Official 2013 Draft Thread - Part II

[nuposse04]

I would absolutely give a max offer for Greg Monroe. I'd offer the max and let him date my sister.

Monroe would go #1 in a draft Re-do.

Paul George might be the best player from that draft class. I told some friends at the time, I wouldn't be surprised if Monroe did turn out to be the best cause of the low risk involved.

[Floater]

That block by Oladipo...GOOD GOD! Might hunch over like Jordan Crawford but he certainly is a better basketball player than Craw.

[stevemcqueen1]

Bad game for Indiana as a whole. They should have won this one to lock up the big ten and prove their quality. Bit of a meh game from Zeller, terrible game from Oladipo. They needed his production to win this game and he took himself out of the game and turned the ball over too much when he was in there.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas could be someone to look at in 2nd round. Looked pretty good.

[Ruzious]

That block by Oladipo...GOOD GOD! Might hunch over like Jordan Crawford but he certainly is a better basketball player than Craw.

He had 1 in each half that I saw (switching between a few games) where he got a running start, leaped up, and seemed to fly through the air just waiting for the shooter to release the ball, and finally swatted the ball away. The second was probably really goal-tending, but the officials were probably too stunned to call it.

[Ruzious]

Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas could be someone to look at in 2nd round. Looked pretty good.

He's not afraid to shoot - to say the least - but he's had a good season.

[stevemcqueen1]

That block by Oladipo...GOOD GOD! Might hunch over like Jordan Crawford but he certainly is a better basketball player than Craw.

He had 1 in each half that I saw (switching between a few games) where he got a running start, leaped up, and seemed to fly through the air just waiting for the shooter to release the ball, and finally swatted the ball away. The second was probably really goal-tending, but the officials were probably too stunned to call it.

The dude is a high flyer. He and McLemore are the best athletes in the class for the perimeter players IMO.

If only each of them were like two inches taller and ten pounds heavier.

The combine measurements are going to be crucial for them. They could get a big bump if they measure over 6'5 with great arm length.

[nate33]

Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas could be someone to look at in 2nd round. Looked pretty good.

He might be able to carve out a niche for himself in the NBA as a stretch-four, sort of a poor man's Antawn Jamison. I think people are sleeping on him a bit. The man can put the ball in the basket, and this year, he's even rebounding. He has long arms an high shoulders so his standing reach measurements should be pretty good.

[Ruzious]

Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas could be someone to look at in 2nd round. Looked pretty good.

He might be able to carve out a niche for himself in the NBA as a stretch-four, sort of a poor man's Antawn Jamison. I think people are sleeping on him a bit. The man can put the ball in the basket, and this year, he's even rebounding. He has long arms an high shoulders so his standing reach measurements should be pretty good.

He's too small. I remember when Sullinger was out last season, he had no chance covering bigs. In comparison, he made Sullinger look like Bill Russell. If he's going to make, it's gotta be at the 3, imo - not because he's a natural 3 but because he can't play the 4.

[nate33]

Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas could be someone to look at in 2nd round. Looked pretty good.

He might be able to carve out a niche for himself in the NBA as a stretch-four, sort of a poor man's Antawn Jamison. I think people are sleeping on him a bit. The man can put the ball in the basket, and this year, he's even rebounding. He has long arms an high shoulders so his standing reach measurements should be pretty good.

He's too small. I remember when Sullinger was out last season, he had no chance covering bigs. In comparison, he made Sullinger look like Bill Russell. If he's going to make, it's gotta be at the 3, imo - not because he's a natural 3 but because he can't play the 4.

He definitely can't be a full time starter, but I think he'll measure out to be roughly the size of Thaddeus Young, who spends some time at the 4.

[Ruzious]

He might be able to carve out a niche for himself in the NBA as a stretch-four, sort of a poor man's Antawn Jamison. I think people are sleeping on him a bit. The man can put the ball in the basket, and this year, he's even rebounding. He has long arms an high shoulders so his standing reach measurements should be pretty good.

He's too small. I remember when Sullinger was out last season, he had no chance covering bigs. In comparison, he made Sullinger look like Bill Russell. If he's going to make, it's gotta be at the 3, imo - not because he's a natural 3 but because he can't play the 4.

He definitely can't be a full time starter, but I think he'll measure out to be roughly the size of Thaddeus Young, who spends some time at the 4.

