Official Draft Thread: Prospects Watch

[BaunceyChillups]

Like it or not the best pick for this team is Noel.

And I dont really like the prospect but, it's the need right now, defense and motor from Center position that could affect the whole team effort.

An SF could be nice too, I'd like to pick between Noel and Poythress.

NBADraft.net are nuts, there's no way Poythress fall out of the top5.

We need a scorer considering we're at the bottom of the league in offense and with Jameer always being in and out with injuries it's likely gonna be someone like Goodwin or Smart.

[MagicFan32]

I admit you guys are starting to make me buy into Smart and McLemore, i'm just worried if we draft another real young player we're going to wait a while, like we are with Harkless before they can contribute

[No-Man]

The problem is no one is a game changer on offense, Afflalo is better than Smart and McLemore, and rigght now I don't see the point on trading him.

Also, Nelson is OK, he needs a strong back-up that's all, actually if we cut Hedo, I'll prefer to grab a SF before a PG/SG.

Poythress would be nice, but unless we finish with a top5 pick, he should be gone, Porter could be an option.

[BaunceyChillups]

Afflalo's a decent scorer but his efficiency has taken a big hit this year and it's clear he's best suited in a complimentary scoring role. We need someone who can be a high usage scoring option and I think guys like Goodwin and Smart fit the bill there. Nelson is OK but I really feel but he doesn't penetrate as well as he used to and doesn't draw fouls.

I'm not that big on McLemore but I do like Shabazz, Poythress and Porter as SFs.

[Def Swami]

Like it or not the best pick for this team is Noel.

And I dont really like the prospect but, it's the need right now, defense and motor from Center position that could affect the whole team effort.

An SF could be nice too, I'd like to pick between Noel and Poythress.

NBADraft.net are nuts, there's no way Poythress fall out of the top5.

This far into the season, none of the players really blow my socks off in the draft. We can get the same quality of player in the 8-10 range that we can get in the 2-4.

I'm not a fan of Archie Goodwin in the college game. He's like all of Russell Westbrook's worst aspects rolled into one player. A hyperbole, but I dislike his reckless play at times.

Noel is a great shot blocker, but he still gets pushed around the paint. He probably wouldn't last in the NBA at his weight.

Where ever we are in the draft, I hope Smart and McLemore falls to our range. I like Smart's potential as a point guard. For a freshman, he's doing a pretty good job leading OKSTs offense. He plays like a senior.

And I haven't seen McLemore play yet, but TheLead knows what he's talking about and he has received exceptionally high praise for his play so I'll take his word for it.

I don't know if I'd take McLemore over Shabazz just yet, because Shabazz is mechanically and fundamentally imo the best offensive player in the draft and he has an excellent motor. But, McLemore's game is nothing to sneeze at and I think he's just now starting to realize his potential. McLemore's athleticism could allow him to be a better player.

[Def Swami]

Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker are the two top college recruits for the 2013 class.

In terms of their NBA potential, Chad Ford writes that Wiggins is thought of more highly than Parker.

"He'd be the No. 1 pick in 2013 if he were eligible, hands down," writes Ford. "Many scouts feel he's a once or twice a decade type prospect. Gonna be a lot of team jockeying for the No. 1 pick (in 2014)."

Wiggins has yet to make his college decision.

Via Chad Ford/ESPN

[drsd]

Also, Nelson is OK, he needs a strong back-up that's all, actually if we cut Hedo, I'll prefer to grab a SF before a PG/SG.

On a draft thread, I do not agree. Orlando MUSTTTT find a young PG to groom for Nelson's replacement. Jameer has 2 or 3 years left: max! THe PG slot takes a long time to master. Orlando must find a starting-capable PG for the future.

[Cammo101]

Marcus Smart makes a ton of sense for us. Sadly, right now we are playing too well to draft him.

[drsd]

Marcus Smart makes a ton of sense for us. Sadly, right now we are playing too well to draft him.

Respectfully, I flat reject this. Orlando is arguably a deep team at the SG slot. Yes GM Hennigan better take BPA. And if BPA is Smart, GM Hennigan better take Mr. Smart.

But this is simply not a need.

Orlando's future at the 2 and the 4 really are not worth a complex discussion, in my opinion.


