The 2012 NBA Draft: 6th & 11th picks, and some random 2nds.

[Goldbum]

Lamb, Ross and Beal are all clear upgrades at SG and are easily obtainable in this draft. We should look to move wesley matthews for another player and draft one of these three SGs and give elliot the full time backup role if healthy. im not convinced wesley is starting quality on a winning team but hes young and on a decent contract. What would his trade value be?

I would draft Lamb at11 and trade Wes for Asik.

[jebdrbhjb]

Nolan Smith isn't a PG, he's a combo guard with little upside. That pick will never make sense.

Now we know Loosh isn't really Chad Buchanan.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Lamb, Ross and Beal are all clear upgrades at SG and are easily obtainable in this draft. We should look to move wesley matthews for another player and draft one of these three SGs and give elliot the full time backup role if healthy. im not convinced wesley is starting quality on a winning team but hes young and on a decent contract. What would his trade value be?

I would draft Lamb at11 and trade Wes for Asik.

I would too, but I don't see Lamb falling to 11

[fishnc]

Why not take 2 shots at such a player in this draft?

By most accounts you have Davis in a tier all by himself and then 8-10 players or so grouped in a 2nd tier...If we agree that POR needs top tier talent, wouldn't the best option be to double down and take 2 swings at hitting on ONE of those 2 players? and then hey maybe you hit on both, or maybe Batum or E-Will develop into that 3rd role or more....but at least you get 1 top tier guy at all of that and IMO taking 2 chances in this draft is the best way to go, rather than punting on one pick for a rotaion player....

I only see rotation players available at 11. I see Davis in a tier by himself. Then I see Beal, Drummond, Robinson, MKG, and Barnes in their own tier. Then I see another 8-10 players that will be solid rotation players. Could there be some potential stars in that group? Certainly. Anything is possible. But they are long shots. You are much more likely to miss than to hit. That's why I would prefer the team go BPA at 6 and fill a positional need at 11. By filling a need at 11 you can save some money in FA for a big offer to someone like Gordon or Harden next year.

EDIT: Also, I want to make it clear what I'm saying. If teams start reaching in picks 7-10 and a player like Lamb or Sullinger drops, I would not advocate taking Marshall over one of them. I'm for taking Marshall over players like Perry Jones, Austin Rivers, Tony Wroten, etc.

[Toronto_Blazers]

What do people here think about Dion Waiters? He's an undersized two-guard but I've been pretty impressed with his skill especially his ability to get to and attack the rim - which is something we truly lack.

I wouldn't mind grabbing him with the 11th pick

[LOOSH]

I'm not that high on Waiters, I like his ability to get to the rack and he seems to go pretty hard, but he's short with very little lift. Reminds me of a mini-Tyreke Evans sort of. I think he could be a nice player off the bench, maybe a Stuckey type, but I'm not crazy about his upside. Would rather go in a different direction at 11.

[BigPuma]

I don't watch a lot of college basketball other than UNC, but I feel like I have a pretty good sense of the carolina guys, having watched almost every heels game the last 2 years. I would love for us to get Zeller or Marshall (or both, though I don't think either of them is really worth #6) I am really scared of getting stuck with Barnes. I also think that Henson will struggle in the NBA.

To me, I foresee Barnes being a lot like Martell webster was for the blazers. He can shoot if he is open, and he can use the pump fake and take 1 or 2 dribbles and shoot. But if his man is already closed out on him and doesn't buy the pump fake, he doesn't really have the ability to get to the basket or create. He was awful for UNC before Marshall was the point guard and he had to create for himself. Once Marshall took over and barnes got the ball in good spots, he started to make some plays. To me it seems like barnes is still being overrated because of his rating as the #1 recruit coming out of high school, but I don't think his play at UNC really warrants a top 10 pick.

Marshall is one of my favorite UNC players of all time. He is just a GREAT passer. Absolutely brilliant. His vision is unmatched. And his offensive skills really aren't that bad. It was more that he was reluctant to shoot or score, not that he couldn't. At the end of the last season when teams were dropping off him and daring him to score, he was actually pretty effective. He won't be a great defender in the NBA, and he won't be a great scorer, but I think he will be the type of player that helps a team win.

I think Zeller will be really solid as well. Not a superstar, but definitely a starting center for a long time. He is excellent at running the court, and I think pairing him up with lamarcus could really take advantage of any slow big men that try to defend them.

Henson is so skinny that I just don't think he will be effective in the NBA. He really doesn't have great skills as far as ball handling or shooting, though he kind of willed himself to a decent jump shot last season. He still shot less than 50% on free throws, so you can't say he has much touch. His length is great, but I think he will get overpowered by NBA size big men.

