The beginning of April is always an interesting time for basketball fans. With the NBA playoffs just three weeks away, teams are clawing for every last loose ball to clinch that playoff spot, while in the college ranks, the NCAA Tournament is down to the Final Four.
For any basketball fan, March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year. But for the players, it is a chance to prove their ability to the country and attract the attention of NBA scouts.
This season, the teams that will most likely finish the season with the five worst records in the NBA are the Miami Heat, Seattle Supersonics, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks.
The Heat, who currently own the league's worst record, will have the best odds in the NBA lottery of getting the No. 1 overall pick - in other words, the rights to the Kansas State freshman phenom Michael Beasley. Although North Carolina junior forward Tyler Hansborough will probably win the Naismith Trophy as the best player in the nation, experts everywhere agree that Beasley is the best pro prospect in college basketball.
At 6-foot-10 and 235 pounds, Beasley is an enormous presence who boasts an incredible inside-outside game that has NBA scouts salivating over his potential. He averaged an astounding 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds per game in the Big 12, one of the tougher conferences in the country.
Beasley's game is incredibly diverse - he has remarkable jumping ability and the refined skills to post up as a power forward or pull up for a 20-foot jumper. The unanimous AP All-American's smooth style of play and elite ability have many scouts comparing him to Carmelo Anthony.
Rivaling Beasley for the best talent in the draft this year is another freshman, Memphis point guard Derrick Rose. Rose's athleticism and size make him as promising a point guard prospect as Chris Paul and Deron Williams were three years ago. At 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, Rose is a point guard with rare size that could make an immediate impact in the NBA.
As a freshman, the Wooden finalist has led Memphis to a 37-1 record and Final Four berth. Rose averaged over 14 points and four assists per game, and NBA scouts believe he has the talent to be the most athletic point guard in the NBA for many years. Rose is a powerful leaper with an incredibly quick first step to the basket, and his slashing ability enables him to create easy points for himself and open opportunities for his teammates. His style of play is similar to Dwayne Wade's, only more like a true point guard; he has a mindset similar to that of Paul or Jason Kidd.
Another player whose performance in the NCAA Tournament opened many eyes is Brook Lopez, the 7-foot center from Stanford who joined his twin brother Robin in declaring for the NBA Draft earlier this week. The sophomore averaged 19.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game and is very smooth and athletic for his size. He is a smart player who knows how to use his body and has the ability to knock down the 20-foot jump shot, which could make him a deadly threat in the NBA.
Other freshmen who could potentially crack the top five are Indiana guard Eric Gordon and USC guard O.J. Mayo. Both players are excellent shooters, and as combo guards, either one could run the point or play on the wing in the NBA.
The Heat will probably be in the hunt for either Beasley or Lopez in order to gain some size to complement Wade and Shawn Marion. The Sonics, who acquired Kevin Durant last year with the second overall pick, should concentrate on landing Rose, Gordon or Mayo to give Durant a solid distributor for years to come.
And then there are the Knicks, who have not drafted an All-Star since Mark Jackson in 1987 and have the opportunity to draft a franchise player this year. They are hoping for a top-five pick, and if they land it, they will most likely take Rose, Mayo or Gordon to fill the void left by Stephon Marbury, who has probably played his last game in New York.
