Favors, Cousins work out for Nets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)

Derrick Favors and DeMarcus Cousins have been playing against each other since high school, so working out for the New Jersey Nets three days before the NBA Draft was nothing new.

The stakes were a little higher Monday.

The Nets have the third pick overall in Thursday night's draft, and they likely will have to decide whether to take Cousins or Favors.

The Washington Wizards are expected to take Kentucky point guard John Wall with the first pick, and Philadelphia likely will grab Ohio State shooting guard Evan Turner with the second choice.

Although New Jersey has some interest in Syracuse forward Wesley Johnson, its biggest need is at power forward. Favors of Georgia Tech and Cousins of Kentucky are the top big men, despite having only played their freshmen seasons in college.

The two big men worked out for about an hour at the Nets' headquarters, showing their shooting, agility and stamina.

"It would have made it easier if one guy came in and did very little, and you were extremely disappointed,'' said Gregg Polinsky, the Nets' director of player personnel. "But we are not disappointed. I think we all walked out of here going, 'these are going to be two very fine NBA players going down the road.'''

Cousins, the Wildcats' center, showed the Nets he has the talent to play the power forward, hitting shots up to 20 feet.

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A true power forward, Favors' shooting range is limited to about 15 feet, but he has more 'pop' in his leaping ability, Polinsky said.

Neither player saw the workout as a one-shot deal for the third spot.

"Me and DeMarcus have been playing each other since high school,'' said Favors, who averaged 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks last season. "It isn't a competition between us. We are good players. They have seen us both in college. I think they wanted to bring us in to get a feel for both our games, and to see which one fits better in New Jersey.''

Favors, who will turn 19 next month, is 11 months younger than Cousins, who averaged 15.1 points and 9.8 rebounds with Kentucky last season.

This marked the third time in recent weeks that Favors and Cousins have worked out against each other. They also did it in Sacramento and last week in Philadelphia.

Cousins, who played at LeFlore High School in Mobile, Ala., said he and Favors first played in the ninth grade in a tournament in Atlanta with South Atlanta winning big.

"To be honest, me and Derrick we've been in competition our whole career,'' Cousins said. "It was always who's better? Me or Derrick? After college I thought those days were pretty much over, but we're back at stage one. So I guess you can say that.''

When asked who was better, Cousins laughed.

"I'll let you all answer that,'' he said.