2012 NBA Draft

[Higga]

I'd love Sullinger. After Davis he'd be my preferred pick for the Wiz. He may not have superstar like potentail but he fills our biggest needs as someone said earlier: rebounding and post play. He'd also be a great compliment to McGee and that synergy would make McGee even more effective.

Wall/Young/Singleton/Sullinger/McGee with Mack/Crawford/Vesley/Booker/Serafin as backups would make for an exciting and fun team to watch in 2012-2013.

[fishercob]

I agree with you that Sullinger is fun to watch. He does all of the little things right. I just don't think he has the physical attributes to be a star. I think Sullinger can be a good NBA shooter, but he is 4/12 from college 3Pt range this year. That doesn't scream Kevin Love. I also don't think Sullinger is the rebounder that Love was in college, although I can't access ESPN to pull up the rebound rates from work.

Love & Sullinger had remarkably similar Freshman years (Love declared after 1 year at UCLA):


...........Sully ('10-'11)........Love ('07-08)
Min..........31.7......................29.6
PPG.........17.2......................17.5
RPG..........10.2.....................10.6
FG%...........54.1%....................55.9%
3P% ..........25.0%....................35.4%
FT%..........70.4%.....................76.7% (on 6.2 / 6.6 FTA, respectively)
Ast............1.2........................1.9
Blocks........0.5.......................1.4
Steals.........1.0......................0.7
PF...............2.4......................1.9
TO..............1.6......................2.0

(Sorry for the formatting, and I'm sure there are other Efficiency stats that can be added to the discussion.)

Just looking at the stats, Love was a shade better in almost every category, but it's very close. And so far this year, Sullinger has upped almost all of his shooting stats to levels at or above where Love was, although he will probably never be the volume shooter from 3 that Love was/is.

A lot of people questioned Love's athelticism and whether he could make it in the league, get his shot off, dominate the boards, etc. Seems to me he's done pretty well for himself. I'm not saying that Sullinger will have a Love-like impact in the NBA, but I expect him to be a VERY productive pro.

And BTW, he provides two of the things the Wiz so desperately need: Defensive rebounding and true post scoring. So yeah, I'd still be happy if Sully's our man next summer.

And last thought - completely agree with you on the other points, especially Lamb. I know Davis is the best prospect in the draft, and he'd be my #1 pick. At this point, Sullinger and Lamb are looking like #2 and #3 to me, even if only for sentimental reasons.

I love Sullinger, admittedly somewhat due to my Buckeye homerism. I have no doubt that he;d help us. That said, I'm a little uncomfortable comparing anyone to Kevin Love. He strikes me as a unique player, but maybe I'm wrong. Once Sully learns the NBA game and the professional life, starts eating more of the right things and less dorm food, maybe he loses a bunch of weight too. he and McGee would seem to complement one another well.

[theboomking]

Any rebound rate data available?

The one striking difference in Sullinger and Love's stats is 3PT%, which is a big part of what makes Kevin love so efficient and unique.

Higga, I don't think Davis lacks star power. He just won't ever be a top 5 scorer in the league. Davis would almost assuredly make a huge, instant impact on this team. As bad as we are offensively, we are a terrible defensive team and a poor rebounding team. Davis is the best defender in the 2012 draft, and swapping him in for Blatche, would be just an enormous upgrade.

[Higga]

Higga, I don't think Davis lacks star power. He just won't ever be a top 5 scorer in the league. Davis would almost assuredly make a huge, instant impact on this team. As bad as we are offensively, we are a terrible defensive team and a poor rebounding team. Davis is the best defender in the 2012 draft, and swapping him in for Blatche, would be just an enormous upgrade.

I meant Sullinger, I don't think he'll be a star in the NBA but he'll be a really solid player no doubt.

Davis will be a star and will probably go #1, I don't see us getting him because no way we get the #1 pick again so soon...

[Jay81]

congrats on a tanktastic season so far

www.nbadraft.net

[Ruzious]

I'd love Sullinger. After Davis he'd be my preferred pick for the Wiz. He may not have superstar like potentail but he fills our biggest needs as someone said earlier: rebounding and post play. He'd also be a great compliment to McGee and that synergy would make McGee even more effective.

