (6-8 ¾ without shoes, 7-1 ½ wingspan, 255 pounds. Kanter doesn't have long arms for his height, but he has a massive frame for a 19 year-old."

•SwishScout.com: "Complete package in the paint with his back to the basket, face up game, post moves, and finishing ability. Limited only by athleticism and a developing game, he is physically imposing with great potential and will be able to bully the paint for any team for years to come in the NBA.”

NBA Draft Profiles: Enes Kanter, Kentucky
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
ballinisahabit.net

Draft talk, moving outward from center

With guys like Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger, Jeremy Lamb, and Perry and Terrence Jones seemingly scared off by the potential lockout, the lottery looks to be full of players who, like Andrew Johnson’s presidency or the ‘99 Spurs, are simply there by default. The draft talk all year seemed to suggest that this one would be thin, and now it looks to be even thinner (sorry, Cleveland).

Because of this and the Rockets’ need for an infusion of young/any talent, the team might be in a position to trade up.

While I am as generally ambivalent toward the draft for need vs. best available argument as I am about nature vs. nurture, I do think the Rockets’ brass can’t afford to ignore the roster of hard-working, (mostly) young talent they already have.

The team as currently constructed is not in need of back-court help. With Lowry/Dragic and Martin/Lee, the Rockets boast one of the better back-courts in the league. With that in mind, trading up to snag Kemba Walker or Brandon Knight would more than likely also require trading a current player/starter (i.e. Lowry or Martin) to make room for the rookie, minutes wise, which, to me, at best would probably be a lateral move in terms of the team’s overall success/talent and more likely, at least initially, a step backward. Therefore, I think the Rockets should (and probably will) target a big man.

After watching whatever tape I could find lying around the internet and reading the various observations of the various pundits, I personally think the best two candidates to fill the Rockets’ big-man needs are Enes Kanter and Bismack Biyombo.

I won’t bore you with the specifics you can find elsewhere online about either, but, needless to say, they’re both big. And while both seem to be teeming with potential, neither is guaranteed to be a success in the NBA.

This year, Kanter was slated to join Calipari’s/William Wesley’s NBA combine at Kentucky and, coming into the season, was widely considered a potential number one overall pick, but a personal indiscretion left him with a seat next to Coach John as an enormous cheerleader for the entirety of this year’s Wildcat campaign.

While Kanter looks to have real potential, no one has yet to see him face actual high-level competition in a game scenario (outside of the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit, of course, in which he broke Dirk Nowitzki’s record in that particular annual exhibition by scoring a tidy 34 points on 13 of 21 shooting with 13 boards in 24 minutes).

The problem with Kanter is that he’ll probably go #3 or #4 to either Utah or Cleveland respectively, and for the Rockets to trade into either spot, the team will most certainly have to give up significant assets, i.e. Martin/Lowry. But if the Rockets are high enough on the guy or if either team would consider Scola and some change (which I doubt), Kanter most certainly could be worthwhile consideration. (The same argument also applies to trading into the #2 spot for Derrick Williams.)

Bismack Biyombo is a similar case in that, like Kanter, he’s still largely unproven against high-level competition, again with the exception being a spectacular showing at the Nike Hoop Summit, posting its first ever triple double (points/rebounds/blocks). For the past two seasons, he’s played professionally in the ACB (Spanish professional league) where, in limited minutes, he led the league in blocks by a significant margin. Getting most of his points off of offensive rebounds and dunks, Biyombo looks to be very raw offensively, but he’s got the length (7’7″ wingspan), size, and elite athleticism to be a defensive force in the NBA.

Right now, most mock drafts have Biyombo going at the 13 spot, one sooner than the Rockets’ 14th pick, but he could be taken higher. The hope (mine, in particular) is that if he doesn’t fall to the Rockets at 14, the team might not have to give up all that much to move up a few spots to get him.

Whatever the case, this Houston team needs to improve, and, hopefully, with all the uncertainty surrounding this year’s draft, Morey and the Rockets find a way to use the rest of the league’s hesitation to help themselves.

