Operation Beast: Prospect Thread II

[horaceworthy]

Counting Darko and Gomes, there are only 9 holdovers from last year to this one. I tend to think that Al, Brewer, Gomes and one of Sessions or Flynn will be shopped heavily this summer. The roster could easily handle three 1st rounders, particularly when it's taken into account that Kahn has said multiple times he'd like to lead the league in player development.

They certainly can handle 3 rookies(4 if you include Pekovic). But if they determined that they need to trade up to get a player who wouldn't last to 16, I'm good with that.

Depends on who they trade up for. I'd rather have two swings in the mid-1st than one swing in the 10-15 range in most instances.

[TheFranchise21]

you're vietnamese? I didn't know that

I take it you visited my website.

Nobody is giving A-F A consideration at #4? Can I get a recap on why DMC is the flavor of the week right now? Why do we want another earth-bound PF/C??????? Don't we already have 4 on the roster (including Pek)? Nobody is afraid of Cousins' weight ballooning after he gets his paychecks? I would be worried about an immature guy like him.

[dunkonu21]

I agree with you Franchise and I think Rev expressed similar opinions on AFA (although I don't know if he joins us on rating him higher than Cousins)

I vote rank em by Body Fat %age. Wesley, AFA then Cousins.

[shangrila]

Counting Darko and Gomes, there are only 9 holdovers from last year to this one. I tend to think that Al, Brewer, Gomes and one of Sessions or Flynn will be shopped heavily this summer. The roster could easily handle three 1st rounders, particularly when it's taken into account that Kahn has said multiple times he'd like to lead the league in player development.

I didn't say it couldn't handle, just that I didn't see the team doing it. Teams are always reluctant to bring in a lot of rookies and I don't think this team is any different.

[shangrila]

Nobody is giving A-F A consideration at #4? Can I get a recap on why DMC is the flavor of the week right now? Why do we want another earth-bound PF/C??????? Don't we already have 4 on the roster (including Pek)? Nobody is afraid of Cousins' weight ballooning after he gets his paychecks? I would be worried about an immature guy like him.

Cousins gives the team a long term solution at centre who can bring what Al brings without the defensive problems. He's a risk for sure, but so is every rookie in this draft.

And especially Aminu. For a guy who never proved he had all that many skills and failed trying to transition to the perimeter he sure gets a lot of love. I'd rather take a risk on a guy like Cousins then hope Aminu could one day become something completely different to what he is now.

[PeeDee]

Imo, AFA has just as big as a bust factor as Cousins and far less of a skill level. Most people think Cousins is a straight up center (or centre) at this point. Size (aside from weight) is not an issue there.

AFA is the one who has questions about his position. His perimeter skills are quite lacking and he's a terrible shooter. Not a good fit at all for a team that needs a prototypical wing in the worst way. Make no mistake, AFA is an NBA project.

Cousins has all kinds of red flags. But it's just so obvious he's the BPA. Out of Cousins, Johnson and AFA, Cousins is the the only one that has even the slightest shot of turning out to be the best player from this draft. A team like the Wolves needs to take that chance and run with it. Our messy big situation can be dealt with in other ways.

[Devilzsidewalk]

how are Aminu's perimeter skills any worse than Josh Howard, Marion, Gerald Wallace, Trevor Ariza, MbahaMoute, Wilson Chandler, Thad Young, Kirilenko

he's not a project w/o a position, he's a prototype SF

[PeeDee]

how are Aminu's perimeter skills any worse than Josh Howard, Marion, Gerald Wallace, Trevor Ariza, MbahaMoute, Wilson Chandler, Thad Young, Kirilenko

he's not a project w/o a position, he's a prototype SF

Wouldn't take the bolded guys with the #4 pick either. AFA is nowhere near the shooter or complete player that Howard, Marion, or Wallace are. His jump shooting needs A LOT of work. Plus he can only dribble in a straight line. AFA is squarely in the Ty Thomas or Josh Smith mold at this point.

Edit: Ariza is supposed to be bolded too, but he's too linky.

[Esohny]

how are Aminu's perimeter skills any worse than Josh Howard, Marion, Gerald Wallace, Trevor Ariza, MbahaMoute, Wilson Chandler, Thad Young, Kirilenko

he's not a project w/o a position, he's a prototype SF

Of any of those, I'd probably see him as being a bit more similar to AK-47. I think Aminu has a shot to be a very good contributor as a hybrid forward, especially on defense and finishing in transition, but he's not a prototype SF. As mentioned, his shooting and handle need a lot of work.

[Krapinsky]

It's also worth noting hoe long those players took to develop and how most of them didn't become successful until they reached at least their second team. I'm not sure I have the patience to use the #4 pick on such a project. Most of those players were not picked in the lottery for that reason.

[Devilzsidewalk]

but he's a better rebounder and way longer than most of those guys. He's like a longer Shawn Marion, thats crazyfied potential son.

[Krapinsky]

but he's a better rebounder and way longer than most of those guys. He's like a longer Shawn Marion, thats crazyfied potential son.

Then I would expect him to have worse perimeter skills as a result.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I don't follow

[Krapinsky]

I don't follow

Most guys that are really long never develop tight handles

[Devilzsidewalk]

but he already has pretty solid handles

[Krapinsky]

On his bike? Or do you mean dribbling?

[Devilzsidewalk]

Klomp, do something

[Esohny]

On his bike? Or do you mean dribbling?

Klomp, do something

I gotta admit, this exchange had me laughing out loud.

[76ciology]

The athletic tests are out:

DeMarcus Cousins
No Step: 23.5
Max Vert:27.5
Bench: -N-a
Agility:11.4
Sprint:3.55

[dunkonu21]

23.5? wooow what an athlete!