Thoughts on 2nd round for the Wolves?

[horaceworthy]

Maybe equally uninspiring, but I'd say that Hibbert's season was much more disappointing, since he carried higher expectations coming into the year, after passing up a chance to be a top 7 pick last year. Arthur didn't live up to expectations either, but his expectations weren't as high as Hibbert's, and he didn't end the season on as dour a note.

I think Hibbert should go in the 10-14 portion of the lottery, but the teams projected to pick in that range are either set at C, have a larger need at a position like PG, or play a more up tempo style.

Yes, Hibbert's 7'2", but he doesn't physically dominate people, he's a finesse guy without a lot of athleticism. He's a poor rebounder, has somewhat sloppy footwork in the post, relies too much on that sweeping spin move of his, doesn't yet have a reliable mid-range jump shot (although he has hit from there at times), and doesn't play with great knee bend, which allows him too get bodied out of position too easily.

The worry is that, while he's 7'2", he isn't doing to be dominant, and players like that don't have a great track record. Added to that is that it's rare for a player of his size not to experience serious health issues during his career.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Hibbert isn't my hero or anything, but from a league-wide perspective, Hibbert has been a top 10 for sure and probably for many teams, top 5 talent for most of the past 2 years, I think its highly unlikely and the entire league has now universally declared him post-lottery because of foul trouble against Davidson.

NBA LOVES centers. Scouts and GMs across the league will think up enough excuses to get him in the top 10, I'll bet my life on it.

[horaceworthy]

The NBA does love centers, but it also loves athleticism and Tremendous Upside Potential, two areas where Hibbert leaves something to be desired. This is also a nice draft when it comes to centers, with about 9 legit 1st round center prospects at the moment, so I don't know that there will be as much reaching at that position as there has been in years past.

It wouldn't be foul trouble against Davidson that knocks Hibbert down a notch or two, it's the lack of athleticism, the fact that he didn't really improve at all this season after making nice strides the two years before, which could mean that he's reasonably close to reaching his ceiling.

Right now, I just don't see Hibbert getting into the top 10. I don't think he goes ahead of Beasley/Rose/Mayo/Lopez/Bayless/Gordon/Love/Gallinari/Randolph, and that at that point, a team that's going to reach for a center will do so for Deandre Jordan. There are also guys like Augustin, Westbrook, Donte Greene and Marreese Speights to consider as well.

He's also not a great fit for many teams picking in the lottery. The earliest I can see him going, if the lottery stays true, is #11 to the Pacers, with a decent possibility that he slips to the 17-19 range, where he'd be a good fit for the Raptors, Wiz, or Cavs.

[Devilzsidewalk]

so Charlotte, Chicago, and New Jersey are all going to spend their top 10 picks on bench players then because they all have a PG, SG, and SF

[horaceworthy]

Chicago and NJ are pretty up in the air in regards to who will be their next year, though. Deng and Gordon are both free agents this summer, Jefferson seems to feel like he's on the block, VC very well could be, too (although I don't know who'd take him).

Still, if those teams do go for a big, I'd expect them to go for Love, Randolph or Deandre Jordan before Hibbert (with Speights, McGee and Koufos having the potential to worm their way ahead of him as well).

[Krapinsky]

I think Horace has it right:

Randolph/Speights/Jordan/Love/McGee/Arthur should all go off the board before Hibbert. Thabeet and Robin Lopez also have a chance to pass him up.