International men of mystery
By Chad Ford
ESPN.com
Today a record 12 to 13 international players could be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Call it hype. Call it an invasion. Call it Euro-fever. But the days when America held home-court advantage in the NBA Draft are over. Loving it Live
NBA Insider Chad Ford spent weeks in Europe tracking down the top international players. Follow Ford's trips to Yugoslavia, Italy, Spain, France and his travels with Darko Milicic in New York City and Detroit:
Dec: The Yugo Diaries
May: The Euro Diaries
May: Darko in New York
May: Darko in Detroit
May: Darko in Detroit, Pt. 2
Bury your head in the sand. Wish for the good old days when draft picks walked to school, in the snow, uphill both ways eating apple pie and whistling their university's fight song.
International players aren't a trend. Trends go away.
The game has changed -- for the better. Including this year, four of the last six drafts have featured an international player as one of the top two players in the class. This year it's Darko Milicic. In 2002 it was Yao Ming. In 2001? Pau Gasol. 2000 and 1999 weren't great years for international players, but if the 1998 draft were held today, I'm pretty sure Dirk Nowitzki would go No. 1.
That's why, for the past year, NBA scouts and GMs have been wandering through Europe with travel guides, fists full of Euros, grainy Interpol photos and tattered Insider prospect reports.
Their quest? Find the next Nowitzki. Or the next Peja Stojakovic. A Vlade Divac clone would be nice. Given the current state of the draft, even a Gordan Giricek or Emanuel Ginobili will do. For many GMs, their jobs will depend on finding a diamond in the rough in Europe.
College players and even high schoolers are scouted extensively. The top U.S. prospects are plucked before they reach their junior year of college. There are very few surprises anymore. The international field, however, is still the wild west. There are still nuggets left to be unearthed.
This isn't an easy business -- especially for fans, draft experts and even a few NBA teams that don't know the difference between the Euroleague and the YMCA's Friday laywer league.
Lazy "draft experts" and old school American scouts who've never even seen any of these players in person (or on tape) are already declaring the international class a bust -- sight unseen. We all fear the unknown and for too many, their response to the globalization of basketball is to dismiss it out of hand, pretend it doesn't exist.
While NBA teams lock themselves in their war rooms cramming for their June 26 final, Insider goes deeper to give you a look at what they see. Not the superficial gloss you hear second hand. This is the juicy stuff. The context behind the player.
We've spent the last year traveling to Germany, Yugoslavia, Croatia, Spain, Italy and France along with NBA international scouting guru Tony Ronzone to get a first-hand look at 10 top international prospects: Darko Milicic, Mickael Pietrus, Florent Pietrus, Boris Diaw, Maciej Lampe, Zarko Cabarkapa, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Zoran Planinic, Malick Badiane and Slavko Vranes.
We've also spent extensive time watching Milicic and Lampe work out in the U.S. For the rest of the players in the draft, we've reviewed video tape of each.
If you can't handle the truth, stop right now. But if you're tired of fighting the future, read on ...
Malick Badiane, PF, Senegal
The line: 6-11, 225, 19 years old
Pronunciation Muh-leek Bahd-ee-en
The stats: 11.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg on 48 percent shooting
NBA comparison: Ben Wallace
The skinny: Badiane is a beast. He already has an NBA body and has tremendous strength. He's very long, but his frame is still muscular. He plays aggressively, and it pays off in rebounds and shot blocking. He runs the floor very well and is a good jumper. He has long arms and is known as a very hard worker. Offensively, he's much more raw, though his game is beginning to emerge. Several of the NBA's top African scouts feel he'll eventually become a force on the offensive end, as well. Of all of the young, African prospects to come to the NBA in the last 20 years, Badiane has the most offensive potential of any since Hakeem Olajuwon if you're willing to wait a few years.
The context: Badiane spent last season playing for T.V. Lagen in Germany. Lagen is a second-division farm team for the Opel Skyliners. The German league has gotten better over the last few years, but its second division is pretty weak. Before that he was in Senegal, where the basketball development is minimal. In other words, his experience playing pro in Germany last season can't count for too much.
