I Love NBA | ESPN NBA Insider - 6/3/05

드래프트이야기는 중간에 있는듯(아직 읽지를 않아서..^^;;) Ask NBA Legend Dominique Wilkins! Welcome to The Show! On Thursday at 12:30 ET, NBA legend Dominique Williams will stop by to answer all of your questions in chat! Dominique Wilkins earned the nickname the "Human Highlight Film" with his sparkling moves on the court from his college years at Georgia and on through the NBA ranks. He entered the 1982 NBA Draft after his junior year and was selected by the Utah Jazz with the third overall pick. He refused to sign with the Jazz, however, and was dealt in September, 1982 to the Atlanta Hawks. He made the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1983. The exciting forward was subsequently named to seven All-NBA teams and nine consecutive All-Star squads and is a two-time winner of the NBA Slam-Dunk Championship. Send in your questions to Dominique now, then join him at 12:30 ET Thursday for all the answers! SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: Hello to the fans and thanks for having me! Westchester, NY: Nique, I know it's not a basketball analogy, but you ever think of making a Ricky Henderson-like comeback? I think you still might be able to show the young guys a thing or two! SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: I wouldn't think a whole lot abotu it. Basketball is more of a young man's game and the body has to be well-conditioned to run up and down all day. That would be a little difficult for me! Leigh (Adelaide, Australia): Do you think the Pistons can win the Championship back 2 back? Because I think they can without a doubt and I've believed this since the start of the season. SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: I think they have as good a chance as anyone left because of their team defense and role players. They don't have one or two carrying the load. They'll be right in there with the Heat. East brunswick, nj: who is the best player you went up against? SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: I'd say it was Dennis Rodman. He was a tough defender and he concentrated on rebounds and gave me a lot of problems. I wouldn't say one player ever stopped me one-on-one, but Dennis was a tough matchup. Brian (Fairfax, VA): Nique, What would you do to change the Slam Dunk Contest to give it the prominence that it once had? SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: Two things: go back to the old format and get all the top dunkers in it. That's what would bring back the flair we had back in the late '80s. Widmer (Portland, OR): How cool was it when Josh Smith threw on your jersey at the dunk contest? Even better that he was able to pull off some awesome dunks to live up to that jersey. SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: I think it was the ultimate show of respect. I didn't know I was going to do that and he did me proud. Some of the dunks he pulled off were impressive indeed. Keith (Kalamazoo, MI): What player if any in the nba right now reminds you of yourself? SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: I don't know if I can think of anyone right now with the same kind of game. Vince Carter has that athleticism, but I can't put my finger on one guy overall. Alan (Richmond, VA): Nique, just wanted to say thanks for signing a card i sent you when i was but a wee kid. sent cards (SASE) to all my favorite players asking for autographs and you were the only one who returned it. much appreciated! question: what kind of role would you like to play in the Hawks organization? SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: Well, I'm currently active in the organization and know what's going on there, Alan. I'm a VP and have a hand in the ownership. Taylor, Decatur GA: Hey, I have been a Hawks fan since they drafted Jason Terry in 1999. With the upcoming draft and the hawks selecting with the second overall pick, when do you think this rebuilding team will be making a run for the playoffs. Thanks. SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: I'm hoping it's next season. If we put the right guys in the right situations that would give us a great opportunity. Eric (Tampa): I think it's a travesty that you did not get voted into the Hall of Fame. When you heard the list and you weren't on it, were you shocked? SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: I was very shocked. It means a lot to get into the Hall of Fame, for any athlete. It shows respect for you and validates your career, and I'm looking forward to being there in the very near future. Darren Santa Clara, UT: Many people think Robert Horry has just been lucky getting on championship teams. But although he's not in the lime-light, he comes through with some big plays in the playoffs. What's your take on Mr. May/June? SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: I have a lot of respect for Robert. Every team needs great role players and he is a great example. He comes through no matter what team he's on and it's amazing that he keeps hitting those