Official 2013 Draft Thread - Part I

[Nivek]

I would trade anyone on the roster for the right deal. At this moment, my preference would be to keep Beal and Wall, but I'd be willing to trade them too...for the right deal.

[Knighthonor]

hey what happen to Booker? havnt seen him lately.

I would trade Booker, Beal, Nene, and Jan for a lotto pick next season.

[mhd]

Heads up, Alex Len on Espn 2 tonight for Maryland-Northwestern

What a second half by Len and the Terps!

As a Terps fan, I wish Len would stay one more season because with added strength I think he could be the top pick in the draft. Also, Maryland could win it all in one season with this current squad IMO. The Terps are a very dominating rebounding team. Len plays with passion and he is getting better and better with added strength.

I'm also impressed with Dez Wells. He reminds me of Shannon Brown. Wells will be an NBA player who scores points in bunches IMO.

Another guy on the Terps who is very impressive is the freshman, Charles Mitchell. He's short but extremely strong and terrific on the glass.

I watched the Terps and thought that team is more balanced than the Wizards. They are better than UNC and they will finish no worse than third in the ACC IMO. The Terps can win the ACC tournament and they will have a winning conference record for sure.

Alex Len doesn't catch and finish well off the bounce yet, IMO. His hands are still weak and his core strength seems to be lacking to me. He could use a bit more girth. Regardless, Alex Len is WAY better than Vesely and many other NBA big men already. What a talent! Len is a true post player who's not unlike Tim Duncan.

CCJ, I love Alex Len, but Andrew Wiggins already has the #1 spot of the 2014 draft locked up.

[DANNYLANDOVER]

So, any chance the Janchise yields a mid-to-late first rounder? Would love to get one of Withey, Adams, or Nash along with Muhammed, Noel, Zeller, Len, or Poythress.

You are kidding right? He gets a 2nd rd pick at most.

[DANNYLANDOVER]

Heads up, Alex Len on Espn 2 tonight for Maryland-Northwestern

What a second half by Len and the Terps!

As a Terps fan, I wish Len would stay one more season because with added strength I think he could be the top pick in the draft. Also, Maryland could win it all in one season with this current squad IMO. The Terps are a very dominating rebounding team. Len plays with passion and he is getting better and better with added strength.

I'm also impressed with Dez Wells. He reminds me of Shannon Brown. Wells will be an NBA player who scores points in bunches IMO.

Another guy on the Terps who is very impressive is the freshman, Charles Mitchell. He's short but extremely strong and terrific on the glass.

I watched the Terps and thought that team is more balanced than the Wizards. They are better than UNC and they will finish no worse than third in the ACC IMO. The Terps can win the ACC tournament and they will have a winning conference record for sure.

Alex Len doesn't catch and finish well off the bounce yet, IMO. His hands are still weak and his core strength seems to be lacking to me. He could use a bit more girth. Regardless, Alex Len is WAY better than Vesely and many other NBA big men already. What a talent! Len is a true post player who's not unlike Tim Duncan.

CCJ, I love Alex Len, but Andrew Wiggins already has the #1 spot of the 2014 draft locked up.

Yeah, Len shouldn't bother staying an extra year. With the amount of top rated freshmen coming out in 2014, he would probably end up being a late lotto pick.

[Ed Wood]

Non-Prospect Highlights

Eric Moreland
6'10” center
Oregon State

Moreland aspires to be a prospect in the flavor of Bucks' bigman Larry Sanders, or Bucks bigman John Henson, or maybe Bucks big man Ekpe Udoh (there seems to be a little redundancy on that roster). He's a strong rebounder and very active in terms of generating defensive counting stats (over 4.0 steals and blocks per 40 over this career). He's not really an offensive threat, but the athletic markers are all there, and there's something to be said for 13.6 rebounds per 40 and a 61.5% 2 point percentage.

Resume Highlights:
13.6 RB/40, 3.9 OR/40, 3.1 BLK/40, 16.1 WS/40

George Beamon
6'4” Shooting Guard
Manhattan

Last season's leading scorer in the MAAC (yeah!). No other credentials should be necessary but his shot mix is a sensible one, generating 9.6 FTA on 14.9 FG/40 while also mixing in 4.8 3Pt/40. He's generally pretty good at converting each variety of shot, at 76.5(!) percent inside the arc (which is sure to come back to earth as the season progresses) and 37.5% outside it (which may actually improve). Good for 6.5+ RB/40 and 1.5+ STL/40. A good all around small school scorer in the tradition of Kevin Martin, Dominique Jones and Charles Jenkins.

