Official 2013 Draft Thread - Part III

[Mizerooskie]

I don't see Porter's lack of an elite skill as a negative in the Wizards' situation. If he can evolve into a great complementary player, but not an alpha dog, he won't command a huge salary down the road. That'll be helpful when it's time to extend Beal. It would allow the Wizards to put some money into the frontcourt and balance out the lineup.

[nuposse04]

McAdoo staying in for his junior year, that might hurt chances in landing McDermott as a 2nd rounder, as everyone moves up one. McAdoo is also awful, which is good because we won't be able to draft him this year.

[verbal8]

I don't see Porter's lack of an elite skill as a negative in the Wizards' situation. If he can evolve into a great complementary player, but not an alpha dog, he won't command a huge salary down the road. That'll be helpful when it's time to extend Beal. It would allow the Wizards to put some money into the frontcourt and balance out the lineup.

He also seems like the type of player who might slip if his work-out numbers are only solid. If they are very bad, then he might not have the athleticism for more than a role player in the NBA. High length reach numbers should be fine. Good length, BBIQ and work ethic seems to be a combination that often outperforms players with more "upside".

[sfam]

I don't see Porter's lack of an elite skill as a negative in the Wizards' situation. If he can evolve into a great complementary player, but not an alpha dog, he won't command a huge salary down the road. That'll be helpful when it's time to extend Beal. It would allow the Wizards to put some money into the frontcourt and balance out the lineup.

I think Porter would be a safe choice for us. I just would prefer someone who could be a game changer. Bennett, McElmore and Noel are really the only ones in the draft that seem to have that potential. At this point I'm really hoping we can move up to the #3 to select Bennett. I just don't see him being there at the #7.

Len may turn out to be a decent consolution prize though. He would really shore up the inside assuming he reaches close to his potential. I just have concerns about his BBIQ. Sometimes he really looks lost.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

So it seems most of us are targeting 3 players, Bennett, Porter, and Len, assuming picking at 8 or 9. There are a few Zeller and Olynyk supporters also.

I like Bennett. I like his offense and power potential and upside. He would fit an uptempo style, and balance the offense. He'd also allow us to play Nene more at center, and all but ensure the complete faze out of Vesely and Singleton.

I think he'll be gone, of the 3 I'm thinking Porter may be most likely to still be there for us. But I am hopeful one of these 3 will be there for us. If all 3 are off the board at our pick, I guess Olynyk, Zeller, Oladipo, or perhaps GR3 would be the next tier to choose from.

[nate33]

So it seems most of us are targeting 3 players, Bennett, Porter, and Len, assuming picking at 8 or 9. There are a few Zeller and Olynyk supporters also.

I like Bennett. I like his offense and power potential and upside. He would fit an uptempo style, and balance the offense. He'd also allow us to play Nene more at center, and all but ensure the complete faze out of Vesely and Singleton.

I think he'll be gone, of the 3 I'm thinking Porter may be most likely to still be there for us. But I am hopeful one of these 3 will be there for us. If all 3 are off the board at our pick, I guess Olynyk, Zeller, Oladipo, or perhaps GR3 would be the next tier to choose from.

There are Burke supporters too!

I personally would go: Noel, Bennett, Burke, Porter but don't really have a strong preference on order after Noel. After that, I don't know who I like most.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Sorry nate, I forgot Burke, and I've been one of his supporters!

I would go Noel, Bennett, Porter, Burke, Len... then GR3, Olynyk, Zeller, Oladipo, Dieng after that.

Or something like that, I think.

[AFM]

Noel
Bennett
Porter
Muhammad
Oladipo
Burke
McCollum
Dieng

I like McLemore but don't see the need to draft him after drafting Beal.

[sfam]

Sorry nate, I forgot Burke, and I've been one of his supporters!

I would go Noel, Bennett, Porter, Burke, Len... then GR3, Olynyk, Zeller, Oladipo, Dieng after that.

Or something like that, I think.

I'm pretty similar:
Noel
Bennett
Burke
Porter
Len or Olynyk

I'm really undecided about Olynyk. Park of me thinks he will be the guy everyone after the fact says, "Of course he was gonna be great. I don't know why he went so low. What we we thinking?" Len I see as less risky, but perhaps not as much of an upside in a fast paced game.

[WizTom]

Wall indicated he'd take less than Max if the Wizards can field a contender around him.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/for-lottery-bound-wizards-the-future-starts-now/2013/04/16/9657896a-a6cf-11e2-8302-3c7e0ea97057_story.html

At a minimum, this seems like a smart face saving move. He doesn't have to be offended now if the wizards offer him less than max. Hopefully this will get Beal thinking along those lines as well if he continues to develop.

