Why aren't we talking about Rush at 8?

[Fort Minor]

Rush @ 8 would be fine with me.

I really, really, really like him.

I'm with Mid and Europa. But maybe that's just because I'm not that into Joe Alexander (yet), and REALLY dislike the idea of drafting Randolph.

[MilBucksBackOnTop06]

If you were reading...

I mentioned Rush going to us in here last week, if we get another mid round first round pick.

He'd make an excellent selection for someone who needs another jump shooter, but that is really all he is.

A jumper shooter. A glorified Chris Mills...

The 8th pick is too high for a shooting specialist. He can guard some, but that is all he seems to be to me.

A shooting star...Good player and winner.

[MilBucksBackOnTop06]

Europa, I just don't want another 6'6" SF. If he is a #2 then I'm a little more open to him. CDR is a 6'7" #2.

When I watched the NCAA championship game, Rush looked both taller and longer than CDR. I couldn't find their measurements, but I'm fairly certain that this is indeed the case. Give me Rush - but not at 8. I'm pushing for a CV for a late lotto pick trade (GS at #14 or Sacto at #12) so we can get both Rush and Alexander/Randolph.

We dont need to go that young in this draft. Select one guy! Then move down...to get OJ Mayo if you like him to rival Derrick Rose in Chicago.

It's that simple. Then you decide to move Mo and bring in Artest a hard-nosed amped up beast who can do it all and go to war with him.

Then use trades and free agency to fill in your other needs. Go after a James Posey or a Mickeal Pietrus or Elton Brand or what not and be done with it...

Then you could try to build around Mayo/Gordon and Bogut and choose between Villanueva and Yi...

But if Chicago drafts Rose then we need to get Mayo or Gordon to offset that...in the East. Kidd is gone from New Jersey, and Marbury will be gone from Knicks.

Orlando has not found a true point yet. The Cavs have Delonte and Boobie Gibson. And the up and coming Hawks might have a fix in Acie Law and look out. Toronto has a great combo in your boy TJ Ford and Jose Calderon.

So to compete we had better join them and get an elite playmaker as well in the wide open East I think.

I am now down with either OJ Mayo if you can get him or Eric Gordon and find a way to bring in a Donte Greene if you can?

I know I just contradict myself which I rarely every do... but if you are gonna get two young guns from this draft then you need to launch Mo,Villanueva, and perhaps Redd and a few fillers for sure...

I am not sure that is how you build with Scott Skiles but the Bulls were all pretty young when he went there as well. Gordon and Hinrich and Nocioni wer all rookies...so you could go that route.

Better to get him a fresh guy who can be taught then to have a hold over roster of guys who dont care like this team is made up of today...

It would be best for him to get a whole new cast in here to buy into what he is saying and wants. But not at the sake of losing long term.

I have shifted gears a bit...I still like Gordon who we can not tryout unfortunately. But I am game to see us move up and take Mayo if the Bulls take Rose...

That is a young rivalry for your a-- if that goes down, of Isiah Thomas vs Magic Johnson type marquee matchup proportions...

Derrick Rose Chicago Bull vs OJ Mayo Milwaukee Buck!!!

Ok, perhaps I am a bit melodramatic here...but I could go for that.

[Simulack]

Here's another statistical analysis which includes a section on Rush:

http://www.hoopsanalyst.com/0708ew15.htm

9. Brandon Rush, Kansas: Rush has the same low scoring issues as Weaver. Because he’s a player on a team full of scorers, I tend to give him somewhat of a break here. But the fact remains that very few SGs with a P40 below 20 ever amount to anything beyond a marginal player. Rush has been a mainstay in the Jayhawk lineup for 3 seasons now. A look at his career suggests there are more problems here than simply a weak scorer. Here are his numbers:

[See link]

He doesn’t score with nearly enough efficiency to be considered much of a prospect. Rush’s shooting percentages have declined all 3 seasons. He wasn’t an efficient scorer to begin with and his 2-point pct. is dangerously low. Of all the SG prospects this year, only Chris Lofton and Alex Harris were lower. This is something that could be forgiven if he were a freshman or if this were a one season aberration, but he’s been an inefficient scorer for all three seasons of his college career now and his numbers are declining. The first thing to look at with SGs is whether they can score both often and efficiently. Rush has done neither in any of his 3 seasons. He is a good defender and it’s not hard to see him succeeded as a gunner/defender in the NBA. But his prospect numbers are truly bad. If he hadn’t played on the national stage, I doubt his name would even be mentioned as a serious prospect.

