Official #2 Pick Thread - Ford #7: Parker

[sidney lanier]

Watching the 84 draft documentary last night pretty much sealed Wiggins for me....again.

Just looking at Jordan as a rookie....has that same long, lean, springy body type that just floats out on the court, first step looks so effortless...he looks like he's holding the "turbo button" while everyone else is just moving at regular speed.

That's what I saw out of Durant and that's what I see out of Wiggins.

Wiggins is going to blow guys out of the water once he plays at the next level.

Jordan had a nice quote about being an NBA rookie after coming out of Dean Smith's system at UNC

"When I got to the NBA, I felt like I had the freedom to show off my game, show everyone what I could do."

What gives me pause here is that what Jordan could do he did while bouncing a ball; the latter skill seems so far to have eluded young Mr. Wiggins.

[driese0824]

I'd rather not take a guy #2 where we're already talking about masking his deficiencies.

Well then I think the bucks should then just forget the pick cause every player even this boards precious embiid and Wiggins have some type of hole in their game.
You know GOD isn't available with the 2nd pick

Wiggins' holes aren't based on a lack of physical ability. Parker's largely are. You can teach half-court ability and handle. You can't teach lateral quickness or bigger size.

I may go along with you on lateral quickness but larger size huh wtf this guy measurements during the combine was right up there with the top PFs in the NBA,in fact a lot of scouts and know it alls after the measurements were a lot more comfortable in his ability to play the 4 spot.

[Newz]

Watching the 84 draft documentary last night pretty much sealed Wiggins for me....again.

Just looking at Jordan as a rookie....has that same long, lean, springy body type that just floats out on the court, first step looks so effortless...he looks like he's holding the "turbo button" while everyone else is just moving at regular speed.

That's what I saw out of Durant and that's what I see out of Wiggins.

Wiggins is going to blow guys out of the water once he plays at the next level.

Jordan had a nice quote about being an NBA rookie after coming out of Dean Smith's system at UNC

"When I got to the NBA, I felt like I had the freedom to show off my game, show everyone what I could do."

What gives me pause here is that what Jordan could do he did while bouncing a ball; the latter skill seems so far to have eluded young Mr. Wiggins.

Wiggins as a Freshman was much more productive than Jordan. Now, that's not to say he's going to end up even close to as good as Jordan was. I'm just saying that to show that you can't draft guys based on what they are right now... you have to draft them based on what you think they can become.

[EastSideBucksFan]

What gives me pause here is that what Jordan could do he did while bouncing a ball; the latter skill seems so far to have eluded young Mr. Wiggins.

He definitely needs improvement on his handle, but I think it gets overstated that Wiggins can't dribble. That can be improved with coaching and development. He's got the work ethic.

[skones]

What gives me pause here is that what Jordan could do he did while bouncing a ball; the latter skill seems so far to have eluded young Mr. Wiggins.

He definitely needs improvement on his handle, but I think it gets overstated that Wiggins can't dribble. That can be improved with coaching and development. He's got the work ethic.

The work ethic based on what? All things considered I think Jabari Parker has shown a greater work ethic at this point in their in their careers based on the differences in refinement already evident in their respective games.

[MiltownHawkeye]

Watching the 84 draft documentary last night pretty much sealed Wiggins for me....again.

Just looking at Jordan as a rookie....has that same long, lean, springy body type that just floats out on the court, first step looks so effortless...he looks like he's holding the "turbo button" while everyone else is just moving at regular speed.

That's what I saw out of Durant and that's what I see out of Wiggins.

Wiggins is going to blow guys out of the water once he plays at the next level.

Jordan had a nice quote about being an NBA rookie after coming out of Dean Smith's system at UNC

"When I got to the NBA, I felt like I had the freedom to show off my game, show everyone what I could do."

You took the words right out of my mouth. Jordan didn't come out of college with an advanced post game, or a sweet jumper, or a mean streak. No one knew he would be anywhere near as good as he was. He was an excellent college player with absolutely transcendent athleticism.

People cite Parker's array of offensive moves as the reason he'll always be a better scorer than Wiggins. Maybe it turns out that way, but I think that argument favors Wiggins more than Parker in a way that isn't really talked about. It speaks to his instincts and athletic ability that despite not having all the jab-steps, post-ups, crossovers, etc he put up extremely comparable production to Parker (better in conference play, at that). He makes putting up 17 ppg on a 56.3 TS% look easy. Parker doesn't.

Another thing is, I think the Parker vs. Wiggins debate has created something of a false dichotomy. On one hand, the fact people saw videos of Jabari dunking and it dispelled some notion that he was a stiff that couldn't run or jump. On the other hand, people make it sound like Parker is Larry Bird skilled and Wiggins is Zach Lavine skilled. I would be surprised if Jabari was a complete and utter bust, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was never a great scorer either. It's a game of half-inches and half-seconds. It's highly possible that he'll be a step too slow and his game won't translate how people think. It wouldn't be the first time.

TL; DR I will be disappointed if we don't get one of the Jayhawks. I'm not at all indifferent between Parker and Wiggins.

