Official 2013 Draft Thread - Part III

[theboomking]

I am with those who think a lack of any particular elite skill is going to limit Otto Porter. He has great length, but isn't outstanding in any other area. I have a hard time seeing him being an above average SF in the league. Only Webster's injury history makes Porter look like a possible upgrade over Webster.

At this point, I am going to be floored if we don't take Len.

[stevemcqueen1]

I am with those who think a lack of any particular elite skill is going to limit Otto Porter. He has great length, but isn't outstanding in any other area. I have a hard time seeing him being an above average SF in the league. Only Webster's injury history makes Porter look like a possible upgrade over Webster.

At this point, I am going to be floored if we don't take Len.

Being well rounded isn't a bad thing. He'll be able to find a role. We're not drafting Porter into a vacuum. He'd come in as a role player with a specific job: make open jumpers, do a bit of offensive creation off a couple dribbles, finish in transition, keep the ball moving, don't rock the boat, stay healthy and clean, play defense, and rebound. He can do every part of that role at a high level.

He's better than a healthy Webster at everything but leaping and shooting 3s and FTs IMO. I think you could plug him in as the starting SF day one and not have to worry about him for ten years. That's appealing, especially in such a bad class. He was one of the best players in the big east this season at virtually everything and he was the best overall player in the conference. He's one of the best players in the class and has better pro potential than a lot of guys IMO.

I would be disappointed if we took Len over Porter or Zeller. It wouldn't shock me, but I think it'd be a big mistake. Porter and Zeller have so thoroughly outplayed Len that you have to get very academic and abstract to see Len as the better player and prospect.

Draft Porter and get DeMarcus Cousins if he becomes available or if he hits RFA. That team would be super talented.

[relinquishy]

I am with those who think a lack of any particular elite skill is going to limit Otto Porter. He has great length, but isn't outstanding in any other area. I have a hard time seeing him being an above average SF in the league. Only Webster's injury history makes Porter look like a possible upgrade over Webster.

At this point, I am going to be floored if we don't take Len.

Being well rounded isn't a bad thing. He'll be able to find a role. We're not drafting Porter into a vacuum. He'd come in as a role player with a specific job: make open jumpers, do a bit of offensive creation off a couple dribbles, finish in transition, keep the ball moving, don't rock the boat, stay healthy and clean, play defense, and rebound. He can do every part of that role at a high level.

He's better than a healthy Webster at everything but leaping and shooting 3s and FTs IMO. I think you could plug him in as the starting SF day one and not have to worry about him for ten years. That's appealing, especially in such a bad class. He was one of the best players in the big east this season at virtually everything and he was the best overall player in the conference. He's one of the best players in the class and has better pro potential than a lot of guys IMO.

I would be disappointed if we took Len over Porter or Zeller. It wouldn't shock me, but I think it'd be a big mistake. Porter and Zeller have so thoroughly outplayed Len that you have to get very academic and abstract to see Len as the better player and prospect.

Draft Porter and get DeMarcus Cousins if he becomes available or if he hits RFA. That team would be super talented.

Porter will most likely have already been picked and Zeller and his T-rex arms scare me. Also, numbers do not tell the whole story, as witnessed with Beal shooting 34% from the three in college and almost 39% from three in the NBA.

[No-Man]

pick7 looks like...

Orlando, Noel
Charlotte, McLemore
Cleveland, Porter
Phoenix, Muhammad
New Orleans, Zeller
Sacramento, Burke

So, probably it's Bennett for me, I guess there's a chance Oladipo get picked in the top6 but I can't see how, maybe Pelicans if they really want to trade Gordon (Oladipo-Rivers can be a nice pair of SGs), and that's all.

It's going to be between Bennett and Zeller for the Wizards.

If somehow, someway Porter or Muhammad slip to our pick, we grab them for sure.

[stevemcqueen1]

Porter will most likely have already been picked and Zeller and his T-rex arms scare me. Also, numbers do not tell the whole story, as witnessed with Beal shooting 34% from the three in college and almost 39% from three in the NBA.

I think it's pretty obvious to anyone whose seen both play that Zeller is a far better player than Len at this point.

Besides, aren't you the one reducing a prospect down to a number with Zeller--wingspan in inches?

[Ruzious]

Porter will most likely have already been picked and Zeller and his T-rex arms scare me. Also, numbers do not tell the whole story, as witnessed with Beal shooting 34% from the three in college and almost 39% from three in the NBA.

I think it's pretty obvious to anyone whose seen both play that Zeller is a far better player than Len at this point.

Besides, aren't you the one reducing a prospect down to a number with Zeller--wingspan in inches?

Yup, and Beal dramatically improved his college numbers as the season wore on - which is what you want to see from a promising frosh.

[payitforward]

I am with those who think a lack of any particular elite skill is going to limit Otto Porter....

I don't understand this. Porter put up fantastic overall numbers -- especially for a 19 year old. The overall numbers are what determine wins and losses. Can't build a team by combining a set of abstract skills, no matter how often people repeat the idea.

[payitforward]

Got to agree w/ Hands and others that Marcus Smart would have been better off coming out this year.

[fishercob]

Better off in terms of draft position, sure.

But maybe he's looking at the bigger picture. Perhaps he sees that he'll have a very steep hill to climb in terms of long term success by going to a terrible team right now and what he really needs in order to have a meaningful career is to improve his considerable weaknesses before being drafted as someone's franchise savior.

He might be happy in college and want one more year -- as we all know, you can never go back.

Whatever money he loses on his rookie deal he can make up on his second (and third) contract if he becomes a better player. Time will tell. But making getting drafted as high as possible is a very narrow goal when considerable an entire basketball career. All things equal its better to get drafted higher, but all things are seldom equal.

