Official Draft Thread: Prospects Watch

Post #601 » by **Def Swami** » Wed Jan 2, 2013 3:47 am

If we're going PG, Smart, MCW, and McCollum have to be considered. Each have their pros and cons imo. I go through phases where I like one more than the other for our team.

Smart's game reminds me a lot of Chauncey Billups. Good floor general, makes good decisions with the ball, and has actually done a really decent job of distributing. His fg% is the main concern for me, but I've seen a lot of freshmen guards struggle their first season and then come on strong in the NBA. Physically, he's the best of the 3 point guards imo. His frame and height allow him to bully point guards and makes him a somewhat decent rebounder. He can withstand contact when getting to the basket. I think that'll go a long way for him at the combine and propel him as the best point guard available.

MCW...6'6" with handles and passing ability. I believe he's still leading the country in assists. He's definitely a good play maker and knows how to find the open man. If we're looking for a pass-first point guard, he's it. My concern about MCW is his inability to shoot well. He's a poor 3 point shooter and, unlike Smart, his form is pretty inconsistent. Yet, he scores in other ways. He gets to the line pretty well. His game reminds me a lot of Andre Miller. I don't know if he has the ceiling that Smart does. If MCW can prove to shoot better, he'd be a really good choice for us. He also has to get in the gym and pump some iron imo.

CJ McCollum...I was a bit mum on him at first. He's not Damian Lillard. He doesn't have that kind of quickness or athleticism. But, he can certainly score the ball. His mechanics are so fluid and polished. In terms of scoring, he's definitely the best of the 3. He's a smart player and also makes good decisions. However, I don't know how much of a play maker he is. He doesn't rack up a lot of assists, which is why I wasn't too thrilled with him at first. But, I think that has a lot to do with the role he's placed in too. Steph Curry wasn't known as a master play maker at Davidson, but has proved to be decent enough in the NBA. Drafting CJ as a 2 guard would be a mistake. He's just too short for that position. We don't need Ben Gordon. We could use Steph Curry.

We'll learn a lot more about these guys in the draft combine when they're forced to do more than what they're asked to do for their respective teams. I trust Henny and Co. to pick the best out of those 3 if they really want a point guard.

BaunceyChillups · Post #602 » by **BaunceyChillups** » Wed Jan 2, 2013 5:08 am

Truth24 wrote:
BaunceyChillups wrote:Combo point guards are du jour in this league. Rose, Westbrook, Holiday, Lillard, Curry, Kyrie, etc. I think Smart would be just fine at point guard.

The only combo on that list is Curry and Westbrook the rest are point guards who can slash and take shots. To me Smart is a lot like a Wade or Dion Waiters a short slashing two guard.

Rose and Kyrie were ranked in the bottom half of all point guards in assist ratio last year; even Jameer ranked above them. Most PGs in the league these days are small shooting guards and Smart runs the offense at OSU so I don't see why he can't do the same at the next level.

Cigamodnalro · Post #603 » by **Cigamodnalro** » Wed Jan 2, 2013 6:44 pm

From Ed Weilan, the advanced stats guy who predicted Lin's potential before he was drafted:

Carter-Williams and Smart emerge as the top 2013 PG Prospects

http://hoopsanalyst.com/blog/?p=955

RYgoBOOM · Post #604 » by **RYgoBOOM** » Wed Jan 2, 2013 7:47 pm

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=b9ah0lXMDM0[/youtube]

Post #605 » by **Def Swami** » Wed Jan 2, 2013 9:06 pm

Josh (Bloomington, IN)
Thoughts on the rise of Victor Oladipo at Indiana? Seems to be exceeding all expectations and showing a lot of upside.

Chad Ford (1:40 PM)
Love him. One of my favorite players in the country. He's gonna be a first round pick in this year's draft. If he can convince scouts that his 45% shooting from beyond the arc isn't a fluke -- lottery isn't out of the question.

I really like Oladipo's game. If we got another first round pick, I'd use it on him.

Cory (Parts Unknown)
How fascinating do you find this upcoming draft with the all star potential of guys like Goodwin, Shabazz, and McElmore knowing that GMs usually gamble on big guys first.

