2014 NBA Draft Discussion Thread | Draft - June 26

[H00PDREAMS]

So after tonights games tonight what are your thoughts? Do you believe the hype or are these kids over-rated.


In Kentucky loss to Michigan State:
J. Randle 27 Pts, 13 Reb, 1 Ast

Harrison 11 Pts




As soon as the Duke/Kansas game is over featuring Wiggins and Parker airing currently on ESPN.


To tank or NOT to tank is the question.

[AcecardZ]

It's a great year to tank if for no other reason than the fact there's going to be four or five very good young players coming out next year. If a team doesn't luckbox the number one overall it's not the end of the world with guys like Parker and Randle also available.

[moonpie]

We already have Wiggins, he plays for us under the name "Jodie Meeks"

My thoughts as posted in the GT

MSU-Kentucky

Didn't watch the whole game but some quick observations:

-Randle is very physically imposing at the college level and has skills to boot. Reminds me of a more mobile/athletic Zach Randolph though I can see where the Chris Webber comparisons come from. Definitely a top 3 prospect behind Wiggins and Parker
-Gary Harris is a solid all around player that would be a great pick in the late lotto and would likely be early lotto in most other years.
-Not too impressed with either Harrison twin at this point-questionable decision making cost UK a lot of possessions
-That Dawson guy for MSU reminds me a lot of another MSU product-Draymond Green in terms of the way they hustle despite being undersized for their position. Could be a good value pick further down the draft

Kansas-Duke

^^Agree with you guys about Embiid, I've been intrigued with him since I started looking up some of his videos. He's very raw still (one of those guys who picked up a basketball late) but he's got great physical tools and a unique feel for the game IMO.

-Wiggins is EXTREMELY athletic, Parker is deceptively athletic
-Both players played clutch basketball late in the 2nd half but they were both bothered by foul issues
-Kansas went small late in the game and they were routinely trying to find Wiggins in the low post which I thought was interesting
-Joel Embiid has massive potential-Bynum like rawness currently with above average passing
-Wayne Selden's strength was impressive, can definitely play combo guard in the NBA
-Perry Ellis had an impressive statline and was hustling but I didn't see much of him in the times I watched, definitely a top ranked draft prospect though in his own right
-Rodney Hood is another name to keep an eye out for

-If I had to give NBA comparisons based off this game, I'd say Parker is in the Carmelo Anthony/Paul Pierce mold while Wiggins is an Andre Igoudala/Tracy McGrady mix. Both have very high ceilings. I prefer Wiggins because his physical attributes allow him much more room to grow as a defender, but you can't go wrong with Parker either.

[hazy_01]

I like the young Tmac comparison more, to me the Lebron comparison doesn't make sense b/c Wiggins doesn't have that play-making or passing ability yet. Wiggins showed glimpses of almost everything else though- inside scoring, defensive energy, rebounding, and even a step-back jump shot. 22 pts and 8 rebounds in just 25 mins is pretty damn impressive.

[Tiesto_Lakers]

I thought all of the freshmen looked great yesterday. Randle is basically a more aggressive version of Zach Randolph...Jabari Parker plays exactly like Carmelo. Can't believe that kid is only 18...looks 27.

Wiggins will eventually be the best freshman this year though. He was quiet yesterday, but still managed to go for 22 and 8 in only 25 minutes. That dude runs like a track star.

[Slava]

Count me on the Embiid bandwagon too. That guy has some scary good potential if he can get some good coaching and organized basketball under his belt. Vitale was comparing him to Hakeem but that's obviously a little to lofty.

[ROballer]

Okay,so I proposed making a thread like this in the Pelicans GT but no one listened so I have to do it myself

As a best cast scenario,I think the consensus for us is a 7-8th seed if ABSOLUTELY everything goes right this year....that's a top 20 pick
We might barely miss the playoffs so that would be a top 15 pick or suck ass and get a top 10 pick
We haven't had a 1st round pick that we kept since 2007...we can't actually trade this year's pick so it's ours

In this thread I propose we talk ANYTHING draft related,from whom should we pick,possibly get other picks,draft stock for certain players,how some prospects performed during the season or in marquee games,etc

I think it's easier this way,I already saw discussions in a variety of threads about college hoops/players,why not talk in one thread and leave the OT behind in other threads?

[crazyeights]

Not a fan of Wiggins in interviews. Looks a little dead in the eyes, or at least sleepy like T-Mac. Then I read that article about scouts questioning his being a gym rat, his love of the game. I'd be slightly wary of the hype. Makes me think of the article about Kwame Brown, comparing him to a regular guy who hates his job.

Obviously he'll most likely be a very, very good player, but as we all know with Kobe, the difference is between the ears more than anything else.

