I think one of the better players that may be available at 28 will be Wayne Simien. But he fits the same size and type as Scola, so that's most likely a no-go.

Ilyasova or Gelabale seem like ok choices. Francisco Garcia, if he's still availabe at 28, would be a chood choice, I think.
Stephen Duncan Jr | Homepage | 06.28.05 - 11:53 am | #

I'm hoping Francisco Garcia is still around late first round..
thomas | 06.28.05 - 12:04 pm | #

I like the following options
1) Julius Hodges - a potential Bowen replacement. Hugely long 8'11.5" standing reach. Can potentially play 1, 2 or 3. Has shown defensive tenacity and a high energy level (and a good level of atheleticism)
2) A falling young big, this is a swing for the fences pick to potentially fill in for Duncan in @ 6 years when begins to contemplate retirement. There are 4 possibles Bynum, Blatche, Andreskeviscius, Petro. All are young (19 or under), Andreskeviscius or Petro could be left in Europe to develop.
3) Trade down for 2 seconds (say Utah, LA Lakers, Toronto, Orlando, Atlanta) There are going to be a lot of potentially really good 2nd rounders available - Lucas Tischer, Gelabale, Amir Johnson, Ian Mahinmi, Manicelli, Gigli, Gomes, Mile Ilic, Stephen Graham, Mindaugas Katelynas ...
Pieter de Jong | 06.28.05 - 3:47 pm | #

Lucas Tischer, Gelabale, Amir Johnson, Ian Mahinmi, Manicelli, Gigli, Gomes, Mile Ilic, Stephen Graham, Mindaugas Katelynas ...

sports guy would have a field day with this comment.
booth52 | Homepage | 06.28.05 - 7:35 pm | #

more appropriately the sports guy's dad.
booth52 | Homepage | 06.28.05 - 7:35 pm | #

Apparently, RC Buford thought enough of Mahinmi to draft him in the 1st rd. (Either that or nobody was willing to trade down at reasonable value...)
Yeah, the Sports Guy (and his Dad) would have loads of fun with this comment, but all those guys can still play...
5 of those 9 guys got drafted, and some of the others will get camp invitations.
Pieter de Jong | 06.29.05 - 5:40 pm | #

Matthew,

Don't underestimate the pull locally that Devin Brown has. City's top HS scorer, city's only public university's top scorer. Born and raised here... If his back checks out, I'm sure they'll want him back.

Basketball wise, as I'm sure you remember, it was encouraging to see the way he stepped up when Timmy went down.
Cincinnatus | Homepage | 07.15.05 - 2:20 am | #