2006 NBA Draft Preview
2006 NBA Draft Picks Preview
Who will go first
This year’s class has some promising players, with four names usually making it to the top—LaMarcus Aldridge, Andrea Bargnani, Adam Morrison and Tyrus Thomas. Here’s what they look like.
LaMarcus Aldridge
Aldridge is a power forward/center who stands 6’ 11” and weighs 245 pounds. Presently a sophomore at Texas, Aldridge, a power forward/center, is a big man and big men are both essential and rare in the NBA.
• Runs the floor well, hits from 12 feet and closer, good
at shot blocking.
• A finesse player with soft hands.
• Well schooled in the fundamentals.
His toughness and determination inside are questionable. Can he add 10-15 more pounds, take nasty lessons and develop a hard shell? The answers to those questions may be the difference between Aldridge becoming a super star and a very good player.
Andrea Bargnani
From Italy, Bargnani is a 6’ 11” power forward who has been compared to Dirk Nowitzki. In International ball the 21 year-old is known as a playmaker.
• Runs well and is fast. He has good foot work.
• Good shot, with a quick release.
• Sound shot blocker.
Like Aldridge, there’s concern regarding his light frame and strength. Not very good at finding basket on the turn around and favors his right hand too much. He can build on his solid shot mechanics to become an inside guy with good quickness.
Adam Morrison
Morrison, from Gonzaga, can take control of the floor and has the potential to be one of the best swingmen in the game at SG/SF. He’s a tough competitor who brings his game every night.
• Strong offensive general.
• Smart player with many intangibles.
• Seems to always find a way to score.
Morrison is not the best athlete in the draft, and he has a tough time with lateral movement when on defense. He’s not very quick in the transition game. His determined play and sound fundamentals should serve him well in the NBA.
Tyrus Thomas
As a power forward, this LSU freshman possesses great jumping ability and a smooth turn around jumper.
• A phenomenal dunk shot artist.
• Long arms make the most and more of his 6’ 9”
frame.
• Fine court vision and a very good passer.
Thomas might be best served spending more time on the college court. He’s got a lot of raw talent but needs a good 20-25 pounds of muscle added to his body before he can bang on the NBA boards.
It’ll be interesting to see where these four players go
in the draft, especially the two biggest risks—Thomas
and Bargnani.
