By Sekou Smith
The Sports Xchange/Special to CBSSports.com Updated June 24, 2009
Time is running out for teams still undecided about what they want to do in the draft. And that means time is also running out for the players who haven't cemented their status as lottery picks and sure-fire first-rounders.
"Blake Griffin is guaranteed, but you can take Nos. 2 through 30 and just throw them all in a hat and see what you pull out," said one Eastern Conference assistant general manager, "because I can't tell you what any of these other teams are going to do. We have four or five guys that we like, but we're not sure which one of them will drop to us."
That won't be comforting news to players like Brandon Jennings, Jeff Teague, James Johnson and Ty Lawson, players who have seen their names scattered all over the draft board the last month or so.
For others, like Tyreke Evans, Jonny Flynn, Jordan Hill and Jru Holiday, things appear to be looking better than before because their names continue to rise up the charts.
A closer look at those experiencing some interesting movement these days:
In the final days leading up to the draft, Evans' stock has soared. Dominant showings in workout after workout against other top point guard prospects showed teams just how imposing a guard with super size (6-feet-5, 221 pounds) and elite skills can impact the action on the floor. Evans could go as high as No. 2 to Memphis, where ticket sales would go through the roof for a quasi-hometown hero with a built-in fan base already in place. Even better for the team that lands him, Evans has unlimited growth potential at what quickly has become the crucial position in the game.
Another young gun who appears to be rising on the eve of the draft, DeRozan has demonstrated confidence and elite athleticism in workouts to change some perceptions about him from earlier in the process. He's still raw offensively and will need time to develop an outside shot to go along with all his other above-the-rim skills. But he's not going to be out of his league against anyone on the floor next season. He's simply too impressive a physical specimen to pass up for teams in the lottery. If he's still on the board after 12, someone is getting a steal.
After spending the last two years deciding why they didn't like Hansbrough's NBA potential, scouts have been shouted down by coaches and general managers on the workout tour who can't get enough of Hansbrough's high-octane performance on the floor. Sure, he's going to be limited against bigger and more athletic power forwards in the NBA. But what rookie power forward not named Griffin isn't going to face those same issues? Hansbrough has developed quite a following among coaches and GMs in the top 20, and if he lasts past that, there will be teams scrambling to move up to snag him.
Henderson hasn't done anything in particular to bolster his stock during the workout season. Still, there is an increasing movement among teams in the top 12 about Henderson's readiness to contribute from the first day that makes him more and more attractive. He could go as high as No. 9 to Toronto and doesn't figure to last past Charlotte at 12. When you do as many good things as he does on both ends of the floor, it's easy to see why lottery teams are interested in adding this winner to their locker room.
Perhaps the biggest sleeper in the entire draft, there are rumblings that Brockman has a promise from Oklahoma City late in the first round (at 25). If so, that would explain why he shut down his workouts early this month and went into seclusion. Much like his former teammate at Washington (Brandon Roy), Brockman would be a much more celebrated player had he toiled somewhere like Chapel Hill or Storrs. He's a no-nonsense type who would make the Thunder tougher the moment his name is called on draft night, if that indeed is where he goes.
There's still no sure sign that Jennings will be afforded his rightful spot in the lottery. While he could be off the board as early as No. 7 to Golden State, teams as low as 20 and 21 are keeping an eye on him in case he takes a draft night tumble. With so much murky information surrounding his departure from Italy at the end of his season abroad, Jennings simply didn't have time to repair all the damage (perceived and real). Without some team taking the leap in the top 10, things could get nasty as the draft wears on. And if Jennings drops as far as 19 or 20, things could get really crazy in the green room.
One week Teague was pegged for the top 12, and then he slowly crawled down the ladder on most mock drafts. He's still a possibility in the low teens, but his range most likely is somewhere in the 15 to 24 range. That's lower than his talent suggests it should be. But Teague was reportedly too passive in head-to-head workouts with some of the other top point guards in the draft. Watch him on film, though, and he's a totally different player. An injury suffered during a group workout in Minnesota slowed him down a bit, so someone could get a steal on draft night if he lasts longer than expected.
There doesn't seem to be much debate, if any, about Johnson's potential. Most scouts and NBA personnel types agree that he has elite talent -- one Eastern Conference assistant general manager insists he has "Paul Pierce and Carmelo Anthony type talent." But the same executive said he couldn't take Johnson with a top-14 pick without some serious deliberation because of questions about Johnson's desire, work ethic and maturity. He's yet another player who seems to be dropping because of off the court issues, and if he doesn't have a team that's smitten with him take the leap in the top 10, he could be in for a long night.
Lawson is another lottery talent who probably won't see his name called until the middle of the first round or later. Too many teams are scared of turning their team over to a point guard his size (think Jameer Nelson at the same stage). Nelson turned into an All-Star and played for the NBA title this season, so Lawson might very well get the last laugh. But much like Nelson did on draft night, Lawson will be penalized for something that's totally out of his control. Initially, he planned to limit workouts to teams in the top 15. But after a last-minute change of heart he showed up in Atlanta on Wednesday for a one-man workout for the Hawks, who could snap him up with the 19th pick if he's still there.
After watching guys like Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, Trevor Ariza and Mickael Pietrus excel during the playoffs, you'd think a player like Summers would see his stock soar. For some reason, it hasn't happened. He'll have to hang on to his first-round status for dear life with all the movement going on with trades, and Summers could get pushed down the draft board by international players who won't have to drag on a team's payroll until later. If he's still around after Cleveland finishes up the first round with the 30th pick, Summers would qualify as an absolute steal in Round 2.
What do people not understand about basketball? Did anyone see what DeJuan Blair did against Thabeet? It had to be humiliating for Thabeet to get outplayed that badly. Whatever team lands DeJuan Blair is getting an absolute steal an
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I was very suprised to see Dejaun Blair fall as far as he did. Even more thrilled to see him go to my Spurs! He will be a great fit there. He can be a masher and stud rebounder. The spurs will already be sporting a solid core of Tony Parker, Rog
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I dont understand why everyone is so down on Hasheem Thabeet, just because he is tall and goofy looking doesnt mean he has bust written all over him! i have watched most likely 90% of his games in 3 years at Uconn and ive seen a player who has gotten
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Both Nick Calathes and Danny Green are steals in the 2nd round. Green can defend and people will find out real quick that he is a scorer. Cleveland just added another piece to the puzzle to make them very strong contenders. Calathes is ju
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He went 13th overall, and yeah it was a little shocking, but all you haters have no solid case against him! All you PACER fans who are calling out Bird and saying that he must b
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