Ekpe Udoh: Grading and Reviewing the Golden State Warriors 2010 NBA Draft
by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 27, 2010 9:59 AM PDT
in NBA Draft
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PrintThe Golden State Warriors selected Ekpe Udoh out of Baylor with the 6th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and the reviews are in.
These guys seem to really like the pick.
As The Game and 50 Cent would say, people either "Hate It or Love It". Jump to see what I mean!
Grades for the Golden State Warriors 2010 NBA Draft
SB Nation: 2010 NBA Draft Grades
Grade: F
Golden State Warriors: Ekpe Udoh (6). Udoh is a fine prospect whose shot-blocking prowess should carry over to the pros. But he's already 23 years old and Golden State passed on Greg Monroe, whose preternatural playmaking ability would've seemed a natural fit for Don Nelson's offense, and Al-Farouq Aminu, who, though raw, has nearly as much upside as anyone in the draft
Ridiculous Upside: NBA Draft 2010 Draft Grades: RU Style
Draft Grade: "One Headlight" - The Wallflowers
Udoh is a lot like the 1996 track in that it isn't going to blow you away upon first listen. But then you'll catch yourself thinking about it later, think of it when you're going to sleep, think of it when you're supposed to be paying attention at a meeting. Then you'll start planning the next time you're going to listen to it. And all of a sudden he's your 6th pick in the draft and you're giving up on Brandan Wright and building a defense around it. A lot like that.
ESPN.com- Chad Ford: Draft Grades: How all 30 teams did
Grade: D+
I like Ekpe Udoh and so do a lot of NBA scouts and general managers. But taking him at No. 6 seems like a major reach, especially when you consider the Warriors' current roster. In previous years, the Warriors have selected Brandan Wright and Anthony Randolph in the lottery -- and both are thin, athletic players like Udoh who can rebound and run the floor.
Udoh may be more polished than Wright and Randolph. He's an accomplished shot-blocker and rebounder, and he has a more sophisticated offensive game. But he's also already 23 years old, while Wright is just 22 and Randolph is only 20. Given all that, and given the uncertainty in the Warriors organization, Udoh looks like a classic candidate to disappoint.
Also from Bill Simmons draft day diary:
5:07: Golden State grabs Baylor shot-blocker Ekpe Udoh. It's going to be fun when Don Nelson plays him for three weeks, Udoh puts up huge rebounding/blocks stats, there's a fantasy hoops stampede for him and then Nellie inexplicably benches him for the next three months.
SI.com: Chris Mannix 2010 NBA Draft Team Grades
Grade: C
Ekpe Udoh is a 6-foot-10, 240-pound pseudo-center who isn't especially tough and isn't especially strong. The Warriors have plenty of those with Anthony Randolph, Brandan Wright and Andris Biedrins on the roster. Udoh possesses some offensive moves (he averaged 13.9 points last season at Baylor) and has a decent touch from the perimeter. But a more traditional big man like Greg Monroe might have been a better fit.
AOL Fanhouse: Tom Ziller- 2010 NBA Draft Grades
Grade: C-
The Warriors took Ekpe Udoh with the No. 6 pick, which isn't terribly great value; he could have slipped beyond the No. 12 pick had the Warriors not taken him. The team traded away its No. 44 pick, which it had traded down to from No. 34 earlier in the week. Apparently, the team thinks it can get whatever low-level prospects it wants from the NBA D-League. It worked last year.
Fox Sports: Handing out grades for the 2010 NBA Draft / NBADraft.net
Grade: D
The draft's biggest riser, Udoh simply is not good enough to be drafted No. 6 overall. He's awkward and not particularly skilled, but tested out well in workouts thanks to his length and good matchups - he told NBADraft.net he was most often paired with centers Cole Aldrich and Hassan Whiteside instead of power forwards. In addition, the Warriors have a pair of young, athletic forwards in Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright, both of whom have more potential than Udoh should they ever stay healthy. To sum it up, the Warriors took the 20th-best player in the draft with the sixth pick. The only saving grace was they didn't have a second-round pick to mess up.
CBSSports.com: Dave Del Grande's 2010 NBA Draft: First round grades
Grade: D
With Anthony Randolph, Brandan Wright and Udoh, the Warriors have taken the power out of the power forward position.
The draft pundits might not be cheering, but at least these guys are.
NBA.com Analysis
These folks seem to really love the pick:
"I think he will flourish in the Golden State situation." -- Steve Smith
"The Warriors actually went a little defensive with this pick- I can't believe it!" -- Rick Kamla
Ekpe on the Mic
You know you've made it big when Craig Sager and his "interesting fashion sense" are interviewing you.
WHOA! The next Franco Finn!
Yet another awkward press conference brought to you by the Golden State Warriors.
