Official 2013 Draft Thread - Part VIII

[lastemp3ror]

Anyone notice the main photo on the ESPN NBA page? It's a photo of Noel, Bennett, McLemore, Burke, and Zeller. It's a sign?

[Ruzious]

I think for many of us it would be soul-crushing not to get Porter. It's not to say that Bennet/Len/etc. are bad but rather we have our hopes pinned to this one guy. It's like going to prom with your 2nd choice and you have to spend the night watching HER dance with someone else. Of course if things... "pan out" you'll still have a pretty good night but it would take a lot for you to stop wondering "what if"

You drafting off of emotional attachment, rather than a combo of talent and need.

I say the Wizards need to get ether Len or Bennett. They have a nice combo of talent and fill a need.

Wizard hasn't had a franchise center in years!!! Len if he builds upper body strength can be a beast.

Bennett if he develops more strength and improves his shooting and handles, he would be Nene 3.0.

I would be happy with those two.
Not an emotional pick like Porter. He doesn't fit the Wiz

Porter's the opposite of an emotional pick. He's the logical pick. His floor is higher than guys like Bennett and far higher than Len's, while his ceiling is underrated. He's the guy who wins the marathon after Bennett shoots out quickly and runs out of gas 2 thirds of the way through, and Len can't maneuver around the little guy jogging slowly in front of him.

[GhostsOfGil]

Will Dat cry if we select Porter? I haven't seen a grown man cry since I brought my last girlfriend home.

AFM never stop posting.

[GhostsOfGil]

[tweet]http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/350330058361151489[/tweet]

[sfam]

Len's going number 1. It's between Bennett or Porter. I guarantee Wall hasn't been lobbying for Bennett. Someone was probably like, "Hey John, would you like Bennett onthis team?" And he was probably like "Yeah, we could use a stretch 4."

Turn that into "Wall wants Bennett".

Wall is going to be happy as long as it someone that helps them win ball games. Who gives us the best chance to do that?

That's the question.

Just curious, how can you guarantee this? Do you know Wall personally?

[Upper Decker]

LEN or BENNETT

NOT

PORTER

I'm not at this point yet, but Simmons and Ford laid out a pretty compelling argument against Porter. Their basic argument, which is valid is...How will he score in the pro's easily? In the NBA you tave to be able to do that one thing, what is his one thing? If you don't have it history says you'll have a pretty forgetable career...At the time I heard it I thought, oh Bill, you're wrong, but I haven't been able to talk myself out of this concern with Porter. He projects to have no real strengths as a professional--instead he'll just be solid. How many just solid guys are really valuable players in the pros? I don't even think his defense projects to be exceptional because his lack of elite lateral quickness, he's quite slow actually. At least with Prince, his closest comp, he was very quick and had a pretty strong first step. I just don't see that with Porter, I'm getting nervous about him...

[stevemcqueen1]

I get the sense teams feel like Bennett is one of those guys that will haunt them if they pass on him.

One of the reasons I disagree with the term "safe pick" is because I don't think there is such a thing in the draft.

Evan Turner and Wesley Johnson went 2 and 4 in 2010 largely because they were "safe" picks. The FOs that picked them got fired. So much for safety.

Meanwhile, the "high risk" upside guys that got picked at 3 and 5 that year look like building blocks and future stars.

Bottom line, there really is no such thing as safety in the draft. If you pick very high and don't get the best guy and you don't start winning with him, you are going to get fired.

So the question is, who is going to be the absolute best player we can get at 3? Otto Porter or Anthony Bennett?

Right now I've got Porter but I think it is very complicated and very close. Otto is going to be better at some things, Bennett better at others.

[closg00]

Who has the sig "while other GM's are playing chess, Ernie is playing checkers"? Watching the blur of pre-draft activities, I envision Ernie standing w/o a chair after the music stops tonight.

[Dark Faze]

Can we stop talking about Wes Johnson and Evan Turner.

Neither of those guys even comes close to being similar to Porter statistically. Turners stats were beyond mediocre for a #2 pick.

[sfam]

I get the sense teams feel like Bennett is one of those guys that will haunt them if they pass on him.

One of the reasons I disagree with the term "safe pick" is because I don't think there is such a thing in the draft.

Evan Turner and Wesley Johnson went 2 and 4 in 2010 largely because they were "safe" picks. The FOs that picked them got fired. So much for safety.

Meanwhile, the "high risk" upside guys that got picked at 3 and 5 that year look like building blocks and future stars.