Chad Ford (1:57 PM)
That is part of the intrigue. Noel and Len are No. 1 and No. 2 on the board because teams always overrate size at the top of the draft. But the best talents? Muhammad, McLemore, Bennett, Porter, Goodwin in my eyes.

Cory (Parts Unknown)
Anthony Bennet reminds me of Elton Brand with more range. Have you heard this comparison by GMs?

Chad Ford (1:59 PM)
No. But I have heard Karl Malone a little bit ... which is really intriguing.

Brad (Atlanta)
Do you think Otto Porter will enter the draft after this year? And what do you think his future is in the NBA?

Chad Ford (1:49 PM)
Good chance he will. Think he'll be a Top 10 pick. Ceiling is probably a poor man's Scottie Pippen. Floor is Jeff Green.

Post #606 » by **Def Swami** » Wed Jan 2, 2013 9:13 pm

Cigamodnalro wrote:From Ed Weilan, the advanced stats guy who predicted Lin's potential before he was drafted:

Carter-Williams and Smart emerge as the top 2013 PG Prospects

http://hoopsanalyst.com/blog/?p=955

That's a really interesting read. Thanks for that.

Noonskadoodle · Post #607 » by **Noonskadoodle** » Wed Jan 2, 2013 9:32 pm

If Archie Goodwin shows that he can knock down the outside shot consistently he is gonna be a problem. If he shows that he can be a playmaker for others & slide to the PG position he will be even a BIGGER problem.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Sz5Y6EqNnI[/youtube]

Noonskadoodle · Post #608 » by **Noonskadoodle** » Wed Jan 2, 2013 9:38 pm

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oekBTHJOL4[/youtube]

No-Man · Post #609 » by **No-Man** » Wed Jan 2, 2013 9:49 pm

If Goodwin develops well... meh, sky is the limit, the guy could be the best player of the league in the future.

Noonskadoodle · Post #610 » by **Noonskadoodle** » Thu Jan 3, 2013 1:59 am

Ricky Ledo was declared a partial qualifier at Providence this season, meaning he can practice but not play.

Ledo could conceivably declare for the 2013 NBA Draft still as one of the better shooting guard prospects.

"I hear he's strongly flirting with declaring for the draft," If he has great workouts, someone will grab him in the first."

Dont sleep on him as a scoring 2 guard in this draft. I'm still mad he can't play because his game is so smoooooth & he makes scoring look so easy

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH8stctEEYQ[/youtube]

blue and white · Post #611 » by **blue and white** » Thu Jan 3, 2013 2:15 am

VGOSWAMI wrote:
Cigamodnalro wrote:From Ed Weilan, the advanced stats guy who predicted Lin's potential before he was drafted:

Carter-Williams and Smart emerge as the top 2013 PG Prospects

http://hoopsanalyst.com/blog/?p=955

That's a really interesting read. Thanks for that.

Yeah great read!!! I read an article on Nicholson right after we drafted him from hoops analyst and they said "Not counting Anthony Davis, who might be more of a center anyways, Andrew Nicholson is the top PF prospect in the 2012 draft. The reason I like him better than Robinson or Sullinger is that at his best, Nicholson was a more dominant player both offensively and defensively. He definitely comes with some risk and concerns, but drafting on upside, I have to put Nicholson at the top". and so far theyve been right on the money with him

BaunceyChillups · Post #612 » by **BaunceyChillups** » Thu Jan 3, 2013 2:34 am

I like those numbers for Smart but the hoop analyst guy also said MKG was a poor man's Shane Battier and that Damian Lillard wasn't good enough to be a starting point guard in the NBA

Truth24 · Post #613 » by **Truth24** » Thu Jan 3, 2013 3:47 am

Noonskadoodle wrote:Ricky Ledo was declared a partial qualifier at Providence this season, meaning he can practice but not play.

Ledo could conceivably declare for the 2013 NBA Draft still as one of the better shooting guard prospects.

"I hear he's strongly flirting with declaring for the draft," If he has great workouts, someone will grab him in the first."

