09-10 WizFans Official Draft Thread

[nate33]

Well, after the Blatche debacle tonight, I'd say the Wizards will be extremely reluctant to draft Cousins. The last thing we need is another player with questionable attitude and coachability.

[yungal07]

Well, after the Blatche debacle tonight, I'd say the Wizards will be extremely reluctant to draft Cousins. The last thing we need is another player with questionable attitude and coachability.

Monroe going back to school is just painful...he is Blatche without the attitude problems. And we could have nabbed him with our pick.

[Hoopalotta]

I wonder if Cousins will ultimately grow to be a legit seven footer. Orton, #33, is listed as 6'10" 255....



But yeah, maybe we have so many issues now with character that we wouldn't pull the trigger on Cousins even if he's there for us.

[hands11]

Well, after the Blatche debacle tonight, I'd say the Wizards will be extremely reluctant to draft Cousins. The last thing we need is another player with questionable attitude and coachability.

Yeep. It's a tough one.. That is for sure.

[dangermouse]

I wonder if Cousins will ultimately grow to be a legit seven footer. Orton, #33, is listed as 6'10" 255....

Orton is flat on one foot, leaning to the right.

Cousins feet... in ballet that is known as en pointe...

[floppymoose]

Standing reach is where it's at. Height only matter for court vision passing out of double teams.

The two numbers I look for out of the combine are standing reach, and standing reach + max vertical. The speed/agility stuff is better determined by watching, and the bar press is completely unimportant.

[pancakes3]

good thing we have javale mcgee then. he has something like the 3rd highest recorded standing reach in the past 10 years or something to that effect.

[closg00]

Any predictions on where Grevis ends-up being drafted? Early 2nd?

[doclinkin]

Any predictions on where Grevis ends-up being drafted? Early 2nd?

Nice interview with Greivis on Mike Wise today. Dude basically filled up the air and barely let a word in edgewise, but when asked about his NBA prospects he says he doesn't care where he is drafted he just wants a good situation and he knows he can help a team. He says he knows in the NBA he won't be what he was at Maryland (implied: the star, carries the team, the go-to guy) but he knows he'll be able to help a team in whatever role they need him. He will work his heart out to succeed.

He had a nice breakdown of how his squad was able to come back and nearly steal that game. Said he kept telling his guys to stay calm and if they were able to cut the lead to 10 points with 4 minutes to go they'd win it. Then he did absolutely everything in his power to make that happen, whatever it took.

That's the kind of thing this team has been lacking for so long. I agree with those who wonder if (other than nice height for his position) Greivis doesn't have the physical bonafides to play in the NBA, but his perception, sense of the moment, attitude, effort and desire are a component of talent that're harder to quantify than max vert.

Championship teams are stocked with competitors who hate to lose, who play best when things are most desperate. Coach Jim Larranaga was in studio and he thanked Greivis for his passion and his 4 year career saying that he has no doubt in his mind that GV will succeed at the nest level, in the NBA -- that any coach at any level would kill to have a guy like him in their program.

Best moment was when GV was asked what the worst thing was that Gary ever said to him in practice. After hemming and dancing around something he couldn't say on radio, he did say that GW once told him he couldn't speak spanish in the gym. Take that mess out of here. (Only not so nice). Greivis said GW was a serious hardcase, but he loves it when someone is hard on him, it makes him a better player. He just wants to win.

I don't care if it's the last guy on the bench, that's the kind of attitude you want on your team.

[nate33]

I don't care if it's the last guy on the bench, that's the kind of attitude you want on your team.

Agreed. I suspect he will only be a 10th man, but he's a guy that teams wouldn't mind having in practice or to be able to throw in the game if there's foul trouble or injury. In a way, he's a lot like Juan Dixon in that he's got heart that far exceeds his physical gifts. There's nothing wrong with a few guys like that on your team.

There's a chance that he pans out to be a rotation-caliber player too. I could see him having a career much like a Jon Barry - a heady role playing shooting guard with above-average passing and shooting skills to offset his below average physical ability. Only Vasquez should be able to score a little better than Barry.

[Ruzious]

The best thing about next season for Maryland - if they're smart - is to bring Greivis back for one game to retire his jersey in a pre-game ceremony. We need to thank him one more time.

[closg00]

Thanks for the update Doc, I missed the interview. I believe that there is something special about GV. I remember watching him lead the Venezuelan national team against the U.S. team several years ago and I came away impressed by his leadership. True, he doesnt have the athleticism of many NBA PG's yet the guy is a total winner who thrives on pressure situtations; he finds a way to help his team win. I'm sure many GM's are taking notice of that.

[mzaretsk]

with the c avs pick or our second,what are everyone's thoughts on landensberg? assume he's declaring.

[pancakes3]

i meant to chime in on this a while ago. my friend (UVa bball manager) texted me saying that landesberg was for sure declaring after flunking out. i wouldn't take him in the 1st round though. odds are he won't be drafted at all and we can just sign him as a FA. Apparently he was skipping an art class, got busted, and kicked off the team. this coupled with the fact that he didn't really improve between his 1st and 2nd year, AND the fact that he didn't play in the ACC tourney will really scare most teams off.

However the talent is there. I think at worst, he'll still be better than Nick Young. Sylven boards pretty well for a sg, gets to the lane, and isn't in love with fadeaway 3's. If we pick up a post player in with the lotto pick, vasquez with the CLE pick, i'd be hard pressed to choose him or another frontcourt player like Varnardo/Parakhouski/Brackins. If we lose out on the Favors/Cousins sweepstake and take a wing player like Aminu or Johnson then i definitely don't see us DRAFTING landesberg but again... signing him as a FA would be a very smart move.

[Dat2U]

Wow, I'm so impressed with Wall right now. He isn't forcing a thing against Cornell. Just showing how explosive he is in the open floor and dropping dimes left & right. I don't know how anyone could say he's not a true PG.

Also Jordan Crawford is a baller. That's someone to keep your eye on.

[mhd]

I think Eric Bledsoe my be my 5th rated prospect. He's VERY IMPRESSIVE. I'd take him 5th.

[Dat2U]

Jordan **** Crawford! What in the hell did I tell yall!!!

[verbal8]

Any predictions on where Grevis ends-up being drafted? Early 2nd?

The earliest I see him going is to the Knicks around 9th or 10th in the 2nd. The Knicks have no 1st and need to fill up a roster. If they go with a high upside guy, they might want someone who has proven himself at the college level. The DX projected picks in the 2nd 20 to 23 are Spurs, Suns, Suns and Celtics. I can't see him not being picked up at that point. The Suns could be really interesting if they decide to try to turn him into a PG and have him learn from Nash.

[closg00]

1st time seeing Patrick Patterson play last night, dude stroked a 3-pointer and grabbed 12 boards. Lot's of hustle. Too-bad he doesn't have another 20 pounds on him.

[Rafael122]

20 pounds? You mean, too bad he's not another 3 inches taller. He'd be in consideration for the overall pick IMO. He may be a liability defensively but put him in the right system and you may hide that. Dude is built like a bull and he dunks with authority.