Draft prospects @ 10

[tester551]

I also love Oladipo but considering Millsap and maybe Splitter are the only good FA big men that are desirable and that we could actually afford/get (and I can't say I'm very confident we can even get one of those two) I also wonder whether it might make more sense to draft a big man rather than Oladipo? After all we have good SG/SF duo and Oladipo doesn't really bring anything we absolutely lack (not saying he wouldn't bring great things).

No. Go with BPA. If there are 2 or 3 that are on the same level, then you can go with need. This is the type of questioning that got us Nolan Smith & Webster among others. Never draft on need!

I might be overreaching on Oladipo because I like him so much. I think he will turn out to be one of the top 3 players in this draft... and I think he is the safest pick in the lotto to reach his potential. If Oladipo is there, you take him....

[Norm2953]

If JJ leaves, were going to need a big, strong physical player up front to play alongside
of LA and Meyers Leonard. It's not likely that guy can be found in this draft but its
our #1 priority after which a player to provide SF/SG depth behind Nicolas and Wesley
is second. I would agree BPA would be our best course of action for most of the guys
in this draft will need time before they are ready.

[whatchaknow]

Good post dude. In addition to the names you mentioned, how do you feel about Austin, Polythress, Gobert and Goodwin?

Do you think there are 12 players worth taking with our pick?

I dont like Austin at all, reminds me of Mullens or Hawes and he is just so physically weak right now that its gonna take him 2 to 3 years to even get close to an NBA body.

I like Goodwin and Poythress physically but i dont know they fit in to an NBA team? Goodwin is known to be uncoachable and has a bad jumpshot, i was a big fan early but i havent seen any progression. Poythress is a beast but his motor is questionable and he is very raw offensively.

Gobert i dont know about but he is freakishly long and apparently is mobile for his size.

I think there are probably 13 prospects that are worth taking, with Olynyk, Willie Cauley, and MCW added to my original 10 i put up earlier. Im on the fence with Gobert, Goodwin, Robinson III and Poythress.


Anybody got any sleeper 2nd rounders that could potentially make the roster since we got 2 picks? I really like Whitey and Hardaway Jr if they end up in the 2nd, as 1st rounders i dont like them as much. Also Russ Smith, Deshaun Thomas, and James Southerland from 'cuse are interesting to me. The last 2 could play with Claver on the 2nd unit and could fill those 3/4 slots.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Anybody got any sleeper 2nd rounders that could potentially make the roster since we got 2 picks?

Take a flier on one of Dieng, Muscala, Nogueira or Dedmon - simply because size cant be taught and second round picks aren't guaranteed?

[Case2012]

I don't think anyone has mentioned Doug McDermont. One of the highest scoring guys in college, plays with a chip on his shoulder, has great hustle and fundamentals. He's projected as a second rounder so I feel like he'd be worth the gamble, because his weaknesses remind me a lot of Babbit, but he has a much higher motor. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTj-rYiNWVU[/youtube]

[whatchaknow]

I don't think anyone has mentioned Doug McDermont. One of the highest scoring guys in college, plays with a chip on his shoulder, has great hustle and fundamentals. He's projected as a second rounder so I feel like he'd be worth the gamble, because his weaknesses remind me a lot of Babbit, but he has a much higher motor.

The thing i dont like about McDermot is that every basket he makes is tough and contested and when you get to the NBA hes gonna be playing that stretch 4 against long athletic guys. Ala Adam Morrison at Gonzaga. Well that and his defense will be Babbitt esque most likely.

I absolutely love him as a college player though. The guy is absolutely all Creighton has and he has put them on his back

[Caravaggio]

I don't think anyone has mentioned Doug McDermont. One of the highest scoring guys in college, plays with a chip on his shoulder, has great hustle and fundamentals. He's projected as a second rounder so I feel like he'd be worth the gamble, because his weaknesses remind me a lot of Babbit, but he has a much higher motor. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTj-rYiNWVU[/youtube]

I love him as a college player, but his weaknesses are going to be greatly exacerbated by NBA athletes. He has some nifty touch around the basket, but that's going to be trash swatted into the 5th row in the NBA. And as you said, like Babbit, who does he defend, the JJ Hicksons or Nic Batums? Either way he's going to get destroyed on that end.

[call.me.dude]

Good post dude. In addition to the names you mentioned, how do you feel about Austin, Polythress, Gobert and Goodwin?

Do you think there are 12 players worth taking with our pick?

Austin: Don't like him either. He should be able to block more shots.
Poythress: I don't like him either. Thad Young 2.0. That's solid but not quite enough.
Gobert: I like him even though he's still skinny. He's playing 20 mpg in a men's league which means he can't be that raw. He is 3rd in the league in PER at around 24 and leads the league in BLK% (he's at 9.22. 2nd place has 5.66) He's been rebounding better the last couple of months. He's very agile for his size. He's very raw but at least he hits his FTs at a respectable clip for a big man. I like other guys more, but I definitely like him (better than Poythress or Austin).
Goodwin: Haven't seen a lot of Kentucky games in the last few months, so I don't want to say too much. Before that I really liked him, but now that he has to play PG (does he still have to?) it looks like he gets exposed a little. I still really like him, I just think he's used the wrong way (although that might help him long term). I still think he could very well go in the top 10 and rightfully so. He's still only 18! Have to watch more of him though now.

I agree with watchaknow that Olynyk and Cauley-Stein are also worth taking.

MCW is intriguing and I'm torn on him. On the one hand he is really inefficient, physically weak and doesn't have a great handle. On the other hand: How does he average 9.4 assists (per40 pace adj) on that team? They have one only one good shooter. The 3 spg are also intriguing. If he really bulked up and worked on his shot he could make a great combo guard for us. Still, I'm not sure I would draft him.

