OT - 2012-13 CDNs in the NCAA (Apr 6 games added)

[SharoneWright]

birch should stay the whole four years. on the other hand, powell might benefit from declaring early (again, weak draft). although maybe his stock will go up if he works on his body some more.

Can Powell legitimately play SF ?? (I see him listed at 6"10 and SF/PF).

Our Canadian bench is loaded in the front court, but we sure could use depth at the wing -- even though Wiggins owns the SF spot. At this point, I don't see anyone besides maybe Ejim (might not even play for Canada), or possibly Bennett (out of position), who could offer quality minutes backing up the 3 spot... The Kris Joseph ship has sailed, in my mind...

[Hassassin]

I think Kris Joseph is still the guy at 3 until Wiggins takes the spot. Just because he isn't in the NBA doesn't mean he can't play for the national team.

[orangutooth]

joseph, whodid four years of college and pro experience, should definitely be the starting sf for us this year at fiba americas. this guy was very successful in college, successful in summer league, made the celtics, probably has good experience from going against paul pierce in practice and was successful at the d-league. dude can definitely ball and probably only lost his spot on the team so the celtics could make some moves. maybe he can't be an nba regular but he is a world class player.

i do agree that we have don't really have a lot of dynamic wings. the wings that we do have other than wiggins are mostly shooters: wiltjer, rautins, rathan-mays (who didn't attend that training camp), stauskas, heslip etc. but hey, a bunch of decent big men and outside shooters is probably good enough to build an inside-out team.

[Leolovinliberal]

The Olynyk Clinic shot 100% for the second time this season: 5/5 from the field, including 1/1 from 3, 3-3 from ft's. 14 points, 9 rebs, 2 assists and 3 blocks in 20 minutes. As always, I watched every minute of the game and the guy was a man among boys, doing what he wanted, when he wanted.

[Leolovinliberal]

I think Kris Joseph is still the guy at 3 until Wiggins takes the spot. Just because he isn't in the NBA doesn't mean he can't play for the national team.

Melvin Ejim has really played himself into contention this season for a shot at the 3 spot.

[Leolovinliberal]

joseph, whodid four years of college and pro experience, should definitely be the starting sf for us this year at fiba americas. this guy was very successful in college, successful in summer league, made the celtics, probably has good experience from going against paul pierce in practice and was successful at the d-league. dude can definitely ball and probably only lost his spot on the team so the celtics could make some moves. maybe he can't be an nba regular but he is a world class player.

i do agree that we have don't really have a lot of dynamic wings. the wings that we do have other than wiggins are mostly shooters: wiltjer, rautins, rathan-mays (who didn't attend that training camp), stauskas, heslip etc. but hey, a bunch of decent big men and outside shooters is probably good enough to build an inside-out team.

Over Wiggins? No way, not in a million years. Every pundit out there has said that AW would be starting in the NBA NOW, if there were no age limit.

[orangutooth]

i highly doubt wiggins would even play this summer since he'd be newly enrolled into college but even if he did, you can't just take a 18 year old kid who hasn't even played a minute of college basketball and plop him into a situation where he is playing against 10 year + veterans of some of the best basketball leagues in the world. maybe he could start in the nba right now if he did summer league and an nba training camp but these international competitions don't have that kind of prep time.

[Sterling_Archer]

i highly doubt wiggins would even play this summer since he'd be newly enrolled into college but even if he did, you can't just take a 18 year old kid who hasn't even played a minute of college basketball and plop him into a situation where he is playing against 10 year + veterans of some of the best basketball leagues in the world. maybe he could start in the nba right now if he did summer league and an nba training camp but these international competitions don't have that kind of prep time.

I don't see why you would not at least play him to really understand what he needs to do for his future. It would be a great way for him to learn. I would have him on the team Kris is not exactly doing much right now but for him to get that expierence would be huge for his development.

[Hassassin]

I think Kris Joseph is still the guy at 3 until Wiggins takes the spot. Just because he isn't in the NBA doesn't mean he can't play for the national team.

Melvin Ejim has really played himself into contention this season for a shot at the 3 spot.

He would be a great addition to the national program but I think he is already involved with the Nigerian national team. Maybe he can ask for a release him from the program so he can play for Canada. However, I'm not sure on the rules for this stuff.

[Hassassin]

Updated.

[Leolovinliberal]

i highly doubt wiggins would even play this summer since he'd be newly enrolled into college but even if he did, you can't just take a 18 year old kid who hasn't even played a minute of college basketball and plop him into a situation where he is playing against 10 year + veterans of some of the best basketball leagues in the world. maybe he could start in the nba right now if he did summer league and an nba training camp but these international competitions don't have that kind of prep time.

If he's better than every other option on the team, why not? AW is superior in every way, shape and form to Kris Joseph.

[Leolovinliberal]

I think Kris Joseph is still the guy at 3 until Wiggins takes the spot. Just because he isn't in the NBA doesn't mean he can't play for the national team.

Melvin Ejim has really played himself into contention this season for a shot at the 3 spot.

He would be a great addition to the national program but I think he is already involved with the Nigerian national team. Maybe he can ask for a release him from the program so he can play for Canada. However, I'm not sure on the rules for this stuff.

I don't think Ejim ever played for Nigeria in a FIBA sanctioned game, but I could be wrong. Another possible option is Chris Johnson from Halifax who plays for St. Bonnies. He put up 19/4 tonight on 7-11 shooting and for the season is averaging 13/4 and shooting 39% from three. Some other sf options could be Murphy Burnatowski and Manny Arop.

Another player that has gone relatively unnoticed this season, is the best freshman sg in the NCAA, no, not Nick Stauskas, I'm talking about Olivier Hanlan outta Montreal and playing for BC. He's averaging 15 ppg and shooting 33% for three.

[Meursault]

great game by Kabongo.

a few more of these and he'll be a lock for the 1st round if he declares this summer

[Hassassin]

Melvin Ejim has really played himself into contention this season for a shot at the 3 spot.

He would be a great addition to the national program but I think he is already involved with the Nigerian national team. Maybe he can ask for a release him from the program so he can play for Canada. However, I'm not sure on the rules for this stuff.

I don't think Ejim ever played for Nigeria in a FIBA sanctioned game, but I could be wrong. Another possible option is Chris Johnson from Halifax who plays for St. Bonnies. He put up 19/4 tonight on 7-11 shooting and for the season is averaging 13/4 and shooting 39% from three. Some other sf options could be Murphy Burnatowski and Manny Arop.

Another player that has gone relatively unnoticed this season, is the best freshman sg in the NCAA, no, not Nick Stauskas, I'm talking about Olivier Hanlan outta Montreal and playing for BC. He's averaging 15 ppg and shooting 33% for three.

In that case, bring him in!!

Burnatowski is an interesting option since he has good size and shooting abilities at the three.

[SharoneWright]

2 is the most glaring position of weakness...

I have Stauskas pencilled in as the SG... and only backed up by Cory Joseph -- who is more of a 1.5.... That means Wiggins could also fill significant minutes at the 2,,, at least if I'm coach! lol.

(I admit my time horizon extends a little more long range.. ie. Rio...)