'14 Draft Thread - Now With a Poll: VOTE OR DIE.

[engelmartin]

Stupid question,
can Wiggins/Parker play the 2?

[Matches Malone]

Stupid question,
can Wiggins/Parker play the 2?

I think Wiggins can but would need to work on his outside shooting. Parker is more of a 3/4. He's much bigger going into his freshman year than he was in high school and might be playing out of position at the 4 at Duke this year.

[emunney]

He'll likely be playing the 4 at Duke and it won't be out of position. He's ideally suited to play the 4 in Duke's system. I think he's going to put up giant numbers.

[SpursNBucks]

Eh, things change very quickly once these guys start actually playing college games.

This is very true, this time last year most of everyone thought Shabazz would be going #1.

That goes without saying, but if you believe what the so-called experts are saying about the guys at the top -your looking at as close to blue chip locks as there have been since Lebron/Oden/Durant.

I know people were really hoping for a chance at Shabazz last year at this time, damn happy they ending up with GA. The thing is Shabazz was not the athlete or recruit these top 3 or 4 are - I never really bought into the hype, I would put his hype in that with Mayo-not even as high actually.

[skones]

Parker is probably going to settle in at power forward as an offensive mismatch due to the variety of ways he's going to be able to score and a defensive liability due to lack of size. Think Shareef Abdur Rahim.

[Matches Malone]

He'll likely be playing the 4 at Duke and it won't be out of position. He's ideally suited to play the 4 in Duke's system. I think he's going to put up giant numbers.

What position do you see Parker playing in the NBA?

[fam3381]

Eh, things change very quickly once these guys start actually playing college games.

Agreed...and this year the potential for movement at the top is less a knock on Wiggins and more a compliment to the quality of the other guys.

Still, a couple of the current top-ten guys will inevitably flop as freshman, while a couple other lesser-regarded guys will blow up and become top 5-10 types (ie the Oladipos). Will be interesting to keep an eye on.

[DanoMac]

He'll likely be playing the 4 at Duke and it won't be out of position. He's ideally suited to play the 4 in Duke's system. I think he's going to put up giant numbers.

What position do you see Parker playing in the NBA?

3

[fam3381]

Stupid question,
can Wiggins/Parker play the 2?

In terms of comps, I get the impression Wiggins is a George-type in terms of size/athleticism/versatility. What other good comps are there for him?

If he's like George, then the 2 would seem feasible--George played most of his minutes there two years ago when Granger was healthy and his splits were actually slightly better than at SF.

http://www.82games.com/1112/11IND7.HTM

[mattg]

Wiggins reminds me of a better Rudy gay. Paul George isn't a bad comparison either. But I think a rich mans Rudy gay is what wiggins ends up as.

[jakecronus8]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/full-2014-nba ... 13-edition

The author's first name is Yannis. That's gotta be a sign. That much length makes me want to fap.

...Wait, did I just say that?

[emunney]

He'll likely be playing the 4 at Duke and it won't be out of position. He's ideally suited to play the 4 in Duke's system. I think he's going to put up giant numbers.

What position do you see Parker playing in the NBA?

3

There's a chance he's a tweener imo. I'm a little concerned about how he'll look defending NBA athletes in space. Offensively, I think he'd be fine at either spot, in fact, he might be as dangerous a matchup there as he is a liability on the other end. Good player and I think he figures it out.

[randy84]

LeBryan Nash. Now that is a basketball name.

[jakecronus8]

LeBryan Nash. Now that is a basketball name.

Combine three legends names. Lebron, Stevie and the GOAT Big Country.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

It sounds like one of those computer generated NBA 2K names. Same goes for Colton Iverson.

[mattg]

LeBryan Nash. Now that is a basketball name.

Combine three legends names. Lebron, Stevie and the GOAT Big Country.

I prefer to think about it as combining Lebron, Kobe, and Steve Nash personally.

[VooDoo7]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/full-2014-nba-mock-draft-102713-edition

The author's first name is Yannis. That's gotta be a sign. That much length makes me want to fap.

...Wait, did I just say that?

Most of us would "fap" if we got Exum or Smart.

[Rockmaninoff]

I understand where you are coming from to an extent. However, doesn't the fact that the PG position is absolutely flooded with guys at the moment, and there seems to fewer and fewer wing guys who are efficient and top tier play into changing the perceived value of positions? I take Harden/George over Irving/Paul/Westbrook right now based on positional value as odd as that may have sounded 5 years ago.

I think the importance of a 'great' PG is vastly overstated. You need a capable PG in the NBA, but a great one is hardly necessary. You need a guy who can get the team into the offense, doesn't turn the ball over much, willing to defend, able to knock down open jumpers, and limit bad decisions regarding shot selection and when to pass vs. when to shoot. Basically the en vogue 3 and D type. If the choice is between a really good PG or a really good wing player(assuming the wing player has the ability to score for himself and create a shot for others) I take the wing 99 times out of 100. It's just harder to guard guys who are bigger. Seems simple but its just what I favor offensively.

I totally agree - the old way of thinking was that the C and PG positions were clearly the most important - and they were drafted above all others - so many teams have been burned by this especially at the C position. The game has changed- I would not pass on Wiggins if he comes close to living up to the hype this year.

IF all 3 (Wiggins, Randle, and Exum) are judged as a coin flip - who do you take? I would have to say Exum would get the nod- the Bucks need a PG more then anything and if Exum grades out as high as the others at the end of the year that is who I would take. It's going to be hard to picture Wiggins not being the #1 though. Talk about the length of Exum at the PG, but what about Wiggins at the 2G? the hype for the Bucks will be off the charts.

The usefulness of a 'true' point guard in the NBA is almost nil. You either have PGs who can score and play make (in that order of importance) or you have 3/D PGs that play next to wings that do as such. The wings are of course more valuable because of the relative rarity of tall, athletic, and coordinated humans.

The 3 point era has dictated that a winning team needs at least one player that can regularly collapse the defense, score 2 point shots on well above average efficiency, and by doing so open up the three point line. If a team has two or three of those guys, that team has a great advantage.

So, what I always look for in the stats of freshman collegiate players are:

A. High amount of FT attempts
B. High percentage of 2s made
C. A/TO above 1
D. Steals and blocks > fouls
E. Defensive rebounding

I think these are a pretty good indication of physical and skill dominance. Then you deduce whether they can shoot for some range and defend their 'position' and within a team concept in the NBA, from other channels.

I say 'position' because I think winning in the NBA is about having player(s) that can do A-E regardless of position. The Bucks need those players.

[Matches Malone]

Wondering if Hammond has a plan to use some of those second round picks to try and move up and get a late 1st round pick from a team looking to shed salary or avoid luxury tax.

[The Wet Whistle]

...Hammond... plan...

Does not compute