Bargnani

Cavs.com will break down the possible prospects that might very well be wearing the Wine and Gold next season in our annual Draft Preview. We’ll break down the potential picks in a four-part series, featuring guards, forwards, centers and today’s focus: international players.

ANDREA BARGNANI
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 7-0, 225
Birthdate: October 26, 1985 (Rome, Italy)
Team: Benetton Treviso (Italy)
Bargnani will be off the board by the time the Cavaliers draft at No. 25 and, according to many pundits, might be the top overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. If Toronto did tap Bargnani with the top choice, it would be the second time in four years (Yao Ming – Houston, 2002) that an international player who nobody had seen play, was chosen at No. 1. Bargnani, listed at 7-0, has drawn comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki for his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter, handle the ball and run the floor. The 20-year-old – known in Italy as “Il Mago” (the Magician) – has unlimited potential and supposedly the emotional makeup to make him a star in the NBA. But other European big men have been labeled “can’t miss” before doing exactly that against top-level competition.

JOEL FREELAND
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 6-10, 225
Birthdate: February 7, 1987 (Aldershot, England)
Team: Gran Canaria Fadesa (Spain)
Freeland’s name came up late in discussions about the 2006 Draft, partially because he was a late entry; partially because he’s new to the game, in general. The British big man, listed at 6-10, 225, has only been playing organized basketball for three years, but has wowed scouts with his skills. The league he plays in – the Spanish EBA – is not very advanced as far as the NBA level, but Freeland has still been impressive enough in workouts that teams might take a shot on him based solely on his athleticism, upside and high motor. According to experts, Freeland could slip into the bottom half of the first round. At only 19, however, he would be a project for any team selecting him.

YOTAM HALPERIN
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-5, 210
Birthdate: January 24, 1984 (Tel-Aviv, Israel)
Team: Union Olimpija Ljubjana (Slovenia)
Halperin is a 6-5 combo guard and got his experience with the European heavyweight, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, where he played from 2000 to 2005. He is viewed as an early second-round or late first-round choice and might be available when the Cavaliers select at No. 42. Halperin is known as an intelligent ballplayer who can dish the rock as well as pop the NBA three-pointer. His toughness and court vision make up for what scouts feel he lacks in athleticism. Halperin averaged 14.5 ppg in the Adriatic League in 2005-06 and will be 22 in January, which – along with his time with Maccabi Tel-Aviv – give him a slight experience edge over some other European players.

DAMIR MARKOTA
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 6-10, 225
Birthdate: December 26, 1985 (Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Team: Cibona Zagreb (Croatia)
One of the more intriguing players in this year’s Draft, Markota actually entered in 2004 before pulling his name from consideration after some scouts had questions about his skill-set and maturity. Markota – who changed his name from Damir Omerhodzic – was known as a party animal and that scared some teams away. But the athletic small forward – he registered a 36-inch vertical leap – is also known as a very tough player who can score on the block and is versatile with both hands. The Bosnian youngster is not shy on the offensive end but there are questions about his defense. The 6-11, 240-pounder might be available to the Cavaliers at No. 55, though he’s still thought of as an NBA project.

OLEKSIY PECHEROV
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 7-0, 210
Birthdate: December 8, 1985 (Donestk, Ukraine)
Team: Paris Basket Racing (France)
The reed-thin Pecherov (7-0, 210) might not have the muscle yet, but according to international scouts, isn’t afraid to mix it up on the boards. He’s already drawn comparisons to New Jersey’s Nenad Krstic and could slip into the bottom of the first round, where the Cavaliers sit at No. 25. He is good with both hands and has a nice perimeter touch, but like the knock on many European big men, might be too much in love with the perimeter jumper. He will add weight to his frame and is thought to have a big upside. If he can develop a low-post game in the NBA, experts feel that he could become a nice pivot player. Pecherov is a player who could be drafted and his rights protected while he develops his game overseas.

SERGIO RODRIGUEZ
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-3, 170
Birthdate: June 12, 1986 (Tenerife, Spain)
Team: Adecco Estudiantes Madrid (Spain)
The player with possibly the best nickname in the Draft – “Spanish Chocolate” – Rodriguez is an intriguing player who can make the flashy passes ala his NBA namesake, Jason Williams. But, according to scouts, his defense is minimal and he doesn’t exactly have Dwyane Wade or LeBron James patrolling the passing lanes in the Spanish ACB. Suffered some injuries last season that will probably keep him out of the top half of the first round, but his performance in his league’s playoffs have once again elevated his status. He loves to push the pace and is lightning fast, but he is prone to carelessness, which, like his idol, Williams, tends to scare NBA coaches. He could very well be available when the Cavaliers are on the clock at No. 25.

MOUHAMED SAER SENE
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 6-11, 230
Birthdate: May 12, 1986 (Thies, Senegal)
Team: Verviers-Peinster (Belgium)
Cavalier fans know all too well the ups and downs of drafting a raw center from Senegal, but according to international scouts, Sene could be the real deal if he lands in the right situation. Like DeSagana Diop, Sene needs to develop his body and his offensive game, so he’ll need a lot of development. Virtually unknown as a Draft prospect a couple months ago, Sene is now one of its hot commodities – especially considering the dearth of big men in this year’s pool. Sene went to a private school in Senegal to be a mechanic, but his father pushed him towards basketball. Seeing as his name will most likely be called among the first 30, it is definitely a case of father knows best.

THABO SEFOLOSHA
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-5, 215
Birthdate: May 2, 1984 (Vevey, Sweden)
Team: Angelico Biella (Italy)
A player that teams have been keeping an eye on for years, Sefolosha could be as good an international player that there is in this year’s Draft. The 6-6 combo guard withdrew his name from the Draft in 2005, but teams are very interested in the 22-year-old after a year of development in the Italian League. He excels in the open floor and is an excellent ball-handler and passer, but might need work on his jumper. His mother is an accomplished artist and his father an accomplished musician. As June 28 approaches, it’s looking less likely that the Swedish swingman will be available at 25.

MARCUS VINICIUS
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 6-8, 225
Birthdate: May 31, 1984 (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Team: Objectivo Sao Carlos (Brazil)
Brazil has sent some impressive pros to the NBA over the past few years – including the Wild Thing, Anderson Varejao and Nuggets forward, Nene – and Vinicius, nicknamed “Marquinos,” is looking like he’ll be another player in that lineage. Vinicius is a small forward with a silky jump shot and has developed his ball-handling skills to the point that he was playing point guard for his team in Brazil. He is also an impressive defender, but according to scouts, his decision-making could be suspect. Recently, his agent, Michael Coyne, hired former Cavaliers coach, Bob Donewald, to oversee his training in Brazil.