Greivis Vasquez: Not a Workout Warrior

I'm sure you've heard the phrase "workout warrior" before. It's pretty much the epitome of a guy like Matt Jones or maybe even Darrius Heyward-Bey - someone with all the athleticism in the world, and makes it known during workouts. Sometimes he's a good player, but sometimes not. If  you go into a thesaurus, look this phrase up, then go down to the antonyms, Greivis Vasquez is listed there.

I'm not a Greivis hater, but I'd be very surprised (nay, shocked) if he's anywhere near the late first or early second round with his combine performance. It was, in a word, terrible. Athleticism may not be everything in basketball, but it matters more than in any other sport, and execs know this. Greivis, by this showing, is most definitely not athletic..

Draft Express rated 11 major categories tested at the comine. While Greivis had a good showing in height - the tallest PG there - and placed in the middle of the pack in the agility test, he had little else going for him. His wingspan and standing reach were a bit disappointing for someone 6-6 - 6-1 Jeff Teague had a longer wingspan, and he has the standing reach of someone 6-4. Not a dealbreaker, but it hurts the advantage that size gives him. He's also one of the skinnier guys there, weighing only a pound heavier than 6-0 Jonny Flynn.

While those two are minor negatives in regards to size, he was killed when it came to athleticism. Both his no-step vert and max vert were dead last. His one measly bench rep was also the worst in the camp (unless Austin Daye's blank really means he managed zero - how is this guy a lottery pick? Wasn't athleticism one of his pluses?). He also finished second to last in the sprint, beating out only Austin Daye. In case you're counting, that's four categories in which GV comes in worst or second-worst.

Like I said, athleticism doesn't mean everything, but it means a heck of a lot. What GMs must determine is if Greivis' basketball IQ and other intagibles, combined with how he plays in a real time game, overcomes his lack of athleticism. Odds are, if the player hasn't proven to them that he can overcome, they won't feel comfortable taking him. This wouldn't seem like an issue that can be solved by returning to school for one more year, but it is. Athleticism can only be marginally improved. But now that GMs know he's unatlethic, he needs to prove to them that he can play regardless of that lack of athleticism. The best way to prove it to them is to put up a consistent, All-ACC caliber season. Teams have no problem taking unathletic players in the first round, as long as they're sure they can overcome it. Greivis is yet to be consistent enough over a full year or develop his game enough to make them confident he can. The logical choice is for Greivis to return for his final year, and that's the one he'll probably make.

I hope.