Slather me, Lather me, Blather me - 2011 Draft Thread 5

[rockymac52]

Davis is our clear cut #1 pick. After that the debate begins.

[nate33]

Who should Wizards pick with the very first pick (assuming Drummond stays in draft)? I mean without clearly defined positions, are there even any positional needs?

Let's keep talk of the 2012 draft pick in the 2012 NBA Draft thread. This thread was for the 2011 draft and was bumped to evaluate some of old prognostications.

[LyricalRico]

Man, we went through almost 5 full threads on last year's draft?



I wonder, if we added them up, would we have more trade threads or draft threads over the last few years. Certainly the draft threads tend to have better titles.

[closg00]

Biyombo is doing well, I get posts here are few days old, but still. Considering his age (no pun), no training camp - I mean no training with the team at all because of contract issues with Fuenlabrada, no reputation as a rookie wetc. he is doign pretty well. Bobcats have numerous power forwards and somehow Silas didn't consider him as a center, so he didn't paly a lot initially. As he still comes from bench and wouldn't play many minutes either way, he doesn't have to care about fouls that much, but for a shot blocker he is doing pretty well, had 5 fouls only twice. He is very effective on offense and recently has demanded the ball and showed some post moves, hooks included. Check his last 5 games stats, he is doing pretty well and i would still picked him over any other big man from his draft. He has potential to be really impactful player, showed he can handle Dwight Howard pretty well for a rookie, including getting a double double on him, frustrating him, getting in foul trouble in spite of star treatment. He will have some off games, but he is promising, his balock pwer fould ratio is pretty good, he is very active, well i don't want to overdo it but I am very happy with the pick moreover with that trade Cho mastered to get that pick to pick him just before Pistons would idd with the very next pick.

Thanks for all of info on Biyombo, very helpful and it explains a lot. I am looking forward to seeing Biyombo in-action when we play the Cats. I read the there was going to be a rotation shake-up with the Cats, what will the new rotation be?

[doc.end]

I had written a long post but lost it so just the resume: Augustin is injured with crack in his toe, that makes Kemba Walker the strting PG with Henderson (most probably) sliding to SG. That leaves starting SF spot open. There is a chance Silas would put Tyrus Thomas there opening a PF spot for someone else or he would fill the SF spot with someone from the bench. Magette, R.Williams are injured, that would make Derrick Brown a starting Sf by default (I think we can rule out Higgins and Carroll playing SG with Henderson still at SF, as they are only guard left on the bench and not really good). Diaw would make sense too, but he bulked up for playing a center in first games so he is unlikely to play SF now. Most important is you never know with Silas (and orders from front office - that's why Tyrus Thomas is starting because of his contract), first game against Magic he started DeSagana Diop.

depth chart:
Walker - Higgins
Henderson - Higgins, Carroll
Thomas - Brown, Henderson, Carroll
White (coming from an injury) - Thomas, Diaw, Najera, Mullens, Biyombo
Mullens - Biyombo, Diop

IR: Augustin, Reggie Williams, Maggette

[closg00]

So is MJ micro-managing the lineups? Obviously Silas was doing much-better with Wallace and Jackson.
I am very-much looking forward to the Cats vs Wizard tank-off.

[doc.end]

Yeah, losing to Wizards is important in Bobcats tanking effort but at the same time I would find it embarrassing being primarily Bobcats fan. At least we would have some injuries as an excuse. I feel the same way about Knicks game tonight, you might get a better idea what the lineup will look like.


Well, Tyrus Thomas has 4 years (including this one) and 33,388,430 left on his contract. He was injured (with his ankle IIRC) at the start of the season and missed few first games. DJ White started at PF* and did pretty well (especially offensively). White is an expiring. Silas then said tat returning Thomas will have to deserve to get his starting spot back. But soon Thomas was back in starting lineup (not doing well) so the word spread a directive came from front office.

MJ is not really the one calling the shots, I guess he just approves them. Jordan and Higgins seized opportunity when Rich Cho was fired in Portland, contacted him and offer him a job. We fans can't tell for sure but the regular image is Cho serve as mastermind, Higgins changed his position from Gm to president of basketball operation so he keeps his job (as one of friends of Mike) and Jordan just stands aside and approves what is financially plausible and inspires Bobcats players here and there. Cho served as an asistant to Presti in Seattle/Oklahoma City, then was a GM in Portland. Him and Jordan seem to be on the same boat with not paying for an average team and rather than be a treadmill team, be really bad to be able to be good later. That started last season with trading Crash (the team underachieved because of Larry Brown and players not being on the same page at all) and was confirmed on draft day by trading Stephen Jackson (and Livingston) away for better pickj and Corey Maggette. Cpt. Jack went on a rampage demanding an extended contract in Milwaukee saying it's mandatory (check Bucks board for more). Apparently he expressed his wish in Charlotte already but we fans didn't know at that time so it was even another reason to do that trade. The perception is the trade was done because of Cho, that without him we wouldn´t do that. We got Biyombo with that better pick who was in contact with Cho for over half a year at that time as he wanted him even back then when he was in Portland. Kemba is probably more of a Jordan's pick, with his swag and winning mentality. One of the better options at that spot anyway, it doesn't hurt to start rebuilding with PG and big man to build around. And of course it is hard not to think about not matching a reasonable offer sheet for Dante Cunnigham the RFA just to fill that spot with Cory Higgins. Well we needed third point guard and they may not be many better options but still.

