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

[paulpressey25]

Guess which one our GM was a part of.

I didn't want to mention the 2003 draft because sometimes then the Bucks brass or media friends like Ellerson start talking about how Cleveland was unable to keep LeBron in an effort to invalidate that draft. And of course the 2007 draft is invalidated by Oden's failure and the fact the Bucks dropped in the lotto from 6 to 3.

This draft is loaded. Sure, we might possibly take "the wrong guy" but it sure seems like at least four of the top five picks are all-stars within three years. There is no other method available to the Bucks to have an 80% shot an a young all-star building block. None.

[ConoverBucks]

Anyone know where Perry Ellis is projected to go? I've been really impressed with him.

[Ayt]

Guess which one our GM was a part of.

I didn't want to mention the 2003 draft because sometimes then the Bucks brass or media friends like Ellerson start talking about how Cleveland was unable to keep LeBron in an effort to invalidate that draft. And of course the 2007 draft is invalidated by Oden's failure and the fact the Bucks dropped in the lotto from 6 to 3.

This draft is loaded. Sure, we might possibly take "the wrong guy" but it sure seems like at least four of the top five picks are all-stars within three years. There is no other method available to the Bucks to have an 80% shot an a young all-star building block. None.

Yeah. It would suck to have a LeBron level talent for 7 **** years.

[El Pooch Grande]

Where are all the Exum lovers after tonight's performance by Marcus Smart? Just from watching the game you can see that Smart plays very similar to Westrbrook/Rose. 26 points at the half, 36 now at last check. Ok St. ROLLING Memphis. Tremendous defender and facilitator potential.

Now with that said, I'm not an Exum hater, as I have him ranked #5 on the Pooch Grande Big Board. But I think there is a, how do I word this...well I think there is a better chance of Smart becoming a Westbrook/Rose than Exum becoming a 1995 version of Penny Hardaway.

Remember, we don't want to be the Pistons of 2003 (hello Joe Dumars and John Hammond) who got cute and took Darko in the loaded 2003 Draft just because he had the best "potential."

Can you not love, or like, both?

Oh most certainly ...I do love them both, even though I have only seen about 1 minute worth of highlights to judge Exum off of. Just was really bothering me when nearly EVERYONE was talking about how we needed to draft Exum to be our PG. In the words of Lee Corso, "NOT so fast my friend..." No, we need to draft either Exum or Smart. Marcus is right there in terms of talent with Exum if not better.

Pooch Grande Big Board and their performances just TONIGHT...

1. Jabari Parker (21 pts, 9 reb, 6 BLOCKS)
2. Andrew Wiggins (13 pts, 7 reb, 3 assists, 2 steals)
3. Julius Randle (22 pts, 10 reb, 4 assists)
4. Marcus Smart (39 pts, 5 reb, 3 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks)
5. Dante Exum (Hopefully hitting the gym hard down under somewhere!)
6. Joel Embiid (16 points, 13 reb, 2 blocks)
7. Aaron Gordon (Plays at 10 pm on ESPNU)

[randy84]

Anyone watch Randle tonight? His box score looks pretty good, but how did he actually play?

[bigkurty]

Where are all the Exum lovers after tonight's performance by Marcus Smart? Just from watching the game you can see that Smart plays very similar to Westrbrook/Rose. 26 points at the half, 36 now at last check. Ok St. ROLLING Memphis. Tremendous defender and facilitator potential.

Now with that said, I'm not an Exum hater, as I have him ranked #5 on the Pooch Grande Big Board. But I think there is a, how do I word this...well I think there is a better chance of Smart becoming a Westbrook/Rose than Exum becoming a 1995 version of Penny Hardaway.

Remember, we don't want to be the Pistons of 2003 (hello Joe Dumars and John Hammond) who got cute and took Darko in the loaded 2003 Draft just because he had the best "potential."

This is exactly how I feel about the Smart and Exum debate. Is there any way to watch some Exum games cause if we end up at 5 or 6, we absolutely have to get it right this year? Wiggins and Exum have all this potential, but past great players like Magic, Bird, Jabbar, Shaq, Jordan, Durant, etc kicked ass and straight up took control of games in college. Maybe Wiggins picks it up but he does not seem to have that alpha male mentality yet that all the greats have. Parker, Randle, and Smart definitely do. And I just dont know **** about Exum beyond what I read on draft sites or the videos they post. I want to see him on the court a few times to develop a real opinion of him.

[paulpressey25]

Pooch Grande Big Board and their performances just TONIGHT...

1. Jabari Parker (21 pts, 9 reb, 6 BLOCKS)
2. Andrew Wiggins (13 pts, 7 reb, 3 assists, 2 steals)
3. Julius Randle (22 pts, 10 reb, 4 assists)
4. Marcus Smart (39 pts, 5 reb, 3 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks)
5. Dante Exum (Hopefully hitting the gym hard down under somewhere!)
6. Joel Embiid (16 points, 13 reb, 2 blocks)
7. Aaron Gordon (Plays at 10 pm on ESPNU)

This should be a regular feature in this thread. Stunning set of games you note above. Also gives those of us that missed them a recap.

