2013-2014 College Basketball / '14 NBA Draft Thread

[Skates]

It would also be a mistake to think that the way one draft was conducted means Hinkie will continue that trend. Sure, no doubt he value certain attributes and advanced stats, but those are going to be market dependent. As other teams start using steals as a big barometer of future performance, what were once undervalued guys, like MCW, become overvalued and you need to look other places to find inefficiencies to exploit in the market. Hinkie hardly seems like a guy attached dogmatically to one unchanging ideal, rather his manner of making picks and player acquisitions is likely to be dynamic and difficult to predict as his own thoughts, proprietary stats and experiences develop further.

[Negrodamus]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TncQcm7gmxk[/youtube]

I'm sorry, but I just love Marcus Smart.

Exum looked incredibly fast in that. Raw, but the potential is certainly there. Blew by some guys.

[James40]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TncQcm7gmxk[/youtube]

I'm sorry, but I just love Marcus Smart.

Exum looked incredibly fast in that. Raw, but the potential is certainly there. Blew by some guys.

Funny how Exum only played 11 minutes against the US team, and then the next day played 36 minutes vs Russia. He did hurt his ankle but when he came back in he looked fine, someone didn't want Exum to get shown up by the Americans, that's all it was.

Marcus Smart is a bull and not a guy I'd want to go against in the '80s. I can't wait to see how he does against guys like Chris Paul, Steph Curry and Derrick Rose.

[76ciology]

Hmm.. Vonleh on Thursday. Wiggins-Vonleh make it happen.

[freshie2]

As long as he's not in a Sixers uni, I'm anxious to see him as well. He's not a top 3 prospect, and won't last until 10, so if the Sixers get him they did something radical.

I'm amazed the love for Smart, yet the concern of some that "Wiggins can't shoot..."

[Agnostifarian]

As long as he's not in a Sixers uni, I'm anxious to see him as well. He's not a top 3 prospect, and won't last until 10, so if the Sixers get him they did something radical.

I'm amazed the love for Smart, yet the concern of some that "Wiggins can't shoot..."

I think that our Board generally believes Wiggins' shot is not a problem. Handles, shot creation and finishing through contact are his main shortcomings as of now. Further, there is some reason to be concerned that Wiggins did not have better steals, blocks and assists which are the main reason his basketball statistics haven't matched up to his obvious physical freakiness.

Smart, on the other hand, has a streaky shot but all of his basketball skills have translated into elite level statistics. Smart is the older player. The big question is whether or not Wiggins' basketball skills ever catch up to his physical potential. The main difference between these two prospects, IMO, is that Smart is less likely to bust but his upside is probably lower than Wiggins. Both are exciting prospects, no doubt.

[51X3RF4N]

I'm starting to think the draft goes as follows:

CLE - Embiid
MIL - Parker
PHI - Wiggins
ORL- Exum
UTAH - Vonleh (traded to ORL for #12, 2015 top 5 protected, and Aaron Afflalo)
BOS - Doug McDermott (traded for K. Love)
LAL - Dario Saric
SAC - Smart
CHA - Stauskas
PHI - Gordon
DEN - Randle (traded to PHX for #14 and #27)
ORL - Rodney Hood (traded to Utah)
MIN - Payne
PHX- Yusuf Nurkic (traded to Denver)
ATL- Gary Harris (BPA)
CHI- Tyler Ennis
BOS- Zach LaVine (traded to Minny in K-Love deal)
PHX- Clint Capela
CHI- PJ Hairston (traded to Philly with Boozer for #32)

That is all I'm willing to mock at this point, lol.

Minnesota decides to get rid of Love before leaves in free agency. They get a good offer from the Celts and love McDermott, who helps spread the floor for Rubio. Rubio/LaVine/McD/Payne/Pec. -that's not bad at all.

ORL decides to make a splash and move up to select Vonleh. They run out with Exum/Oladipo/Harkless/Vonleh/Vucevic.

Utah trades down because they don't have a "need" for PF and would like the extra assets plus the outside shooting Afflalo brings to the table. Utah runs with Burke/Afflalo/Hood/Favors/Kanter.

PHX trades up for Randle, who adds to youth and depth in their frontcourt.

