Lather me with blather -- DRAFT thread 4

[hands11]

Brooks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v8W2pumHX8

I want this kid on the team. I think he would run great with Wall. A more mature Nick Young. I think most would agree that would be a great asset. Wall wants to be a PG more than a Derrick Rose type. And I think Crawford is the perfect hybrid back up PG who can also score when needed as a PG/SG. You need a solid SG who can shoot with range if you want to win and Brooks could be a star. He was a PG so he has handles.

That would make Nick, who is a great talent, trade bait this year or next if they want. I side with keeping him another year and storing up his trade value.

Wall, Brooks and Crawford would have a **** load of talent at the 1 and 2. And maybe for one year, you have Wall, Nick, Crawford and Brooks while Brooks learns the ropes. That would be sick.

I am leaning toward trading down the 6th or if they can purchase a pick so they can get another mid round pick so we can load up. They are not looking to win it all next year so load up.

There is lots of talent in this draft that I would like to see on this team and if we get the right players, it should help them trade or transition from other assets they already have such as Lewis, maybe Nick and maybe Dray. Doing this, in 2012 I see tons of assets and a great cap.

Tobias Harris seems like the perfect work horse glue guy multi position player. A sure value his projected slot.

Vucevic would be a good complement to help at center and some power forward.

Then add a pure shooter at SF in Harper.

Wall, Crawford
Nick, Brooks
Booker, Tobias, Harper
Dray, Lewis, Serpahin
McGee, Vucevic

Hamady, Jeffers and Tyler if you can get him by purchasing a pick.

Then you can transition from Lewis or trade Nick if it makes sense moving forward but until then, Lewis is insurance at SF also. Maybe even move Dray if Tyler is a beast. You could get some assets for Dray. Add that to Nick and you can get something good for Dray and Nick.

Captains are Wall and Lewis
Amazing guard play.
Two workers at SF and Tobias has a better shot. Lewis is the vet.
PF is set with Dray being the all around player. Lewis being the vet with long ball and Seraphin beef
Vuc rounds out McGee by putting a mature player down there with size. Plus Dray can play there.

Then you have Hamady growing up in the background as a shot blocking defensive center.
Tyler get to transition in the D league where they can see if he is a PF of the future.

This would be the most talent well rounded team we have had in maybe forever and it would set them up to move forward.

[thinker07]

Brooks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v8W2pumHX8

I want this kid on the team. I think he would run great with Wall. A more mature Nick Young. I think most would agree that would be a great asset. Wall wants to be a PG more than a Derrick Rose type. And I think Crawford is the perfect hybrid back up PG who can also score when needed as a PG/SG. You need a solid SG who can shoot with range if you want to win and Brooks could be a star. He was a PG so he has handles.

That would make Nick, who is a great talent, trade bait this year or next if they want. I side with keeping him another year and storing up his trade value.

Wall, Brooks and Crawford would have a **** load of talent at the 1 and 2. And maybe for one year, you have Wall, Nick, Crawford and Brooks while Brooks learns the ropes. That would be sick.

I am leaning toward trading down the 6th or if they can purchase a pick so they can get another mid round pick so we can load up. They are not looking to win it all next year so load up.

There is lots of talent in this draft that I would like to see on this team and if we get the right players, it should help them trade or transition from other assets they already have such as Lewis, maybe Nick and maybe Dray. Doing this, in 2012 I see tons of assets and a great cap.

Tobias Harris seems like the perfect work horse glue guy multi position player. A sure value his projected slot.

Vucevic would be a good complement to help at center and some power forward.

Then add a pure shooter at SF in Harper.

Wall, Crawford
Nick, Brooks
Booker, Tobias, Harper
Dray, Lewis, Serpahin
McGee, Vucevic

Hamady, Jeffers and Tyler if you can get him by purchasing a pick.

Then you can transition from Lewis or trade Nick if it makes sense moving forward but until then, Lewis is insurance at SF also. Maybe even move Dray if Tyler is a beast. You could get some assets for Dray. Add that to Nick and you can get something good for Dray and Nick.

Captains are Wall and Lewis
Amazing guard play.
Two workers at SF and Tobias has a better shot. Lewis is the vet.
PF is set with Dray being the all around player. Lewis being the vet with long ball and Seraphin beef
Vuc rounds out McGee by putting a mature player down there with size. Plus Dray can play there.

Then you have Hamady growing up in the background as a shot blocking defensive center.
Tyler get to transition in the D league where they can see if he is a PF of the future.

