[gwh21Participant]

According to ESPN.com (http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=InsiderPreDraftTour-090528) Blair tested out at the height they anticipated (6’7 1/2 in shoes) BUT he tested at a 28 inch no step vert and 33 Max vert.

This is very respectable for a man of his size and is probably a good 3-4 inches higher than anybody thought he would test. To give some comparison, Greg Oden tested out at 32 and 34 inches respectively and was generally considered an “explosive” leaper for a big man. JeValee McGee tested out at 27 and 32.5 respectively. And DeAndre Jordan tested at 26 and 30.5 respectively.

With Blair’s wingspan, which was measured at 7’2, which lets him play like he is 6’9 or 6’10 where do you see Blair going in the draft NOW. I feel he is now potentially in contention for a top 10 with his motor, rebounding and low post scoring ability.

Thoughts?

[QHaynes123]

to me…it doesnt change anything….still mid 1st.

[sheltwon3Participant]

I like him to a Elton Brand but he is still raw so I would say this thing would be wise to draft him in the top 10 milwaukee i am looking at you.

[butidonthavemoney]

Blair will end up going 9-14. Count on it.

[leppyParticipant]

i dont see him going before 9. but idk i think he will produce more than hill. toronto, milwaukee, new jersey somebody is going to take him there.

[Hoop FreakZParticipant]

Blair’s vertical sounds pretty average. Greg Oden, Jevalee McGee, and DeAndre Jordan were all 7 feet and have longer arms and wingspans. So it sounds like the numbers really don’t improve him that much more, if anything he is still too short but his strength evens it all out

[ctw724Participant]

He would look really good in a Chicago Bulls uniform.

I would not be surprised to see the Bulls make a trade with Golden State. With Golden State looking for a PG (one would be available where the Bulls pick at #16) and Chicago looking for a BIG-MAN, who can battle in the paint (one is more likely to be available where Golden State picks at #7) I would not be shocked to see something get done. There is a lot of speculation outthere that Toronto, N.J., Milwaukee, Indiana and Phoenix all like DeJuan Blair. Well, I’m hearing so do the Bulls. So, unless they trade up ahead of those 5 teams they probably can’t get him.

Proposed Trade:

To Bulls: #7 Pick in the Draft

To Warriors: #16 and #26 Pick in the Draft

[auberParticipant]

I like him a lot next season in the fantasy game. He’s a very intriguing under hyped big man.

[eprizzle14Participant]

I dont think he’ll get a boatload of minutes so fantasy wise I dont think Blair will be good because he defends grabs boards but I’m not expecting a lot of blocks or points. I wouldnt touch him in the lotter but after he’s game.

[j1232eParticipant]

The next Paul Millsap. minus the rebound potential.

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

I would not take him in the top 10, but he will rebound like a beast right away.

[deuce4off]

He still has zero post moves to speak of, won’t be able to defend NBA caliber PF’s, doesn’t make FT’s, doesn’t knock down the 10-15 foot jumper, and isn’t a shot blocker. Other than his ability to rebound, what do you really see in him bringing to your squad? As a Bulls fan I really hope we don’t draft this guy for the reasons I mentioned and also the fact I believe we will either acquire/sign Bosh at some point. I like the previous poster’s idea of trading the 16th and 26th to move up in the draft. It’s too bad Wannstedt didn’t get to Blair and convince him to play football, Wanny might have turned him into a bookend left tackle and a top 10 pick in the NFL draft.

[deuce4off]

The next Paul Millsap minus the rebound potential??? First off Millsap is athletic so that ends that comparison and as for the “minus the rebound potential”…… rebounding will be Blair’s biggest and probably only asset in the league haha…. I mean?

[BubblebuttParticipant]

First off after the wing span and max vert that I just read, I think he’ll be a great addition to a team. Second, how can a guy that man handles Thabeet and makes him look like a child not be put ahead of Thabeet of at least in the top 10. Lastly Denis Rodman didn’t block or get a whole lot of points but he rebounded like a man who loves basketball and his team always had a chance to win.

