Josh Smith is a 22-year-old power forward with four years of NBA experience, a record-setting setting pace for blocks and enough highlight reel footage to start up his own multimedia empire, but ask the man himself what he really needs and discover nothing more than the feeling of being wanted.

On Friday afternoon Smith signed a five-year $58 million offer sheet with the Memphis Grizzlies, baiting his current Atlanta Hawks club to match the deserved market value or risk losing their second best performer in an improbable and highly successful playoff run last May.

With visions of Smith running the Memphis breaks alongside the likes of Grizzlies Rudy Gay and rookie O.J. Mayo, it didn’t take long for the Atlanta brass to soundly and confidently recommit. It is, after all, not every day that you see a world class athlete anxious to build on a successful season with the historically unsuccessful Hawks.

When Smith, alongside team scoring leader Joe Johnson and rookie Al Horford, forced the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics into a seventh and deciding game in their first-round playoff match up last spring, it marked a triumph of proportions unlike any seen in recent Hawks memory. Not coincidentally, it marked the official beginning of an Atlanta basketball era that you won’t want to miss.

Just days after news broke of his recent activity on the free agent market, the 6′9″ Smith was nice enough to set time aside from his his hectic adidas Nations schedule (where he serves as the NBA mentor of the class of 2009 US team) in order to talk high school hoops, offer sheets and obviously, NBA Jam.

Austin Kent: First of all, Josh, let’s talk adidas and let’s talk high school basketball. What exactly is your role in Dallas this week?
Josh Smith: Well my role in Dallas it to just basically be a mentor to the kids and just help them. I see them making a lot of the same little errors in the game that I used to make, so I just try to talk to them and help them get better.

Kent: Have you always been an adidas guy?
Smith: Yeah, ever since I was 14.

Kent: Why is that?
Smith: My AAU team was sponsored by adidas and I wore them all the way up until now. Obviously you wear other shoes when you’re in high school, but for the most part it was all I used to wear.

Kent: Now, your own situation as a high school player was a little bit different than these guys since you were able to declare for the draft. How does this effect the mind set of the best young players in the country? What’s different between them and you?
Smith: With me, like you said, I was able to go straight, but now they have a rule in there. I’m not sure if other athletes are going to follow what Brandon Jennings did, you know, going overseas for a year and playing over there and try to get into the NBA after a year.

Kent: Well you’re probably a good judge of this, do you think that could be the case with more of these players?
Smith: I think so, I think that Brandon Jennings just opened the door for other high school players to do what he did.

Kent: Say you were in his position and the same rule applied back when you were in high school, would you have considered something similar to that?
Smith: I probably would have went to school.

Kent: You don’t have to talk too long about this, but what are your thoughts on the age limit?
Smith: Obviously I don’t agree with it because I went out of high school. I feel that school’s always going to be there, but with the NBA it’s just so rare for an athlete to make it. Some people are at their primes and some people peak early. I think that, like they say, once you get hurt you have nothing to fall back on, well, what if you get hurt in college? You really have nothing to fall back on. You know what I mean? You should have a little money to be able to finish school and get your degree. If you’re injured in school, say you have a career-ending injury, you might get your scholarship taken from you, which then doesn’t provide you with financial benefits that should be there for you to finish school.

Kent: Did you have a school that you would have considered if you didn’t go into the draft?
Smith: I was going to go to Indiana.

Kent: Sweet. Well, moving on, off the court in terms of free agency and resigning with the Hawks, this has been a pretty big week for you. Is a congratulations in order here? Are you happy with how this all played out?
Smith: Yeah, I’m happy. I mean, they wanted me to go out there and see if I could get something done with a different team and I was able to do it. So I’m happy that I’m going to be going back home and able to play in front of my friends and family.

Kent: Let’s move aside a little bit and then we’ll come back, what was the atmosphere like playing for such an exciting team last year? Obviously the playoffs were great, but even going back before then, it seemed as though their was a completely new attitude for most of the season.
Smith: There definitely was, it had to do a lot with our fans. Our fans gave us so much support over the whole entire season. I think they were real big in us even making the playoffs. You had to be there in order to witness the atmosphere, it felt like the arena was shaking. A couple of my friends told me that it was actually shaking, that the stadium was shaking. When we got knocked out the playoffs I went to a couple of different teams’ playoff games and the atmosphere couldn’t compare to what was going on in Atlanta.

Kent: It was definitely exciting to watch. Now, heading into free agency back at the start of July, did you think it would take this long for a deal to take place? Did you anticipate, coming in, that it would take an offer sheet from another team to force the Hawks to raise their offer? I know you said that the Hawks kind of told you to go out there on your own, but what do you think about that?
Smith: I didn’t think it was going to take that long. I feel as though I played my heart out for them. I didn’t think it was going to have to come down to that. I look out and see Chicago showing that they’re loyal to Luol Deng and the same goes with Monta Ellis and (Andris) Biedrins and those guys. With those guys, their teams showed loyalty to them - and also Emeka Okafor. All I want to do is be wanted, and you know - I didn’t really understand it at first, but now I understand that this is a business and you really can’t get your emotions tied up in situations.

Kent: The Atlanta Hawks quickly matched your Grizzlies offer sheet, but what is it about Memphis that made you want to throw your hat in that ring? You had to be thinking in the back of your mind, what if Atlanta doesn’t match, then your a Grizzly. What is it about Memphis that drew you there?
Smith: Just the young talent that they have. I think that the Memphis Grizzlies are just a couple of pieces away from being a really good team because you have some very talented young players like Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry,they just acquired O.J. Mayo, they have Javaris Crittenton, Mike Conley Jr. You have a lot of athletic guys who play hard and want to win.

