Official Speculation Thread (Pt.LII "Lottery/Draft" Edition)

[OrlChamps2030]

What we need is a shot blocker. Jameer is sufficient for another year, and he'll, we can acquire a pick at the end of the lottery for afflalo or baby and take pg... Our number one priority this offseason should be a shot blocker. I don't understand how you all do not see that. Every game everyone is driving on us and getting easy layups. Nik and drew don't play d, so Nicholson is best suited off the bench, as instant offense.

What I'm getting at is we need Noel with our first pick. He doesn't need to score for us. He needs to anchor our defense. There are no stars in this draft, so don't label him as a bust. He will be a great defensive player, who will probably never average more than 12 ppg... But if he can give me 10 rpg, 3 bpg, and 2 spg I will take it all day. You all really don't understand how much defense impacts a game, especially interior defense. Also I have seen some on here that we can sign a defensive big for cheap... Please stop... Chandler is expensive, so is ibaka... Davis is untouchable, camby is old.... Sanders is about to be expensive... Noah is expensive.... Dwight, ummm you know about that.... Stop acting like they are a dime a dozen. Pg's on the other hand are a dime a dozen, and we can buy a pick and get Burke or McCollum... Or evenentually sign one in free agency

I agree with everything you said, very nicely done. Noel fits a huge need and passing on him means we have to grossly overpay for a defensive big w/ much less upside than him or draft a big next year (Steven Adams) which I don't think anyone would want to do with all of the wing talent coming out next year.

Because let's face it, outside of tanking, a front court tandem of Nicholson/Harris and Vucevic is good for nothing. Drafting Noel @ #1/#2 and trading Afflalo for Minny's pick and grabbing Burke/McCollum would be a great success and we'd need one more wing scorer in next year's draft and we'd be SET

[BadMofoPimp]

Kwame Brown has exceptional defense with stone hands like Noel. Why not just sign Kwame Brown? Kwame proves that being a freak of nature defensively doesn't translate to success in the NBA. Now, dude is going to miss a year of basketball on top of all that. He may never be the same player with potential.

[Neon1]

Kwame Brown has exceptional defense with stone hands like Noel. Why not just sign Kwame Brown? Kwame proves that being a freak of nature defensively doesn't translate to success in the NBA. Now, dude is going to miss a year of basketball on top of all that. He may never be the same player with potential.

Why do you keep comparing Noel to huge 275-285 pound hardly mobile guys? Kwame and Vucevic would NEVER be able to see the floor together and you know it. Kwame is strictly a LOW BLOCK POST defender, he isn't defending pick and rolls, he isnt a help d defender and he is not changing any shots. EVER. They are not even similar style players and you know it.

Stop trolling just to troll.

[BadMofoPimp]

If people want to praise a player I think will be a bust, then I have the right to not want the Magic to pick a player that I think will be a bust. Is this the "Lets all praise Noel" thread. Kwame was not 280lb 18 year old when drafted.

If you can't take constructive criticism, then don't visit the forums. It is all good. I am all for:

McLemore (would make for a nice replacement of Afflalo)
Smart (A defensive PG, sign me up!)
Shabbaz (Potential star here)

As for Noel, sure he can be a legit player, but he has just as much potential to be a bust. Why risk a franchise's development on something that may hurt more than it could help? Every year there will be a Darko, Thabeet or Oden. Notice how they are all centers . . . It is like people draft on size and not true Basketball IQ. Too many players look good in college. Take an injury prone player and throw them into the NBA against physical bigs and they could be a wash. I would not take the risk. Unfortunately, I don't trust Henny enough not to. But, Henny hasn't been involved with drafting Big's too much in the past with S.A. or OKC, so that is comforting.

[tiderulz]

What we need is a shot blocker. Jameer is sufficient for another year, and he'll, we can acquire a pick at the end of the lottery for afflalo or baby and take pg... Our number one priority this offseason should be a shot blocker. I don't understand how you all do not see that. Every game everyone is driving on us and getting easy layups. Nik and drew don't play d, so Nicholson is best suited off the bench, as instant offense.

What I'm getting at is we need Noel with our first pick. He doesn't need to score for us. He needs to anchor our defense. There are no stars in this draft, so don't label him as a bust. He will be a great defensive player, who will probably never average more than 12 ppg... But if he can give me 10 rpg, 3 bpg, and 2 spg I will take it all day. You all really don't understand how much defense impacts a game, especially interior defense. Also I have seen some on here that we can sign a defensive big for cheap... Please stop... Chandler is expensive, so is ibaka... Davis is untouchable, camby is old.... Sanders is about to be expensive... Noah is expensive.... Dwight, ummm you know about that.... Stop acting like they are a dime a dozen. Pg's on the other hand are a dime a dozen, and we can buy a pick and get Burke or McCollum... Or evenentually sign one in free agency

we watched Dwight and his defense carry the Magic to the finals, how do you think we dont realize how much defense affects a game. But defense at the perimeter can be just as good as at the frontline. I am of the group that thinks Noel is going to be nothing more than a role player. And like Dwight before, just having 1 good defensive player in the back isnt good enough, you need other defensive players. And you dont just need a shot blocker, you need a solid defensive player. Ibaka is a shot blocker, but his man to man defense is horrible. His 2-3 blocks a game does not always make up for that.

oh, and your comments about not finding a good big man at FA, goes the same way for good PG's. I dont know a single top level PG out there that is available. teams have won without a great defensive big

[RickB-Orlando]

What we need is a shot blocker. Jameer is sufficient for another year, and he'll, we can acquire a pick at the end of the lottery for afflalo or baby and take pg... Our number one priority this offseason should be a shot blocker. I don't understand how you all do not see that. Every game everyone is driving on us and getting easy layups. Nik and drew don't play d, so Nicholson is best suited off the bench, as instant offense.

