[JHong621Participant]

What is the reason for his sudden rise on this mockdraft, and other mockdrafts? I remember a week ago he was listed to go 10 picks below where he is now. Is it the combine measurements listing his wingspan? He’s listed at around 6’7, and I think he is a PF, but I also think that height doesn’t really matter as long as you have the wingspan to bang with the other centers. Also, I hear his shot isn’t bad. Truth to this?

[JHong621Participant]

Where it says centers, I meant PFs sorry

[Deeds]

He’ll be a good NBA player ala Paul Milsap, Malik Rose.

[JHong621Participant]

I really like the kid Millsap, but I don’t think Malik Rose had a that good a career. If he did lose weight, I think he would be a great player. It gives him more mobilitiy, maybe more then some PFs, and I think the wing span will help him greatly

[dwight12]

he gives them that toughnss and size.

[mb6297]

He performed well at the combine.

He lost 15 lbs, added muscle and seems more athletic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyzDmg_XVgA

For measurements:

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/DeJuan-Blair-5049/

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

yea, he rose for a while, especially after that wingspan measurement- that was impressive. but he’s going to start sliding again because of concerns about his knees. I guess he tore both acls (not 100% sure) in high school and some people are feelin like they could become a problem down the road.

[JHong621Participant]

Thats too bad, I think this kid could have a bright future. I think he should try to lose some of the body fat, as it is listed at 12% on the website (thanks btw). That will only make him better in all facets of the game, and I think it will help with his injuries too, taking weight off the knees

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

yea, dude is below 300. i think he lost like 40+lbs since the end of the season.

just shows how much you can accomplish if you don’t have to go to school while playing a season…. people should improve soooooo much when they get to the league. all they have to do is play basketball. i’d be playing all day everyday

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

i love the kid. i’d definitely take him in the lottery. he just has a knack for gettin up there and snatching the O Board. I think he’ll rebound even better than Love was able to do his rookie year. if the bulls get him, they’ll be getting a steal at 16, IMO.

[mb6297]

Idk, but I think Malik Rose was a pretty solid, high-energy backup. He played for 12 years in the league and this is a testimony of his play. He is certainly not a stat guy though.

His brightest days were in San Antonio where he won some rings. He also has great experiencing considering he was in the playoffs in 8 of the years.

[JHong621Participant]

Ma bad, you are right. I never really payed attention to him, but I realize he was a valuable role player. Hes a guy that never got the spotlight, but did his job. Probably the reason I ignored him in the first place…

[DeLaQuestParticipant]

His wingspan was commonly known already, but when we found out his standing reach was almost 8’11”, that was a major. To have a standing reach 2’4″+ above your height is pretty special, especially for someone under 7’0″.

Blair might as well be listed at 6’9″ given his length. Now it’s a question of mobility for him. Assuming his knees are okay, he should make some average team a nice rebounder off the bench next season. But the alarming thing is, you don’t see any DeJuan Blair PF types getting big run in the finals. It’s more the type of PF that an Earl Clark would hope to be: Turkoglu, R.Lewis, L.Odom.

[JHong621Participant]

Good observation, but u gotta look at the rockets, and their undersized PFs. I think everyone agrees with me when I say they are a play off caliber team. Without their two star players( without Yao for some of it), they pushed the Lakers. No one saw that coming. And their PFs were undersized and had hustle and good D and good boards. If Blair can become that, he will make a great impact. It true tho, a 6’10+ player with a sexy jumper is dangerous

[DeLaQuestParticipant]

JHong, that’s a good point. The Rockets have some small PF’s who play a key role. For the long haul, I think they benefit from playing with a huge Center like Yao. Some miracles were performed with the Scola-at-Center frontline against LA, but I don’t think that could ever be sustained.

So Blair might be what I call a “special needs” player who needs to be with the right Center and/or Small Forward next to him. He’s definitely not versatile, but his monstous rebounding numbers in a superb conference should translate to good NBA rebounding, IMHO.

