Hong Kong Star Guard Takes Giant Leap, Enters NBA Draft
February 15th 2009
Leo Lai is relatively unknown in the American ball world, but the rising star guard from Hong Kong is by no means a small fry to deal with.
"He does it all, he shoots the lights out from outside, got the speedy first step to take it to the rim, and he defends, what more can you ask for?" said a basketball analysis in Hong Kong
The 17 year old, 6 foot 6, 180 pound guard has drafted several application letters for a special allowance in the draft to the NBA commissioner David Stern, and has finally received the nod from the commissioner this morning.
"I am very, very excited at this opportunity to be able to take my first step towards my dream of becoming a NBA player, what makes it even more special is that I could become the first player from Hong Kong, and hopefully this can path the way for more HK players to challenge the pinnacle of basketball" said Lai in the press conference "I've been working towards this all my life"
In a relatively talent-depleted draft (with the exception of Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio...) Lai may even end up in the lottery, he is currently being projected as being a mid-late first rounder but his draft stock could rise after scouts from the NBA sees first hand what he is capable of doing on the basketball court.
Lai averaged 37.2 ppg, 5.1 apg, 8.2 rpg, 3.4 bpg, 1.2 spg in 38 mpg on 46% FG, 78% FT, and 39.7% 3P shooting last season in the CBA with the Canton District Team and won MVP honors, he was invited by the Chinese National Team to help them with preparations for the Beijing Olympic Games.
Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, who trained alongside Lai during the preparations for the Olympics, praised his HK countryman.
"He's a very smart player, and very gifted with the athletic ability not found on most asians" said Yao
Lai has hired former Chicago Bull B.J. Armstrong as his agent, Armstrong is also the agent of star rookie Derrick Rose.
33_ALLDAY_33 wrote:I'm not sure if I can post yet but good luck with this. Hopefully you can keep this going longer than you're Wizards one.
Scouting Report: Leo Lai
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 180 lbs
Age: 18
Position: SG/PG
From: Hong Kong, China
Overall: B+
Potential: B+
Athleticism: A-
Inside Game: D-
Outside Game: B+
Playmaker Ability: B-
Inside Defense: D+
Man Defense: B-
Rebounding: F+
Intangibles: C
Draft Stock: Lottery
NBA Comparison: Kobe Bryant
Strengths: One of the more athletic players in the draft....Extremely intelligent offensive player, great instincts.....great mid-range shooter....plays defense with great effort....has a ton of potential....
Weaknesses: Ability to Postup on offense is limited....has trouble fighting for rebounds....not strong enough for the NBA game....doesn't hold position too well in the low post on defense....needs to bulk up....
2008/09 Season Recap
2008/09 Awards
Most Valuable Player: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
Rookie of the Year: Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Sixth Man of the Year: Jeff Green (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
Most Improved Player: Sergio Rodriguez (Portland Trialblazers)
All NBA First Team
Chris Paul
Kobe Bryant
Lebron James
Tim Duncan
Dwight Howard
All NBA Second Team
Gilbert Arenas
Dwyane Wade
Carmelo Anthony
Kevin Garnett
Al Jefferson
All NBA Third Team
Deron Williams
Allen Iverson
Kevin Durant
Lamar Odom
Emeka Okafor
All Defensive First Team
Chris Paul
Dwyane Wade
Andrei Kirilenko
Tim Duncan
Dwight Howard
All Defensive Second Team
Jason Kidd
Kobe Bryant
Shawn Marion
Kevin Garnett
Emeka Okafor
All Rookie First Team
Russell Westbrook
O.J. Mayo
Danilo Gallinari
Jason Thompson
Brook Lopez
All Rookie Second Team
Derrick Rose
Kyle Weaver
Joe Alexander
Michael Beasley
Marc Gasol
Coach of the Year: Phil Jackson - Los Angeles Lakers (58-24)
Executive of the Year: Mitch Kupchak - Los Angeles Lakers (58-24)
Playoffs Results
2009 NBA World Champions
2009 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
Retirees - Players
Dikembe Mutombo - Houston Rockets (18 Years Pro | 42 Years Old)
Retirees - Coaches
Jerry Sloan - Utah Jazz (24 Year Coaching Career | 67 Years Old)
Rick Adelman - Houston Rockets (18 Year Coaching Career | 63 Years Old)
No More, No Less: Nets gets expected 3rd overall pick
According to the odds, the New Jersey Nets are likely to wound up with the 3rd overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, and fortunately for them (or maybe not), they got just that.
