2014 Draft Prospects Thread

[AQuintus]

I think he could easily gain 10-20 more pounds. Physically he reminds me of LeBron, who's about 270.

3) Randle has been about the same height, weight, wingspan, and standing reach for about 3 years now. When he's the same age as Robinson, he'll likely still have these same measurements.

The idea that he' gain 10-20 more pounds of good weight is ridiculous. If he does gain that weight it will be mostly fat.

I highly disagree. If they entered the NBA at complete different stages of development, you'd be comparing apples to oranges.

A 6'9", 250 pound man against NBA players vs a 6'9", 250 pound man vs NBA players. They're not going to go any easier on Randle because he's younger or less experienced.

The problem is comparing a junior with a freshman. They're at two different stages of development.

It suggests that Randle has more room to grow, but it won't mean that he'll have any easier a time in his rookie season than Robinson did.

He'll be way bigger, that's for sure.

Did you even read what I wrote?

And on another topic:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/status/474273691304337409[/tweet]

If he learns how to play, we could have our very own Kidd-Carter connection with Rubio and LaVine.

[Antrim]

Does it matter that Robinson was 30 pounds lighter as a freshman? It's not like Randle is looking to gain another 30 pounds. I think 250-260 is pretty much the max either wants to weigh.

Of course it matters.

There simply haven't been very many 6'9", 250 lbs freshman PF's that dominated college basketball in recent memory. Randle is a special specimen.

I think he could easily gain 10-20 more pounds. Physically he reminds me of LeBron, who's about 270.

Some people hit their physical peak early. As they get older, that physical advantage goes away and they're not as dominant. I'm not sure Randle would benefit from playing at 270-280 pounds, maybe I'm wrong.

You may be right, who knows what will happen in the end, we can just guess.

My point is that I don't think we can say "Randle is very big for a freshman, but some people just hit their physical peak early". There are almost NO players with that physique at that age. He's very unique in that sense.

And I actually think Randle could be decently dominant from the beginning in the NBA. Spacing will do wonders for him, and even in the NBA he'll be stronger or faster than almost anyone who guards him.

[Antrim]

I think he could easily gain 10-20 more pounds. Physically he reminds me of LeBron, who's about 270.

3) Randle has been about the same height, weight, wingspan, and standing reach for about 3 years now. When he's the same age as Robinson, he'll likely still have these same measurements.

The idea that he' gain 10-20 more pounds of good weight is ridiculous. If he does gain that weight it will be mostly fat.

Right, because a 19 year old NBA prospect gaining 10-20 pounds after entering the league would be unprecedented, something unseen before.

I highly disagree. If they entered the NBA at complete different stages of development, you'd be comparing apples to oranges.

A 6'9", 250 pound man against NBA players vs a 6'9", 250 pound man vs NBA players. They're not going to go any easier on Randle because he's younger or less experienced.

You're missing the point.

If Randle struggles as a 19 year old freshman in the NBA it's not the same as if Robinson struggles as a 22 year old freshman.

Again, different stages of development.

The problem is comparing a junior with a freshman. They're at two different stages of development.

It suggests that Randle has more room to grow, but it won't mean that he'll have any easier a time in his rookie season than Robinson did.

Oh, that's fine. I don't think teams draft players only thinking one season ahead.

That said, I fully expect Randle to have a much better rookie season than Robinson. He's better at absolutely everything, and bigger even now.

[Krapinsky]

Lavine supposedly registered a 46" max vert today which ties DJ Stephens for the highest max vert in DX's entire database.

[AQuintus]

Lavine supposedly registered a 46" max vert today which ties DJ Stephens for the highest max vert in DX's entire database.

I posted a picture of the jump a few posts up. Unfortunately, the crappy parallax angle makes it tough to judge how impressive the jump is.

With his standing reach, LaVine's 46" vert would give him a max reach of 12'2", the same as Josh Smith.

[minimus]

Lavine supposedly registered a 46" max vert today which ties DJ Stephens for the highest max vert in DX's entire database.

I'm more impressed by his shooting ability. It looks like he has potentail to be good shooter.

[Feilong]

I watched couple interviews from the L.A workout.
Boring things mostly.
Gordon said he plays now "Forward" and wants to play "Point Forward".
Point Forward is what exactly? PG-SF? Something like Pippen? or something else?
Vonleh was repeating the same word. "Versatility" ...
Harris answered solidly.
Smart said his best skill is "playmaking".

[Streakers33]

The more I watch Gordon the more I see him as a 3 in the NBA. He can certainly play both but I see him more on the Small Forward side of the spectrum..While being able to easily play PF in smaller line-ups. He is a liability in many different ways as a PF, especially defensive rebounding which is HUGE for a big.

This is the classic Tweener trap. You play them at PF, and they'll be successful. You play them at SF, they bust.

Edit: And really, that's the problem. There's no such thing as a "Tweener Forward." There's only undersized PFs forced to play out of position and failing.

Outside of rebounding, his athleticism and skillset make him more of a weapon at PF than SF, and luckily for us, Dieng is a very good defensive rebounder who can make up for Gordon's shortcomings there.

Aka Derrick Williams.

[MrTwister]

I dont really understand why guys like Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon are lottery picks, i understand that athleticism is important, but which serious franchise would use their lottery pick on a guy which main qualities are running fast and jumping high, especially mid-lottery picks.I like to believe that you guys would like to draft a player which brings something new to the team and have certain impact but i dont think Gordon is that guy.