This would be the most talent well rounded team we have had in maybe forever and it would set them up to move forward.

Come on really. I think it pretty hard to imagine that we end up with 4 1st round picks and most mocks have Brooks, Harris, Vucevic, and Harper graded as mid to late 1st rounders. It makes little sense to go into the year with TEN 1st and 2nd year players PLUS immature McGee and Blatche and mostly adolescent NY. That would leave Lewis as the only "adult" on the roster.

[FAH1223]

Pray that Valencuinias's buyout is reached. CLE really, REALLY likes him.

Does TOR take Kanter in that scenario?

I'm hoping we can take one of those bigs... if not, we have to trade down and try to get a 2012 1st rounder.

I'd like to get a SF and if Brooks is there at #18, I'd take him... we don't have a lot of scorers on our roster. I also have faith in Cassell and Flip teaching him how to play good on ball defense.. Nick has gotten a lot better at that in just the past couple seasons..

[sfam]

Pray that Valencuinias's buyout is reached. CLE really, REALLY likes him.

Does TOR take Kanter in that scenario?

I'm hoping we can take one of those bigs... if not, we have to trade down and try to get a 2012 1st rounder.

I'd like to get a SF and if Brooks is there at #18, I'd take him... we don't have a lot of scorers on our roster. I also have faith in Cassell and Flip teaching him how to play good on ball defense.. Nick has gotten a lot better at that in just the past couple seasons..

Really, everything leads to what Toronto does. We know one of the two Bigs will be taken by Cleveland. I'm not even sure JV is high on our list, but if Cleveland likes JV over Kanter, then the question is what Toronto does. They have a greater need at PG, but that doesn't mean they pass on Kanter.

I'm still thinking we're in the 15-20% range for getting Kanter, and that might be high.

[Dat2U]

Brooks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v8W2pumHX8

I want this kid on the team. I think he would run great with Wall. A more mature Nick Young. I think most would agree that would be a great asset. Wall wants to be a PG more than a Derrick Rose type. And I think Crawford is the perfect hybrid back up PG who can also score when needed as a PG/SG. You need a solid SG who can shoot with range if you want to win and Brooks could be a star. He was a PG so he has handles.

That would make Nick, who is a great talent, trade bait this year or next if they want. I side with keeping him another year and storing up his trade value.

Wall, Brooks and Crawford would have a **** load of talent at the 1 and 2. And maybe for one year, you have Wall, Nick, Crawford and Brooks while Brooks learns the ropes. That would be sick.

I am leaning toward trading down the 6th or if they can purchase a pick so they can get another mid round pick so we can load up. They are not looking to win it all next year so load up.

There is lots of talent in this draft that I would like to see on this team and if we get the right players, it should help them trade or transition from other assets they already have such as Lewis, maybe Nick and maybe Dray. Doing this, in 2012 I see tons of assets and a great cap.

Tobias Harris seems like the perfect work horse glue guy multi position player. A sure value his projected slot.

Vucevic would be a good complement to help at center and some power forward.

Then add a pure shooter at SF in Harper.

Wall, Crawford
Nick, Brooks
Booker, Tobias, Harper
Dray, Lewis, Serpahin
McGee, Vucevic

Hamady, Jeffers and Tyler if you can get him by purchasing a pick.

Then you can transition from Lewis or trade Nick if it makes sense moving forward but until then, Lewis is insurance at SF also. Maybe even move Dray if Tyler is a beast. You could get some assets for Dray. Add that to Nick and you can get something good for Dray and Nick.

Captains are Wall and Lewis
Amazing guard play.
Two workers at SF and Tobias has a better shot. Lewis is the vet.
PF is set with Dray being the all around player. Lewis being the vet with long ball and Seraphin beef
Vuc rounds out McGee by putting a mature player down there with size. Plus Dray can play there.

Then you have Hamady growing up in the background as a shot blocking defensive center.
Tyler get to transition in the D league where they can see if he is a PF of the future.

This would be the most talent well rounded team we have had in maybe forever and it would set them up to move forward.

At some point this idea of Booker at SF will die. To play on the perimeter, one must have the skills to do so. Booker has no perimeter skills whatsoever. He can't shoot. He can't take more than two dribbles. He's not much of a passer or facilitator. It's trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Your clogging up Wall's driving lanes b/c no one will respect Booker 20 ft away from the basket. And the times he played away from the basket last year he looked completely lost.

[Dat2U]

The guy I think is under the radar is Vucavic. If we don't get Kanter at 6, I'd like to go with a forward there & shoot for Vucavic at 18.

