2012 NBA Draft Prospects

[yoshii8]

I'd like to start Zeller w/ Larry Sanders, or Ekpe Udoh. I think they would work well together.

I agree abaout Meyers Leonard, but I think think Zeller's going to be a lot better player than you think he is.

[LUKE23]

What current players production do you see him around?

[Badgerlander]

I really doubt that Zeller contributes much next year. The majority of his points came on fast breaks as he averaged 1 jump shot per game. I like Vucevic more then Zeller and Vuc avg 15.9 minutes. I don't think Zeller will be as good of a rebounder in the NBA and he won't be able to protect the rim. He'll basically have to flop a lot and be a help defender until he gets some bulk which I doubt he adds more then 10lbs over the next few years. I think he's a brighter Robin Lopez really.

[emunney]

I'd rather throw a few mil at Stiemsma then draft any of the Centers available at #12

I'd still pick Drummond if he somehow slips, though.

[Badgerlander]

I'd rather throw a few mil at Stiemsma then draft any of the Centers available at #12

I'd still pick Drummond if he somehow slips, though.

I would too but I doubt he drops past 5 or so.

[yoshii8]

Maybe around the same production as Al Horford.

[LUKE23]

Maybe around the same production as Al Horford.

I think that may be a stretch, but he could maybe match him offensively (13.7 ppg @ .574 TS, probably not that efficient though). Defensively it's definitely a stretch. I guess that's my biggest issue with Zeller. I want a rim protector at C. I don't think Zeller can do that. I think Sanders can (obviously he still has to work on foul trouble). I really don't think Zeller is any more of a net positive for us than Sanders factoring in both ends.

[Badgerlander]

I think he's just a taller Hansbrough productionwise

[Badgerlander]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/blog/_/n ... s-position
Top 10 NBA prospects by position By Chad Ford

Point guards

Comments: It's a very weak point guard class this year. We don't have any PGs ranked in the top 10 and just one in the lottery. We had to include three players ranked in the 70s just to get an entire top 10.

The class gets a wee bit better if you classify Dion Waiters here, as Fran Fraschilla did on Monday in our draft blog. Waiters would be No. 2 if you classified him as a 1 and could very possibly be the first PG off the board. Wroten and Teague may have the most potential of anyone on the list, but neither player is considered NBA-ready, which will hurt their stock.

I think you have to consider Rivers and Waiters combo guards, maybe you start them off at SG off the bench but if they can play PG they are much more valuable. I'd love to take a look at Waiters, and work him out against Rivers. Wroten is interesting but I think I'd rather have Will Barton.

Shooting guards

Comments: This is the second-strongest position in the draft. There are potentially four to five lottery picks here, and even the players ranked at the bottom end of the list have real potential. Beal is clearly the No. 1 SG off the board.

However, Lamb, Rivers, Waiters and Ross are in a real scrum. I think you'll see a number of teams invite all four players to come in and work head-to-head. Lamb has the ideal size and length. Rivers and Waiters are big-time scorers. Ross is the best shooter of the group.

Barton may be the big sleeper here. I've heard a few teams have him much higher on their draft boards.

Would be very happy with JLamb, Waiters, Ross, or Barton. Beal too of course but we won't move up.

Small forwards
Comments: Everyone talks about the need for centers and big men in the draft, but the biggest drought in the NBA comes at the small forward position. According to John Hollinger's PER stats, only 18 small forwards posted a PER of 15 or higher this season. That was the fewest of any position in the league. This year both Kidd-Gilchrist and Barnes are players who could sneak into that group eventually. Miller and Harkless are both young and underprepared, but have big upsides.

White is the real enigma of the draft. He could be great or he could be a bust. No one is quite sure which he'll be.

Miller and Harkless are right up Hammonds history of taking projects. I hope we bring White in too.

Power forwards
Comments: The strongest position in the draft, by far, is at the power forward position. There are seven potential lottery picks in this group, along with the No. 1 pick in the draft. The interesting thing about this group is that no two players are really alike. They all bring very different strengths to the table and, with the possible exception of Davis, significant weaknesses too.

While Davis and Robinson are very likely to be the first two PFs off the board, there's a pretty huge scrum between Perry and Terrence Jones, Sullinger and Henson. Those four can probably expect to see each other a lot in workouts.

