2013 NBA draft prospects chatter

[penquin11]

Challenge: Try and sell me on any one prospect in this years draft. I would love for someone to give me a good pitch/scouting report of Noel. What do you feel those prospects would bring toour team that would make them impacful? What players do you consider fair player comparisons for a floor and roof level?

[catch20two]

Challenge: Try and sell me on any one prospect in this years draft. I would love for someone to give me a good pitch/scouting report of Noel. What do you feel those prospects would bring toour team that would make them impacful? What players do you consider fair player comparisons for a floor and roof level?

As far as trying to sell you on Nerlens Noel, I can tell you that he's already everything that we're hoping Bismack Biyombo will become on the defensive end. Noel can block shots, steal the ball, and defend the perimeter at an elite level for a big. Bringing a player like Noel onto our team to pair with MKG and Kemba could potentially make us one of the best defensive teams in the league within 3 years. We would force so many turnovers from deflections that it would frustrate every opposing team. The downfall to adding Noel will be that our halfcourt offense would still be stagnant and Biyombo's presence would become expendable, making our #7 overall pick of 2011 basically a wasted selection.

The prospect that has the potential to be everything that we need right now is Anthony Bennett. I'm trying my best to sell myself on him every game because he is easily the most talented player entering the upcoming draft. He already has a NBA body as far as strength and build but he's slightly undersized. Even though he's slightly undersized he also has a 7'1" wingspan. Bennett's offensive repertoire has so much variety because he can shoot 3's like a guard and he can bang in the paint with the forwards and centers. The biggest concerns with Bennett is his conditioning and basketball IQ. Personally I think he's a smart player for his age but sometimes he tries to do too much.

There's not much for me to say about Shabazz Muhammad but that he'll be the consensus #1 pick come June. The word 'star' is written all over him on the offensive end where he's smart, crafty, and have a knack to score but his defensive effort leaves a lot to be desire. I doubt that his leaky defense would prevent him from being the top prospect because it didn't stop Kyrie Irving's rise even with injury.

I'll leave the prospects of Ben McLemore to be explained by the other posters that have strong beliefs in him.

[Eoghan]

Zeller isn't weak either for a big man. He's a great athlete for a guy his size and is considerably bigger/stronger than he was last year. Just like his brother, there aren't very many big men who can keep up with him running from one end of the floor to the other. His only issue is his lack of length limiting him from being a consistent post scorer.

I disagree. He plays weak. I have yet to see him go through a guy as big or bigger than him. He just runs around bigger/slower opponents but he can't bang with them. I don't think he has any lower body strength at all.

[ccbballin]

Shabazz has such a smooth touch why does nbadraft compare him to MKG. Bazz looks more like James Harden but I think he could be like a Paul Pierce. What's his personality like because I thought he got into some trouble or something. Mclemore is supposed to be like Ray Allen. Noel has a long way to go. He passes the athleticism tests easily but will he ever have an offensive game? Maybe another Ty Thomas. Zeller has a lot of qualities we need such as someone who runs the court on both ends which is something we seem to lack on the defensive end. But there has to be some rules to taking top 5 picks such as the ability to make the game look easy, great foot speed, good intangibles, someone who can score easily and get fouled alot. Defense doesn't really win championships in basketball, offense does.

All that matters is that we get real good soon or go for the worst record next year when Wiggins, Parker, and Randle are available. Why trade anybody, we need to lose.

[SWedd523]

By the way, are there any Gonzaga fans out there? This Kelly Olynyk canadian kid continues to impress. Huge 7 footer with fantastic mobility and range, can score all over the place with insane efficiency. Would be a very intriguing target with that Portland pick.

Nobody?

We're talking about a 7 footer who can do this (starts around 0:15):

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdYFPdP5xBE[/youtube]


and DX describes him like this:

What makes Olynyk unique is his versatility and skill level for a 7-footer. By no means a flashy scorer and far from a freak athlete, the inside-outside threat can use his size and soft touch to score in the post, finish his opportunities at the rim, and step out and make shots from the perimeter.