[QHaynes123]

New jersey would be a perfect fit.

Blair for your toughness and D

Lopez for your Blocks and O

READ MOCK DRAFT 4.0

[ctw724Participant]

DeJuan Blair – Toughness
Ty Thomas – Athleticism
Joakim Noah – Energy
Brad Miller – Steadiness

That would create a versatile and formidable frontcourt. However, the Bulls are rumored to want Amar’e BADLY. Rumor has it they will be offering up Ty Thomas and Kirk Hinrich or Luol Deng, which may ultimately get a deal done.

Amar’e-Blair-Noah-Miller on the Bulls front-line would be flat out NASTY!!!

[rtbtParticipant]

Hey guys, I said this another post, D. Blair is a big time sleeper in this draft. Two years ago, NBA GMs showed how stupid they are by passing on Milsap, a guy who led the NCAA in rebounding an incredible 3 years in a row. Every coach says REBOUNDING and DEFENSE wins game, but they all look for offense in the draft. What’s wrong with their brains?

Come on, guys who can score are a dime a dozen in the NBA. Almost every player in the league was a big time scorer in high school or college. Rebounders are the real gems in any draft because they’re few and far between. Do you think any of those GMs would take Milsap if they had another opportunity? It’s too late, but they can take Blair who’s a monster on the boards.

[ctw724Participant]

He just knows how to find and fight for rebounds.

I want him on the Chicago Bulls. They should do what they can to trade up and get him. He would be a great fit on the roster and in the city. Make it happen GAR FORMAN!!!

[rtbtParticipant]

Are you old enough to remember Paul Silas and Charles Oakley? What did they have in common with each other and D. Blair?

Paul Silas and Charles Oakley were two undersized power forwards who couldn’t jump six inches off the ground, but they used strength, intelligence, positioning, and desire to make a career out of being premiere rebounders.

OK, Blair can obviously jump much higher than both of those guys, but he plays the same way in terms of focusing on rebounds. If I were an NBA GM, I would want him on my team because of that focus on rebounding.

Unfortunately, as illustrated when Milsap was bypassed by everyone in the first round two years ago, NBA GMs aren’t very bright. In addition, even though almost every coach says rebounding and defense wins games, GMs are in love with offense.

[QHaynes123]

thats because your a bulls fan

I dont think at 15 DET lets him up….

[joecheck88Participant]

if the info is true i have his stock up. he was at 20 in my mock but now will be closer to 15. 6′ 7 and a half is a lot more than i expected and i heard he has dropped some weight. if his mid range game becomes reliable he could be a legit post player.

[rvirsalParticipant]

perfect fit with the bulls. pistons could pass up on him since they have sharpe, maxiell and amir.

[ctw724Participant]

As was said, the Pistons already have Maxiel so I doubt they would draft him. With SHEED possibly leaving MO-TOWN, I could see them going after Mullens or Daye instead.

From everything I have heard, the Bulls really like him. Don’t forget the NBA is a copycat league and last I checked the Bulls just got worked over in playoffs by DAVIS and PERKINS (two-W-I-D-E-bodies). It’s clear the Bulls need a some STRENGTH in the painted area and a solid SCREEN-SETTER at the arc. Blair would provide that for them. I’m holding out hope that the Bulls will trade up to #7 (Golden State) and nab him before Toronto, Milwaukee, N.J., Indiana, and Phoenix.

[ctw724Participant]

I think people get down on him because they don’t see him as a 20/10 guy in the league. Well, I’m okay with that not happening. If he comes of the bench for the Bulls (assuming they draft him) and contributes like Paul Millsap, Jason Maxiel or Big Baby does for their teams I would be very pleased.

[ctw724Participant]

He will be working out for the Chicago Bulls on June 10th. Not coincidentally, they are bringing in Jeremy Pargo and Lester Hudson on the same day. Pargo, plays like Rose (a quick kid who can work off the pick and roll) and Hudson plays like Gordon (a little guy that scores in bunches).