Draft talk, moving outward from center
by eric todd 25 May 2011 01:40 PM
red94.net

Wednesday Schadenfreude: Brandon Bender Says He'll Spill His Guts About Rick Pitino

You can find the story over at AllKyHoops.com. You can also check out this post at Card Chronicle (be sure to read and enjoy all the comments).

For my part, I can't imagine anything that could be revealed about Rick Pitino that would surprise me in the least after his 15 seconds of infamy at Porcini's a few years back, but who knows? Perhaps Bender will provide allegations of all sorts of NCAA lawlessness as he seems to suggest to Anthony Wireman in the article above.

Anyway, Brandon Bender seems to be on some kind of revenge tour against Pitino and Forde, but I think this is aimed more at Forde than anyone else, since Forde and Pete Thamel of the New York Times released a series of articles tying Bender to Kenneth Caldwell, a so-called "runner" who was said to have been inserting himself into the recruitment of Kevin Ware at the University of Central Florida in violation of NCAA rules.

In fact, Forde tried to tie Bender to Enes Kanter's recruitment (you know Forde -- he's gotta cast some suspicion on UK at any cost, truth be damned), an allegation which Bender flatly denies:

Obviously, there were some pretty strong allegations and references made in those articles. How do you respond to what was written?

I think was it damn foolish because they went with assumptions and no proof. Then, they said I was shopping Enes Kanter to SEC schools. I don't even know Enes Kanter. I saw him one time in my life.

I also think it was lame to bring up Ken Caldwell's past...things that happened 20 years ago.[emphasis mine]

After reading Bender's comments, it's impossible to imagine we won't see some articles, possibly even from the Thamel/Forde stable, connecting Bender to John Calipari with the implication that Bender is "coming clean" at the behest of Don Cal and the UK La Cosa Nostra. That ought to be lots of fun to comment on, and I can hardly wait. In fact, I'll be disappointed if they don't materialize.

Truthfully, though, I doubt anything of great value will come from Bender, and his credibility will understandably be questioned because he clearly seems to have an axe to grind with Louisville and Rick Pitino, as well as Forde. That's a first-blush perception, though, and not a fact -- I really don't know what he will say, or if anyone will even attempt to prove the veracity of the comments. After all, Pitino is not Calipari, and FForde has a vested, financial stake in ensuring that Pitino stays as clean as possible.

This affair should be nothing if not entertaining, and since there is no college basketball or football right now, I am all about being entertained.

Wednesday Schadenfreude: Brandon Bender Says He'll Spill His Guts About Rick Pitino
by Glenn Logan on May 25, 2011 9:12 AM EDT in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball
aseaofblue.com

Kanter’s draft plight could parallel that of 2010’s Cousins Landing Spot

Editor’s note: Pistons.com continues a 15-part series leading to the June 23 draft with a look at one of the possibilities for their pick at No. 8, Turkish big man Enes Kanter. Next: Kemba Walker.

More and more, it looks like Enes Kanter is this year’s version of DeMarcus Cousins – the player generally considered the best big man in the draft, and one that probably will be out of reach for the Pistons, yet given a slight chance to drop to their range because of some nagging questions.

The questions are different with Kanter than they were for Cousins, but the level of uncertainty they create could have a similar effect.

On pure talent, Cousins should have been in the discussion alongside ex-Kentucky teammate John Wall to be the No. 1 pick in 2010. Concerns over Cousins’ temperament and maturity, though, sent up significant red flags in some NBA front offices. Cousins ultimately went fifth overall to Sacramento, which suspended Cousins midway through last season for an altercation with a teammate.

Kanter, likewise, would be worthy competition for presumptive 2011 No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving, Duke’s freshman point guard, had he played last season as a Kentucky freshman groomed to take over in the middle for Cousins.

And there’s the rub. Kanter has precious little game tape for NBA scouts to digest and get comfortable with the fact that what they see while watching the 6-foot-11¼ Turk in individual workouts will translate to five-on-five basketball.

The one game everybody has seen – over and over, most likely – was the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit, an annual international competition between a team of graduating American high school seniors and another featuring the rest of the world’s best at that age.

