Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons in the NBA - Preseason
10/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 14, 2010
By Currie McFayden, WakeForestSports.com
SF Al-Farouq Aminu, Los Angeles Clippers
Since he was taken with the eighth overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, Aminu will almost certainly be held to lofty standards going into the regular season. So far in the preseason, he has delivered. Through three games, he is averaging about 20 minutes per game with just over three rebounds and eight points. His extended amount of playing time could be an indication that Coach Vinny Del Negro intends to give him the start at small forward over Ryan Gomes once the regular season begins. In his best game to date, against Sacramento on October 7, Aminu just missed posting a double-double, with 17 points and eight rebounds.
PF/C Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
The 13-year veteran has only seen fairly limited playing time during the preseason, with the exception of his third game against the Clippers on October 12, when he had 17 points and 13 rebounds in just 29 minutes of action. Even this late in his career, Duncan does not seem to have lost a step at all; he remains a very physical player who averaged a double-double last season. The Spurs may not be the powerhouse that they once were, but they will still be a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.
SF/SG Josh Howard, Washington Wizards
After being dealt to the Wizards at the end of last season in the Caron Butler/Brendan Haywood trade, Howard sustained a left knee injury and had to have surgery that could keep him sidelined for the beginning of the regular season. In only four games with Washington, his stats saw a drop-off from where they stood in Dallas, yet he remained a viable starting option while averaging 14 points per game. With the addition of John Wall to the team, Howard will gain upside to his value once he returns to the court.
F James Johnson, Chicago Bulls
After being selected in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft, Johnson enjoyed a solid rookie season in which he mostly came off the bench. He did have 11 starts in 65 games and averaged just under 12 minutes of playing time per game. Through Chicago's four preseason games, he is averaging 21 minutes per game and about six points but has not been given any starts. With the addition of Carlos Boozer through free agency in the offseason and Luol Deng's six-year contract that nearly guarantees him a starting spot, Johnson will likely be a backup for each of the former Duke players.
PG Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
Coming off a season where he was limited to only 45 games due to a torn meniscus in his knee, the phenom known as CP3 will look to solidify his position as the league's top point guard. Through three preseason games, he seems to be back to his old form, averaging just under nine points and seven assists per game. There were rumors in the offseason that the point guard could have been traded, but he seems committed to playing at least one more season in New Orleans. As long as Paul remains healthy this season, his explosive playing ability alone will likely garner some MVP talk for the former Deacon.
PG Ishmael Smith, Houston Rockets
An undrafted rookie, "Ish" was a fan favorite during his time at Wake and has been performing surprisingly well with the Rockets in the preseason. Through four games, he has averaged five points and 17 minutes per game, much more than most pundits were expecting. Statistically, he has outplayed Kyle Lowry, his "opponent" in the competition to back up starting point guard Aaron Brooks. The remainder of the preseason will likely decide who ends up getting that position, but as of right now, Smith seems to be a good bet to make the final roster.
PF/C Darius Songaila, Philadelphia 76ers
For the second season in a row, Songalia was dealt in the offseason. On September 23, New Orleans traded him to Philadelphia along with Craig Brackins for Willie Green and Jason Smith. The seven-year veteran from Lithuania is a versatile player coming off the bench, shown by his seven-point average for his career despite only having 79 starts. In two preseason games, he has averaged two points per game and 13 minutes of playing time while backing up center Elton Brand and forward Thaddeus Young.
PG Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks
Teague, well-remembered at Wake for his ability to drive straight to the basket, is entering his second season after playing in 71 games last year. He has played in only one preseason game so far, but he had 20 points in 31 minutes while coming off the bench against the Grizzlies on October 7. Like fellow second-year player James Johnson, Teague will be backing up two veterans this year, Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson. He clearly has the ability to be a breakout player this year if he can manage enough playing time, which could be difficult on a very strong Hawks team.
Deacons Playing Overseas
Randolph Childress - Ford Sassari (Italy)
Justin Gray - PAOK (Greece)
Jamaal Levy - Lanus (Argentina)
Chas McFarland - Franca (Brazil)
Cameron Stanley - Halifax Rainmen (Canada)
Trent Strickland - Antwerp (Belgium)
Kyle Visser - NY Phantoms (Germany)
David Weaver - Ilysiakos Athens (Greece)
