2015 Draft Thread - Part 1

[The Consiglieri]

It's hard to see us moving any higher than slot 16 or 17, no matter how thoroughly we suck down the stretch. Hopefully somebody of quality can fall to us.

[manifested]

If WIltjer goes undrafted he should be one of the first SL invites we make. He was already a great shooter when he was at Kentucky but the staff at Gonzaga got his strength and conditioning up to par and could be a good option as a stretch 4 off the bench

If he declares this year, I'd be surprised if no one goes for him in the second. He's 6'10" and has a legit skill which is in demand. Is he worse than Kyle Singler (a top pick in the Second round) right now? At least to start, he'd be a valuable shooter on a bench unit with the potential to be a capable stretch 4 if he develops more strength.

I think the only reason he's not listed in the DX mock draft is that they don't expect him to declare until next year.

[Ruzious]

Wiltjer reminds me of Keith Van Horn towards the end of his career when he had lost a step or 2. I think he gives up too much defensively to be more than an end of the bench player. He could have a great career in Europe.

[MikeTheKid]

Wiltjer reminds me of Keith Van Horn towards the end of his career when he had lost a step or 2. I think he gives up too much defensively to be more than an end of the bench player. He could have a great career in Europe.

So your basically saying hes Ryan Kelly 1.5

[Ruzious]

Wiltjer reminds me of Keith Van Horn towards the end of his career when he had lost a step or 2. I think he gives up too much defensively to be more than an end of the bench player. He could have a great career in Europe.

So your basically saying hes Ryan Kelly 1.5

1.5? Kelly's probably got a few inches of length over Wiltjer. If he wasn't such a bad rebounder, he'd be a valuable NBA property.

[MikeTheKid]

Wiltjer reminds me of Keith Van Horn towards the end of his career when he had lost a step or 2. I think he gives up too much defensively to be more than an end of the bench player. He could have a great career in Europe.

So your basically saying hes Ryan Kelly 1.5

1.5? Kelly's probably got a few inches of length over Wiltjer. If he wasn't such a bad rebounder, he'd be a valuable NBA property.

More like Rebounder, Defender and Ball Handler Ruz lol

[Ruzious]

So your basically saying hes Ryan Kelly 1.5

1.5? Kelly's probably got a few inches of length over Wiltjer. If he wasn't such a bad rebounder, he'd be a valuable NBA property.

More like Rebounder, Defender and Ball Handler Ruz lol

Why would I care about the ball-handling skills of a player with a 9'2 standing reach? Kelly has sucked this season, and he's still clearly a better prospect than Wiltjer.

[Induveca]

Kaminsky is interesting to me, because he may end up testing one of my fundamental draft hypotheses, which states that if a guy has not shown to be dominant by age 20, he probably never will be. There have been lots of college guys with "breakout" seasons as Juniors or Seniors, who have NBA teams fall in love with them only to be disappointed to find that they are mediocre at best. Derrick Williams, Wesley Johnson, Jordan Hill, Hilton Armstrong - the list goes on and on.

Perhaps the most telling recent example is Thomas Robinson. During his Junior year, he got a lot of love here on the board, helped in no small part by his DC roots. The problem was, he didn't really show anything until that Junior year. At the time, some posters kept pointing to his per minute stats, efficiency, etc. to say that he was the same player, just being given more time and touches to prove himself. Besides, he didn't play much his first two years because he was stuck behind the Morris twins.

The problem I had with that is that the Morris twins - while nice players and surprisingly (to me) effective pros, weren't exactly world-beaters. If you can't force your way into a frontcourt because of Marcus & Markieff, maybe you won't be displacing grown men in the NBA a year later. And if the domination is based on being a 21-year old going against 18 and 19-year olds, then that advantage will be long gone in the pros.

I can hear you now - "I wish we had Jordan Hill! He's averaging 12 & 8 and has good advanced stats!" To which I would respond - Yes, on his 3rd team, in his 6th season, his first as a full time starter, and his team is beyond awful.

That's not to say I wouldn't want Jordan Hill. Just that using a Lottery pick on him is a bad idea.

The profile mentioned above (Late Bloomer, upperclassman, started slow but dominated college ball as Junior/Senior) tends to pan out (at best) to be a role player. And there's nothing wrong with being a role player - you need several of them on any successful team. That description fits probably half of the Spurs roster, after all.

So back to Kaminsky - I definitely don't see stardom in him. But I do see a role player, perhaps a very high level role player at that. The trends - shooting, scoring, rebounding, even fouls - are all positive. But he's doing it against a lot of teenagers.

I'd be glad to take him, but with the understanding that you'd be looking at a 3rd or 4th Big in your rotation. Again - nothing wrong with that, and would be a bargain throughout his rookie contract if he reaches that level. It's not a swing-for-the-fences pick, and in my opinion, that's a good thing (shudders thinking of Swaggy P, JaVale, and Dray).

Very well stated, and agreed. I have little faith in Kaminsky's game translating to the NBA. Most dominant juniors/seniors at major schools worry me.

