2011 Draft/NCAA Prospects

[ajaX82]

Williams is just a big bruiser. I'd consider him at 33, but, again, 7 is way too high. He looks like a career role player, a backup 4/5 off the bench who will come in and bang some bodies, grab some boards and mean mug some mofos. The skill level just isn't there

[Eshai]

I take back my interest in Selby at either pick. I didnt know much about him, but I guess he's a 6-1, 180lb combo guard, which we have plenty. tbh, he looks like a heck of a talent from that video on espn, but not what we need.

I'm still very interested in Williams though. I dont care about taking a guy higher than projected. Who says he's any less talented than the unknown Euro bigs? Just because a player is projected in the mid-late 1st round doesnt mean he belongs there.

If you asked people who are the top NBA draft guys out there, most would say that Givony and Ford are pretty much the top two right? Givony has Williams ranked 46 and Ford doesn't have him in his top 20 (don't have Insider to see where he's actually ranked). Williams has nice stats, but he's not a lottery pick. His game doesn't look like it will translate well against NBA bigs and there are concerns about his athleticism. Losing weight is going to help but that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be more athletic.

Exactly my point. A bunch of media guys are who's saying this. I've seen mock drafts with Williams going to DAL and BOS in the 20's. So I take all those guys opinions with a grain of salt. From some of the videos I saw of Williams he looks pretty athletic to me. But he's a big man, not a wing player. I like my big men to be big more so than athletic. So I'm fine with him being on the heavy side, if he's not that atheltic.

[Eshai]

Williams is just a big bruiser. I'd consider him at 33, but, again, 7 is way too high. He looks like a career role player, a backup 4/5 off the bench who will come in and bang some bodies, grab some boards and mean mug some mofos. The skill level just isn't there

That may be true about the skill level, but who are these other more-skilled big men projected at 8? And I mean true big men, not the hybrid stretch-4 Euros

I dont see any true bigs projected at 8 with any high skill level.

I see Williams with a potentially a higher ceiling though with his size, and he looks more skilled than you give him credit.

idk, this draft sucks. I read Kahn said he is open to trading the pick, btw, so maybe there is hope to moving up.

[princeofpalace]

i think id have a very solid average at predicting pistons pick if we do take tt, ausyin daye, greg monroe and then thompson.

now im excited for draft camp

[coordinator0]

Exactly my point. A bunch of media guys are who's saying this. I've seen mock drafts with Williams going to DAL and BOS in the 20's. So I take all those guys opinions with a grain of salt. From some of the videos I saw of Williams he looks pretty athletic to me. But he's a big man, not a wing player. I like my big men to be big more so than athletic. So I'm fine with him being on the heavy side, if he's not that atheltic.

I see what you're saying here, but if a guy isn't athletic he has to have the skill level to make up for it and I don't think Williams has it. His ability to rebound should translate but I don't think much else will with him. We'll probably have to agree to disagree on this one .

[OneBadMutha]

My draft board if Chad Ford's order holds..

1. Biyombo
2. Vessely
3. Thompson

Think I'm fine with any of the 3. Thompson is the most sure thing but he's a sure thing role player. Biyombo has potential to be a game changer defensively but could be a complete bust. Vessely is somewhere in-between.

I'm rolling the dice because this is such a bad draft you will have to take a guy with giant risk to get any reward of significance.

[motorcity15]

So any1 think that the cavs might take Derrick Williams with the first pick and then take Kemba or Knight with the 4th, could be an interesting shake up to the draft if that happens. I actually think it's be a pretty good idea for CLE.

EDIT: O and im all for drafting Thompson

[OneBadMutha]

Cleveland is taking Irving. It's been known that they love him over everyone else (including those players who've since dropped out) all year. Drafting their future 1 and 5 with their 1 being the best player makes more sense than drafting their 3 and 1 with their 3 being their best player.

What might happen is they trade up from #4 to #2. Minnesota isn't in love with Williams and if Cleveland can use their trade exception to get a veteran over to the T-Wolves, they may be willing to move down and grab a big instead of a guy who looks a lot like Beasley.

[Kirsten19]

My draft board if Chad Ford's order holds..

