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

[bizarro]

I could see Gordon being like the Noah of PFs. If he thinks he's a SF, who does he model his game after? Jan Vesely?

I don't know. But, he certainly doesn't impress me with the overall game of Parker. Not even close. Gordon looks like an athlete trying to play basketball. He doesn't have the fluidity. He doesn't have a jumper. It seems he uses his strength and athleticism to outmuscle and outquick his opponent. That won't work at the NBA level. He's a big project, imo. Granted, this is one game. But, I'm coming out as a skeptic.

[emunney]

I think he'll be a good hustle PF. He's a good athlete, he plays hard, he runs the floor hard, he's got good hands. But I definitely see your point. Is he better than Faried, for instance? And that's if he sticks at PF.

[bizarro]

I think he'll be a good hustle PF. He's a good athlete, he plays hard, he runs the floor hard, he's got good hands. But I definitely see your point. Is he better than Faried, for instance? And that's if he sticks at PF.

I think the Faried comparison is excellent. In this draft, I'm not looking for Faried.

[bizarro]

On a quick note, I really enjoy Hollis-Jefferson and Ashley on Arizona. Nice players with good intangibles. And, I'd really love to see Duke play Arizona. I'd like to see them press each other the full 40 and see who's standing when it's all said and done.

[Baddy Chuck]

Gordon is way more skilled then Faried. If Gordon really dedicated himself to playing PF I could see him being a David Lee type face up four, I just don't think he wants to.

[mattg]

I think he'll be a good hustle PF. He's a good athlete, he plays hard, he runs the floor hard, he's got good hands. But I definitely see your point. Is he better than Faried, for instance? And that's if he sticks at PF.

I think the Faried comparison is excellent. In this draft, I'm not looking for Faried.

He's more talented than faried. More offensive skill and Gordon is actually a real nice passer as well. His handle just isn't good and he can't shoot yet wants to play SF.

[bizarro]

Gordon is way more skilled then Faried. If Gordon really dedicated himself to playing PF I could see him being a David Lee type face up four, I just don't think he wants to.

I agree: He is more skilled than Faried and he's also more athletic. But, I'm going to assert there's definitely a key ingredient or two missing in his game - i.e. a face-up jumper or even that smoothness that's hard to pinpoint with a word. He's a bit mechanical. Granted, this could develop. I don't think he wants to be a Lee 4 either. I mean I don't know that for a fact, but the way he plays it's more slash and bang down low. I need to watch him more - as I mentioned - but, I have big reservations.

[bizarro]

I think he'll be a good hustle PF. He's a good athlete, he plays hard, he runs the floor hard, he's got good hands. But I definitely see your point. Is he better than Faried, for instance? And that's if he sticks at PF.

I think the Faried comparison is excellent. In this draft, I'm not looking for Faried.

He's more talented than faried. More offensive skill and Gordon is actually a real nice passer as well. His handle just isn't good and he can't shoot yet wants to play SF.

This is what is completely baffling to me. You have a player - Gordon - who obviously has areas of strength. It's obvious to some - us, for example - that moving to the 3 is just not a good idea. He could be an extremely versatile 4. And, actually I see his upside as potentially being a Blake Gordon type player but, actually, a better defender. He's a good passer. He's athletic as hell. He's unselfish. He's a good rebounder and a good defender. Why the hell would they not feature him on the high post and the low post and run some offensive sets through him - both as the scoring focus and as a distributor? I've watched him for two games now and it's clear to me if I'm a coach I simply tell him to work on his jumpshot. Work with a shooting coach and every practice put in time before and after on jumpers and FT's. Right now, it's like AU is using him as a glorified hustle guy. And, maybe that's what he is right now?

[mattg]

That is what he is right now. He's not a guy you give the ball to in the post and run offense through despite his passing ability. He's more of a guy who understands how and when to pass especially under motion principles. His offensive game isn't good enough to where he can use the threat of himself scoring to set other guys up yet consistently.

[Ron Swanson]

http://www.nbadraft.net/2014mock_draft

They just released the updated Draft.net mock. Have us picking fourth and selecting Embiid. I don't mind Embiid, but I don't see any possible way we pass on Exum.

