Thread Tools

Display Modes

**Kunlun** · 06-09-2004, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dcrono3!

I'm not quite sure about that. A successful doctor makes more than the average NBA player, but not the best players in teh league.

A successful doctor only makes around 300,000 to 500,000 a year compared tho these first rounds picks that's not much.

dcrono3 · 06-13-2004, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KL Dawger!

A successful doctor only makes around 300,000 to 500,000 a year compared tho these first rounds picks that's not much.

I'm pretty sure a successful doctor earns more than that, and the point is that a doctor has a longer career. I doubt Smith could be a good doctor too. Seems like he is a bit too sure aobut his abilities.

**BEEZ** · 06-14-2004, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dcrono3!

I'm pretty sure a successful doctor earns more than that, and the point is that a doctor has a longer career. I doubt Smith could be a good doctor too. Seems like he is a bit too sure aobut his abilities.

Dcrono what do you mean he seems to sure about his abilities? In whatever you do in LIFE you should feel this way or there will ALWAYS be someone trying to take what you have or get what you have and in his case, his "SPOT" in the NBA. I would be sure as possible about what I could do when I stepped on to the basketball court all the while knowing what I have to improve on. and yes Dr salaries are between 300,000 and 500,000 and thats on the HIGH end

**Coatesvillain** · 06-14-2004, 07:55 PM

On Wednesday, the Sixers will work out the following:

Ricky Minard, G, Morehead St.
Al Jefferson, PF, Prentiss HS
Jamar Smith, PF, Maryland
Josh Smith, SF, Oak Hill Academy

So we have two first round prospects, a guy who's almost a second round lock (Minard), and an undrafted prospect in Jamar Smith. Doesn't seem like a bad workout at all.

dcrono3 · 06-15-2004, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BEEZ!

Dcrono what do you mean he seems to sure about his abilities? In whatever you do in LIFE you should feel this way or there will ALWAYS be someone trying to take what you have or get what you have and in his case, his "SPOT" in the NBA. I would be sure as possible about what I could do when I stepped on to the basketball court all the while knowing what I have to improve on. and yes Dr salaries are between 300,000 and 500,000 and thats on the HIGH end

I meant in a nice way that he sounds kind of cocky to me. He is a great athlete and could be a great player, but when he said that he could be a good doctor if he wanted to, I thought it was kind of cocky. If he said he could be a great b-ball player I would be ok with that, because he has shown his abilities and potential on the court. But when he says he could be a doctor in a nonchalant way when he hasn't proved or shown anything in that area I think he is cocky.

**BEEZ** · 06-15-2004, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dcrono3!

I meant in a nice way that he sounds kind of cocky to me. He is a great athlete and could be a great player, but when he said that he could be a good doctor if he wanted to, I thought it was kind of cocky. If he said he could be a great b-ball player I would be ok with that, because he has shown his abilities and potential on the court. But when he says he could be a doctor in a nonchalant way when he hasn't proved or shown anything in that area I think he is cocky.

Oh yeah I definitley understand if he said it in that kind of manner

Allen Iverson · 06-15-2004, 08:19 AM

I hope we draft Al Jefferson

**Coatesvillain** · 06-17-2004, 08:38 AM

Wow, in one article it looks like we got more information than in all of these weeks combined. Not a bad thing at all.

Quote:

The Sixers hold the No. 9 pick in the first round and don't own a second-round selection. King, who is never shy when it comes to making a deal, is tirelessly working the phones.

"We'd like to try to move up," King said yesterday after the Sixers worked out four players, high school all-Americans Al Jefferson and Josh Smith, along with Maryland forward Jamar Smith (a former Inquirer all-South Jersey performer from Overbrook High in Pine Hill) and Morehead State guard Ricky Minard. "We have talked to some people, but I don't know if [moving up] is going to happen."

King said he is also talking to teams about acquiring a second-round pick.

Quote:

While he wouldn't reveal the player he liked most, King sure dropped some major hints. Remember that this time of the year, there are few subjects that cause more misinformation than the NBA draft. Teams are more adept at throwing smokescreens than setting screens. Still, King's comments were interesting.

"There is a guy I love in the draft and I don't know if he will be there [at No. 9]," King said. "I have seen him work out a couple of times and have seen him play in college, and I think he will be a very good player."

King later indicated that the player is from the East, which really limits the group. For instance, two college players from the East who likely won't be available at No. 9 are University of Connecticut power forward Emeka Okafor, expected to be the first or second pick, and Duke freshman forward Luol Deng, who is projected to go as high as No. 3.