ATL loves that Gary Harris falls to them.

Edited: Forgot about Mirotic, so Bulls wouldn't do the trade for Randle IMO.

Philly goes with 2 uber athletes, then selects an aggressive offensive talent that will help ease Wiggins into the role of a scorer. MCW/Hairston/Wiggins/Gordon/Noel.

That's my thought on how the draft might play out.

[dbodner]

I think that our Board generally believes Wiggins' shot is not a problem.

I don't think many people in general think Wiggins' shot is the problem.

[Kobblehead]

Utah trades down because they don't have a "need" for PF and would like the extra assets plus the outside shooting Afflalo brings to the table. Utah runs with Burke/Afflalo/Hood/Favors/Kanter.

I don't think you have a good grasp on the Jazz.

1. Utah definitely does need a PF. Marvin Williams is a free agent and they need another stretch four to play alongside Favors (who is a center). Kanter and Favors are horrible on the court together. Vonleh is literally the perfect pick for them.

2. And there's zero possibility that Alec Burks (their 2nd most promising player) gets replaced with a decent-at-best journeyman in Afflalo.

[bebopdeluxe]

I think that our Board generally believes Wiggins' shot is not a problem.

I don't think many people in general think Wiggins' shot is the problem.

My main concern with Wiggins is his handle - plain and simple.

There are many examples of athletic wing guys who come into the league with an inconsistent jumper that gets better over time. There are fewer examples of athletic wing guys who come into the league with a less-than-stellar handle and improve it to weapon-like levels. Not that it can't be done, but it is a concern for me...and a key reason why I would be fine with Hinkie taking Exum over Wiggins. While neither guy has what we would think of as a ready-made NBA jumper, Exum's handle gives me more confidence that - even if he cannot develop his jumper into a weapon, his ball-handling skills have a better chance of playing in crunch-time - either to get to the rim himself or to create for others.

[51X3RF4N]

Utah trades down because they don't have a "need" for PF and would like the extra assets plus the outside shooting Afflalo brings to the table. Utah runs with Burke/Afflalo/Hood/Favors/Kanter.

I don't think you have a good grasp on the Jazz.

1. Utah definitely does need a PF. Marvin Williams is a free agent and they need another stretch four to play alongside Favors (who is a center). Kanter and Favors are horrible on the court together. Vonleh is literally the perfect pick for them.

2. And there's zero possibility that Alec Burks (their 2nd most promising player) gets replaced with a decent-at-best journeyman in Afflalo.

Hmmm....I do not know much about them actually. I still like the way my draft plays out though.

[LloydFree]

I'm starting to think the draft goes as follows:

CLE - Embiid
MIL - Parker
PHI - Wiggins
ORL- Exum
UTAH - Vonleh (traded to ORL for #12, 2015 top 5 protected, and Aaron Afflalo)
BOS - Doug McDermott (traded for K. Love)
LAL - Dario Saric
SAC - Smart
CHA - Stauskas
PHI - Gordon
DEN - Randle (traded to PHX for #14 and #27)
ORL - Rodney Hood (traded to Utah)
MIN - Payne
PHX- Yusuf Nurkic (traded to Denver)
ATL- Gary Harris (BPA)
CHI- Tyler Ennis
BOS- Zach LaVine (traded to Minny in K-Love deal)
PHX- Clint Capela
CHI- PJ Hairston (traded to Philly with Boozer for #32)

That is all I'm willing to mock at this point, lol.

Minnesota decides to get rid of Love before leaves in free agency. They get a good offer from the Celts and love McDermott, who helps spread the floor for Rubio. Rubio/LaVine/McD/Payne/Pec. -that's not bad at all.

ORL decides to make a splash and move up to select Vonleh. They run out with Exum/Oladipo/Harkless/Vonleh/Vucevic.

Utah trades down because they don't have a "need" for PF and would like the extra assets plus the outside shooting Afflalo brings to the table. Utah runs with Burke/Afflalo/Hood/Favors/Kanter.

PHX trades up for Randle, who adds to youth and depth in their frontcourt.

ATL loves that Gary Harris falls to them.

Edited: Forgot about Mirotic, so Bulls wouldn't do the trade for Randle IMO.

