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

[drsd]

Historically, 21-61 has served us very well in terms of draft positioning.

I am not sure the Magic is going to win three more games.

[fendilim]

We're getting the #1 pick, book it. Pat Williams gonna bring it back for us I hope.

I'd rather we get it next.

[CourtsideTV]

if we dont get #1 for noel i wouldn't mind #2 mclmeour. i saw his highlight real and he looks sick lol

[liquid_softgel]

if we dont get #1 for noel i wouldn't mind #2 mclmeour. i saw his highlight real and he looks sick lol

I hate his motor. He has shied away from the ball the entire tournament. Aside from when he scored 30 something earlier in the season, every time I've seen Kansas play Releford has been the best player on the floor (Mostly for his effort and defense). Hell, Johnson plays with less fear on offense.

McLemore can shoot. Sometimes. If he becomes more consistent and doesn't try to hide on offense when the pressure is on, maybe I'd throw a pick at him. After watching him this year, he is way to inconsistent under pressure, and has a poor motor compared to other draft prospects. It's a surprise to me he's so high in some mock drafts. He has talent, but I have only seen him regress from the middle of the season on.

[KingRobb02]

Why do the Magic still own the rights to Vasquez if he never signed for years after being drafted?

He's been playing professionally this whole time. That's why.

[MoMM]

Guys just a thought... remember in 2005 when we got the #1 pick and drafted Dwight while CHa got #2 and drafter Emeka? Now it's us two again vying for the number 1 pick lol

with another defensive big man on the line as a potential #1.

i reckon someone like Phoenix is actually gonna land the #1. we'll get #3 or #4.

Yup. Last 5 teams with the no 2 spot dropped at least once. Usually to 4th. I'd like to see realgm if the 14th slot won the lottery this time though.

It will only happen if the Lakers dont make the playoffs

[KingRobb02]

if we dont get #1 for noel i wouldn't mind #2 mclmeour. i saw his highlight real and he looks sick lol

I hate his motor. He has shied away from the ball the entire tournament. Aside from when he scored 30 something earlier in the season, every time I've seen Kansas play Releford has been the best player on the floor (Mostly for his effort and defense). Hell, Johnson plays with less fear on offense.

McLemore can shoot. Sometimes. If he becomes more consistent and doesn't try to hide on offense when the pressure is on, maybe I'd throw a pick at him. After watching him this year, he is way to inconsistent under pressure, and has a poor motor compared to other draft prospects. It's a surprise to me he's so high in some mock drafts. He has talent, but I have only seen him regress from the middle of the season on.

Shouldn't his coach benching him for the last 13 minutes of a tight game against North Carolina tell you everything you need to know?

[PeePee la Fritz]

Sad thing is I don't even see a future 2nd team All NBA player in this draft. Even 3rd team All NBA would be pushing it for this group. That's how down on this draft I am. I think there's 2 or 3 players who could maybe make a couple All Star games.....maybe

[Optimus_Steel]

Sad thing is I don't even see a future 2nd team All NBA player in this draft. Even 3rd team All NBA would be pushing it for this group. That's how down on this draft I am. I think there's 2 or 3 players who could maybe make a couple All Star games.....maybe

While there aren't any Lebron's or Durants in this draft, there are players in most drafts that are unheralded or not as highly rated that end up becoming great players in the league.

[trebone]

I am firmly on the Noel bandwagon with the way Smart and Mclemore have played late into the season. At least if you bust a 1st go with someone with a chance to be an allstar, Camby is his ceiling IMO and that would be excellent next to Vucci

[KingRobb02]

I am firmly on the Noel bandwagon with the way Smart and Mclemore have played late into the season. At least if you bust a 1st go with someone with a chance to be an allstar, Camby is his ceiling IMO and that would be excellent next to Vucci

I'm pretty much with you. If the consensus is that there are a bunch of flawed players in this draft and none of them are franchise altering, I would rather take my chances with Noel and see if our doctors can fix him.

[londoncollin]

I am firmly on the Noel bandwagon with the way Smart and Mclemore have played late into the season. At least if you bust a 1st go with someone with a chance to be an allstar, Camby is his ceiling IMO and that would be excellent next to Vucci

I'm pretty much with you. If the consensus is that there are a bunch of flawed players in this draft and none of them are franchise altering, I would rather take my chances with Noel and see if our doctors can fix him.

Would you have traded for Bynum?

I'm not saying he's the same, but you have to be careful with guys with histories of injury.

[KingRobb02]

I am firmly on the Noel bandwagon with the way Smart and Mclemore have played late into the season. At least if you bust a 1st go with someone with a chance to be an allstar, Camby is his ceiling IMO and that would be excellent next to Vucci

I'm pretty much with you. If the consensus is that there are a bunch of flawed players in this draft and none of them are franchise altering, I would rather take my chances with Noel and see if our doctors can fix him.

Would you have traded for Bynum?

I'm not saying he's the same, but you have to be careful with guys with histories of injury.

