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

cinematographer · Post #2821 » by **cinematographer** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 2:45 am

breakchains wrote:If he played off the ball, with a PG who could defend other positions, I would be open to taking him (after the top 4/5).

You don't care that he can't shoot?

breakchains · Post #2822 » by **breakchains** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 2:53 am

cinematographer wrote:
breakchains wrote:If he played off the ball, with a PG who could defend other positions, I would be open to taking him (after the top 4/5).

You don't care that he can't shoot?

I should rephrase. I would consider him at some point. I don't want him at all if it is with the intention of playing him at the point, or if that is what he believes he is. If you can get him to play off the ball, I can have him on my team, but I'm almost positive he would be chosen before he'd be at the top of my board.

cinematographer · Post #2823 » by **cinematographer** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 2:55 am

I don't think we need to "settle" for just one of Embiid/Exum//Parker/Wiggins

Someone convince me why Sanders or Henson and our 2015 and 2017 first round picks is too much to give up for a second top-4 pick. A player and two picks is nothing for a team with young players full of potential all under team control and looking at a fast turnaround for a franchise center.

Martin, Lamb, two firsts and a second scored Harden. Yes, Harden was a finished product, but aren't the whole lot of us, regardless of our views on other prospects, unanimous or near-unanimous in thinking that Embiid isn't a Thabeet-level bust, that his best case is Hakeem and that his worst case is... an all-star?

Giannis/Wiggins or Parker or Exum/Embiid/Sanders or Henson/Middleton/Whatever Knight is traded for/Whatever Arsen is traded for/Wolters/Whatever our seconds turn into (Bogdanovic, please!) is a core deep at every position with oodles of versatility AND, if we can get out from one of our awful deals, still cheap enough to go after Hayward this summer or Kawhi the summer after.

htr · Post #2824 » by **htr** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 2:56 am

How many seconds, and whose, do we have for next year. I know we at least wasted one on Ridnour and probably other horrid vets as well.

cinematographer · Post #2825 » by **cinematographer** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 2:59 am

breakchains wrote:
cinematographer wrote:
breakchains wrote:If he played off the ball, with a PG who could defend other positions, I would be open to taking him (after the top 4/5).

You don't care that he can't shoot?

I should rephrase. I would consider him at some point. I don't want him at all if it is with the intention of playing him at the point, or if that is what he believes he is. If you can get him to play off the ball, I can have him on my team, but I'm almost positive he would be chosen before he'd be at the top of my board.

In Smart's defense, I think where Smart is projected to go this year is where he should've went last year. If he would fall outside the top-10, it might be a worthwhile gamble to take, but I would hope to **** he'd be viewed as a project and not someone to hand the keys to and say "go win games".

breakchains · Post #2826 » by **breakchains** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 3:05 am

cinematographer wrote:I don't think we need to "settle" for just one of Embiid/Exum//Parker/Wiggins

Someone convince me why Sanders or Henson and our 2015 and 2017 first round picks is too much to give up for a second top-4 pick. A player and two picks is nothing for a team with young players full of potential all under team control and looking at a fast turnaround for a franchise center.

Martin, Lamb, two firsts and a second scored Harden. Yes, Harden was a finished product, but aren't the whole lot of us, regardless of our views on other prospects, unanimous or near-unanimous in thinking that Embiid isn't a Thabeet-level bust, that his best case is Hakeem and that his worst case is... an all-star?

Giannis/Wiggins or Parker or Exum/Embiid/Sanders or Henson/Middleton/Whatever Knight is traded for/Whatever Arsen is traded for/Wolters/Whatever our seconds turn into (Bogdanovic, please!) is a core deep at every position with oodles of versatility AND, if we can get out from one of our awful deals, still cheap enough to go after Hayward this summer or Kawhi the summer after.

I've said it before, I absolutely won't do it for Exum. Not that he may not ultimately be worth it, but I just don't have enough data right now and it's way too big of a cost to do that for what looks good mostly just on paper. Plus I've seen some things playing against these little 6'2 Australians that gives me pause.

I would probably only do it if I'm guaranteed both Embiid and Parker. To do that, you basically have to get #1 and ask the team at #2 to do that. While I think it's a big price we'd be paying, I'm not convinced the team holding the #2 would. I could get behind it for Wiggins, but I feel there is a bit more risk there so I'd have to give it some more thought about whether I'd do it for the #3. I similarly think you'd have a tough time prying the #3 from any team as well.

I think ultimately, it just isn't really likely or feasible. The Harden situation was a lot different, in that OKC was resigned to the fact that they'd be losing Harden the following year for nothing.

Post #2827 » by **paulpressey25** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 3:06 am

Teams with top five picks in drafts like these just don't trade them. Doesn't happen.

And expecting Hammond and Kohl to come up with an extra pick even in the 6-10 range is asking for a miracle. These are the guys who couldn't even get a 2nd round pick for Ramon Sessions.

Post #2828 » by **paulpressey25** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 3:09 am

breakchains wrote:Not sure if this has been posted yet. Keep the hype going.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-bas ... n-prospect

And I think in that piece, Matt Moore is underplaying Embiid by talking about him now being in the "top five" conversation. NBAdraft.net has it right. He's the clear #1 at this point.

And I think if we are ranking prospects on a historical basis, I put Embiid above Durant and Oden. I put Wiggins and Parker at a level below Durant. Maybe both are at Carmelo level right now IMO.

Post #2829 » by **ReasonablySober** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 3:13 am

paulpressey25 wrote:
breakchains wrote:Not sure if this has been posted yet. Keep the hype going.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-bas ... n-prospect

And I think in that piece, Matt Moore is underplaying Embiid by talking about him now being in the "top five" conversation. NBAdraft.net has it right. He's the clear #1 at this point.