Irving was the point guard for Team USA and helped it pull out a late win with 15 points, five assists and no turnovers in 25 tidy minutes. But Kanter was the unquestioned star that day, scoring 34 points and grabbing 13 rebounds – going head to head with Ohio State’s then-incoming freshman Jared Sullinger, for the most part – in just 24 minutes on a day he didn’t know if he would play at all with a balky back.

“I didn’t show myself,” said Kanter last week at the Chicago draft combine. “I took like four painkillers for my back. Some player pushed me; my back was hurting. I talked to my coach and he said, ‘Tell me how you feel.’ I said, ‘I feel good – I took like four painkillers’ I didn’t play 100 percent. Even in practice, I couldn’t play 100 percent because of my back.”

Kanter says he came to the United States two years ago after playing professionally in Turkey at age 16 – the root of his eligibility issues with the NCAA – for the educational opportunities, learning English on his own in that time.
 
He showed enough in that Hoop Summit outing that Kanter made the pulses of NBA scouts race. Kanter was also why Kentucky’s practices last winter under John Calipari were likely the most heavily scouted college practices ever. The NCAA ruled Kanter ineligible, but he was able to practice with the team while Kentucky appealed the ruling, which wasn’t finally denied until well into the SEC season.

“When the NCAA made me ineligible, I was so sad because I came to the United States for education,” Kanter said. “When they told me no, I cannot play because I am a professional, it just made me so sad, because I didn’t want to be a professional. That’s why I came here. But after that, I talked to my teammates, I talked to coach Cal, and I said, ‘I cannot give up right now.’ They said, ‘You have to be ready for the next level.’ ”

There isn’t much about Kanter’s game not to like. He has a fine shooting touch beyond mid-range. He’s strong, likes to play inside and has the frame to accommodate NBA pounding. While not a freakish athlete, he’s got more than enough athleticism to flourish. Scouts who saw him frequently at Kentucky practices – where two freshman teammates, Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones, were both considered lottery worthy – say Kanter was clearly the standout prospect. Kanter’s soft hands draw consistent raves.

In today’s NBA, where power forward and center are virtually interchangeable, Kanter has the size and skill set to play either position, which means teams with a proven center can take Kanter without worry and put him at power forward, and vice versa.

It’s considered a near certainty that Cleveland will select Irving with the No. 1 pick. Kanter could go as high as No. 2, though, a pick held by Minnesota. The Timberwolves might spend it themselves on Kanter or they could be talked into trading the pick – it is widely believed Minnesota is interested in veteran help for a young team that needs a rallying force.

If Kanter doesn’t go No. 2, Utah would consider him at No. 3 and Cleveland might well wind up grabbing him at No. 4 – most believe the pick there will be Kanter or Jonas Valanciunas, another 19-year-old. Or Kanter could get snapped up by either Toronto or Washington, picking fifth and sixth. That’s considered Kanter’s likely floor in this draft – unless something is discovered over the course of the evaluation process that will play out over the next four weeks to scare teams away.

Kanter is spending that time, as he has much of the past two months, in Chicago working under renowned trainer Tim Grover. His body fat was an impressive 5.9 percent at the Chicago combine and Kanter said he’s working to expand his offensive repertoire.

“I think my game is a lot to play toughness,” he said. “I would say rebound and post moves, but right now I’m working on my face-up, my shooting, with Tim Grover. … In Europe, they put me in low post, but coach Cal told me, ‘You are not just a center; you can play power forward.’ Me and coach Cal just worked on my shot and worked on my quickness and worked on my face-up game, dribbling and everything.”

More on Enes Kanter

College: Kentucky (ineligible)

Size: 6-foot-11¼, 259 pounds

Age: 19 on draft night

The good: Kanter has the size to play center and the skill to play either center or power forward. His shooting range should eventually extend to the NBA 3-point arc, yet he is comfortable with his back to the basket, as well. Soft hands are an outstanding trait.

The bad: The only rap on Kanter right now is lack of experience and exposure. He hasn’t played organized basketball in two years since leaving Turkey, where he played professionally at age 16.

The skinny: There is only a sliver of a chance that Kanter gets past Cleveland, Toronto and Washington – picking 4-5-6 – to get to the Pistons at No. 8. You can safely assume that if he were to fall that far, he would draw very strong consideration.

