Official 2013 Draft Thread - Part VI

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Ruz, you got me on Vucevic and Pachulia, but Andray Blatche has a lot more than long arms working for him.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... lits/2013/

17.9 Pts, 9.5 Rebs, 1.5 ASTs on .525FG as a starter while Lopez was injured.

21.9 PER and .153 WS/48 through 82 games.
21.9 playoff PER also.

Career PER 16.5

If Olynyk is somewhat better than Andray, he will be a solid pro.

[GhostsOfGil]

Wiz to interview Bennett next week. I hope Wizards remember to bring a tape measure.
http://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/6/7/ ... -interview

[sfam]

I don't hate Len but I do question whether he should be picked ahead of Zeller or Olynyk.
Is it based on his size? Help me out here. I'm asking the question.

My own opinion, No in the case of Zeller, but yes in the case of Olynyk. Zeller is far more skilled, coordinated and NBA ready right now. I don't see Zeller as having a high bust potential, whereas Len potentially does. But Yes in the case of Olynyk. Olynyk isn't nearly as athletic as Len, and because of it probably will fair very poorly on the defensive end, and may not shine as well on the offensive end as he did in college. Len has nice nascent offensive skills, and has a great NBA body, assuming his ankles aren't made of fragile china. But he clearly is going to take time to develop. Without the ankle concern, I think he'd be a solid 5-10 pick.

Why do you refer to how skilled, coordinated & NBA ready Zeller is but don't note how Olynyk is even more skilled, even more coordinated & just as NBA ready as Zeller is?

Zeller wasn't a great defender in college either but you made no mention of those concerns either.

I think a lot of people are missing the boat on Olynyk. He's got an incredible amount of skill for a big and you rarely see ultra skilled guys in the draft that are 7-0 tall. IMO, there's little to no chance that's he's going to be a bust, especially in today's NBA. His skill will be in very high demand. See Ryan Anderson as a perfect example.[/quote]
The simple answer is the difference in the quality of the athlete, and that Zeller is moving to the 4, not the 5. I think he's better suited there.

[Dark Faze]

In a worst case scenario where Noel and Porter are off the board I'd trade the pick to the Wolves for Derrick Williams and then draft Steven Adams.

[Ruzious]

Ruz, you got me on Vucevic and Pachulia, but Andray Blatche has a lot more than long arms working for him.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... lits/2013/

17.9 Pts, 9.5 Rebs, 1.5 ASTs on .525FG as a starter while Lopez was injured.

21.9 PER and .153 WS/48 through 82 games.
21.9 playoff PER also.

Career PER 16.5

If Olynyk is somewhat better than Andray, he will be a solid pro.

What I meant was that - without those long arms, I don't think Blatche would put up those numbers. I'm taking these shots at Olynyk because you and Dat are rating him so highly. I do think he can play some in the NBA in a role somewhat similar to Blatche's, but I'd rate him as a late 1st - not as a top 10 pick.

[DCZards]

Olynyk: A 7 footer who doesn't defend or rebound. That's not lottery material. No thanks.

[truwizfan4evr]

Cant wait for Porter workout on the 15.

[tontoz]

Olynyk: A 7 footer who doesn't defend or rebound. That's not lottery material. No thanks.

The center spot is the team's defensive anchor, the last place you want to put a weak defensive player. We've already seen how that story goes with McGee/Blatche.

[stevemcqueen1]

Zeller wasn't a great defender in college either but you made no mention of those concerns either.

Zeller was a good defender. Defense won't be a concern for him in the NBA. It will be for Olynyk.

Zeller will be at a reach/weight disadvantage consistently at the 4. I think defense is a question mark for him.

I think he'll keep gaining weight. He made some good strides adding weight and strength in between his freshman and sophomore years. He's still young, still got time to shape his body.

He's also going to have an advantage in athleticism over most players. And he's cognizant. You can get around lacking ideal size and strength on defense if you've got a great motor and play with awareness and anticipation. Noah is the same weight and is shorter but he's one of the best defensive players in the league regardless. Defense is more about heart and intelligence than anything IMO, though it very much depends on scheme too.

Zeller has shown defensive ability, which I think is a predictor of future defensive ability. There will be things that he should do at an elite level too, like PnR D. He's probably the second best PnR defender in the class behind Noel.

[stevemcqueen1]

Zeller wasn't a great defender in college either but you made no mention of those concerns either.

Zeller was a good defender. Defense won't be a concern for him in the NBA. It will be for Olynyk.

Except where his lack of strength allows players to overpower him.

I don't remember lack of strength being a huge issue for him in college on defense. Projecting to the NBA, he will need to get stronger of course.

But keep in mind he's only 20 and has already made big strides since last year. He's probably 25-30 pounds heavier now than he was as a freshman. He's going to keep getting bigger.

[TGW]

Draftexpress on Zeller:

Many of the same concerns apply when attempting to evaluate what type of rebounder and defender he might be in the NBA as well. His short wingspan, underdeveloped frame and average toughness could make it difficult for him to be a major factor on the glass or as a weakside presence, as he struggles to stop more physical opponents from posting him up inside, and was not a prolific rebounder or shot-blocker at the college level. As a power forward, there are some question marks about whether he has the ability to consistently stay in front of more perimeter oriented players, as he isn't overly physical putting a body on opponents or containing penetration, and thus got scored on a fair amount at the college level in one on one situations.

That scares the hell out of me. Short reach and average toughness is just a bad, bad combination... especially on the boards. And to me, defensive rebounding is just as important to team defense as PnR defense or shotblocking.

