Throwing Names Around

THE HIGH RISER

Dion Waiters

Shooting guard, Cavaliers (No. 4)

There was a suspicion that the 6'4", 221-pound Waiters—who withdrew from the predraft combine and canceled all of his workouts—had a promise from a team in the lottery. But few expected him to go to Cleveland, where he will share the backcourt with reigning Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving. Scouts say Waiters has an NBA pick-and-roll game, while Cavs coach Byron Scott compares the Syracuse sixth man to Dwyane Wade. "He's a pit bull," said Scott. "This kid isn't afraid of anyone."

THE ODD MAN OUT

Scott Machado

Point guard, Rockets (undrafted)

Scouts flocked to the Iona campus last season to see Machado, a 6'2", 205-pound playmaker who led the NCAA in assists (9.9 per game). Yet on draft night Machado watched as seven other point guards were taken. One reason his name wasn't called: He failed to impress at the combine and in individual workouts. "He's not a great athlete," says an East personnel exec. "The workouts don't showcase what he is good at." Machado wasn't on the sidelines for long: Houston signed him on Monday.

THE ENIGMA

Perry Jones III