|
The final segment of the roster is the rookies, second and third year players. This is the largest and most interesting segment in terms of break out potential. The biggest possibility for breakout potential on the entire roster lies within the rookie class from last season. Injury setbacks to Ike Diogu, Chris Taft and Monta Ellis didn’t allow Warriors fans to see their progress in Summer League action, but hopefully all three will be healthy and ready for training camp in October. The 2005 draft was the best draft they have had since 2001 when they tabbed Jason Richardson, Troy Murphy and Gilbert Arenas. Let’s look at what the future may hold for some of the Warrior youngsters.
Ike Diogu: Diogu was selected last year with the 9th pick in the first round out of Arizona State. Mullin targeted the big underclassmen with that pick despite the presence of a couple of green room invitees still on the board. Mullin liked the numbers that Ike was able to put up in the Pac 10 and saw that his low post scoring ability would be an asset that was not currently available on his roster. Ike got off to a bad start when he suffered in injury in training camp and missed the first couple of weeks of the season. When he returned, he was behind schedule and had difficulty adapting to the NBA style of play. Despite being undersized, he was asked to play some Center as well as his natural Power Forward position and like most young big men he had a tough time staying out of foul trouble. When given the opportunity to receive the ball in the low block, he really showed some flashes of his potential. He is a special player when he can operate in the paint and will command a double team if used properly. Due to his ability to score and his outstanding free throw shooting, if he can improve his defense and rebounding, he is a prime candidate to break out this season. Estimated Stat Line: G-75 MPG-23.5 FG%-52% 3P%-00% FT%-84% RPG-4.9 APG-.9 SPG-.5 BPG-1 TO-2 PF-3.4 PPG-11.9 Probability of Breakout= 70% Monta Ellis: Ellis became the first high school player ever selected by the Warriors when he was taken with the 40th Ellis did not play at all early in the season, but made the most of his opportunities late in the year and eventually became an integral part of the rotation by season’s end. Chris Mullin and his staff were so impressed by the progress of Ellis that they felt comfortable unloading Derek Fisher to the Utah Jazz and opening the door for him to get an even larger role on the team next season. Physically he is gifted with great speed and leaping ability, he is thin and wiry, but he has deceptive strength. He will need to get stronger to take the punishment that he will receive when he takes the ball to the basket but he shouldn’t have a problem scoring with a variety of shots in his arsenal and a lightning quick first step. He moves very well away from the ball and can finish in traffic. He has shown a maturity beyond his years and perhaps the biggest surprise last season was how well he was able to adapt his skills to the defensive side of things and he appears to have the ability to impact the game on both sides of the floor. pick in the second round of the 2005 NBA draft. Estimated Stat Line: G-82 MPG-23.5 FG%-43% 3P%-35% FT%-75% RPG-3 APG-2 SPG-1 BPG-.4 TO-1.5 PF-1.7 PPG-10.9 Probability of Breakout= 70% Andris Biedrins: Biedrins enters his third season in the NBA taken out of Latvia with the 11th pick in the 2004 draft. The equivalent of a high school player in terms of age the Warriors have been patiently monitoring his progress and picking their spots to get him game experience. This season will be his best opportunity to show what he is capable of and frankly their will be some pressure on him to perform. Mullin sent a subtle message to all of the Warriors big men on draft day this year by selecting two more seven footers. I am sure Biedrins got the message loud and we will see how he responds to pressure. In terms of his potential Biedrins doesn’t have the upside of Ellis or Diogu on the offensive end, but he can certainly have a positive effect on the game if he can use his quickness and length to block shots and defend the rim. Estimated Stat Line: G-82 MPG-17.5 FG%-58% 3P%-00% FT%-49% RPG-4.9 APG-.5 SPG-.4 BPG-1 TO-.5 PF-3.2 PPG-4.4 Probability of Breakout= 50% Chris Taft: Before his back injury sidelined him for the season Chris Taft was clearly carving out a role for himself. His size is not something you can teach and he seemed to have the skills to go along with it. A defensive mindset, nice soft hands, decent moves in the low block and a ferocious finisher in transition. Critics question his heart and work ethic and the injury situation certainly doesn’t clear up any doubts, but if he can find a way to get into shape and stay healthy for an entire season I have little doubt he will impact the fortunes of the team. Estimated Stat Line: G-68 MPG-15.5 FG%-49% 3P%-00% FT%-69% RPG-3.9 APG-.5 SPG- .5 BPG-.7 TO-1.7 PF-2.2 PPG-7.4 Probability of Breakout= 40% Nobody knows what to expect from the following guys since they are so new to the league, but there is some potential in the two rookie centers that were drafted in 2006. Patrick O’bryant: The rookie center from Bradley is a project and is probably two years away from making an impact on the team. With that said he does bring some things to the table that nobody else on the roster can. He is a true center with a fairly polished offensive game. He was a good rebounder and shot blocker in College and if he can work hard in the weight room and improve his strength he could move to the head of the depth chart rather quickly on this Warriors roster that is starved for an impact big man. Probability of Breakout= 10% Kosta Perovic: Odds are not good that Kosta will even play in the United States this season so I don’t look for him to make much of an impact. Probability of Breakout= 0% *Not mentioned: Guards Andre Owens and Will Bynum, Forwards Calbert Cheaney and Mo Charlo. These players are either free agents or training camp invitees and are extremely unlikely to be on the final roster. |
