09-10 WizFans Official Draft Thread

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

I'm with Closg00, Wes Johnson is my silver medal if we get shafted in the lottery process.

[doclinkin]

For folks looking at 2nd round players and undrafted steals the Portland Invitational Tourney has a few players I like, some pretty interesting rosters:

Portsmouth Sports Club
Omar Samhan Saint Mary C 6' 11"
Da'Sean Butler West Virginia F 6' 7"
Patrick Christopher California F 6' 5"
Sylvester Seay Fresno State F 6' 9"
DeShawn Sims Michigan F 6' 8"
Denis Clemente Kansas State G 6' 1"
Marquez Haynes Texas-Arlington G 6' 3"
Tory Jackson Notre Dame G 5' 11"

Roger Brown's
Brian Zoubek Duke C 7' 1"
Wayne Chism Tennessee F 6' 9"
Marquis Gilstrap Iowa State F 6' 6"
Lazar Hayward Marquette F 6' 6"
Osiris Eldridge Illinois State G 6' 3"
James Florence Mercer G 6' 1"
Kevin Palmer Texas A&M-Corpus Christi G 6' 6"
Jerome Randle California G 5' 10"

Tidewater Sealants
Hamady Ndiaye Rutgers C 6' 11"
Roderick Flemings Hawaii F 6' 7"
Marcus Ginyard North Carolina F 6' 5"
Adam Koch Northern Iowa F 6' 8"
Michael Washington Arkansas F 6'9"
Aubrey Coleman Houston G 6' 4"
Jeremy Lin Harvard G 6' 3"
Nic Wise Arizona G 5' 10"

Since the pre-draft camp has turned into a combine, not a series of scrimmages, this is the last chance for a few of the scrappier players to showcase their skills. I'm always interested in upperclass guards who are the lynchpin players on winning teams. It takes a while to develop some of the more important all-court team skills. Vision, passing, leadership, vocal presence, understanding and adjusting to coaches' instructions, directing your team. Most of these are intangible skills you have to develop with experience more than innate talent alone. They get a running start to being productive role-players on a big league squad.

Here you can also find late-bloomers who have come on strong, either as JuCo transfers out of no-where or raw talents relatively new to the game.

In these sort of pick-up game type tournaments, where players don't know each other all that well the players who standout best are ballhandling guards and frontcourt rebounder/defenders.

I like Denis Clemente and Marquez Haynes, both need to show off their PG abilities but Omar Samhan and Da'Sean Butler may make them look good.

I'm real curious to see if Jeremy Lin can stand out, but he's playing with/next to ball-dominant Aubrey Coleman -- one or the other has to show some PG skills. If it works they could spark some interesting chemistry. Lin just can't play passive.

Brian Zoubek next to Marquis Gilstrap is a defensive/rebounding force to contend against. Anyone who has a good game against that size (Zoo) and athletic activity (Gilstrap) has a chance to contend at the next level.

Ish Smith is on a team with nobody I'm terribly excited about, but aside from the fact that he can't shoot and is tiny I like to watch the little booger.

Marqus Blakely needs a jumper and a handle, but he's definitely got NBA athletics. He seems like the type who could transition into an all-court barbarian defensive specialist, worth picking up if undrafted to see what he can do to transition to a perimeter role.

[WizarDynasty]

He has no power to his game. Wes johnson has no handles what so ever. Just think of richard hamilton with no dribbling and passing skills. Low iq basketball player. Another nick young.

[Ruzious]

He has no power to his game. Wes johnson has no handles what so ever. Just think of richard hamilton with no dribbling and passing skills. Low iq basketball player. Another nick young.

Why not compare him to a 3 - since he is a 3, and Al Thornton is on the Wiz and has similar characteristics? Wes does have the pretty 3 and is more prolific with it than Thornton, and he's a little more explosive finishing around the rim. He averaged a total of 3.5 combined blocks and steals. The question is - do those carry over to the NBA?

[Rafael122]

Forget about Butler from WVU. He tore his ACL.

[dopeismarcus]

[likwitdesi]

I've been thinking too that we kind of get out of Thornton what we would get out of Aminu or Johnson. We might want to consider Jan Vesely over these two--as a 19-year old he has led his team to the Euroleague Final Four. He has shown rapid improvement over the past two years and plays with aggression.

[WizarDynasty]

Sorry thornton defense is horrible. He can't stay in front of anyone. he has really poor handles and extremely stiff body coordination on his dribble attack to the basket 6'5 without shoes is undersized for the small forward position during the playoffs.

[closg00]

Time to start expanding my draft board down to pick 7, this thing is wide-open.

[nate33]

I've been thinking too that we kind of get out of Thornton what we would get out of Aminu or Johnson. We might want to consider Jan Vesely over these two--as a 19-year old he has led his team to the Euroleague Final Four. He has shown rapid improvement over the past two years and plays with aggression.

It's interesting that the three long SF's should all be there when we pick in the 5-7 range. How would you rank them?

Johnson is the most NBA ready because he has maturity and a jumper. He also has the least upside. He'll probably pan out to be a slightly less athletic Shawn Marion.

Aminu and Vesely are both freakishly long and athletic. Aminu seems more physical and may pan out to be a Josh Smith type of player. Vesely is a bit more finesse-oriented and may end up more like Kirilenko. Neither will do much in the first year or two.

[doclinkin]

I've been thinking too that we kind of get out of Thornton what we would get out of Aminu or Johnson. We might want to consider Jan Vesely over these two--as a 19-year old he has led his team to the Euroleague Final Four. He has shown rapid improvement over the past two years and plays with aggression.

