Operation Beast: Prospect Thread II

[moss_is_1]

I would like to get 2 wings, or Cousins and a wing(preferably Paul George).

I think Cousins would like some wings too......extra spicy.

[Krapinsky]

DSW's boner jams '10:

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Int ... nado-3504/

[The J Rocka]

MN Timberwolves twitter:

RT @jonahballow The #Twolves will workout #Cuse forward Wes Johnson tomorrow @ Target Center. Timberwolves.com w/ comprehensive coverage 36 minutes ago via web

[Devilzsidewalk]

DSW's boner jams '10:

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Int ... nado-3504/

you gotta admit though, he's one of the few DX interviews where the player is actually a down to earth nice guy, usually it involves a surly prick trying to pretend he's not one or else such a mammoth d-nozzle that they can't even fake it.

For some reason every player from Tennessee and Mississippi are nice guys. They just sit at home on the porch in their overalls smoking their doobage

[mnWI]

Somebody remind me what Whiteside's character issues are again.

[horaceworthy]

Somebody remind me what Whiteside's character issues are again.

He was late to practice and the subject of some unflattering tweets from Givony?

[Krapinsky]

Somebody remind me what Whiteside's character issues are again.

The rumor is that he has basic maturity issues. His interview snippets have fanned the flames.

[Krapinsky]

A glimpse of Whiteside's maturity --

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x ... in-the-CIT

[younggunsmn]

I thought Whiteside had a pretty good on-camera interview. If they are maturity issues, that's OK, he can work on that. But if they are character issues (drugs/violence/livestock molestion or something), those are a big red flag to me.

Pittman is an intriguing guy. I remember watching that Gopher game and thinking he'd be a lottery pick, he really was a beast. He'd be a great pick at 45, but I think he'll be gone by then, he mentioned he is working out for a lot of teams. Hopefully we can nab a decent bench big in the 2nd out of Zoubek/Pittman/Jordan/Rajulica. Greveis Vasquez might not be a bad pick there either.

[mnWI]

A glimpse of Whiteside's maturity --

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x ... in-the-CIT

Ok, if this is a glimpse show me more.

[Krapinsky]

A glimpse of Whiteside's maturity --

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x ... in-the-CIT

Ok, if this is a glimpse show me more.

I can't show you the future.

However, there was also a rumor that he was forced to go pro because he would have been academically ineligible next season. From what I can tell it's an unsubstantiated rumor, but if I worked for the Wolves it would be something I would look into.

[Saltine]

Such passion for the game, I'd sure want to give him millions of dollars...

[mnWI]

You'll find that even the players with the best track records have similar experiences to Hassan's one incident. Hell, most of this board loves the idea of getting Cousins who actually has a history of several repeat offenses and a track record far worse than that of Whiteside (Cousins is obviously the better player between the two, but Whiteside is a rare type of prospect as well).

The funny thing is, for all the media and draft site concerns over Whiteside's character, his college coach Donnie Jones says a lot of positive things about him and Hakeem Olajuwon trained him for several weeks and has told the Rockets to take him if he's there. Same goes for his other trainer Bob Hill, who says he can be Marcus Camby in his sleep. His high school coach also strongly recommends him.

Anyway, I wouldn't be posting this if I didn't spend 10 days working with him over the past month and a half and getting to know him. The fact that he is considered a character risk baffles me. You're talking about someone who refused to go out on his 21st birthday, opting instead to go to bed at 10pm. He doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, has no tattoos and is 100% loyal to his girlfriend. For the posters who have been on this site long enough, you know that if a player was a character risk I'd be the first to call him out for it, and I have no problem saying it about several players I've worked with in the past.

With Hassan, I see a kid who has never really been in the spotlight until this year and has no clue how to deal with the media. So they are quick to label him a risk because of this, without doing a lot of investigating on the matter. He's naive and too honest at this point, and also very shy around people he doesn't know. But far from a low character person or a huge personality risk.

