All this chatter about the NBA lockout, which by the way (self promotion here) I discussed on “Pushing the Envelope” last night, has a lot of North Carolina fans excited about the trio (Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller) coming back for another season and another shot at getting a title under head coach Roy Williams. Now, as far as Harrison Barnes I would say that he is a Top 5 pick now and if he comes back his stock is only going up, regardless of the incoming freshman class, players jumping this year or next, or anything else. But I do not see the same theory holding true for the two Carolina bigs, and while this is going to make a lot of the fan base unhappy with me, it is something that we need to think about.

Before I go on with this and I get the old “they need to learn this, that and the other” or “they must raise their BB IQ” let’s remember what the National Basketball Association’s biggest word is: “potential“. Then we add the old cliche, cause we all know how much I love those, that says “you can’t teach height” and in this case, “you can’t teach speed” either. Having said that, here we go with my theory…

My process here is two fold. Both with what UNC has coming in and second with who is going to leave for the next level this year and who will be going next (riding out the lock out in the college game). Henson and Zeller have had great seasons, with Henson being Defensive Player of the Year in the conference and Zeller going a full season without injury, earning Academic 1st Team All-American, and demostrating what he can do when healthy. All of this is great, this season boosted their stocks, no doubt about that. However, next year it’s not going to be Justin Knox coming off the bench, it’s James McAdoo, and I doubt that he is only going to be getting 9.2 minutes per game, especially as he learns the system and the season gets into the thick of it. There is no doubt in my mind that the incoming freshman could easily get twice as many minutes, which would hypothetically mean that the two bigs would both be losing a handful of minutes each. Sure, it might also means such a talented team scoring could come much easier to all, making it a possibility that the two bigs could still be scoring as much as they did now with less minutes. But they might not, especially if the perimeter players step in for more of the action and Barnes becomes the leader of the team, as he has done in the latter part of this season.

Now put the fact that many of the post players from this year might just be staying because of the possibility of a lock out, add that there are going to be more one and done’s next year, and the reality that both Henson and Zeller could think of leaving is a fair one. Tonight on my Beckoning the BCS (7 to 9 pm EST on CLNS Radio) I will have several people from the media talking about their theories/thoughts if the trio will be staying or going. As far as I am concerned? I think that the trio will either all leave or all come back. For those wondering, yes, it might be a cop out answer that I am giving, but I also think it’s the truth. If UNC is going to go after it the hardware next year it’s going to need all three of those young men to be back under the tuteledge of Roy Williams, otherwise the run to “One Shining Moment” is going to be a very steep one! And if I know this, so do these players, and my thinking is they all know that they are either all in or all out.

I also have a strong feeling that what others do is also going to affect the trio’s decision, as you may have noticed most seasons at this time many of the big time players would have already made a decision or leaks would have been going around. This year, with the lock out looming, it feels like a lot of the top tier individuals are playing the wait & see game to watch what their counterparts are doing/thinking about doing. Word is that Henson is going to make a decision this Saturday and Barnes will be doing the same next week. I am hoping that if it is to go in the NBA it is without hiring an agent so that they have a chance of coming back if they want to.

Ed Davis

Ed Davis, who decided to enter the Draft instead of coming back to Chapel Hill, as now found who will rappresent him as an agent. It is Rob Pelinka, founder of The Landmark Sports Agency, who has stars such as Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Eric Gordon and many other big time players in the National Basketball Association on their client list. Right now Mr. Pelinka has a net worth of $ 284 millions of guaranteed money for his clients, and that is definitely not pocket change! Reading about this at Tar Heel Times I found it ironic that Rob Pelinka is an ex guard from the Michigan squad that lost to North Carolina in the `93 NCAA Finals. I am pretty lost when it comes to the world of sports agents, but if I had to take an educated guess going with someone that has such as client list should be a good thing.

As I do with all Tar Heels let me wish all the best to Ed Davis as he awaits the next chapter of his basketball career.

2010 NBA Draft

About.com (updated on 04/14/10) has Ed Davis going ninth in the draft.

