Pooh
06-26-2004, 09:05 PM
Based on history, Georgia's Wright has no guarantee of making Pacers
By Sekou Smith
[email protected]
June 26, 2004
Questions about David Harrison's work ethic played a major role in the 7-footer dropping down the draft board to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night.
There were no such worries about the mettle of the Pacers' second-round pick, Georgia point guard Rashad Wright, the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year his senior season.
"This guy is a competitor of the highest order," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "He proved that by being named Defensive Player of the Year in a top-flight conference like the SEC. We're going to find out in the coming weeks about (Harrison). We're going to see if he's that same type of competitor."
When they begin their professional careers, Harrison and Wright will do so with wildly different degrees of job and financial security.
Harrison, by virtue of being the last pick of the first round, has a three-year guaranteed contract that will pay him about $2.2 million. Second-round picks receive little more than an opportunity.
Wright, taken with the 59th and final pick of the draft, has no guarantee that he will be with the Pacers past minicamp next month. Beyond the uniform he is issued and the per diem he receives during his summer stint, Wright could go home with nothing.
That makes this time of year far more tenuous for players like Wright, a sturdy 6-2, 190-pound All-SEC pick and starter in 107 of a possible 116 games during his college career.
"He's the real deal," said David Lee, Wright's agent. "You guys (in Indiana) are going to find that out soon. You'll see."
The Pacers have a history of mining the second round and discovering prospects. Antonio Davis, Kenny Williams, Jamison Brewer and James Jones were snared in the second round.
But they are the exception. Most NBA teams make second-round picks and watch the players disappear before training camp begins.
Last season, 13 of the 29 second-round picks made NBA rosters, including Jones, whom the Pacers selected 49th overall.
Fifty-five second-round picks in the past five years were on NBA rosters at the end of this season, with at least eight making it every season since 1999.
Jones wasn't on the Pacers' playoff roster, but he has been praised for his work ethic and his shooting stroke.
Wright made his first impression on the Pacers' brass with his competitiveness and grit during his pre-draft workout. He showed much of the same during the Chicago pre-draft camp.
"A real nice pick for us," Pacers president Larry Bird said. "We brought him in (for a workout), saw him in Chicago. He's a player. It's all (Pacers director of player personnel) Mel Daniels has been talking about for a month now. The kid's got talent. He's got a chance."
Picking Wright, however, doesn't mean the Pacers are ready to sever ties with Brewer, a restricted free agent point guard who was the Pacers' second-round pick in 2001.
"It's a process of who comes in and plays the best," Bird said. "When Jamison comes in and steps across that line, he gives it to you every day. So for somebody to come in, he's going to have to be better than Jamison. We know that."
Lee believes the Pacers secured the steal of the draft in his client.
"Mel's got a good eye for talent. Someone from the San Antonio Spurs told me before the draft that Rashad was the toughest (guy) in the entire draft," Lee said.
"Rashad worked out on three different occasions with (13th pick Sebastian) Telfair and Rashad took him to school.
"Rashad worked out with (20th pick) Jameer Nelson during six different workouts. He outshot Jameer. He outplayed Jameer. I don't know why Rashad dropped the way he did, but I think you guys (in Indiana) got an absolute steal. He's going to be with you guys for a long, long time."
Link (http://www.indystar.com/articles/7/158026-7607-179.html)
By Sekou Smith
[email protected]
June 26, 2004
Questions about David Harrison's work ethic played a major role in the 7-footer dropping down the draft board to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night.
There were no such worries about the mettle of the Pacers' second-round pick, Georgia point guard Rashad Wright, the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year his senior season.
"This guy is a competitor of the highest order," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "He proved that by being named Defensive Player of the Year in a top-flight conference like the SEC. We're going to find out in the coming weeks about (Harrison). We're going to see if he's that same type of competitor."
When they begin their professional careers, Harrison and Wright will do so with wildly different degrees of job and financial security.
Harrison, by virtue of being the last pick of the first round, has a three-year guaranteed contract that will pay him about $2.2 million. Second-round picks receive little more than an opportunity.
Wright, taken with the 59th and final pick of the draft, has no guarantee that he will be with the Pacers past minicamp next month. Beyond the uniform he is issued and the per diem he receives during his summer stint, Wright could go home with nothing.
That makes this time of year far more tenuous for players like Wright, a sturdy 6-2, 190-pound All-SEC pick and starter in 107 of a possible 116 games during his college career.
"He's the real deal," said David Lee, Wright's agent. "You guys (in Indiana) are going to find that out soon. You'll see."
The Pacers have a history of mining the second round and discovering prospects. Antonio Davis, Kenny Williams, Jamison Brewer and James Jones were snared in the second round.
But they are the exception. Most NBA teams make second-round picks and watch the players disappear before training camp begins.
Last season, 13 of the 29 second-round picks made NBA rosters, including Jones, whom the Pacers selected 49th overall.
Fifty-five second-round picks in the past five years were on NBA rosters at the end of this season, with at least eight making it every season since 1999.
Jones wasn't on the Pacers' playoff roster, but he has been praised for his work ethic and his shooting stroke.
Wright made his first impression on the Pacers' brass with his competitiveness and grit during his pre-draft workout. He showed much of the same during the Chicago pre-draft camp.
"A real nice pick for us," Pacers president Larry Bird said. "We brought him in (for a workout), saw him in Chicago. He's a player. It's all (Pacers director of player personnel) Mel Daniels has been talking about for a month now. The kid's got talent. He's got a chance."
Picking Wright, however, doesn't mean the Pacers are ready to sever ties with Brewer, a restricted free agent point guard who was the Pacers' second-round pick in 2001.
"It's a process of who comes in and plays the best," Bird said. "When Jamison comes in and steps across that line, he gives it to you every day. So for somebody to come in, he's going to have to be better than Jamison. We know that."
Lee believes the Pacers secured the steal of the draft in his client.
"Mel's got a good eye for talent. Someone from the San Antonio Spurs told me before the draft that Rashad was the toughest (guy) in the entire draft," Lee said.
"Rashad worked out on three different occasions with (13th pick Sebastian) Telfair and Rashad took him to school.
"Rashad worked out with (20th pick) Jameer Nelson during six different workouts. He outshot Jameer. He outplayed Jameer. I don't know why Rashad dropped the way he did, but I think you guys (in Indiana) got an absolute steal. He's going to be with you guys for a long, long time."
Link (http://www.indystar.com/articles/7/158026-7607-179.html)