Although I think the last sentence is just hyperbole and the commentary arguably gives too much weight to offense, I'd be very bummed if Rush somehow ended up being our pick at #8. Even if we move down or trade for an extra mid-first rounder, I'd much, much prefer to take a high potential player like Speights or snag a valuable backup C like Hibbert than use a pick on Rush.

[BuckedRocket]

personally, i like rush a lot.
why aren't we talking about him at 8? pretty simple if you ask me, we can trade down getting him and something else of decent value instead of using a pick that's deemed "too high" for him.

[drew881]

Trading down is only worth it if we can get something good in return. What are we realistically going to get by dropping 3-6 spots? Everyone who is saying trade down should justify that move by saying what we actually GET by trading down, other than "appropriately" drafting X player in the proper spot.

I think the only situation that we should trade down is if someone is still on the board that we don't need (Lopez, Love) and then we trade down a spot or two and get a decent veteran player swapped for Mason. Would it be possible to trade 8 plus Mason (or Simmons) for say Fransisco Garcia and Sac's pick?

Or a similar trade with Portland that would land us Outlaw and Jack, which would allow us to take a CDR/Rush player, trade Mo, and unload Bobby the year after.

Jack, Sessions
Redd, Bell
Outlaw, CDR, Simmons
Yi, Haslem
Bogut

Then note we would have players in trade for Mo (this year for say Haslem), CV traded for someone as well, and then Simmons is an expiring pick the next summer when he is worth something.

[europa]

Jay Bilas was on ESPN a couple of hours ago and when asked whose stock was rising he responded by saying Rush's. He said he thinks Rush will be an "outstanding" NBA player. Just one guy's opinion obviously.

[xTitan]

Europa, I just don't want another 6'6" SF. If he is a #2 then I'm a little more open to him. CDR is a 6'7" #2.

When I watched the NCAA championship game, Rush looked both taller and longer than CDR. I couldn't find their measurements, but I'm fairly certain that this is indeed the case. Give me Rush - but not at 8. I'm pushing for a CV for a late lotto pick trade (GS at #14 or Sacto at #12) so we can get both Rush and Alexander/Randolph.

Actually I believed Rush was measured at 6'6" in his shoes.....Rush will be 2 guard in the NBA not a sf. Jay Bilas tonight said he was a fan of Rush because of his ability to shoot, but he will end up being a 2 guard.

[europa]

I think his best position will be SG but I also believe his defensive skills will enable him to play both wing positions. So if the Bucks were to get him (which unfortunately I don't believe will happen) they could either play him at SG if Redd was traded or play him at SF until the time came when Redd was traded.

[Scoops]

I compare Rush to Paul Pierce, mainly because they both went to Kansas and look alike, but also their games are similar. Both about the same size, can hit the jumper, solid all around. Pierce maybe better inside and in the post but Rush may develop that over time. I really hope we take him.

LOL, at it already being decided that he's not a star.

[msiris]

I compare Rush to Paul Pierce, mainly because they both went to Kansas and look alike, but also their games are similar. Both about the same size, can hit the jumper, solid all around. Pierce maybe better inside and in the post but Rush may develop that over time. I really hope we take him.

LOL, at it already being decided that he's not a star.

Not even close.

[Scoops]

I compare Rush to Paul Pierce, mainly because they both went to Kansas and look alike, but also their games are similar. Both about the same size, can hit the jumper, solid all around. Pierce maybe better inside and in the post but Rush may develop that over time. I really hope we take him.

LOL, at it already being decided that he's not a star.

Not even close.

Oh, not even close. Care to elaborate or will a smiley suffice?

[Bernman]

I was thinking about Rush, and who he reminds me of, and I conjured up an earlier version of Brent Barry. Rush will never be a superstar or even a star. He just doesn't have that will to be great. He's more of a support player who deferred to Chalmers, Wright, etc.; at Kansas. But he's a very efficient player with a lot of tools. If you can justify taking Brent Barry with the 8th pick in a draft, fine, but I have my sights set on players who have a better chance at making an impact.

[LUKE23]

I was thinking about Rush, and who he reminds me of, and I conjured up an earlier version of Brent Barry. Rush will never be a superstar or even a star. He just doesn't have that will to be great. He's more of a support player who deferred to Chalmers, Wright, etc.; at Kansas. But he's a very efficient player with a lot of tools. If you can justify taking Brent Barry with the 8th pick in a draft, fine, but I have my sights set on players who have a better chance at making an impact.

Agreed. Solid is nice to have, but I'll take the player that can swing more in either direction (risk of bust vs. reward of higher production), especially on this roster.

[Nebula1]

Nice thread. I didn't see it earlier.

Back in the day, I was hoping we could swing a deal with New Jersey and pick up both Rush and CDR. I think both will be solid pros, but CDR has that something special.

