Chicken Littles: Sky done fell! Draft Thread 2011

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

What do you all think of Jordan Hamilton? I saw him play for the first time last night and the dude seems to have an enormous upside. Smooth stroke, gets to the hole, rebounds on both ends. Looks like he has a frame -- big shoulder, but skinny --- that he will fill out over time.

[doclinkin]

On KTime Kenneth Faried, articles cite Dennis Rodman, I don't see it in his boarding style, he has less wiggle, less desire to irritate, less dirty. I do see Ben Wallace however. Young man has thickened considerably since two years ago when he first caught the eye. Somewhat less intimidating, but better offense, and all the athleticism and hustle of Ben at his best.

Rice's Ben Braun always picks up a hidden talent who feasts on the weak schedule. He won't come out this year but persian Arsalan Kazemi is one of those San Antonio Spurs type do-it-all players, currently racking all the right hustle stats. He only needs an improved 3pt shot to have a solid career on a winning squad.

[Ruzious]

On KTime Kenneth Faried, articles cite Dennis Rodman, I don't see it in his boarding style, he has less wiggle, less desire to irritate, less dirty. I do see Ben Wallace however. Young man has thickened considerably since two years ago when he first caught the eye. Somewhat less intimidating, but all the athleticism and hustle of Ben at his best.

Somewhere in between Rodman and the real Big Ben (no, not the clock or the Steelers QB). He's definitely built himself up, but he's not the massive physical freak that Ben was.

[Dat2U]

Unless we have the 8th or 9th pick in the draft, I really hope we don't draft Harrison Barnes. And even then I wouldn't be incredibly excited about the choice. His game screams 4th or 5th option at best to me on the NBA level.

I'm on the Faried bandwagon. After you get past the top 10-12 prospects or so, it's a total crapshoot. I'd have no problem taking him with a mid-first rounder or late lottery pick. In this draft he's worth it.

I'd pick Nolan Smith over Jimmer Fredette. Seems to have a better overall game although Jimmer is a better shot creator. Nolan is bigger and more athletic IMO. Jimmer won't be able to defend any position in the NBA.

[doclinkin]

On KTime Kenneth Faried, articles cite Dennis Rodman, I don't see it in his boarding style, he has less wiggle, less desire to irritate, less dirty. I do see Ben Wallace however. Young man has thickened considerably since two years ago when he first caught the eye. Somewhat less intimidating, but all the athleticism and hustle of Ben at his best.

Somewhere in between Rodman and the real Big Ben (no, not the clock or the Steelers QB). He's definitely built himself up, but he's not the massive physical freak that Ben was.

Somewhere between Reynaldo Balkman and Big Ben. Rodman was a physical freak in his own right. That said have you seen Faried lately? With pro trainers, and facilities plus a decent nutritionist this kid'll get pretty huge if he continues to progress.

[Ruzious]

He probably will, Doc, but I can't see him being as big as Ben... not unless he gets help from Vince McMahon's medical friends in low places.

[doclinkin]

Ben Wallace was a specimen at age 22 (can't find pics in a Bullets uni) but he wasn't quite the Big Ben he turned out to be, he thickened up quick:

Wallace as Wizard after 2 years.



After trade to magic, post Wizards (thickening quickly):


Faried now.


I'm saying this kid was kinda scrawny even when he first started dominating boards, but has now begun to puff like poppin fresh dough. 'Ben Wallace' may in fact be where he tops out if he keeps getting swole. He's got a little more offensive skill than Ben (though similar FT woes) even if he lacks perhaps an inch in height, a little length. Granted we'd lead the league in Crash Forwards (tm doc) but I could see him having success if an as he continues to gain strength. He's not merely a Balkman even if he's on that spectrum. I'd have no problem shadowing him on LeBron to mash and muscle and pick up a foul or two.

[Ruzious]

Doc, you might as well compare Javale McGee to Wilt Chamberlain.



