Official 2013 Draft Thread - Part II

[stevemcqueen1]

Adams has a better body than Plumlee. I think he's currently got the best NBA body of any of the bigs in the class. He's going to be a complete beast when he finishes growing. But he's about as raw as can be and I think the evaluation of his intangibles is crucial. If he's not serious and not a worker I wouldn't draft him. I don't really like some of the things I've read about him.

[hands11]

Crap. I didn't know they were still playing.

I missed the Baylor game.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=330920239

Nice numbers by Pierre and Cory.

At least they have it so you can wait the replay.

[hands11]

In last year's draft, Deing's 7 would have had him in a tie for the 7th spot. Picks 8-12 all had a score of 5. In the 2011 draft, there was no 7 score (among the draft eligible players). Tristan Thompson was 5th overall with a 5. Picks 7-13 had scores of 4. In 2009-10, picks 9-12 had a score of 7.

I made some changes to YODA recently, so I have to re-calibrate my charts. I'll get to it before the draft.

Wow. So in effect, it looks like we may have picked a good year to finish in the 9-12 range. The 9-12 range looks stronger that it did last year and the year before. The high picks in this draft look weaker than last year and the year before.

I'm sure hands11 would tell us that it was all part of EG's plan.

Nate, we have been making this observation about this draft for a while. I even think you have made it yourself.

Why you acting like you just discovered this ?

[stevemcqueen1]

I think Len is our guy if he makes it to our pick.

[stevemcqueen1]

Len is the best player on Maryland by far. They should be running the offense through him, it's sad.

When he gets dialed in, he completely shuts down the paint. Doing a great job defensively tonight. Holding his ground very well and he's contesting just about everything in his area.

[miller31time]

I think Len is our guy if he makes it to our pick.

I want no part of the guy. He's both mentally and physically weak.

(Saying this as a huge MD fan)

[DCZards]

I think Len is our guy if he makes it to our pick.

I agree. I really like how he moves around the court. Very fluid and quick for a man his size. Len is raw as hell in some respects, but it will be hard to pass him up if he's there when the Zards pick.

[hands11]

Watching Len right now.

This kid is pretty freakn athlete and coordinated for 7-1

He can really move his feet quickly and he closed out really fast.

I can see him being effective in the pros. Specially after a few years of getting stronger.

That 7-1 frame spread out in the post really covers from space.

And at least in this game, he is really court aware and doing a lot of talking like a center should. Even showing some emotion and competitive fire.

[stevemcqueen1]

I think Len is our guy if he makes it to our pick.

I agree. I really like how you moves around the court. Very fluid and quick for a man his size. Len is raw as hell in some respects, but it will be hard to pass him up if he's there when the Zards pick.

Very athletic. Very coordinated. His size is a game changer. He's been a monster around the basket tonight, taking away shots at the rim and controlling the glass. He has shown very good defensive awareness.

The hands seem to come and go with him. He's looking to make a move before he secures the ball more often than he should.

His core offensive skills are good. He dribbles well for his size and he can shoot. He just has to figure out how to score with those tools. He's very talented and I think he could be an upper echelon starting C. One of the highest upside players in the class IMO.

[hands11]

Wow. Every player on Marylands team short of Len are biggest ball hog shot jackers I have ever seen.

Its like a team of Crawford at his worst.

Len must be so happy he is leaving.

Zen looked totally tuned in. He didn't look like this last time I saw him.

I would have zero problem if the Wizards picked up this kid. Actually he looks like a really nice fit. They need a center who is long athletic can block shots, hit FT, set picks, etc.

Like a more athletic Z.

Man, if they could get Len and say Muscala that would dramatically change the dynamics of this team.

Nene/Okafor/Len/Muscala

[sfam]

I think Len is our guy if he makes it to our pick.

I agree. I really like how you moves around the court. Very fluid and quick for a man his size. Len is raw as hell in some respects, but it will be hard to pass him up if he's there when the Zards pick.