[Mike X]

Good article about Rush on Yahoo. If we trade down could be worth taking

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news;_ylt=AjA6KwbsFLUEZZ4vC.Ckw7G8vLYF?slug=jn-rush062408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

CHICAGO – The NBA draft is still a few days away, but as Brandon Rush lounges on the sofa of his Chicago apartment, the former Kansas guard is already busy fulfilling his first professional contract.

A memorabilia company is paying Rush $4,000 to autograph 800 trading cards by the end of the summer. Last night he made it through 75 before his eyelids got heavy. Today he’s hoping to knock out 100 more.

“I’ve got nothing better to do right now,” Rush says, “and it’s easy money.”

Rush better get used to it.

Perhaps more than any player, Rush’s draft stock has soared since NBA teams began conducting individual workouts early this month. Once pegged as a late first- or early second-round selection, Rush is now expected to be taken anywhere from No. 11 to No. 17 in Thursday’s draft.

“Brandon Rush,” one Western Conference scout says, “showed us dimensions in his game that we never knew existed. He could help our team immediately.”

Such remarks are common among the NBA coaches and general managers who have watched the 6-foot-6 Rush work out in person during the last month. The comments couldn’t be more welcome.




After all, during the past seven years, Rush has grown used to criticism. Not praise.

The high school principal who said he wouldn’t amount to squat … the recruiting analysts who labeled him “uncoachable” and wondered if he’d ever be as good as older brothers JaRon and Kareem … the fans with the “Rush Can’t Read” signs and the doctors who questioned whether he’d bounce back from offseason ACL surgery.

“The list (of detractors) goes on and on,” says William Bazzle, Rush’s advisor and longtime friend. “Other than O.J. Mayo, I don’t know if there’s a player in this draft that’s been scrutinized for as long a period of time as Brandon.

“He’s had to prove himself over and over and over. He always believed in himself. Now – finally – I think everyone else believes in him, too.”



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Shortly before midnight Saturday, Rush lifted his travel bag from the carousel at Chicago’s O’Hare airport and headed toward the parking lot. Rush is known around Kansas’ campus for walking and sending text messages at the same time but, on this night, after a three-hour flight from Portland, he moved briskly to the car.

“Let’s go,” he says as he plops into the passenger seat. “I’m ready to get to the crib.”

It’s easy to understand why Rush is fatigued.

In May he signed a short-term lease on a 35th-floor apartment overlooking downtown Chicago so he could train with Tim Grover, the man who for years worked exclusively with Michael Jordan.

Lately, though, Rush’s home has been an airplane or a hotel room.

Phoenix, Sacramento, Toronto, Orlando, New Jersey. Rush has worked out for 12 teams since June 3. Each workout called for Rush to engage in one-on-one drills with another player in the draft such as Chris Douglas-Roberts, Shan Foster, Chase Budinger or even Mario Chalmers, his former Kansas teammate.

After each session Rush sent the same text message to Bazzle or childhood friend Tim Blackwell: “I put ‘em in the trunk today.”

“In these workouts … I’ve been doing these cats,” Rush says. “Teams are seeing a lot of things from me that they never saw when I was at Kansas.”

Indeed, Rush’s role was limited during his time with the Jayhawks, and he was fine with that.

A big reason Kansas won the national title was because Rush sacrificed his individual stats and bought into Bill Self’s team concept. Rarely did Rush force a bad shot or dribble into traffic. Even though he led the team in scoring during each of his three seasons, there were times when Rush was criticized for being too passive by settling for three-pointers.

“One thing I got really sick of during the season was people telling me I needed to be more aggressive,” Rush says. “I’d smile and say the right things, but really I wanted to say, ‘Shut the hell up. You don’t have any idea what it’s like to play on a team like this … a team full of superstars.’

“Playing for Kansas is different than playing for other schools. We didn’t need a guy to go out there and take the game into his own hands. That would’ve hurt the team … not helped it.”

Still, because he was holding back, draft prognosticators had him going in the second round throughout most of the regular season. But that changed once Rush began his individual workouts.

All of a sudden he started putting the ball on the floor and beating his opponents off the dribble. He worked to improve his skills in the paint, where he could use his size to create matchup problems with smaller shooting guards. Even Rush’s left hand – long considered a weakness –has improved dramatically through hard work at Grover’s Attack Athletics Training Center.

“This isn’t a knock on Brandon,” Grover says, “but he gives the appearance that he’s going through things so effortlessly. He’s so graceful and athletic out there that he just glides. It looks like he’s not working hard when, really, he is.”

NBA teams like Rush for other reasons, too.