Kent: Also, Darko Milicic. I think I’m the only guy in the entire world who bought a Darko Milicic jersey on draft night
Smith: *Laughs*

Kent: I bought two of them actually, home and away. That didn’t pan out so well. But with the two of you in the front court, I don’t think anybody would get a shot off, let alone make a basket. So I was kind of hoping for that as well, but that didn’t happen and Atlanta seems like it will be a great situation again. But, speaking of free agency, can you talk about your relationship with Josh Childress? Was it as much of a surprise to you as it was for the rest of us when he announced that he would be leaving for Greece?
Smith: Me and Josh have a good relationship. He’s one of my brothers. We came in, we always had that special connection, we got drafted in the same year by the same team. We had a chance to grow in the league together and it was a shock to me because I didn’t know what was going on. I had called him and he told me he was really considering taking the deal. It was a shock to me, but I’m happy for him. He deserves it.

Kent: Did you think that maybe somewhere down the line - maybe this summer, maybe who knows when - that you could do a similar thing to that. Did that cross your mind at all?
Smith: I actually was joking with my agent like “if this doesn’t work out, I want you to start seeing what’s going on overseas”. But I don’t know, maybe. If it came down to it, I wouldn’t say no quickly, I would really think about it.

Kent: LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have come out and said that they would consider something like that, hypothetically, I guess. Hockey is doing it too, with the NHL, they’re trying to steal away a lot of the NHL players. Do you see this as a threat to the NBA at all?
Smith: I think so. It’s kind of like, back in the day when I wasn’t born, how the ABA was out there and how they had the NBA. Then they started grabbing the players from the ABA to play in the NBA. I think it’s going to be something similar to that.

Kent: Well Josh, I appreciate you taking the time to answer these questions. I’ll let you get back to work. Hopefully we’ll talk again sometime soon.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media

Devlin picked a perfect time to start his new job because his first day as the voice of the Raptors coincided with the press conferences to announce the acquisition of Jermaine O’Neal as well as the re-signing of Jose Calderon. Despite a busy first day working for the Raptors, I was fortunate enough to be given some of Devlin’s time and we talked about why family played a role in his move from Charlotte, what it will be like to replace Chuck Swirsky, what he hopes to bring to Raptors broadcasts next season and he talked about his big plans for the summer announcing the Olympic games in Beijing.

Chatting with Devlin was a pleasure and I’m looking forward to hearing him announce Raptors games next season because of his knowledge of the game and his passion for the city of Toronto.

Raptors fans can listen to my chat with Matt Devlin by clicking here.

Before Canada’s game against Lebanon last week, Dalembert sat in the bleachers to chat with Ryan McNeill about what motives him to give up his summer for the Canadian National team, why he has so much respect head coach Rautins, how he’s growing into more of a leader, and how much it would mean to him to play in the Olympics this summer.

Ryan McNeill: This is the second summer in a row that you’ve given up some of your time to represent Canada. What motivates you to give up your summer for the National Team?
Samuel Dalembert: The fact that Leo [Rautins] is the head coach makes me feel at ease and comfortable about coming here because I know he really cares about helping guys to improve. Some of the stuff I was going to do alone in the gym, now I get to do with competition which is better than working in a gym one-on-one. It’s a good group of guys, too. I got to know them last summer and I just love being here. It’s not like it’s a torture. There are teams where you’re like, “oh man, I can’t wait to get this over with and get out of here”. But the guys here, we hang out together all the time. The combination of a lot of things made me want to come back.

McNeill: Playing in the NBA you’re surrounded by a lot of talented coaches, but you’ve mentioned your respect for Leo Rautins. What are some of the things he’s teaching you and how is he helping you to grow as a player?
Dalembert: A lot of times you see in the United States you see athletic, big men running the floor, that do a lot offensively, but unfortunately when you play for certain teams it’s not required that you do all of those things and you have to focus on defense. But, being here with Leo has allowed me to expand my game to do more on the court and build my confidence so when I go back to the NBA without any hesitation I’ll be able to go out there and show people what I can do. I can contribute more during the season and then come back next summer and get better. So overall, for somebody like me who hasn’t played basketball for a long time, I need as much basketball as I can to get better to make up for the fact that I didn’t start playing until the age of 14.

McNeill: I’ve heard you’ve become a vocal leader on this team. What are some ways you’re mentoring some of the younger players? What are some things you’re doing to become a leader this summer for this team?
Dalembert: Being a leader… you need to see the type of people you have around you. As a leader you have to be kind of harsh and mean. Me? The guys know I’m a funny dude. When things aren’t going well I get guys laughing but at the same time they know when I’m serious. They know when I say something I mean it and I’ve proved to them, I can take control in the game at times. That comes with confidence from being able to do it over and over again. It’s not like I’m the solo leader. We have other guys like Jesse (Young) and Dave Thomas. Guys like that also play a great role because they are more family orientated with the team than me. I came last summer and just tried to blend in, now I’m asserting myself and trying to get to know the guys and the guys are trying to get to know me. We get to hang out a lot together and do stuff together. We joke around a lot with each other but when it’s serious we know it‘s serious. I don’t think this team needs a babysitter because everybody knows how serious it is.

McNeill: Alright, final question for you Sam. How important and special would it be for you to get Canada into the Olympics this summer?
Dalembert: Huge! That’s been my main goal and I will do anything in my power to help Canada because for me personally it‘s a great thing to get there. After you get there we want to stay there. Our focus is nothing more than getting to the Olympics this summer and once we get there our focus is getting the gold. That’s how we’re looking at it right now.

McNeill: Thank you for your time Sam, good luck this summer.
Dalembert: Thank you, take care.

Click here to listen to the audio clip of this interview.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media

It goes without saying, then, that it was a pleasure for Hoops Addict to catch up with the 25-year-old forward/center before he and his Canadian teammates disposed of a Lebanese national club in exhibition play earlier this week. Be sure to catch Anthony and the rest of Team Canada at the Jack Donohue International classic this weekend and at the Olympic Qualifers in Athens, Greece later this month.