Very athletic. Very coordinated. His size is a game changer. He's been a monster around the basket tonight, taking away shots at the rim and controlling the glass. He has shown very good defensive awareness.

The hands seem to come and go with him. He's looking to make a move before he secures the ball more often than he should.

His core offensive skills are good. He dribbles well for his size and he can shoot. He just has to figure out how to score with those tools. He's very talented and I think he could be an upper echelon starting C. One of the highest upside players in the class IMO.

In some ways Len reminds me of Hibbert. He's slow but has size, skills and awareness. I'd be ok with Len if we pick around 10.

[hands11]

sfam

He is way more mobile, coordinated and faster then Hibbert. Hibbert is more like a Y Ming type.

[RickRoll_inDC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... xqSkpiGZus

Since we were talking about Len, figured I'd post this about my Hawkeyes taking down the terps tonight!

But in all seriousness, Len is legit. When he wasn't getting out shown by my boy, Roy Devyn Marble, he looked like one of the most agile 7-1 players I've ever seen. It's like he plays even bigger than 7-1 (if that's possible)

On a separate note- what did you guys think of Marble? Think he has any future in the NBA?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Wow. Every player on Marylands team short of Len are biggest ball hog shot jackers I have ever seen.

Its like a team of Crawford at his worst.

Len must be so happy he is leaving.

Zen looked totally tuned in. He didn't look like this last time I saw him.

I would have zero problem if the Wizards picked up this kid. Actually he looks like a really nice fit. They need a center who is long athletic can block shots, hit FT, set picks, etc.

Like a more athletic Z.

Man, if they could get Len and say Muscala that would dramatically change the dynamics of this team.

Nene/Okafor/Len/Muscala

+1

[gambitx777]

Wow. Every player on Marylands team short of Len are biggest ball hog shot jackers I have ever seen.

Its like a team of Crawford at his worst.

Len must be so happy he is leaving.

Zen looked totally tuned in. He didn't look like this last time I saw him.

I would have zero problem if the Wizards picked up this kid. Actually he looks like a really nice fit. They need a center who is long athletic can block shots, hit FT, set picks, etc.

Like a more athletic Z.

Man, if they could get Len and say Muscala that would dramatically change the dynamics of this team.

Nene/Okafor/Len/Muscala

fantastic point !

but i still see Olynyk as a better pick than len, but, i would not be shocked is Olynyk was taken before we even get to him. So, i would not hate a len pick, im jsut not as high on him as i once was.

[Nivek]

CCJ -- here you go...the players you mentioned with their YODA scores. Typically, it takes a score of 20+ to be the top pick in the draft. In most years a score of 0 hits right around the 30th player.

- CJ McCollum 3
- Jamaal Franklin -1
- Colton Iverson -1
- Zeke Marshall 3
- Nate Wolters 3
- DJ Stephens 4

EDIT: forgot about Roberson. Interesting player because his rating has decline each year. Here are Roberson's YODA scores by year:

- Freshman: 4
- Sophomore: 1
- Junior: -3

He's a good rebounder, but his offensive efficiency has fallen each year even as his possession usage has come down. He shoots much worse as a junior than he did as a freshman. His FT% is bad. His turnovers have risen, although his assists have not.

[stevemcqueen1]

In some ways Len reminds me of Hibbert. He's slow but has size, skills and awareness. I'd be ok with Len if we pick around 10.

I don't know, I don't think he looks that slow. He showed off some explosiveness going over the top to get his own rebound and put it back up and he's got a very quick second bounce. I think he's surprisingly rangy and quick for his size, which is what makes him so tantalizing IMO.

The thing that surprised me the most were how smooth his handles looked. He's not as good driving the lane as Zeller, but it's not a weakness, that's for sure. I think he's going to be able to get around NBA bigs for points.