It's interesting that the three long SF's should all be there when we pick in the 5-7 range. How would you rank them?

Johnson is the most NBA ready because he has maturity and a jumper. He also has the least upside.

One thing that is often overlooked about Wes Johnson: yes he's older than other draftees, but he's also a late bloomer. He came out of nowhere because he grew 4-5 inches in his transfer year. There's no telling how much further he might develop. I suspect he won't grow much more, but his musculature could begin to catch up with his height. He's remarkably well coordinated for someone who has just undergone a growth spurt.

EDIT-- Hmn, unless I misremember reading this. I can't find the article I read that mentioned his growth...

[closg00]

I feel very comfortable with Johnson should we end-up with him. Given the salary of lottery picks, I think we'd be getting good value and Flip might actually use him.

[doclinkin]

I feel very comfortable with Johnson should we end-up with him. Given the salary of lottery picks, I think we'd be getting good value and Flip might actually use him.

Well sure, if we're making a system pick, WesJon is the player with a clearly defined role in Flip's preferred offense. If we fall back to the 5-7th picks I'm fine with his selection. If we're picking for need there, Cole Aldrich is the best fit, though he'll delay McGee's growth. If we're picking for upside it's probably Aminu or Greg Monroe, though I don't immediately see a role for Aminu except as a wildcard off the bench. Monroe next to Blatche would be pretty exciting though, that ball would be popping around.

Can't find that article on WesJon so I must be wrong, I think he only grew an inch or so in that transfer year. He grew quickly in high school but who doesn't.

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

If we're picking for upside it's probably Aminu or Greg Monroe, though I don't immediately see a role for Aminu except as a wildcard off the bench. Monroe next to Blatche would be pretty exciting though, that ball would be popping around.

Shoot, if Greg Monroe were available I'd take him in a heartbeat. But did I miss something, his last public statement was right after their loss saying he was staying in school right? I'd bet that could change, but he hasn't changed his mind since then has he?

[Illuminaire]

Can't find that article on WesJon so I must be wrong, I think he only grew an inch or so in that transfer year. He grew quickly in high school but who doesn't.

I believe you're thinking of this, Doc.

"Johnson’s high school coach, Andy Dotson, said that Johnson grew so fast — from a 5-foot-10 junior varsity point guard to a sinewy 6-foot-6 wing — that he could not put on enough weight for colleges to be interested." Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/sport ... acuse.html

Seems like his first years of college were a serious waste of talent and time. Hmm. Something to think about.

[rl25g]

read the boards all the time but almost never post.

After watching the NJ game and seeing how well the offense runs with Oberto and Blatche as two bigs who can pass the ball, can any one else see Monroe as a good pick up if we get screwed by the lottery? Monroe and Blatche up front brings a lot of skill that most teams would not be able to handle.

Thoughts?

[verbal8]

read the boards all the time but almost never post.

After watching the NJ game and seeing how well the offense runs with Oberto and Blatche as two bigs who can pass the ball, can any one else see Monroe as a good pick up if we get screwed by the lottery? Monroe and Blatche up front brings a lot of skill that most teams would not be able to handle.

Thoughts?

Drafting Monroe at 5th or later may not be a bad idea. However there is a decent chance that he does not declare for the draft this year. His most recent quote was that he was returning to school.

[likwitdesi]

I've been thinking too that we kind of get out of Thornton what we would get out of Aminu or Johnson. We might want to consider Jan Vesely over these two--as a 19-year old he has led his team to the Euroleague Final Four. He has shown rapid improvement over the past two years and plays with aggression.

It's interesting that the three long SF's should all be there when we pick in the 5-7 range. How would you rank them?

Johnson is the most NBA ready because he has maturity and a jumper. He also has the least upside. He'll probably pan out to be a slightly less athletic Shawn Marion.

Aminu and Vesely are both freakishly long and athletic. Aminu seems more physical and may pan out to be a Josh Smith type of player. Vesely is a bit more finesse-oriented and may end up more like Kirilenko. Neither will do much in the first year or two.

I would probably go:

1. Johnson
2. Aminu
3. Vesely

I just wanted to point out that Vesely is not the punchline that some in this thread are making him out to be. At 6-11 240 at 19, given the athleticism he has at that size, I wouldn't be upset if he were the pick. If you want a punchline for this thread, it should be Donatas Motiejunas or Ed Davis.

[AgentOvechkin08]

What is everyone's take on Gordon Hayward?

I mean I really like the kid and think he is a very versatile player. He obviously needs to add strength but he is tough and can score in a variety of ways.

If he declares, i think he is a mid to late 1st (DX has him going 21)

If he was available at 30...i would take him. He would essentially replace Mike Miller and we could let him walk.

[doclinkin]

read the boards all the time but almost never post.

After watching the NJ game and seeing how well the offense runs with Oberto and Blatche as two bigs who can pass the ball, can any one else see Monroe as a good pick up if we get screwed by the lottery? Monroe and Blatche up front brings a lot of skill that most teams would not be able to handle.

Thoughts?

Drafting Monroe at 5th or later may not be a bad idea. However there is a decent chance that he does not declare for the draft this year. His most recent quote was that he was returning to school.

Players always say that after their last game, last loss of the year. But on sober reflection they tend to opt otherwise. Granted G'town bigs are often the exception: Hibbert stayed extra time, but it didn't serve his draft position all that well, even if his game improved. Thing is, with the lockout season anticipated, there's a real X-factor in what might happen to rookie salaries in a new CBA. Agents like David Falk (who commonly reps many of the GTown big tickets) may be encouraging players to hop for the guaranteed dollars now instead of risking a worse deal later. Unknown. But I wouldn't necessarily take him at his word this early.