My Grade: C+
First thing's first, there's the age issue. Udoh is 23 years old. That makes him about 3 years older than Anthony Randolph, a year older than Brandan Wright, and only a year younger than Andris Biedrins. A lot of people are knocking the pick based on age alone, but as my man JAE has astutely noted older isn't always a negative.
I'll also take you back to when Nellie and the Mavericks selected Josh Howard in the 2004 NBA Draft after he completed his senior year at Wake Forest. Straight from Wikipedia:
Coming into the league, Howard was projected as a mid to late 1st round pick in the 2003 NBA Draft because of his apparent lack of upside.
Howard was drafted with the 29th selection in the first round by the Dallas Mavericks. He started his career coming off the bench until he caught a break in 2004. Howard won his spot in the lineup after Marquis Daniels became injured. Consistent performances by Howard have led him to becoming an integral part of the Mavericks, leading them in several games. Howard's defensive ability has led him to feature on a defensive team in college, and a call up to the United States national basketball team. Howard's performances also helped him become an All-Star in 2007.
I'm not saying it will happen, but I'm perfectly fine with that type of trajectory. Josh Howard was (and possibly still is) a very, very good basketball player and the Mavericks didn't have to wait for him to develop.
I won't front like some of these draft "pundits". Aside from some YouTube clips (which can make guys like Kosta Perovic look studly) I have never actually seen Ekpe Udoh play an entire game of basketball.
Having said (and admitted) that, I think it's critical to contextualize this pick. It really seems like this was a 5 player draft. The Warriors didn't get any favors in the 2010 NBA Draft Lottery (although I think it's foolish to blame those last season wins- those good old Golden State D-Leaguers were giving it their all- do you really want to be the person to tell them to tank it? See Golden State of Heart). Beyond John Wall, Evan Turner, Derrick Favors, Wesley Johnson, and DeMarcus Cousins, you're just left with the rest. In other words is there really that much of a difference between Udoh, Greg Monroe, and Al Farouq Aminu? I doubt it, but we shall see.
Going into the draft I was hoping Cousins would fall and if he didn't the Warriors would take Hoyas big man Greg Monroe. It's a moot point since Cousins went one pick before the Warriors got a chance, but I'll admit I'm a little happy we won't have to hear about his "coachability issues" next season. Anthony Randolph and Monta Ellis are enough to handle and we just got over the Stephen Jackson aka Captain Fraud drama. As for Monroe, I'm a sucker for passing big man (dreaming of Vlade Divac or Chris Webber in the high/ low post), but word around The Town is the Georgetown big man had a spectacularly unimpressive workout for the Warriors and got played to a standstill by St. Mary's big man Omar Samhan. That's a BIG red flag. Going forward, it really seems like GM Larry Riley's proclamation that Monroe was the best passer in the college basketball was a smokescreen to entice the Kings to take Monroe and let Cousins slip past them. It didn't work obviously, but I give him credit for trying.
Most importantly, let's not forget that the Warriors surrendered the most points per game in the association last season. Defense is half the game and the Warriors are absolutely horrible at that side of the game. Although Coach Don Nelson has had some good defensive squads in the past, this latest incarnation of the Warriors have ZERO claim to playing good D. A large part of that comes down to individual defenders. Look up and down this roster. Aside from Stephen Curry, Ronny Turiaf (who simply isn't a good NBA player), and call-ups Anthony Tolliver and Chris Hunter, I have a hard time believing that any of these guys are even mentally committed or willing to playing good D. The Warriors desperately need a guy that is, especially down low. They need someone to give opposing offenses nightmares.
Enter Ekpe Udoh... at least in Riley's mind.
Will Udoh bring it on D and contribute enough on offense in the next year or two to make an impact?
I honestly have no idea, but I sure hope so. I'd love nothing more than for Udoh (who seems like a good guy), Riley (who also comes across as a nice and smart guy who is left to clean Chris Cohan, Robert Rowell and Chris Mullin's mess), and the Warriors (who doesn't root for them?) to prove EVERYONE wrong... including me.
Prove them wrong guys. Show them how we do it.
Here's hoping this works out.
Don't miss:
- With the 6th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors select... EPKE UDOH!
- GSoM EXCLUSIVE: Tw-Interview with new Golden State Warrior Ekpe Udoh
- RECAP: Golden State Warriors 2010 NBA Draft Day - Yaaaawn...
- MT: Why Warriors Chose Udoh over Monroe
- Ekpe Udoh: Did Don Nelson Get the Player He Wanted?
-
Doctor Strangepick or: How I Learned to Stop Griping and at Least Not Hate Drafting Ekpe Udoh
WELCOME!
