2014 Draft Prospects Thread

[Mattya]

I don't think its as simple as one has to be able to shoot. It's fine if Rubio doesn't have the ball in his hands. It's not fine when the ball is out of his hand and we are relying on Martin to create his own shot. Rubio passing to a guy who can create his own shot going to the rim. I'll take that and hope they improve their perimeter shots later. I think Smart's toughness and athleticism will be ok at shooting guard. I want good players no matter the position if we are moving Love.

[Klomp]

So you're alright turning one of the best young ball-handlers and passers in the league into a 3-and-D guy?

The Heat offense doesn't run through LeBron James on every possession. Are they wasting his talents?

Look at the four teams still in the playoffs. All four have multiple players who can create their own offense consistently. We have 0.

When defenses take the ball out of Rubio's hands we need someone else who can create something. Right now, we have nobody.

[Krapinsky]

I'm sick of the mindset that we need to let Rubio have the ball in his hands and let him create every possession. If he can't create for himself, we're playing 4 on 5.

If he doesn't have the ball in his hands creating for others, then he's not doing anything. He might as well be traded at that point.

Edit: And for that matter, the same is true for Smart, which is why he's a bad fit.

I disagree with you pretty adamantly here. I don't know why either is 'doing nothing' off the ball. I've often dreamed of a Westbrook - Rubio back court in the case of a Love trade and Smart - Rubio isn't far from it. Not many teams have two back court players that can deny dribble penetration so matching up with us would be pick your poison.

Smart would give us a go to guy to close out games. Rubio would still make everyone around him better. They would wreak havoc defensively. Not only do I not share the concern, but I absolutely love the combination.

[AQuintus]

The Heat offense doesn't run through LeBron James on every possession. Are they wasting his talents?

1) Lebron can shoot.
2) They do run through him on the vast majority of their possessions.

Look at the four teams still in the playoffs. All four have multiple players who can create their own offense consistently. We have 0. When defenses take the ball out of Rubio's hands we need someone else who can create something. Right now, we have nobody.

I have zero problems getting someone that can create his own shots. In fact, I agree that we need one on the wings. My problem is with bringing in another guy that can't do anything without the ball in his hands like Smart.

My preference would be someone like Afflalo, who can create with the ball but is also a quality spot up shooter and mover off the ball. In the draft, Stauskas would be a better option than Smart.

[AQuintus]

I disagree with you pretty adamantly here. I don't know why either is 'doing nothing' off the ball. I've often dreamed of a Westbrook - Rubio back court in the case of a Love trade and Smart - Rubio isn't far from it. Not many teams have two back court players that can deny dribble penetration so matching up with us would be pick your poison.

Smart would give us a go to guy to close out games. Rubio would still make everyone around him better. They would wreak havoc defensively. Not only do I not share the concern, but I absolutely love the combination.

Agree to disagree, I guess. I think a Rubio-Westbrook back court would be pretty awful too.

Edit:

Not many teams have two back court players that can deny dribble penetration so matching up with us would be pick your poison.

This is true. Most teams don't have two back court players that can deny dribble penetration individually. Most do, however, have two back court players that can deny dribble penetration when working together since they don't have to bother defending their man on the 3-point line.

[Klomp]

I have zero problems getting someone that can create his own shots. In fact, I agree that we need one on the wings. My problem is with bringing in another guy that can't do anything without the ball in his hands like Smart.

My preference would be someone like Afflalo, who can create with the ball but is also a quality spot up shooter and mover off the ball. In the draft, Stauskas would be a better option than Smart.

I agree that Stauskas would be a better fit, but he's also a lesser talent. I'm probably the biggest Stauskas fan here, but he's no Marcus Smart.

[AQuintus]

I agree that Stauskas would be a better fit, but he's also a lesser talent. I'm probably the biggest Stauskas fan here, but he's no Marcus Smart.

He's a lesser talent, but we'd obviously not be taking him at 5. At 5, we could go for a more talented player at a position of need - PF.

Also, when it comes to succeeding in the NBA, fit is often just as important (maybe even more important) than talent.

[Krapinsky]

I disagree with you pretty adamantly here. I don't know why either is 'doing nothing' off the ball. I've often dreamed of a Westbrook - Rubio back court in the case of a Love trade and Smart - Rubio isn't far from it. Not many teams have two back court players that can deny dribble penetration so matching up with us would be pick your poison.

Smart would give us a go to guy to close out games. Rubio would still make everyone around him better. They would wreak havoc defensively. Not only do I not share the concern, but I absolutely love the combination.

Agree to disagree, I guess. I think a Rubio-Westbrook back court would be pretty awful too.

Edit:

Not many teams have two back court players that can deny dribble penetration so matching up with us would be pick your poison.

