X's Blazers Dynasty (NBA Live 06)
by The X on Wed Mar 15, 2006 5:18 pm
2006 OFF-SEASON COVERAGE
RE-SIGNING BLAZERS FREE AGENTS
1st ORDER OF BUSINESS - Evaluate team's current free agent's asking prices & future with team
Portland only has two free agents this year, starting centre Joel "Przy-bizz" Przybilla & 3rd string SG Charles "Spider" Smith. Przybilla was always the No. 1 off-season priority for the Blazers & the team plays a lot better when Big Joel is battling hard inside & doing the dirty work. His asking price is very reasonable as is the length of contract. As for Smith, he likely won't be offered a contract, leaving a roster spot open for a 2nd Round pick to have a shot at making the squad.
The Blazers' GM went straight to work, offering Joel Przybilla a 4 year deal, worth $8.5m, or about half of the mid-level exception. The contract offer starts out with Joel earning $1.9m in the 2006/07 season, & ending with him earning $2.35m in the 2009/10 season, which is a bargain for a starting centre. If the offer goes through, it helps keep the now cap-conscious Blazers in a stable fiscal position & avoiding the luxury tax that Paul Allen refuses to pay.
It looks like Joel Przybilla weighed up the options & was loyal to the team that gave him his chance to shine. Leaving some money on the table from other suitors to stay with the young Portland Trailblazers. The Blazers now have their starting frontcourt (Przybilla, Randolph & Miles) locked up for the next few years.
Later that day, the Blazers' GM decided to inform Charles Smith that they did not wish to re-sign him & wished him well in his future endeavours.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
As per usual these days, most free agent talent re-signs with their respective teams, & this off-season is no different as the big names elect to stay put.
I'll post pre-draft workouts tomorrow. Keep those lottery picks coming in, you have until tonight to do so
RE-SIGNING BLAZERS FREE AGENTS
1st ORDER OF BUSINESS - Evaluate team's current free agent's asking prices & future with team
Portland only has two free agents this year, starting centre Joel "Przy-bizz" Przybilla & 3rd string SG Charles "Spider" Smith. Przybilla was always the No. 1 off-season priority for the Blazers & the team plays a lot better when Big Joel is battling hard inside & doing the dirty work. His asking price is very reasonable as is the length of contract. As for Smith, he likely won't be offered a contract, leaving a roster spot open for a 2nd Round pick to have a shot at making the squad.
The Blazers' GM went straight to work, offering Joel Przybilla a 4 year deal, worth $8.5m, or about half of the mid-level exception. The contract offer starts out with Joel earning $1.9m in the 2006/07 season, & ending with him earning $2.35m in the 2009/10 season, which is a bargain for a starting centre. If the offer goes through, it helps keep the now cap-conscious Blazers in a stable fiscal position & avoiding the luxury tax that Paul Allen refuses to pay.
It looks like Joel Przybilla weighed up the options & was loyal to the team that gave him his chance to shine. Leaving some money on the table from other suitors to stay with the young Portland Trailblazers. The Blazers now have their starting frontcourt (Przybilla, Randolph & Miles) locked up for the next few years.
Later that day, the Blazers' GM decided to inform Charles Smith that they did not wish to re-sign him & wished him well in his future endeavours.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
As per usual these days, most free agent talent re-signs with their respective teams, & this off-season is no different as the big names elect to stay put.
I'll post pre-draft workouts tomorrow. Keep those lottery picks coming in, you have until tonight to do so
Last edited by The X on Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
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He will one day lead the Blazers to the glory land 
by The X on Wed Mar 15, 2006 6:12 pm
Bosh4 wrote:Great covarage man i like how u set it out and you got Joel for a bargain price
yep, I'm shrewd with the $$$'s....I figured with the real life business problems the Blazers are having, I can't really go crazy on the spending anyways
but yep, Joel was a bargain at a shade over $2m per season
makes up for guys like Zach & Darius being overpaid I guess 
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by The X on Wed Mar 15, 2006 6:35 pm
Jugs wrote:makes up for guys like Zach being overpaid I guess
Oh but when he averages 40 and 15, people will be saying the Blazers got a bargain
why do I think that is not the first time you've said that?!?
