2012 NBA Draft

[Dat2U]

Elton Brand developed a chiseled frame. Brand also had explosiveness (first step & quick off his feet) and a freakish reach.

Sully has none of the above.

I think its a bad comparison. Sully is much more of plodder. Best case scenario he's Boozer with better karma if he's really serious about building muscle and getting in real shape. But he's not there yet.

[Nivek]

What are the odds that Kentucky is better than the Wizards right now? They are better at SF, C, PF and probably SG.

Zero.

NBA players are better. NBA coaches are WAAAAAAAAAY better. Remember, these Kentucky kids are looking good against other college players. On any given night they're facing anywhere from zero to maybe three future NBA players. The Wizards are facing a full roster of NBA players nightly. Yeah, the Wiz suck, but they suck in the NBA. They'd whoop Kentucky in an actual game.

[Dat2U]

What are the odds that Kentucky is better than the Wizards right now? They are better at SF, C, PF and probably SG.

Zero.

NBA players are better. NBA coaches are WAAAAAAAAAY better. Remember, these Kentucky kids are looking good against other college players. On any given night they're facing anywhere from zero to maybe three future NBA players. The Wizards are facing a full roster of NBA players nightly. Yeah, the Wiz suck, but they suck in the NBA. They'd whoop Kentucky in an actual game.

I don't know about a whooping. I think you overrate the Wizards. The suck as a basketball team, not just as an NBA team. My guess is if you threw them in the Euroleague, they'd stink there too. Losers can lose anywhere.

[Nivek]

C'mon dat, where's the green font? Wiz have a garbage NBA roster, but they'd smoke a college team. Even a college team as good as Kentucky doesn't have the size or athleticism to contend with the Wizards. Not to mention, NBA coaches (yes, even the Wizards' coaches) are better. More sophisticated, better schemes -- just better.

[nate33]

The Wizards would obliterate Kentucky. A 26 year old Nick Young would be one of the best scorers the NCAA's have seen in a generation. Booker would kill their entire front line. Heck, Mcgee would probably outplay Davis. The only position where Kentucky would have a definite matchup advantage is SF.

[Nivek]

The Wizards would obliterate Kentucky. A 26 year old Nick Young would be one of the best scorers the NCAA's have seen in a generation. Booker would kill their entire front line. Heck, Mcgee would probably outplay Davis. The only position where Kentucky would have a definite matchup advantage is SF.

Not to mention Wall, who shot 46% from the floor in college. At SF, the Wizards have Singleton -- overmatched in the NBA so far, but a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

[The Consiglieri]

What are the odds that Kentucky is better than the Wizards right now? They are better at SF, C, PF and probably SG.

Zero.

NBA players are better. NBA coaches are WAAAAAAAAAY better. Remember, these Kentucky kids are looking good against other college players. On any given night they're facing anywhere from zero to maybe three future NBA players. The Wizards are facing a full roster of NBA players nightly. Yeah, the Wiz suck, but they suck in the NBA. They'd whoop Kentucky in an actual game.

I would agree about a traditionally crummy team made up of vets and some youngsters but what do you make of a team that is made up of basically D leaguers, and guys 1 or 2 years out of college? This is basically a college/developmental team+McGee/Young/injured baltche/sometimes 0 minutes sometimes a lot of minutes Lewis.

I assume we'd win, but its no sure thing, remember, the team's starting roster these days is usually 3/5's rooks/2nd year guys, and the bench is mostly the same. This isn't a normal roster due to the fire sales in '10 and '11.

[llcc25]

Elton Brand developed a chiseled frame. Brand also had explosiveness (first step & quick off his feet) and a freakish reach.

Sully has none of the above.

I think its a bad comparison. Sully is much more of plodder. Best case scenario he's Boozer with better karma if he's really serious about building muscle and getting in real shape. But he's not there yet.

Look, mobody is gonna be an exact comparison but i'd say he's close based on their overall low post game. To point out that just b/c he's not chiseled as Brand and doesn't have as quick a first step doesn't necessarily make it a bad comparison. Almost all other aspects of their low post game was similar. And regarding this freakish reach, Sullinger's is wingspan is reported as 4 inches less so if you factor the 1 inch height advntage for Sullinger in terms of actual reach I would say its 1-2 inches at most.

And for all the things Sullinger lacks compared to Brand, I think to be fair, you have to say the same things could be said the other way. Sullinger has range out to 3pt line (he's 9 for 20 this year) which Brand never had. If you look compare their 1st two years in college, Sullinger is getting to the FT line at a far greater rate than Brand and is shooting a pretty good rate for big man 76% this year compared to 70% for Brand is soph year..

[Nivek]

What are the odds that Kentucky is better than the Wizards right now? They are better at SF, C, PF and probably SG.

Zero.

