...at try-out camp
Filling needs could be tricky for Heat in NBA Draft
By Ira Winderman South Florida Sun Sentinel
The early read on the June 24 NBA Draft? Strong on power forwards, moderate on small forwards, lacking at point guard, with many centers who aren't exactly measuring up.
Considering point guard and center set up as two positions of need, it only makes sense that the Miami Heat is scouring every available option, including a presence at a four-day tryout camp in Minnesota that runs through Thursday.
"I would say this draft definitely doesn't have the point guard quality of last year," Heat Vice President of Player Personnel Chet Kammerer said Tuesday. "This year, I would say fours would be the strength of this draft, and maybe threes.
"Some of the centers, it was kind of disappointing when the measurements came out, of players we all thought were a little longer."
Kammerer is in Minnesota with Heat President Pat Riley and Adam Simon, who handles most of the team's international scouting. Twenty-nine of the 30 teams are represented.
Among those on the court Tuesday at the Timberwolves' practice facility at the Target Center was Kansas State's Denis Clemente, the point guard who began his college career at the University of Miami.
"Denis is kind of an interesting guy," Kammerer said. "He has great acceleration. There are parts of his game that are pretty attractive, in the fact that he has excellent speed and quick acceleration. He has a tendency, sometimes, maybe to go too fast. I'd say he has a chance of being drafted in the second round. He was very competitive today."
Also working out Tuesday were England forward Ryan Richards, D-League forward Latavious Williams, UConn forward Stanley Robinson, Cincinnati guard Lance Stephenson, Mississippi State forward Jarvis Varnado, Iowa State forward Craig Brackins, Seattle forward Charles Garcia, Oklahoma point guard Tommy-Mason Griffin, Texas A&M guard Donald Sloan, Michigan guard Manny Harris, Virginia guard Sylven Landesberg and Syracuse guard Andy Rautins.
Those players worked in separate morning and afternoon sessions, with two more sessions scheduled Wednesday and a single session when the camp concludes Thursday.
Working out Monday morning were Nevada point guard Armon Johnson, Mississippi guard Terrico White, South Florida guard Dominique Jones, Xavier guard Jordan Crawford, Oklahoma forward Tiny Gallon and Georgia Tech power forward Gani Lawal.
The Monday afternoon session included Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez, West Virginia forward Devin Ebanks, New Mexico forward Darington Hobson, Tulsa center Jerome Jordan and UTEP center Derrick Caracter.
Kansas guard Sherron Collins was scheduled to participate, but pulled out due to an injury sustained during the Chicago combine.
The Heat holds the No. 18 selection in the first round and the Nos. 41, 42 and 48 selections in the second round.
"I think there are a few first-round picks here," Kammerer said of the field in Minnesota. "I'm not sure our 18th pick is here, but I'd say there are definitely some that I think are going to be selected in the bottom third of the first round."
The Heat returns next week to AmericanAirlines Arena for private workout sessions, before another multi-team session June 9-11 in New Jersey.[/i]