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by Mark. on Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:47 pm
Nice work on the FA's, wasnt really a tough decsion to keep Joel though
"Money is options, not happiness, its what you do with those options that makes your life" - Conrad Bishop
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by Mark. on Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:54 pm
The X wrote:nah, that's the easiest decision of the off-season....the draft is the real tough decision
Yeah true that, IMO you need to go for a Guard, or Big Man (can never have enough size) i'm thinking Keenan Pack or Rodney Carney would work well for you, if they turn out really good I dont think it would be a big deal benching Mo-Pete as he could be quite effective as a shooter off the Bench
"Money is options, not happiness, its what you do with those options that makes your life" - Conrad Bishop
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by The X on Wed Mar 15, 2006 9:33 pm
Mark. wrote:The X wrote:nah, that's the easiest decision of the off-season....the draft is the real tough decision
Yeah true that, IMO you need to go for a Guard, or Big Man (can never have enough size) i'm thinking Keenan Pack or Rodney Carney would work well for you, if they turn out really good I dont think it would be a big deal benching Mo-Pete as he could be quite effective as a shooter off the Bench
interesting points....check the pre-draft workouts when I post them & see if your opinion changes....shit, I might even put them up tonight since I think everyone who will pick has....
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by The X on Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:33 pm
2006 OFF-SEASON COVERAGE
PRE-DRAFT WORKOUTS
With the No. 6 & No. 34 picks in the upcoming draft, the Portland Trailblazers brought in 7 prospects (6 lottery level prospects and 1 bubble 1st Rd prospect) to see how they fare against current players.
WORKOUT 1 - LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE, PF/C, 6'11", 230lbs, Texas, Soph (Projected Top 3 pick)
Portland's first workout brought in the most highly sort after bigman, Texas' sophomore sensation, LaMarcus Aldridge to go against Zach Randolph. The Blazers are in dire need of a backup PF/C, & at minimum, LaMarcus Aldridge would surely cover that need. Although he is projected as a Top 3 pick so he will likely be gone by the time the Blazers pick at 6. However, it was worth taking a look at the talented big guy.
The matchup started off with Aldridge using his athleticism to trade baskets with Randolph as both started out with lacksadasical defense.
At times, Aldridge's length & athleticism really troubled the more stocky Zach Randolph
As the workout moved along, Zach Randolph started to expose some of LaMarcus Aldridge's weaknesses. Aldridge is still quite raw & needs a lot of work, & could have really use one more season with the Longhorns. However, to his credit Aldridge used his trademark defense to get back into the game as he grabbed some boards & made some key defensive stops down the stretch.
LaMarcus showed Zach how he used his defensive ability to guide the Longhorns to the national title
It wasn't enough as Randolph held off the youngster Aldridge to win 11-9.
The Blazers' GM was pretty impressed with certain aspects of Aldridge's game, but at the same time, had some concerns. He quickly realised that this process wouldn't be as cut & dry as he originally thought it would be. He figured Aldridge wouldn't be around at 6 anyway, so he shouldn't worry about it.
WORKOUT 2 - RUDY GAY, SF, 6'8", 211lbs, Connecticut, Soph (Projected Top 10 pick)
Whilst Aldridge will likely be gone by the time the clock starts on their pick, it's a 50-50 proposition that Rudy Gay will be there when the Blazers pick. There are some teams that are very high on Gay, & there are some teams that are not at all. Portland brought in UConn star SF Rudy Gay to see if 2 seasons under Jim Calhoun was enough. No one questions his athleticism, but what about his ability to handle the perimeter & hit wide open shots. If he can overcome these doubts, he's a lock Top 5 pick. If not, he could slide to the 8-10 range & be a steal for one of those teams.