Wall/Young/Singleton/Sullinger/McGee with Mack/Crawford/Vesley/Booker/Serafin as backups would make for an exciting and fun team to watch in 2012-2013.

I think I've reached that point as well - because of intangible reasons. Take Sullinger off of Ohio State (which actually happened for a couple games this season), and they become just a decent team. With him, everything about the team gets better. There's something intangible about him - having to do with his confidence - not just his great play - but I think his teammates feed off of that. Notice, they're a great defensive team - and the biggest knock on him is his defensive ability - kind of ironic - and there really isn't great defensive personnel on that team - and he's the only big.

And if any NBA team needs an infusion of smarts, confidence, and overall intangibles, it's the Wiz. If we can't get Davis, I want Sullinger - and really, it's not close - as much as I like Henson and as much as Robinson has the power/athleticism combo - Sullinger is the one guy other than Davis that would be a difference-maker on the Wiz - because his intangibles are way above everyone else's - not to mention he's a heckuva player that gives the team much needed physicality.

[Dat2U]

I can't get around Sullinger's inability to challenge shots in the post. Love is a terrifically efficient player and his PER was top 5 in the NBA, but his effectiveness is significantly muted by his defensive shortcomings.

If were drafting top 4, I can't feel comfortable drafting a big that's not a two-way player.

If were drafting later in the lottery then Sullinger is a fine choice.

[nate33]

I can't get around Sullinger's inability to challenge shots in the post. Love is a terrifically efficient player and his PER was top 5 in the NBA, but his effectiveness is significantly muted by his defensive shortcomings.

If were drafting top 4, I can't feel comfortable drafting a big that's not a two-way player.

If were drafting later in the lottery then Sullinger is a fine choice.

+1.

No one dimensional players should be drafted with a top 5 pick.

[mohammed10]

I can't get around Sullinger's inability to challenge shots in the post. Love is a terrifically efficient player and his PER was top 5 in the NBA, but his effectiveness is significantly muted by his defensive shortcomings.

If were drafting top 4, I can't feel comfortable drafting a big that's not a two-way player.

If were drafting later in the lottery then Sullinger is a fine choice.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the worst team in the league is guaranteed no worse than #4 pick, right?

[Dat2U]

I can't get around Sullinger's inability to challenge shots in the post. Love is a terrifically efficient player and his PER was top 5 in the NBA, but his effectiveness is significantly muted by his defensive shortcomings.

If were drafting top 4, I can't feel comfortable drafting a big that's not a two-way player.

If were drafting later in the lottery then Sullinger is a fine choice.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the worst team in the league is guaranteed no worse than #4 pick, right?

Yep, so everyone lock in your top 4! It's looking guaranteed at this point

[tontoz]

Bobcats with a big lead on the Knicks in the 4th....

[Ruzious]

I can't get around Sullinger's inability to challenge shots in the post. Love is a terrifically efficient player and his PER was top 5 in the NBA, but his effectiveness is significantly muted by his defensive shortcomings.

If were drafting top 4, I can't feel comfortable drafting a big that's not a two-way player.

If were drafting later in the lottery then Sullinger is a fine choice.

+1.

No one dimensional players should be drafted with a top 5 pick.

You guys call him 1 dimentional as if he's beyond awful defensively - and btw, the Wiz have zero's dimensions - not even close to 1 dimension - but how do you explain that Ohio State is a very good defensive team - with him as their only big man?

[Jay81]

Ted leonlose said that this is exactly where he thought the team would be. Im thinking he is all in for the tanking

[Jay81]

I can't get around Sullinger's inability to challenge shots in the post. Love is a terrifically efficient player and his PER was top 5 in the NBA, but his effectiveness is significantly muted by his defensive shortcomings.

If were drafting top 4, I can't feel comfortable drafting a big that's not a two-way player.

If were drafting later in the lottery then Sullinger is a fine choice.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the worst team in the league is guaranteed no worse than #4 pick, right?

Yep, so everyone lock in your top 4! It's looking guaranteed at this point

don't be so sure..we might do something illegal that costs us our first round pick

[fugop]

It's all about Anthony Davis for me......

