2012 NBA Draft - Part V

[Wizardspride]

http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/6/15 ... #storyjump

I wish I could tell you more about Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's individual workout prior to the group one later in the day, but we literally saw none of it. The whole situation was very strange, with the Wizards announcing 45 minutes before the workout ended that he would work out alone instead of with Rivers and Terrence Ross. He had finished up by the time media was given access, and all we got was three minutes to talk to him. I think this was agent-driven more than anything, but I'm not going to speculate about the reasons why. Either way, it was a very sharp contrast to the approach Bradley Beal took on Thursday.

Kidd-Gilchrist didn't say much when he talked to us. He has a stutter that causes him to struggle to speak in front of crowds, which was documented by CBS Sports' Gary Parrish during the tournament. During his brief session, he said John Wall has been a "mentor" to him.
Kidd-Gilchrist also said he's been focusing on improving his jump shot. "Just reps will improve it," he said. "It's every [shot] in general; also, off-the-dribble stuff." He also said he's a better passer than he showed in college.

For what it's worth, I did hear that Kidd-Gilchrist's workout went well, but that's about all I know. I really wish I could tell you more, but we just didn't see anything.

Terrence Ross was much more impressive than Rivers during the shooting drill we saw, flashing a nice, fluid stroke. But he also seemed to tire at the end, admitting that fact to reporters following the workout. "It was intense. You really have to push yourself in these workouts," Ross said. "It was really hard to do." He also admitted this was the sixth one he's attended, so you could sense some weariness.

[DCZards]

http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/2012/06/14/Beal1mp4-2128459

Everything about this kid says he is the right choice.

And he is only 18. Very impressive. He will not only be good. He will be a NBA star.

I disagree. I like everything about Beal except for his interviews. He sounds smart, but soft. That "I wasn't having fun" comment really grated on me. It is the kind of thing a real p*ssy says to defend their lack of performance. The kind of thing LBJ might say. The "because coach Donovan was on my ***" comment also didn't thrill me. I don't think most people with any mental toughness say that kmind of stuff.

All of that being said, I still think I prefer Beal. I would be okay with MKG as well.

Beal may come across as or sound soft in his interviews but what he says below from an article by the Post's Michael Lee make him sound pretty tough.

It reads:

Beal also feels he shares one quality with Iverson, and that is a desire to attack the basket. The middle of five brothers, Beal was the one who decided to stop playing football to focus on basketball once the recruiting letters came in from the top hoops programs. But the former quarterback, receiver and safety said he still has a football players’ mentality; he’s not afraid of getting hit.

“Physicality is all a part of the game,” he said. “There is always going to be contact and I love to draw contact. That’s how you get easy points that way and get easy fouls on the opposing teams. If you get in there, battle a little bit, you’re going to get banged up, you’re going to get hit. That’s part of the game. You can’t be soft.”

[Mizerooskie]

I don't get the 'soft' talk based on that interview.

He was an 18 year old kid, who had just transitioned from likely being the BMOC in hgh school and having his biggest worry be which girl he took to the prom to being a small fish at UF, and having to balance an extensive workload of basketball and class. It's very likely that it was true, he wasn't having fun. Seemed to me like he was giving relatively candid answers, rather than the canned stuff.

Yeah, if you hear that from a 5 year NBA vet, you might worry about his toughness. Not from a kid. Especially one that elevated his game during the SEC and NCAA tourneys.

[theboomking]

theboomking, it really is telling to listen to the interviews.

The SCARY thing is Harrison Barnes strikes me as extremely bright, extremely polite, and very self aware. He sounded hurt by the criticisms he has received but very confident in his ability. You know who he reminds me of in interviews?

Kwame Brown

Before Kwame became a Wizards he was really a great interviewee. He seemed competitive and confident in himself. Barnes has a charisma about him. So did 18-yr old Kwame, before failure and pressure set in, and before he started making NBA money.

I don't know what to make of each interview other than it can show something about a player's mental make up.

I know MKG doesn't interview well, but it is hard to judge him by an interview because of his speech mpediment. Supposedly he doesn't have that with teamates. You have to wonder if that speech impediment has helped drive him.

Interesting comparison between Barnes and Kwame. I actually agree about him. He seems like a genuinely good kid that you would be happy to have your daughter date. I actually think he could be an impact player in the right situation. As a third or fourth wheel, on a team with a solid PG, maybe. He can defend his position, and based on his build and strength, I would say he could probably also defend a bit at PF. Not that that is such a useful trait in a SF...

How do you feel about Hollis Thompson? Rich man's Cartier Martin? He seems like an under the radar pick that could easily outperform his draft slot.

Are we bringing in John Jekins for a workout?

