College players thread/ Draft Related thread

[PeeDee]

Concerns with Evans is that his projections are Crawford or Hughes. If he was Hughes I would be so excited, but with Crawford you think of a ball hog that is very inefficient. Evans is a ball hog at times.

Just for comparison about relative ball hogginess:

OJ Mayo @ USC in 33 Games: 16 FGA Per Game 3.3 Assists per game

Tyreke Evans @ Memphis in 34 Games: 13 FGA Per Game 3.8 Assists per game

A lot of people have said about OJ that his team needed him to be that player for his team to succeed. Why doesn't Evans get the same argument? Especially considering he led his team to a #2 seed (with arguments for a #1 seed) in the NCCA tourney...

[Devilzsidewalk]

but Crawford and Hughes are scrawny wimps, Evans looks like he could be a tank

[Devilzsidewalk]

I saw a good chunk of the Davidson/S. Carolina game last night. It was the first time I've seen Davidson since early in the year and I came away really impressed with Curry. To me he's the biggest question mark in the lottery. He's an incredible shooter, decent ball handler and has a great feel for the game. He's playing PG this year and to have value in the NBA he has to play PG. That means he has to create his own shot (not come off screens) and create for others. He can do that at the college level I'm just not sure he's a good enough athlete/ball handler to do that in the NBA, but after watching last night I think maybe he could be, just not sure. I also wonder if he'll be able to stay in front of PGs at the next level.

I've heard comparisons to Nash, who's also not a super quick athlete, but I saw quite a few games Nash played in college and he looked much more like an NBA PG than Curry does now. Nash always had an incredible handle and was just crafty with the ball, I don't know if Curry is as good with the ball.

What's everyone else's thoughts? You can never have a enough shooters surrounding Big Al?

Seems like a stretch to me to think Curry could be the playmaker Nash is; if he had that, then he's a top 10 player for sure. But if he doesn't have that, then you take away his shot and you can take him out of the game. Nash is equally elite in creating offense for himself and others so you're going to get hurt in some way even if you gameplay to take away one aspect.

[jpatrick]

OJ didn't play point at USC therefore the ball wasn't in his hands constantly like it is in Evans' hands. That makes it slightly tougher to get assists.

That said, I don't think Evans is selfish, it's just that alot of people question whether he's a true PG. I don't think he's a great SG prospect because he doesn't have great range and he's not an insane athlete (I'd say he has the same athletiscm as OJ), so to have lottery value, in my mind, he has to be an NBA PG (Stuckey type PG). Can he be that? Maybe, I'm not sure.

[john2jer]

I might be wrong on this, but Memphis wasn't ranked at the beginning of the season, had no point guard, and were expected to be a team in transition, weren't they? Tyreke Evans plays out of his mind this year and some people just don't want to give him any credit. Is it because he followed up the golden boy, Derrick Rose? Unranked to a solid argument for a #1 seed, and their star player is just a scrub? They lost a lot of talent from last year's team.

If the Wolves managed to package picks and/or expirings and found a way to move up and get both Thabeet and Evans, I'd probably bake a couple batches of cookies like Devilz did last year. If they just got Evans, I'd bake at least one batch.

[Biff Cooper]

Personally, I'm in the Thabeet if he falls, otherwise Aminu/Evans (tie). All would be great fits for the Wolves in my mind.

I agree. Beyond Griffin, Rubio?, Harden, Thabeet? talent really seems fall off. Evans (or Aminu) have more upside and fit than most of our other options after those four - regardless of where they are currently slated to go on mock drafts.

[PeeDee]

OJ didn't play point at USC therefore the ball wasn't in his hands constantly like it is in Evans' hands.

Maybe not quite as much, but OJ sure had it in his hands a lot. I'd say the difference is nominal.

[Winter Wonder]

I am SO on the Thabeet wagon for the Wolves. He is the player I want on this team more than any.... which of course means we have no chance at him ala my wanting of Galinari and Yi the previous two year. Nonetheless, he is my primary semi realistic choice. Rubio would be first, but I don't consider him realistic at this point, whether he actually declares or where our pick ends up, just can't see it happening. So Thabeet or bust are my hopes, which means we will end up with Hill, Monroe, or someone else I think is redundent that I will end up liking more once he is here...

[Krapinsky]

DX has us getting Henderson/Blair/Budinger now.

Ugh.

And I REALLY REALLY do not want Thabeet.

Double Ugh.

[revprodeji]

Concerns with Evans is that his projections are Crawford or Hughes. If he was Hughes I would be so excited, but with Crawford you think of a ball hog that is very inefficient. Evans is a ball hog at times.

Just for comparison about relative ball hogginess:

OJ Mayo @ USC in 33 Games: 16 FGA Per Game 3.3 Assists per game

Tyreke Evans @ Memphis in 34 Games: 13 FGA Per Game 3.8 Assists per game

A lot of people have said about OJ that his team needed him to be that player for his team to succeed. Why doesn't Evans get the same argument? Especially considering he led his team to a #2 seed (with arguments for a #1 seed) in the NCCA tourney...

OJ Mayo works off the ball very well, can come off screens and if anything looks more comfortable.

Evans looks completely lost without the ball in his hands.

[PeeDee]

The Wolves already have players that work off the ball well. Evans would provide them a slasher/playmaker. I'd like to see what he can do when there are players as good or better than him on his team.

[john2jer]

I am SO on the Thabeet wagon for the Wolves. He is the player I want on this team more than any.... which of course means we have no chance at him ala my wanting of Galinari and Yi the previous two year. Nonetheless, he is my primary semi realistic choice. Rubio would be first, but I don't consider him realistic at this point, whether he actually declares or where our pick ends up, just can't see it happening. So Thabeet or bust are my hopes, which means we will end up with Hill, Monroe, or someone else I think is redundent that I will end up liking more once he is here...

