Hoops Nugs: Pre-Draft Hype Edition
Could O go late 2nd?The list of invitees to this year’s NBA Pre-Draft camp have been announced and both Jamar Butler and Othello Hunter will be in attendance.
The camp gets started today as both players look to capitalize on the eyes they opened in Portsmouth last month.
While Butler is absent from the 2.3 million mock drafts littering the internets, NBADraft.net has Seattle taking Hunter with the 50th pick.
Meanwhile, Kosta Koufos has been prepping for the draft in Las Vegas at Joe Abunassar’s Impact Basketball training camp. The Plain Dealer reported Koufos has workouts scheduled with at least four teams including Miami, New York, New Jersey and Indiana. Miami and the Knicks make no sense because they have the #2 and #6 picks respectively.
The Nets (10th) and Pacers (11th) could be more viable options assuming Koufos puts on a good show. He’ll need to in order to be selected that high as most mock drafts have him going in the mid to late first round. The same mock with Hunter going 51st has Koufos to the Sonics at #24 while MyNBADraft.com has him to the Raptors at #17. Draft Express says he’ll be the 14th pick headed for Golden State.
The draft will be held June 26 at MSG.
6 Responses
Seeing how “sexy” the point guard poistion is right now, I find it hard to believe Butler won’t get drafted.
He’d fit well in Boston to spell Rondo off the bench and finally let Sam Cassell hang ‘em up.
BrotherBuck - May 28th, 2008 at 8:57 am - #
I think this camp will go a long way in determining whether Butler has a shot at getting drafted. Teams saw him perform well in Portsmouth and want to see him back it up. I know I mentioned this once before but I think one of the best things Butler has going for him is his ability to run the pick and roll. As for your comment, I’d love to see him with the C’s behind Rondo…
Chris - May 28th, 2008 at 10:27 am - #
You gotta like Hunter’s upside. If you look at his development from last year to this year it’s pretty impressive. His ability to run the court and finish on the break are definite pluses at the next level. If he continues to develop his jumper and defense he may get a shot. Butler has to be efficient running the point and knock down 3’s at this camp.
I hope they both end up somewhere. There isn’t exactly a stable of Buckeyes in the NBA so it would be nice to see more players in the league…of course after they’ve won a few NC’s for Thad:-)
Travis - May 28th, 2008 at 11:38 am - #
How do you get excited for your team drafting Koufos? I know he’s 7′ with some range on his jumper, but outside of those two factors, what makes him a good addition to your team? I just don’t see it.
Kyle - May 28th, 2008 at 1:09 pm - #
I think if there are GM’s out there who are willing to spend a first round pick to develop Kufuos, there has to be one that can see what a year or two of development can do for Hunter as well. He has only been playing organized ball for a few years now, and seems to get significantly better each season he plays.
Really rooting for he and Butler to prove they have the talent to make some serious contributions at the next level.
Tyler - May 28th, 2008 at 1:14 pm - #
Anyone else get the feeling that in ten years you’ll be sitting around a poker table with friends and you’ll say, “Hey, remember Kosta Koufos? Whatever happened to that kid?”
poguemahone - May 29th, 2008 at 8:20 pm - #
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