2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

[HMcCoy]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

Man, I cannot get myself to be excited about the thought of drafting Kemba Walker in the top 5. The guy is too small and not a good enough shooter. Irving is going to be significantly better player, IMO.

And I flat out do not like Derrick Williams as either a player or a person. Saying he's a star and that he will be a 3 no matter what...no thanks.

I know what you mean on both accounts...but theres just something about Mary...err Walker. Can't put my finger on it. College basketball took "it" right in the eye though, lol. Right now, Irving is only great because everyone says he will be, and those experts are dead wrong as often as they get it right, IMO. Walker has at least been proven to be a great leader, nasty in the PnR, and clutch to death. Like you're avy, theres no glaring faults in Kyrie's game, so I'm hoping the pundits are right.

Seems like Williams 'tude will either be a huge positive (Noah) or huge negative (Tyrus Thomas), will be interesting to see which.

Thing about this draft...if you take Irving number one, that makes all the other PG's obsolete, and puts you at Utah's mercy. If they take Kanter, you are stuck with crap value at the four pick, because after Williams and the PG's, the bottom falls out. Taking Williams guarantees you a stud wing, and a very good point guard, although not the best point guard...while taking Kyries guarantees you a very good PG and possibly some dude you could get in 10-15 in any other draft.

[ehh]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

Not that I'm saying Kemba is big or anything, but he did measure out at a legit 6'1 with shoes.

I thought he was no more than 5'11 with shoes.
.

That def surprised me too, DX even tweeted that Kemba proved the "midget myth" wrong lol. He's much closer in size to Jimmer than I ever expected.

But whatever, in this day and age size barely matters when it comes to PG. Plus Walker has proven time after time that he can finish in traffic against bigger players. He uses his body very well to shield and create contact.

His shot should turn out fine, he shot the ball amazingly early in the season but dipped greatly because of the load he had to carry and the adjustments opposing teams made defensively. In the NBA where he'll have better spacing and less of a load to carry (aka more time to get set for his shot) he'll be a reliable shooter. Plus with the practice he'll put in should lead to improvement. Hell, Ty Lawson hit 10 threes in a game and no one thought he could shoot coming out of UNC.

David Alridge's mock had him going 21st to Portland btw - damn.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

DA had Lawson or Walker going 21? haha

Yeah I expect Walker to be a great spark plug off the bench to start his career just like Ty Lawson/Eric Bledsoe.

Size doesn't matter in this case because his instincts are up there with any other "smaller" PG's.

Plus he seems much more refined than your typical "NY PG".

I would take Walker as the second PG and Knight right behind him.

[ammofan]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

The bobcats need to get Leonard or Burks at #9....

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

Man, I cannot get myself to be excited about the thought of drafting Kemba Walker in the top 5. The guy is too small and not a good enough shooter. Irving is going to be significantly better player, IMO.

And I flat out do not like Derrick Williams as either a player or a person. Saying he's a star and that he will be a 3 no matter what...no thanks.

Why don't you like him as a person?

[Mintsa]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

I know what you mean on both accounts...but theres just something about Mary...err Walker. Can't put my finger on it. College basketball took "it" right in the eye though, lol. Right now, Irving is only great because everyone says he will be, and those experts are dead wrong as often as they get it right, IMO. Walker has at least been proven to be a great leader, nasty in the PnR, and clutch to death. Like you're avy, theres no glaring faults in Kyrie's game, so I'm hoping the pundits are right.

Seems like Williams 'tude will either be a huge positive (Noah) or huge negative (Tyrus Thomas), will be interesting to see which.

Thing about this draft...if you take Irving number one, that makes all the other PG's obsolete, and puts you at Utah's mercy. If they take Kanter, you are stuck with crap value at the four pick, because after Williams and the PG's, the bottom falls out. Taking Williams guarantees you a stud wing, and a very good point guard, although not the best point guard...while taking Kyries guarantees you a very good PG and possibly some dude you could get in 10-15 in any other draft.

I have to agree about Kemba. He just has that "something" about him. I love his leadership, court presence & clutch shooting. Sometimes stuff like that are much better qualities than wingspan or height or "what the experts say"......just saying. If the Raptors end up with Kemba at 5, I'd be happy with that pick.

I cant wait until this time next year when we can re-rank the pg's of this draft.....Irving, Knight, Kemba, Jimmer etc.

[chadskee]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

Honestly, if any of your teams can give the Wolves somebody worth a damn and maybe a first rounder next year I would do it. Wolves don't necessarily need 2-3 more rookies right now.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

Why don't you like him as a person?

I shouldn't say I don't like him as a person, I just really hate his attitude. His "i'm a superstar" comment is a red flag for me.

[ehh]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

It was one interview and DX said he came off as strangely defensive. Everything else you read about him is positive, that he's humble and hard working. IMO it's not a red flag but to each their own.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

So what's the scoop on Alec Burks? I know the guy is a pretty terrible shooter from what I've read. Do you guys think he'll end up being a great scorer in the NBA regardless or what?

