09-10 WizFans Official Draft Thread

[pancakes3]

sounds like gerald wallace but with skill.

[Severn Hoos]

Yep, sure looks like Turner will be out of reach. He's looking like a top-5 pick right now, and I certainly hope we're not picking in the top 5!

I still like Patrick Patterson, think he brings the one thing we don't have right now in our bigs - as a bull who can score in the paint. Devin Ebanks is another I've been intrigued by - good size & defense. Would be a nice rotational player for the Wiz. Kalin Lucas still looks good, and James Anderson is really filling it up for Ok St. Xavier Henry has really impressed as a Freshman, and Sherron Collins can be that underheight true PG - though his game is more about strength than blinding speed.

But there's one guy who just keeps producing, very steady and heady team player. He seems to be about 26 years old, is very mature, and is actually 2nd in the NCAA in A/TO ratio, even though he plays SF. I'm talking about Tyler Smith of Tennessee. 2 years ago, some thought he could be a Lottery pick, and now he's likely a 2nd rounder. But don't sleep on him. If the Wiz do indeed trade away Caron and have to go with a SF-by-committee approach, he'd be a nice member to have on that committee.

[nate33]

Evan Turner is out 8 weeks with a fractured vertebrae.

[gowiz999]

Tank the season to get best chance at Wall

[pancakes3]

Jeremy Lin 2nd rounder.

[Hoopalotta]

That Charles Garcia writeup on DraftExpress is interesting. Looks like he's NBA ready from a tatto standpoint.

Could be a nice mid-late first round home run swing on a skilled project-big. it might just be like cloning Andray Blatche.

[doclinkin]

Jeremy Lin 2nd rounder.

I like the kid, whether or not he makes a roster. He's got a smooth game. An extra gear even if he generally looks unhurried the couple times I've seen him play. Dropping 30 on UConn is big time.

He'll benefit from a big league strength and conditioning program, you catch him huffing and puffing at times since he's got to carry the load for Harvard. But he's got slippery speed, nice length, and needless-to-say good smarts.

Great fit to play near Fun street. n Chinatown. Come on: Harvard. You'd sell a ton of jerseys if he ever got any playing time. He's living the asian-american kid dream: shuts his parents up (makes them happy) by attending an Ivy league school for four years, but is killing it on court in a hip-hop sport. Street cred and family respect. Can't say nothing.

All he has to do is marry a traditional girl, wear the number 8 jersey (for luck) and he'll be set in the Chi-Am community. Start a few arguments though: he'll give ammo to thousands of asian kids trying to convince their parents to let them try out for the JV squad. "No, you waste your time'. "But Ba, I could get a scholarship to Harvard like Jeremy Lin..."

Success in the NBA? He'd need to work on his point guard game. At an NBA 6'3" 200lbs he's slim and short for the 2-guard slot. He's built like Steve Blake, though he's more athletic. As a PG prospect though he's more of an attack guard, slasher, drive and dish guy, not a true set-up man. His passing ratios will benefit by playing next to actual finishers.

With a year or two of seasoning overseas as a PG in Euroball he'd be a whole lot better than coming out of college as a number one option offensive player. If he doesn't make the Association, he could still definitely find a career in the game elsewhere (if his parents let him...) Though as a Harvard guy he can damn sure make more money doing basically anything than slaving away at D-League wages. (Says he wants to be a pastor when his playing days are over though, so it may be moot).

I would not be surprised though if the CBA ran out a big contract for him. Better $ than may be available here, or Euroball as a raw rook. The Chinese league will start to offer real contracts at some point, there's too much hunger for the game and too much new money floating around. And frankly there's an incipient chauvinism in Chinese Sport. Yeah they'll hire american players (God Shammgod, and Laron (no-sham God) Profit -- et al) but might better embrace an asian kid. A chinese kid. J-Lin has a bit of razzle dazzle while remaining quiet and humble hardworking and all the traditional qualities that the Chinese stereotypically like in their heroes.

