NBA Draft ‘09 Position Rankings - Small Forwards

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The Small Forward (SF) position is, to me, the most versatile position in the draft because you have guys who can swing from SF out to the Shooting Guard position while you have others who possess the size and strength to play some Power Forward. There are high level athletes, big bodied power guys, hand-skilled shooters, and everything in between. Consequently I think teams can find some solid players from this group.

Because of the differences that exist I thought it best to break this position into two groups: The Swing guys (G/F) and the Combo Forward types.

I’ll also state this again, my rankings are based on NOW.  I am working under the assumption that I’m drafting for an NBA team, a playoff contender who is a player or two away and needs help now. This is not a list of who has the most potential or ‘upside’.  The NBA goes through coaches so fast that even Mike Brown is being rumored to be “under pressure.”  Basically what this means is WIN NOW!

So why do teams draft for future potential? Rookie contracts are going to expire in no more than 4 years and some of these young guys need darn near that much time to actually reach that potential assuming of course they have the work ethic and desire to achieve it.

SWING FORWARDS:

  1. Sam Young - 6′6 223 SF/SG - Pitt: I’m a huge fan, let’s make that clear now.  Tough & competitive, defends & rebounds, good scorer & finisher on the break, improved as a shooter over career. Won a lot of games against Big East competition which I think translates.  Strong & athletic although not as big as some.
  2. DeMar DeRozan - 6′6 211 SF/SG - USC: Good looking stroke although streaky throughout freshman season.  Decent footwork as well and really improved, playing best games at the end of the year.  Disappeared at times. Great max vertical leap, weak physically, but for a guy who’s touted as an elite level athlete why did test out slower than 11 of 12 SF’s in Chicago Draft Camp?  Not to mention slower than all 16 SG’s!
  3. Chase Budinger - 6′7 206 SF/SG - Arizona: Very good spot up shooter, learned to use screens and improved mid-range pull-up game has helped but generally has no dribble drive game and cannot serve as secondary ball-handler.  Good leaper (slightly better than DeRozan) but has short arms (6′7 wingspan).  Although he became more consistent this season, seems to lack a motor & toughness.  Will he accept defensive challenges?
  4. Danny Green - 6′6 208 SF/SG - North Carolina: Very good defender.  Versatile guy who played 4 positions for Heels. Good leader & winner.  Could find a home on a quality team as a role-player/defender off the bench.

Combo Forwards:

  1. Earl Clark - 6′10 228 SF/PF - Louisville: Very Long (7′3 wingspan), athletic, and skilled.  Solid shooter who should continue to develop range.  Good scoring match-up as he can drive it against bigs and post smaller forwards.
  2. James Johnson - 6′8 245 SF/PF - Wake Forest: Very strong & physical.  Good athlete for such big body. Skilled guy with decent stroke and hand-skills.  Tends to fall in love with jumpers, needs to post & drive it more.  Could be a very good defender/rebounder from wing spot.
  3. Derrick Brown - 6′8 225 SF/PF - Xavier:  Very long (7′3 wingspan) and athletic.  Lefty slasher that can score and has improved his stroke - still needs to work on shooting and range.  Good defender and rebounder from SF spot.  Posted better quickness/agility scores than Young, DeRozan, & Green in Chicago.  Also very strong, just behind Luke Harangody & Blake Griffin in Bench Press test.
  4. DaJuan Summers - 6′8 241 SF/PF - Georgetown: Good athlete, good quickness for big guy.  Skilled perimeter shooter with range to 22′.  Needs to improve drive game & draw fouls & also develop better post-up game than he was able to use in Hoyas ‘Princeton Offense’.  Had below average season by his own standards.  Doesn’t pursue boards as hard as he needs to.
  5. Austin Daye - 6′11 192 SF/PF - Gonzaga: Made huge mistake staying in draft in my opinion.  This isn’t a track meet nor is it a strongman competition BUT he is the worst combination of jumping, agility, & speed from the Chicago testing.  The bench press test is 185 pounds max reps…he did zero.  Basically Blake Griffin can bench press Austin Daye 22 times and an out run and jump him.  He is extremely skilled for 6′11 and has long arms.  He was a 6′4 shooting guard when he first committed to the Zags and 7 inches later he still plays like a guard facing the basket. Outstanding shooting ability for a big & excellent footwork on pull-ups, spins, & step-thru moves.  Needs to become mentally tougher as well and not react to adverse situations so emotionally. Want “upside potential?”  He has it.

Others:

  • Damion James - 6′7 225 SF - Texas:  Long arms & very athletic.  Still raw.
  • Dante Cunningham - 6′8 230 PF/SF - Villanova: Steady, smart.  Good medium range shooter.
  • Omri Casspi - 6′9 211 SF - Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel): Aggressive, emotional, run, slash & cut type of offensive game. Word is he ‘handled’ Austin Daye in a recent workout.
  • Victor Claver - 6′10 215 SF/PF - Pamesa Valencia (Spain): Coming off injury, offensive talent with range.
  • Jonas Jerebko - 6′9 210 SF/PF - Angelico Biella Italy (via Sweden): Solid Euro Camp may help stock.

Not To Mention:

  • Paul Harris - 6′3 237 SF/SG - Syracuse: Measured a freakish 6′11 wingspan in recent workout according to sources as well as a 36″ standing vertical.  Very tough & physical defender/rebounder despite lack of height.  Rumored to have dominated Budinger in NJ session.

-Chris Denker

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    1. khandor says:
      June 17, 2009 at 12:05 pm

      Derrick Brown has a solid chance to become a very good NBA player.

      If he goes toward the end of the 1st Round, as some mock drafts have suggested to this point … that is going to be a steal pick, IMO.

      Nice job all around!

    2. cdenker says:
      June 17, 2009 at 1:48 pm

      Thanks!
      I agree about him being a steal.
      Chris

    3. Brain Colangelo says:
      June 17, 2009 at 6:32 pm

      Don’t you think people are overdoing the combine? If a guy looks quick and athletic in games, does it matter what the combine says? Example - Steve Nash. Not the quickest… not “athletic”… but can do everything at full speed.

    4. Linkage for Jun 16 7pm to Jun 18 7am - Raptors Republic says:
      June 18, 2009 at 5:01 am

      [...] NBA Draft ‘09 Position Rankings - Small Forwards - NetScouts [...]

    5. cdenker says:
      June 19, 2009 at 10:51 am

      I agree with you…that is why I always say I like production and results first. It’s like Drew Brees (QB - Saints) or Zach Thomas (LB - Miami/Dallas) in the NFL, these guys were too small or too slow and are All-Pro’s. That is basically how I feel about Tyler Hansbrough, I think he’s proven how good he is and he’ll do it again. Perhaps not as an All-Star but there are a lot of really good NBA players who aren’t all-stars and they are helping their teams win games.

      However, you do have to look at the numbers for comparison sake and I hate to harp on a guy like DeMar DeRozan (again) but if he is so ‘elite athletically’ then why where his numbers so poor (aside from his excellent vertical)? In this case, I look at another guy who didn’t test out real well, Tyreke Evans, and at least he produced in a big way all year playing out of position at Memphis.

      Thanks for the comments!

    6. The AltRaps Blog » Blog Archive » Toronto Raptors Linkage for June 16th through June 19th says:
      June 19, 2009 at 10:04 pm

      [...] NBA Draft ‘09 Position Rankings - Small Forwards - NetScouts - [...]

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      June 24, 2009 at 8:20 pm

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