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If you think about, Earl Clark has the most skills out of anyone in the 2009 NBA draft he's the best defender in this draft class, can play any position, has a solid midrange game, can rebound and can pretty much do everything else on the basketball court.

Let's take a look at all the players drafted ahead of Clark

Blake Griffin-Basic athletic PF, going to be good but Clark can be better

Hasheem Thabeet-Bust

James Harden-Undersized overweight SG

Tyreke Evans-Average SG playing out of position

Jonny Flynn-Undersized PG

Ricky Rubio-Poor shooter/overated

Stephen Curry-Eddie House 2.0

Jordan Hill-Soft PF/Miki Moore clone

Demar Derozan-Gerald Green 2.0

Brandon Jennings-Has alot of potential but Clark has more potential

Terrence Williams-Would have went in the 20's in another years draft

Gerald Henderson-Bust

Tyler Hansbrough-

Earl Clark-Can do anything on the basketball court, has the most potential

So if you look at that list of guys drafted before Clark, even through all the hype Clark has the most potential out of all players in this draft including Griffin and he's already the best defender. Note, this was the weakest draft since 2000 most likely but Clark could have been top 5 in most other drafts.

Now I'm in no way saying Earl Clark is already the best player in this draft class because he has ways to go, Clark is the best defender though already if you look at it. What really stopped this guy from going top five or even first overall? Scouts even said he had top 5 talent but in the end it all has to do with hype. Clark can pretty much do anything but he's not as flashy as some of the other players draft before him. If Clark did windmil dunks he would probally have been the first overall pick. In the end though the Suns got the steal of the draft and Clark will prove the doubters wrong in the future.

So is it just me or does anyone else think Earl Clark will be the best player in the 2009 NBA draft in a few years? Also tell us if you think he's going to be #1, top 3, top 5, top 10, etc...

I agree that on pure skills/talent, he could be the best player from this draft class. He has nowhere near the will power or drive that Blake Griffin does, though. He also doesn't have the smarts/craftiness of James Harden, either. I think Clark will end up looking like #3.

justinb80 wrote:I agree that on pure skills/talent, he could be the best player from this draft class. He has nowhere near the will power or drive that Blake Griffin does, though. He also doesn't have the smarts/craftiness of James Harden, either. I think Clark will end up looking like #3.

I'm probally in the lone on this but I'd actually rather have Clark over Griffin. He's going to be good but I'm not seeing a guy that's going to be on Amare's level or even make an all-star game. Clark has the chance to develop into a triple-double type player and is already a lock down defender.

Griffin=amare/Barkley will be the best than harden=Roy 2.0 than its a toss up

Or he could easily be Tim Thomas. I guess we'll find out!

rsavaj wrote:Or he could easily be Tim Thomas. I guess we'll find out!

Earl Clark's already better than Tim Thomas because of his defensive and playmaking skills.

I think he means he could be the next tim thomas in the sense of work ethic.

No on doubts Clarks talents they doubt how much he wants it.

Personally I think Clark will be looked at as a top 5 player from this draft when it's all said and done due to his offensive potential and his already well devoloped defensive talent.

MaryvalesFinest wrote:

rsavaj wrote:Or he could easily be Tim Thomas. I guess we'll find out!

Earl Clark's already better than Tim Thomas because of his defensive and playmaking skills.

I don't know how anybody can objectively say that at this point in time. Tim Thomas is ridiculously talented...he was the 2nd ranked player in the nation(in high school) after one Kobe Bryant.

at this point he may be a very talented player but will he be a productive player. At this point he may be potentially as good as blake but Blake is already there. blake is more of a guarantee than Clark. I think the suns should do the best they can to develop clark. I do not believe that the suns coaches has that clout to help develop clark. the suns need a true mentor. Something they should have impose when amare was in younger.

Remember no 2 players are similar. I do not think he is going to be like Tim thomas. The question is, is he going to be better than TIm Thomas or worst than Tim Thomas? I hvnt really seen him play but I would hope he gets a good overall game and strengthen his strong points.

I heard that Clark's a gym-rat, just saying

I heard Earl Clark has yet to play one NBA game and people are saying he is the best player in the draft.

I heard Earl Clark can cure cancer.

Steve Kerr thinks he can too....

(Marion trade/Shaq Trade)

I thought he could cure mediocrity? Oh, that is the 2nd best PG in the draft in Dragic. My bad.

James Harden-Undersized overweight SG is think is a bad assessment. You were in love with DeRozen and now you are saying he is Gerald Green 2.0. Harden might be the smartest bball player in this draft. He has trimmed down and has shown that he is more athletic and measured at 6-5. To me that is not undersized or overweight. He just plays the game more old school than all out crazy and out of control.

The best in this draft???? That is funny, but he might crack the top 5 of this draft. Lets see what he can do the next three years. He has the talent, but I have not seen it put on the court all at once, and that includes college.

Dragic probally was the second best pg in the draft last year, if he got the same minutes that Augustin or Chalmers got he would be putting up better stats.

From what I've seen, Dragic has looked GOOD. He's coming along nicely and hope he works on his finishing and 3 range - the flare is definitely there - very Ginobili-eque...

Yeah at the time I thought Kerr was joking when he said Dragic was the second best pg in that draft but it turns out Kerr may have got something right along with drafting Earl Clark.

Im a big supporter of Goran but you cant honestly believe that Dragic was the second best Point guard...

Rose, Westbrook, Augustin and as of right now you have to put Chalmers ahead as well and that's not even counting Bayless who didn't get any playing time.

I think Dragic could become the third best point guard from this draft if we're lucky and everything pans out.

But seriously Kerr made a terrible error last year by stating how great Lopez and Dragic were and saying how they would immediately contribute and be great NBA Players, he put way too much expectations upon them that they couldn't fulfill. That's why he keeps saying clark probably won't play or he won't contribute yet cause he's not ready, he learned from his mistake and is spinning it the opposite way.

Better to exceed low expectations then to never reach the high ones.

OrangeNation wrote:I heard that Clark's a gym-rat, just saying

The best thing that could happen to Clark is a couple years p[laying with Hill and Nash - it should help his work ethic and commitment.


Re TT - wasn't there some guy he challenged to a fight, ina newspaper interview - said something like anytime he wants, anywhere?

Funny guy - agree that he's insanely talented

I htink Dejuan Blair might turn out to be the guy evryone smacks their forehead over. He was just a Grown Man in summer league