The Nik Stauskas Thread

[ARHornet]

Were going to trade the 9th pick in a sign and trade for either Lance Stephenson or Hayward.

I would almost bet my life on it. All of our post is going to be for nothing in the long run.

So not only are we gonna significantly overpay for Hayward or sign a nut case in Stephenson, we're gonna give up assets to do it? I need to log off. This is getting depressing.

Stephenson is a stud, and a hell of a defender and a competitor. If I knew for a fact that he wouldn't do anything stupid like pull a gun out of his warmups and threaten to bomb an arena I would do that in a heart beat.

Completely agreed. It's just that lingering possibility of him pulling a gun out of his warmups and threatening to bomb an arena that terrifies me.

[Liver_Pooty]

So not only are we gonna significantly overpay for Hayward or sign a nut case in Stephenson, we're gonna give up assets to do it? I need to log off. This is getting depressing.

Stephenson is a stud, and a hell of a defender and a competitor. If I knew for a fact that he wouldn't do anything stupid like pull a gun out of his warmups and threaten to bomb an arena I would do that in a heart beat.

Completely agreed. It's just that lingering possibility of him pulling a gun out of his warmups and threatening to bomb an arena that terrifies me.

Lol. Im willing to take that chance. He is just now scratching his potential. Match him with MKG on the wing and you have the best rebounding wing players in the league, easily. But my God he is unpredictable. Its scary, but I have faith in our organization, Jordan, Jefferson, Kemba to get him straight. Lance never really did anything like that until Granger was traded, who was the leader of Indiana. Granger would have stomped his ass if he blew in peoples ears and all that BS while he was there.

[JDR720]

I'd sign Lance and make him listen to Zeller's jokes for an hour if he does anything stupid and McJesus can baptize him and Biz can feed him to his pet hippo that im sure he has somewhere

[ARHornet]

Stephenson is a stud, and a hell of a defender and a competitor. If I knew for a fact that he wouldn't do anything stupid like pull a gun out of his warmups and threaten to bomb an arena I would do that in a heart beat.

Completely agreed. It's just that lingering possibility of him pulling a gun out of his warmups and threatening to bomb an arena that terrifies me.

Lol. Im willing to take that chance. He is just now scratching his potential. Match him with MKG on the wing and you have the best rebounding wing players in the league, easily. But my God he is unpredictable. Its scary, but I have faith in our organization, Jordan, Jefferson, Kemba to get him straight. Lance never really did anything like that until Granger was traded, who was the leader of Indiana. Granger would have stomped his ass if he blew in peoples ears and all that BS while he was there.

Yeah. Here in Charlotte our players all seem to have level heads. It's a good locker room and it seems as if there is good leadership. So I could see Lance coming here and not making trouble. He's just so unpredictable. It would be risky. I'm not totally opposed to it, but it's definitely something I'm cautious about. A bad attitude, especially from a key player, can ruin a team.

[Eoghan]

They've been airing some Michigan games on the Big 10 network and I really like Stauskas but I'm very wary of him at #9. He really struggled against going 1 v 1 and his defense is atrocious.

[BeesWax]

Cliffords defensive schemes can only work so much though. Jefferson is terrible on D, McRoberts is limited, MKG is great, Henderson is solid, and Kemba is solid. Stauskas is horrific on D right now mainly based on lateral movement. Do I want Stauskas? Hell yes I do, but our defense will take a step back.

I don't think he's that much worse than Hendo. And plus, he'll likely be playing behind Hendo, or another vet wing we bring in such as Afflalo for a year anyways. Clifford is a good teacher. He'll get Stauskas to play smart basketball and give high effort. He'll never be elite, but if he can play smart and be a good team defender then we'll be fine with MKG beside him.

Any rookie is going to be playing behind Hendo, so I think our fan base better be ready for that. There is no one at 9 at the guard position good enough to overtake Hendersons starting spot. Henderson might be limited, but hes better right now than anyone we would draft at his position.

That also includes drafting McDermott. McDermott would come off of the bench immediately, and for a majority of the season unless MKG shows no improvement, which I doubt since hes already working his ass off. Truth be told, whomever we draft at 9 wont be a starter their rookie year. In my opinion.

I think you are both right and wrong. There are multiple guys already better in our starting line up than Henderson. They should all start right away. You are right that they won't because it will take at least half a year for Clifford to figure out how to use a new player on offense.

[InProblematique]

Welcome to the board, but you might want to cool it with the insults.

Not the best way to endear yourself to posters.

Didn't particularly come here to endear. I've seen way worse things said here. And if people think Young is actually more athletic than Staus, they need some tough love.

It's your second day at RGM and you have already revived a public warning.

How about you let me and the other mods handle dialing out the tough love?

Thanks.

Now I remember why I never posted here. Jesus. Thicker skin, guys.

