That tall Russian kid...

[Wall St. Peon]

http://www.euroleague.net/ulebcup/notic ... =12&id=317

Since the other post was...well, yeah...I found another tid bit on Pavel, complete with some action pictures. He actually doesn't look too skinny, but he could definately put on a bit of weight.

I hope the Raptors do take him...

[air gordon]

i think any most 18 year old big men trying to enter the nba could definately put on a bit of weight....

as of now, i'm not sure the raptors would take the gamble of picking pavel. i read some reports that GM Grunwald is under a lot of pressure to win now.

[Jackal]

Hmm...I would pick him if I were the raps... This guy is quite big and can get u rebounds and a couple of block shots...It would be a new duo Carter and Pavel hihihi anyways I would pick him...

[Andrew]

If the Raptors did take him, do you think he would get a chance straight away? It seems rookie big men are pushed to the bench, even when the veteran alternatives (let's use Montross for this example) aren't any better. Montross is familiar with the ins and outs of NBA life, but he's still Eric Montross. If the Raptors take him and he shows enough promise, hopefully he'll get a chance to prove himself from Day 1, rather than being treated as a project, sitting at the end of the bench.

[Jonesy]

Yeah that does seem to be the case with a lot of big men but i think a lot of that could be simply due to the fact that the bigger guys take longer to develope and are therefore simply not up to the rigors of full-time play in the nba. I think Amare showed this season that coaches are willing to give a rookie big man minutes if they are ready and willing to work for their spot.

As for drafting this big guy i'm still undecided. Sure he could turn out to be the next Shaq but on the other hand he could be the next Priest Lauderdale (sp) so they are better off going for a less risky player like Ford or Bosh.

[Andrew]

You wouldn't think that teams would still draft based on size, given how frequently talented forward and guards go later than big men in the draft. We all know about Bowie over Michael Jordan, but what about Stockton going 16th that year? Todd Fuller before Kobe Bryant? Paul Pierce and Caron Butler both went 10th overall.

On the other hand, you can't afford a promising big man to slip by. Perhaps this time it's worth the risk?

[Jonesy]

Yeah especially when at the moment the nba is dominated by the big guys (championships are anyway). Sure there are heaps of great guards around at the moment (Iverson, T-Mac, Kobe, Pierce, Kidd etc) but since MJ no team without a dominant big guy. Lakers (Shaq) Spurs (TD, Robinson) hell even the Rockets (Hakeem) had a dominant centre so i guess the value of a quality big man is pretty clear.

[Rens]

I don't think that if the Raptors would pick Pavel, he'd start right away. He's played only like 250 minutes in Europe. He would get good backup minutes behind AD though I think. And summerleague would give him a chance to show himself.

[bballer22]

u know... if Toronto will pick T.J Ford then its good bye Skip to my Lue!! with Ford and thier other PG(forgot his name) there will be little room for Skip!

[Rens]

I'd rather see the Raptors get rid of Hunter than not resign Alston. I read that talks with his agent have been very slow though.

[Wall St. Peon]

Keep Alston, ditch Hunter...they're both about equal offensively, Hunter's a bit better defensively, but not much, and Alston makes much better decisions as a point guard and doesn't shoot much...

I'm leary of taking TJ Ford simply because of the comparisons I make to Damon Stoudamire (like the undersized great college pg who ditches the Raptors...)...I'd like a big man, as Davis is declining, so if they don't take Pavel, they should take Bosh...

[Andrew]

It seems every time I looked at the boxscores for a Raptors game this year, Hunter didn't play due to injury. Alston is younger, healthier, and can fill the role of backup point guard. I too think he would be the better choice.

Toronto could stand to improve in the middle and also at point guard, but I feel that if they have a chance to take a good big man (not necessarily Pavel, but he's an option), they should take it. They are weaker at centre than they are at point guard - at least in my opinion.

[bballer22]

i didnt mean Hunter, i meant Alvin Willaims

[Andrew]

Hunter's more likely to go than Alvin Williams. Williams is by no means the best point guard in the NBA, but he's not terrible either. His numbers are actually comparable to Mike Bibby's, though his contract isn't. If the Raptors did take Ford he probably wouldn't displace Williams, at least not straight away.

[Jonesy]

They should move Williams to the 2 (he is 6'5 and looks to score anyway) a healthy Vince to the 3 and put Mo Pete's inconsistent ass on the bench where he belongs. This way they can start TJ (or even Skip???) and capitilise on their players strengths a bit better. Might be a bit too small of a lineup when playing some of the bigger team so they could simply revert back to the lineup they use now.

What ever the Raps decide i just pray that they don't draft Kaman, i think he's going to only be an below average - average player at best. Todd Fuller or Chris Mihm style (though Mihm shows flashes of being decent.)

[Andrew]

Getting a Chris Mihm wouldn't be too bad, another Todd Fuller would be tragic (but then again, why take Kobe Bryant, Predrag Stojakovic, Steve Nash or Derek Fisher when you can take Todd Fuller 11th overall? ).

I just think the Raptors should be looking to draft big rather than small. They may not have the best point guard tandem in the NBA, but apart from Antonio Davis (who is undersized), they don't have an above average centre. Nor does most of the NBA, but talented guards are usually easier to find than talented big men.

[Rens]

The Raptors should look at picking up Jerome Moiso from the Hornets. I'd also like to see them give DerMarr Johnson a shot at returning to the league.

[The Big Racist]

Getting a Chris Mihm wouldn't be too bad, another Todd Fuller would be tragic (but then again, why take Kobe Bryant, Predrag Stojakovic, Steve Nash or Derek Fisher when you can take Todd Fuller 11th overall? ).

don't forget rashard lewis

[Colin]

I'd also like to see them give DerMarr Johnson a shot at returning to the league.

Unless no one signs him, then I know he's cleared to play. I'm pretty sure he's still under contract with the Hawks.

[Andrew]

don't forget rashard lewis

Not to mention Cedric Ceballos and Nick Van Exel.

[Rens]

I'm pretty sure he's still under contract with the Hawks

They didn't pick up his option because of his injury at the time.

[The Big Racist]

don't forget rashard lewis

Not to mention Cedric Ceballos and Nick Van Exel.

or emanuel ginobili and stephen jackason

[Andrew]

Seems if Toronto doesn't draft Pavel, the Heat might.

Nyet so fast, guys: Russian is coming

The article also mentions that if T.J. Ford isn't taken by the Raptors, the Heat won't necessarily take him at 5th.

It seems the Heat's interest in T.J. Ford, the speedy 5-10 Texas point guard, is waning.

"This isn't a knock on T.J., but when you see guys here who are legitimate 5s and 4s with decent size ... " Pfund said. "While they're calling it the year of the point guard, I still think it can't be overlooked that there's a chance that several teams will come out of this with a significant inside player." ...

[Swoosh]

I think pavel is kind of a risk, heat should draft ford and then sign kandiman or something

[Andrew]

Even if they don't re-sign Alonzo Mourning, the Heat aren't going to have a lot of cap room - at least, not enough to pay Olowokandi the kind of money he's asking for. Besides, if Zo can come back and play somewhat like his old self, the Heat don't really need Kandi Man.