Hoops Addict: For lots of the Toronto basketball fans - that’s where we’re based out of - I was wondering if you could describe the Montreal basketball scene. You’re fairly well represented here [Samuel Dalembert and Juan Mendez each spent time in Montreal].
JA: The Montreal basketball scene has been around for a while. A lot of good players have been able to come out of Montreal, so it’s good on a team like this where you’re able to have three guys out of Montreal on this team. It’s obviously good for the entire Montreal basketball scene because it shows that there are a lot of players out there. Obviously we’re not as big of a city as Toronto but we still have a lot of players that are able to play.

HA: Another thing I wanted to talk to you about was the approach you took to getting into the NBA. You kind of took a back door. I was wondering if you could elaborate on that process, you know, signing with Miami after the draft and everything.
JA: I just worked out with teams before the draft and Miami was one of the teams I had a good workout against. They liked some things that they saw and they wanted to bring me in for the Summer League. So they signed me to come in and I had to work my way up. I pretty much just worked my way in, making it to training camp, and from training camp to being on the opening roster.

HA: How has your involvement with Team Canada [Anthony played in 2006] developed your personal game?
JA: It was a good experience to be here with the guys. I think it’s made things a lot easier this year, because being with them for about six weeks while we were on that little tour, we really got to know everybody on the team. So coming here, there wasn’t that unfamiliarity, not knowing guys or how they were. I was comfortable as soon as I stepped into the gym. These are all guys that I know and friends of mine so it has helped me a lot, especially coming into this year.

HA: I was also wondering how, playing at the professional level and all the work you put in this year, what, from that, can you take and put towards Canada Basketball?
JA: You know, it’s just continuing to work and get better. I feel that may skills have improved and I feel myself getting better and I feel a lot more confident in what I’ve been able to do to help the team. So it’s done a whole lot for me, I feel that there’s been a big difference in me from the beginning of my first year to the end of the year, and even from the end of the year until now with all the work that I’ve put in. I think it has really helped me a lot in terms of making sure I am ready to come and help the team in any way that I can.

HA: I’m under the impression that with Miami you’re kind of waiting on July 25th [the date Anthony's contract will become guaranteed with the Heat if nothing happens prior]?
JA: I’m just going to see how the month of July goes with free agency. Free agency starts on the first of July and from there I’m going to see what happens until the end of the month. See what type of moves Miami makes, what types of decisions they make in terms of personnel.

HA: Much has been made of the drafting of Michael Beasley and one thing that has been mentioned on ESPN is the temptations of South Beach. I was wondering, as a professional yourself, if you could elaborate. What are these temptations and how does a professional go about dealing with them?
JA: South Beach, you know, is real lively. It’s a young town. In South Beach there are a lot of things to do. There are a lot of clubs and stuff like that. People are always trying to go out and have a good time in South Beach. Tourists go down there all the time to have a good time. There aren’t too many cities like that in the US that are really lively all the time, so if you’re not used to it, I guess you can get caught up. But it was no different than when I was going to school in Vegas and I was staying down the street from The Strip. So I guess the temptations are there, but really they could be anywhere and it’s just how you handle it. You have to understand that you’re a professional, and although that may be there, you still have to know what you’re there for. You’re not there to party like everybody else, you’re there to play basketball and you have to make that adjustment.

HA: Going with the Miami theme, last year you guys suffered a lot of injuries, which happens, but I was wondering; how did the team adjust when lots of the guys that were playing may not have really expected to be in that sort of position at the onset of the year? How did that affect the moral on the team?
JA: It was tough when guys started going down and getting hurt. It’s difficult when those important parts of your team are no longer there. I think one of the toughest ones was when Alonzo got hurt. Seeing Zo down really hurt us because he was such a huge part of the team. But basically at the end, you still have to play, so guys had to come in and try and step up, to try and do whatever they could to help out and fill that void.

HA: For my last question, I wanted to bring it back to Team Canada. For somebody who is not familiar with the international scene, how do you feel about this team coming into this? I know for the last few years, at least the last few Olympic years, Canada hasn’t been represented. How do you feel heading into this qualifying tournament?
JA: It feels good. The guys have been around each other a lot and we’ve been able to play and adjust to each other. We’re confident that we’ll be able to focus and do the right thing to try and qualify. We understand our margin of error is really small and it definitely won’t be easy, nothing will be handed to us, but we feel confident in our ability to make it happen.

HA: Well that’s all for me, thanks Joel, I appreciate it.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media

Hoops Addict: Is this your first free agent camp of the summer?
James White: Yes, this is my first camp this summer and I’m looking forward to it. Being out here today I’m just trying to get in where I fit in in as far as trying to get up some shots and show what I can do.

HA: I noticed you were talking a lot to John Lucas and Rod Benson during the game. How long does it take to gel and form some cohesion with teammates?
JW: Not really, because we’re all basketball players. We all do the same thing, we’ve all been around for awhile. Everybody knows how to play basketball and that’s what we’re going to try to do. We just try to go out there quickly and learn where each other are and it’s not too hard.

HA: How do you feel today went?
JW: It went good. I think a lot of guys are going to try to come out here and try to show what they can do early because you don’t have too much time. So you just want to go out there and be smart and don’t try to do things that you can’t do. I think everyone played well today.

HA: What are your plans for the rest of the summer? Do you have any plans to play in the Vegas Summer League?
JW: I have some more workouts with some other NBA teams. I’m not sure if I’ll do Summer League, but if I do I have a couple of teams that I have options with. I’m just going to try and stay busy, stay in shape, and hopefully I’ll get my chance.

HA: You played in Turkey last season. What did you learn from that experience and how did it make you a better player?
JW: There are a lot of things you can’t do overseas that you can do here in North America so I had to adjust my game a little bit. I added some things to my game that I can bring back plus the things I knew from before that I couldn’t use overseas. I learned a lot about the game so I think it will help me.

HA: What was the most challenging aspect of playing in Turkey?
JW: Learning a new style, it was kind of like I went back to college again. The NBA is more open, it has more space, but in Turkey you have to play against guys who sit in the lane. For an athlete it’s harder to do the things that you like to do so that was probably the hardest part.