* Pics via Rocky Widner/ NBAE/ Getty
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Josh Howard was (and possibly still is) a very, very good basketball player and the Mavericks didn't have to wait for him to develop.
at #29 Jho was a good pick, but #6 is not #29?
Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.
by Skeptic con Urquell on Jun 27, 2010 10:29 AM PDT reply actions
Let's see the players drafted ahead of him....
The 2003 draft was really really good so it’s hard but Howard could arguably be the #6 pick if you re-draft.
1. LBJ
2. Wade
3. Bosh
4. Melo
5. David West (came out SR)
Those would be my top 5 and then you could argue that Howard could be picked 6th amongst the following names:
Hinirch, Kendrick Perkins, Barbosa, Boris Diaw, Chris Kaman, TJ Ford
Guys with upside drafted over Josh Howard (younger than Howard) that busted: Darko, Mike Sweetney, Jarvis Hayes, Ndudoi Ebi.
If the NBA teams re-drafted Howard would be worthy of the #6 pick, IMO.
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by FLAxwless on Jun 27, 2010 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
If the NBA teams re-drafted Howard would be worthy of the #6 pick, IMO.
so Edoh at #29 woulda been a good pick :>) ?
Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.
by Skeptic con Urquell on Jun 27, 2010 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Point is....
If Udoh does as well as Howard then he’s a great pick at #6!
There are plenty of lottery busts (Udoh can be one of them) so draft position is meaningless.
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It's less about that and more about this question....
Is anyone we passed on going to be a better player/fit for Warriors?
Exactly...
According to Riley/Nellie Udoh was the BPA…. we’ll see if they’re right.
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I would take Perkins over David West.
Kobe sucks
"Frankly your desire to be a seller is just proof of how blinded you are by your hatred of Sabean"-giantsrainman..LOL
by GovernorStephCurry on Jun 27, 2010 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Any warrior fan that has sense should think this is a great pick
We need defense simple as that. Ekpe is a defensive player
Fear is the Mind Killer
He was probably the best defensive player available. If not, who was? If we got the best offensive player available, no one would be giving us low grades.
Go Andris's free throw shooting!
Aminu is an overrated defender who is a very likely bust
"Some of my finest hours have been spent on my back veranda,
smoking hemp and observing as far as my eye can see."
- Thomas Jefferson
by DaymanCometh on Jun 27, 2010 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Elaborate, vile fiend
Pro-Skub for life
by Reverend_Randy on Jun 27, 2010 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions
he was a good college defender
hopefully, it will translate to the NBA, but I have some doubts about that. I can’t really see him stopping the really good PFs like Bosh, Boozer, Gasol, etc. The bottom line is that it was a really weak year for the draft. We definitely seem to have gotten the best big man defender, at least, in terms of immediate impact. I would have preferred dropping down to pick up Henry, who I think will be an all-around upgrade to either our SG or SF position. But that’s not what went down, and I look forward to seeing how Udoh turns out. I’m definitely excited to see summer league in a few weeks.
I have some doubts about that.
I have equally many doubts about Monroe’s offense. The guy is a great passer, but what good will that do if he can’t draw double teams? No matter who we got, it was a gamble to some degree or another. Cousins may even turn out to get fat and/or injured.
As far as dropping down, I feel that would have been better… provided we got something out of it. According to Riley, no one offered us anything interesting. Still, I agree with the premise. It seems that perhaps a different front office could have garnered some sort of deal to drop down somewhere. Ideally, we could have lessened the risk involved. I would have liked that.
Still, I think the best defensive big man available is no small thing. That’s extremely valuable.
Go Andris's free throw shooting!
ideally
we could have dropped down and still picked him up if the FO was so in love. Unless every team was smokescreening, all the mock drafts had him going 10-15.
I would have preferred dropping down to pick up Henry, who I think will be an all-around upgrade to either our SG or SF position.
I don’t believe much of what management says, but their comment that there was not any serious interest in teams trading for the #6 spot seems not only reasonable, but probable. To “trade down” requires someone who is willing to “trade up”. Given the perceived fall-off after the 5th pick and the lack of anything resembling a consensus after that, what would motivate someone to trade for our pick?
by jae on Jun 27, 2010 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I said I would have preferred it
but I realize it may not have been possible, or maybe they just didn’t like the deals that were proposed.
Aminu
Aminu was one of the best one on one defenders in the ACC last year. Udoh was a wing defender in a zone defense.
The experts aren’t convinced that Udoh will be a great one on one defender in the NBA, because he was a wing zone defender in college and has a very limited offensive game. That is why the grades of C to F for the Warriors.
