Official 2013 Draft Thread - Part II

[queridiculo]

2 inches? That's the kind of thinking that has GMs pass up guys like Millsap and Farried.

Oladipo is the best pro prospect in college, I don't think it's close.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgWJGiJJAwk[/youtube]

His defense at the 7:10 mark

[mhd]

Noel is hands down the best prospect in college. Game changing defensive bigs are so rare, that you can never pass on them (I'm stealing Nate's thunder here, but he's 100% correct on this one).

[WizarDynasty]

hopefully we fall in mid to late lottery and grab poythress. Wizards might be worth talking about again.

[nate33]

My "best-fit" rankings for this team:

1. Otto Porter — An all-around solid player from a good program. High character, high-motor, with a strong (yet developing) skillset. He's just an ideal fit for this team and someone who can start from day one. He's also insurance in-case Webster and/or Ariza leave the team.

2. Nerlens Noel — The consensus #1 if he didn't injure himself. Quite frankly, I hope the Wizards aren't in a position to draft him because it's a huge risk. You just never know with ACL injuries...and this team has a terrible past when it comes to dealing with damaged goods.

3. Victor Oladipo — If he were two inches taller, he'd may be my #1 pick. I love how he plays the game...very fluid, yet aggressive, and super-athletic. He's going to be a defensive stopper that can score at the next level, and there's only a handful of those type of two-way players in the NBA.

Those are my three favorites in this draft as well, but you gotta go Noel first. ACL injuries just aren't that big of a deal anymore. He's 18. He'll recover just fine. I'd go Noel, Porter, then Oladipo. If all 3 are gone, I'd consider Bennett (depending on his measurements) or trade down for Burke.

[hands11]

My "best-fit" rankings for this team:

1. Otto Porter — An all-around solid player from a good program. High character, high-motor, with a strong (yet developing) skillset. He's just an ideal fit for this team and someone who can start from day one. He's also insurance in-case Webster and/or Ariza leave the team.

2. Nerlens Noel — The consensus #1 if he didn't injure himself. Quite frankly, I hope the Wizards aren't in a position to draft him because it's a huge risk. You just never know with ACL injuries...and this team has a terrible past when it comes to dealing with damaged goods.

3. Victor Oladipo — If he were two inches taller, he'd may be my #1 pick. I love how he plays the game...very fluid, yet aggressive, and super-athletic. He's going to be a defensive stopper that can score at the next level, and there's only a handful of those type of two-way players in the NBA.

Those are my three favorites in this draft as well, but you gotta go Noel first. ACL injuries just aren't that big of a deal anymore. He's 18. He'll recover just fine. I'd go Noel, Porter, then Oladipo. If all 3 are gone, I'd consider Bennett (depending on his measurements) or trade down for Burke.

Well then I guess I did well again cuz those are the two along with CJ McCullum that I have been pimping all along.

Last year it was Beal.

Hey, anyone else getting a browser warning when trying to visit draft xpress.

Warning - visiting this web site may harm your computer!

[hands11]

I was just goofing around on DX. Deuce Bello has a freakish body. 6 foot 3 with a 6 foot 11 wingspan.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e_gbT1U0Cs[/youtube]

his mixtape is worth a quick viewing

He was AAU teammates w/ John Wall.

Dude is SUPER raw though. He's an athlete learning how to play basketball. All he can do is dunk.

That is totally freakish how long his arm are. My God.

[Dat2U]

My "best-fit" rankings for this team:

1. Otto Porter — An all-around solid player from a good program. High character, high-motor, with a strong (yet developing) skillset. He's just an ideal fit for this team and someone who can start from day one. He's also insurance in-case Webster and/or Ariza leave the team.

2. Nerlens Noel — The consensus #1 if he didn't injure himself. Quite frankly, I hope the Wizards aren't in a position to draft him because it's a huge risk. You just never know with ACL injuries...and this team has a terrible past when it comes to dealing with damaged goods.

3. Victor Oladipo — If he were two inches taller, he'd may be my #1 pick. I love how he plays the game...very fluid, yet aggressive, and super-athletic. He's going to be a defensive stopper that can score at the next level, and there's only a handful of those type of two-way players in the NBA.

Those are my three favorites in this draft as well, but you gotta go Noel first. ACL injuries just aren't that big of a deal anymore. He's 18. He'll recover just fine. I'd go Noel, Porter, then Oladipo. If all 3 are gone, I'd consider Bennett (depending on his measurements) or trade down for Burke.