HA: What are some of your favourite memories of your time overseas?
JW: Winning and going to the Final Eight of the Euroleague and winning the Championship over there.

HA: I’ve heard a rumour that you can grab the top of the backboard. Is this true?
JW: (chuckling) I don’t know if I can anymore, I’m getting old. I probably can still but we’ll have to chalk it up to being just a rumour.

HA: As you get older and move away from being known as a dunker you need to change your game and evolve a bit. What are some of the ways you’re doing that?
JW: That’s the tough part because when you jump high then you’re always going to have the label as just being a dunker. Ever since high school I’ve been trying to do things to evolve my game and just become a better all around player. I like to do a lot of different things. I try to be a passer, shooter, everything to be an all around player so people will see the other parts of your game.

HA: Thank you for your time and good luck this summer.
JW: Thank you.

Click here to listen to the audio clip of this interview.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media

After a grueling workout on Friday evening, Benson took some time to talk with Hoops Addict about the free agent camps he’s attended, the Boom Tho Movement, and a host of other topics.

Hoops Addict: I hear you’ve been working out in Sacramento with Gus Armstead. What kinds of things have you been working on to prepare you for these free agent camps?
Rod Benson: First of all, he brings in a lot of guys that he thinks will push me in ways that will help when I get down here. There are a lot of bigger, stronger guys than me so that’s the first thing. We also do a lot of ball handling and shooting. He feels like if I improve my jumper I can really help my stock considering I’m already a pretty good rebounder. I’m just trying to get a well-rounded game and there are a lot of guys there to push me and help me do that.

HA: I believe you were in Seattle last week and Toronto this week. How are the free agent camp workouts going?
RB: I think I’ve done pretty well at all the workouts. I’ve only been here one day but I feel like I’ve shown some things that they didn’t really expect and that’s really the goal of these things. When they watch me play 50 games this season, what else can I really show them? That’s the only way I can think about it. I’m just trying to show them something they haven’t seen before and I think I did a pretty good job of that so far.

HA: What are your plans for the summer? Are you going to take part in summer league?
RB: Maybe another one of these and then the summer league. After that who knows, the chips will fall where they do. I can’t really tell.

HA: You’ve had two solid D-League seasons. Will you go back for a third or will you head to Europe if you can’t make an NBA roster this fall?
RB: I’m not going to go back to the D-League again. The only way I would do that is if I signed somewhere for a partial guarantee and then I was released at some point during the season. If I get cut during training camp or if I don’t feel like training camp will be in my future then I will go overseas.

HA: You are the only guy here with your own custom shoes. Can you explain what the Boom Thoo Movement is?
RB: It started as just a couple funny music videos but as my basketball career progressed it’s just become more of a push to bring some of my fun and realism back to pro sports. I just want to have fun while I’m doing this and if you can’t have fun while doing it then why do it? That’s the whole spirit behind it.

HA: You write for Ball Don’t Lie and have your own website. How have these helped you become more noticeable and well known to basketball fans?
RB: I think for one, it really helped the D-League to get some notoriety because when people go to Yahoo to read about the NBA, there are pictures of guys like KG, Kobe Bryant and Rod Benson. They would go, “Who’s that guy Rod Benson?” I think it really helped to bring some notoriety, and towards the end of the season I really started to see a lot of internet readers start to come out to watch some D-League games who may not have come out to see them before. You can always help yourself by increasing your fanbase so I’m pretty thankful for that.

HA: Plus, I hear in Sacramento there’s very little to do…
RB: Someone asked me the other day, “How do you have all this free time to do it?” It was someone else who plays basketball and I was like, do you realize as a profession we have more free time than any other profession? I asked what they did during their free time and they couldn’t answer for me. If you have free time you might as well do something besides lay around and play video games.

HA: Alright, final question for you. I heard in San Antonio they had the special Gatorade shakes that you love. Have you been able to find them here in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre?
RB: I haven’t. I actually walked around and there’s none around. I’m still trying to find one, I need one right now!

HA: Good luck with that search and good luck this summer, Rod.
RB: Thank you.

Click here to listen to the audio of this interview.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media

For the majority of college athletes, the opportunity to play their respective sport at the Division I level comes at the expense of being close to home. As a result, the family and friends of these athletes who have moved away from don’t often get the chance to see them play except for a couple times each season. This hasn’t been the case so far for Michigan State University point guard Drew Neitzel. After working out for the Toronto Raptors last week, it looks as though there could be a chance the Michigan native plays his rookie season for an NBA team within driving distance of his family and friends. When Neitzel was at the Air Canada Centre for pre-draft workouts this week, Hoops Addict was able to talk with him about this opportunity as well as how his pre-draft workouts are going so far. The introspective athlete provided some honest and candid answers during our chat.

Hoops Addict: Is this your first NBA team workout or did you work out yesterday as well?
Drew Neitzel: No, this is my first one and I came here right from Orlando at the pre-draft camp.

HA: How do you think your first workout went?
DN: I think it went well. I didn’t really know what to expect but people had told me the things you do at the workouts like conditioning, shooting, one-on-one, two-on-two so I had an idea, but you can never fully be ready until you go through it one time. So I’ve got this one under my belt and I’m ready to move on. I’ve got seven or eight more so I just want to play my best every time I step onto the floor.

HA: I believe you grew up in Wyoming, Michigan…
DN: Yup!

HA: And you went to school at Michigan State. What would it be like to play for Toronto? Because then your friends and family could come down for road trips for weekend games and long home stretches.
DN: It would be unbelievable just to get a chance to play in this league with the best athletes and the best players in the world. I’ve got a lot of respect for Toronto, this organization and I really like the style they play. So, I’d love to have the opportunity, but it’s kind of out of my hands. All I can do is come out here and perform and let the chips fall where they may.

