Chicken Littles: Sky done fell! Draft Thread 2011

[fishercob]

Quick update on the Atlanta pick:

It now sits at 21st, as Denver's strong play (and ATL's struggles) has moved them a game and a half past the Hawks in the standings.

ATL is tied with Portland, so maybe it's actually a coin flip for the 20th pick. New Orleans is a half game behind and Memphis is a game and a half behind (2 in the loss column). The pick could move up to 19th or concievably 18th.

Let's go Nuggets, Blazers, Hornets and Grizz. Keep losing, Kirk and Co!

[verbal8]

Quick update on the Atlanta pick:

It now sits at 21st, as Denver's strong play (and ATL's struggles) has moved them a game and a half past the Hawks in the standings.

ATL is tied with Portland, so maybe it's actually a coin flip for the 20th pick. New Orleans is a half game behind and Memphis is a game and a half behind (2 in the loss column). The pick could move up to 19th or concievably 18th.

Let's go Nuggets, Blazers, Hornets and Grizz. Keep losing, Kirk and Co!

Those teams are all in the Western Conference play-off race. I think the final spots in the West will probably go down to the wire. The Hawks however will likely be locked into the 5th seed pretty soon and could rest their starters to get ready for their play-off series. The Hawks have a couple of easy opponents coming up(Nets, Cavs), but their April schedule is pretty tough, and they likely won't have much to play for.

[verbal8]

I think people cannot clearly identify the #1 prospect out there which is why people are calling it a weak draft. Kind of reminds me of the 2006 draft which everyone was calling weak. While certainly guys like Bargnani and Tyrus Thomas were duds for where there were picked, guys like Brandon Roy, before his knee injuries, and LaMarcus Aldridge would have been pretty good picks if they were picked #1 and #2. But at the time, each had their doubters for their games.

And there were sleepers out there; Rondo, Lowry, and Milsapp. Probably in the position where the Wizards will pick with the ATL pick, the Wizards have like a 10-15% chance of getting one of those guys.

I think the parallels to the 2006 draft are pretty good. That was a pretty weak draft overall and a very weak lotto draft(3 or the top 10 are out of the league). When Reddick was a good pick in the lotto, it is a sign to me of a weak draft. In comparison the first player out of the league in the 2005 draft was 12th.

I remember someone saying in this thread that the Wizards shouldn't continue to add picks. I disagree since adding more picks will allow the Wizards to complete bigger trades down the line for a superstar once they become more competitive. If the Wizards do not need a pick in the present year, they could always trade it for future picks. Plus it would allow the Wizards to play a little hard ball with its own free agents like Nick Young, and not be put in the position of overpaying their players.

[fishercob]

I think Irving will be in great demand, which is why I hope we win the lotto. Trade him to and Blatche to the Clippers for Kaman, Aminu, the Minny '12 pick, and a future first. Boo yah.

[nate33]

Please no to humphries (or, as Dat said, other middling FAs). Humphries is a bonehead and selfish, and the stats he's putting up on a bad team. Don't overpay that kind of guy.

Almost every team that signed a guy with the MLE last year is regretting it, especially those with young teams. Milwaukee literally went from exciting up-and-comer to old, tired, and capped out in one summer.

Keep up the BOYDing. Sign DeShawn Stevenson type veterans, guys who are maybe one rank below and not in demand, but who cost little and have short contracts.

+1

My only caveat is that I wouldn't be opposed to signing Young or Afflalo on a reasonable deal. Basically, it's okay to pay decent money for a free agent if that free agent is young, a legit starter, and fills a position of need.

[JAR69]

While we're talking late pick /mature game: I don't see him on the mocks but Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor is the 2nd coming of Derek Fisher. An instant pro, instant veteran. He'll see minutes for the team that picks him because a coach can trust him to execute with no mistakes. He'll measure long-armed so the height will be less of an issue. Maybe he'll stay for a senior year but I like the kid as a steal at back-up PG for whatever team takes him.

I don't watch enough college ball to form an opinion on most prospects, but having seen Taylor a few times I believe he is going to be at least a decent backup and probably a second round steal. He has the body and the mental makeup/killer instinct to be a player. His pull-up jump shot is very quick, and combined with a decent ability to drive, very difficult to defend. My only concern is how he will do defensively against quicker players in the NBA.

