NBA Draft Prospect Talk '12

[TyCobb]

Los Angeles Lakers 2012 Draft picks:

Lakers 1st Round Pick 1-30 overall
Mavericks 1st Round Pick 21-30 overall
Bulls 2nd Round Pick 31-60 overall

Top 5 Draft Point Guards

1. Kendall Marshall, North Carolina, Ht. 6'4'' Wt. 180, 09/19/1991

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

2. Damian Lillard, Weber State, Ht. 6'2'' Wt. 185, 07/15/1990

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l7_a6--S44[/youtube]

3. Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas, Ht. 6'3'' Wt. 180, 04/12/1990

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49BKOWsZkII[/youtube]

4. Myck Kabongo, Texas , Ht. Ht. 6'2'' Wt. 160, 01/12/1993

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEOgSsWPn5E[/youtube]

5. Scott Machado, Iona, Ht. 6'1'' Wt. 180, 06/08/1990

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYuzba7XPZk[/youtube]

Players to keep an eye on:

Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin), Tu Holloway (Xavier), B.J. Young (Arkansas)

Top 5 Shooting Guards

1. Bradley Beal, Florida, Ht. 6'4'' Wt. 201, 06/28/1993

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=higL-SlwcmM[/youtube]

2. Jeremy Lamb, UConn, Ht. 6'5'' Wt. 185, 05/30/1992

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw7RXNc75Rw[/youtube]

3. Austin Rivers, Duke, Ht. 6'4'' Wt. 203, 08/01/1992

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

4. Terrence Ross, Washington, Ht. 6'7'' Wt. 197, 02/05/1991

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NZ3ii5fmnU[/youtube]

5. Evan Fournier, International, Ht. 6'7'' Wt. 207, 10/29/1992

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaTv1Uzujrg[/youtube]

Players to keep an eye on:

Dion Waiters (Syracuse), Tony Wroten (Washington), Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette)

Top 5 Small Forwards

1. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky, Ht. 6'7'' Wt. 228, 09/28/1993

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOzb2-WghjY[/youtube]

2. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina, Ht. 6'8'' Wt. 223, 05/30/1992

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI3cDCcuOV8[/youtube]

3. Quincy Miller, Baylor, Ht. 6'9'' Wt. 200, 11/18/1992

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKu8-ZZAsyQ[/youtube]

4. LeBryan Nash, Oklahoma State, Ht. 6'7'' Wt. 220, 06/30/1992

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP_RPU8uaAY[/youtube]

5. Adonis Thomas, Memphis, Ht. 6'7'' Wt. 220, 03/25/1993

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3Tm0augkjI[/youtube]

Players to keep an eye on:

Jeff Taylor (Vanderbilt), Moe Harkless (St. John's), Jae Crowder (Marquette)

Top 5 Power Forwards

1. Anthony Davis, Kentucky, Ht. 6'10'' Wt. 220, 03/11/1993

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUcA7kQIclA[/youtube]

2. Thomas Robinson, Kansas, Ht. 6'9'' Wt. 240, 03/17/1991

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPDHhnNDEBw&feature=related[/youtube]

3. Perry Jones III, Baylor, Ht. 6'11'' Wt. 220, 09/24/1991

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHFymjyG_0c&feature=related[/youtube]

4. John Henson, North Carolina, Ht. 6'10'' Wt. 200, 12/28/1990

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCJrx7CA0Ss[/youtube]

5. Tony Mitchell, North Texas, Ht. 6'9'' Wt. 220, 04/07/1992

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUI3xqn3Ixc[/youtube]

Players to keep an eye on:

Terrance Jones (Kentucky), Mason Plumlee (Duke), James McAdoo (North Carolina)

Top 5 Centers

1. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State, Ht. 6'9'' Wt. 280, 03/04/1992

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

2. Andre Drummond, UConn, Ht. 6'11'' Wt. 251, 08/10/1993

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuXR7fFCbU4[/youtube]

3. Tyler Zeller, North Carolina, Ht. 7'0'' Wt. 250, 01/17/1990

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmVnX3ABoVo[/youtube]

4. Cody Zeller, Indiana, Ht. 6'11'' Wt. 215, 10/05/1992

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyQx2Or4YFg[/youtube]

5. Meyers Leonard, Illinois, Ht. 7'0'' Wt. 240, 02/27/1992

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LWNpaPEw6o[/youtube]

Players to keep an eye on:

Patric Young (Florida), Arnett Moultrie (Mississippi St.), Festus Ezeli (Vanderbilt)

