ESPN: Derrick Favors’ draft stock is growing … and growing
Derrick Favors looks all of 6-foot-10 here. (AP photo)
Last week the consensus had Derrick Favors going No. 3 in the NBA draft, behind John Wall of Kentucky and Ohio State’s Evan Turner. Now, courtesy of Chad Ford of ESPN.com’s Insiders at the Chicago draft combine, comes word the Georgia Tech one-and-done could go higher.
Why? Because, per Ford, it turns out Favors is even bigger than he appears. Writes Ford (link requires registration): “He’s a legit 6-foot-10, has a 7-2 wingspan and a 9-2 standing reach. Those numbers are actually very close to Dwight Howard and better than the Atlanta Hawks’ Al Horford. If Favors projects as a center in the NBA, he too could get some strong consideration with the No. 2 pick.”
As has been noted before, the early line on Favors had him being a cross between Horford and Josh Smith. But it’s much harder to find a center than a power forward, and if NBA teams regard Favors as a center … well, that’s a major development.
Ford also provides this pithy blind quote:
“Favors doesn’t have the offensive game that [Kentucky's] DeMarcus Cousins has,” another GM told me. “But he’s a better athlete, a better defender and when the two of them met head-to-head in high school, Favors kicked Cousins’ butt. Had he got going earlier at Georgia Tech, he could’ve been, probably should’ve been, the No. 1 pick.”
Remember back in January, when folks were saying Favors was overrated? He wasn’t. Just underused. I noted a couple of months ago that Favors would be much better as a pro than as a collegian, and I’ll stand by that.
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94 comments Add your comment
BigTimeTECHFan
May 25th, 2010
2:30 pm
I would like to see:
PF Horford
SF M Williams
C Cousins
SG D Wade
PG Teague / Crawford
How that happens:
Joe Johnson signs with new team F/A
Trade J Smith and Bibby for top 5 pick – Draft Cousins
ATL uses money saved from JJ and J Smith and Sign’s D Wade
BigTimeTECHFan
May 25th, 2010
2:33 pm
oh, maybe Lewal can drop to Atl’s late 1st round pick
TechMan91
May 25th, 2010
2:39 pm
BigTimeTECHFan, I doubt very seriously if you ever attended the Institute.
BigTimeTECHFan
May 25th, 2010
2:42 pm
TechMan91 – I never went to Tech, didn’t have the grades.
TechMan91
May 25th, 2010
2:53 pm
No offense. But I could tell. I appreciate the sidewalk alumni and the support you provide. You should always have a place if and when members of the Tech family can’t fill the stadium.
Ramblin’, I’m not even sure where to start with your post. Favors will never last until the Hawks selection. And I love Nesbitt as much as anyone, but I don’t think he plays on Sundays. He will have a degree from the Institute. He has many options. And please, don’t refer to him as Robot. It’s asinine.
Hayseed Dixie
May 25th, 2010
2:57 pm
I don’t care that he’s a one and done- it just stinks that Hewitt got nowhere near close to his potential.
You recruit a kid like Favors, you spend a lot of time that you could’ve spent recruiting, say, a handful of team-focused 3 stars that make a deep bench and stay for four years.
All of which is fine, if you get the results.
Never mind that a kid you don’t have to worry about graduating also has certain benefits.
“Fire Hewitt Now” may not be a financial reality, but I predict that CPJ getting boosters excited enough about Tech athletics to pay for Hewitts’ ouster will be merely another part of his legend.
Derrick Favors may go #2 overall. - True Sports Core Forums
May 25th, 2010
3:28 pm
[...] [...]
Old Tech fan in NC
May 25th, 2010
3:32 pm
The 6-9 grad from AL evidently is going to UNC. Tech missed another chance for a tall player (for one year).
Mark Bradley
May 25th, 2010
3:38 pm
Size-wise, Tech isn’t going to have much next season. Peacock, Favors, Lawal and Sheehan are gone.
Then again, there’s Daniel Miller and Kammeon Holsey, both redshirt freshmen.
TechMan91
May 25th, 2010
3:39 pm
Thanks for the update Old Man.
That AL guy must be an [edited].
BigTimeTECHFan
May 25th, 2010
3:57 pm
MB – but they bring back there best player Shumpert.
Miles
May 25th, 2010
4:20 pm
Enter your comments here
Miles
May 25th, 2010
4:21 pm
So Sheehan is not returning next year?