Imagine you guys end up with Gordon, another guy which cant shoot, but can finish Ricky's flashy passes, his athleticism will allow him to draw some fouls but what for when he shoots 42% from FT line, you think he is going to be able to defend NBA forwards, i dont buy it, rookies never get calls nor respect from refs but i dont think defending on college is the same as defending in NBA.About basketball IQ most of it is refering to his passing skills while i dont think he is gonna be the one making plays or drawing double teams on him which makes it useless for you, I've seen his brother Drew playing in Europe, smart and intelligent are last things that comes to mind when you talk about him, Aaron plays recklessly and as such is injury risk, with heart but in the end its because its the only thing he has, because he is more an athlete than a guy with basketball skills.I am not saying he cant develop, i just think that he is not the guy you can afford to wait and develop if you still are into getting to playoffs.If you plan on going to another rebuilding process you can disregard everything i said above.

[shangrila]

I agree with LaVine, I don't see many attractive qualities to him aside from "jumps high".

But Gordon is a great defender, very fundamentally sound, which combined with his athleticism gives him a nice base to improve on going forward. I have more faith in him becoming a decent player than I do LaVine.

[AQuintus]

I've seen a lot of Kenneth Faried comparisons for Gordon, but a non-knucklehead version of Josh Smith might be the better comparison.

Smith (pre-draft): 6'7" w/o shoes, 221 pounds, 7'0" wingspan, 8'10.5" standing reach, 32.5" no step vert, 39.5" max vert

Gordon: 6'7.5" w/o shoes, 220 pounds, 6'11.75" wingspan, 8'9" standing reach (but was measured at 8'10.5" at the Hoop Summit last year), 32.5" no step vert, 39" max vert.

They both have freakish explosiveness, they're both good ball handlers and passer capable of going coast to coast on the break, they both have issues with free throw shooting, and they both have inconsistent range out to the 3-point line.

[Krapinsky]

I think it's a close comparison. Smith was probably a little more skilled as an offensive player at the same age though. Smith shot 69% from the line as a rookie. I think being a non-knucklehead could make up for being less skilled however, and Gordon could end up being more efficient overall due to less volume and smarter shot selection.

[MinneOOPalis]

Offensively Lavine is pretty advanced in certain areas. He reminds me of JR Smith or Jamal Crawford as guys who can get off a jumper at any time.

Lavine is also from the Seattle area which is notorious for putting out NBA prospects on the regular. So its not like he just came out of nowhere.



I'm starting to think he will go before 13.. but he would be really tempting if he was there for us.


Basically 9-17 is where a lot of wing players will go. Almost every team has a need for 2 guard. With the depth in this draft you would think one of these guys in that range could become an all-star.

[AQuintus]

Offensively Lavine is pretty advanced in certain areas. He reminds me of JR Smith or Jamal Crawford as guys who can get off a jumper at any time.

A more explosive Jamal Crawford is the comparison that I've come to. I think he's a better ball-handler than Smith. Unfortunately though, LaVine also has the Crawford/Smith shot selection. When he's on, he'll be really good. When he's off, he'll be really not good. I'd be pretty happy taking a chance on him at 13 (or later, pending a Love trade).

[MinneOOPalis]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G81zLeBJcCY[/youtube]

-Lavine highlights

-24:50 catch and shoot on the move
-26:10 Drop pass
-53:28 Corner Catch and shoot

What I got so far




What Ive noticed is he is always running around off screens trying to get open. Always on the move.

[Krapinsky]

What I haven't seen from Lavine is the ability to take it to the hoop or finish at the rim. I'm trying to be open minded with him, but i see Wes Johnson in Austin Rivers' body.

[Devilzsidewalk]

i dont like athletic guys that don't use their gifts on defense, I'd rather have KJ McDaniels.

I'm probably being extremely ignorant to how bad they'd be offensively, but Rubio, Avery Bradley or Jeff Green, Brewer, KJ McDaniels, Aaron Gordon and Dieng seems like the kind of defensive team I'm ready to watch.

[MinneOOPalis]

i dont like athletic guys that don't use their gifts on defense, I'd rather have KJ McDaniels.

I'm probably being extremely ignorant to how bad they'd be offensively, but Rubio, Avery Bradley or Jeff Green, Brewer, KJ McDaniels, Aaron Gordon and Dieng seems like the kind of defensive team I'm ready to watch.

He's pretty good at getting steals and getting into transition which counts. He just doesn't have the body to compete yet. Players litterally just push him around cause he has the body of a kid.


Im pretty sure Ive brought this up earlier on this thread but he had a huge growth spurt before his senior year. It looks like he doesn't know how to use his body yet. Before he was an undersized scoring point guard and now he has the size and length to play the 2.




Right now its between Lavine and Stauskas for me. When you break them down they really have similar skill-sets. Both are big guards who can handle the ball and who can also run off screens and spot up as shooters.

Stauskas is more refined but Lavine hasn't scratched the surface of his own potential yet if molded right.

[Klomp]

If we made the Chicago trade, we could potentially get all three (LaVine, Stauskas and McDaniels).

[MinneOOPalis]

If we made the Chicago trade, we could potentially get all three (LaVine, Stauskas and McDaniels).

2 solid guys who will have clear roles in the league in Stauskas and McDaniels.

Then a upside pick in Lavine who we stash in the D-league for a year.



This would please me.