Did you just admit to wanting Galinari and Yi?

[Krapinsky]

I am SO on the Thabeet wagon for the Wolves. He is the player I want on this team more than any.... which of course means we have no chance at him ala my wanting of Galinari and Yi the previous two year. Nonetheless, he is my primary semi realistic choice. Rubio would be first, but I don't consider him realistic at this point, whether he actually declares or where our pick ends up, just can't see it happening. So Thabeet or bust are my hopes, which means we will end up with Hill, Monroe, or someone else I think is redundent that I will end up liking more once he is here...

Did you just admit to wanting Galinari and Yi?

Yeah he did. All credibility out the window.

Even more reason to avoid him

[wolves_fan_82au]

I saw a good chunk of the Davidson/S. Carolina game last night. It was the first time I've seen Davidson since early in the year and I came away really impressed with Curry. To me he's the biggest question mark in the lottery. He's an incredible shooter, decent ball handler and has a great feel for the game. He's playing PG this year and to have value in the NBA he has to play PG. That means he has to create his own shot (not come off screens) and create for others. He can do that at the college level I'm just not sure he's a good enough athlete/ball handler to do that in the NBA, but after watching last night I think maybe he could be, just not sure. I also wonder if he'll be able to stay in front of PGs at the next level.

I've heard comparisons to Nash, who's also not a super quick athlete, but I saw quite a few games Nash played in college and he looked much more like an NBA PG than Curry does now. Nash always had an incredible handle and was just crafty with the ball, I don't know if Curry is as good with the ball.

What's everyone else's thoughts? You can never have a enough shooters surrounding Big Al?

Curry vs Mills is the next match up cant wait for that one

what does everyone here think of Mills???? yesterday he had 27 points (8-15 f/g 5/9 from 3) 2 assists 2 steals 2 rebounds against washington state ,do you guys think hes a option with the miami or utah picks if wed dont get a pg earlier???

[karch34]

Mills is probably shorter than I'd like, but I think he's a heck of a player and definitely someone I'd look at with the Miami pick if we didn't get a PG earlier.

[revprodeji]

The Wolves already have players that work off the ball well. Evans would provide them a slasher/playmaker. I'd like to see what he can do when there are players as good or better than him on his team.

That is a valid argument. Perhaps he would be the best fit. He does have talent.

[the_bruce]

I;m actually all for evans as well. Seems like the perfect fit for the wolves core. Offensively he fits, and defensivly he fits. I'd consider taking him at #6 or #7. I'm not in love with any prospects this year, but Evans is probably the guy I like the most for the wolves. I'm content with taking him if Griffin\Thabeet\Rubio\Harden are all off the board.

If the team went...

evans with MN
Mullens with MIA
budinger with bos

I think that would be a solid draft.

[horaceworthy]

Seems like a stretch to me to think Curry could be the playmaker Nash is; if he had that, then he's a top 10 player for sure. But if he doesn't have that, then you take away his shot and you can take him out of the game. Nash is equally elite in creating offense for himself and others so you're going to get hurt in some way even if you gameplay to take away one aspect.

It's tough to say that he has Nash level playmaking ability, but I think he's shown that he's more than just a shooter. Of the NCAA prospects this year, his PG skills look as good as anyone's. I think the only real question out there is how he'll hold up athletically at the next level.

For me, I see his potential as a Nash/Cassell type PG that can create for others but is a threat to pull up from anywhere on the floor if the defense relaxes in the slightest and excels in the pick and roll/pop game. It's going out on a bit of a limb to predict that, since Cassell and Nash are exceptions rather than the rule when it comes to 6'3" guys that aren't elite athletes making it in the NBA. There's also some worry about how patient a team would have to be with him, since it took Cassell and Nash until they were 26-27 years old to really hit there stride. I like the idea of a PG that can put pressure on an opposing defense no matter where he is on the court.

[revprodeji]

At worse he is a decent back up pg. A poor man Derek Fischer. But he does have potential to be a starter. i just think you need a primary ball handler next to him. Like if we got Evan Turner with our first pick, then Curry with the Miami pick. Or even if Mike Miller played with Curry.

[horaceworthy]

I might be wrong on this, but Memphis wasn't ranked at the beginning of the season, had no point guard, and were expected to be a team in transition, weren't they? Tyreke Evans plays out of his mind this year and some people just don't want to give him any credit. Is it because he followed up the golden boy, Derrick Rose? Unranked to a solid argument for a #1 seed, and their star player is just a scrub? They lost a lot of talent from last year's team.

If the Wolves managed to package picks and/or expirings and found a way to move up and get both Thabeet and Evans, I'd probably bake a couple batches of cookies like Devilz did last year. If they just got Evans, I'd bake at least one batch.

I think they were ranked towards the bottom of the top 25 to start the year, and were once again expected to roll through Conference USA, despite losing CDR, Rose, Dorsey, etc. (they still had a lot of talent and experience coming back). Then they dropped games early in the season to Georgetown, Xavier and Syracuse (all games in which Evans struggled, although it was early in the year) and lost their ranking. Then they moved Evans to PG, rolled through C-USA and pasted Gonzaga in Spokane. Yeah, they're a #2 seed, but it's tough to say that's too much of a surprise since they've lost exactly 1 conference game over the past 4 years and have made it at least to the Elite 8 the last three. It's just tough to say they really overachieved this year when they've beaten 1 tournament team all year long and the supposed resurgence that came with moving Evans to PG also conveniently came at the exact same time they started playing their conference slate.