NBA Draft Guru (updated 04/14/10) has Ed Davis going 14th in the draft.

College Hoops Update (updated on 04/14/10) has Ed Davis going seventh in the draft.

Flagrant Fouls (updated 04/13/10) has Ed Davis going ninth in the draft.

NBA Draft Net (updated on 04/13/10) has Ed Davis going 13th in the draft.

Walter FB (updated 04/13/10) has Ed Davis going ninth in the draft.

The Hoop Doctors (updated on 04/12/10) has Ed Davis going 10th in the draft.

Football Fan Spot (updated on 04/09/10) has Ed Davis going sixth in the draft.

The Hoops Report (updated on 04/09/10) has Ed Davis going 10th in the draft.

NBA Draft Com (updated on 04/08/10) has Ed Davis going 10th in the draft.

And now, what about you? Where is Ed Davis going to land in the 2010 NBA Draft?…

Where will Ed Davis go in the Draft?Market Research

NBA Draft

ESPN {Draft Selector} (Posted on: 03/27) has Davis going: 7th to the 76′ers.

College Hoops Update (Posted on: 03/26) has Davis going: 7th to the 76′ers.

My NBA Draft.com (Posted on: 03/25) has Davis going: 8th to the Indiana Pacers (where he would join Tyler Hansbrough).

NBA Draft Guru (Posted on: 03/24) has Davis going: 13th to the Houston Rockets.

Draft Xpress (Posted on: 03/24) has Davis going: Not Listed.

NBADraftNet (Posted on: 03/24) has Davis going: Not Listed.

Flagrant Fouls (Posted on: 03/23) has Davis going: Not Listed.

NBA-draft.com (Posted on: 03/22) has Davis going: 6th to the Sacramento Kings (where he would join Sean May).

Inside Hoops (Posted on: 03/21) has Davis going: 11th to the Golden State Warriors (where he would join Brandan Wright).

LA Times {Heisler} (Posted on: 03/21) has Davis going: 11th to the Golden State Warriors (where he would join Brandan Wright).

Hoops Hype (Posted on: 03/17) has Davis going: 7th to the 76′ers.

Tyler Hansbrough

As a Tar Heel watching Tyler Hansbrough going 13th in Thursday’s draft was a great moment (both for an ex Heel like me, the university and Hansbrough himself), even if the fans at Madison Square Garden chanted “overrated” as he made his way to the stage, I know different. There is nothing overrated about the power forward from Poplar Bluff, and that is why I have to believe that Larry Bird made the right pick for his team. In an article by the Winston Salem Journal Now it sounds like the President of the Pacers and his first round pick have more in common than people might think.

Ok, let’s get the obvious one out of the way shall we. White forward! Check, both of them are that. Both could have gone in the National Basketball Association before they had finished their college eligibility, but stayed for their senior years. Both played for a national title, and while Bird lost it to Michigan State, Hansbrough beat that same team last season to get his title. The two players built up a reputation for being hard workers, and both had a lot of doubters coming into the pro’s based on the fact they weren’t athletic enough.

This is what Larry Bird said as he introduced the newest Pacer to the media:

“It reminds me of when I came out,” Bird said yesterday as the Pacers introduced Hansbrough, the 13th pick in Thursday’s draft, to their fans. “There was always this skepticism that I wouldn’t be able to play in this league against these players. Tyler’s got some of that going right now, but he’ll be fine.”

I keep saying this over and over and over again, what Hansbrough does are things that you need skills for, but you also need hard work and dedication to master. Anyone that has followed the power forward knows that when it comes to working hard he doesn’t take a game, a play, a second off on the court, and that is whether he is practicing by himself, with the team or playing in a game. The stories of Tyler getting upset because his pick up team was losing are endless. Let me repeat that, “his pick up team”. If you don’t think that is hard work and/or dedication I have a hard time finding another type of example to give to you.

On the other hand, when you think that someone like Larry Bird, whose career speaks for itself, was attacked for the same reasons as Tyler Hansbrough you can’t help but wonder if this is more of a racial profiling against white players going into the Association. I have heard Tim Legler on Mike & Mike in the Morning saying that he had to prove himself on things that players that weren’t white didn’t have to. So, in the end, if Hansbrough had been black would all these negativities have come up? I would say no, but on the other hand we will never know.