Seriously, Ben was Ben when he was with the Wiz. It was obvious to me (apparently not to Wes) that he had the frame. Faried's got a nice frame; he doesn't have Ben's. And what does Balkman have to do with the price of tea in Contoocook, New Hampshire?

[doclinkin]

Faried's got a nice frame; he doesn't have Ben's. And what does Balkman have to do with the price of tea in Contoocook, New Hampshire?

Pretty simple: At the Farmer's Market in Contoocook New Hampshire you can buy a decent if unremarkable dried orange mint to steep in your mug for $2.99. It's alright, a bit acrid, gritty, and the farm where it is grown is still in the pollution drift pattern of the I-91 corridor (Ed Tates is the proprietor, nice fellow, gives terrible directions but likes to 'get mellow' with old friends and is happy to meet new folks even if he's a little 'handsy' when he hugs your wife) so no matter how 'organic' you claim it is, any decent lab analysis will turn up significant heavy metals and the like. It ain't really worth all that much.

BY contrast you can purchase a delicious mint infusion from the Wizzotsky tea company of Israel. Their NANA spearmint is a delicious cool and soothing melange, grown on the kibbutz by earnest young folks needing a retreat from the hustle of Tel Aviv and perhaps a callback to the energy and idealism of the Movement before the term 'settlers' became synonymous with young too serious men with paes and machine guns. Still the tea carries both pep and peace, available in a box for under 6 bucks at any gourmet supermarket that has a reasonable population of Jewish clientele.

But if you want the best of the best, well then for that you 'll make your selection from the Mighty Leaf company, probably settling upon their Marrakesh Mint, blending Moroccan spearmint with gunpowder green tea now grown in Mongolia of all places. The taste is an oasis for your tongue, soothing and cool, refreshing and invigorating, and healthy with powerful antioxidants devouring free radicals and expunging them from your system. The price being slightly more steep (so to speak) at $9.95 the box, still those who want the best will settle for nothing less.

I think anyone with a reasonably discerning palate would understand.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

A few years back we debated who was better between Shelden Williams, Alex Johnson, and Paul Millsap. I said Millsap's the best and it isn't close--he belongs in the lottery. Looking at drafts past Joe Smith was a #1 as was Kwame. Millsap's better than either of them. Shelden went 5th. Millsap went 47th.

Forward a couple years to the 2009 draft, I noted Blair's winning at every level. I said he's a top-5 or 10 player. Even before the medical reports Blar was not thought any better than mid-to-late first by most. I said he'll be a much better scorer as a pro than most think, and of course he wil rebound and defend well. Last night he had 14 in a quarter and 28 points as a starter on a 44-8 team. Of course the Wizards didn't draft him...

On to Faried....He's the most athletic among Millsap, Blair and himself. He is the quickest and most energetic of the three. He's already faced Cousins and Wall, Aldrich and the Morris Twins, Sullinger, and other top talent for years. Mostly on their courts and with hostile crowds. All Faried has done is rebound like a beast, block shots, steal the ball, and improve his FG shooting as a senior.

To see draft sites rate him out of the top ten makes me wonder why. Faried is definitely going to be a very good NBA player. Even if he's 6'6" like Rodman the guy will be a beast of a starter.

[doclinkin]

A few years back we debated who was better between Shelden Williams, Alex Johnson, and Paul Millsap. I said Millsap's the best and it isn't close--he belongs in the lottery. Looking at drafts past Joe Smith was a #1 as was Kwame. Millsap's better than either of them. Shelden went 5th. Millsap went 47th.

Forward a couple years to the 2009 draft, I noted Blair's winning at every level. I said he's a top-5 or 10 player. Even before the medical reports Blar was not thought any better than mid-to-late first by most. I said he'll be a much better scorer as a pro than most think, and of course he wil rebound and defend well. Last night he had 14 in a quarter and 28 points as a starter on a 44-8 team. Of course the Wizards didn't draft him...

