Scouting Report: Danny Granger

The Indiana Pacers could struggle this year to make the playoffs. However, in Danny Granger, Indiana's basketball executives, Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh, have a great piece to rebuild with.

Player Name: Danny Granger
Current Team: Indiana Pacers
Ideal Position: SF
Drafted: 17th
Height/Weight: 6'9"/228
Birthdate: 4/20/83
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
High School: Grace King HS
Colleges: University of New Mexico/Bradley University
Agent: Mark Bartelstein

Contract:
05-06 $1,318,920
06-07 $1,417,800
07-08 $1,516,800
08-09 $2,329,804 (Team Option)
09-10 $3,289,684 (Qualifying Option)

Notes:
Spent first two seasons at Bradley University, before transferring to New Mexico in January 2003, shortly after his coach was replaced by Jim Les; Earned First Team All-Mountain West Conference his junior and senior seasons; Ranks in the top ten in career blocked shots at both New Mexico and Bradley University; Graduated in the top ten percent of his high school class; Known to be a Jehovah's Witness.

Strengths:
Very versatile player; Inside-outside player; Can perform at a high level at shooting guard, small forward, and power forward; Strong as a playmaker; Being a big-time rebounder makes him very valuable to his team; Excellent touch around the basket; Shoots a high percentage from mid-range; Competes hard all the time; Great strength; Posseses quick hands, which allows him to get a lot of rebounds and block shots that he shouldn't necessarily get to; Good size, strength, footwork, and wingspan; Very quick leaper with a big vertical leap; Strong foul line shooter; Steals and blocks at a high rate.

Weaknesses:
Durability has been questioned because of some injuries in college; Needs to continue to develop the range on his jump shot; Ball-handling is a big area that needs improvement; Left-hand is much weaker than the right; Experience on the wing is necessary for him to continue to develop in the NBA; Needs to continue to become more assertive in order to be a double-double guy in the league; Free-throw shooting form needs adjustment; Needs to keep awareness defensively off-the-ball.