Probably an inch or so shorter than Young, and Young's a tremendous athlete and an exception.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas could be someone to look at in 2nd round. Looked pretty good.

He might be able to carve out a niche for himself in the NBA as a stretch-four, sort of a poor man's Antawn Jamison. I think people are sleeping on him a bit. The man can put the ball in the basket, and this year, he's even rebounding. He has long arms an high shoulders so his standing reach measurements should be pretty good.

He's too small. I remember when Sullinger was out last season, he had no chance covering bigs. In comparison, he made Sullinger look like Bill Russell. If he's going to make, it's gotta be at the 3, imo - not because he's a natural 3 but because he can't play the 4.

I mean dude is definitely not a starter, but he can shoot and he can score. He looked good vs Indiana, played more physical than I thought. I mean, I'm talking about someone to take at 54. He's a tweener, but I think he could give you some time at the 4 in a small ball lineup when you're down 20 and trying to get back in it type of thing. Purely a scorer off the bench. Don't know much about him, they mentioned he has a kid, and he's a former Indiana Mr. Basketball.

Probably moot, I'm sure Ernie's gonna sell that pick anyway.

[nate33]

I mean dude is definitely not a starter, but he can shoot and he can score. He looked good vs Indiana, played more physical than I thought. I mean, I'm talking about someone to take at 54. He's a tweener, but I think he could give you some time at the 4 in a small ball lineup when you're down 20 and trying to get back in it type of thing. Purely a scorer off the bench. Don't know much about him, they mentioned he has a kid, and he's a former Indiana Mr. Basketball.

Probably moot, I'm sure Ernie's gonna sell that pick anyway.

I agree, Superballman.

Thomas might be the kind of player who is useful down the stretch when we want to spread the floor. Most other teams typically go small by then, so it's not like we'll be asking Thomas to guard primary option post scorers like Blake Griffin or LaMarcus Aldridge. Heck, in our game against NY, we had Trevor Ariza guarding Tyson Chandler.

[Ruzious]

He might be able to carve out a niche for himself in the NBA as a stretch-four, sort of a poor man's Antawn Jamison. I think people are sleeping on him a bit. The man can put the ball in the basket, and this year, he's even rebounding. He has long arms an high shoulders so his standing reach measurements should be pretty good.

He's too small. I remember when Sullinger was out last season, he had no chance covering bigs. In comparison, he made Sullinger look like Bill Russell. If he's going to make, it's gotta be at the 3, imo - not because he's a natural 3 but because he can't play the 4.

I mean dude is definitely not a starter, but he can shoot and he can score. He looked good vs Indiana, played more physical than I thought. I mean, I'm talking about someone to take at 54. He's a tweener, but I think he could give you some time at the 4 in a small ball lineup when you're down 20 and trying to get back in it type of thing. Purely a scorer off the bench. Don't know much about him, they mentioned he has a kid, and he's a former Indiana Mr. Basketball.

Probably moot, I'm sure Ernie's gonna sell that pick anyway.

My point is that he's a 3 in the NBA; not a 4. I wasn't trying to say he has no chance at the NBA - I just think it's at the 3 position. And I totally agree he'd be worth picking at 54.

[Dat2U]

DeShaun Thomas is a lot like Antawn Jamison of college basketball. A decent volume shooter, scorer, terrible defender, stuck b/w two positions he has no capability of defending.

I'm not real high on his pro prospects because of his defensive shortcomings, but the kid can get up shots and make a few of them. At #54 he a good pick but I probably wouldn't take him early in the 2nd round.

[DCsOwn]

Tidbits from Ford's draft chat germane to the Wizkids:

Aaron Henry (Orchard Lake, MI)

With questions about his best NBA position, how are the scouts currently rating Shabazz? Seems like he's fallen behind Oladipo on many boards? You think he's a good fit in Detroit if he falls that far?
Chad Ford (1:06 PM)

Everyone likes Shabazz. He's tough, plays hard every night and he's clearly a gifted scorer. That's a pretty potent combination. The issue is that he lacks elite quickness to defend 2 guards but is pretty undersized to guard NBA 3s. I think everyone thinks he'll be a guy with a potential to average 18-20 ppg in the NBA. But if he struggles to defend, he's not as valuable. That's why players like Otto Porter and Victor Oladipo are now ahead of him on the draft board.