I wince every time I see a mock draft having us taking Barnes at 6. I think that would be a big mistake. In my mind both Zeller and Marshall will be better pros. I hope we get one of those 2 at 11...

[PDXKnight]

What do people here think about Dion Waiters? He's an undersized two-guard but I've been pretty impressed with his skill especially his ability to get to and attack the rim - which is something we truly lack.

I wouldn't mind grabbing him with the 11th pick

I like him a lot.

[PDXKnight]

I don't watch a lot of college basketball other than UNC, but I feel like I have a pretty good sense of the carolina guys, having watched almost every heels game the last 2 years. I would love for us to get Zeller or Marshall (or both, though I don't think either of them is really worth #6) I am really scared of getting stuck with Barnes. I also think that Henson will struggle in the NBA.

To me, I foresee Barnes being a lot like Martell webster was for the blazers. He can shoot if he is open, and he can use the pump fake and take 1 or 2 dribbles and shoot. But if his man is already closed out on him and doesn't buy the pump fake, he doesn't really have the ability to get to the basket or create. He was awful for UNC before Marshall was the point guard and he had to create for himself. Once Marshall took over and barnes got the ball in good spots, he started to make some plays. To me it seems like barnes is still being overrated because of his rating as the #1 recruit coming out of high school, but I don't think his play at UNC really warrants a top 10 pick.

Marshall is one of my favorite UNC players of all time. He is just a GREAT passer. Absolutely brilliant. His vision is unmatched. And his offensive skills really aren't that bad. It was more that he was reluctant to shoot or score, not that he couldn't. At the end of the last season when teams were dropping off him and daring him to score, he was actually pretty effective. He won't be a great defender in the NBA, and he won't be a great scorer, but I think he will be the type of player that helps a team win.

I think Zeller will be really solid as well. Not a superstar, but definitely a starting center for a long time. He is excellent at running the court, and I think pairing him up with lamarcus could really take advantage of any slow big men that try to defend them.

Henson is so skinny that I just don't think he will be effective in the NBA. He really doesn't have great skills as far as ball handling or shooting, though he kind of willed himself to a decent jump shot last season. He still shot less than 50% on free throws, so you can't say he has much touch. His length is great, but I think he will get overpowered by NBA size big men.

I wince every time I see a mock draft having us taking Barnes at 6. I think that would be a big mistake. In my mind both Zeller and Marshall will be better pros. I hope we get one of those 2 at 11...

Not a fan of Marhsall or Zeller. Marshall never really wowed me but when it comes to Zeller I think he could either turn into K love or Cole Aldrich, and I think the latter is more likely. I don't see Zeller being much of a pro. As far as Barnes goes I think he has plenty more game than Martell Webster and I will stand by that. I do have AD, Beal, and MKG ahead of him though. He's a solid four on my board.

[mojomarc]

Terrence Ross reminds me of Nick Young quite a bit, can get his shot off and capable of some big time scoring output, but a bit reckless with the ball and a not a good finisher

I see a lot more athleticism from him than I do from Lillard. At number 11 I'm willing to risk that he can't figure things out. I would've thought Nic Young would pan out considering that he had all the physical skills on paper. I think Ross is worth a shot and at 11 we're much better off taking a risk than at 6. If we can get one of the big five (as I like to think of them) at number 6 then we will probably be fine taking Ross at 11. I wouldn't be too upset if Waiters is our man either.

Just to point out--the major knocks on Stephen Curry when he came out were that he was a mid-major player who didn't face tough competition, he was undersized and unathletic, and he was a combo guard. I don't know about you, but I would love to have a player like Stephen Curry to compliment LMA. Especially a player who is nearly a 50/40/90 player, which in the past has been almost the gold standard guarantee of significant contribution in the NBA in the past. I'd prefer to get him at 11 as well, but I have little doubt he would improve our perimeter offense greatly.

[fishnc]

Not a fan of Marhsall or Zeller. Marshall never really wowed me but when it comes to Zeller I think he could either turn into K love or Cole Aldrich, and I think the latter is more likely. I don't see Zeller being much of a pro. As far as Barnes goes I think he has plenty more game than Martell Webster and I will stand by that. I do have AD, Beal, and MKG ahead of him though. He's a solid four on my board.

No offense, but I gather from your post that you don't know much about any of the UNC players.

[Blaze01]

I only see rotation players available at 11. I see Davis in a tier by himself. Then I see Beal, Drummond, Robinson, MKG, and Barnes in their own tier. Then I see another 8-10 players that will be solid rotation players. Could there be some potential stars in that group? Certainly. Anything is possible. But they are long shots. You are much more likely to miss than to hit. That's why I would prefer the team go BPA at 6 and fill a positional need at 11. By filling a need at 11 you can save some money in FA for a big offer to someone like Gordon or Harden next year.