King is a Duke grad and bleeds Blue Devil blue, but he said not to read anything into that.

The only other players from Eastern colleges who may not be available at No. 9 are Connecticut combination guard Ben Gordon and St. Joseph's point guard Jameer Nelson, and we know the Sixers supposedly aren't interested in him.

Quote:

A few mock drafts have the Sixers pegged to take Josh Smith, who was recently measured by the NBA at 6-foot-7. Smith averaged 25.7 points and 7.4 rebounds to lead Oak Hill (Va.) Academy to a 38-0 record this season.

"Josh is such a good three-point shooter that I can imagine him contributing on our team next year," Sixers coach Jim O'Brien said. "What level remains to be seen."

O'Brien said he was also impressed with the 6-10 Jefferson, who averaged 42.6 points and 18 rebounds a game for Prentiss High in Mississippi.

"Al physically has the ability to play in the NBA now, but how quickly he can learn the game to make a contribution remains to be seen," O'Brien said.

Quote:

King said that two players the Sixers plan to work out are possible top-15 picks, 6-11 Brigham Young center Rafael Araujo and 6-8 University of Minnesota freshman Kris Humphries...

LINK

**Coatesvillain** · 06-17-2004, 08:58 AM

Quote:

New coach Jim O'Brien gushed about Josh Smith, the lean 6-9 forward from Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., and the not-so-lean, 6-10 Jefferson, who played center for his team in Prentiss, Miss., but who projects as a power forward in the NBA. It is Smith whom O'Brien seemingly covets as the first building block for the rebuilding project to which he has been assigned. The Sixers lost seven of their final nine games last season to finish 33-49 and out of the playoffs for the first time since 1997-98.

"I was very impressed with Josh Smith's ability to shoot the three with ease from any of the spots on the floor," O'Brien said of the 215-pounder with striking athleticism and something of a reputation for being a less-than-diligent worker in practice. "He's got a very nice shooting form and a 39-inch vertical leap. He uses both hands well and has a quick, explosive first step."

Although O'Brien said both Smith and Jefferson, down to about 265 pounds from a high of 300 during his junior season, will make some NBA team "very happy in the future," he added that the tough national and international schedule played by Oak Hill Academy gives Smith a better chance to contribute early.

"Josh is such a good three-point shooter, I can imagine him being a contributor next year on our basketball team," O'Brien said. "At what level, it remains to be seen. But it's hard to believe he'd be a guy who wouldn't contribute at all his first year.

"Josh has the ability to get minutes next year. Al physically has the ability to play in the NBA right now, but can he learn the basics of the game fast enough to make an immediate contribution? That remains to be seen."

LINK

Some of these were in the last post, but I decided to use this whole part. I'll say it feels really good that O'Brien feels this way about Josh Smith, as this could very well mean that OB would give Smith playtime in his rookie year.

The funny thing about reading the workout news is that you can tell that O'Brien isn't well versed in the cloak & dagger act that King and DiLeo are using. You ask them, they give very general responses, not letting you know if they're interested in Josh Smith or Matt Freije with the ninth pick, they make it like they could take anyone. O'Brien will gush about someone who he's impressed with.

If he likes Smith this much, I think there's a great chance the Sixers will go that direction.

**Coatesvillain** · 06-17-2004, 09:04 AM

I'm just curious, who do you guys think is the player that Billy King is really interested in? He said he was in college, he's seen him a lot, and plays in the East.

At first I was jumping to the conclusion that it was Luol Deng, but Billy King never said "this season" he said he saw the player a lot. I'm leaning towards Ben Gordon as the player that King is enamored with. I don't see anyone else who'd really fit those qualities that is in the #9 range.

**Coatesvillain** · 06-17-2004, 09:21 AM

Quote:

“I feel that coming out of Prentiss High School, that’s a small school, if you’re a great player you will get noticed,” Jefferson said. “You might not get noticed (more) quickly than other people, but eventually in the long run you will get noticed.”

Jefferson was not the lone high schooler at the 76ers workout session hoping to get noticed. He joined Oak Hill Academy’s Josh Smith.

“I always felt that I was going to be someone that had a chance to come straight out of high school to go to the NBA. Kobe (Bryant) did it. (Kevin) Garnet did it. I felt that I was going to do it too,” Jefferson explained. “I love the game, and I work hard, and I know how much I want to play. I have that feeling that I am going to do it. I am the one that wants it and everyone believes that I can do it.”

