Mid-late 1st centers

[big3_8_19_21]

Who would you guys prefer?
Kosta Koufos
Robin Lopez
JaVale McGee
Mareese Speights
Roy Hibbert
Alexis Ajinca
DeVon Hardin

I know Speights is really a PF, but if he slipped would you take him? Lopez fits what he need very nicely, but Koufos can step outside and shoot better than any of the rest of them (besides maybe Ajinca, but I've never seen him) so he could space us better on offense since Jefferson spends most of his time in the post.

Koufos, Lopez and Speights are my top 3, but I have yet to order them

[AQuintus]

In this order:
Lopez, Ajinca,Speights,Hardin

Guys I want nothing to do with:
Koufos,McGee,Hibbert

Want I want to happen on draft day:
Trade the 2 seconds + Bos pick (or if absolutely necessary, Mia pick) for Jordan

[Klomp]

In this order:
Lopez, Ajinca,Speights,Hardin

Guys I want nothing to do with:
Koufos,McGee,Hibbert

Want I want to happen on draft day:
Trade the 2 seconds + Bos pick (or if absolutely necessary, Mia pick) for Jordan

In this order:
Speights, Hibbert, Hardin, Lopez,

Guys I want nothing to do with:
Koufos, McGee, Ajinca

[Tpups21]

Speights, McGee, Hardin, Lopez

[deeney0]

I'm not interest in Koufos, I don't know anything about Ajinca, but I'd take any of the others anywhere after the lottery.

[karch34]

Kosta Koufos-He's raw, but he's got good length and smarts. He's young enough that I would gamble on him. Good footwork.

Robin Lopez-I think he'd be a solid contributor, but not sure if he's got a lot of upside.

JaVale McGee--I really covet this kid as I think he could provide the shot blocking and rebounding we need immediately.

Mareese Speights --Probably more of a PF, but I like what he could do.

Roy Hibbert--Great size. Disappointed this year, but was it due somewhat to a bad system? Not sure, but worth a late first as he would've been a top pick last year.

Alexis Ajinca--Don't know anything about him.

DeVon Hardin--Not as excited about him as others, but he could be a good player.

[andyhop]

Koufos,Ajinca and Speights have the most upside though Speights is unlikely to amount to much IMO.

Hibbert,Hardin and Lopez will all be OK starters/1st big off the bench guys.

McGee will be playing in Europe after his rookie deal.

[Winter Wonder]

I think Karch summed them up very well.

One thing, I think if we want someone who operates well with Al on Offense, you are looking at centers who can thrive in the highpost. Koufos seems to have the right skill set there and Hibbert played in a system that placed him there alot as well.

If we are looking for someone to compliment Al on defense, then we know R. Lopez, Hardin, Speights(?), are the more athletic and better defensively and on the boards.

What is easier to teach/coach, footwork and skill or hustle and defense; and what is the team looking for most?

I would be happy with most as long as they did their role, which ever it may be, and were a LEGITIMATE center, not a PF playing center.

[ChazzleDazzle]

Don't think we can get high enough for Jordan or Speights. Of the rest, I like Lopez (high motor, good rebounder and shot blocker) a lot more than Koufos.

Right now, Chad Ford (i know) has a lot of big men dropping into the 2nd.

If we sit tight, it's possible we can nab Hardin at #31 and Ajinca (who I think is the ideal candidate to draft and stash for development abroad) at #34 without having to sacrifice and move up... If either of them are gone, we'll still be able to choose from Tomic, Asik and Pekovic to draft and stash, and Hibbert or someone like Sasha Kaun (who I thought looked pretty good in the tournament) as an immediate backup.

Right now, unless we're getting Brook Lopez, I don't think we're getting someone who can start next to Al anytime soon.

[AQuintus]

I think that the answer to that question is easily defense. Big Al has already shown that he can score effectively against double (and even triple or quadruple) teams, but he's also shown that he can't effectively defend the paint.

I would think that the best fit for a C next to Al would be a guy like Tyson Chandler, someone who sets screens and dunks on O and protects the paint and blocks shots on D.

From what I've seen, Lopez and Hardin fit those qualifications best, while Speights and Ajinca both have too much potential to ignore.

