RealGM

Posted: **Tue Apr 8, 2008 7:11 pm**

I go to UF and Billy Donovan just announced he is entering the draft (though without signing an agent for now). He could slide to us in the draft... could he be a good pickup? He has incredible talent (more than Noah IMO) just needs a little work on his aggressiveness and stamina. But he can score (even outside shots) and rebound extremely well.

What do you all think?

Posted: **Tue Apr 8, 2008 7:13 pm**

Yes, he is better than Noah.

No, he will not drop to us. He's a lottery pick.

Posted: **Tue Apr 8, 2008 7:15 pm**

good prospect, that kid has a nice shot...not sure ho he would fit in, but he's worth a look...i think we just need a real aggressive big man if we go that route...

Posted: **Tue Apr 8, 2008 8:19 pm**

karma, you widows peak mother ****

Posted: **Tue Apr 8, 2008 9:53 pm**

Hey Eric, you go to UF as well, i work for the radio station at am850 and talked about that story on air. How did you hear about it, just wondering.

Posted: **Tue Apr 8, 2008 10:08 pm**

His work ethic will have to be overcome.

I think he's a 1st rounder, but not a lottery pick.

Posted: **Tue Apr 8, 2008 10:56 pm**

lottery pick my ass

Posted: **Wed Apr 9, 2008 12:20 am**

I saw him up at southwest in gainesville a couple weeks ago.. he has good size and a reasonable jumper. I see him as maybe a more offensive udonis haslem. I wouldnt say hes better than Noah, Noah has been solid since hes been in the starting lineup.

Either way Ill take him at our pick because its late, but I doubt he will drop.

Posted: **Wed Apr 9, 2008 1:15 am**

thefranchise2k5 wrote:Hey Eric, you go to UF as well, i work for the radio station at am850 and talked about that story on air. How did you hear about it, just wondering.

I saw it on the Alligator Alley message board on gatorbait.net

Posted: **Wed Apr 9, 2008 8:06 am**

I don't know....I thought his lack of aggressiveness on the boards (maybe his consistency more than total lack of agressiveness) and on defense was one of the reasons that the Gators struggled this season. He's no Al Horford yet.

I don't think he's a lost cause, but I think he should stay in college at least one more season and let Donovan coach him up because I don't think he's ready yet.

Posted: **Wed Apr 9, 2008 1:18 pm**

lovehoops01 wrote:I don't know....I thought his lack of aggressiveness on the boards (maybe his consistency more than total lack of agressiveness) and on defense was one of the reasons that the Gators struggled this season. He's no Al Horford yet.

I don't think he's a lost cause, but I think he should stay in college at least one more season and let Donovan coach him up because I don't think he's ready yet.

There probably is not a bigger GATOR fan on this Board than me. I watch every game and attend when possible. Every bone in my body is "homer". However, I think Speights would be a mistake. He needs another year in college. He looks good against poor competition and looks poor against good competition. He got worked by at least 4-5 different PFs in the SEC this year. He was consistently outworked by Tennessee's mor athletic PFs. He was schooled by Townes at Arkansas, Rhodes and Varnado at Miss St. Curtis at Ol Miss and had one good game against Olgilvy at Vanderbilt (who I think is also overrated). Against Kentucky he didnt even show up for that game and they had their best player out. That game cost Florida a trip to the NCAA.

IMHO this is a big mistake for Speights and he will be a 3-4 year project for the MAGIC. Financially he has to do what is right for his family though.

Posted: **Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:32 pm**

surflawyer wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

There probably is not a bigger GATOR fan on this Board than me. I watch every game and attend when possible. Every bone in my body is "homer". However, I think Speights would be a mistake. He needs another year in college. He looks good against poor competition and looks poor against good competition. He got worked by at least 4-5 different PFs in the SEC this year. He was consistently outworked by Tennessee's mor athletic PFs. He was schooled by Townes at Arkansas, Rhodes and Varnado at Miss St. Curtis at Ol Miss and had one good game against Olgilvy at Vanderbilt (who I think is also overrated). Against Kentucky he didnt even show up for that game and they had their best player out. That game cost Florida a trip to the NCAA.

IMHO this is a big mistake for Speights and he will be a 3-4 year project for the MAGIC. Financially he has to do what is right for his family though.

Even though I posted the topic because I thought it would be interesting to have him in the Magic, I couldn't agree more that he should stay one more year to work on his game.

Posted: **Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:21 pm**

surflawyer wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

There probably is not a bigger GATOR fan on this Board than me. I watch every game and attend when possible. Every bone in my body is "homer". However, I think Speights would be a mistake. He needs another year in college. He looks good against poor competition and looks poor against good competition. He got worked by at least 4-5 different PFs in the SEC this year. He was consistently outworked by Tennessee's mor athletic PFs. He was schooled by Townes at Arkansas, Rhodes and Varnado at Miss St. Curtis at Ol Miss and had one good game against Olgilvy at Vanderbilt (who I think is also overrated). Against Kentucky he didnt even show up for that game and they had their best player out. That game cost Florida a trip to the NCAA.

IMHO this is a big mistake for Speights and he will be a 3-4 year project for the MAGIC. Financially he has to do what is right for his family though.

Agreed 100%. I'm also a Gator and went to every home game and watched all the other games.

In Speights defense, he didn't have another big guy next to him most of the time, so he was basically relied on to do the majority of the rebounding and be the interior defender. Werner helped out on the glass , but he's not a traditional PF. It always seemed like the few times that he played with Alex Tyus, he played better, when he wasn't the only focus under the basket of opposing teams. I think he would improve with another big guy next to him, which is the main reason why I want him to return, but I respect his decision and like you said he should do what's best for him and his family.

There could be a lot worse picks at our pick, but I probably would pass on him if he's there. I think he'd be a pretty good fit in Chicago though where they need a low post guy that can score.

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Marreese Speights

Marreese Speights