Officlal Prospect thread

[hotshotschamp]

I just don't think he's going to come back because they are getting a stud freshman recruit and might be good....T

Still wouldn't be good enough to beat many teams in college, NC included.

There comes a point when you need to move in life, it was nice he came back 1 year, but you're earning power in the NBA only lasts so long, I don't see him hanging around 4 years. He needs to get going on his NBA career, he has nothing left to prove in college.

Is it possible he comes back, sure anything is possible..... I just don't see it, every mock drat site has him in it.

I'd give you 5 to 1 odds on this anyday off the week, assuming he comes back this year which he will. The dude is as good as gone, if he can play basketball like he was before. NBA career is way too short, I bet he regrets skipping out on it last year, he won't make that mistake again. You're about the only person I've heard of that has said he may come back to college, and you say he will even come back if he is healthy, and plays like he was....that's insane. Like I said 5 to 1, any amount you want.

[horaceworthy]

Every mock draft site had him in it last year as well. Like I said, I hope you're right, but Turner comes across as one of those guys who gives a damn about milestones such as winning a title (given that he's trying to return from fracturing two vertebrae a month earlier than expected because he and his teammates have never won in the Barn).

[hotshotschamp]

well he's high if he comes back bottom line. Get the money while u can, nba careers are short. Even if he stays that team isn't a contender anyways. Buford is wildly overrated and inconsistent. Turner would be huge for them, but to rely on Turner and Sullinger to carry them to a title is asking a lot!

I"m more worried about favors and Xavier possibly not coming out myself. I guess we'll see come draft time.

[PeeDee]

If Turner is projected to go top 10 (especially if he is projected to go top 5) he will declare for the draft. Here's why:

Someone is going to get in his ear about how lucky he was that his injury wasn't more serious. He is going to realize that he's only one more fall away from throwing away millions and millions of dollars and playing the game he loves for a living in the best league in the world. He's probably thinking it right now.

When the draft gets closer and theres rumblings of him being a top pick, he won't be able to deny it's the smartest, safest decision to declare.

[hotshotschamp]

yeah and last year he was considered probably a top 10 pick, but wasn't a given

This year, if he plays like he did early on, he will be considered a top 3 pick. You simply can't turn that down..... That's big money. If he has good people around him, he will go pro.

[horaceworthy]

It was the smartest, safest decision for him to declare last year as well (when there were plenty of rumblings about him as a top 10 pick). Some people just march to the beat of a different drummer. Given what he and others around him have said in the past, and that he's already backed it up once, I think Turner's a better bet to be one of those people than any other projected lotto pick. It's actually something that makes me like him more.

It isn't unprecedented, Duncan did the same thing, but it is highly unusual.

[Esohny]

I'd be pretty surprised if Henry didn't come out as well. Not only was his camp saying he was one and done from the beginning, but he's getting a lot of press on a loaded title contender and almost a lock for the top 10, probably even higher. I expect him to be sort of like Marvin Williams and ride a deep run in the tourney into a top 5 high draft pick.

He might be able to come back next year, dominate, and end up in the top 2 or 3, but is it worth the risk of injury to pick up a couple of draft spots?

[PeeDee]

It was the smartest, safest decision for him to declare last year as well (when there were plenty of rumblings about him as a top 10 pick). Some people just march to the beat of a different drummer. Given what he and others around him have said in the past, and that he's already backed it up once, I think Turner's a better bet to be one of those people than any other projected lotto pick. It's actually something that makes me like him more.

It isn't unprecedented, Duncan did the same thing, but it is highly unusual.

You might be right, but he didn't have a nasty injury last year. He had one this year and I think that will play a major role if he is projected to be a high pick.

[hotshotschamp]

I'm not saying Henry will come back, but I think the possibility is there, with Favors as well, as he hasn't quite lived up to his billing.

Regarding Henry, He did say this, which could be player speak but take it for what its worth.

Q: So many people assume that you won’t spend more than a year at Kansas. How much does it bother you to hear comments like that from people who don’t even know you?

A: It definitely bothers me. I didn’t put the one-and-done tag on myself. I didn’t say, “I’m coming to Kansas, but I’m probably going to be one-and-done.” People just think that. So when they hear me talk about how I think I’m capable of it if everything goes well and if I get better, they think, “Oh, he’s just cocky.” They’re misconstruing everything if they think that I’m just looking at Kansas as a pit stop on the way to the league. If it happens, it happens. But that’s not how I’m viewing college. I’m having fun

[horaceworthy]

It was the smartest, safest decision for him to declare last year as well (when there were plenty of rumblings about him as a top 10 pick). Some people just march to the beat of a different drummer. Given what he and others around him have said in the past, and that he's already backed it up once, I think Turner's a better bet to be one of those people than any other projected lotto pick. It's actually something that makes me like him more.

