Magic Select Andrew Nicholson with 19th Pick

[arkknight1988]

he even comes with song
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0MjYLqnnSQ[/youtube]

[SolidSnake008]

Andrew is like what 234? put in work with our trainers it's not out of the question that he comes into summer league at 240 maybe 245.....I mean Liggins according to Stan put on 10-15 pounds of muscle in a fairly short period of time.....

[doct3r dr3]

A few things:

1.) Jesus, how many Magic boarders does it take to calculate an age from a birthdate?

2.) I knew it was a matter of time before the love affair with Hennigan turned sour, but this was pretty fast.

3.) Chill the eff out, guys. Yes, PF is our best position right now. But you're playing checkers and Hennigan's playing chess. When you're rebuilding, you take the best player available, and there's a good case to be made that that was Andrew Nicholson. Other guys can and will be traded.

4.) Advanced stat projection gurus say Nicholson is great. Ed Weiland (HoopsAnalyst) hit on Jeremy Lin before the 2010 draft, among others. Just look at what he has to say about Nicholson.

1. Anthony Davis PF-C, Kentucky: The sky is the limit for Davis. Everything about him says he’ll become a legendary player.
2. Dion Waiters G, Syracuse: Someone has to be #2. I went with Waiters because of upside. He has star ability and might even be able to play some point. In 5 years it might seem really silly to have Waiters at #2, but I suspect most other current mocks will look just as silly. Know that the gap between Davis and Waiters is greater than the gap between Waiters and Jesse Sanders at #60.
3. Andrew Nicholson PF, St. Bonaventure: I don’t envy teams drafting in spots 2-5. Nicholson seems like a reach here and he is. But other than Davis he was the best big guy in the nation for the final 3 months of the season. That’s why I have him ahead of Robinson.
4. Thomas Robinson PF, Kansas: He reminds me of Jordan Hill from a few years ago. Like Hill his numbers scream journeyman despite that high-revvin’ motor of his.

Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure: For 3 seasons Andrew Nicholson had been one of those players on my watch list. His stats were good enough to get a place on my spreadsheet, but not good enough that I ever considered him much of a prospect. He was a good scorer, but didn’t rebound that well and hadn’t been much of a defender since his freshman year. When the calendar turned 2012, something happened with Nicholson’s game that not even the Mayans could have foreseen:



On 12/31/2011, Andrew Nicholson was in the middle of an uneventful senior season, well on his way to the D-league. On that night he must have cut a deal with the Mayan god Kisin and became the best basketball player in the nation not named Anthony Davis for the final 3 months. I look forward to 12/21/12 when we all find out whether Kisin will want Nicholson’s soul or just a couple of courtside seats in return.

Most impressive is that the improvement came during the conference season when the vast majority of players see their stats decline. Less impressive is that it took this long for him to get there. There haven’t been too many seniors who put up such numbers. Most players who are this good depart for the NBA well before their senior seasons. Here are a few guys who stuck around 4 seasons and topped .600, 25.0 and 11.0 for the entire season, matching what Nicholson did from January on:



Grant was an all-star and an integral piece on several championship teams, Henderson a journeyman and Harris too short. Nicholson doesn’t have the height problem that plagued Harris, so he looks like at least a solid journeyman if the Jan-March stats are an accurate reflection of the real Andrew Nicholson that is.

The question that has to be asked is what triggered this sudden improvement? If it was a case of Nicholson working harder, will he continue with the same hard work that improved his game? Or will he revert to the habits that led to his ordinary first three seasons once he signs the contract? If it was just a case of him playing harder, that makes him something of a flake who may not always give it his all. Or maybe he just matured as a player and figured out a few things that made him more productive. If that’s the case, the Andrew Nicholson we saw from the start of 2012 is the real thing and that makes him a pretty good prospect.