Resume Highlights:
28.7 PT/40, 6.6 RB/40, .70 (!) eFG, .74 (!) TS, 35.7 PER.

Talib Zanna
6'9” PF/C
Pittsburgh

Like most Pitt bigmen with any buzz of recent memory (post DeJuan Blair), Zanna had done **** all as a Panther, until this year. Thus far Zanna is converting just about everything (68.8 2P) and drawing a reasonable number of fouls (6.2 FT/40) and even passing occasionally (2.1 AST/40). His rebounding hasn't actually been quite up to his own standard thus far this year (11.2/40 down from 12.1) but he's no slouch there. Overall Zanna is another big guy who physically suffices and may be rounding into form and displaying some actual skill, think Antonio McDyess in his later years.

Resume Highlights:
11.3 RB/40, .69 eFG, .71 TS, .789 FT.

Tyrus McGee
6'2” SG
Iowa State

McGee doesn't quite fit traditional positional molds; he's pretty definitely not a point guard at 6'2”, but I like him a lot. He's a very productive player in range of areas. As a rebounder he holds his own for a guard (6.4/40) and his defensive stats are healthy (2.9 ST/40, 2.0 BK/40). He takes a lot of threes (9.8/40 [!]) and makes them (47.4%). His conversion rate inside the arc is improved his year as well (54.5%). Most of these are significantly improve from his freshman year, and at this point it's hard to say that those results can be trusted, but if they can he's a very versatile contributor.

Resume Highlights:
22.8 PT/40, 6.4 RB/40, 47.4 3P%, 84.6 FT%, .67 TS.

And some quick hits worthy of mention:

Brandon Davies (PF, BYU): Has a solid track record prior to this year, solid scoring (25.7/40) on good percentages (56.7 2P, 76.9 FT) and solid athletic markers (1.2 ST/40, 2.6 BK/40).

Ryan Broekhoff (SF, Valpo) Sports my favorite combination of shot selection and conversion in college basketball (6.7 2P/40, 7.4 3P/40, 6.9 FT/40 on .586/.406/.967). Has a solid track record and international experience with team Australia. Good rebounder (9.9/40). I really like him.

Aaric Murray (PF/C, West Virginia) Murray was a very solid player for La Salle for two years before transferring and has been excellent for WVU since, (12.4 RB/40, 1.9 ST/40, 2.9 BK/40, .75 FT, .60 TS).

Jaye Crockett (F, Texas Tech) Here mostly for his 38.1 PER, 22.1 WS/40 and 14.8 RB/40. None are at all supported by his track record, but it's a hell of a start.

Arsalan Kazemi (PF, Oregon) 15.5 RB/40,4.9 ST/40 I will never stop mentioning Kazemi, former Rice Owl, and current best (relative to his size) rebounder in college basketball.

Alex Len, B.J. Young, Brandon Ashley, Tony Mitchell, Ben McLemore, Reggie Bullock and Anthony Bennett have all also been very good thus far, but are all actual prospects.

[Wizardspride]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/w ... z2DY2OXJlY

Chris Mannix's NBA Draft Big Board

[Jay81]

I found this funny from the Article---i wonder if the Eastern Confernce Exec is Ernie Grunfeld

Full disclosure: Not many scouts who spoke to SI.com this month offered any new information on Gobert. The expectation is that execs will start monitoring Gobert's progress closer next month. With eye-popping length -- a staggering 7-foot-9 wingspan -- Gobert remains a big-time prospect. "There are a lot of questions about his game," an Eastern Conference executive said. "But a guy with that size, come on. You have to look hard at him."

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/w ... z2DeC9Cb2l

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/chris_mannix/11/28/2013-nba-draft-nerlens-noel-shabazz-muhammad/index.html#ixzz2DY2OXJlY

Chris Mannix's NBA Draft Big Board

Mason Plumlee has taken all four years and what is unique about him is that he is one of the few prospects who has seen his stock RISE as a senior. When I watch him play it is like watching a man among boys.