Not all experts agree, e.g. Steve Smith. You’re not an expert either. I think you’re just parroting what you read. How much have you watched Udoh play? I think we got an F, because it was an obvious choice to give us an F for the sake of keeping things interesting. Maybe they only say that due to his limited offense and his age. But he got drafted for his defense and also for the upside that has nothing to do with age, as draftexpress pointed out. You don’t know what you’re talking about, I suspect. Personally, I’m going to wait and see.
Go Andris's free throw shooting!
Yup
why not paint everyone who disagrees with you as senseless individual
Pro-Skub for life
by Reverend_Randy on Jun 27, 2010 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Do You Know That?
Udoh played in a zone defense at Baylor. No one knows if he can guard NBA players one on one. The Warriors are blowing smoke by saying he is a defensive stud. The only thing we do know about this guy, is he blocks some shots and he has a limited offensive
game.
Typical high draft pick for the loser Warriors. Hey Dub check out the draft grades the experts are giving the Warriors. The best was C- and some gave them an F.
Aminu was one of the best one on one defenders in the ACC, the best basketball conference. Udoh didn’t make all conference
in the Big 12, a football conference for god sake.
Can Udoh’s defensive ability in a zone defense in college, translate into being a good one on one defender in the NBA, who knows, but picking him sixth was just ridiculous
I think it's foolish to blame those last season wins- those good old Golden State D-Leaguers were giving it their all- do you really want to be the person to tell them to tank it?
It’s a tough job but that’s what we pay the coach for. If they can’t understand such simple math they should hit the road .
Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.
by Skeptic con Urquell on Jun 27, 2010 10:31 AM PDT reply actions
Simple Math
Lottery Process [Wikipedia]
In the grand scheme of things losing 1 or 2 more games probably wouldn’t have done much. I’ll let Sleepy Freud chime in here too.
Look I would’ve loved the 5th pick, but you can not go out there telling your team to lose- what kind of coach does that? Maybe a coach can bench certain players to make a loss more likely, but in Nellie and the Warriors case they were playing D-Leaguers who you would assume naturally wouldn’t produce many wins. But these guys fought hard. They fought hard for their coach and their NBA careers. I’ll take that any day.
Also let’s not forget that the Wizards who won the lottery had a lower slot than the Warriors. The Nets, Timberwolves, and Kings all also moved down. There’s a reason there’s a lottery- so teams don’t tank.
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by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 27, 2010 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions
The trick would’ve been to keep Curry off the floor more and put Ellis out there more. We would’ve lost more games.
Go Andris's free throw shooting!
No
The simplest solution would have been put Maggette in for large minutes in the 4th. Notice how Nellie kept Maggs on the bench in the 4th during the stretch he was going for the record?
Take my bags, not my top 3 pick!
"Winning is not enough. All others must lose." - Larry Ellison
by Badly Browned on Jun 27, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I must admit, I am absolutely baffled by the arguement the team should have tanked more.
Hey! What're you kicking me for? You want me to ask? All right, I'll ask! Ma'am, where do the high school girls hang out in this town?
by wallywagon11 on Jun 27, 2010 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions
I must admit, I am absolutely baffled by the arguement the team should have tanked more.
It’s not very complicated, once we were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs the positive return then became to secure as high a draft pick as possible, every single game won after that day became a negative return. It’s just like when a stock or commodity reverses and heads down, the smart guys go short and make money while the long guys lose. We apparently don’t have anyone in our organization that understands simple math or has the will to get better with focused effort, they just leave it to dumb luck and hope the lotto treats them kindly but in reality “god” helps those who make the effort to help themselves( to the free talent offered in the lottery in this case)
Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.
by Skeptic con Urquell on Jun 27, 2010 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Am I missing something?
Didn’t the top 2 lottery winners have BETTER records than the Warriors? Tanking is horrible for the team, and is completely unjustified mathematically. The Ws just got unlucky with the ping pong balls.
by Feltbot on Jun 27, 2010 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
technically, the Wizards tanked the moment they traded Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood & Antawn Jamison away and started playing youngsters like Gee, Livingston, Young, Thornton, Blatche & McGee over remaining vets like Boykins, Ross, Foye, Miller, Singleton & Oberto.
the Nets didn’t really tank. they just stunk. although i guess they made an offseason tank move by trading VC for young players. plus, they still got the 3rd pick overall.
