Draft Prospect: Courtney Lee

[Marcus Bryant]

http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/courtney_lee.jpg

Full Name: Courtney Lee
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-5 / 200
Birthdate: October 3, 1985
High School: Pike HS
College: Western Kentucky

NBA (http://www.nba.com/draft2008/profiles/CourtneyLee.html)
NBADraft.net (http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/courtneylee.html)
DraftExpress (http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Courtney-Lee-471/)

[K-State Spur]

a lot to like about Lee.

[Pistons < Spurs]

Gonna be a stud, and surprise a lot of people.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

:tu Go get him.

[tav1]

I heart Courtney Lee. Many mocks think that he and/or CDR will still be available at #26. Assuming that no one of note slides, I think the Spurs should consider one of these two as Plan A.

[Darkwaters]

Hes my favorite so far. But I further investigate this class I'll see if that stays the same or if someone else catches my fancy.

[ECZ]

I like him...he could have an impact right away. He may start depending on what finley does this off-season and if Pop loosens the leash

[tav1]

Lee at 26!

[Mr. Body]

He's strictly a SG, but if you get him you probably don't need to resign Finley.

[timvp]

Lee would be a safe pick. He'd fit the Spurs organization no problem and would likely get minutes early on. Not an amazingly high ceiling but I'd be fine with the pick.

[mountainballer]

He's strictly a SG, but if you get him you probably don't need to resign Finley.

that's the only flaw. some other wings have the size to also play SF (Rush, CDR) and Lee likely won't have a future as a combo guard. (I think his playmaking abilities are better than he is given credit for, but that won't be enough to become a part time ball handler).
however, Lee would be a nice pick and fit well.
the question is: if Rush, Budinger and CDR are gone, but Lee, Chalmers and Walker are available, would the Spurs pick Lee? (there were some reports, that the Spurs like either Walker and Chalmers)

[spursfan98]

Lee is a good pick.
If not chalmers, him or B Rush would be good picks

[K-State Spur]

that's the only flaw. some other wings have the size to also play SF (Rush, CDR) and Lee likely won't have a future as a combo guard. (I think his playmaking abilities are better than he is given credit for, but that won't be enough to become a part time ball handler).
however, Lee would be a nice pick and fit well.
the question is: if Rush, Budinger and CDR are gone, but Lee, Chalmers and Walker are available, would the Spurs pick Lee? (there were some reports, that the Spurs like either Walker and Chalmers)

That's a very good question.

IMHO:

If you are looking for the guy who can contribute right away and help the team back towards a championship immediately (and with the Duncan/Manu window) - You take Lee.

If you are looking for a guy who can team up with Parker as the future of the franchise - You take Walker.

I don't dislike Chalmers, but I wouldn't take him if some of these other guys are still on the board.

[angelbelow]

That's a very good question.

IMHO:

If you are looking for the guy who can contribute right away and help the team back towards a championship immediately (and with the Duncan/Manu window) - You take Lee.

If you are looking for a guy who can team up with Parker as the future of the franchise - You take Walker.

I don't dislike Chalmers, but I wouldn't take him if some of these other guys are still on the board.

agreeed, with that said, i think we should take lee.

[timvp]

It's kinda odd that the hype surrounding Lee has died down. He seemed to be a riser a couple weeks ago. No literally every mock I see has him available when the Spurs pick in the first round.

I still like him but the one question I have is his height. If his listed height of 6-foot-5 is off and he's closer to 6-foot-3, I think he'll fall into the second round and wouldn't be draftable at 26. The good thing is that Lee, Rush, DCR and Walker seem to be working out together so hopefully the Spurs get to compare and contrast.

Hopefully Lee is good enough to be a 26 candidate but he seems to be slipping . . .

[SenorSpur]

He's strictly a SG, but if you get him you probably don't need to resign Finley.

The Spurs do not need Finley in any scenario. Whether they bring aboard Lee, Rush, Walker or Batum.

[K-State Spur]

The Spurs do not need Finley in any scenario. Whether they bring aboard Lee, Rush, Walker or Batum.

How many wings do you want next year?

Manu, Bruce, Barry, & Udoka are all likely to be back.

[Marcus Bryant]

How many wings do you want next year?

Manu, Bruce, Barry, & Udoka are all likely to be back.

Right. It would make sense that the Spurs find a replacement for Finley in free agency and if they pull a swingman out of the draft he spends his first season on IR and in Austin.

[angelbelow]

How many wings do you want next year?

Manu, Bruce, Barry, & Udoka are all likely to be back.

i think we need one more solid wing because barry is injury prone and bowen could be. they are both way up there in age.

[tav1]

Right. It would make sense that the Spurs find a replacement for Finley in free agency and if they pull a swingman out of the draft he spends his first season on IR and in Austin.

