Best scouts? The players By SEKOU SMITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 03/03/06 NBA teams spend millions of dollars scouting players around the globe in search of the next superstar. But why not listen to the people who'll have to face these projected talents on the floor? Sure, it sounds crazy. But who better to evaluate talent than the players who will face these draftees. Second-year Bulls guard Ben Gordon has already finalized his report on Connecticut swingman Rudy Gay, projected by many earlier this year to be the top pick in the June draft. And his verdict isn't what you might expect for a player from his alma mater. "He would give us another long, athletic [player]," Gordon told the Chicago Sun Times. "Rudy's very mobile on the perimeter. With his length and athleticism, he kind of reminds me of [second-year Bulls forward] Luol Deng. "I never got a chance to play with him, but right now it would really help us if we got another post player. If we got another athletic wing, is he really going to beat out Luol or [Andres Nocioni]? I don't know. There might be too much overlapping." 2003 draft looking better by the day After LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were taken at the top of the 2003 draft, the thought was the drop-off would be pronounced. Instead, Raptors power forward Chris Bosh, the No. 4 pick that year, and Heat guard Dwyane Wade, the No. 5 pick, spent the All-Star break as Eastern Conference teammates. "Bosh? I didn't envision this and I didn't envision Dwyane, either. Nobody did," Miami Heat coach Pat Riley told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "We all thought these kids could be good. This class has turned out to be extraordinary - LeBron, Carmelo, Dwyane, Bosh, (Chris) Kaman. There's a lot of players in that particularly draft, T.J. Ford, they're the next wave of stars and superstars." You gotta love New York Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe called a published report "ridiculous" that he expects not to return to the club next season. The New York Daily News reported last Sunday that Vandeweghe, in the final year of a five-year contract, has confided to friends that Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke will not meet his salary demands. "I've never commented on it," Vandeweghe told the Rocky Mountain News. "The only thing I will say is I'm very appreciative of what has been done for me and I like (Denver) a lot." Responded Nuggets owner Kroenke via e-mail, "As I've maintained, our policy is to address contract matters at their conclusion." There has been much speculation Vandeweghe will not return next season. Director of player personnel Mark Warkentien has been called a possible successor, with the New York Post reporting last Sunday that Warkentien is "all but definite" to replace Vandeweghe. "Kiki hired me and it's Kiki's name at the bottom of my contract," said Warkentien, saying any further comment would be "inappropriate." Ellis gets last laugh He was supposed to be a first-round pick in last June's draft, one of the top guards in a deep crop headlined by college stars Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Raymond Felton. But 20-year-old Golden State rookie Monta Ellis slipped to the second round when questions arose about his health and lack of strength. He wasn't even a lock to make the Warriors' roster. After barely playing the first two months of the season, Ellis joined the playing rotation in January when Jason Richardson and Calbert Cheaney were sidelined by injuries. Now he's pushing for extended minutes with his play and Baron Davis' injury. Ellis led the Warriors with a career-high 16 points at San Antonio. He made his first three jumpers and nearly finessing in a short layup over Nick Van Exel after a nifty fake move. It took him just two minutes to score his first eight points. And even more impressive for a player so young; he actually plays defense. "You're talking about a guy last year that played in a high school state tournament," Warriors coach Mike Montgomery told the San Francisco Chronicle. "He doesn't seem to get nervous. He just thinks he should be out there." What would you do? Even with a sparking new arena the Memphis Grizzlies have seen their attendance dip for a second consecutive year. "It's down pretty good. I'm concerned; I'm disappointed, more than concerned," team owner Michael Heisley told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "Obviously, somehow or another, we've got to do a better job of selling ourselves. "I'm a capitalist. I believe the market tells you what kind of a job you're doing. Quite frankly, we're not getting the entire job done. But I don't go around complaining about the people that have to buy. I mean, that's sorta like General Motors or somebody complaining they're not buying their automobiles. If you want to get your automobiles sold, you've got to put a better product out there." 资料来源 http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/stories/0305nbanotes.html --

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