2012 NBA Draft

[Ruzious]

Speaking of defensive-minded bigs with potential, Illin's Meyers Leonard seems to be shooting up the charts. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1138074 I'd call him a late bloomer, except the kid's only 19 years old. He's got a huge frame.

[no D in Hibachi]

I watched the Baylor game yesterday and was very impressee with Miller. He's lebron-lite in that he's incredibly skilled, can do everything-score, penetrate, draw fouls, set others up, lead the break, but has great size. If one and dones can come out this year I'd take Miller above Barnes.

[7-Day Dray]

Sooo, seeing as every team will have the same record come the 2012 draft, do we all get the same chance at the #1 pick.

I highly doubt that happens. Most people are saying that the most likely way they're going to determine the draft order is by adding up the past records from the last 3 seasons, which is great for the Wizards. We'd have the 3rd best odds for the #1 pick.

[7-Day Dray]

I watched the Baylor game yesterday and was very impressee with Miller. He's lebron-lite in that he's incredibly skilled, can do everything-score, penetrate, draw fouls, set others up, lead the break, but has great size. If one and dones can come out this year I'd take Miller above Barnes.

I'm not sold on Miller at all, mainly because I'm not sold on his ability to create his own shot. So far this season, a lot of times when I've seen him try to create his shot from the perimeter around defenders, his handle looks sloppy and gets picked at plenty. People his height, even if they have good handles, always have some trouble creating from the perimeter because of how tall and lanky they are. And he looks kind of slow running the floor, and his first step looks below-average right now, and his D has looked pretty bad in Baylor's zone.

He tore his ACL last year, and is probably still suffering ill-affects from it. Who knows if he ever fully recovers? But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he will as time goes. He's a talented, and has a nice array of moves offensively, is a good passer, and has great height, but at this point, he's too much of a question mark health wise to get on his bandwagon. Plus I'm not sold on his shot-creating,

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The Wizards already have their PG of the future. This player isn't one Washington needs, but he is one who IMO will be playing in the NBA.

Iona senior Scott Machado had a career high 33 points and 10 assists in Iona’s 104-99 double-overtime win over Saint Joseph’s.

Machado is averaging 19.8 points and 12.8 assists per game during the first four games of the 11-12 season. Machado averaged 13.1 points and 7.6 assists per game last season.

“He’s the next Jason Kidd,” said teammate Mike Glover to the New York Daily News. Glover had 34 points in the game.

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... z1edDeshRn

This guy is the real deal. Machado has four double doubles against quality competition. Iona's only loss was a one point loss to Purdue, 90-91. Scott Machado had 15 points, 15 assists, zero turnovers when Iona beat the Maryland by 26, 89-63. (Conversely, the Terps had 9 assists and 26 turnovers that game.) In addition to the nearly 20 points/13 assists he's averaging, Machado is averaging 3 steals and almost 5 rebounds a game.

Last season Norris Cole seemed to come from nowhere to become a 1st round pick. Machado seems destined to do the same this season if he stays healthy. Iona is a strong team, mainly because of him.

[nate33]

I'm watching the KU vs Duke game... i have 2 words for you all.... Thomas Robinson.... that is all. He's shown range, put the ball on the floor and is the best athlete on the floor. Saw Kentucky Highlights and Davis is impressive as well but the new cba puts a rule in that doesnt allow 1 yr players to declare then that leaves us with, T Jone, P Jones, Sullinger, Barnes, Lamb and Robinson. I think i would opt for Robinson if i had to choose between him and sullinger.

I came here to post the same thing. Robinson is a beast. I love his intensity and his ability to rebound outside of his zone. He's the anti-Blatche. He's a bit raw on offense, but I liked that he showed decent form and range on his jumper.

The biggest need on this team is a tough power forward who defends and hits jumpers. Robinson will certainly defend and his jumper shows promise. I'm encouraged that he ranks only 6th on Draft Express. There's a good chance he'll be around when we draft.

[Ruzious]

The Wizards already have their PG of the future. This player isn't one Washington needs, but he is one who IMO will be playing in the NBA.