big shots. stephen jax,fl: Did you have any favorite dunk or highlight? SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: Not really, Stephen. I'm proud of everything I did and not a lot stand out from the others. I don't look at it that way. Dan McBride (Harrisburg, PA): What are your thoughts on an age limit in the NBA and do you agree with Jermaine Oneals' comments regarding race as an issue? SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: I won't get involved in the race issue because I don't feel it has a place in our game or others. I like the age limit, though. The young guys would have a little more seasoning and not get lost in the shuffle so much. Even some guys like Jermaine and Kobe didn't make big contributions in their first couple of years, and LeBron is a special case with his preparation from a mental standpoint in terms of the overall NBA experience. vince v, fl: will you consider a coaching job, and maybe a job as a team president? SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: In the beginning, before I came into the front office. my goal was to be an NBA head coach. I'm still connected to the competitive side of basketball and coachind would definitley be a part of that. SportsNation Dominique Wilkins: Thanks for all the great questions, I appreciate you spending the time with me and I hope we can do this again soon. --------------------- Ask NBA Draft Prospect Chris Paul! Welcome to The Show! On Wednesday, Chris Paul will stop by to answer all of your NBA draft questions in chat. The All-America point guard at Wake Forest recently decided to pass on his remaining two years of eligibility with the Demon Deacons to enter the NBA draft. As a sophomore, Paul was the leading vote-getter on The Associated Press' preseason All-America team, and he was selected to the first team after the season. He averaged 15.3 points and 6.6 assists for the Demon Deacons (27-6), who set a school record for victories. Send in your questions for Chris Paul now, then join him for all the answers on Wednesday afternoon. For complete coverage, visit ESPN.com's NBA Draft Central! SportsNation Buzzmaster: Helloooooo everyone! Chris Paul will be here shortly! Send your questions now! SportsNation Chris Paul: I'm here and ready to go! Derek (Toronto, Canada): Hey Chris, which player would you enjoy to play one on one in the NBA right now? SportsNation Chris Paul: I guess it's hard to choose one guy. But after watching Nash get MVP, I'm excited to go against him. Mark (Carbondale,PA): what do you feel separates you from all of the other great point guards in the draft... mainly raymond felton? SportsNation Chris Paul: I think just my knowlege of the game. A lot of players are very gifted athletically but I bring an additional element of just knowing the game and knowing how to react. Jonathan Helms (Richmond, Virginia): I was just wondering if it was hard to turn down the opportunity to return to Wake next year and make another run with the core of the team returning. SportsNation Chris Paul: It was very hard. I think the thing that pushed me was knowing this is a once in a lifetime chance. I had to make the best decision for me and my family. Gavin (New York): Are you excited to play as yourself in NBA 2K6? SportsNation Chris Paul: Yes! I can't wait to play that. I play video games all the time. NCAA Basketball isn't quite the same as seeing yourself on the NBA game. Brian (Fairfax, VA): Chris, What are the workouts like for someone who knows they are going in the top 3? Good luck in the pros from a MD Fan. SportsNation Chris Paul: I haven't worked out for any teams yet. I'm just with a personal trainer right now. KD (Greenville, NC): We've seen since the beginning of the year everybody calling you the best point guard prospect since Jason Kidd, feeling any pressure to perform both during last season and in the future at the NBA level? SportsNation Chris Paul: It isn't any more pressue. I just have to keep playing the way I know how. But I have learned a lot from watching Kidd and all the other great PGs. Mike IL: Chris, If you were stranded on an island and could bring 1 type of food, 1 CD, and one female celebrity with you, what, and who would they be ? SportsNation Chris Paul: I would probably take french fries, Jay Z's black album and Gabrielle Union. Tom (NYC): Chris, big fan! what aspect of your game do you think you need to work on in order to succeed at a top level in the NBA? SportsNation Chris Paul: I think just my overall strength and range. Just sharpening up some things I'm already good at. Andrew (Halifax, NS): Chris, how do you counter the critics who say that your frame is too small for the physical nature of the NBA? SportsNation Chris Paul: You really can't say anything. You just have to play and prove them wrong. Dwayne (Tulsa): I hate Duke! Do you hate them? SportsNation Chris Paul: I'm not a fan of Duke! I'm a fan of Wake Forest! In my two years at Wake I didn't have good experiences at Cameron Indoor. steven jones indore wv: How many shots do