Official 2013 Draft Thread - Part II

[nate33]

One player who I think will stay but maybe should go is Gorgui Dieng. Beautiful game today. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball ... 1303090314 I think he can be Okafor.

Good call. Dieng just knows how to play. He's such a smart defender.

[hands11]

Baylor Cory Jefferson 6-9 PF
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... -jefferson


What a game from him against KS.

He has a pure NBA ready body.
Good rebounder and shoot blocker.

Todays game was his 3 ball coming out party. He has nice form.


I think we will see Cory in the NBA

Cory saw I put him in my top 30 and left Austin out. He's an under the radar physical specimen, but his age has to be an issue. I love how ESPN lists him at 210. 250 is more like it. Austin at 210 I'd buy.

Steve, DraftExpress.com still has Austin 11th in the draft. Do you believe they're in the ballbark? I don't.

Austin looks competent when rebounding. It when he tries to do anything on offense its like

Would I draft him top 10 like Draftx has him. No. He needs to stay in school another year and fill out. And even if he does, he is all legs. By the time he is developed, he will be going into this second contract.

[hands11]

Agreed - Austin should go back to school. With Len, it depends. If there's a team willing to take him in the top 10, he should probably go.

One player who I think will stay but maybe should go is Gorgui Dieng. Beautiful game today. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball ... 1303090314 I think he can be Okafor.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TO1JkTXpeI[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHbKs623yno[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zbtJzhZLbM[/youtube]

[fugop]

Dieng participated in Senior Day today -- he is definitely declaring for the draft. He is going to be a bargain if he falls out of the lottery. I think he'll have a Hibbert-like offensive game, while being much more mobile on the defensive end.

[nate33]

Phoenix beat Houston to maintain their 2-win advantage over us in the tank race.

[gambitx777]

thought this was cool. since we have 2 2ed rounders, some one should strap E.G. to a chair and have him read this, but leave our the euro part lol.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1559 ... cond-round

[SUPERBALLMAN]

One player who I think will stay but maybe should go is Gorgui Dieng. Beautiful game today. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball ... 1303090314 I think he can be Okafor.

Good call. Dieng just knows how to play. He's such a smart defender.

Dieng is a player I haven't paid attention to... but I like what I'm seeing.


Any chance this guy is still there in the 2nd round ??

[WizardsWorld]

One idea that keeps getting thrown around on the trade board is the idea of trading our unprotected 1st this year in a deal for Greg Monroe. Now while I think its just trade board talk and the Pistons wouldn't be interested in moving Monroe I'd do this deal all day. I wonder if the Pistons would have any interest in this at all? Either way I would like to see our FO at least explore the possibility of a deal with Detroit based on this.
I'd much rather add Monroe to our team than an injured Noel or anyone else in this draft.

SF: Webster
PF: Nene
C: MONROE
SG: Beal
PG: Wall

OOOHHHHHHHH YAAAAAAAA

[princeofpalace]

One idea that keeps getting thrown around on the trade board is the idea of trading our unprotected 1st this year in a deal for Greg Monroe. Now while I think its just trade board talk and the Pistons wouldn't be interested in moving Monroe I'd do this deal all day. I wonder if the Pistons would have any interest in this at all? Either way I would like to see our FO at least explore the possibility of a deal with Detroit based on this.
I'd much rather add Monroe to our team than an injured Noel or anyone else in this draft.

SF: Webster
PF: Nene
C: MONROE
SG: Beal
PG: Wall

OOOHHHHHHHH YAAAAAAAA

There is no chance that Detroit would have interest in this. Monroe is untouchable.

[hands11]

Monroe is going to be an All Star. I would love to see him in a Wiz uni. I don't see how though.

This draft is starting to get a little more interesting with the under the radar late arrivals like

Baylor - Pierre Jackson PG - People that like M Smart should love this kid.
Baylor - Cory Jefferson PF
Duke - Ryan Kelly PF
Louisville - Gorgui Dieng - C If he falls to OKC, that would almost seem unfair

And Seth is still floating around out there.

This is looking like a good draft for teams that need to add depth. I don't see a many starters though there should be some.

My early favorites were, Victor O, Otto and CJ McCollum. All seem to have gone up in the draft boards and have made Chad Fords 2013 mock lottery list with Victor and Otto going top 5.

http://espn.go.com/nba/lottery2013/mockdraft


Pierre can flat out ball. I would take this dude on my team.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_FsZWacJYg[/youtube]

[Ruzious]

If John Lucas III can carve out a niche in the NBA, so can Pierre Jackson. That's who Jackson reminds me of. Call him JL4. But I wouldn't bet the mortgage on Jackson getting drafted. Btw, whatever happened to Jai Lucas? I remember several years ago when many Terps fans were hugely disappointed that he didn't choose Maryland - haven't heard more than a peep about him since.

