If Minnesota picks 3rd, who do they take?

[OrangeBull]

IMO Mayo is the 3rd best talent in this draft without a doubt because

1. He's one of the best in this draft at defending his own position, hell, he might be the best if Westbrook has to guard SGs in the NBA (when/if he declares).

2. Out of everyone in college, there is nobody who has faced more adversity over the last 5 years than Mayo has. Mentally that is a strong factor and could give him a head-start transition wise.

3. Developed body, set position: I cannot stress how important being the right size + strength for your position, and finding a position that suits your skills. Nobody likes tweeners and everybody always likes it when you are not already at a disadvantage physically. Mayo already has this down as a prototypical NBA SG.

4. Skills. Watch the guy play, pretty advanced scoring-wise, doesn't know how to properly put the ball on the floor yet and attack but the guy has a got above average handles, very solid stroke, and just the overall knack of making plays.

[bill curley II]

IMO Mayo is the 3rd best talent in this draft without a doubt because

1. He's one of the best in this draft at defending his own position, hell, he might be the best if Westbrook has to guard SGs in the NBA (when/if he declares).

2. Out of everyone in college, there is nobody who has faced more adversity over the last 5 years than Mayo has. Mentally that is a strong factor and could give him a head-start transition wise.

3. Developed body, set position: I cannot stress how important being the right size + strength for your position, and finding a position that suits your skills. Nobody likes tweeners and everybody always likes it when you are not already at a disadvantage physically. Mayo already has this down as a prototypical NBA SG.

4. Skills. Watch the guy play, pretty advanced scoring-wise, doesn't know how to properly put the ball on the floor yet and attack but the guy has a got above average handles, very solid stroke, and just the overall knack of making plays.

1. Agree with you there. I was pleasantly surprised all year with his defense this year.

2. I'm not sure what you mean by this, and what adversity he's faced. Was he overhyped coming out? Yes. But was there anything else?

3. He has pretty good size. It is a plus but I wouldn't put it as a determining factor.

4. This is where I disagree with you the most. Scoring wise, he doesn't move well without the ball or finish around the basket. He takes an egregious amount of bad shots, and no you can't just blame it on Tim Floyd's offense. I saw plenty of games with OJ jacking up early 3's, contested midrange shots, and forced shots inside after getting caught up in the air.

If OJ's going to be an allstar caliber player, he really has to become a dead-on shooter like a Ray Allen because he's not quick or skilled enough to get to the basket like a Dwade or Roy, he's not any bigger or stronger than other SG's, and he won't move without the ball using screens like Rip or Reggie Miller.

[#1KnicksFan]

They always say BPA, and that drafting for need screws up your future.

But look at Atlanta - they thought Marvin had the highest potential, and Paul slipped through their hands when it was OBVIOUS they NEEDED a point.

I'd say Lopez for 2 reasons:

1.) Foye and McCants provide all the perimeter scoring they need.
2.) You straight do not have a Center.


Plus I want the Knicks to get Mayo. ;.)

[bill curley II]

They always say BPA, and that drafting for need screws up your future.

But look at Atlanta - they thought Marvin had the highest potential, and Paul slipped through their hands when it was OBVIOUS they NEEDED a point.

I'd say Lopez for 2 reasons:

1.) Foye and McCants provide all the perimeter scoring they need.
2.) You straight do not have a Center.


Plus I want the Knicks to get Mayo. ;.)

Atlanta's mistake wasn't drafting a SF over a PG. They get blamed for not taking the better player. They made the right decision to draft who they thought was the best player irregardless of position, they were just incorrect on their player evaluation. If Marvin had turned out to be a better player than CP3, I don't think anyone would've criticized that pick.

[deeney0]

They always say BPA, and that drafting for need screws up your future.

But look at Atlanta - they thought Marvin had the highest potential, and Paul slipped through their hands when it was OBVIOUS they NEEDED a point.

That's not a failure of need vs. BPA, but a failure of identifying BPA.

[cdash]

nbadraft.net is not a good source of whos going where in the draft...

[bill curley II]

nbadraft.net is not a good source of whos going where in the draft...

