First 6 Draft Picks

[theBigLip]

Of course this thread will get buried next week after the lottery, but for right now, we are slotted for 7th pick, and there will be 6 guys that will be taken before that. Obviously, who they are decides on who is available to us. My prediction:

1. Noel
2. McLemore
3. Porter
4. Bennett
5. Burke
6. Oladipo

So that leaves us to choose from Len, Muhammad, Zeller, McCollum, MCW, KCP, Olynk, Gobert. Not what I was hoping for. Those last few wins killed our tanking.

We might get lucky and Len gets picked in the top 6 - big guys always rise. MCW might also be a surprise early pick.

Another problem is we might get bumped down to 8th - it's actually more likely that someone passes us than us getting a top 3.

[The Penguin]

1) Orlando - Noel - They need a defensive anchor and already have Harris & Afflalo

2) Bobcats - McLemore - They have MKG & Walker, without a franchise big on the board a SG who can shoot is likely their best need fit.

3) Cleveland - Len - They always shock the room. They need a center and wings and have their lotto, the Lakers pick #19, and picks #31 & #33, I think they take their chance on the highest center on their board then look for wings at the other draft spots.

4) Phoenix - Zellar - They have a random collection of pgs (Dragic & Marshall) and tweener 4s (the Morris Brothers, Beasley) I think they take the other highly rated big guy and free themselves up to flip Gortat.

5) NO - Burke - They've got Davis, a stretch 4 in Anderson, a defensive big in Lopez, a two question mark guards in Gordon & Vazquez. Burke allows them to investigate a Gordon or Vazquez trade or covers them incase of injury and gives them an interesting young 3 guard rotation.

6) Kings - Bennett or Porter - Out of anyone they seem due for a bit of a rebuild now they know they aren't leaving. Whether they keep Evans or not one of Bennett or Porter will fill a need for them.


I fully expect at least one of Oladipo, Shabazz, Porter or Bennett to be available at 7, I'd be fine with any of them.

[Piston Pete]

1) Orlando - Noel - They need a defensive anchor and already have Harris & Afflalo

2) Bobcats - McLemore - They have MKG & Walker, without a franchise big on the board a SG who can shoot is likely their best need fit.

3) Cleveland - Len - They always shock the room. They need a center and wings and have their lotto, the Lakers pick #19, and picks #31 & #33, I think they take their chance on the highest center on their board then look for wings at the other draft spots.

4) Phoenix - Zellar - They have a random collection of pgs (Dragic & Marshall) and tweener 4s (the Morris Brothers, Beasley) I think they take the other highly rated big guy and free themselves up to flip Gortat.

5) NO - Burke - They've got Davis, a stretch 4 in Anderson, a defensive big in Lopez, a two question mark guards in Gordon & Vazquez. Burke allows them to investigate a Gordon or Vazquez trade or covers them incase of injury and gives them an interesting young 3 guard rotation.

6) Kings - Bennett or Porter - Out of anyone they seem due for a bit of a rebuild now they know they aren't leaving. Whether they keep Evans or not one of Bennett or Porter will fill a need for them.


I fully expect at least one of Oladipo, Shabazz, Porter or Bennett to be available at 7, I'd be fine with any of them.

If he's avilable, I don't see CLE passing on Porter. They are advanced stat geeks and Porter was among the tops in the country last season in advanced stats.

Zeller helped himself at the Combine. Hopefully some team falls in love with him.

Len, Gobert (also did great at the combine), and Bennett might go ahead of us too -- maybe....

And if Burke goes top-3, I wonder if Sacto looks at MCW.

[Mr. Krabs]

Vasquez/Oladipo/Davis would be an interesting core. They should trade Gordon for picks and a scorer off the bench.

[Snakebites]

Someone might take Oladipo, but yeah, I'd expect at least one of the higher end wings to be available by the time we pick, particularly with Burke's stock looking the way it is (though I wouldn't be opposed to taking him either).

All in all I feel reasonably comfortable with our draft position. I don't think we'll get an elite player, but we should be able to land a strong prospect at a position of need.

The draft board looks a lot friendlier when you don't feel like you're in a position where you're desperately hoping for a bigman to drop, as we have been the last few years it feels like.

[Piston Pete]

Vasquez/Oladipo/Davis would be an interesting core. They should trade Gordon for picks and a scorer off the bench.

Or keep Gordon:

Vasquez
Gordon
(Porter or Shabazz)
Davis / Anderson
Lopez

[ChipButty]

I think Zeller is going to move up the boards. He's super skilled and very high character. Biggest question mark was his measurables and they are better than expected, imo. I read that his standing vertical was the best by a guy 6'9" and over in the last decade. His sprint was the best of of the bigs. I don't see how you don't put him near the top of a draft board.

[The Penguin]

Someone might take Oladipo, but yeah, I'd expect at least one of the higher end wings to be available by the time we pick, particularly with Burke's stock looking the way it is (though I wouldn't be opposed to taking him either).