Not counting Anthony Davis, who might be more of a center anyways, Andrew Nicholson is the top PF prospect in the 2012 draft. The reason I like him better than Robinson or Sullinger is that at his best, Nicholson was a more dominant player both offensively and defensively. He definitely comes with some risk and concerns, but drafting on upside, I have to put Nicholson at the top.

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6. The Crazy 8s.

John Henson, Drew Gordon, Kyle O’Quinn, Andrew Nicholson, Eric Griffin

Out of this whole group, the one with the best Defensive Stat Section is Drew Gordon, his steal percentage and offensive rebounds making up for his lack of blocks. His scoring is economical and efficient. He sports a 11% Above Average FT% as well. The %PRAWS indicate that he is the best buy as well.

Kyle O’Quinn is better defensively than Nicholson by a good margin but at the expense of being 14% more foul prone than Nicholson. But 20% more rebs and 20% more blocks more than cover it. It’s really a toss up on who’s better scoring paint points. Both are average with Kyle being more aggressive. Nicholson is a better shooter by far as he hits 1 out ever 2.2 treys per game. His ft% rate is better as is the general case of good perimeter players. But Kyle gets to the line more often. I give the edge to Kyle.

Henson and Griffin were much better last year which made me google them for injury. Henson suffered from a sprained wrist.. Griffin has only been playing basketball for 6 years. If we look at there Def. Section, Henson is the clear winner. In fact, he is the clear leader of the entire group in blocked shots. Offensively, Eric Gordon is 20% better than Henson both in the paint and at the perimeter. But I see that as a wash since he has 15% more Pfouls than avg. Henson’s offense this year has been underwhelming. But because of the injury, I think Henson is a better bet. He also commits 40% less personal fouls than average.

I think Henson is the best choice out of this series while Gordon is the safest.

^^ This guy also has Nicholson ahead of Meyers Leonard and even Thomas Robinson.




5. Reportedly, both Nicholson and O'Quinn only started playing basketball as juniors in HS. If you recall, Russell Westbrook didn't make the starting lineup of his HS team until junior year, and James Harden was also a "late bloomer". Perhaps this is Hennigan's/the Thunder's secret to finding hidden gems...



So, take a deep breath. The sun will come out tomorrow, I promise.

[MagicFan32]

http://www.draftexpress.com//profile/An ... lson-5518/
Great length, love the pick he has post moves, he has midrange game, and he can shoot the 3. giant wingspan

Anyone that wanted Sullinger over this dude is clueless and doesn't watch NCAA basketball, I can tolerate the PJ3 argument, but both of them have medical red flags.

Nicholson completely dominated the 2nd half of the season when typically guys numbers come down in conference play, he shoots high percentages, rebounds well, and can block shots. The analytics are good for this one, Hennigan comes from 2 of the best drafting organizations in the league, i'm sure you Realgm'ers know better than them huh

I honestly think some people here just judge players by their pre-college rankings sometimes

[BaunceyChillups]

Does anyone else see the irony in a user named PerryJonesIII trashing a pretty good college player?

[Truth24]

Does anyone else see the irony in a user named PerryJonesIII trashing a pretty good college player?

I've never trashed him and from the beginning said I think he is a solid player. I didn't have a brain fart on his age but that happens from time to time.

[MagicFan32]

At the end of the day, I see Vin Baker in the dude, not Ryno or Brackins.

He turns into Baker (oncourt) cool but all this "complete post game crap" is killin' me cause isn't Dwight supposed to be that dude (as long as he's here)?

Dwight doesn't have a complete post game, far from it, he has about 2 or 3 moves, and no mid range game.....Nicholson has post moves and also mid range, and long range scoring ability at a high percentage

[SOUL]

this dude is awkward in interviews though. it'll be funny to see how him and o'quinn are when interviewed.. ones c charismatic as all hell and ones just like o_O

[SolidSnake008]

Wished Summer league started tomorrow.....He can do a lot of different things on both ends of the floor....i'm very impressed with his post moves....very advanced in the post he can teach Dwight a few things in that regard.....Pretty decent midrange game as well....nice little turnaround jumper....Can catch and shoot.....can work in pick and pop and pick and slip situations.....Ability to hit the 3 at an above average clip.....his length says that he might have potential on the defensive end with steals and blocks.....