The kitchen sink: Badiane emerged on the scene during an impressive showing at the ABCD camp last July. He emerged from the camp as one of the top 30 players. He actually tried to find a way to get to the United States and play high school ball last year but was ruled ineligible. A strong workout earlier this month during the Chicago pre-draft camp helped his stock. Badiane worked out with a fierce intensity that impressed many teams. After the workout he told Insider his favorite player was Ben Wallace. That's a good thing, because early in his career he's going to have to be that type of player.
Where will he go? The Hornets and Celtics have been eyeing him at No. 18 and No. 20, respectively. Doubt he slips past the Mavs at No. 29.
Leandrinho Barbosa, PG, Brazil
The line: 6-5, 185, 20 years old
Pronunciation Lee-ann-drine-o Bar-bow-sa
The stats: 28.2 ppg, 7 apg, 4 rpg on 50 percent shooting and 45 percent shooting from 3
NBA comparison: A poor-man's Gary Payton
The skinny: Barbosa is one of the biggest mysteries of the draft. He's widely considered the best player in Brazil -- receiving that mantle from the legendary Oscar Schmidt. He's very long and an explosive athlete. The thing that has scouts buzzing is the speed at which Barbosa plays for someone his size. He's constantly attacking the basket on offense and aggressively harassing his man on defense. With his long arms (6-foot-10 wingspan), he gets an unusual number of steals and blocks for a point guard. Scouts seem to be concerned about a hitch in his shot. While his long-range accuracy is sizzling, he holds the ball in front of his chest and has an unusually long release. Despite his dominance in Brazil, teams still believe he's too raw to contribute right away.
The context: Barbosa plays for Bauru Tilibra, one of the best teams in Brazil. However, that's not saying much. Most NBA scouts feel the level of competition in Brazil is very poor. That may be going a little far, but needless to say it's a pretty big step down from the top leagues in Europe. The defense in Brazil is particularly a question mark. While Barbosa himself appears aggressive on the defensive end, no one appears to be guarding him on the offensive end. That makes it especially tough to gauge how ready he is to contribute in the league.
The kitchen sink: NBA scouts got their first good look at Barbosa last summer at the World Championships. He was the team's 12th man and totaled just nine points, five assists and five rebounds in 21 minutes of play. Barbosa hired the agent who represents countryman Nene Hilario this spring and flew to Cleveland in April to begin preparing for the NBA Draft. Since then, he's been working out every day and trying to learn English. The language issue may be the biggest thing hurting him. Coaches aren't sure how comfortable they are handing the reigns of the team over to a 20-year-old kid who can't speak English. His agent, Michael Coyne, claims Barbosa's basketball english is excellent, and the rest is coming around due to two-hour-a-day English lessons.
Where will he go? He's all over the board. At one time Golden State was flirting with taking him at No. 11. That appears to be too high now. Seattle's a possibility at No. 14, the Magic at No. 15 and the Suns at No. 17. If he slips far enough, the Lakers could take a chance at No. 24, and the Pistons would give him a good look at No. 25. It's doubtful he slips past Memphis at No. 27.
Sani Becirovic, PG/SG, Slovenia
The line: 6-4, 194, 22 years old
Pronunciation Saw-knee Bah-ser-uh-vitch
The stats: 7.6 ppg on 52 percent shooting
NBA comparison: Emanuel Ginobili
The skinny: A super quick combo guard. He's an explosive scorer who also can play the point. He has a great handle and knows how to find the open man. His quickness and athleticism are top notch. He has a great feel for the game and can shoot the lights out when he's hot.
The context: Two years ago, Becirovic was a sure-fire lottery pick. At the age of 20 he was averaging more than 20 ppg in the Euroleague, and many were calling him the best Euro two guard since Drazen Petrovic. But major knee surgery put his career on hold for two years. He had the patellas in both of his knees realigned in September and is now looking to make a comeback. Before the injury Becirovic starred on Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia, one of the elite Euroleague teams. He actually averaged 20 ppg in the league when he was 19 years old.
The kitchen sink: He worked out for several teams, including the Nuggets, in Treviso, Italy, two weeks ago. They walked away impressed. Becirovic is the son of a pro basketball coach, Memi Becirovic.
Where will he go? There's no guarantee anyone takes a chance on him. But if anyone does, it will be Denver or Detroit in round two.
