2011 Draft Prospect Thread

ohara · Post #1241 » by **ohara** » Sat May 14, 2011 10:21 am

Man, Kanter going one pick ahead of us would remind me too much of Dwight going one pick ahead of us. I'd much rather him going Top 3 than last till #8. Getting that close without being able to have him on our team would just be a kick in the groin.

Post #1242 » by **fatlever** » Sat May 14, 2011 2:32 pm

BigSlam wrote:
fatlever wrote:doesnt everyone look like a superstar in 3 on 3?

Jon G responds:

Some players are very well suited to look good in that environment. Others aren't. It doesn't mean that they'll be good or bad NBA players.

Drills and open gym type pickup games are fun to watch, but ultimately they teach you very little about a player's actual pro potential.

The scope of these workouts is incredibly limited regardless. You're kidding yourself if you think you can actually evaluate players there

thats what i was thinking. i'd rather use that time to talk to the players, gauge their bball iq, their work ethic, their practice habits etc... not really concerned about much they dominate a half court pick up game. in rare cases though its a good place to see a player outside a college system that may have been restrictive or hid talents (or the other way around).

regarding jordan williams... i was listening to jay williams on the radio the other day and he was talking about maryland (after gary williams left). the topic came around to williams and jay williams talked about how he had to learn how to finish over defenders rather than through them. that right now he reminded him of former maryland big man lonny baxter, i guy who was great in college but never developed the skills to excel in the nba.

Jaruff · Post #1243 » by **Jaruff** » Sat May 14, 2011 7:43 pm

I doubt we take a big man in the first round unless someone unexpected slips.

Diaw / Thomas / White / Najera
Brown / Diop

Diaw, Thomas, and White are going to take up the PF minutes. I assume that one of them will eat into center minutes too. Brown may be resigned and Diop is going to have an opportunity to play next year. Considering the failure of Ajinca and the perceived weakness of the draft, I can't see us taking a project player in this draft. If Jay Williams is correct on his Jordan Williams comparison to Baxter, that's going to be a project.

I could see us taking Kenneth Faried at 19 (Oakley would love him). I think it may be too hard for the FO to pass on Nolan Smith though. Motiejunas might end up being a great offensive player but I can't see us taking a big that rivals Bargs for the "worst rebounder award".

Leonard at 9, Faried at 19, and Jenkins in the second round if he falls that far. I think that's a pretty good draft for us going forward. I could also see us skipping the SF position entirely if Silas thinks Tyrus can play SF and/or is content with Cunningham for now.

Of course, if we magically receive a top three pick, our plan takes a 180.

countryboi · Post #1244 » by **countryboi** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:56 am

is it too much to ask for someone that can shoot lights out at 9? I kinda want to stay far far away from "crash" clones

bobcats3wallace · Post #1245 » by **bobcats3wallace** » Sun May 15, 2011 11:57 am

countryboi wrote:is it too much to ask for someone that can shoot lights out at 9? I kinda want to stay far far away from "crash" clones

Jordan Hamilton would fit that criteria. His shot is still developing, but he showed the ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor. He also showed huge strides in his decision making from last year to this year. I still think I like Hamilton over Leonard, but I could live with both.

I'm starting to like Donatas Motiejunas more and more. He is drawing comparisons from Andrea Bargnani and at worst a Channing Frye. In his most recent season he shot 42% from 3 and was statistically speaking the 2nd most efficient scorer in the Italian league. He is also known as one of the best scorers in all of Europe. Not to mention he is only 20 and is a true 7'0". He is a decent defender with the ability to really grow into a good/great defender. The big question is rebounding. He has not shown that so far, but again has all the tools to be a good rebounder. Obviously with being compared to Andrea the natural question would be if he can play C, but I think he can. The bigger trick would be to put a guy next to him that can grab rebounds. In other words, not Diaw. Anyway, I don't think he is a big time developmental player and I do think he could come in right away and make a positive impact and be the future for us at C. If Leonard and Hamilton are still on the board at 9, we could take a chance with Donatas and hope that one of those 2 might fall to 19. Or we could possibly trade up.

Kembastockton · Post #1246 » by **Kembastockton** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:30 pm

DJQuick wrote:I really don't get why you guys are so high on drafting a guy projected in the middle of the first round at nine? Are you guys reading the same scouting reports that I am? You know the ones that say he is lazy, stuck between the two and the three, and does not have a consistent go to move to help him get his shot off at the next level. What am I missing?

What I would like to see now that the names are locked is Kawhi at nine, Klay Thompson at 19, and Shelvin Mack at 39.

I reiterate. Why are you guys so high on this guy? You act as though he pulled a D Wade and single handedly drug his team to the final four or something.

Nba size. Nba skillset. This guy is to small to guard nba threes, and to slow to guard 2's.

