Draftexpress-why no Thabeet in any of your 120 picks 2008-20

[BRIGGS]

09? The guy is a 2008 lottery pick GUARNTEED and you don't even list him in the 2nd round in any of your mocks. This is the same with draft express many times--they have a weird mock and change drastically when the pecking order becomes evident to even a casual observer. The guy is playing so much better than last year--he is 7-3 275 pounds athletic and coming on------he is a LOTTERY PICK and if he continues the way he has been playing he will be a VERY high 2008 lottery pick.

[JonathanG]

I don't think he's a draftable player (at least in the first round), and most NBA people I've spoken to share my sentiments.

Too many concerns about his true age, his terrible work ethic, his poor hands, poor balance, and non-existent offensive skills.

He's big and mobile, but that's about it.

[shane5153]

Jonathan on your site it says mayo is a pg/sg but what do you see him as? And Thabeet just doesnt do anything for me, yes he's very tall but is way to skinny with no offense.

[JonathanG]

I see him as a PG/SG. Probably more of a 2/1 than a 1/2. Depends on the system he plays in. He'd have no problem bringing the ball up the floor and getting a team into their offense, but he has a scoring mentality and that's what he does best. The thing is, he's most comfortable with the ball in his hands.

[Joel Embust]

I don't like Hasheem. He's like Mo Sene and could be like Diop..

[BRIGGS]

I don't think he's a draftable player (at least in the first round), and most NBA people I've spoken to share my sentiments.

Too many concerns about his true age, his terrible work ethic, his poor hands, poor balance, and non-existent offensive skills.

He's big and mobile, but that's about it.

Ok I'll put a bet on it. I'll give your website a 5k donation if Thabeet is NOT picked in round 1 THIS year[barring injury] all you have to do in return is say in CAPITAL letters on the top of your website that BRIGGS was right abouty Hasheem for 1 month --easy money for your website--and there are many people who know that I will promptly pay the donation no questions asked.

[jman3134]

Whether or not Thabeet will be a first rounder remains to be seen. It's too early to really gauge how scouts are going to tout him later in the season. But, he surely is not deserving of a first or second round pick. His only asset is his height and length. He has a poor basketball IQ and is unable to really be effective on the block. Only now has he developed somewhat of a mean streak- going for dunks and the like. But, he would be a Slavko Vranes type of player.

[BRIGGS]

Whether or not Thabeet will be a first rounder remains to be seen. It's too early to really gauge how scouts are going to tout him later in the season. But, he surely is not deserving of a first or second round pick. His only asset is his height and length. He has a poor basketball IQ and is unable to really be effective on the block. Only now has he developed somewhat of a mean streak- going for dunks and the like. But, he would be a .

Slavko Vranes type of player?// what???????

The guy is an absolute menace on the defensive end--he single-handidly kept Uconn in that game tonight but shutting down the lane with 10 swats and numerous other alterations--he rebounds very well and his offense is coming along quite nicely--he missed some bunnies tonight and while his hands have improved--he still is not there yet--but this guy is not only going to be in the first round--he's going to be a lottery pick.

[jman3134]

No I wasn't speaking of Vranes as an adequate player comparison- rather a draft comparison based on size alone. Thabeet can block shots, sure. But, what else is he capable of doing?

[JonathanG]

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Ok I'll put a bet on it. I'll give your website a 5k donation if Thabeet is NOT picked in round 1 THIS year[barring injury] all you have to do in return is say in CAPITAL letters on the top of your website that BRIGGS was right abouty Hasheem for 1 month --easy money for your website--and there are many people who know that I will promptly pay the donation no questions asked.

You don't have 5,000$ and there is no way I'll be able to go after you to make you pay that. So no, I'm not interested.

[FNQ]

Wasn't the OP the one saying Thabeet would be drafted #1 overall before?

Sup with the man-crush?

Signed,
The guy with a man-crush on Ibaka

[VictorPage44]

hasheem thabeet keeps uconn in the game defensively on a consistant basis. for everyone saying hes not a draftable player, not only will he be drafted, he'll be a lottery pick. he's averaging 5.6 BPG over the last eight games. he averages 10.6 PPG on 58% from the field and 70% from the line. for a player who contributes in other ways (like being one of the most dominant defensive NBA prospects on the map) and who has only been playing basketball period for five years, those are pretty decent offensive statistics. to say that he has no offensive game is just untrue. last night, i saw him get himself a bunch of easy shots in the post. once he acuires some touch around the basket (its not out of the question; lets not forget that he's a 70% free throw shooter--up 50% from last year) he'll be effective enough offensively.