He also seems to be wanting someone who can score from the PF position (Bennett?)

Your brand will be a lot more powerful if you're the face of a contender. Lose a few million in salary, but make it up in other ways. It's the same thing the big 3 did in Miami.

Looks like GM John Wall has been reading a little RealGM Wizards forum.

This makes sense on so many levels, and I'm happy to see it. Not just for the future cap implications or the potential face-saving PR move, but also the quote at the end of the article:

"Wall and Beal would both like to see the Wizards add a forward who can stretch the defense with his shot. Wall would also like to see the team acquire a scorer/go-to guy off the bench.

“I feel like we got all of the other pieces,” Wall said."


I think they're correct. Kanter would make a lot of sense in a draft day trade. Grew up in Europe. Seems like a good guy in interviews. Gym rat with skills and size. Loves GM John Wall from his ineligible year at Kentucky. But what is Utah going to do? That's a big question mark. They almost have to keep one of Jefferson or Millsap. I'd bet on the latter. Then maybe try to sign and trade Jefferson? What would they get back if that happened? And do they like Burke or anyone else at the Wizard's pick plus any combo of Seraphin/Vesely/Booker/Singleton enough to give up Kanter? I can only hope.

As far as the draft goes, the Wizards need help everywhere, so I think BPA is the way to go. Or a trade in which we get a pick and a player. Wall and Beal are set. But we've seen what happens when one of them goes down. A 3rd guard who can score and handle would be a good get (although I think Price is adequate for 10 mins./game). WebstAriza makes a decent small forward. But I think Ariza sees himself at small forward in a Clippers or Lakers uniform after next year. So the Wiz could use a 3-man, too. Finally, Okafor and Nene are a more-than-solid big man rotation. But as discussed ad nauseam around here, there are health and contract considerations involved with them. Personally, I could see extending Okafor after next year. He's the kind of big guy who ages well. Either way, the Wiz have screwed the pooch on drafts except for GM John Wall and Beal, so a PF/C would also be a good get.

All I know is, I want Beal's parents to interview whoever we're considering.

Keep reading this stuff, Jimmy Wa.

[Wizardspride]

I would be disappointed if we took Len over Porter or Zeller. It wouldn't shock me, but I think it'd be a big mistake. Porter and Zeller have so thoroughly outplayed Len that you have to get very academic and abstract to see Len as the better player and prospect.

My gut feeling is that Len WILL be a better player in the long run than both Porter and Zeller.


I'm focused on Len primarily because I think getting a big man is critical and I suspect this will be our last trip to the lottery for some time.

[jivelikenice]

It's good to hear that Wall is willing to take less money, but it's kind of hard to make use of that willingess right now when we're capped out. The best thing to do would be to tell him that we'd love to extend him now, but if he really is willing to put his money where his mouth is, we need to wait until next summer when we are in position to have cap room.

Thats not realistic given his injuries. There's no reason for him to risk the guaranteed $. There's no immediate help but maybe if they keep the money flat it could help use the MLE in the future?

[Nivek]

I don't see what good waiting does either. The reason to wait on giving him an extension is to confirm he's worth maximum money. If the Wizards can extend him for less this offseason, might as well go ahead and do it. There's a max salary cap hold on him next offseason anyway until he signs a new deal.

[nate33]

I would be perfectly willing to extend him now. I'm just saying it's hard to present a scenario to Wall right now that says, we need you to take X less dollars so we can sign this particular free agent. We won't know what the free agency landscape will look like 2014 so we can't present it that way. All we can say is: "John, take less money because, maybe, at some point in the future, we might find ourselves in position to use that money on some free agent."

I don't see John buying that BS. He'll just go ahead and take the max now. (Which is fine by me.)

[stevemcqueen1]

McAdoo staying in for his junior year, that might hurt chances in landing McDermott as a 2nd rounder, as everyone moves up one. McAdoo is also awful, which is good because we won't be able to draft him this year.

I expected this. His family doesn't need the money, his stock isn't at a high, and he's actually a good student, going to a good school, probably looking to come away with a degree.

He's not awful. And if Andrew Wiggins picks UNC, they are going to be awesome next year. He should pick them. UNC is his best choice. He could make a final four run and win POTY at UNC.

