This cat is being brought into Detroit (amongst others) for workouts.

Shakur's visits set (http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/133358)

UA guard Mustafa Shakur will work out for both Cleveland and Detroit this week in a final effort to gauge his marketability for the June 28 NBA draft. Shakur has until Sunday to withdraw his name from the pool if he is to return to UA for his senior season.

Shakur stayed in Orlando, Fla., through Monday, meeting with the Utah Jazz over the weekend. His older brother, Mujahid, said he is still waiting to receive more NBA feedback before making his decision.

"It's kind of hard to tell right now," Mujahid Shakur said Monday. "We're still waiting to get everything together so we can sit down and talk about it. … There's been some feedback about the (weakness of his) jump shot. But some people are saying some positive things, that he proved he's a pro type of player."
It looks like he has fallen off a lot of team's radars.

Article on Shakur (http://www.cnnsi.com/2005/basketball/ncaa/specials/preview/2005/11/02/arizona.pointguard/)

NBADraft.net Profile (http://nbadraft.net/profiles/mustafashakur.asp)

ESPN Player Card (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=15141)


http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2005/basketball/ncaa/specials/preview/2005/11/02/arizona.pointguard/t1_shakur_si.jpg

If we're looking point, it might be worthwhile to check out a guy like Jose Juan Berea (http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=171) from Northeastern. Only the draft gurus seem to dislike this guy. Everyone else loves him, especially if you're a player on his team.

he is described as the top prospect after Chris Paul (according to nbadraft.net) and the Pistons have a chance to get him? Strange...

The NBAdraft.net profile is from 2004.

Trouble with his visit to Detroit is that we aren't a useful gauge of whether he should stay in the draft. Promising him a #60 spot isn't exactly going to persuade him to turn pro.

Draftexpress article on the Pistons has some other possibilities....


Pistons looking to move up? The Detroit Pistons could be looking to move up higher into the second round in order to land a legit backup point guard. They will conduct a big point guard only workout on Thursday featuring Jose Juan Barea (http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=171), Mustafa Shakur (http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=163), Dwayne Mitchell (http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=515), Will Blalock (http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=574) and Walker Russell (http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=524). A 2nd round pick that is reportedly for sale is Seattle’s, slated 40th overall. The Sonics would use that money to hire another assistant coach for next year, as they reportedly do not have the budget at this time to do so considering how much money the ownership there has lost over the past few years.

The Pistons were reportedly initially hoping to draft Ukrainian big man Kyrylo Fesenko late in the 2nd round, and asked his agent to “hide” him overseas with a 2nd round promise so no one else catches wind of him. .....


http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1341


(does anyone know Walker Russell? Is he the son of former Piston and WMU star Walker D Russell?)

Berea is a Puerto Rican. And he's short. I'm having flashbacks. ARGH!!!!

FULL DIAPER WADDLE starring Carlos Arroyo.
An expose into the seedy underworld of shot clock mismanagement!

If he's fast and has good footwork, Berea might be ok. But if he's an Arroyo clone, please gouge my eyes out should we draft him.

Dwayne Mitchell is a 6'5 PG? Pretty tall. If we can get a big steal in the draft, get some good free agents, and if Delfino, Amir, Maxiell, and Acker do good in the summer league it would be a good summer for the Pistons.

Another Puerto Rican player?....Ja ja ja microbrain....yeah I think I'd pass on him too!

This kind of player will be picked up after releases are made... teams just don't have the roster spots when they've invested in 1st rounders.

Whoever we draft may get a shot in 2009/10 when their D-League stint is over.

What I'd like to see Joe do is go after a 1st rounder from past years (good draft year) that is not totally green.... just couldn't get PT (like our own rooks).

Every year the mocks lay out glowing reports on guys that don't make it in the league...
What's the success rate for 2nd rounders.... 10% ?

I'm still pizzed we didn't go after Barbosa instead of Delfino.

Merc, success is defined as....???

I'd say it is closer to 20%. 6 out of 30. The NBA is much deeper with the young kids kept off the draft boards and the International influx.

Remember when they would draft 6+ rounds deep? Now that was a freakin joke.

Since the draft went to two rounds in 89 ...8 second rounders have made the All-Star team (One Piston) and two undrafted palyers have made it.

Since the draft went to two rounds in 89 ...8 second rounders have made the All-Star team (One Piston) and two undrafted palyers have made it.

Interesting stats Bills.

I'd be happy just getting some good, hard, quality minutes from our 2nd rounder. I'm not looking for, or expecting an All-Star with a late 2nd round pick - although that would be VERY nice.

Interesting stats Bills.

I'd be happy just getting some good, hard, quality minutes from our 2nd rounder. I'm not looking for, or expecting an All-Star with a late 2nd round pick - although that would be VERY nice.

It would be a lot easier to get a steal if highschoolers could still come in. So many teams are scared of drafting highschoolers and some of them turn out to be amazing.

It would be a lot easier to get a steal if highschoolers could still come in. So many teams are scared of drafting highschoolers and some of them turn out to be amazing.

Yeah, hopefully Joe got the very last one in AJ. :fingerscr

And lets hope hes a great last highschooler for the Pistons.

Shakur has withdrawn from the draft and is heading back for another season at AZ. Depending upon how his season goes, this could be a player we are looking at in 2007.

Sleeper? Could be a second round steal.

Has anyone heard anything about this guy recently? He seems to have dropped off the radar as he is not even appearing in nbadraft.net's top 60 anymore. Is he still in the draft?

He could be a nice pickup at #57

NBA draft.net had Zabian Dowdell in the late first round and he was off the list yesterday.

Shakur was on that list as recently as two weeks ago either in the late first or early second round. How a guy drops 20 spots is beyond me.

The dude is a playa.

I've been following Mustafa's career since he played for the University of Arizona and I live in Tucson. He ended up playing all 4 years at the U of A and his best years were his sophmore and junior years. His stats were done for a couple of reasons, one the Wildcats had to integrate Budginger into their offense and Mustafa had to change his game a bit. He's a bit of a streaky shooter and I think he was in Lute Olson's doghouse for awhile. Something was going on this year with the U of A since the longtime coach Jim Rosborough ended up quitting and Kevin O'Neill came in to replace him. Shakur is going to be a better pro than college player,he just needs the right team to develop. I don't see him as a Detroit Pistons type player though, he would thrive in a more West Coast offense. Just my thoughts on Mr. Shakur.

NBA draft.net had Zabian Dowdell in the late first round and he was off the list yesterday.

Shakur was on that list as recently as two weeks ago either in the late first or early second round. How a guy drops 20 spots is beyond me.

The dude is a playa.


The same way guys from small schools can come out of 2nd round nowheresville and all of a sudden be hailed as the next "guy" with an early first round promise that leads to him being invited to the green room a month later.

Reminds me of Rodney.....White.:)

The Pistons scouted this guy last year, but he chose to go back to school.

They either have him on their radar, or they do not.

I'm pretty sure Joe will surprise on draft day, with at LEAST one of the picks.