[WillC]

I don't think he's a draftable player (at least in the first round)

This is an amazing comment. I'm really shocked that you don't think he'll go in the first round.

I agree with BRIGGS and others that he will be drafted in the first round due to i) his defensive presence and ii) his immense upside.

The only thing I disagree with BRIGGS about is whether he'll be a first rounder this year or in the future, because I can see him sticking around to work on his game, like Hibbert.

Mind you, looking at how Hibbert's stock has dropped (and stats have declined), maybe Thabeet would be wise to make the jump while his stock is high.

At least, I feel his stock is high, even if others don't!

[WillC]

Btw, sorry for the consecutive posts, but check out where these guys were drafted just in the last couple of years:

#9 in 2006: Patrick O'Bryant
#10 in 2006: Saer Sene
#12 in 2006: Hilton Armstrong
#25 in 2005: Johan Petro
#8 in 2004: Rafael Araujo
#12 in 2004: Robert Swift
#21 in 2004: Pavel Podkolzine

Sure, most of those guys suck, but that didn't stop them from being drafted in the first round.

Looking at the above, I don't see why Thabeet would slip into the 2nd round.

[BRIGGS]

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This is an amazing comment. I'm really shocked that you don't think he'll go in the first round.

I agree with BRIGGS and others that he will be drafted in the first round due to i) his defensive presence and ii) his immense upside.

The only thing I disagree with BRIGGS about is whether he'll be a first rounder this year or in the future, because I can see him sticking around to work on his game, like Hibbert.

Mind you, looking at how Hibbert's stock has dropped (and stats have declined), maybe Thabeet would be wise to make the jump while his stock is high.

At least, I feel his stock is high, even if others don't!

As much as John thinks that NBA types let him in on things--JC said clearly that NBA personell[the real kind] who talk to him on a weekly basis have already told him Thabeet would be a top 15 pick THIS YEAR on his radio show. The question--do I believe my own eyes watching Thabeet and Jim Calhoun's words or some kid working a draft website with agents who give him false information probably 80% of the time.

[MalReyn]

Rarely do I find myself disagreeing with you JonG, but I'm inclined to say Thabeet is a 1st round pick easily.

Sure he might be older, but his basketball age (years he's been playing ball) is low, and he's made tremendous strides so far this season which show a lot of untapped upside.

Mobile 7'3" centers simply do not come around that often. Two years under Calhoun help as well, while he's still raw he's miles better than he was. GMs may downplay him, but in the end no question someone will take a chance.

Heck, even if he only turns into a Diop he'd still be a solid backup center, and he's ahead of Diop at the same stage (not to mention more physical talents).

[hcsilla]

Heck, even if he only turns into a Diop he'd still be a solid backup center, and he's ahead of Diop at the same stage

Based on what?

(not to mention more physical talents).

I really doubt that Thabeet would be more athletic and/or stronger than the young Diop.

[MalReyn]

Based on Diop 2 years into the league vs. Thabeet 2 years at UConn.... Diop never played and when he did he was lost.

And Thabeet may not be stronger than Diop, but he's certainly more athletic and taller. He's amazingly mobile for a guy his size, despite raw basketball skills.

[BRIGGS]

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I really doubt that Thabeet would be more athletic and/or stronger than the young Diop.

Hasheem is immensely strong and more athletic than Diop at the same stage. I wouldn't compare the two because Hasheem has true offensive upside--he shoots FTs with perfect form has good touch around the basket and is learning a few quality post moves. I would say that if Hasheem played 4 years--he would easily EASILY be a top 3 if not 1 pick.

[hcsilla]

Based on Diop 2 years into the league vs. Thabeet 2 years at UConn.... Diop never played and when he did he was lost.

You seem to think that NCAA=NBA or Thabeet would have been able to produce the same in NBA as he did in NCAA.

And Thabeet ... He's amazingly mobile for a guy his size, despite raw basketball skills.

Exactly the same can be said about Diop as well.