[willbcocks]

I feel like Eric Gordon is getting undersold. Comparing Beal to EG is high praise. If he hadn't gotten hurt last year, everyone would be talking about him as the best sg in the league. Here were his pre-allstar numbers:

41 37:47 8.1 17.4 46.8 2.0 5.4 35.9 5.9 7.2 81.8 0.9 2.3 3.1 4.5 2.6 1.2 0.3 2.2 24.1

His efg and ts were awesome, and he was turning it over only 2.6 times per game despite 4.5 assists and 24 points. He's also a solid, though unspectacular defender.

If Beal becomes EG, he'd be an ideal second option on a championship team. Then we just have to pray for Wall's development and make smart decisions in the draft and fa the next two years.

[Dat2U]

An interview tells you nothing about how a kid will work to improve their game once they get drafted. I don't care how person interviews or even what they say. It's better to ignore that and judge them by their actions, what they've actually done and accomplished.

I think were really nitpicking or going too far when we start analyzing interviews or comparing measurements of Beal to Wade or MKG to Singleton. Bottom line, both Beal & MKG are solid prospects. I have my preference but really, both will be fine players on the next level.

[DCZards]

I found Beal's interview honest and refreshing. He's 18 years old and sounded like a teenager for the most part (albeit a mature one). I didn't hear anything that gave me the impression that he's soft or lacks mental toughness.

[montestewart]

An interview tells you nothing about how a kid will work to improve their game once they get drafted. I don't care how person interviews or even what they say. It's better to ignore that and judge them by their actions, what they've actually done and accomplished.

I think were really nitpicking or going too far when we start analyzing interviews or comparing measurements of Beal to Wade or MKG to Singleton. Bottom line, both Beal & MKG are solid prospects. I have my preference but really, both will be fine players on the next level.

Rodman, Bird, Duncan. Fantastic pre-draft interviews. Forget the games. Forget the stats. You knew they would be winners just by the way they talked.

[7-Day Dray]

I feel like Eric Gordon is getting undersold. Comparing Beal to EG is high praise. If he hadn't gotten hurt last year, everyone would be talking about him as the best sg in the league. Here were his pre-allstar numbers:

41 37:47 8.1 17.4 46.8 2.0 5.4 35.9 5.9 7.2 81.8 0.9 2.3 3.1 4.5 2.6 1.2 0.3 2.2 24.1

His efg and ts were awesome, and he was turning it over only 2.6 times per game despite 4.5 assists and 24 points. He's also a solid, though unspectacular defender.

If Beal becomes EG, he'd be an ideal second option on a championship team. Then we just have to pray for Wall's development and make smart decisions in the draft and fa the next two years.

+1. Gordon is a top 5 SG (which probably isn't saying much), but he'll make a big leap next year if he stays healthy.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

theboomking, it really is telling to listen to the interviews.

The SCARY thing is Harrison Barnes strikes me as extremely bright, extremely polite, and very self aware. He sounded hurt by the criticisms he has received but very confident in his ability. You know who he reminds me of in interviews?

Kwame Brown

Before Kwame became a Wizards he was really a great interviewee. He seemed competitive and confident in himself. Barnes has a charisma about him. So did 18-yr old Kwame, before failure and pressure set in, and before he started making NBA money.

I don't know what to make of each interview other than it can show something about a player's mental make up.

I know MKG doesn't interview well, but it is hard to judge him by an interview because of his speech mpediment. Supposedly he doesn't have that with teamates. You have to wonder if that speech impediment has helped drive him.

Interesting comparison between Barnes and Kwame. I actually agree about him. He seems like a genuinely good kid that you would be happy to have your daughter date. I actually think he could be an impact player in the right situation. As a third or fourth wheel, on a team with a solid PG, maybe. He can defend his position, and based on his build and strength, I would say he could probably also defend a bit at PF. Not that that is such a useful trait in a SF...

How do you feel about Hollis Thompson? Rich man's Cartier Martin? He seems like an under the radar pick that could easily outperform his draft slot.

Are we bringing in John Jekins for a workout?

tbk, my 19-year old daughter would certainly have my blessings and approval.

Hollis Thompson has a nice stroke. He is a good catch and shoot player. He kind of glides to the hoop and is a smooth player. However, I don't see him being a player who is physical. He doesn't get to the line and he really is a one-trick pony. His strong positive is he really is a pure shooter and he is a decent to good athlete. I really have not seen enough of Thompson on defense to see if that is a strong enough suit for him to say he will be a good pro. My inclination would be to look at some other players who bring more to the table than Thompson, but at 46 if he is the pick I won't be upset.