Zarko Cabarkapa, SF, Yugoslavia
The line: 6-11, 235, 22 years old
Pronunciation Zarko Cha-bahk-ah-pa
The stats: 14.6 ppg on 68 percent shooting and 39 percent 3-point shooting
NBA comparison: A softer Keith Van Horn
The skinny: Cabarkapa is another versatile versatile athlete who plays three positions in Europe. He's an excellent outside shooter and a superb passer. However, teams aren't sure he's capable of pulling that off in the NBA, feeling he's a little one dimensional. Despite his size, he rarely plays with his back to the basket. He's not nearly as comfortable putting the ball on the floor and taking it to the hole. And he needs to get stronger and prove to teams he can take some contact in the paint.
The context: Cabarkpa played for Buducnost in Montenegro, a Euroleague and YUBA league team. He's had a major role on his team the past two years. Buducnost, however, was in complete disarray all year. The ownership teetered on the verge of bankruptcy, players weren't paid for months at a time, and the upheaval was tremendous. The team went through coach after coach, and no one saw regular playing time. This was supposed to be Cabarkapa's big year; he was the team's one true star, and after playing on the gold-medal-winning Yugoslavian national team in Indianapolis, many felt it was time for Cabarkapa to bust out. Instead, he had a so-so year, struggling at times to be anything other than the guy your guard kicks out to for the open jumper. But, toward the very end of the season, Cabarkapa played some of the best basketball of his career in front of a slew of NBA scouts.
The kitchen sink: Another teammate, Aleksandar Pavlovic, may have stolen much of Cabarkapa's thunder early on. This winter, teams traveled to Montenegro to see Cabarkapa, but instead watched Pavlovic light it up. Toward the end of the season, the roles were reversed and scouts watched Cabarkapa play well while Pavlovic toiled on the bench. Cabarkapa went through two NBA workouts -- with the Suns and Lakers -- and then mysteriously returned to Serbia. Many feel he has a promise from either the Suns or Lakers. However, his representatives claim he returned home to be with his sick mother. A surprising invite to the green room, where only the top 15 or so players in the draft get to sit, really secured his status as one of the top picks in the draft.
Where will he go? The Warriors are taking a look at No. 11, so are the Celtics at No. 16, but most likely he falls to Phoenix at No. 17.
Carlos Delfino, SG, Argentina
The line: 6-7, 235, 20 years old
Pronunciation Carlos Dell-feen-o
The stats: 9.8 ppg on 49 percent shooting
NBA comparison: Michael Finley
The skinny: Delfino gets unfairly compared to Emanuel Ginobili, because they hail from the same country. Delfino is stronger, a better perimeter shooter and a tougher defender than Ginobili. He loves to put the ball in the basket and is not afraid to get physical in the paint. He's as tough as anyone in the draft. His ball-handling skills are superb, and he'll even play point guard on occasion for his team. The biggest knock on Delfino is his lack of consistency. He can be red hot one night and just disappear the next. The better the competition, the better he plays. At times he'll pass up big shots, and he struggles to guard quicker players. While he lacks the quickness off the dribble that Ginobili possesses, those in the know claim he could be an even better pro.
The context: Delfino just finished his first year with Skipper Bologna in Italy, one of the best teams in Europe and a Euroleague team. Before that, he spent two years at Reggio Calabria. He's faced the some of the best competition in Italy, widely regarded, along with Spain, to have the top hoops competition outside of the U.S. He's alternated between starting and coming off the bench all season. A serious ankle injury at the first of the year kept him out most of the second half of the season. Delfino does have some buyout issues, which means the team that drafts him could leave him in Italy for one more season.
The kitchen sink: Scouts starting following Delfino last season when he averaged 13.5 ppg for Reggio Calabria as a 19-year-old. Most teams missed him on their scouting trips to Europe this year because of the ankle injury. He got healthy after most of them went home and started to put up good numbers again. Unfortunately for Delfino, his team kept winning, and he was unable to come to the U.S. and work out. Delfino will join Argentina's national team this year just in time for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico. That's the same team, led by Emanuel Ginobili, that gave the Dream Team its first-ever international loss.
Where will he go? He could go as high as Utah at No. 19. More likely he'll be somewhere in the 25 to 27 range.