What I'm getting at is we need Noel with our first pick. He doesn't need to score for us. He needs to anchor our defense. There are no stars in this draft, so don't label him as a bust. He will be a great defensive player, who will probably never average more than 12 ppg... But if he can give me 10 rpg, 3 bpg, and 2 spg I will take it all day. You all really don't understand how much defense impacts a game, especially interior defense. Also I have seen some on here that we can sign a defensive big for cheap... Please stop... Chandler is expensive, so is ibaka... Davis is untouchable, camby is old.... Sanders is about to be expensive... Noah is expensive.... Dwight, ummm you know about that.... Stop acting like they are a dime a dozen. Pg's on the other hand are a dime a dozen, and we can buy a pick and get Burke or McCollum... Or evenentually sign one in free agency

we watched Dwight and his defense carry the Magic to the finals, how do you think we dont realize how much defense affects a game. But defense at the perimeter can be just as good as at the frontline. I am of the group that thinks Noel is going to be nothing more than a role player. And like Dwight before, just having 1 good defensive player in the back isnt good enough, you need other defensive players. And you dont just need a shot blocker, you need a solid defensive player. Ibaka is a shot blocker, but his man to man defense is horrible. His 2-3 blocks a game does not always make up for that.

oh, and your comments about not finding a good big man at FA, goes the same way for good PG's. I dont know a single top level PG out there that is available. teams have won without a great defensive big

I feel like I have to add that being a good shot blocker in college doesn't necessarily mean you're going to anchor a defense in the NBA. There is no one, and I mean no one, that is comparing Noel to Dwight even as a defender, as far as I have seen.

That's not to say Noel won't turn into a decent NBA player. He might, maybe even probably will, assuming he comes back from the injury, plays at roughly the same level, and doesn't end up with chronic knee problems. But that doesn't mean he's exactly what this team needs in the draft.

[BadMofoPimp]

I am a Meer fan and even though I rank Bazz and McLemore above Smart, I wouldn't be disappointed in Smart because this team desperately needs a defensive PG and Meer would be the perfect role model as a leader to pass along the reigns in a year or two. Thus, Smart wouldn't have to be thrown into the fire.

[magicman112]

What we need is a shot blocker. Jameer is sufficient for another year, and he'll, we can acquire a pick at the end of the lottery for afflalo or baby and take pg... Our number one priority this offseason should be a shot blocker. I don't understand how you all do not see that. Every game everyone is driving on us and getting easy layups. Nik and drew don't play d, so Nicholson is best suited off the bench, as instant offense.

What I'm getting at is we need Noel with our first pick. He doesn't need to score for us. He needs to anchor our defense. There are no stars in this draft, so don't label him as a bust. He will be a great defensive player, who will probably never average more than 12 ppg... But if he can give me 10 rpg, 3 bpg, and 2 spg I will take it all day. You all really don't understand how much defense impacts a game, especially interior defense. Also I have seen some on here that we can sign a defensive big for cheap... Please stop... Chandler is expensive, so is ibaka... Davis is untouchable, camby is old.... Sanders is about to be expensive... Noah is expensive.... Dwight, ummm you know about that.... Stop acting like they are a dime a dozen. Pg's on the other hand are a dime a dozen, and we can buy a pick and get Burke or McCollum... Or evenentually sign one in free agency

we watched Dwight and his defense carry the Magic to the finals, how do you think we dont realize how much defense affects a game. But defense at the perimeter can be just as good as at the frontline. I am of the group that thinks Noel is going to be nothing more than a role player. And like Dwight before, just having 1 good defensive player in the back isnt good enough, you need other defensive players. And you dont just need a shot blocker, you need a solid defensive player. Ibaka is a shot blocker, but his man to man defense is horrible. His 2-3 blocks a game does not always make up for that.

oh, and your comments about not finding a good big man at FA, goes the same way for good PG's. I dont know a single top level PG out there that is available. teams have won without a great defensive big

I feel like I have to add that being a good shot blocker in college doesn't necessarily mean you're going to anchor a defense in the NBA. There is no one, and I mean no one, that is comparing Noel to Dwight even as a defender, as far as I have seen.

That's not to say Noel won't turn into a decent NBA player. He might, maybe even probably will, assuming he comes back from the injury, plays at roughly the same level, and doesn't end up with chronic knee problems. But that doesn't mean he's exactly what this team needs in the draft.