[paulpressey25]

And I just dont know **** about Exum beyond what I read on draft sites or the videos they post. I want to see him on the court a few times to develop a real opinion of him.

After seeing Smart destroy a team tonight, I would have a very hard time taking Exum over him. Just for the simple fact we don't have that NCAA reference point on Exum.

[randy84]

Smart was really impressive. He already has an NBA body 6'4 220. He could body up Henson right now. Looks like a shut down defender. Offensively may need some work, but tonight he was lighting it up.

[randy84]

Where are all the Exum lovers after tonight's performance by Marcus Smart? Just from watching the game you can see that Smart plays very similar to Westrbrook/Rose. 26 points at the half, 36 now at last check. Ok St. ROLLING Memphis. Tremendous defender and facilitator potential.

Now with that said, I'm not an Exum hater, as I have him ranked #5 on the Pooch Grande Big Board. But I think there is a, how do I word this...well I think there is a better chance of Smart becoming a Westbrook/Rose than Exum becoming a 1995 version of Penny Hardaway.

Remember, we don't want to be the Pistons of 2003 (hello Joe Dumars and John Hammond) who got cute and took Darko in the loaded 2003 Draft just because he had the best "potential."

Can you not love, or like, both?

Only change I would make would be to move Smart up to #2

[emunney]

What does Smart's game tonight have to do with Exum?

[Ayt]

Where are all the Exum lovers after tonight's performance by Marcus Smart? Just from watching the game you can see that Smart plays very similar to Westrbrook/Rose. 26 points at the half, 36 now at last check. Ok St. ROLLING Memphis. Tremendous defender and facilitator potential.

Now with that said, I'm not an Exum hater, as I have him ranked #5 on the Pooch Grande Big Board. But I think there is a, how do I word this...well I think there is a better chance of Smart becoming a Westbrook/Rose than Exum becoming a 1995 version of Penny Hardaway.

Remember, we don't want to be the Pistons of 2003 (hello Joe Dumars and John Hammond) who got cute and took Darko in the loaded 2003 Draft just because he had the best "potential."

Can you not love, or like, both?

Oh most certainly ...I do love them both, even though I have only seen about 1 minute worth of highlights to judge Exum off of. Just was really bothering me when nearly EVERYONE was talking about how we needed to draft Exum to be our PG. In the words of Lee Corso, "NOT so fast my friend..." No, we need to draft either Exum or Smart. Marcus is right there in terms of talent with Exum if not better.

Pooch Grande Big Board and their performances just TONIGHT...

1. Jabari Parker (21 pts, 9 reb, 6 BLOCKS)
2. Andrew Wiggins (13 pts, 7 reb, 3 assists, 2 steals)
3. Julius Randle (22 pts, 10 reb, 4 assists)
4. Marcus Smart (39 pts, 5 reb, 3 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks)
5. Dante Exum (Hopefully hitting the gym hard down under somewhere!)
6. Joel Embiid (16 points, 13 reb, 2 blocks)
7. Aaron Gordon (Plays at 10 pm on ESPNU)

Here is a 16 min video breaking down Exum's game. The big thing with him is that he has been dominant in international tournaments in his age group. As you know, his age group is kind of impressive. You need to be seriously impressive to jump out in that group of players, particularly as player from Australia (no knock, they just aren't Spain or the like). We may not get to see him dominate in the NCAA, but we have seen him dominate against players in his age group.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSadteflk9Y#t=0[/youtube]

Put Exum at PG in the NCAA and he'd kill it.

Disclaimer: The only full game I've seen of Exum was against Spain in the U19 tourney. He went for 33 (9-18 fgs)/5/4. He also had 4 steals and 5 TOs. Basically everything ran through him offensively. He was very active defensively. He was a man amongst infants.

[bigkurty]

Smart is such a natural in interviews. I love the guy. Parker, Randle, Smart, Wiggins, Exum, Embiid, Gordon, Kaminsky is my board right now, haha.

[paulpressey25]

What does Smart's game tonight have to do with Exum?

He moved into the top five with a bullet for me.

I have nothing against Exum. He might be great. But if I were sitting at a slot where I had to choose between the two, I'd take the guy I saw excel in NCAA competition versus the guy who has competed in leagues I'm less qualified and comfortable to judge.

I may be forgetting someone, but the last three non NCAA hyped prospects as top five guys were Darko, Yi and Rubio.

In the case of Darko, Detroit got burned passing on Melo. We got burned passing on Noah. And Rubio turned out, but arguable his analog that draft would have been Steph Curry. And in the case of Rubio, I could see him up against NBA guys in the Olympics, thus less concerns about how he would translate to the NBA.

