Official Speculation Thread (Pt.LIII "Lottery/Draft"Edition)

JBSouthpaw · Post #21 » by **JBSouthpaw** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 7:31 pm

Nice post "the effect"

Insider on Maurice:
He talks about which rookies will rise next year..

He was number 4 out of 5,
Drummond
Hensen
MKG were ahead of him.

they gave the example of Harris and Vuc.
"The same can be said for Tobias Harris, who didn't get much playing time in Milwaukee. Now the 20-year-old is viewed as a long-term starter (at least) in Orlando, after averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds in March. His teammate Nikola Vucevic pulled off a similar feat after being benched in Philly last season. He is one of the league's top rebounders today."

Maurice Harkless, Orlando Magic
Harkless is having some excellent games for Orlando down the stretch, even though it's plain to see that he doesn't know what he is doing. But long, strong, agile and coachable players can succeed in the NBA, as Harkless is proving. He really isn't using much of his physical talents yet, but that suggests he will be a dynamic player as he learns to play and read this game.

Although the Magic are losing lots of games, it's not as if Harkless is putting up big numbers on high-volume shots in blowouts. In some of his biggest games, the team was very competitive and he was efficient as a scorer in each of those games (111 points in five games on 78 shots). He also has some serious stat-stuffing ability, accumulating rebounds, blocks and steals with ease. Think Andre Iguodala without the talent as a passer, but potentially a much better shooter.

OrlChamps2030 · Post #22 » by **OrlChamps2030** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 7:32 pm

My draft priority order for the magic is looking something like this:

1. Noel (defensive game changer, strong finisher and good in transition. Makes our frontcourt much more versatile)
2. McLemore (good #2 guy, great athlete, great shooter, awesome in transition. Plays off the ball well which is important for a #2 guy)
3. Smart (Impacts both ends of the floor. Able to play both guard positions. Not a great athlete but a good one, his strength helps him out a lot)

All three are hard-working guys with (as far as we know) good character and great measurements. All three are "Hennigan" guys and you can't tell me that one is more "Hennigan" than the other. Unless of course, you are Rob Hennigan. All three fill a need as well.

JBSouthpaw · Post #23 » by **JBSouthpaw** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 7:34 pm

Zmill wrote:My draft priority order for the magic is looking something like this:

1. Noel (defensive game changer, strong finisher and good in transition. Makes our frontcourt much more versatile)
2. McLemore (good #2 guy, great athlete, great shooter, awesome in transition. Plays off the ball well which is important for a #2 guy)
3. Smart (Impacts both ends of the floor. Able to play both guard positions. Not a great athlete but a good one, his strength helps him out a lot)

All three are hard-working guys with (as far as we know) good character and great measurements. All three are "Hennigan" guys and you can't tell me that one is more "Hennigan" than the other. Unless of course, you are Rob Hennigan.

I may have a different order, but won't be upset at any of these.

KingRobb02 · Post #24 » by **KingRobb02** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 7:36 pm

rcklsscognition wrote:Anyone read the top 5 breakout rookies for 2013-2014 on ESPN Insider?? Wondering if Harkless got in.

1. Drummond

This is the so-called "low-hanging fruit." He has been the best pick of this draft, based on production and relative to where he was chosen, and has showed signs of being a franchise-level big.

2. Henson

Henson has a sterling per-36-minute average as well -- 16.7 ppg, 12.3 boards and 1.5 blocks a game -- despite being weaker than his opponents. He has a body that will always be thin, but he will not always be weak.

3. MKG

As suspected, MKG's biggest challenge has been his shooting. He has probably been one of the worst shooters among all perimeter players this season. The good news is that shooting is the one skill that almost every player improves as his career progresses.

4. Harkless

Harkless is having some excellent games for Orlando down the stretch, even though it's plain to see that he doesn't know what he is doing. But long, strong, agile and coachable players can succeed in the NBA, as Harkless is proving.

5. Rivers (???)

This may seem crazy, considering how poorly Rivers played all season before he got hurt -- bad shooter, bad finisher and not a good passer -- but he has the ability to earn good looks.

rcklsscognition · Post #25 » by **rcklsscognition** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 7:38 pm

lol at the line on Harkless having no idea what he's doing. So true. But that will come, and has improved a lot over the last couple weeks. Not too many 19 year old starters in the NBA.

tranjSAIC · Post #26 » by **tranjSAIC** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 7:57 pm

KingRobb02 wrote:
2. Henson
Henson has a sterling per-36-minute average as well -- 16.7 ppg, 12.3 boards and 1.5 blocks a game -- despite being weaker than his opponents. He has a body that will always be thin, but he will not always be weak.

