2012 Draft, Part VI (Draft Week is Here!)

[Severn Hoos]

Best Scenario: The Cleveland trade doesn't materialize. Charlotte grabs TRob. We take Beal.

2nd Best Scenario: Cleveland swaps picks with Charlotte. Cleveland drafts Beal. We swap picks with Sacramento (possibly dumping Blatche or picking up their #36 pick). Sacramento drafts TRob. Charlotte drafts Barnes. We get MKG at #5

3rd Best Scenario: Cleveland swaps picks with Charlotte. We draft MKG

Worst-Case Scenario: Anything involving us ending up with Barnes.

+1 on all counts (would that make it +4?) with maybe a few addenda:

1. I think true worst case is moving out of the Lottery (or completely out of the 1st round) just to move Blatche.
2. Next worst would be the Gasol trade.
3. Then taking Drummond - he scares me, and I'd actually rather have Barnes. (may live to regret that statement)
4. Taking Barnes at #3
5. Doing the Sacramento trade and ending up with Barnes. At least we'd pay him less and Blatche would be gone - so that beats taking Barnes at 3 and having Blatche still on the team.

(so append these at the bottom of your list in reverse order, if I can make it any more confusing...)

I'm actually kind of relishing the thought of moving to #5, dumping Blatche, AND screwing Charlotte if they try to screw us. Oh, and getting MKG anyway - at a lower cost and a chip on his shoulder. I do love the thought of adding Beal, but that might just be a better all-around outcome.

[FAH1223]

Apparently, CLE is locked into MKG #4 now.

My head hurts.

[Hoopalotta]

players from each team telling who'd they pick if they were GM. Chris Singleton is out of his damn mind.

http://bbs.hupu.com/3896012.html

3. Harrison Barnes, F, UNC
Selected by: Chris Singleton

"We feel like he can play the 2 or the 3, and that's what we need help with," says Singleton. "We know he can shoot, and with the Wizards being more of an open offense, people can't focus on him; he'll fit right in with us." (Barnes scored 17.1 ppg and shot 36 percent of 3-pointers.)

Chris Singleton: "we should bring in a big wing as the last thing a winning basketball team can afford is for me to be playing a substantive role".

I kid, I kid. I haven't written him off as a rotation guy, but it's pretty hilarious to see him calling for a small forward to come in.

Beal, Chris, it's decidedly in your interests to pick Beal.

[dobrojim]

You might be right 7-Day Dray. Like CCJ, I suspect Zeller might be smart enough to adapt to the pro game. He does have short arms, but he's above average in agility, strength and leaping ability for a center. That also bodes well for him. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

not that it will be relevant to us, but I also heard that Zeller has the kind of work ethic
and drive to succeed at the next level.

I expect him to be a solid rotation player within 2-3 years for someone.

[kirubel94]

players from each team telling who'd they pick if they were GM. Chris Singleton is out of his damn mind.

http://bbs.hupu.com/3896012.html

3. Harrison Barnes, F, UNC
Selected by: Chris Singleton

"We feel like he can play the 2 or the 3, and that's what we need help with," says Singleton. "We know he can shoot, and with the Wizards being more of an open offense, people can't focus on him; he'll fit right in with us." (Barnes scored 17.1 ppg and shot 36 percent of 3-pointers.)

Chris Singleton: "we should bring in a big wing as the last thing a winning basketball team can afford is for me to be playing a substantive role".

I kid, I kid. I haven't written him off as a rotation guy, but it's pretty hilarious to see him calling for a small forward to come in.

Beal, Chris, it's decidedly in your interests to pick Beal.

What is more interesting is Beal went 19th on the players mock,

[GhostsOfGil]

Apparently, CLE is locked into MKG #4 now.

My head hurts.

Source?

[tontoz]

players from each team telling who'd they pick if they were GM. Chris Singleton is out of his damn mind.

http://bbs.hupu.com/3896012.html

3. Harrison Barnes, F, UNC
Selected by: Chris Singleton

"We feel like he can play the 2 or the 3, and that's what we need help with," says Singleton. "We know he can shoot, and with the Wizards being more of an open offense, people can't focus on him; he'll fit right in with us." (Barnes scored 17.1 ppg and shot 36 percent of 3-pointers.)

Chris Singleton: "we should bring in a big wing as the last thing a winning basketball team can afford is for me to be playing a substantive role".

I kid, I kid. I haven't written him off as a rotation guy, but it's pretty hilarious to see him calling for a small forward to come in.

Beal, Chris, it's decidedly in your interests to pick Beal.

Seriously something is not right with him. Didn't he spend $10k on lottery tickets saying it was better than blowing it at a club? WTF

[Nivek]

One way I could talk myself into drafting Harrison Barnes in the top 5 would be to view him as a SG. I don't think it's far-fetched at all that he could play SG in the NBA. He's average length for a drafted SG, and his combine scores in the athletic tests were all above average for a SG.