[nuposse04]

I would be disappointed if we took Len over Porter or Zeller. It wouldn't shock me, but I think it'd be a big mistake. Porter and Zeller have so thoroughly outplayed Len that you have to get very academic and abstract to see Len as the better player and prospect.

My gut feeling is that Len WILL be a better player in the long run than both Porter and Zeller.


I'm focused on Len primarily because I think getting a big man is critical and I suspect this will be our last trip to the lottery for some time.

Zeller would probably be a better offensive player initially, but I do agree Len is a better long term prospect and a considerably higher ceiling. I'm not sure what his worst case scenario would be...an Athletic Earl Barron?

If we landed the 2nd pick, I'm not sure I'd just pick Porter and be done with it. I'd seriously entertain good McLemore trades, or in the off chance the 1st doesn't end up being Noel, just wait for that. I could see Orlando passing up on Noel actually for a SG. They have some good bigs already.

[jivelikenice]

I would be perfectly willing to extend him now. I'm just saying it's hard to present a scenario to Wall right now that says, we need you to take X less dollars so we can sign this particular free agent. We won't know what the free agency landscape will look like 2014 so we can't present it that way. All we can say is: "John, take less money because, maybe, at some point in the future, we might find ourselves in position to use that money on some free agent."

I don't see John buying that BS. He'll just go ahead and take the max now. (Which is fine by me.)

I'd agree with that. I think the only scenario they can lay out is, "If you take $1-$2 MM less and we don't pick up the options of so and so, we can have money available for a max contract FA next offseason." Dan Fegan will have a large say in this then as he'll know if there's another feasiable way of getting max money free and the likelihood that we can get someone to sign for max $...Fegan represents Cousins. Maybe he goes for this and figures he can leverage Cousins to DC as a FA or in some type of trade scenario.....

[Nivek]

I agree nate and jive. Which sorta wraps back to a point made some time back -- there's no real advantage to giving Wall a max extension this offseason. The Wiz can give him the max anytime.

[theboomking]

I am with those who think a lack of any particular elite skill is going to limit Otto Porter. He has great length, but isn't outstanding in any other area. I have a hard time seeing him being an above average SF in the league. Only Webster's injury history makes Porter look like a possible upgrade over Webster.

At this point, I am going to be floored if we don't take Len.

What is Lillard's "elite skill?" Or Marc Gasol or Jimmy Butler or Nene or Danio Gallinari or a host of other really good players?

We could argue this, as Butler was an elite defender in college, and remains so. Lillard was a much better scorer in college than Porter, and is a better athlete. Danillo, Gasol, and Nene were foreign players so I can't speak as much to their pre-draft evaluations. Maybe the group you chose validates picking upper classmen with an NBA skill, or non-US players that you hope other scouts underestimate.

You could be right though. If porter is a plug and play guy who takes open shots, rebounds the ball and defers to Wall/Beal, that wouldn't be so bad. I think for Porter, it may come down to 3 point shooting. If he winds up shooting the 3 as well in the NBA as he did as a sophomore, I think he will be very good. If shoots the 3 anything close to as poorly as he shot it as a freshman, then he will disappoint. That is a fairly unconventional release he has.

I still think Len looks like a classic EG pick. Euro. Athletic. High ceiling pick. Whoever we all want, I would bet money we wind of with Len if we choose at 7 or 8.

I could be wrong, but I really like Bennett. Given What Wall recently said about wanting a stretch 4, I am crossing my fingers that Wall is in EG's ear.

I would also love to trade for another pick and grab CJ MCcollum and then buy a pick and add Steven Adams. I think CJ has a very good chance to far outperform his draft position. He seems like he has a little Arenas in him. And, as low in the draft as Adams is likely to go, the risk:reward looks low. I'd draft him and stash him in the D-league and hope to groom him to replace Okafor.

[nuposse04]

McAdoo staying in for his junior year, that might hurt chances in landing McDermott as a 2nd rounder, as everyone moves up one. McAdoo is also awful, which is good because we won't be able to draft him this year.

I expected this. His family doesn't need the money, his stock isn't at a high, and he's actually a good student, going to a good school, probably looking to come away with a degree.

He's not awful. And if Andrew Wiggins picks UNC, they are going to be awesome next year. He should pick them. UNC is his best choice. He could make a final four run and win POTY at UNC.

I'm not sure how you can say that. The only thing that has gone up for him on a minutes basis from the season before is his TO's and shooting % by 1 point! Can't hit FT,s can't shoot. Doesn't really have a defined position because of no real basketball talent. He's like Singleton without the supposed defense. McAdoo is the exact type of person I could see EG wasting a pick on.