You could say that about Barnes, Robinson, Drummond, Beal or MKG as well....

I think guys like P.Jones, J.Lamb, J.Sullinger, A.Rivers are very similar in terms of positive\upside and question marks.

and I think any one or more of T.Jones, D.Waiters, T.Ross, D.Lillard or M.Harkless could sneak into the top 10 and bounce 1-2 of those guys down to #11...or POR could take one of them at #11, all of them are intriguing and have good upside potential....

[PDXKnight]

Terrence Ross reminds me of Nick Young quite a bit, can get his shot off and capable of some big time scoring output, but a bit reckless with the ball and a not a good finisher

I see a lot more athleticism from him than I do from Lillard. At number 11 I'm willing to risk that he can't figure things out. I would've thought Nic Young would pan out considering that he had all the physical skills on paper. I think Ross is worth a shot and at 11 we're much better off taking a risk than at 6. If we can get one of the big five (as I like to think of them) at number 6 then we will probably be fine taking Ross at 11. I wouldn't be too upset if Waiters is our man either.

Just to point out--the major knocks on Stephen Curry when he came out were that he was a mid-major player who didn't face tough competition, he was undersized and unathletic, and he was a combo guard. I don't know about you, but I would love to have a player like Stephen Curry to compliment LMA. Especially a player who is nearly a 50/40/90 player, which in the past has been almost the gold standard guarantee of significant contribution in the NBA in the past. I'd prefer to get him at 11 as well, but I have little doubt he would improve our perimeter offense greatly.

50/40/90?

[DusterBuster]

50/40/90?

50% FG / 40% 3pt / 90% FT

[PDXKnight]

50/40/90?

50% FG / 40% 3pt / 90% FT

Ah. I think those last two are overblown a bit. It seems like the defacto guys in the league have one thing in common: they can all score near the basket. if we can find the best inside scorer for a guard at 11 I'd be quite happy. I guess that's one of the reasons I value Kidd-Gilchrist so highly. MKG can play denfense, has an above average inside game, and can do just about everything, three qualities which aren't so bad to have in terms of success rate. I'm praying for a miracle at number 6 on draft day. Not saying it'll happen but a guy can dream.

[DusterBuster]

I like MKG a lot as well, but I don't see any way he lasts until 6. For the most part, I think the top 4 of this draft is set already. Davis obviously goes 1. Robinson has had great predraft workouts and is the most NBA ready big outside of Davis in this draft, so he's going 2 (any Bobcats fan saying otherwise is kiddin themselves). Then MKG and Beal are going 3 and 4, not sure in which order, but it'll be those two at those spots.

The wildcats in this draft is Sacramento.

[GreenRiddler]

I like MKG a lot as well, but I don't see any way he lasts until 6. For the most part, I think the top 4 of this draft is set already. Davis obviously goes 1. Robinson has had great predraft workouts and is the most NBA ready big outside of Davis in this draft, so he's going 2. Then MKG and Beal are going 3 and 4, not sure in which order, but it'll be those two at those spots.

The wildcats in this draft is Sacramento.

Also the Bobcats, cause with Jordan you never know...also Thomas Robinson could fall to #5 with Barnes or Lamb pushing him out of the 4. I doubt Was or Cle take T-Rob.

1.) Davis
2.) MKG
3.) Beal
4.) Lamb/Barnes
OR
1.) Davis
2.)Barnes
3.)MKG
4.)Beal

Still to early to tell without workouts and Combines.

[DusterBuster]

I think it's a HUGE stretch to think the Bobcats would take Barnes at 2. So much so that I'd consider completely unrealistic.

They could go with MKG, but from everything I've read, he would have to really blow them away for them to pass on Robinson. TRob has just been stellar in every workout/evaluation hes had and from what I've read, he's about as close to a lock at 2 as there is in this draft outside of Davis.

I just don't see the Bobcats as the wildcard you do based on what I've read.

[GreenRiddler]

I think it's a HUGE stretch to think the Bobcats would take Barnes at 2. So much so that I'd consider completely unrealistic.

They could go with MKG, but from everything I've read, he would have to really blow them away for them to pass on Robinson. TRob has just been stellar in every workout/evaluation hes had and from what I've read, he's about as close to a lock at 2 as there is in this draft outside of Davis.

I just don't see the Bobcats as the wildcard you do based on what I've read.

What workout has Robinson had? I still think Jordan could reach for a Drummond or a Barnes even Beal. After individual workouts

[GreenRiddler]

If y'all want to have a good laugh got to DX and look at there best/worst case scenarios...they just updated them, pretty funny stuff, MKG best Iguodala worst G-Wallace what?