The Blazers matched Rudy Gay up with a player with similar size, athleticism & ability in Darius Miles to see how he would fare. The matchup started with Miles taking the early advantage as he layed off Gay's jumper, & it paid off with Rudy starting a brick-laying convention.
We know he can do it all, but how about hitting that open 18 footer once in a while
Gay did fight back in this one, but it was his athletic prowess, not his jumper, that helped keep it close. He showed some solid D on Miles, but at no point shut him down either.
With his ups, he could be holding the Slam Dunk Trophy at ASW next year
In the end, Gay tried & missed all four 3pt attempts, & ended up losing 11-7 to Miles.
Overall, this was a very unimpressive workout for Rudy Gay. He reaffirmed the strengths that we already knew he had, but also showed some glaring weaknesses that would allow opposing teams to lay off him. The question is where would he fit on this Blazers' team if they were to select him? Portland already has a couple of tall, lanky & versatile SF's in Darius Miles & Travis Outlaw, so it's hard to see where he would fit in. He's got great upside but after the season they just had, are the Blazers willing to wait?
WORKOUT 3 - VINCE DEHERE, SG/PG , 6'5", 248lbs, Tunisia (Projected Top 5 pick)
The next player brought in is a bit of an enigma. Vince Dehere, out of Tunisia, has been playing in the Spanish League for the last couple of seasons but has been buried deep on the bench. However this past season, his club team has been force to play him, & he has shined in a big way, showing a shooter's touch not seen too often, especially not from an African prospect. What's even better, he has a low buyout on his contract & he is deemed to have some upside left due to the fact he's been hidden so long. The Blazers need all the shooters they can get at the moment, so it will be interesting to see how he works out.
Dehere was matched up with starting SG Morris Peterson to see if he could hang with a veteran. The game started out with Dehere hitting 2 straight treys to lead 4-0.
His pure shooting touch from long range was a thing of beauty as he rivals J.J. Redick in marksmanship
Morris Peterson fought back strongly uses his strong on-the-ball defense & ability to swipe the ball to get back into the contest. For the rest of the contest these guys went head-to-head, both showing strong play. Dehere & Mo battled clutch play after clutch play.
Don't leave him open Mo or you'll pay
In the end, Morris Peterson got the better of Vince Dehere, winning in sudden death, 14-12.
Whilst his on-the-ball defense probably needs some work, his toughness in all other aspects & shooting ability were a thing of marvel. The Blazers' staff left the workout enamoured with this random guy from Tunisia.
WORKOUT 4 - ANGELO CRAFT, SF , 6'6", 220lbs, Texas, Sr (Projected Top 10 pick)
Whilst he doesn't figure to be a shot with the No. 6 pick, the Blazers nevertheless wanted to bring in a variety of different players to get a better feel for what is available at their position. The Blazers' scouting staff have liked the gradual improvement in Craft's game over his college career, but wonder how it will translate across to the NBA. They hope to answer some of their queries with this workout.
Craft was matched up with former Blazers' 1st Round pick, Viktor Khryapa, to see if Craft could match up with bigger SF's. Both players started out really cold, but Craft eventually hustled inside to get the scoring underway.
His intangibles surpass his skills, but tell you to Shaq when he's swatting this floater into the 3rd row
After that floater, Khryapa used some post-up & mid-range jumpers to take the advantage. Craft did hit a couple of treys, but 2/8 from long range & 6/22 overall from the field just isn't going to get it done.
On his 5th try, Craft finally connected. It just wasn't Craft's day today as he struggled immensely
Khryapa, who himself was pretty mediocre during the workout, got the win 11-8.
Angelo shot the ball poorly, his handle wasn't up to scratch & you have to wonder if he can handle playing on the perimeter. However, we must factor into the equation that these sort of workouts don't suit players like Craft, whose intangibles can only really be seen in actual gameplay situation. He was the Big 12 Player of the Year & that should indicate what he can bring to the table. Although after today's workout, it's hard to see the Blazers even considering Craft with their mid-lottery selection.