Maybe we can get the Bucks to trade him to us for another expiring =)

MagicGirl · Post #27 » by **MagicGirl** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 7:58 pm

I entertain two options:

1. Draft Noel, even though he's blown the same ACL twice. Give him a year to heal while we endure more suckage and then clean up in the 2014 draft and free agency.

2. Trade down this year for Trey Burke and another mid first-rounder (since it's obvious Henny is great at picking talent, we get a two-fer). Let Burke develop with Jameer next season and hopefully our record still nets us a top pick in 2014.

MagicGirl · Post #28 » by **MagicGirl** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 8:00 pm

Oh, I almost forgot Option #3:

Ask the Lakers who they'd like us to draft, since they'll end up stealing him in the end.

magicsanta · Post #29 » by **magicsanta** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 8:01 pm

I'd like us to trade BBD, Jameer and Afflalo for young PGs, SGs and/or draft picks if the opportunity presents itself and let the core of Harris, Harkless, Vucevic and this year's draft pick develop together with those pieces, especially considering the other young guys have shown potential to be solid role players. Then get some complementary veterans when the time comes to stop thinking about development and focusing on winning

magicsanta · Post #30 » by **magicsanta** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 8:02 pm

MagicGirl wrote:Oh, I almost forgot Option #3:

Ask the Lakers who they'd like us to draft, since they'll end up stealing him in the end.

lol

tragicomic

But I tend to think it's us that must do the good job of picking the right guy for the phenomenon to keep happening

JBSouthpaw · Post #31 » by **JBSouthpaw** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 8:15 pm

MagicGirl wrote:I entertain two options:

1. Draft Noel, even though he's blown the same ACL twice. Give him a year to heal while we endure more suckage and then clean up in the 2014 draft and free agency.

2. Trade down this year for Trey Burke and another mid first-rounder (since it's obvious Henny is great at picking talent, we get a two-fer). Let Burke develop with Jameer next season and hopefully our record still nets us a top pick in 2014.

If the Magic like Burke that much, just draft him, would stink to trade down and not get him (if that's who they deem best). You pick up another 1st rounder, that's a guaranteed contract you have to pay. we already have 2 more 1st rounders next year.

The Other Ankle · Post #32 » by **The Other Ankle** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 8:16 pm

Only one game ahead of Charlotte in the win column and they play the Heat tonight in Charlotte with no Lebron, Wade, Chalmers, or Allen... Come on Bobcats!

Post #33 » by **Def Swami** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 8:58 pm

trebone wrote:I would rather have a high risk Noel than a high risk Smart, also think Mclemore has 7-8th man off the bench written all over him. The way he crumbled in the NCAA along with Smart speaks volumes to me. Otto is redundant talent for what we have relative to his ceiling.

How do we know Noel wouldn't have "crumbled' in the NCAA tournament?

I highly doubt scouts draft based on how a player plays in one tournament game. Derrick Rose and John Wall had mediocre tournament games. James Harden and Russell Westbrook had a couple of TERRIBLE tournament games, but Westbrook was lucky enough to advance to make up for them.

If a team drafts Smart, it won't be because of what he did in 33 games of college as a freshman. They'll draft him because of what they think Smart can project to be.

Hotshot Hower · Post #34 » by **Hotshot Hower** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 11:09 pm

VGOSWAMI wrote:
trebone wrote:I would rather have a high risk Noel than a high risk Smart, also think Mclemore has 7-8th man off the bench written all over him. The way he crumbled in the NCAA along with Smart speaks volumes to me. Otto is redundant talent for what we have relative to his ceiling.

How do we know Noel wouldn't have "crumbled' in the NCAA tournament?

I highly doubt scouts draft based on how a player plays in one tournament game. Derrick Rose and John Wall had mediocre tournament games. James Harden and Russell Westbrook had a couple of TERRIBLE tournament games, but Westbrook was lucky enough to advance to make up for them.

If a team drafts Smart, it won't be because of what he did in 33 games of college as a freshman. They'll draft him because of what they think Smart can project to be.

I was on Draft Express last night for about three hours and just looked at this year's and next year's "mock drafts" and just watched tape on everyone from(Nerlens Noel to even Alex Len) and then (Andrew Wiggins to T.J Warren) as both classes (2013 and 2014) are projected 1-12 picks.