I think Henson drops, just based on Ed Davis and Brandon Wrights production.

Centers
Comments: The center position is pretty sketchy. Drummond is the best prospect on the board, but there is significant risk involved. Zeller should be solid. Leonard and Melo both have significant upsides but are far from NBA-ready. The rest of the group are career backups at best. If you don't desperately need a center this year, I'd pass.

You hear that Hammond? As much as I think we aren't desperate, I worry that Hammond thinks we are.

[LUKE23]

150% agree on the center position. I really don't think anyone we could take at 12 at C is better than Sanders. I really don't. I'm going to be pretty upset if we end up going that direction. I really like the SG crop though.

[tski1972]

Power forwards
Comments: The strongest position in the draft, by far, is at the power forward position. There are seven potential lottery picks in this group, along with the No. 1 pick in the draft. The interesting thing about this group is that no two players are really alike. They all bring very different strengths to the table and, with the possible exception of Davis, significant weaknesses too.

While Davis and Robinson are very likely to be the first two PFs off the board, there's a pretty huge scrum between Perry and Terrence Jones, Sullinger and Henson. Those four can probably expect to see each other a lot in workouts.

good thing we need a PF.

[Nebula1]

Bucks need a SG.

This draft has 3 players, the way I see it.

= upside impact

Davis = Duncan
MKG = Wade
Beal = Allen


Other than those 3, the rest are hopefuls and I would like to see the Bucks take Lamb at the least. Sullinger is another Gooden and Jones III has an upside of Aldridge but is extremely unlikely to achieve that level. Guys like Barnes and Robinson have a chance to make impacts and there are a couple other intriguing players but I'm still disappointed the Bucks didn't try to get into the top 3.

[ReasonablySober]

Confusing comparisons, Neb.

[Baddy Chuck]

Confusing comparisons, Neb.

I agree.

Davis = Duncan?
MKG = Wade?
Jones III = Aldridge?

[emunney]

I don't think Beal is the type of player who'll shine in workouts. It'll be interesting to see what happens when these guys start going head to head.

I agree with [gulp] Fran Fraschilla. I think Waiters will play point and has a very high ceiling there.

[Nebula1]

Confusing comparisons, Neb.

Comparison in terms of prospect quality impact to their team at a relative position. Davis is not Duncan, but I think he will have that level of impact for his team and potentially the NBA. MKG reminds me of Wade in terms of talent level and his likely impact. Beal reminds of Ray Allen in the same sense.

In essence, Gold = Davis, Silver = MKG, Beal and the rest bronze or worse

Those 3 are the real prizes and should be the top 3 picks in that order.

2011 draft = gold = Irving, no silver, bronze = Williams, Thompson, Biyombo, Knight, Harris, Burks
2010 draft = No gold, no silver, bronze = Wall, Turner, Favors, Cousins, Monroe, Udoh, Hayward, George
2009 draft = No gold, silver = Griffin, Harden, Rubio, Jennings, bronze = Evans, Holiday, Lawson
2008 draft = gold = Rose, Love, silver = Westbrook, Gordon, bronze = Beasley, Mayo

It's obviously not static, but in the 2012 draft, it's Davis, MKG, and Beal as the top of the class followed by a number of bronze level guys. Barnes and Robinson headline the bronze class imo.

Prospect Label

Gold = HOF, multiple AS (Duncan)
Silver = multiple AS, possible HOF (Wade, Allen)
Bronze = 1-2 AS, specialist

[Nebula1]

In terms of Perry Jones, I do think his upside is Lamarcus Aldridge, but do not put much faith that he will get there. I'd like to see Jones show up to summer workouts with bigger legs as a start.

[Baddy Chuck]

Not just their size, but their skill sets are absolute nothing alike.

[Nebula1]

Not just their size, but their skill sets are absolute nothing alike.

Jones and Aldridge? They are similar. Mid-range jumping PFs, slim in the legs who play more upright, but run the floor. Aldridge got pushed around early in his career, but found his power as a player. I'm not confident Jones will ever find that power and I don't think Jones will achieve what Aldridge has.

[Baddy Chuck]

They are absolutely not similar.