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

[mattg]

Just wondering if most of the rest of this draft thread is going to be people saying stupid **** about everybody who isn't their favorite.

Yeah it's annoying, especially when it's among the top guys. Because all of them have weaknesses(yes even lord embiid himself).

People want to know why I like Parker? He's extremely skilled, has size, and the best floor game/IQ of all the top prospects. His downsides? He's got some baby fat and isn't great defensively and athletically.

Wiggins? Super athletic who does well off the ball and also shows a bunch of potential at times. He's already improved drastically as a shooter since HS(he was 64% FT guy there) and we've seen guys similar to him excel in the nba as they've developed. Downsides are that he's passive at times, plays too high up, and isn't exceptionally skilled right now.

Embiid? Great size and fluidity for a big. Hasn't been playing long and seems to have picked the game and fundamentals up quickly. Shows good feet and hands, and solid form on J. Flashes effective post moves. Downsides? Doesn't play to contact well, hasn't been playing long so you wonder how his decision making and reads will look in the faster nba game, lacks lower body strength.

Not hard to discuss things without getting super pissy at each other and in turn bashing prospects undeservedly to try and prove a point. I know I'm guilty of it on occasion as I can get heated but you guys are even bugging me.

[machu46]

Where does Rodney Hood fit into this discussion?

He's arguably looking better than Wiggins and sometimes Parker right now.

I think I'd quit being a Bucks fan if we spent a top 5 pick on Hood.

[ChuckBros4Life]

I wonder how Kansas and Duke games look through Nebs' eyes

[TroyD92]

I like Hood in the lottery. I'm also super high on him.

[cinematographer]

I haven't talked "mad ****" about Wiggins. Pointing out what are becoming obvious flaws to plenty of other people isn't talking ****. I still think he's an excellent prospect (I definitely don't agree with the Harkless comparison).

And I definitely would overpay Leonard a bit and give him a max contract if that could get him away from the Spurs. He's the most obvious candidate to break out when given a bigger role in the entire NBA. Considering how much guys like Batum, Deng, and Iggy get paid at the SF spot, paying a couple extra million a year to get Leonard isn't a problem at all in my eyes. It is the price of getting a guy like that away from a franchise like the Spurs.

Stealing a young guy like him away from a top franchise would be one of the best ways we could use our money instead of lighting it on fire with middling vets.

I'd be really, really surprised if Leonard doesn't became a multiple All-Star level player.

Man. I could hug you. I hope we offer Leonard the max.

[AussieBuck]

OK hug it out Baddy and Skones. We all know where you guys stand. Let's all focus on why Randle should avoided like herpes.

[Nebula1]

Wiggins is the best 2 way player in the draft. Paul George wasn't a monster offensively his freshman season either and I think George is a better comparison than harkless. Harkless was limited.

Wiggins still has plenty of variety in his offense and only lacks aggression at this point.

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

Weird. I see an awful lot of jumpers getting splashed in that video.

Uh yeah it's a highlight video. Wiggins hits on his jumper too and has shown nba range.

More importantly, Wiggins is the best 2 way player in the draft, especially for a wing. Embiid is obviously intriguing but not enough for me to pass on Wiggins. I'm not confident Embiid is better than either Drummond or Davis.

Parker likely doesn't have the skill to defend on an elite level like Wiggins despite being more offensively potent. Parker, to me, is like a Melo and I'd rather have a Paul George than Melo.

[Nebula1]

I wonder how Kansas and Duke games look through Nebs' eyes

How so? Both teams have excellent rosters.. I guess I miss your point.

I know I hope the Badgers don't run into either squad or Kentucky in the second round.

[Andre3822]

Greetings from a Celtics fan!

I hope you guys have a nice lottery this year that helps you turn the franchise around, you guys deserve a break.

Just no more Gooden-like contracts and you'll be fine!

Giannis is really impressive, if you could add in Embiid, then there is a future.

Do you guys prefer Sanders or Henson though? I personally like Henson more, Sanders' attitude and demeanor seems so questionable in contrast to Henson's winner like approach.

Cheers, sorry if extremely off topic, didn't know where to post this!

[Nebula1]

I think consideration should be given to creating a new thread with a new poll for the board since this is passing 200 pages, it's only January and the poll contains old votes from out of towners. Just a thought.