His physical tool box is very impressive. And he can already shoot and he's got touch. I think he could be a steal

In general, this is an unusually good big man class. Lots of 6'11-7'0 players, lots of guys who already have mid range jumpers, lots of good upperclassmen, and several high quality underclassmen. I'll be disappointed if we don't come away with a big from this class. I want one of the best ones too, Zeller, Noel, or Len. I really want someone who can play the 5 and be a two way player.

[Ruzious]

Crap. I didn't know they were still playing.

I missed the Baylor game.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=330920239

Nice numbers by Pierre and Cory.

At least they have it so you can wait the replay.

I have Cory Jefferson as the most overlooked/underrated prospect in the draft (assuming he goes - which is probably a good bet) at this point. I think people are going to wake up about him when they do measurements and see he's at least 6'9 240 with good length and athleticism. His stats are already excellent. Even before last night's 8 of 11 FG's and 5 of 7 FT's performance, he had a TS% of 64 and eFG% of 61 - with a PER over 27. The only negative - a bit of a late bloomer as a 22 year old junior - but part of that was his physical growth - exemplified by the fact that he supposedly bulked up to 215 lbs this season and was 170 lbs as a frosh. Again, unless my eyes deceive me, he's much bigger than that now. Draftexpress has him as the last pick in the 1st round... of the 2014 draft. NBAdraft.net has him 53rd in 2013.

DJ Stephens might be the most interesting player in the draft - perhaps the next Tony Allen.

[doclinkin]

In some ways Len reminds me of Hibbert. He's slow but has size, skills and awareness. I'd be ok with Len if we pick around 10.

I don't know, I don't think he looks that slow. He showed off some explosiveness going over the top to get his own rebound and put it back up and he's got a very quick second bounce. I think he's surprisingly rangy and quick for his size, which is what makes him so tantalizing IMO.

The thing that surprised me the most were how smooth his handles looked. He's not as good driving the lane as Zeller, but it's not a weakness, that's for sure. I think he's going to be able to get around NBA bigs for points.

His physical tool box is very impressive. And he can already shoot and he's got touch. I think he could be a steal

In general, this is an unusually good big man class. Lots of 6'11-7'0 players, lots of guys who already have mid range jumpers, lots of good upperclassmen, and several high quality underclassmen. I'll be disappointed if we don't come away with a big from this class. I want one of the best ones too, Zeller, Noel, or Len. I really want someone who can play the 5 and be a two way player.

If Alex Len is on the board at our likely pick there is no chance Ernie passes him by.

Ernie's draft philosophy, stated back in the EFJ days, is that you have to swing for the homerun with high draft picks. Alex Len has the best combination of size athleticism and physical talents in this draft.

The fact that he has local ties is a bonus to fans, but less important to Ernie, though GMEG has said he respects players from the Big East and ACC. The fact that he has Eastern European roots makes him too great of a temptation to pass since Ernie has shown a Euro bias his entire GM career, frankly it would have been better for Len if he played overseas instead of so close. Ernie likes to justify the plane tickets for travel overseas.

My opinion: Len plays good defense, has shown flashes of a decent mid-to-long-range game, good footwork, nice frame to add size & strength. 'Footers (over 7 foot) are often late bloomers and Len has only just begun to learn what he can and cannot do on court. Terrapin guard play has been selfish and Len was not featured or developed as the mismatch he could have been. Upside-wise Len is one of the better prospects in the draft. I like his upside better than Olynyk. I like Len's sophmore year better than KellyO's. I'd be fine with that pick.

[DCZards]

Last night, Len was in the paint when an Iowa player set up to take an open 3 pointer. Len shot out of the paint and almost blocked the shot. That play alone left me very impressed by both Len's quick reaction and his foot speed.

Of course, at Len's size all it took was two long steps for him to get from underneath the basket to the perimeter.

Right now, assuming the Zards are picking 8-10 and he's available, I'm drafting Len....over Olynyk, Zeller or any other big man who might be available.