Wasting no time getting re-acclimated to a balanced Gonzaga attack that boasts terrific chemistry, Olynyk's efficiency has been nothing short of tremendous this season, as he ranks 3rd in the nation in two-point percentage at 71%. Showing a willingness to do the work before the catch and establish good position on the block, the fourth year junior doesn't have a go-to move per se, but has a knack for taking what defenders give him with his extremely high skill-level and is shooting 65% in the post (third amongst NBA prospects) according to Synergy Sports Technology, thanks in large part to his soft touch.

When he isn't operating one on one in the post, Olynyk earns himself some easy opportunities by virtue of his size and activity level off the ball. He moves well within Gonzaga's offense, cutting aggressively to the basket, plays exceptionally well off the penetration of his teammates, and provides a big target in the paint.

Away from the basket, Olynyk is still a reliable set shooter, even if he is taking jump shots at a significantly lower rate than he did early in his career. Shooting 4/12 from beyond the arc and 9/19 on jump shots overall this year, Olynyk does not leak out to the perimeter often, but is still a threat to hit from the outside. His shooting ability has been a big plus for him at the free throw line this season, where he's shooting 81%, and gives him some upside as a pick and pop threat at the next level.

When defenders give Olynyk driving lanes when he operates away from the rim, he shows unique ball handling ability for a big man. Always appearing in control when he puts in the ball on the floor, Olynyk lacks the quickness to blow by defenders in isolation situations, but he can use his dribble to set up his defender for a move in the mid-post, or dribble into a jump shot.

Is it because he looks like this?:

[BlackOutBuzz]

Athletic, white scorer from Gonzaga? All he needs is to grow a mustache...

Heck, we can take LJ and Ammo in this draft

I haven't heard a ton about this kid, but what I've seen has been nice. He's definitely one of the bigs I hope we take a look at for that Portland pick if we go Bazz/McLemore early.

[TheKingofSting]

By the way, are there any Gonzaga fans out there? This Kelly Olynyk canadian kid continues to impress. Huge 7 footer with fantastic mobility and range, can score all over the place with insane efficiency. Would be a very intriguing target with that Portland pick.

I saw leolovingliberal on another realgm board drooling over him, he looks too much like Walter Herrmann for me.

[SWedd523]

He's not so.... caveman-ish with the shorter hair

[Eoghan]

By the way, are there any Gonzaga fans out there? This Kelly Olynyk canadian kid continues to impress. Huge 7 footer with fantastic mobility and range, can score all over the place with insane efficiency. Would be a very intriguing target with that Portland pick.

Nobody?

We're talking about a 7 footer who can do this (starts around 0:15):

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdYFPdP5xBE[/youtube]

He looks like a much less athletic Mullens. To be fair, I haven't watched much of the Zags since they tricked us into thinking Ammo was a star.

And if anyone looks like a caveman, it has to be PJ Hairston followed by Muhammad.

[MasterIchiro]

Archie Goodwin still alive round these parts? The POR pick has me wanting MCW as a backup or Archie Goodwin as a backup (for McLemore). He's averaging 14.6 PPG as a freshman. Are we losing perspective on freshman year in general with the one-and-done crowd being so dominant so early? I've witnessed many UCONN greats have worse freshman years than Goodwin - Rip Hamilton, Ray Allen, Caron Butler, Donyell Marshall, Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, Rudy Gay, Kemba Walker and UCONN is a school known for its guard play. Sophomore year is a huge growth year for many players.

[MasterIchiro]

With the WIZ' win tonight, the Bobcats take first place in the ping pong ball contest.

[Eoghan]

Archie Goodwin still alive round these parts? The POR pick has me wanting MCW as a backup or Archie Goodwin as a backup (for McLemore). He's averaging 14.6 PPG as a freshman. Are we losing perspective on freshman year in general with the one-and-done crowd being so dominant so early? I've witnessed many UCONN greats have worse freshman years than Goodwin - Rip Hamilton, Ray Allen, Caron Butler, Donyell Marshall, Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, Rudy Gay, Kemba Walker and UCONN is a school known for its guard play. Sophomore year is a huge growth year for many players.

