Official #2 Pick Thread - Ford #7: Parker

[Max Green]

The Heat have no use or interest in "20ppg" scorers like Carmelo Anthony.

[Ayt]

Parker would be a phenomenal player playing for Popovich.

[Nowak008]

Another great Smart article by Realgm. http://basketball.realgm.com/article/233752/Marcus-Smart-Why-College-Coaching-Even-Matters-For-Top-5-Picks

So while he’s not a great shooter by any means, he should be more efficient in a more structured offense. Smart doesn’t need to shoot 15-20 times a game to be a really good player at the next level. He’s a rare PG who can impact the game as a passer, rebounder and defensive player. At 6’3 225 with a 6’9 wingspan, he’s much bigger and more physical than most NBA PG’s. He had a 26.9 PER because he stuffs the stat-sheet - points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.

There are a lot of undersized SG’s who try to pass themselves off as PG’s - Smart is a PG with the size to play SG. There’s a big difference. A player like that is how you can have a two-PG starting line-up - the Suns can play Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic together for most of the game because Bledsoe can match-up with any type of guard in the NBA. Smart isn’t as athletic a Bledsoe, but he’s big enough to make up most of the difference on defense.

[paulpressey25]

^^^^Yes, toss in whatever assets needed to get Marcus Smart if he falls to 7 or 8, under the assumption the teams in the 4-6 slots have no interest in trading their pick.

[Baddy Chuck]

The Heat have no use or interest in "20ppg" scorers like Carmelo Anthony.

Jabari Parker - Fourth option on a contender?

[Baddy Chuck]

Still don't think you can have a good backcourt without another player capable of being a full time ball handler next to Smart. Wolters would work, someone like Middleton would be atrocious IMO.

[Ayt]

Still don't think you can have a good backcourt without another player capable of being a full time ball handler next to Smart. Wolters would work, someone like Middleton would be atrocious IMO.

If we were to take Parker #2 and end up with Smart from a trade, I think it could work out fine offensively. It would all depend upon how well Giannis and Parker develop as initiators of the offense. The first year or two you might want more of a traditional PG out there like Wolters, but I could see it not being necessary down the line. A sniper like Middleton could work very well as a floor spacer in that scenario.

Of course, I liked what I saw out of Nate last year so it wouldn't surprise me if he ends up being a solid starter for us even if we did draft Parker and Smart. His shot was awful, but he shot the ball really well in college, so I expect him to improve to the point that he's actually a very good shooter. I think he broke his shot a bit by working too much on his body prior to his rookie year. I was particularly impressed by his ability to defend right out of the gate, so a backcourt duo of Smart and Wolters could be very interesting because they could compliment each other very well on both ends of the court.

[Nowak008]

Still don't think you can have a good backcourt without another player capable of being a full time ball handler next to Smart. Wolters would work, someone like Middleton would be atrocious IMO.

I don't disagree with you. I just don't see why that's a big problem though. The reason why we were so atrocious last year is no one could really handle the ball. Good teams have multiple playmakers on the floor at all times.


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[Baddy Chuck]

The reason why we were so atrocious last year is no one could really handle the ball.

Another reason was our main ball handler was a me first, always in attack mode, jump shot shooting tempo killer. All things Smart struggles with to varying degrees. We got a lot better when we had a guy like Sessions or Wolters next to Knight compared to Middleton, Giannis, Butler etc and I think the same will be true with Smart by a wide margin, compared to letting him handle to point guard duties full time.

[mlloyd10]

So what scares people the most:

Embiid - Back Issue
Parker - Broke same foot twice
Wiggins - Unknown potential

This is why im still on the Wiggins train. At worst he will be Derozen.

[Baddy Chuck]

So what scares people the most:

Embiid - Back Issue
Parker - Broke same foot twice
Wiggins - Unknown potential

None of the above scares me.

[VooDoo7]

So what scares people the most:

Embiid - Back Issue
Parker - Broke same foot twice
Wiggins - Unknown potential

None of the above scares me.

All of the above scares me.

[breakchains]

@ some of these takes on Parker. wtf. The draft can't get here soon enough.

[Baddy Chuck]

So what scares people the most:

Embiid - Back Issue
Parker - Broke same foot twice
Wiggins - Unknown potential

None of the above scares me.

All of the above scares me.

I think about those like I would crashing in an airplane. Could it happen? Sure. Should you really worry about it? Nah.

[VooDoo7]

None of the above scares me.

All of the above scares me.

I think about those like I would crashing in an airplane. Could it happen? Sure. Should you really worry about it? Nah.

Plane crashes don't scare me. I know it'd be a quick, painless death.

But if our #2 pick ends up having health issues throughout their career, or busts, then that's gonna be one long, agonizing death.

[JayMKE]

Still don't think you can have a good backcourt without another player capable of being a full time ball handler next to Smart. Wolters would work, someone like Middleton would be atrocious IMO.

Giannis can handle some of the duties, he's got point forward potential

Wolters/Smart/Giannis/Parker/Sanders is a pretty sexy line up imo

[MrPerfect1]

I don't fear health issues. If you happen to draft someone and their career is ruined by injuries at least it can be chalked up to bad luck.

I most fear taking a player who becomes decent while teams after us select Super Stars

[breakchains]

Still don't think you can have a good backcourt without another player capable of being a full time ball handler next to Smart. Wolters would work, someone like Middleton would be atrocious IMO.

Giannis can handle some of the duties, he's got point forward potential

Wolters/Smart/Giannis/Parker/Sanders is a pretty sexy line up imo

I'd experiment with both that lineup and also Smart at the point and Middleton at the 2. I think a Smart/Middleton/Giannis/Parker/Sanders lineup is damn exciting and cohesive, actually.

[breakchains]

Most likely superstars:

1) Embiid
2) Parker

[JayMKE]

All of the above scares me.

I think about those like I would crashing in an airplane. Could it happen? Sure. Should you really worry about it? Nah.

Plane crashes don't scare me. I know it'd be a quick, painless death.

But if our #2 pick ends up having health issues throughout their career, or busts, then that's gonna be one long, agonizing death.

quick and painless after 30 seconds or more of pure terror

Plane crashes scare the **** out of me, just the claustrophobic idea of knowing that you are going to die and there nothing you can do. I guess it may not be a totally rational fear but flying in general scares me.