The Nik Stauskas Thread

[JMAC3]

I think the thing that intrigues me the most about Stauskas is his ability to help facilitate an offense. He may have the ability to be a primary ball handler at times and be able to make plays for his teammates. That is a necessity in this league when it comes to being an elite 2 guard. Harden, Kobe, Wade, Ellis, and Beal all can run an offense allowing the PG to play off the ball.

We all know he can be a great shooter and at 6-6 and his athleticism I think he can be an average defender and finisher in the league. His playmaking and ability to hit shots off the dribble will determine if he is the mold of Klay Thompson or more a Steph Curry type player. I think he is getting overlooked simply because the fact is he is a white shooting guard.

[DY_nasty]

^Probably

Pfft, he's no Nik Caner-Medley.

Nah, I'd be cool with Stauskas IF we traded down and got him around 15 or so. But we won't, b/c our FO is tsherkin.

Think the Suns would be interested in trading 14 and 18 for 9?

Maybe? They need a big talent injection to get over the hump and into the WC playoff picture.

What?

They just needed Eric Bledsoe to play. And if they get more continuity between their young guys - which they no doubt can with their outstanding coach - they'll be just fine. And they've got LA's pick next year too. If anything, they'll be looking to move out of the draft for veteran players who can steady the boat and mentor.

[LofJ]

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2014/05/michigans_nik_stauskas_tries_t.html

Stauskas on what he brings to the team that drafts him:

"They're getting a kid who loves to play basketball,'' he said. "I'm a basketball junkie. I'm willing to work. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get minutes and get on the floor and help my team win. I feel like everywhere I went in my career I was a winner, regardless of what situation I've been in, and I feel like that's one of the most important characteristics to have.''

It's like he's speaking directly to Rich Cho.

Edit: It's awesome that Curry himself directly contacted him after he saw the video where Stauskas drained 46 straight 3 pointers and challenged him to a shootout. He knows elite competition when he sees it.

[countryboi]

I got a feeling in my gut that this kid is going to be our pick....I cant put my finger on it but i just know it. I can see Cho falling in love with him now.

[LofJ]

I agree Stauskas is too good of a fit for this roster for us to not seriously consider taking him at 9. I think it's going to come down to group workouts. Stauskas, Young, Lavine, and Harris - who has the skills to pay the bills?!?

[mrknowitall215]

I agree Stauskas is too good of a fit for this roster for us to not seriously consider taking him at 9. I think it's going to come down to group workouts. Stauskas, Young, Lavine, and Harris - who has the skills to pay the bills?!?

Young would bully them all around in a group workout atmosphere with his size, and I'm hoping that's what'll put him over the top in Cho's evaluation of which prospect is best for Charlotte moving forward. However, the craftiness of Stauskas & LaVine might prove to be too much for Young. We'll see

[BigSlam]

It's pretty hard to read about this kid and not think that he might be perfect for what we need.

But a white Canadian? We lost some serious cool points when we drafted Rex. I really wish that Stauskas had a much higher cool factor. Then I think he would be a slam dunk for me at #9.

Why can't his name be Jabiri Dagger and he look like Ben McLemore??

[LofJ]

He does have a cool factor. Google his girlfriend if you don't believe me.

[yosemiteben]

Don't give two **** about cool factor. Let's get to the ECF.

I want either McDermott or Stauskas. I'm starting to favor Stauskas for our roster.

[BigSlam]

Pfft, he's no Nik Caner-Medley.

Nah, I'd be cool with Stauskas IF we traded down and got him around 15 or so. But we won't, b/c our FO is tsherkin.

Think the Suns would be interested in trading 14 and 18 for 9?

Maybe? They need a big talent injection to get over the hump and into the WC playoff picture.

I think they would want:

#9 & #24
for
#14 & #18

[JDR720]

im not sure 9 + 24 is worth 14 + 18

that is just a +1 pick overall for us

[fatlever]

It's pretty hard to read about this kid and not think that he might be perfect for what we need.

But a white Canadian? We lost some serious cool points when we drafted Rex. I really wish that Stauskas had a much higher cool factor. Then I think he would be a slam dunk for me at #9.

Why can't his name be Jabiri Dagger and he look like Ben McLemore??

for a brief second i thought you were talking about rex chapman (1st hornets draft pick in 1988). then i thought - slam doesnt give a **** about the 80s hornets and then figured you were talking about zeller.

[JDR720]

How is this guy not cool
[tweet]https://twitter.com/CodyZeller/status/469226115132043264[/tweet]

[MasterIchiro]

Zeller and Stauskas would be cool on Nickelodeon.

McRoberts will have to follow them around with a bong loaded with medicinal.

[Stun704]

It's pretty hard to read about this kid and not think that he might be perfect for what we need.

But a white Canadian? We lost some serious cool points when we drafted Rex. I really wish that Stauskas had a much higher cool factor. Then I think he would be a slam dunk for me at #9.

Why can't his name be Jabiri Dagger and he look like Ben McLemore??

His last name has bust written all over it

[MPM]

At this point, I'd be fine with Stauskas, Mcdermott, or Young. Nice that Stauskas is actually over 6'6" in shoes and has a game beyond just a 3 pointer (6'6.5", has handles, a nice step back, and can distribute).

Lavine scares me. I will eat my own face if we draft Harris.

[Diop]

He does have a cool factor. Google his girlfriend if you don't believe me.

[BigSlam]

I want the high ceiling. We need top-end talent if we're going to ever be more than a treadmill. I want a player that COULD be more, not the player that WILL be just good enough to surpass.

The problem is where Young's ceiling is say an 8.5 and Nik's is 8 the floors are 5 and 7 respectively. Nik is going to be a player in the league for a decade because of all his skills. Young will not last that long unless he develops the basketball skills to last. Young has gotten by on size and athletic ability where Nik has worked on the craft. I won't mind Young at 9 but I think Nik is the better pick because we know he is a player and if they both max out the difference isn't even that much.

Lol. Y'all act like Young can't shoot as if he on some MKG sh*t. Young is a legit deep threat. He has similar numbers to Michael Redd coming out of college.

Redd was known as a defensive specialist coming out of college - not a marksman.

[BigSlam]

He does have a cool factor. Google his girlfriend if you don't believe me.

I'd plough a hole through her.

[InProblematique]

Don't quite understand people saying that Stauskas is already reaching his potential. Based off of year one at Michigan to year two, and the improvements he made in one offseason, you'd think the common consensus would be that he has a very high ceiling that he's capable of reaching with more practice.

He's easily the most polished piece that will be available to us, and I think he will be in the top 5 years from now when we're talking about best NBA careers from this draft. He's much more than an idle three-point threat. He plays well off the dribble, has a surprising first step, rolls off screens unbelievably well, and is a deadly playmaker for others. Klay Thompson is a good comparison, mixed in with a little Gordon Hayward playmaking/cutting versatility.

Unless either Julius Randle or Noah Vonleh fall to ninth (both of whom I would be surprised to see exit the top 7), Stauskas is the obvious choice. It's that simple. He'd be the BPA, best fit, and he still has a ton of upside. I understand looking at guys like LaVine and Young for upside, but Stauskas is already where I believe those two will get in terms of usefulness.

Also, lol at anyone who's saying Young is more athletic than Stauskas. Idiots.