GTPhenom
May 25th, 2010
4:34 pm
Miles, can you read? No. Sheehan is gone. Try reading a little before you post. It’s a good idea.
GTPhenom
May 25th, 2010
4:37 pm
My sources are telling me that Miller was turning it up a notch late in the season on the practice floor. CPH was very close VERY CLOSE to burning his redshirt even midway through the ACC schedule.
BravesFan79
May 25th, 2010
5:00 pm
Im glad we didnt burn D Millers redshirt! It would of been a waste because Hewitt would of still found a way to loose to a less talented Ohio State team. And Even Turner will be no better a pro than the guy who went to Kansas State and now plays for the Heat. Id take Favors over Turner anyday! Favors will be the #2 pick in the draft…. no doubt.
Stinger
May 25th, 2010
5:39 pm
Could someone tell me if UGA has anyone projected to be a lottery pick too? Just kidding, they never have a basketball player make it to the NBA. LMAO
Sunset
May 25th, 2010
7:00 pm
Many overlook that Derrick is still 18 and will not turn 19 for another couple of months, while John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins will be turning 20. That said, Derrick is a legitimate elite athlete, at 6′10″ and approximately 240, a true talent that has never been used fulling to his potential even in high school and at GA Tech. He had to rely too much on his athleticism to earn his honors. Had he played for a better team, guards that can feed him the ball in the low post, his stats would be that much more impressive.
Not only is Derrick a remarkable young basketball player he is an excellent student, a young man that well grounded. May he have a bright NBA career. Go Derrick.
Miles
May 25th, 2010
7:20 pm
GTPhenom, Brad hasn’t said whether or not he is returning so check your facts before you say stupid things.
Simpdawg
May 25th, 2010
7:35 pm
I’m starting to like this Keith Tiny Gallon kid. I know he’s a little under size for the 5 position, but this kid has soft hands and nice low post moves. Gallon is listed at 6’9.5”or 6’10”and 302 with a 7’4.5” wingspan. Although Gallon weighs over 300 pounds his body fat percentage is lower than DeMarcus Cousins at 15.1 percent. Check him out on YouTube.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
May 25th, 2010
7:38 pm
I wish Derrick well in the league. He is a great young man.
I wish Coach Hewitt would leave and take us out of our misery. He is a terrible coach, and it is ashamed he is still our coach. Without THE contract, he certainly would not be still employed at GT.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
May 25th, 2010
7:40 pm
A SHAME…not ashamed…sorry for the typo..
jojatek
May 25th, 2010
9:43 pm
Good to see NBA insiders confirming what every single one of us who attended Tech (and send in the alumni money every year) already know: Paul Hewitt must go. He didn’t know what to do with Bosh… couldn’t get the ball inside to Favors. What’s the point with the “one-and-done” approach if we have a coach who can’t take advantage of the “one”…?? All the best to Derrick (he deserves it… a solid kid with alot of character), but Tech basketball needs a fresh perspective and change in direction…
Northwest Jacket
May 25th, 2010
10:53 pm
First I heard that Sheehan is not returning. That will hurt the depth that was short to begin with. I hope Hewitt has an Australian or JuCo post player that will appear out of nowhere. Otherwise who plays the 4/5 and/or backups up the 4 and 5? Storrs or Oliver? Where’s the beef? I hope Bradley is wrong about Sheehan leaving. He would get 10 to 15 minutes a game as a back up and obviously more if he could crack the lineup (uh, that is a scary thought!). This could be like ‘08-’09 again.
vince dooley
May 25th, 2010
11:25 pm
i think he’ll go between picks 30-24!!! we run this state! GO DAWGS!!!
HawkKingBibby
May 25th, 2010
11:48 pm
Jordan Crawford.
Knowledge Quest
May 26th, 2010
8:40 am
Lets hold out for a center and do this the right way
South Atlanta H.S
May 26th, 2010
9:22 am
I saw this boy play when he went to C.W.Long middle school and to have had him as one of my class mates in S.A.H.S was awesome now to see him on all the basketball sites is amazing. some people thought he didnt have what it took to make college ball but look at him now getting ready for the NBA what ever team(NETS they need him) he goes to i will watch happily.
Hoops
May 26th, 2010
9:34 am
Think About This:
If Doc Rivers is going to retire, then the Celtics are going to have to hire a coach. I believe that Tom Thibodeau will be the next Celtics coach. I would love to have him in ATL, but we have not even interviewed him. Doc Rivers is not going to leave the Celtics to come and coach the Hawks either!
