2014 Draft Thread (Early offseason panic edition).

[nate33]

Nate, I think you're being too easy on Parker. Duke's defense is getting killed because they have no interior defense. Maybe that'll change, but until you see it, it's hard to believe it.

Yeah, I just watched those clips and he did look pretty bad. I think his awareness issues will be fixed by Coach K, but I was a little disappointed to see the inconsistent effort.

I still think that he is fundamentally a more physical player than Jamison, which will make a difference in his D in the long run.

[Rafael122]

So I'm reading up on the transactions that affect the '14 draft....

Atlanta has the rights to swap picks w/the Nets - WTF?

Charlotte has the Blazers pick which is top 12 protected, and Detroit's pick which is top 8 protected. They also have their own lottery pick, top 10 protected. Otherwise it goes to Chicago.

...so basically Charlotte has to cheer Portland and Detroit enough for those guys not to be terrible and just barely miss the playoffs (or in the case of Detroit, good enough where they land the 9th pick), as well as be bad enough to keep their own pick. Not sure if the odds will work out in their favor and they land the top pick, but it happened w/Cleveland a couple of years back. They had their existing lottery pick plus the one that they got from the Clippers and it helped them land the top spot.

[verbal8]

So I'm reading up on the transactions that affect the '14 draft....

Atlanta has the rights to swap picks w/the Nets - WTF?

Charlotte has the Blazers pick which is top 12 protected, and Detroit's pick which is top 8 protected. They also have their own lottery pick, top 10 protected. Otherwise it goes to Chicago.

...so basically Charlotte has to cheer Portland and Detroit enough for those guys not to be terrible and just barely miss the playoffs (or in the case of Detroit, good enough where they land the 9th pick), as well as be bad enough to keep their own pick.

Barring a major collapse Portland looks like a play-off team even in the West and a decent seed, so they get a pick in the mid-20s from the Blazers pick. The Pistons pick could be very valuable. If they make the play-offs that could still be an early teens pick at worst. Also those assets are going to look very good if they want to move up in the draft.

Not sure if the odds will work out in their favor and they land the top pick, but it happened w/Cleveland a couple of years back. They had their existing lottery pick plus the one that they got from the Clippers and it helped them land the top spot.

It was the Clippers pick that got Cleveland the top pick.

[hands11]

Defensively, I wouldn't expect any more out of Parker than you would out of Carmelo. Offensively I think Parker is going to be *better* but defensively at the PF spot you're going to get average production at best.

Melo is who I was thinking when I watched him.

The kid has extreme focus on getting himself or the team into scoring mode ASAP. By drive, shot or pass.

He wouldn't likely work for a SA style team.

[Ruzious]

A deep sleeper to keep an eye on is Shawn Long from Louisiana Lafayette. LLaf is in the Sun Belt and plays a good schedule, so don't write him off because they're a small school. I haven't seen him or even a scouting report on him, but his stats jump out. He's a 20 year old junior playing his 2nd season. He's listed at various sites at from 6'9 to 6'10 and either 245 lbs or 250 lbs. Per 40 minutes, he's averaging 29.5 points, 16.3 rebounds, and 4.4 blocks, but his fouls and to's are high. Right now, he's not listed in mock drafts, but it'll be interesting to watch that change.

[pancakes3]

Speaking of diamonds in the DEEP rough, one of my Georgetown friends clued me into Jerrelle Benimon now of Towson by way of Georgetown. 17/11/2.5 last season and 17/10/4 this season.

Seems like a fairly good prospect as a stretch 4. Recently dropped 21/10/5 in a blowout loss to Kansas against Wiggins & co.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... le-benimon

[Ruzious]

Here's another sleeper - and I gotta think he's going to be flying up the charts - Zach Lavine. Check out his shooting percentages. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Zac ... 153/stats/

Each of the last 3 games, he's made 7 of 9 shots. His 3 point shooting is ridiculous - and he's an 18 year old freshman for UCLA. I wonder if he can play the point - he's got a good assist/to ratio. UCLA's got a bunch of good veteran players (especially Adams), so it might be hard to feature him more, but they probably should. I'm not going to say Steph Curryesque, but...

[Ruzious]

And in case you figure a guy named Zach Lavine - who you probably never heard of and is currently ranked just the 53rd best freshman prospect by draftexpress.com - probably is just a jump shooter and a bad athuhlete, watch this. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe1-I5Hti6s[/youtube] Kid is fun to watch.

