Official Raptors 2012 NBA Draft Thread, Part 6

[sunny]

lol Shabazz is no Kobe. As of now, he isn't even the top prospect in his class.

Reignman - I just checked the new dx mock. They have MKG going third. I normally hate Givony's predictions so now I want to change back everything I said.

[theocratic_n'_nature]

I'll be honest, everyone is hyping Shabazz like crazy and there's absolutely no guarantee he becomes a franchise player. This happens all the time.

If we get the #1, take Davis and worry abou tthe rest later. BTW, we won't be in contention for the #1 pick next year anyway, with or without our pick. The only way that happens is if our entire team gets injured.

I can certainly respect if you want to take Davis first. Period.

Having said that, the bolded part can also apply to Davis as well, so that point in my mind is moot.

Yes, we certainly won't be in contention for 1st overall next year (and neither would I want to be) but our pick, plus a 1st overall in this years perceived deep draft (ie Drummond who you even have said that he has certain physical attributes and that scouts drool over and teams will still be looking to attain those attributes) would give us an excellent shot at attaining it.

[theocratic_n'_nature]

lol Shabazz is no Kobe. As of now, he isn't even the top prospect in his class.

Reignman - I just checked the new dx mock. They have MKG going third. I normally hate Givony's predictions so now I want to change back everything I said.

And Davis is no KG.
Wade nor Kobe was the top prospect in their class. Your point?

[Undefeated]

How many big guys with really good size and athleticism with limited offensive skillset actually reached their potential? I can't think of many.

Thing is, Anthony Davis plays as a 4th or 5th option behind Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb, Darius Miller or even Marquis Teague on some nights which really holds him back offensively. We get this perception that he's offensively limited because he scores only on lob catches and offensive rebound put-backs when he's shown much more in high school. If John Calipari didn't want him to just set screens and roam around the paint as the ball is swung around the perimeter, he'll certainly display more of his offensive skill. I've seen glimpses of his face-up game with the ability to pull-up time-to-time, so he's not that handicapped offensively. I mean, watch how fluid Anthony Davis was in high-school as a senior. His movements are almost guard like for a big.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OSxB2HZAKE[/youtube]

How many bigs shoot the ball fully-extending their shooting arm or can even run the break with an excellent lead dribble? I don't think he's going to develop into a post-up threat, but with his ability to shoot the ball (he's shooting 71% from the free-throw line currently), ball-handling, and an elite first step, he should develop a solid face-up game.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Never said "he had too much fat"

Was tryin to open you eyes about Body weight; being 228 doesnt mean you are strong.

With your own eyes, you can clearly see Wade is bigger and stronger than MKG but again Wade is 220 vs 228.

Same for George with your own eyes, you can clearly see he is bigger than MKG and again Paul George is listed at 210 vs MKG 228.

Looking at MKG during games; he has narrow shoulders too, looks very lanky out there

Looking at MKG during games, is he getting bullied on post-ups? Is he having troubling muscling his way into the paint and finishing? Is he having trouble grabbing rebounds in traffic or boxing guys out??? Does he struggle to fight through screens?

If you didn't say he had too much fat, than why did you claim his excellent weight for his size and age was due to body fat?

Going back to what I said earlier about you should talk to nutritionist and discover a thing or two about body fat...

Looking at MKG, does he overwhelm you with muscular shoulder? No..
Looking at the competition is up against.

MIss St (and others ) does not have Caron Butler, Stephen Jax, Granger, Wallace, Deng ( I am being careful not to bring up KD , LeBron and them)

How does he match up against those guys physically on both ends?

Barnes matches up with them just fine as a SF

Say no to MKG folks

We can use his head-to-head match-ups with Barnes as evidence of how he might shape up physically against NBA SFs. How did that go?

[ash_k]

We can use his head-to-head match-ups with Barnes as evidence of how he might shape up physically against NBA SFs. How did that go?

I think your problem is you are looking at this from an NCAA game perspective WAY too much.

NBA is a different game.

How does he matchup versus the second class SF in the NBA aforementioned? as I am assuming you are rating him as a starting SF at the next level.

Think MKG, think Terrence Williams (T-Will being the physically stronger player)
Energy player coming from the bench.

problem with T-Will, he thinks he should a star.

[Dr Positivity]

No offense, but the "take Drummond so you can trade him for Shabazz" argument that just happened is a joke

Davis is a better prospect than Shabazz, who is projected to go behind Noel who is like Davis
If Shabazz is that good next year he won't be traded
You don't take the wrong player just for the chance to flip him a year later
Davis will have more value than Drummond a year from now if he's the better prospect

Etc.

[Crazy-Canuck]

I we get Davis, buy another pick and give a 1st round promise to Trey Burke, then wait and watch the championships roll in.

MKG and Burke work just as well for me.

[Dr Positivity]

Imo it doesn't matter if A Davis is just Tyson Chandler offensively. If he's the best defender in the league while doing that, I'm sold. This isn't the 07 draft with a Durant at no 2. More like 09.

[Alfred]

We can use his head-to-head match-ups with Barnes as evidence of how he might shape up physically against NBA SFs. How did that go?

I think your problem is you are looking at this from an NCAA game perspective WAY too much.

NBA is a different game.