[rl25g]

does anyone else think that Terrence Jones can be a good fit as an athletic stretch 4 on this team ?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEgmxg8OF90[/youtube]

If we are able to flip the ATL Pick plus Our second, Blatche, or even Seraphin for a late mid-late lotto pick Id snag him.

Wall
Young
Barnes
Jones
McGee

This team suits Wall. It has shooters at the wings and finishers at the bigs.

Additionally Jones has a very diverse game. Kinda like a bigger and more athletic Jeff Green. He can post smaller players up, take bigger players to the basket, and hit the outside shot with some consistency. His size and athleticism however do not make him a liability on the glass or defensively.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Quick update on the Atlanta pick:

It now sits at 21st, as Denver's strong play (and ATL's struggles) has moved them a game and a half past the Hawks in the standings.

ATL is tied with Portland, so maybe it's actually a coin flip for the 20th pick. New Orleans is a half game behind and Memphis is a game and a half behind (2 in the loss column). The pick could move up to 19th or concievably 18th.

Let's go Nuggets, Blazers, Hornets and Grizz. Keep losing, Kirk and Co!

Hinrich's like a good luck charm in several ways. Hinrich enable the Wizards to get Jordan Crawford. (My RealGM nickname may be relevant for a long time. First MJ, then EJ, now Crawford!) He got the ATL first, which I am amazed that EG pulled off. Kirk also got Mike Bibby, who went the route of Byron Russell and gave the Wizards a favorable buyout.

fish, it seems Kirk just keeps on giving back to the Wizards. Thanks for sharing the good news, because I hadn't even considered the pick just keeps getting better as ATL nosedives.

[Dark Faze]

I don't know how anyone could want to take a chance on Kanter. Vids of him doing decently against Sullinger (who isn't even a great defender) means next to nothing, and there are rumors of injury possibilities...

I'm surprised when people compare Williams to David West. David West doesn't have near the handles that Williams has, nor the athleticism. Williams is going to be a better scorer than West at the next level, and to me is a PF. Tristan Thompson bothered him enough to cost him to travel? Really? Anyone who watched that full game saw that Williams was the most physical presence on the court, especially in the post area. Heck the kid played 29 minutes to Tristans 36 and still had more rebounds.

I see Williams' lack of size being made up with his immense talent offensively...which is why I like him over almost any other possible player.

As a team we're in a situation right now where we're getting to the point where our roster can't hold too many more rooks. We're going to bring in a boat load of rooks this summer. After that with a player like Wall and whoever we get we'll likely be in that bad but not terribad zone where you can't make the playoffs but can't get a difference maker in the draft either...

Which is why getting Sullinger or Barnes is pointless to me. Sullinger is a talent but he's that cog you need when you have two great players to depend on. Barnes has zero explosiveness or handle so he'll just be a great roleplayer.

That's why I'm so adamant about Williams. Missing on him would be a terrible mistake. He's going to be the most explosive player in this draft when it's all said and done.

If we can get the kid and make some other quality selections that allow us to drastically increase our wins for next year then who knows...maybe a guy like Dwight will see our potential...

[tontoz]

Rudy Gay is having season ending surgery so I think that pretty much rules out Memphis passing the Hawks. NO and Portland have a good chance though.

The Hawks are having major chemistry issues with their best players. Hinrich is actually playing pretty well (although he doesn't see the ball much) but there is something going on between Smith/JJ/Horford. They are playing with no heart and i see plenty of selfishness from Smith and JJ.

[closg00]

I think Irving will be in great demand, which is why I hope we win the lotto. Trade him to and Blatche to the Clippers for Kaman, Aminu, the Minny '12 pick, and a future first. Boo yah.

That's our best hand IMO, hold Irving hostage.

[Severn Hoos]

Rudy Gay is having season ending surgery so I think that pretty much rules out Memphis passing the Hawks. NO and Portland have a good chance though.

