Gary McGhee, Brad Wanamaker and Gilbert Brown continue to travel the country for workouts to see if they can entice and NBA team to spend a draft pick on them or sign them for the summer league and perhaps beyond.
McGhee is in NYC today to workout with a group of players for the Knicks.
Brad Wanamaker was in San Antonio yesterday for his Spurs workout. A Spurs blogger considers him a longshot pick, but always possible.
Pitt’s Wanamaker is likely destined for the end of the second round, but he’s capable of playing in the NBA. He may need some time in the D-League to add to his game, but he may be an attractive player to the Spurs for many reasons. Wanamaker, who is represented by DeJuan Blair’s agent, Happy Walters, can create offense, drive and dish and while not very fast or athletic at his position, Wanamaker loves finishing at the basket. He’ll attack and finish or get fouled. Wanamaker is also used to playing unselfish basketball, which is preached at Pittsburgh.
Wanamaker also got a pleasantly puffing piece on his odds of making the NBA in the P-G last week.
Wanamaker’s future in the professional ranks will be at point guard. He was listed as a shooting guard during his four seasons at Pitt, but he was the de facto point guard the past two seasons when he led the Panthers in assists both years.
Wanamaker said Pitt’s offensive system has prepared him well for the NBA game.
“My role won’t change too much,” said Wanamaker, who stands 6 feet 4. “People maybe looked at me as a slasher or shooting guard in college, but if you really looked at it I was the point guard. The NBA game is all about ball screens and pick and roll. Every play in the NBA is a ball screen, and that’s what I did at Pitt for the past two seasons. Playing for coach [Jamie] Dixon really helped prepare me for the NBA. We changed our style the last few years to where it’s more of an NBA style of play.”
I still don’t expect him to be drafted, but I wouldn’t be surprised either.
Gilbert Brown has been training in Vegas and has plenty of workouts coming.
Brown has been working with NBA and top college players at noted trainer Joe Abunassar’s Impact Academy, including personal drills with Milwaukee Bucks forward Corey Maggette. Brown had a daily routine of individual drills, workouts and 3-on-3 pick-up games. Top players at the camp include projected lottery picks Kawhi Leonard of San Diego State, Alec Burks of Colorado and Tristan Thompson of Texas.
“The scouts came through, and I showed them I’m more than just defense and taking an open shot,” Brown said.
His performance is one reason HoopsWorld had Brown going in the first round, 27th overall, in their May 22 mock draft. The latest mock draft, after some additional input from NBA scouts, has Brown going in the second round, 45th overall.
Kyler spent a couple days in Las Vegas watching Brown. Many scouts have compared the 23-year-old Harrisburg native to Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo.
“The one thing I really saw from Gilbert was a lot more ability than maybe we saw at Pitt,” Kyler said.
Why do they feed us straight lines like that?
Once again, Brown has the physical tools, size, etc. to have a an NBA career. The issue has been more one of consistency (and health).