Koufos and McGee can spread the floor on O, but are way too soft on D to be effective, and McGee is so soft mentally that he is almost guaranteed to be a bust in my mind.

Hibbert might be effective as a man defender, but I doubt he will ever be much of a shot blocker. On top of that, he's so slow that with Al and him on the floor together, the Wolves would get killed in transition. Everything about him screams average backup at best.

As I mentioned above, I would be happiest with Jordan. He needs a serious kick in the pants to get his work ethic back in line, and he would need a ton of one-on-one attention from a good big man coach, but I can definitely see him becoming a bulkier (and therefore more effective) Tyson Chandler.

[younggunsmn]

As far as immediate contributions go Robin Lopez and Hibbert are head and shoulders above the rest, but neither has much upside. I don't know how well Hibbert's knees will hold up, he just looks like he should carry around an oil can when I watch him play. His size can't be questioned though, I just don't think he uses it well. He would be nice to have to guard Oden though.

Speights and Jordan won't last past 15, and I don't think we can trade up that high.

McGee has the most potential. He is a legit 7' and had an otherworldly 9'6 1/2 reach. He's already a good shooter. I think the question with him is desire and BB IQ (and maybe foot speed). But if he adds muscle and fills out his frame he could be another Bynum.

Koufos is like a euro in that he's skilled but soft. I watched the A&M/ Ohio St. game early in the year and he had a real hard time doing anything against DeAndre Jordan.

I like Hardin a lot. He is offensively unpolished and doesn't have a freakish reach like some of the others, but he is very strong (20 reps) and fairly athletic. He also graduated and is rumored to be pretty smart and a strong character guy. I HOPE he slips to 31, and if he does and we pass on him I'll be pissed because I like him best of all the potential 2nd rounders. Some scouts compare his athleticism favorably with DeAndre Jordan.

The question with the 2nd round Euro players is signability.
Tomic and Peckovic have fallen alot because it looks like they're going to sign big Euroleague deals.

Ajinca is a good shooter and a legit 7 feet. He's probably my #1 choice of Euro players with 31/34. Asik (from Turkey) is supposed to be pretty good too.

Nathan Jawai (from Australia) is supposedly climbing near the 1st round.

Jason Thompson from Rider is also supposedly a 1st rounder.


Ideally:
3. Mayo
31. Hardin
34. Ajinca (Or PF Ryan Anderson from Cal, who can shoot the lights out).

I'd prefer this to trading up for any of the other players,
but who knows who is going to fall/rise and if there is a huge run on big men maybe none of the guys we like would be available at 31.

So Ideally I'd like to package McCants and ONE of our 2nds (with maybe more sweetener like the boston pick or taking a bad contract for buckner) to trade up for McGee, and then land Hardin with the 2nd rounder we kept. Then we get a "potential" guy and a 4-year college guy.

[big3_8_19_21]

I thought about mentioning Thompson as well, but he doesn't have the frame to even be a PF masquerading as a C. He's just a PF.

[Winter Wonder]

Asik is climbing my list very rapidly and I had seen a mock or two with him sneaking into the late first round. He is one of the reason why I want to keep our two second rounders, so that we can use one on him and stash him over in Europe. He also had a very nice workout his first day at the eurocamp per draft express.

Ibaka is also doing well over in the eurocamp and should be in the conversation with Jawaii.

Ajinca is still a big question mark for me, but I just know less about him than most other internationals, so it is not an ability thing. He does sound somewhat like McGee in my mind though.

In regards to signability, our second rounders become that much more valuable. The 2nd round picks are not subject to the rookie pay scale and can be signed for deals larger than there first round counterparts. I believe this is why there are some issues bringing Splitter over for the Spurs. This makes the euros (like Pekovic) less scarey to me since we are sitting in a spot that can capatalize on this glitch in the system. A more talented euro could drop to the second round due to signability.

