NBA DRAFT PREVIEW: Kris Joseph

     Kris Joseph had a stellar four-year career with the Syracuse Orange. This past season he led the Orange to the Elite 8 and helped the Orange break the school record for wins. Joseph put up solid numbers in his senior season averaging 13.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Joseph measures in at 6'7" tall and weighs 215 pounds. After several workouts with NBA teams he is ready for Thursday night's NBA draft. Here is our preview for Kris Joseph.
     PROS: At 6'7" tall Joseph has sufficient size to play small forward in the NBA. He is a solid rebounder for his size. He is a very smart player and usually stays out of foul trouble. A solid defender capable of guarding the other team's best player. A solid 3-point shooter with a good overall offensive game.
     CONS: Joseph rarely takes over a game. He has the ability to do so, but sometimes takes a more passive approach. Needs to be more of a force on the offensive end.
     Most draft boards have Joseph going in the mid-to-late second round. Possible teams are Atlanta or Toronto, but never rule out trades on draft day. Joseph will most likely have to prove himself in order to get playing time in his rookie season.

Joseph Shoots Well In Bobcats Workout

    Kris Joseph had a successful workout with the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday. Joseph worked out alongside the potential number two pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and another potential lottery selection Bradley Beal. Mike Scott of Virginia, Quincy Acy of Baylor, Bernard James of Florida State, and Darius Johnson-Odom of Marquette also worked out for the Bobcats.
    Joseph had a successful career for Syracuse. The 6'7" forward led the Orange in scoring in his senior season. He led the team to the Big East regular season title as well as an Elite 8 berth.
    Joseph said in a bobcats.com interview that he wanted to show the team that he could "shoot the ball consistently". He then added, "I shot the ball pretty well today, even in our spot shooting and in the drills." The players were involved in 3-on-3 drills where Joseph was able to showcase his skills against top tier talent.
    He is expected to be a mid-to-late second round pick this year. Charlotte has picks number 2 and 31 in the draft. They have made deals in the past to acquire more draft picks. When asked about playing for the Bobcats Joseph said, "They need some help and I would be willing to be the guy to help this organization out."

NBA Draft Preview: Fab Melo

   After a drama filled sophomore season Fab Melo decided it was time to turn pro. Melo was not allowed to play in the NCAA tournament after the school deemed him ineligible. He ended the year averaging 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. His defensive performances helped him earn the Big East Defensive Player of the Year crown. Melo is measured at 7' tall and weighs 255 pounds.
   Pros: At 7 feet tall Melo is a hot commodity in the NBA. In a league where you can never have enough big men, his size is his best asset. He has an overall nose for the ball. He defends extremely well and alters shots consistently. He disrupts players from getting clean drives to the rim, a good help defender. He is a great rebounder.
   Cons: Melo is a work in progress on the offensive end. He has no jump shot. His back to the basket game is satisfactory, but not NBA caliber. He is prone to get in foul trouble.
   Overall Melo is a young enough player that some of these skills can be learned. He has tremendous talent and appears to have a tremendous upside. Most mock drafts have Melo going between pick 22 and 28. There may be a chance a team would trade to get him, but there are some playoff teams in the late first round   that would love to have a defensive 7 footer. I don't see him being a superstar of any kind, but he could develop into a solid center for a team.
   Coming up in the near future will be the Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph draft previews from Syracuse Pros.

Waiters A Possible Guaranteed Lottery Pick

According to a sportingnews.com report Syracuse sophomore Dion Waiters has cancelled all of his remaining workouts. It has been rumored that he has been guaranteed to be picked, possibly by Toronto at No. 8.
Toronto could be a great fit for Waiters. The Raptors have a solid point guard and good inside presence, but they lack at the shooting guard and small forward positions. He could get big minutes in Toronto.

Dion Waiters NBA Draft Preview

Our first in a series of draft articles here at Syracuse Pros features Dion Waiters. Waiters, who after struggling as a freshman, turned it on this past season becoming arguably the best sixth man in the country. After a solid season in which he averaged 12.6 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.3 rebounds, Waiters decided to turn pro. 

PROS: Waiters can put a spark into a team quickly. Consistently over the course of the season Jim Boeheim used him to get the Orange back into the game. He doesn't have to start, which can increase his value in the NBA where the teams with better bench players are often the teams that win games. He shot 48% from the field this past year. His jump shot could use some work, but he can still keep teams honest with it. He can drive the ball and create his own shot. His defensive ability is solid. He is a great anticipater and a gifted athlete.

CONS: Waiters is only 6'4". He would be a small shooting guard based on NBA standards. Although Gerald Henderson has proved you don't have to be huge to effective. Waiters was a 36% 3-point shooter. That percentage is not awful, but you would like to see your shooting guard be in the low 40 percent range. He struggles in the half court against good defenses.

Overall I think Waiters can turn into a very solid pro. He has all the skills and with some hard work can improve his weaknesses. Mock drafts have put him anywhere from 8 to 18. I see him going in the early to mid teens. This is a very talent rich draft and there are some great players in front of him.

Stay connected with Syracuse Pros as we continue our Syracuse draft previews!