I am not sure how to rate him as a prospect. He is a great rebounder. He's got very good athleticism. I can tell Plumlee is much stronger than Alex Len. He's not the shot blocker Len is and Len has some "freak" moves to his game that Plumlee doesn't. Alex is a creative guy who seems like he can be explosive at either end, but he needs strength.

I wonder why I love Len as a pick and cannot get more up on Plumlee. (I should be past Duke hate on this.)

[mhd]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/chris_mannix/11/28/2013-nba-draft-nerlens-noel-shabazz-muhammad/index.html#ixzz2DY2OXJlY

Chris Mannix's NBA Draft Big Board

Mason Plumlee has taken all four years and what is unique about him is that he is one of the few prospects who has seen his stock RISE as a senior. When I watch him play it is like watching a man among boys.

I am not sure how to rate him as a prospect. He is a great rebounder. He's got very good athleticism. I can tell Plumlee is much stronger than Alex Len. He's not the shot blocker Len is and Len has some "freak" moves to his game that Plumlee doesn't. Alex is a creative guy who seems like he can be explosive at either end, but he needs strength.

I wonder why I love Len as a pick and cannot get more up on Plumlee. (I should be past Duke hate on this.)

Alex is 7'1 with a freakish wingspan and can play center. He's also got a feathery touch.

[Knighthonor]

anybody know where there are some highlights of Shabazz this season? cant find much on him.

right now I am stuck between a SG and C.

Next year draft has potential all star SF talent. why waste that here in this Draft.

also I like KS to play PF, along side talented C.

but also like John to play along side talented SG/SF

[MikeTheKid]

After watching Nerlens Noel today there's no way I would draft him in the top 5 and I have no idea how he was ranked #1 overall over Shabazz and Isaiah Austin and others. He has no offensive skill set at all and misses at the rim

[kirubel94]

Some players that i'm keeping an eye on.

Alex Len/Center- CJJ has said enough about him, i think he is a bit like Jonas Valanciunas with a better post game and jump shot.

Le'Bryan Nash/SG/SF- i have been a fan of his freshman season, but it looks like he has improved his draft stock by staying. Ron Artest-esque(looks like him too) has improved ball handling, can shoot from the mid-range and outside, very strong and attacks the rim very well.

Shabazz Muhammad/- I just need to see him handle the ball more, until i see that , the James Harden comparisons must die. Right now, he is getting his point by using his body and making spot up jumpers.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

After watching Nerlens Noel today there's no way I would draft him in the top 5 and I have no idea how he was ranked #1 overall over Shabazz and Isaiah Austin and others. He has no offensive skill set at all and misses at the rim

Maybe he won't be overrated all season because he's obviously rated too high, Mike.

One thing about those draft sites, however, is they generally stick with their ratings.

[Knighthonor]

After watching Nerlens Noel today there's no way I would draft him in the top 5 and I have no idea how he was ranked #1 overall over Shabazz and Isaiah Austin and others. He has no offensive skill set at all and misses at the rim

Maybe he won't be overrated all season because he's obviously rated too high, Mike.

One thing about those draft sites, however, is they generally stick with their ratings.

Yeah I notice they stick to their order as well.

Based on last season's draft, and what you know about players now, how would you have changed the top 10 picks?

[MikeTheKid]

After watching Nerlens Noel today there's no way I would draft him in the top 5 and I have no idea how he was ranked #1 overall over Shabazz and Isaiah Austin and others. He has no offensive skill set at all and misses at the rim

Maybe he won't be overrated all season because he's obviously rated too high, Mike.

One thing about those draft sites, however, is they generally stick with their ratings.

I understand completely CCJ, I just wish ppl would stop hyping him like hes the second coming of Davis when hes nowhere near Davis' level when he came to UK. Im actually excited to see Len live tomorrow at the BB&T Classic (Have front row seats)

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

After watching Nerlens Noel today there's no way I would draft him in the top 5 and I have no idea how he was ranked #1 overall over Shabazz and Isaiah Austin and others. He has no offensive skill set at all and misses at the rim

Maybe he won't be overrated all season because he's obviously rated too high, Mike.

One thing about those draft sites, however, is they generally stick with their ratings.

Yeah I notice they stick to their order as well.

Based on last season's draft, and what you know about players now, how would you have changed the top 10 picks?