1. Biyombo
2. Vessely
3. Thompson

Think I'm fine with any of the 3. Thompson is the most sure thing but he's a sure thing role player. Biyombo has potential to be a game changer defensively but could be a complete bust. Vessely is somewhere in-between.

I'm rolling the dice because this is such a bad draft you will have to take a guy with giant risk to get any reward of significance.

In this draft, I dont think it is possible to see Vesely at 8th

Tristan Thompson is a mid-late first rounder in a good draft. Talentwise, he is not even close to Valanciunas.

Valanciunas may have to stay in Europe for maybe another year or two(in fact he has 3 years left in his contract), but he is a top 10 guranteed even in a good draft if he doesn't have such contract issue. That's quite different to Tristan Thompson's situation, his stock is rising only because the draft is weak.

Valanciunas is a legit 7 footer, 19 year old, has a good motor, a good rebounder, high Basketball IQ, allrounded skillset; of course he is very skinny at the moment, sub-average leaping ability(athleticism) and rather raw offensively but I still rate his offense much higher than TT's

we don't just need more players in this team. If we pick TT, that's a late first rounder in a good draft. We want quality player at 7th, not just adding another player for the sake of it

[ParrottK]

we don't just need more players in this team. If we pick TT, that's a late first rounder in a good draft. We want quality player at 7th, not just adding another player for the sake of it

I'm an impatient bastard. I can't take another year, let alone 3, of our current roster. I'm not asking for playoffs, but I am asking for hope in the form of a rookie that can play right now. Give me the illusion, at least, of moving forward and out of the bog that has become Pistons basketball.

[OneBadMutha]

I'm asking for the playoffs. Detroit needs to be competitive. With a hard cap, they'll have a shot at next tier free agents but only if they are winning.

As bad as the bottom half of the East is, there's no reason not to be a playoff team. They don't need an immediate starter but it would be nice to get a rotation player who can help them in the paint.

With a shot blocker/rebounder, they can zone it up and protect the likes of BG and Daye. Dallas with Chandler is a great example. A zone also plays towards Daye's length and Monroe's ability to play passing lanes down low. They can become a respectable defensive team with all these defensive liabilities but they gotta protect be able to contest shots down low and do a better job trapping pick and rolls.

I think if you can play an effective zone with a shot blocker down low and can hold your own on pick and rolls, you can beat both the Heat and the Bulls in the playoffs. Since those teams aren't going anywhere over the next 5 seasons, that's who I'm building my team to beat.

[Eshai]

KL has lost his mind, if hadn't already. His mock draft of the top 8 has MIN taking Biyombo at 2!

I know Kahn is insane, but that would be beyond insane.

[OneBadMutha]

KL has lost his mind, if hadn't already. His mock draft of the top 8 has MIN taking Biyombo at 2!

I know Kahn is insane, but that would be beyond insane.

There was some rumors to the effect. He is that insane.

[ajaX82]

OK Langlois outlook is a little scary

If Biyombo, Valanciunas, Kanter and Vesely are all gone, the Pistons will be left to choose from among Texas’ Tristan Thompson, Kansas’ Morris twins – Marcus, the more skilled of the two, probably would get the nod over Markieff – Lithuania’s Donatas Motiejunas or one of the leftover perimeter players: Walker or Leonard, perhaps.

Talk about a worst case scenario. I don't want either of the Morris Twins, Motiejunas or Walker, at all. So it's either TT or Leonard.

in a word...yikes.

http://www.nba.com/pistons/features/tru ... 0517b.html

[ajaX82]

I haven't really looked into Kawhi Leonard much but I just checked some scouting reports and man...I like him. alot actually.

A real athletic wing guy that plays hard every possession and has a great work ethic. I would hardly call us an energetic, athletic team, so he fits well there. He plays really good D and rebounds exceptionally well...again, things we need. He handles the ball well and can get to the rim too. His major flaws (namely, shooting) is very coach-able and fixable, given his form isn't all jacked up. Bonus: he is young. Not even 20 yet.

Thinking about him on our team, he really would be a Pistons type guy; play D, work hard. And if you are thinking about a compliment to Austin Daye at the 3 spot, he is almost perfect.

Consider me intrigued

[Kirsten19]

Biyombo is a high risk, high return pick though. He definitely has the tools and potential to become a defensive specialist in the league. And these kind of defensive specialist is the second valuable asset in the league after all these superstars.

