2014 Draft Discussion

[KG]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

#UConnIsNotAnAcronym

For shame, GTown fan!


Sidenote - I saw the ratings for the Big East on FS1, man it is not looking good. It feels so wrong seeing GTown, Nova, etc not on ESPN. Saw one article that the FS1 ratings for Big East bball is about equal to college hockey. That sucks.

LOL. This year I have watched the least amount of college hoops for me in a long time. There was one stretch where Gtown played Creighton, Butler, Depaul, and Xavier. Granted Depaul has been there for a while but overall it just sucked. Made me feel like we're a damn mid-major.

[Caveman24]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Who do you guys think has the biggest bust potential?

[The__Answ3r_i3]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Who do you guys think has the biggest bust potential?

aaron gordon definitely has no position going to end up like derrick williams if not worse.

[JODYE]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Who do you guys think has the biggest bust potential?

Said it before, and I will say it again, but I do not like Jabari Parker in the NBA, at all.

Having watched him extensively in high school he never impressed me. Yeah, he had a "smooth" game, but it was easy when you were physically dominant over every player you ever played against.

His athleticism/explosiveness is completely lackluster and he has virtually no first step. So although he has the strength to finish inside, its the creating of that shot that really worries me, especially at the next level. Have never really seen him create off the dribble consistently and his court vision has gone undeveloped, which is concerning for someone who played point forward for almost all his high school career. Couple that with the fact he really can't shoot from the perimeter consistently, you have some huge red flags.

Defensively, if he put on some more muscle, he could possibly move to defend some 4s in the post, but I don't think I want Jabari guarding anyone on the perimeter.

He's appearing to me as Jared Sullinger with no post game.

[ehh]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

aaron gordon definitely has no position going to end up like derrick williams if not worse.

I'd have to agree and I'm leaning towards putting Embiid in there as well. Just not buying the crazy hype about him at all.

[phenom1990]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

The only thing Smart & BDiddy have in common is that they are "stocky". Baron was a MUCH better athlete than Smart will ever be, really explosive and could shoot better. I've always like Napier, mainly because I think his handle can get him to a lot of places on the court. I haven't seen UCONN at all this year (FU conference realignment) so I don't know if he's improved at all. Oh, young Boris was also more athletic than Kyle Anderson but it's a good comparison skill-wise.

Yeah since Kyle Anderson is the most chiseled guy that's one of the reasons I went with it. Kyle wouldn't be able to guard 1's in the NBA so he isn't playing the 1. He definitely isn't a 2 and I don't think he will be able to guard 3's. So he turns into a 4 that can handle the ball some, run some of your offense, etc. I agree with your assessment on the Baron/ Marcus Smart.

What you said about the Big East, I agree with. I think they may learn a lesson that the Pac 10/12 eventually learned. When you make Fox Sports your primary TV deal and don't do one with ESPN, eventually you'll get burned. Pac 10/12 had some very good years under Fox ( mainly 2008) but it faded and I didn't think it got the attention it deserved either.

I'd take him before Russ Smith, Keith Appling & especially Aaron Craft.

Yeah I agree and I don't think it's that close. I don't think Appling is a NBA player, Aaron Craft is kinda like a Royal Ivey... so no and Russ Smith... well I can't figure him out so maybe.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

The one thing I like about Aaron Gordon is that he came in as a top recruit and immediately bought into the team concept, doesn't try to always be "the guy" doesn't force shots or take many bad ones..

I agree that his talent level isn't nearly when some of the other guys is, and he's got that positionless problem some others have had.. But he plays hard, plays defense, rebounds, and plays within the team..

If you are a team that doesn't necessarily need a go-to man, but more so a reliable role player I think he'd be a great fit.

[redsrule]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Said it before, and I will say it again, but I do not like Jabari Parker in the NBA, at all.

Having watched him extensively in high school he never impressed me. Yeah, he had a "smooth" game, but it was easy when you were physically dominant over every player you ever played against.

His athleticism/explosiveness is completely lackluster and he has virtually no first step. So although he has the strength to finish inside, its the creating of that shot that really worries me, especially at the next level. Have never really seen him create off the dribble consistently and his court vision has gone undeveloped, which is concerning for someone who played point forward for almost all his high school career. Couple that with the fact he really can't shoot from the perimeter consistently, you have some huge red flags.

Defensively, if he put on some more muscle, he could possibly move to defend some 4s in the post, but I don't think I want Jabari guarding anyone on the perimeter.