[stevemcqueen1]

Those youtube mixtapes always have the dumbest titles.

[pancakes3]

Wow that Lavine kid is coordinated. Those dunks don't just require pogo power. Pretty damn acrobatic. Looks like the next Klay Thompson with hops to boot.

[hands11]

And in case you figure a guy named Zach Lavine - who you probably never heard of and is currently ranked just the 53rd best freshman prospect by draftexpress.com - probably is just a jump shooter and a bad athuhlete, watch this. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe1-I5Hti6s[/youtube] Kid is fun to watch.

Wow. Nice handles, quick release and great hops.

I'm going to have to start watching some college ball. I have been all focused on the Wizards so far.

[Ruzious]

Btw, as outstanding a prospect as Lavine is (and I think he's as good a prospect as Olapido and McLemore were), he's only the 2nd best shooting guard prospect on UCLA, imo. I think Jordan Adams is going to join the elite few in the 2014 draft. We saw last season that he was already a better player than Muhammad. He's somehow significantly improved over last season - he's a beast a la Harden. His PER is right at 40 - which is absurd for a swingman - and he's got a TS% of 73%. UCLA is worth staying up late to watch this season. Btw, their 6'10 forward Anderson is averaging around 8 assists a game. He'll probably get a couple triple doubles this season, but I'm not a fan of his. He doesn't have a good shooting touch, and he plays a bit sloppy (ala Blatche) at times.

[pancakes3]

Jeeze. Just how powerful was the Howland effect? What's up with all that talent not translating to any wins? (I guess they're undefeated this year and look to be offensive juggernauts... but still...)

[Knighthonor]

How you all like this guy at Center for the Wizards?
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Joel-Embiid-7225/

Joel Embiid

[go'stags]

I was a big Jordan Adams fan last year, and he is definitely off to a great start this year. Good call on the Harden comparison, Ruz. Its too early to truly tell if that will hold up, but he certainly has that craftiness to his game.

[pcbothwel]

How you all like this guy at Center for the Wizards?
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Joel-Embiid-7225/

Joel Embiid

When we first lost Okafor for the season and I worried about a collapse (Even the first 10 games), I was at least hopeful we would end up Embiid. I have mentioned it before and I know Ruz has too, but I think Joel is very much in the same class as the Parker/Wiggins/Randle threesome and above the next tier Gordon/Exum/Smart trio.
He has height, length, great timing (both as a shot block and rebounder), natural athleticism/coordination, work ethic, and developing strength. He'll get better with fouling and using both hands.

[stevemcqueen1]

In whatever year Embiid comes out, he should be a top two or three pick. Honestly, I'd pick him second this year. He's got game changing size and tremendous feet. Gifted scoring forwards like Randle/Parker/Gordon are special but you have to take the gamble on Embiid. Wiggins is the only one you take over him.

[stevemcqueen1]

How you all like this guy at Center for the Wizards?
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Joel-Embiid-7225/

Joel Embiid

When we first lost Okafor for the season and I worried about a collapse (Even the first 10 games), I was at least hopeful we would end up Embiid. I have mentioned it before and I know Ruz has too, but I think Joel is very much in the same class as the Parker/Wiggins/Randle threesome and above the next tier Gordon/Exum/Smart trio.
He has height, length, great timing (both as a shot block and rebounder), natural athleticism/coordination, work ethic, and developing strength. He'll get better with fouling and using both hands.

Yeah, agreed. He's in the top tier. Having his feet and body control at that height and length is as good as it gets. And something that's been a big surprise to me is the fundamentals of a decent shooter are there. He's taken to basketball very quickly and has the coordination to be a scorer one day. For me he's 1B to Wiggins's 1A. Parker and Randle are both good but they're never going to be complete players. They'll both be weak NBA defenders. And though they are both gifted athletes their athleticism is not comparable to Wiggins's and Embiid's. Those two are going to be two of the best athletes in the NBA.

And I agree Exum, Smart, and Gordon are a lower tier, but I'd put them third tier. Among them, Gordon is the only truly elite athlete, but he doesn't have elite size for his position like Wiggins and Embiid.

[stevemcqueen1]

Someone is going to bust. Or Someones. But right now it looks like the top 7 is 7 future All Stars in a row.

And as bad as the East is, it's about to get a massive infusion of talent.

[stevemcqueen1]

And Noah Vonleh looks really good too if he comes out.