Mario Hezonja

[ImHeisenberg]

I think every Detroit fan can get nervous about a Euro for the rest of eternity - I don't think I'll ever get over that Darko pick. But that being said, Mario seems to be starter material. It just really looks lie picks 4-10 are going to be VERY interesting.

It definitely will be. I think there's a lot of range of everyone. I wouldn't even be shocked if Okafor slipped if Rusell went #2 and Philly tool Mudiay at #3. It's a weird draft because a lot of these guys have high ceilings (Hezonja included), but they also have pretty low basements as well (Hezonja included).

[theBigLip]

A little shocker from today's Chad Ford chat (yes, everyone can now chime in and say he doesn't know anything even though he watches prospects in person and directly talks to all the GMs). Anyway, Ford said that it is close, but would take Hezonja over Winslow. Seriously.

i used to devoted to Chad Ford until i realized his predictions about the draft and players were completely off. I think he's one of the reporters that talks to alot of scouts and trainers and basically paraphrases their words and cherry picks examples to compare them to in the league. ie a real gm poster.............Additionally i know few GM's that tell the media what they are thinking.

I have to disagree. One thing I've done in the past several years is to track Chad Ford, DraftExpress and NBADraft.net. I do about 4 or 5 updates per year, comparing each sites mocks. Chad Ford blows them away. Eventually, they catch up and they all are similar by draft night, but Chad catches the small school and no name prospects MUCH earlier than anyone else. He doesn't have the hair of Mel Kiper, but I would say he is the Mel Kiper of the NBA Draft

[BadMofoPimp]

I don't care what Chad Ford says, Poordingus will be a bust.

[theBigLip]

I don't care what Chad Ford says, Poordingus will be a bust.

Not just CHad Ford, but Kevin Pelton:

Johnson (Texas)

Who would you pick if you were the magic at #5?I feel like every touted player there is somewhat of a weird fit.
Kevin Pelton (3:16 PM)

Well, that depends in part in no small part on who goes 1-4, but assuming the draft goes as expected Kristaps Porzingis would be my choice. To me, there's a drop in the draft after the top five prospects, and Porzingis is among that group.

[c-dot]

Chad Ford's Mocks may be accurate on who they pick, butI think the websites and posters can be more accurate on who should be picked.

[coordinator0]

Ford should be the most accurate for mock drafts since he seems to be the draftnik with the best connections. Just imagine if Wojnarowski wanted to throw his hat into the ring. We'd know how the draft will go two weeks in advance.

[Kilo]

Didn't Ford get busted for going back and altering past draft mocks to make it look like he was more accurate than he really was?

[c-dot]

But then again, nbadraft.net has us picking Trey Lyles over WCS and Draftexpress has us taking Kaminsky over Porzingis, which is insane in my opinion. Who does Ford have us taking?

[coordinator0]

Didn't Ford get busted for going back and altering past draft mocks to make it look like he was more accurate than he really was?

I think it was his rankings, not the mock drafts but I'm not sure. He's usually pretty good with mocks right at the time though as far as I remember.

But then again, nbadraft.net has us picking Trey Lyles over WCS and Draftexpress has us taking Kaminsky over Porzingis, which is insane in my opinion. Who does Ford have us taking?

Ford has Detroit taking Hezonja.

[c-dot]

Didn't Ford get busted for going back and altering past draft mocks to make it look like he was more accurate than he really was?

I think it was his rankings, not the mock drafts but I'm not sure. He's usually pretty good with mocks right at the time though as far as I remember.

But then again, nbadraft.net has us picking Trey Lyles over WCS and Draftexpress has us taking Kaminsky over Porzingis, which is insane in my opinion. Who does Ford have us taking?

Ford has Detroit taking Hezonja.

Wait, he's saying he's better than Winslow but he still has him falling to 8?

[coordinator0]

Ford's mocks and his rankings are somewhat separate entities. Rankings are what he thinks should happen while mocks are what he thinks will happen.

[Blkbrd671]

I have to disagree. One thing I've done in the past several years is to track Chad Ford, DraftExpress and NBADraft.net. I do about 4 or 5 updates per year, comparing each sites mocks. Chad Ford blows them away. Eventually, they catch up and they all are similar by draft night, but Chad catches the small school and no name prospects MUCH earlier than anyone else. He doesn't have the hair of Mel Kiper, but I would say he is the Mel Kiper of the NBA Draft

i will pay more attention this year to his final mock and the actual. You may have a point in regards to Chad > other reporters. I don't think any of their opinions really mean anything, or "insiders", Adrian Woj is the only guy that i really feel has a grasp on actual reports

[ImHeisenberg]

I have to disagree. One thing I've done in the past several years is to track Chad Ford, DraftExpress and NBADraft.net. I do about 4 or 5 updates per year, comparing each sites mocks. Chad Ford blows them away. Eventually, they catch up and they all are similar by draft night, but Chad catches the small school and no name prospects MUCH earlier than anyone else. He doesn't have the hair of Mel Kiper, but I would say he is the Mel Kiper of the NBA Draft

i will pay more attention this year to his final mock and the actual. You may have a point in regards to Chad > other reporters. I don't think any of their opinions really mean anything, or "insiders", Adrian Woj is the only guy that i really feel has a grasp on actual reports

I usually give Ford's mocks the most credibility. He speaks with a lot of NBA insiders and usually knows who teams will pick a week or two before the draft, when things begin to settle. He's never 100% right, but that's because big boards are always shuffling, and teams will put up smoke screens, etc.

Draft Express does the best public scouting of any publication. But, they don't have the insider track Ford has. So, there's more conjecture in their mock draft than Ford's. NBAdraft.net is a joke, and does a terrible job of projecting players. Everyone is a future star by their ratings.