Dont sleep on him as a scoring 2 guard in this draft. I'm still mad he can't play because his game is so smoooooth & he makes scoring look so easy

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH8stctEEYQ[/youtube]

I have no doubt in my mind that is Ledo was able to play this season that he would be the leading scorer in college basketball. The guy is silky smooth and has one of the best jump shots I have seen out of a high school player in a long time. I think it would be silly for him to come out but if he kills workouts it would be interesting because the guy can flat out score and proved that against John Wall.

Noonskadoodle · Post #614 » by **Noonskadoodle** » Thu Jan 3, 2013 4:53 am

Truth24 wrote:
Noonskadoodle wrote:Ricky Ledo was declared a partial qualifier at Providence this season, meaning he can practice but not play.

Ledo could conceivably declare for the 2013 NBA Draft still as one of the better shooting guard prospects.

"I hear he's strongly flirting with declaring for the draft," If he has great workouts, someone will grab him in the first."

Dont sleep on him as a scoring 2 guard in this draft. I'm still mad he can't play because his game is so smoooooth & he makes scoring look so easy

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH8stctEEYQ[/youtube]

I have no doubt in my mind that is Ledo was able to play this season that he would be the leading scorer in college basketball. The guy is silky smooth and has one of the best jump shots I have seen out of a high school player in a long time. I think it would be silly for him to come out but if he kills workouts it would be interesting because the guy can flat out score and proved that against John Wall.

His ball handling is way above average as well compared to Shabazz Muhammads. He was one guy I was really looking forward to watching this year.

thelead · Post #615 » by **thelead** » Thu Jan 3, 2013 5:08 am

^ he's one of those guys that dribbles a lot but doesn't really go anywhere. His jumpshot is nice though.

Noonskadoodle · Post #616 » by **Noonskadoodle** » Thu Jan 3, 2013 7:54 am

Just had to put this video in here hahaha....Never seen a dude jump that high to dunk, & he is a Sophmore in HIGH SCHOOL!!!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQFD28PfhMI&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

thelead · Post #617 » by **thelead** » Thu Jan 3, 2013 8:09 am

Noonskadoodle wrote:Just had to put this video in here hahaha....Never seen a dude jump that high to dunk, & he is a Sophmore in HIGH SCHOOL!!!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQFD28PfhMI&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

RYgoBOOM · Post #618 » by **RYgoBOOM** » Thu Jan 3, 2013 2:09 pm

Noonskadoodle wrote:Just had to put this video in here hahaha....Never seen a dude jump that high to dunk, & he is a Sophmore in HIGH SCHOOL!!!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQFD28PfhMI&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

holy fkn **** lol

Cigamodnalro · Post #619 » by **Cigamodnalro** » Thu Jan 3, 2013 3:10 pm

Noonskadoodle wrote:Ricky Ledo was declared a partial qualifier at Providence this season, meaning he can practice but not play.

Ledo could conceivably declare for the 2013 NBA Draft still as one of the better shooting guard prospects.

"I hear he's strongly flirting with declaring for the draft," If he has great workouts, someone will grab him in the first."

Dont sleep on him as a scoring 2 guard in this draft. I'm still mad he can't play because his game is so smoooooth & he makes scoring look so easy

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH8stctEEYQ[/youtube]

Ledo and Harkless do not get along. Google for more.

Versubio · Post #620 » by **Versubio** » Thu Jan 3, 2013 4:23 pm

Cigamodnalro wrote:
Noonskadoodle wrote:Ricky Ledo was declared a partial qualifier at Providence this season, meaning he can practice but not play.

Ledo could conceivably declare for the 2013 NBA Draft still as one of the better shooting guard prospects.

"I hear he's strongly flirting with declaring for the draft," If he has great workouts, someone will grab him in the first."

Dont sleep on him as a scoring 2 guard in this draft. I'm still mad he can't play because his game is so smoooooth & he makes scoring look so easy

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH8stctEEYQ[/youtube]

Ledo and Harkless do not get along. Google for more.

That's kind of ironic and funny since the Puerto Rican national team is trying to recruit both of them, since they both have Puerto Rican ancestry. I guess, they will have to settle for one of the 2.