[Dat2U]

Olynyk: A 7 footer who doesn't defend or rebound. That's not lottery material. No thanks.

Rebounding isn't his strength but yet his total rebound percentage was equal to Len and higher than Zeller & Bennett.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I posted before three games Bennett played vs Colton Iverson's CSU team.

The rebounding differentials were astounding in favor of Iverson. I know one guy is around 23 and the other is 19 or 20, but Anthony Bennett is not a great rebounder.

[doclinkin]

Olynyk: A 7 footer who doesn't defend or rebound. That's not lottery material. No thanks.

Rebounding isn't his strength but yet his total rebound percentage was equal to Len and higher than Zeller & Bennett.

Olynyk's rebound %'s also were effected by playing next to a pretty strong and proficient rebounder in senior Elias Harris. Gonzaga was in the top 20 best rebounding teams in the NCAA. Harris and Olynyk were responsible for 40% of all rebounds, splitting that % pretty much down the middle.

Interestingly Maryland was top 5, the 2nd best defensive rebounding squad in the nation. And who was their most proficient rebounder? Some tall kid from the Ukraine.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Olynyk: A 7 footer who doesn't defend or rebound. That's not lottery material. No thanks.

Rebounding isn't his strength but yet his total rebound percentage was equal to Len and higher than Zeller & Bennett.

Olynyk's rebound %'s also were effected by playing next to a pretty strong and proficient rebounder in senior Elias Harris. Gonzaga was in the top 20 best rebounding teams in the NCAA. Harris and Olynyk were responsible for 40% of all rebounds, splitting that % pretty much down the middle.

Interestingly Maryland was top 5, the 2nd best defensive rebounding squad in the nation. And who was their most proficient rebounder? Some tall kid from the Ukraine.

Ruz and DCZards, with that in mind take a look at this:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/pla ... elog/2013/

Those are the games in a 32-3 season of a ridiculously efficient seven-footer.

Gonzaga beat Clemson, Pacific, Davidson, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, BYU twice, and Saint Mary's twice. Their losses were to Illinois (IIRC undefeated at the time), Butler (on a last-second steal and layup), and to Wichita State in round two of the NCAAs. They not only played a tough schedule, they faced and defeated several teams that advanced a round in the NCAAs. Olynyk did what he did vs quality opponents. (Davies, Osby, Austin, Andrew Stevens among them. ). His PER over 36 with an eFG of .642.

Olynyk averaged 23/10 his final three games.

I know what the combine results were but his team was near no.1 much of the season, and Olynyk was their best player.

When he is an excellent NBA player remember you didn't like his short arms and his rebounding, Ruz and DCZards.

I have a harder time seeing how Olynyk fails at the next level.

[nate33]

Olynyk: A 7 footer who doesn't defend or rebound. That's not lottery material. No thanks.

Rebounding isn't his strength but yet his total rebound percentage was equal to Len and higher than Zeller & Bennett.

... and he was two years older then Zeller, and three years older than Len; and he played against weak conference competition.

I'm with tontoz. I have absolutely no interest in Olynyk for anything other than as a backup center. He is too slow to play PF and he will not be a strong defender at center. Having poor D at the center position is death in the NBA.

I think Zeller will be a solid defender. He might have a little trouble against the burly, Carlos Boozer types, but he'll do fine against most NBA power forwards. He won't be a weak side shot blocker, but he'll be a quick-footed and smart defender and he'll defend the pick and roll well. I could see him playing D roughly like Nick Collison or Udonis Haslem.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

nate, IMO, Olynyk will become a solid starter in the NBA. Gonzaga won too many games for him to be a scrub.

[stevemcqueen1]

I posted before three games Bennett played vs Colton Iverson's CSU team.

The rebounding differentials were astounding in favor of Iverson. I know one guy is around 23 and the other is 19 or 20, but Anthony Bennett is not a great rebounder.

I watched the game against Iverson. First, Iverson is a fully grown man and Bennett was a freshman, you can't marginalize the importance of that. Second, there is a huge size difference between them. UNLV was undersized, playing Bennett at C because they had no one else. Iverson is a true NBA sized 5 with a fully developed body. He's one of the biggest in the class.

Bennett was also battling a shoulder injury at the time too.

And in spite of all that, I thought Bennett acquitted himself against Iverson as well as could be expected. He got to body him up all game and looked surprisingly comfortable doing it, getting that position on offense and dropping his anchor on defense. He's a powerful kid.

Bennett is a very good rebounder. Especially on the offensive glass. He had great numbers throughout the year. It's something that should be a plus for him in the NBA.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I've been pushing for Porter all along.

But this.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... et-Oladipo


If Oladipo is on the board at 3, and we say we'll give you Oladipo, with Vesely, Singleton and pick #54 for Williams, #9 and #26... I think they do it and I think we should do it.

We get Derrick Williams, the stretch 4 Wall is clamoring for.

And have picks 9, 26, 38.

For example,

We could get Adams, or McCollum, or Zeller at 9.

At 26 we could get Bullock, or Green, or Withey, or Hardaway Jr.

At 38 Murphy, Muscala, Carmichael, Wolters, Iverson


Adams, Hardaway, Wolters plus DWill wouldn't be a bad night.

McCollum, Bullock, Iverson plus DWill wouldn't be a bad night.

[AFM]

It's troubling that both Dat and CCJ don't like Bennett. I think nate has come around on him, am I right?