Minnesota overcame the odds and robbed Milwaukee of the 1st overall pick while the Bucks would have to settle with the 2nd overall instead. Poor Indiana got smashed back from the projected 2nd overall to the 4th pick, while the other picks are exactly as projected by the odds. No thrills, no surprises, no disappointments.
What the Nets would do with the 3rd overall pick is uncertain at this point, and general manager Kiki Vandeweghe did not reveal any info, quoting "we are not certain at this moment in time, certainly we would conduct our workouts with a variety of players and scout the talents available in the draft, then make a decision on what our team needs to get to the next level"
Lottery Odds
Lottery Outcome
Draft Order
2009 NBA Draft: Consensus Mock Lottery
# | Team | Player | H | W | P | School
1. | | Blake Griffin | 6-10 | 248 | PF | Oklahoma
2. | | Ricky Rubio | 6-5 | 190 | PG | Spain
3. | | James Harden | 6-5 | 222 | SG | Arizona State
4. | | Brandon Jennings | 6-1 | 170 | PG | USA
5. | | Tyreke Evans | 6-5 | 221 | SG | Memphis
6. | | Hasheem Thabeet | 7-3 | 267 | C | UConn
7. | | Leo Lai | 6-6 | 180 | SG | Hong Kong, China
8. | | Ty Lawson | 6-0 | 197 | PG | North Carolina
9. | | Jordan Hill | 6-10| 232 | PF | Arizona
10. | | Donatas Motiejunas | 7-0 | 215 | C | Lithuania
11. | | Chase Budinger | 6-7 | 206 | SG | Arizona
12. | | Earl Clark | 6-10 | 226 | SF | Louisville
13. | | Gani Lawal | 6-9 | 229 | PF | Georgia Tech
14. | | Sam Young | 6-6 | 223 | SF | Pittsburgh
Sit wrote:Good you've got the Nets, now go and draft Ricky Rubio!
Martti. wrote:Sucks the Wizards didn't last. But as you've heard already, do less trades this time. Maybe only something big like trade Carter in a package.
Well, hope this lasts and 2K stops crashing
magician wrote:this should be nice..good luck and i'll be following it
33_ALLDAY_33 wrote:Get a solid, preferably young big man downlow!
thierryhenry50 wrote:Maybe draft Thabeet and trade him for Lai
Lamrock wrote:Hes gonna take Lai, have him come off the bench for like 2 games before moving Carter to the 3. Lai turns out to be a superstar and averages 30+ PPG and wins everything in his rookie year. They enter the playoffs as a 3 or 4 seed and then it gets corrupted when he gets to the second round.
