Official #2 Pick Thread - Ford #7: Parker

[DanoMac]

Fair enough, by those standards they'd be about equal since Exum is faster. Then you factor in the translation on the court, the size/reach differential, and Exum has a pretty big advantage in the physical tools department.

We shall agree to disagree then on how we perceive athleticism .

Rivers standing vert is only 1 inch higher than Exum's, and I think that's actually more important since most basketball plays don't allow for a full approach.

But in case Hammonds and others need assurances of dunks

1:54
6:11
7:43

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSadteflk9Y[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1efPt-anOFI[/youtube]

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

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBtN8HZyzTQ[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXJx7Gxnif4[/youtube]

Like I said, we'll agree to disagree and not derail the thread comparing the athleticism of one good basketball player, and one terrible basketball player

[turbo2k]

I still don't see what a lot of other people see in Exum. He seems like a fine prospect, but I don't think he's much better than Smart or Vonleh. I watch his tape and I don't see any amazing court vision... I see him running down on the break and making easy passes to open guys on the perimeter. Which is fine, I mean you want a guy to do that... but I haven't really seen any examples of him being a true point guard as opposed to just a 2-guard with slightly above average vision and a good handle.

His jump shot also sounds like it is horribly, horribly broken and it takes him a very long time to get it off.

He certainly has the tools to be very good. But he's 4, 5 or 6 on my draft board.

My thoughts exactly. Only one of the top 4 I wouldn't be particularly happy with.

[DanoMac]

Bold Prediction: Elfrid Payton will be the 2nd best PG to come out of this draft. If we can get #8, I would look for him there

I think I'm with you. I think Payton's slowly moving into my top 10.

[paulpressey25]

For me Exum is the guy to spend the least amount of time on. The Bucks won't expend the #2 on him and if we somehow trade to get pick #7 or #8, it won't be enough ammunition to get us up to Exum. I think Exum is on his own second tier there as pick #4 with a dropoff then to #5 that Orlando won't want to chance.

[Dr Positivity]

Davis grew like 6 inches his jr year of HS forcing him to change positions, so you could say he also was/is still early on in his developmental curve. And he was on a stacked UK team which masked his offensive skill as well.

All fair points.

I'm just noting that psychologically these things are always easy in hindsight. I was a huge AD guy from day one at Kentucky and I just don't remember the bandwagon being so full as it is now in June 2014.

Yes it was a big bandwagon, but like any bandwagon it grows after the fact as the player excels in the pros. The same way everyone and his brother today insist it was clear that MJ was a future HOF'er coming out of NC in 1983. He was a mega-watt prospect, but people didn't talk about him pre-draft in the exact way they later claimed they talked about him pre-draft.

Both sides are true

Davis was rated the #1 pick the day after Kyrie got picked 1st in 2011, however his buzz from there until midway through his freshman season was semi-cool because his offensive production wasn't great yet. There were Camby and Tyson Chandler comparisons. I think if Drummond or Barnes had been playing better they may have passed him for #1 midway through the season

However, by the last few weeks of the season through the tournament and especially the last 2 games Davis' hype started to blow up and it started to become apparent to people he could be a Duncan or KG like franchise player and that he was as strong as any prospect since Lebron, Davis v Oden was debated. By the draft he was as unanimous a #1 pick as I've seen.

[Wooderson]

I still don't see what a lot of other people see in Exum. He seems like a fine prospect, but I don't think he's much better than Smart or Vonleh. I watch his tape and I don't see any amazing court vision... I see him running down on the break and making easy passes to open guys on the perimeter. Which is fine, I mean you want a guy to do that... but I haven't really seen any examples of him being a true point guard as opposed to just a 2-guard with slightly above average vision and a good handle.

His jump shot also sounds like it is horribly, horribly broken and it takes him a very long time to get it off.

He certainly has the tools to be very good. But he's 4, 5 or 6 on my draft board.

Here are a couple nice distributing plays against Serbia that probably didn't make any of the highlight reels since his teammates missed bunnies on all 3. Kind of gives you an idea of the talent he was playing with.

10:26
13:55
16:24

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE77XNg9qIw#t=995[/youtube]

Jumpshot is certainly a concern, but I'm willing to bet on his jumper improving over the weaknesses that Wiggins/Parker have. It's close though and I think those 4 are far and away above the rest.

[theFireBlanket]

Something to consider with the idea of offering up Henson, #8 (acquired via Knight) to Orlando for #4 is that Henson lives in Tampa in the offseason. If Smart projects to drop to 8, then Orlando just might go for it. Henson playing in his home area, with Tobias, etc. might be a more stimulating situation for him as far as staying motivated.

They've had Marcus in for two workouts and have a longstanding love for him. Maybe it'd require a little more, like #48 and future 2nd(s).

[turbo2k]

I see nothing in those Exum clips. 10:25 and 16:24 are nice, but nothing special at all. 13:55 you can't even see because of the camera work.

