Official Thread: Víctor Claver

[admin]

Víctor Claver, SF
17 years old 6'9" 0 lbs.
Pamesa Valencia, International

Check out the complete profile at: Full Profile (http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=336)

[DonMonte]

Claver with a fantastic game against Real. 18 points for him. In the first game he was also good. He begins to show his huge potential. In few years Spain will have amazing PG, SG and SF in Rubio, Rudy and Claver.

[Genjuro]

Actually Claver is playing full-time PF this season. I would prefer to see him playing at the wing, and after two or three years, just head to the position where he looks more productive.

Anyway, it was a very nice game for him. He had a few important plays, particularly a powerful dunk that brought the house down and somehow changed the game momentum, as well as a clutch three-pointer.

[KristianH]

Claver with a fantastic game against Real. 18 points for him. In the first game he was also good. He begins to show his huge potential. In few years Spain will have amazing PG, SG and SF in Rubio, Rudy and Claver.

Don`t forget Rodriguez too.....Spain is definitely starting to emerge as a super-power thanks to thier terrific domestic competition.

[coachjon]

i think claver could decide to enter the 2009 draft at the earliest. when he does decide to enter he could be a top 10 pick. he has the potential to be a roleplaying starter in the league.

he has a high basketball IQ, combo forward, athletic, good wingspan, skilled, good shooter, slasher, scorer, good passer, good shot blocker (needs to improve his overall defense right now is more known for his offense), needs to add strength/weight, must improve his midrange game and post up game scores almost strictly from the perimeter or penetration (would become more of an inside/outside threat).

likely role in the nba is as a high IQ intangibles combo forward.

Career 9pts 2reb 1blk Prime 12pts 5reb 2ast 1blk Rookie 3pts 1blk

[Hitster]

Maybe a Shane Battier type player?

[coachjon]

i was thinking more like a jorge garbajosa type player.

[thecracksparrow]

i was thinking more like a jorge garbajosa type player.
Garbajosa with some athleticism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd93AOTBF8E

[coachjon]

yes i agree with that he is more athletic than garbajosa

[thecracksparrow]

This is a mix of Claver and some highlights from the U19 World Champ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA_W3hz3QUk

He is going to play some friendlies with the spanish NT this summer.
I am sure he will be a starter in 2 years.

[Hitster]

If the guy does pan out, he's going to be a nice pick-up, look at how useful Garbojsa was at Toronto last season being able to cover positions 3 to 5. Claver being 6ft 9ins/6ft 10ins has the size to play either 3 or 4 I'd guess, if he does crack the full Spannish Team maybe ironically replacing Garbojsa then his draft value could soar. Likewise if he continues to develop in the Spannish and Euro League then he'll automatically be playing at a higher level than most of his fellow draftees. Again though there could be buyout issues, his team will no doubt know he could go top 10 and set his buyout quite high but if he wants to play in the NBA enough then it can be worked around. If he gets a starting NBA salary of around $2.5 million or so then any buyout of under $2 million can be quite easily paid but if it is set at say $4 or $5 million then this would need some working around.

[TheProfessor]

Claver has declared for this year's draft - any chance he doesn't drop out?

[coachjon]

i haven't heard anything but i bet he will pull out

[ecuhus]

Yeah, his name popped out at me when I saw the official early entry list. He's probably just doing it to get a bit more name recognition for next year's draft, but he would add even more depth the the number of 1stg-round bigmen if he stayed.

[Mr. Body]

He doens't really count as a big man, not in the midst of the Hibberts, Ibakas and Ajincas expected later in the first round. His competition is more Casspi and others.

His name listed either means he's simply testing the waters and will likely pull out, or a team might be suggesting a promise. I'm reminded of the Spurs' under the radar pick of Ian Mahinmi, although granted the big guy wasn't completely unknown at the time, while Claver is not, and didn't even have a name plaque available for the board when San Antonio selected him (and he bounded from the stands).

[TheProfessor]

He doens't really count as a big man, not in the midst of the Hibberts, Ibakas and Ajincas expected later in the first round. His competition is more Casspi and others.

His name listed either means he's simply testing the waters and will likely pull out, or a team might be suggesting a promise. I'm reminded of the Spurs' under the radar pick of Ian Mahinmi, although granted the big guy wasn't completely unknown at the time, while Claver is not, and didn't even have a name plaque available for the board when San Antonio selected him (and he bounded from the stands).
I think you may be hoping for the same thing I am :)

[ecuhus]

He doens't really count as a big man, not in the midst of the Hibberts, Ibakas and Ajincas expected later in the first round. His competition is more Casspi and others.

His name listed either means he's simply testing the waters and will likely pull out, or a team might be suggesting a promise. I'm reminded of the Spurs' under the radar pick of Ian Mahinmi, although granted the big guy wasn't completely unknown at the time, while Claver is not, and didn't even have a name plaque available for the board when San Antonio selected him (and he bounded from the stands).

I may have a bad recollection, but I thought he was playing very little SF in Spain now. Supposedly, his coach has pretty much had him at PF full-time, and he's been more effective.

Anyway, I see him filling out as a Gasol type, and Pau was listed as a SF prospect even on draft day. His measurements are all over the place depending on where you look, but I've head he's at least 6'10, and ESPN Draft Tracker has him at 6'11, 217lbs. At least we can say he's a Herrmann/Cabarkapa type, someone who can moonlight at SF but works best as a rangy PF.

[Mr. Body]

Ecuhus, you're absolutely correct that Claver is playing PF now, but he projects more as a SF in my eyes in the pros, or possibly as a Nowitzki type, a roaming PF, hardly a post threat. I meant more he's not a 'big man' prospect the way this draft is loaded with Cs and banging PFs. Anyway, an interesting skill set. I haven't heard much about his rebounding skills.

[Mike005]

Marca.com reported Claver has recovered enough from his injury that he has been cleared to dress with his team for the past two games. He hasn't played, but that was to be expected considering he was originally not expected to rejoin his team for another month.