 
Kanter’s draft plight could parallel that of 2010’s Cousins Landing Spot
by Keith Langlois, Pistons.com @Keith_Langlois
nba.com

Kanter passes first few tests but team workouts will be key

CHICAGO -- There was plenty to talk about in the lobby at this year's NBA predraft combine.

That's always the case, of course, with team executives, agents and even players themselves filling the foyer of the downtown Westin every year to discuss which prospects are rising and which ones are falling as D-day (June 23) nears. But the buzz was even louder than normal this time around, in part because of the weak nature of the draft class and the first-round fluidity that it creates, and also because of the heavy dose of international players has added to the mystery.

The next step has already begun, as more than 20 prospects are in Minnesota on Monday and Tuesday to showcase their skills. Teams have begun holding workouts as well, but it's the Windy City gathering where first impressions are made and the unofficial stock price is set even if there aren't actual games being played.

As such, we take a look back at the players not previously discussed to help paint a clearer picture of this year's draft pool.

Don't count out Kanter

The 19-year-old Turkish center is as big a mystery man as there is in this class. Literally.

The player who was stuck on the sidelines at Kentucky last season because he was ruled ineligible, measured out quite well, standing 6-foot-11 ¼ in shoes and weighing in at 259 pounds while proving to be incredibly well-conditioned. His body fat was just 5.9 percent, or a little more than half of expected No. 1 pick and former Duke point guard Kyrie Irving (10.2).

And according to his agent, Max Ergul, Kanter -- who is projected as a top-five pick despite the fact that teams haven't seen him play since last year's Nike Hoop Summit in Portland -- convinced NBA executives that he has the stamina to play heavy minutes right away.

He lasted approximately 21 minutes on a brutal treadmill test that includes steep inclines, declines and sprints, putting himself atop the big man class when it comes to being dedicated about his body.

"He went 21-plus minutes on the treadmill test, and only five guys -- plus Enes -- [did that] and four of them were guards," Ergul told SI.com. "[NBA officials] said that was the first time in the draft in modern history that had happened, that no 6-11-plus guys ever finished 21-minutes-plus on the treadmill test ... People don't realize how prepared this kid is, how dedicated he is."

Yet the talk surrounding Kanter in Chicago had much more to do with the fact that he didn't sit down for interviews with Utah (No. 3, No. 12 picks), Toronto (No. 5) and Milwaukee (No. 10). Those non-meetings raised questions about whether Kanter's camp was avoiding certain teams, but Ergul said that wasn't entirely the case. They were only avoiding the Bucks.

"The only one I really didn't care for him [to go to] is Milwaukee," Ergul said. "I'll be honest ... it came out all wrong. [Utah general manager] Kevin [O'Connor] knew about it ... We called them, and it was because in next two weeks I had a feeling we were going to see each other extensively, so there's no reason for that [interview].

"Kevin told me he's really impressed with the kid and he wants to have him in Utah and he'll also come to Chicago ... I apologized to him five times for it coming out wrong, even though I didn't do anything wrong. He knew we were going to see them."

Ergul also answered the questions about why Kanter sat down with teams that have picks much lower than Kanter is expected to be taken.

On a meeting with New Jersey (No. 27): "New owners [Russian Mikhail Prokhorov] have European ties, and they're moving to Brooklyn -- which has the No. 1 Turkish population -- so I wanted them to get to know Enes a little bit."

On a meeting with San Antonio (No. 29): "I think coach [Gregg] Popovich has an opinion that really matters. If [Detroit president of basketball operations] Joe Dumars or Pop calls me or [Lakers general manager] Mitch [Kupchak] and asks for an interview, I'm not going to deny that. They may or may not get him, but I will give them their seniority. They are the guys who earned it. It's the same thing with Kevin O'Connor."

There is another lottery team that did not meet with Kanter, though, as he did not sit down with Sacramento (No. 7 pick). Kanter, who has been working with famed trainer Tim Grover in Chicago for the past six weeks, plans on holding most of his workouts in Chicago and being selective about where he travels.