* Diaw started at C, as last year starter Kwame Brown signed with Warriors, Diop was returning from torn achilles, not in shape and not so good anyway andboth Mullens and Biyombo joined the team only recently. Bobcats even signed Melvin Ely in preseason, but he didn't make it.

[doc.end]

So Derrick Brown starts while DJ White wasn't ready to go yet. But man Tyrus Thomas sucks. He should come from the bench.

[hands11]

Well Ves got his first start at PF.

Nick is playing like a back up. He doesn't have any floor game. People here were right. He isn't going to get much more then mid level in his next contract. Crawford look way more comfortable out there. His added PG skill really help. But this team is sorely lacking SGs. And for that, I wish they would have taken Brooks. He was the one I thought this team should have targeted instead of Singleton given they didn't trade down for more picks, and they took Ves with the #6.

If this was a team that had a more filled out roster, Singleton would have been a great pick, but when you have so few outside shooters and to few players who can play with the ball in their hands, you go get a kid like Brooks. With him, you can more easily have let Nick walk if needed ( Nick could have gotten an offer that they didn't want to match ) So beyond just being good insurance this year if things didnt work out, it was the right pick to move forward because Brook would replace Nick at SG.

If Brooks was here, he could be starting already and he would be going head to head with Nick and Crawford in practice with would raise the level of competition for everyone. And it would let you use Nick more as the shooting SF because Brooks and Crawford could be playing SG.

Now they would be weaker at SF defensively ( maybe ) but maybe Ves could help some there.

Lewis, Nick and Ves at SF this year. Then next year you go find a SF who can play ball in hand who could shoot and score and or defend.

As it is, they need that SF and that SG.

Maybe it will still work out. It's not that I don't like Singleton but without the handles, will he be anything more then a back up. Brooks could have been your stating SG for the next 3 -4 years maybe more. The kid has AS potential.

Wall/Mason
Brooks/Crawford/Nick
Nick/Lewis/Ves
Ves/Booker/Dray/KS
McGee/Dray/KS

I would have rather had something like that. Wall would have more shooters to pass to. Ves and Booker get plenty of burn at PF. KS would be challenging for back up center, specially when you need a strong post banger. Dray is used to stretch the court when needed.

Then for the Michael Gilchrist lover, if you are lucky

Wall/Mason
Brooks/Crawford
Gilchrist /??/Ves
Ves/Booker/Dray/KS
McGee ??/Dray/KS

Plus whatever you get for Lewis's expiring. Maybe a package of McGee plus Lewis expiring gets you a center and another piece. You wouldn't even need to move Dray yet.. You can hold the amnesty on him for later years if he doesn't give you what you need as a back up or you don't trade him later.

They can still make it work with what they did but there are more open questions then if they went for Brooks. And I think it would have been better for Wall development this year. Either way, this team is likely to look very different come next year. Lots of pieces are in play and they have the huge Lewis expiring and the amnesty card. And they could change coaches again.

[closg00]

Brandon Knight has been looking good (better than Walker) Detroit looks like they have some pieces to build with. Knight & Stuckey in the back court, and Monroe at C. Maxiell isn't a legit full-time PF.

[fishercob]

Is there a 2012 draft thread yet?

I actually think we could be really help ourselves with any top 10 pick next year. IMHO, Bad Beal would look fantastic in a Wizard Uni. For those that aren't familiar, Beal is a 6'4.5" shooting guard that will be attending Florida next year. Bradley is slightly undersized for a SG, and possesses very good, but not elite athleticism. Beal has a winning pedigree, having been the best player on winning teams both in H.S., and in international play. Beal is best known for being an incredible shooter with unbelievable range, and a very pure, consistent stroke. As a senior, Beal shot 73% from the field, and having watched him play in two All Star games, I can attest that his shot is a thing of beauty. Beal is also widely recognized for being very mature and efficient, rebounding the ball well, making the correct pass, and not being turnover prone.