Ken (Warsaw)

I think Otto Porter would be a perfect fit for the Wizards. How fast is he rising?
Chad Ford (1:26 PM)

He'd be a GREAT fit there. To me, he's one of the three or four best prospects in the draft. I personally haven't heard scouts or GMs talk about him as the No. 1 pick, but if I were the Wizards, I'd consider him there. I'd probably lean Nerlens Noel for Washington first. But he'd be a close second.


http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/47291

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Tidbits from Ford's draft chat germane to the Wizkids:

Aaron Henry (Orchard Lake, MI)

With questions about his best NBA position, how are the scouts currently rating Shabazz? Seems like he's fallen behind Oladipo on many boards? You think he's a good fit in Detroit if he falls that far?
Chad Ford (1:06 PM)

Everyone likes Shabazz. He's tough, plays hard every night and he's clearly a gifted scorer. That's a pretty potent combination. The issue is that he lacks elite quickness to defend 2 guards but is pretty undersized to guard NBA 3s. I think everyone thinks he'll be a guy with a potential to average 18-20 ppg in the NBA. But if he struggles to defend, he's not as valuable. That's why players like Otto Porter and Victor Oladipo are now ahead of him on the draft board.


Ken (Warsaw)

I think Otto Porter would be a perfect fit for the Wizards. How fast is he rising?
Chad Ford (1:26 PM)

He'd be a GREAT fit there. To me, he's one of the three or four best prospects in the draft. I personally haven't heard scouts or GMs talk about him as the No. 1 pick, but if I were the Wizards, I'd consider him there. I'd probably lean Nerlens Noel for Washington first. But he'd be a close second.


http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/47291

Thanks for relaying this DCsOwn. This is spot on IMO, totally agree.

[Dat2U]

Wow, I'm in complete agreement with Chad Ford (1. Noel 2. Porter). I'm not sure what to think anymore, lol.

[stevemcqueen1]

Yeah Shabazz is a tweener. But I think Ford gets a little abstract when he talks about Shabazz not being able to guard NBA 2s. Manu and Joe Johnson are no faster than Shabazz but they hold their own guarding twos. Joe Johnson guards multiple positions. Manu was actually a really really good defender in his 20s and he's a similar body type and similar caliber of athlete to Shabazz.

Shabazz will probably be bad defensively early in his career and I doubt he's ever going to be a great defender, but I think he'll be competent. He's got the competitiveness and the motor to hold his own. And he actually plays a fair amount of man D at UCLA.

Oladipo is certainly a better defender than him, but not nearly the scorer. With Porter you're talking about someone who is in a zone almost the entire time and he's much more of a traditional front court player and interior defender than Shabazz. Bit of an apples and oranges comparison.

Also, worth pointing out James Harden was a #3 pick and he's got a near identical build to Shabazz (little smaller looking), lefty, similar athlete (probably a bit less explosive). He's a mediocre to bad defender. But he's a max contract player and an All Star. Offense is what get you paid. And the ability to consistently create your own offense against any set D, especially in crunch time, is worth it's weight in gold in the NBA. That's what you're drafting Shabazz for and it's the area where he is well ahead of Porter and Oladipo.

[DCsOwn]

Tidbits from Ford's draft chat germane to the Wizkids:

Aaron Henry (Orchard Lake, MI)

With questions about his best NBA position, how are the scouts currently rating Shabazz? Seems like he's fallen behind Oladipo on many boards? You think he's a good fit in Detroit if he falls that far?
Chad Ford (1:06 PM)

Everyone likes Shabazz. He's tough, plays hard every night and he's clearly a gifted scorer. That's a pretty potent combination. The issue is that he lacks elite quickness to defend 2 guards but is pretty undersized to guard NBA 3s. I think everyone thinks he'll be a guy with a potential to average 18-20 ppg in the NBA. But if he struggles to defend, he's not as valuable. That's why players like Otto Porter and Victor Oladipo are now ahead of him on the draft board.


Ken (Warsaw)

I think Otto Porter would be a perfect fit for the Wizards. How fast is he rising?
Chad Ford (1:26 PM)

He'd be a GREAT fit there. To me, he's one of the three or four best prospects in the draft. I personally haven't heard scouts or GMs talk about him as the No. 1 pick, but if I were the Wizards, I'd consider him there. I'd probably lean Nerlens Noel for Washington first. But he'd be a close second.


http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/47291

Thanks for relaying this DCsOwn. This is spot on IMO, totally agree.

No problem man.