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

[SkilesTheLimit]

Smart is going to be the player everybody agreed would be good when he immediately starts putting up solid numbers.

Don't get me wrong, I am a big Smart fan. I think he'll probably be a borderline all-star year in and year out for most of his career.

That's why I hope he goes to Orlando. He'll become an instant glue guy there while still showing special skills and helping that team go to the next level. That will be a fun team to watch.

This is assuming he's ready to play point guard in the NBA and I love the Deron Williams comparison for him, although he's physically stronger than Williams was. Damn shame about Cobbins and the likelihood we won't see OKST make the Final Four.



Now that I'm caught up on the prospects, here's my board:

Jennings
Wiggins
Embiid
Exum
Randle
Smart
Parker

FIFY

[Nebula1]

Yup. Parker can be a stretch four, something Randle likely won't be.

Fair enough. Not me, obviously, since Randle has grown on me.

This might change your mind.

That's a pretty good article and I'm sure wingspan will be a factor for him. You may swing me with that piece and I keep everything subject to change.

Even with that Parker still looks, at best, like a Melo type scorer and I do not want. You're probably right over Randle, however.

[Nebula1]

Okay DB swung me..

Wiggins
Embiid
Exum
Parker
Smart
Randle
LaVine
Gordon

That looks better.

[ReasonablySober]

I think I might have Gordon higher than most. He could be #3 for me by June. Elite athleticism, great defender, developing perimeter game.

[skones]

Wiggins has shown a versatile offensive game and strong defensive ability. He's got relatively good numbers and while he hasn't totally dominated his competition, he's fit well with his team. I think people see that as a negative, but I don't. He's a humble kid playing at a historic program with great teammates.. I'm glad he's not chucking away.

Exactly what versatility has Wiggins shown in his offensive game? You keep throwing this around, and I'm curious to see where it comes from.

[breakchains]

The Bucks need a lot more help in the backcourt than they do the frontcourt. The frontcourt looks good for the future. None of the frontcourt players being pushed as saviors will be saviors. None of them will be the Lebron or Durant-like supers needed to improve. Listen closely....the Bucks have the worst!!! backcourt in the league. Smart is the smart choice.

There needs to be a smiley where the little guy is shooting himself. Insert here.

[breakchains]

I'm leary on Embiid for the Bucks too. Obvious upside and potential but too much risk for me. Wiggins then Parker for me for the Bucks. Both guys have just as much star potential as Embiid and personally I love what Wiggins offers.

See I just basically disagree here. I see Wiggins as the riskier prospect than Embiid. In terms of risk, I think from least to most amongst the top 3 is Parker, Embiid, Wiggins. In terms of upside, I think it's Embiid, Wiggins, Parker.

I'm convinced most of the people who are dinging Embiid for being too raw and risky are doing so based on his profile (starting ball three years ago, etc.) than actually basing it on his play. If anything, for him to be this advanced this early in his basketball life, it signals a higher likelihood that he will hit his upside.

[Scoops]

Another rough game for Jabari?

[Nebula1]

I think I might have Gordon higher than most. He could be #3 for me by June. Elite athleticism, great defender, developing perimeter game.

You think he's a 4 in the nba? He's a bit of a tweener to me but I haven't seen him that much.

[skones]

Whenever I see Aaron Gordon play I just think Al Farouq Aminu.

[Ayt]

If by upside, you mean athleticism, than yes he has the most upside. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that he'll never make an all-star game though. He's the guy everyone's gonna look back at and say, "wow, we really were blinded by his insane athleticism too much to make an accurate projection of what he'll become." I see him becoming a Gerald Green like player. He'll develop a reliable 3 point shot and he'll always have his great vertical to fall back on, but his talent and passiveness will keep him in a 3 and D role and he'll be comfortable with that. Out of the limelight, but a solid role player. And there's nothing wrong with that. I'd just prefer to get him halfway through this career when the hype has subsided and his value will be known. He's not a worth a top 2 pick. I might pick #3 overall and hope I'm wrong in my projection, but you simply can't pick him in front of Parker and Embiid.

I actually think he's the clear #1 and comfortable thinking he'll develop into a powerful player. Comparing him to Gerald Green is terribly unfair. He's more than a dunker.

I definitely like him better than Parker and Embiid is too much risk for me at #1 but I guess that's what the draft is about.

I'm thinking people want to see a more dominant game and see him as passive but I see him as unselfish at this point. I'm confident he'll grow into a more aggressive monster in time.

No way I pass on him at any draft slot.

Yeah, these comparisons to Gerald Green and Rudy Gay can stop anytime now. Just ridiculous. I'm starting to think the people that think he's gonna be a catastrophic bust are the ones who were initially buying into the "next LeBron" hype.

Physically, we haven't seen a swing-man prospect like him in years. Downgrading him because he doesn't have a polished offensive game or that he doesn't have some cliche "killer instinct" at 18 years old is the least of my worries if I'm drafting a guy to be the face of my franchise for the next decade.

Our very own Giannis is vastly more impressive physically than Wiggins.

[machu46]

I don't like the DWill-Smart comparison at all. Their passing and ball-handling abilities are nowhere near each other.

[breakchains]

I don't like the DWill-Smart comparison at all. Their passing and ball-handling abilities are nowhere near each other.

Agree. Not comparable players at all.

[mattg]

I think I might have Gordon higher than most. He could be #3 for me by June. Elite athleticism, great defender, developing perimeter game.

No way. He's a solid passer but his handle and J are awful. He's the worst kind of tweener, thinks he's a SF but really should only play PF. Also think his athleticism is overrated, he's explosive, but his quickness and change of direction definitely isn't elite.

[Nebula1]

Looking forward to Laquinton Ross against msu.. He should show up

[Nebula1]

I don't like the DWill-Smart comparison at all. Their passing and ball-handling abilities are nowhere near each other.

Agree. Not comparable players at all.

I think it's more about being a full back point guard. Smart 's handle is pretty strong and he's a similar style of attacker.

I'm not totally sold on smart as an NBA point but I think he can get it done.

[ReasonablySober]

I think I might have Gordon higher than most. He could be #3 for me by June. Elite athleticism, great defender, developing perimeter game.

No way. He's a solid passer but his handle and J are awful. He's the worst kind of tweener, thinks he's a SF but really should only play PF. Also think his athleticism is overrated, he's explosive, but his quickness and change of direction definitely isn't elite.

He's one of the youngest players in college. His best position in the NBA is clearly small forward so long as he develops a better handle, something he has time to do.

[breakchains]

I don't like the DWill-Smart comparison at all. Their passing and ball-handling abilities are nowhere near each other.

Agree. Not comparable players at all.

I think it's more about being a full back point guard. Smart 's handle is pretty strong and he's a similar style of attacker.

I'm not totally sold on smart as an NBA point but I think he can get it done.

Yeah but you can't just compare two guys because of their build/size. Watching D-Will play, he was a blue-chip true point, who actually trumped Smart in every single way offensively. Literally every way, except maybe a tad in strength.

Just not comparable IMO.

[Ayt]

Wiggins versus Marvin.

[mattg]

I don't see it. Best case scenario is he becomes a Marion type who excels at the 4 as a PnR finisher, energy guy, athletic defender who can switch on screens with solid passing. Maybe he develops a passable J over time. Don't see any scenario where I'd want him out on the perimeter consistently.