2014 Draft Prospects Thread

[C.lupus]

Gordon reminds me of a Blake Griffin lite. His free throw shooting is horrible (42.2%), and he has that same griffin mentality where he shrinks from big moments and his offensive game just crumbles. He's never been the late game closer in Arizona so think more of Griffin than Love when it comes to heroics. He isn't skilled with the ball, has these terrible looking shots at times, and occasional aggression seems forced like Griffin. Obviously not as athletic, big, or strong as Griffin which makes you wonder if his talent/skillset are enough to overcome liabilities that Griffin has had to face.

I think the misconception here is that the pick we get for Love has to replace Love's offensive production. Low-post offense won't be an issue if we still have Pekovic and we still have Rubio to create for bigs.

How many PFs do you know who have late-game heroics, anyways? Asking your PF to create a last-second shot is not the best choice in today's NBA. The main guy that comes to mind for me is Dirk, but Vince was the go-to guy in the clutch for the Mavs, not Dirk.

High post scoring will be a major issue, though. Pek can't work if the defense collapses on him. Who out of Rubio, Brewer, and Gordon is going to spread the floor or be that go-to guy?

I do agree with the rest of your post.

[Klomp]

First of all, Vince carter was never the go to player for the mavs. He got a couple buzzer beaters but Dirk is the definition of a go to guy. Hes been that player for the mavs for about a decade.

Alsothere is no misconception. No one thinks we have to replace Love with another PF or someone as good as him, thats impossible. i was just saying he is not a guy you can throw the ball to late in the game and expect him to do something.

In the clutch, when it comes to late-game heroics, Vince was that guy more than Dirk.

Do we want to run the offense through Gordon late? I thought people here hated anyone who took the ball out of precious Rubio's hands? If we need someone to create for a buzzer-beater, it should be Rubio or a SG/SF, not our PF.

[mondry]

First of all, Vince carter was never the go to player for the mavs. He got a couple buzzer beaters but Dirk is the definition of a go to guy. Hes been that player for the mavs for about a decade.

Alsothere is no misconception. No one thinks we have to replace Love with another PF or someone as good as him, thats impossible. i was just saying he is not a guy you can throw the ball to late in the game and expect him to do something.

In the clutch, when it comes to late-game heroics, Vince was that guy more than Dirk.

Do we want to run the offense through Gordon late? I thought people here hated anyone who took the ball out of precious Rubio's hands? If we need someone to create for a buzzer-beater, it should be Rubio or a SG/SF, not our PF.

I figure we'd just run the same offense we've been doing for 4 quarters. I'm just not a fan of trying to force the ball to your best player late in the game, especially when we wouldn't have a bonafide star. I watch OKC try that all the time and they just double team durant and he'll turn it over or same thing with westbrook. It's just too obvious, I' much prefer the Spurs way of moving the ball around, constant movement, and getting a good high percentage shot, pretty much regardless of who takes it. Any NBA caliber player should be able to hit a high percentage shot more than a star can weave through a double team / put up an off balance jumper. I think we'll have to be much more like the spurs than the heat in other words. If you got Lebron that **** great just let him dominate.

Otherwise I'd let Rubio run a play and just execute it. If he scores himself great, if he finds the open guy and he gets a good look, that's all you can ask for.

[MinneOOPalis]

Gordon is a high level role player. Nothing more nothing less.

His strides are super short and he has stone hands when shooting the ball.. no touch whatsoever.. This dude reminds me of Kirilenko more than Marion.. Not much potential on offense.



I rank the three PF's in this order

1. Vonleh
2. Randle
3. Gordon


Randle has that x factor though. He seems most likely out of the 3 to reach all-star level.. But not likely enough to warrant picking him over Vonleh... who projects to be a two way player with elite rebounding potential.


Sure Gordon would be exciting but I don't see him being more than an athletic energy guy.

[shangrila]

Randle seems to have that star mentality, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's the most likely to be an All Star. He had some seriously tough times against length/quality competition in college and that's only going to get harder going to the pros.

I mean, physically, isn't he basically Kevin Love? Don't we all remember how bad Love's post game was early in his career, mostly in regards to constantly getting blocked? And without an effective post game, what exactly does Randle bring? Rebounding, obviously, but it's not like he's a great high post guy nor much of a shooter. And his defence is as putrid as Love's was at his worst.

[Krapinsky]

Randle seems to have that star mentality, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's the most likely to be an All Star. He had some seriously tough times against length/quality competition in college and that's only going to get harder going to the pros.

I mean, physically, isn't he basically Kevin Love? Don't we all remember how bad Love's post game was early in his career, mostly in regards to constantly getting blocked? And without an effective post game, what exactly does Randle bring? Rebounding, obviously, but it's not like he's a great high post guy nor much of a shooter. And his defence is as putrid as Love's was at his worst.