By Chad Ford
ESPN.com
Today a record 12 to 13 international players could be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Call it hype. Call it an invasion. Call it Euro-fever. But the days when America held home-court advantage in the NBA Draft are over. Loving it Live
NBA Insider Chad Ford spent weeks in Europe tracking down the top international players. Follow Ford's trips to Yugoslavia, Italy, Spain, France and his travels with Darko Milicic in New York City and Detroit:
Dec: The Yugo Diaries
May: The Euro Diaries
May: Darko in New York
May: Darko in Detroit
May: Darko in Detroit, Pt. 2
Bury your head in the sand. Wish for the good old days when draft picks walked to school, in the snow, uphill both ways eating apple pie and whistling their university's fight song.
International players aren't a trend. Trends go away.
The game has changed -- for the better. Including this year, four of the last six drafts have featured an international player as one of the top two players in the class. This year it's Darko Milicic. In 2002 it was Yao Ming. In 2001? Pau Gasol. 2000 and 1999 weren't great years for international players, but if the 1998 draft were held today, I'm pretty sure Dirk Nowitzki would go No. 1.
That's why, for the past year, NBA scouts and GMs have been wandering through Europe with travel guides, fists full of Euros, grainy Interpol photos and tattered Insider prospect reports.
Their quest? Find the next Nowitzki. Or the next Peja Stojakovic. A Vlade Divac clone would be nice. Given the current state of the draft, even a Gordan Giricek or Emanuel Ginobili will do. For many GMs, their jobs will depend on finding a diamond in the rough in Europe.
College players and even high schoolers are scouted extensively. The top U.S. prospects are plucked before they reach their junior year of college. There are very few surprises anymore. The international field, however, is still the wild west. There are still nuggets left to be unearthed.
This isn't an easy business -- especially for fans, draft experts and even a few NBA teams that don't know the difference between the Euroleague and the YMCA's Friday laywer league.
Lazy "draft experts" and old school American scouts who've never even seen any of these players in person (or on tape) are already declaring the international class a bust -- sight unseen. We all fear the unknown and for too many, their response to the globalization of basketball is to dismiss it out of hand, pretend it doesn't exist.
While NBA teams lock themselves in their war rooms cramming for their June 26 final, Insider goes deeper to give you a look at what they see. Not the superficial gloss you hear second hand. This is the juicy stuff. The context behind the player.
We've spent the last year traveling to Germany, Yugoslavia, Croatia, Spain, Italy and France along with NBA international scouting guru Tony Ronzone to get a first-hand look at 10 top international prospects: Darko Milicic, Mickael Pietrus, Florent Pietrus, Boris Diaw, Maciej Lampe, Zarko Cabarkapa, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Zoran Planinic, Malick Badiane and Slavko Vranes.
We've also spent extensive time watching Milicic and Lampe work out in the U.S. For the rest of the players in the draft, we've reviewed video tape of each.
If you can't handle the truth, stop right now. But if you're tired of fighting the future, read on ...
Malick Badiane, PF, Senegal
The line: 6-11, 225, 19 years old
Pronunciation Muh-leek Bahd-ee-en
The stats: 11.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg on 48 percent shooting
NBA comparison: Ben Wallace
The skinny: Badiane is a beast. He already has an NBA body and has tremendous strength. He's very long, but his frame is still muscular. He plays aggressively, and it pays off in rebounds and shot blocking. He runs the floor very well and is a good jumper. He has long arms and is known as a very hard worker. Offensively, he's much more raw, though his game is beginning to emerge. Several of the NBA's top African scouts feel he'll eventually become a force on the offensive end, as well. Of all of the young, African prospects to come to the NBA in the last 20 years, Badiane has the most offensive potential of any since Hakeem Olajuwon if you're willing to wait a few years.
The context: Badiane spent last season playing for T.V. Lagen in Germany. Lagen is a second-division farm team for the Opel Skyliners. The German league has gotten better over the last few years, but its second division is pretty weak. Before that he was in Senegal, where the basketball development is minimal. In other words, his experience playing pro in Germany last season can't count for too much.