The Hawks are having major chemistry issues with their best players. Hinrich is actually playing pretty well (although he doesn't see the ball much) but there is something going on between Smith/JJ/Horford. They are playing with no heart and i see plenty of selfishness from Smith and JJ.

What I can't figure out is how the Hawks swept the Blazers in about a 2-week stretch right after the AS Break. I turned off the game in Portland confident that the Blazers would win and have a 2-game swing in the race for the teens, and somehow the Hawks came back and won on the road. Then they handled Portland pretty easily back in the ATL. Swap those two games and it's a 4-game lead for the Blazers, a guaranteed move up one slot for our pick. Even a split puts the Blazers 2 games up, and adds a game to the Nuggets & Hornets lead. Curse you Captain Kirk!!! (for those two games, at least...)

[LyricalRico]

That's why I'm so adamant about Williams. Missing on him would be a terrible mistake. He's going to be the most explosive player in this draft when it's all said and done.

I don't watch college ball, and I haven't really been reading this thread. But I question I've heard pose is "iI Williams a 3 or a 4"? Thoughts on that?

[tontoz]

Rudy Gay is having season ending surgery so I think that pretty much rules out Memphis passing the Hawks. NO and Portland have a good chance though.

The Hawks are having major chemistry issues with their best players. Hinrich is actually playing pretty well (although he doesn't see the ball much) but there is something going on between Smith/JJ/Horford. They are playing with no heart and i see plenty of selfishness from Smith and JJ.

What I can't figure out is how the Hawks swept the Blazers in about a 2-week stretch right after the AS Break. I turned off the game in Portland confident that the Blazers would win and have a 2-game swing in the race for the teens, and somehow the Hawks came back and won on the road. Then they handled Portland pretty easily back in the ATL. Swap those two games and it's a 4-game lead for the Blazers, a guaranteed move up one slot for our pick. Even a split puts the Blazers 2 games up, and adds a game to the Nuggets & Hornets lead. Curse you Captain Kirk!!! (for those two games, at least...)

The Blazers shot under 40% both games. If you miss a lot of shots and let the Hawks get out on the break you lose. The Hawks had 44 fast break points in those two games.

[Ruzious]

Please no to humphries (or, as Dat said, other middling FAs). Humphries is a bonehead and selfish, and the stats he's putting up on a bad team. Don't overpay that kind of guy.

Almost every team that signed a guy with the MLE last year is regretting it, especially those with young teams. Milwaukee literally went from exciting up-and-comer to old, tired, and capped out in one summer.

Keep up the BOYDing. Sign DeShawn Stevenson type veterans, guys who are maybe one rank below and not in demand, but who cost little and have short contracts.

I would completely agree with you on Humphries until this season. He's done as big a 180 as far as playing style that I've ever seen. Somebody or something got through to him. From day 1 this season, he's been the guy who does the dirty work and the heavy lifting inside for NJ. Brook Lopez is the pampered feaux phenom to be that doesn't get his hands dirty for fear of chipping a nail. Humphries is the guy who gets the rebounds and loose balls and defends the best big. Lopez plays like a forward. Humphries should get no blame for NJ losing. They've had no legit backcourt all season, Lopez has regressed, and Humph had to sit behind the hotshot rookie PF who wasn't ready for the NBA. And they had Outlaw at the 3 - sitting fat and happy on a new contract.

Humph is the only thing that went right for NJ. And if I'm a GM, I find out exactly what happened with him to make a complete turnaround at age 26. And replicate whatever I can on my players. I think I know what happened wrong with Lopez - he started listening to the folks saying he's a future superstar and stopped working.

[Ruzious]

Please no to humphries (or, as Dat said, other middling FAs). Humphries is a bonehead and selfish, and the stats he's putting up on a bad team. Don't overpay that kind of guy.

Almost every team that signed a guy with the MLE last year is regretting it, especially those with young teams. Milwaukee literally went from exciting up-and-comer to old, tired, and capped out in one summer.

Keep up the BOYDing. Sign DeShawn Stevenson type veterans, guys who are maybe one rank below and not in demand, but who cost little and have short contracts.

+1

My only caveat is that I wouldn't be opposed to signing Young or Afflalo on a reasonable deal. Basically, it's okay to pay decent money for a free agent if that free agent is young, a legit starter, and fills a position of need.