"Utah is coming here to Chicago, and we're going to go to Minnesota in the second half of June," Ergul said. "Toronto is coming here. Cleveland (Nos. 1 and 4 picks), we're trying to discussing logistics of dates and stuff."

As was reported here on Thursday, Houston (14th, 23rd picks) is interested in moving up in the draft. The source with knowledge of the Rockets' desires said they are hoping to do so to either nab Kanter or perhaps San Diego State small forward, Kawhi Leonard.

Because teams have only seen Kanter in person when he scored 34 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the 2010 Nike Summit, his workouts will be key.

"I can now say that I've never seen him play live before," one executive who was at predraft camp said sarcastically. "But in the drill work, [Kanter] looked terrific."

Kanter passes first few tests but team workouts will be key
Sam Amick>INSIDE THE NBA
Posted: Monday May 23, 2011 7:02PM ; Updated: Monday May 23, 2011 7:32PM
sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Who is Enes Kanter and why are the Jazz interested?

SALT LAKE CITY - Enes Kanter, a 19 year old, 6'-11" center from Turkey will soon be playing in the USA as he is one of the top picks for the upcoming NBA Draft, but exactly where he will go is another question.

Is it possible that he could be playing for the Utah Jazz come the 2011-12 season? Maybe, as they have a No. 3 pick for the draft in June.

But where did he come from and why are NBA teams salivating over this apparent unknown? He seems like he just popped onto the radar.

While fans may not be too familiar with Kanter, NBA executives and writers have know about this kid for quite some time and he was one of 54 prospects at last week's NBA Draft Combine.

Chances are he would have become a household name last year playing for the University of Kentucky, but because he was ruled ineligible due to benefits he received while playing in the professional league in Turkey, Kanter wasn't able to wow anyone by dominating college basketball like Jimmer Fredette, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams and Brandon Knight.

However, NBA execs are judging Kanter by his earlier years.

In 2008 at the age of 16, Kanter played for the Turkish professional team Fenerbahce Ulker in four Euroleague games.

In 2009, Kanter played for Turkey at the 2009 FIBA Under-18 Championships where he averaged 18.6 points and 16.4 rebounds and led Turkey to a bronze medal. Kanter also received MVP Honors in the championships.

With the many mock drafts out there, Kanter is almost as enigmatic as Fredette projected to go a number of places, but likely landing in the Top 5 with the Jazz just being one of many teams interested in him.

ESPN.com insider Chad Ford put his thoughts about the NBA Draft Combine out there last Friday after the Combine concluded in Chicago and said Kanter received the most buzz.

Ford also stated in his Friday blog post that he thought Kanter "didn't have one particular wow moment, he looked athletic, made a number of emphatic dunks and outhustled everyone else in his category. His performance here won't be enough to erase all the question marks teams had, but it was a start," posted Ford.

Ford projects that Kanter will go to the Cleveland Cavaliers as their No. 4 pick, but the Jazz have the No. 3 pick and could snatch him before the Cavaliers do.

The official measurements from the NBA Draft Combine were released late last week and Kanter was proved just as exciting by those as he is by his performance.

Kanter measured in height at 6'9.75" without shoes and 6'11.25" with shoes. He weighed in at 259.2 pounds and measured a wing span of 7'1.5". What team wouldn't want a player like that?

At almost seven feet tall (with shoes on), weighing almost 260 pounds, and with a wingspan of over seven feet, Ford said Kanter's measurements, "gives him a very good size at the power forward position and makes him a passable (albeit slightly undersized) center as well."

In a scouting report by David Locke, the play-by-play voice of the Utah Jazz, he stated simply that Kanter "is an NBA player. His elite skill is rebounding. He is going to be a big time rebounder in the NBA."

In a recent article by the Deseret News, Kanter spoke about how he used to wake up early to watch fellow Turkish player Mehmet Okur play.

Kanter also told the Deseret News that he will have a workout in Utah before the draft, but in Ford's ESPN.com blog post Monday, Ford stated that "sources in both Utah and Kanter's camp said it was mutually agreed that the Jazz would fly to Chicago on June 2 and see Kanter work out in Chicago."