[verbal8]

I don't see a lot of evidence that he's an elite rebounder. I don't think it's a liability, and I don't even think he was average or above average at it, but elite to the level of being a special player, not sold so far (this in reference to a different poster).

Elite may be a stretch, but rebounding is definitely a strength of his. It generally converts to the pros, but he may have some issues due to his slight build. One thing I like about him is he improved his 3 point shooting significantly betweeen his 1st and 2nd year.

I would probably but him in the same tier as Olynyk and Len.

[stevemcqueen1]

I am with those who think a lack of any particular elite skill is going to limit Otto Porter....

I don't understand this. Porter put up fantastic overall numbers -- especially for a 19 year old. The overall numbers are what determine wins and losses. Can't build a team by combining a set of abstract skills, no matter how often people repeat the idea.

I don't understand your argument here. You don't build a team with numbers either. It's true that numbers depict some of the results of events on the court--those that are measurable. But the events of the court are determined by the skills and opportunities of the players involved. And numbers are the measurements of past results with other teams. What we're doing here is trying to project the future.

When you draft or sign a player, you shouldn't do so for the statistics he put up with his last team. You're trying to project what he'll be able to do for your team in the future. Which means you have to figure out what skills he has--what he can do--and then figure out how to put him in situations that will let those skills go to work for you.

[verbal8]

He is potentially leaving a lot of money on the table($5 million+). If he can establish himself as a true PG and come in to back-up a solid pro on a near-playoff team for a year or two, that may lead to a better career than being thrown in as a franchise savior of the Magic or Suns(or even Pistons or Hornets).

Better off in terms of draft position, sure.

But maybe he's looking at the bigger picture. Perhaps he sees that he'll have a very steep hill to climb in terms of long term success by going to a terrible team right now and what he really needs in order to have a meaningful career is to improve his considerable weaknesses before being drafted as someone's franchise savior.

He might be happy in college and want one more year -- as we all know, you can never go back.

Whatever money he loses on his rookie deal he can make up on his second (and third) contract if he becomes a better player. Time will tell. But making getting drafted as high as possible is a very narrow goal when considerable an entire basketball career. All things equal its better to get drafted higher, but all things are seldom equal.

[sfam]

Wall indicated he'd take less than Max if the Wizards can field a contender around him.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/for-lottery-bound-wizards-the-future-starts-now/2013/04/16/9657896a-a6cf-11e2-8302-3c7e0ea97057_story.html

At a minimum, this seems like a smart face saving move. He doesn't have to be offended now if the wizards offer him less than max. Hopefully this will get Beal thinking along those lines as well if he continues to develop.

He also seems to be wanting someone who can score from the PF position (Bennett?)

[fishercob]

I am with those who think a lack of any particular elite skill is going to limit Otto Porter. He has great length, but isn't outstanding in any other area. I have a hard time seeing him being an above average SF in the league. Only Webster's injury history makes Porter look like a possible upgrade over Webster.

At this point, I am going to be floored if we don't take Len.

What is Lillard's "elite skill?" Or Marc Gasol or Jimmy Butler or Nene or Danio Gallinari or a host of other really good players?

[pancakes3]

Elite may have been the wrong word but all those guys you're mentioning have a... "if nothing else, at least this guy can..." skill. rebounding, scoring, defense, and 3 point shooting respectively.

However, I don't think Otto Porter is any less a scorer than Shabazz. Porter has much higher percentages on slightly lower volume across the board, including FT%. If anything, I think Porter has a better chance of succeeding offensively because he's taller and a better shooter (percentage-wise).

Also Porter's rebounding? 8.8 pace adjusted per 40. If he gets even 75% of that in the NBA, he'll still be a 6-7 rpg guy which is fine by me as far as SF's go.

[Dark Faze]

Its a moot point as Otto will be gone by 6/7.

[stevemcqueen1]

Wall indicated he'd take less than Max if the Wizards can field a contender around him.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/for-lottery-bound-wizards-the-future-starts-now/2013/04/16/9657896a-a6cf-11e2-8302-3c7e0ea97057_story.html

At a minimum, this seems like a smart face saving move. He doesn't have to be offended now if the wizards offer him less than max. Hopefully this will get Beal thinking along those lines as well if he continues to develop.

He also seems to be wanting someone who can score from the PF position (Bennett?)

Your brand will be a lot more powerful if you're the face of a contender. Lose a few million in salary, but make it up in other ways. It's the same thing the big 3 did in Miami.

[MikeTheKid]

Wall indicated he'd take less than Max if the Wizards can field a contender around him.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/for-lottery-bound-wizards-the-future-starts-now/2013/04/16/9657896a-a6cf-11e2-8302-3c7e0ea97057_story.html

At a minimum, this seems like a smart face saving move. He doesn't have to be offended now if the wizards offer him less than max. Hopefully this will get Beal thinking along those lines as well if he continues to develop.

He also seems to be wanting someone who can score from the PF position (Bennett?)

Like a said a few weeks ago if Wall takes a Steph Curry like extension, 4yrs/44mil with incentives I'd be so happy and want his jersey retired ASAP!!! 11 mil should be enough to satisfy him!

[Rafael122]

He won't take a low ball offer like that, but probably something like 5 yrs/$55 million, maybe $60 million. That's still a hefty pay cut though.

[nate33]

It's good to hear that Wall is willing to take less money, but it's kind of hard to make use of that willingess right now when we're capped out. The best thing to do would be to tell him that we'd love to extend him now, but if he really is willing to put his money where his mouth is, we need to wait until next summer when we are in position to have cap room.