He's appearing to me as Jared Sullinger with no post game.

He's more skilled offensively than Sullinger, has 3 point range but I agree, especially on the defensive end. He isn't athletic enough and doesn't have quick enough feet to guard NBA 3s, and I don't think he is strong enough to guard a lot of NBA 4s.

I'd have to agree and I'm leaning towards putting Embiid in there as well. Just not buying the crazy hype about him at all.

I think he'll disappoint if someone takes him #1 and expects him to be a franchise player. He is not ready to go against NBA players offensively and defensively, outside of blocking shots he will struggle.

[redsrule]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Yeah I agree and I don't think it's that close. I don't think Appling is a NBA player, Aaron Craft is kinda like a Royal Ivey... so no and Russ Smith... well I can't figure him out so maybe.

Russ Smith is a shooting guard in an undersized point guards body. He is very athletic though. I think he could find a niche off the bench somewhere. He's the only one of the 3 above Napier I mentioned that I think could end up as a better NBA player than Napier.

[phenom1990]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Russ Smith is a shooting guard in an undersized point guards body. He is very athletic though. I think he could find a niche off the bench somewhere. He's the only one of the 3 above Napier I mentioned that I think could end up as a better NBA player than Napier.

Yeah I thought about it last night. I can't think of a Russ Smith comparison. I don't think he'll ever be as good as a Lou Williams type so I'm struggling for a comparison. I guess he could be somewhat of a Gary Neal type.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Parker = Sullinger is just completely laughable. Doesn't matter at this point what he did in high school, he's arguably been the best player in arguably the best conference in college basketball this season.. And he's scoring inside, outside, off the dribble, however you want it.

His biggest problem will be defense at the next level, but his quickness isn't something that's so horrible he can't guard NBA 3's.. It's not like there are any small forward first option guys to worry about out there anyways. After LeBron, Durant there aren't many guys at that position who will be gunning at guys every night..

After all he's only 18 his athleticism is underrated and he doesn't even appear, at this point, to be in as good a shape as he could be. May not be the best player from the class, but I don't see how he can even be considered in a "bust" conversation.

[ojandpizza]

2014 Draft Class

Cauley-Stein seems to be dropping on mock drafts.. Have I missed something? He's looked about the same he always had to me..

If McDermott is still available at the Bulls pick I think they should jump all over that. I don't like him going to a team that expects him to be a scoring threat immediately, but the Bulls already have their go-to scorers and will likely add a starting wing in place of Boozer next year..

I think McDermott would be nice off their bench, I believe worst case scenario he's a more complete Kyle Korver, easily an upgrade over Dunleavy.

[jeebs9]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Did someone compare a Power Forward to a multiskilled SF?.... Wow... Just wow!

[Vni]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

What's people's opinion on Exum? Is he really special?

I have really a hard time making an opinion for myself just by watching highlights of games. I know how deceptive it can be plus the NBA is a whole another level.

People where also really high on Wiggins but apparently not as much now. What happened?

[JODYE]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Parker = Sullinger is just completely laughable. Doesn't matter at this point what he did in high school, he's arguably been the best player in arguably the best conference in college basketball this season.. And he's scoring inside, outside, off the dribble, however you want it.

His biggest problem will be defense at the next level, but his quickness isn't something that's so horrible he can't guard NBA 3's.. It's not like there are any small forward first option guys to worry about out there anyways. After LeBron, Durant there aren't many guys at that position who will be gunning at guys every night..

After all he's only 18 his athleticism is underrated and he doesn't even appear, at this point, to be in as good a shape as he could be. May not be the best player from the class, but I don't see how he can even be considered in a "bust" conversation.

The Sullinger comparison was rooted from both having virtually no consistent perimeter game and being athletically, underwhelming. What Parker has done or displayed so far off the dribble in college isn't happening in the NBA, mainly because guys are going to be just as strong and faster than him at the next level. And really he hasn't been THAT impressive this season. At least when projecting his NBA worth. In conference, he has been a volume scorer at best and started the first 7/9 games shooting under 40%. Against Syracuse, who had the athleticism to match, exposed him and his decision making. Same thing happened against Arizona.

"Best player in arguably the best conference"

The same player that has, against any formidable opponent within that conference, looked overwhelmingly sub-par? Hell, even against some of the bottom feeders he has looked unimpressive.