[Ruzious]

You might be right 7-Day Dray. Like CCJ, I suspect Zeller might be smart enough to adapt to the pro game. He does have short arms, but he's above average in agility, strength and leaping ability for a center. That also bodes well for him. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

not that it will be relevant to us, but I also heard that Zeller has the kind of work ethic
and drive to succeed at the next level.

I expect him to be a solid rotation player within 2-3 years for someone.

And maybe the most underrated thing about Zeller that will help him in the NBA - dude can flat out run the court, and he's got a motor. He's an outstanding transition player, imo.

[sfam]

Apparently, CLE is locked into MKG #4 now.

My head hurts.

If we were to try to analyze the smoke screens, after the Cats/Cle trade became clear, the Wiz are dangling Robinson with the # 3, so the Cats respond by saying the trade is off and Cle responds by saying they really like MKG.

Bottom line, none of anything we hear is believable. We can guess that the Wizards want Beal, because, well, we broadcast this from the top of the world. We can guess that the Cats want Robinson and Cle wants Beal too, but these are all just guesses. What we're seeing now is just crazy smoke screens.

My bet is that the Cats/Cle trade takes place and we have nothing to do but take MKG. The only conceivable partner that makes sense is Sacremento, but we aren't hearing that one yet.

[sfam]

players from each team telling who'd they pick if they were GM. Chris Singleton is out of his damn mind.

http://bbs.hupu.com/3896012.html

3. Harrison Barnes, F, UNC
Selected by: Chris Singleton

"We feel like he can play the 2 or the 3, and that's what we need help with," says Singleton. "We know he can shoot, and with the Wizards being more of an open offense, people can't focus on him; he'll fit right in with us." (Barnes scored 17.1 ppg and shot 36 percent of 3-pointers.)

Chris Singleton: "we should bring in a big wing as the last thing a winning basketball team can afford is for me to be playing a substantive role".

I kid, I kid. I haven't written him off as a rotation guy, but it's pretty hilarious to see him calling for a small forward to come in.

Beal, Chris, it's decidedly in your interests to pick Beal.

I'm guessing Chris is doing the front office's bidding here to act like we're interested in Barnes.

[manifested]

One way I could talk myself into drafting Harrison Barnes in the top 5 would be to view him as a SG. I don't think it's far-fetched at all that he could play SG in the NBA. He's average length for a drafted SG, and his combine scores in the athletic tests were all above average for a SG.

I don't know. I'd like a SG to be able to handle the ball a little, even just to take the pressure off of Wall from time to time.

Maybe late lotto, but he doesn't pass the stats or the eye test for a top 5 pick at either postion.

[dobrojim]

Wiz frontcourt of Booker, Nene, and Seraphin lead the league in solid nasty frontcourt muscle. Add Beal and Wall in backcourt, and you have a physical defensive team that will push around quite a few teams in the paint...including the beotches in Heat..

someone else has probably beaten me to it but Book, god love him, ain't a SF.

[fishercob]

One way I could talk myself into drafting Harrison Barnes in the top 5 would be to view him as a SG. I don't think it's far-fetched at all that he could play SG in the NBA. He's average length for a drafted SG, and his combine scores in the athletic tests were all above average for a SG.

In your estimation, what makes a SG vs. a SF? Is it a skill thing or just the ability to defend those that play that position?

[Nivek]

One way I could talk myself into drafting Harrison Barnes in the top 5 would be to view him as a SG. I don't think it's far-fetched at all that he could play SG in the NBA. He's average length for a drafted SG, and his combine scores in the athletic tests were all above average for a SG.

I don't know. I'd like a SG to be able to handle the ball a little, even just to take the pressure off of Wall from time to time.

Maybe late lotto, but he doesn't pass the stats or the eye test for a top 5 pick at either postion.

I agree. I should have phrased that differently -- saying that one way the Wiz front office (and other GMs) might be talking themselves into Barnes in the top 5 is by arguing that he can play SG. I think it's more than theoretically possible he could play that spot in the NBA. I still view him as a teens pick.

[Nivek]

One way I could talk myself into drafting Harrison Barnes in the top 5 would be to view him as a SG. I don't think it's far-fetched at all that he could play SG in the NBA. He's average length for a drafted SG, and his combine scores in the athletic tests were all above average for a SG.

In your estimation, what makes a SG vs. a SF? Is it a skill thing or just the ability to defend those that play that position?

Both.

Realistically speaking, there probably isn't that big a difference between the two spots. The differences among draftees from the combines:

- about 3 inches in length
- 12 pounds
- about a tenth of a second on the lane agility drill

Leaping and straight-line sprint scores were virtually identical.

Statistically, SF prospects rebound more and assist less. SFs shoot better from 2pt range, and a bit worse from 3pt range. SGs are much better from the FT line.

[dobrojim]

So where there anything to this whole MKG and Rivers coming in for a 2nd workout story or was that made up?