Top 30 Draft Prospects Overall

1. Anthony Davis - PF
2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - SF
3. Jared Sullinger - C
4. Andre Drummond - C
5. Harrison Barnes - SF
6. Thomas Robinson - PF
7. Perry Jones III - PF
8. Kendall Marshall - PG
9. Bradley Beal - SG
10. Jeremy Lamb - SG
11. Tyler Zeller - C
12. Quincy Miller - SF
13. Austin Rivers - SG
14. Terrence Ross - SG
15. John Henson - PF
16. Evan Fournier - SG
17. Damian Lilliard - PG
18. Cody Zeller - C
19. Myck Kabongo - PG
20. Tyshawn Taylor - PG
21. Scott Machado PG
22. Meyers Leonard - C
23. Tony Mitchell - PF
24. LeBryan Nash - SF
25. Adonis Thomas - SF
26. Moe Harkless - SF
27. Marquis Teague - PG
28. James McAdoo - PF
29. Arnett Moultrie - C
30. Dion Waiters - SG

[TyCobb]

I want the Lakers board to come up with their own top 30 prospects ranking for the '12 Draft.

*Will update continuously for more info on prospects*

[Jetset]

1. Anthony Davis - PF
2. Andre Drummond - C
3. Harrison Barnes - SF
4. Cody Zeller - C
5. Thomas Robinson - PF
6. Meyers Leonard - C
7. Jeremy Lamb - SG
8. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - SF
9. Jared Sullinger - PF
10. Bradley Beal - SG
11. Austin Rivers - SG
12. Tyler Zeller - PF
13. Perry Jones - PF
14. John Henson - PF
15. Kendall Marshall - PG
16. Terrence Ross - SF
17. Myck Kabongo - PG
18. Arnett Moultrie - PF/C
19. Terrence Jones - PF
20. Damian Lillard - PG
21. Mason Plumlee - PF
22. Quincy Miller - SF
23. Scott Machado - PG
24. Marquis Teague - PG
25. Tony Mitchell - SF
26. Patric Young - C
27. Tony Wroten - PG/SG
28. John Jenkins - SG
29. Kris Joseph - SF
30. William Buford - SG

[DEEP3CL]

I don't know about doing a top 30. So I'll go a different route on this TC, I like Dee Bost of Mississippi St. At 6'2" 180 lbs, dude can go. Has excellent speed, can penetrate and has decent jumper from 15-20 feet.

Bost has good quickness and is able to change directions with his handle, and does a good job of getting into the lane. He has good body control, but at times struggles to finish through contact. He combats this somewhat with an array of floaters in the lane, but his primary weapon once in the lane is the pass, both to spot-up shooters on the perimeter and cutters around the basket.

Bost operates primarily with the ball in his hands, but in the opportunities he hasas a spot-up shooter it appears this is a part of his game that could be of value at the next level when he's not asked to create as much as he currently is. With his feet set and space to operate, Bost's consistency in his jump shot improves considerably. He does a good job of squaring up, gets good elevation and shows a consistent release.

Right now he not in any projections for the 1st or 2nd round, The Portsmouth camp is where he'll make noise.....bank on that. This is a guy we can get at #20 easily. Most mock drafts don't have any PG's going until about 17th.

[TyCobb]

Jet:

- Why so low on Gilchrist? Also, 'PF'?
- Leonard is a good energy big, but he has zero offensive game, imo.

Deep:

- Where did our 1st round picks go?

[Jetset]

Bost can definitely be had in the 2nd round, not worth a 1st rounder.

Machado is easily the best PG in this draft imho. He can score unlike Marshall and has excellent PG skills unlike Lillard.

Scott Machado
Mason Plumlee

Or if we slip far enough

Terrence Jones
Scott Machado

[Jetset]

Jet:

- Why so low on Gilchrist? Also, 'PF'?
- Leonard is a good energy big, but he has zero offensive game, imo.

Deep:

- Where did our 1st round picks go?

My bad, jumbled up my picks and forgot to change his position. I'm not low on the guy, he's just not the 2nd best prospect in this years draft. Barnes, Zeller, Robinson, and Lamb are all better. And Drummond has crazy potential, there's no way he isn't top 2. And I like Leonard's game, defends well, makes FT's, and he's a big that can actually pass. I think he's going to get better from the perimeter and some team is going to draft him in the lotto range.

And we still have our picks.