1. Replace Finley
2. Austin assigned swing
3. back up point
4. 6th big
5. refuel the pipeline

Offseason priorities, in that order. That's my offseason scorecard, and I think the Spurs need at least a 'B' on items 1 and 2, and a 'C' or better on 3 and 4 to regain the title. It would be nice to address 5, and the Spurs will get extra credit from me if they do, but I don't expect they'll make much progress on that item in the space of one offseason.

[K-State Spur]

i think we need one more solid wing because barry is injury prone and bowen could be. they are both way up there in age.

I agree. I was counting a draftee/FA (or both) to be on the roster next year.

IMHO, the only way it makes sense to bring Finley back is if one of the aforementioned guys (most likely Barry) were to be moved.

[mountainballer]

I still like him but the one question I have is his height. If his listed height of 6-foot-5 is off and he's closer to 6-foot-3, I think he'll fall into the second round and wouldn't be draftable at 26. The good thing is that Lee, Rush, DCR and Walker seem to be working out together so hopefully the Spurs get to compare and contrast.


it was somehow annoying that he didn't measure at the camp, I was especially very curious how he will measure. just from comparisons I would guess that he is 6-5 at best, more likely 6-4. on the other hand, there was a video where he was alongside Mendez (listed 6-1) and Emerson (listed 6-8) and he looked much taller than Mendez and not that much smaller than Emerson. so if Mendez isn't in fact 5-10 and Emerson 6-6, then Lee should be closer to 6-5 than to 6-3.
he is definitely a good leaper, getting far above the rim easily and also raising extremely high on his jump shot.
the point is, he will have ok size for a SG, but he definitely isn't an option to play SF in the NBA.

[timvp]

The reports on Courtney Lee indicated that he looked “good enough to play in the NBA right now,” as he was “explosive, very polished, made good decisions, excellent defensively, jumped right over guys, and was terrific from mid-range.” Lee has reportedly been working out well almost everywhere he’s gone recently, and looks to be making a strong push to be drafted at 22 by the Orlando Magic, who had him in last week for a workout, and sent GM Otis Smith to Golden State to see him again.

http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/Jonathan-Givony/


Damn, sounds like he tore it up. Put Lee back on the radar at 26.

[Mr. Body]

Damn, sounds like he tore it up. Put Lee back on the radar at 26.

Jesus, I've been marking this guy above Walker for a while now.

[TJastal]

His name is Courtney? That right there would be enough to make me take a pass... who's next, Nancy, Gloria, and Jennifer? :rollin

[timvp]

Jesus, I've been marking this guy above Walker for a while now.I'm still concerned about his actual height. "6-foot-5" at a smallish school could easily be 6-foot-2 when you break out the measuring tape. But this report is good to see because it puts another player on the board who'd make sense for the Spurs.

Rush, CDR, Batum, Budinger, Lee and Chalmers. Now hopefully few if any first rounders pull out of the draft today. If two or more pull out, that'd hurt the Spurs and the other teams at the end of the first round. Draft looks deep now but that could change in a few hours.

[Mr. Body]

The interesting thing is CDR isn't working out quite as well -- just not that kind of player. I could see the Spurs going for Chalmers instead, as per your reasoning timvp.

I believe there will be enough pull-outs to cost the Spurs their choice of players, as per usual. If Ajinca and Hendrix move into the early 20s (at worst) then it might work out.

[objective]

I'm still concerned about his actual height. "6-foot-5" at a smallish school could easily be 6-foot-2 when you break out the measuring tape. But this report is good to see because it puts another player on the board who'd make sense for the Spurs.

Wasn't Romain Sato listed at 6'5" in college and in reality only 6'2"?

[Pistons < Spurs]

Draft Report: Courtney Lee

Courtney Lee is a four-year, small-school shooting guard who was able to showcase himself during a three-game run in the NCAA tournament.

Lee only shot 39.7% from beyond the arc and it wasn’t like he was attempting 25-footers off his right foot and had to run off staggered screens because WKU had no other scoring options and had to do that to get him open shots.

He has really good elevation with his jumper and his lower body is almost like a pogo stick with his feet close together. He could bring his shot more to the right, but his follow through is good. He has awesome body control with the jumper.

Lee always seems to be more comfortable shooting off the dribble than in the catch-and-shoot.

This is where he is dangerous and so valuable.

His pull up jumper is impeccable and he loves to use it from the wing into the area of the free throw line. He jumps straight up with it instead of floating along with the movement of his dribble, which could throw off the shot. His lift allows him to shoot over bigger wings, though he has good length for the position.

Lee also utilizes tremendous spin moves off the dribble, which help him shake off his defender and carve into space.

He clearly is capable enough to consistently create off the dribble for a perimeter shot, but he occasionally struggles to beat his man into the lane and even when he does get in there, he isn’t explosive enough to finish close to the bucket. He will live or die in the mid-range.

Though he doesn’t get all the way to the bucket, he does a good job of drawing contact and is an excellent finisher when he gets fouled, seeming to thrive in that instant where he knows he has a shot for the old fashioned three-point play.