Personally, I would lean toward a less-athletic but higher motor player in that mold, John Shurna, before Hollis Thompson. Shurna is a volume shooter. Thompson hits 40% on threes, but he only makes 1 a game. He does not get to the line often at all, nor does he fill the stat sheet in any other category. Like with Barnes, Thompson's three my look great but it is a low volume of long shots per game. (But I know teammates got shots and shared the ball.) Shurna shoots 44% and makes 3 threes a game. That is just sick! I wouldn't draft Thompson or Barnes for their three-point ability, but I have to admit that scouts are looking at athleticism and defensive ability, too. To my way of thinking, Shurna has the height and the volume scoring/shooting that the Wizards need, even if he's not as fluid as Thompson. Shurna can even block shots. I think he's going to surprise if he is drafted and I like him (a lot) more than Hollis Thompson.

[omegatronic3]

MKG has consistently lived up to the hype. He was pegged as a Scottie Pippen type of player with a Kobe'esque mentality and work ethic, and there's been absolutely no reason to doubt that any of that has been true thus far. Guys improve their jumppshot to servicable levels all the time in the league.

It's really a question of what the LEAST likely risk is. It just seems unlikely that MKG is going to be worse than what he's been billed as at the next level.

Beal? I mean what has been showed for guys here to be so confident that he's a 1st option on offense? Because you can get shooters in free agency. If he's not a first option then I don't see why you want that over what MKG brings.

I agree with the Pippen comparison...maybe not quite the ball handler but neither Jordan or Pipen we great shooters at first..but they had Paxon, Ker and other great shooters. I say get MKG and then find s 2 that can space the floor. MKG can shoot enough to be honored. Nene can hit a J. All we need is a 2 to play d and space the floor. I think you could find a guy like that for a Big like Blache.

Anyone hear anything about the MKG workout?

[sfam]

Its funny how adament some people are on this board about who is the better player out of Beal, MKG and Robinson. Bottom line is nobody on this board knows what type of player Beal, MKG or Robinson will become. Beal could be the next Wade or could be the next Randy Foye. MKG could be the next Gerald Wallace/Shawn Marion or the next Chris Singleton. Robinson could be the next David West or the next Tyler Hansborough/Trevor Booker. Who knows. I recall people knocking Harden coming out of college because he was not "athletic" and could struggle getting to the rim. Turns out they were flat out wrong.

My preference is Beal, Robinson and then MKG in that order only because I think all three have about equal potential/intangibles, but Beal and Robinson would fill a bigger need. But, it wouldn't shock me if MKG was the best out of the three. I'm just glad I don't have to make the decision, because notwithstanding all the "experts" on this board, it is really a crapshoot between the 3 on who is going to be the better player in the long run.

+1

The Certitude that some are going with is pretty crazy. Nobody, not even professional GMs has a good idea where MKG will end up, or Beal or Robinson. All we have are opinions - would be neat to see a little humility with our preferences.

[hands11]

Intangibles.

Setting good screens, moving well off the ball for cuts to the basket, being able to finish through contact, transition offense, defense, pounding the offensive glass. Great PNR defender. Can guard 1-3. A little 4 too.

Basically he's very good at anything that isn't shooting the basketball.

I guess that isn't sexy enough though.

Don't the Zards already have a player with very similar "intangibles," who also can't shoot, but is four inches taller and probably a better athlete than MKG. I'm talking about Jan Vesely, of course.

EDIT to add: just noticed upperdecker beat me to the Vesely line.

And I know I have posted the same thing several times. They already went for this kind of player last year. They went all defense last year. That was to set themselves up to tank one more year while building the foundation to which they could add scoring later. Now is the later. Time to add shooting to help open the lanes and give Wall a target.

That is Beal in spades. That is not MKG

The fact that Beal also rebounds and defends just makes him as the pick all that much more perfect.

Nick is gone. He was there only real outsid shooter until Mason got hot. But Nick didn't rebound and Nick was not a sharp tack. Beal does and he is.

Its really import to have a SG who is both skilled and smart. This is someone who is going to launch from outside. You want that person to know when to do it or not. And when their shot is off, you want them doing other things to help like rebounding and defending. Beal does all of that.

[omegatronic3]

http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/2012/06/14/Beal1mp4-2128459

Everything about this kid says he is the right choice.

And he is only 18. Very impressive. He will not only be good. He will be a NBA star. Not a Wade star, but a Ray Allen type star. Just a pro. Solid. Humble. Please pick this kid. And he said he is almost 6-5

Not only would I take him with the 3rd pick, I would consider taking him higher.

He sounds a little confused in the interview like he wants to be a pg. He keeps saying he wants to top pgs on D . His favorite player was AI. I get the feeling he doesnt want to guards 2s at the next level.

[hands11]

That's fine if you want to cherry pick stats but Wade was and is an electric athlete and elite shot creator. Beal is more a natural off the ball SG with a pure shooting stroke thant's only begining to develop an on-the-ball game. Athletically and stylistically there's absolutely no comparion.

