OT: Badger Seniors and their NBA potential

zmanishere11 · Post #1 » by **zmanishere11** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:58 pm

I know we've got an NCAA thread, but figured this was worthy of it's own.

Just curious what you guys think of a few Badger players. None of these guys seem to be getting any pub from mock drafts at this point, but I think some of these guys have a future in the league.

Michael Flowers defense is just ridiculous, and it seems like he's getting more comfortable handling the ball. Definitely the kind of guy we could use at the end of our bench.

Butch - 7 footers with the kind of range he's got are pretty rare. Gotta believe someone will at least give him a chance. And remember, he was a blue chip prospect the year Lebron came out.

Stiemsma - Decent defender/rebounder, but not much offense.

Tanner Bronson - If he can work on his range he's got a chance in Europe . . . . . . . .

oshmeehan · Post #2 » by **oshmeehan** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:10 pm

I don't think any of them could get drafted

Flowers and Butch will probably be invited to some team's camps. I could see Flowers making a team, whether it be out of training camp or a call-up from the D-League or something. I don't think Butch has much of a chance, but could play in the D-League.

Bronson? Probably the last time he picks up a basketball competitively.

xTitan · Post #3 » by **xTitan** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:20 pm

Butch has Europe written all over him.....I could see Flowers taking the Charlie Bell route.

fam3381 · Post #4 » by **fam3381** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:24 pm

zmanishere11 wrote:Butch - 7 footers with the kind of range he's got are pretty rare. Gotta believe someone will at least give him a chance. And remember, he was a blue chip prospect the year Lebron came out.

He's shot 30% from three point range this year...last year 34%, so it's not like he's actually a very good shooter. Doesn't convert at a good rate overall, doesn't rebound a ton, doesn't blocks shots. Solid college player, but from an NBA perspective he's a stiff.

Post #5 » by **ReasonablySober** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:35 pm

I think Flowers has improved his ball handling and passing ability quite a bit this season. He's still not a real reliable shooter, but I think given a season in the DL or on a team's bench he could fill a Charlie Bell type role.

jeremyd236 · Post #6 » by **jeremyd236** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:48 pm

fam3381 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

He's shot 30% from three point range this year...last year 34%, so it's not like he's actually a very good shooter. Doesn't convert at a good rate overall, doesn't rebound a ton, doesn't blocks shots. Solid college player, but from an NBA perspective he's a stiff.

He started the season 1-23 from 3-pt range. If you watched the Badgers all season you'd know that. His shot wasn't right through the first few games. So when you look at that 30%, it's skewed.

Kerb Hohl · Post #7 » by **Kerb Hohl** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:00 am

zmanishere11 wrote:Tanner Bronson - If he can work on his range he's got a chance in Europe . . . . . . . .

I hope this is a joke...I commend the kid for sticking with it but he gets schooled by people at the SERF(for those of you who don't know, that is the gym right next to the Kohl Center that students play at).

His range is about the only thing he has, but the problem is that he is actually 5 foot 6 tops, I saw him play numerous times in HS playing in his conference. He isn't lightening quick like you'd expect a pro level 5-6 kid to be and he obviously doesn't have any ups. If he gets a European contract, I am personally flying over there and trying out for all of their teams to take a shot at a 6-figure salary.

Isocleas2 · Post #8 » by **Isocleas2** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:52 am

I think Flowers is the only one with NBA potential. Butch may have found his outside stroke lately but he's regressed in the post both offensively and defensively.

fam3381 · Post #9 » by **fam3381** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:59 am

jeremyd236 wrote:He started the season 1-23 from 3-pt range. If you watched the Badgers all season you'd know that. His shot wasn't right through the first few games. So when you look at that 30%, it's skewed.

I definitely don't watch the Badgers much (unless it's a big game), so that's a good point. Take out the 0/16 he started the season with and he would have shot close to 40%. I don't get the impression he has legit NBA range though, nor does he do anything else particularly well aside form being tall. He's never been particularly good at making shots.

