[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

http://www.phillyburbs.com/blogs/sports_columnists/tom_moore/sixers-having-trouble-getting-players-to-visit/article_74564194-8eda-11e0-8184-0019bb30f31a.html

Sixers having trouble getting players to visit

The Sixers want to take a look at as many prospective picks in the June 23 NBA Draft that they can. They own the No. 16 and 50 selections.

But they’re finding out quite a few players are convinced they won’t be on the board at No. 16 and are declining invitations to visit the Sixers.

 

"It’s amazing," said Sixers director of player personnel Courtney Witte after Saturday’s first pre-draft workout that featured nobody projected to go among the first 50. "Right now there are 20-plus people that think they’re going in the top 15."

What can happen in situations like this is players and agents find out closer to the draft that they may not wind up as high as they think and scramble to work out for teams like the Sixers.

One example occurred when Andre Iguodala was expected to go in the top seven in 2004. The Sixers, who were at No. 9 and couldn’t get Iguodala to visit, ended up holding a private workout with Iguodala right before the draft. He lasted to No. 9 and the Sixers grabbed him.

"I didn’t do well at math," Witte said. "But we’re at 16. With 20-plus, there’s going to be people dropping to us."

Georgia power forward Trey Thompkins, who is projected as a second-rounder, is among the players scheduled to work out Monday for the Sixers.

Temple’s Lavoy Allen, a Pennsbury High graduate, headlined Saturday’s group.

[MagikKnickParticipant]

Thats silly, you never know when a team could fall in love with you, I know its tiring, especially all the travelling, but if I was prospect i’d try to workout for as much teams as I could..

something similar happened to Landry Fields last year..

He had a workout on the day of his Stanford graduation, thought about not going but decided that he should, the team he worked out for? The Knicks.

[JJeff6Participant]

I’m thinking the players should work out for any team that wants them too no matter where they are selecting.  You never know if they might trade up to a lotto spot just to make sure they get you. 

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

Just to clear the air, this Nomoney fellow is not the same person as myself.  He is logged on half the time on here.  I do thumb-up him often, though cause he is the best user on here.

 

Also, in case anyone noticed, I haven’t been on for a while.  My mom grounded…er, I mean, I forgot how to turn on my computer…sonny.

 

Thirdly, isn’t "ain’t" an acceptable contraction for "am not" as in I ain’t gonna thumb-up any Bismack Biyambo posts.  First person singular=use ain’t.

 

Thanks for listening! 🙂 I love you guys <3

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Part of the reason DeAndre Jordan and Hassan Whiteside freefell the way they did was that they were turning down workouts. It is disappointing when guys try to protect imaginary draft positions by hiding.

It is disappointing to see because some teams will post all workouts on the team website and use the draft prep as free pub for the team, and others turn their facility into Fort Knox hoping no one learns of who they bring in. Even the Hornets, who don’t have a pick, shouldn’t have this kind of trouble finding people to work out. There are sixty draft picks, and two hundred guys getting predraft workouts. If New Orleans has only Paul, Okafor, Jack, Gray, Pondexter, and West (and that is an ETO) under contract, they are going to fill out their roster with someone. One or two of those spots could be the next Wesley Matthews or Gary Neal, but everyone thinks they are a lock. Nobody sees the Fields pick coming.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2011-06-03-3018791435_x.htm

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 I just got done reading this story on Philly.com…Also Dayton’s Christ Wright dropped out of the workout.

I thought it was funny but the Sixers will draft a player even if they haven’t worked them out.  The Sixers big board was set after the combine and will only fluctuate with workouts.

One thing of note is that the Sixers don’t have much of a resume bit Euro’s tho that could change this draft because Rod Thorn is leading the way and he brought with him a very good Euro scout who has ties to Bennetton.  This makes Donatas going to the Sixers very likely but considering they need lengh, and interior toughness if Biyombo falls he will be the Sixers pick.  I wouldn’t put it past the Sixers to trade up for him.

Another thing to keep an eye on is the Sixers using their 2nd round pick on a Euro sleeper.  They brought one in today, Tomislav Zubcic (Croatia), Zubcic is a 6’11 pure Small Forward who has drawn comparisons to Gallinari because of his outside shooting.  Still only 21 and just getting major time in the top league Zubcic shot lights out at the workout and showed off his fluid athleticism, ball handling ability, and range shooting ability.  He is said to be a 1st round talent who will drop because his contract runs thru til 2014.   A name to keep an eye on.

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

is a top 15 pick

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

Lord have mercy

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

"I thought it was funny but the Sixers will draft a player even if they haven’t worked them out. The Sixers big board was set after the combine and will only fluctuate with workouts."

Yes, and players who show up to work out for a team will jump those who choose not to work out.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 Some players won’t necessarily improve their stock by working out. But the sixers could let everyone know that they won’t draft you if you don’t workout for them. 

On the other hand, you guys have years of game footage on most of these players. You also have the combine results. How much more do you need to see? Are you going to get together full court 5 on 5 intense scrimmage? Because that is the game you are drafting these guys for. Watching a guy play two on two against a few of the younger coaches isn’t going to help you make much of a decision. 

[HitsterParticipant]

I could understand the guys at the top of the lottery or even those projected in the top 8 not working out for a team like the 76ers picking at 16 but anyone whose draft range was late top 10 or below would surely be best served certainly working out for teams in the 76ers/Knicks/Pacers draft area. Teams can always trade up and if they find someone they like then this is more likely.

So you could see players falling from the top 10 maybe towards 20 or so if they have refused to work out and teams have found a player they like in the workouts and maybe made a promise to so they stick with what they have got.

[Author]

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