If Bynum, was on a rookie deal and not making 12 million? Of course. I don't mind taking risks on guys who are so cheap. That's why i'm in the Oden camp and thought we could have used Sullinger.

[Leopold_Stoich]

Nerlens would be a great tool for us in our pusuit of a Wiggins or Parker in 2014 considering that he'll be out for a decent portion of the season. If he comes back 100% with no hick-ups then it's a huge win for us in our defensive gain which we most definitely need. I just hope that we draft a good PG because we NEED a pg. Jameer isn't getting any younger nor any healthier with all these minor injuries throughout the year. We need a pg prepped and ready to take the starting role from Jameer and I've always said how I would love for Jameer to come off the bench. So I just hope if Henny has Noel in his hindsights for a lottery pick that he has a good pg in mind as well.

[trebone]

you cant compare BYnum/Noel as far as risk reward because Nerlens will be on a rookie deal and you can just not pick up his option if he cant stay healthy, Bynum will probably still get a max deal this offseason anyway.

If by chance Noel busts, who else would you have taken that's a sure thing in the top 5 assuming we cant trade down for later 1sts? Its a risk I think we can afford to take, if he is healthy we can move BBD at the deadline and we would be set in the frontcourt.

Moe/Tobias
Tobias/Noel/AN
Vucci/Noel/KOQ

[trebone]

Nerlens would be a great tool for us in our pusuit of a Wiggins or Parker in 2014 considering that he'll be out for a decent portion of the season. If he comes back 100% with no hick-ups then it's a huge win for us in our defensive gain which we most definitely need. I just hope that we draft a good PG because we NEED a pg. Jameer isn't getting any younger nor any healthier with all these minor injuries throughout the year. We need a pg prepped and ready to take the starting role from Jameer and I've always said how I would love for Jameer to come off the bench. So I just hope if Henny has Noel in his hindsights for a lottery pick that he has a good pg in mind as well.

I agree pg is a big concern but I dont think Smart is the answer, also I dont think Henny minds so much as we dont need to improve next year. If by chance we miss out on Wiggins/Parker next season you have the Harrison twins who are better now than any of the pgs coming out this year right now.

[BadMofoPimp]

If Meer or Afflalo gets injured and the Magic draft Noel, then Devos could potentially be on the hook for about $50 million dollars for players not playing on his team next year. Imagine paying $50 mil to guys just to watch your business operate. lol.

[Optimus_Steel]

If Meer or Afflalo gets injured and the Magic draft Noel, then Devos could potentially be on the hook for about $50 million dollars for players not playing on his team next year. Imagine paying $50 mil to guys just to watch your business operate. lol.

He is paying Gilbert Arenas $20 million so that he can go play with the sharks in his aquarium....

[Neon1]

I am firmly on the Noel bandwagon with the way Smart and Mclemore have played late into the season. At least if you bust a 1st go with someone with a chance to be an allstar, Camby is his ceiling IMO and that would be excellent next to Vucci

Unless our team doctors say to take him off the board after examining all the medical info ands records on the knee (or anthing else serious), For OUR team, In THIS draft, I am as rock solid on him as #1 as i can be. What he already does, and what his strengths already are, bring exactly what this team needs.

AFTER Noel is where i am murky on who to take. All of the others, (Smart/McLemore/Burke/McCollum/Porter/Bennett/and MCW all need to develop into a different type of player then they are for us to be sucessful.

He (Noel) has by far the highest probability to be able to be/become exactly what WE need him to be in the NBA, mainly because all we need is everything that he already currently does, always has done and he already is.

With all the guards, we would need them to basically become much better players with much better production then they had even at the NCAA level or it is a bust.

IF he ever develops anything else, anything at all, for instance an improved FT%, short range jumper, any semblence of a post move...strength.....anything....It is all just gravy. What we need is the defensive impact to make our other prospects
(Vucevic/Harkless & Harris) even better. By covering up defensive holes it allows them to all play to strengths and in turn be more valuable.

http://www.ukathletics.com/blog/2012/12 ... mpact.html

More than 100 (101) of Noel’s 106 blocks have come in the paint, and 69 have been at the rim. Noel is recording a higher percentage of his blocks in the paint (95.3 percent) than Davis did last season (83.3 percent).

Noel has kept 85 of his 106 blocks in bounds (80.2 percent), with 57 of those 85 leading to Kentucky defensive rebounds. Overall, 53.8 percent of Noel’s blocks have resulted in Kentucky possessions, and his blocked shots have led to 58 points (2.4 points per game).

Even when he isn’t blocking shots, Noel is an elite post-up defender. He ranks first in the country in fewest points per post-up play allowed, among the 39 players to defend at least 75 plays. He held opponents to 30 percent shooting and forced a turnover on 28 percent of post-up plays, the highest rate in the country.

http://sports.yahoo.com/kentucky/blog/w ... ege,wp3304

[londoncollin]

If Noel didn't have injury concerns I'd be the first person on his bandwagon.