WORKOUT 5 - RODNEY CARNEY, SG/SF, 6'7", 205lbs, Memphis, Sr (Projected Top 10 pick)
The Blazers brought in another superb athlete in Rodney Carney, who starred as a 6th man for the Tigers in his senior season. He's got supreme athleticism & is a good shooter & can light up quick. The Blazers can use all the scorers they can get, & Carney could supply that. He will almost certainly be available when they select, so he should definitely be somewhere on the Blazers' draft radar.
The Blazers' staff decided to match Carney against the athletic, rangey swingman Travis Outlaw. Outlaw took the early advantage as he used his additional height to his advantage.
Could we be taking an early look at the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Champion?!?
Carney got but into it with some jumpers from inside & outside the 3pt line. He showed pretty good handle to go with his athleticism. The one went right down to the wire but unfotunately for Carney, his shot failed him as Outlaw once again took the advantage.
Get use to this sight as Rodney likes the view from up there
Credit Rodney Carney, he never gave up, but Travis Outlaw showed his expanding game as he held his counterpath off, winning 14-12.
If Carney had got his shot going, Outlaw probably wouldn't have had a chance, & that's a positive sign for his future. It also suggests that Outlaw has a possible future as a defensive stopper with his long arms that can disrupt any SF's shot. After this positive workout, Carney definitely has to be on the Blazers' radar. It will probably all depend on who gets picked in the first 5 picks.
WORKOUT 6 - ANDREW "THE X" WATSON, SG/PG , 6'2", 225lbs, Australia (Projected Late 1st Rd pick)
With an early 2nd Round pick (#34), the Blazers are looking for what they don't get with their 1st Round pick (#6). The Blazers are hoping to go big in the 1st Round, so they wouldn't mind picking up a shooter with their other pick. If available at their 2nd Round pick, Andrew Watson is probably one of the best shooters left. No one questions his desire for the game or his ability to shoot the rock, it's his height that is in question. However over the last year he has shown an improved handle. Whilst he will probably only ever be a situation-specific player, an ability to play both guard positions will strengthen his case for a future in the NBA. This workout hopes to test his ballhandling ability against pressure..
The Blazers matched Watson up against 2nd year Martell Webster. They figured putting Watson up against a big SG would expose his weaknesses. The game started out with Webster taking the early advantage on a contested layup.
Watson impressed staff early by putting his body on the line by trying to take a charge
Webster was drilled a couple of treys, but Watson used a few midrange jumpers & layups to cut the deficit. Whilst he shot well from inside the arc, Watson did surprisingly struggle from beyond the arc, going only 1/6. Possibly shooting against a bigger defender caused him to struggle. However, most of them rimmed in & out, so you probably can't look into it too much.
The X's bread & butter is his shooting ability, & that was on show tonight
In the end, Webster had to much size & talent for Watson, winning 11-8.
Watson did impress Blazers' staff with his hustle on defense as he picked up a few steals. More importantly, he was very secure handling the ball, only turning it over once, compared to Webster's 3 turnovers. This has to play in his favour & could help him get drafted in the 1st Round. If he's available in the 2nd, don't be surprised to see the Blazers snap up Watson.
WORKOUT 7 - SEVERIN HARDING, PF/SF , 6'9", 228lbs, Arkansas-Little Rock, Sr (Projected Top 15 pick)
The final scheduled workout was with combo forward Severin Harding. Word has it he's rising quickly, & he might yet crack the Top 10 picks. Many have labelled him this year's Ike Diogu, a superb player for a not-so superb team. The Blazers are in need of a talented backup PF & don't want to leave any stone unturned.
Harding was matched up against fringe All-Star Zach Randolph. Harding started this matchup by shocking Randolph as he drilled a 3 pointer. Randolph quickly learnt that this kid has range.
Scouts have marvelled over Harding's high release on his jumpshot that renders it almost unblockable
Randolph & Harding then battled relentless on both ends as they traded baskets. Randolph had the edge on the boards, something Harding could work on, but Harding's defense really surprised the Blazers' staff. They knew he could score from all over the court, but no one had any idea that he could play at both ends.
