2010 NBA Draft Player Spotlight COLE ALDRICH

dre_1614 · Post #1 » by **dre_1614** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 7:16 pm

Ill be doing a number of these leading up till the draft with players I think could help this team. Ill be putting up websites with scouting reports first, youtube videos, and will try and watch a few games of each prospect during the season. Then ill give a report on how they could fit in this team..

First guy I would like to talk about is......

Cole Aldrich 6'11" 250lbs Center Kansas Jayhawks Junior

DraftExpress profile http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Cole-Aldrich-1250/
NBA Draft profile http://www.nbadraft.net/players/cole-aldrich

Kansas vs UNC 2008 Final 4 Aldrich highlights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7WvGTHYNPY
Kansas vs Washington 2008 Aldrich highlights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOy-j5eoJ20
Cole at a kid's Basketball Camp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np6kZcEVFkU
Aldrich Mix Tape http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4trsJcFNkw

First thing you notice in these videos is how physical he is and his non stop energy. Shows a great wingspan and toughness about him. Looks like he has good explosion and fairly athletic. Low post banger with shot blocking tools, good post defense, and a developing offensive game. Compares to Joel Przybilla with more athleticism and potentially better offensive game.

Here will be my scouting report from a few of the games Ill catch of Kansas this coming season, so check back later for that..................

Up next is a freakishly long PF/C from Europe named DONATAS MOTIEJUNAS.........Should be out next week

Post #2 » by **wizkid27** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 8:38 pm

Thanks for spending some time to put these together. We'll have at least one lottery pick and 2 in the 1st round this offseason, so it's nice to know who all is out there

Post #3 » by **slick_watts** » Sun Nov 8, 2009 4:23 am

You nailed it on the comparison, this guy is a clone of Joel Przbilla. Aldrich is big and is a tough guy, I think he'd fit in well with this team.

NashtyNas · Post #4 » by **NashtyNas** » Sun Nov 8, 2009 6:40 pm

slick_watts wrote:You nailed it on the comparison, this guy is a clone of Joel Przbilla. Aldrich is big and is a tough guy, I think he'd fit in well with this team.

+1. Although I do think he could develop a better offensive game than Pryz.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #5 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:38 am

Sorry I haven't updated it yet. I was going to do a report on DONATAS MOTIEJUNAS but he doesn't really fit into our plans, so the next guy I'm going to do is Derrick Favors, look for that sometime in the next few weeks. I also watched a couple games of Cole Aldrich and Ed Davis on ESPN 360, which is awesome if you missed the game or don't get ESPN on TV. There are archives of a lot of college basketball games. I have a ID and PW if you don't get ESPN360 that I can give you to use. Its not mine but it works. PM if you would like it. Anyways ill be writing up my scouting report on Cole after watching his game again. Look for that in the next few days.

oh and btw I am dre_1614 thread creator.

Clangus · Post #6 » by **Clangus** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:07 am

Just curious, what drafting position are you basing these players on?

dream_catcher_9 · Post #7 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:27 am

Clangus wrote:Just curious, what drafting position are you basing these players on?

Cole Aldrich will most likely be a top 5 pick. Derrick Favors will most likely be a top 3 pick. Ed Davis is more of a top 6-10 pick.

diggity_88 · Post #8 » by **diggity_88** » Wed Dec 2, 2009 8:50 pm

I really like this guy. I think he'd be a perfect fit for the Thunder. Once you guys get that defensive center, its a wrap.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #9 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Wed Dec 9, 2009 6:37 am

Watched Cole's game vs UCLA and went back and watched his game vs Memphis, and he is everything I said in my first post. Great motor with toughness and solid athleticism. He doesn't look all that athletic but he is, quick and light on his feet. Great post defender who uses his upper body strength and wingspan to disrupt everything inside. He is so long he doesn't have to jump all the time to block shots. Has a weird release on his jump shot but is fairly accurate with it. Not a great finisher around the basket and just needs to continue to develop his footwork in the post.

The thing I like about him the most is when he gets pushed he pushes back(not literally). That is a great attribute for a center. Shows competitiveness composure and toughness everything you look for in a center. He needs to work on his lower body a bit I think he will get off balance in the NBA vs big guys but with proper training it shouldn't be a problem. Shows good lateral quickness to do the pick and roll and guard PF's on occasion.

He is going to go in the top 5 IMO so unless we move up we wont have a chance to get him. He would be PERFECT for this team though. I would be willing to trade both our 1st's this year, our 2nd's and an expiring in Collison to get him. I doubt Presti would do that but if he can work out a deal where we keep all our core guys and not give all our picks then I hope he does it.

Post #10 » by **slick_watts** » Wed Dec 9, 2009 6:39 am

I agree on everything. Too bad he'll be unavailable, seems like the kind of player who can contribute what we need right away.

Would you trade Jeff Green for him straight up..?

dream_catcher_9 · Post #11 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Wed Dec 9, 2009 6:46 am

slick_watts wrote:I agree on everything. Too bad he'll be unavailable, seems like the kind of player who can contribute what we need right away.

Would you trade Jeff Green for him straight up..?

tough one. I'm a huge Uncle Jeff fan so I probably rate him higher than almost everyone else. But If Ibaka and DJ White can show that they have the potential to be our PF's of the future, and Presti is convinced that they can be, then yes I'd do it. Jeff Green for a top 5 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft as long as we know that Aldrich will be available when we pick.

That said I don't know what Durant will think about that. Durant and Green seem like best buds. I'm sure Durant would get over it but it could cause some friction. Nothing will probably come of it though cause Durant is a class act.

wiff · Post #12 » by **wiff** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 5:22 pm

The guy seems to have a great skill set for how big he is. And it seems like he wants to get better. I agree that he is quicker than he looks. I think he will have a nice pro career.

And value wise I think Jeff Green and a 1st might get it done. But if you watch the youtube video of him at the kids camp, the dude looks like a dick. He looks like a jack ass with poor social skills.

I guess maybe the guy is so crazy competitive that he simply can't let a 3-5 yr old kid get a shot off, and that he has to block the ball to half court. Not sure I want to cheer for a guy like that.

But then again I don't think Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant would let their grandma get off a shot.