Needs to get bigger though....imo he shouldn't come to summer league if he weighs less than 240....needs to work on his ball-handling as well to get more of a feel to cut those turnovers down...Just needs to refine his body in general become stronger/faster/smarter as it will translate........Needs to run the floor better......All in All the more you do research on the kid the more he intrigues you.....decent pick with potential....But with the logjam at PF someone has to hit the road...who will it be?

[arsenal6106]

Video: Hennigan on Andrew Nicholson

http://ht.ly/bU9se

[SS_MagicMark]

Even though we needed another stretch 4 like we need a hole in the head, I'm all about taking the BPA, regardless of position. Not sure that Nicholson was the BPA, though; not with Jones, Sullinger, Teague, Wroten, and MIller still on the board. He does give us the flexibility to move Ryno rather than overpay him, which is a positive heading into next year's FA season. We'll have to see. If Anderson stays, and Harper & Davis (even Clark, if he re-ups) are still here, then Nicholson will have a hard time seeing the floor, making this a wasted pick. I hope he gets a chance to show what he can do on the court, instead of being a suit rack for 82 games.

[christian72589]

NEXT DIRK!

[SolidSnake008]

Even though we needed another stretch 4 like we need a hole in the head, I'm all about taking the BPA, regardless of position. Not sure that Nicholson was the BPA, though; not with Jones, Sullinger, Teague, Wroten, and MIller still on the board. He does give us the flexibility to move Ryno rather than overpay him, which is a positive heading into next year's FA season. We'll have to see. If Anderson stays, and Harper & Davis (even Clark, if he re-ups) are still here, then Nicholson will have a hard time seeing the floor, making this a wasted pick. I hope he gets a chance to show what he can do on the court, instead of being a suit rack for 82 games.

agree with this...every good thing i've said about Drew was assuming that we'll see him play....i'll be pissed if he's a men's warehouse representative all year....in my eyes Ryno or Davis is on the chopping block.....Harper may need to take Earl's place

[christian72589]

In all seriousness, I believe this pick was a product of

A) We're going to let Ryno go because we want to clear cap later/ New Rookie deal instead
B) We're going to trade Ryno for a talent upgrade
or
C) Maybe this guy can play some back up C as well or at least PF while Baby plays C

I will let Henny have the benefit of the doubt on this one. Dude knows what he's doing and has been around greatness. Always interesting to think of who Otis would have selected anyway. I was hopeful for a PG

[Bensational]

keep in mind that several other teams were hot on Nicholson.

we may have been taking him as future trade bait. right now is too early to grade the pick.

[doct3r dr3]

For the Jared Sullinger fanatics:

Gary Dzen @GlobeGaryDzen: Ainge reveals Sullinger has a herniated disc:" Our medical staff thinks that short-term and long-term there may be some maintenance issues."

[SolidSnake008]

For the Jared Sullinger fanatics:

Gary Dzen @GlobeGaryDzen: Ainge reveals Sullinger has a herniated disc:" Our medical staff thinks that short-term and long-term there may be some maintenance issues."

like i said earlier...dodged a bullet....

[bigmoe1952]

We STILL need a point guard. I am NOT impressed with Henny's first draft. I know we need to see what Nicholson and O'Quinn can do but we needed help in other areas more pressing. I see no special "boy wonder" moves manifested in this draft. I know we were picking low but I believe better help was available when we picked and we did not address need. I grade it a "D"

[bonanz]

we haven't had someone with post moves in a while. i can dig it.

[OrlandO]

We STILL need a point guard.

Hennigan keeps saying he wants Nelson back...