Who is Enes Kanter and why are the Jazz interested?
By Kira Terry, ksl.com contributor May 23rd, 2011 @ 4:00pm
ksl.com

NBA Draft: Brandon Knight 'Won't Get Past Kings' At No. 7, Says Ford

Brandon Knight rose his NBA Draft stock at the combine last week, and ESPN's Chad Ford reports that the Kentucky point guard "won't get past the Kings at No. 7." He might not be there, however; Ford indicates that Knight looks to be ahead of UConn guard Kemba Walker should the Utah Jazz take a point guard at No. 3. But Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor is an avowed follower of the "best player available" rule, and Enes Kanter is entering the conversation for No. 2, let alone No. 3. A few more Ford tidbits, though I'd advise you to sign up for Insider to read the whole thing, even if just for the next couple months:

* The top of Jordan Hamilton's range is No. 7. He's a scoring small forward; that's a need position, but not necessarily a need role.

* There are some interesting notes but no Kings mention regarding Tobias Harris, the Tennessee forward. He measured out at small forward, and his camp insists he's best at three. He fashions himself a point forward. Could be an intriguing match for Sacramento.

* Kings among the dozen teams who could talk to the Wolves about Derrick Williams at No. 2. Do the Kings have anything Minnesota would want?

NBA Draft: Brandon Knight 'Won't Get Past Kings' At No. 7, Says Ford
by Tom Ziller on May 23, 2011 10:36 AM PDT in NBA Draft
sactownroyalty.com

Who Will The Cavs Take At Number Four?

From Kirk at WFNY:


What it will come down to for Chris Grant and the Cavalier coaching and scouting staffs will be the best fit long-term. Kanter is undeniably more ready to step in now and flash his offensive skills, and you will have to wait a little longer to see Valanciunas’s full impact. If defense, rebounding, and pick and roll offense are a greater need, Valanciunas is your man. If you’re looking for more of an offensive option and a tough, physical finisher in the post, then Kanter should be the selection. I feel that the Cavaliers’ decision may in part be made by Minnesota (or a trade partner) and Utah ahead of them, and only one of these two will be there at number four. Right now, I’m leaning a little bit toward Valanciunas, but I would not be disappointed at all with Kanter.


I will abstain since I know very little about either prospect. Discuss, People Who Know Things.


Who Will The Cavs Take At Number Four?
May 23rd, 2011 by Colin McGowan
cavstheblog.com

Cavaliers Should Be Watching What Minnesota Does With #2 Pick

Predicting what teams will do in the draft is hard enough on its own merits. When it comes to trying to guess what a mercurial and enigmatic GM like David Kahn of the Minnesota Timberwolves will do in a draft makes things even more difficult.

Yet, if we are to give any consideration to what the Cleveland Cavaliers should do with the #4 pick in the draft, we must try to ascertain which players will still be there when they are back on the clock. When it comes to the Timberwolves, the general consensus seems to be that they will take Derrick Williams with the 2nd pick, leaving the Utah Jazz to take Brandon Knight at #3 and giving the Cavaliers their pick of foreign prospects at #4.

I’m just not sure that’s how it will play out, though. The Timberwolves have shown that they don’t tend to draft according to need and are unafraid to stockpile players at the same position. Their history with PGs is well documented, but if you look at the 3 and 4 positions on their team, they already have a bunch of similar players who could or should be playing the same position. Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Anthony Randolph, and Martell Webster are all under contract at least through the next season. So perhaps they will still take Derrick Williams, the other consensus top 2 player in this draft. That’s the safe move.

When it comes to center, though, they only have Darko Milicic and Nikola Pekovic. Neither player is a difference maker and neither one should really be anything more than a bench player who gets spot minutes here and there. Pekovic has a little potential to grow as he had his moments last year in his rookie season. But is Pekovic a guy the Timberwolves are content to slot in as the center of their future? It’s possible, but I would think a guy like Enes Kanter could alter those plans.

In many ways, the thought of Kanter going to Minnesota just makes so much more sense than Derrick Williams. The only way Williams makes more sense is if their team scouts are absolutely certain that Williams will be a much better NBA player than Kanter. Otherwise, Kanter is a tantalizing prospect for any team that needs a center.

