Official Raptors 2012 NBA Draft Thread, Part 12

[fredericklove]

Isnt Noel a better shotblocker then Anthony Davis? Id say hes pretty special if thats the case. I agree that the next draft isnt as strong as this one though

They said he's a very very good shotblocker, he reads the defense good but I don't see him better than Davis at it though. Davis' mobility is so much quicker than Noel, thus he's able to react to his surrounding faster. He also jumps alot quicker and really uses most of his length same time, thus where I think he's a more effective shot-blocker than Noel cos he reacts quicker (read quicker), more bouncy, and most importantly, w/ his length and quickness, he covers the paint area better than Noel.

[Al_Oliver]

Isnt Noel a better shotblocker then Anthony Davis? Id say hes pretty special if thats the case. I agree that the next draft isnt as strong as this one though

They said he's a very very good shotblocker, he reads the defense good but I don't see him better than Davis at it though. Davis' mobility is so much quicker than Noel, thus he's able to react to his surrounding faster. He also jumps alot quicker and really uses most of his length same time, thus where I think he's a more effective shot-blocker than Noel cos he reacts quicker (read quicker), more bouncy, and most importantly, w/ his length and quickness, he covers the paint area better than Noel.

The Unibrowser thinks Nerlens is a better shotblocker...

http://www.wtvq.com/mostpopular/story/D ... FC--w.cspx

[FluLikeSymptoms]

Looking to '13 I'm seeing Shabazz, Noel and some other frosh, Tony Mitchell, Cody Zeller, Trey Burke and some other sophs, two years worth of internationals, really, and calling it a decent-looking draft. But I also wouldn't be surprised to see Noel stay a couple years and that would change a lot.

[nahom1319]

Isnt Noel a better shotblocker then Anthony Davis? Id say hes pretty special if thats the case. I agree that the next draft isnt as strong as this one though

They said he's a very very good shotblocker, he reads the defense good but I don't see him better than Davis at it though. Davis' mobility is so much quicker than Noel, thus he's able to react to his surrounding faster. He also jumps alot quicker and really uses most of his length same time, thus where I think he's a more effective shot-blocker than Noel cos he reacts quicker (read quicker), more bouncy, and most importantly, w/ his length and quickness, he covers the paint area better than Noel.

+1 I saw Noel in the HoopSummit game, he's way to slow. He won't be able to patrol the paint as well as unibrow. He has a much thicker body though, if he puts in work he could be a more imposing player in the nba then unibrow no question.

[dagger]

Looking to '13 I'm seeing Shabazz, Noel and some other frosh, Tony Mitchell, Cody Zeller, Trey Burke and some other sophs, two years worth of internationals, really, and calling it a decent-looking draft. But I also wouldn't be surprised to see Noel stay a couple years and that would change a lot.

So far, the opinions of the media draft sites is that the 2013 draft will be epically bad. The high school class after Shabazz and Noel is awful, the international class is only marginally better than this years, and a two and done limit is still a possibility for 2013. You might get one or two good players at the top, but there will be no depth after that. Right now, Trey Burke isn't even being projected as a first round pick on DX.

[ATLTimekeeper]

I think there's some strong prospects at the top. Shabazz looks like a dominant wing scorer. The most talented SG prospect I've seen in a while. Noel I'm not sure about. He looked raw the two times I watched him play. Reminds me of Noah. Cody Zeller looks pretty decent. And then Dario Saric is really underrated at this point. He'll go top 5 if the buyout isn't a concern. That kid's way too talented to go mid to late first as he's currently projected. And then there's always guys that elevate their game and come out of nowhere.

[Gold Chain]

Which draftee has the ability to appease our Mason overlords?

[highscreen1]

dunno if this has been said before but, do you think drafting Lillard (or rivers) and signing Nash to teach him half court game in a couple of years would fix the pg situation for 4/6 years?
or Are they a waste of disposable talent at 8TH?