It isn't unprecedented, Duncan did the same thing, but it is highly unusual.

You might be right, but he didn't have a nasty injury last year. He had one this year and I think that will play a major role if he is projected to be a high pick.

Completely agree about the injury possibly changing his perspective. I've mentioned it in just about every one of my posts on the subject.

[hotshotschamp]

but you are implying if he's fully healthy he will come back is what im gathering? And if he's hurt he'll declare?

If he's fully healthy he's good as gone.

[horaceworthy]

No, I'm not, although that seems to be what you're inferring.

I'm saying that if getting injured has made him think along the lines of "Oh snap, this could all be taken away from me with one more tumble, better move on and see what I can accomplish at the next level." he's gone.

If the injury hasn't caused that type of change, then I think he's a much better bet to return to college than any possible top pick in recent memory, given that he's already done it once, Ohio State has a chance to be much better next year, and just about everything I've heard/read from and about the kid.

[shangrila]

I can't see Favors going back when he's practically a lock for the top 3

[Vindicater]

Date: 04/01/2010

This is who Im likling at each our picks if they ended today. (1st round only)

Our Pick #2: Derrick Favours

Yes I know most of you want Turner here but I just don't see him being the star Favours can be. This would then also allow Love to be the third big men on the bench and play his optimal 30 minute (I dont think he should ply much more then this)

Charlotte Pick #15: Elias Harris

This kid oozes talent and with his size, speed and strength could be a very good small forward in the years to come.

Utah Pick #18: Lance Stephenson

Most will say this is too high for Lance Stephenson but I think this kid will rocket up the draft boards once workouts have commeneced. He is a terrific athlete and slasher who is still young. He is abit of a gunner but hopefully this will be curtailed abit by Rambis and crew and he will become the offensive spark off the bench this team is in desperate need of.

This leaves us with

PG: Flynn/Sessions
SG: Ellington/Stephenson
SF: Brewer/Gomes/Ellis
PF: Favours/Love
C: Jefferson/Hollins

Overseas rights to Rubio and Pekovic and whatever we do with all that cap space Shrink loves.

Its not perfect and will change of course but I personall think that is a decent draft that fills areas of need

[shangrila]

I've been warming to Stephenson lately too but I don't think there's any way the team takes and keeps Favors along with Love and Jefferson. Both have been playing extremely well so far this year and it'd be tough to move either to the bench, particularly Love who's been the teams best player ever since he came back from injury.

[hotshotschamp]

john wall- rose/wade hybrid
Evan Turner- Young grant hill
Wesley Johnson- Shawn marion back in day
Derrick Favors- less athletic Amare
Xavier Henry- Michael Redd in Prime , (he was quite impressive in his prime )

I could live with these guys, and yes i know the comparisons are probably high, but some of these players will probably live up to that.

[john2jer]

To early to do a Wolves board mock draft? I love those. Maybe a little pre-conference schedule evaluation, then a pre-conference tourney evaluation, than a post NCAA tourney evaluation?

I think the one we did last year I started right about this time.

[panth181]

No offence but I have to disagree. Right now the team is a horrible shooting team and adding players that can't shoot, even bench players, doesn't help to remedy that. Both Ariza and Posey were able to play the roles they could because they played good defence, helped move the ball and could knock down the open shots. Right now Smith can only do 2 of those things and when you're already playing such a limited role you can end up hurting the team more.

If you're looking for a Posey type of player try having a look at Damion James. He's a capable shooter when placed with a half decent point guard and his athleticism helps him to defend multiple positions.

I like Damion James too. JonG has replied to some of my tweets asking about him, and apparently is not a fan. If he falls to the 2nd round he seems like he'll be another no-brainer pick to me.

Yes, 1000x yes.

I have no idea how a Jeff Green could go #5 in the same universe where Damion James falls out of the first round.

The guy is a really, really, really good college player. Continues to improve every season. And has every physical characteristic he needs to make it in the NBA.

What is the problem again?

[shangrila]

He can't dribble the ball at all, he struggles to shoot, he's not a great passer and his defence relies more on his athleticism and quickness then any sort of fundamentals. Jeff Green is a much better player and was a much better prospect coming out then James ever could be.

[Vindicater]

I've been warming to Stephenson lately too but I don't think there's any way the team takes and keeps Favors along with Love and Jefferson. Both have been playing extremely well so far this year and it'd be tough to move either to the bench, particularly Love who's been the teams best player ever since he came back from injury.

I just don't see Love being a super effective player when he plays 32+ mins. I think his most effective minute range is somewhere between 28-32 mins. If we play him that much and he knows hes gonna get that much each game then he can concentrate on making them count and will be even more of a beast.

Love in my opinion should be aiming to become a multiple 6th man of the year winner. If he can accept that role then he can be as big a game changer as Manu is for the Spurs.