Lee doesn’t have the best handle in the halfcourt and it occasionally gets picked. His left hand is below average and has a tough time scoring if a defender overplays his right hand.

He also has a difficult time dribbling over the top on the pick and roll when a help defender pops out against him.

Lee’s off ball movement coming off screens is really good, but they rarely resulted in wide-open shots.

He has great floor speed and thrives in transition and on the fastbreak.

Lee has a decent defensive stance, but his effort and effectiveness is average.

He doesn’t work hard enough fighting through screens and he tends to overcommit himself with his on-ball pressure, which leaves him vulnerable to the dribble drive.

Lee gets into a good defensive stance and has good enough lateral quickness to stay in front of most offensive players, but his approach makes him a liability.

He also needs to get stronger because he could be a target for bigger wings to post up.

He improved as a defensive rebounder during his senior season, but most of those were long rebounds that he could chase down and he was rarely in the middle of the paint to tough out the ball.

Lee should be a small school success story in the NBA, but it is unlikely he becomes a starter for a playoff caliber team.


http://www.realgm.com/src_fromtherafters/203/20080621/draft_report_courtney_lee_of_western_kentucky/

[timvp]

How high (or low) will the top prospects go?

Courtney Lee: Nuggets at 20, Magic at 22, Spurs at 26, Grizzlies at 28, Celtics at 30, Clippers at 35. Lee has worked out well and is generating serious buzz, especially in Orlando. But with so many bigs falling, there is a chance that will push him down in the draft.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=DraftWatch-080625


I'd like him at 26. His stranglehold on 22 seems to be waning a bit.

[Marcus Bryant]

Cherry said Lee could be drafted anywhere between Nos. 18 and 30 in the first round. Orlando reportedly likes him at No. 22, and so do the Spurs at 26.

link (http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19804844&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21848&rfi=6)

[T Park]

Lee should be a small school success story in the NBA, but it is unlikely he becomes a starter for a playoff caliber team.


That troubles me a bit.

[Marcus Bryant]

That troubles me a bit.

That's like you or me writing that shit. Relax.

[DPG21920]

Thats tough, if he and batum and hibbert and cdr are all available who do they grab?

[T Park]

That's like you or me writing that shit. Relax.

Yeah the way the guy writes it he comes off as a scout.

I didn't see who wrote it. If it was me that wrote it, hell yeah it would be horseshit. If it was you or chump or someone else, then I would still be worried.

If its some stooge like a Sequ writing it, then totally worthless I agree.

[Russ]

He seems like a Chuck Person type -- a pure shooter at best. The Spurs could use a bit more of a slasher but he seems better than most of the names that come up at #26.

[T Park]

Thats tough, if he and batum and hibbert and cdr are all available who do they grab?

If they choose between Batum, CDR, and Lee, then honestly I'll be happy, with anything they pick.

I'll just hope said player plays next year.

[Marcus Bryant]

I think Batum is the man.

[DPG21920]

What if Greene is available? That would make things interesting...

[DPG21920]

Quit selling short the big man TPark, lol

[Marcus Bryant]

I'd take Batum with #26 and hope the Spurs could deal up for DJordan.

[Russ]

I think Batum is the man.

Batum seems like a budding George Gervin -- but he's a couple years away and waiting for Euros don't work anymore.

If he reaches his potential in Europe is there any way any NBA team could ever sign him? Please let me know if I'm missing how this might happen under the current rules.

[T Park]

I'd take Batum with #26 and hope the Spurs could deal up for DJordan.

That sounds like a couple of Austin Toros there.

[Marcus Bryant]

Batum seems like a budding George Gervin -- but he's a couple years away and waiting for Euros don't work anymore.

If he reaches his potential in Europe is there any way any NBA team could ever sign him? Please let me know if I'm missing how this might happen under the current rules.

He plays in France. Players are paid in Bordeaux. You tell me.

[DPG21920]

I think they might take Greene if he is available. I mean, I read that they had serious interest in him, but I doubt he will be available. I do not know, my head is about to explode, I think we are all getting our hopes up a little to high with regard to new impact players. At best a nice FA and a surprise regular 15 minutes from Ian.

[DPG21920]

Has anyone heard anything with regards to the Spurs re-signing KT? I know they can not formally negotiate with FA's until July 1st, but anything?

[angelbelow]

I think Batum is the man.

i agree, with reports today and all.

[Spurtacus]

He's still on top of my Spurs wishlist.

[kev]

FWIW, Jay Bilas just said Courtney Lee is the sleeper of the draft, will be a great NBA player, and will go somewhere between picks 20 and 30.

[T Park]

FWIW, Jay Bilas just said Courtney Lee is the sleeper of the draft, will be a great NBA player, and will go somewhere between picks 20 and 30.

That means hes gonna suck ass.

[bigdog]

I don't ever believe these draft "experts".

Ccourtney Lee is undersized, and we need a few more inches on the wing. Now, maybe if we had two 1st rounders, then I'd consider it, but not right now.