HA: Where you get drafted is out of your hands, but what you can control is how you are preparing for these workouts. What have you been doing to prepare for these pre-draft workouts?
DN: After I graduated I moved down to Washington, D.C. for about three or four weeks and worked out with a trainer and he had about seven or eight guys preparing for the NBA Draft. We worked out every morning for an hour and a half to two hours, and we went through things similar to this. Getting up and down the floor, conditioning, one-on-one, two-on-two, shooting drills. So I think I am about as prepared as I can be.

HA: Thank you for your time Drew, and good luck at the draft.
DN: Thank you.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media

Hoops Addict: So, you have a busy week. I believe tomorrow you are in Washington. How are you preparing for grueling two hour workouts on back-to-back days?
Jason Thompson: I’m just trying to get through it. It’s real tough but when I talk to a lot of GMs and NBA guys that I’ve worked out with before, they say that’s just preparing you for the season, going from city to city. If you’re playing an 82 game schedule and then the playoffs ,the travel is not going to be easy. You’ll get into cities real late, but that’s just part of the adversity that you have to go through when you’re trying to get on the team and get a spot.

HA: You mention adversity, and I believe in late May you suffered a mild shoulder injury while playing against Sun Ming-Ming, how’s the shoulder feeling and is that affecting your workouts right now?
JT: It’s feeling good. It’s not 100% but I’m playing through it. That’s also one good thing too, playing through injuries. I know for a lot of rookies it’s tough for them once they get injured, trying to get back onto the floor, but this is just a test now for if I get hurt during the season. I’m experiencing it a little bit now, playing through it and trying not to let GMs and people think it’s affecting me while I’m playing.

HA: Is this your first workout in an NBA city?
JT: No, I went to Orlando yesterday. I worked out with them and tomorrow I’ll be in Washington.

HA: What are you enjoying the most about this process?
JT: The experience. Just working out with the guys who are in the same situation that I’m in. Me coming from a small mid-major school, you’re not playing against the best guys in the country but now I am. And not just guys from America, but international guys as well. So it’s just the experience, the travel, and just learning from the workouts that I’ve had in Chicago with Tim Grover and the other NBA guys.

HA: What has been the most challenging aspect of all of these workouts?
JT: Just getting through it. You don’t know how long the workouts are going to be. It’s not like it’s drawn up. And you have to go through their physicals. I thought you only had to do one physical and it was for all the other teams, but some teams won’t accept other teams’ paper work and stuff like that. We had our physical before anything [on Wednesday] and that was pretty long. And then we into a two and a half hour workout. It keeps you in shape for other workouts but the adversity also comes in because you have to fly on another plane and head to another city.

HA: As a freshman you were 6’8” and now your 6’11”. How has your background as a wing player helped you prepare for the NBA?
JT: It helped me a lot. I’m not the type of player that’s one dimensional. I’m not just in the post. When you think of a 6’11” guy you think of his back to the basket, but throughout my years I’ve played outside and I’ve played the wing. I’ve even brought the ball up sometimes if guys are pressing. So I’ve tried to show a little bit in each workout I do, that I have versatility, I can dribble the ball, I can step out and shoot some jumpers with confidence and just show them that I have an all-around game.

HA: Last summer you took part in LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire’s camps as well as Pete Newell’s. How did those experiences help you grow as a player?
JT: It helps because some of the guys that I’m working out with now were at those camps as well. Just having that experience makes it a little bit easier during these workouts. During those camps I worked out with some NBA trainers and I also got to play against some of the best guys in the NBA. We played some pickup and we had some guys that are preparing for the NBA Draft playing, but I took that challenge of guarding first-team NBA players. I tried to challenge myself as well as show the people that I’m not going to back down from anybody even though they are the better player. Just trying to learn from it, that everything isn’t going to be easy when you first start in the NBA. I just take one day at a time and see how it goes.

HA: Jason, thank you for your time and good luck in the draft.
JT: Thank you, I appreciate it.

Click here to listen to the audio version of this interview.

Ryan Anderson, the 6’10”, 235-pound forward from the University of California, is entering the 2008 NBA Draft after two stellar Pac Ten seasons and took some time to talk with Hoops Addict about how he is preparing for the NBA Draft. Despite the draft hype machines from around the Internet pushing the envelopes for Anderson’s Pac Ten competition, with familiar names like Bayless, Lopez, Mayo and Westbrook, it was Anderson that led the conference in scoring despite overcoming steady double team defensive designs to slow his offensive roll.

The 20-year-old Anderson has a busy itinerary of NBA workouts that will have his draft stock soaring like global petroleum prices after auditioning his intriguing array of skills.

Having had more than a half a dozen opportunities to watch Anderson’s workouts led by trainer Guss Armstead at The Dr. Ephraim Williams Family Life Center in Sacramento, California, I’ve come away convinced that Anderson’s skills are worthy of recognition amongst his Pac Ten peers.

Visually, Anderson is a nimble, mobile and deceptively explosive big forward that utilizes his basketball mental aptitude to mask any real deficiencies. Anderson has exhibited above average proficiency in varied full court dribbling drills, medium range shooting, three point shooting, perimeter close out techniques and proper defensive position when sprinting to defend transition offense.

Additionally Armstead’s strength and conditioning coaches have designed a plentitude of top notch agility drills which Anderson has executed with the dexterity of shooting guards. Anderson’s cool exterior veneer is similar to a seasoned safecracker that continues to tumble the correct combination numbers even after the alarm has gone stereo.

HoopsAddict.com recently caught up with this promising prospect and found a young man wide-eyed about the opportunity to realize a childhood dream, all while poised in his commitment to make it a reality.