The kitchen sink: Badiane emerged on the scene during an impressive showing at the ABCD camp last July. He emerged from the camp as one of the top 30 players. He actually tried to find a way to get to the United States and play high school ball last year but was ruled ineligible. A strong workout earlier this month during the Chicago pre-draft camp helped his stock. Badiane worked out with a fierce intensity that impressed many teams. After the workout he told Insider his favorite player was Ben Wallace. That's a good thing, because early in his career he's going to have to be that type of player.
Where will he go? The Hornets and Celtics have been eyeing him at No. 18 and No. 20, respectively. Doubt he slips past the Mavs at No. 29.
Leandrinho Barbosa, PG, Brazil
The line: 6-5, 185, 20 years old
Pronunciation Lee-ann-drine-o Bar-bow-sa
The stats: 28.2 ppg, 7 apg, 4 rpg on 50 percent shooting and 45 percent shooting from 3
NBA comparison: A poor-man's Gary Payton
The skinny: Barbosa is one of the biggest mysteries of the draft. He's widely considered the best player in Brazil -- receiving that mantle from the legendary Oscar Schmidt. He's very long and an explosive athlete. The thing that has scouts buzzing is the speed at which Barbosa plays for someone his size. He's constantly attacking the basket on offense and aggressively harassing his man on defense. With his long arms (6-foot-10 wingspan), he gets an unusual number of steals and blocks for a point guard. Scouts seem to be concerned about a hitch in his shot. While his long-range accuracy is sizzling, he holds the ball in front of his chest and has an unusually long release. Despite his dominance in Brazil, teams still believe he's too raw to contribute right away.
The context: Barbosa plays for Bauru Tilibra, one of the best teams in Brazil. However, that's not saying much. Most NBA scouts feel the level of competition in Brazil is very poor. That may be going a little far, but needless to say it's a pretty big step down from the top leagues in Europe. The defense in Brazil is particularly a question mark. While Barbosa himself appears aggressive on the defensive end, no one appears to be guarding him on the offensive end. That makes it especially tough to gauge how ready he is to contribute in the league.
The kitchen sink: NBA scouts got their first good look at Barbosa last summer at the World Championships. He was the team's 12th man and totaled just nine points, five assists and five rebounds in 21 minutes of play. Barbosa hired the agent who represents countryman Nene Hilario this spring and flew to Cleveland in April to begin preparing for the NBA Draft. Since then, he's been working out every day and trying to learn English. The language issue may be the biggest thing hurting him. Coaches aren't sure how comfortable they are handing the reigns of the team over to a 20-year-old kid who can't speak English. His agent, Michael Coyne, claims Barbosa's basketball english is excellent, and the rest is coming around due to two-hour-a-day English lessons.
Where will he go? He's all over the board. At one time Golden State was flirting with taking him at No. 11. That appears to be too high now. Seattle's a possibility at No. 14, the Magic at No. 15 and the Suns at No. 17. If he slips far enough, the Lakers could take a chance at No. 24, and the Pistons would give him a good look at No. 25. It's doubtful he slips past Memphis at No. 27.
Sani Becirovic, PG/SG, Slovenia
The line: 6-4, 194, 22 years old
Pronunciation Saw-knee Bah-ser-uh-vitch
The stats: 7.6 ppg on 52 percent shooting
NBA comparison: Emanuel Ginobili
The skinny: A super quick combo guard. He's an explosive scorer who also can play the point. He has a great handle and knows how to find the open man. His quickness and athleticism are top notch. He has a great feel for the game and can shoot the lights out when he's hot.
The context: Two years ago, Becirovic was a sure-fire lottery pick. At the age of 20 he was averaging more than 20 ppg in the Euroleague, and many were calling him the best Euro two guard since Drazen Petrovic. But major knee surgery put his career on hold for two years. He had the patellas in both of his knees realigned in September and is now looking to make a comeback. Before the injury Becirovic starred on Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia, one of the elite Euroleague teams. He actually averaged 20 ppg in the league when he was 19 years old.
The kitchen sink: He worked out for several teams, including the Nuggets, in Treviso, Italy, two weeks ago. They walked away impressed. Becirovic is the son of a pro basketball coach, Memi Becirovic.
Where will he go? There's no guarantee anyone takes a chance on him. But if anyone does, it will be Denver or Detroit in round two.