[tontoz]

The Suns beat the Rockets last night for their 22nd win. ROLLL TANK ROLLL

Our tank is strong but obviously the Cats are on another level.

[stevemcqueen1]

We got 46 points on something like 24 shots from our SF spot last night. Plus 14 rebounds. SF doesn't feel like a need when we get that kind of production. But so little of that offense came unassisted. They're finishers and Price and Wall had to be playmakers.

If we have pure shooters at the 3, that means we should have a playmaker that can ISO score at the 4 IMO. That's pretty rare. Nene does it fairly well but he's not an elite scorer. I'm thinking we should have a creative 3. That's why I still like Shabazz so much.

In other news, Kansas getting beat so bad was the big surprise yesterday. McLemore played well but no one else did. I have a harder time pinning McLemore down than almost anyone else. Sometimes he looks like a future superstar, others he looks totally passive and doesn't seem to have that star mentality. He would scare me with a top three pick.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

We got 46 points on something like 24 shots from our SF spot last night. Plus 14 rebounds. SF doesn't feel like a need when we get that kind of production. But so little of that offense came unassisted. They're finishers and Price and Wall had to be playmakers.

If we have pure shooters at the 3, that means we should have a playmaker that can ISO score at the 4 IMO. That's pretty rare. Nene does it fairly well but he's not an elite scorer. I'm thinking we should have a creative 3. That's why I still like Shabazz so much.

In other news, Kansas getting beat so bad was the big surprise yesterday. McLemore played well but no one else did. I have a harder time pinning McLemore down than almost anyone else. Sometimes he looks like a future superstar, others he looks totally passive and doesn't seem to have that star mentality. He would scare me with a top three pick.

SF is still somewhat unstable, with no guarantee Webster comes back, and I don't expect Ariza to be here long term. I need to watch more of Shabazz so I'm not talking out of my a$$, but I am just so high right now on Porter it's hard for me to even consider anyone else.

As far as Noel, first of all I'm expecting him to be gone before the Wizards pick at this point. But if he is, I liked him before his injury but even then wasn't totally sold. More so than SF, a pretty solid aspect of the Wizards has been defense. IMO we need to add more offensive options, and I don't think Noel does that. He is a stud defensively though, but I wonder about his strength down low in the NBA, especially with weak knees/legs. His lack of perimeter skills and shooting, combined with doubts about him in the low post leave me with questions.

Porter I like for a lot of the same reasons I liked Beal watching him last season at Florida. I think he will be very good with John Wall. The way this team is built, you want the ball in Wall's hands. You want him to break down the D and have options for him when the defense collapses. Porter, like Beal, is just smart on the offensive end, always finding the right place to be, picking holes in the defense, and picking the right times to expose it. I loved watching Beal find the open spot on the floor, when he'd get it he'd first look to pass inside, then look for his shot, and if had nothing immediately get it back in his PG's hands. Little time wasted, not a lot of dribbling around.

Porter is the same way. He finds the right spots, he is always communicating, and making the right plays. He is efficient with and without the ball. He makes the right pass, he sets picks, he boxes out, he hits the offensive boards. He would add the mid range game the Wizards lack, as well as someone who can spread the D and go inside also. The defense has to react to him because he is so versatile and not a predictable one trick pony, which as shown against Syracuse, opens things for his teammates. He will be a factor on the defensive end like Noel AND on the offensive end like Shabazz though in a different way than each. But just trying to say he will help on both ends rather than one or the other more so than those players.

To me the best scenario with draft and offseason...

Charlotte gets Noel #1 and he turns out to be another disappointing pick for MJ.

Wizards get Porter as eventual replacement for Ariza. With 2nd rounder, maybe moving up if needed, get a big such as Withey or Dieng... maybe Young, Muscala, Kelly as further possibilities.

Resign Webster ideally as backup SF/SG. Keep Price as well as add another vet G to the mix.

Hope everyone comes back healthy and improved next season, Nene especially, as well as Booker, Wall, etc.

[The Consiglieri]

Durant came into the league as a twig, the analogy was the demonstrate that someone with a slight frame like Porter's can still add on "good" weight without being a detriment to his overall game. Durant had none of those features coming into the league either, but he can very well develop them. Durant only recently became a good passer, he didn't come into the league as much of anything else other than a catch and shoot guy. He is a better leaper though than Porter, that much is obvious. He's pretty stupid still on defensive rotations though.

