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

[breakchains]

I know you don't draft for position, but I really don't want a PF. If you want excitement and a large fan base, the star wing is the obvious position that will do that. I'm not saying I'll be upset with getting Randle if we pick 3, but Parker and Wiggins excite me much more.

Blake Griffin did pretty well for the L.A. Clippers, fan draw-wise and performance-wise.

Randle is basically a younger, stronger, faster Blake Griffin with a face-up game and a post game.

Randle may well be the better player because he actually looks like a basketball player with a real post game (or the potential for one), but this "stronger, faster" stuff is just way off. Griffin is a unique physical specimen. One of the best athletes ever.

[mattg]

I think Blake is significantly more dominant physically compared to randle. More explosive, better second jump, stronger, better footwork. Much more cerebral too, griffin has really good vision and passing ability.

I will say that randle is better as a frosh than griffin was, but griffin improved soo much between frosh and soph year. Randle right now isn't as good as soph griffin.

[breakchains]

Given the choice right now, I'd take Randle over Blake. But that's because I think Blake is a pure athlete who can play some basketball, whereas Randle looks like a ball player who is also an athlete. Blake's explosiveness is incredibly special though, you're selling it way short. Basically, I wish he played football so he could have been a souped up version of Jimmy Graham. Totally unguardable.

[mattg]

Given the choice right now, I'd take Randle over Blake. But that's because I think Blake is a pure athlete who can play some basketball, whereas Randle looks like a ball player who is also an athlete. Blake's explosiveness is incredibly special though, you're selling it way short. Basically, I wish he played football so he could have been a souped up version of Jimmy Graham. Totally unguardable.

See, calling Blake griffin a pure athlete who can play some basketball sells him short. People act like all he can do is catch a lob pass and dunk. Never mind his soft touch around the hoop, ridiculous baseline spin, hook over the left shoulder, step throughs and up under moves, awesome passing, etc. the dude has some weaknesses, but he's one of the most skilled bigs in the game. To me, it's laughable that someone would think right now, Julius randle has even close to as good of post skills as griffin. They aren't on the same planet, yet all people want to say is griffin has no post game then rave about randle down low as he Dejuan Blair's his way through guys' chests on the NCAA level.

[breakchains]

Given the choice right now, I'd take Randle over Blake. But that's because I think Blake is a pure athlete who can play some basketball, whereas Randle looks like a ball player who is also an athlete. Blake's explosiveness is incredibly special though, you're selling it way short. Basically, I wish he played football so he could have been a souped up version of Jimmy Graham. Totally unguardable.

See, calling Blake griffin a pure athlete who can play some basketball sells him short. People act like all he can do is catch a lob pass and dunk. Never mind his soft touch around the hoop, ridiculous baseline spin, hook over the left shoulder, step throughs and up under moves, awesome passing, etc. the dude has some weaknesses, but he's one of the most skilled bigs in the game. To me, it's laughable that someone would think right now, Julius randle has even close to as good of post skills as griffin. They aren't on the same planet, yet all people want to say is griffin has no post game then rave about randle down low as he Dejuan Blair's his way through guys' chests on the NCAA level.

Well, playing "some" basketball is better than none (ie. Deandre Jordan). But I'm just not nearly as impressed with Blake's post game as you are. I see a guy who works at it but isn't a natural, so his stuff comes off as mechanical and not very effective were it not for his special athleticism.

And I didn't say Randle is as good now as Blake, but I'm willing to bet you that when Randle is Blake's age, his post game will be undoubtedly better.

[ChuckBros4Life]

Just for a change of pace here, I'd enjoy having a conversation about who you guys think will be the "steal" of the draft!

This draft obviously has elite talent at the top, but it's also been noted for how much depth it will have also.

Who do you think will go mid to late lotto (or even later than that) and develop into a star?

Just in case Larry and Ersan come back and win us enough games (god forbid) to get to that low 30 amount of wins... lol With Hammond's track record, he could very well find a very good player in that position.

[mattg]

Well my whole point is that right now, randle has zero post game. Literally nothing. Blake has a few moves and is a dynamite passer who can distribute if you give him touches. Quite possible randle develops that over time but I don't think its a given, especially since randle sees himself as more of perimeter oriented player.

[ReasonablySober]

Well my whole point is that right now, randle has zero post game. Literally nothing. Blake has a few moves and is a dynamite passer who can distribute if you give him touches. Quite possible randle develops that over time but I don't think its a given, especially since randle sees himself as more of perimeter oriented player.