I'm coming to the same conclusion as well except for Bennett. Guys like Noel are just hard as hell to find even if he'll never be a go to guy offensively. Porter is just a clear cut fit on the perimeter and Oladipo's success this season cannot be denied even if Beal plays the same position.

Burke is also growing on me as a 3rd guard with McCollum getting consideration too if we slip in the lottery.

Just stay away from:

Ben McLemore - I've beaten a dead horse, but 2s that lack real shot creation skills are nothing more than role players. I see McLemore, I see a more explosive Brandon Rush.

Shabazz Muhammad - A one dimensional scorer that has a massive selfish streak and doesn't like to pass the ball. I do not want.

Anthony Bennett - definition of a tweener. Offensively he's a stretch 4. Defensively, I don't know what position he plays.

Rudy Goubert - After EG's failed euro busts, I'm completely over drafting a raw euro prospect still learning the game. I do not want.

Michael Carter-Williams. Big PG with broke jump shot and only an ok athlete. 21 yr old sophomore with lousy stats. I think he's a guaranteed bust.

Mason Plumlee - He's a Plumlee. Enough said. Plus he's 22 yr old making a name for himself against non NBA leftovers and guys younger than him. Fine as a late 1st or 2nd rounder. Terrible as a late lottery or mid-1st rounder.

James McAdoo - Living off the last name and playing for UNC. Soft & weak. I do not want.

That's just a few I'm sure will be disappointments. I think this draft is full of guys who teams will be looking to dump or trade before their rookie contracts are over. I do worry that EG is going to end up blowing this draft as well.

[thricethefun]

I think with this draft we really need to draft a Big. We have 1 more year with Okafor, then our centers consists of just Kevin Seraphin who sucks. I suppose Nene could play some center but he's more of a power forward imo. I would be fine with taking Noel, or Len but I don't know about Zeller. I just think he's gonna get pushed around too much in the NBA.
Also is Oladipo gonna play the 2 or 3 in the NBA? Would a lineup of Wall, Beal, and Oladipo work?

[SUPERBALLMAN]

My "best-fit" rankings for this team:

1. Otto Porter — An all-around solid player from a good program. High character, high-motor, with a strong (yet developing) skillset. He's just an ideal fit for this team and someone who can start from day one. He's also insurance in-case Webster and/or Ariza leave the team.

2. Nerlens Noel — The consensus #1 if he didn't injure himself. Quite frankly, I hope the Wizards aren't in a position to draft him because it's a huge risk. You just never know with ACL injuries...and this team has a terrible past when it comes to dealing with damaged goods.

3. Victor Oladipo — If he were two inches taller, he'd may be my #1 pick. I love how he plays the game...very fluid, yet aggressive, and super-athletic. He's going to be a defensive stopper that can score at the next level, and there's only a handful of those type of two-way players in the NBA.

Those are my three favorites in this draft as well, but you gotta go Noel first. ACL injuries just aren't that big of a deal anymore. He's 18. He'll recover just fine. I'd go Noel, Porter, then Oladipo. If all 3 are gone, I'd consider Bennett (depending on his measurements) or trade down for Burke.

I'm coming to the same conclusion as well except for Bennett. Guys like Noel are just hard as hell to find even if he'll never be a go to guy offensively. Porter is just a clear cut fit on the perimeter and Oladipo's success this season cannot be denied even if Beal plays the same position.

Burke is also growing on me as a 3rd guard with McCollum getting consideration too if we slip in the lottery.

Just stay away from:

Ben McLemore - I've beaten a dead horse, but 2s that lack real shot creation skills are nothing more than role players. I see McLemore, I see a more explosive Brandon Rush.

Shabazz Muhammad - A one dimensional scorer that has a massive selfish streak and doesn't like to pass the ball. I do not want.

Anthony Bennett - definition of a tweener. Offensively he's a stretch 4. Defensively, I don't know what position he plays.

Rudy Goubert - After EG's failed euro busts, I'm completely over drafting a raw euro prospect still learning the game. I do not want.

Michael Carter-Williams. Big PG with broke jump shot and only an ok athlete. 21 yr old sophomore with lousy stats. I think he's a guaranteed bust.

Mason Plumlee - He's a Plumlee. Enough said. Plus he's 22 yr old making a name for himself against non NBA leftovers and guys younger than him. Fine as a late 1st or 2nd rounder. Terrible as a late lottery or mid-1st rounder.