The Pacers President also said this about his future star:

“Being from Indiana, young kids grow up, play the game the right way and leave their hearts on the floor and they have a passion for the game,” he said, “and that’s where Tyler fits in.”

As I said before, when you talk about leaving it all on the floor, having passion is what Hansbrough is all about. I think that anyone that is “in the know” and gave a fair chance to the ACC all time scorer saw that about him. I am sure that in the years to come, when you check on how Tyler is doing, the positives will outnumber the negatives in a way that will not even be close. All of this is clear, especially when you read the article done by WRAL.

When asked if he was going to go on vacation, Hansbrough was caught off guard:

“Um … uh … no, not really,” Hansbrough said.

Instead, Hansbrough said he was looking forward to getting up to Indiana to get to know his new team, the Pacers, and to participate in summer league play.

Once again, dedication anyone? C’mon, how much more proof you want? This young man is going to give it his all to make the Pacers better, and he is going to do it with hard work, with dedication and in a way that will always make the franchise proud. While the naysayers will keep saying that he is not good enough, the fact that Hansbrough went in the lottery proves to me that the people that evaluate talent saw what the Carolina fans have known for four years. Let’s remember this, about a month ago there were still people saying he could fall into the second round. I cannot wait for the summer league, to see how well he starts out (as well as the other three ex Tar Heels) on his way to the NBA.

So, while the fans of the Pacers might not be thrilled by their first round pick, Indiana’s front office believes in him. For whatever it matters, this old Tar Heel believes in the pick as well, as I know that Hansbrough isn’t going to give up on anything in the pro’s, just like he didn’t give up on anything in college. Even an ex foe from the ACC gave thumbs up to the selection.

Josh McRoberts, who played against Hansbrough, said this about his ex archrival:

“I think he can help whatever team he goes to,” McRoberts said. “He’s big and strong and he was an All-American four years at North Carolina, so he’s proven himself.”

I am going to enjoy watching Hansbrough, mostly because I think he is going to prove a lot of people wrong, and when he does, and they jump on his bandwagon I will be there to tell them all how wrong they were. A player whose career has been filled with accolades and achievements has been attacked by so many for so many reasons. I say this: Hansbrough is a proven commodity and is going to produce from day one in the pro’s, something that many players picked before him are not going to do. While some of these players with “potential” might explode and become All Stars, many might never become what people thought they would. With Hansbrough you know what you are getting, and while that might not be the “glamour” pick, it’s a pick that is going to give benefits every single minute that the young man is on the floor for his team. For a team, that should be the way to go, especially when the economic times we are in do not push for uncertainty.

Danny Green

To all you Cavaliers fans that might be wondering who the heck your team took in the second round of Thursday’s NBA Draft, let me present to you Danny Green. He is a 6’6″ swingman, who can light it up from beyond the three point line, can play some good defense, and (this is key) can be a fine contributor while not being acclaimed as one of the main pieces of a team. On a very talented North Carolina team, who was the only college squad to have three players chosen in the first round, Danny Green was an instrumental part of the Tar Heels’ run at the national title. In other words, take it from someone who has watched UNC play since Michael Jordan was there, in my opinion you guys got one of the steals of the night.

Cleveland Cavs

Why do I say this? Well, this year Green was a great player as a starter, last year he was (if not the best) amongst the top three sixth men in the country. Green knows when to shoot it, his .418 from beyond the line proves that, while he also knows how to play defense, having the second most steals (67) on the team as well as the second most blocks (57). Add to all of this the fact that I think Green is a very good passer and you see what type of player you are going to get. The native Long Islander played all four years at UNC, where he got to play in more games (145) and winning more games (123) than any Heel in the school’s 99 years history. He averaged, on a team that had three super stars, 13.1 pts per game, while playing just over 27 minutes. Now, even if I am a bit biased when it comes to talking about Tar Heels players, I am not here to tell you that Danny Green is the be all to end all, but I am here to say that at the 46th pick of the draft he was a steal and will do a lot better than what a lot of people might think/believe.

