Ced's no Josh Powell
I've surprised a few of my friends in recent days by telling them that Ced Simmons is a lock to be a first-round pick in the NBA Draft. They were ACC hoops fans and apparently thought that the trouble Ced had against guys like Wake's Eric Williams might give NBA scouts some doubts.
But if they were NBA draftniks, they'd know that things like wingspan, baseline to baseline speed, leaping ability and the vague but all-important "upside" are more critical when David Stern steps to the mike. And Ced Simmons has those in spades. Which is why I'm not that surprised to find more and more mock drafts putting the former State big man in the lottery.
A lot of them have Ced going No. 13 to Philadelphia, where GM Billy King - the former Duke defensive whiz - thinks Ced could be the second coming of Theo Ratliff.