..

[KillMonger]

Marcus Smart is a combo guard and while i don't know the percentage of time he plays both spots from what i've seen he plays more PG than SG and his mentality is more of a PG than SG, he is a playmaker on both ends of the floor. His task from the beginning of the season until the end of this season is to become a better player overall but more specifically to become better at the PG position

[BaunceyChillups]

Aside from Myck Kabongo pretty much all the lotto point guards this year are combo guards. I don't see why this is an issue as almost all the top PGs in the league are combos. Smart has good PG skills and has a DWade body, so what if he's a tweener? Guy's a born leader too, he'd see eye-to-eye with Jameer and JV.

[T-Cat]

I hope Rob trades all of our big contracts before the the trade deadline and create as much cap space possible to sign 2 max guys (already have room to sign 1). We should trade Nelson NOW while his value is high, considering he is so inconsistent!

FYI the only player I want going forward is Redick and D.Jones, everybody can be had!

[Cammo101]

Marcus Smart makes a ton of sense for us. Sadly, right now we are playing too well to draft him.

Respectfully, I flat reject this. Orlando is arguably a deep team at the SG slot. Yes GM Hennigan better take BPA. And if BPA is Smart, GM Hennigan better take Mr. Smart.

But this is simply not a need.

Orlando's future at the 2 and the 4 really are not worth a complex discussion, in my opinion.


..

I think Marcus Smart is more point guard than shooting guard. He would fit next to either Jameer or Redick.

[T-Cat]

Marcus Smart makes a ton of sense for us. Sadly, right now we are playing too well to draft him.

Respectfully, I flat reject this. Orlando is arguably a deep team at the SG slot. Yes GM Hennigan better take BPA. And if BPA is Smart, GM Hennigan better take Mr. Smart.

But this is simply not a need.

Orlando's future at the 2 and the 4 really are not worth a complex discussion, in my opinion.


..

I think Marcus Smart is more point guard than shooting guard. He would fit next to either Jameer or Redick.

Now watching OSU vs USF on ESPN U and Smart is a tank on both ends of the court, he should be playing football the way he attacks the paint

[Def Swami]

Marcus Smart is a combo guard that is excelling at the point guard position right now. Doing a really good job for OK St.

[BaunceyChillups]

What a great sequence there by Smart. Buries a three, steals the ball on the inbounds and gets an assist.

[Cigamodnalro]

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2012/12/poll ... -pick.html

Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com surveyed 35 NBA executives, most of whom said they'd rather trade the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft than select from a thoroughly disappointing crop of prospects that lacks a franchise-changer like last year's No. 1, Anthony Davis (Twitter link). One GM called the field, "The worst I've ever seen."

"I'd trade the pick for sure," another GM said. "No one wants to pick first this year -- and no one can live up to the No. 1 billing."

Goodman compares the draft class to 2006, when Andrea Bargnani was taken first overall and Adam Morrison, Shelden Williams and Tyrus Thomas were also top-five picks. No prospect among this year's bunch was favored by a majority of the executives Goodman polled, though Indiana center Cody Zeller garnered 31% of the vote. Kentucky's Nerlens Noel was second, with 23%.

Zeller's defensive shortcomings worry the executives, while Noel's offense and skinny frame similarly concern them. UCLA two-guard Shabazz Muhammad, the DraftExpress.com No. 1 prospect, tied for third in Goodman's poll amid doubts about his shooting and athleticism. Maryland center Alex Len, who tallied 11% of the vote just like Muhammad, has shot up draft boards thanks to the weight he added this summer, Goodman writes.

Others garnering votes as the No. 1 pick include Alex Poythress, Rudy Gobert, Tony Mitchell, Archie Goodwin and Anthony Bennett, though many of the executives say they wouldn't be surprised if someone emerges "out of nowhere," much like Andrew Bogut did in 2005.

[BaunceyChillups]

This draft class will probably better than 2010 but it's not like execs will admit it after they all hyped John Wall as the best point guard prospect since Magic Johnson

[Def Swami]

Good games on the college circuit today. Portland vs. UK on now if you want to check Noel, Goodwin, and Poythress.

[thelead]

I love watching the media turn on Shabazz and say everything I've been saying even before he played a college game.