This year, Beal won the Gatorade National Player of the Year, averaging 32.8 points a game, 2.7 APG, 5.3 RPG, 2.7 SPG, and 2.0 BPG on 73% shooting.
http://highschoolhoop.com/high-school-s ... -the-year/

Beal's H.S.basketball team won the State Championship his sophomore year. Beal has also won 2 gold medals playing for Team USA. He led the U18 team in scoring at 19.0ppg on the way to winning gold at the 2009 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. He then returned to again lead the U.S. in scoring, with 18.3 ppg at the inaugural FIBA U17 Championship in Germany.
http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/hoops ... 02_16.html

In this year's McDonald's All American Game, Beal played 21 minutes, scoring 17 points on 7/14 shooting, with 5 boards, 4 assists, and 1 turnover, and outperformed fellow SG Austin rivers, in a win for the East Team.
http://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/2011/mcdb.htm

Bradley Beal (#8 Scout, #7 Rivals, #4 ESPN)now stands 6-4 ½ in shoes, having grown an inch since the last time we saw him. He did little to diminish his status as arguably the top shooting guard in the 2011 high school class.

Beal shows a highly developed skill-level for a player his age as well as great maturity and an excellent basketball IQ. He is first and foremost an outstanding shooter, showing the ability to come off screens and make shots with deep range as well as pulling up smoothly off the dribble.

Beal creates shots intelligently and patiently with an array of change of speed and hesitation moves. He seems to prefer doing his damage in the mid-range area rather than taking the ball to the rim. Nevertheless, he will surprise you at times with an emphatic finish, showing an extra gear that you may not have expected on first glance. While clearly more of a shooting guard than a combo guard, Beal has solid court vision and can create for others within the flow of the offense. He rarely forces the issue and plays with an elegance and maturity that belies his age.

Defensively, Beal is highly competitive and fundamentally sound. He has a well-developed frame, which should ease his transition considerably to the college level. He's not the longest player in the world (6-7 ½ wingspan), but his size and strength allow him to guard either wing position, giving him the ability to play alongside Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton from Day One in Gainesville.

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Bra ... z1RztpeHYI
http://www.draftexpress.com

Boom, congrats on finding Beal. I hope the Wiz "find" him on draft night.

[penbeast0]

doing better than seraphin. last year's draft was just dreadful.

Biyombo was taken 7th overall. People here were SURE he'd be the next Ben Wallace -- a super rich man's Seraphin.

But yeah, the '11 draft seems to have been correctly pegged as pretty weak. Irving looks good -- the Cavs made the right choice. Outside of him, the most productive rookies are Kemba, Kawhi Leonard and Marshon Brooks.

I still think Biyombo will be a Ben Wallace type, but taller and with better offense.

I remember when Ben Wallace was a Wizard. He rarely played behind Juwan and C Webb. He got traded in the Ike Austin deal. Before he was traded, I remember looking at Stats Inc back in the day. Ben Wallace was a terrific per-minute rebounder and a great shot blocker from day one.

In bringing up Wallace, recall Wallace didn't even impress until he went to the Pistons and played alongside Rasheed.

A guy like Biyombo will need to play with a stretch 4. Right now, Biyombo spells BJ Mullen at C. I think they probably can play together some.

Wallace was playing for the Wiz because Webber was whining about playing C. But the Wiz decided he just didn't have enough offense to be a real NBA C so traded him for Austin . . . that and they preferred Jahidi White as our C of the future. In hindsight . . . just another Wes Unseld as GM year.

[theboomking]

Thanks Fishercob. I did however think Beal would shoot a bit better in college. If I knew for a fact that Beal is the shooter that last year, I thought he would be, I would feel very strongly about drafting him at 3. As things stand though, I'm torn between Beal and MKG.

[Ruzious]

Thanks Fishercob. I did however think Beal would shoot a bit better in college. If I knew for a fact that Beal is the shooter that last year, I thought he would be, I would feel very strongly about drafting him at 3. As things stand though, I'm torn between Beal and MKG.

When in doubt, go with your first instincts. You nailed it.

[closg00]

[fishercob]

Thanks Fishercob. I did however think Beal would shoot a bit better in college. If I knew for a fact that Beal is the shooter that last year, I thought he would be, I would feel very strongly about drafting him at 3. As things stand though, I'm torn between Beal and MKG.

When in doubt, go with your first instincts. You nailed it.

Yeah. And keep in mind that if Beal had shot lights out from the get-go in college, he would likely have separated himself from RObinson and MKG and been the clear #2 pick. The fact that he struggled early probably kept him in the same tier so that Charlotte looks at just as we would -- 3 similar prospects, take the best fit. With that they have, either RObinson or MKG make more sense than Beal. Beal to Washington. Woot.