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Fab Melo; Biggest Bust or Brightest Future?

Fab Melo, a potential lottery pick in the upcoming 2012 NBA Draft, gives a quick interview at the draft combine about how he got into better shape and who he wants to model his game after.  The 7 foot Brazilian monster is most known for his tremendously low IQ, but more importantly remembered by scouts for his defensive presence in Jim Boeheim's coveted 2-3 zone.  Although SU fans will remember him as the guy who ruined the perfect season (after getting suspended for the entire NCAA Tournament), most people are just getting to know him. What pains most of these SU fans is knowing that his career is far from over.  Melo has tremendous upside and the potential to be a very skilled center where arguably the most talent lacks in the NBA.

Promise Made to Dion Waiters?

(Chris Chambers/Getty Images)

Okay, I know what your thinking.  This blog seems to seriously blow Dion Waiters.  But as an SU fan who time and time again has watched Syracuse prospects flop at the next level, Waiters buzz for me is something like Lebron James buzz coming out of high school.  It's a big deal because HE can be a big deal next season.  According to NBA analyst Chad Ford (@ChadFordinsider), Waiters has cancelled all upcoming team work outs.  Although I was unable to find out which teams he's already worked out for and who he cancelled with, Ford suspects that it's either Portland with the 6th pick, Toronto with the 8th pick, or Phoenix with the 13th pick who promised to draft him.  Excluding the chance a team is planning on trading up to draft Waiters, I believe that Toronto is that team.

We have to rule out Phoenix because with the way Waiters has shot up the draft boards I find it doubtful that he would cancel all individual work outs with other teams lower then 13th.  Before work outs had begun, Ford had him ranked as the 20th overall prospect and said he'd land with the Denver Nuggets.  But, as I predicted, Waiters transition to the NBA was a good decision.  He has literally shot up mock draft boards everywhere, with one anonymous GM going as far as saying he's the only other potential SUPERSTAR in the draft besides Anthony Davis.

“A number of NBA scouts who I really respect have been telling me for more than a month that the real sleeper in this draft is [Waiters]. One GM went even further. ‘There are really only two potential superstars in this draft. One is a sure thing – freshman Anthony Davis. The other one is Waiters. He can be an electric scorer in the NBA. There’s some Dwayne Wade in him.’”

That statement was given by, guess who, Chad Ford (yes, he is awesome).  Waiters is now currently ranked 8th overall.  If Ford is right, then the promise must've been made by Toronto, because they are sitting on the 8th overall pick and have already expressed interest in him.  And it makes since for them to want someone who can make an instant impact because they haven't been relevant since, well, ever.

Okay, I'm kidding.  Vince Carter and Chris Bosh were exciting; but if I'm Waiters and it is Toronto, don't I want to see if I can milk it a little more and move up even higher?  If Toronto is the guarantee, why not take a work out from Portland or Golden State (assuming those were upcoming work outs he cancelled).  Unfortunately no, I wouldn't, because of one reason. Damian Lillard.  The kid is an absolute stud. He is almost a lock for Portland because they desperately need a point guard.  And as much as I'd like to see my new favorite team (since last year, since Jonny Flynn got playing time and he is my favorite player) draft him, that's the reason I don't see it happening.  Lillard is a true point guard and Portland could get in a really sticky situation by drafting Waiters because he lacks a true position.  So essentially, Waiters is going to rot in Toronto.

No, he won't literally rot, but as much as I'd hate to see him in a Raptors uniform it could be a really exciting season for him.  He'd probably start instantly and take on the role of "that guy" for the Raptors.  And there's talks that the Raptors are really interested in pursuing Memphis Grizzlies (and former Connecticut player) Rudy Gay who has established himself as a premier player in the NBA today.  All in all, questions are and will still be left unanswered until next season.  Like how did this kid sneak into the top 10 as a BENCH player?  And if they draft him and obtain Gay, how will a Syracuse and Connecticut player coexist on the same basketball court, on the same team?  And assuming they draft him, does he have a passport? Stay tuned.

Author: TJ Fazio