James McAdoo - Living off the last name and playing for UNC. Soft & weak. I do not want.

That's just a few I'm sure will be disappointments. I think this draft is full of guys who teams will be looking to dump or trade before their rookie contracts are over. I do worry that EG is going to end up blowing this draft as well.

I would be interested in Goubert with our late 2nd rounder. Ideally though we trade that pick to move up. More likely the pick is traded for cash.
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/rudy-gobert
Isn't Cholet the team Seraphin played on?

What about Mike Muscala with our high 2nd round pick? Although it sounds like he's rising up to 1st round.


There are several players I like including Burke, but I am still liking a Porter/Withey scenario. I am totally stuck on Porter right now. And with our top 2nd rounder I like Withey to come in as a backup center. He hopefully will fall as a "low upside" prospect, but for this team I like the fact he is 23 and played 4 yrs at a high profile quality program. Will have some maturity and polish for a rook, and he'll come in and work with reasonable expectations. But I'd like a big with that 2nd rounder IF Porter is the 1st round pick... Withey, or possibly Muscala or Patric Young.

[dangermouse]

Porter is still the guy for me. If Noel and Porter are on the board when we pick, thats a tough choice. Either way we get a young dude at a position of need, where we also have a veteran playing ahead of them who they can learn the ins and outs off of until we trade their expiring contract.

Dat I see you don't like McLemore, count me in there. We already have Beal who is younger, who I think is going to be the better player anyway.

I wish Oladipo had Shabazz's body. He's a stud for sure.

And if we do fall lower than where those guys should go.... I'd go with Zeller. He may have those t-rex arms but he is more athletic than he looks, he can run the floor anyway. I think he will be one of those guys who won't be as good as he was initially hyped up to be, but he will find a way to get it done at the next level. I don't think he will be an all-star but he should be a better than decent starting PF eventually.

[stevemcqueen1]

Noel is hands down the best prospect in college. Game changing defensive bigs are so rare, that you can never pass on them (I'm stealing Nate's thunder here, but he's 100% correct on this one).

Absolutely. The only reason he isn't the no brainer #1 pick is because he got hurt. He still is though IMO. I would take him first overall without hesitation. He's a franchise caliber big man. And people are sleeping on his offensive skills. He actually has a nascent back to basket game with a variety of soft finishes, baby hooks and running hooks with both hands, really nice from the middle of the lane.

I like Porter and Oladipo but I think neither are even the best perimeter prospect in the class. Shabazz and McLemore have better pro potential than both and Smart probably does too.

I like Porter as a fit for us because he's a true forward and all of the other guys are tweeners at best. Shabazz is a forward by skill set but guard by height. Still I would take Shabazz over Porter. I think the board is overrating Porter because he is a GTown guy and his games are so available. The rest of the draftnik community doesn't see Porter as a top 5 guy and I don't think he's a comparable athlete to Bazz, McLemore, and Dipo. He's a grounded player that'll be a bit below average athlete for the SF position in the NBA.

[stevemcqueen1]

I'm coming to the same conclusion as well except for Bennett. Guys like Noel are just hard as hell to find even if he'll never be a go to guy offensively. Porter is just a clear cut fit on the perimeter and Oladipo's success this season cannot be denied even if Beal plays the same position.

Burke is also growing on me as a 3rd guard with McCollum getting consideration too if we slip in the lottery.

Just stay away from:

Ben McLemore - I've beaten a dead horse, but 2s that lack real shot creation skills are nothing more than role players. I see McLemore, I see a more explosive Brandon Rush.

Shabazz Muhammad - A one dimensional scorer that has a massive selfish streak and doesn't like to pass the ball. I do not want.

Anthony Bennett - definition of a tweener. Offensively he's a stretch 4. Defensively, I don't know what position he plays.

Rudy Goubert - After EG's failed euro busts, I'm completely over drafting a raw euro prospect still learning the game. I do not want.

Michael Carter-Williams. Big PG with broke jump shot and only an ok athlete. 21 yr old sophomore with lousy stats. I think he's a guaranteed bust.

Mason Plumlee - He's a Plumlee. Enough said. Plus he's 22 yr old making a name for himself against non NBA leftovers and guys younger than him. Fine as a late 1st or 2nd rounder. Terrible as a late lottery or mid-1st rounder.

James McAdoo - Living off the last name and playing for UNC. Soft & weak. I do not want.