Haven't seen an impact player like him in quite some time. CCJ is right on with the Duncan type career.

Kidd-Gilchrist also looks like a sure thing. He just had a 24 point 19 rebound game at the collegiate level. Almost unheard of at the NCAA Div
1 level/major conference.

I'm sure you guys saw the game, but Gilchrist was going up against a louisville backcourt where neither player is over 6 feet. Siva is probably 5'10", Russ Smith about the same.

[Induveca]

It's all about Anthony Davis for me......

Haven't seen an impact player like him in quite some time. CCJ is right on with the Duncan type career.

Kidd-Gilchrist also looks like a sure thing. He just had a 24 point 19 rebound game at the collegiate level. Almost unheard of at the NCAA Div
1 level/major conference.

I'm sure you guys saw the game, but Gilchrist was going up against a louisville backcourt where neither player is over 6 feet. Siva is probably 5'10", Russ Smith about the same.

Regardless there were big men on both sides. Guy still had 19 boards even with Davis on his own squad. Impressive.

[dangermouse]

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is No. 1 Kentucky’s leader on and off the floor, averaging a team-high 14.2 points per game as well as spearheading a breakfast club where he gets teammates to come in early to shoot, lift weights, and workout.

Kidd-Gilchrist’s extra efforts have not gone unnoticed by NBA executives.

"He's a winner," one GM said. "He always has been. He cares about the game. Every game. He loves to play, and it's infectious. The NBA desperately needs guys like this. My team needs them. He makes everyone better."

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... z1iZoSnyW8

We need this dude if we can't get Davis. Wall and Kidd-Gilchrist co-captains day 1.

[Dat2U]

I can't get around Sullinger's inability to challenge shots in the post. Love is a terrifically efficient player and his PER was top 5 in the NBA, but his effectiveness is significantly muted by his defensive shortcomings.

If were drafting top 4, I can't feel comfortable drafting a big that's not a two-way player.

If were drafting later in the lottery then Sullinger is a fine choice.

+1.

No one dimensional players should be drafted with a top 5 pick.

You guys call him 1 dimentional as if he's beyond awful defensively - and btw, the Wiz have zero's dimensions - not even close to 1 dimension - but how do you explain that Ohio State is a very good defensive team - with him as their only big man?

Can't use college success to validate NBA success. Most schools don't have the size in the post to take advantage of Sullinger. He can dominate the 6-6 & 6-8 bigs of the world with his size & strength. The few times he faces legit size & talent, he struggles mightily.

This is not the draft to play it safe and go for the super smart, hard working, limited upside guy. Will Sullinger help a NBA team win games? Sure. Will he be a cornerstone for a team with championship aspirations, I have major doubts about that.

Maybe in the 2011 draft you could make a case for taking Sullinger very high because the draft was relatively weak at the top, but in 2012, there are a number of prospects that offer more long term than Sullinger IMO.

[theboomking]

It's all about Anthony Davis for me......

Haven't seen an impact player like him in quite some time. CCJ is right on with the Duncan type career.

Kidd-Gilchrist also looks like a sure thing. He just had a 24 point 19 rebound game at the collegiate level. Almost unheard of at the NCAA Div
1 level/major conference.

I'm sure you guys saw the game, but Gilchrist was going up against a louisville backcourt where neither player is over 6 feet. Siva is probably 5'10", Russ Smith about the same.

Gilchrist is a SF. I'm not sure why everyone a few pages back was comparing him to Wade.

[Benjammin]

It's all about Anthony Davis for me......

Haven't seen an impact player like him in quite some time. CCJ is right on with the Duncan type career.

Kidd-Gilchrist also looks like a sure thing. He just had a 24 point 19 rebound game at the collegiate level. Almost unheard of at the NCAA Div
1 level/major conference.

I'm sure you guys saw the game, but Gilchrist was going up against a louisville backcourt where neither player is over 6 feet. Siva is probably 5'10", Russ Smith about the same.

Gilchrist is a SF. I'm not sure why everyone a few pages back was comparing him to Wade.

+1

I haven't really watched him play but everything I've understood is that he is simply a 3 and by no means a 2.