I think the poll could get narrowed with names down to the main six and other.

[skones]

Wiggins is the best 2 way player in the draft. Paul George wasn't a monster offensively his freshman season either and I think George is a better comparison than harkless. Harkless was limited.

Wiggins still has plenty of variety in his offense and only lacks aggression at this point.

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

Weird. I see an awful lot of jumpers getting splashed in that video.

Uh yeah it's a highlight video. Wiggins hits on his jumper too and has shown nba range.

More importantly, Wiggins is the best 2 way player in the draft, especially for a wing. Embiid is obviously intriguing but not enough for me to pass on Wiggins. I'm not confident Embiid is better than either Drummond or Davis.

Parker likely doesn't have the skill to defend on an elite level like Wiggins despite being more offensively potent. Parker, to me, is like a Melo and I'd rather have a Paul George than Melo.

You keep saying two way player, but again, you haven't explained any type of "versatile offensive game," you just keep saying it. And yeah, it IS a highlight video, but Paul George was a significantly better jumpshooter then, and a significantly better jumpshooter now. While George's numbers were less than impressive his sophomore season as far as percentages are concerned, he shot 44.7% on 4 attempts per game from three as a freshman. I'd say that's a FAR cry from what Wiggins is currently doing. Hell, the 35.3% on nearly 6 attempts per game his sophomore season is a far cry as well.

I could go into Wiggins "hitting" on his jumper and "NBA range," (note, there is nothing "NBA range" about his performance this season) but I think I've covered that extensively throughout the course of this thread.

[Nebula1]

Yeah I know you don't like him. We all know you don't like him.

But you're likely very wrong and I don't see any point in debating him with you. He can get to the rim with touch, he can hit from midrange and from outside. He can turn and shoot and he can post. Yes his numbers aren't great but reps will change that and his selection isn't bad. I like the way he plays within the team although eventually he'll have to get more aggressive. I have no problem with his offensive set at this point in his career.

I think he'll be a threat from anywhere on an NBA floor including the defensive end similar to George. I think he'll get to the FT line and he's my #1 and he's obviously not yours. I'm okay with that and not losing sleep.

[Ruzious]

Where does Rodney Hood fit into this discussion?

He's arguably looking better than Wiggins and sometimes Parker right now.

I think I'd quit being a Bucks fan if we spent a top 5 pick on Hood.

I like Hood, but I don't love him. He doesn't have star potential, imo. I see him as a very good role player as long as he has a great player to play off of. His efficiency at Duke has been great, but that's partly because he has Parker and a slew of guards to keep defenses from keying on him. He's not very athletic and not very strong. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up playing the 2. Parker can be a franchise player. I think Wiggins can too, in time. Hood can be an outstanding role player on a team with a franchise player.

[Lippo]

Wiggins is the best 2 way player in the draft. Paul George wasn't a monster offensively his freshman season either and I think George is a better comparison than harkless. Harkless was limited.

Wiggins still has plenty of variety in his offense and only lacks aggression at this point.

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

Weird. I see an awful lot of jumpers getting splashed in that video.

Uh yeah it's a highlight video. Wiggins hits on his jumper too and has shown nba range.

More importantly, Wiggins is the best 2 way player in the draft, especially for a wing. Embiid is obviously intriguing but not enough for me to pass on Wiggins. I'm not confident Embiid is better than either Drummond or Davis.



Parker likely doesn't have the skill to defend on an elite level like Wiggins despite being more offensively potent. Parker, to me, is like a Melo and I'd rather have a Paul George than Melo.

I remember that video sold me on Paul George, and lobbied for him after that.. Course Rihanna's voice helps sell it.. hmmmmmf.

Hopefully we will get the 3rd pick so it will be a no-brainer, course we would probably take Randle over Wiggins, argg.

[Rockmaninoff]

One freshman I haven't heard mentioned is Bobby Portis. He's having a phenomenal season statistically. If you go to the Arkansas sports web page, you can access highlights under the audio-video link.

He looks like a guy that can pass out of double teams, out of the high and low post, can shoot from midrange, finish, and play defense. Interesting player, don't know if he'll make himself eligible, but if he did he'd probably be a lotto pick. He's another guy that I'd take over Randle.

[Ron Swanson]

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

lol.......................no