[croco]

We have, it appears, our first known promise of the draft. Multiple sources say that UCLA's Westbrook has shut down all workouts and has a promise in the mid-lottery range.

Apparently the promise isn't coming from the Knicks. They like Westbrook at No. 6, but they're also looking at Mayo, Bayless, Alexander and Eric Gordon.

The promise isn't coming from the Bucks or Pacers; neither team was able to get him in for a workout.

That leaves the Clippers at No. 7 and the Bobcats at No. 9. As noted above, the Clippers are trying to move up to get Mayo, so I doubt it's them. That leaves the Bobcats as the most likely to have made a promise to Westbrook.

One other possibility: The Seattle SuperSonics have taken a strong interest in Westbrook, according to sources. Although No. 4 is a little higher than expected for him to go, one source said it's possible that the Sonics will trade down a few spots and take Westbrook.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft...adetalk-080618

I don't see it, I just don't what makes Westbrook any special. He is a defensive minded point guard with great length and athleticism, but that's about it.

[MB30]

Well, if there is a promise from the Bobcats...thats interesting. perhaps they see something we dont? He should be a decent backup for a few years, but im not sure he'd make much more than that.

[SlamJam]

i read an article saying that he will be a top 3 perimeter defender the second he plays in the nba.

is his defense really that good? i didn't see that much of him to really know.

[Dissonance19]

Ford's new mock has him going to the Sonics at #4.

What a mistake that would be.

[croco]

Originally Posted by SlamJam

i read an article saying that he will be a top 3 perimeter defender the second he plays in the nba.

is his defense really that good? i didn't see that much of him to really know.

Where did you read that ?

Westbrook's rise has gotten to the point where you have to call it ridiculous. He wasn't even a lottery pick four months ago, he wasn't a Top 10 pick when he played his last game for the Bruins and now he is supposed to be a franchise point guard because of the combine and good workouts ?

[SlamJam]

http://realgm.com/src_feature/1273/2...f_draft_week)/

His play on the defensive end of the floor is simply suffocating. Westbrook can shadow just about any wing 6-7 or under and should be a top-three perimeter defender in the entire NBA almost immediately. He is superbly quick with his lateral movement and is intimidating in the air on-ball and off-ball as a shotblocker. His extremely fast hands will create many deflections and takeaways while turning routine passes and shot attempts into ones of high degrees of difficulty.

[croco]

He certainly has the potential to become a very good defender, but it's impossible for a rookie to come in and be a Top 3 defender at his position. I mean he will have to hold his own against guys that have a lot of strength and experience on him, defense is as much about cleverness as it is about athleticism (quick feet and long arms) and willingness to defend. I doubt that he will intimidate anyone and I suppose he won't be flexing muscle either.

[Marcus13]

tweener guards scare me....especially that high.

[croco]

Originally Posted by Marcus13

tweener guards scare me....especially that high.

I don't think he is a tweener, he is just not very good.

[Reep]

Originally Posted by SlamJam

i read an article saying that he will be a top 3 perimeter defender the second he plays in the nba.

is his defense really that good? i didn't see that much of him to really know.

He's a good defender with potential, but top three right now is probably unrealistic. It's hard to tell because so many athletic guards don't play tough defense. I watched him play a lot and he is good, but top twenty might be more realistic at first. If you look at the matchups this last year with other high level combo guard, his defense looks decent. Understand that Westbrook didn't exclusively guard these guys all game, but he did for the most part.

Rose (NCAAs) 25 pts
Mayo (averaged 21 pts/game)
16 pts (5/12)
4 pts (2/8, Mayo was injured)
15 pts (6/16)
Bayless (averaged 20 pts/game)
13 pts (4/9)
15 pts (6/12)

Except for Rose, it looks like Westbrook held the other guys below their average. Part of this was also due to UCLA's defensive focus and slow-down game.

I don't think Westbrook is going to come in and lock down Chris Paul or Iverson in his first season. But, he will give his best, and he is a great athlete.


This is my big fear:

XXX has emeraged as the top point guard in this years draft.
He has good size at 6'4" and an 80-inch wingspan that makes him
play even larger still.

XXX is super athletic, a great leaper, and can drop dimes with the
best of them. His 80 inch wingspan
allows him to play bigger than he really is. At 6'4", 195, he already
has the prototype NBA point guard's body.

Review of Antonio Daniels before the 1997 draft--he ended up going #4.

[croco]

Originally Posted by Reep

He's a good defender with potential, but top three right now is probably unrealistic. It's hard to tell because so many athletic guards don't play tough defense. I watched him play a lot and he is good, but top twenty might be more realistic at first. If you look at the matchups this last year with other high level combo guard, his defense looks decent. Understand that Westbrook didn't exclusively guard these guys all game, but he did for the most part.

Rose (NCAAs) 25 pts
Mayo (averaged 21 pts/game)
16 pts (5/12)
4 pts (2/8, Mayo was injured)
15 pts (6/16)
Bayless (averaged 20 pts/game)
13 pts (4/9)
1