[Tirion]

You'll find that even the players with the best track records have similar experiences to Hassan's one incident. Hell, most of this board loves the idea of getting Cousins who actually has a history of several repeat offenses and a track record far worse than that of Whiteside (Cousins is obviously the better player between the two, but Whiteside is a rare type of prospect as well).

The funny thing is, for all the media and draft site concerns over Whiteside's character, his college coach Donnie Jones says a lot of positive things about him and Hakeem Olajuwon trained him for several weeks and has told the Rockets to take him if he's there. Same goes for his other trainer Bob Hill, who says he can be Marcus Camby in his sleep. His high school coach also strongly recommends him.

Anyway, I wouldn't be posting this if I didn't spend 10 days working with him over the past month and a half and getting to know him. The fact that he is considered a character risk baffles me. You're talking about someone who refused to go out on his 21st birthday, opting instead to go to bed at 10pm. He doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, has no tattoos and is 100% loyal to his girlfriend. For the posters who have been on this site long enough, you know that if a player was a character risk I'd be the first to call him out for it, and I have no problem saying it about several players I've worked with in the past.

With Hassan, I see a kid who has never really been in the spotlight until this year and has no clue how to deal with the media. So they are quick to label him a risk because of this, without doing a lot of investigating on the matter. He's naive and too honest at this point, and also very shy around people he doesn't know. But far from a low character person or a huge personality risk.

Nice post. You've changed my opinion of Whiteside. If he's not a cancer I'd take him at #16. Also he reminds me very much of A. Randolph, so that trade would be redundant with him.

[Klomp]

However, there was also a rumor that he was forced to go pro because he would have been academically ineligible next season. From what I can tell it's an unsubstantiated rumor, but if I worked for the Wolves it would be something I would look into.

Remember someone else who went pro because he didn't have the grades for college? I believe his initials were K.G.

[Foye]

A glimpse of Whiteside's maturity --

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x ... in-the-CIT

He still managed to block 5 shots while playing effortless?

If only he could teach Al or Kevin some of that.

[Krapinsky]

However, there was also a rumor that he was forced to go pro because he would have been academically ineligible next season. From what I can tell it's an unsubstantiated rumor, but if I worked for the Wolves it would be something I would look into.

Remember someone else who went pro because he didn't have the grades for college? I believe his initials were K.G.

I agree. I am all for Whiteside. I was just informing the man what the speculation has been.

Re: grades. It could still be an issue. My concern would be whether the grades were more so to a factor of him skipping class and/or not giving a crap. But I don't know. I'm just saying it's something I would look into. KG though has a unique determination/passion for the game/work ethic that sets him apart from 99% of other players. However, there are several other examples, Derek Rose is another.

[dunkonu21]

ummm...Whiteside is nothing like Randolph

[Klomp]

The following potential 2010 NBA draft picks will be working out for the Wolves on Wednesday: Florida State center Solomon Alabi, Minnesota forward Damian Johnson, Tulsa center Jerome Jordan, Kentucky forward Daniel Orton, Russian forward/center Artem Zabelin and Duke center Brian Zoubek.

[horaceworthy]

The funny thing is, for all the media and draft site concerns over Whiteside's character, his college coach Donnie Jones says a lot of positive things about him and Hakeem Olajuwon trained him for several weeks and has told the Rockets to take him if he's there. Same goes for his other trainer Bob Hill, who says he can be Marcus Camby in his sleep. His high school coach also strongly recommends him.

Is that predecessor to Popovich Bob Hill?

Interesting stuff. I'm guessing that there wouldn't have been much talk on the board about Whiteside's character if not for Twitter. Otherwise something like showing up for the combine in flip flops would be seen as quirky rather than a character flaw. For a guy like Whiteside who I don't think had any of his game broadcast on a channel outside the 700's by Comcast, opinions from someone like Givony tend to take on more meaning than they should.