Harding had 6 steals & 2 blocks. This denial was one of them
Eventually experience prevailed as Randolph got the win 11-9.
The win didn't come before Harding had surprised & impressed the Blazers' staff. Harding is a unique blend of talents, especially for his size. What's more, he's got untapped potential. Many scouts around the league think he has excellent potential & could become a very good forward in the league. But that's all speculation & Severin Harding would be a real leap of faith at the No. 6 spot. He is likely to go higher than late lottery now after that performance.
Workout Rankings:
1st SG/PG- Vince Dehere - his shooting ability & tenacity made him the most impressive workout, & if selected, I can see him becoming a favourite of Nate McMillan
2nd PF/SF- Severin Harding - he really was a surprise in his workout & is rising in the draft ranks with his size & versatility at both ends of the court
3rd PF/C- LaMarcus Aldridge - likely gone by their pick, Aldridge is probably the post guy with the most upside
4th SG/SF- Rodney Carney - he's still got upside to go with his athleticism & scoring ability
5th SF- Rudy Gay - very unimpressive & too much like the team's other SF's, but can you really pass on a talent this good?!?
6th SG- Andrew "The X" Watson - showed his shooting ability & passion for the game, but his improved handle could get him picked in the 1st Round
7th SF- Angelo Craft - very unimpressive & did nothing to improve his draft stock
That's all pre-draft workouts completed. I'll probably have the highly anticipated NBA Draft up in the next couple of days. Will see how time goes, but please be patient.
PRE-DRAFT WORKOUTS
With the No. 6 & No. 34 picks in the upcoming draft, the Portland Trailblazers brought in 7 prospects (6 lottery level prospects and 1 bubble 1st Rd prospect) to see how they fare against current players.
WORKOUT 1 - LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE, PF/C, 6'11", 230lbs, Texas, Soph (Projected Top 3 pick)
Portland's first workout brought in the most highly sort after bigman, Texas' sophomore sensation, LaMarcus Aldridge to go against Zach Randolph. The Blazers are in dire need of a backup PF/C, & at minimum, LaMarcus Aldridge would surely cover that need. Although he is projected as a Top 3 pick so he will likely be gone by the time the Blazers pick at 6. However, it was worth taking a look at the talented big guy.
The matchup started off with Aldridge using his athleticism to trade baskets with Randolph as both started out with lacksadasical defense.
At times, Aldridge's length & athleticism really troubled the more stocky Zach Randolph
As the workout moved along, Zach Randolph started to expose some of LaMarcus Aldridge's weaknesses. Aldridge is still quite raw & needs a lot of work, & could have really use one more season with the Longhorns. However, to his credit Aldridge used his trademark defense to get back into the game as he grabbed some boards & made some key defensive stops down the stretch.
LaMarcus showed Zach how he used his defensive ability to guide the Longhorns to the national title
It wasn't enough as Randolph held off the youngster Aldridge to win 11-9.
The Blazers' GM was pretty impressed with certain aspects of Aldridge's game, but at the same time, had some concerns. He quickly realised that this process wouldn't be as cut & dry as he originally thought it would be. He figured Aldridge wouldn't be around at 6 anyway, so he shouldn't worry about it.
WORKOUT 2 - RUDY GAY, SF, 6'8", 211lbs, Connecticut, Soph (Projected Top 10 pick)
Whilst Aldridge will likely be gone by the time the clock starts on their pick, it's a 50-50 proposition that Rudy Gay will be there when the Blazers pick. There are some teams that are very high on Gay, & there are some teams that are not at all. Portland brought in UConn star SF Rudy Gay to see if 2 seasons under Jim Calhoun was enough. No one questions his athleticism, but what about his ability to handle the perimeter & hit wide open shots. If he can overcome these doubts, he's a lock Top 5 pick. If not, he could slide to the 8-10 range & be a steal for one of those teams.
