Yardbarker: David Harrison

Rumors and Free Agent Updates - Mind Blowing Artest Rumor Edition

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:45:06 -0500

In the Zzone reports that the Nets' free agent Bostjan Nachbar will be heading to Europe. According to legaue sources, Nachbar will sign with Dynamo Moscow in Russia. Another of the Nets' free agents, Nenad Krstic has also received offers to play overseas but would prefer to remain in the NBA. The Nets may be looking for a sign and trade with him. Not everyone is chomping at the bit for a big payday overseas. Will Bynum left lucrative offers overseas for a shot at making it to an N...

Free Agent Rumors and Updates

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:48:43 -0500

This Corey Maggette thing is getting worse than a soap opera. The Globe announced that the Celtics had made offers to both Maggette and Posey on July 1. On July 3, the Herald reported that the Celtics denied making an offer to Maggette. Ok, maybe the Globe was mistaken and the Celtics didn't make an offer, but just contacted his agent and inquired about him. But, then, on July 4, the Globe had another article on how the Celtics made an offer to Maggette and Doc even called him to talk to ...

Mixed Messages Free Agent Update

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:22:55 -0500

The Celtics made an offer to Corey Maggette. No they didn't. Yes they did. So, did they or didn't they? First, the Globe said that the Celtics made an offer to both Posey and Maggette on the first day of free agency. The Celtics have made contract offers to two forwards: Their own free agent, James Posey, and Clippers free agent Corey Maggette, sources told the Boston Globe. The most the Celtics could offer is the mid-level exception (about $5.8 million), and it's doubtful th...

Random Draft Day Thoughts

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:04:00 -0500

In an AP article reported in the Herald, Danny discussed his thoughts on this year's draft. Some of the highlights: ** The Celtics have worked out about 50 potential draftees, similar to last year's number, and that list has been reduced to 23 possible players for the 30th pick. ** There's not much room for the players the Celtics draft with the 30th and 60th picks to contribute next season. ** It's a real longshot that he would trade to get a better pick ** Ainge thinks G...

Four Rules to Live By For a Successful Late-Round NBA Draft

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:58:58 -0500

Who knew that getting caught watching classic NBA Drafts by your girlfriend would be worse than getting caught watching porn? NBATV has been running classic drafts all day/night, and I was in the middle of watching the 1996 NBA Draft with John Calipari justifying why his Nets just drafted Kerry Kittles over Kobe Bryant when the GF popped her head into my home office. "What are you watching?" she asked with a look of suspicion on her face. "Um, the NBA Draft from 1996," I replied. She then just nodded in a trance-like state and vacated the room before the Mavericks drafted Samaki Walker. Awkward. Anyway, the 2008 version of the NBA Draft is on Thursday (5pm MST, ESPN) and I can't wait. Like the NBA Draft Lottery and All-Star Weekend, I'm a total sucker for the draft. In fact, I'm missing an annual college alumni event on Thursday just to watch it live. Even in this era of DVRs, there are certain sporting events you still have to watch live, like big playoff games, the NBA Finals and of course, the NBA Draft. It's just not the same unless you have your friends calling with comments like: "Who the f--k is Efthimios Rentzias and why the f--k hasn't Bernie been fired yet?!!" within seconds of making a pick. Since my favorite team isn't drafting until 20th, I've looked at the past 20 NBA Drafts (the modern era, if you will) and who was drafted in the 18-24th pick range. There are way more misses than hits, but the hits include talented guys with notorious off court problems like Rod Strickland, Jayson Williams (before he was killing limosine drivers and shooting dogs at point-blank range), Latrell Sprewell, Zach Randolph, J.R. Smith, international steals like Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Andrei Kirilenko, Nenad Krstic, Sasha Pavlovic and some players that have been integral on NBA Championship teams like Brian Shaw, "Eddie" "star" Rick Fox, Sam Cassell, Michael Finley, Derek Fisher, James Posey, Tayshaun Prince and Rajon Rondo. But as noted above, an astute GM can find good value with the 20th pick if he knows what he's doing and abides by the following four rules... Rule #1: Stay away from centers in the back of the draft. By my accounting, in 20 years only four decent centers have been drafted in the first round from the 20th pick onward: Vlade Divac in 1989, Elden Campbell in 1990, the Big Z in 1996 and Brendan Haywood in 2001. In fact, an entire landfill could be filled up with the corpses of bust centers like Cook, Duane Causwell, another "Eddie" "star" in Dwayne Schintzius, Alaa Abdelnaby, Stanley Roberts, Elmore Spencer, Geert Hammink, Zidek, Loren Meyer, Lauderdale, Travis Knight, Leon Smith, Jake Tsakalidis, N'Diaye, Pavel Podkolzin and David Harrison (and I'm sure I missed a few). Rule #2: Don't get seduced by the "best athlete available" argument. Most teams drafting late in the first round - like the Nuggets in 2005 - made the playoffs, so they go into the draft willing to gamble on "raw talent" with "big upside" (anyone who has watched the draft should be familiar with Jay Bilas' buzz words by now). But history tells us this is a flawed strategy, and teams like the Nuggets have paid the price for drafting this way (see Brooks, Kevin and Hodge, Julius). Consider the case of Hodge specifically. Had the Nuggets drafted for what they really needed - a backup power forward for the oft-injured Kenyon Martin and Nene - Jason Maxiell or David Lee might be Nuggets right now. Rule #3: When in doubt, draft a power forward who played at least three years in college or somewhere overseas. There's been a slew of good-to-great power forwards over the years who have been neglected in the earlier part of the draft. I did some research going back to 1988 and came up with this list of NBA-ready (due to them staying in college or playing professionally overseas) power forwards who were selected late in the first round (or even in the second round) during that 20 year span: Clifford Robinson (36th pick overall), Jayson Williams (21st), Antonio Davis (45th), P.J. Brown (29th), Kenny Thomas (22nd), Krstic (24th), Carlos Boozer (34th), Luis Scola (55th), Anderson Varejo (30th), Maxiell (26th), Lee (30th), Ronny Turiaf (37th), Paul Milsap (47th), Leon Powe (49th), Carl Landry (31st) and even "Big Baby" Glen Davis (35th). Rule #4: Put a premium on character and work ethic. At the end of the day, a terrific college player with a tireless work ethic and solid character will figure out a way to be a productive NBA player, even if he's deemed "undersized" for his position by the draft pundits. Most of the power forwards listed above would fit this description, as do other late round or second round steals. Notable names on this list include Shaw, Fox, the late Bobby Phills, Cassell, Bryon Russell, Finley, Eric Snow, Fisher, Jackson, Posey, Eddie House, Michael Redd, Gerald Wallace, Gilbert Arenas, Earl Watson, Prince, John Salmons, Josh Howard, Jason Kapono, Luke Walton, Steve Blake, Kyle Korver, Nelson, current Nugget Linas Kleiza and Jordan Farmar. Drafting players in professional sports is hardly an exact science, and it's easy for armchair GMs such as myself to look back in hindsight at what should have been. But if you look at the teams that have been most successful in the latter part of the NBA Draft recently, such as the Lakers, Pistons, Jazz and Spurs, they generally abide by the four rules stated above.