You're comparing him to Durant here, compared him to Melo in an earlier post. Porter isn't even on the same planet as those two. It's time to step back and check the runaway hype train on Porter when you're looking at Durant and Melo as what he can be in the NBA.

Saying Durant was just a catch and shoot player when he came into the league is comical.

I have seen, 2 plays, only two plays of all the Indiana games I've seen where Zeller did anything remotely like "hey that is pretty athletic." Even then, his dunks are no where in the vicinity of truly elite athlete big men like Griffin, Jordan, LMA, McGee, Booker, Drummond, Davis, Lopez(for his size he is athletic), Bosh, Robinson, LBJ, Chandler, hell even Biyombo are all more imposing athletes then him. He's not "very fast" either...Maybe fast for college standards at the 5 but he'd be no gazelle in the NBA. Truthfully I want my center to be rebounding then leaking out, so that quality goes for nothing unless we want Javale McGee part 2. His coordination is his best asset although he isn't a good passer, hasn't really improved in that area, and his recent struggles with collegiate players with NBA size should be a giant red flag. Zeller's height will be pointless, I havent seen any legitimate source refute his DX measurements. He absolutely has to measure well at the combine for me to believe he's lottery worthy.

He's also added weight from last year, and still has trouble with strength...there is going to be a point where his weight will be detrimental to his quickness. He's better off working on a mid range J and becoming pick and pop 4.

DX does not have official measurements for Zeller's arm length. They've got rumored and unofficial measurements from things like the LeBron camps and the Nike skills camps. Who knows where they got their estimate for Zeller's arm length?

And even if you assume their measurement is correct, you're placing far too much importance on arm length as a determinant of NBA success. If it were as important as you seem to think it is, then Jason Maxiell and Bismack Biyombo would be amazing. It doesn't even come close to negating all of the positives Zeller brings to the table.

And you can think what you want about Zeller's athleticism, we've had this discussion before and I don't really care to go around in circles again. You're just wrong and nobody agrees with you. Everyone lists his athleticism as a strength.

For the record, Chad Ford has said that the comps he hears in reference to Porter are a ceiling of a lesser Pippen and a floor of a better Jeff Green. Take that for what its worth. He is also mentioned as the best possible addition to the Wiz if Noel is unavailable, and probably the next highest guy on our boad (supposedly, and thank god, Noel is #1 on our board).

[hands11]

We got 46 points on something like 24 shots from our SF spot last night. Plus 14 rebounds. SF doesn't feel like a need when we get that kind of production. But so little of that offense came unassisted. They're finishers and Price and Wall had to be playmakers.

If we have pure shooters at the 3, that means we should have a playmaker that can ISO score at the 4 IMO. That's pretty rare. Nene does it fairly well but he's not an elite scorer. I'm thinking we should have a creative 3. That's why I still like Shabazz so much.

In other news, Kansas getting beat so bad was the big surprise yesterday. McLemore played well but no one else did. I have a harder time pinning McLemore down than almost anyone else. Sometimes he looks like a future superstar, others he looks totally passive and doesn't seem to have that star mentality. He would scare me with a top three pick.

We have a huge need at SF. The problem they have as constructed is that it takes two SF to do that. Once you get into the playoffs, you need one super SF that can get it done. Trevor A and Webster are great to help you win during the season but either is a bench role player on a 2nd round playoff team. Ultimately, they can't keep both and between the two, I would keep Webster because he is pure awesome as a team leader and 3 pt shooter. That means you need to replace Trevor A. Only question is when and what can you get for him if anything more then letting his contract expire for cap space. They got him for nothing really so if that is it, not biggy. If he walks on an early sign out, fine. If not, fine. I still go get Otto.

Think LeBron, Melo, KD, PP, Paul George. Even Shawn Marion goes under valued for what he did to help Dallas win it all. That is what you are up against. Or you have Kobe or MJ on your team.

Since the Wizards have to start taking a crack at getting this kind of player, they might want to just draft Otto. At a min, he is a Trevor A replacement and he should retain good value if you want to package him moving forward if ever one of those big name pieces come free.

Then go load up with sleeper and later picks.

I would take players like

Baylor - Pierre Jackson for nothing as my back up PG
Cory Jefferson or Patric Young
Gorgui Dieng or Jeff Withey
Doug McDermott
Seth Curry
Ryan Kelly - where will he go ?