NBA players are better. NBA coaches are WAAAAAAAAAY better. Remember, these Kentucky kids are looking good against other college players. On any given night they're facing anywhere from zero to maybe three future NBA players. The Wizards are facing a full roster of NBA players nightly. Yeah, the Wiz suck, but they suck in the NBA. They'd whoop Kentucky in an actual game.

I would agree about a traditionally crummy team made up of vets and some youngsters but what do you make of a team that is made up of basically D leaguers, and guys 1 or 2 years out of college? This is basically a college/developmental team+McGee/Young/injured baltche/sometimes 0 minutes sometimes a lot of minutes Lewis.

I assume we'd win, but its no sure thing, remember, the team's starting roster these days is usually 3/5's rooks/2nd year guys, and the bench is mostly the same. This isn't a normal roster due to the fire sales in '10 and '11.

I'm seriously flabbergasted that folks think this would even be close.

Wall would be dominating college ball if he'd stayed. If he went up against college kids now, it would seem like a joke to him.

Young was an efficient scorer in college, and he's better now. He's been going up against far tougher defenders (and defensive schemes) than anything Kentucky could throw at him.

Kentucky doesn't have anyone who could contend with McGee's size and athleticism. McGee is averaging close to a double-double in the NBA.

Booker averaged 15 & 8 as a senior. He's better now. It may not look it because his competition is far better too. But he's better.

Chris Singleton was a 2-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year who averaged 13 & 7 his last year in college.

Shelvin Mack was the PG for a Butler team that went to 2 NCAA Finals.

Jordan Crawford averaged 22 pts per game on 46% shooting in college.

Frigging N'diaye averaged 9 & 7 his senior year -- on 62% shooting from the floor. He can't even make the Wizards roster.

This is before you get to Blatche, who sucks in the NBA, but would dominate against college players -- even without getting in shape.

Or Rashard Lewis, who would probably be the best 3pt shooter in college ball if he went back right now -- gimpy knee and all.

Seraphin would probably be an All-American.

Seriously, we're used to looking at the current Wizards through the prism of them getting their asses kicked nightly. But these guys were terrific college players, and they're better now because they've been competing in the NBA, they've been spending waaaay more time being basketball players, and they've had better coaching.

[llcc25]

Remember, while Ford's verdicts on where players slot is not predictive of success, the surprise drop of Sully from #1-#3 overall on most charts last may after he declared he'd go back to school, to 5th (Draft Express), 7th (nbadraft.net) and 10th (Ford after talking to a GM or scout from all 30 teams) suggests that Ford is right and that NBA honchos in scouting departments and FO's do not share the rosy view of Sully that many people hear do, and particularly the Brand comparison.

Consiglieri, I personally don't put too much weight on NBA draft boards or on what Ford thinks. I do understand that GMs and guys like Ford love athleticism and potential over skill and substance so it doesn't surprise me when guys like Thabeet in 2009 are drooled over lower ceiling and more skilled guys that went after them. IMO, I don't think it can be argued that the most skilled big man in this upcoming draft is Sullinger. I do say a guy like Robinson has more upside potential but history has taught me that more time than not, potential and atheleticism get more coaches fired than guys who can actually play.

[dobrojim]

+1

this is like saying Alabama could beat the Redskins

I think not

I come to enjoy watching girls HS (freshman and JV) basketball over
the past several months. I was also able to attend DeMatha @ Paul VI
a couple weeks ago (awesome game). But when people try to argue
with me things like 'they don't play defense in the NBA', I just have to SMH.
There are major upward steps in the level of play all along the path
from medium level HS to upper level HS to Div 1 college to the NBA.
Sometimes it may be hard to see because you usually are seeing teams
in the context of the level that they are on. If it were that close, the
draft wouldn't be that important. Most decent players would be successful moving
up the food chain. It's not that close.

[tontoz]

Robinson is averaging 18/12. He is not just a guy who people like because of potential. He is 2nd in the NCAA in rebounding.

[Illuminaire]

MKG has Pippen-esque qualities.

I'm with you there, Dat. MKG and Wall would be a terror defensively. Yeah, we'd need a four with range to spread the floor with those two, but that's a back-court with size, versatility, and all-NBA defensive capability.

Is there a dream scenario where we trade McGee and end up with Davis AND MKG? No? Bah.

[llcc25]

Robinson is averaging 18/12. He is not just a guy who people like because of potential. He is 2nd in the NCAA in rebounding.

He's still somewhat unpolished on both ends of floor and doesn't have a reliable post game yet. I ddidn't say just potential, I did say athleticism also which Robinson has.

[tontoz]

Robinson is a completely different case from guys like Thabeet and Drummond. Even with his unpolished game he is still scoring and especially rebounding more than Sully.

I am not opposed to drafting Sully. The only guys i am definitely against are Barnes and Drummond.