[Eman5805]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

If you have the mind to, you can learn how to shoot better. But what he has is the ability to drive with either hand and finish strong at the basket. Find the open man. Rebound the rock. And play defense. And shooting 82% from the line suggests he's got a shooters touch. He just needs more time to improve his game.

See a vid of his game here: http://www.draftexpress.com/article/...reakdown-3692/

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/sam_amick/05/23/predraft.camp.wrap/

The 19-year-old Turkish center is as big a mystery man as there is in this class. Literally.
The player who was stuck on the sidelines at Kentucky last season because he was ruled ineligible, measured out quite well, standing 6-foot-11 ¼ in shoes and weighing in at 259 pounds while proving to be incredibly well-conditioned. His body fat was just 5.9 percent, or a little more than half of expected No. 1 pick and former Duke point guard Kyrie Irving (10.2).
And according to his agent, Max Ergul, Kanter -- who is projected as a top-five pick despite the fact that teams haven't seen him play since last year's Nike Hoop Summit in Portland -- convinced NBA executives that he has the stamina to play heavy minutes right away.
He lasted approximately 21 minutes on a brutal treadmill test that includes steep inclines, declines and sprints, putting himself atop the big man class when it comes to being dedicated about his body.
"He went 21-plus minutes on the treadmill test, and only five guys -- plus Enes -- [did that] and four of them were guards," Ergul told SI.com. "[NBA officials] said that was the first time in the draft in modern history that had happened, that no 6-11-plus guys ever finished 21-minutes-plus on the treadmill test ... People don't realize how prepared this kid is, how dedicated he is."
Yet the talk surrounding Kanter in Chicago had much more to do with the fact that he didn't sit down for interviews with Utah (No. 3, No. 12 picks), Toronto (No. 5) and Milwaukee (No. 10). Those non-meetings raised questions about whether Kanter's camp was avoiding certain teams, but Ergul said that wasn't entirely the case. They were only avoiding the Bucks.
"The only one I really didn't care for him [to go to] is Milwaukee," Ergul said. "I'll be honest ... it came out all wrong. [Utah general manager] Kevin [O'Connor] knew about it ... We called them, and it was because in next two weeks I had a feeling we were going to see each other extensively, so there's no reason for that [interview].
"Kevin told me he's really impressed with the kid and he wants to have him in Utah and he'll also come to Chicago ... I apologized to him five times for it coming out wrong, even though I didn't do anything wrong. He knew we were going to see them."
Ergul also answered the questions about why Kanter sat down with teams that have picks much lower than Kanter is expected to be taken.
On a meeting with New Jersey (No. 27): "New owners [Russian Mikhail Prokhorov] have European ties, and they're moving to Brooklyn -- which has the No. 1 Turkish population -- so I wanted them to get to know Enes a little bit."
On a meeting with San Antonio (No. 29): "I think coach [Gregg] Popovich has an opinion that really matters. If [Detroit president of basketball operations] Joe Dumars or Pop calls me or [Lakers general manager] Mitch [Kupchak] and asks for an interview, I'm not going to deny that. They may or may not get him, but I will give them their seniority. They are the guys who earned it. It's the same thing with Kevin O'Connor."
There is another lottery team that did not meet with Kanter, though, as he did not sit down with Sacramento (No. 7 pick). Kanter, who has been working with famed trainer Tim Grover in Chicago for the past six weeks, plans on holding most of his workouts in Chicago and being selective about where he travels.
"Utah is coming here to Chicago, and we're going to go to Minnesota in the second half of June," Ergul said. "Toronto is coming here. Cleveland (Nos. 1 and 4 picks), we're trying to discussing logistics of dates and stuff."
As was reported here on Thursday, Houston (14th, 23rd picks) is interested in moving up in the draft. The source with knowledge of the Rockets' desires said they are hoping to do so to either nab Kanter or perhaps San Diego State small forward, Kawhi Leonard.
Because teams have only seen Kanter in person when he scored 34 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the 2010 Nike Summit, his workouts will be key.
"I can now say that I've never seen him play live before," one executive who was at predraft camp said sarcastically. "But in the drill work, [Kanter] looked terrific


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1NEtYpFF2

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...aft.camp.wrap/

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Bucks
10

[HMcCoy]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

Doesn't look good for Kanter to fall to four. If UTA likes Fredette, which would seem to be a great fit, they'll obviously go with the Turk at 3.

Damn, damn, damn. I bet CLE gets garbage with #4...I just know it. If Irvings foot is a chronic issue, this will be a monumental fail draft.

[BlueNGold]

Re: 2011 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

Doesn't look good for Kanter to fall to four. If UTA likes Fredette, which would seem to be a great fit, they'll obviously go with the Turk at 3.

Damn, damn, damn. I bet CLE gets garbage with #4...I just know it. If Irvings foot is a chronic issue, this will be a monumental fail draft.

In more ways than one.

But wait, if Utah is going for The Jimmer, wouldn't that open the door for Derrick Williams at #4? Minny isn't going to take him, are they?

EDIT: Wait, nevermind. Misread your post.