'14 Draft Thread - Now With a Poll: VOTE OR DIE.

[emunney]

I was up close and personal for three of Dario Saric's games at the Eurobasket. I still don't really know what to make of him, but I will say that Saric can really handle the ball for a guy his size.

Rumor had it the Bucks were pissed when he withdrew.

[The Wet Whistle]

Speaking only on the big names, I've been working on my top 7 long and hard.

1. Wiggins
2. Randle
3. Exum
4. Harrison
5. Parker
6. Gordon
7. Smart

Harrison (Andrew) grows on me more and more. Reminds me of Irving and has a little bit of CP3 in his game.

The toughest debate is Randle and Exum. If I was GM of the Bucks, and I was on the clock and had to make the decision, I would literally flip a coin.

Same for me. Really tough choice between those two.

As for Gordon and Smart, I wouldn't have them in the same discussion as those first 5 guys.

[ReasonablySober]

I'd probably go:

1 - Randle
2 - Exum
3 - Wiggins
4 - Embiid
5 - Harrison
6 - Smart
7 - Parker
8 - Gordon

And hopefully I won't have to go any lower than 8th for rest of the year.

[TroyD92]

Anybody think Randle can move out to the perimeter? I know he's a bruiser, but as far as I remembered he is awfully skilled.

[LedZepp007]

I'd probably go:

1 - Randle
2 - Exum
3 - Wiggins
4 - Embiid
5 - Harrison
6 - Smart
7 - Parker
8 - Gordon

And hopefully I won't have to go any lower than 8th for rest of the year.

You are just trying to be controversial. That being said, I see where you are coming from. I think Wiggins is overrated, but you would be foolish to take anyone else #1.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[ReasonablySober]

I'd probably go:

1 - Randle
2 - Exum
3 - Wiggins
4 - Embiid
5 - Harrison
6 - Smart
7 - Parker
8 - Gordon

And hopefully I won't have to go any lower than 8th for rest of the year.

You are just trying to be controversial. That being said, I see where you are coming from. I think Wiggins is overrated, but you would be foolish to take anyone else #1.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

I might change my mind. But of the guys I've seen I'll take the physical freak of a big man and the long, skilled PG before the wing. It's a positional thing. Wiggins would have to be special to get me to pass on the PG or the big man.

[DanoMac]

I'd probably go:

1 - Randle
2 - Exum
3 - Wiggins
4 - Embiid
5 - Harrison
6 - Smart
7 - Parker
8 - Gordon

[ReasonablySober]

I'm not foolish enough to think anyone here remembers my relatively oft repeated philosophy of team building based on position, but I have said it multiple times: I will give positional credence to PGs and big men. If I'm going to take a SG or SF over a potential impact big man or point guard, that wing needs to be special. Now, Wiggins absolutely could be, but all I've seen are youtube highlight reels and read preseason reports from guys like Goodwin. The prevailing wind right now is tempered expectations. Based on the hype, you would think Wiggins in the next LeBron. But I can't find a scout or someone who's broken his game down that believes he's close to that caliber, and many are saying they don't expect him to dominate college competition.

If he comes out and dominates and has a Kevin Durant or Carmelo type season, I'd feel a lot more comfortable taking him #1. My ranking right now, however, is more indicative of the weight I give the positions of PG and PF.

[jr lucosa]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSadteflk9Y[/youtube]

[giraldo5]

I'm not foolish enough to think anyone here remembers my relatively oft repeated philosophy of team building based on position, but I have said it multiple times: I will give positional credence to PGs and big men. If I'm going to take a SG or SF over a potential impact big man or point guard, that wing needs to be special. Now, Wiggins absolutely could be, but all I've seen are youtube highlight reels and read preseason reports from guys like Goodwin. The prevailing wind right now is tempered expectations. Based on the hype, you would think Wiggins in the next LeBron. But I can't find a scout or someone who's broken his game down that believes he's close to that caliber, and many are saying they don't expect him to dominate college competition.

If he comes out and dominates and has a Kevin Durant or Carmelo type season, I'd feel a lot more comfortable taking him #1. My ranking right now, however, is more indicative of the weight I give the positions of PG and PF.

I understand where you are coming from to an extent. However, doesn't the fact that the PG position is absolutely flooded with guys at the moment, and there seems to fewer and fewer wing guys who are efficient and top tier play into changing the perceived value of positions? I take Harden/George over Irving/Paul/Westbrook right now based on positional value as odd as that may have sounded 5 years ago.

[Matches Malone]

PG: Dante Exum
SG: Brandon Knight
SF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
PF: John Henson
C: Larry Sanders

SOOOOO MUCH LENGTH!

[ReasonablySober]

PG: Dante Exum
SG: Brandon Knight
SF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
PF: John Henson
C: Larry Sanders

SOOOOO MUCH LENGTH!

[The Wet Whistle]

PG: Dante Exum
SG: Brandon Knight
SF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
PF: John Henson
C: Larry Sanders

SOOOOO MUCH LENGTH!

Seriously though. Good luck running your offense against that

[mattg]

I'm not foolish enough to think anyone here remembers my relatively oft repeated philosophy of team building based on position, but I have said it multiple times: I will give positional credence to PGs and big men. If I'm going to take a SG or SF over a potential impact big man or point guard, that wing needs to be special. Now, Wiggins absolutely could be, but all I've seen are youtube highlight reels and read preseason reports from guys like Goodwin. The prevailing wind right now is tempered expectations. Based on the hype, you would think Wiggins in the next LeBron. But I can't find a scout or someone who's broken his game down that believes he's close to that caliber, and many are saying they don't expect him to dominate college competition.

If he comes out and dominates and has a Kevin Durant or Carmelo type season, I'd feel a lot more comfortable taking him #1. My ranking right now, however, is more indicative of the weight I give the positions of PG and PF.