[revprodeji]

Guys I like
-Hibbert
-Hardin
-Ibaka
-Asik

Guys I would take if only above are gone
-Robin Lopez
-Speights
-Ajinca
-Jawaii

Overhyped Guys who would be at the bottom
-Koufos
-McGee

The idea that McGee is a defensive player or even a 5 is horrible. He is Mark Blount. He will not be a starter and likely will not be playing after his rookie deal. WORST DEFENSIVE PLAYER IN THE DRAFT

[Devilzsidewalk]

The idea that McGee is a defensive player or even a 5 is horrible. He is Mark Blount. He will not be a starter and likely will not be playing after his rookie deal. WORST DEFENSIVE PLAYER IN THE DRAFT

but he's really long and explosive and still young and has shown better scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking skills in college than Mark Blount ever did

I think he's an intriguing prospect

[Worm Guts]

Guys I like
-Hibbert
-Hardin
-Ibaka
-Asik

Guys I would take if only above are gone
-Robin Lopez
-Speights
-Ajinca
-Jawaii

Overhyped Guys who would be at the bottom
-Koufos-McGee

The idea that McGee is a defensive player or even a 5 is horrible. He is Mark Blount. He will not be a starter and likely will not be playing after his rookie deal. WORST DEFENSIVE PLAYER IN THE DRAFT

I really like Koufos offensively, I think he'll be in the NBA for a long time. Defensively he'll just get by, so maybe he's not a great fit for the Wolves, but I wouldn't be mad if they drafted him.

[dunkonu21]

I like them in this order:

JaVale McGee-this kid looks fantastic to me, he is so long and has a lil cockyness to his game that I like, also flashy and pretty athletic

Ibaka-More of a PF, but he is RAW. I would bring him along slowly, but he is one of the few players that I'd allow Al to start at Center for.

DeVon Hardin-This kid is a beast. He has the toughness to play Center despite his somewhat small size and can jump and throw it down in a beastly manor.

Robin Lopez-Very good on the defensive end. He is a jerk though and I hate his unsportsmanlike play.

Jawaii-I have not seen him play, but Ive seen an interview and he has a very big body. They say he is VERY physical, which would be good to have.

Kosta Koufos-I don't mind him as much as most, I'd love to see him set up shop around the free throw lane ala Dirk and just shoot the lights out. That would be a great compliment to Al Jefferson. True Center too.

Mareese Speights-He is gonna be a force, but he has a pretty bad attitude. A larger Craig Smith to me, but that includes the defensive deficiencies.

Roy Hibbert-Very slow, but has a nice offensive repertoire. He'd clog the lane for Al IMO.

Alexis Ajinca-VERY skinny, doesn't seem to impact the game as much as he should.

[horaceworthy]

I like Koufos. I got the chance to see him up close when the Buckeyes came to Williams Arena. He's built a lot more solid than it appears on TV. He picked up his activity level towards the end of the year as well, and wasn't just a 7'0" SF like he'd played most of the year. Offensively he's a nice fit next to Al, and he's got the length and mobility to be a decent defender if he plays with the intensity he did towards the end of the year.

Ajinca I was really impressed with in the Nike Hoop Summit game. He's got some LMA to him.

McGee's intriguing, but I'm not too bullish on him.

Robin Lopez I've liked since I saw him in the McDonald's All-American game. Athletic, active, improving offensive game. I also think it's funny that he's dating Michelle Wie.

Hardin doesn't strike me as anything too special. Good body, good athleticism, didn't seem to impact the game like someone with his physical tools should.

Ibaka I really like. He's raw and such, but it isn't often you can get a guy with his talent as low as he'll probably go.

Jawai looks to be a big body with some offensive talent. The athleticism/bulk combination is intriguing.

Hibbert I like, but realize that we'll constantly get beaten down the court with a frontcourt of him and Al, and I don't know how his offensive game will translate to the NBA.

Asik I really like, even though I haven't seen much.

Speights has a good set of tools to work with, but doesn't really seem to know how to use them.

Trent Plaisted's a name worth mentiong, too. A tad undersized, but he's athletic and has a jump shot.

I'd probably rank them like this:

Koufos
Hibbert
Ibaka
Speights
Lopez
Ajinca
Asik
Hardin
McGee
Jawai

That order isn't real firm, and there isn't a whole lot of separation there.

