09-10 WizFans Official Draft Thread

[Ruzious]

I think Kris Joseph is the best player on syracuse. He, not Wesley Johnson, is the ideal NBA 3. If he were to declare I'd love to snatch him up with a mid to late first.

I get them mixed up sometimes when watching Cuse. They're similar sized and similar athletically. I'm not sure if Joseph has the shooting range that Johnson has, and I think he benefits from the opposition focusing on Johnson, but he might show next season at Cuse that he is as good a prospect. .

[VictorPage44]

^^^

johnson is the one always hanging around the perimeter, and joseph is the one constantly attacking the basket and getting fouled. He consistantly blows by his man and hes a solid finisher at the rim.

I still think johnson could be a solid player, but if hes who we end up taking with our top pick I will be disappointed. I know Ive been down on wes johnson a lot in this thread, even after he was impressive in the very first game of the season (preseason NIT?), but thats just because I havent seen him do anything that would be THAT special in the NBA. Yes he's really long. Yes he's a dead eye shooter. Yeah he's athletic and has a good step back move. So do 40-50 other guys in the league. A wing who can shoot, and who doesnt really create is not such a hot commodity in the NBA even if he lights up the NCAA. See donte greene, or countless others.

[Dat2U]

I still think johnson could be a solid player, but if hes who we end up taking with our top pick I will be disappointed. I know Ive been down on wes johnson a lot in this thread, even after he was impressive in the very first game of the season (preseason NIT?), but thats just because I havent seen him do anything that would be THAT special in the NBA. Yes he's really long. Yes he's a dead eye shooter. Yeah he's athletic and has a good step back move. So do 40-50 other guys in the league. A wing who can shoot, and who doesnt really create is not such a hot commodity in the NBA even if he lights up the NCAA. See donte greene, or countless others.

Agreed. I do think Wes Johnson will be a solid NBA player. But no matter how dominant he looks, he still can't create off the bounce, which means your a role player in the NBA if your on the perimeter. And, he's 22, so he's a far more finished product that many of the younger guys in the draft. So expecting him to develop some advanced handles at this stage would be a stretch.

So I guess drafting him is based on how good a role player do you think he will become?

And also, Xavier Henry is a SG/SF prospect who's 18 years old. How much better of a prospect is Johnson compared to Henry? Especially considering the 4 years age difference. I know projecting what Henry will look like in four years is a shot in the dark but would it be insane to suggest than Henry might become the better player within a few years?

[miller31time]

So Favors is "50/50" on entering the NBA Draft.

Is there really that much of a chance he doesn't enter?

[nate33]

Agreed. I do think Wes Johnson will be a solid NBA player. But no matter how dominant he looks, he still can't create off the bounce, which means your a role player in the NBA if your on the perimeter. And, he's 22, so he's a far more finished product that many of the younger guys in the draft. So expecting him to develop some advanced handles at this stage would be a stretch.

So I guess drafting him is based on how good a role player do you think he will become?

I agree that this is the fundamental question. If he turns out to be an "uber role player" like a Shawn Marion, Shane Battier, prime Peja Stojakovic, etc. then I think he could indeed be worth a #5 pick. Guys who can make a huge impact on a game without needed the ball, are important ingredients for a winning team.

On the other hand, if he turns out to merely be a Trevor Ariza, then he is by no means worth the #5 pick.

Any way you slice it, if we're stuck with the #5 pick, then I'd lean toward drafting him. I think it's more likely that he'll turn out to be a good pro than will Cole Aldrich, Greg Monroe or Ed Davis. The only guy who might be worth consideration over Johnson is Aminu. I don't much care for Aminu because he can't shoot, but I can at least understand the idea of going for his greater "upside potential" due to his superior frame, athleticism, and youth. (One problem I have with Aminu is that I think he projects to be a PF, not a SF. And we already have a PF.)

[nate33]

So Favors is "50/50" on entering the NBA Draft.

Is there really that much of a chance he doesn't enter?

Once his agent sits down with him an explains the ramifications of the 2011 lockout, I think he'll go ahead and declare.

[Dat2U]

So I'm assuming the worst. The Wizards miss out on the top 4 prospects of the draft. We get the 5th like Nate says. Wall, Cousins, Turner & Favors are all off the board. Here's the best of the rest:

CE Cole Aldrich
CE Hassan Whiteside
PF-CE Greg Monroe
PF Ed Davis
PF Patrick Patterson
PF Donatas Motiejunas
SF-PF Al-Farouq Aminu
SF-PF Jan Vesely
SF Wesley Johnson
SG-SF Xavier Henry
SG-SF James Anderson

Monroe is probably my favorite. But he might not even declare and he's got to stronger. Whiteside has the most upside, but big maturity issues. Johnson's age & limitations unnerve me. A pure PF wouldn't be a good fit with Blatche. Aminu is intriguing but he simply doesn't have a SF's skillset yet. I have yet to see any evidence Aldrich is more than a backup C in the NBA.

Ugh...

Maybe I ought to just pray for a top 4 pick.