On to Faried....He's the most athletic among Millsap, Blair and himself. He is the quickest and most energetic of the three. He's already faced Cousins and Wall, Aldrich and the Morris Twins, Sullinger, and other top talent for years. Mostly on their courts and with hostile crowds. All Faried has done is rebound like a beast, block shots, steal the ball, and improve his FG shooting as a senior.

To see draft sites rate him out of the top ten makes me wonder why. Faried is definitely going to be a very good NBA player. Even if he's 6'6" like Rodman the guy will be a beast of a starter.

It's rare I get a few minutes to hop into the debate nowadays, but I'll chat for a bit while the wife has the car and I'm waiting for pick-up. Difference between the three notables (DJBlair, Millsapp, Kfar) is that DJ and Millsapp have the heavy dumpster to carve space for rebounds, where KFar hops around on candlepin legs.

Big Ass works in the NBA, that has been proven. No need to instruct the resident Big ASS expert on that, I'm sure. Even players like Reggie Evans who seemed of modest size coming into the NBA have proven they can rebound by putting that sizeable rump on opponents and levering them out of the way. Kevin Love is the most recent example. White boy don't jump, but still works that 30/30 game.

The bouncy types tend not to do so well. Ben Wallace is one of the exceptions, early on he never really rebounded by superior lower body technique but simply outworked opponents and kept riccocheting up to snag boards overhead. Bouncing on the toes, ducking around the block out, shoving free with one hand. He developed technique later (most notable in the Pistons championship vs the Lake show when he was able to hold his ground against the Biggest Ass of All Time). I tagged Faried a couple years back as a guy to keep an eye on, interested and curious, but unconvinced since he looked like another Balkman type: bouncy small school hustlf*#k.

But dude has hit the creatine since then or something, his shoulders are thicker than his head, biceps like quads. He still has table legs underneath, but he's swelling from the waist up like a cartoon bulldog. May prove to be one of the rare guys who can swim through the air to snag a ball on raw athleticism and technique be damned. G-Wallace for instance.

We watch at least two of the same things, you and I, defensive boards and output vs big time programs to see who has heart, aptitude and understanding of the game. KTime has all that, the rest is just work. Clearly he ain't scared of that, neither.

I doubt the Wiz select him, but I expect he'll be a player in this league, find his role, even if there are others with better output selected both before and after.

[doclinkin]

Oh and another point of agreement: Flip wouldn't use him right. But I'd love to see him as another finishing option for John Wall on the alley oop. He'd be the first action in the uptempo outbreak: get the ball then get out and run.

[Ruzious]

Faried's got a nice frame; he doesn't have Ben's. And what does Balkman have to do with the price of tea in Contoocook, New Hampshire?

Pretty simple: At the Farmer's Market in Contoocook New Hampshire you can buy a decent if unremarkable dried orange mint to steep in your mug for $2.99. It's alright, a bit acrid, gritty, and the farm where it is grown is still in the pollution drift pattern of the I-91 corridor (Ed Tates is the proprietor, nice fellow, gives terrible directions but likes to 'get mellow' with old friends and is happy to meet new folks even if he's a little 'handsy' when he hugs your wife) so no matter how 'organic' you claim it is, any decent lab analysis will turn up significant heavy metals and the like. It ain't really worth all that much.

BY contrast you can purchase a delicious mint infusion from the Wizzotsky tea company of Israel. Their NANA spearmint is a delicious cool and soothing melange, grown on the kibbutz by earnest young folks needing a retreat from the hustle of Tel Aviv and perhaps a callback to the energy and idealism of the Movement before the term 'settlers' became synonymous with young too serious men with paes and machine guns. Still the tea carries both pep and peace, available in a box for under 6 bucks at any gourmet supermarket that has a reasonable population of Jewish clientele.

But if you want the best of the best, well then for that you 'll make your selection from the Mighty Leaf company, probably settling upon their Marrakesh Mint, blending Moroccan spearmint with gunpowder green tea now grown in Mongolia of all places. The taste is an oasis for your tongue, soothing and cool, refreshing and invigorating, and healthy with powerful antioxidants devouring free radicals and expunging them from your system. The price being slightly more steep (so to speak) at $9.95 the box, still those who want the best will settle for nothing less.

