Pittsburgh big man just might be growing on Bulls
The Bulls essentially have two tasks to accomplish in the hours leading up to Thursday's NBA draft.
One is to try and figure out which players are going to be selected with the first 15 picks. The other is to decide if they'll be happy with someone who sticks around until the Bulls pick at No. 16.
There is no telling how things will pan out, but here's the primary topic of debate: Would they rather select someone who can contribute right away or take a chance that a guy will develop over time?
Of course, the list of mid-first-round players ready to play in the NBA right now seems short. Louisville's 6-foot-6 guard Terrence Williams looks like one, but it appears he could be gone by No. 11 to New Jersey or No. 12 to Charlotte.
Pittsburgh power forward DeJuan Blair probably can eat space and grab rebounds at the highest level.
Beyond that, it's a tough call, since the Bulls aren't likely to take a point guard at No. 16. Someone such as Duke guard Gerald Henderson could drop. North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough could make an argument for being ready.
The prospects list would include Ohio State center B.J. Mullens, Wake Forest forward James Johnson, Louisville power forward Earl Clark and Gonzaga forward Austin Daye, among others.
With this is mind, there's a possibility that Blair is beginning to grow on the Bulls. He displayed some character by just showing up to work out against the 7-1 Mullens on Tuesday at the Berto Center. Both players helped their cause that day.
At 6-61/2, Blair isn't likely to become an all-star power forward. But he should be able to make a positive contribution somehow. Last season Blair was one of the best offensive rebounders (5.6 per game) in recent college history.
The Bulls have not been actively trying to move up in this draft, but they figure to at least check to see if it can be done. The Nets at No. 11 and Indiana at No. 13 have been mentioned as potential trade targets.
New Jersey reportedly likes Williams and Hansbrough. The Pacers most likely will take a point guard or a big man. Some insiders believe Detroit will opt for Mullens at No. 15.
If Williams, Blair and Mullens are gone by the 16th pick, the Bulls might turn to Johnson, who potentially could be a scorer off the bench.
• It will be a shame if the Bulls can't land Williams just because he is such an entertaining figure.
According to Sports Illustrated, Williams used to carry his books in a Barbie backpack, just to be different, when he attended Rainier Beach High School in Seattle (the school that sent Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson and Doug Christie to the NBA).
The Louisville-devoted Web site "Card Chronicle" paid tribute by listing Williams' top 10 college quotes. My personal favorite came after a game at Massachusetts early in his career, when he shot 0-for-4 in the first half, then 8-for-16 in the second half.
"I was thinking about the scouting report and how they are a great shot-blocking team, and I was just trying to get the ball up there," Williams said. "But then I was like, 'Terrence,' - I call myself Terrence; I don't call myself T-Will. I was like, 'Terrence, you jump too high to be nervous about somebody else.' "
• A growing rumor in recent days is Portland showing interest in Kirk Hinrich. It's understandable, since the Blazers could use an upgrade at point guard and the Bulls might look to move Hinrich if they re-sign Ben Gordon.
But there have been no talks between the two teams, and if something like this happened it probably would wait until late in the summer.
Keep in mind, the Bulls would rather use Hinrich in a big-splash deal for a top-flight power forward than accept Portland's spare parts (Jeff Blake, Travis Outlaw, Channing Frye, etc.)
Worst rumor of the week was the Bulls trying to move up in the draft so they could take Henderson. The Bulls might pick Henderson if he's on the board at 16, but they have never been interested in trading up to get him.
• The late first round is traditionally when teams take international prospects and keep them overseas for a few years - if not permanently - so their salaries aren't added to the payroll.
That's not as much of a priority for the Bulls, because they don't have a full roster right now. For example, the 26th pick would be due $1.04 million next season, assuming the usual 20 percent bump from the rookie salary scale.
If the Bulls choose to re-sign guard Anthony Roberson, he'd make at least the four-year minimum of $885,000. So the savings would be small.
The Bulls could take a point guard, such as Florida State's Toney Douglas or UCLA's Darren Collison at 26. Pitt forward Sam Young is a candidate if he's still around.
Word is, the Bulls are not likely to select Israel's 6-9 Omri Casspi.
mmcgraw@dailyherald.com
Mike McGraw's 2009 NBA mock draft Team Player Height Position School/Club L.A. Clippers Blake Griffin 6-10 PF Oklahoma Memphis Hasheem Thabeet 7-2 C Connecticut Oklahoma City Tyreke Evans 6-5 G Memphis Sacramento Ricky Rubio 6-3 PG DKV Joventut Minnesota (fr. Wash.) James Harden 6-5 SG Arizona State Minnesota Stephen Curry 6-3 SG Davidson Golden State Jordan Hill 6-10 PF Arizona New York Jonny Flynn 6-1 PG Syracuse Toronto Demar DeRozan 6-7 SF USC Milwaukee Ty Lawson 6-1 PG North Carolina New Jersey Terrence Williams 6-6 SG Louisville Charlotte Gerald Henderson 6-5 SG Duke Indiana DeJuan Blair 6-7 PF Pittsburgh > Phoenix Brandon Jennings 6-1 PG Lottomatica Roma > Detroit B.J. Mullens 7-1 C Ohio State > BULLS James Johnson 6-8 F Wake Forest > Philadelphia Jrue Holiday 6-4 G UCLA > Tinnesota (fr. Miami) Austin Daye 6-10 PF Gonzaga > Atlanta Earl Clark 6-10 PF Louisville > Utah Eric Maynor 6-3 G VCU > New Orleans Sam Young 6-6 SF Pittsburgh > Dallas Tyler Hansbrough 6-9 PF North Carolina > Sacramento (fr. Houston) Taj Gibson 6-10 PF USC > Portland Jeff Teague 6-1 G Wake Forest > Oklahoma City (fr. SA) Derrick Brown 6-8 PF Xavier > BULLS (fr. Den. via OKC) Toney Douglas 6-1 G Florida State > Memphis (fr. Orlando) Darren Collison 6-1 PG UCLA > Minnesota (fr. Boston) Chase Budinger 6-7 SF Arizona > L.A. Lakers Omri Casspi 6-9 PF Maccabi Tel Aviv > Cleveland Josh Heytvelt 6-11 PF SGonzaga >