NBA Draft Talk

Thursday: DeMar DeRozan, Ty Lawson, Taj Gibson

Friday: Tyreke Evans, James Harden

Just got back from watching the ongoing parade of draft prospects working out for the Washington Wizards, including likely top-10 pick DeMar DeRozan from USC and former UNC point Ty Lawson (pictured right). Other players in the group session held on the Wizards practice court at the Verizon Center included DeRozan's USC teammate Taj Gibson, Gonzaga's Josh Heytvelt and Jeremy Pargo, Arkansas' Patrick Beverly and Coppin State's Tywain McKee.

The media is allowed to catch the final 15 minutes or so of each session, though it was a little bit less for DeRozan, who came in for a private workout after the other six prospects finished. Hard to gauge much from this short window, but the 6-6 swingman looked a little winded towards the end of a running sideline-to-sideline, pull up at the elbow shooting drill. All the prospects shoot a high percentage of these uncontested looks, though he was not drilling a terribly high percentage (as opposed to Lawson, who maybe missed one or two shots from various spots on the court).

You can probably chalk the fatigue to the solo session, as DeRozan, who is leaving the Trojans after his freshman season, did not get the breaks that he would have working with the larger group. He acknowledged that downside, but he is going through all his workouts in this set up, which are what he and his agent wanted.

"It is something [he and his agent] talked about. I really want to go in and have the all staff see everything I improved on," DeRozan said after the workout. "Off the dribble, every aspect. The main focus is you. You get real fatigued going an hour, hour and fifteen hard by yourself every drill. It's tough."

Among the parts of his game DeRozan has focused on in preparation for the workout process include his long-range shooting (good, since he hit only 16.7 percent from the college 3-point line), ball handling and post up moves.

In addition to working out with the Wizards, who have the fifth pick in the upcoming draft, DeRozan has already visited Oklahoma City, who hold the third pick, along with other lottery teams. The Wizards could use another wing player for sure, though they already have another USC two-guard on the roster in the form of 2007 first round pick Nick Young. Since DeRozan, who averaged 13.9 points a game in his one season with the Trojans, is more athlete than skilled player at this point and the Wizards have a plethora of those types, I would doubt that he ends up in DC, though those could go up if the team trades down to the later stages of the lottery.

Meanwhile Lawson played and spoke with the expected swagger and confidence of player who just led his team to the national title. It helped that he went through this process last year, but his improved touch from the perimeter was also making a statement.

"I am shooting the ball a lot better and I am in a better position this year," said Lawson, who grew up in the Maryland suburbs not far from the Wizards home court. "Basically I worked on my shot and am a lot more healthier this year and playing a lot better

The 5-11 point guard – Lawson mentioned he measured about an inch or so taller than his a year ago at this time – said some observers have compared him to the Orlando Magic's Jameer Nelson, another pass-first player. That type of mentality will be a welcome addition to any team, though do not look for him to be a starter right away and his lack of zie may ultimately turn him into a top reserve.

Lawson noted that last year he at this time he figured he "was probably going to be drafted 20 by Denver", but had told his father he wasn't going to stay in the draft if he did not go in the lottery. This time he is "real confident" that he will land in the late lottery/top-20 range, which likely means he is not in the Wizards plans barring a trade down, though he said team officials told him "I played real well, a lot better than last year." Lawson said the session with the Wizards was among his top workouts so far, primarily because it focused on the player's skill set as opposed to more of a conditioning approach with other teams where they are "trying to kill you."

Other Lawson nuggets:

- He also said there have been comparisons to Spurs point guard Tony Parker, though the Nelson assessment makes more sense in my opinion.

- On his travel schedule: "It's tough, flying from city to city. I just came from Toronto and the day before that I was in New York then I had to come here. Its grueling, a little tired, things like that, but I have to grind through it."

- On the mental strength needed for the draft process: "If you are not tough minded, it's going to be a tough process for you because you are flying from city to city, top talent everywhere you go and everybody critiquing your game."

Gibson, projected as a late first/early second round pick and a favorite of this blogger as a potential rebounder/energy type with a solid offensive game, has also made the rounds, including stops with the Heat, Pistons and twice with the Bulls. The 6-9 Junior is expected to remain in the draft, but he says he has yet to make an official decision.

"I'm just having fun right now with it," said the reigning Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. "I'm not even really thinking about much of the decision, but right now I am 100% in the draft. I'm going hard with it, playing every second like it's my last

Of course, a large part of Gibson's decision-making process will be affected by the sudden, but not surprising resignation of USC head coach Tim Floyd, who Gibson said was "the main reason I came to Southern Cal."

"I felt it was a bad situation. He is a good guy," said the 6'9 power forward, who said he spoke with Floyd on Tuesday. "A lot things happened that weren't supposed to happen. My heart is out to him, but I understand he'll be great wherever he lands."

The 6'11 Heytvelt, who has a nice stroke from the outside and projects as an offensive-minded big man in the NBA, and the 6'2 Pargo are potential second round picks, though the latter might slide out of the draft altogether and need to take his game overseas initially like his brother Jannero. More to come Friday with Tyreke Evans from Memphis and James Harden from Arizona State among the players expected to workout with the Wizards.