While some players have measured shorter than their listed height, Rush is legitimately 6-6 with arms that hang down to his knees. Defensively, he’s one of the better players in the draft, as scouts repeatedly reference two of his performances against Kevin Durant last season.

“The good thing about Rush,” one scout says, “is that he can come in and help someone right off the bat. On the right team, he could play a lot of minutes immediately because he’s so seasoned.”

It’s also well-known that Rush was one of the most popular players among his teammates at Kansas, the school he almost never attended. Rush entered the draft out of high school but withdrew when it became clear he wouldn’t be a first-round pick. Rush declared after his sophomore year in 2007 but tore his ACL a few days before the pre-draft camp.

“I’ve had a lot of GMs tell me that going to Kansas was the best thing for me,” Rush says. “They say I look like a completely different player than I did coming out of high school.”



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Late last month, in preparation for Kansas’ trip to the White House to meet the President, Rush went to Rochester’s Big & Tall shop on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile and purchased a $1,000 suit.

“No more baggy pants and no more ball caps, no more hip-hop,” recalled the saleswoman who fitted Rush. “When he put that suit on you couldn’t see his tattoos. He looked like a professional young man.”

Rush smiled upon hearing those comments.

“It’s a part of life I’ve got to live right now,” he says. “I can’t wear white T’s all the time anymore. I’ve got to dress up and get used to that kind of thing. I guess I’ve got to change my image a little bit.”

Not that it needs much repairing, especially when you compare it to the perception folks had of Rush when he signed with the Jayhawks in the summer of 2005.

By that point, Rush had attended four high schools. One of them – Westport High School in Kansas City – banned him permanently following a series of suspensions during his sophomore year for missing classes and failing to turn in assignments.

Rush transferred to Mount Zion Academy in North Carolina and eventually signed with the Jayhawks, but fans were skeptical because of his older brothers.

JaRon Rush is arguably the greatest player in Kansas City high school history. But he made a foolish decision to enter the NBA following his second year at UCLA and wasn’t selected and has battled alcohol problems ever since.

Kareem starred at Missouri and eventually played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets, who cut him in 2006 after accusing him of having a poor work ethic. He now plays for the Indiana Pacers.

“Everyone compares him to his brothers,” says Rush’s grandmother, Jeannette Jacobs. “But what people don’t know is that they were never that close. JaRon is six years older than Brandon and Kareem is five years older. They were always out of town playing AAU in the summer and Brandon was by himself.

“Even when I took Brandon to their high school games he hardly paid attention.”

Brandon, though, certainly took notice when JaRon and Kareem were caught accepting money from their AAU coach. The situation led to college suspensions for both players and caused others to wonder if Brandon would also fall victim to similar temptations.

“Kareem and I never talked to him about the pressures that go along with being a Rush … mainly because we didn’t know he was going to be so good,” JaRon says. “He’s handled it well, though.

“One of my main goals, and I think I speak for Kareem on this, too, is to keep improving my relationship with Brandon. I think it’s gotten pretty good over the last few years.”

Bazzle, who has known Rush since he was 14, says he can’t see how Rush could’ve handled the scrutiny that’s followed him any better.

“Brandon proved himself time and time again,” Bazzle says. “Everyone always wanted to see how he’d react to this or how he’d react to that. They kept waiting for him to fail.”

He pauses.

“With the way people were watching Brandon,” Bazzle says, “everything with him had to be perfect. He couldn’t afford to slip up on anything … and he didn’t.”



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Back at The Sterling Apartments in Chicago, Rush is taking a break from his signing session.

A friend has come to town for a visit, and the two order a pizza from Marcello’s. DVDs such as “SemiPro” and “21 Grams” rest near a 40-inch plasma, and there are always things such as FaceBook and MySpace to pass the time.

“The days are going by too slow,” says Rush, cracking open a bottle of Vitamin Water. “All this sitting around is making me nervous.”

Most mock drafts have Rush going 15th overall to Phoenix. At worst, he figures he’ll go 17th to Toronto.

“I just want to go somewhere that’s a good fit, somewhere where I can play a lot,” Rush says.

“I need to do well those first few years so I can get a second contract and set myself up for life.”

Yes, Rush is about to be a millionaire. He says he’ll probably buy a black Escalade and a few chains, but other than that he has no plans for any lavish purchases. He hired former Kansas player Doug Elstun to manage his finances because he “wants to be smart” with his money.

One expense Rush has already incurred is for the suit he’ll wear on draft night. It’s tan with a creme-colored shirt and brown shoes.

“It’ll go well with my skin,” Rush says. “I want to look clean. It’s a big night, but I’m ready to get it over with. Hopefully there are bigger things ahead.”

Jason King is a college football and basketball writer for Yahoo! Sports. Send Jason a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.