I would say Victor O but he is undersized for a SF and we already have Beal at SG
MJ McCollum would be awesome as a back up PG/SG but not sure we have to pick to waste getting him
Burke would be great but we have Wall and you can get Pierre for nothing.

Other options

Trade the #1 for Kanter and draft McCullum SG/PG with the pick then bring in Pierre as your 2/3rd PG
Then fill out the draft with those other cheap names from the list above and go for SF in the following draft or via FA or trade.

Either would be an awesome draft in my book and would put this rebuild on solid footing.

If Pierre and Seth go undrafted, either would be a complete steal to add for noting. That would be like two extra free picks. With Wall still the teams PG, I wouldn't go for Burke if I could get Pierre for nothing. Pierre is way better then Price. That would be a huge upgrade.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Looking at the mocks I see the T'wolves have a second 1st rounder down at 26. They have proven to be a willing trade partner for us, and with talks of Flip taking over as GM that pick could be a scenario for us. If there is anyone here that Flip liked such as Vesely, Singleton, Booker, perhaps we could package one of them with our 2nd rounder for the #26 pick if it can net us Withey or Dieng.

[The Consiglieri]

Hands, I've become a fan of Withey as well. He's tougher and more physical than both Zeller and Len, and I like the fire and emotion he plays with.

Yes. I actually haven't watched him a whole lot this year, but I saw enough of him last year to know that I think he's gonna be a solid pro.

Porter is the guy I want for this team. Like Beal last year, he's got what this team needs. The skills, the smarts, the intangibles, to seamlessly fit in.

But to add Withey as well would be an outright coup IMO. I'm really hoping he somehow drops to our 2nd round pick. If we could deal our later 2nd to move up a couple spots for him it's a no brainer.

As of now I'm calling a Porter/Withey draft. This would make me very happy. I think both of these guys would be great additions to this team as otherwise currently constructed.

You take Noel without thinking twice about it. Last year I would have done that deal, and drafted Drummond and another player. This year Noel is head and shoulders above all the rest in terms of long term upside. He's the only guy I can see in this pile who has a reasonably decent chance of beng better than "good". You don't pass on that opportunity. Historically in all sports, trading away the elite player for several lesser options nearly always blows up in your face, particularly in sports outside of football.

So here is the all important question....

If you had the #1 or you know you could get Noel with the #2, would you trade it for two firsts if you could get Porter or Victor O and Withey. Cuz I don't think he is going to the 2nd round as much as I think he will rise in the first. Maybe I'm wrong and his age keeps him lower. But that beside the point. Would you trade a top 2 pick down for two #1 if that was the only way to get him.

I really hope they find a way to get two number ones. Unless there are second round picks that are just as good. I have seen a few posted. Snaer, McDermott but I don't see a center there as good as Withey.

You take Noel without thinking twice about it. Last year I would have done that deal, and drafted Drummond and another player like Lillard or Waiters or Barnes etc. This year Noel is head and shoulders above all the rest in terms of long term upside. He's the only guy I can see in this pile who has a reasonably decent chance of beng better than "good". You don't pass on that opportunity. Historically in all sports, trading away the elite player for several lesser options nearly always blows up in your face, particularly in sports outside of football.

[hands11]

Looking at the mocks I see the T'wolves have a second 1st rounder down at 26. They have proven to be a willing trade partner for us, and with talks of Flip taking over as GM that pick could be a scenario for us. If there is anyone here that Flip liked such as Vesely, Singleton, Booker, perhaps we could package one of them with our 2nd rounder for the #26 pick if it can net us Withey or Dieng.

That would be awesome.

They do need to transition out of those players. They may well end up being useful someplace else but I don't see it here. Wizards need to bring in a complete new line of young blood that can come to the team as it is knew like Beal did.

Those other players have old Wizards sink on them. For me, Beal is the beginning of the new day. Only Wall and Kevin S should be considered as hold overs but I could see both of them move eventually as well.

The only remaining big question is EG. Does Ted hold onto him one more year ? If he just drafts Otto and brings in some of those players I just listed, it would be hard for him to screw anything up.

But its hard for me to get over that 2011 draft. You just can't screw up that much in a draft. Thankfully we got Beal the next year. I can understand a designed tank so that would happen but how you draft Ves over Nikola V when you wanted Kanter to start. And then you draft Singleton with Tobias Harris and Kenneth Faried still on the board. I mean at least take a swing at M Brooks since Nick was leaving.

I remember after the draft some people making sense of it. They liked Singleton and thought he was a steal at his slot. I didn't get the draft at the time and still don't.

[hands11]

Consiglieri

Looks like you posted in my quotes. It makes both you and my posts kind of confusion.