Cleveland Fan Here: Brook Lopez

[DowJones]

I know you guys want Mayo because he has more star power, but I think your team will be better off with Lopez in the long-run. I think a PF-C combination of Jefferson and Lopez is something that could compete in the West for years to come. Lopez is a legit 7-footer with scoring touch around the hoop. Lopez is also younger than Mayo. It isn't often that you can grab a solid 7-footer with great skills and good character.

A front-line of Lopez-Jefferson-Brewer is long, athletic and defensively sound. That is a front-line that can grow together. With Mayo, you don't know what you are getting off the court. Is he the guy that will bolt for a bigger stage? Maybe. Remember that he went to USC just to market himself as a player.

BTW, do you guys keep your 2009 1st rounder? If so, Lopez is certainly the way to go. No offense to your team, but you guys aren't going to compete in the short-term anyway and Mayo may win you guys too many games his first year, which actually hurts the franchise in the long-run. Lopez has more upside and big men usually take a few years to develop, which will leave you guys with another high pick next year to add to the puzzle.

[Krapinsky]

Lopez might be solid, but honestly, five years from now I could see him being the fifth best center in the draft. The same couldn't be said about Mayo and the drafts guards.

On the other hand, it wouldn't surprise me if five years from now Mayo was the best player in the entire draft. The same couldn't be said about Lopez.

[4ho5ive]

I actually thought the opposite, Lopez is probably the smarter, more NBA-ready prospect that would help us win now with Mayo being the "help in the long run" type.

Lopez looks like a solid 15/10 in the NBA. Okafor is a 15/10. Andrew Bogut was a 15/10. Okur 15/10.

Okafor-Solid but hasnt proved to be the player they wanted
Bogut-Still also waiting on him to break out, I like this guy but im not sold on him as an anchor
Okur-Solid roleplayer, not the same type of player as Lopez however.

I dont want to use the #3 on that kinda player.

[deeney0]

Lopez has a low ceiling. There is virtual zero chance of him blooming into an All-Star. Minnesota has filled their team with second tier talent like that - they need a star, and OJ Mayo is that guy.

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

M-A-Y-O

Lopez would be nice at 5

Not at 3

[Worm Guts]

Lopez might be solid, but honestly, five years from now I could see him being the fifth best center in the draft. The same couldn't be said about Mayo and the drafts guards.
On the other hand, it wouldn't surprise me if five years from now Mayo was the best player in the entire draft. The same couldn't be said about Lopez.

Of course it could, Gordon and Bayless could both end being better than Mayo.

[DowJones]

You guys do understand that Mayo isn't a great athlete, right? You talk about Mayo being a high-upside type of player but the reality is that he is almost 2 years older than your typical college freshman, so his "upside" isn't as high as you might think. He isn't a great athlete either. He certain;y doesn't lack athletic ability, but he isn't an athlete like Bayless, Rose, Gordon, etc. It sounds like you guys want a J. Bayless type of player then.

You really can't compare Lopez to Okur or Okafur. Their games are completely different. Lopez is is far more athletic, taller and a better back to the basket type of threat than Okur and he is about 2-3 inches taller than Okafor with a much better offensive game. Maybe you can compare him to Bogut, but most people think he has a much better offensive game than Bogut.

I just think when you have a chance to add a legit 7-footer, you do it. The 2 hardest positions to fill in the NBA is the Center and PG position. Lopez can make Jefferson a better player and instantly turn you guys into a good defensive and rebounding team. SG's like Mayo are nice, but they don't win you championships unless you have great post-play.

[Devilzsidewalk]

You guys do understand that Mayo isn't a great athlete, right? You talk about Mayo being a high-upside type of player but the reality is that he is almost 2 years older than your typical college freshman, so his "upside" isn't as high as you might think. He isn't a great athlete either. He certain;y doesn't lack athletic ability, but he isn't an athlete like Bayless, Rose, Gordon, etc. It sounds like you guys want a J. Bayless type of player then.

You really can't compare Lopez to Okur or Okafur. Their games are completely different. Lopez is is far more athletic, taller and a better back to the basket type of threat than Okur and he is about 2-3 inches taller than Okafor with a much better offensive game. Maybe you can compare him to Bogut, but most people think he has a much better offensive game than Bogut.

I just think when you have a chance to add a legit 7-footer, you do it. The 2 hardest positions to fill in the NBA is the Center and PG position. Lopez can make Jefferson a better player and instantly turn you guys into a good defensive and rebounding team. SG's like Mayo are nice, but they don't win you championships unless you have great post-play.

yes! I agree with you on everathang. People treat Mayo like he's going to physically dominate the competition, but he doesn't have Wade's quickness or Kobe's explosiveness.

All the knocks on Lopez is that he's going to be this second tier center when OJ Mayo has less than superior athleticism and less than superior size, yet he's going to be a 1st tier SG? I'll reserve my final judgment in case I'm one day forced to cheer for him, but I'm skeptical.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Of course it could, Gordon and Bayless could both end being better than Mayo.