Minny also stunk more than they tanked. the only tank move they made was also in the offseason; trading away vets Mike Miller & Foye for the 5th pick which was compounded by Rubio’s decision to stay in Europe. they also still had the 4th pick overall.
if you go back to the end of last season, the only 2 really bad teams that made a late season surge were the Warriors (who were 3rd to worst & the Pacers who were 4th worst). both teams suffered in the lottery for their late season surge.
for the W’s, it was the difference between Cousins or Udoh & if they had at least tied held sole position of 4, perhaps the 1st, 2nd or 3rd pick (remember since the W’s & Wiz tied, the lotto # combinations for the 4th & 5th slots were split in half w/ the W’s getting one extra combination. so the winning combo’s for the Wiz (whose combinations came up 3x) may have actually originally belonged to the 4th slot.
same for the Pacers if they had stayed among the 4 worst teams, though Paul George may work out for them if he reaches his realistic potential.
by homer simpson on Jun 27, 2010 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions
The Wizards had the same record as the Warriors
Pro-Skub for life
by Reverend_Randy on Jun 27, 2010 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions
but you can not go out there telling your team to lose- what kind of coach does that?
haha, a coach that wants to win. It’s like saving for retirement or blowing the money on cheap crap. One takes some discipline but pays off better in the end.
Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.
by Skeptic con Urquell on Jun 27, 2010 10:58 AM PDT reply actions
It's basically would you rather have Udoh, Monroe, or Aminu?
Udoh is definitely the best defender of the three, which we need most. I expect Monroe to have some trouble defending in the paint because he’s not a great athlete (as in leaping ability to block shots), he doesn’t have great length, he’s on the slow side, and he’s just not that good of a defender. Offensively he’s skilled, but I think he’ll have trouble getting his shot off against more athletic guys. Aminu has a lot of potential, but he’s a tweener and he’s very raw. Why not just get a better one next year in the draft? Udoh can produce right away, and he gives us a good defender and more depth in the frontcourt.
i agree
I like Udoh. I think he will surprise a bunch of people. I also love his character and how he values team chemistry
by lincoln_log on Jun 27, 2010 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions
This is eerie...
I have a different opinion, despite our name similarity.
I don’t hateUdoh, I hate picking him at 6. Nothing he has done convinces me that he will be/is better than randolph or wright, and I don’t see him as a center. So I don’t see where he’ll play, since as of right now i hope he doesn’t take any minutes from a fully healthy randolph and wright.
by Lincoln Logs on Jun 27, 2010 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Better one as in a small forward. Next years potential class is pretty deep (Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones, Terrence Jones, John Henson, Derrick Williams, CJ Leslie, Kris Joseph, Elias Harris, Kyle Singler, etc.
by duballers23 on Jun 27, 2010 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Too many NBA prospect names in one post
they all start to bleed together
Pro-Skub for life
by Reverend_Randy on Jun 27, 2010 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions
exactly!
I think everybody pretty much agrees that we needed a big man, so that pretty much takes Aminu out of the equation.
Monroe has 1 inch and 10 pounds on Udoh, but Udoh has an extra 6 inches of standing vertical leaping ability. I have a hard time believing that Monroe will turn out to be the big presence down low that everyone was hoping we’d get in this draft.
Bottom line is we still gotta look at FA market, but the 4 bigs we’ve got could be pretty decent if healthy. That’s a lot more promising than what we saw last year!
I think everybody pretty much agrees that we needed a big man, so that pretty much takes Aminu out of the equation.
Drafting for need, especially when that need is a big man, backfires more often than not. Ignoring other players because of your ‘need’ is a good way to pass on better players and draft a guy who fits the bill in terms of his labeled position, but does not end up filling the ‘need’.
very true
…and I thought when they moved Corey they were taking that issue off the table.
who knows. Riley has been a dream on draft day compared to Mullin.
(not saying much there)
I just wish Riley could show some skill when it comes to the FA market.
I too highly doubt Monroe would be a big presence "down low"
He has some nice post moves but he seems to really operate better away from the post and where he can shoot jump shots and fine space to pass it to teammates. To me he comes off as a less athletic Aldridge but with better floor vision (haven’t really looked at comparisons between the two players though. Just sort of shooting from the hip here). I don’t think he would ever be a rebounding bruiser but I still feel he will be pretty successful in the NBA, just not dominant or anything like that.
I guess what it really comes down to though is whether Udoh really fits that need.
Hey! What're you kicking me for? You want me to ask? All right, I'll ask! Ma'am, where do the high school girls hang out in this town?
by wallywagon11 on Jun 28, 2010 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions
jae is right...
Drafting for need backfires a lot, and that seems to be more of a stereotype for a Warrior fan than any other team. Then again, the last 15 years for the Warriors is a large portion of busts in the NBA…
"The Warriors, who are the most dysfunctional organization in the NBA, were, of course, the team that screwed up the draft."
-Chad Ford, ESPN, 2010 on Ekpe Udoh
by LarryLegendofOracle on Jun 28, 2010 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions
Okay, I know this is a bit off topic, but I'm a Suns fan and I can't help but notice how good Jason Richardson looks in that Warriors Uni
Anyway, I wanted to express my condolences for drafting Ekpe Udoh; I kind of jumped on the this teams bandwagon in ‘07 for the dream team (Mainly because of Jrich) but I’m extremely sad to see where that has gotten them. I hope your new owner gets it right in the forseeable future because I can’t help but love watching Warriors basketball.