[bboyskinnylegs]

dunno if this has been said before but, do you think drafting Lillard (or rivers) and signing Nash to teach him half court game in a couple of years would fix the pg situation for 4/6 years?
or Are they a waste of disposable talent at 8TH?

The only PG prospect that I think would really benefit learning from Nash is Marshall. I think they both have truly elite court vision and playmaking ability, and see the game in somewhat the same way. That said, I wouldn't want to draft any of those three at #8.

[JamesNaismith]

I think there's some strong prospects at the top. Shabazz looks like a dominant wing scorer. The most talented SG prospect I've seen in a while. Noel I'm not sure about. He looked raw the two times I watched him play. Reminds me of Noah. Cody Zeller looks pretty decent. And then Dario Saric is really underrated at this point. He'll go top 5 if the buyout isn't a concern. That kid's way too talented to go mid to late first as he's currently projected. And then there's always guys that elevate their game and come out of nowhere.

It's funny that Isaiah Austin and Kyle Anderson aren"t getting more attention.

[CoachJReturns]

For some reason I now have my draft preferences at 8 being Lamb or PJ3. The weird part is I may want PJ3 on this team more. I think the lack elite talent on the club has me interested in us taking a gamble.

[deeps6x]

For some reason I now have my draft preferences at 8 being Lamb or PJ3. The weird part is I may want PJ3 on this team more. I think the lack elite talent on the club has me interested in us taking a gamble.

They are both gambles. I do think it probably comes down to BC picking one of these two. Unless GS passes on Barnes.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

I have a feeling we trade the 8th pick in a package for a sf, and then take on a contract to take Dallas's 17th pick and draft Marshall or Waiters.

[Al_Oliver]

For some reason I now have my draft preferences at 8 being Lamb or PJ3. The weird part is I may want PJ3 on this team more. I think the lack elite talent on the club has me interested in us taking a gamble.

Good call. Same reason why I like Waiters. He has that high upside potential too. Another Jay Bilas special...

[OAKLEY_2]

CoachJReturns wrote:For some reason I now have my draft preferences at 8 being Lamb or PJ3. The weird part is I may want PJ3 on this team more. I think the lack elite talent on the club has me interested in us taking a gamble.

Good call. Same reason why I like Waiters. He has that high upside potential too. Another Jay Bilas special...

I like Waiters as well. Not only does he have the superb tools and physique but he could replace Bayless giving us more salary for other needs. He is the only player outside of AD, MKG and Beal that looks to have real star potential. We passed on Lawson because of his size we cannot do the same here. Must keep the pick. Must draft this kid.

[Rhettmatic]

Chad Ford ‏@chadfordinsider
Next stop on draft workout tour: in Chicago today with Brad Beal, Andrew Nicholson, Miles Plumlee, Robbie Hummel, John Schurna

[Rhettmatic]

Warriors beat writer Tim Kawakami strongly believes Terrence Jones will get consideration at 7, assuming MKG is off the board:

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2 ... -or-trade/

In this scenario, I believe the Warriors would lean to Terrence Jones if he tests out as a SF–one reason he’s not pencilled in as a top-8-10 pick in the mock drafts is because he’s considered a PF, and he’s small for that position in the NBA.

Jones played PF this year at Kentucky, but he has some SF skills and played the power position because Kidd-Gilchrist was sure a pure SF.

If Jones can defend the 3 spot, he has the passing and rebounding talent that the GSWs would love to see from their SF… and what they don’t have with Dorell Wright.

That’s why the Warriors will want to see Jones in workouts with the true SFs–Perry Jones III and Barnes in particular–and if TJones can run and shoot with them, I’d think it’s likely the GSWs will select him.

Again, TJones might seem like a reach at 7, if you check the regular mock drafts out there.

But remember, the Warriors (mostly Jerry West) were sold on Klay Thompson at 11 early last year, even though he wasn’t generally mentioned as a top-15 pick in early-June, and didn’t blink before taking Thompson at 11 when the draft came.

They’re not regretting that one.