Iona senior Scott Machado had a career high 33 points and 10 assists in Iona’s 104-99 double-overtime win over Saint Joseph’s.

Machado is averaging 19.8 points and 12.8 assists per game during the first four games of the 11-12 season. Machado averaged 13.1 points and 7.6 assists per game last season.

“He’s the next Jason Kidd,” said teammate Mike Glover to the New York Daily News. Glover had 34 points in the game.

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... z1edDeshRn

This guy is the real deal. Machado has four double doubles against quality competition. Iona's only loss was a one point loss to Purdue, 90-91. Scott Machado had 15 points, 15 assists, zero turnovers when Iona beat the Maryland by 26, 89-63. (Conversely, the Terps had 9 assists and 26 turnovers that game.) In addition to the nearly 20 points/13 assists he's averaging, Machado is averaging 3 steals and almost 5 rebounds a game.

Last season Norris Cole seemed to come from nowhere to become a 1st round pick. Machado seems destined to do the same this season if he stays healthy. Iona is a strong team, mainly because of him.

Machado and Glover are really good college players - partly because they're so experienced; so experienced that they look like they're grown men - not college kids. What I'm saying is - I think they're older than everyone else - which is why they're not real highly regarded as NBA prospects.

[Ruzious]

I'm watching the KU vs Duke game... i have 2 words for you all.... Thomas Robinson.... that is all. He's shown range, put the ball on the floor and is the best athlete on the floor. Saw Kentucky Highlights and Davis is impressive as well but the new cba puts a rule in that doesnt allow 1 yr players to declare then that leaves us with, T Jone, P Jones, Sullinger, Barnes, Lamb and Robinson. I think i would opt for Robinson if i had to choose between him and sullinger.

I came here to post the same thing. Robinson is a beast. I love his intensity and his ability to rebound outside of his zone. He's the anti-Blatche. He's a bit raw on offense, but I liked that he showed decent form and range on his jumper.

The biggest need on this team is a tough power forward who defends and hits jumpers. Robinson will certainly defend and his jumper shows promise. I'm encouraged that he ranks only 6th on Draft Express. There's a good chance he'll be around when we draft.

He'll definitely be there when the Wiz pick. I question whether his offense is where people are saying it is. And let's see if he can keep the turnovers down - which he didn't do last season. No doubt he's an aggressive athlete, but he and Withey gave up quite a lot of points to Plumlee and Kelly. I want to wait and see on him, because remember Jordan Hill - he started out tremendously one year and had all the athleticism in the world - combined with aggression. Well, as the season wore on, teams picked up on his weaknesses, and his lack of polish showed through. Hill is a decent player, but he's just that... decent - nothing special. I need to see over a period of time that Robinson has the basketball IQ to be better than a Jordan Hill type player.

[7-Day Dray]

I'm watching the KU vs Duke game... i have 2 words for you all.... Thomas Robinson.... that is all. He's shown range, put the ball on the floor and is the best athlete on the floor. Saw Kentucky Highlights and Davis is impressive as well but the new cba puts a rule in that doesnt allow 1 yr players to declare then that leaves us with, T Jone, P Jones, Sullinger, Barnes, Lamb and Robinson. I think i would opt for Robinson if i had to choose between him and sullinger.

I came here to post the same thing. Robinson is a beast. I love his intensity and his ability to rebound outside of his zone. He's the anti-Blatche. He's a bit raw on offense, but I liked that he showed decent form and range on his jumper.

The biggest need on this team is a tough power forward who defends and hits jumpers. Robinson will certainly defend and his jumper shows promise. I'm encouraged that he ranks only 6th on Draft Express. There's a good chance he'll be around when we draft.

Agreed. He reminds me of Brandon Bass, but quicker and a better ball-handler. His ball-handling looks noticeably improved from last year, and his jumpshot looks better too. I love his nastiness on the court. He seeks contact in the paint, and skies for every rebound. If only more of our big men played like him. But I'd take him over Sullinger.

[closg00]

The tanking possibilities are still excellent.

* Flip's complicated system
* Rookie Influx
* Front-Court weakness

[7-Day Dray]

The tanking possibilities are still excellent.

