'14 Draft Thread - Parker Declares. List your top 4

[skones]

It's not apples to apples, but if Parker were Melo, don't you think he would have taken his team a little further in the tournament? Melo carried a team to a Championship as a freshman. Parker couldn't even get by Mercer. Again, not apples to apples, but I think it is relevant in the discussion. If Parker is such an alpha dog, you'd think Duke could have rode him to an opening round win over a team like Mercer.

It's not something to put any weight into. There are countless players who didn't make deep runs into tournaments. If they get past Mercer and lose in the next round, does it change anything?

[El Pooch Grande]

I always see Smart as Fat Lever.

You mean that as a compliment? I would assume so but some of these comparisons baffle me, like saying Parker is Melo like thats a bad thing.

I'd never want Melo on a team I was building.

If you are comparing Jabari Parker's personality/demeanor to Melo you are insane. They are nothing alike in that regard. Give me a positive, selfless, passionate, leader any day. That's what Parker is. If Parker develops into Melo's game, and can keep his current positive character and demeanor, he'll be a Top 5 player in the game...

[Buckrageous]

Durant lost in the 2nd round while Oden lead his team to the finals. Also Parker, Wiggins, and Smart didnt get past the 2nd round and Vonleh didnt even lead his team to the tournament. If the NCAA tournament was the be all and end all Randle should go #1, that is if your arent a Shabazz Napier fan.

[Max Green]

Parker was one of the best mid-range scorers in college basketball last season. He was killing guys in the midrange either with a quick post up or pull up off the screen. His unassisted numbers in half court are not indicative of the kind of offensive player he is in iso when taking into account Duke's quick strike motion offense and the fact that he played for Coach K.

I think nerdy Melo is his closest comparison, hello even Carmelo himself agrees.

[TroyD92]

You mean that as a compliment? I would assume so but some of these comparisons baffle me, like saying Parker is Melo like thats a bad thing.

I'd never want Melo on a team I was building.

If you are comparing Jabari Parker's personality/demeanor to Melo you are insane. They are nothing alike in that regard. Give me a positive, selfless, passionate, leader any day. That's what Parker is. If Parker develops into Melo's game, and can keep his current positive character and demeanor, he'll be a Top 5 player in the game...

He referenced Parker being like Melo. I don't want Melo on my team. Their attitudes are nothing alike, but neither are the skillsets. Parker is way behind Melo in every aspect of the game except defense (where they both suck(ed).

[TroyD92]

I really like Parker, but he has the most glaring flaws to me of the top 4 guys. He's a great offensive player, but his defense is just bad. He's also the worst athlete laterally of the 4, and a huge step down from Wiggins in regards to lateral quickness and his footwork.

[Baddy Chuck]

Parker was one of the best mid-range scorers in college basketball last season. He was killing guys in the midrange either with a quick post up or pull up off the screen. His unassisted numbers in half court are not indicative of the kind of offensive player he is in iso when taking into account Duke's quick strike motion offense and the fact that he played for Coach K.

He wasn't even the best midrange player on his team and that player, in the same offense, with the same coach did it mostly unassisted. I think he's a good midrange shooter, I don't think he has that same midrange post game/pull up that made/make a couple hall of fame players like Melo or Pierce (or even Robinson) what they were. Obviously he's shown some flashes, but he is in no way the "he's going to be Melo" that people are making him out to be. He certainly has holes in his offensive game and once you stepped out of his unsustainable first couple weeks shooting the ball, they definitely showed.

[KingCammo]

I see a lot of Derrick Williams in Jabari Parker, at least offensively. I'm banking on him being mentally tougher, having a better IQ than Williams though. Certainly wouldn't be the worst pick in the world for this franchise.

[Jez2983]

Embiid - Not sure I want to take the big man again to be honest (big guy...bad back...been there, we do have Sanders) I want someone electrifying. Tough decision.

Now I'll start replying individually to these posts. Bogut's back was bad for 1/2 of one season, and it was far worse than Embiid's (seems to be). If people are expecting us to have any big man who doesn't miss substantial time somewhere, they are sorely mistaken.

The bottom line is that we need to pick the star this time. We missed on big dog, we missed on Bogut.

Not to get into semantics, but I'm not sure either of those picks is a 'miss'. Darko Milicic is a miss. Had some good teams with Big Dog, and in a parallel Amare-less universe Bogut is a genuine difference-maker on both ends. Hell, even now at 50% Bogut I feel he's at least on a plane with Deron, leaving only Paul as the pick we missed on. If people are only going to be happy with the absolute best player in the draft, then they're probably going to be disappointed again.

