International players expect to play big role in this year’s draft
There is no definitive evidence to suggest that the next Dirk Nowitzki is waiting to be plucked from Europe in this year’s NBA Draft.
But he might be, and despite the imperfect science of drafting international players — Andrea Bargnani went No. 1 overall in 2006 — the Wizards, and any other team with a lottery pick, can ill afford not to be sure.
What is certain is that with some of the best college players backing out of the draft due to the threat of a lockout, this year’s deeper class of international prospects than usual will play a significant role in how the first round of the 2011 draft unfolds.
| TOP INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS |
| While Turkish center Enes Kanter is arguably the top European prospect, he’s spent most of the last two years in the U.S. Here are the other international players, all of whom play professionally in Europe, expected to be selected early in the NBA Draft: |
| Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania |
| C/PF, Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania), 6-11, 240 pounds, 19 years old |
| Strengths » He’s coachable, plays hard and is very good under the basket, traits which are all prized. |
| Weaknesses » Still needs to add weight to his frame. Valanciunas also needs a buyout — NBA teams are limited to contributing $500k — from his current team, and that won’t necessarily be easy. |
| Scout’s take » “He can play the five, and he can also play the four because he is mobile; he is dynamic; and he has a jump shot. He can shoot midrange shots. He was not doing it a lot in Europe, but that does not mean that he’s not shooting well from that distance.” |
| Keep in mind » Because he’s a center, Valanciunas’ draft projection was always strong, but it might have risen too fast. |
| Jan Vesely, Czech Republic |
| PF, Partizan Belgrade (Serbia), 6-10, 240 pounds, 21 years old |
| Strengths » Plays in a tough league, loves to run the floor and dunk the ball. Vesely has a passionate style that could be suited well for the NBA. |
| Weaknesses » Might have to play more at small forward in the NBA unless he can add more strength and power to his game. |
| Scout’s take » “He’s already athletic. He can play from positions from the three to the five. He will add something and get better — make more shots, gain some reliability in shooting.” |
| Keep in mind » Vesely proved himself in European competition last year. Those with a short memory could underrate him. |
| Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania |
| C/PF, Bennetton Treviso, (Italy), 7-0, 215 pounds, 20 years old |
| Strengths » Has an excellent offensive skill set and good knowledge of the game. Passes the ball well for his size and age. |
| Weaknesses » Not a great defender or rebounder, parts of his game that will have to develop over time. |
| Scout’s take » “On offense, he can do everything: play back to the basket, play a face-up four, shoot from the 3-point line, everything. He has a really good future in the NBA. I have nothing against Danilo, but I think he’s a better version of Gallinari.” |
| Keep in mind » On good days, he gets compared to Dirk Nowitzki or Pau Gasol. On bad ones, it’s Bargnani. |
| Bismack Biyombo, Congo DR |
| PF, Fuenlabrada (Spain), 6-9, 240 pounds, 18 years old |
| Strengths » Has risen fast as a prospect. A relentless beast on the boards, a la Ben Wallace, and a vocal leader in the paint. |
| Weaknesses » Unrefined offensive game, doesn’t have a lot of experience against high-level competition. |
| Scout’s take » “The guy’s ceiling is getting pretty high. But you’ve really got to see him a lot and make the decision if he’s going to be that guy.” |
| Keep in mind » Some NBA folks are skeptical of his age. Some don’t think it matters. |
“There are better European players available this year than there have been probably in the last three or four years,” said Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld, who has picked four European players in his eight seasons in Washington.
Considering the near consensus that there is a significant drop-off in this year’s draft after Duke guard Kyrie Irving and Arizona forward Derrick Williams, who are expected to be picked first and second, Grunfeld’s praise isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement.
Thus, in possession of the sixth overall pick, the Wizards have plenty of homework to do, but Grunfeld has a history of shopping overseas, and he’s already ahead of the game. Wizards front office staff has scouted 6-foot-11 center Jonas Valanciunas in his native Lithuania six or seven times, as much as any other NBA team.
The Wizards made the first international selection in last year’s draft, taking Kevin Seraphin (via Chicago) with the 17th overall selection. Still just 21 years old, the French big man remains a project after spending his rookie season learning as much English as basketball. Yet, had he come out this year instead, he might have been projected as a top-10 pick.
Outside of 18-year-old Turkish center Enes Kanter, who has spent most of the last two years in the United States, another long-term investment is expected. Multiple mock drafts have the Wizards opting for athletic Czech forward Jan Vesely. Lithuanian forward Donatas Motiejunas and Spain-based Congolese forward Bismack Biyombo are also potential lottery picks. Forward Nikola Mirotic (Montenegro), center Lucas Nogueira (Brazil), forward Davis Bertans (Latvia) and guard/forward Bojan Bogdanovic (Bosnia) could also hear their names called on June 23.
“The internationals out there I think are going to slip,” NBA director of scouting Ryan Blake said. “The bigs, especially, because they’re under contract, there’s always that risk. I don’t think these guys are ready yet. Even though they’re good, it may take some time, and you’re not going to have anybody in this draft that you’re going to say is going to change the foundation of a team.”
Be warned, in 1998, Nowitzki was picked ninth.