[jr lucosa]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft201 ... fresh=true

"Who's NBA execs' No. 1 draft pick?
Scouts and draft decision-makers polled on their top pick in 2014"

1. Wiggins (17 votes)

"I think he can be a player that plays a lot like Paul George does," one veteran NBA executive told ESPN.com. "He's so smooth that at times it almost looks like he's coasting. But when you watch closer, you just see the game comes so easy to him. With his length and explosiveness, he's going to be able to do whatever he wants once he gets it. And from everything we can gather in looking into his background, he's going to get it. I'm not sure how we could pass on him if we had the No. 1 pick. The other guys might be more ready right now, but in three years, I think he's the best player in this class."

2. Randle (10 votes)

"I think he's the surest thing in the draft," one GM said. "There's nothing he can't do and there just aren't that many bigs in the NBA with that set of skills. He's going to be a 10-time All-Star and will make a major impact on your team in Year 1. Wiggins might have a little more upside and [Parker] is so attractive as well, but if you take someone else, you're really risking your job."

3. Parker (9 votes)

"I absolutely love him," a different NBA GM said. "I love guys who just know how to play. Very few players at Jabari's age are so sophisticated about the game. You see how he's reading the floor and how he's thinking the game and you can't help but get excited. I remember when some guys were wringing their hands about Kevin Durant. Does he play defense? Is he an elite athlete? I just saw a killer out there who would do anything to win. I see that in Jabari. Some will worship Wiggins' athleticism. Some will pray to the altar of 'big' with Randle. But Parker's my guy and I don't see that changing."

4. Exum (3 votes)

"I know everyone is so excited to see Jabari and those guys dominate," a fourth GM told ESPN. "I know the old guard is going to play it safe. But maybe I'm young and foolish, but I think Exum ends up being the guy everyone wishes they took in a few years. All of them are going to be great, but when you watch Exum, you see the ability to be a generational talent. My owner might kill me, but I think you take Exum, regardless of what the other guys do this year. Exum's already proved it to me."

[machu46]

At this point, I really want Wiggins or Randle. I like Parker too, but Wiggins and Randle are definitely 1A and 1B IMO.

I also really like Selden, but he isn't a top 5 pick.

[drew881]

So who is the young GM talking about Exum?

[DanoMac]

That quote about Parker seems like a Hammond quote.

[emunney]

That quote about Parker seems like a Hammond quote.

I thought the same thing.

[Lippo]

How long would it take for a team of

Exum
Wiggins
Parker
Randle
Embiid

to win an NBA Championship?

The sad thing is they probably wouldn't, at least for 5-6 years
and one of them alone is expected to be our savior

[MiltownHawkeye]

How long would it take for a team of

Exum
Wiggins
Parker
Randle
Embiid

to win an NBA Championship?

The sad thing is they probably wouldn't, at least for 5-6 years
and one of them alone is expected to be our savior

Sounds similar to what OKC did, except they added their top prospects a year after each other. And with the exception of maybe Embiid, all of those guys are bigger prospects than RWB and Harden. And Wiggins is a bigger prospect than Durant.

3-4 years.

[Mikeylikesit]

How long would it take for a team of

Exum
Wiggins
Parker
Randle
Embiid

to win an NBA Championship?

The sad thing is they probably wouldn't, at least for 5-6 years
and one of them alone is expected to be our savior

Sounds similar to what OKC did, except they added their top prospects a year after each other. And with the exception of maybe Embiid, all of those guys are bigger prospects than RWB and Harden. And Wiggins is a bigger prospect than Durant.
3-4 years.

So was Greg Oden.

If you think Wiggins is going to be Durant, you aren't playing the odds. There are guys that are super athletic and raw, like Wiggins, who don't amount to much. Gerald Green comes to mind. I'm not saying Wiggins is going to be bad but I hardly doubt he is a top 2 player in the league. I think the GM on Parker said it best. I see no killer instinct from Wiggins, from the games I watched. The other 2 have it.

[Fort Minor]

Sorry if this has been talked about before, but I thought Harrison was looking like a top 10 pick before the season? Is there any particular reason why he's fell on draft boards?

[Baddy Chuck]

The "raw and athletic" label on Wiggins is ridiculous. He's not Michael Jordan, but to say he's "raw" is ridiculous. He doesn't have one killer offensive move like Parker's jumpshot, but he is ridiculously skilled just about every area on the court.