Philly goes with 2 uber athletes, then selects an aggressive offensive talent that will help ease Wiggins into the role of a scorer. MCW/Hairston/Wiggins/Gordon/Noel.

That's my thought on how the draft might play out.

I like a lot of it. I also think the Boston picks will be traded to Minnesota in a Kevin Love Trade, but I don't know if I agree on the players picked. Minnesota is a team that doesn't draft well, but they aren't bad enough to take Mcdermott #6.
What makes this draft interesting is that Orlando can go so many different ways. The assumption is that they will take Exum, but I could easily see them taking Smart instead. They could really shake up the draft and probably should take Noah Vonleh at #4, because there will be good PG's available at #12. If I were Orlando I would take Vonleh @ #4 and trade up using Afflalo and #12 to get Marcus Smart too.

[snoopdogg88]

draftexpress' most recent mock draft is like heaven

Andrew Wiggins, Aaron Gordon, Glenn Robinson, Nick Johnson, DeAndre Daniels, Markel Brown and a euro-stash

[Bling76]

Hinkie might be playing the Bucks and the Cavs but it seems the world knows how bad he wants Wiggins, not that I mind Wiggins but damn does the wire tap above have to say desperately?

Keith Pompey is not a very good beat.

It's worth noting that Keith Pompey didn't use the word 'desperate' in his article at all. Click the source, don't go by the RealGM wiretap headline.

It irks me that Pompey and Caskey-Blomain (new guy?) constantly refer to Wiggins as "the Sixers top target". I didn't go to journalism school or anything like that, but to take an unverified tidbit and state it so matter-of-fact-ly over and over is misleading and just generally irresponsible.

[James40]

Keith Pompey is not a very good beat.

It's worth noting that Keith Pompey didn't use the word 'desperate' in his article at all. Click the source, don't go by the RealGM wiretap headline.

It irks me that Pompey and Caskey-Blomain (new guy?) constantly refer to Wiggins as "the Sixers top target". I didn't go to journalism school or anything like that, but to take an unverified tidbit and state it so matter-of-fact-ly over and over is misleading and just generally irresponsible.

Probably, but considering half the country believes Wiggins is their top target doesn't make it a stretch, but The recent workout could be a last look at Wiggins before they trade their 3 for Orlando's 4 and 12. Its fun to speculate until draft night.

[Negrodamus]

ESPN Insider WARP projection:

1. Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Win%: .512 | Age: 20.1 | WARP projection: 3.6

Several factors propelled Smart to the top of the WARP projections. He is young for a sophomore, just 10 days older than Joel Embiid. Smart's projected steal rate is tops for any projected first-round pick, which is important because steal rate has been a strong indicator of NBA success. He is also an excellent rebounder and has been surprisingly good playing against star point guards. Players similar to Smart tend to perform better in the NBA as the professional floor typically is more open, allowing them to create off the dribble.

2. Capela
3. Nurkic
4. Exum
5. Adams
6. Embiid
7. Parker
8. Vonleh
9. Hairston
10. Ennis

Surprised to see Capela so high. They also have years past. Looking at the lists they've compiled from years past, they seem pretty accurate.

[PhilasFinest]

id love Smart on this team.

[freshie2]

Will smart be able to bully NBA players to get his stats? Developing his shot is critical.

[LongLiveHinkie]

Chad Ford said he thinks Randle falls to the Sixers at 10 because if the Lakers pass on him at 7, the Bobcats don't really need or want a PF, they want a shooter, and he doesn't think the Kings will take Randle either.

I think that's pretty logical. If Randle gets by the Celtics and Lakers, he will be there at 10. The question is, will Hinkie take him? He may not be a Hinkie guy, but who knows. He would be great value.

[Negrodamus]

Will smart be able to bully NBA players to get his stats? Developing his shot is critical.

High school and college coaches need to stop teaching their players to go strong to the rim. Depending on a player's built, if they go strong to the rim, they are "bullying" their opponents for their statistical benefit. In fact, just teach all players to perfect their jump shots and have no contact at all. Otherwise, they will no longer be appealing prospects, like Randle and Smart.

Aggressive drives has evolved into "bullying", a preexisting negative connotation. Humorous to me. I hope we have a team full of bullies.