The first Chinese-American to make the league though. Now that would be something interesting. Steep hill to climb, but, it's bound to happen some time. It will be interesting to see him play Gtown on the 23rd.

[doclinkin]

Dunno, could be too short, but know who is fun to watch: Tommy Mason-Griffin of OKState. Pure passer jitterbug, built like JJ Barea (thick solid little pitbull) but with that PG ESP that makes the insane pass stick to his teammates hands. Competitive, barky.

If you peek in on Willie Warren from OK State you won't have to watch too hard to notice this freshman out there running the show. He'll end up with an impressive Youtube mix or two by years end.

[Ruzious]

Looking at the UConn game highlights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ2mng5e95w , firstly Calhoun is an assclown. Lin is like a poor man's Steph Curry. He's a helluva college player, but the scouts are not going to be impressed with his size/athleticism ratios. One time he got fouled on a 3 point attempt - that's great, but... the defender basically blocked his shot without jumping. He's got a long release on the J. To have a chance, he needs to fit in the proverbial high energy combo guard role off the bench.

[dnk]

Jeremy Lin 2nd rounder.

I like the kid, whether or not he makes a roster. He's got a smooth game. An extra gear even if he generally looks unhurried the couple times I've seen him play. Dropping 30 on UConn is big time.

He'll benefit from a big league strength and conditioning program, you catch him huffing and puffing at times since he's got to carry the load for Harvard. But he's got slippery speed, nice length, and needless-to-say good smarts.

Great fit to play near Fun street. n Chinatown. Come on: Harvard. You'd sell a ton of jerseys if he ever got any playing time. He's living the asian-american kid dream: shuts his parents up (makes them happy) by attending an Ivy league school for four years, but is killing it on court in a hip-hop sport. Street cred and family respect. Can't say nothing.

All he has to do is marry a traditional girl, wear the number 8 jersey (for luck) and he'll be set in the Chi-Am community. Start a few arguments though: he'll give ammo to thousands of asian kids trying to convince their parents to let them try out for the JV squad. "No, you waste your time'. "But Ba, I could get a scholarship to Harvard like Jeremy Lin..."

Success in the NBA? He'd need to work on his point guard game. At an NBA 6'3" 200lbs he's slim and short for the 2-guard slot. He's built like Steve Blake, though he's more athletic. As a PG prospect though he's more of an attack guard, slasher, drive and dish guy, not a true set-up man. His passing ratios will benefit by playing next to actual finishers.

With a year or two of seasoning overseas as a PG in Euroball he'd be a whole lot better than coming out of college as a number one option offensive player. If he doesn't make the Association, he could still definitely find a career in the game elsewhere (if his parents let him...) Though as a Harvard guy he can damn sure make more money doing basically anything than slaving away at D-League wages. (Says he wants to be a pastor when his playing days are over though, so it may be moot).

I would not be surprised though if the CBA ran out a big contract for him. Better $ than may be available here, or Euroball as a raw rook. The Chinese league will start to offer real contracts at some point, there's too much hunger for the game and too much new money floating around. And frankly there's an incipient chauvinism in Chinese Sport. Yeah they'll hire american players (God Shammgod, and Laron (no-sham God) Profit -- et al) but might better embrace an asian kid. A chinese kid. J-Lin has a bit of razzle dazzle while remaining quiet and humble hardworking and all the traditional qualities that the Chinese stereotypically like in their heroes.

The first Chinese-American to make the league though. Now that would be something interesting. Steep hill to climb, but, it's bound to happen some time. It will be interesting to see him play Gtown on the 23rd.

Obviously I think you said a few things in there jokingly or whatever, but I still found a number of things to be a little offensive. Obviously starting off with "All he has to do is marry a traditional girl" and your "impression" of conversations in Asian-American homes. And then "if his parents let him." Tonight's the first time I've heard about the kid, but I've already read an article about how much his father loves basketball.

Also Harvard doesn't offer athletic scholarships.