Hoops Addict: You have entered the NBA Draft without hiring an agent. Describe what the process has been like?
Ryan Anderson: It has been an interesting process for me because I’ve always been the underdog. When I was in high school I wasn’t a big prospect and there were several players going into college that had higher projections than me like Spencer Hawes (Sacramento Kings) and OJ Mayo. I finally had a chance to play against these players in college and I felt, based on my performance against their teams, I measured up excellently. Cal had been great for me and I have had a great experience at college where plenty of doors have opened up for me. Cal allowed me the opportunity to be in my current position and even though I had plenty of success in college, I’m still the underdog. Despite putting up 20 (points average) and 10 (rebounds average) it’s still not enough. There are varied skills I know I need to work on and working out in Sacramento with Guss is preparing me to do the best I can against competition that might be projected as higher picks during these workouts.

HA: It seems you are motivated by the underdog disposition. Despite all your success, you feel you’re not being correctly evaluated, speak on your underdog viewpoint?
RA: I do relish the underdog role. Since I have not received the overwhelming attention other players garner, I attract doubters. I love performing in front of those who doubt my skills and don’t believe in me. I use the doubters as motivation to not only prove them wrong, but as extra fuel for on-court focus.

HA: You played in the Pac Ten against a number of projected 2008 first round selections. Even less heralded teams like Oregon, Washington and Washington State had solid frontlines. Therefore you played a number of NBA prospects in conference play and had standout performances. Talk about your Pac Ten conference play experience?
RA: The Pac Ten was an amazing experience. During my two seasons at Cal, the league wide competition was the best it’s ever been. Teams like Arizona and UCLA, and my school Cal, have brought in plenty of talented players and for that matter every team was stacked with talent. The league top to bottom has so many great players and I’m proud to be a part of such a competitive conference. Personally it’s amazing to me that I led the conference in scoring and placed third in rebounding against such outstanding players. Having had the success against Pac Ten players considered in some cases to be lottery picks has me confident I will do well in the NBA.

HA: The statistical success you had last season as a sophomore in a rugged frontline league is a solid gauge for future professional success. Let’s move to the question of athleticism. Athleticism by NBA standards has been proven to be overrated. On the global scale, less athletic teams have beaten Team USA All-Star teams loaded with phenomenal NBA players/athletes in various international competitions with gamesmanship, guile and fundamentals. Here’s an opportunity to discuss questions of your athleticism for the NBA game. What’s your take on those who wonder if you possess NBA athleticism?
RA: It’s tough since for some reason my athleticism is a question, despite my proven performances against athletic players. I typically allow the doubters to question my athleticism since I feed off positioning and timing. Positioning and timing is what gives me huge advantages especially with rebounding since I enjoy crashing the glass. Since I first started playing basketball, I always felt I had a keen sense of what angle a missed shot would best allow me to gather a rebound and more times than not I’ve been correct. I have always had a natural feel for when to jump and when not to, which has made me a solid rebounder. Yet I do understand the athletic question and realize teams want to see someone windmill dunk at 360 degrees, for me… I play the timing game. I can easily bang home a dunk in traffic yet my game is predicated on feel, timing and positioning.

HA: What you’re speaking on is mental intangibles coupled with the physical gifts to execute your thought processes on the court. You’ve uniquely elaborated on your knack for successful play. Since you led the Pac Ten in scoring you’re a proven scorer. From my estimation the athleticism question you endure relates to your post offensive game that is heavy on finesse. The array of effortless finger rolls and bank shots you hoist after slithery post position attained off dribble separation is an uncommon trait. Your offensive tactics makes you a tough match-up at 6’10” since opponents can’t easily reason your timing rhythm. Talk about your offensive game?
RA: I can play the power game, like turn and wheel a dunk off a spin move, yet I’m comfortable with the finesse game. The power style game I’m working on, since the NBA has plenty of shot blocking bigs that make the dunk off the low post a necessity. My attitude has always been two points is two points no matter the interior shot. Again, I go back to timing, when to dunk and when to shoot the banker. I measure my opponents on things like who to pump fake and drive around, and who to take on the perimeter and jab step for the mid-range jumper. I’m not used to powering every move home, yet I know it’s a skill I need to be successful in the NBA.

HA: Is adding a power game to your overall offensive skill set something you’re currently working on?
RA: That’s definitely something I have been working on with Guss. I’ve been working on up and under moves off the zipper cut, the quick slip off the pro set pick and roll, as well as the pump fake and go after flashing ball side from the opposite elbow.

HA: The skill work you mentioned is important for NBA scoring success since the league has plenty of effective shot blockers where mixing in a power game is essential.
RA: I’ve definitely upgraded that portion of my game. Also, some skeptics do not think I have a mid-range game and that my offense is primarily three-point shooting and post moves. I’m eager to prove my consistent mid-range face up game as well as my NBA range three-point efficiency. Everyday I’m getting up plenty of shots while familiarizing my grip to the NBA official ball. Since I operate off the senses, my shot is feeling much better and I’m utilizing my improved footwork for hesitation stop and go moves as well as my height to shoot over the top of a defenders. I’m able to gauge my defender’s size quickly to take advantage of my best offensive option. I’m getting a solid feel for when to power and when to finesse my scoring opportunities.

HA: Your basketball wisdom reflects in your success. You have a bevy of NBA team workouts scheduled. You have put in many hours with Guss Armstead in preparation. Express your confidence in what you will display that is not familiarly known about your game?
RA: To be honest, to prove beyond a doubt that what they [NBA teams] feel I can’t do, that I can. If they doubt my athleticism I’ll hammer home dunks …if they doubt my speed I’ll be quick to play effective transition basketball. The “ifs ” teams have about me, I’m eager to address by my play. I plan on attacking any of my so called deficiencies and that’s what I’ve been diligently applying my attention to in these workouts in Sacramento. I’m not going to play outside myself, I will still play my game. I feel like these workouts have helped add additional dimensions I did not have in college. I’ve quickly developed more moves off the dribble from varied offensive positions. My dribbling skills have advanced more than any time I’ve played basketball and the footwork techniques Guss has taught me have taken my game to new heights. There are plenty of areas that NBA teams have not seen me display so I’m eager to perform.