[Max Green]

Parker was one of the best mid-range scorers in college basketball last season. He was killing guys in the midrange either with a quick post up or pull up off the screen. His unassisted numbers in half court are not indicative of the kind of offensive player he is in iso when taking into account Duke's quick strike motion offense and the fact that he played for Coach K.

He wasn't even the best midrange player on his team and that player, in the same offense, with the same coach did it mostly unassisted. I think he's a good midrange shooter, I don't think he has that same midrange post game/pull up that made/make a couple hall of fame players like Melo or Pierce (or even Robinson) what they were. Obviously he's shown some flashes, but he is in no way the "he's going to be Melo" that people are making him out to be. He certainly has holes in his offensive game and once you stepped out of his unsustainable first couple weeks shooting the ball, they definitely showed.

Rodney Hood is a very good shooter. Even if Hood was better which is debatable, still doesn't mean he wasn't one of the best in College Basketball. If you are comparing Melo/Pierce/Dog's pull/post game in their prime to Parkers now of course he isn't on their level. I can't speak for Big Dog since I didn't really watch him in College, but at 18 his mid-range pull up/post game is at the same level or not far behind where Melo/Pierce's was at the same age. He isn't a lock to be Melo/Pierce, just like Embiid isn't a lock to be Hakkem and Wiggins to be Paul George.

What Parker gas going for him is a good work ethic, great footwork on the offensive end, and an excellent bbiq. He clearly needs work defensively, but he turned into a decent Shot Blocker for someone playing out of position. I think the Melo/Pierce ceiling comparison is right.

[breakchains]

I see a lot of Derrick Williams in Jabari Parker, at least offensively. I'm banking on him being mentally tougher, having a better IQ than Williams though. Certainly wouldn't be the worst pick in the world for this franchise.

Derrick Williams?! No way. Parker is incredibly skilled offensively, especially for an 18 year old. He is far far advanced compared to Williams and will only get better. The worry about Parker is almost solely defensively.

[emunney]

We should be ranking 1-36. 36 should have a 1st round talent. And only four players is boring.

[Baddy Chuck]

We should be ranking 1-36. 36 should have a 1st round talent. And only four players is boring.

I tried and gave up after like 12. I like a lot of guys in the 15-30 range but no one really stands out to me. Maybe Hairston.

[wichmae]

We should be ranking 1-36. 36 should have a 1st round talent. And only four players is boring.

I tried and gave up after like 12. I like a lot of guys in the 15-30 range but no one really stands out to me. Maybe Hairston.

Love Melvin Ejim and CJ Fair in the 2nd. Also very very high Russ Smith and Appling in the 2nd. I think there are very good serviceable seniors who can really help in the 2nd round.

[Baddy Chuck]

31 and 36 should have some good talent. I don't really have anyone from like 15-30 much higher then another, someone should drop and be there. From the guys projected to be at like 31-36 Christon and Wilcox would interest me. Then you got the "potential" guys who you'd take and hope they develop like Austin, Robinson III and the Harrison twins. At 48 I have no idea, most likely D-League fodder. Drafting Thanasis wouldn't hurt anything, wouldn't mind a few of the older seniors like Young, Kilpatrick or Kane either.

[jr lucosa]

some projected 2nd rounders I would like at our picks are Micic, Jarnell Stokes, GR III. Thanasis finished out the season strong also.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

I'd love to have both Giannis and Thanasis defending the other team's wings. Good luck.

[flipparsons]

I wouldn't mind one of those seconds to be used on Kane. He would be a pretty nice bench piece.

[theFireBlanket]

I'd love to have both Giannis and Thanasis defending the other team's wings. Good luck.

[Buckrageous]

DX Buck picks:

1/ Wiggins
31/ Vasilije Micic
36/ Isaac Austin
48/ LaQuinton Ross (they have the Bucks drafting Jarnell Stokes at 49 but havent updated the order)

Based on who they have available id take
1/ Parker / Wiggins / Smart - Id have Embiid 1 or 2 without the health risks and havent seen Exum enough.
31/ Glenn Robinson - I think he can be a great "3 and D" guy. He can guard 2's or 3's and he doesnt force shots.
36/ Devyn Marble - bench scorer
48/ Stokes / Appling / Thiannis

Post draft roster
Wolters
Knight/Marble/Mayo
Giannis/ Middleton/ Robinson / Delfino (lol)
Parker/ Henson/ Ersan / Stokes
Sanders/ Zaza/ Miroslav