I understand where you are coming from to an extent. However, doesn't the fact that the PG position is absolutely flooded with guys at the moment, and there seems to fewer and fewer wing guys who are efficient and top tier play into changing the perceived value of positions? I take Harden/George over Irving/Paul/Westbrook right now based on positional value as odd as that may have sounded 5 years ago.

I think the importance of a 'great' PG is vastly overstated. You need a capable PG in the NBA, but a great one is hardly necessary. You need a guy who can get the team into the offense, doesn't turn the ball over much, willing to defend, able to knock down open jumpers, and limit bad decisions regarding shot selection and when to pass vs. when to shoot. Basically the en vogue 3 and D type. If the choice is between a really good PG or a really good wing player(assuming the wing player has the ability to score for himself and create a shot for others) I take the wing 99 times out of 100. It's just harder to guard guys who are bigger. Seems simple but its just what I favor offensively.

[ReasonablySober]

I'm not foolish enough to think anyone here remembers my relatively oft repeated philosophy of team building based on position, but I have said it multiple times: I will give positional credence to PGs and big men. If I'm going to take a SG or SF over a potential impact big man or point guard, that wing needs to be special. Now, Wiggins absolutely could be, but all I've seen are youtube highlight reels and read preseason reports from guys like Goodwin. The prevailing wind right now is tempered expectations. Based on the hype, you would think Wiggins in the next LeBron. But I can't find a scout or someone who's broken his game down that believes he's close to that caliber, and many are saying they don't expect him to dominate college competition.

If he comes out and dominates and has a Kevin Durant or Carmelo type season, I'd feel a lot more comfortable taking him #1. My ranking right now, however, is more indicative of the weight I give the positions of PG and PF.

I understand where you are coming from to an extent. However, doesn't the fact that the PG position is absolutely flooded with guys at the moment, and there seems to fewer and fewer wing guys who are efficient and top tier play into changing the perceived value of positions? I take Harden/George over Irving/Paul/Westbrook right now based on positional value as odd as that may have sounded 5 years ago.

I think the importance of a 'great' PG is vastly overstated. You need a capable PG in the NBA, but a great one is hardly necessary. You need a guy who can get the team into the offense, doesn't turn the ball over much, willing to defend, able to knock down open jumpers, and limit bad decisions regarding shot selection and when to pass vs. when to shoot. Basically the en vogue 3 and D type. If the choice is between a really good PG or a really good wing player(assuming the wing player has the ability to score for himself and create a shot for others) I take the wing 99 times out of 100. It's just harder to guard guys who are bigger. Seems simple but its just what I favor offensively.

I agree, and that also factors why I'd take a long look at Harrison (6'5"), Exum (6'6") and Smart 6'4"). You won't know for sure until reach data comes out, but they all appear to be extraordinarily big for their positions.

[SpursNBucks]

I'm not foolish enough to think anyone here remembers my relatively oft repeated philosophy of team building based on position, but I have said it multiple times: I will give positional credence to PGs and big men. If I'm going to take a SG or SF over a potential impact big man or point guard, that wing needs to be special. Now, Wiggins absolutely could be, but all I've seen are youtube highlight reels and read preseason reports from guys like Goodwin. The prevailing wind right now is tempered expectations. Based on the hype, you would think Wiggins in the next LeBron. But I can't find a scout or someone who's broken his game down that believes he's close to that caliber, and many are saying they don't expect him to dominate college competition.

If he comes out and dominates and has a Kevin Durant or Carmelo type season, I'd feel a lot more comfortable taking him #1. My ranking right now, however, is more indicative of the weight I give the positions of PG and PF.

I understand where you are coming from to an extent. However, doesn't the fact that the PG position is absolutely flooded with guys at the moment, and there seems to fewer and fewer wing guys who are efficient and top tier play into changing the perceived value of positions? I take Harden/George over Irving/Paul/Westbrook right now based on positional value as odd as that may have sounded 5 years ago.

I think the importance of a 'great' PG is vastly overstated. You need a capable PG in the NBA, but a great one is hardly necessary. You need a guy who can get the team into the offense, doesn't turn the ball over much, willing to defend, able to knock down open jumpers, and limit bad decisions regarding shot selection and when to pass vs. when to shoot. Basically the en vogue 3 and D type. If the choice is between a really good PG or a really good wing player(assuming the wing player has the ability to score for himself and create a shot for others) I take the wing 99 times out of 100. It's just harder to guard guys who are bigger. Seems simple but its just what I favor offensively.

I totally agree - the old way of thinking was that the C and PG positions were clearly the most important - and they were drafted above all others - so many teams have been burned by this especially at the C position. The game has changed- I would not pass on Wiggins if he comes close to living up to the hype this year.

IF all 3 (Wiggins, Randle, and Exum) are judged as a coin flip - who do you take? I would have to say Exum would get the nod- the Bucks need a PG more then anything and if Exum grades out as high as the others at the end of the year that is who I would take. It's going to be hard to picture Wiggins not being the #1 though. Talk about the length of Exum at the PG, but what about Wiggins at the 2G? the hype for the Bucks will be off the charts.

[jakecronus8]

Wiggins is as consensus as it gets barring a complete flop of a season at KU. Besides his game, he'll sell the most tickets. Casual fans won't know who Exum is. Not saying that's the right way to think and draft but that's the reality of it.

[TroyD92]

I think if your Milwaukee you have to take Wiggins. Hype/Position/Potential he really could be the guy that saves this team from moving.

[AussieBuck]

Eh, things change very quickly once these guys start actually playing college games.

[jr lucosa]

Eh, things change very quickly once these guys start actually playing college games.

This is very true, this time last year most of everyone thought Shabazz would be going #1.