[revprodeji]

-= original quote snipped =-

but he's really long and explosive and still young and has shown better scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking skills in college than Mark Blount ever did

I think he's an intriguing prospect

Blount was a shot blocker in college and even with Boston before his contract. Defense and rebounding is mostly based on desire. It does not matter if you have the tools if you do not want to use them. McGee has been called the worst defensive prospect by a couple people. He is also trying to make himself into a 3/4 not a 5. For the sake of our devotion to the UCLA kid I will call McGee the anti-Love. All the stupid physical numbers, but low BBIQ and desire.

-= original quote snipped =-

I really like Koufos offensively, I think he'll be in the NBA for a long time. Defensively he'll just get by, so maybe he's not a great fit for the Wolves, but I wouldn't be mad if they drafted him.

Koufos has that weird "one-dribble jumper" move that is effective and I think he could perhaps become an effective high post option. I do not know if he brings more to the table than that. In college this year he looked very soft and uninterested in putting a body on someone. With good coaching he could be an effective rotation player, but not the type we need. He screams Matt Bonner to me.

I like them in this order:

(1)JaVale McGee-this kid looks fantastic to me, he is so long and has a lil cockyness to his game that I like, also flashy and pretty athletic
(2)Ibaka-More of a PF, but he is RAW. I would bring him along slowly, but he is one of the few players that I'd allow Al to start at Center for.
(3)DeVon Hardin-This kid is a beast. He has the toughness to play Center despite his somewhat small size and can jump and throw it down in a beastly manor.
(4)Robin Lopez-Very good on the defensive end. He is a jerk though and I hate his unsportsmanlike play.
(5)Jawaii-I have not seen him play, but Ive seen an interview and he has a very big body. They say he is VERY physical, which would be good to have.
(6)Kosta Koufos-I don't mind him as much as most, I'd love to see him set up shop around the free throw lane ala Dirk and just shoot the lights out. That would be a great compliment to Al Jefferson. True Center too.
(7)Mareese Speights-He is gonna be a force, but he has a pretty bad attitude. A larger Craig Smith to me, but that includes the defensive deficiencies.
(8)Roy Hibbert-Very slow, but has a nice offensive repertoire. He'd clog the lane for Al IMO.
(9)Alexis Ajinca-VERY skinny, doesn't seem to impact the game as much as he should.

1-Low BBIQ(bastardly low), sees himself as a 3/4 and padded most of his stats against 6'7 post players. Kid will bust.
2-He is a project, but he has desire, workethic and great physical tools. The comments coming from the euro scouts are great. I hope we get this kid. The difference with a 4/5 is very gray and Ibaka could rebound/shot block at both spots. I see him being a high pick. Some scout getting a man crush at the 10-15 range. I am high on him. Reminds me of a less strong-but quicker Nene.
3-Perhaps, but he disappeared big time this year. He did a very good job against Lopez, but had a disappointing season. That being said, he is on my board. I like his defensive focus and his blue-collar work ethic. I am concerned about his size. If he is a legit 6'10, or more of a 6'8. He looked shorter to me. Ratliff is 6'10 and Hardin would project as that type of prospect if he has the size.
4-Unsportsmanlike play? I am brain farting. Personally, I think Robin would not be considered better than the Collins brothers if not for the focus that Brook got. Thats why I am neutral.
5-actual height is a concern here also. Same with speed and hands. He would be a project of course.
6-Is lack of defense and rebounding worries me. ALso his lack of physical play and points in the paint. I spoke about him more above. With proper coaching he could be an effective player, but a bad fit for us.
7-Hard to figure. Looks great in practice, but not in games. His negatives are dangerous negatives (

[Worm Guts]

Koufos has that weird "one-dribble jumper" move that is effective and I think he could perhaps become an effective high post option. I do not know if he brings more to the table than that. In college this year he looked very soft and uninterested in putting a body on someone. With good coaching he could be an effective rotation player, but not the type we need. He screams Matt Bonner to me.

I'm not sure about the move you're talking about but when I watched Koufos he had 3 point range, an explosive first step off the dribble (for someone his size) and some moves in the post.
He's got about 3 inches on Bonner.