Excellent question, Knighthonor. http://www.nba.com/draft/2012/

The top 10 picks were:

1. Anthony Davis
2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
3. Bradley Beal ??????
4. Dion Walters
5. Thomas Robinson
6. Damian Lillard
7. Harrison Barnes
8. Terrence Ross
9. Andre Drummond
10. Austin Rivers
11. Meyers Leonard
12. Jeremy Lamb
13. Kendall Marshall
14. John Henson
15. Moe Harkless

21. Jared Sullinger
27. Arnett Moutrie

It is tough to say how the order should be changed. Hindsight is 20/20. Teams drafted BPA, and in other cases they filled needs by drafting the best at the position. The top 10 selected were not all the top 10 talents IMO.

Knighthonor, in hindsight I think Thomas Robinson should have been a late first rounder. John Henson is IMO certainly a better player. Henson should have been in the top 7 or so players picked IMO.

I liked Terrence Ross a lot in this draft, but after seeing the two play, I would certainly pick Jeremy Lamb before Terrence Ross. Ross looks more like a 14-18 player, but he's also a guy who is an explosive scorer. He can finish and he can stroke the ball from deep,but right now Lamb looks to be a far better player.

How do those guys rate with Beal? I would have traded the pick for Beal down, because I did like Lillard/Zeller better than Beal. Today, I'm still not sure about Beal. If the clock were ticking and I were at # 3, knowing what I know now I would select Beal but trade him for Lamb and a future pick. That said, Beal belongs in the top-10.

Andre Drummond probably should have gone where Beal did. He has a chance to be a dominating C. I was WRONG about Drummond.

Austin Rivers IMO is a second-round talent who was selected based upon his dad's name, reputation, and past NBA exploits. Duke looks a lot better without Austin Rivers. I am not a fan. That said, if I take my homer glasses off how much worse has Rivers been than Beal so far?

Everyone in bold went IMO too low. Moe Harkless is a decent talent. The ones in red too high.

Anyone else have opinions on last year's draft order?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

After watching Nerlens Noel today there's no way I would draft him in the top 5 and I have no idea how he was ranked #1 overall over Shabazz and Isaiah Austin and others. He has no offensive skill set at all and misses at the rim

Maybe he won't be overrated all season because he's obviously rated too high, Mike.

One thing about those draft sites, however, is they generally stick with their ratings.

I understand completely CCJ, I just wish ppl would stop hyping him like hes the second coming of Davis when hes nowhere near Davis' level when he came to UK. Im actually excited to see Len live tomorrow at the BB&T Classic (Have front row seats)

Mike, I like where I am, but I wish I could have a front row seat to see the Terps!

When the Terps play GMU, I hope they secure the ball well and don't turn it over. I think they can be a very good team IF the guards play well. Pe'Shon Howard had a great second half against Northwestern and so did Wells and Aronhalt. Len got it all started. He is so good! I would love to see him live.

Enjoy the game, Mike. Go Terps!

[MikeTheKid]

Maybe he won't be overrated all season because he's obviously rated too high, Mike.

One thing about those draft sites, however, is they generally stick with their ratings.

I understand completely CCJ, I just wish ppl would stop hyping him like hes the second coming of Davis when hes nowhere near Davis' level when he came to UK. Im actually excited to see Len live tomorrow at the BB&T Classic (Have front row seats)

Mike, I like where I am, but I wish I could have a front row seat to see the Terps!

When the Terps play GMU, I hope they secure the ball well and don't turn it over. I think they can be a very good team IF the guards play well. Pe'Shon Howard had a great second half against Northwestern and so did Wells and Aronhalt. Len got it all started. He is so good! I would love to see him live.

Enjoy the game, Mike. Go Terps!

I really believe Seth Allen should be starting over Pe'Shon Howard, I'm not that big a fan of him. I do believe Aronholt should receive more PT hes a deadly shooter. Of course the team needs to make there perimeter shots as well, if there missing then Dez Wells needs to penetrate to the basket and Len should be fed!

[Knighthonor]

Something I am a bit concerned about Shabazz,
I don't seem to have their games on TV, so I only get what's shown on the Internet. But little gameplay videos are being shown of him this season.

And from the videos I did see, I notice I don't see him dribble much. Most of his scoring been short body layup.

I concern, about his long range shot scoring, which the wizards need, and his dribble skills, because no dribble skills as a major concern for a wing player on the wizards.

Anybody have any new videos of his gameplay? Swishscout site died it look like.