The reality of it all is that Green, on a team where he might have been the fourth option received the following awards this season: ACC All-Defensive team, All ACC Third team and the NCAA South Regional Tourney squad.

Jay Bilas, who I think is the best of the analysts for the world leader in sports, said the following about Danny Green:

I wouldn’t take him in the first round, but he’d be right at the top of my list in the second round.

In the end when you think of Danny Green think of one word, and no it’s not the overused “potential”. It’s a much better one, one that makes me believe this young man will have a long career in the pro’s, the word is “versatile”, and once you see this young man in action you will see the word fits him perfectly. But if you want some proof to that, just check this stat out: Green leaves his college career knowing that he is the only player in the conference history to have 1,000 pts, 500 boards, 250 assists, 150 three-pointers, 150 blocks and 150 steals. I truly believe that when it’s all said and done, when you look back at what Green did in his pro career, many teams will think to themselves that they shouldn’t have passed up the Long Island native. Just picture this Cavs fans, everyone looking at LeBron, while trying to contain Shaq in the paint should mean a lot of open looks for a shooter that has a good touch. On a team that has a lot of great players already, having a Danny Green as another weapon can only improve Cleveland for the years to come. You might not know him now, but when you see him hit those three’s you are going to love him!

GMTH 06/26/09

As I keep plugging away and trying to get all my “daily posts” current one that I have just not been able to work on is my daily dump link, which I call either “Good Morning Tar Heels” (am edition) or “Good Evening & Good Linking” (pm edition). Today I am going to give you one, so that this (not so) daily post can start back up and keep going. As usual, some Tar Heel love, with a couple of shout outs and then my linkage of friends of The Fifth Corner. Without any more interruptions, let’s start this up, with this edition of “Good Morning Tar Heels”…

Heels shout outs:

First one to the Tar Heel Times, where they are always trying to improve the site, and yet to me it’s as good as it can get when it comes to finding stories about Carolina!

The second one to the four ex Tar Heels now in the National Basketball Association: Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green! Congratulations to all of them as they begin their next chapter of their lives!

Links:

Kim from Predominantly Orange does a heck of a piece about HS coaches. It’s a must read, and this comes from someone that played ball, and knows exactly what she is blogging about!

At Detroit4Lyfe there is a story about the new look of Magglio Ordonez. This stoy should be the poster boy for “A picture is worth a 1,000 words”. Check it out!

A Cleveland blog, King James Gospel, has a piece about Shaq finding out he was going to Cleveland via Twitter. Well, don’t this just say “you live by the Tweet you die by the Tweet!” And then goes on with a post about new nicnames that Shaq/LBJ will be given. I like “Cavalanche” the best!

And of course, I am not going to do my daily links without checking out Ethan’s NESW site. This time the gem I found is the little argument between TO and Krupa at the Superstars. How many ex team mates of Owens must have been jumping up and down going “heck yes Krupa, shut him up some more”!

At Slam Dunk Central, Jeff Sack gives us the The Good, The Bad And What Were They Thinking? If you love basketball this is definitely a must read (and re-read) post!

At Sharapova’s site there is a story about a sport that I love (but I am in the minority in that I know). The site’s writer talks about how the US beating Spain in the Confederations Cup. Next it’s Brazil, a team that the US has only beaten once. We shall see if another miracle can happen.

Lastly, with two links that have nothing to do with sports, but I think I need to put in this link dump: the passing of Farrah Fawcett (62) and Michael Jackson (50). Two icons in their own worlds, the first having a hard and painful fight with cancer, the other going so suddenly. May they rest in peace!

