'14 Draft Thread pt 2: vote again? VOTE AGAIN.

[ChuckBros4Life]

Eh, I wouldn't waste a 1st round pick on a 6'1" guy that can't really shoot or pass just because he's athletic.

Let's be honest. We probably aren't finding our PG of the future in the 2nd round, especially this year, where I feel like even the top PG prospects aren't very good (depending on if you think Smart and Exum are PGs or not).

Who says he can't shoot or pass? He's shooting 47.7% from the field and 33% from 3 while averaging 21.6 PPG and playing nearly every single minute (avg 38.5 mpg). That's impressive. He's only averaging 3.8 assists, but he can easily bump that up to 6 at the next level when he's no longer needed to score 20 a game. His athleticism and lane penetration will allow for a lot of pass out opportunities. He'll have the quickness to be a great defender and overall hustle player. Even if he doesn't end up turning into our starting PG of the future (he has a much better shot of that than Brandon Knight), he could be a great guy off the bench. I'm just saying that I don't think you'll find much better value than him in the 2nd.

If I'm targeting any point guard in this draft at that range it's Semaj Christon without a doubt.

I don't think Christon will be there early 2nd. If he is, great. I'd be happy with him too. But Burton will be terrific in NBA.

[TroyD92]

Wiggins at this point. Parker just doesn't seem to have that elite athleticism you'd look for at one and not to mention the entire year two years off. We don't have that kind of time.

I don't think that it's ever been confirmed that he will take two years off.

[breakchains]

Of the players I have some familiarity with, the only PG that intrigues me other than Exum is Jahii Carson. That's who I'd target if we got back in the mid-to-late first.

[skones]

If I'm targeting any point guard in this draft at that range it's Semaj Christon without a doubt.

Not a fan of point guards who don't play like point guards and can't shoot but man do I love Christon.

I think the fact that he shares primary handling duties with Dee Davis really works to our advantage with regards to his draft stock. I think he's better in that department than he's been able to show. His dramatically improved assist to turnover ratio would indicate an improvement in that area going from 1.28 to 2.25.

[WiscoKing13]

Wiggins at this point. Parker just doesn't seem to have that elite athleticism you'd look for at one and not to mention the entire year two years off. We don't have that kind of time.

I don't think that it's ever been confirmed that he will take two years off.

If I was in Parkers shoes i'd take a year off to re think life if I was drafted by the bucks.

Todd day "damn, Milwaukee"

[Ayt]

While the league has moved away from emphasizing the center position, is that due to changes in the league or the lack of great centers?

I'm old school on this and look back to this lineage starting from the 1984 draft.....

Hakeem #1 overall
Ewing #1 overall
Robinson #1 overall
Daugherty #1 overall
Shaq #1 overall
Alonzo Mourning #2 overall (behind Shaq)
Duncan #1 overall

Those teams just seem to always in the conversation for conference finals appearances. Agreed there have been busts and guys that didn't measure up. It comes down to how you feel about Embiid. For me, he's going to end up being mentioned in that grouping above a decade from now.

I'd say he's closer to a Brook Lopez level prospect then any of those players.

Much closer.

Is freshman Brook Lopez considered a possible #1 overall pick in a draft with Wiggins, Parker, Randle, etc.? What about sophomore Lopez?

They are very, very different as NBA prospects.

[BUCKnation]

If I'm targeting any point guard in this draft at that range it's Semaj Christon without a doubt.

Pretty much single handedly beat Marquette the other night.

[Baddy Chuck]

They are very, very different as NBA prospects.

As were all those great centers that changed franchises previously.

I still stand by he's closer to a Brook Lopez level prospect then any of those all-time greats. Embiid has done nothing to suggest being in the same sentence as those players besides being 7'.

Things could change in 1-2-3 years obviously if he stayed in college, but he's nowhere near the prospects those players were when they came out.

If you don't like Brook Lopez because he was a year older then let's say Derrick Favors.

*And as full disclosure so everyone doesn't think I'm some Embiid hater, he's not my choice but I wouldn't even be mad drafting him at #1. I like him, but lets not act like he's a world beater just yet, that's all I'm trying to get at.

