2014 Draft Prospects Thread

[mrknowitall215]

Some of you worry about the wrong things. LaVine is kind of frail, but he's a kid. It'll all balance out. The only thing that people need to know about LaVine is that he has elite athleticism, can shoot efficiently with range, and has the ability to create his own shot or for others as a playmaker. I urge any of you that have doubts to just look at a UCLA game, and watch what LaVine does with the ball when it finally get into his hands playing alongside so many ball-dominant players

[JDR720]

What pro scouts think of draft prospects
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1940 ... stay-or-go

[JMAC3]

I am not sold on the Lavine and Randle combo as the answer for us to be honest.

Lavine is definitely a sharp shooter, but from the games I have seen he is mostly just a catch and shoot three point shooter in the half court. The rest of his offense comes in transition and to be honest he just leaks out and tries to get easy highlight dunks. I have not really seen him go get the ball and put the ball on the floor and make something great happen for him or a teammate. He is a great athlete and as a freshman he still has loads of upside, but he hasnt really shown a lot.

Randle was killing it early in the season, but since then teams have figured him out. The dude can only go left. Its not that hard to guard him once you know that when you add in the fact he doesn't really have an outside shot. He just tries to bully his defender by putting his shoulder down and then flipping the ball over his shoulder with his left hand. He seems to get tunnel vision and hardly ever dumps the ball off when defenders collapse on him leading to 3.2 turnovers a game. Also, he does not really do much defensively only averaging 0.8 blocks a game.

Both are still very good prospects, but they are by no means bullet proof or ideal matches for our team. I would want more of a defensive power forward who can spread the floor. And I would want our wing player to be a little more capable of carrying the offensive load then just mainly a spot up shooter.

Right now, I think Vonleh is actually a better fit for us with Jefferson. Vonleh is much better defensively, a great rebounder, and has a more finese game that includes a smooth looking jumper that extends to three point range. I am an Indiana fan, so I have seen him alot. I think he has big time potential, but he still needs to demand ball more. Randle is more aggressive trying to score right now.

Then Gary Harris vs Lavine argument is tight as well. Both can shoot it, but I think Lavine may be the better three point shooter. Harris though is the much better scorer. He can put ball on floor and get to the bucket and he has shown a nice midrange game. Harris gets to the free throw line 3x more than Lavine and thats important when looking for a scorer, it is what seperates good scorers from great ones. Lavine is more athletic, but Harris is no slouch and has a stronger build. Harris projects as the better defender in my mind.

[MasterIchiro]

Our holes are PF and SG so

Vonleh vs. Randle

LaVine vs. Harris

Both valid arguments, considering.

I want the more polished PF because those are harder to come by and I'm willing to side with upside and athleticism on the wing. Randle is more NBA ready. LaVine has a really sweet stroke and can score off balance. He doesn't have to have his feet set perfectly like McRoberts. He's an excellent ball handler even though he's not blowing past opponents. Eventually he will. He may need another year of school but we can afford to groom him a little slower because of Henderson. At PF, we need big time help immediately and we can't afford to wait.

So Randle/LaVine for me.

[JDR720]

LaVine won't contribute anything major for 2-3 seasons while his body matures are gets stronger, right now he is 6-5 and 180lbs as a comparison Gerald is 6-5 and 215 and he is a similar athlete, LaVine needs to put on at least 20lbs before he will be able to take contact from much heavier players and not get hurt so you could say he is a mini-project

Harris is 6-4 and 210 right now and has the much better All-Around game so he will make a much larger impact as a rookie

[JDR720]

Vonleh vs Randle

Vonleh is the better defender by quite a lot, whereas Randle is the better offensive player as far as scoring, but he might rely on his "bully ball" style to much and can't finish with his right hand, whereas Vonleh has 3pt range, can play 2 positions, is overall slightly larger than Randle and the slightly a better rebounder and he fits better with our current players

Randle might have more potential than Vonleh on offense, but i think Vonleh has better All-Around potential as a defender and stretch 4/5

[mrknowitall215]

LaVine will need 2-3 years to develop into a bonafide all-star caliber player, but he'll be able to contribute right away. That's my word, and any of you can hold me to it

[Snidely FC]

Vonleh brings exactlly what Zeller is supposed to. Why draft the same player 2 years in a row?

Re-read the above descriptions of Gary Harris. Who does that sound like? I'll give you a hint. Initials are GH. Have Gary Harris and Gerald Henderson ever been seen in the same room together?

[mrknowitall215]

Gary Harris comes off as a poor man's version of Bradley Beal to me, undersized but strong build, perceived reputation as a defender at the collegiate level, and a decent 3-point shooter. That's not to say that Harris won't be a more than solid player in the NBA because I believe he can (even though I have my slight doubts), but he'll have a minimal impact. Drafting Harris over LaVine for any reason will be a mistake in hindsight

[MasterIchiro]

2014 Mock Lottery

Top 100 Big Board | 2014 Mock Draft | 2015 Mock Draft | Create Mock

Updated: 1/27/14 4:44 am

1 Milwaukee Joel Embiid Fr.
2 Orlando Jabari Parker Fr.
3 *Philadel Andrew Wiggins Fr.
4 Boston Marcus Smart So.
5 Utah Dante Exum Intl.
6 Sacrament Noah Vonleh Fr.
7 *LA Lakers Julius Randle Fr.
8 Cleveland Gary Harris So.
9 *Denver Rodney Hood So.
10 *Detroit Zach LaVine Fr.
11 *Philadel Jerami Grant So.
12 *Minnesota Dario Saric Intl.
13 *Orlando Kyle Anderson So.
14 Memphis Tyler Ennis Fr.