[mattg]

Well my whole point is that right now, randle has zero post game. Literally nothing. Blake has a few moves and is a dynamite passer who can distribute if you give him touches. Quite possible randle develops that over time but I don't think its a given, especially since randle sees himself as more of perimeter oriented player.

Quality post man.

[breakchains]

Well my whole point is that right now, randle has zero post game. Literally nothing. Blake has a few moves and is a dynamite passer who can distribute if you give him touches. Quite possible randle develops that over time but I don't think its a given, especially since randle sees himself as more of perimeter oriented player.

I don't want to be mistaken as a guy vouching too hard for Randle yet, because I am not there yet with him. But I don't see how you can watch him, knowing how young he is, and come to this conclusion.

[ReasonablySober]

Well my whole point is that right now, randle has zero post game. Literally nothing. Blake has a few moves and is a dynamite passer who can distribute if you give him touches. Quite possible randle develops that over time but I don't think its a given, especially since randle sees himself as more of perimeter oriented player.

Quality post man.

Oh wait you were serious?

[ReasonablySober]

Sorry, jumping into this discussion late.

[Baddy Chuck]

One thing I'd almost guarantee Randle will be better then Griffin at is getting position in the low post. Griffin has the moves that Randle doesn't have yet, but he could get pushed out to 5-10 feet by Muggsy Bogues.

[mattg]

Well my whole point is that right now, randle has zero post game. Literally nothing. Blake has a few moves and is a dynamite passer who can distribute if you give him touches. Quite possible randle develops that over time but I don't think its a given, especially since randle sees himself as more of perimeter oriented player.

I don't want to be mistaken as a guy vouching too hard for Randle yet, because I am not there yet with him. But I don't see how you can watch him, knowing how young he is, and come to this conclusion.

Because not every guy develops game like that? Because I've seen randle before this year? I'm not as impressed by guys who come in super developed physically and do almost all of their damage by out working and playing harder than college guys. I don't think randle is a scrub or bust, I have him rated 4th in the class. Just don't think he's as good a prospect as griffin is/was and I think out of all the top frosh right now, randle is getting overhyped. Huge box score numbers but what he's doing isn't super translatable.

[breakchains]

Well my whole point is that right now, randle has zero post game. Literally nothing. Blake has a few moves and is a dynamite passer who can distribute if you give him touches. Quite possible randle develops that over time but I don't think its a given, especially since randle sees himself as more of perimeter oriented player.

I don't want to be mistaken as a guy vouching too hard for Randle yet, because I am not there yet with him. But I don't see how you can watch him, knowing how young he is, and come to this conclusion.

Because not every guy develops game like that? Because I've seen randle before this year? I'm not as impressed by guys who come in super developed physically and do almost all of their damage by out working and playing harder than college guys. I don't think randle is a scrub or bust, I have him rated 4th in the class. Just don't think he's as good a prospect as griffin is/was and I think out of all the top frosh right now, randle is getting overhyped. Huge box score numbers but what he's doing isn't super translatable.

I'm not even saying that he's an undisputed blue chip can't-miss prospect. I'm talking about your description of his post game. He is very impressive in the post for a player his age. Watching him you can tell he is just natural around the basket. In his footwork, his positioning, his movement, etc.

[SupremeHustle]

For peeps who think Randle is on the ZBo side of the PF scale. I don't think ZBO was ever doing ish like this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4168l-H2ds#t=82[/youtube]

[ChuckBros4Life]

Bleacher report currently has Bucks projected at the #5 seed and selecting Kansas C Joel Embiid there. I'm incredibly high on this dude so I would be extremely happy if it turned out this way. Not sure what we'd do with Sanders contract. Hopefully he'd finish the year of strong and raise his trade value as his contract isn't too ridiculous (if he plays like last year)

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1848 ... son/page/6

[paulpressey25]

For peeps who think Randle is on the ZBo side of the PF scale. I don't think ZBO was ever doing ish like this

His only weakness is the reliance on the left hand, and it goes beyond a tendency. NBA guys will go after that. That said, I'd coordinate the welcoming committee to Milwaukee.

[SupremeHustle]

Big Dog the Third is on ESPN 2. He might be in the Bucks' range.

[paulpressey25]

Big Dog the Third is on ESPN 2. He might be in the Bucks' range.

Love little dog. But hope like heck we aren't talking about him come June.