All in all I feel reasonably comfortable with our draft position. I don't think we'll get an elite player, but we should be able to land a strong prospect at a position of need.

The draft board looks a lot friendlier when you don't feel like you're in a position where you're desperately hoping for a bigman to drop, as we have been the last few years it feels like.

I have to believe one of Len or Zellar will go before our pick. Same with Burke, his stock is too hot right now and one of the desperate to win now GMs will take him after seeing Lillard's impact.

Outside of McLemore I really want Shabazz. From his interviews it sounds like UCLA's system was a poor choice for him and he knows it cost him a shot at the number 1 pick. I'd love to get him at 7 and have him go to work every day with a chip on his shoulder about dropping.

[Goldtop]

My guess is ORL takes Burke #1. They need a leader and face of the franchise to build around. Burke is really the only player that could be that for them, imo. Mclemore may have more upside, but I don't see the leadership qualities. Noel is too big of a risk at #1, even if he were healthy, because of his weight issues. But combine both and I don't see them taking him that high.

So I got....

ORL - Burke (descibed above)

CHA - Mclemore (Already got Biyombo, so no Noel. They need a SG but already have a defensive stopper in MKG so no Oladipo. I say Mclemore makes most sense)

CLE - Porter (obvious need at SF)

PHX - Bennett (Hard to say because they have needs everywhere, but I think they go with the player with most upside who could be a star and bring some excitement back to PHX. Bennett is that player imo. I think Oladipo is too safe a pick for a franchise trying to get out of that medicore treadmill)

NO - Oladipo/Shabazz (I could see Oladipo going here, as a cheaper younger replacement for Gordon, and then trading EG. But thats a big risk because I don't think anyone wants Gordon with his contract and injuries, so they'd end up with both and be hard to develop Oladipo with Gordon taking all the minutes at SG....So I have no idea, but I could see them taking Shabazz here, as he could play SF if they keep Gordon, but still allow them to trade Gordon and move him to SG.... Noel doesn't make sense as he's a Davis clone)

SAC - Noel (Same thing as above. Its hard to read SAC because of the Evans situation. If they are set on letting Evans go, then Oladipo could make the sense here. But they also need a big man to compliment Cousins after the Robinson pick failed. Noel with his weakside shotblocking would be a great compliment to Cousins. I say Noel)

Bottom line is I could see a scenario where Oladipo is there at 7 for us. I think either way, we should get one of Shabazz or Oladipo at 7.

[Kilo]

Of your top six, I'd swap out Bennett and put in Zeller. Bennett will slide given he won't be able to work out, and teams won't know exactly what they'd be getting - a SF or a PF or a dreaded tweener who can't play at either.

Noel's floor is Phoenix - he doesn't get by them no matter where they end up picking.

[Jodi]

It may go like this...
1. Burke
2. McLemore
3. Len
4. Noel
5. Muhammad
6. Porter

[Kilo]

NO could be a landing spot for Zeller. Get an anchor big next to Davis

[JustinSane]

Personally I'm just hoping that somehow Oladipo falls. I think he'd be absolutely perfect here.

[ImHeisenberg]

I'm liking Shabazz right now. I almost wonder if it's because of the anti-hype he's getting? The media is just killing this kid for everything, and yet he's projected to be a very versatile and talented scorer. "He can't create his own shot". Okay, he can't right now. But, he can score in literally every other way. Spot up, pick & roll, and he can post up 2-guards.

Part of me wonders is if this thinking process is being biased due to Andre Drummond? He had so many questions last year too. All the "experts" killed him too, questioned his character, he has no drive, so raw he won't even contribute to a team in three or four year, and here we are, with a potential franchise center.

So, I have a thought process, but I'm not above questioning my own logic.

Either way, we're statistically likely to be picking at 7th or 8th. With that pick in this lottery, I'll take Shabazz 9 out of 10 times.

Also on Zeller- he's still soft regardless of his speed. Imagine him trying get a rebound against Moose or Drummond, they'd easily push him right out of position.

[The Penguin]

NO could be a landing spot for Zeller. Get an anchor big next to Davis

I think they like Robin Lopez and Ryan Anderson next to Davis.

[Goldtop]

I'm warming up to the idea of Oladipo. Watching MEM with Tony Allen got my longing for the days when we had shutdown perimeter defenders. With Drummond protecting the paint, Oladipo would be allowed the freedom to just go all out pressing and harrassing on the perimeter, and we could be a serious good defensive team. Plus he's not inept offensively either like Allen. He's actually got some game on offense, and now appears to be an elite athlete too.

[rmfc]

Yep.

Get Oladipo or Shabazz.

[Minas]

Yep.

Get Oladipo or Shabazz.

I agree. If they're both still available who would you guys pick?

[rmfc]

Oladipo should obviously be ahead of Shabazz.

[ImHeisenberg]

Yep.

Get Oladipo or Shabazz.

I agree. If they're both still available who would you guys pick?

I doubt Vic is still available. If he is, I would lean towards him.

Then again, if Bazz became instant offense for another team, we'd all be pissed we didn't take him.