How does he matchup versus the second class SF in the NBA aforementioned? as I am assuming you are rating him as a starting SF at the next level.

Think MKG, think Terrence Williams (T-Will being the physically stronger player)
Energy player coming from the bench.

problem with T-Will, he thinks he should a star.

They aren't even comparable. Terrence Williams was a SENIOR who, until his last season at Louisville, shot worse than 50% TS%.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on the other hand is a FRESHMAN who is currently shooting 56% TS%, 22 PER, and is playing for the best team in the nation.

[ty123]

How many big guys with really good size and athleticism with limited offensive skillset actually reached their potential? I can't think of many.

Thing is, Anthony Davis plays as a 4th or 5th option behind Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb, Darius Miller or even Marquis Teague on some nights which really holds him back offensively. We get this perception that he's offensively limited because he scores only on lob catches and offensive rebound put-backs when he's shown much more in high school. If John Calipari didn't want him to just set screens and roam around the paint as the ball is swung around the perimeter, he'll certainly display more of his offensive skill. I've seen glimpses of his face-up game with the ability to pull-up time-to-time, so he's not that handicapped offensively. I mean, watch how fluid Anthony Davis was in high-school as a senior. His movements are almost guard like for a big.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OSxB2HZAKE[/youtube]

How many bigs shoot the ball fully-extending their shooting arm or can even run the break with an excellent lead dribble? I don't think he's going to develop into a post-up threat, but with his ability to shoot the ball (he's shooting 71% from the free-throw line currently), ball-handling, and an elite first step, he should develop a solid face-up game.

What am I supposed to take from that video? That he can dominate against midgets?

[HEKTOR]

Can MKG play the 2 in the NBA or is he strictly a 3?

[ash_k]

They aren't even comparable. Terrence Williams was a SENIOR who, until his last season at Louisville, shot worse than 50% TS%.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on the other hand is a FRESHMAN who is currently shooting 56% TS%, 22 PER, and is playing for the best team in the nation.

Yes they are, they have the same skills set.
Those TS% or PER numbers dont show the skill set of a player

[Alfred]

Can MKG play the 2 in the NBA or is he strictly a 3?

He's a forward. He's basically a stereotypical SF.

[Dr Positivity]

Can MKG play the 2 in the NBA or is he strictly a 3?

I'm guessing natural 3 but can play the 2. IMO the best physical comparison is Caron Butler

[Alfred]

They aren't even comparable. Terrence Williams was a SENIOR who, until his last season at Louisville, shot worse than 50% TS%.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on the other hand is a FRESHMAN who is currently shooting 56% TS%, 22 PER, and is playing for the best team in the nation.

Yes they are, they have the same skills set.
Those TS% or PER numbers doesnt show the skill set of a player

When you say something like "MKG is basically Terrence Williams", be prepared to have your argument refuted, because Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is a much, much better prospect than Williams was.

If you think that a reasonable prediction for MKG is a bench player, you're also way off. He projects to be a starter in the NBA. A guy similar to prime Gerald Wallace, or a more explosive Luol Deng.

[Fairview4Life]

They aren't even comparable. Terrence Williams was a SENIOR who, until his last season at Louisville, shot worse than 50% TS%.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on the other hand is a FRESHMAN who is currently shooting 56% TS%, 22 PER, and is playing for the best team in the nation.

Yes they are, they have the same skills set.
Those TS% or PER numbers dont show the skill set of a player

Almost everyone in the world can throw a basketball at the hoop. In that sense we all have the same shooting skillset or whatever. Some people can hit a lot more of those shots than other people. They will have higher true shooting %'s. That's one way we know that some people are better shooters than other people. Even though they are both shooting a basketball, one of them is better than the other because his shots go in more frequently.

[ash_k]

They aren't even comparable. Terrence Williams was a SENIOR who, until his last season at Louisville, shot worse than 50% TS%.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on the other hand is a FRESHMAN who is currently shooting 56% TS%, 22 PER, and is playing for the best team in the nation.

Yes they are, they have the same skills set.
Those TS% or PER numbers dont show the skill set of a player

Almost everyone in the world can throw a basketball at the hoop. In that sense we all have the same shooting skillset or whatever. Some people can hit a lot more of those shots than other people. They will have higher true shooting %'s. That's one way we know that some people are better shooters than other people. Even though they are both shooting a basketball, one of them is better than the other because his shots go in more frequently.

Cmon I thought your knowledge of basketball was a little bit more sophisticated than that

Do you remember the skillset of T-Will? what he was bringing to the court (on the court)? what he could do..well if you remember that you will see the similarities with MKG.

T-Will was picked 11 ..not too bad, wouldnt you say?!

[StopitLeo]

Anyone else feel Barnes is a bit overrated?

[ash_k]

If you think that a reasonable prediction for MKG is a bench player, you're also way off. He projects to be a starter in the NBA. A guy similar to prime Gerald Wallace, or a more explosive Luol Deng.

A more explosive Luol Deng? Seriously?
Deng is much bigger and longer than MKG plus he is much (much) better shooter than he is.

You could compare Barnes to Deng in a way but not MKG.

Calling him a poor man's G-Wallace is not far off but MKG is much smaller than Crash (with his narrow shoulder)