Signed, Suns Fan
Draft Day 2009: I was in a Detroit theater about to watch the Hangover when my cousin texted me telling me who the Suns had drafted. I texted him back asking him who the F*ck that was. I shed a tear and told myself: The Suns are going to suck next year and Amar'e is going to be traded and my life ruined. 12 Months later to the day I am looking back at the Suns incredible playoff run to the Western Conference Finals.
by Bkj on Jun 27, 2010 12:08 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
In my mind....
It seems to me that in asking who is the best player available, there really is not much a gap between Udoh and Monroe or whatever. Warriors went with the more defensive minded player (strange I know) and everyone is harping on them because they didnt take the more flashy player.
I guess time will tell, all I know is that our defense is horrible, and while everyone still hypes up BW and AR I still haven’t seen much from them to say they are decent man defenders. Should be interesting come training camp to see who cracks the starting line up.
Take my bags, not my top 3 pick!
"Winning is not enough. All others must lose." - Larry Ellison
Based off the suit/outfit he's wearing
Udoh is extremely coachable or impressionable for that matter. After getting voted by Yahoo!‘s "Balls Don’t Lie" for having the worst draft picture (with that OVERSIZED suit), Udoh has made a nice comeback with a much more fitted shirt. His color combos are better, too. The splash of yellow on the tie breaks up his monochromatic steez from his draft and the rest of his outfit (from the pictures above).
Will this translate into great basketball? Maybe, maybe not. But it’s a good sign that Udoh has been able to adapt to early criticism!
by dj fuzzylogic on Jun 27, 2010 1:04 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I’m kind of feeling that low cut vest. The yellow tie (matching new Warriors color?) is pretty fresh too.
Dressing well is half the battle!
Golden State of Mind :: Always keeping it... "Unstoppable Baby!" | SBNation.com
by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 27, 2010 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions
The the Warriors are already in better shape this year!
They got the new jerseys.
Hey! What're you kicking me for? You want me to ask? All right, I'll ask! Ma'am, where do the high school girls hang out in this town?
by wallywagon11 on Jun 27, 2010 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions
That low cut vest is very interesting
I’ve seen that style before, but not on the regular. Udoh’s style coach must be working over-time for Udoh and Udoh is listening!
I am not sure if Josh Howard is a very good comparison
His rebounding rates were okay for a SF with a great deal of steals and solid blocks. His shooting percentage wasn’t fantastic but he was able to score a heck of a lot more.
Josh Howard’s Per 40 last year at Wake Forest
24.2 PPG (off of 17.1 FGA); 10.3 Rebounds; 2.4 Assists; 2.6 Steals; 1.9 Blocks; 47.7% FG; 83.3% FT (off of 5.8 FTA)
As for the Wikipedia quote about Howard’s stock dropping because of “lack of upside,” I don’t think that’s a very good explanation as to why his draft stock dropped.
Straight from Wikipedia:
Coming into the league, Howard was projected as a mid to late 1st round pick in the 2003 NBA Draft because of his apparent lack of upside. First there is one silly reason why he could have dropped and that’s because when he was in college he made some comments about the Iraq War and how Bush was seeking revenge and oil. It is largely believed that teams were a little nervous about investing in someone who was willing to say something so controversial.
The real big reason though was the rumors about his drug use. There were always rumors about it and I would think that would have a great affect on a player’s draft stock (say hello to Sean Williams). Here’s a Truehoop article where they talk the drug rumors.
One theory I heard about why you went as low as 29th is that some teams were concerned that you might have a problem with marijuana.
I think a lot of people have that problem. How that could stop me from getting drafted, though? How many guys in the lottery smoke pot? The weed thing, just about everybody smokes.
Just look at that draft, though. Who else can get 30 and 10? Basically, you have those top five guys, and most of those other guys who were drafted before me … I can’t tell you where they are today. All those GMs who passed? I appreciate them hating on me, because it got me where I am today.
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/3299/josh-howard-will-be-heard-2
Now, you might be saying to yourself “Yeah but this comment was made after everyone found out Howard smokes pot. This is after the fact and everyone already knew. That doesn’t mean anyone thought he was a pot smoker any time before he admitted it.” Guess what? This was an entire year before he admitted to smoking pot. This article was posted in April of 2007 (even check the comments below).
HIs drug use issues didn’t blow up in the media until April of 2008 when Howard joined “The Michael Irvin Show” on ESPN Radio 103.3 FM and told the Hall of Fame wide receiver that he “probably” would not smoke marijuana in-season even if the league did not have a random testing program. But Howard also described “smoking weed in the offseason sometimes” as his “personal choice and personal opinion.”