Still looks like a stiff to me.

jeremyd236 · Post #10 » by **jeremyd236** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:08 am

fam3381 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

I definitely don't watch the Badgers much (unless it's a big game), so that's a good point. Take out the 0/16 he started the season with and he would have shot close to 40%. I don't get the impression he has legit NBA range though, nor does he do anything else particularly well aside form being tall. He's never been particularly good at making shots.

Still looks like a stiff to me.

I don't think he'd be able to contribute in the NBA at all. But if the Badgers go far in the tournament, he'll definitely get drafted in the 2nd round.

Flowers has a better chance than any of the seniors. He's athletic, can play great D, and can hit the 3. I could see him being a 2nd round pick if the Badgers do well.

oshmeehan · Post #11 » by **oshmeehan** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:29 am

jeremyd236 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

I don't think he'd be able to contribute in the NBA at all. But if the Badgers go far in the tournament, he'll definitely get drafted in the 2nd round.

Flowers has a better chance than any of the seniors. He's athletic, can play great D, and can hit the 3. I could see him being a 2nd round pick if the Badgers do well.

If either Flowers or Butch are drafted I will give you $100....for real

trwi7 · Post #12 » by **trwi7** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:32 am

jeremyd236 wrote:But if the Badgers go far in the tournament, he'll definitely get drafted in the 2nd round.

There's not a chance Butch gets drafted whether the Badgers make it far in the tournament or not.

http://www.last.fm/user/DPF55 · Post #13 » by **Buck You** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:43 am

If Kevin Pittsnoggle wasn't drafted, Butch won't be either.

LUKE23 · Post #14 » by **LUKE23** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:07 am

Butch is weak and uncoordinated. Pretty much every bench big man in the NBA is significantly more athletic or brings something to the table that Butch cannot. He has zero chance.

Flowers I think will be hurt by his height more than anything, but could get a look in the late second as a defender. If people think he can guard NBA PG's that might be worth it for a GM.

El Duderino · Post #15 » by **El Duderino** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:16 am

I can't see Butch ever playing in an NBA game. Flowers has a slight chance in the future if he can go overseas and improve his offensive abilities. He greatly improved his jump shot this year and pretty much his whole offensive game, to bad for him he isn't 6'4 instead of 6'2.

Ill-yasova · Post #16 » by **Ill-yasova** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:25 am

The only player on that whole team with pro potential is Landry. Which makes this team all the more impressive.

midranger · Post #17 » by **midranger** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:29 am

Of the Badgers' seniors, I actually think that Stiemsma has the best pro potential. He has legitimate size at 6'11, 260 pounds. He is much more athletic than Butch. Defensively, he tries (usually successful) to block any thing that comes his way and holds his ground well due to his massive size. He gets on the glass very well in limited minutes. Offensively, he doesn't offer much, but has developed a nice 15 footer in the past 2 seasons and shown the ability to knock down FTs at a good rate (>80% the past two years). He also tries to flush anything near the rim.

It honestly floors me that he doesn't get more playing time.

Nowak008 · Post #18 » by **Nowak008** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:04 pm

I don't think Butch will do much in the NBA, but I do think he will eventually play in the NBA. I mean Jared Reiner was getting 15 min a game for us last year.

LUKE23 · Post #19 » by **LUKE23** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:50 pm

Ill-yasova wrote:The only player on that whole team with pro potential is Landry. Which makes this team all the more impressive.

I don't see it with him either. He is a good athlete, but not a great one, and at 6-7 with tweener skills, you had better be pretty damn athletic if you're going to make it in the NBA. His brother was taller and has more springs, and he wasn't even a first rounder.

I think the Badgers have a number of guys who could be successful in Europe, but not the NBA.

Diggr14 · Post #20 » by **Diggr14** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:44 pm

Flowers:

Now if the badgers do go a long way in the tournament and he dominates OJ Mayo (which he will) and if they have good showings against GTown and Kansas... I see no reason why Flowers wouldnt get picked in the 2nd round. He is a tough defensive player and he isnt a liability in any way on the court. He's tough, he can handle the ball, he cant shoot decent enough, and he is quick enough to stay with PG's in the NBA.

Im just saying, half of these jokers get drafted based on potential, Flowers is good already, he'll never be great, but he is solidly a player very much like Charlie Bell just a tad smaller, but quicker.