you take everyday? SportsNation Chris Paul: That's a tough question .. too many to count? SportsNation Chris Paul: Enough to feel like I"m getting better. Dobo (Hoboken): I heard Kyle Visser rap on ESPN's The Season... You wouldn't take his CD over Jay-Z????? SportsNation Chris Paul: When Viss comes out with a CD, I'll change my answer. Keith (Kalamazoo, MI): What are your goals for your rookie year? SportsNation Chris Paul: Yes. I want to be named Rookie of the Year. I want to make an immediate impact on whatever team I go to. I want to increase the amount of wins significantly. Andy (Durham, NC): What was the most difficult thing about leaving Wake Forest after your sophomore year: 1) unfinished business on the court 2) leaving behind teammates you've known since HS 3) not graduating with your degree (yet...) You'll be missed in W-S, good luck. GO DEACS!! SportsNation Chris Paul: Unfinished business was tough to leave behind. But mostly my teammates. That made things really tough. ed (queens): if you had to choose, who would you say is your favorite player in the NBA right now? SportsNation Chris Paul: Probably LeBron James. Nick (NYC, NY): Will you and Julius Hodge be exchanging christmas cards this holiday season? SportsNation Chris Paul: We are not. Not sure we have each others addresses. Freddie Mitchell (PA): Hey Chris, Have the Raptors expressed any interest in trading up to get you? SportsNation Chris Paul: Not that I know of. But that's something I'll just have to wait and see. SportsNation Chris Paul: Talk to my agent Lance Young about that! Eric (St. Paul, MN): How do you feel playing against tough competition night after night in the ACC has prepared you for the NBA and what will be the biggest adjustment you'll have to make going to the League? SportsNation Chris Paul: It's an ubelievable training ground. It's the best league in the country. You can't find more talent in one conference than the ACC. Tom (NYC): Chris, do you pay attention to the web-sites and mock drafts or do you just mentally set yourself up to be the top pick? SportsNation Chris Paul: I would be lying if I said I didn't look at that stuff. But I can't control that. I just try to be as prepared as I can be for where I end up. Chris (Austin): What was your favorite NBA team growing up? SportsNation Chris Paul: I was a huge Jordan fan. I was all about the Bulls. Erik (Troy, MI): I'm a huge Wake Forest Fan and it has been a pleasure watching you these past few years. Who do you try and model your playing after? SportsNation Chris Paul: Not really. There are lots of guys that I try to take pages out of their book .. Jason Kidd, Isiah Thomas, Pistol Pete, etc. Mike ((Cleveland)): Where do you rate yourslef agaisnt other "Paul'S" (Ru, Sean, mark, paul bear)? SportsNation Chris Paul: I would have to say I am one of the better Paul's out there. But I don't associate with RuPaul much! Denny (Detroit, MI): Who do you think is going to win the NBA championship this year? SportsNation Chris Paul: That's a tough question. Real tough. Let's go with San Antonio. They look pretty good right now. They have that Wake Forest guy, you know. Nick (NYC, NY): Re: your answer to the Julius Hodge question. LOL. If this basketball thing doesn't work out, I think you have a bright future in politics. SportsNation Chris Paul: We'll see about that! I doubt it. Politics isn't my style. James (Norfolk, VA): Who do you think will win the East Conf. Finals? SportsNation Chris Paul: I like Shaq and I love Wade but the Pistons are playing really well. They are figuring out ways to handle Wade. Zo (DC): Did Tim Duncan talk to you at all during the season? Has he since you declared? SportsNation Chris Paul: I talked to him a couple times since I entered the draft. He gave me a lot of great advice. He mainly told me to just follow my heart. Mark (Allentown): What will be your first big purchase after you sign your fat contract? SportsNation Chris Paul: Probably help my parents pay off the house. Tony (Chicago): How disappointing where you when your Tourney run ended? SportsNation Chris Paul: It was devastating. I couldn't believe it was over. I just felt like we had the team to win it all. To know it was over really hurt. Mike (Cleveland): What is your best Ankle Breaking Move? SportsNation Chris Paul: Probably going between my legs and then crossing over. Superman (Pilot Mountain): Do you think that you can be as successful, in the pros as you have been in college and High School SportsNation Chris Paul: Definitely. I believe you are only going to get out what you put in. I'm putting in a lot of hard work. James (Norfolk, VA): Do you think UNC will have any good chance of repeating next year? SportsNation Chris Paul: There is always a chance. Always. Roy Williams is a great coach. They will be fine. But they better watch out for Wake. Chris (Chicago): What about Politics as Usual by Jay-Z? SportsNation Chris Paul: That's good. Sami (Paterson, NJ): Chris, which NBA team would you like to be on the most? SportsNation Chris Paul: Whoever