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3368139
So yeah, I don’t think that Wikipedia story really has much value.
Hey! What're you kicking me for? You want me to ask? All right, I'll ask! Ma'am, where do the high school girls hang out in this town?
You’re right. It’s probably not the direct comparison.
The point I was trying to make is that Nellie (and I believe Riley was on the Mavs at that time) have had success drafting older players and getting a good return. I could be a victim of just trying to be too positive about the Warriors- haha but I’m rarely accused of doing that around these parts.
Golden State of Mind :: Always keeping it... "Unstoppable Baby!" | SBNation.com
by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 27, 2010 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Sorry the whole paragraph with "Just look at that draft, though. Who else can get you 30 ..." is all Josh Howard
Block quote fail
Hey! What're you kicking me for? You want me to ask? All right, I'll ask! Ma'am, where do the high school girls hang out in this town?
by wallywagon11 on Jun 27, 2010 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Speaking of Josh Howard, I know we’ve been talking about small forwards around here lately. The Wizards have an $11 million option for him next season that they may not pick it up. He might be a good addition.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 27, 2010 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Ug, sorry I really butchered the block quotes. The whole Iraq thing was not supposed to be in there. FAIL
Straight from Wikipedia:
Coming into the league, Howard was projected as a mid to late 1st round pick in the 2003 NBA Draft because of his apparent lack of upside.
First there is one silly reason why he could have dropped and that’s because when he was in college he made some comments about the Iraq War and how Bush was seeking revenge and oil. It is largely believed that teams were a little nervous about investing in someone who was willing to say something so controversial.
Hey! What're you kicking me for? You want me to ask? All right, I'll ask! Ma'am, where do the high school girls hang out in this town?
by wallywagon11 on Jun 27, 2010 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Udoh Played Zone In College, Not Much Upside
Everyone is saying what a good defensive player Udoh is. Guess what, Baylor played zone defense most of the time.
So we really don’t know if this guy can play tough man to man defense in the NBA.
So the only thing we know about this guy is that he can block shots.
You picked a guy with the sixth pick, that has so many question marks about him, that its ridiculous.
I like both Wright, if he’s healthy and Randolph over this guy.
At 6’9" he isn’t going to scare anyone around the basket.
At 23, where is this guys upside??
Just because they played zone doesn’t mean he was just standing there. You have to play man-to-man defense down low in a zone in terms of you having to be on the guy with the ball.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 27, 2010 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I think age does matter in terms of potential
I don’t see many 23 year olds really changing their game a lot. Granted if you are already a badass, you are going to have a shot at being one in the NBA as well.
Hey! What're you kicking me for? You want me to ask? All right, I'll ask! Ma'am, where do the high school girls hang out in this town?
by wallywagon11 on Jun 27, 2010 6:26 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree somewhat. But if you look at Udoh- he started playing the game as a sophomore. Take that into account, and then that he fact that he is so fundamentally sound, even at his age, is amazing. How many guys can come in as freshman and be dominant shotblockers, especially after not playing the game for so long? He’s no great player, but still.
"The Warriors, who are the most dysfunctional organization in the NBA, were, of course, the team that screwed up the draft."
-Chad Ford, ESPN, 2010 on Ekpe Udoh
by LarryLegendofOracle on Jun 27, 2010 6:32 PM PDT up reply actions
he was playing ball at least since freshman year of high school
not sure where you get your info
Oklahoma McDonald’s All-State team (2006) • Class 6A All-State selection (2005, 2006) • Metro Conference Defensive Player of the Year (2005, 2006) • All-Metro Conference, first team (2005, 2006) • All-Edmond Basketball Team, first team (2005, 2006) • All-City, first team (2005, 2006) • Daily Oklahoman, first team (2005, 2006) • Texas/Oklahoma All-Star Game selection • For prep career, averaged 12.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks • Coached by Guy Hardaker at Edmond Santa Fe High School • hree-year starter • As a senior (2005-06), averaged 15.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks • Had shoulder surgery Aug. 5, 2005 for torn muscle in right shoulder • Led Santa Fe to 21-6 record and No. 1 team ranking • Led Santa Fe to semifinal of Class 6A State Championship • As a junior (2004-05), averaged 11.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks • Led Santa Fe to 25-4 record • Led Santa Fe to Class 6A State Championship • As a sophomore (2003-04), averaged 11.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks • Led Santa Fe to 20-6 record • Led Santa Fe to quarterfinal of Class 6A State Championships • As a freshman (2002-03), played freshman basketball for most of the season • Suited up for varsity basketball in January, did not play in the playoff rounds • Coached by Mitch Malone for AAU travel team, the Texas Blue Chips • Participated in 2005 Reebok ABCD Camp • Selected to Metroplex’s All-AAU team summer of 2005.