What stats did I cherry pick? What stats do you feel should be included in the comparison?

Come stronger than that.

As far as comparing the two athletically, Beal has more hops (33.0 v 31.5 NS vert, 39.0 vs. 35.0 max vert) and Wade is quicker (10.56 v 10.95 lane agility, 3.08 v 3.28 sprint).

And regarding Beal's on-the-ball game, you're merely speculating at the level of skill he's got in that department. His situation at UF dictated that he was going to play an off-the-ball role, whereas Wade's situation at Marquette put him in a ball-dominant role.

Just wanted to add to this something that hasn't been talked about much. In the Beal interview, he said he was a PG in the past and that he thinks he needs to be a combo guard in the NBA. He sad he would be working on his PG skills more again. Not sure how I feel about that but it is what he said. I'm not sure what his vision of a combo guard is. First thing I want him doing is spotting up and rebounding. That should be the focus. But it sounds like he has some handles as well so he should be able to drive. Oddly enough, he says the player he used to try to emulate was AI.

This kid is interesting for sure. A Ray Allen type personality and sweet stroke but his idol was AI and he used to play PG.

[hands11]

Its funny how adament some people are on this board about who is the better player out of Beal, MKG and Robinson. Bottom line is nobody on this board knows what type of player Beal, MKG or Robinson will become. Beal could be the next Wade or could be the next Randy Foye. MKG could be the next Gerald Wallace/Shawn Marion or the next Chris Singleton. Robinson could be the next David West or the next Tyler Hansborough/Trevor Booker. Who knows. I recall people knocking Harden coming out of college because he was not "athletic" and could struggle getting to the rim. Turns out they were flat out wrong.

My preference is Beal, Robinson and then MKG in that order only because I think all three have about equal potential/intangibles, but Beal and Robinson would fill a bigger need. But, it wouldn't shock me if MKG was the best out of the three. I'm just glad I don't have to make the decision, because notwithstanding all the "experts" on this board, it is really a crapshoot between the 3 on who is going to be the better player in the long run.

I recall the same.

Nice post. That kind of sums it up. We really don't know. No one does. The reality is, not even Davis is a sure thing. But we are hear to guess and make our arguments for why we think our guess is right.

Like you said, there is a case to be made for all three. Always has been. They is why they are top picks. And when you are a team with the second worst record in the league, you obviously have some holes. If we could take all three, I would.

[hands11]

Why don't we draft DamIan Lallard?
http://t.co/r5KboUAh

Wow!

Shoots the floater like Tony Parker. Can go off the glass with ease. Can throw it down with one hand or two with authority. Picture perfect form on his jumper with no hitch or hesitation and a nice, high release point. Lillard shoots like Steph Curry.

I think it is quite possible that Lillard comes to the league right away and impresses. I wouldn't have any problem with him being the pick in a trade down scenario.

He should be good right away. I see some Westbrook in him.

[hands11]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI5TVCJuY3s[/youtube]

You'll notice at the 0:30, 0:40, and 1:08 marks (among others) the evidence that Beal is not a one foot jumper. :sarcasm:

Beal is such a calm interview that I think it is easy to miss that he has some swag on the court. He plays pretty touch and he has that look of intensity on his face.

Watching that video, it easy to see some Wade in him.

[hands11]

MKG has consistently lived up to the hype. He was pegged as a Scottie Pippen type of player with a Kobe'esque mentality and work ethic, and there's been absolutely no reason to doubt that any of that has been true thus far. Guys improve their jumppshot to servicable levels all the time in the league.

It's really a question of what the LEAST likely risk is. It just seems unlikely that MKG is going to be worse than what he's been billed as at the next level.

Beal? I mean what has been showed for guys here to be so confident that he's a 1st option on offense? Because you can get shooters in free agency. If he's not a first option then I don't see why you want that over what MKG brings.

I agree with the Pippen comparison...maybe not quite the ball handler but neither Jordan or Pipen we great shooters at first..but they had Paxon, Ker and other great shooters. I say get MKG and then find s 2 that can space the floor. MKG can shoot enough to be honored. Nene can hit a J. All we need is a 2 to play d and space the floor. I think you could find a guy like that for a Big like Blache.

Anyone hear anything about the MKG workout?

Beal

[jangles86]

I'm sorry guys but I have a funny feeling that the wizards recruiters are going to fall in love with Drummond in his workout with us.

He has been looking and testing ridiculously well so far in his workouts and I'm getting the feeling that we will call his name out at 3.

What I really hope is that if we do pick Drummond, our fans get around him and not just throw him in the same basket as Kwame and McGee, because this guy has more potential in his little toe then those two did combined.