picks me! Whoever! It doesn't matter. Thanks for all the great questions. Hopefully you will all follow the draft and root for me wherever I go. I appreciate your interest. Take care! -------------------------- Chad Ford Blog June Archive Bogut or Williams? Bucks still deciding About one week before the June 28 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks should be able to reach a decision about who they'll draft No. 1. Insider has learned that Marvin Williams is scheduled to work out in Milwaukee on June 19 and that Andrew Bogut is in the next day, June 20. The workouts will be light, one-on-none affairs. The skills of Bogut, 20, are well-known and shouldn't surprise the Bucks. Williams, 18, is a greater mystery and will have a better chance to blow the Bucks away with his athleticism and shooting prowess. Just as important will be the personal interviews. Teams have zero contact with players during the year, per league rules. The sit-down interviews with the owner and GM are important. I'm not sure if an interview can really help you, but a bad interview has hurt prospects in the past. A team wants to know what type of person they'll be working with, both on and off the court. Bucks GM Larry Harris maintains that Milwaukee hasn't decided whom to take and won't decide until both players work out for the Bucks. Much like last year, it's a contest between experience and potential. Last season, the Magic chose Dwight Howard's potential over Emeka Okafor's experience. Okafor went on to win Rookie of the Year. But it looks like Howard will be the better player five years from now, if he isn't already. This year the Bucks are getting pressure to take Bogut. He is a legitimate center, was the best player in college basketball this past season at Utah and is seen as a safe bet to be one of the top five centers in the NBA someday. Williams has more potential. He's long and athletic, and he can play multiple positions well. He could turn into a superstar down the road. Some scouts believe he's a better prospect than Carmelo Anthony. However, Williams might take longer to develop. He was the sixth man this year at North Carolina (albeit on the best college team in the country) and rarely had to shoulder the load the way a No. 1 pick might be expected to. Most scouts Insider has talked to believe that, in five years, Williams will be the best player from this draft. Insider talked to 10 different GMs this week and asked who they thought the Bucks would take No. 1. Eight of them said Bogut. Bogut's agent, David Bauman, isn't surprised. Bauman is confident the Bucks will eventually pick Bogut over Williams. "He's the best center prospect to come along in years," Bauman told Insider. "He's smart, intelligent, loves the game, is very skilled and he can help right away. I think once he sits down with [owner] Herb Kohl and [GM] Larry Harris and looks them in the eye, they'll know he's a guy they can build their franchise around." Both prospects are assuming that the Bucks will keep the pick. Why? While the Bucks, I believe, would be open to moving the pick for the right deal, word is that there has been zero interest from the other 29 teams in the league about a possible trade. Bogut doesn't plan to work out with any other teams. However, Bauman said he might also visit the Atlanta Hawks, who pick No. 2. The same holds true for Williams. He's scheduled to work out only for the Bucks but likely will visit the Hawks. If Williams goes No. 1, the Hawks likely will take Bogut. If Bogut goes No. 1, the Hawks might be willing to deal the pick to Charlotte for the No. 5 and No. 13. They love Williams but don't need him because they have similar young players like Al Harrington, Josh Childress and Josh Smith already on the roster. And the point guard they like, Illinois' Deron Williams, probably will still be on the board at No. 5. Who would the Bobcats take if they were to move up to No. 2? They've had a love affair all year with Chris Paul, but sources say Williams would be the guy they'd grab. posted: June 3, 2005 12:22:43 PM PDT | Feedback Marko Tomas out of draft? Croatian guard Marko Tomas, whom Insider had ranked as the 19th best prospect in the draft, looks likely to withdraw from the draft. Tomas agreed to a five-year contract with Read Madrid on Thursday, his agent David Bauman told Insider. The contract does not have an NBA buyout this year, meaning that Tomas must spend at least one more year in Europe. Real Madrid had to pay more than a million euros (approximately US$1.8 million) to buy Tomas out of his contract with KK Zagreb in Croatia, so they aren't going to give him up that easily. "His father really felt like Marko needed to spend a couple of more years in Europe developing," Bauman said. "This doesn't necessarily mean that he'll withdraw from the draft, but obviously the situation has changed." A team drafting in the mid-to-late first round could choose to draft Tomas and let him stay in Europe. By doing so, Tomas can continue to develop with the security that he has an NBA