Post#802 » by Dat2U » Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:26 pm
Updated Tiers: Final list
TIERone surefire All-Stars/franchise players.
PF Anthony Davis ... duh!
TIERtwo potential All-Stars.
SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist ... has solidly been my second choice since December. Safest pick in the draft outside of Davis. I think he's a walking double/double in the NBA. Will rebound at the SF position much like Marion did in his prime. Ideal SF length. At 18 yrs old and 233 lbs will bully many other SFs in time. Best finisher in the draft class. Not an elite ball handler but he can attack off the bounce and get to the rack with consistency. The eye-popping hitch on his J is the one question that remains unanswered.
TIERthree NBA All-Star potential, but all have significant weaknesses that could keep them from living up to it.
SG Bradley Beal ... I've come to the opinion that he's a better athlete than I and many give him credit for. No one rebounds as well as he does for a 6-4 G without some bounce in his step. Pure looking stroke but in college he had just okay results. But importantly he finished out the year on an upwards tick as he begun to assert himself more. More polished and mature than the typical 18 yr old. Handle is a work in progress. Has shown he can create off the bounce but it's not a major part of his game yet. The purity of his shot will determine his level of success IMO.
SG Dion Waiters ... Slick, smooth ball handler with power. Has a little Arenas to his game in that it's like he's driving down hill towards the basket. If he gets on your hip, he's got you. Not blazing fast but changes speeds like a vet. Looks ideal for the Harden, Ginobili, Terry role as a facilitator in a 6th man role where he creates for himself and others. Played the same role at Syracuse. Not a pure 1 or 2, just a lead guard. Shot is a bit inconsistent and he did have maturity issues his frosh season before coming back rededicated this past season.
CE Andre Drummond ... Great size and wingspan. Incredibly agile athlete for a man his size. A freak a nature very much in the Kwame mold. Just a kid in a lot of ways and honestly he needs teaching more than anything else. Incredibly raw but the upside is very high. Already a solid pick & role defender and individual defender due to his lateral quickness and able to attack the offensive glass. Everything else is a work in progress. He'll need to coddled and coached up as confidence seemed to waver at times. Will need to go the right organization in order to succeed. Not sure the Wizards are the right situation.
PG Damian Lillard ... Quick, skilled and intelligent decision maker are the words to best describe him. Best PG in the draft by far. Devastatingly efficient scorer showing excellent range and stroke. Not an explosive athlete IMO but has solid first step and shows the ability to excel in P&R situations early on. Level of competition is a concern but he did flat out dominate.
PF Thomas Robinson ... Will rebound at a high level, that's a guarantee. But the rest of his game is not as clear. A below the rim player. Will throw a dunk with ferocity if he gets two steps but relies much more on quickness than hops. Has a nose for the ball but offensively he's not a great finisher or very skilled. Developing face up game but his jumper needs a lot of work. 2 pt% in college is a red flag. So are the blocks. Will likely transition to a complementary role in time but if he gets the minutes a double/double is very possible.
TIERfour potential starters or quality depth off the bench.
PF John Henson ... Incredibly long potential game changer defensively. Outside of Davis, the best defensive player in the draft. Ability to add weight is a concern.
SG Jeremy Lamb … Ideal sized two guard with developed mid range game. Basically Nick Young with about 20% higher IQ. Doesn’t like to get his uniform dirty. Not a rebounder or much of a passer. This was supposed to be his team and his year and UConn flopped. Some responsibility should fall on him.
SF Harrison Barnes … I’ve bashed him so much that I’ve failed to properly acknowledge he’ll likely play in the NBA for the next 10 seasons. But as a role player and contributor than a difference maker. But in the short term he’ll get shots up and will get you a decent ppg per game on low efficiency. I think his efficiency could improve in a lower usage role as a spot up shooter?
SF Quincy Miller … This is more of a projection. I thought he showed flashes at times of being incredibly versatile and skilled as an oversized 3 but really struggled at times to create space for himself because his athleticism wasn’t quite there. Wasn’t all the way back from an ACL tear. Will he get that athleticism back? Was never an elite athlete to begin with. Can he expand his range to the NBA 3? Elite size for a 3. Can he defend quicker 3s?
PF Terrence Jones ... Versatile stretch 4 with a bit of the Antoine Walker gene. But deserves a lot of credit for playing more under control this year and cutting down on the mental lapses. Lacks ideal length but at over 250 lbs, he's very mobile for his size.
PF Andrew Nicholson ... Another versatile stretch 4 with a silky smooth outside game. Arguably most skilled big in the draft in terms of shot creation and shot making ability. Looks like a 3 but has acceptable length at PF. My biggest question is how well he’ll defend in the NBA, didn’t defend much in college.
CE Tyler Zeller … Standing reach is a major concern… even if it’s 1.5 to 2 inches taller than the listed 8’8”. What he does have going for him his high activity level and polish as a mature senior. Upside isn’t quite to the level of the other big men but for next season at least, outside of Davis, Zeller will have the biggest impact among rookie bigs.
SG Will Barton … Tough to get a handle on, rebounds like a freak at 175 lbs soaking weight. Motor runs high. Shot is improving better inconsistent. Probably worth betting on.