[gesa2]

Once his agent sits down with him an explains the ramifications of the 2011 lockout, I think he'll go ahead and declare.

This could be a big issue for a lot of underclassmen this year. Maybe the #30 pick could be worth more than we thought?

[fishercob]

So I'm assuming the worst. The Wizards miss out on the top 4 prospects of the draft. We get the 5th like Nate says. Wall, Cousins, Turner & Favors are all off the board. Here's the best of the rest:

CE Cole Aldrich
CE Hassan Whiteside
PF-CE Greg Monroe
PF Ed Davis
PF Patrick Patterson
PF Donatas Motiejunas
SF-PF Al-Farouq Aminu
SF-PF Jan Vesely
SF Wesley Johnson
SG-SF Xavier Henry
SG-SF James Anderson

Monroe is probably my favorite. But he might not even declare and he's got to stronger. Whiteside has the most upside, but big maturity issues. Johnson's age & limitations unnerve me. A pure PF wouldn't be a good fit with Blatche. Aminu is intriguing but he simply doesn't have a SF's skillset yet. I have yet to see any evidence Aldrich is more than a backup C in the NBA.

Ugh...

Maybe I ought to just pray for a top 4 pick.

I think I'd take Aminu 5th. He's got serious Gerald Wallace/Shawn Marion type potential. He may never be much of a creator on offense, but has a shooting form that looks like it can be worked into a reliable 3-point shot and he's got first team all defense potential. Yes, he's a bust risk and some of his youthful indiscretions set off more of my character alarms than Cousins does, but at the end of the day the upside is immense and he was pretty darn productive this year.

[Pradamaster]

I think I'd take Aminu 5th. He's got serious Gerald Wallace/Shawn Marion type potential. He may never be much of a creator on offense, but has a shooting form that looks like it can be worked into a reliable 3-point shot and he's got first team all defense potential. Yes, he's a bust risk and some of his youthful indiscretions set off more of my character alarms than Cousins does, but at the end of the day the upside is immense and he was pretty darn productive this year.

I'd take Aminu as well. His defensive potential is crazy, and his lack of shooting is hurt by Wake Forest's inability to put any shooters in the game.

When I see Aminu, I see Wallace. If you compare their numbers at the same age (Aminu this year to Wallace's freshman year at Alabama), Aminu's are way, way better.

[Ruzious]

True, though Wallace was a special case. He literally could not make a shot other than dunks when he started at Alabama. He got by on phenominal athleticism. It was like Dexter Manley getting through college without being able to read... except different.

[hands11]

So I'm assuming the worst. The Wizards miss out on the top 4 prospects of the draft. We get the 5th like Nate says. Wall, Cousins, Turner & Favors are all off the board. Here's the best of the rest:

CE Cole Aldrich
CE Hassan Whiteside
PF-CE Greg Monroe
PF Ed Davis
PF Patrick Patterson
PF Donatas Motiejunas
SF-PF Al-Farouq Aminu
SF-PF Jan Vesely
SF Wesley Johnson
SG-SF Xavier Henry
SG-SF James Anderson

Monroe is probably my favorite. But he might not even declare and he's got to stronger. Whiteside has the most upside, but big maturity issues. Johnson's age & limitations unnerve me. A pure PF wouldn't be a good fit with Blatche. Aminu is intriguing but he simply doesn't have a SF's skillset yet. I have yet to see any evidence Aldrich is more than a backup C in the NBA.

Ugh...

Maybe I ought to just pray for a top 4 pick.

You left out Solomon Alabi listed just above Whiteside.

Haywood replacement. Matombo ish. or Akeeeeem well, not really yet but you get what I'm saying. He was set back a year and has good work ethic. I do see some Akeem in his running and some of his shots. Also see a little Matombo. Nigerian dude. I like what I see in the highlight reel.

Nice little baby hook already.
15 ft range. Soft touch.
Can use the back board
Fights for position and makes himself a great target.

He is going to start in the NBA and will be solid center. Already way more polished at center then McGee is and he is taller. Already 250 lbs. He will fill out more. But looks to have that wiry strength.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3kBZwHchso&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i4NkZ8RbU4

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... type=&aq=f

H: 7' 1"
W: 251 lbs
Bday: 03/21/1988
(22 Years Old)
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Solomon-Alabi-551/

. Enjoying ideal height and a big wingspan for a center at the next level, Alabi has continued to add weight to his frame, something he’ll need to continue to do in order to maximize his already impressive athletic profile. Couple his continued development both as a player and athlete with his already solid leaping ability and mobility, and Alabi has all the tools to be a high-level defensive player in the League.

Considering how far Alabi has come in recent seasons, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him improve considerably over the next few years. The fact that he's consistently described as a fantastic teammate, worker and overall person is clearly a major plus when projecting his development. Whether the next jump comes in preparation of another season at Florida State or his rookie year in the NBA remains to be seen. Regardless of when he declares, he’ll factor into the conversation to be one of the top centers selected thanks to his outstanding size and learning curve.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/NCA ... 31310-3412

This is a kid I will keep an eye out for in the NBA. Who ever gets him I think will be pleased.