I think anyone with a reasonably discerning palate would understand.

Btw, if anyone's wondering, Doc is telling the truth there. If you find yourself up that way in Hopkinton, go to the farmers' market on a weekend, and tip the entertainer. He only gets paid by getting a sample from each participating farmer. And if you're not on a diet, try one of Ruby's home-made maple syrup donuts - to die for. And visit the Antiquarium Society before leaving town.

[REDardWIZskin]

This draft is supposed to be weak but the more i look at it, i don't think it will be so bad. Its just the uncertainty of who will be able to play at the next level. This may have been the year to stockpile draft picks. If we can get two more in the first 40 picks i think we could really benefit from this class. The only way I see us getting screwed is if we pick later than 6 in the lotto. But we def need more picks though. I'm thinking 4 total. With a new GM picking hopefully.

[closg00]

Top 15 Senior NBA Draft Prospects
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multim ... ent.1.html

Justin Harper sounds like potential good role-player on this team. Sniper.

[Ruzious]

Top 15 Senior NBA Draft Prospects
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multim ... ent.1.html

Justin Harper sounds like potential good role-player on this team. Sniper.

Notice how most of them seem to be limited physically. But one that I think will climb up to the 1st round is Keith Benson. Ernie likes developing athletic bigs, and if he can get on the Kenneth Faried workout regimen, maybe he can gain the added mass he needs. Oakland has played a surprisingly tough outside of conference schedule and held their own.

[nate33]

There are a couple of guys in the 25-35th pick range that might pan out to be good, cheap role players. It sure would be nice to trade one of our vets to a contender for their late 1st pick. It's a shame Howard hasn't been healthy enough to showcase himself.

[closg00]

Top 15 Senior NBA Draft Prospects
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multim ... ent.1.html

Justin Harper sounds like potential good role-player on this team. Sniper.

Notice how most of them seem to be limited physically. But one that I think will climb up to the 1st round is Keith Benson. Ernie likes developing athletic bigs, and if he can get on the Kenneth Faried workout regimen, maybe he can gain the added mass he needs. Oakland has played a surprisingly tough outside of conference schedule and held their own.

Thanks, I'm sold based-upon YouTube highlights Seriously though, a biggish inside-out player is something that we need. Seraphin might get there, but he looks years away. Booker is a great hustle-guy, & Hamady looks to be an harassing 7 footer to use for fouling. We got to pick-up some offense in this next draft.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP99nmtoOuE

[Ruzious]

Top 15 Senior NBA Draft Prospects
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multim ... ent.1.html

Justin Harper sounds like potential good role-player on this team. Sniper.

Notice how most of them seem to be limited physically. But one that I think will climb up to the 1st round is Keith Benson. Ernie likes developing athletic bigs, and if he can get on the Kenneth Faried workout regimen, maybe he can gain the added mass he needs. Oakland has played a surprisingly tough outside of conference schedule and held their own.

Thanks, I'm sold based-upon YouTube highlights Seriously though, a biggish inside-out player is something that we need. Seraphin might get there, but he looks years away. Booker is a great hustle-guy, & Hamady looks to be an harassing 7 footer to use for fouling. We got to pick-up some offense in this next draft.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP99nmtoOuE

A junior who kinda fits that mold that's an underrated offensive big man imo is Tyler Zeller from UNC. He's another guy who's lacking strength and looks a little awkward, but dude has some serious offensive skills for a guy who's just about 7 foot.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Top 15 Senior NBA Draft Prospects
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multim ... ent.1.html

Ernie likes developing athletic bigs.

Not to nitpick Ruz, but which of the athletic bigs drafted by Ernie has actually "developed?"

Pech -- no? Blatche? -- sort of, McGee -- maybe, Seraphin -- we'll see, Booker -- we'll see, Hamady -- we may never see.