* Flip's complicated system
* Rookie Influx
* Front-Court weakness

I just wish Mustafa "Tank Commander" Shakur was still on team.

[fishercob]

@WojYahooNBA
Adrian Wojnarowski
People keep asking about draft age rule: Still needs to be negotiated, but several team executives believe it will remain the one-and-done.

Potentially good news, and other twitter rumblings would seem to point this way too. The new, punitive, lux tax changes will not take effect for another two years -- this is a huge boon to high priced veteran teams like Dallas, LA, Boston, Miami, etc. I would assume that "in exchange," the bottom feeders are going to demand that the 2012 draft be stacked as much as possible.

Keep your fingers crossed.

[Illuminaire]

OT:

Fish, I miss your old avatar. I have to do a double-take on all of your posts now.

[fishercob]

I'll change it back for you soon, bud.

[montestewart]

OT:

Fish, I miss your old avatar. I have to do a double-take on all of your posts now.

I like that retro look. KS could use a little of that.

[Ruzious]

The tanking possibilities are still excellent.

* Flip's complicated system
* Rookie Influx
* Front-Court weakness

By complicated system, I assume you mean players actually have to try on defense and occasionally pass the ball on offense. That is too much to expect for some of the Wiz players. And if Wiz players actually do that, they are to be considered going above and beyond the call of duty - though on good teams, it's called - doing the bare minimum.

[closg00]

The tanking possibilities are still excellent.

* Flip's complicated system
* Rookie Influx
* Front-Court weakness

By complicated system, I assume you mean players actually have to try on defense and occasionally pass the ball on offense. That is too much to expect for some of the Wiz players. And if Wiz players actually do that, they are to be considered going above and beyond the call of duty - though on good teams, it's called - doing the bare minimum.

Flip Saunders lengthy playbook is legendary

[fishercob]

That's Al Saunders.

[Rafael122]

Would seriously keep your eye on Hollis Thompson as a 2nd round draft pick. He's lighting it up now that Freeman isn't there.

Ohio State vs. Duke tonight. Jared Sullinger, Austin Rivers, etc.

[The Consiglieri]

Not very high on Sullinger. Even though he measured 6'10" at a summer combine, he still looks undersized, and really struggles to get his shot off against other big men. And he projects to be a very poor defender at the next level.

That being said, I actually think he will be a better offensive big in the NBA than he is right now in college. The floor spacing is much better in the NBA, and he’ll have more space to operate in the post, and he’ll be able to face-up. His face-up game is underrated. I watched a lot of his HS games, and he could take people off the bounce and hit jumpers. I think he’ll show that ability in the NBA, as that’s much more of a pro skill than a college skill.

Count me among those who would dread us landing him. There are worse things in this world, but in a draft chock full of stud athletes with wonderful game's to match I can't bear the thought of landing a guy who doesnt appear to have the technical skill, or size to be able to produce at the next level as he does in the NCAA's. He can destroy now, but every alarm bell in my head is screaming when I think about him at the next level. I just don't see him being anything better than league average. Much in the same way that people swing their sabremetrics at Vesely and run screaming for their lives picturing an epic euro bust, when I see Sullinger I see the umpteenth cautionary tale of a player who dominated in college but didn't have what it took to be anything better than league average in the NBA.

There are examples of guys with vaguely similar tags that actually ended up having surprisingly good careers with similar reps in college like Shane Battier, but I don't want to come out of this draft with a league verage talent, not when the fact that we're young, and we're bad, and we'll take a long time to gell and build chemistry should allow us to have a very high pick (granted if '99 suggested anything, it was that old teams might be hurt by the short season due to getting fat, and not having enough time to get in shape, while young teams would either make it, or fail based on how long it took to build chemistry and gell). I want a difference making stud like Davis or Drummond, and I'll settle for a guy like Beal or Barnes, if we can't get an athlete/stud player combo and pick a little lower. What I do not want, is a low upside guy who is almost guaranteed to have been far better in the NCAA's than he will ever be in the NBA. I don't see a bust in Sully, but I definitely don't see a star either, if we pick him, I hope he proves me dead wrong, but I really, really hope we don't draft him.