Phil Jackson is not going anywhere. He will retire as the Lakers coach when that time comes. Larry Brown has no ties to ATL. Why would he want to come here?
The top college coaches that are being mentioned, Coach K, Calipari, etc. are not interested in the Hawks!
Like it or not, the Hawks best choices are (not in any particular order) Avery Johnson, SVG (may get fired), JVG, Mike Brown, or Byron Scott. IMO these other assistant coaches (Casey, Mitchell, etc.) and former players (M. Jackson) that haven’t any coaching experience, whose names are being tossed around, would not be an upgrade over Woodson! Don’t hire someone that is not a great improvement over what you had!
Sund needs to be patient and see what coaches become available between now and the end of the NBA playoffs. We need to have a great coach in place by July 1. Then the FA’s, that we are going after, will know who the Hawks coach is going to be! That will help with attracting the right players to the Hawks! JMO
UGA (STUPID REDNECK FANS, 7-5, 1980, RAPE, ZACK METTENBERGER)
May 26th, 2010
9:57 am
I LOVE THE INDEPENDENCE BOWL!
GTsupporter
May 26th, 2010
10:16 am
Get that Money Derrick!!! Good Job!! It should scare GT basketball fans. When you have a kid that is a top 3 pick in the draft and possibly another 1st rounder in Lawal and you still cant win games..thats scary and yes its Paul Hewitt’s fault 100% precent. Derrick would have been the 1st pick had GT produced wins this past b.ball season but congrats never-the-less.
GTsupporter
May 26th, 2010
10:32 am
No Favors No Lawal and no legitimate pro prospects for the 10-11 season …….scary, especially when you have a coach that relys on talent alone and no coaching/teaching skills. Guess we will wait for another big name before we win again.
Jackets!
May 26th, 2010
11:17 am
Yeah size will be lacking for next years team…but a guard oriented team could end up being a better thing for Tech. Hopefully Shumpert, Oliver, Rice, and Miller have solid years. If the guys down low can score some points a provide a little balance…we can still have a pretty good team.
MaxxHawk
May 26th, 2010
3:04 pm
Favors will tear it up in the NBA
MaxxHawk
May 26th, 2010
3:06 pm
Hawks need Jerome Jordan
Not Drinking the Kool-Aid
May 26th, 2010
4:10 pm
Jerome Jordan or Solomon Alabi may be had by the Hawks with there pick. No one is going to trade for Smoove or Marvin and the Hawks pick to give up Favors or Cousins. Bigs are at a premium in the NBA (a la Greg Oden – damaged goods drafted #1) You must be pipe dreaming!!!
geewiz
May 27th, 2010
9:11 am
BigTimeTECHFan
May 25th, 2010
2:30 pm
I would like to see:
PF Horford
SF M Williams
C Cousins
SG D Wade
PG Teague / Crawford
geewiz
May 27th, 2010
9:12 am
DIARY OF A <.500 TEAM
.
BigTimeTECHFan
May 25th, 2010
2:30 pm
I would like to see:
PF Horford
SF M Williams
C Cousins
SG D Wade
PG Teague / Crawford
heartofdarkness
May 28th, 2010
2:22 pm
What is Favor’s CCG [Concussions Created per Game]? It will probably be a big NBA stat in the future.
GTman:
May 28th, 2010
6:15 pm
Hey Mark,
Are there any UGA players projected to be first round picks, or drafted at all? My answer is probably not, but you have a better idea than I do. GO JACKETS!
dex
May 29th, 2010
10:54 am
watch him go first ..take that snd shove it ugay
John
May 30th, 2010
8:36 pm
Why do people, still to this day, dream of D-Wade on the Hawks…and I’m sure they will until he signs in MIAMI…WHICH IS WHAT HE WILL DO!!! D-Wade…ready for this…..IS NOT COMING TO ATLANTA!!!! NO MATTER THE SITUATION, HE WILL NOT SIGN IN AT ATLANTA!
Dahlia
May 30th, 2010
9:38 pm
“All of you Hewitt bashers give it a rest please.”
Why give it a rest? Hewitt sucks. Tech will never win with Hewitt.
blackprix
May 31st, 2010
2:09 am
Another Tech basketball player under-used and under coached at GT, so what’s new???
Hewitt is destroying this program … 6 years and still counting.