The Blazers matched Rudy Gay up with a player with similar size, athleticism & ability in Darius Miles to see how he would fare. The matchup started with Miles taking the early advantage as he layed off Gay's jumper, & it paid off with Rudy starting a brick-laying convention.
We know he can do it all, but how about hitting that open 18 footer once in a while
Gay did fight back in this one, but it was his athletic prowess, not his jumper, that helped keep it close. He showed some solid D on Miles, but at no point shut him down either.
With his ups, he could be holding the Slam Dunk Trophy at ASW next year
In the end, Gay tried & missed all four 3pt attempts, & ended up losing 11-7 to Miles.
Overall, this was a very unimpressive workout for Rudy Gay. He reaffirmed the strengths that we already knew he had, but also showed some glaring weaknesses that would allow opposing teams to lay off him. The question is where would he fit on this Blazers' team if they were to select him? Portland already has a couple of tall, lanky & versatile SF's in Darius Miles & Travis Outlaw, so it's hard to see where he would fit in. He's got great upside but after the season they just had, are the Blazers willing to wait?
WORKOUT 3 - VINCE DEHERE, SG/PG , 6'5", 248lbs, Tunisia (Projected Top 5 pick)
The next player brought in is a bit of an enigma. Vince Dehere, out of Tunisia, has been playing in the Spanish League for the last couple of seasons but has been buried deep on the bench. However this past season, his club team has been force to play him, & he has shined in a big way, showing a shooter's touch not seen too often, especially not from an African prospect. What's even better, he has a low buyout on his contract & he is deemed to have some upside left due to the fact he's been hidden so long. The Blazers need all the shooters they can get at the moment, so it will be interesting to see how he works out.
Dehere was matched up with starting SG Morris Peterson to see if he could hang with a veteran. The game started out with Dehere hitting 2 straight treys to lead 4-0.
His pure shooting touch from long range was a thing of beauty as he rivals J.J. Redick in marksmanship
Morris Peterson fought back strongly uses his strong on-the-ball defense & ability to swipe the ball to get back into the contest. For the rest of the contest these guys went head-to-head, both showing strong play. Dehere & Mo battled clutch play after clutch play.
Don't leave him open Mo or you'll pay
In the end, Morris Peterson got the better of Vince Dehere, winning in sudden death, 14-12.
Whilst his on-the-ball defense probably needs some work, his toughness in all other aspects & shooting ability were a thing of marvel. The Blazers' staff left the workout enamoured with this random guy from Tunisia.
WORKOUT 4 - ANGELO CRAFT, SF , 6'6", 220lbs, Texas, Sr (Projected Top 10 pick)
Whilst he doesn't figure to be a shot with the No. 6 pick, the Blazers nevertheless wanted to bring in a variety of different players to get a better feel for what is available at their position. The Blazers' scouting staff have liked the gradual improvement in Craft's game over his college career, but wonder how it will translate across to the NBA. They hope to answer some of their queries with this workout.
Craft was matched up with former Blazers' 1st Round pick, Viktor Khryapa, to see if Craft could match up with bigger SF's. Both players started out really cold, but Craft eventually hustled inside to get the scoring underway.
His intangibles surpass his skills, but tell you to Shaq when he's swatting this floater into the 3rd row
After that floater, Khryapa used some post-up & mid-range jumpers to take the advantage. Craft did hit a couple of treys, but 2/8 from long range & 6/22 overall from the field just isn't going to get it done.
On his 5th try, Craft finally connected. It just wasn't Craft's day today as he struggled immensely
Khryapa, who himself was pretty mediocre during the workout, got the win 11-8.
Angelo shot the ball poorly, his handle wasn't up to scratch & you have to wonder if he can handle playing on the perimeter. However, we must factor into the equation that these sort of workouts don't suit players like Craft, whose intangibles can only really be seen in actual gameplay situation. He was the Big 12 Player of the Year & that should indicate what he can bring to the table. Although after today's workout, it's hard to see the Blazers even considering Craft with their mid-lottery selection.