Markieff isnt too athletic, doesnt have Biyombo's wingspan and leaping ability. He definitely doesnt have Biyombo's shotblocking ability as well. Markieff wont be a star, but he is a serviceable role player coz he is pretty allrounded and has a better offensive game.

In only 24 mpg, he avg 14 pts and 8 rebs on 59% FG and 42% 3pt(!!!).

He's 6-10, 245lbs. I'd be ok with him at 8. He definitely would fill a need. True big man, size-wize, who rebounds and can defend the low post, as well as finish inside.

It all depends on whether u wanna take a career role player or a potential defensive specialist.

I rank Markieff Morris and Biyombo much higher than Tristan Thompson though

[princeofpalace]

From Ford

Detroit

Tristan Thompson
Position: PF
Height: 6-8
Weight: 225
Age: 20
School: Texas

Analysis: Last week we had Bismack Biyombo here, but a number of GMs consider him a risky pick this high. The Pistons could still go in Biyombo's direction, but they may not need to if they fall in love with Thompson. Thompson isn't quite as long and bouncy as Biyombo (few players are) but is more of a proven commodity; Thompson is a terrific offensive rebounder in his own right and a much better scorer right now. Like Biyombo, he would be a perfect complement to Greg Monroe on the Pistons' front line.

Charlotte

Bismack Biyombo
Position: PF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 243
Age: 18
Country: Congo

Analysis: The Bobcats are desperate for a big man who can defend the paint. Enter Biyombo. How much do we really know about him? Not much. But the Bobcats desperately need his length, athleticism, rebounding and toughness. Michael Jordan has never been afraid to take risks, and if he is sold on Biyombo, he won't be afraid to do it here either.

Biyombo at #2 is a joke, the GM that takes a guy who had 1 good game and will only do private workouts that high in the draft should be fired. Bet I guess you cant put anything past David Kahn, Biyombo will IMO be a bust of Darko/Hasheem Thabeeet proportions.

[Kirsten19]

6'8" and 225lb PF???

No more undersized bigs in this this as long as Maxiell and Big Ben are here.

Id rather draft TT and trade him for Hassan Whiteside, not sure if the Kings will do that too

[Liqourish]

To be honest, I'm not high on Biyombo or Thompson. Tristan is my #10 rated prospect, but this draft is weak. It's not a testament of how good he is. Biymobo scares the hell out of me. He's the ultimate Boom/Bust prospect and IMO, Joe Dumars doesn't need another chance to bust a draft pick.

[BasedWiseman]

To be honest, I'm not high on Biyombo or Thompson. Tristan is my #10 rated prospect, but this draft is weak. It's not a testament of how good he is. Biymobo scares the hell out of me. He's the ultimate Boom/Bust prospect and IMO, Joe Dumars doesn't need another chance to bust a draft pick.

But in a weak draft taking a prospect how has the ability to "boom" doesn't scare me,if he busts we still suck and i don't mind sucking especially with an potentially epic draft class coming in next year.

--
Anyway from DX.

#8- Detroit Pistons

Will Consider: Enes Kanter, Donatas Motiejunas, Marcus Morris, Alec Burks, Kawhi Leonard

The Pistons have plenty of needs, and it's doubtful whether they'll be able to solve them all in one night. Not in this draft class, and not after sliding down one spot to the #8 pick. There are question marks about whether Rodney Stuckey is their point guard of the future, better suited at the 2, or would even be most effective coming off the bench. Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince may not be here long term. And while the team has invested a great deal of money in power forwards Charlie Villanueva and Jason Maxiell, the position is anything but fortified judging by the results of last season.

At this point, the team may have to take a long look at Enes Kanter, even if it may be difficult to play him together with starting center Greg Monroe, whose heavy feet make him ill-suited to guard perimeter oriented power forwards. Kanter is a poor match in Utah, Toronto and Sacramento with their current starting centers, and is scaring off already-skeptical teams with his unwillingness to work out competitively for any team. Nevertheless, NBA teams need size and toughness inside the paint, and the Pistons were too weak of a team, in too weak of a draft to pick solely on need.

he has us selecting Enes in his mock.