That sure seems like a simulation to me.

http://thehoopsreport.com/workouts.aspx?action=Chicago

[ctw724Participant]

GET IT DONE JOHN PAXSON and GAR FORMAN!!!

[ctw724Participant]

I think the Bulls will end up regretting not picking him at #26. I can see why they went with Johnson at #16, but with Blair still on the board at #26, the selection of Gibson was baffling.

I’m happy for DeJuan Blair because he ended up with a great team and great teammates. As a Bulls fan, I sincerely hope he sticks it to the Bulls for passing on him!!! He will by holding up the championship trophy alongside Tim Duncan in the near future.

[ctw724Participant]

John Paxson and Gar Forman,

I’m not a happy Bulls fan today. I can’t believe you would pass on DeJuan Blair (twice). I like Johnson and Gibson as players, but missing out on Blair was a MAJOR MISTAKE. In theory your draft looks good, but in reality you drafted LESS POINTS, LESS REBOUNDS, LESS STEALS, and MORE TURNOVERS (check their stats). MORE TURNOVERS and BLOCK SHOTS isn’t exactly what this team needs.

Your philosophy of drafting the BEST AVAILABLE PLAYER is the wrong way to go. It doesn’t win championships. Drafting NEEDED PARTS, like DeJuan Blair does. I guarantee you he helps San Antonio win another title or two just like Big Baby Davis did for Boston.

So, on behalf of all DISAPPOINTED BULLS FANS, thanks a lot for keeping this team MEDIOCRE. Year and year you guys have missed on the RIGHT TALENT. It’s getting old and frustrating. I’m holding out hope you guys can pull off a trade for Bosh and then go after DWADE via free-agency, but I’m sure that isn’t in your plans either.

Afterall, why would you want All-Stars on the roster? It isn’t like PRO SPORTS is about winning championships, right? At least, not in your world!!!

Have a wonderful day and thanks again for the BLOCK SHOTS and TURNOVERS.

[maravich44Participant]

We have had disagreements about the merits of Blair at 16. I was ok with Johnson until I heard CP3 (one of the most level-headed NBA players) say he didn’t want him on his team. This coming from a fellow Wake Forest attendee. Makes you go hmmmmm. I was thinking at 16, Johnson made sense, but the pick was Holiday. He would have been somewhat of a risk and I’m not a big fan, bt his upside is huge and would be Rose’s backup for his career, and be able to join him on the floor at the 2 spot for many minutes each night. Knowing what I now know about Johnson, I could have lived with several players. at 26, the pick should have been Blair. He was too good to pass at that spot. I could have lived with Ellington or Budinger as well. I think Ellington in particular would have been solid and would have given us insurance if Gordon leaves. No One could have argued with Blair in that spot. I thought at that time how you must be doing the burn. I was not far behind you. What a stupid pick! One thing to stash a kid in Europe for a year or 2, but to pass over players who could be solid contributers in your rotation for garbage…….well, I just don’t get it.

[OldSkoolBasketballParticipant]

I told you guys he will fall like the stock market. Its his knees that have teams passing him. The dude has no acl.

[ghostfaceParticipant]

I’ve never seen a player drop this far so quickly. There is no way he should have fallen this far. His ACL injuries were in HIGH SCHOOL! I understand the concern, but he never had any injury problems in the most physical conference in the nation. If the Bulls wanted a PF, they should have taken Blair over James Johnson. His rebounding alone should have put him in at least the mid 1st round.

[MattissickParticipant]

I would love to see Blair start along-side Duncan next year and average over 10 rebounds per game.

[maravich44Participant]

Talk about a team improving its frontcourt…..Blair and Jefferson are a pretty solid tandem, each adding diverse talent to the team. Spurs could well be a grat team next season, especially if they get some additional depth and don’t run into injuries.

[Author]

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