Official Speculation Thread (Pt.LI "Trade Deadline" Edition)

[PeePee la Fritz]

If I'm henny and land the #1 pick. I trade it for 2 lottery picks or a lotto pick this year and next. IMO there is no #1 worthy talent. Grabbing 2 starters with a 5 and 10 pick for example is much more appealing to me

except there is no one in this draft that can garner 2 lottery picks.

True. Then the 1st pick and use the trade exception to take a bad contract for 2 lotto picks. Lets be honest. No one is trading a 2014 lotto pick. So might as well get some value outa that massive tpe

[BadMofoPimp]

We all saw how Thomas Robinson struggled in the NBA and he was one of the most NBA ready players in last years draft. Now, Noel doesn't look nearly as good as TR did last year.

I say, hell the freak no!

[toquito]

I agree that Noel sucks. Have no fear though, Hennigan would never draft him. If we draft a big man Tyler Zeller is probably much more likely.

lol cody zeller...

[OrlChamps2030]

We all saw how Thomas Robinson struggled in the NBA and he was one of the most NBA ready players in last years draft. Now, Noel doesn't look nearly as good as TR did last year.

I say, hell the freak no!

So you're comparing the struggles of one of the most NBA-ready prospects of last years draft to the struggles of one of the least NBA-ready prospects in this years draft.

What are you trying to say?

[Blue_and_Whte]

Noel doesn't intrigue me at all.. He has absolutely zero feel for the game offensively. None, zilch..I've never seen a player so void of offensive ability in my life.

Picture an enormous fat person running in slow motion with their shirt off then tripping and falling down hill....That's what noel looks like to me on offense. And I have no idea why. The most uncoordinated thing pops into my head when I see him try to create offense.

He isn't a game changer in any way shape or form. How can someone be less skilled offensively than Bismarck biyombo?

Noel has been known as an underrated passer. But yes, he is extremely raw offensively. Your slow motion fat person analogy can also be applied to Vuc and Nicholson on defense..

Noel isn't a game changer in any way shape or form? . Wow. Just wow. What to rephrase that as Noel isn't an offensive game changer? Because that's a pretty ridiculous statement.

Yes the fat person analogy can be applied to vuc and Nicholson on defense. LoL

I don't know man I don't feel that its a ridiculous statement at all. I feel like noel effects the college game more than he would an NBA game. He's dwight Howard with less offensive game, less strength, and now a bum knee.. I don't want another player thats so deficient on offense that you can just foul him and put him on the line.

I may be over exaggerating and I get it he's a monster defensively but from the day I started watching this kid play I was not impressed with him as a top 3 draft pick. I just think he's more than just raw, he doesn't look like he has any type of feel for the game and that's something you can't teach. I trust Hennigans eye for talent and if he drafts noel ill support him.

[Blue_and_Whte]

I agree that Noel sucks. Have no fear though, Hennigan would never draft him. If we draft a big man Tyler Zeller is probably much more likely.

lol cody zeller...

I don't think he "sucks" I just don't think hes a top 3 player. Even pre injury.

[BadMofoPimp]

Hasheem Thabeet was a monster in College . . .

Just Saying.

[OrlChamps2030]

Yes the fat person analogy can be applied to vuc and Nicholson on defense. LoL

I don't know man I don't feel that its a ridiculous statement at all. I feel like noel effects the college game more than he would an NBA game. He's dwight Howard with less offensive game, less strength, and now a bum knee.. I don't want another player thats so deficient on offense that you can just foul him and put him on the line.

I may be over exaggerating and I get it he's a monster defensively but from the day I started watching this kid play I was not impressed with him as a top 3 draft pick. I just think he's more than just raw, he doesn't look like he has any type of feel for the game and that's something you can't teach. I trust Hennigans eye for talent and if he drafts noel ill support him.

I get what you're saying that he's extremely raw and hasn't shown all that much (except for elite defense). But I think a draft selection of Noel would be based on his upside; not what he has shown thus far. I'm also not too worried about his injury, seems like guys come back today from knee injuries like its nothing (especially young athletes).

Smart and Noel are both project players. Say both pan out. If I had a choice between Noel averaging 15/10/2 as an elite defensive anchor and Smart averaging 18/8 w/ great defense I would probably choose Noel because defensive bigs are some of the most valuable players in the league while good point guards are a dime a dozen.

Also Noel would move Nicholson to a more-fitting role as a sixth-man where he could focus on offense. Nerlens would provide some of the interior D we really desperately need especially if Vuc is our franchise center.

Hasheem Thabeet was a monster in College . . .

Just Saying.

straw man argument

michael jordan was a monster in college and a monster in the nba, should we take oladipo at #1?

Edit: I'm not really sure who we should take just giving some reasons to take Noel.

[Def Swami]

Noel can be a really good shot blocker and rim protector, but I really didn't see what else he brought to the table. Even as a post defender, at his weight and scrawny legs, he'd get pushed around a lot. And his offensive game is limited to lobs and dunks at the moment.

I don't dislike Noel, I'd just rather roll with other players (Smart, Bennett, Porter, Burke) before him. All of whom have their pros and flaws as well.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gb2LnmVC7M[/youtube]

[BadMofoPimp]

Hasheem Thabeet was a real good shot blocker and rim protector! So was Kwame Brown.

[Neon1]

Our frontcourt consists of
Vucevic (Average offense/Top tier rebounding/No defense presense)
Nicholson (Top tier offense/NDBL Defense).