[Case2012]

At first I like Kelly olywhatever, but then i watched his weaknesses on his Draft Express video and was horrified a little. I think he would be redundant with LMA, and he is a horrible rebounder for his size. Erick Green interests me, but he might be a Lillard 2.0 which seems like it would be nice but might mess with chemistry, and he isn't a true PG. Might be a good cheap pick up though, taking him in the second round as opposed to taking CJ in the first, which means we could draft a defensive wing. I think my picks would be Oladipo if he's there at 9 or 10, and then Pat Young followed by Green in the second round. All would be great as bench players in certain roles. Ola is a lockdown defender who can hit open threes. Young is a freak athlete and with the right coaching could be a Hickson replacement. Green can score, and would be able to open up Lillard when they share the court or provide instant offense off the bench. Of course I could change my mind tomorrow, but tonight these are my picks.

[GreenRiddler]

Just played the Lotto Machine and got the #2 pick on my first try!

[GreenRiddler]

Oladipo blowing up. Headed for Top 5 pick.

Which is insane since he's ranked ahead of guys like Shabazz and Zeller, he is not a better prospect than them.

Edit: Most of it is hype though cause Indy is playing well.

Tidbit from Chad Ford chat yesterday:

Yes. He's moved into the Top 5 on our Big Board and for the first time, I've had a couple of GMs tell me that they like him more than Ben McLemore. They are in the minority right now ... but still. What a rise. In all my years of covering the draft, I've never seen a player improve as much as I've seen him improve in such a small period of time. He has weaknesses, but major, major upside. If he continues to improve, I don't think it's out of the question he could be the No. 1 pick in June. He's not there yet, but he's special.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/47144


He's not far behind if that is your stance currently.

I'd love to see the explanation for picking Oladipo who is IMO gonna be a Tony Allen esque role-playing starter with a top 5 pick, let alone a top 3 or 1st overall pick. he would be perfect for Det with the 9 pick though.

Edit: or maybe even us.

[call.me.dude]

Just played the Lotto Machine and got the #2 pick on my first try!

4th try for me.

1st pick: PHX - McLemore
2nd pick: POR - Noel
3rd pick: WAS - Len
4th pick: CHA - Bennett
5th pick: ORL - Smart

[MrMisterBlunts]

Just played the Lotto Machine and got the #2 pick on my first try!

4th try for me.

1st pick: PHX - McLemore
2nd pick: POR - Noel
3rd pick: WAS - Len
4th pick: CHA - Bennett
5th pick: ORL - Smart

WTF. I've been running it all day yesterday and today during work. I haven't gotten Portland to pop up once ... You guys must have the magic click or something.

[DusterBuster]

I ran it 6 or so times and got the Blazers @ the #3 spot once where they still took Noel.

That's pretty wishful thinking though. We're talking less of a 1% chance here, so yeah......

[Sabzi]

I'd love to see the explanation for picking Oladipo who is IMO gonna be a Tony Allen esque role-playing starter with a top 5 pick, let alone a top 3 or 1st overall pick. he would be perfect for Det with the 9 pick though.

Edit: or maybe even us.

I bet ESPN/Ford's reasoning is less about what Oladipo can do and more about what Muhammad/McLemore/Zeller haven't done. None of these prospects are rock solid and the fluidity will continue through March.

[GreenRiddler]

I'd love to see the explanation for picking Oladipo who is IMO gonna be a Tony Allen esque role-playing starter with a top 5 pick, let alone a top 3 or 1st overall pick. he would be perfect for Det with the 9 pick though.

Edit: or maybe even us.

I bet ESPN/Ford's reasoning is less about what Oladipo can do and more about what Muhammad/McLemore/Zeller haven't done. None of these prospects are rock solid and the fluidity will continue through March.

and it's hype like this that makes Cladwell-Pope a mid first rounder while Mclemore the less or equally talented a top 3 guy.

[GreenRiddler]

I really like willie cauley-stein as a project big. If he declares and is in our range, as Alex len won't be, WCS is avging 2 blks while playing 20 mpg. He is athletic and big. Kinda like Drummond last year in UConn.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I really like willie cauley-stein as a project big. If he declares and is in our range, as Alex len won't be, WCS is avging 2 blks while playing 20 mpg. He is athletic and big. Kinda like Drummond last year in UConn.

Agreed.

[GreenRiddler]

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, made Archie Goodwin look like a foo last night. Drawing 5 fouls, I said it before and i'll say it again he is just as talented as Ben Mclemore ad is the same age. If he stays where he is a mid first rounder I hope we scoop him up, he could eventually start for us ala Klay Thompson, a more athletic We$.

he would be the steal of the draft right now IMO. He just chose a bad school to go to, The Georgia bulldogs stink something fierce.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... dwell-pope

Analysis: http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Tre ... Pope-4094/

[whatchaknow]

Ill tell you what MCW is super impressive right now against seton hall (13 assists so far). He is very poised and his playmaking is NICE for a guy his size. I like his fit next to Lillard with the way he can take ball handling pressure off him. It'll be interesting to see how he plays on d, he can get out in lanes and is quick, long and athletic but he's played no man d in a year so.... Also haven't seen much from his jumper and his finishing may be questionable but out in transition he is a great decision maker. Probably a little bit of a project as far as building strength but he looks stronger than Barton or Elliot for example.

Also Southerland is a lights out shooter who could be picked up in the 2nd round as a stretch 4

Love this time of year because we get to see how these guys react in pressure packed situations, also nice knowing we will probably keep our pick now. So gear up everyone cuz it's march madness time!!