This is true. Most teams don't have two back court players that can deny dribble penetration individually. Most do, however, have two back court players that can deny dribble penetration when working together since they don't have to bother defending their man on the 3-point line.

To me it's not that simple. If you leave them open on the 3-point line, then you eventually have to recover to guard a player that can beat you off the dribble. Players like Monta Ellis, Westbrook, Tony Parker, Dwyane Wade, etc. are not left open on the 3-point line and I wouldn't expect Rubio or Smart to be either.

[Krapinsky]

He's a lesser talent, but we'd obviously not be taking him at 5. At 5, we could go for a more talented player at a position of need - PF.

None of the PF's are sure things to me. I think Smart is. Tristan Thompson and Thomas Robinson come to mind when I look at Vonleh's worst case scenario. Derrick Williams comes to mind when I look at Randle's worst case scenario (almost identical measurements).

[AQuintus]

None of the PF's are sure things to me. I think Smart is. Tristan Thompson and Thomas Robinson come to mind when I look at Vonleh's worst case scenario. Derrick Williams comes to mind when I look at Randle's worst case scenario (almost identical measurements).

And Randy Foye comes to mind when looking at Smart's worst case scenario.

Edit:

And Thomas Robinson is a much better worst case for Randle than Williams. Randle is never going to be mistaken for a SF like Williams is.

[Maefteda]

Gordon is my favorite of the three. The fact that he can also guard and play at the 3 is an added bonus. His shooting is the biggest worry, but he has worked to fix his shooting form and he is still young.

Vonleh worries me. He's just not that productive for a player that has all the tools to succeed. Anthony Randolph vibes.

[AQuintus]

Gordon is my favorite of the three. The fact that he can also guard and play at the 3 is an added bonus. His shooting is the biggest worry, but he has worked to fix his shooting form and he is still young.

Vonleh worries me. He's just not that productive for a player that has all the tools to succeed. Anthony Randolph vibes.

I like Gordon, too. I can picture Rubio throwing lobs to Gordon all day on the break and pick-and-roll.

Vonleh worries me because 1) he's raw, and 2) he has great athletic measurables but they don't show up on the court at all.

Randle, I worry about his fit with Pek and his ability to play against bigger players (like Thomas Robinson). His best case, to me, is Zach Randolph, a very good player but also very limited.

[Krapinsky]

None of the PF's are sure things to me. I think Smart is. Tristan Thompson and Thomas Robinson come to mind when I look at Vonleh's worst case scenario. Derrick Williams comes to mind when I look at Randle's worst case scenario (almost identical measurements).

And Randy Foye comes to mind when looking at Smart's worst case scenario.

I can't fathom that. Absent some horrible injury there is no way in my mind that Smart has a career similar to Foye's. Foye is smaller than Smart (by 2-3" wing and reach). Smart was considered a top 5 pick after his freshmen year. Foye wasn't on the national radar until his Senior year.

[Krapinsky]

And Thomas Robinson is a much better worst case for Randle than Williams. Randle is never going to be mistaken for a SF like Williams is.

Robinson was pretty raw offensively, which is Randle's strength.

[Grits n Gravy]

Vonleh is my number one target if we do get the number 5. He actually put up very good numbers this year and is a monster on the boards despite being 18 and he won't even turn 19 until the end of August. He reminds me of a mix between Derrick Favors(Basically the same size) and Lamarcus Aldridge. He actually put up better stats then Aldridge per 40 and per 40 pace adjusted from Aldridge' sophmore year. I like that he can step away and shoot it a bit but isn't afraid to mix it up inside.

[dunkonu21]

At their worst, McDaniels and Stauskas can step in as role players, but still have high potential because they are elite in their respective niches. If we were to draft a more "complete" player like Harris or Hairston, I don't think they'll have the upside.

Stauskas will be able to shoot in the NBA, but he is going to be bad on defense.

Crazy thing I found looking at Draft Express measurement data. Only two guards with over 10% body fat have been rotational players in the NBA since 2005. They are James Harden (10.1) and Randu Foye (10).

[AQuintus]

Vonleh is my number one target if we do get the number 5. He actually put up very good numbers this year and is a monster on the boards despite being 18 and he won't even turn 19 until the end of August. He reminds me of a mix between Derrick Favors(Basically the same size) and Lamarcus Aldridge. He actually put up better stats then Aldridge per 40 and per 40 pace adjusted from Aldridge' sophmore year. I like that he can step away and shoot it a bit but isn't afraid to mix it up inside.

It really bothers me that with his height, length, and vertical, that Vonleh didn't get a ton of blocks or dunks. With a 9 foot standing reach and 37 inch vertical, he should have been living above the rim, but he didn't.

[minimus]

Is Doug McDermott new Kyle Korver?

[GopherIt!]

Changed my mind.

[shangrila]

Smart is a PG. I don't think playing him and Rubio together for big minutes is a recipe for success.