NBA Draft `09

Having watched the draft on ESPN, which I have to tell you with the exception of Jay Bilas everyone on that show did not save themselves (but that is another topic for another time), while chatting on two boards (a big thanks for hosting goes out to: A Stern Warning (Mookie) and College Hoops Net (Shawn)) and reading my Twitter I have to say that overall I am pretty happy about how things turned out for the four Tar Heels. Or should I say the five Tar Heels, as Vince Carter was traded to the vice champions Orlando Magic to bolster their roster for another shot at the title in 2009-10. And while this is going to be the first time in his NBA carrer that Carter isn’t the top guy, it’s also going to be the first time that he has a true shot at winning it all, and at his age, I doubt he can ill afford to let that shot go by without putting up the biggest fight of his basketball career.

Vince Carter

Getting back to the draft now. Yes, I do admit that where Ellington is going kind of scares me. Minnesota had six picks (of which one was Ty Lawson, but has been already traded), two of them being Top 10 and no head coach as of right now, makes me somewhat  unconfortable. And while most people don’t like him, I think that what Dick Vitale said about “playing both Rubio and Flynn together” is spot on: moves like that get you some wins and your head coach fired. However, others, including the GM of the team (who was interviewed by the world leader in sports during the draft) said that he would not see a problem having Rubio and Flynn on the floor at the same time. I am still hoping that the T’Wolves trade either Rubio or Flynn, or maybe they know something I don’t know, like the spaniard isn’t ready to come to the NBA (rough translation: Rubio’s dad doesn’t believe his son will be playing in the NBA next season). All in all I just hope that the team does not get lost in just watching their fifth and sixth overall picks and forget about the rest.

It was great to see head coach Roy Williams interviewed, something that just makes you feel so good inside, knowing that these are his players, they are the future of the NBA, and the foundations for many excellent student-athletes to come at Chapel Hill (don’t believe me, just check the five incoming freshmen). As I had said in the last check on the fantasy mocks, it looked like one or two would make it into the lottery (Tyler Hansbrough – #13 to the Pacers), three would make it first round (Hansbrough, Ty Lawson – #18 to the Timbervolves/traded to the Nuggets, Ellington – #28 to the Timberwolves) and one would be a early to mid second rounder (Danny Green – #46 to the Cavaliers). In the next few days I am going to work hard to get pieces out about where these young men landed and how they should fit with their new homes, but for now I just wanted to say that in the grand scheme of things I am pretty happy how things went. So, as the heat begins to rise with the arrival of summer, so does the NBA talk on The Fifth Corner.

I will end with this. While the NBA Draft is always one of those things I look forward, since I am a fan of North Carolina and not of any NBA (or other pro team), watching the players being called is a very bitter sweet moment. You feel so happy for them, as they head on out to the next chapter of their lives, but you feel sad, as you know players that have given you so much while donning the Carolina Blue won’t ever play again at the Dean Dome. So, as I do everytime, let me wish these four young men (as well as the 32 year old Vince Carter) all the best in their future, but let this old Tar Heel also state the following: “Thanks for the memories, they were fantastic”.

As the months turned into weeks and then into days and now are just hours, tonight the end of the road arrives. The four players from Chapel Hill will finally find out where they will play in the pro’s. Two of them, Tyler Hansbrough and Tywon Lawson, will be at Madison Square Garden (in the “Green Room”) for the event. That means to me that a lot of people “in the know” feel they will be going earlier than later (because I doubt that the NBA wants to have a fiasco like the NFL and Brady Quinn). Hansbrough decided to have extra company while waiting for his name to be called, as he asked head coach Roy Williams to join him in the “Green Room” tonight.

From a very small article on ACC Now it says that not only his ex coach will be with the young man from Poplar Bluff. Both of his parents will be at the table with him, as well as his older brother, and of course his agent (who should be busy from tomorrow on). Also, amongst the crowd, will be some ex team mates, as Bobby Frasor, Marcus Ginyard and Dewey Burke all came to New York City for the event. Joining the three Heels is Frasor’s father. I have to say, if this don’t show the “Carolina Way/Carolina Family” I do not know what does. Players coming to cheer/root on for other players, a coach being there for a player, they say that blood is thicker than water, if this don’t prove it, I am will have a hard time finding another good example to prove that theory.