So for me, if the choice is even between two guys like Exum and Smart, I'm going to lean to the one who crushed it in the NCAA. Doesn't mean Exum won't be the better player or won't be great.

[El Pooch Grande]

Pooch Grande Big Board and their performances just TONIGHT...

1. Jabari Parker (21 pts, 9 reb, 6 BLOCKS)
2. Andrew Wiggins (13 pts, 7 reb, 3 assists, 2 steals)
3. Julius Randle (22 pts, 10 reb, 4 assists)
4. Marcus Smart (39 pts, 5 reb, 3 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks)
5. Dante Exum (Hopefully hitting the gym hard down under somewhere!)
6. Joel Embiid (16 points, 13 reb, 2 blocks)
7. Aaron Gordon (Plays at 10 pm on ESPNU)

This should be a regular feature in this thread. Stunning set of games you note above. Also gives those of us that missed them a recap.

Would be happy to do this Paul. Will try to have a Pooch Grande Big Board update as much as possible this year. So incredibly excited for this season of College Hoops, and the hopes they provide our Bucks.

[Baddy Chuck]

I may be forgetting someone, but the last three non NCAA hyped prospects as top five guys were Darko, Yi and Rubio.

Kanter and Valanciunas

[ReasonablySober]

That's a You Problem if you thought Wiggins was another LeBron. People who followed his game knew he wasn't that kind of player.

If this is in response to my post, I stated he has been considered a LeBron level prospect, not that he plays like LeBron. By that I mean he has been hyped as a generational type prospect; a once every 5+ years kind of prospect. "Best prospect since LeBron."

Personally, I argued on the draft board that it was a massive **** joke to compare him to LeBron as a prospect coming out of HS. I also argued that I thought Parker could very well end up going #1, and that was months before the NCAA season started and Parker was coming off a SR year when he was out of shape the entire season due to injury.

I see the massive potential in Wiggins. Still, if he is going to be a legit MVP caliber player in the NBA, he is going to need to be a dominant on the ball player offensively (creating for both himself and others). You'd think he'd be able to show much more of that in the modern, watered down NCAA.

It wasn't in response to your post, but saying a kid is the best prospect since LeBron (this is the phrase I've seen kicked around most) isn't saying he's a LeBron level prospect, right? I've always interpreted that as saying he's a better prospect than Durant, Oden, Howard, Rose, et al. By the time the draft rolls around I think he's on the tier below LeBron with Davis and Oden. Sure, you can hope you see him demanding the ball more but I personally don't care about that a whole lot given how he's going to impact the game defensively. Is he really a bust as a pick if he ends up being George?

[drew881]

Exum jump shot has it all

[El Pooch Grande]

What does Smart's game tonight have to do with Exum?

He moved into the top five with a bullet for me.

I have nothing against Exum. He might be great. But if I were sitting at a slot where I had to choose between the two, I'd take the guy I saw excel in NCAA competition versus the guy who has competed in leagues I'm less qualified and comfortable to judge.

I may be forgetting someone, but the last three non NCAA hyped prospects as top five guys were Darko, Yi and Rubio.

In the case of Darko, Detroit got burned passing on Melo. We got burned passing on Noah. And Rubio turned out, but arguable his analog that draft would have been Steph Curry. And in the case of Rubio, I could see him up against NBA guys in the Olympics, thus less concerns about how he would translate to the NBA.

So for me, if the choice is even between two guys like Exum and Smart, I'm going to lean to the one who crushed it in the NCAA. Doesn't mean Exum won't be the better player or won't be great.

This is exactly my point. There are FAR more international players who have busted than those who have become stars, let alone franchise changers.

Exum certainly may be great, but this is such a critical pick we need to be right, and we can't rely on the "maybe" that Exum brings to the table. Sure he's dominated his age group, but as was pointed out, so did Yi. So did Darko. We need the sure thing with next year's pick.

I think we saw tonight that Marcus Smart is going to be a sure-thing (All-Star caliber PG with scoring ability and amazing defense).

[bigkurty]

I may be forgetting someone, but the last three non NCAA hyped prospects as top five guys were Darko, Yi and Rubio.

In the case of Darko, Detroit got burned passing on Melo. We got burned passing on Noah. And Rubio turned out, but arguable his analog that draft would have been Steph Curry. And in the case of Rubio, I could see him up against NBA guys in the Olympics, thus less concerns about how he would translate to the NBA.

So for me, if the choice is even between two guys like Exum and Smart, I'm going to lean to the one who crushed it in the NCAA. Doesn't mean Exum won't be the better player or won't be great.

Great, great point. Well done PP. We have to get this one right guys if we get a chance at one of these top players. Seattle never thought the team would move. That kind of **** happens very fast out of left field and just sucker punches you in the face. Too many "potential" guys just bust. Marvin Williams, Darko, Yi, Marcus Haislip, etc.