He isn't too far off from Kanter IMO, is a true center with good length & size, fundamentally strong, can rebound and shoot. Perfect pick n pop guy for Wall.

Some others I'm liking at 34 are Thompkins a true PF with skill & physical game, Harper sharp shooting stretch 4 from Richmond, Parsons jack of all trades SF, Holiday defensive SG, Hansbrough tough & heady PG, and Smith combo G and former Bullets ballboy would be a great story and addition to the team.

Maybe skill wise but by all accounts Kanter is much tougher mentally & physically. Kanter isn't going to back down. I've seen teams get physical with Vucevic, get into his head and affect his play. He's soft from what I've seen and that dings him big time on my draft board. He might have the tools to be an effective backup on the NBA level but right now adding another weak minded big isn't high on my list of priorities.

[MF23]

Pray that Valencuinias's buyout is reached. CLE really, REALLY likes him.

Does TOR take Kanter in that scenario?

I'm hoping we can take one of those bigs... if not, we have to trade down and try to get a 2012 1st rounder.

I'm sure Toronto drafts Walker if he's there. I do think Cle prefers Johnny V now that he's measured at 7'.

A lot of the lottery will play out by what Minn does at #2.

[Jay81]

1. Cle-Irving
2-Min-Kanter
3. Jazz-Knight
4.Cle-jonas
5. Tor-Kemba
6. Was-Williams

[fishercob]

I enjoyed this:

Vesely:


AK47:

[jangles86]

What would be the chances of us taking Kemba or Jimeer at 18 if either fell to pick 18?

I remember in 06, marcus williams and Rajon Rondo both fell to picks 21 and 22 when they were expected to go much higher.

[dobrojim]

if the general consensus on these mocks is even half close, neither
Kemba nor Jimmer will be there at 18. If he were, I might have to
take Jimmer since we need 3 point shooting. But he'll almost certainly
go before 18. Walker too.

[J-Blaze]

didnt we observe vesley today?

[Ruzious]

What would be the chances of us taking Kemba or Jimeer at 18 if either fell to pick 18?

I remember in 06, marcus williams and Rajon Rondo both fell to picks 21 and 22 when they were expected to go much higher.

It's not the same situation. Marcus Williams was ridiculously overrated by some. He got a lot of assists just because he played on a great team. He couldn't shoot, he couldn't defend, he wasn't a good athlete... And Rondo had a lot to prove offensively. He was far from a finished product. Nobody thought he'd have the impact he did in the NBA. Jimmer and Kemba will be top 10 picks.

[7-Day Dray]

didnt we observe vesley today?

Think the workout was supposed to be today, but I haven't heard anything about it.

[jangles86]

It's not the same situation. Marcus Williams was ridiculously overrated by some. He got a lot of assists just because he played on a great team. He couldn't shoot, he couldn't defend, he wasn't a good athlete... And Rondo had a lot to prove offensively. He was far from a finished product. Nobody thought he'd have the impact he did in the NBA. Jimmer and Kemba will be top 10 picks.

Im not saying the players are similar, I just wouldnt be surprised if it turned out the same way, draft positon wise

[Hoopalotta]

Going by very little input with that highlight reel posted above, Marshon Brooks looks extraordinarily wild and ball dominant. He might work on another team, but if we're ever going to run a proper system, this is the sort of guy we need to not bring in given our overall lack of discipline.

Nice arms, but very little of what he was doing in the halfcourt looks like a proper complement to Wall and, for the love of all things cohesive and deferential, DON'T pair him with Crawford for even spot minutes. Also, I'm not encouraged by his shooting mechanics there as far as developing a really money spot-up stroke either. Looks like 'always a scorer-never a shooter', though I could be wrong.

Even if he's athletically limited, I'd rather have Klay Thompson, who's probably more of a swing man/6th man type. Shoot, Pass and play off the ball sounds good.

Other news has Synergy numbers on an assortment of prospects from DX:

Chris Singleton is known as one of the best defenders in this draft class, but his offensive efficiency of .86 PPP leaves a lot to be desired, as it ranks 2nd worst in this group after Chris Wright.

He gets out in transition more than any prospect at 3 possessions per game, but ranks dead last in scoring efficiency in this category, at a dreadful .905 PPP

In catch and shoot situations he's far more effective, making 43% of his attempts at 1.28 points per shot, the 4th best in this group.