HA: Your college, the University of California, had a coaching change where Ben Braun, who recruited you to Cal, was replaced by former Stanford and Golden State Warriors coach Mike Montgomery. Has Coach Montgomery been proactive in your decision to become draft eligible?
RA: Yes, coach Montgomery has been positive about my decision. Obviously, I still communicate with coach Braun and my other coach at Cal, coach Pasternak. Both coaches have helped me out a lot forwarding information to me from various NBA teams. Both coaches have plenty of connections and coach Montgomery, since he just left the league a few seasons ago had passed on excellent information to me concerning team’s interests. Coach Montgomery obviously would like me to continue at Cal which I understand, yet he has been very helpful.

HA: Back to your workout schedule. How many appointments do you have currently?
RA: I have ten scheduled. There is also a workout in San Francisco that will have eight teams in attendance including lottery teams so I’m looking forward to that one as well. I’m looking forward to making a solid impression that will elevate my draft stock.

HA: In closing you won a California State Championship in High school at Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills which is a suburb community of Sacramento. How has the Sacramento region embraced you in your bid to go professional?
RA: It’s been amazing to me the amount of support I have received in this region. There are so many people in this area that have been genuinely supportive, I’m overwhelmed. This process has been an unbelievable experience and to know I’m at the beginning of the total experience has made me very humble and gracious. I live in such a tight community where everybody knows one another and it’s nice to go home and see people just as excited about what I’m doing with the same energy as my entire family. I’m grateful for the many blessings.

HA: Well Ryan, I greatly appreciate your time and candor. We here at HoopsAddict.com admire your courage to take this bold step and wish you continued success.
RA: I appreciate the opportunity and the experience. Thank you.
HA: Ditto. Much obliged.

Additional Commentary

The following comments were given by NBDL veteran Rod Benson and professional basketball trainer Guss Armstead regarding the NBA readiness of Ryan Anderson.

Benson, who played for the NBDL champion Dakota Wizards two seasons ago, and set a NBDL single game record for rebounds last season with 28, has plenty of NBA workout and camp experience. The 7’0” Benson, who is also participating in the same workouts as he pursues an NBA future, offers this analysis of Anderson’s ability to be a successful NBA player based on his own professional pedigree.

Benson: Ryan is a lot more prepared than many first round picks entering the draft. Ryan will be able to come in and contribute immediately. I know that a team that passes up on Anderson will regret it later because his game is all about instant positive contribution. Ryan will be effective inside and outside as well as rebound efficiently.

Guss Armstead, Ryan Anderson’s hoops trainer who has a multitude of NBA veterans in his clientele base, provides insight on why the talented Anderson is somewhat under the exposure radar.

Armstead: I’d like to first say that Ryan’s body of work has him rated as one of the most productive players in the country. The accomplishments he has made in his two years at California
are close to unparalleled by other draft candidates. I also think despite his exploits, his humble unassuming mannerisms have him vastly underrated by so-called draft experts. Ryan’s offensive ability to stretch a defense matched with his IQ and competitive nature is substantial. I’m certain when Ryan starts his workouts and starts showing his abilities in his basketball tool chest I know he will leave a healthy impression on NBA decision makers. Ryan is also is a great character guy with a DNA for hard work that allows him to accomplish what he pursues. Over the last two month he has been juggling his studies at California/Berkeley and then commuting to Sacramento to get in his basketball work. As a basketball skills instructor, Ryan has been an ideal client since he has been a virtual sponge absorbing and executing every teaching concept I throw his way. As for Ryan’s lack of exposure coming out of high school he was not a big AAU player. Ryan was not out on the AAU circuit where other draft eligible players picked up exposure so he went another route and basically surprised talent scouts by appearing out of nowhere. Therefore today’s exposure machines who favor certain player’s have followed the hype, yet true veteran NBA talent scouts are high on Ryan. For instance, one NBA front office leader known for solid team building shared to me there are not 15 players better than Ryan in the 2008 Draft.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media

With the numerous personalities, writers, bloggers and columnists over at ESPN, it’s quite difficult for someone new to stick out and distinguish themselves. Jemele Hill has found a way to do just that and then some. Hill writes both for Page 2 on ESPN.com and ESPN the Magazine. On the television side, Hill is a guest and occasional host of “Jim Rome is Burning”, when Rome himself is away and she has also appeared on ESPN’s “First Take”.

Prior to joining ESPN, Hill was a columnist for the Orlando Sentinel and prior to that she was a Michigan State beat writer for the Detroit Free Press, where she was born and raised. I had a chance to ask Hill about the Pistons/Celtics series, bloggers and some of her favorite sports writers.

Rashad Mobley: What do you think about McDyess’ breakout performance in Game 4?
Jemele Hill: Dice has probably been one of their most consistent players in the postseason. From an energy standpoint, it shows that he’s the guy who has yet to win a ring. He’s going to be very important because the Pistons will need that energy to sustain them and it will help them ward of that frustrating complacency.

Mobley: Have you ever talked to him, and if so, what are your impressions?
Hill: I’m pretty sure I’ve interviewed him a few times. He’s a good guy. He’s got a quiet strength that his teammates really respect.

Mobley: How close do you think Flip Saunders was to starting Rodney Stuckey, and would you have started him if you were the head coach given Billups’ play up to that point?
Hill: It’s hard to go with a rookie over a Finals MVP — even if he’s banged up. I think you start Chauncey, but you play Stuckey more minutes to preserve Chauncey for the fourth quarter, where he usually excels.

Mobley: What are your predictions for the remainder of this Celtics/Pistons series?
Hill: Pistons win in six. The Pistons are one of three teams left in the playoffs who can win on the road. San Antonio and the Lakers are the others.

Mobley: There were rumors during this past offseason about Flip Saunders’ lack of job security? Is that still an issue? And if they do not win it all this year, do you think he’ll be back?
Hill: If the Pistons don’t win the title, I would be surprised if Flip returns. He’s a good coach, but not a championship-level coach. There are times when the Pistons respond to Flip, and other times they treat him like a substitute teacher. If the players don’t respect the coach, it will be impossible to win a title.