Randle's a guy you can throw the ball to in the high post and he'll create for himself with the game on the line. Gordon can't do that yet. Vonleh is a little further along, but he's not there yet either. Randle can get by people with his ball handling and quickness and as a result he gets to the line at a high rate. All those FTA's don't show up in the highlight videos. He's the guy that reminds me most of Amare out of the PF's in the draft, the way he can blow by people and finish with a running one handed slam. He doesn't have Amare's size but he's probably a little shiftier and coordinated than him. I think he'll really benefit from the more fast paced NBA game where he'll shine in transition. He's going to be a 20 + point scorer eventually and I can't say that for sure about the other PF's in the draft.

[Worm Guts]

Randle isn't near as explosive as young Amare. I'm nervous about Randle, maybe for no other reason than the long line of recent PF's who put up big numbers, got drafted high, then did nothing in the pros.

[Mattya]

Randle isn't near as explosive as young Amare. I'm nervous about Randle, maybe for no other reason than the long line of recent PF's who put up big numbers, got drafted high, then did nothing in the pros.

I want to start drafting guys who bring it on defense. The one thing I will say though is that I think Randle has the right kind of demeanor to be really good in the NBA. He doesn't back down when people go at him. I want guys who get gritty on both sides and I think Randle will do that.

[Worm Guts]

Randle is supposedly the worst of the 3 PF's (Vonleh, Gordon, Randle) on defense, right?

[Krapinsky]

Randle is supposedly the worst of the 3 PF's (Vonleh, Gordon, Randle) on defense, right?

Worst defense, best offense.

[Krapinsky]

Randle isn't near as explosive as young Amare. I'm nervous about Randle, maybe for no other reason than the long line of recent PF's who put up big numbers, got drafted high, then did nothing in the pros.

Amare was definitely more explosive, but I don't think Randle is much of a slouch either. Randle has been a pretty well heralded prospect for some time now, always mentioned in the same breath as Wiggins as a top prospect of his class for years. I think he's had more scrutiny as a result, whereas a guy like Vonleh has recent momentum because he hasn't had to face the same scrutiny.

[C.lupus]

He might be the worst of those three but he isn't bad on defense. He's got lateral quickness and is a pretty good post defender. The problem I have with Randle is that he's another below the rim player. He's not a rim protector and he's a questionable fit with Pekovic. He also has not outside shot.

That said, he could be an excellent fit next to Dieng going forward and I think he has the highest ceiling of those three.

[mondry]

He might be the worst of those three but he isn't bad on defense. He's got lateral quickness and is a pretty good post defender. The problem I have with Randle is that he's another below the rim player. He's not a rim protector and he's a questionable fit with Pekovic. He also has not outside shot.

That said, he could be an excellent fit next to Dieng going forward and I think he has the highest ceiling of those three.

If we're trading Love we probably need to consider who fits best with Dieng and then Rubio tbh. I really like Pek of course but couple years down the road Dieng will probably be the guy and we will move pek. I can't see him being part of the long term plan. Bigs, especially ones like Pek don't seem to have the longest shelf life.

[Krapinsky]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFhIaqn_W_k[/youtube]

It's plays like this one that excite me about Randle. Not a lot of PF's can dribble past people and go coast to coast for the flush.

[C.lupus]

He might be the worst of those three but he isn't bad on defense. He's got lateral quickness and is a pretty good post defender. The problem I have with Randle is that he's another below the rim player. He's not a rim protector and he's a questionable fit with Pekovic. He also has not outside shot.

That said, he could be an excellent fit next to Dieng going forward and I think he has the highest ceiling of those three.

If we're trading Love we probably need to consider who fits best with Dieng and then Rubio tbh. I really like Pek of course but couple years down the road Dieng will probably be the guy and we will move pek. I can't see him being part of the long term plan. Bigs, especially ones like Pek don't seem to have the longest shelf life.

Agreed. I wouldn't hesitate to pick him at 6 if we got the Boston pick. I'd be happy with either him or Vonleh.

[Worm Guts]

I'm still slightly worried that he played a lot of bully ball in college, and not a lot of his offense will translate in the pros.

[Takingbaconback]

Any way you cut it, those 3 PF at the 6th spot are far from sure stars in the league. Flip needs to be very careful to pick the right guy to play with rubio if they trade with boston. Rubio can greatly enhance certain players but there are very few players who can help overcome Rubios liabilities. If Wolves can somehow trade Love and Rubio to flip for exum and another high draft pick, I think that would be an optimal move.

[Mattya]

I'm still going with Smart over those Pfs if he is there. Don't care at all about the lack of shooting there.

Then grab Harris to bring the 3 and D with both players in that 3 man rotation at Point and Shooting guard.

Rubio/Smart
Smart/Harris
Brewer/Shabazz
Olynyk/Bass
Dieng/Pekovic

[Klomp]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFhIaqn_W_k[/youtube]

It's plays like this one that excite me about Randle. Not a lot of PF's can dribble past people and go coast to coast for the flush.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYmvyiB3FGE#t=142[/youtube]

(At 2:22)

[Krapinsky]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFhIaqn_W_k[/youtube]

It's plays like this one that excite me about Randle. Not a lot of PF's can dribble past people and go coast to coast for the flush.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYmvyiB3FGE#t=142[/youtube]

(At 2:22)

Most definitely. Gordon brings that factor too.