Bottom line, there really is no such thing as safety in the draft. If you pick very high and don't get the best guy and you don't start winning with him, you are going to get fired.

So the question is, who is going to be the absolute best player we can get at 3? Otto Porter or Anthony Bennett?

Right now I've got Porter but I think it is very complicated and very close. Otto is going to be better at some things, Bennett better at others.

This post almost makes me want to take Porter. You've made the most persuasive case yet - taking -Porter means EG will get fired!

[Kanyewest]

I get the sense teams feel like Bennett is one of those guys that will haunt them if they pass on him.

One of the reasons I disagree with the term "safe pick" is because I don't think there is such a thing in the draft.

Evan Turner and Wesley Johnson went 2 and 4 in 2010 largely because they were "safe" picks. The FOs that picked them got fired. So much for safety.

Meanwhile, the "high risk" upside guys that got picked at 3 and 5 that year look like building blocks and future stars.

Bottom line, there really is no such thing as safety in the draft. If you pick very high and don't get the best guy and you don't start winning with him, you are going to get fired.

So the question is, who is going to be the absolute best player we can get at 3? Otto Porter or Anthony Bennett?

Right now I've got Porter but I think it is very complicated and very close. Otto is going to be better at some things, Bennett better at others.

Favors and Cousins though were better prospects coming out than Bennett IMO. The Evan Turner/Wesley Johnson to Porter is interesting- I think Turner was a slightly better prospect while Johnson was slightly worse.

[Rafael122]

So based off what I read all day, Porter is a mortal lock at 3 and Bennett may fall all the way to 10, which is probably where he should be drafted.

[pcbothwel]

i know the draft is so close that it really does not matter. But here is the Draft day interview for Bennett. I fyou are interested skip to the 4:50 mark on (the beginning is only about Canada basketball, Sac Kings, etc.)

My thoughts:
- The weight thing was a little over blown. he admitted to about 14-15 lbs, but he carries it well(Look how his clothes fit with no exercise for 2 months, arms and chest look big but his stomach doesn't press his shirt...no homo) . One thing to note, he was told to not even sweat while wearing the sling. doc said "do absolutely nothing". I can definitely see how the weight would add up.
- he seems to identify himself as a 4 man, which a a contrast to D-Williams last year saying he is a 3.
- When the Wiz were brought up, you could see his excitement show through about playing with Beal/Wall. I think he truly feels playing with a play maker like Wall in the open court and pick n roll would be deadly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... y6c#at=565

[wake20]

So based off what I read all day, Porter is a mortal lock at 3 and Bennett may fall all the way to 10, which is probably where he should be drafted.

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 22m
Becoming harder to map a scenario where UNLV's Anthony Bennett doesn't slide on board. He could leave Portland with choice at No. 10.

[Dark Faze]

So based off what I read all day, Porter is a mortal lock at 3 and Bennett may fall all the way to 10, which is probably where he should be drafted.

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 22m
Becoming harder to map a scenario where UNLV's Anthony Bennett doesn't slide on board. He could leave Portland with choice at No. 10.

[Soup's Uncle]

Len's going number 1. It's between Bennett or Porter. I guarantee Wall hasn't been lobbying for Bennett. Someone was probably like, "Hey John, would you like Bennett onthis team?" And he was probably like "Yeah, we could use a stretch 4."

Turn that into "Wall wants Bennett".

Wall is going to be happy as long as it someone that helps them win ball games. Who gives us the best chance to do that?

That's the question.

Just curious, how can you guarantee this? Do you know Wall personally?

No, I'm speculating. I'm just saying that people shouldn't expect Wall to be all in for Bennett uunless he's directly quoted as such. Which I don't think he was.

[jivelikenice]

Hmmmm....any way to trade for a 2nd lotto pick and get bennett? What would the cost be? An unprotected '14 pick + what?

[Rafael122]

Hmmmm....any way to trade for a 2nd lotto pick and get bennett? What would the cost be? An unprotected '14 pick + what?

Probably. Ernie should be fired on the spot if he traded the 2014 1st rounder.

[Shorty]

Even after 700+ pages, here's a fresh angle:

Victor is almost Victory; however, VICTOR OLADIPO is an anagram for I PA VOLDICOORT, and that could be uncomfortable for the muggles and mudbloods among us. Better to hope Otto Porter's wizardry is more Harry Potter than Port-a-Potty.

Hey, I just McCollum like I see 'um.

Enjoy the festivities tonight, (ladies and) gentlemen.

[Soup's Uncle]

I think I'd be down with Porter or Bennett at this point.