Mobley: You have written articles and appeared on television. Which do you prefer to do and why?
Hill: I’ll always prefer the writing because I got into the business to be a journalist. TV has provided an exciting turn in my career, but writing is what I would do for free. But don’t tell ESPN that.

Mobley: Who is your favorite NBA player to interview and why? And, if you can, talk about your least favorite.
Hill: It will sound like I’m sucking up, but NBA guys are my favorite. They’re more relaxed, easier to deal with (baseball players are the worst, by the way). My favorite team to interview is the Spurs. I’m always baffled that they get the boring rap, because top-to-bottom, they’re the best quotes in the NBA. They’re just cerebral. Tim Duncan has a really good dry sense of humor, but he’s overlooked because his facial expressions don’t change. Pop [Greg Popovich] can be prickly, but he’s always honest. As for least favorite, I don’t really have one. But I’m going to guess it probably wasn’t a whole lot of fun covering the Knicks this year.

Mobley: One of my earliest basketball memories is Julius Erving cupping the ball, and gracefully dunking over Michael Cooper. What is your earliest basketball memory?
Hill: I’d probably say Bird v. Magic in the NCAA title game. I sensed it was very important, but it wasn’t until a couple years later that I understood why. We were looking at the future of the NBA.

Mobley: Besides yourself, who are your favorite NBA writers/columnists past or present?
Hill: David Aldridge and Stephen A. Smith are excellent. Very well sourced and they just know the league so well. I’d also add Marc Spears at the Boston Globe, Sekou Smith at the AJC, Vince Thomas and Lang Whitaker at SLAM, Henry Abbott at TrueHoop — very underrated guys who are a pleasure to read.

Mobley: In your humble opinion, who is the best b-ball player to come out of Detroit?
Hill: That is a really difficult question. I’m only going to go with my lifetime, but most people my age would say Chris Webber or Jalen Rose. But the old heads would definitely say Curtis Jones, a playground legend.

Mobley: How do you feel about Gilbert Arenas’ blog, and NBA bloggers in general? And as a writer, does it bother you that you are now sharing space with them on the internet?
Hill: I love blogs and I love that players are blogging. The only thing that bothers me is when blogs take vicious shots at people, and unfortunately they do that a lot. They’ve done it to me, but I’m able to have a sense of humor about it. I also don’t think blogs should hide behind this idea that the further removed they are from the games and the athletes, the more objective they are. Having to face a guy after you’ve ripped him makes you more accountable and careful about getting the information correct. I love Deadspin. It is one of my favorite blogs, but I can’t agree that access corrupts you. But I’m not so conceited or territorial so as to think that my voice is the only one who should count because I’m a “classically trained journalist.” Players should definitely blog because they have a right to have their voices out there. Besides, there is some information we simply can’t get from them. Why not allow them an avenue to express it on their own?

Mobley: What is the feel good NBA story of this season in your opinion?
Hill: The league’s reputation being restored. People have been so down on the NBA since the fight between the Pistons and Pacers at the Palace and this year. This year, the NBA was energized by the trades to Boston and Los Angeles, the resurgence of the slam dunk contest and the most competitive Western Conference we’ve ever seen. This is the best year the NBA has had since Jordan left.

Mobley: Based on people that I know and have talked to, they either love the WNBA or you hate it. There seems to be little middle ground. Why do you think this league isn’t more popular? And have you been to a game?
Hill: People love taking shots at the WNBA, which I often find to be pretty demeaning, and I admit, I’m a little biased. I covered the league its first two years. I’ve covered a lot of college women’s basketball and I’ve developed a few close friendships with players over the years. I watch the WNBA. That Sparks/Mercury game on ABC to kick off the season was a fantastic game. But the product isn’t as good in the pros as it could because it’s a short season and teams don’t get a chance to really gel. The obvious result is bad basketball played amongst some fantastic players. Unfortunately, it’s always been en vogue to take shots at women’s sports, even though it’s a little juvenile.

Mobley: Channel your inner David Stern and give me three things you’d change going into the next NBA season.
Hill: I’m kinda old school and I just loved basketball in the 80s and 90s. I wish I could change things to allow a little more contact. I miss playoff fouls that didn’t result in suspensions. I miss offensive players having to develop two or three counter-moves because the defense was so good.The changes I’d want to make, like fewer guaranteed contracts, couldn’t be made next season.

Mobley: Assuming Derrick Rose is picked first, if you are Pat Riley, do you draft Beasley or OJ Mayo

Hill: Who says Rose will be picked first? The right move for Chicago is to draft Beasley, and the right move for Miami is Rose. Miami needs a point guard. Dwyane Wade is very talented, but his ball-handling is suspect. He’s a turnover machine and he’s as guilty of over-dribbling as LeBron. And am I the only one who sees a reincarnation of Glenn Robinson in Beasley? Robinson was an automatic double-double, but I’m not sure the comparison is a good thing.

Mobley: Did you vote for MVP? If so, who did you vote for and why? If not, who would you have voted for?
Hill: I didn’t have a MVP vote, but if I did, I probably would have voted for Chris Paul. That’s a painful admission because I’ve been beating the Kobe for MVP drum for the last two seasons. Kobe taking Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm, etc., to the playoffs was a lot more impressive than what he did this year. Chris Paul had one of the best seasons any point guard has ever had. He turned around a franchise and they nearly finished with the top seed in the West. How he elevated the games of the players around him was remarkable.

Mobley: Do you have any website of your own, in other words, plug your own stuff?
Hill: I have my own website, jemelehill.com. It started it as a way to give readers and viewers more personal insight. I’ll also admit it’s an easy way for my friends and family to keep up with my schedule.

Mobley: Thank you for you time Jemele. I look forward to seeing you host “Jim Rome is Burning” all next week on ESPN.