[Ruzious]

MKG has Pippen-esque qualities.

I'm with you there, Dat. MKG and Wall would be a terror defensively. Yeah, we'd need a four with range to spread the floor with those two, but that's a back-court with size, versatility, and all-NBA defensive capability.

Is there a dream scenario where we trade McGee and end up with Davis AND MKG? No? Bah.

MKG is a helluva prospect, but Pippen was a legitimately great passer/distributor. I haven't seen that quality - at all - in MKG. Having said that, I don't have a problem with taking MKG, but as has been said - we better have great outside shooters at the 2 and 4 positions - if Wall and MKG are the 2 players we build around - and that's doable - it's just that - that has to happen in conjunction with taking MKG.

[theboomking]

Wall would be dominating college ball if he'd stayed. If he went up against college kids now, it would seem like a joke to him.

Granted.

Young was an efficient scorer in college, and he's better now. He's been going up against far tougher defenders (and defensive schemes) than anything Kentucky could throw at him.

Jordan Crawford averaged 22 pts per game on 46% shooting in college.

This is definitely edge to the Wizards. I would say however that Kidd-Gilchrist would probably be the best bet to cover Young, and is a better defender at the wing than any current Wizard.

Kentucky doesn't have anyone who could contend with McGee's size and athleticism. McGee is averaging close to a double-double in the NBA.

Anthony Davis could easily check McGee. McGee wasn't an offensive force in college and he hasn't been in the pro's. I'm betting McGee's standing reach and wingspan aren't that superior to Davis and that his max vert reach isn't either. Davis is a generational defender with a high IQ. Lately McGee has been getting owned by pros that wouldn't be able to hold Davis' jockstrap the moment Davis steps on an NBA court.

Frigging N'diaye averaged 9 & 7 his senior year -- on 62% shooting from the floor. He can't even make the Wizards roster.

Meh. It's N'diaye. Would he even get minutes in this game?

Booker averaged 15 & 8 as a senior. He's better now. It may not look it because his competition is far better too. But he's better.

This is before you get to Blatche, who sucks in the NBA, but would dominate against college players -- even without getting in shape.

Blatche is terrible and Booker is okay. I think the tandem is a wash with Terrence Jones, who is longer than Booker with a more varied offensive game, and better than Blatche.

Chris Singleton was a 2-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year who averaged 13 & 7 his last year in college.

Not nearly as good as Kidd-Gilchrist

Shelvin Mack was the PG for a Butler team that went to 2 NCAA Finals.

Not as good as Teague.

Or Rashard Lewis, who would probably be the best 3pt shooter in college ball if he went back right now -- gimpy knee and all.

That is ridiculous. Lewis wouldn't even be better than NY. Lewis is averaging .259 from 3 this year. NY is shooting .377. FWIT, I think Doron would still be better from range than both. Lamb is averaging .478 from 3 this year on 4 attempts a game.

Seraphin would probably be an All-American.

Seraphin would be a tough check.

And you forgot Vesely, who played at a higher level of ball than the NCAA last year.

Seriously, we're used to looking at the current Wizards through the prism of them getting their asses kicked nightly. But these guys were terrific college players, and they're better now because they've been competing in the NBA, they've been spending waaaay more time being basketball players, and they've had better coaching.

I think you might look at things through a different prism as well. The Wizards have a collection of players that were good in college. Kentucky has a team. The Wizards aren't magically going to be able to shoot if they play Kentucky. They aren't going to magically start rotating and defending the rim. When you look at the starting five, Kentucky has comparable talent. Davis and Gilchrist are a better NBA duo than any two Wizards.

Wall >> Teague
Booker = Terrence Jones
NY > Lamb
Singleton < Gilchrist
McGee < Anthony Davis

[Zonkerbl]

Ask yourself this. The Wizards own Charlotte. What does Kentucky have that Charlotte does not? Charlotte has Kemba Walker, Bismack Biyombo, Tyrus Thomas, Boris Diaw, and Reggie Williams. Convince me Kentucky has significantly more talent than that.

I bet Charlotte would destroy Kentucky.

[Benjammin]

This has been a little ridiculous, but fun. The potential of the collection of talent at Kentucky is impressive. But as has been already stated before, it is frankly silly to think that a professional team would not be heavily favored against a team like Kentucky. It does make for some fun conversation, and is rather depressing at the same time that the Wizards are this bad.

[7-Day Dray]

Are people really saying the Wizards would lose to Kentucky!?!? That's pretty ridiculous. Not only would the Wizards win, but they would win pretty handily. This was probably mentioned earlier in the thread, but every player on the roster was drafted (except Mo Evans), and they were all good college players. And add to that the development they've made since being drafted and being much more physically advanced at this stage, they would wipe the floor with Kentucky.