First off, in terms of 2013's draft and our probable positioning (1-3) I really do think Marcus Smart is the "safe" pick. Out of all the guards, there's no one close to his on ball/off ball defense. His anticipation on the defensive end effort is "off the charts" for a kid that just turned 19. That's obviously what stood out to me and he has a knack to getting to the basket, posting up smaller guards, and his rebounding for a guard. Plus, he can shoot and set up his opponents quite nicely, although some will critique his shot selection and Asst/TO ratio but he has a motor and a "will" and "desire" to improve in those areas.

Second off, I love Nerlens Noel and what he showed prior to his injury. He's Ben Wallace 2.0 that can also run the floor and actually take a BIG man off the dribble. No post game yet, but there's no one else in this draft and next years that can change the game by that kind of impact on defense.

Third off, I love Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker scares me. Lol! Heck, Aaron Gordon and BOTH Harrison twins are in my eyes, better prospects at this point than Jabari Parker. But, dunno if we could get away with a Harkless/Wiggins/Harris combo in our starting lineup. If we we're to draft Smart, then we'd have length at just about every position and would def create mis-match problems for the opposing teams. If we draft Noel, then Harris or Harkless would have to be dealt if our eyes are set on Wiggins (2014).

I think we'll be decent next year after this year's draft pick, so our TPE is and really the ONLY thing that will help us net a potential lottery pick. I'm sold on Wiggins, I can't wait to see what Hennigan has up his sleeve after selecting in this year's draft, then to how active he'll be to get the Magic into the top 3 for next year's draft.

Was thinking: Would any of you trade this year's pick along with BBD (or Affalo) to Charlotte or Phoenix for multiple 1st's? That is, for next year's draft, 2016, and 2018? Obviously a lot won't be in favor of this as I'm not, but someone brought it to my attention so I'd like to here someone's rationality/opinion on such an idea.

Neon1 · Post #35 » by **Neon1** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 11:53 pm

MagicGirl wrote: I entertain two options:

1. Draft Noel, even though he's blown the same ACL twice.

Now he's blown his ACL twice? Good lord where do you guys get your "facts" from?

By draft time the story is going to have grown to "I heard in HS he had his knee removed and the doctor used half of his hip bone to fix it"

BadMofoPimp · Post #36 » by **BadMofoPimp** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 11:55 pm

I got the best idea. Trade this years 1st rounder for another teams 2014 first rounder. Maybe a team like Cleveland or Suns or something like that. Would be nice to have (2) first rounders next year.

I just don't see any reason to even have a pick this year since players like Noel have gone thru (2) ACL's in 4 years n all.

Orlando Prodigy · Post #37 » by **Orlando Prodigy** » Sat Apr 6, 2013 12:38 am

BadMofoPimp wrote:I got the best idea. Trade this years 1st rounder for another teams 2014 first rounder. Maybe a team like Cleveland or Suns or something like that. Would be nice to have (2) first rounders next year.

I just don't see any reason to even have a pick this year since players like Noel have gone thru (2) ACL's in 4 years n all.

Nerlens will be fine. James Andrews is his doctor. You're scared for no reason.

Regardless, let's take Marcus Smart. PG of the future.

Post #38 » by **Bensational** » Sat Apr 6, 2013 1:22 am

Neon1 wrote:
MagicGirl wrote: I entertain two options:

1. Draft Noel, even though he's blown the same ACL twice.

Now he's blown his ACL twice? Good lord where do you guys get your "facts" from?

By draft time the story is going to have grown to "I heard in HS he had his knee removed and the doctor used half of his hip bone to fix it"

I heard he had to have his thigh removed, and so they attached his lower leg to the end of his member. That's why his knee bent 90 degrees to the side. He didn't actually tear his ACL, he tore his foreskin.

magicsanta · Post #39 » by **magicsanta** » Sat Apr 6, 2013 1:48 am

please draft marcus smart!

magicsanta · Post #40 » by **magicsanta** » Sat Apr 6, 2013 1:55 am

In the ideal scenario both Harkless and Harris develop into starter material, Harris may be already there... I don't think any of them can play PF if we are going to compete at a high level, so one of them should develop into a starting SG, Vucevic is our Center, so we'd need to fill the PF and PG positions, BBD and Nelson are very solid players but are not taking us anywhere, I'd be happy with either Noel or Smart, if we can get an elite player somehow via trade or free agency to fill the remaining spot we'd have a wonderful fundation.