2009 NBA Draft Board
Round 1
# | Team | Player | H | W | P | School
1. | | Hasheem Thabeet | 7-3 | 267 | C | UConn
2. | | Ricky Rubio | 6-5 | 190 | PG | Spain
3. | | Leo Lai | 6-6 | 180 | SG | Hong Kong, China
4. | | Brandon Jennings | 6-1 | 170 | PG | USA
5. | | Tyreke Evans | 6-5 | 221 | SG | Memphis
6. | | Blake Griffin | 6-10 | 248 | PF | Oklahoma
7. | | James Harden | 6-5 | 222 | SG | Arizona State
8. | | Ty Lawson | 6-0 | 197 | PG | North Carolina
9. | | Jordan Hill | 6-10| 232 | PF | Arizona
10. | | Donatas Motiejunas | 7-0 | 215 | C | Lithuania
11. | | Terrence Williams | 6-5 | 207 | SG | Louisville
12. | | Earl Clark | 6-10 | 226 | SF | Louisville
13. | | Gani Lawal | 6-9 | 229 | PF | Georgia Tech
14. | | Omri Casspi 6-8 | 220 | SF | Turkey
15. | |Sam Young | 6-6 | 223 | SF | Pittsburgh
16. | | Jonny Flynn | 6-0 | 172 | PG | Syracuse
17. | | DeJuan Blair | 6-7 | 265 | PF | Pittsburgh
18. | | Chase Budinger | 6-7 | 218 | SG | Arizona
19. | | B.J. Mullens | 7-0 | 260 | C | Ohio State
20. | | Michael Washington | 6-9 | 240 | PF | Arkansas
21. | | Tyler Hansbrough | 6-9 | 230 | PF | North Carolina
22. | | Jeff Pendergraph | 6-9 | 230 | PF | Arizona State
23. | | Demar DeRozan | 6-7 | 207 | SG | USC
24. | | Stephen Curry | 6-3 | 180 | PG | Davidson
25. | | Danny Green | 6-6 | 210 | SG | North Carolina
26. | | Gerald Henderson | 6-5 | 215 | SG | Duke
27. | | Darren Collison | 6-1 | 165 | PG | UCLA
28. | | Wayne Ellington | 6-5 | 195 | SG | North Carolina
29. | | James Johnson | 6-8 | 235 | SF | Wake Forest
30. | | Damien Bass | 6-10 | 266 | C | Texas Tech
Round 2
# | Team | Player | H | W | P | School
31. | | Rodrigue Beaubois | 6-2 | 182 | PG | France
32. | | DaJuan Summers | 6-8 | 241 | SF | Pittsburgh
33. | | Patrick Mills | 6-0 | 175 | PG | St Mary's
34. | | Jeff Teague | 6-2 | 180 | PG | Wake Forest
35. | | Al-Farouq Aminu | 6-8 | 210 | PF | Georgia Tech
36. | | Greivis Vasquez | 6-5 | 195 | PG | Maryland
37. | | Jrue Holiday | 6-4 | 200 | PG | UCLA
38. | | Jeff Adrien | 6-7 | 243 | PF | Connecticut
39. | | Nick Calathes | 6-5 | 185 | PG | Florida
40. | | Marcus Thornton | 6-4 | 197 | SG | LSU
41. | | Eric Maynor | 6-2 | 165 | PG | VCU
42. | | Milenko Tepic | 6-7 | 200 | SF | Switzerland
43. | | AJ Price | 6-2 | 190 | Connecticut
44. | | Victor Claver | 6-9 | 236 | SF | Spain
45. | | Toney Douglas | 6-1 | 196 | PG | Florida State
46. | | Josh Heytvelt | 6-11 | 217 | PF | Gonzaga
47. | | Austin Daye | 6-10 | 295 | SF | Gonzaga
48. | | Jermaine Taylor | 6-4 | 203 | SG | Central Florida
49. | | Dante Cunningham | 6-9 | 230 | PF | Villanova
50. | | Derrick Brown | 6-8 | 227 | PF | Xavier
51. | | Tyronn Tucker | 7-1 | 289 | C | Louisiana Tech
52. | | Jonas Jerebko | 6-10 | 210 | SF | Sweden
53. | | Damion James | 6-8 | 224 | PF | Texas
54. | | Taylor Griffin | 6-7 | 238 | SF | Oklahoma
55. | | Jerel McNeal | 6-3 | 230 | SG | Marquette
56. | | Jack McClinton | 6-1 | 185 | PG | Miami
57. | | Jodie Meeks | 6-4 | 204 | SG | Kentucky
58. | | Tyler Smith | 6-7 | 210 | SF | Tennessee
59. | | Bradford Blair | 6-1 | 191 | PG | TCU
60. | | Rick Mercer | 6-6 | 236 | SF | UTEP
Sit wrote:You couldnt help but pick urself... but I love you drafting Mills!
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