That's just a few I'm sure will be disappointments. I think this draft is full of guys who teams will be looking to dump or trade before their rookie contracts are over. I do worry that EG is going to end up blowing this draft as well.

I too think this class is flawed. It's got a lot of guys in it who can be pretty good but few difference makers. Like 2011 only with more upside, but not as good as 2010 and 2012 were. I wouldn't sacrifice anything of value to get a bunch of picks in this class and would only try and pick one or two guys from this class to move forward with. I think our second rounders are pretty worthless as is.

But I disagree with some of your assessments of players. I think you are giving too much credit to a few flaws in some of them that's giving you an overall negative outlook on that player they don't really deserve.

I think you underrate McLemore's pro potential. The guy is a super athlete. On par with John Wall in sheer athleticism. One of the best athlete's in any draft class. A super athletic wing that can shoot the lights out has big potential no matter deficiencies in his ball handling. Think Paul George.

I think you also underrate Shabazz. I've been trying to watch him carefully and I just don't think he's as selfish or deficient as he's made out to be. I think he's fit to be a much better NBA player than college player, and he's actually been a pretty good CBB player all things considered. He's going to be a physical mismatch at the SG position who can also feast on big SFs offensively. His ability to create his own offense is the best in the class and you know that ability is worth its weight in gold. He's probably the most polished all around perimeter scorer since Kyrie. He's a better athlete relative to his position than Kyrie was too. I think he's a very ready translation to the NBA.

I'm with you on Plumlee and MCW. I don't want players with as low upside and skill level as them. Those guys are going to be busts just like many of the 2011 players with low skills have been. That's how we got into trouble with Ves and Singleton--though Ves was not that old a player and did have very high upside.

Bennett is a tough projection for me. I wonder what position he considers himself? I think he's a potential Paul Millsap with some seasoning and maturity. I wouldn't stay away from him because I would love to have a player like Millsap. But I worry about him defensively and that's something I harp on. Still, his upside seems fairly high and he's got a very skilled face up game. If he had more of a big man skill set and mentality, he could be the next LJ. I have a hard time seeing him be an out and out bust though. I think his poise and his skill level and his athleticism will make him a contributor for some team, modest though his role might be.

I have essentially nothing to say about Gobert. Never seen him play and anything I know about him is second hand info.

I actually like McAdoo. Most don't. He's got flaws and shouldn't be anything but a late lotto pick at best, but I don't agree with your specific complaints about him. I don't think he's soft or weak at all. I actually think it's the opposite with him. He's hard-nosed and very strong for his position. UNC has been playing him at the 5 for weeks and he punked Alex Len and muscled around Mason Plumlee. He was clearly stronger than both of them. He's a cognizant player with an NBA ready body. Very good strength and athleticism for a 20 year old PF. Great rebounder, versatile defender who should excel in PnR defense and be able to switch onto three different positions and defend at a high level.

He's a low skill player though. Not like Vesely, but he's a work in progress. His jumper is sketchy and he's got no range beyond about 13 feet. It's a hindrance because he's a face up forward in the mold of Thaddeus Young. He's got excellent ball handling skills for a PF and he does have a few go to moves like a turnaround fade so there is some offensive upside with him. But you could stop his drive with a quick forward and take away most of his offense. He's a guy who could be a much better NBA player than was indicated by his performance in CBB. He needs to learn to shoot from range to unlock his offensive game.

And yes, I realize that makes him a questionable fit for us. Some other team is going to get a gem though.

[nate33]

I think you also underrate Shabazz. I've been trying to watch him carefully and I just don't think he's as selfish or deficient as he's made out to be. I think he's fit to be a much better NBA player than college player, and he's actually been a pretty good CBB player all things considered. He's going to be a physical mismatch at the SG position who can also feast on big SFs offensively. His ability to create his own offense is the best in the class and you know that ability is worth its weight in gold. He's probably the most polished all around perimeter scorer since Kyrie. He's a better athlete relative to his position than Kyrie was too. I think he's a very ready translation to the NBA.

Shabazz scares me because his game is so one-dimensional. If a scorer doesn't have the court vision to pass, he better damn well be an elite scorer, not just an average one. I'm not convinced that Shabazz is an elite scorer. It's a big gamble. I think it's more likely that he pans out to be a Corey Maggette/Nick Young type of player - a guy everyone knows can score, but perhaps not in a manner that helps a team. Or in a best case scenario, he has a career trajectory not unlike a poor man's Carmelo Anthony. Anthony could score from Day 1, but it took him 6 or 7 years to learn how to score within a team context and not dominate the ball so much. Of course, Shabazz would be a 2/3 tweener rather than a 3/4 tweener like Anthony, making him less valuable.