And I think if we are ranking prospects on a historical basis, I put Embiid above Durant and Oden. I put Wiggins and Parker at a level below Durant. Maybe both are at Carmelo level right now IMO.

I'm as high on Embiid as anyone, but come on. Not a chance. Oden (and to a lesser extent Durant) goes ahead of Embiid, or anyone else in this class, and it isn't even a question.

jakecronus8 · Post #2830 » by **jakecronus8** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 3:13 am

paulpressey25 wrote:
breakchains wrote:Not sure if this has been posted yet. Keep the hype going.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-bas ... n-prospect

And I think in that piece, Matt Moore is underplaying Embiid by talking about him now being in the "top five" conversation. NBAdraft.net has it right. He's the clear #1 at this point.

And I think if we are ranking prospects on a historical basis, I put Embiid above Durant and Oden. I put Wiggins and Parker at a level below Durant. Maybe both are at Carmelo level right now IMO.

cinematographer · Post #2831 » by **cinematographer** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 3:20 am

paulpressey25 wrote:Teams with top five picks in drafts like these just don't trade them. Doesn't happen.

And expecting Hammond and Kohl to come up with an extra pick even in the 6-10 range is asking for a miracle. These are the guys who couldn't even get a 2nd round pick for Ramon Sessions.

If Embiid ascends like we think he will, a team missing out on Embiid couldn't reject Sanders or Henson/2 picks out of hand.

randy84 · Post #2832 » by **randy84** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 3:30 am

paulpressey25 wrote:
breakchains wrote:Not sure if this has been posted yet. Keep the hype going.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-bas ... n-prospect

And I think in that piece, Matt Moore is underplaying Embiid by talking about him now being in the "top five" conversation. NBAdraft.net has it right. He's the clear #1 at this point.

And I think if we are ranking prospects on a historical basis, I put Embiid above Durant and Oden. I put Wiggins and Parker at a level below Durant. Maybe both are at Carmelo level right now IMO.

That's bold, but I kind of agree.

LUKE23 · Post #2833 » by **LUKE23** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 3:47 am

Embiid above Durant? No.

SkilesTheLimit · Post #2834 » by **SkilesTheLimit** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 3:48 am

randy84 wrote:
paulpressey25 wrote:
breakchains wrote:Not sure if this has been posted yet. Keep the hype going.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-bas ... n-prospect

And I think in that piece, Matt Moore is underplaying Embiid by talking about him now being in the "top five" conversation. NBAdraft.net has it right. He's the clear #1 at this point.

And I think if we are ranking prospects on a historical basis, I put Embiid above Durant and Oden. I put Wiggins and Parker at a level below Durant. Maybe both are at Carmelo level right now IMO.

That's bold, but I kind of agree.

If he truly is a young Akeem, he fits the bill with PP's "historical" ranking. I'd take Olajuwon over anyone in this conversation. It's not even close.

I'm not sure if I'm yet sold on him at #1 because I've been picturing an alpha scorer (Wiggins/Parker) next to Giannis for the next 5-7 years, but I'm starting to watch Embiid with a keener eye lately.

breakchains · Post #2835 » by **breakchains** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 4:11 am

It's hard to be true when doing this, but you have to judge these players as prospects at the time they came out, not compare them as finished products. If this current Embiid was in that draft, there would certainly be discussion about where he fits in the top 3 IMO.

Matches Malone · Post #2836 » by **Matches Malone** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 4:12 am

Update

1. Embiid
2. Parker
3. Wiggins
4. Randle
5. LaVine

The more I watch of LaVine the more I like. Extremely athletic with a smooth jump shot.

I'm also starting to come around on Wiggins again. I was watching some old footage of Paul George at Fresno and he hardly dominated at the college level but still played well and had a tremendous athletic ability. I think if Wiggins gets to the NBA, he will be playing with guys that can set him up better and he will have more space to create for himself. Plus KU had seen a lot of zone this year and guys usually defend better at the college level. I'm becoming less worried about him flopping at the next level.

breakchains · Post #2837 » by **breakchains** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 4:21 am

Wiggins flashed a bit yesterday with penetration, taking it very smoothly and explosively to the glass. He didn't convert a couple of them but it was nice to see and gave you some glimpses of what he will do at the next level. He also just looks young. Not his face but his body. He looks to have huge feet, and pretty broad shoulders - almost like a puppy with huge paws who you know is going to become an athletic beast. I think there is a lot of potential for growth there, but it is a projection because he isn't there yet.

AussieBuck · Post #2838 » by **AussieBuck** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 4:26 am

Randle's a dinosaur, I'm not taking him in the top 5 of any draft this millenium.

Max Green · Post #2839 » by **Max Green** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 4:34 am

Embiid above Durant & Oden?? Come on now, the Embiid hype is on it's way to reaching the ridiculous Wiggins level of hype from this past Summer.

If Oden or Durant were in this draft, there wouldn't be a question of who to take #1.

Post #2840 » by **paulpressey25** » Tue Jan 7, 2014 4:42 am

Max Green wrote:Embiid above Durant & Oden?? Come on now, the Embiid hype is on it's way to reaching the ridiculous Wiggins level of hype from this past Summer.

If Oden or Durant were in this draft, there wouldn't be a question of who to take #1.

Right, I'd take Embiid.

These things take time. Every one of you guys is going to be dreaming of him come April. I may be forgetting some bigs, but I'm looking at Embiid only behind Shaq and Duncan is it relates to bigs the past 20 years. And those guys played much longer in college.

I've now watched maybe five of his last six games. The rounded skill set he has is off the charts for a big. That Matt Moore link did a nice job of showing the skills.

Who would you pick?