As a sophomore at Illinois, Dee Brown played with a stress fracture in his right leg.
Compared to that experience, traveling from city to city to audition for NBA teams is not all that difficult. Many workouts have been favorable and some scouts say Brown looks like a late first-round pick in the June 28 NBA draft.
The Bulls were Brown’s latest stop. Friday he joined fellow Illini James Augustine for drills in front of general manager John Paxson and coach Scott Skiles at the Berto Center.
Neither Brown nor Augustine is expected to go to the Bulls, who have the second and 16th picks in the first round, but the players are worth a look. They won a record 114 games in four years at Illinois and were key members of the 2004-05 team that reached the NCAA championship game.
“I feel like I’ve been an underdog my whole career,” said Brown, who is listed a bit generously at 6 feet. “I just go in there, play hard and lay it on the line.”
Brown is a streaky shooter–he shot only 36 percent his senior season–but scouts admire his speed. Memphis, which has the 24th pick, is said to be interested.
He seems to have the right approach in workouts.
“The biggest compliment I’ve heard is, `You try not to do too much. You just stay solid,'” he said.
Running ragged
Augustine looked pale after Friday’s workout, probably from the wear and tear of trying out for 11 teams in the last few weeks with six teams still on his list. He spent last week in Florida at the NBA predraft camp, which Brown skipped.
During an informal interview session with reporters, Augustine excused himself because he wasn’t feeling well. He returned a short time later.
“I’m wearing down a little bit,” he said.
With their futures on the line, many players appear nervous or drained. Tyrus Thomas, who is expected to be a top pick, cut his workout short with the Bulls on Thursday because of stomach cramps.
Augustine said he doesn’t feel compelled to make up for his so-so performance in the predraft camp.
“I don’t think a lot of people were able to show what they can do,” he said.
He doesn’t look like a first-rounder now, but Augustine should get picked early in the second round and has an excellent chance of making an NBA roster for the 2006-07 season.
Glad he’s back
Paxson gave a vote of confidence to Michael Jordan, his ex-teammate and longtime friend who has become part-owner and head of operations for the Charlotte Bobcats.
“I think it’s great for the league that he’s involved,” Paxson said. “I know it’s good for him because he has been wanting to get back into the action. Nothing but positives will come out of it.”
Asked what he would expect from Jordan if they negotiate a deal in the future, Paxson said with a laugh: “I would expect him to be ruthless.”
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mxgarcia@tribune.com