WORKOUT 5 - RODNEY CARNEY, SG/SF, 6'7", 205lbs, Memphis, Sr (Projected Top 10 pick)
The Blazers brought in another superb athlete in Rodney Carney, who starred as a 6th man for the Tigers in his senior season. He's got supreme athleticism & is a good shooter & can light up quick. The Blazers can use all the scorers they can get, & Carney could supply that. He will almost certainly be available when they select, so he should definitely be somewhere on the Blazers' draft radar.
The Blazers' staff decided to match Carney against the athletic, rangey swingman Travis Outlaw. Outlaw took the early advantage as he used his additional height to his advantage.
Could we be taking an early look at the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Champion?!?
Carney got but into it with some jumpers from inside & outside the 3pt line. He showed pretty good handle to go with his athleticism. The one went right down to the wire but unfotunately for Carney, his shot failed him as Outlaw once again took the advantage.
Get use to this sight as Rodney likes the view from up there
Credit Rodney Carney, he never gave up, but Travis Outlaw showed his expanding game as he held his counterpath off, winning 14-12.
If Carney had got his shot going, Outlaw probably wouldn't have had a chance, & that's a positive sign for his future. It also suggests that Outlaw has a possible future as a defensive stopper with his long arms that can disrupt any SF's shot. After this positive workout, Carney definitely has to be on the Blazers' radar. It will probably all depend on who gets picked in the first 5 picks.
WORKOUT 6 - ANDREW "THE X" WATSON, SG/PG , 6'2", 225lbs, Australia (Projected Late 1st Rd pick)
With an early 2nd Round pick (#34), the Blazers are looking for what they don't get with their 1st Round pick (#6). The Blazers are hoping to go big in the 1st Round, so they wouldn't mind picking up a shooter with their other pick. If available at their 2nd Round pick, Andrew Watson is probably one of the best shooters left. No one questions his desire for the game or his ability to shoot the rock, it's his height that is in question. However over the last year he has shown an improved handle. Whilst he will probably only ever be a situation-specific player, an ability to play both guard positions will strengthen his case for a future in the NBA. This workout hopes to test his ballhandling ability against pressure..
The Blazers matched Watson up against 2nd year Martell Webster. They figured putting Watson up against a big SG would expose his weaknesses. The game started out with Webster taking the early advantage on a contested layup.
Watson impressed staff early by putting his body on the line by trying to take a charge
Webster was drilled a couple of treys, but Watson used a few midrange jumpers & layups to cut the deficit. Whilst he shot well from inside the arc, Watson did surprisingly struggle from beyond the arc, going only 1/6. Possibly shooting against a bigger defender caused him to struggle. However, most of them rimmed in & out, so you probably can't look into it too much.
The X's bread & butter is his shooting ability, & that was on show tonight
In the end, Webster had to much size & talent for Watson, winning 11-8.
Watson did impress Blazers' staff with his hustle on defense as he picked up a few steals. More importantly, he was very secure handling the ball, only turning it over once, compared to Webster's 3 turnovers. This has to play in his favour & could help him get drafted in the 1st Round. If he's available in the 2nd, don't be surprised to see the Blazers snap up Watson.
WORKOUT 7 - SEVERIN HARDING, PF/SF , 6'9", 228lbs, Arkansas-Little Rock, Sr (Projected Top 15 pick)
The final scheduled workout was with combo forward Severin Harding. Word has it he's rising quickly, & he might yet crack the Top 10 picks. Many have labelled him this year's Ike Diogu, a superb player for a not-so superb team. The Blazers are in need of a talented backup PF & don't want to leave any stone unturned.
Harding was matched up against fringe All-Star Zach Randolph. Harding started this matchup by shocking Randolph as he drilled a 3 pointer. Randolph quickly learnt that this kid has range.
