Javale Mcgee

[Eindar]

Lots of strange stuff in this thread. Keon Clark without defense is what, exactly? I thought that's about the only thing he did well, other than rebounding.

Isn't the big knock on McGee that he's a terrible, terrible defender? If "all he needs to do" is run the floor and defend, then basically you've picked the hardest thing in the world for him to do and made it sound easy. It's pretty much like saying, "All Ron Artest needs to do is not be crazy to be a perennial All-Star".

[WarFan]

For starters, Nellie will only be coaching the Warriors one more year or so. Secondly, Andris Beidrins sucked until Nellie came along and now he is a very dependable big that should continue to get better. Third, the Warriors were just an example of an uptempo team he could play for.

Let's just assume, for a minute, that the athleticism, size and skills of Biedrins and O'Bryant were identical. There's still a huge difference between the two and it's all between the ears. That's what Nelson couldn't handle with O'Bryant, and everything we've heard about this McGee kid says that he has a screwed up psyche. Nelson is the last guy that should be anywhere near him even if it's only for a year.

[Upperclass]

2nd coming of Keon Clark(w/o the insanity), but not as good a defender.

He already exists.. his name is Sean Williams, and he's a NJ net

McGee = Tyson Chandler(coming out of HS version).. W/the right coach, this kid will flourish. People forget Tyson played sf, pf, c his rookie year(and looked generally lost), went from a great year(when they upset the wiz in the playoffs. and almost the heat i believe) to barely contributing the next season..
Now he's one of the nba's best young defenders and usefully athletic bigs.. McGee has great potential, and i believe he will reach it.. for all accounts a good kid, good support system(mom was a wnba player), good measurables.

[A.J.]

He's the next Patrick O'Bryant...mark my words.

At worst he is, but at best I see him as an Andrew Bynum. Which means he is a boom or bust type prospect.

[chriswebb86]

-= original quote snipped =-




He hired a terrible agent and his mother is insane telling him he's the next Dirk. They guy has great great potential inside. If he had a Kevin Mchale teaching him how to play he'd be a top 5 player in this draft hands down imho.. But when your mother and agent are telling you to take 100 3 pointers and play like Dirk--they have no clue--and they think they do:) Again look at some of his post moves and skills and tell me he couldnt be a 20-10 C with 2-3 years of serious training? He could help a team now as a % off the bench while he learns. Just start from the minute you draft him--and make sure you tell him why you are drafting him--to play like a true 5 not some kind of free-wheeling F that he is not.
His dumb mother should've called the people who took great care of Bynum instead of going outside the box with a weird agent and writing up scouting reports on him on the internet. It's OK for a parent to be involved but the pro's have to get to him. For him to look like crp--that is unnacceptable--

First and formost I gree with everything you say. I feel that if he would have stayed at Nevada for his Junior year he could have been the number one pick or at least in the top 5. I think his mom has given him the wrong idea about things and thats why he is trying to play like Dirk. I feel if he had a big man coach he would improve so much!

[sportsoverload]

I agree that him trying to pattern his game like Dirk is suicide, as being a jumpshooter and finesse front court player doesn't seem to be the way for McGee to go. It also scares me that his mom and agent are having this much influence. It is true because everything I've read about his workouts centered around developing his ball handling skills and jumpshot, instead of footwork and post moves.

On another topic, I am not completely convinced that he is a terrible defender just yet. Much like Jason Thompson, I think it is more that being that long and athletic against inferior comp allows you to be lazy on defense and rely on your gifts too much. I would wait until he gets into an NBA system and has to be more assertive defensively before I label him a poor defender. Besides, he averaged 4.1 blocks Per 40.

[SendEm]

He might be able to develop into a Robert Horry. He's very natural handling the ball. He's too long, athletic, and comfortable playing the game of basketball to be a bust. He's definitely going to be a NBA player for many years. Will he ever be an All Star? Who cares. No championship team is filled with All Stars. He looks like he will at least grow into a guaranteed good role player. Mikki Moore is another player he is similar to, but at this age he is MUCH better than Mikki was. You can't judge every draft pick as "The Next Michael Jordan or Bust." There is a HUGE in between area...This player will exist in the in between area baring injury and have a 12+ year NBA career.

[MYoung23]

This kid needs to be strapped down in a chair, eyelids propped open and made to watch tape after tape of David Robinson.