Key Sequence in Pacers OT Win over Wizards

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 06:58:02 -0500

David Harrison comes up with the big block on defense and Mike Dunleavy Jr. finishes it with the big 3-pointer to ice the win for the Pacers in Overtime. Just a fantastic game-changing sequence.

2007 NBA Draft from a Philadelphia 76ers phan's perspective

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 02:30:18 -0500

2007 NBA DRAFT FROM A PHILLY PHAN PERSPECTIVE Category: NBA It's amazing how in March you hear just how deep of an NBA Draft this will be in 2007 and just how excited you can get as a Philadelphia 76er fan whose team is holding four picks in the first two rounds of the draft, three of which are in the first round. Although the third of those is at #30 and I'm sure the Sixers would prefer it to be one pick lower having it in the second round, thus not needing their contract to that player guaranteed for the entire season. However, recent NBA Draft history does indicate that the last player chosen in the first round could turn into a solid NBA starter and even win a championship or two. Why just in the past six years the final picks in the first round have produced one little known player from Europe named Joel freeland (2006 Trailblazers), two players still finding their way named David Harrison (2004 Pacers) and Dan Dickau (2002 Kings), but more impressively it's produced a solid sixth man and part time starter David Lee (2005 Knicks), and two All Stars named Josh Howard (2003 Mavericks) and Tony Parker (2001 Spurs). So how did the Draft go from being "deep with talent" in March to "not much beyond the top 10" in June? Well, we are still three weeks away and if Daniel Gibson has taught us anything it's that just like every draft in every other major sport, it's purely a crapshoot. So here's my take on June 5th, more than 23 days away from the NBA Draft. I'll predict the first 12 first round selections or up until the 76ers select their first player. I'm basing it on what I believe they should do, if I were the General Manager for each team before Philadelphia. I'll also give you my "expert" opinion for each prospect. Including his strengths, weaknesses, and who they might be comparable to among current or former NBA players. 1. Portland Greg Oden, C Ohio State I know there seems to be some debate about just whom they should take, but Oden to me is a no brainer. I think a player like this comes along once every five years or so. He dominated his one-year of college, showed tremendous athleticism and only needs work on offensive post moves and his short jumper. Pro practices will give him plenty of direction and wisdom. Defensively he'll be more than intimidating. Reminds me of a mix between Patrick Ewing and David Robinson. 2. Seattle Kevin Durant, SF Texas People say he could end up being the better player of the two, but I see a scorer who won't be able to guard anyone for a while. He will provide instant mismatches for his opponents, and might average over 25ppg for a long time. Reminds me of Tracy McGrady 3. Atlanta Mike Conley, PG Ohio State I just can't see the Hawks passing on another point guard this year, but then again it is Atlanta. Conley will try to work a trade to Portland to play with his pal Oden, but I wouldn't trade him if I were?them. He can get to the hole at will, and showed great leadership in taking Ohio State to the NCAA championship game his freshman year. Needs major work on his jumper, but he's young and full of love for the game. Doesn't shy away from wanting the ball in the clutch either. Reminds me of Chris Paul. contiued......