I hope for his sake I'm wrong and he has another gear which will be needed when he's playing against pros.

[Dark Faze]

Right now I've got my eyes on Sam Dekker. Good handles, great size, I like his potential as a guy who could be a late blooming Paul George type ceiling wise.

I'd like to get another first if possible to land Tyus Jones. Dekker and Jones would be a great draft. I'd settle on just Dekker though.

[nuposse04]

that is a fairly vulgar flop. He'd fit in well on the Clippers. Hope he doesn't make a habit of this otherwise I'm probably gonna root for this kid to be a bust. Which is sad cause he seems like a decent stretch big.

[thricethefun]

Right now I've got my eyes on Sam Dekker. Good handles, great size, I like his potential as a guy who could be a late blooming Paul George type ceiling wise.

I'd like to get another first if possible to land Tyus Jones. Dekker and Jones would be a great draft. I'd settle on just Dekker though.

I like Dekker's game as well but doesn't have near the quickness/athleticism that George has. Plus Dekker seems like more of a tweener than a pure small forward.

[nuposse04]

Dekker seems like he could be a knock down SF...I mean if McDermott can get mins at the 3, so can he. Kaminsky is an offensive force. Arizona doesn't seem to know how to guard him, usually the smaller guys like Jefferson aren't bad, but then their center forgets hes on a guard. That and the badgers are just ripping the nets from 3 pt land this half.

[FAH1223]

Sam Dekker's second half vs. Arizona : 20 points, 6-of-6 FGs, 5-of-5 3FGs, 3-3 FTs

[nuposse04]

I might be underrating that Dekker kid, he has mad swag in him. A bit younger then Kaminsky. Completely forgot that Kaminsky was a senior (22 in April). Still both guys look they can help teams. Don't like Kaminsky's flop but aside from that that was a helluva performance. I wouldn't say Kaminsky is athletic (maybe for a 5), but he seems....fluid. Knows how to use his body.

[nuposse04]

Sam Dekker's second half vs. Arizona : 20 points, 6-of-6 FGs, 5-of-5 3FGs, 3-3 FTs

yah he played the game of his life. He won't repeat it but man was it impressive.

[Dark Faze]

Dekkers compares pretty well to Paul George's Fresno State stuff. Not as great of numbers, but a tick below, and great advanced stats. I like his handle a lot more than Porter, and I like him defensively as well. Definitely my guy at that pick.

Haven't really changed my opinion on Kaminsky. With everything running through him in the college game he looks great. But he gets a ton of favorable calls and the offense is being run through him. He's free to take as many possessions as he wants. I don't see him as a starter in the NBA. I think his ceiling is Hawes...and I think he'll reach that ceiling, but I'm looking for something better than that with our pick.

[FAH1223]

Dekkers compares pretty well to Paul George's Fresno State stuff. Not as great of numbers, but a tick below, and great advanced stats. I like his handle a lot more than Porter, and I like him defensively as well. Definitely my guy at that pick.

Haven't really changed my opinion on Kaminsky. With everything running through him in the college game he looks great. But he gets a ton of favorable calls and the offense is being run through him. He's free to take as many possessions as he wants. I don't see him as a starter in the NBA. I think his ceiling is Hawes...and I think he'll reach that ceiling, but I'm looking for something better than that with our pick.

I think Dekker is like Gordon Hayward

Jack of all trades.. master of none and not as good as Hayward.

[nuposse04]

Dekkers compares pretty well to Paul George's Fresno State stuff. Not as great of numbers, but a tick below, and great advanced stats. I like his handle a lot more than Porter, and I like him defensively as well. Definitely my guy at that pick.

Haven't really changed my opinion on Kaminsky. With everything running through him in the college game he looks great. But he gets a ton of favorable calls and the offense is being run through him. He's free to take as many possessions as he wants. I don't see him as a starter in the NBA. I think his ceiling is Hawes...and I think he'll reach that ceiling, but I'm looking for something better than that with our pick.

I think Dekker is like Gordon Hayward

Jack of all trades.. master of none and not as good as Hayward.

Hayward was probably the 3rd best SF this season with Melo, being out. You could argue time missed by Durant disqualifies him too. Hayward can get his own shot, and is relatively efficient. Good 2nd option on a contender if you ask me. Gordon is also pretty damn athletic. I don't see the same athleticism in Dekkar. I see a less athletic Jeff Green. Now if he becomes consistent with the 3pt shot it changes lots of dynamics for him.

[Dark Faze]

Dekker is definitely athletic. He can finish above the rim. And he hasn't even put on any muscle yet. If guys like Hayward and Stauskas can do it, then so can he.

[The Consiglieri]

right now of the guys projected for us/around our pick I'm probably interested in (I expect Kaminsky to go in the lottery):

PG:
Delon Wright
T. Jones

Big Man:
Harrell
Portis
Poeltl
Turner
Wood

Among the guys projected around that 13-25 area, who are your favorites?