Rather surprising that he's last amongst the guys measured in finishing in transition (on a high sample size), but his spot up jumper being solid bodes well. It says he also stunk with pull-up jumpers and turning the ball over, but you could work that into what we're trying to do here by just having him go 3-N-D (actually, might have to be "long 2 and D" for a while).

Jan Vesley rarely, if ever, was asked to go out and create his own shot on his own, seeing just 2.8% of his offense in isolation situations, which ranks 15th of the 18 players in this study.....but nevertheless ranked as the 5th most turnover prone, coughing the ball up on 15% of his possessions.

He was not terribly effective as a jump-shooter, though, garnering .78 points per shot he attempted, 5th worst in this group—almost all of which in catch and shoot situations.

On the other hand, Vesely's athleticism shines through with the way he was able to convert opportunities around the basket, shooting 74% from the field in these situations, first in this group.

He was also able to draw free throws at the third highest rate (on 19.4% of his possessions) in this study, trailing just Derrick Williams and Jimmy Butler.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Sit ... -Crop-3762

Bad spot up shooter (though, in fairness, he's shooting the international 3), nice finisher, draws fouls and quite turnover prone given his role (actually, he and Singleton each turned the ball over at about the same rate: 14-15%). Those defensive Synergy stats posted previously as to his iso and post up situations were of course quite flattering too.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

As to the Williams-McGee debate, I actually think the Javale is being sold short offensively and has the capacity to be the third option who gives you about 12-14 or more points right down the the gut of the opposing defense (if we count free throws).

The guy has zero discipline and limited situational awareness, but IMO, his offensive endevours were whittled downward by our overall lack of playmaking acumen in the starting lineup through most of the year combined with an overabundance of shot takers. Not to make excuses because he generally responded poorly, but I believe a lot of his discipline problems were related to him not thinking he was going to get the ball based on that overall preponderance of gunners. We were fundamentally ill-disciplined overall with that forming a feedback loop as guys are competing with one another to get theirs.

But he's definitely the guy to finish what others create and I thought he showed it towards the end of the year through chemistry with Crawford and then Wall. It wasn't a great offense by any means overall and Crawford might not be the guy longterm, but you bring in some overall playmaking from the backcourt and I think McGee is the better interior scorer to Williams and really, it's not even close.

He strikes me as the classic "you look for him early in the game and he scores. The other team adjusts because they can't handle giving up dunks like that and they take him out of his game a bit, but in doing so, now everyone else has more room to operate". That's the guy who can increase the efficiency of everyone else out on the court, which is one of the main things you're hoping for from your first and second options.

Now, I don't think he's a second option scorer like Williams and I don't think he'll ever have the court awareness to where you're running much beyond a lob for him late in close games, but what I laid out has worth if it comes to fruition. Williams is likely to be that second option scorer and can work a whole lot more shot creating mojo out on the wing, but I think Javale has just as much capacity to make the other team adjust in ways which accrue team-wide advantage.

Even with all the negatives, it was 4.5 shots at the rim on excellent efficiency with another 1.9 shots out within the nine foot range with less scintillating effects, so it's not like there isn't a foundation here (and I definitely thought the 9-foot range shots looked better late in the season too). Offensively, what he really needs to do is, first, just settle down overall, which, as noted, I believe is related to having faith that the team will get him the ball in scoring situations. And then, he really needs to get his free throw shooting up. That was a huge impediment to his scoring efficiency last year - if he can hit those at 70%, he can swing a lot of those turnovers and wild shots into FT attempts (or even makes) as he'll be more confident to consistently take the direct approach to the hoop when he has the ball deep.

And that's not even getting into the idea of him being, you know, a center who brings other things.

IMO Flip Saunders would have been a smarter and better coach if his offense were designed in a way that McGee got a lot more lobs off of pick and rolls. He should even allow McGee to pick and pop. McGee should have gotten many, many more looks but NOT of the one-on-one, create-your-own-shot variety.

I think McGee can easily average 15 points per game.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

If there was some way we could get Morris, Brooks and Nikola I would be doing back flips.

I would also be very happy with Brooks, Nikola and Harper

If there was a way to trade down from #6 and walk with Brooks, Tabias, Nikola and Harper that would be a total home run in my book. The downside to getting this many rookies is, how many games will they actually get to play before you are drafting again ?

Wall, Crawford ( plenty at PG. Craw is better as a PG/SG back up)
Nick, Brooks ( this would be exciting depth at SG. Brook is more mature. Longer term replacement)
Booker, Tabias, Harper ( lots of options at the SF inside and out and Harper can spot up at SG )
Dray, Lewis, Seraphin ( Dray with Lewis as his back up works, then you have the beef in Kevin )
McGee, Nikola ( more depth at center then this team has had in a long long time. )

Hamady

Yeah they would be young but I say load up on talent then consolidate later if needed.