[doclinkin]

Obviously I think you said a few things in there jokingly or whatever, but I still found a number of things to be a little offensive. Obviously starting off with "All he has to do is marry a traditional girl" and your "impression" of conversations in Asian-American homes. And then "if his parents let him." Tonight's the first time I've heard about the kid, but I've already read an article about how much his father loves basketball.

Also Harvard doesn't offer athletic scholarships.

Eh. I never expect to be taken seriously on these boards. It's the anonymous internet. Why would anyone care what I think? Understood everyone is on hairtrigger sensitivity when it comes to ethnicity, but whatever.

But some of the 'impressions' above were a near direct quote from my (Cambodian) foster son's best friend in his (Laos) household on whether he should play basketball in highschool since he'll never succeed at a black sport, and why would he want to do something he is bound to fail at. All his parents' friends seemed to agree. Yes, Cambodian, & Lao not ='s Chinese. I'm insensitive maybe but not imbecilic. But they're happy to claim successes by other asians in other circumstances.

Still in that case though, in college my (Korean and Chinese) roommates' families would tend to back up the idea that if it wasn't going to earn you money it was a waste of time. Granted, massive generalizations all over the place here, cutting across thousands of miles of asia and lumping together thousands of years of distinctly different cultures. Any cultural similarities I perceive only come to me from a) my experience, and b) what friends told me in statements like 'Asian cultures all think..." Feel free to correct me. I'm just going by their generalizations. And interminable filmschool students projects I've had to sit through.

The 'traditional girl' thing especially. Though that might be a Korean thing mostly, I dunno. My roommate's parents were always trying to take him out to meet this or that friend of their family. Could be particular to him, or them, or whatever. Could be because he dated a black girl once and they panicked.

You're telling me that never happens? You've never heard anything like that? Okay. I'm telling you I ain't lying, so maybe it's unusual. Or maybe you're over-reacting to a perceived slight. I'm not saying 'ALL' --blablabla-- I'm saying 'MANY' blablabla. Is there any truth? I dunno you tell me. I'm willing to learn.

Yes, many Chinese people love basketball, Jeremy Lin's dad included, okay, fine. Misses the point. How many Chinese kids play NCAA ball at a high level? And why is that? I've met a few tall Chinese volleyball players, another jump and react sport featuring tall folk. Could be there is less competition for volleyball scholarships? Just a theory.

As for Harvard, seriously, that's just semantics: you don't think it looked good on Jeremy's extra-curriculars that the kid could ball at a high level? Of course it did. More props to him that he qualified academically, he had to have worked his tail off. But if he made it to the NBA and _also_ went to Harvard? I know I'd use the argument if I were a teen, if my parents said it was setting myself up for failure .

And I'm a billion percent certain if the kid were good enough to make it to the Association and play well, he'd be claimed by many Amerasian folks of whatever nationality. He's not a 6'10"-7' athletic freak like Yi, or Yao or Wang Zhi-Zhi or even 6'9" Sun Yue. It's natural to harbor a certain pride and prejudice and predisposition to like someone who reminds you of you. Not saying it's right, just saying I don't think I'm lying. Come on, in your honest heart, you especially like the kid because he's asian, right? Right? I'm wrong? What.

[no D in Hibachi]

I watched the Kentucky-Indiana game today and I came away been impressed with DeMarcus Cousins. He's a monster and has real good ball skills and post skills. I think he's going to be the Tyreke Evens of this year. Last season Evens was constently undervalued on nbadraft.net and draftexpress.com, but by the time the draft rolled around Evens was the second best prospect in the draft. Cousins is a force in the post on both sides of the floor. If the Wiz continue this terrible course and end up with a high lotto they should consider Cousins because at that point they'll need to replace Haywood.