I agree to an extent, but I don't want to pay for 2's and 3's unless they're really good. I'd pay more for a quality 3rd big than for an equal quality of 2 or 3 - even if the 2 or 3 is a starter.

[Dark Faze]

That's why I'm so adamant about Williams. Missing on him would be a terrible mistake. He's going to be the most explosive player in this draft when it's all said and done.

I don't watch college ball, and I haven't really been reading this thread. But I question I've heard pose is "iI Williams a 3 or a 4"? Thoughts on that?

My opinion is that he's a face up 4.

I can see why people call him a 3...he isn't actively sitting on the block at all times trying to seal for the post up like most 4's. He comes and gets the ball sometimes because of his ability to handle the basketball and shoot from anywhere on the floor--but he doesn't hold the ball from that range for too long, he decides if he's going to shoot or attack and then gives the ball right back to the point guard, and as a result he's not a ball stopper.

Tweeners aren't good enough at any one thing enough to really be classified as their position. They call themselves 4's but they don't board well, don't bang inside, don't have post offense, like to shoot jumpers but aren't great shooters...they are just mostly slashers.

Derrick Williams is different in that he seals HARD inside, he likes contact and looks to score in the post just as often as he looks to triple threat off the high block. He prefers to face up like Amare, but he has shown more willingness to post it than say a Chris Bosh. He attacks the boards hard and defends well enough...

I don't see why people say he can't defend 4's. He won't defend Pau Gasol or Duncan that well no...too much length, but other than that I think he can handle a Millsap post up, and has quick enough feet to stick with a Bosh or Amare on a drive from the high post.

The other issue why I say to draft him is because of the other options that we have. Sullinger? He is 6'8 as well and doesn't possess near Derricks potential on offense. Barnes? He has zero explosion or handle..and handles are really difficult to improve at the next level especially without having the ball in your hands at all times ( like Wall will get the chance to improve there).

Outside of those guys who else is there? Kanter? For dominating a 6'8 kid who hadn't stepped a foot on a college court yet? No way can you take that guy.

Lastly you have Jones...but from what I see he doesn't care about winning. He never shows emotion, he allows the other players on his team to take dumb shots all the time and never says anything, he's underperformed at every single level of his career. We don't need another Blatche or Javale.

I highly suggest everyone to PLEASE watch Derrick Williams against Duke this upcoming Thursday.

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAUVV8BXwlI

In honor of the Draft Thread on the Wizboard, the first place I was exposed to the Jimmy hype last year. Kudos to the veteran draftniks! Ya'll keep me reading on the regular (not so much posting... )

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Awesome, NBTW! My young sons will enjoy that a lot. "Teach me how to Jimmer!"

"Top Comments
This definitely violated BYU's honor code in one way or another" YouTube, protagonist765

Ron Boone: "White guys don't know how to Jimmer"

From the vid: "Even Chuck Norris has a Jimmer poster"

My favorite part was the guy trying to impress a girl with a Jimmer mask on his face, and she goes "You're not Jimmer!"

FWIW, I'm okay with the Wizards drafting Jimmer anywhere after top 6 . Durant and Rose like the guy and they've faced him. He's a marquee guy. Why not?

[theboomking]

Dark Faze, I can't for the life of me figure out what exactly it was about the Arizona v Texas game that has you so enamoured with Williams. Williams shot 4-14, 0-3 from 3 point range, turned the ball over 4 times, and generally looked uncomfortable in the post for much of the game, to the degree that I wasn't the only one thinking it, but the commentators brought it up repeatedly. Williams had 9 rebounds, but 3 of them were offensive rebounds he got on one series in the 4th, where he kept missing the inside shot because he was bothered by the defenders around him. Granted, he had enough length and good enough position to get the rebound, but with each of those rebounds there was a missed shot from point blank range. Minus that series, he had 6 rebounds.

I'm not saying I dislike him, I'm just saying that your opinion of him is way too high for a one game evaluation, especially that game. We'll see soon enough if scouts share your view, or my view of Williams, but unless noone declares, I doubt that we'll see Williams go top 3, and he may well not be top 5.