[crkone]

I still don't see what a lot of other people see in Exum. He seems like a fine prospect, but I don't think he's much better than Smart or Vonleh. I watch his tape and I don't see any amazing court vision... I see him running down on the break and making easy passes to open guys on the perimeter. Which is fine, I mean you want a guy to do that... but I haven't really seen any examples of him being a true point guard as opposed to just a 2-guard with slightly above average vision and a good handle.

His jump shot also sounds like it is horribly, horribly broken and it takes him a very long time to get it off.

He certainly has the tools to be very good. But he's 4, 5 or 6 on my draft board.

My thoughts exactly. Only one of the top 4 I wouldn't be particularly happy with.

I see a guy who will be able to blow by anyone in the league early in his career while being 6'6". Guys his size never have his combination of pure speed and agility.

[turbo2k]

^ Who cares if he can't shoot, and he has average vision?

I will ask, how is he at finishing at the rim against guys with size?

[Wooderson]

I see nothing in those Exum clips. 10:25 and 16:24 are nice, but nothing special at all. 13:55 you can't even see because of the camera work.

He throws up a lob right at the rim which is subsequently blown. Not a play of superb difficulty but you can see him eying it up before he crosses half court. 10:25 is an example of post-up ability that he's shown at various times and could be a big advantage for him in the NBA.

[crkone]

He'll develop as a shooter and has better than average vision. I don't have the synergy stats for Australian high school basketball on-hand but he has the potential to be very good at finishing in the lane in the future. He averaged over 7 FTAs a game in U19s while shooting 33% from 3. There is something there to work with. For the time being he'll be able to get clean looks off the dribble.

[Sherman Douglas]

I am gonna be just devastated if we take Exum over Parker Embiid or Wiggins.

[Badgerlander]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/IAmDPick/status/476472203030982656[/tweet]

[ReasonablySober]

^ Who cares if he can't shoot, and he has average vision?

I will ask, how is he at finishing at the rim against guys with size?

He's the best ever.

[RiotPunch]

Bold Prediction: Elfrid Payton will be the 2nd best PG to come out of this draft. If we can get #8, I would look for him there

I think I'm with you. I think Payton's slowly moving into my top 10.

He's damn close to being in mine as well.

[M-C-G]

I still don't see what a lot of other people see in Exum. He seems like a fine prospect, but I don't think he's much better than Smart or Vonleh. I watch his tape and I don't see any amazing court vision... I see him running down on the break and making easy passes to open guys on the perimeter. Which is fine, I mean you want a guy to do that... but I haven't really seen any examples of him being a true point guard as opposed to just a 2-guard with slightly above average vision and a good handle.

His jump shot also sounds like it is horribly, horribly broken and it takes him a very long time to get it off.

He certainly has the tools to be very good. But he's 4, 5 or 6 on my draft board.

My thoughts exactly. Only one of the top 4 I wouldn't be particularly happy with.

I see a guy who will be able to blow by anyone in the league early in his career while being 6'6". Guys his size never have his combination of pure speed and agility.

How about this guy just last year?

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Mic ... iams-6262/

[crkone]

My thoughts exactly. Only one of the top 4 I wouldn't be particularly happy with.

I see a guy who will be able to blow by anyone in the league early in his career while being 6'6". Guys his size never have his combination of pure speed and agility.

How about this guy just last year?

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Mic ... iams-6262/

If only Exum could be as good as MCW in 4 years at 22.

[Bernman]

I think the Rivers to Exum comparison is interesting for the simple fact that Rivers was really tantalizing w/ his skills in high school and all-star competitions like Exum is. You can only put so much stock into that. Rivers' stock dropped substantially after playing at an intermediate level consistently. We didn't get the opportunity to see how Exum would translate to an intermediate level because he didn't opt to play at one when he had the opportunity. So his elite prospect potential deserves to suffer as a result of that. Other players have proven more. It doesn't matter about one-offs in the Hoops Summit or international youth comps. You're just being an Aussie fanatic or hipster if you argue that means the same thing. Aaron Gordon was the MVP of Exum's youth comp, Smart regarded as the best player, and they're projected to go 5-10. If you like how a guy performed at an intermediate level who has good potential too, then it's silliness to prefer Exum over them. Because Exum only has one of those things going for him.

That said about Rivers, he's hardly a terrible basketball player at this point. Get up to date on your player perceptions. He was terrible his first year. He improved to a little below average last year. At this rate in 2-3 years he'll surpass LeBron. But assuming his learning curve flattens out to a more reasonable level for a prospect, no, he wouldn't be under consideration for a top few pick in an outstanding draft.

[MrPerfect1]

I am gonna be just devastated if we take Exum over Parker Embiid or Wiggins.

If it came down to Exum vs Parker, I'd throw a party if we took Exum. Give me the 6-6 PG with a great 1st step and loves to pass over a Possible Blackhole Offensively who was getting torched so badly by Mercer that he had to be taken out of his teams most important game of the year.