[TheKingOfVa360]

I watched the Kentucky-Indiana game today and I came away been impressed with DeMarcus Cousins. He's a monster and has real good ball skills and post skills. I think he's going to be the Tyreke Evens of this year. Last season Evens was constently undervalued on nbadraft.net and draftexpress.com, but by the time the draft rolled around Evens was the second best prospect in the draft. Cousins is a force in the post on both sides of the floor. If the Wiz continue this terrible course and end up with a high lotto they should consider Cousins because at that point they'll need to replace Haywood.

Cousins looks like a NBA player. When he is motivated and focused he is unstoppable. If we land in the lottery Ernie needs to take a long look at that guy and Greg Monroe. I prefer G-Money because im a Georgetown fan but Cousins would be a great piece to start the rebuilding process.

[dnk]

Eh. I never expect to be taken seriously on these boards. It's the anonymous internet. Why would anyone care what I think? Understood everyone is on hairtrigger sensitivity when it comes to ethnicity, but whatever.

First of all, it's not a big deal, I wasn't REALLY offended, I just thought I'd say something.

But some of the 'impressions' above were a near direct quote from my (Cambodian) foster son's best friend in his (Laos) household on whether he should play basketball in highschool since he'll never succeed at a black sport, and why would he want to do something he is bound to fail at. All his parents' friends seemed to agree. Yes, Cambodian, & Lao not ='s Chinese. I'm insensitive maybe but not imbecilic. But they're happy to claim successes by other asians in other circumstances.

Still in that case though, in college my (Korean and Chinese) roommates' families would tend to back up the idea that if it wasn't going to earn you money it was a waste of time. Granted, massive generalizations all over the place here, cutting across thousands of miles of asia and lumping together thousands of years of distinctly different cultures. Any cultural similarities I perceive only come to me from a) my experience, and b) what friends told me in statements like 'Asian cultures all think..." Feel free to correct me. I'm just going by their generalizations. And interminable filmschool students projects I've had to sit through.

The 'traditional girl' thing especially. Though that might be a Korean thing mostly, I dunno. My roommate's parents were always trying to take him out to meet this or that friend of their family. Could be particular to him, or them, or whatever. Could be because he dated a black girl once and they panicked.

You're telling me that never happens? You've never heard anything like that? Okay. I'm telling you I ain't lying, so maybe it's unusual. Or maybe you're over-reacting to a perceived slight. I'm not saying 'ALL' --blablabla-- I'm saying 'MANY' blablabla. Is there any truth? I dunno you tell me. I'm willing to learn.

Haha I mean it sounds like you have almost as much experience dealing with Asian-American families as I do. But my main thing is, my family's not like that, the admittedly not ample amount of Asian-American friends I do have don't have families like that, and in this day and age with more and more Americanized kids growing up and having families of their own, much less Asian-American families are going to be like that going forward. And you have no idea how "traditional" or how close to your generalization Jeremy Lin's family is.

Yes, many Chinese people love basketball, Jeremy Lin's dad included, okay, fine. Misses the point. How many Chinese kids play NCAA ball at a high level? And why is that? I've met a few tall Chinese volleyball players, another jump and react sport featuring tall folk. Could be there is less competition for volleyball scholarships? Just a theory.

I don't think it misses the point because it's exactly what I'm saying. When you said "if his parents let him" you used your (considerable) experience to generalize a family you have no experience with. And in my mind, it doesn't really matter that much how much experience you have, if you hold people you don't know to those same preconceived notions, it's not racism, but it's still not where people should be at.

As for Harvard, seriously, that's just semantics: you don't think it looked good on Jeremy's extra-curriculars that the kid could ball at a high level? Of course it did. More props to him that he qualified academically, he had to have worked his tail off. But if he made it to the NBA and _also_ went to Harvard? I know I'd use the argument if I were a teen, if my parents said it was setting myself up for failure .

Very true. Again, it wasn't meant to put you down, it was just setting a fact straight. Although there is a difference in meaning in that with no scholarship, that could change the picture for a lot of families.