In the end, when it comes to the power forward, some think that he could be a lottery pick, while others still believe that he is going to be a late first rounder. One thing is for sure, while other players might have moved up or down in the draft, Tyler Hansbrough’s rising is due to the hard work and dedication. That same hard work and dedication that anyone that has followed his career at UNC knows that has been there game in, game out, practice in, practice out. I can not keep myself from coming back to this one point: any team taking Hansbrough knows what they are getting here and now. If a team need a hard working player, who is going to give 100% everytime he is playing (or even just practicing) why would you pass up on Tyler? If I was one of those GMs I would not, and while it might not be the “cool pick” it’s going to be the pick that will push my team towards being better next season, and I won’t be waiting to see if the player develops.

As I do with all the Heels moving to the next level, all the best to both Tyler Hansbrough and the other three ex team mates in the draft tonight. Without a doubt, with four more UNC players in the NBA next season will have just a bit more of carolina blue in it!

With the National Basketball Association draft tonight (8:00 p.m. EST at Madison Square Garden – televised by ESPN), where I will be spending my time between the computer (on several chats) and the television, here is the last chance to see what the bloggers are saying about the four players from Chapel Hill. From what I have read/seen/heard it would not be a surprise if there are two of them (Ty Lawson and Tyler Hansbrough) in the lottery, or one or none. What seems to be a lock for most of the bloggers is that three ex pupils of head coach Roy Williams will be drafted in the first round (Lawson, Hansbrough and Wayne Ellington), while the fourth one, Danny Green, should be an early to mid second rounder. You can also check out my one and only draft for this year, but for now enjoy what these blogs are saying in their mock drafts…

Web Site: My NBA Draft
Date: June 25th
Rounds: One

Tywon Lawson: 13th to the Pacers
Tyler Hansbrough: 20th to the Jazz
Wayne Ellington: N/A
Danny Green: N/A

Web Site: Draft Xpress
Date: June 25th
Rounds: Two

Tywon Lawson: 13th to the Pacers
Tyler Hansbrough: 20th to the Jazz
Wayne Ellington: 40th to the Nets
Danny Green: 47th to the Timberwolves

Web Site: Draft Depot
Date: June 25th
Rounds: Two

Tywon Lawson: 14th to the Suns
Tyler Hansbrough: 20th to the Jazz
Wayne Ellington: 32nd to the Wizards
Danny Green: N/A

Web Site: Draft Party
Date: June 25th
Rounds: Two

Tyler Hansbrough: 18th to the Timberwolves
Tywon Lawson: 19th to the Hawks
Wayne Ellington: 27th to the Grizzlies
Danny Green: 46th to the Cavaliers

Web Site: The Hoops Report
Date: June 25th
Rounds: Two

Tywon Lawson: 19th to the Hawks
Tyler Hansbrough: 20th to the Jazz
Wayne Ellington: 30th to the Cavaliers
Danny Green: 40th to the Bobcats

Web Site: NBA Draft Press
Date: June 25th
Rounds: Two

Tyler Hansbrough: 11th to the Nets
Tywon Lawson: 13th to the Pacers
Wayne Ellington: 35th to the Pistons
Danny Green: 42nd to the Lakers

Web Site: College Hoops Update
Date: June 25th
Rounds: Two

Tyler Hansbrough: 13th to the Pacers
Tywon Lawson: 19th to the Hawks
Wayne Ellington: 28th to the Timberwolves
Danny Green: N/A

Web Site: Hoops Addict
Date: June 24th
Rounds: One

Tywon Lawson: 17th to the 76′ers
Tyler Hansbrough: 20th to the Jazz
Wayne Ellington: 30th to the Cavaliers
Danny Green: N/A

Web Site: CBS Sports – Brian Levenson
Date: June 24th
Rounds: One

Tywon Lawson: 14th to the Suns
Tyler Hansbrough: 27th to the Grizzlies
Wayne Ellington: 30th to the Cavaliers
Danny Green: N/A

Web Site: College Hoops Net
Date: June 23rd
Rounds: Two

Tywon Lawson: 10th to the Bucks
Tyler Hansbrough: 20th to the Jazz
Wayne Ellington: 30th to the Cavaliers
Danny Green: 55th to the TrailBlazers