[nate33]

You left out Solomon Alabi listed just above Whiteside.

He's an intriguing prospect, but it would be a stretch to take him at #5. He looks like an NBA role player. At best, he turns out to be Brendan Haywood, though it's more likely that he'll pan out as a Samuel Dalambert or Desagana Diop (basically, Haywood clones without the bball IQ).

I wouldn't mind a guy like that with a mid-first-round pick, but you can't draft him in the 5-8 range. I also worry that he's redundant with McGee. Both guys block shots. Neither guy gets you physical rebounds. (I like the 80% FT percentage though. That's a good sign.)

[LyricalRico]

Once his agent sits down with him an explains the ramifications of the 2011 lockout, I think he'll go ahead and declare.

This could be a big issue for a lot of underclassmen this year. Maybe the #30 pick could be worth more than we thought?

That's a very intersting thought, and it could end up being prophetic. That also means that there will be some solid seniors who get bumped to the second round (S.Collins, J.Varnado, Q.Pondexter). Might be a good year to buy some seconds. Or maybe deal Nick Young to a team like Minny with multiple seconds. If we did that and also took back MoPete to get NOH's first, we'd have the following picks:

Top 5
12
30
35
44
49

Could end up being a nice haul.

[pancakes3]

i'm not super ecstatic about hitching our wagon to a single draft class, lockout or not. however there is surprising depth in this class and we're so devoid of talent that we could stand to pick up a player in every position.

vasquez (40)
james anderson (12)
wesley johnson (5)
varnado (30)
parakouhski (35)

[hands11]

You left out Solomon Alabi listed just above Whiteside.

He's an intriguing prospect, but it would be a stretch to take him at #5. He looks like an NBA role player. At best, he turns out to be Brendan Haywood, though it's more likely that he'll pan out as a Samuel Dalambert or Desagana Diop (basically, Haywood clones without the bball IQ).

I wouldn't mind a guy like that with a mid-first-round pick, but you can't draft him in the 5-8 range. I also worry that he's redundant with McGee. Both guys block shots. Neither guy gets you physical rebounds. (I like the 80% FT percentage though. That's a good sign.)

I mentioned him because he had Whiteside on the list and he is listed ahead of him not because he was in the 5-8 range. If he doesn't move up in the draft, you would trade down to get him or trade up your second pick.

I see something I like in this kid and see some serious potential there. I don't see him competition with McGee because I don't think McGee is a center just yet. McGee still wants to be Dray. Alabi is a post player. McGee is still a huge question so I want to load the gun with more bullets.

Sam is only 6-11. This kid is 7-1 but they do have near the same reach. Difference is, he doesn't have to jump to have it.

Only time will tell what he becomes.

[Ruzious]

Nate is basically right on Alibi, imo. He's a good defender, good shot-blocker but doesn't stop athletic players, disappointing rebounder, knows his vast limitations on offense (basically does what Haywood does - he's a good dunker). He's a decent player - a poor man's Haywood.

[Kanyewest]

Agreed. I do think Wes Johnson will be a solid NBA player. But no matter how dominant he looks, he still can't create off the bounce, which means your a role player in the NBA if your on the perimeter. And, he's 22, so he's a far more finished product that many of the younger guys in the draft. So expecting him to develop some advanced handles at this stage would be a stretch.

Sounds a lot like Butler in that respect who I believe was 22 when he entered the league who greatly improved his ball handling. It also seems like Johnson has more size to man up the small forward position.

[hands11]

Nate is basically right on Alibi, imo. He's a good defender, good shot-blocker but doesn't stop athletic players, disappointing rebounder, knows his vast limitations on offense (basically does what Haywood does - he's a good dunker). He's a decent player - a poor man's Haywood.

I guess only time will tell. This wouldn't be the first time people didn't fall in line with what I was saying when I said it.

He is currently #17. I think he will prove to be a better long term playing than that and people will be complaining about why they didn't take him sooner.

I see more than a shot blocker. His rebounding is going to come along as he learns the game more and develops his body. He was 6-11 two years ago. So he added two more inches in two years. And he missed a whole year I believe.

Did you watch the videos ?

The kid has the foundation of a post game already. Nice baby hook. Soft touch from 15. He even used the back board. He gets good position and makes a great target. Great person and hard worker.

I predict he will be better than Haywood and sooner.

I'll go on on a limb and say this kid is going to be talked as a good/great center by year 3-4 and will be contributing something solid by year 2. Much more consistent than McGee and ahead of Haywood after two years. Like any center in the NBA it may take a few years but I see him sticking around and being a starter for years to come.

Anyone else that sees what I'm seeing, chime in now.

[pancakes3]

more athletic than butler, but not as much of a slasher. Uconn butler reminded me more of pierce whereas wesley is closer to ariza in terms of style. as far as the talent level goes, i think butler and johnson are about equal. maybe make an allstar game or two, and 2nd options at best. however, at the 5th overall pick, you're lucky to get that kind of return on your pick. we can't get too picky and start gambling with the 5th overall on projects like Alibi. The odds are he'll go the way of johan petro than pau gasol.