[pancakes3]

A very poor man's Paul Pierce. who can't pass. or dribble. awesome.

[WizardsWorld]

I think Porter is our guy. Seems like the best possible option for us... and if we get pick 2 or 3 then maybe we can trade down to 5 or 6 and grab Porter along with another asset.
Noel would for sure be my top pick but no way in the world do I take that risk now with his injury and I really hope the Wizards aren't dumb enough to do that.
Oladipo would be the guy if he was taller and was a SF. He looks like a real small 6'5 out there and is for sure a SG. And we're just not gonna take a SG again with Beal here. Thatd be a disaster.

[pancakes3]

I wouldn't even trade down for Porter. Just draft the kid and call it a night. He deserves top 3 money.

[stevemcqueen1]

A very poor man's Paul Pierce. who can't pass. or dribble. awesome.

Are you talking about Shabazz?

[stevemcqueen1]

I think you also underrate Shabazz. I've been trying to watch him carefully and I just don't think he's as selfish or deficient as he's made out to be. I think he's fit to be a much better NBA player than college player, and he's actually been a pretty good CBB player all things considered. He's going to be a physical mismatch at the SG position who can also feast on big SFs offensively. His ability to create his own offense is the best in the class and you know that ability is worth its weight in gold. He's probably the most polished all around perimeter scorer since Kyrie. He's a better athlete relative to his position than Kyrie was too. I think he's a very ready translation to the NBA.

Shabazz scares me because his game is so one-dimensional. If a scorer doesn't have the court vision to pass, he better damn well be an elite scorer, not just an average one. I'm not convinced that Shabazz is an elite scorer. It's a big gamble. I think it's more likely that he pans out to be a Corey Maggette/Nick Young type of player - a guy everyone knows can score, but perhaps not in a manner that helps a team. Or in a best case scenario, he has a career trajectory not unlike a poor man's Carmelo Anthony. Anthony could score from Day 1, but it took him 6 or 7 years to learn how to score within a team context and not dominate the ball so much. Of course, Shabazz would be a 2/3 tweener rather than a 3/4 tweener like Anthony, making him less valuable.

I don't think he's what you would call a one dimensional player. And I don't think he's as big a risk as you're making out. Of all the players in the class, he's the most readily translatable to the NBA. NBA ready body, clear NBA level athleticism, NBA ready offensive skills. You can't say the same about Porter for instance.

I don't think he's a one dimensional player. JJ Redick is a one dimensional player. Shabazz is multidimensional just in his scoring.

I also think this reputation of selfishness you see being batted around is undeserved. I think draftniks are talking themselves out of the guy who is pretty clearly the most NBA ready and translatable perimeter player in the class.

[Mr. Grundle]

I got Oladipo #1 and its not even close. I'm not worried one second about Oladipo fitting in with Wall / Beal. I would play any combination of them depending on match ups, with Oladipo / Beal playing 1-2 in certain situations.

Could you imagine Oladipo and Beal playing off each other? Both these guys just make the correct basketball play almost every time they touch the ball. We've seen how much better Beal makes the team by being a naturally smart and instinctive player. If we had two of those guys it could do wonders.

And just look at his numbers. You could argue his numbers as a junior are better than Jordan's junior year. The only place Jordan really has him is PPG (19.6 vs 14.1). But when you factor in the MJ took more than 6 more shots per game....it's debatable.

FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS

5.2 8.2 .633 2.9 3.9 .750 5.9 2.2 2.3 0.8 2.1 2.4 14.1 - Oladipo

8.0 14.5 .551 3.6 4.7 .779 5.3 2.1 1.6 1.1 2.2 2.3 19.6 - MJ

And thats not counting Oladipo's 3pt shooting numbers:

3P 3PA 3P%
0.9 1.8 .480

I'm not saying he's the next Jordan. I'm just saying I don't wanna be the Portland Trailblazers and end up with Bowie over Jordan because I just drafted Drexler.

[closg00]

I got a warning from Google Chrome (Mac) not to proceed to the DX site because it contains known malware, anyone get this message or encounter any problems after visiting DX?