I really don't like Goodwin. He has the physical tools to be really good but the IQ is awful right now. Not a good 3pt shooter, handles aren't great (has a nice Euro-step though), and massive tunnel vision. He plays recklessly on D and gets cheap fouls a lot and he just point blank ignores his teammates often. He's basically a more athletic Brandon Knight with worse decision making right now. Wouldn't draft him anywhere but late lotto.

[catch20two]

Archie Goodwin still alive round these parts?

I think we'd draft a big if we receive the Portland pick and rightfully so although if MCW slips to that late in the lottery we'd have to be interested because he's a 6'6" playmaking guard. Archie Goodwin has fell out of grace with scouts not because of his numbers but because of Kentucky's record in the win-loss column, Alex Poythress as well. Goodwin isn't making the type of impact on the court as the previous Calipari guards and that has to hurt his stock. I'm not currently and never really was intrigued by his skill set because he doesn't have enough elite athleticism to make up for his basketball IQ.

[BlackOutBuzz]

Archie Goodwin still alive round these parts? The POR pick has me wanting MCW as a backup or Archie Goodwin as a backup (for McLemore). He's averaging 14.6 PPG as a freshman. Are we losing perspective on freshman year in general with the one-and-done crowd being so dominant so early? I've witnessed many UCONN greats have worse freshman years than Goodwin - Rip Hamilton, Ray Allen, Caron Butler, Donyell Marshall, Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, Rudy Gay, Kemba Walker and UCONN is a school known for its guard play. Sophomore year is a huge growth year for many players.

I'm a big believer in going with the BPA, but even I'd find it hard to stomach taking two similar wings with a couple lottery picks. I know we took JT last year, but some had him as a top 20 talent that fell to the 2nd. Either way, barring a big tournament performance I don't think Goodwin will be the BPA when we pick again at 13-15. Isn't he the youngest player in this year's class? I suppose we could continue our tradition of drafting the youngest kid in the class for the third straight year (Biz, MKG, Goodwin). We've also drafted a national champion in each of the last two years...

With the WIZ' win tonight, the Bobcats take first place in the ping pong ball contest.

I honestly thought we'd already surpassed them for the worst record... And I can't believe the Cavs are only 2 games ahead of us, I already thought Kyrie was a fringe all-star at best but, 12 wins? He shouldn't have made the team IMO. So they've had 3 top 5 picks in the last 2 years and are on pace for another...watch them land Wiggins too

But here's to better luck with the ping pong gods this time around, we'll always have those early-season memories.

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=1214286

[TheKingofSting]

With the WIZ' win tonight, the Bobcats take first place in the ping pong ball contest.

That is terrible news in more ways than one!

[BigSlam]

By the way, are there any Gonzaga fans out there? This Kelly Olynyk canadian kid continues to impress. Huge 7 footer with fantastic mobility and range, can score all over the place with insane efficiency. Would be a very intriguing target with that Portland pick.

Never trust a guy with a woman's first name as his own.

I don't make the rules, I just have to follow them.

[SWedd523]

By the way, are there any Gonzaga fans out there? This Kelly Olynyk canadian kid continues to impress. Huge 7 footer with fantastic mobility and range, can score all over the place with insane efficiency. Would be a very intriguing target with that Portland pick.

Never trust a guy with a woman's first name as his own.

I don't make the rules, I just have to follow them.

Is there no "he's Canadian" exception?

[BigSlam]

By the way, are there any Gonzaga fans out there? This Kelly Olynyk canadian kid continues to impress. Huge 7 footer with fantastic mobility and range, can score all over the place with insane efficiency. Would be a very intriguing target with that Portland pick.

Never trust a guy with a woman's first name as his own.

I don't make the rules, I just have to follow them.

Is there no "he's Canadian" exception?

Makes it worse because then he is a dude with a chicks name who eats things that are called `poutine`and `tourtiere`.

[catch20two]

It would be great if Alex Len's draft stock could fall to our Portland pick. I think it's very possible.

[MasterIchiro]

First Len would have to get past OKC and I just don't see it.