contract when he wants it. If Tomas does not get a promise from an NBA team, however, he'll likely withdraw his name and declare again next year. posted: June 2, 2005 2:37:44 PM PDT | Feedback --------------------- Updated: June 3, 2005, 3:25 PM ET NBA Draft Stock Watch Insider Ford By Chad Ford ESPN Insider Archive # See Chad Ford's blog for more NBA Draft news and commentary The NBA draft is starting to really heat up. NBA teams are in full workout mode. Some teams are bringing in as many as eight prospects a day a necessity with 108 underclassmen declaring for the draft. The entire league will descend upon Chicago Tuesday for the NBA pre-draft camp. As soon as it's over, most will be on a plane to Treviso, Italy, to watch many of the top international prospects work out at the Reebok Eurocamp. During the last 10 days of individual workouts, Insider's been burning up cell phones talking to NBA scouts and general managers to get their thoughts heading into the Chicago pre-draft camp. Here's what we've learned: Stock up # We've been dogging Arizona State's Ike Diogu and Kansas' Wayne Simien for years because of numerous NBA scouting reports that had them both listed at 6-foot-7 in shoes. NBA scouts hold firm to a threshold that says a player must to be a minimum of 6-foot-8 in shoes to play the power forward position (Charles Barkley notwithstanding). Neither Diogu nor Simien has the perimeter skills to make the transformation to the three, so they've picked up the derogatory "biggie smalls" designation. Ooops. Our bad. Both players were in Denver May 31 for a workout and a startling truth was uncovered: Both guys are taller than we thought they were. According to a source inside the Nuggets, Simien measured 6-8 without shoes. NBA teams add another 1¼ inches for shoes, bringing his height up to 6-9¼ Diogu measured 6-foot-7½ in socks, with an amazing 7-foot-4 wingspan. That means he's nearly 6-9 in shoes with the reach of a 7-footer. Size matters in the NBA, and both players are now tall enough to be considered legit power forwards. In fact, Diogu, because of his wingspan, now figures to be on the tall end of things. Combine that with feedback from several teams that both players have been excellent in workouts and you can expect both to rocket up the boards in the next few weeks. Combine Diogu's toughness with a very good skill set, and he's going to look great in these types of workouts. What's surprised people is his shooting. Diogu is known as a guy who works his butt off in the paint. But he's shown teams that he has legitimate NBA 3-point range in workouts. Given a pretty solid handle, his size, toughness and that improving jump shot, Diogu is likely to move up our board big-time the next time our mock draft is released, after the Chicago camp. Based on what we're hearing, he might be a late lottery selection now. "If a team wants a four who's going to know how to score and rebound in this league," one NBA scout told Insider. "I don't know how they can miss with Ike. After watching him work out, we came away a lot more impressed." Simien also has been very good. He's not an amazing athlete, but he's shown great skills and polish at every workout. He has the ability to score down low and away from the basket. If his medicals check out at the Chicago physicals (some teams are concerned about a rash of injuries for Simien), he should be able to crack the top 20. # Diogu and Simien aren't the only ones measuring up. Florida's David Lee was 6-8½ without shoes at the same workout in Denver. That puts him at nearly 6-10 in shoes. Lee has also been impressive at all of his workouts, garnering high praise in Phoenix, Utah and Denver for his athleticism, motor and toughness. If he had a jump shot he'd be a lock for the first round. Even without a jumper, some teams in the 20s are saying that he's in the mix. # Spain's Fran Vasquez is putting on a show in his homeland at the moment. While most of the top international prospects are still young and relatively inexperienced, Vasquez is playing a major starting role on his team, averaging 12.6 points and eight rebounds per game in the playoffs for Malaga. He was very good earlier in the week in an elimination game, leading his team in both points (18) and rebounds (11). Those might not seem like huge numbers for Americans, but in Europe, for someone age 22, they're pretty big. The Hornets (fourth pick), Jazz (sixth pick), Raptors (seventh pick) and Knicks (eighth pick) are all showing major interest in Vasquez. He should be the first international player off the boards. # Louisville's Francisco Garcia is also playing to rave reviews right now. He has shot lights out in workouts and proven to be a better athlete than originally thought. Teams still worry a little about his body and lateral quickness, but he, too, seems to be a player destined to crack the first round in our next mock draft. # Rashad McCants has gotten his fair share of bad press over the past couple of years. Scouts uniformly rate him, on talent, as one of the 10 best