Victor Claver declares for 2009 draft!

cdcastellon1 · Post #1 » by **cdcastellon1** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:35 am

Link > http://www.solobasket.com/news/victor/c ... 21222.html

"Spanish ACB's Pamesa Valencia has informed that his player Victor Claver will enter the 2009 NBA Draft. Claver is a Small Forward born in 1988 and 6-9 foot tall.

He already entered the 2008 draft, but he withdrawn last season some days before the deadline. This has been a complicated season for him, since he got injured in December, after having had a great season start.

In his third season under a pro contract with Pamesa he had been the scoring and rebounding leader of his team. He alse led in the U22 ranking of the Spanish ACB.

But the ankle injury got him off the courts until some weeks ago, when he returned to action. He has still not fully recovery, though. Claver is trying to get back in fit before the ACB playoffs start in two weeks, but still has to improve his physical condition.

Claver follows the steps of the exciting Spanish prospect Ricky Rubio into the early entry candidates for the next draft, but will have to convince the NBA franchises of his high-flying, top class style of play or withdraw again from the list. There is an special factor in his case: His contract with Pamesa expires this summer, so it would mean a buyout is not necessary for him."

6-9 spanish SF/PF (PAMESA VALENCIA). Considered the next stater SF for Spain (after Jimenez retired from National Team). The kid was going to declare in 2010 draft, but he decided yesterday to test waters and check if any franchise is interested on him in this draft. He already work out for the Blazers the least season.

This season, the kid had an impressive start of the season before he injuried his knee and missed the next 4 months. He is back since 2 weeks to play for the ACB Playoffs. Considered a first round pick by Draftexpress and Nbadraft. There are plenty of youtube highlights and info in those 2 sites.

Imo a sure shot to first round pick 2009.

vincecarter4pres · Post #2 » by **vincecarter4pres** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:51 am

Was there really any need for an exclamation point in the title?

All joking aside, can you say next Portland overseas pick?

sorokii · Post #3 » by **sorokii** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:17 am

Bad decision in my opinion. He has been injured a big part of the season, thus at the beginning was ranked around medium-end (18º-24º) of the first round of the mocks and now has even dissapeared from 2nd round.

He is a solid prospect, but if he wants to be something in the NBA must wait one or two years, at least.

cdcastellon1 · Post #4 » by **cdcastellon1** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:18 am

vincecarter4pres wrote:Was there really any need for an exclamation point in the title?

All joking aside, can you say next Portland overseas pick?

He was expected to skip declaring this draft

sorokii wrote:Bad decision in my opinion. He has been injured a big part of the season, thus at the beginning was ranked around medium-end (18º-24º) of the first round of the mocks and now has even dissapeared from 2nd round.

He is a solid prospect, but if he wants to be something in the NBA must wait one or two years, at least.

He is still ranked as first round pick in some 2010 mockraft (Dx) . A younger player declaring for 2009 instead should give some potential "upside" in this draft imo.

I will admit he should be staying at least 1 more season in Europe. The Blazers could draft him imo. (#24 pick if i remember, and 4 second round picks)

Liqourish · Post #5 » by **Liqourish** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:40 pm

I really like Claver. Detroit was interested in him last year before he withdrew. If there is good news about his rehab, I could see him being a late 1st early 2nd round pick.

FutureKnicksGM · Post #6 » by **FutureKnicksGM** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:55 am

vincecarter4pres wrote:
All joking aside, can you say next Portland overseas pick?

+1, first thing i thought when i heard he had declared.

brassviews · Post #7 » by **brassviews** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:02 am

Portland already has Joel Freeland as well as Martell Webster.

I can't see them drafting Claver.

sergio_5_ · Post #8 » by **sergio_5_** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:17 am

Claver, next year will be lottery pick

Genjuro · Post #9 » by **Genjuro** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:59 pm

PopularByDemand wrote:Portland already has Joel Freeland as well as Martell Webster.

I can't see them drafting Claver.

Freeland is a big man. Claver is a clear-cut small forward in the NBA, at least in his first years. But since they already have Batum, it wouldn't make much sense.

pad300 · Post #10 » by **pad300** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 6:15 pm

IIRC he has another withdrawal left. This is just getting his name out there again. I expect he wil withdraw at the deadline, and try and be healthy next year, when he will be at the age limit (and therefore be forced in).

ponder276 · Post #11 » by **ponder276** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:19 pm

Hopefully he withdraws. Looks like he has a lot of potential (upside = Rashard Lewis?), but with the knee injury he didn't really get to show what he can do, and teams are probably gonna be cautious. With him being a bit of a risky pick, and with lots of solid talent near the end of the 1st round (Draft Express have guys like Daye at 23, Lawal at 24, Sam Young at 25, Hansbrough at 26 and Collison at 27), he could easily slip into the 2nd round. If he stays in Europe another year and proves himself, you'd have to think he could be a potential lotto pick with his great size, solid skill level and solid athleticism.

mg · Post #12 » by mg » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:46 pm

Next year is a deeper draft so I doubt Claver gets into the 2010 lottery even if he has a good season in Europe. If he stays in this draft I could see one of the teams at the end of the first round selecting Claver and stashing him overseas for a year or two. All it takes is one team to fall in love like Oklahoma City did with Ibaka last year.

Too bad he got injured because he has a higher ceiling than Sam Young, Hansbrough, etc. but the college seniors can produce right away while the team drafting Claver will have to wait a year or two.

SportsFan215 · Post #13 » by **SportsFan215** » Fri May 1, 2009 12:34 am

I really like this kid. He could turn into a good player on the right team.

vincecarter4pres · Post #14 » by **vincecarter4pres** » Fri May 1, 2009 9:25 am

BTW, what's the latest with Ibaka? He was the French PF/C, correct?

cdcastellon1 · Post #15 » by **cdcastellon1** » Fri May 1, 2009 11:38 am

vincecarter4pres wrote:BTW, what's the latest with Ibaka? He was the French PF/C, correct?

He is from Congo, but developed as a player in Spain.

He just ended his season with Ricoh Manresa, not qualifying for the playoffs.

He averaged something like 7 ppg 5 rpg 17 mpg with good %. Next season he will play more mintues for sure, he won those extra minutes. A Good season.

diggity_88 · Post #16 » by **diggity_88** » Wed May 6, 2009 2:52 am

Sac town should pick him and Rubio up with their first round picks.

Rubio
Martin
Noc(with calver developing off the bench) but Sac has nothing but time anyways so it shouldnt be a problem
Thompson
Hawes

seems like a pretty solid starting 5 in a couple of years, if Claver can focus on his D, and become a specialist since he has the tools to be one.