2014 Draft Discussion

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

If Cauley-Stein slips back the Heat need to snatch that. He's exactly what they need, a young long energy big. As for other teams in the first round I'm not sure, I think there are teams that could use him..

I don't think anybody should expect him to be a guy who produces at a high level or expect him to make an all rookie team.. But I think he'll make a decent rotation player which might be a safer choice than a guy who'd be a total bust or sent to the D-league.

[redsrule]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

If Cauley-Stein slips back the Heat need to snatch that. He's exactly what they need, a young long energy big. As for other teams in the first round I'm not sure, I think there are teams that could use him..

I don't think anybody should expect him to be a guy who produces at a high level or expect him to make an all rookie team.. But I think he'll make a decent rotation player which might be a safer choice than a guy who'd be a total bust or sent to the D-league.

He's a bit like Javelle McGee in that he can show flashes of how good he can be, then he'll go 2-3 games where he is garbage and just disappears. If he falls out of the the top 20, he is going to be a steal for a playoff team imo. His offense has improved a lot since he got here last year, but I still don't think he'll be ready to score much more than 6-8 points a game off lobs/putbacks.

[Nox_Caelum]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

If Cauley-Stein slips back the Heat need to snatch that. He's exactly what they need, a young long energy big. As for other teams in the first round I'm not sure, I think there are teams that could use him..

I don't think anybody should expect him to be a guy who produces at a high level or expect him to make an all rookie team.. But I think he'll make a decent rotation player which might be a safer choice than a guy who'd be a total bust or sent to the D-league.

He's a bit like Javelle McGee in that he can show flashes of how good he can be, then he'll go 2-3 games where he is garbage and just disappears. If he falls out of the the top 20, he is going to be a steal for a playoff team imo. His offense has improved a lot since he got here last year, but I still don't think he'll be ready to score much more than 6-8 points a game off lobs/putbacks.

I may be completely off on this, but he reminds me of DeAndre Jordan.

[redsrule]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

I may be completely off on this, but he reminds me of DeAndre Jordan.

Not a bad comparison either. Jordan might have a better vertical and is probably stronger, but I think Cauley-Stein could be like Jordan. He would definitely be effective in the Clippers offense because of the lobs that they throw.
He's nowhere near as good of a rebounder as Jordan though right now.

[Caveman24]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

For anyone that doesn't get the hype around Stein it's because he literally just started playing basketball.I think he played football and Coach Cal recruited him and worked with him.He's pretty much playing of pure athleticism right now.He doesn't understand the game that much.I like him though with our stacked team he's doesn't get many touches.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Completely disagree. Cauley-Stein has a boatload of potential as does Young. I wouldn't touch Young right now with a lottery pick, but a late one on Cauley-Stein wouldn't be bad. He's inconsistent, but he's improving his post game and can be a very good shot blocker/rebounder.

Let me clarify, in this draft their about appropriately ranked, although I would have Young farther down, I'll take Hood before Young right now. But that just shows how weak the draft continues to get. Young at #10? The streakiest shooter in basketball. Yea, he's great if he's hitting, but man is he streaky.

I watch UK play every game, and I'm sure you do too, and Young needs work on everything, he's a streaky spot up shooter with some athleticism. That's about it. He can hang in the corner and hit a three, and somtimes he can get on a roll. Needs alot of work.

WCS is just another Jarvis Varnado, he's not a skilled shot blocker like Noel or Davis, he leaves his feet way too often, he's a weak defender, he just blocks shots because he's long and has a decent reaction time. His offensive game is little to none. He can dunk? That's about it. He's not a viable option on offense, and his rebounds are criminally low for a big man.

Two players that need alot of work on both offense and defense. Young has potential to be a guy that can play in the nba, but you can't just hang in the corner and shoot 3's at an average pace, and make it.

Randle is the only guy I can see making an impact with an nba team off the bat, and he's still very raw in some key areas.

And the twins? forget about it, I'm starting to question if Cal should start Polson over Andrew now, he's just a SG forced to be a point, Basically another Archie Goodwin out there.

Everyone better come back to school minus Randle, or their just gonna be your next Daniel Orton and Marquis Teague.

[redsrule]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Let me clarify, in this draft their about appropriately ranked, although I would have Young farther down, I'll take Hood before Young right now. But that just shows how weak the draft continues to get. Young at #10? The streakiest shooter in basketball. Yea, he's great if he's hitting, but man is he streaky.

I'd probably take Hood over him, but I don't think Hood has the upside Young does. I just don't think Young is the shooter we all did coming in to UK.

I watch UK play every game, and I'm sure you do too, and Young needs work on everything, he's a streaky spot up shooter with some athleticism. That's about it. He can hang in the corner and hit a three, and somtimes he can get on a roll. Needs alot of work.

I agree, he definitely does. He's an average shooter that is a good driver with excellent finishing ability when he wants too. He's very athletic & can be a good defender (although he's just been pitiful this year). Everyone in this class needs a lot of work though.

WCS is just another Jarvis Varnado, he's not a skilled shot blocker like Noel or Davis, he leaves his feet way too often, he's a weak defender, he just blocks shots because he's long and has a decent reaction time. His offensive game is little to none. He can dunk? That's about it. He's not a viable option on offense, and his rebounds are criminally low for a big man.