All I heard was that he started playing older than most others. I think that makes you an attractive pick. Also that he was just the shotblocker first year but then developed into a significant all-around player at Baylor. That impresses me.
"The Warriors, who are the most dysfunctional organization in the NBA, were, of course, the team that screwed up the draft."
-Chad Ford, ESPN, 2010 on Ekpe Udoh
by LarryLegendofOracle on Jun 27, 2010 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions
All I heard was that he started playing older than most others. I think that makes you an attractive pick.
Why?
Pro-Skub for life
by Reverend_Randy on Jun 27, 2010 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I’ll second that. I’ve seen more than a few guys who “started playing late” and were “still learning the game” with this used as some excuse to show that they were going to get much better. Rarely (no, not always, but rarely) was it the case. Most never really learned.
Jordan Hill is another who had that label. Hasn’t done much yet, and was slated to be the Warriors pick if Curry hadn’t fallen. If they had got him, I’m pretty certain they would have traded him to Phoenix for Amare.
Probably would be a very small sample size, but I’d be interested if there are any stats for college players who transferred schools, and thus had to red shirt for a year. How does that help/hinder future potential?
Most never really learned.
Does that include Anthony Randolph?
"The Warriors, who are the most dysfunctional organization in the NBA, were, of course, the team that screwed up the draft."
-Chad Ford, ESPN, 2010 on Ekpe Udoh
by LarryLegendofOracle on Jun 28, 2010 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Could you answer the other question?
Why do you say:
All I heard was that he started playing older than most others. I think that makes you an attractive pick.
?
Pro-Skub for life
by Reverend_Randy on Jun 28, 2010 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Udoh & Henry Who's The Bigger Reach At Six
The way I see it, Udoh is a bigger reach than Henry. Henry will have a more productive and longer NBA career.
Henry was productive as a freshman on one of the best programs in the country. Udoh never saw the court as a freshman. Henry is 19 and Udoh is 23. Who has more upside coming into the NBA?
You don’t draft players based on upside alone.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 27, 2010 5:44 PM PDT up reply actions
Henry was arguably the better winner.
"The Warriors, who are the most dysfunctional organization in the NBA, were, of course, the team that screwed up the draft."
-Chad Ford, ESPN, 2010 on Ekpe Udoh
by LarryLegendofOracle on Jun 27, 2010 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions
how's that?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Kansas lose in R2 of the tourney this year? And correct me if I’m wrong again, but didn’t Baylor make it to the Elite 8?
Henry will have a more productive and longer NBA career.
How many years do you think it will be before Henry can contribute?
After he matures, how good do you think he’ll actually be? A star? Something below that? It may make sense to take a younger project who you hope can turn into a star. It makes far less sense to take a guy who, after 4 years has become good just in time to no longer be a bargain on the rookie scale. This is especially true since it seems like there’s always some moron willing to pay someone with “upside” (all too often now just meaning “young”) much more than he’s worth. If Henry becomes a very good player, what chance do you give that it happens with the team that drafted him? These are all important things to consider, else you’ll just wind up paying kid for 4 years in order to have the opportunity to still not know what you have when you can no longer keep him on the rookie scale.
Udoh should benefit from having to shoulder less of a shot creating burden for himself in the future, but he still has a lot of room to add polish at age 23.
From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Situational-Statistics-This-Yearas-Power-Forward-Crop-3505/#ixzz0s6m4gMBD
http://www.draftexpress.com
Some people think he has a lot of upside, it appears.
Go Andris's free throw shooting!
Naticus
When I read your link, it seems like they have more question marks about him than positives. If Don Nelson is not the coach and we actually get a coach who puts a priority on
defense, then the pick looks a lot better.
Second Thoughts
After a few days reflection and seeing that maybe this is just a weak draft and there are downsides to everyone in this draft including Wall and Turner.
If the Warriors decide to get rid of Nelson(please), and get a coach who is serious about defense, then the Udoh pick seems much brighter now. Its been so long since this franchise gave a damn about defense that I forgot what it
was like to get that kind of player.
If Udoh turns out to be a defensive stud and a good rebounder, then its a very solid pick. I want to win rings and we need three stars like Boston to do that. We have one, Steph Curry.
How about trading Ellis and Biedrens to the Nuggets for Melo and whoever they want to throw in. He has turned
down their 65 million extension and I think he might be
happy here as the big star. Curry would differ to him and
love playing with him. Melo would be piece number two
and he and Curry might be able to attract number three
along with our new owner.
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