And Chase Budinger. Seriously though.

[Tor]

As solid as Lopez may be, you just can't pass up superstar potential for him. If we landed the 4th pick, Lopez would be a great pick for us, but that's not the case here.

[Worm Guts]

As solid as Lopez may be, you just can't pass up superstar potential for him. If we landed the 4th pick, Lopez would be a great pick for us, but that's not the case here.

Mayo isn't really a potential superstar.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Lopez has superstar potential. He's 7 feet, 20 years old, agile, and despite a somewhat unpolished overall game, has a huge effect on both ends of the floor.

[younggunsmn]

Watch a little more video on Mayo, he has plenty of quickness and a great handle.

Just because he plays under control most of the time doesn't mean he isn't quick.

It's a strength of his that he can score in many different ways and doesn't have to dribble his defender out of his shoes every time he has the frickin ball (like shaddy). Wade has no 3 point shot so he has to beat his guy to score.

Look up some more youtube highlight videos of him an watch when he is ISO'd at the top of the key. He has no problem beating his man, and he gets into the lane in a hurry. More Importantly he can Finish easier because of his size and strength, (which is what makes wade and kobe so effective) which separates him from smaller players like gordon and bayless. How many times last year did we watch foye or telfair get into the lane only to not be able to finish because they were too short to shoot over a big man and too small to draw contact? I guarantee you mayo will not have that problem.

Bayless clearly has great athleticism and can jump out of the gym, that doesn't guarantee he will be able to finish or distribute in the NBA. He reminds me of steve francis when he came out. He is the only guard other than derrick rose who I think could be better than Mayo. Eric Gordon screams bust to me. He had a horrible game against the Gophers too.

Andrew Bogut is much stronger and better defensively than Lopez. Okafor is more athletic and better defensively. Okur has a much,much better shot. Lopez will not make Al better, if anything he will take post-up opportunities away from Al. We need a big man who can mash people on the pick and roll and block shots and rebound. Not a softass post player.
Center is the one position where stats are least important. A good Center can have a major impact on the game without having a great stat line.
15 and 10 is not any good if you are consistently giving up 20 and 15 and not altering the game by being a defensive prescence.

The value for big men in this draft will be late lottery and late 1st/early 2nd. Taking one at 3 would be stupid when there will be someone who is a better fit at 31 and probably 34 too, and if they want we have plenty of ammo to trade into the 1st round. I will tell you this, we won't be in a position again to draft a talent like Mayo in the next few years, but there will be plenty more lopezes to be had.


How good does this draft look?
3. OJ Mayo 6'5 PG USC
31. Devon Hardin 6'11 C Cal
34. Ryan Anderson 6'10 PF Cal (The next Robert Horry).

[Devilzsidewalk]

^^ Lopez can pick n roll very well and block shots and his rebounding is improving

[Worm Guts]

For all his quickness and strength, Mayo doesn't get to the free throw line as much as Bayless or Gordon. Not even close, actually. He's also not that much bigger than Gordon, if he is at all.

[john2jer]

NOw I'm sure this will go over well, but...

Watching a few different clips on tv, games during the season, and some stuff from youtube, Lopez's offensive game looks kind of similar to Duncan's.

Now having said that, his defense is no where near and I'd prefer Mayo. Although the age thing reminds me of Foye.

I absolutely quit the NBA, though, if we draft Bayless or Gordon. Bayless has stubby arms. Gordon is a midget.

[Klomp]

A second-tier center still qualifies as the best in Timberwolves' history.

[younggunsmn]

^^ Lopez can pick n roll very well and block shots and his rebounding is improving

For a college player. He doesn't have the athleticism to be a defensive force in the NBA. He also shot under 47% last year at 7 feet tall.

Mayo has 2 inches on Gordon and Bayless (which is huge), and is much more cut. What makes you think Bayless and Gordon's free throw numbers will translate to the NBA? It's hard to get to the line when you're the only guy on your team who can shoot.

[Worm Guts]

^^ Lopez can pick n roll very well and block shots and his rebounding is improving

For a college player. He doesn't have the athleticism to be a defensive force in the NBA. He also shot under 47% last year at 7 feet tall.

Mayo has 2 inches on Gordon and Bayless (which is huge), and is much more cut. What makes you think Bayless and Gordon's free throw numbers will translate to the NBA? It's hard to get to the line when you're the only guy on your team who can shoot.

NBAdraft.net has Gordon and Mayo both at 6'4 and Bayless at 6'3, so we'll have to wait and see what they measure out at.
I don't know if the free throw numbers will translate, but Bayless and Mayo both played in the same conference and Bayless got to the line alot more. I'd assume that means Bayless is better at getting to the free throw line. I have no clue what teammates being able to shoot has to do with getting to the free throw line, though.

[RD&KG2]

I'm going to send an angry elephant to Lopez' house the night before the draft so we don't take him.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=skUjyVFM5II