Pre-Draft Player Workout Articles

[Proudiddy]

Didn't know if I should make a new thread for each player as it could eventually get confusing to put them all in here as we go, but making a thread for each one felt like spamming lol, so here it is:

Kenneth Faried:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/201...s-against.html

DeMontez Stitt:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/201...n-bobcats.html

As a SN, I don't understand why Bonnell isn't doing any regular blog updates on these like he used to... We don't really have any other source to keep up with the workouts.

EDIT: Here is the most comprehensive coverage, on our official site: http://www.nba.com/bobcats/2011_pred...outs_day1.html

Yesterday we worked out:

*Markieff Morris
*Kenneth Faried
*Demontez Stitt
*Lamarshall Corbett
*Gary Flowers
*Alex Stepheson

[Proudiddy]

Also, Kemba Walker and Tristan Thompson among players we'll be working out today according to Cranston.

[dav7z]

Morris was the best of the bunch , but at a position we stacked at . Salis said he had a compleate game.
Faried and his size didn't help his stock . A 6'6 P/F 6/7 in his kicks don't help . With no shot hes in for a free fall two the 2nd round. THOUGHTS
Salis didn't seem thriled about any one else.

[ND22]

Interesting that Silas said he would prefer Faried at the 3. I watched him play UNCW this past season and he worked the post almost the whole time. Granted, we were vastly undersized thus working the post is what he should have been doing, but no one can ignore he is a PF playing in a SF's body. Now this could go one of two ways, either Faried is a better rebounding version of Dejaun Blair (+2 ACLs), or he is converted to a SF where his development could take a while.

But dav7z, he is not slipping to the 2nd round, he is too good a rebounder.

[dav7z]

Interesting that Silas said he would prefer Faried at the 3. I watched him play UNCW this past season and he worked the post almost the whole time. Granted, we were vastly undersized thus working the post is what he should have been doing, but no one can ignore he is a PF playing in a SF's body. Now this could go one of two ways, either Faried is a better rebounding version of Dejaun Blair (+2 ACLs), or he is converted to a SF where his development could take a while.

But dav7z, he is not slipping to the 2nd round, he is too good a rebounder.

If he had any jump shot at all i would agree . Its a chance he could he could be a Blair. But at 6'6 some kind of jumper would help his stock. Hes not worth a first round risk for us with all the p/fs we have.

[spectre]

Also, Kemba Walker and Tristan Thompson among players we'll be working out today according to Cranston.

Kemba's 1st workout. Interesting?

[ND22]

#Bobcats coach Paul Silas pretty definitive in that they'll only consider Kemba Walker if he falls to 9. "We wouldn't move up."

http://twitter.com/#!/mikecranston1/...70732985315328

Clears that up. If we move up, its to pick Irving, Williams, or Kanter.

[Proudiddy]

Wow, PS is talking some sh*t, lol...

mikecranston1 Mike Cranston
Kemba Walker says he's confident Jim Calhoun will stay at UConn. "He just loves the game too much"
12 minutes ago
Mike Cranston
mikecranston1 Mike Cranston
#Bobcats coach Paul Silas biggest concerns with Kemba Walker is his size and defense. Also that he's so similar in build to DJ Augustin.
16 minutes ago
Mike Cranston
mikecranston1 Mike Cranston
#Bobcats coach Paul Silas pretty definitive in that they'll only consider Kemba Walker if he falls to 9. "We wouldn't move up."

I think it's really weird that PS is being that open about his thoughts on these guys. Combine these comments with his comments on Faried, and I'm somewhat shocked. I thought Silas would really like Faried and he basically ruled him out and threw him under the bus, lol. Then, he basically says Kemba doesn't play D and that he prefers DJ over him... WOW.

Truth be told, if we had a chance to trade DJ and get Kemba without giving up much else, I would do it because I think Kemba is a better scorer overall inside and out. I love DJ, but I just think PS is being close-minded.

Then again, he said we weren't trading anyone at the deadline, and we see what happened... I don't think it's really up to him.

[spectre]

Wow, PS is talking some sh*t, lol...




I think it's really weird that PS is being that open about his thoughts on these guys. Combine these comments with his comments on Faried, and I'm somewhat shocked. I thought Silas would really like Faried and he basically ruled him out and threw him under the bus, lol. Then, he basically says Kemba doesn't play D and that he prefers DJ over him... WOW.

Truth be told, if we had a chance to trade DJ and get Kemba without giving up much else, I would do it because I think Kemba is a better scorer overall inside and out. I love DJ, but I just think PS is being close-minded.

Then again, he said we weren't trading anyone at the deadline, and we see what happened... I don't think it's really up to him.

It'll be interesting to see how much of what Silas is saying actually comes to pass.

One thing I noted earlier in comparison to DJ vs. Kemba is agility. Kemba wasn't as good as Felton, but he was 3 or 4 tenths better than DJ...around the same as Russell Westbrook. One of my biggest knocks on DJ is his lack of lateral movement, which is glaringly apparent when he's trying to guard other PGs.

[Proudiddy]

It'll be interesting to see how much of what Silas is saying actually comes to pass.

One thing I noted earlier in comparison to DJ vs. Kemba is agility. Kemba wasn't as good as Felton, but he was 3 or 4 tenths better than DJ...around the same as Russell Westbrook. One of my biggest knocks on DJ is his lack of lateral movement, which is glaringly apparent when he's trying to guard other PGs.

Yeah, that's why I don't get what Silas is saying about concerns with Kemba's size and defense. DJ is a gifted offensive player, mostly because he is extremely efficient... But, sometimes, I wonder if he's holding back in order to be that efficient, which leads to leaving points out there or not taking chances in order to be "safe."

And as you said, just in my observations alone from watching games, Kemba is EXPLOSIVE. Some of that can be timed in drills, as you pointed out, but some of it can't be and is just an in-game deal, but Kemba jumps off the screen when you watch games... Both in speed and quickness. DJ is fast and quick, but I think he's more fast than quick, as in straight-line... And I still think Kemba has him beat on that.

So to me, wouldn't you prefer to have an athletic, albeit "small," PG who can drive (which DJ seems reluctant to do) and open up the offense either from his own scoring or for others? I didn't really see any deficiencies in his defense either from watching him, and being that he was their #1 offensive guy, most guys like that don't concentrate on defense in college. I can see him developing all that as a pro, he reminds me a lot of Lawson in terms of athleticism, but is a much more natural scorer, which I think would help us in the back court... Even if we keep DJ, we need some punch off the bench whether it would be Kemba or DJ starting (if we somehow got Kemba).

And two things: I don't know why, but Kemba seems like an MJ guy to me. He's a got a grit, toughness, and never-say-die style that I think MJ loves in players, so a lot of what PS is saying may be moot, especially considering MJ is there watching the workouts himself. I've got a feeling that MJ really likes Faried as well, whereas I think PS would prefer the Morris twin. And secondly, if we got a guy like Kemba, that alone is going to increase interest in us across the board because he was so big in college, and I think MJ is taking that into account to.