Noel allows these guys to play to thier strengths and exel at what they do best. In turn, the skillsets they possess allow Noel to play to his strengths (shot blocking, help defense, changing shots) without him having to be relied upon for things that he is not comfortable with.

The offense/defensive balance between the three all compliment eachother and make it a much more complete unit. You guys focus on only offense WAY too much.

We can look to the wings and backcourt for all that. The dynamic scorer isnt in this draft, so why reach when you can solidify other huge holes? We can find our "GUY" in 2014 for sure. We will get him in the draft or in free agency.

[gp123]

Noel can be a really good shot blocker and rim protector, but I really didn't see what else he brought to the table. Even as a post defender, at his weight and scrawny legs, he'd get pushed around a lot. And his offensive game is limited to lobs and dunks at the moment.

I don't dislike Noel, I'd just rather roll with other players (Smart, Bennett, Porter, Burke) before him.

the idea of having a front line of harkless - vuc - noel is quite appealing from a defensive standpoint. I think Nik has enough range to his game that he could essentially play the 4 on offense and let Noel play closer to the basket.

We do need a pg, but from a value standpoint, its hard to beat drafting a big. Even if they suck, they still command a premium.

[Neon1]

Noel can be a really good shot blocker and rim protector, but I really didn't see what else he brought to the table. Even as a post defender, at his weight and scrawny legs, he'd get pushed around a lot. And his offensive game is limited to lobs and dunks at the moment.

I don't dislike Noel, I'd just rather roll with other players (Smart, Bennett, Porter, Burke) before him. All of whom have their pros and flaws as well.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gb2LnmVC7M[/youtube]

Bennett and Porter are off the board for me after picking up SF/PF Harris. Too much redundancy.

[BadMofoPimp]

NBA requires good footwork that many college players are not prepared for. I don't trust any defensive College prospect to make the leap based on potential.

Magic would be better to just keep BBD as at least he knows how to play defense to split minutes with Nicholson.

After this Knee injury, any team would be suicidal to consider Noel anywhere in the top 10. That would be a very stupid mistake. I think he will go 15-30. We are talking about a kid that is not proven coming off a serious knee injury.

If he was smart, he would stay in college.

[Neon1]

NBA requires good footwork that many college players are not prepared for. I don't trust any defensive College prospect to make the leap based on potential.

Magic would be better to just keep BBD as at least he knows how to play defense to split minutes with Nicholson.

Baby has no defensive presence down low either. He is solid in holding his ground in the post, but they still shoot right over top of him. He is mostly good for his good rotations and showing on screens.

[OrlChamps2030]

Here's some college statlines of some decent bigs over the years during their freshman year:

Shaq freshman stats: 14/12/3.6
Ewing freshman stats: 13/7/3
Mourning freshman stats: 13/7/5
Noel freshman stats: 10/10/4.4
Duncan freshman stats: 10/10/4
Monroe fresman stats: 13/7/2
Lopez Freshman stats: 13/6/2
Hibbert freshman stats: 5/4/1
Thabeet Freshman stats: 6/6/4 (not a decent big just thought I'd point out how much more raw he was than noel his freshman year)
Noah freshman stats: 4/3/1

I just don't think it's fair to write off Noel as a bust or claim he sucks when he's still only a freshman. Not saying he's going to be as good as those guys but its clear he has potential. That's why he remains so high on many draft boards even after the injury. Noel could potentially make us not worry about bigs for another 10 years with a big rotation of Noel/Vuc and role players of Nicholson/O'Quinn/Harris.

[BadMofoPimp]

FYI. Noel is not worthy of being put in the same category of those guys. Anyone can look better than they are in college. We might as well do a list of all the top 5 Busts and put Noel in with those guys as well to be truly fair.

Listing Noel with great players is unfair to those great players. It would be like putting Darius Miles up there with Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Magic etc etc before he proved anything.

[OrlChamps2030]

FYI. Noel is not worthy of being put in the same category of those guys. Anyone can look better than they are in college. We might as well do a list of all the top 5 Busts and put Noel in with those guys as well to be truly fair.

Listing Noel with great players is unfair to those great players. It would be like putting Darius Miles up there with Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Magic etc etc before he proved anything.

I listed legends (Shaq, Duncan, Ewing) great centers (Mourning, Monroe?) good centers (Lopez, Hibbert, Noah) and a scrub (Thabeet).

I'm not saying Noel will be a legendary big. Just saying I think he can be a great defensive big that finishes around the rim. I just can't agree with claiming that Noel will be a top 5 bust of all time before we've seen him play a minute in the NBA.

Noel getting picked 15-30? What did this guy do to your family?

[BadMofoPimp]

I listed legends (Shaq, Duncan, Ewing) great centers (Mourning, Monroe?) good centers (Lopez, Hibbert, Noah) and a scrub (Thabeet).

I'm not saying Noel will be a legendary big. Just saying I think he can be a great defensive big that finishes around the rim. I just can't agree with claiming that Noel will be a top 5 bust of all time before we've seen him play a minute in the NBA.

Your right. But, if I was a GM, I would not risk the future of my franchise with any Top 10 pick on Noel. Just too many risks there besides his limited Basketball IQ.

[OrlChamps2030]

Is lack of Bball IQ really the problem? I would say lack of a back to the basket game and no jumper is the real problem. Noel puts up pretty much a 1:1 AST:TO ratio, shoots 60%, is a defensive QB, and finishes with both hands around the rim.