SG Austin Rivers … I’ve softened my stance on Rivers. Has NBA level first step and developed handle. Can get in the lane at will but his decision making leans selfish when he gets there. Needs to be a more willing passer otherwise he’s just the next unconscious gunner. His pedigree would indicate he should be able to make this switch. Not an elite athlete and undersized for a 2. He’s got one thing over many other players, confidence… and often that’s half the battle, as long as he avoids the MJ complex.
CE Meyers Leonard … Similar to Drummond in that he desperately needs to be coached up. Offensive skills not quite as raw but he’s also 2 yrs older than Drummond. Lacks confidence at times and defensively he can ran through like Javale on his worst day. Can also create havoc defensively with his ability to protect the rim. Your typical boom or bust big.
PF Perry Jones III … I’ve cooled on him considerably. Top notch physical specimen with ideal basketball body but the motor just goes half speed far too much. I figure he’ll tease here and there but inevitably he’s setting up folks for disappointment. He may not like being a PF, but he is one. Skills are excellent for a big man but meh for a perimeter player.
TIERfive potential role players but all have significant weaknesses that could keep them from being in a regular rotation. Roster depth.
PF Arnett Moultrie … Top 10 pick in terms of athleticism & size. Cat quick for legit 6-11 guy, can finish well around the basket. Skillset is a work in progress, still a bit raw in terms of a face up game. Showed improved range out to college 3 but on very limited attempts. Motor runs low on defense a times. Questionable attitude and maturity. Can get down on teammates and self.
CE Jared Sullinger … Back issues. May need surgery? Can he consistently play with a high motor? Who does he defend, 4s or 5s? I think he’s got the offensive skill to contribute in the pick and pop game.
SG Terrence Ross … Nice pure looking stroke, excellent athlete but doesn’t get rim. Doesn’t get to the line at all. Solid tools defensively but stuck b/w positions. Doesn’t have the handle of a 2 or the ideal size of a SF.
SF Jae Crowder … Undersized SF with impeccable work ethic. Simply a baller. Good 3 pt shooter & ferocious rebounder with limited handle but aware of his limitations. Would not be surprised one bit if he carves out a Jared Dudley type career.
PF Draymond Green … Measured out surprisingly well as an undersized PF. That’s more realistic than him playing full time on the perimeter. Jack of all trades, but master of none. Natural leader on and off the court. Will be a great teammate.
PG Marquis Teague … Work in progress. Really not ready. Brother of Jeff Teague. A lighting quick athlete. Made better decisions with the ball in his hands as the year progressed after a terrible start. Should have stayed another year and may have been a lottery pick with natural progression. Will likely need to sit for a year or two and work on his game.
SF Evan Fournier … Solid 2/3. Can handle the rock and operate in pick & rolls situations. A slasher overseas but may not have the top notch athleticism to rely on his slashing ability against NBA comp. Inconsistent jumper. Value would be higher if he can knock down 3s with consistency.
TIERsix Guys with raw talent but significant flaws. Basically your taking a flier and hoping for a rotation player. Roster filler.
PF Royce White … Uniquely skilled big. Off court issues are well vetted. On court, had the offense run through him in college. Excellent passing ability and ball-handling for a big, but way too turnover prone. Doesn’t have a jump shot to rely upon. Undersized too. Will need to make major adjustments to his game to succeed in the NBA.
PG Kendall Marshall … Elite PG skills. Elite court vision. Knows how to run an offense. Best natural PG in college period. Unfortunately, he’s a marginal NBA athlete will little in the way of shot creation skills. Won’t be able to break down defensives on the NBA level. Who does he defend on the NBA court? Maybe he’ll succeed in a reserve role?
SF Moe Harkless … Excellent athlete and ideal size as a SF. Plays with a high motor and rebounds at a high level. Ideal defensive tools, but offensive game needs a ton of work. A bit of project. No real jumper as of yet and not a great finisher either. Has okay handle for a SF but right now he looks like Wilson Chandler without a jumper.
PG Tony Wroten … Ideal combination of size and athleticism for a guard. Stuck in b/w two positions. Ball dominate guard with ability to make the flashy pass. Has no idea how to run a team. A train wreck of a PG right now. Broke jump-shot. Basically, he’s Tyreke Evans lite.
SF Jeff Taylor … Much improved shooter as a senior. Always been an elite athlete. So-so ballhandler. Key to sticking is knocking down 3s with consistency. Will be a solid defender.
CE Kyle O’Quinn … Legit C size. Smart, heady player who dominated lower competition and excelled in the NCAA tourney. High IQ player who should be able to contribute in spot minutes off the bench.
CE Festus Ezeli … Brendan Haywood type C with legit size and solid mobility. Suspect hands, and limited offensive game. Already an NBA quality defender in the post. Question will be whether he can improve as a rebounder. Was slowed due to suspension and injury this year.
THE BEST OF THE REST you gotta pick somebody. NBDL talent.
SG Marcus Denmon
SF Hollis Thompson
SG Kim English
SG John Jenkins
PF Drew Gordon
SG Doron Lamb
PG Tu Holloway
SG Orlando Johnson
PG Scott Machado
PF John Surna
GUYS I WOULD NOT DRAFT
CE Fab Melo ... He thinks the game slowly…. Very bad sign.
CE Miles Plumlee … I don’t care what type of athlete he is. He was nothing more than a grunt in college.
SG Kevin Murphy … very mediocre numbers against marginal competition
SG William Buford … Simply not an NBA level talent. Was merely an average college player.