prospects in the draft. But he was such a difficult player to coach in college that red flags have gone up. To make matters worse, he showed up at his first workout in Toronto with a bad case of intestinal illiness. After the workout, another participant, Julius Hodge, unaware that McCants was ill, ripped into him, saying, "We started the workout, and I was working with Rashad. We were doing shooting drills, and I was hitting everything. I think it was getting discouraging for him and near the end he decided to go to the sidelines in an attempt to say that he was hurt. Once it was found out that he wasn't hurt, he then tried to say he was sick. That was unfortunate; he was free and able to show his stuff, and he shied away from it." McCants ended up having to sit out the rest of the workout. So why is he on the upside list? Because sources with the Lakers and Clippers watched him work out in Los Angeles just before his trip to Toronto and both came away convinced he'll be gone before they draft at Nos. 10 and 12, respectively. "That was as good a workout as I've seen," a source on the Lakers told Insider. "He didn't miss. He's a better athlete than we thought. It was just amazing. I know he's got some baggage, but with that much talent, it's tough to see teams passing on him at the end of the day." # Illinois guard Dee Brown looks like he'll be the headliner at the Chicago pre-draft camp. Most of the top prospects are pulling out even Lee and Hodge have withdrawn their names in recent days leaving Brown the guy NBA teams want to see most. Why? Because Brown is going to get a chance to play the point at the camp, something he wasn't able to do at Illinois with Deron Williams running the show. If he's impressive, his stock will get a nice bump probably into the first round. # Italian big man Angelo Gigli has a name that sounds like a bad movie, but he has received high marks from a couple of NBA teams after workouts. While they say he isn't as athletic as advertised, he measured a legit 7-foot in shoes and was tougher and more skilled than teams had thought. Off the workouts, his name is generating a bit of buzz. # Big man Deji Akindele also has played to strong reviews. He's measuring a legit 7-foot and has tested off the charts athletically. Teams are saying he's smart and picks up things quickly, but he's still pretty raw. He'll also be playing in the Chicago pre-draft camp. If he comes up big there, he'll be another guy who could see his stock really rise. Stock down? # It's been a tough couple of weeks for Pittsburgh's Chris Taft. First it was his lackluster workout in New York. Then he went up to Toronto and the normally reserved Rob Babcock wondered aloud about his heart. "That's the toughest thing to measure," the Raptors GM told the Globe and Mail after the Taft workout. "Even the mind's easier to measure than the heart. It's difficult. It's very difficult. "I think Chris is still very raw and he would certainly be better served & by going back to school. He has a tremendous amount of potential, there's no doubt. But there's a lot of guys with a great amount of potential. It's what you can do with that and whether you can develop that, that's the key." Of course, Taft can't go back to school. He's already hired an agent. I wonder if his agent, Billy Ceisler, will now ban Babcock from all of his client's workouts as well. Combine that with the recent revelations about the actual height of Simien and Diogu, and there's a good chance Taft will be sliding down to the bottom of the first round and maybe even out of it, according to one NBA director of player personnel who claims his team has Taft ranked as the 10th-best power forward in the draft. Maybe that's why, in the past few days, Taft's agent has reversed course and agreed to start working out Taft for teams in the 20s after insisting to them for weeks that he'd be in the lottery. # High school guard Louis Williams said earlier in the week he won't be attending the University of Georgia and will instead keep his name in the NBA draft. From what we hear, it's a major mistake. Williams was recently destroyed in a workout against Hodge. Afterward, everyone told him he needed to go to college for a minimum of two years. Instead, he went out the next day and said he's staying in the draft. Either he knows something we don't, or he's getting some very bad advice. # Nemanja Aleksandrov has, for the most part, fallen off the radar screen since tearing his ACL earlier in the year. According to his agent, David Bauman, the chances of his playing in the NBA next year are slim. He won't be able to begin playing basketball until December, which means it's likely he'll stay in Europe at least one season to rehab. Bauman, however, hasn't pulled him out of the draft yet. According to Bauman, Aleksandrov has received a strong nibble from a team in the mid-first round and he and Bauman are trying to decide the best course of action. If he were to recover and play well next year in Europe, his stock would be much higher. However, by agreeing