Diawara to sign with Nuggets

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

The 2005 NBA draft media guide had 129 profiles of prospects.

Yakhouba Diawara was nowhere to be found.

NBA draft analyst Chris Monter listed the top 100 prospects for the 2005 draft.

Diawara, who had finished his senior year at Pepperdine, did not appear.

But here it is one year later. The undrafted Diawara is about to sign a guaranteed two-year, $1.1 million contract with the Nuggets.

"Nobody wanted me," Diawara said. "That's why I work hard."

The swingman found himself a wanted man this summer. After a strong showing last season in France and Italy, the Paris native had multiple offers.

Diawara said Dallas dangled a two-year, $1.8 million deal. But Diawara, who played for the Nuggets in the Vegas Summer League, had given coach George Karl his word he would sign.

"I love (the Nuggets)," he said. "Lots of people will go to the money. I just want to learn. It's my first time."

Diawara's agent, Bouna Ndiaye, said his client probably will sign Tuesday. The Nuggets are completing paperwork with Italy's Climamio Bologna, where Diawara finished last season, on a $500,000 buyout.

Diawara did get a look from Miami in a summer league last year and was a candidate to go to the Heat's training camp, but he took a sure offer to play for Dijon in France, where he earned $8,000 a month.

Midway through the season, Diawara's contract was bought out for about $250,000 by Climamio Bologna, where he earned $10,000 a month. That's when Nuggets scout Masai Ujiri spotted Diawara, 23.

"Masai told me about him during the year," said Karl, who said he never had heard of Diawara before then. "He said he was a glue guy."

The Nuggets like the 6-foot-7 Diawara for his all-around game. He's a fine athlete, a solid defender and a good shooter who called his only weakness putting the ball on the floor.

"I realize that playing in Europe and playing in the NBA is a big step," Karl said. "But I'm excited about it. . . . Diawara showed me in the summer he's a pretty good basketball player. I think somebody compared him to (Andres) Nocioni."

Nocioni is a jack-of-all trades forward for Chicago. But Nocioni, who won an Olympic gold medal for Argentina in 2004, hardly came out of obscurity the way Diawara has.

Diawara's parents emigrated from Senegal 40 years ago. Diawara's father, Anssoume, and mother, Bintou, both do cleaning work in Paris, and Diawara grew up in modest cir stances.

Diawara got noticed while playing for France's le-winning team at the under-18 European Championships in 2000. While still working on his English, he ended up at the College of Southern Idaho.

Then it was on to Pepperdine. Diawara averaged 14 points and 5.7 rebounds as a senior, but that wasn't good enough to immediately excite NBA scouts.

"I didn't want to go all the way to training camp and have no chance," Diawara said of last summer. "I got some opportunities in Europe and I got some experience and playing time and I learned about professionalism."

Soon, a lot of people will learn about Diawara.

ETC.: Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony is said to be a lock to be named Tuesday one of 15 players chosen to accompany Team USA to Asia. Barring the unforeseen, those close to the situation believe Anthony will make the 12-man team for the World Championship, Aug. 19-Sept. 3 in Japan. "I think I've come here and done what I've needed to do," Anthony told a reporter after a training camp practice Sunday in Las Vegas. "I think they want me to lead and I'm willing to take that challenge." Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski has said "Carmelo has stood out" and is "on a mission." . .

looks like Cuban's money can't buy everything

[TDMVPDPOY]

looks like Cuban's money can't buy everything

i think avery mite bolt when his contract is up since cuban doesnt wanna renegotiate his existing contract for a payrise or incentives...

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

This guy is amazing, much better than Buck and way cheaper

His D is crazy good, he is very athletic and can play 3 positions. He also has a nice outside shot

very pumped about this signing

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

AJ just signed a 5-year extension.