2012 Orland Magic NBA draft thread ...

[The Real Dalic]

I wish we could make a move to get another top-20 pick ..

I'd really like to see us draft Kendall Marshall and a SF (Harkless?)

I would love to have one of Houston or Portland's picks in that #11-16 region.

I'm not sure what we could offer to those teams, Especially Portland. Portland would probably prefer to keep all of their picks since they're trying to rebuild. Maybe we could get something done with Houston that would also involve us getting Lee back.

[ADRajX]

I wish we could make a move to get another top-20 pick ..

I'd really like to see us draft Kendall Marshall and a SF (Harkless?)

I would love to have one of Houston or Portland's picks in that #11-16 region.

I'm not sure what we could offer to those teams, Especially Portland. Portland would probably prefer to keep all of their picks since they're trying to rebuild. Maybe we could get something done with Houston that would also involve us getting Lee back.

Yeah, Houston seems more realistic to deal with on draft night.

[blue and white]

apparently Toronto wants to move its pick maybe jj and the 19 can get it. #8 could be have a really good player there especially if we get a gm who can find hidden gems in the draft

[Neon1]

I wish we could make a move to get another top-20 pick ..

I'd really like to see us draft Kendall Marshall and a SF (Harkless?)

You're not getting Marshall without a late lotto pick (10-14).

[Truth24]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub-4KdhnYsU&feature=relmfu[/youtube]

[cb1115]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub-4KdhnYsU&feature=relmfu[/youtube]

His jumpshot looks a lot like Penny's.

[Cammo101]

If we get Harkless, I will be a happy man.

[MaxFischer]

I have no idea how so few people see this kids insane total skillset. Yes he needs to be a little more refined but his ball handling, ability to get looks off and elite quickness with the ball is absolutely at an elite level.

Doc, is that you? Otis?

Is it not? Can you actually argue that statement or do you at least have some cute GIF's to post instead of actual basketball discussion?

I will refrain from the GIF's and humor your obvious hyperbole when discussing Rivers' skill set. As someone who watched a fair amount of ACC basketball this season let's just say I was not as enamored with his "eliteness" as you seem to be. I saw a very young kid with a nice crossover. I also saw a kid who needs help on the defensive end, who only shot about 65% from the charity stripe, who only shot about 36% from the college three, and who only shot 43% from the floor. Now given his "elite quickness" and "ability to get off looks," wouldn't you think his fg% would (or should) be higher? at least a few percentage points? and we are not talking about facing NBA level defenders here either. And there was nothing about his game that I saw that would lead me to believe he could be a NBA PG. Passing is not his forte. He appears to be one that needs to play on the wing and then once he gets the ball he looks to get his own shot up. Just my opinion.

The kid may end being great, but his one OK college season did not have me as excited as you seem to be. And not that this is any great indicator, but I have yet to see a mock draft that has him in the top 10, and some have him out of the lottery.

[craig01]

Rivers may develop nicely as a combo guard.

His skill sets can be very good..... and given more individual freedom in the future, as opposed to being at Duke, those skill sets will evolve very well.

He is not an instinctive passer....and is instead a reactive passer.....but his future should be a bright one in the NBA.

[arkknight1988]

looking into the future i think monta ellis will come to orlando next summer. i think rivers would be a perfect compliment for him. i would trade ryan/jj+19 pick to move up and draft him.

our starting backcourt in 2013: ellis/rivers.

[Nemesis21]

looking into the future i think monta ellis will come to orlando next summer. i think rivers would be a perfect compliment for him. i would trade ryan/jj+19 pick to move up and draft him.

our starting backcourt in 2013: ellis/rivers.

Where is the defense?

[arkknight1988]

looking into the future i think monta ellis will come to orlando next summer. i think rivers would be a perfect compliment for him. i would trade ryan/jj+19 pick to move up and draft him.

our starting backcourt in 2013: ellis/rivers.

Where is the defense?

liggins as defender off the bench, run rivers/liggins when monta rests. can't be much worse than jameer and jrich

[fendilim]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub-4KdhnYsU&feature=relmfu[/youtube]

His jumpshot looks a lot like Penny's.

Haven't seen him play but base on the video, he might have a problem shooting over defenders. Doesn't seem to have much lift on his shot.

[Skin]

That video does not impress me at all. Anyone can make a highlight clip of them not missing a shot. Show me a steady stream without cutting off and I'll put more value into it.

[blue and white]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub-4KdhnYsU&feature=relmfu[/youtube]

His jumpshot looks a lot like Penny's.

Haven't seen him play but base on the video, he might have a problem shooting over defenders. Doesn't seem to have much lift on his shot.

he also looks to have handles about as good as jrich in this video

[Neon1]

I will refrain from the GIF's and humor your obvious hyperbole when discussing Rivers' skill set. As someone who watched a fair amount of ACC basketball this season let's just say I was not as enamored with his "eliteness" as you seem to be. I saw a very young kid with a nice crossover. I also saw a kid who needs help on the defensive end, who only shot about 65% from the charity stripe, who only shot about 36% from the college three, and who only shot 43% from the floor. Now given his "elite quickness" and "ability to get off looks," wouldn't you think his fg% would (or should) be higher? at least a few percentage points? and we are not talking about facing NBA level defenders here either.

The kid is a freshman. Is he an elite player right now? No. Nobody even implied that. I said he has an elite level basketball skillset, and he does. You will not find very many "experts" that would even dispute that. Steve Nash shot 41% & 42% also 2.2 and 3.7apg his FR and SO years (playing 24 & 30mpg) at SANTA CLARA.

He absolutely has the tools needed to develop into an exellent pro. That all depends on Rivers work ethic/maturity, the coaching (ie: giving him the ball and freedom to create and learn on the fly) and his willingness to accept the coaching.

Is the kid a lock or sure thing? No. But you cant develop a player that simply doesnt have the tools required to succeed. Rivers most definitely has the tools. His development will hinge on his mindframe and a coach with the patience to let him play through initial mistakes.

And there was nothing about his game that I saw that would lead me to believe he could be a NBA PG. Passing is not his forte. He appears to be one that needs to play on the wing and then once he gets the ball he looks to get his own shot up. Just my opinion.

That is an issue of his mindstate. He was playing at Duke the same way as HS, in score only mode. It very well may have even been his role for Duke. It would be different if he is playing the PG spot in the NBA (and with better players), its not like the kid cannot dribble against pressure or MAKE the passes (go look at the scouting videos), the kid can make all the passes. It's just a change of mindset for a kid like that, all of the ability needed is there.

The kid may end being great, but his one OK college season did not have me as excited as you seem to be. And not that this is any great indicator, but I have yet to see a mock draft that has him in the top 10, and some have him out of the lottery.

Tony Parker and MANU were projected where? Arenas? Kobe? Mike Redd? The list goes on and on. Where were Darko and Kwame projected? And besides all that we don't even have a lottery pick, so why would it matter? If we drafted him do you think we would be REACHING? We are looking for the BEST possible talent that might be in our reach. That is the goal here.

[The Real Dalic]

Not impressed with that Moe Harkless video eiither.

[tjm384]

Moe Harkless? Noe thanks!

[Blue_and_Whte]

Harkless = danny granger....quote me

[londoncollin]

Dion Waiters is somebody I'm really starting to like.