to something now, he would have security. Neither consideration is primary, according to Bauman: "He just needs to get drafted by the right team. Draft position really doesn't matter. What matters is that a player gets with the right team that believes in him and will do what it takes to develop him. That's the most important thing." # Insider first reported on Thursday that Croatian guard Marko Tomas had signed a five-year deal with Real Madrid. That deal doesn't have an NBA buyout for this season, and the buyout amount is pretty high in Year 2, meaning it's unlikely he'll be in the NBA for at least two more seasons. While there are a few teams in the mid-to-late first round who are still pondering whether to guarantee him a first-round spot and keep him in Europe, the revelation probably means that Tomas withdraws from the draft. It's unfortunate for the NBA. As far as international prospects go, he was one of the few who was actually ready to come into the league and play immediately. The rest # New Mexico's Danny Granger has played to rave reviews in all of his workouts. But after a recent workout at Golden State, he was sent to the hospital with a serious infection. Those with a weak stomach probably don't want to read on. Apparently Granger split the toenail on his big toe several weeks ago and didn't have it checked. Puss started growing under the toenail and Granger decided to remove the toenail himself to clean it out. The toe kept getting worse and Granger kept slowing down in workouts. After a so-so workout in Golden State, the team's trainer wondered if he was hurt and was shocked to see Granger's toe, which had become seriously infected. Granger was taken to the hospital. Doctors said that the infection had spread all the way to the bone, and put him on antibiotics. Granger was forced to shut down his workouts while it healed. However, he won't be out for long. He has a big workout schedule for Thursday in Chicago against Hakim Warrick that's open to all 30 teams. Chad Ford covers the NBA Draft for ESPN Insider. ------------------------ hat with Julius Hodge Welcome to The Show! On Wednesday, N.C. State shooting guard Julius Hodge will stop by to answer all of your NBA draft questions in chat. Hodge was the ACC player of the year as a junior, and finished his career as the third player in league history with two-thousand points, 700 rebounds and 400 assists. He has worked out with several teams including the Timberwolves, Jazz and Nuggets which has propelled him to a mid-to-late first round prospect. Send in your questions for Julius now and join him for all the answers on Friday at 3 p.m. ET. For complete coverage, visit ESPN.com's NBA Draft Central! SportsNation The ShowGirl: Mr. Julius Hodge will be here any minute. Send in those questions now! SportsNation Julius Hodge: How's everybody doing?? Thank you for having me! Wolfpack_Alum Charlotte, NC: Julius, best of luck to you in the draft, thanks for all you did for the Pack. What position do you see yourself playing in the NBA 2 or 3? SportsNation Julius Hodge: What's up NCState alum! Go Pack! On the next level, I see myself as a point guard. On the court, I've always been an unselfish player and I'm a leader, and I love seeing my teammates score. I think that's where I would fit best. Keith (Kalamazoo,MI): What are your goals for your rookie year? SportsNation Julius Hodge: I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, so right now, I just want to keep up my workouts and hope to be drafted by a great organization. Alec (Fayetteville,NC): Yo Jules, How has working with Coach Sendek helped you prepare for the draft? GO PACK! SportsNation Julius Hodge: That's a good one. Playing under coach Sendek for four years has helped me in many ways. He has put me in a put me in a position to be successful, it has helped my game in so many areas. I thank him for that opportunity. I really liked the system that I was brought up in, when I go on interviews, coaches ask me if I liked the system and I always say yes, and they always agree with me that it is one of th best and they look to draw from some of the things that worked so well in that system of his. PackStudent: Ok, you've played against them all. Who's going to be better in the league Paul or Felton? What about Jackie Manuel he tried to D you up, Heels fans are saying he's going to be drafted. SportsNation Julius Hodge: Jackie is a good friend of mine. I wish him continued success, he plays great defense, in the NBA, the coaches and GM love a guy who not only works hard on offense, is also full of humility and is so willing to play hard on defense. ... As for the other guys I've always been a big Jarrett Jack and John Gilcrest fan. I see them as underrated PGs in our league. They always play well and even better than the big guys. I go love the way Felton runs the floor, though. He is a great passer. Dan (WV): Mr. Hodge, I was wondering if there was any player in the NBA today that you try to pattern your game after? Perhaps Jalen Rose? SportsNation Julius Hodge: I have always tried to pattern my game after Magic. Also Afernee Hardaway in his earlier days in the league with Orlando. Other than that, I love to watch what players do, I'd like to pull a little bit of talent from Tayshaun Prince, Josh Howard, Larry Hughes, Gilbert Arenas and Jason Kidd. I really like their games. I've always liked watching Jalen Rose, too. Joe (Baltimore): What are your thoughts on the proposed minimum age to enter the NBA? Did you consicder coming out early? SportsNation Julius Hodge: I did consider coming out early after my junior season, but I decided to stay to attain my degree and make my mom proud. As for the league minimum, I think, in many ways, it can help ... and in many ways, it can hurt those guys who are good enough to play at the highest level of basketball at 18 years old. Those young guys who thought the NBA would be a cake walk have really hurt the guys that are legitimately good enough to play. I don't know, it's not my place to make a descion on that, but that's what I think. SportsNation Julius Hodge: I did consider coming out early after my junior season, but I decided to stay to attain my degree and make my mom proud. As for the league minimum, I think, in many ways, it can help ... and in many ways, it can hurt those guys who are good enough to play at the highest level of basketball at 18 years old. Those young guys who thought the NBA would be a cake walk have really hurt the guys that are legitimately good enough to play. I don't know, it's not my place to make a decision on that, but that's what I think. Chris (Raleigh, NC): Julius i heard you played your boy Francisco Garcia in few a one on one games a few days ago in Toronto can you tell us how that went? Go Pack! Good luck in the Draft! SportsNation Julius Hodge: Go Pack!! NCState is the place to be!! The one-on-one with Francsico went great. I may not be the best guy in the drills, but when it comes to 1-on-1, I'm not going to lose many. He actually got me in one game. For the first time, he was actually pretty happy about that. I won the series though. He is such a great guy. He can shoot their lights out. I know he's going to make it, because us New Yorkers have too big of hearts not to. Brian (Wilkesboro): Julius, I read where you had a workout with Rashad McCants. I always loved seeing you two go at it, and you could tell there wasnt much love lost there. How was the workout? SportsNation Julius Hodge: That workout, unfortunately, didn't last as long as I had wanted it to. Francisco and I did a majority of the drills by ourselves. I wish it could have gone down, but it didn't. Unfortunately, food poisoning is at a high rate these days, so everybody better be careful about what they eat! BUT, McCants is a really great player. I wish him the best, I hope he makes it in the league, I know he will. It's just all in fun the jokes that I make with him. tom (dc): Julius, right before you blew by Rudy Gay in the final seconds of the 2nd round game vs. Uconn he seemed to be clapping his hands and talking to you. could you tell us what he said? or was it a little too inappropriate? SportsNation Julius Hodge: In that final play when I got the ball, I waved to my coach not to call a time out and he had enough confidence in me not to. Rudy was smiling and licking his lips and clapping his hands. I was giving it right back at him. I don't think it was inappropriate, he was doing what he had to to get pumped up. But, I was a wizard with the ball, tripped up Rudy's feet and went to the basket to score. Rudy is a great player, he is going to be a great force in the league someday. K-Dog (Ft. Lauderdale): As an FSU alum, I just wanted to say you are a straight-up baller. Best of luck in the draft. Any idea when you expect to go and do you have a team you'd prefer to play for that you feel will fit you just as well as you fit them. SportsNation Julius Hodge: Thank you for the compliment. As far as the draft, when you are in my position -- when a little less than a month ago, I was projected in the early second round, MAYBE a first round bubbler -- and now I'm in the position I am, I'm just so grateful. I know that hard work and perseverance really does pay off. It doesn't matter where I end up. Wherever I land, I'll play with fire and energy and heart. That's all I can control. I'm from New York, so of course I'd love to become a Knickerbocker someday. But, I'd be happy anywhere. Everywhere I've visited so far has been first class. I've been treated very well. The NBA is kind of like a society that only a couple guys can be in. It's really great. I hope to be a part of it soon! Macd-Kinston: Jules, Thanks for the memories of watching you both as a great player and a class representative of your university. It truly has been a pleasure, and the very best wishes for great success in the future. The NBA will never be the same SportsNation Julius Hodge: Thank you so much. Go Pack!! Thanks so much for all the support through the years. And thanks for logging on today. I appreciate it. Take care!