June 7, 2006
When you look at the NBA draft, it really is a constant evaluation and scrutiny as teams bring in so many players to consider. There are workouts and Q&A sessions with players as teams try to get to know the prospects they'll consider.
This whole process totally amazes me. I remember when the Pistons took Darko Milicic in 2003, passing on the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Chris Kaman and Kirk Hinrich. That was a pretty good draft, my friends. At the time I questioned selecting Milicic over Anthony, and in time is showed there were a lot of solid picks taken shortly after Detroit's choice.
The bottom line is this selection process is never easy. It blows my mind looking at various scouting reports and experts making their analysis on this year's draft. It is all about potential, potential, potential.
Sitting in the top 10 in many reports is Kentucky's Rajon Rondo. Show me a kid who has great athletic ability … show me one who anticipates well on the defensive end. Yes, those are the positives with this young man. Then consider the liabilities, and first and foremost is his inconsistent shooting on the perimeter. That was a big-time problem while with the Wildcats. Opposing defenses would often allow Rondo to shoot the basketball.
When a point guard can't make his shots, suddenly it is like playing five against four. He does have penetration ability and can do a lot of little things on the defensive side. If you add it all up, in the NBA it is still about scoring more points than the opposition and making shots is a key factor.
That's just my opinion, my friends. I think the evaluation process is one where people believe they can change a player's flaw.
Stay tuned, and I do believe Rondo will improve a little. In the draft, you find guys who will hit .240 or .250 every year, and then you find guys who will hit .300 consistently. When it is all said and done, the crème de la crème will rise to the top.
I do like Rondo's athletic ability and I feel he will make it in the NBA. I just prefer players who are more consistent in their shooting skills. I feel guys who are deficient shooting the basketball creates many dilemmas.
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.