Of the others, I think Harkness has a similar appeal to the GSWs–if he can play the SF position, he brings a ton of toughness and the GSWs want and need toughness.

I’m not ruling Barnes and Perry Jones III out as candidates. That’s what the workouts are for.

But currently, I’d say that Terrence Jones and Harkness would be the leading SF candidates if the Warriors stay at 7, if either or both look like they can play that position.

[Rapsobsessed7]

I think Portland wants Drummond. If he's not there and taken in the top 5 and Barnes is on the board I see us moving up to get him

[fredericklove]

Warriors go get TJ3 yay! Lamb could fall to us then. But I worry about blazers though

[Double Helix]

With a few weeks to go I decided it was time to try and better quantify what I expect/hope for at 8 in a draft like this with some minimum requirements, some traits that I consider very positive in prospects, and some negatives that concern me about prospects. I was surprised (but not entirely) to see at the end of this that Jared Sullinger, if his measurements checked out, seemed like the best bet to succeed and be an above average player at his position with a minimum risk of busting. However, I determined that because of the glut of PFs here in Toronto and the amount of good-to-great PFs currently in the NBA at the moment... from a supply and demand perspective... Lamb edged him out for me.

I should preface this by telling you that what follows was designed primarily to help me choose between and weigh my favorite 4 prospects at 8. If a name isn't on here at 8 it's because I expect him to go higher or I don't believe he has the good upside/low downside I expect at 8. It's not all about the numbers. I picked these guys from watching them first. The numbers came second.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AT 8

ELITE PER/Advanced metrics
Lillard
Waiters
Sullinger

SOLID PER/Advanced metrics
Lamb
PJIII

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POSITIVES I VALUE

Clearly defined position and the body/athleticism to play it a special level
Lillard
Lamb
Sullinger (PF if his measurements check out)

Resume indicating above-average defensive potential
Waiters

Elite specialty of some kind that the player can fall back on and carve out a niche with while developing. A single trait that best defines the player.
Lillard (Efficient inside/out scoring potential)
Waiters (Iso machine)
Lamb (Good scorer that can fit into many different systems/team structures)
Sullinger (Classic 20/10 type on good efficiency)

Upside based on freakish size/build/athleticism that reminds me of a star
PJIII

Above average maturity/coachability for age
Lamb
Lillard
Sullinger

Intensity/competitiveness
Lillard
Sullinger
Waiters


NEGATIVES THAT CONCERN ME

Being significantly older or playing in a weaker conference than other pospects
Lillard

Tweener issues due to lack of height/skills/athleticism to play a clearly defined position
PJIII
Waiters

Lack of passing from a guard position or lack of rebounding/shot blocking from a power position
Lamb (Passing for a SG)
Sullinger (Blocking)
PJIII (Blocking)
Lillard (Passing for a PG)

Potentially negative attitude concerns that may be disruptive
Waiters

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONCLUSIONS

Lamb has 3 positives I value, a solid PER and 1 negative that worries me.

Lillard has 4 positives I value, an elite PER, and 2 negatives that worry but all of my knowledge from him and his positives comes from playing against inferior competition so that that knocks him down a little.

Sullinger has 4 positives I value, an elite PER, and 1 negative that concerns me.

Waiters has 3 positives I value, an elite PER, and 2 negatives that concern me.

PJIII has 1 positive I value, a solid PER, and 2 negatives that concern me.

------------------------------------------------------------

FINAL THOUGHTS

When I break it down like that I'm a little surprised (but not really) to see that my brain is telling me that if Sullinger measures out well that he would be the best mixture of upside and low-risk at 8. However, because of the glut at PF and the amount of good-to-great PFs currently in the NBA I give Lamb the edge ever so slightly. Lillard and Waiters are essentially tied in my judgment as a result of me not being impressed with Waiters attitude while also not being impressed with Lillard's opponents. PJII comes in last as a result of all having only 1 positive I value and 2 negatives that concern me.