Post #1247 » by **fatlever** » Sun May 15, 2011 5:22 pm

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/0 ... right.html

decent article from bonnell today about the draft, interview with higgins

- forward depth in draft "lots of landry fields type players"
- not many centers in draft other than euros
- want to get more athletic, silas wants to be more up-tempo next year
- higgins went to europe in april to meet with our international scout (we do have one apparently)
- open to trading picks to move up or for vets

Post #1248 » by **fatlever** » Sun May 15, 2011 5:24 pm

http://blogs.charlotte.com/inside_the_n ... alues.html

traits higgins values
- intangibles
- skills that match position (does that mean no jumpshooting centers?)

Post #1249 » by **fatlever** » Sun May 15, 2011 5:28 pm

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/0 ... pects.html

bonnell profiles some prospects

#9
- burks (interesting side note, higgins knows burks well, his son was a teammate of burks in college)
- vesley
- morris twins

#19
- reggie jackson
- tobias harris
- fredette

Fred Williamson · Post #1250 » by **Fred Williamson** » Sun May 15, 2011 5:52 pm

morris twins at 9? how about no?

captaincrunk · Post #1251 » by **captaincrunk** » Sun May 15, 2011 6:44 pm

Fred Williamson wrote:morris twins at 9? how about no?

I'd do it if we could get both of them at 9 :p

Post #1252 » by **BigSlam** » Sun May 15, 2011 8:32 pm

fatlever wrote:- higgins went to europe in april to meet with our international scout (we do have one apparently)

Ya, but this is him:

Post #1253 » by **BigSlam** » Sun May 15, 2011 8:33 pm

Fred Williamson wrote:morris twins at 9? how about no?

I support this post.

Post #1254 » by **BigSlam** » Sun May 15, 2011 8:36 pm

After watching the most recent footage of Kanter working out that I posted and game #7 between the Thunder and the Grizzlies, I can see a lot of Gasol Jr in him. Soft touch, ability to stroke a J, a space taker etc.

Obviously Gasol Jr has about 3 inches on Kanter though.

ohara · Post #1255 » by **ohara** » Sun May 15, 2011 9:23 pm

If the ping pong balls dont give us a Top 3, I totally support trying to package #9 and #19 if it gets us Kanter. That would make my draft night.

captaincrunk · Post #1256 » by **captaincrunk** » Sun May 15, 2011 9:43 pm

BigSlam wrote:After watching the most recent footage of Kanter working out that I posted and game #7 between the Thunder and the Grizzlies, I can see a lot of Gasol Jr in him. Soft touch, ability to stroke a J, a space taker etc.

Obviously Gasol Jr has about 3 inches on Kanter though.

Kanter is probably the best player in the draft taking into account the positions. C is the weakest position in the NBA.

bobcats3wallace · Post #1257 » by **bobcats3wallace** » Mon May 16, 2011 1:18 am

fatlever wrote:http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/05/14/2297493/bobcats-draft-prospects.html

bonnell profiles some prospects

#9
- burks (interesting side note, higgins knows burks well, his son was a teammate of burks in college)
- vesley
- morris twins

#19
- reggie jackson
- tobias harris
- fredette

It will be interesting to see what happens with Tobias Harris. Seems to me like there is a high probability Burks could be our pick, I just hope it is for the right reason. Either way, whether it is Burks, Kanter, or another european C, I like the option at SF at 19 in Tobias Harris. He has ideal size for SF and is much like Leonard in that he has a complete game. He averaged 15 and 7 last year while shooting 30 percent from 3. Tobias is also a guy with a ton of potential. I'm fine with passing on Leonard and Hamilton for the RIGHT player if we could grab Tobias Harris at 19. Hell, Burks and Harris could be a nice combo off the bench next year if that's how it worked. I'm not a huge fan of Singleton, but I could live with Harris/Leonard/Hamilton. Reggie Jackson also intrigues me, but Burks is impressive. I just wish he had more of a shot. How would a lineup of Burks and Harris coming off the bench look though? talk about improvement from this current year. Both those guys could be very quality guys for us for many years.

SWedd523 · Post #1258 » by **SWedd523** » Mon May 16, 2011 1:45 am

Tobias' ideal position is at PF not SF. He doesn't have the athleticism to make up with most wings. He's more similar to Diaw than anything else IMO

Marvel · Post #1259 » by **Marvel** » Mon May 16, 2011 1:49 am

Marcus Morris reminds me of Al Harrington. Good pick mid to late.

Tobias will play PF in the NBA, waaaay too slow to play SF.

Jaruff · Post #1260 » by **Jaruff** » Mon May 16, 2011 3:02 am

SWEDD523 wrote:Tobias' ideal position is at PF not SF. He doesn't have the athleticism to make up with most wings. He's more similar to Diaw than anything else IMO

Hey, that reminds me of a certain loaded BB gun carrying, weed smoking guy from Philly that we traded for a few months ago.

Take Burks at 9 (will get ~20mpg from Hendo and Jax) and try to trade the 19. I mentioned a trade like this a few weeks ago:

19, Diop
Luke Walton, all four Laker second round picks

End up with five second round picks, take two or three immediate players and use the rest on internationals.