With the 26th pick, the Zombie Sonics Select…

If I had to pick a husky I would pick someone who has an NBA ready skill. I love Gaddy and he has potential but to me he doesn’t have 1 NBA ready skill as of yet. MBA seems to be ready for a coming out party his senior year, but his scoring isn’t NBA ready, he hasn’t hit any clutch shots (yet), and his rebounding is not NBA ready like Brockman’s was. You may be surprised but I want to go out on a limb and I like Justin Holiday because his body (not bulk but long arms) and defense are getting close to NBA ready. I feel he might have a good chance to make it in the NBA (don’t laugh) because he has long arms and has an instinct for defense. NBA teams love defense and long arms. I feel someone will take a chance on him in the 2011 or 2012 draft assuming he grows this year as he did last year. Although he probably won’t be a star in the NBA he can be a great role player off the bench in bringing defensive energy and a 3 here or there (low budget version of Trevor Ariza). I see no other player with any sort of intangible that is as close to NBA ready whether it’s scoring (Sorry IT), rebounding (Sorry MBA), or passing (Sorry gaddy) as Justin’s defense is. I know you’re already asking, well what about Overton’s defense? His defense is spectacular, but I think he better suited for the college game than the NBA, what NBA guards are there for just defense? I guess Tony Allen for the Boston Celtics but he’s 6 foot 4, I just don’t see a lot of under 6 foot guards just there for defense. This is taking nothing away from Overton, but for NBA defense that’s my opinion. I guess I also like the sound of Terrence Ross since he’s a tall shooting guard. He has NBA height at the 2 but I just haven’t seen him play yet to make such a statement. But the fact that it sounds like he can create his own shot is worth everything in the NBA and actually is more attractive then what Holiday posseses if Ross can score. As you can see that’s what made Pondexter so valuable because he could create his own shot and he’s in the NBA now. But for right now I am all about riding the Justin Holiday bandwagon to the NBA.

I’m going out on a limb and say The Big Azizy. Well, not really. But maybe? he has size.

Greg, i think you’re right about holiday. I think someone needs to find a way to put a LITTLE bit of meat on his bones. He’s still young though, and should bulk up some.

Besides that, who knows? I think gaddy could, we’ll know a lot more this season. IT would need to shore up his long range shots and become a better point gaurd. He can’t throw up shots in the NBA like he does in the PAC-10. He’s a good passer to his credit.

The next Husky to reach NBA glory? Are we predicting the next one to be a 1st round draft pick or are we picking the next Husky to achieve success in the NBA? I ask, because I know many think I’m nuts but I am on record as stating and believing that Isaiah will have a productive NBA career.

He has built such a reputation for being a scorer that people forget that his court vision is good as any guard in NCAA. The kid is a winner and has proven he’s willing to do what it takes to succeed. People forget that he is only a junior. Maybe after this upcoming season I’ll eat my words, but I predict this coming season he’ll better emphasize his point guard skills and NBA scouts will take notice of not only that, but of his competitive spirit, aggressive nature and ability to just win.

I.T. will be in the NBA and he’ll do well.

I love the love for Holiday on this board, but I don’t see his game translating to NBA UNLESS he can learn to create off the dribble. And even the ever optimistic Romar has been reticent to agree that Holiday can be a reliable scorer next season.

W/o seeing N’diaye play one minute yet, it’s hard to really predict on him, but when you see all of the NBA teams that were taken flyers in the 2nd round on all sorts of big men, hard to not believe with his size and supposed athleticism he wouldn’t be at least a 2nd round pick as well.

With all that said though, I agree with Craiger on Terrence Ross. Without having seen him yet play a minute, based on what we’ve read and what NBA scouts look for, I think he is the most likely next 1st round draft pick amongst the current Huskies (but Thomas will have the more successful NBA career).

Holiday definitely has NBA potential. I could see that in him early last year. Midway through the season, when the Dawgs were struggling, I felt that he and MBA had the greatest potential to raise their game a notch. They both did and we made nice run.

With MBA and Holiday, a lot depends on what position they play. The Huskies will play a lot of lineups next year. They could go small, and destroy teams. As much fun as this is, it doesn’t help the player’s draft chances. When they go big, though, the scouts will notice. Holiday is capable of guarding any guard in college (and just about any guard in the NBA). Folks notice this. Yes, it’s nice to have someone who can shoot like Ray Allen (when he shoots like Ray Allen) but it’s also nice if you have someone who can shutdown (or least slowdown) Kobe Bryant. Holiday could easily become the next Dennis Johnson, a player’s player (and a guy who ended his career with three times the rings that Allen is likely to get, in part because he shutdown the greatest point guard of all time). Holiday may go in the first round; he could easily be the draft’s sleeper pick, like Darren Collison was last year.

With MBA it is a little harder, but similar. If he plays center, then he is obviously undersized. In the NBA, his natural position is as a forward. Right now, he doesn’t have the bulk to be a power forward, nor the height to be a center. Of course, some power forwards aren’t about power, but about quickness (like Kevin Garnett). Like Holiday, he may be seen as more of a defensive stopper, with enough inside game to allow a team flexibility. He could easily guard guys like Rashard Lewis (no easy task, as few can). If he develops a nice turn around 15 footer, then he will easily go in the first round. If not, then he’ll probably be a steal for someone in the second.

IT definitely has high draft potential as well. If you are small and great in college, you are likely to be great in the pros. It’s the mid-size guys playing bigger positions (a 6’6″ guy playing power forward or a 6’8″ guy playing center) that make the scouts doubt their potential. The same is true for Overton. He will have to have a breakout game this year, though, to do that. He needs to be way more consistent (both offensively and defensively). He needs to shoot a little better and make fewer mistakes. Much of his defense is based on destroying lesser or more fatigued players. This is great for us, but won’t impress scouts. If, on the other hand, he can shut down good players (as Holiday does, quite often) along with the occasional brilliant play, then he might see some action at the next level.