A lot of people seem to like LaVine over Stauskas now. I think that's insane. LaVine only shows of his athleticism in transition. On offense he has poor handle, he only hits spot up jumpers (with irregularity), he can't finish against contact, and he can't run an offense. He'll win the dunk contest one day, but he won't help Charlotte win anything.

Stauskis or bust.

[They_Them_Hatin]

Pfft, he's no Nik Caner-Medley.

Nah, I'd be cool with Stauskas IF we traded down and got him around 15 or so. But we won't, b/c our FO is tsherkin.

Think the Suns would be interested in trading 14 and 18 for 9?

I would do that in a heartbeat if Stauskas and McDermott are available . I think both fall even though 10-13 need a shooting guard. I will hope Philly, Denver, and T Wolves take Young, Harris, or Lavine and Magic go big with 12 to draft Stauskas at 14 . I doubt Chicago passes on McDermott but I think we could trade some 2nds with Atlanta and get him at 15 . I would love Mitch at 24 . In the end I just want Young or Stauskas . Nik has the edge though with me.

[MasterIchiro]

Sports Illustrated wrote a nice article about Stauskas' journey to the first round. I found a couple parts really interesting.

Nik coached both his middle school team, 7th and 8th grade and his HS team when no teachers qualified and the schools couldn't find a coach. Basically they sat on the sidelines and agreed to let him take over coaching duties as a player.

Also he attended Raptors games as a kid and idolized Vince Carter and once was called onto the court as a fan and played Carter 2 on 2 and swished a shot causing Carter to tackle him and give him a noogie.

He's going to meet Vince Carter in a game next year. What a thrill.

I hope he's wearing a Hornets uni when it happens.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/ne ... ba-draft/#

[dmutombo321]

^Good read. He's easy to pull for. He and McDermott are two of the most likable guys of the draft - basketball junkies who live for playing the game.

[MasterIchiro]

^Good read. He's easy to pull for. He and McDermott are two of the most likable guys of the draft - basketball junkies who live for playing the game.

They both meet Cho's 'C' for character requirement which is promising...

[TheKingofSting2]

They've been airing some Michigan games on the Big 10 network and I really like Stauskas but I'm very wary of him at #9. He really struggled against going 1 v 1 and his defense is atrocious.

I am wary of his weaknesses also, one day I love him and hes the pick and then the next I'd rather trade for a veteran than draft him.

[thesneakysneak]

There's a good vid of him going against Harris on draft express. Pretty good break down, other than the wrong analysis slide at the end of the vid.
His draft combine interview is good too. I can see Cho loving this guy.

[LofJ]

I don't think it's a coincidence that Michigan really started to win after Nik arrived on campus. The kind of passion he has for the game is infectious. I had a friend like him that lived and breathed hoops and it made playing basketball more fun, if that makes any sense. I think we have a pretty good culture set in place already, but you can never have too many guys like Nik around who just exude passion for the game.

[mrknowitall215]

Nik Stauskas: Stauskas continues to carry the label as the best pure shooter in the draft. He has his first two workouts this week in Boston and L.A. The Celtics pick sixth and the Lakers pick seventh, which feels a bit high for Stauskas, but given the buzz he's had recently, getting drafted that high is not out of the question. He'll also get looks from Charlotte, Philly, Denver, Orlando and Minnesota. It's hard to see him slipping past the Timberwolves, a team looking for shooters.

[mrknowitall215]

Jason (Charlotte-NC): Any chance the Hornets pass on Stauskas? The kid is the best shooter in the draft and is the definition of a floor spacer.

Chad Ford: They need shooting and he'd be a great fit. I know they are very high on him. Gary Harris is also strongly in the mix in Charlotte. Ditto for Doug McDermott. But again, the Hornets, like the Celtics, Lakers and Kings are open to trading this pick. The Hornets want players who can contribute to a playoff run now. I'm not saying Stauskas, Harris or McDermott wouldn't help now. They would. But a veteran would help even more.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/ ... -chad-ford

[-Ian-]

Gary Harris is strongly in the mix? God, no!

[mrknowitall215]

I'd have to believe that Cho is throwing all kinds of smokescreens at Chad Ford as usual before draft day nears. Ford had Charlotte linked to Ben McLemore the entire 2012-13 season until about a day before the draft and Cody Zeller became imminent, and I remember the same happening with Thomas Robinson all year long until about a day before the draft when MKG became likely

[fatlever]

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Nik ... lysis-4570


stauskus vs harris - head to head

[mrknowitall215]

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Nik-Stauskas-vs-Gary-Harris-Head-to-Head-Matchup-Analysis-4570


stauskus vs harris - head to head

After looking at that video, I wish Harris good luck trying to be considered a good defender beyond his lack of length at shooting guard with Jefferson as his second line of defense behind the pick-and-roll if Charlotte draft him

Staying on topic, Stauskas' lack of perimeter defense was overblown in this case based on the video. It appear that Stauskas played solid defense laterally on Harris on each of the few times he defended him but he lacked strength and above average length to contest Harris' shots