[Biased_Fan6425]

I do hope we tank and get Jabari Parker and not Wiggins...

[Mamba Mentality]

Like I said in the College Basketball GT, Randle reminds me alot of ZBo with added range and athleticism. He has a really unorthodox game, but he's a bruiser and knows how to finish once he get the ball in the paint. I just want to see him play with more consistent drive and urgency.

If I had to pick between Wiggins and Paker, I would take Parker without hesitation. Wiggins is a freak athlete but his game is no where as rounded as Parkers. Parker has range, he can take people off the dribble, and he knows how to finish around the rim. But most importantly he looks like a natural jumpshooter. I felt like Wiggins only scored off of transition opportunities and post up's in which he had a sizable height advantage. That's not a knock on Wiggins game because he has an incredible ceiling, but I want the guy who is versatile and is a threat to score from any spot on the court.

[H00PDREAMS]

Randle straight beasted! I can't wait to to see more of these kids. Its going to be a very fun year in NCAA basketball.

Something tells some notables may liner around till Draft 2015 as well. Gonna be deep drafts for at least the next 2. I mean its possible.

[ROballer]

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

[Dilly]

I cant wait till draft we should me lottery bound

[DEEP3CL]

I'm telling you guys now.....you can forget Wiggins, we won't be in position to get him even if we do miss the playoffs. You guys ( Wiggins lovers ) are on fantasy street with this kid, yeah he's good but it's gonna be at least 3-4 years before he even has a major impact on a team winning games with him being the main reason. Plus his game as of now is very one dimensional, and there are a handful of guys here who realize it.

Some here are too enamored with scoring and nothing but scoring. Do you some here watch the game within the game? Where does Wiggins make others better ? He's not a creator for others, he shows lackluster effort at times on defense and has other holes in his game. He's all hype, there are others in this coming draft that will have a better career impact than he will.

I like Okafor ( coming out in 2015 maybe 2016 draft ), Randle, Parker. These guys can do more NOW than Wiggins. Bottom line though is that college guys are raw and it takes them a minute to figure it out. Just like last year with Davis, he looked good at times then there were times when he had no impact on games. Even now even thought he's having a better second season, he still can be held in check some nights so he's not all the way there yet.

Superstars won't be held in check on any night, they'll get their numbers even in a bad showing weather his team wins or lose. That's the difference between a superstar and one that you guys are anointing one already.

Wiggins may turn out to be a hell'va stud, but lets stop acting like getting him now is the magic elixir, we're still gonna have to do more regardless of who we get in the future.

[Michael Lucky]

well the reason why Wiggins would go before Parker and Randle is because his ceiling is a lot higher than theirs. As far as scoring, that's all parker does as well even if his game is more polished in that area right now, he also can't defend to save his life.

[TylersLakers]

Julius Randle would be my top choice. Could step in an NBA game right now and get a double double.

[ROballer]

Impressed with this Rodney Hood guy

Absolutely tearing it up every game along with Jabari....he might be in our range,but not if he keeps this up..he's 21 already and only a sophomore cause he transferred but the guy can ball

Like his measurements and his game a lot

And Joel Embiid....that guy's oozing with potential

[Slava]

I'd be very disappointed if we are in striking distance of EMbiid in the draft and don't make an attempt to move up. I think he'll end up a top 7 pick by the end of the season.

Also how f'in good is Marcus Smart? His shooting has improved so damn much and he seems like a high IQ guy from his interviews. This draft is **** loaded.

[ROballer]

Agreed

It's still early,but in the past,tons of guys' stock dropped after being hyped up in highschool and then got to play with bigger,stronger more experienced guys and got exposed...this year,until now all the major guys have shown why they deserve the hype

Maybe the Harrison twins have been a bit underwhelming but they play in an absolutely stacked team in which Randle is the boss and they don't get to showcase their offensive talent every game


I see us picking in the 10-17 range if we go balls out until the end....injuries,luck,etc can really set us up for a low playoff seed and lower draft pick or us missing the playoffs and get closer to the top 10
If we're far from the playoffs in late March-early April a bit of tanking can maybe get us in that 7-10 range but that's the absolute best IMO.....although some Cavs/Bulls luck wouldn't hurt,both teams had the 8th (or 9th?can't remember right now)worst record (in Cavs case ,Clippers pick) and had less than 2% shot of landing the no.1 pick but lucked out and got Irving and Rose

[ROballer]

Also,crazy how much talent the Big 4 out of the last week's double header have(Duke,Kansas,Kentucky,Mich State)

Parker
Hood
Randle
An.Harrison
Aa.Harrison
Young
Cauley-Stein
Poythress
Wiggins
Selden
Embiid
Ellis
Harris
Appling
Payne
Dawson


All got 1st round talent IMO and most will get there.....