Noah enjoying workout circuit
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Joakim Noah isn't putting much faith in the numerous NBA mock drafts, many of which have him going eighth overall to the Charlotte Bobcats.
"I think mock drafts are a complete joke,'' said Joakim Noah, one of six players to work out Saturday for the Bobcats. "I have no idea who makes them. ... I think to me it's all a situation of what a team needs. I'd rather listen to the general manager, the guy who makes the pick.''
By all accounts the 6-foot-11, 232-pound Joakim Noah appears to be a good fit for the Bobcats, who have struggled to keep their big men healthy the last couple of years.
Joakim Noah, a junior from Florida who entered the draft early, went through a 90-minute workout for the Bobcats on Saturday and new coach Sam Vincent had him shooting plenty of mid-range jump shots.
"What we want to see is his offensive skills,'' Vincent said. "We want to see him in the post scoring. We want to see his shot from that mid-range area. That is what we're trying to get a feel for.''
Despite what has been a hectic and tiring whirlwind tour - he worked out for the Chicago Bulls on Friday and plans to do the same for the Boston Celtics on Sunday - Joakim Noah said he's enjoying the experience.
"This is a dream come true,'' he said. "It's not easy at all. But what a great feeling to be able to say I'm going to play basketball as my profession. To get paid and be able to pay for your own hamburgers ... that's pretty cool.''
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