They did a pretty good job last year. Their player profiles suck, but they had 5 out of the top 8 correct and almost 7 out of 8 but flip flopped Yi and Green. Overall, the only players in their 1st round mock that they didn't put in the correct range of picks were Byars, Williams, and Gasol.

[Gilles]

They do their excellent mock draft a couple of hours before the draft. when you see their mock a month before the draft it's so off you better not look at it.

[jumanji]

Didnt read all the replies(dont have that much free time) but i would have to go with the consensus and take Lopez, there actually may be better value by trading the pick. Am i the only one who thinks Kevin Love would be a great match with Al Jefferson?

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

yes.

[_BBIB_]

-= original quote snipped =-



Well I understood that part. I'm asking what did Mayo actually do to separate himself from Bayless or Lopez or Gordon as being "clearly" the 3rd best player in this draft. Especially considering that he was rated as low as number 10 on mock drafts, went out and lost in the first round of the tournament and then climbed up to number 3 as he sat at home and watched.

Let's face it, the hype Mayo has had since the 6th grade is going to play a factor.

He's also got the intriguing size and commitment defensively which you can't teach.

[john2jer]

Didnt read all the replies(dont have that much free time) but i would have to go with the consensus and take Lopez, there actually may be better value by trading the pick. Am i the only one who thinks Kevin Love would be a great match with Al Jefferson?

Only person in America, actually.

[revprodeji]

If Kevin Love was 6'11 and could defend the NBA 5 then you could make a case for him being a decent pair with Al.

The problem is he is 6'9 and not near athletic enough to defend the 5.

[jumanji]

[quote="revprodeji"]If Kevin Love was 6'11 and could defend the NBA 5 then you could make a case for him being a decent pair with Al.

The problem is he is 6'9 and not near athletic enough to defend the 5.[/quote


I think Love is better defending the post than given credit for. He's strong enough to push people off the block and has developed some timing on blocking a shot. Does he have to dominate every level of play before people give him any credit?

[revprodeji]

He will be an effective player, but defending the 5's is something I do not see him doing. He is not a strong weak side shot blocker and at 6'9 he would be crushed by Haywood, not to mention Odom. I think Love will be a very good player, but not a good fit next to Al for those 2 reasons I provided above.

[horaceworthy]

I think Love is better defending the post than given credit for. He's strong enough to push people off the block and has developed some timing on blocking a shot. Does he have to dominate every level of play before people give him any credit?

Offensively, Love is a perfect fit next to Al. It's defense that's the problem. Pairing two big guys that don't do a great job defending the pick-and roll and will routinely get beat down the floor in transition is a problem.

I actually really like Love, and wouldn't mind if the Wolves drafted him (depending on the other players left on the board at the time), I just don't think a frontcourt pairing of Love and Jefferson is completely ideal.

[theGreatRC]

Didnt read all the replies(dont have that much free time) but i would have to go with the consensus and take Lopez, there actually may be better value by trading the pick. Am i the only one who thinks Kevin Love would be a great match with Al Jefferson?

There is one other person on the Wolves board who thinks Love would be great with Al. You two should go out for coffee and express your views.



Yes, you two are the only ones who think that.

[NO-KG-AI]

-= original quote snipped =-



Offensively, Love is a perfect fit next to Al. It's defense that's the problem. Pairing two big guys that don't do a great job defending the pick-and roll and will routinely get beat down the floor in transition is a problem.

I actually really like Love, and wouldn't mind if the Wolves drafted him (depending on the other players left on the board at the time), I just don't think a frontcourt pairing of Love and Jefferson is completely ideal.

This is what I was going to say, offensively they would be fine, defensively is going to cause problems.

I think Love fits perfect in Chicago, he can play next to two great defender in Noah and Thomas.

I don't really see Love as a bad defender, but I think Minnesota needs someone who can protect the rim a bit better, and not so much a man defender.

[JMillott]

I personally think that Anthony Randolph will end up being the guy they pick if they end up drafting third.

[john2jer]

My draft board for the Wolves:

1. Rose
2. Beasley
3. Mayo
4. Lopez
5. Randolph
6. I seriously don't want to think this far down because it gets ugly.