From here, it would be easier to move Dray if he doesn't work out. You can roll out Nick if Brooks becomes a stud. Tabias could start in front of Booker maybe eventually.

Gut feeling: Brooks is worth the #6 pick. He will be an absolute stud in the NBA.

A perfect draft as far as I'm concerned would be Brooks, Faried, and Harper.

The Wizards need to trade Blatche. Faried is better by FAR just on rebounding and defense.

Nick Young should play SF. Brooks can step right in and be a very good SG. Harper is a great shooter.

The Wizards would be MUCH better with Wall, Brooks, Young, Faried, and McGee.

[Hoopalotta]

As to the Williams-McGee debate, I actually think the Javale is being sold short offensively and has the capacity to be the third option who gives you about 12-14 or more points right down the the gut of the opposing defense (if we count free throws).

The guy has zero discipline and limited situational awareness, but IMO, his offensive endevours were whittled downward by our overall lack of playmaking acumen in the starting lineup through most of the year combined with an overabundance of shot takers. Not to make excuses because he generally responded poorly, but I believe a lot of his discipline problems were related to him not thinking he was going to get the ball based on that overall preponderance of gunners. We were fundamentally ill-disciplined overall with that forming a feedback loop as guys are competing with one another to get theirs.

But he's definitely the guy to finish what others create and I thought he showed it towards the end of the year through chemistry with Crawford and then Wall. It wasn't a great offense by any means overall and Crawford might not be the guy longterm, but you bring in some overall playmaking from the backcourt and I think McGee is the better interior scorer to Williams and really, it's not even close.

He strikes me as the classic "you look for him early in the game and he scores. The other team adjusts because they can't handle giving up dunks like that and they take him out of his game a bit, but in doing so, now everyone else has more room to operate". That's the guy who can increase the efficiency of everyone else out on the court, which is one of the main things you're hoping for from your first and second options.

Now, I don't think he's a second option scorer like Williams and I don't think he'll ever have the court awareness to where you're running much beyond a lob for him late in close games, but what I laid out has worth if it comes to fruition. Williams is likely to be that second option scorer and can work a whole lot more shot creating mojo out on the wing, but I think Javale has just as much capacity to make the other team adjust in ways which accrue team-wide advantage.

Even with all the negatives, it was 4.5 shots at the rim on excellent efficiency with another 1.9 shots out within the nine foot range with less scintillating effects, so it's not like there isn't a foundation here (and I definitely thought the 9-foot range shots looked better late in the season too). Offensively, what he really needs to do is, first, just settle down overall, which, as noted, I believe is related to having faith that the team will get him the ball in scoring situations. And then, he really needs to get his free throw shooting up. That was a huge impediment to his scoring efficiency last year - if he can hit those at 70%, he can swing a lot of those turnovers and wild shots into FT attempts (or even makes) as he'll be more confident to consistently take the direct approach to the hoop when he has the ball deep.

And that's not even getting into the idea of him being, you know, a center who brings other things.

IMO Flip Saunders would have been a smarter and better coach if his offense were designed in a way that McGee got a lot more lobs off of pick and rolls. He should even allow McGee to pick and pop. McGee should have gotten many, many more looks but NOT of the one-on-one, create-your-own-shot variety.

I think McGee can easily average 15 points per game.

What I meant was 12-14 points just in the paint and at the line, so potentially up above that in total with a workable 17-foot jumper.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The Wizards will have a workout on Monday with Richmond point guard Kevin Anderson, Iowa State guard Diante Garrett, Demonte Harper of Morehead State, Frank Hassell of Old Dominion, IUPUI guard Leroy Nobles and Old Westbury center Lester Prosper.

Looks like the wiz are doing their backdoor background on Justin Harper and Kenneth Fareid. I like Anderson as a clutch scrappy fighter, but the only reason they're pulling these cats in is to find out more about their teammates, and because htey've been closely watching film on them both and notices who was feeding them or playing off them.

I do like Frank Hassell though I doubt his game translates. Big body groundbound wideload rebounder. Seemingly a nice guy though.

doc, they're maybe going to do the unthinkable. I think the Wizards do want Faried.

I have a really good feeling about this draft. NO WAY they're looking at Harper for anything other than due diligence. I also think Andray (and/or Javale) is trade bait.