Scouts have marvelled over Harding's high release on his jumpshot that renders it almost unblockable
Randolph & Harding then battled relentless on both ends as they traded baskets. Randolph had the edge on the boards, something Harding could work on, but Harding's defense really surprised the Blazers' staff. They knew he could score from all over the court, but no one had any idea that he could play at both ends.
Harding had 6 steals & 2 blocks. This denial was one of them
Eventually experience prevailed as Randolph got the win 11-9.
The win didn't come before Harding had surprised & impressed the Blazers' staff. Harding is a unique blend of talents, especially for his size. What's more, he's got untapped potential. Many scouts around the league think he has excellent potential & could become a very good forward in the league. But that's all speculation & Severin Harding would be a real leap of faith at the No. 6 spot. He is likely to go higher than late lottery now after that performance.
Workout Rankings:
1st SG/PG- Vince Dehere - his shooting ability & tenacity made him the most impressive workout, & if selected, I can see him becoming a favourite of Nate McMillan
2nd PF/SF- Severin Harding - he really was a surprise in his workout & is rising in the draft ranks with his size & versatility at both ends of the court
3rd PF/C- LaMarcus Aldridge - likely gone by their pick, Aldridge is probably the post guy with the most upside
4th SG/SF- Rodney Carney - he's still got upside to go with his athleticism & scoring ability
5th SF- Rudy Gay - very unimpressive & too much like the team's other SF's, but can you really pass on a talent this good?!?
6th SG- Andrew "The X" Watson - showed his shooting ability & passion for the game, but his improved handle could get him picked in the 1st Round
7th SF- Angelo Craft - very unimpressive & did nothing to improve his draft stock
That's all pre-draft workouts completed. I'll probably have the highly anticipated NBA Draft up in the next couple of days. Will see how time goes, but please be patient.
Last edited by The X on Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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The X - is
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by The X on Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:37 pm
there goes pre-draft workouts which means draft is next up....
so sorry to anyone who wants to get in picks for lottery, it's now closed to keep an even playing field for the guys that put their picks in....you'll get other chances to increase your power ratings anyways
so sorry to anyone who wants to get in picks for lottery, it's now closed to keep an even playing field for the guys that put their picks in....you'll get other chances to increase your power ratings anyways
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The X - is
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by Mark. on Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:48 pm
Wikid stuff dude, I would go for Carney or Harding assuming Aldridge is avaliable 
"Money is options, not happiness, its what you do with those options that makes your life" - Conrad Bishop
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Mark. - Sweet Disposition
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by The X on Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:24 pm
Jugs wrote:Nice predraft workouts. Hopefully you'll get LaMarcus
cheers, we'll see about LaMarcus
Sit wrote:I knew Vince was a favourite of yours!
If he's left on the board, I bet you take him!
yep, gotta luv Vince
if he left's on board you say, he's projected to go 4th, so it could be anybody's guess if he's still around Mark. wrote:Wikid stuff dude, I would go for Carney or Harding assuming Aldridge is avaliable
cheers, as for your selections, hmm....three interesting prospects who all offer something unique if I was to pick them....hmm
Jing wrote:XD that X pic taking the charge haha
yep, he's trying to earn some street cred around the NLSC
glad you like 
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The X - is
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by The X on Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:31 am
pHLo wrote:first of all.....
the headline of your post shouldn't say 'Re-signin Bobcats Free Agents'
but hey the pre-draft workouts are really interesting
i enjoyed reading it all
yep, you got me there....I've edited it....the reason it said Bobcats is because I've copied templates to save time, but obviously didn't proof-read well enough
ahh well, we all make mistakes, some more than others 
glad you enjoyed it though
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The X - is
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by The X on Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:46 am
zmac|two3 wrote:Ab Fab (
as I've said numerous times, off-season is my bread & butter....the only way you can compete with guys like cocobee, mafia & micchy_boy is to find a niche that they don't cover....it helped that I love college & international ball & the Draft (I always take a day off work, although I'll be in a new job so I'll probably have to tape it this year
)....
glad it's Ab Fab, hope I can continue impressing
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The X - is
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