[steger_3434]

I'm not as high on embiid as some, but if you think he's closer to brook lopez then I don't see how you think wiggins is this superstar? He's having a very pedestrian freshman year.

[Baddy Chuck]

I'm not as high on embiid as some, but if you think he's closer to brook lopez then I don't see how you think wiggins is this superstar? He's having a very pedestrian freshman year.

I think Wiggins has potential, just like Embiid. I don't think Wiggins is a surefire prospect just like I don't think Embiid is, but I think their potential is extremely high. Saying Embiid is Hakeem or Shaq is like saying Wiggins is Kevin Durant and I wouldn't say that because it isn't true, they are nowhere near those prospects coming out of college. Wiggins and Embiid could be superstars. Shaq, Hakeem, Robinson etc were GUARANTEED superstars.

[jokeboy86]

You put Parker in Utah and that becomes a young core that could be scary in 2 or 3 years with different coach.

[LarryKryptonite]

Wiggins to me looks too passive, almost like Mclemore when he was in Kansas. Parker has that killer instinct which should be coveted more because you cannot teach that trait. Parker is a Melo type scorer in a couple years which is perfect when you have a do it all prospect like Giannis.

Embiid just sets us back a year, we have a front core of the future, Sanders/Henson, throw Giannis some minutes at pf, really no need for Embiid its just retreading. And i would personally like to see an efficient pure scorer in Milwaukee, im sick of the Jennings, Ellis, and Mayo type players.

[WiscoKing13]

I'm not as high on embiid as some, but if you think he's closer to brook lopez then I don't see how you think wiggins is this superstar? He's having a very pedestrian freshman year.

I think Wiggins has potential, just like Embiid. I don't think Wiggins is a surefire prospect just like I don't think Embiid is, but I think their potential is extremely high. Saying Embiid is Hakeem or Shaq is like saying Wiggins is Kevin Durant and I wouldn't say that because it isn't true, they are nowhere near those prospects coming out of college. Wiggins and Embiid could be superstars. Shaq, Hakeem, Robinson etc were GUARANTEED superstars.

I agree with this. This draft was hyped as the next 2003 draft and so far the top prospects seem to be muddling through the season.

[Baddy Chuck]

I'm not as high on embiid as some, but if you think he's closer to brook lopez then I don't see how you think wiggins is this superstar? He's having a very pedestrian freshman year.

I think Wiggins has potential, just like Embiid. I don't think Wiggins is a surefire prospect just like I don't think Embiid is, but I think their potential is extremely high. Saying Embiid is Hakeem or Shaq is like saying Wiggins is Kevin Durant and I wouldn't say that because it isn't true, they are nowhere near those prospects coming out of college. Wiggins and Embiid could be superstars. Shaq, Hakeem, Robinson etc were GUARANTEED superstars.

I agree with this. This draft was hyped as the next 2003 draft and so far the top prospects seem to be muddling through the season.

It doesn't have that LeBron player but this draft is pretty insanely stacked.

[buckboy]

While the league has moved away from emphasizing the center position, is that due to changes in the league or the lack of great centers?

I'm old school on this and look back to this lineage starting from the 1984 draft.....

Hakeem #1 overall
Ewing #1 overall
Robinson #1 overall
Daugherty #1 overall
Shaq #1 overall
Alonzo Mourning #2 overall (behind Shaq)
Duncan #1 overall

Those teams just seem to always in the conversation for conference finals appearances. Agreed there have been busts and guys that didn't measure up. It comes down to how you feel about Embiid. For me, he's going to end up being mentioned in that grouping above a decade from now.

This highlights why I feel so strong about Embiid. A big time big man can almost single-handedly make you a perennial contender. And I think the answer to your question is that there haven't been many good C's. It is no coincidence that Indiana's rise has coincided with Hibbert's improvement. Or Orlando's finals appearance, and Dwight's play at the time. Also, that the teams that give the Heat the most problems are those with good big men.

I agree that that big-time big man is a huge deal in terms of winning, I'm just not as convinced as you guys are the Embiid is one of those guys. I certainly don't see him as being as good as anyone on that list other than Daugherty (lol, which one of these is not like the others).

