2014 Draft Prospects Thread

[horaceworthy]

If thee is one thing I know about your draft crushes, it's that you love the versatile offensive players that can't guard anyone.

Is it true the Steve Alford never had a team play zone in his life, but had to go to nearly full time zone defense because Anderson couldn't guard anybody.?

Ha, I was wondering if anybody would remember my history. In fairness, Royce White's even crazier than I thought, and Darington Hobson got the Bo Jackson treatment on both hips, and they never got a chance to fail on the court without outside factors completely rid me of this predilection.

Alford was the coach at New Mexico when Hobson was there and whenever I watched that team they mostly played zone. I don't know what he did any other year.

I just really want a small forward that can create/exploit mismatches, since just about every decent team has one. At #13 I think the best chances to grab one are Anderson and Warren. I like Anderson better due to his improved shot and because I think he's one of those guys who will improve his body/athleticism when he gets into the league, enough to at least to do an impression of a passable defender.

[Klomp]

We want to build around Love to convince him to stay, but draft a guy that likely won't get any meaningful minutes the one season we have Love for?

Last I checked, Rick Adelman is no longer in Minnesota.

I don't think Flip Saunders the coach is one to bury rookies on the bench if they can play, especially one that Flip Saunders the GM used a lottery pick on. If Flip sees LaVine as a "star in the making," I don't see any way that he wouldn't get playing time or make an impact in his rookie season.

I think LaVine will be much better much earlier than most people here expect.

[Maefteda]

The whole reason LaVine is at play at #13 is because people expect that in time, he will be able to fill out his frame so he can be a good player. He won't have much of an impact before he gets closer to his NBA body. That isn't possible in one summer. Adelman or not, LaVine won't get much playtime right away regardless of where he goes.

Not that he goes to us, but another red flag with Vonleh:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/nbadraftnet/status/481861005719252992[/tweet]

[Krapinsky]

The whole reason LaVine is at play at #13 is because people expect that in time, he will be able to fill out his frame so he can be a good player. He won't have much of an impact before he gets closer to his NBA body. That isn't possible in one summer. Adelman or not, LaVine won't get much playtime right away regardless of where he goes.

Agree. His frame is so slender it's like he doesn't have a chest and his shoulders are connected.

[Klomp]

Not that he goes to us, but another red flag with Vonleh:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/nbadraftnet/status/481861005719252992[/tweet]

I don't buy that

[tweet]https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/status/481847341993820160[/tweet]

[Grits n Gravy]

Not that he goes to us, but another red flag with Vonleh:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/nbadraftnet/status/481861005719252992[/tweet]

I don't buy that

[tweet]https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/status/481847341993820160[/tweet]

Completely agree. The red flag is with Gordon who has legitimately said that.

[Esohny]

Of course, last year right before the draft, we heard that Shabazz was on the "do not draft" list, and look how that turned out.

Did we ever actually hear that, or was it simply fan speculation? I only remember the latter.

I believe that the phrase was "red lined" or something to that effect. I don't remember who was quoting whom. I'm not sure it matters all that much, since it all goes to the point that almost everything we're hearing is either complete smoke, or colored by somebody either speculating or trying to manipulate the story.

[Krapinsky]

Not that he goes to us, but another red flag with Vonleh:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/nbadraftnet/status/481861005719252992[/tweet]

I don't buy that

[tweet]https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/status/481847341993820160[/tweet]

Completely agree. The red flag is with Gordon who has legitimately said that.

I think the red flag with Gordon is he isn't big enough to guard a lot of the PF's in the NBA. Won't have a chance against Aldridge, Jefferson, Splitter, Davis, Love, Randolph, Monroe, Nene.

[Grits n Gravy]

I don't buy that

[tweet]https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/status/481847341993820160[/tweet]

Completely agree. The red flag is with Gordon who has legitimately said that.

I think the red flag with Gordon is he isn't big enough to guard a lot of the PF's in the NBA. Won't have a chance against Aldridge, Jefferson, Splitter, Davis, Love, Randolph, Monroe, Nene.

True.

[AQuintus]

ith Gordon is he isn't big enough to guard a lot of the PF's in the NBA. Won't have a chance against Aldridge, Jefferson, Splitter, Davis, Love, Randolph, Monroe, Nene.