EDIT: And I think the whole work ethic thing is unsubstantiated narrative-driven BS until I see otherwise. Jabari is way more charismatic and vocal than Wiggins but that doesn't mean Wiggins is lazy or that he doesn't want to be the best.

However, I will note that I don't think Wiggins will be MJ, but I se the same similarities you (ESBF) do

[EastSideBucksFan]

The work ethic based on what? All things considered I think Jabari Parker has shown a greater work ethic at this point in their in their careers based on the differences in refinement already evident in their respective games.

You don't become a world class athlete by not being supremely motivated.

Good genes only take you so far. You have to put in the work.

[skones]

The work ethic based on what? All things considered I think Jabari Parker has shown a greater work ethic at this point in their in their careers based on the differences in refinement already evident in their respective games.

You don't become a world class athlete by not being supremely motivated.

Good genes only take you so far. You have to put in the work.

Just curious as to how much work you think has to be put in by a 19 year old kid with high metabolism to be able to run faster and jump higher than everyone else? I'd say it has to do with genes FAR more than it does work ethic. Many here state that you can't teach Wiggins athleticism and that's their case for him over Parker. The argument can't go both ways.

[paulpressey25]

Here is the Chuck, Wickett and Gery slurpfest update you didn't ask for.

All three of them spent 10 minutes lauding Jabari's character, his parents and Chuck said he thinks that many teams will be trying to trade up to number one with Cleveland to acquire Jabari. So there you have it.

[averageposter]

I had been, maybe unfairly, somewhat disappointed in Wiggins after the hype. I had sort of gotten the feeling from the press during the season that he seemed a little less alpha during the season than I would have liked, which I guess fits in that drive determination category. But, after a late loss in the season and then again in the tourney, he was front and center in the media taking responsibility for needing to step up. I bought what he was selling, seemed pretty genuine.

[MiltownHawkeye]

Well then I think the bucks should then just forget the pick cause every player even this boards precious embiid and Wiggins have some type of hole in their game.
You know GOD isn't available with the 2nd pick

Wiggins' holes aren't based on a lack of physical ability. Parker's largely are. You can teach half-court ability and handle. You can't teach lateral quickness or bigger size.

I may go along with you on lateral quickness but larger size huh wtf this guy measurements during the combine was right up there with the top PFs in the NBA,in fact a lot of scouts and know it alls after the measurements were a lot more comfortable in his ability to play the 4 spot.

6'9 with a 7'0 wingspan is NOT elite size for an NBA 4 by any stretch of the imagination. Not undersized for a position =/= plus size for a position. On the other hand, 6'8.75 with a 7'0 wingspan is top-end for a 3 and downright ridiculous for a 2.

[Miasma]

Here is the Chuck, Wickett and Gery slurpfest update you didn't ask for.

All three of them spent 10 minutes lauding Jabari's character, his parents and Chuck said he thinks that many teams will be trying to trade up to number one with Cleveland to acquire Jabari. So there you have it.

Yeah, they seemed like they were trying to indoctrinate the public into thinking how important this aspect will be/take away from the defensive concerns. Spent time talking about Parker's pedigree, that his Dad played in the NBA, and how he "wouldn't mind" playing in Milwaukee. Gery mentioned briefly how Wiggins was a good kid too and that his Dad also played in the NBA, but Chuck and Wickett seemed to just let that lay in the wind and moved right on (before they called him a Jordan diva for having teams come out to California to watch him work out).

[LUKE23]

Wiggins ability to get his own shot whenever he wants is pretty attractive. He's still going to need to gain weight and work on his handle, but he's going to be able to get an uncontested midrange shot whenever he wants. That's a nice trait to have.

I understand why people want Jabari. I still have Wiggins ahead of him.

[raferfenix]

For those who prefer to Wiggins to Parker, would you be disappointed if Cleveland takes Wiggins and the Bucks take Embiid?

[Badgerlander]

I think Wiggins goes #1 and Parker goes #2

[europa]

For those who prefer to Wiggins to Parker, would you be disappointed if Cleveland takes Wiggins and the Bucks take Embiid?

Slightly because I like Parker more than Embiid. I won't be crushed but my wish list is Wiggins and then Parker.

To me, the least surprising thing that could occur in this draft is for Wiggins to go first. He was the consensus No. 1 pick for nearly two years. It wouldn't surprise me at all if people started remembering why they loved him so much.

[LUKE23]

I still don't think the Cavs pass on Embiid unless they have major medical questions. But that's just my opinion and they are a hard team to read.

[EastSideBucksFan]

I'll be crushed on draft night if Wiggins goes to Cleveland.

Crushed.

[europa]

I'll be crushed on draft night if Wiggins goes to Cleveland.

Crushed.

I'll recover quickly if the Bucks get Parker.

If they take Embiid I'm gonna start drinking and praying like hell he never gets hurt again.

[ReasonablySober]

I'll be singing in the **** streets if I hear, "With the first pick in the 2014 NBA draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select [any name other than Joel Embiid]."