[JMAC3]

Gary Harris reminds me more of Eric Gordon than Bradley Beal. Beal relies more on threes and jump shots, where as Harris looks to put ball on the floor more. Harris uses a lot of pick and roll options. Harris will shoot the three, but defenses have to play for his drive more. His build is similiar to Gordons and they both are crafty finishers. Harris seems like a more engaged defender and rebounder though.

I guess I havent seen Lavine play enough, but he is always in a complimentary role when I watch. He just runs off picks and shoots threes or stands in the corner waiting. Then on defense he stands at three point line and leaks out on shot, hoping to get a highlight play. I dont want to take a guy who isnt a dominant player on his own team, I am fine with him coming off the bench, but when he is in the game he doesnt necessarily take over. Waiters had the ball more often when he came off the bench at cuse and people could tell he was best player. With Lavine he is a secondary player.

[catch20two]

I don't know about that. I think Gary Harris rely on the 3 point line a little more than I remember Bradley Beal doing so in college. Beal wasn't just no spot shooter at Florida and he isn't just that in the NBA. Harris remind me of Beal more than he do of Eric Gordon. Either way I don't even really want Eric Gordon on our team that much so I definitely wouldn't want to draft the carbon copy expecting for him to make us instantly better. Harris can ball and all and he might become a 15 point per game player like Hendo but I rather swing for the fences and get a talent like Lavine that has more talent and upside.

[JMAC3]

Lavine better turn it on, its a close game against Oregon and he has 2 points. Doesnt really seem like the best player on the court by any means. 1 of 4 shooting thus far with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

[mrknowitall215]

Lavine better turn it on, its a close game against Oregon and he has 2 points. Doesnt really seem like the best player on the court by any means. 1 of 4 shooting thus far with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

I missed the majority of the game, but LaVine didn't do anything in the moments I did watch or in the stat sheet. However, he's still my favorite SG prospect beyond tonight's disappointment

[JMAC3]

Lavine better turn it on, its a close game against Oregon and he has 2 points. Doesnt really seem like the best player on the court by any means. 1 of 4 shooting thus far with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

I missed the majority of the game, but LaVine didn't do anything in the moments I did watch or in the stat sheet. However, he's still my favorite SG prospect beyond tonight's disappointment

I have seen 4 UCLA games this season I have yet to see him do anything other than leak out and shoot threes. Sounds like Ben McLemore2.0

[Liver_Pooty]

Lavine was absolutely terrible tonight.

[MasterIchiro]

Lavine better turn it on, its a close game against Oregon and he has 2 points. Doesnt really seem like the best player on the court by any means. 1 of 4 shooting thus far with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

I missed the majority of the game, but LaVine didn't do anything in the moments I did watch or in the stat sheet. However, he's still my favorite SG prospect beyond tonight's disappointment

I have seen 4 UCLA games this season I have yet to see him do anything other than leak out and shoot threes. Sounds like Ben McLemore2.0

He's a much better dribbler than McLemore but he pulls up at times when he should penetrate. He can really shake a defender. I know you're a Big Ten guy but Gary Harris is not nearly as talented.

[mrknowitall215]

Lavine better turn it on, its a close game against Oregon and he has 2 points. Doesnt really seem like the best player on the court by any means. 1 of 4 shooting thus far with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

I missed the majority of the game, but LaVine didn't do anything in the moments I did watch or in the stat sheet. However, he's still my favorite SG prospect beyond tonight's disappointment

I have seen 4 UCLA games this season I have yet to see him do anything other than leak out and shoot threes. Sounds like Ben McLemore2.0

LaVine occasionally disappears through stretches of the game due to his overtly ball-dominant teammates, but he's definitely not Ben McLemore 2.0

[JMAC3]

I missed the majority of the game, but LaVine didn't do anything in the moments I did watch or in the stat sheet. However, he's still my favorite SG prospect beyond tonight's disappointment

I have seen 4 UCLA games this season I have yet to see him do anything other than leak out and shoot threes. Sounds like Ben McLemore2.0

He's a much better dribbler than McLemore but he pulls up at times when he should penetrate. He can really shake a defender. I know you're a Big Ten guy but Gary Harris is not nearly as talented.

I am not so sure about that. Harris is much more polished scorer and can beat you in multiple ways. I will give Lavine more athletic but more talented is a completely different conversation. Lavine seems like he has no interest in playing defense, He doesnt really grab rebounds because he is too interested in running the other way.

If I were to play a game today and I could choose to either have Harris or Lavine on my team its Gary Harris and its not close.

[JMAC3]

At this point I might actually like Stauskaus more than Lavine. Stauskaus has been balling this year and has been handling a lot of playmaking duties. He reminds me of a more athletic JJ Redick. Redick has underrated playmaking abilities.