Zarko Cabarkapa, SF, Yugoslavia
The line: 6-11, 235, 22 years old
Pronunciation Zarko Cha-bahk-ah-pa
The stats: 14.6 ppg on 68 percent shooting and 39 percent 3-point shooting
NBA comparison: A softer Keith Van Horn
The skinny: Cabarkapa is another versatile versatile athlete who plays three positions in Europe. He's an excellent outside shooter and a superb passer. However, teams aren't sure he's capable of pulling that off in the NBA, feeling he's a little one dimensional. Despite his size, he rarely plays with his back to the basket. He's not nearly as comfortable putting the ball on the floor and taking it to the hole. And he needs to get stronger and prove to teams he can take some contact in the paint.
The context: Cabarkpa played for Buducnost in Montenegro, a Euroleague and YUBA league team. He's had a major role on his team the past two years. Buducnost, however, was in complete disarray all year. The ownership teetered on the verge of bankruptcy, players weren't paid for months at a time, and the upheaval was tremendous. The team went through coach after coach, and no one saw regular playing time. This was supposed to be Cabarkapa's big year; he was the team's one true star, and after playing on the gold-medal-winning Yugoslavian national team in Indianapolis, many felt it was time for Cabarkapa to bust out. Instead, he had a so-so year, struggling at times to be anything other than the guy your guard kicks out to for the open jumper. But, toward the very end of the season, Cabarkapa played some of the best basketball of his career in front of a slew of NBA scouts.
The kitchen sink: Another teammate, Aleksandar Pavlovic, may have stolen much of Cabarkapa's thunder early on. This winter, teams traveled to Montenegro to see Cabarkapa, but instead watched Pavlovic light it up. Toward the end of the season, the roles were reversed and scouts watched Cabarkapa play well while Pavlovic toiled on the bench. Cabarkapa went through two NBA workouts -- with the Suns and Lakers -- and then mysteriously returned to Serbia. Many feel he has a promise from either the Suns or Lakers. However, his representatives claim he returned home to be with his sick mother. A surprising invite to the green room, where only the top 15 or so players in the draft get to sit, really secured his status as one of the top picks in the draft.
Where will he go? The Warriors are taking a look at No. 11, so are the Celtics at No. 16, but most likely he falls to Phoenix at No. 17.
Carlos Delfino, SG, Argentina
The line: 6-7, 235, 20 years old
Pronunciation Carlos Dell-feen-o
The stats: 9.8 ppg on 49 percent shooting
NBA comparison: Michael Finley
The skinny: Delfino gets unfairly compared to Emanuel Ginobili, because they hail from the same country. Delfino is stronger, a better perimeter shooter and a tougher defender than Ginobili. He loves to put the ball in the basket and is not afraid to get physical in the paint. He's as tough as anyone in the draft. His ball-handling skills are superb, and he'll even play point guard on occasion for his team. The biggest knock on Delfino is his lack of consistency. He can be red hot one night and just disappear the next. The better the competition, the better he plays. At times he'll pass up big shots, and he struggles to guard quicker players. While he lacks the quickness off the dribble that Ginobili possesses, those in the know claim he could be an even better pro.
The context: Delfino just finished his first year with Skipper Bologna in Italy, one of the best teams in Europe and a Euroleague team. Before that, he spent two years at Reggio Calabria. He's faced the some of the best competition in Italy, widely regarded, along with Spain, to have the top hoops competition outside of the U.S. He's alternated between starting and coming off the bench all season. A serious ankle injury at the first of the year kept him out most of the second half of the season. Delfino does have some buyout issues, which means the team that drafts him could leave him in Italy for one more season.
The kitchen sink: Scouts starting following Delfino last season when he averaged 13.5 ppg for Reggio Calabria as a 19-year-old. Most teams missed him on their scouting trips to Europe this year because of the ankle injury. He got healthy after most of them went home and started to put up good numbers again. Unfortunately for Delfino, his team kept winning, and he was unable to come to the U.S. and work out. Delfino will join Argentina's national team this year just in time for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico. That's the same team, led by Emanuel Ginobili, that gave the Dream Team its first-ever international loss.
Where will he go? He could go as high as Utah at No. 19. More likely he'll be somewhere in the 25 to 27 range.
