I’ll be the first to admit that I am no NBA draft guru. First of all, my first-hand knowledge of players is basically limited to guys that have played big-time college basketball. Also, I’ve been notoriously inaccurate in projecting which players will make it on the next level and which ones won’t. All that being said, here are the guys I like as “sleeper” picks from this draft that should be able to play, and play well, in the league very soon. In a few years we can review to see if I’m getting any better at this.
29th Overall Pick: Toney Douglas (Lakers): I think the reigning champs got a steal at the end of the first-round with Douglas, especially in such a weak year for talent. He might be slightly under-sized for an NBA 2-guard and not an elite athlete, but he can flat-out score and was a lock-down defender on the college level. He also was the heart and soul of last year’s Florida State team, and he showed his clutch abilities in a couple of big upsets in the ACC tournament. He won’t be an NBA All-Star, but he should be a solid starter, and those aren’t easy to find this late in the draft.
36th Overall Pick: Sam Young (Grizzlies): I just don’t really see what’s not to like about Young, unless teams think he actually is as old as he looks. This guy averaged almost 19 points a game over the past two seasons for one of the premier programs in college basketball, and they don’t exactly have a run and gun offensive style at Pitt. He’s got nice size for a SF, he can shoot it, he’s a high-flying dunker, and he’s a great character guy.
37th Overall Pick: Dejuan Blair (Spurs): With Young’s former teammate, I do see what’s not to like. He’s short for a post player and there are questions about his knees after surgeries in high school. Those are both legitimate concerns. But this guy stepped into the college game two years ago and was immediately dominant. He will not be a dominant NBA player, but I see no reason why he can’t be a very solid contributor and a great value in the 2nd Round. Concerns about his height should be tempered by the way he owned Hasheem Thabeet last season, and his knees may be questionable, but they never forced him to miss any time in his two years at Pitt. San Antonio is probably a great place for him to end up. He makes much more sense on a good team than a bad one.
50th Overall Pick: Goran Suton (Jazz): It’s always shocking to see the Jazz go for a white guy, isn’t it? I guess if it wasn’t for Michigan State’s run to the title game in the spring, Suton wouldn’t even have been drafted. Still, I must have been more impressed by his performance in the tournament than NBA scouts were. I see Suton as a valuable bench player in the NBA, and that’s a great value this late in the draft. He’s an excellent rebounder and can consistently knock down jump shots. That combination makes you a nice player to bring off the bench. Jerry Sloan should put Suton to good use.
Have to agree with all four of those sleeper picks, though the Lakers “sold” the pick to the Knicks. I’m not sure Suton will stick in the pros, but it is a nice chance to take at #50. I also like three Pac-10 guys as “sleepers.” The two bigs–Pendergraph at #31 and Brockman at #38–and a bonafied NBA athlete–Budinger at #44. And, I like the San Antonio took at #51, in taking former Miami Hurricane, Jack McClinton. McClinton was a 4-year starter in the ACC, and I think he is the second-best pure shooter in the whole draft behind Curry.