[JHong621Participant]

I totally agree. Whatever team that is gonna take him I believe will need those requirements. A big man to attract attention on boards, allowing Blair to have more room to crash the boards, and also for the big man to clog the lane, which leads me to believe he will b a good fit in NJ with Lopez, but I dunno if thats where he is gonna go.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

he might as welll be 7’2 in my book if thats his wingspan…

how many dejuan blair types do u know in the leauge?

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

i hope u weren’t referencing clark when u said sexy jumper

[JHong621Participant]

more rashard lewis, hedo turkolu, less odom, clark LOL

[knicksfreakParticipant]

Clark is like none of those guys. He’s alot like Marvin Williams.

[JHong621Participant]

I think marvin williams is a bit bigger and stronger, while earl clark has better passing vision and ball handling. Maybe a skinnier chris webber? I dunno, ma comparison skills are wack. I was even gonna say Gasol, because Gasol has such highly underrated passing skills as a big man, but Gasol and clark have such a different game altogether

[DeLaQuestParticipant]

I think Clark can legitimately hope to be like those guys (as I wrote) if he puts in the work. Off the top of my head he’s the closest thing to Lewis, Turkoglu, and Odom in THIS draft.

[JHong621Participant]

Also, I think out of the three, clark has the POTENTIAL to be like turkolu, but with more athleticism, rebounding, but not as good shooting. Turkolu had 16, 5, 5 last year, which is a good assist number for a big man (turkolu plays like a wing in a big man body), but with the potential i believe to have 16, 8, 5 instead. Also earl clark kinda reminds me of anthony randolph(i think someone in a board wrote that before, sorry if im biting you), cuz of length, lanky, and athleticism

[knicksfreakParticipant]

Williams bigger and stronger? They could be twins. Look at pics and stats

[JHong621Participant]

earl clark is around 225, while williams is around 240-245. And also, earl clark’s scouting report reads that he has good passing vision for a big man, something last time i checked, marvin williams doesnt really have. But in terms of scoring potential and rebouding, i agree they are similar

[knicksfreakParticipant]

I’m sticking with Williams. Solid athletes, poor outside game, decent defenders, very raw. No way is he, or will he be like Turkoglu. He isnt much like Randolph either, who is tougher and much more skilled. Clark isnt very polished.

[knicksfreakParticipant]

Williams is 2 years older too. Clark will bulk up.

[JHong621Participant]

In those senses that you list, which make up almost all of the attirbutes of a ball player, they are very similar. But u have to agree with me, the difference in passing vision is tremendous

[knicksfreakParticipant]

Yes but Clark needs to prove that at the next level. Sorry if I seem pushy, I just completely see Williams when I look at Clark move.

[JHong621Participant]

No, no need to apologize, not being pushy at all. I completely respect ur opinon, and agree somewhat. This is a debate, and we have to disagree, or else it gets mad boring. As you can see, about 5 different ppl have 5 different opinions on who earl clark is like

[DeLaQuestParticipant]

Whatever Earl Clark’s exact comparison is, he’s a lot closer to the tall, mobile, ballhandling F’s we see in the finals than Blair is. I think that’s a no-brainer we can all agree on.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

i disagree. I see Blair in Rashard Lewis… they might as well be the same player!

LOL

[JHong621Participant]

And of course, when you say see clark move, im sure youve seen much footage of him. I havent seen much of him, but from wat i hear, and the limited footage i see of him. I have to stick to my opinions. But, at the end of the day, you are probably more right, as you have seen him more then me, and therefore being a more credible source

[ctw724Participant]

He is only going to be working out for 11 teams.

Who?

Bulls
Pistons
Pacers
Bucks
Nets
Bobcats
Kings
Thunder
Suns
Raptors
Knicks

Coincidentally, the Bulls and Pistons are the only two teams not in the lottery. I think the Bulls need him more than the Pistons, so I would not be surprised to see the Bulls find a way to get him on their team.

Something else to look at is that fact that G.S. isn’t working him out. To me, that’s a sign they are looking for a PG and/or wing player. In other words, they are a prime candidate to trade down, possibly with the Bulls.

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