[hermes]

where's my boy matt gatens? he just dropped 33 in a upset win couple days ago

[Jetset]

lol who

[moonpie]

Lucas Nogeria(sp?) in this year's draft class? 7 footer from Brazil who could be a valuable energy big off the bench IMO.

[Jetset]

Lucas Nogeria(sp?) in this year's draft class? 7 footer from Brazil who could be a valuable energy big off the bench IMO.

Projected to go in the 2nd round, I doubt he declares knowing this though.

[DEEP3CL]

@TyCobb.....we still have both 1st rounders, I say we need to look at a PG spot with the 20th pick. And the Mavs pick is currently holding at 23rd, we need to take a winger. NBADraft.net has us taking Damian Lillard with the 20th....oddly his NBA comparison is Ramon Sessions/Eric Maynor. He actually fits what we need now.

The 23rd pick has us taking Kris Joseph, this kid has outstanding athleticism and he has excellent leaping ability. At 6'7" he's the perfect wing defender we need with athleticism.

@Jet...yes Bost is nice but I agree no need to burn a 1st on him. I think he goes in the 2nd anyway.

[DEEP3CL]

Machado is easily the best PG in this draft imho. He can score unlike Marshall and has excellent PG skills unlike Lillard.

I wouldn't be so excited about Machado just yet, at 6'1" he's not the fastest PG in college and he lacks explosion, which tells me he'll have a hard time getting to the bucket and finishing. Also he lack the ability to guard one on one...which means you can for get him trying to check D-Will or CP3.

All he is right now is just a control pace guard, which is fine for college. But the league is clearly switching over to the PG being two things in one ( scorer/floor general), Machado is just one for now. He's a projected 2nd rounder, if we can get a lead PG in the first I'd rather burn that 2nd on a big.

[DrewBynum77]

damn, I like this LeBryan Nash kid with our Dallas' pick.

Lebron + bryant + Nash can't do wrong with him.

[Gek]

So which one is ours?

[TyCobb]

Bost can definitely be had in the 2nd round, not worth a 1st rounder.

Machado is easily the best PG in this draft imho. He can score unlike Marshall and has excellent PG skills unlike Lillard.

Scott Machado
Mason Plumlee

Or if we slip far enough

Terrence Jones
Scott Machado

Marshall's court vision and play-making skills are superior to any other PG in this draft. With three offensive weapons already (Kobe, Gasol, Bynum), a PG who sees the floor well and can create for others should be the most important prerequisite. Marshall fits the bill the best in this draft.

[Jetset]

Machado is easily the best PG in this draft imho. He can score unlike Marshall and has excellent PG skills unlike Lillard.

I wouldn't be so excited about Machado just yet, at 6'1" he's not the fastest PG in college and he lacks explosion, which tells me he'll have a hard time getting to the bucket and finishing. Also he lack the ability to guard one on one...which means you can for get him trying to check D-Will or CP3.

All he is right now is just a control pace guard, which is fine for college. But the league is clearly switching over to the PG being two things in one ( scorer/floor general), Machado is just one for now. He's a projected 2nd rounder, if we can get a lead PG in the first I'd rather burn that 2nd on a big.

From the Iona games I've actually seen, Machado definitely has decent speed. I don't know where this "lack of an explosion" started but it's false. There's a difference between athleticism and quickness, he may not have the athleticism part to go along with the quickness as say someone like a Rondo, but he has decent speed. And as far as 1 on 1 defense the scheme Iona runs make may Machado look worse than he actually is. Not saying it is, but it'd be interesting to see how well he'd defend if he were on another team. But from the games I've seen he seemed to do okay staying with his man. He's not going to be a lockdown defender like Rondo (quite frankly not too many PGs are because they don't have Rondo's length) but he won't be piss poor on this end either.

I think Machado is going to work his way into the 20ish of the 1st round or early second round so either way we're going to have to give up one of our 1st rounders if we want him. Either to draft him or to trade down into the second round and take him. The Bulls pick is going to be too late of a pick.

Bost can definitely be had in the 2nd round, not worth a 1st rounder.

Machado is easily the best PG in this draft imho. He can score unlike Marshall and has excellent PG skills unlike Lillard.

Scott Machado
Mason Plumlee

Or if we slip far enough

Terrence Jones
Scott Machado

Marshall's court vision and play-making skills are superior to any other PG in this draft. With three offensive weapons already (Kobe, Gasol, Bynum), a PG who sees the floor well and can create for others should be the most important prerequisite. Marshall fits the bill the best in this draft.