I think the only guys he'd really have a problem with are Jefferson (who is actually a C) and Randolph, the two best low post guys in that list.

The other guys are primarily face-up jump shooters, Gordon will be able to defend them.

[Mattya]

ith Gordon is he isn't big enough to guard a lot of the PF's in the NBA. Won't have a chance against Aldridge, Jefferson, Splitter, Davis, Love, Randolph, Monroe, Nene.

I think the only guys he'd really have a problem with are Jefferson (who is actually a C) and Randolph, the two best low post guys in that list.

The other guys are primarily face-up jump shooters, Gordon will be able to defend them.

Yea I think Gordon would be just fine guarding most PFs. Love had some of his biggest struggles against guys like Diaw and Marion.

[Grits n Gravy]

ith Gordon is he isn't big enough to guard a lot of the PF's in the NBA. Won't have a chance against Aldridge, Jefferson, Splitter, Davis, Love, Randolph, Monroe, Nene.

I think the only guys he'd really have a problem with are Jefferson (who is actually a C) and Randolph, the two best low post guys in that list.

The other guys are primarily face-up jump shooters, Gordon will be able to defend them.

Yeah looking through some power forward measureables there's some that stood out to me.
- Taj Gibson was only 214 pounds when he was drafted
- Keneth Faried only 6'6 barefoot and 225 pounds.

Gordon measures up next to guy like Tristan Thompson and an inch taller than Shaun Marion. You gotta think being 18 he can fill out and add some weight. Even then rarely do teams start an offensive threat at both the 4-5 so you can probably cross match(initially 1-2 years) and let Gordon be the off ball/help defender terror that many think he can be.

[Krapinsky]

ith Gordon is he isn't big enough to guard a lot of the PF's in the NBA. Won't have a chance against Aldridge, Jefferson, Splitter, Davis, Love, Randolph, Monroe, Nene.

I think the only guys he'd really have a problem with are Jefferson (who is actually a C) and Randolph, the two best low post guys in that list.

The other guys are primarily face-up jump shooters, Gordon will be able to defend them.

I think he's goign to struggle holding his position in the post. As they say, he's got no a$$. Doesn't help that he's also has slightly below average length. Love, Griffin, Milsap, etc. those guys are thick from the hips down and can hold their position. If you can't hold position and you have short length, I think you're going to be in trouble. For that reason, i think Gordon will be a SF before his career is over.

[kmgarnett21]

Alex Kennedy ‏@AlexKennedyNBA 2m

NBA draft rumor: Multiple league sources believe that Zach LaVine has a promise from the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 13.

[Grits n Gravy]

Alex Kennedy ‏@AlexKennedyNBA 2m

NBA draft rumor: Multiple league sources believe that Zach LaVine has a promise from the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 13.

I wouldn't put it past Flip to be trolling ion the hope that someone takes him so his guy might slide. I do hope it's true though.

[criteriado]

I'm down with Lavine. He shouldn't excite me, but he does.

[Krapinsky]

Alex Kennedy ‏@AlexKennedyNBA 2m

NBA draft rumor: Multiple league sources believe that Zach LaVine has a promise from the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 13.

I think I dislike Lavine as much as Aquintus dislikes the GSW deal. Oh well...

[Maefteda]

That makes me even more anxious about whether we trade Love or not on draft day. If we do go for LaVine, Love has to be traded. Stauskas can still fall though, and I can still dream.

[Krapinsky]

Not sure why we would need to promise Lavine anything. What if Embiid falls to #13? I call BS.

[AQuintus]

I think he's goign to struggle holding his position in the post. As they say, he's got no a$$.

Yep. And that's why I think he'll struggle defending the low post studs (Randolph and Jefferson), at least initially.

Doesn't help that he's also has slightly below average length. Love, Griffin, Milsap, etc. those guys are thick from the hips down and can hold their position.

Garnett's got the length, but he's also skinny from the waste down. The trick for guys like Gordon is to get underneath the offensive player and use leverage. That and smart double teams and help defense.

If you can't hold position and you have short length, I think you're going to be in trouble. For that reason, i think Gordon will be a SF before his career is over.

Maybe, but I don't think it will be because he failed at PF. Instead, it will be like Marion and Kirilenko in that he's just good at both.