And I'm a billion percent certain if the kid were good enough to make it to the Association and play well, he'd be claimed by many Amerasian folks of whatever nationality. He's not a 6'10"-7' athletic freak like Yi, or Yao or Wang Zhi-Zhi or even 6'9" Sun Yue. It's natural to harbor a certain pride and prejudice and predisposition to like someone who reminds you of you. Not saying it's right, just saying I don't think I'm lying. Come on, in your honest heart, you especially like the kid because he's asian, right? Right? I'm wrong? What.

As I said, last night was the first time I've heard about him, I've never seen him play so I have no opinion of him or especially like him. Sure, I'd love to see him succeed in the same way I'd love to see more black, Asian, or Hispanic players in the NHL, and that my minority is the same minority as his is pretty cool. But he's not going to become my favorite player or anything just because he's Asian-American. His general underdog story and mentality is more interesting to me than its roots in ethnicity. His ethnicity's interesting, sure, but it's not a huge deal to me.

But this is all irrelevant and I'm not going to change the way your expectations work on a RealGM discussion board.

Hey, that John Wall guy's pretty good at playing basketball, right? It'd be cool to draft him.

[Ruzious]

I watched the Kentucky-Indiana game today and I came away been impressed with DeMarcus Cousins. He's a monster and has real good ball skills and post skills. I think he's going to be the Tyreke Evens of this year. Last season Evens was constently undervalued on nbadraft.net and draftexpress.com, but by the time the draft rolled around Evens was the second best prospect in the draft. Cousins is a force in the post on both sides of the floor. If the Wiz continue this terrible course and end up with a high lotto they should consider Cousins because at that point they'll need to replace Haywood.

I gotta disagree on Cousins. Yes, he's a great talent (and btw, does that Kentucky frosh class has as much pure talent as any since the Fab 5?), but he seems really immature and I'd guess he's many years away from being an NBA contributor. Favors is far and away a better frosh bigman prospect.

[closg00]

Sad, this is going to be a very active thread sooner than I thought. I'll start paying more attention to college hoops. Should I get my hopes up for John Wall like I did for Griffin?

[Silvie Lysandra]

draft board

1: Wall
2: Favors
3: Turner

Turner reminds me of Scottie Pippen tbh; incredibly versatile, a prototype point forward, amazing defensive potential - honestly, if Arenas returns to form and we have the #1, I take Turner over both Wall and Favors. The vertebrae is scary though.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Somebody mention the following name to one of the three Mikes (Lee, Jones, Prada); or to Rashad Mobley, or to Kevin Broom:

Jason Love

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091214/ap_ ... ati_xavier

http://www.draftexpress.com/stats.php?sid=10299

To any of you guys, look into this Love kid and you state the case and make sure that the higher ups at least know who he is.

Boozer, Millsap, Hendrix, Blair are all history. My opinion of them doesn't even matter at this time. I did know about them pretty early (and do think the Wizards need to snatch Hendrix as soon as his Euro contract is up, just like they did Boykins).

This guys doesn't seem nearly as skilled as them, but he does seem like a Joey Dorsey-type player from what I see so far.

He's IMO the kind of guy the Wizards never draft but always end up needing.

He'll be there in round two. (Booker and Varnado might be also).

[Dat2U]

To me this looks like the John Wall draft. He's clear and away the top choice. Favors has a ton of tools but may be a ways from contributing. I have no doubt Wall could step in and contribute in the NBA right now. He's basically an uber Derrick Rose. Not quite as strong but more athletic if that's possible and he's some solid PG skills.

I think Greg Monroe is being underrated among draftniks. Maybe not on this board though. He's a top 5 pick IMO the way he's playing.

Patrick Patterson seems like a solid mid-to-late lottery pick to me.

I'm really intrigued by VCU's Larry Sanders. He's got incredible defensive tools with his athleticism, energy level & length. Reminds me a bit of a young Theo Ratliff.

[closg00]

Well, we are currently one of the worst teams in the NBA (bottom 5) so the flip-side is that we are on-track to be in on the John Wall sweepstakes and getting a top-5 to 10 pick again.