And I'll say this, look at the talent Marshall has to play with. Harrison Barnes, John Henson, Tyler Zeller, all talent that's going to be drafted very early in the draft and the others are for the most part High School All-Americans. I'm not arguing his PG skills, because I said to Doormatt in a previous thread that his skills are the best to come out of a draft in quite a while for a PG. But the talent he's surrounded with definitely plays a factor. Add that into the fact that he's slower than Machado, cannot shoot when prompted to like Machado, cannot attack the rim like Machado, and isn't that much of a factor on defense, what really makes him better than Machado? Put Machado on UNC and you'd see similar production and you'd probably see more PPG from the PG position. And those things I just mentioned, aren't those things that we lack from the PG's on our current roster? I don't know about you, but I'd take the player that can do just about everything well over the player that can only do one thing very well.

[ROballer]

If we keep the picks,as Deep said,ideally we grab with the 1st round picks a PG and a SF
Lillard,Marshall,Teague,Wroten and Kabongo(if they declare) are prospects who will fall around that pick....some of them will go higher,but at least one of them will be on board when we draft

As for SF,on NBADraft.net ,Terrence Jones is no.18 and Quincy Miller is no.30..those guys were projected as lottery picks a few months ago,don't know if they'll fall that much but if they do we shouldn't hesitate

Anyway,if they are drafted earlier(more likely),there are a few other players like Kris Joseph,Tony Mitchell and Jeffrey Taylor who should be on board at the end of the 1st round


With the 2nd round pick from Chicago(low),I'd look for a big....we'd have too many PG's and SF's already,no need for another one who won't play,even though players like Tyshawn Taylor are projected at 59 currently

I really like Gorgui Dieng,don't know if he declares this year but he doesn't appear on most mocks..I'd think he'd be a solid backup(assuming we keep both Gasol and Bynum),good defender and rebounder

[Jetset]

Kabongo will more than likely stay another year, I think he needs it. He has hella potential going forward even more than Marshall, but he needs more time to fully show it. Ryan Harrow is waiting in the wings for UK so I see Teague leaving after this season, I also see Lillard cashing in on his play and declaring. Wroten I could actually see transferring or declaring, but I'm leaning towards transferring. No way someone who was touted as the next big thing will have the ego to settle for going in the late 1st round after their freshman season. I don't know about Marshall though, Barnes has said if UNC wins the title he's leaving and I could also see the same for Marshall. If they don't win or have an embarrassing out then I see him staying.

Miller definitely isn't coming out unless Baylor does some massive damage in the NCAA tournament and makes scouts turn their heads. Jones should've came out last year while he was lotto material, his stock has fallen quite far since then and where he's ranked is justified. If we fell far enough and Jones was still on the board then I'd take a chance and draft him. But I still don't like him going forward, he's mentally weak.

Kris Joseph is a decent shooter, not a good one. Which is what I'd like for our SF position, but I'd be willing to draft Jeffrey Taylor. He has potential lockdown defender written on him, although he cannot shoot either. I don't know much about Tony Mitchell other than that he's more of a PF than a SF. I like Kris Middleton of Texas A&M, he kind of like Durant in stature, lanky. But he can shoot it and has a smooth stroke, also a lot like Durant. I don't know that he comes out with his stock as low as it is, because if he came out he'd be a very late 1st to 2nd rounder. He definitely has 1st round talent though.

[TyCobb]

And I'll say this, look at the talent Marshall has to play with. Harrison Barnes, John Henson, Tyler Zeller, all talent that's going to be drafted very early in the draft and the others are for the most part High School All-Americans. I'm not arguing his PG skills, because I said to Doormatt in a previous thread that his skills are the best to come out of a draft in quite a while for a PG. But the talent he's surrounded with definitely plays a factor. Add that into the fact that he's slower than Machado, cannot shoot when prompted to like Machado, cannot attack the rim like Machado, and isn't that much of a factor on defense, what really makes him better than Machado? Put Machado on UNC and you'd see similar production and you'd probably see more PPG from the PG position. And those things I just mentioned, aren't those things that we lack from the PG's on our current roster? I don't know about you, but I'd take the player that can do just about everything well over the player that can only do one thing very well.

I'm not going to knock Marshall just because he made it to a storied D-1 program, unlike Machado. And I'll take the player that does one thing exceptionally well over the guy who does everything okay--especially from the draft slot where we'll be picking.

Also, I just read an article, from last month, that Drummond will be returning for his Sophomore season.