I COMPLETELY disagree here. He is way better than Jarvis Varnardo was. He's not the shot blocker Davis/Noel were, but they were the 2 best shot blockers I have ever seen at the college level since I have been watching basketball. His offensive game is getting better. He has shown he is getting a nice little hook shot going. He would have more points a game if the Harrison Twins/Young didn't take the bulk of the shots/could throw accurate lob passes. He is a decent rebounder, but like a lot of people doesn't really box out, just relies on being damn tall and having a good vertical. If someone can teach him how to box out every possession that number will go up.

Two players that need alot of work on both offense and defense. Young has potential to be a guy that can play in the nba, but you can't just hang in the corner and shoot 3's at an average pace, and make it.

Randle is the only guy I can see making an impact with an nba team off the bat, and he's still very raw in some key areas.

I don't disagree there that both need work. Obviously they do or they would be top 5 picks and Kentucky wouldn't have 8 losses.

Cauley-Stein has a higher ceiling than Randle does. Randle needs to work as well. He has to get a consistent mid range shot/possibly a 3 because this whole drive right into the teeth of the defense and throw up a shot isn't going to work when you're playing against Anthony Davis/Blake Griffin, etc.
I think Cauley-Stein could make an impact coming off the bench depending on where he lands.

And the twins? forget about it, I'm starting to question if Cal should start Polson over Andrew now, he's just a SG forced to be a point, Basically another Archie Goodwin out there.

Everyone better come back to school minus Randle, or their just gonna be your next Daniel Orton and Marquis Teague.

Both Orton & Teague were late round picks. They probably should have came back (especially Teague, I feel like we'd have been a different team last year with him) but they each got guaranteed contracts worth millions. Do you blame them for leaving?
Randle/Young/Cauley-Stein will all be fine if they leave this year. The Harrison brothers could be too, but they have a LOT of work to do if they ever want to be NBA quality guys.

[MattUM]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

What about Andrew and Aaron Harrison? Haven't heard much about them since the start of the season. What's their stock like? Who will be the better pro? I'm inclined to think Aaron will be.

[redsrule]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

What about Andrew and Aaron Harrison? Haven't heard much about them since the start of the season. What's their stock like? Who will be the better pro? I'm inclined to think Aaron will be.

Quite frankly they've been awful. They both need another year at college. Aaron Harrison was billed as the better shooter but Andrew is shooting a higher percentage from the field. Neither have been able to defend at all & they seem to shut down when they struggle. Their draft stock has plummeted, at least in the case of Andrew Harrison. DraftXpress had him as a top 10 guy when the season kicked off I believe, and now he is done to like 28th or 29th in the 2015 years draft.

[702]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

WCS is just another Jarvis Varnado, he's not a skilled shot blocker like Noel or Davis, he leaves his feet way too often, he's a weak defender, he just blocks shots because he's long and has a decent reaction time. His offensive game is little to none. He can dunk? That's about it. He's not a viable option on offense, and his rebounds are criminally low for a big man..

If Jarvis Varnado was 7'0'' 245 pounds he'd be a starting NBA center, so if that's what you mean he's definitely a legit prospect.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Quite frankly they've been awful. They both need another year at college. Aaron Harrison was billed as the better shooter but Andrew is shooting a higher percentage from the field. Neither have been able to defend at all & they seem to shut down when they struggle. Their draft stock has plummeted, at least in the case of Andrew Harrison. DraftXpress had him as a top 10 guy when the season kicked off I believe, and now he is done to like 28th or 29th in the 2015 years draft.

I agree, though I was never really high on either of them before the draft. They do strike me as possibly being those random players who end up looking better in the pros than they did in college.. Maybe not, but if they came out this year I think 2nd round picks for sure.. They should stay another year.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Are ya'll serious with WCS?! It's an embarrassment that a 7 footer grabs under 7 rebounds a game. Is this the same guy that disappeared for a long stretch of games, and put up 2 points and just 5 rebounds against a God awful South Carolina team tonight? Surely a 7 footer with that high of ceiling could muster more against a ****ty team like that.

This guy is useless, I don't know what ya'll are seeing in Cauliflower, I mean c'mon.

[Caveman24]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Are ya'll serious with WCS?! It's an embarrassment that a 7 footer grabs under 7 rebounds a game. Is this the same guy that disappeared for a long stretch of games, and put up 2 points and just 5 rebounds against a God awful South Carolina team tonight? Surely a 7 footer with that high of ceiling could muster more against a ****ty team like that.

This guy is useless, I don't know what ya'll are seeing in Cauliflower, I mean c'mon.

Go read my post and you'll get it.If you don't like him that's fine hell I'm a UK fan not that thrilled about anyone except Randle.Jalen Rose said it best if your 7 foot and can chew gum you'll be in the NBA.

[AC]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Someone on Reddit made a weighted list of draft prospects based on various expert rankings.

I really like the Raptors' position in the draft. If they're around 20, they could end up with McDermott, Hood, LaVine, or Stauskas, my favorite 4 prospects.

Also interesting to see that Randle is averaged out to be #9 and Smart is ahead of Wiggins.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: 2014 Draft Class

Go read my post and you'll get it.If you don't like him that's fine hell I'm a UK fan not that thrilled about anyone except Randle.Jalen Rose said it best if your 7 foot and can chew gum you'll be in the NBA.

Oh yea he'll get drafted,I'm not gonna argue that, but he ain't gonna get playing time.