This is why I believe that the Timberwolves are going to take Enes Kanter with the #2 pick in the draft. Initially, this might excite some Cavs fans who dream of pairing Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams together, assuming that Utah will still take Brandon Knight. However, if Derrick Williams is still available for Utah at #3, that changes things for them.

With Al Jefferson and Mehmet Okur already there, selecting someone like Kanter or Jonas Valanciunas doesn’t make much sense, which is why most mock drafts have them taking Brandon Knight. However, if Williams is there at #3, it’s hard to see the Jazz passing on him. Andrei Kirilenko is a free agent and CJ Miles has a $3.7 million team option, and that’s about all the depth they have at SF. If they believe Williams can play the 3, then I believe they would select Williams over Knight in this scenario.

Now, if you buy into the Cavaliers’ love affair with Valanciunas, then no harm done, the Cavaliers can take him at #4. However, if you are of the belief that Kanter is the better prospect than Valanciunas, then this is a nightmare scenario.

I strongly belong to the 2nd party, which is why I am desperately hoping the Timberwolves are able to trade their pick to a team that wants to draft Derrick Williams. If that happens, perhaps teams desperate for Kanter will try to trade with Utah at #3, and I’m sure the Jazz would be willing to listen, but the odds of them getting a deal done aren’t all that strong. In a weak draft, you’re really going to need some pretty decent compensation for moving out of the top 3.

My perfect scenario is for the Timberwolves to either pick Williams or else trade the pick to someone who will, and then the Cavaliers take Enes Kanter with the #4 pick. It’s not so much that I’m sold on Kanter as it is that I think that not only is Valanciunas not a good prospect, but I also don’t believe he will be an NBA center. I’ve seen absolutely nothing in his videos that shows me the ability to play center in the NBA. He looks like a power forward and plays like a power forward. And if that’s the case, I don’t believe he will be near as good as JJ Hickson is, and therefore I just don’t get why the Cavs are so high on Valanciunas.

Obviously, the Cavaliers have spent some serious resources on scouting overseas players and they have seen more of Valanciunas than any of us have. But when I weigh what I have seen of Valanciunas with what I have read about him from other scouts and “draft experts”, I have my doubts.

To be sure, there are more than a few experts/scouts who like Valanciunas more than Kanter, but most of those seem to be the ones who are concerned about the lack of tape on Kanter. The majority of the scouting reports I’ve read also seem to see Valanciunas as a PF, and they almost all see him as a project whose success will ultimately depend on coaching and his ability to fill out his body.

My point with all of this is not to necessarily cut down Valanciunas, but more to express why I have such doubts as to the legitimacy of the Cavaliers preferring Valanciunas to Kanter. For much of the season I heard a lot of talk about the Cavaliers really wanting Kanter in this year’s draft. So did Valanciunas’ play in Euroleague last year change their minds? Or is it possible that the Cavaliers are leaking this information to discourage teams who want Kanter from trying to trade up above Cleveland?

Similarly to how I feel about NFL draft rumors, I rarely believe information that is leaked during draft season. Teams will always try to use misinformation to their benefit, and if you really want Enes Kanter at 4, and you believe that under status quo he will be there, then the best thing you can do is say you’re going to draft someone else so other teams won’t be as desperate to shake things up before you. These leaks are often transparent and I highly doubt most other teams buy into it, but it’s a practice that still occurs all the time.

So it’s wise to take any rumors with a grain of salt, but if Valanciunas is the guy the Cavaliers want, he will certainly be there at #4 no matter what. But if Enes Kanter is actually the guy, then we may have to hope for the Timberwolves to find a trading partner who will take Derrick Williams. It will be fascinating to see what the Timberwolves do with the #2 pick, that much is certain, and the results of their actions can have serious implications of the options Cleveland has at #4.

Cavaliers Should Be Watching What Minnesota Does With #2 Pick

Written By:  Andrew

waitingfornextyear.com

Nba Draft 2011, Enes Kanter, Derrick Williams, Kyrie Irving