If he's in that category, then there's no question he should be #1, I just don't see it. Yet. And I stress the yet. I definitely think he's growing. He could get there.

[buckboy]

I need someone to explain why Kansas is a fairly meh 11-4 if they have two NBA blue chip prospects in their starting 5? That is my concern with both of those guys.

I'm really starting to worry about the quality of this draft class.

1. Guard play seems to be huge for college success and their backcourt is among the worst in the nation IMO.
2. Even with their losses, they're ranked #2 in the country in RPI.
3. They can't shoot from outside, so teams are just zoning them so that Wiggins and Embiid can't carry the load as easily.

4. Bill Self is a boob.

#4 being fairly critical.

[KidA24]

I'm not as high on embiid as some, but if you think he's closer to brook lopez then I don't see how you think wiggins is this superstar? He's having a very pedestrian freshman year.

I think Wiggins has potential, just like Embiid. I don't think Wiggins is a surefire prospect just like I don't think Embiid is, but I think their potential is extremely high. Saying Embiid is Hakeem or Shaq is like saying Wiggins is Kevin Durant and I wouldn't say that because it isn't true, they are nowhere near those prospects coming out of college. Wiggins and Embiid could be superstars. Shaq, Hakeem, Robinson etc were GUARANTEED superstars.

Like Oden and Darko and Bradley. There are no guarantees. Obviously we know more now than we did then, but even still.

[breakchains]

While the league has moved away from emphasizing the center position, is that due to changes in the league or the lack of great centers?

I'm old school on this and look back to this lineage starting from the 1984 draft.....

Hakeem #1 overall
Ewing #1 overall
Robinson #1 overall
Daugherty #1 overall
Shaq #1 overall
Alonzo Mourning #2 overall (behind Shaq)
Duncan #1 overall

Those teams just seem to always in the conversation for conference finals appearances. Agreed there have been busts and guys that didn't measure up. It comes down to how you feel about Embiid. For me, he's going to end up being mentioned in that grouping above a decade from now.

This highlights why I feel so strong about Embiid. A big time big man can almost single-handedly make you a perennial contender. And I think the answer to your question is that there haven't been many good C's. It is no coincidence that Indiana's rise has coincided with Hibbert's improvement. Or Orlando's finals appearance, and Dwight's play at the time. Also, that the teams that give the Heat the most problems are those with good big men.

I agree that that big-time big man is a huge deal in terms of winning, I'm just not as convinced as you guys are the Embiid is one of those guys. I certainly don't see him as being as good as anyone on that list other than Daugherty (lol, which one of these is not like the others).

If he's in that category, then there's no question he should be #1, I just don't see it. Yet. And I stress the yet. I definitely think he's growing. He could get there.

Of course it's not clear yet. We're evaluating the guy, who happens to be very early in his personal basketball life, two months into his freshman year. It's a projection. But the thing is, people here are acting like Wiggins and Parker are flawless prospects, and we are considering a raw big man versus flawless wings. They aren't either. In my eyes, Wiggins has more bust potential than Embiid, and Parker's ceiling is no where near Embiid's.

[Baddy Chuck]

Like Oden and Darko and Bradley. There are no guarantees. Obviously we know more now than we did then, but even still.

Darko and Bradley in the same breath as Hakeem and Shaq? Seriously? And Oden is obviously a different case being injury prone. There are guarantees in the draft. Embiid, Wiggins and Parker are not those. Great prospects, not a guarantee.

[KidA24]

Like Oden and Darko and Bradley. There are no guarantees. Obviously we know more now than we did then, but even still.

Darko and Bradley in the same breath as Hakeem and Shaq? Seriously? And Oden is obviously a different case being injury prone.

Darko was going to revolutionize the game. He was going to bring Europe to the NBA.

http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/The_Word_On_Darko-78462-50.html

And Bradley, well....
http://articles.philly.com/2013-02-08/sports/36995417_1_shawn-bradley-bradley-or-webber-sixers-fans

"The biggest mistake since not drafting Michael Jordan would be passing on Shawn Bradley," said Majerus, who was the head coach at Utah in '93.