Rivers' second workout says to me the Wizards are considering a trade.

I think any deal would have to involve Andray Blatche.

I could see Ernie doing something crazy bad like what was mentioned before. Blatche and the #3 for Childress and #10. Then he could draft Austin Rivers.

or they want other GMs to think they are interested in these guys.

which is it? IDK.

[DCZards]

Man, the more I hear that the Cavs like Beal and are willing to trade up for him the more I like him and want to see him in a Zard uni.

The director of NBA scouting was on NBA TV last night talking about the draft and he believes that, other than Davis, Beal has the best chance of being an NBA star. He noted that Beal plays hard and well on both ends of the court, and called him a "mini-Dwayne Wade." Although, I expect Beal to someday be as tall as Wade, if he isn't already.

[MDStar]

I get the Beal appeal (that rhymes, hehe) but I'm feeling like players like him come out the draft every year and usually don't end up as the player they're supposed to be. Look at these to write-up from nbadraft.net.

Player 1:
Strengths: Eighteen year old freshman with an effortless, fluid style ... His body is NBA ready - built like a freight train possessing tremendous strength ... Ideal frame for a shooting guard or small forward at the next level. Naturally gifted scorer (28 ppg as a HS senior) with a deadly shooting eye. Prolific shooter from beyond the arc with tremendous range. Pure stroke with a quick, smooth release. No hitches ... Uses his legs very well on his shot getting good lift ... Effective slashing to the hoop where he can attack the rim and seek out contact ... Finishes extremely well, shrugging off defenders with ease ... Gets to the free throw line regularly and is automatic. Active on the glass ... Can be a terrific rebounding wing with his strength and freakish wingspan (6.7 per game in 2009 and 7.2 in 2008) ... A thief when playing off the ball defensively, reading passing lanes and intercepting passes (1.7 spg through his first seven collegiate games). Refreshing positive attitude on the court. Always smiling, seeming to truly enjoy the game of basketball ... Hard worker and very coachable, which is rare for a player of his stature.

Player 2:
Strengths: Talented shooting guard with a prototypical skill-set for the position ... Strong build ... Has solid size, standing about 6'4" in shoes with a 6'7" wingspan ... A good overall athlete with good quickness and speed for his position ... Isn't terribly explosive, but finishes strong around the rim regardless ... A gifted jump-shooter ... Effortless mechanics with a buttery release and a consistent follow-through ... Doesn't need a lot of time to get squared-up to the hoop ... Dangerous in spot-up situations ... Has to be constantly monitored by the defense, especially when he camps in the corner ... NBA range ... Won't hesitate firing out to about 25 feet ... Good quickness and shows a nice first step, so his driving ability can and should improve ... Willing to take the ball inside when the defense overplays him on the perimeter ... Gets to the free-throw line at an adequate rate (4.7 attempts per game in 2011-2012) ... Understands how to run the court in transition opportunities; with the ball or without ... Should be able to defend his position at the next level ... Displays strong defensive instincts; moving his feet well and getting a lot of deflections ... Great overall anticipation while defending passing lanes ... Blocked nearly a shot per game in his freshman season ... Rebounds much bigger than his size (pulled down 6.7 per game) … Very high basketball IQ ... Extremely unselfish ... Doesn't have to clog the offense or dominate the basketball to be an effective scorer ... Learned how to effectively move the ball around the court in Billy Donovan's system ... Won't turn 19 years old until draft night ... Still has a lot of room to grow ...

Player 1 is Xavier Henry. Player 2 is Bradley Beal.

Xavier Henry was the #3 overall prospect going into Kansas that year. Beal was #5 last season. Both top players, both lottery picks, both had extremely productive freshman seasons.

Beal: 14.8 ppg, 6.7 rebs, 2.2 asts, 1.4 stls (34% 3P%)

Henry: 13.4 ppg, 4.4 rebs, 1.5 asts, 1.5 stls (42% 3P%)

Henry has done nothing in the league so far and to me seems to have had the same gifts, potential as Beal but with better size. Of course they are not the same players and Beal could turn into Eric Gordan but my point is his shooting ability alone will not balance out our roster. We need talent, we need skill, we need winners, we need basketball players!

For this reason I'm hitching my wagon to MKG. Players like him don't come along very often and he will do "everything" on the court to help us win. I see fan favorite, potential all-star, Robin to Walls Batman.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

One way I could talk myself into drafting Harrison Barnes in the top 5 would be to view him as a SG. I don't think it's far-fetched at all that he could play SG in the NBA. He's average length for a drafted SG, and his combine scores in the athletic tests were all above average for a SG.

In your estimation, what makes a SG vs. a SF? Is it a skill thing or just the ability to defend those that play that position?

I was looking at the video of John Shurna shooting threes. I had the thought, "Why not just play him at SG?"

If the four other players can defend, how bad would it be just putting him out on the perimeter?