Quote:

Smith, who has been perfecting his three-point shot, believes that his experience playing in high school and overseas has helped to prepare him.

“It prepares you well because basically you go in there, in a situation where there is a lot of games played, and then you’re traveling (in) the NBA. We played overseas and that helped because we played against some professional guys over there and that got your body ready for the NBA. You play a lot of basketball over there,” Smith stated.

Those experiences have pushed Smith to make a decision about the NBA Draft.

“The deciding factor is you know it in yourself that you're ready and that if your body’s fit and you’re mentally ready then that probably is the major thing that made me decide. I was thinking about college first really, and I was the top prospect in this year senior class and I just kind of thought about it and realized that I was maturing and growing and that’s why I decided,” Smith said.

Overall, Sixers Head Coach Jim O’Brien was impressed with the high school players and sees a bright future for them, including a possible long NBA career.

“These young high school players are extremely talented with the use of the lingo and have tremendous upsides,” O’Brien said. “Their potential is excellent.”

Despite their high school experiences, any high school player is in for an adjustment when it comes to the NBA.

“For all high school players coming into an NBA training camp, (it) is going to be an awakening because of the level of competition that they’ll find,” O’Brien said. “They have to have a mental toughness and the ability to learn in order to make this step because you can be as talented as anybody but if you don’t have that mental make-up you’ll fail.”

LINK

**Coatesvillain** · 06-17-2004, 09:37 AM

Quote:

The knock in Smith is that he supposedly doesn't always give maximum effort.

Smith has heard the rap and doesn't like it. He is trying to dispel that notion in workouts with NBA teams with picks as high as No. 3 (Chicago).

"That's bull," Smith said. "I think that's BS. I heard that from one reporter. I think I work hard. That's what some people fail to realize. Just because I have long legs, they don't know I'm running up the floor fast. They think I'm on cruise control."

He admitted that he occasionally grew somewhat bored in blowouts against mediocre high school teams.

"It won't happen in the NBA," said Smith, who averaged 25.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.0 blocks and shot 61 percent from the field in 2003-04. "I realize that. That's why I've got to come with my 'A' game every game."

Quote:

Jefferson, a sturdy 6-foot-10 power forward, raised a few eyebrows when he said he was in eighth grade when he first had a feeling he would go right from high school to the pros.

Jefferson, who averaged 42.6 points and 18 rebounds last year as Mississippi's Mr. Basketball, is ticketed for late in the first round.

"Whoever I get drafted by, if they need me to come in and play right away, I'm ready," Jefferson said. "I know I have a lot to learn. If I have to sit back a couple years and learn, that's cool, too."

LINK

**Coatesvillain** · 06-17-2004, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Jamar Smith knows that his chances of being taken in the upcoming NBA Draft are slim, but the Sicklerville native remains hopeful that he will wind up on an NBA roster by the start of the season.

The former Overbrook High School standout was one of four draft prospects the 76ers worked out Wednesday at their practice facility.

And with high-profile prep players Josh Smith and Al Jefferson also attending the workouts, Jamar Smith and Ricky Minard (Morehead State) - both four-year college players - were almost forgotten men once they ended.

"Right now, it's a possibility I could go in the second round, but if not, I already know I can get on a couple of summer league teams and probably be signed as a free agent," Jamar Smith said. "I always take the long road. I'm just coming out here, playing hard and doing what I have to do.

"I think I would bring a lot of energy (to the Sixers). Then, I'm only 25 minutes away from here. That would be a blessing to come play (at) a place like this."

The 6-foot-9, 239-pound Smith averaged 13.1 points and 8.8 rebounds for the University of Maryland last season, leading the Terps to the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title. He had 25 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Duke.

"The league that I played in, the ACC, everybody knows that's the toughest league in college basketball," Smith said. "I went in there and held my own."

Smith played for Maryland for two seasons after transferring from Allegany Community College (Md.), where he averaged 17.9 points and 12.8 rebounds in 2002, helping his team to a 32-4 record.

"I think he's (Jamar Smith) athletic, he's probably a little undersized, a tweener," Sixers coach Jim O'Brien said. "He shoots the basketball well, has a quick first step and is explosive and strong. He certainly has the body and the physical skills to be a guy that will fight somebody for a spot on a roster."

LINK

Thread Tools Display Modes

Thread Tools

Display Modes