You always go best available. See Portland and Sam Bowie. I don't necessarily think Noel will be version 2.0 of him but at this stage in the process why take the risk if you don't need to? But then again we don't know where we'll be picking so it may very well end up being a moot point.

[BadMofoPimp]

You always go best available. See Portland and Sam Bowie. I don't necessarily think Noel will be version 2.0 of him but at this stage in the process why take the risk if you don't need to? But then again we don't know where we'll be picking so it may very well end up being a moot point.

FYI. Stern rewards farm teams with the number 1 overall pick. (See Cleveland and NO)

[Neon1]

If people want to praise a player I think will be a bust, then I have the right to not want the Magic to pick a player that I think will be a bust. Is this the "Lets all praise Noel" thread. Kwame was not 280lb 18 year old when drafted.

If you can't take constructive criticism, then don't visit the forums. It is all good.

You not wanting him is 1000pct fine. The problem is the criticism's are not even constructive or accurate, you just say any random things, like comparing a 216-220 pound kid like Noel to huge 280pound guys that dont even make sense comparison wise.

Kwame was 245-250 pounds coming into the NBA and never even played the same style of game as Noel, Kwame has never EVER blocked shots (career 1.0 per36) and was never drafted on defensive promise. Kwame was thought to have high upside on the OFFENSIVE side of the ball, because at the time he had a decent skillset and solid athleticism and strong frame. Jordan simply destroyed the kids offensive confidence of a kid that was already weak minded in the 1st place. They are not similar players.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... nkw01.html

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNrrEBY2IcM[/youtube]

[trebone]

If people want to praise a player I think will be a bust, then I have the right to not want the Magic to pick a player that I think will be a bust. Is this the "Lets all praise Noel" thread. Kwame was not 280lb 18 year old when drafted.

If you can't take constructive criticism, then don't visit the forums. It is all good.

You not wanting him is 1000pct fine. The problem is the criticism's are not even constructive or accurate, you just say any random things, like comparing a 216-220 pound kid like Noel to huge 280pound guys that dont even make sense comparison wise.

Kwame was 245-250 pounds coming into the NBA and never even played the same style of game as Noel, Kwame has never EVER blocked shots (career 1.0 per36) and was never drafted on defensive promise. Kwame was thought to have high upside on the OFFENSIVE side of the ball, because at the time he had a decent skillset and solid athleticism and strong frame. Jordan simply destroyed the kids offensive confidence of a kid that was already weak minded in the 1st place. They are not similar players.




http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... nkw01.html

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNrrEBY2IcM[/youtube]

[trebone]

I am on the Noel or Smart bandwagon, I think Mac and Bazz will have a tough time transitioning to the NBA. Noel gets a year to develop his upperbody and mental approach to the game while being a nice fit next to Vucci and Smart has upside and can play behind Meer for a season to learn from a true professional.

[Neon1]

I am fine with having the 1st or 2nd. Noel or Smart is fine with me but if both are there i take Noel unless Smart blows me away and lends me to believe he is a star. I personally dont see any superstars in this draft, and if there is one, he is a diamond in the rough that nobody sees.

[Leopold_Stoich]

I think Noel is too much of a gamble, say if we draft him, it'll be great for our pick that year considering that he'll be riding the bench for most of the season helping our losing streaks. We would also have a traffic jam in the power forward position. Unless we trade one of our bigs or hell even two come draft night then I'd consider Noel but we we are in desperate need of a point guard so Smart is the wisest choice for the draft. Plus a big coming from a big knee surgery could spell trouble later on. I wouldn't want to draft a Brandon Roy or Bynum.

[dsg2021]

Love this upcoming schedule. We are gonna see what this post deadline Magic squad are worth, and if they win any games, it'll be of the playoff-caliber type win.

[NEM]

I am fine with having the 1st or 2nd. Noel or Smart is fine with me but if both are there i take Noel unless Smart blows me away and lends me to believe he is a star. I personally dont see any superstars in this draft, and if there is one, he is a diamond in the rough that nobody sees.

[NEM]

LOL at Harkless at shooting guard and Noel at PF

i should have clarified myself... harkless at the 2 until we get a true 2 guard. its so that him and harris could be on the floor at the same time without either one having to play the 4. if keith brogans, bruce bowen, ronnie brewer, tony allen, and shane battier can start at the 2, why cant harmless... he would spot up and slash on offense, and he is long and athletic enough to guard the 2's on defense. this also puts harris at his natural position, and opens minutes for noel at the 4.

[tranjSAIC]

McLemore (would make for a nice replacement of Afflalo)
Smart (A defensive PG, sign me up!)
Shabbaz (Potential star here)

Good list minus Shabbaz, there is just something I don't like about the kid. I don't think his me 1st style of offense will translate to the pros. I think he will have a Rivers like adjustment.

[drsd]

You probably don't remember this, but Dwight wasn't exactly bulky when he came out of high school?

[G-Heel]

I wouldn't even blame Hennigan if he draft a bust this year. There are too many players that either high-risk/high-reward or low-risk/low-reward players and I rather take a high risk player than drafting another dispensable role player.