The Nik Stauskas Thread

[Liver_Pooty]

The myth about the Zeller pick is that his workout sold the front office and that they made a snap judgment on him draining long range shots unconsciously in an open gym. In reality they had been scouting Zeller all year long. The workouts I think are to see in clear focus and in real-time nuances you might not be able to detect on film - both subtle strengths and weaknesses.

Then why did they draft a guy they watched suck at shooting jumpshots for 2 years and throw him into a stretch 4 role? Either we suck at drafting or our coach is a moron. I know which way I'm leaning.

Zeller was actually a solid pick considering who we could have drafted.

[MasterIchiro]

The myth about the Zeller pick is that his workout sold the front office and that they made a snap judgment on him draining long range shots unconsciously in an open gym. In reality they had been scouting Zeller all year long. The workouts I think are to see in clear focus and in real-time nuances you might not be able to detect on film - both subtle strengths and weaknesses.

Then why did they draft a guy they watched suck at shooting jumpshots for 2 years and throw him into a stretch 4 role? Either we suck at drafting or our coach is a moron. I know which way I'm leaning.

Maybe, despite not seeing results in college with Zeller not really being used on the perimeter (makes sense given Oladipo played with him), maybe they liked his mechanics in that 2 years sample and the workout confirmed the allure of his mechanics. I don't feel like that projection has disappeared and the project of making him a stretch 4 might be alive and well. But this is all debatable and it should be in the Zeller thread.

The fact is Cho and company scouted him for 2 years, both as a Freshman and a Sophomore - same with Stauskas. They love the Big Ten it seems and look at all the polished players coming out recently, especially from Michigan with Burke and Hardaway Jr. Just listen to what Clifford said about players at power programs having an advantage over other draftees making a transition to the NBA.

[BeesWax]

The myth about the Zeller pick is that his workout sold the front office and that they made a snap judgment on him draining long range shots unconsciously in an open gym. In reality they had been scouting Zeller all year long. The workouts I think are to see in clear focus and in real-time nuances you might not be able to detect on film - both subtle strengths and weaknesses.

Then why did they draft a guy they watched suck at shooting jumpshots for 2 years and throw him into a stretch 4 role? Either we suck at drafting or our coach is a moron. I know which way I'm leaning.

Zeller was actually a solid pick considering who we could have drafted.

Top 4 pick not on Rookie 1st team. We could have done better.

[Liver_Pooty]

Then why did they draft a guy they watched suck at shooting jumpshots for 2 years and throw him into a stretch 4 role? Either we suck at drafting or our coach is a moron. I know which way I'm leaning.

Zeller was actually a solid pick considering who we could have drafted.

Top 4 pick not on Rookie 1st team. We could have done better.

Third most productive rookie drafted in the top 10. You're right, should have drafted Len, McLemore, or Noel.

Anyways, back on topic. Boy that Stauskas sure can shoot!

[mrknowitall215]

The myth about the Zeller pick is that his workout sold the front office and that they made a snap judgment on him draining long range shots unconsciously in an open gym. In reality they had been scouting Zeller all year long. The workouts I think are to see in clear focus and in real-time nuances you might not be able to detect on film - both subtle strengths and weaknesses.

It's very telling Clifford admitted to seeing "lots of tape" on Stauskas. They have 2 years of this guy, same as Zeller. These other guys working out don't provide the front office with the luxury of the larger sample size and the comfort that comes with it.

I suspect this pick will come down to Stauskas, Harris or McDermott. I'd be willing to bet money on it. The only wild card is if Randle falls to 9 and I can't see it with the Kings looking to trade out for a win-now player at 8.

I'd promise you that they've watched more tape on Gary Harris than Nik Stauskas. Reason why I believe and think that, because Harris has been in lottery discussion since 2013 while Stauskas was a outlier from the draft as a whole at that point

[MasterIchiro]

The myth about the Zeller pick is that his workout sold the front office and that they made a snap judgment on him draining long range shots unconsciously in an open gym. In reality they had been scouting Zeller all year long. The workouts I think are to see in clear focus and in real-time nuances you might not be able to detect on film - both subtle strengths and weaknesses.

It's very telling Clifford admitted to seeing "lots of tape" on Stauskas. They have 2 years of this guy, same as Zeller. These other guys working out don't provide the front office with the luxury of the larger sample size and the comfort that comes with it.

I suspect this pick will come down to Stauskas, Harris or McDermott. I'd be willing to bet money on it. The only wild card is if Randle falls to 9 and I can't see it with the Kings looking to trade out for a win-now player at 8.

I'd promise you that they've watched more tape on Gary Harris than Nik Stauskas. Reason why I believe and think that, because Harris has been in lottery discussion since 2013 while Stauskas was a outlier from the draft as a whole at that point

Well they've also seen plenty of head-to-head and like I said, Harris doesn't compliment Kemba + Neal the same way Stauskas does, and hopefully Lance Stephenson. Kemba + Neal + Harris is very small. I do think Hendo can be moved to OKC with pick 24 for pick 21. Who they would draft with 21, I don't know, maybe Napier.

[BeesWax]

Zeller was actually a solid pick considering who we could have drafted.

Top 4 pick not on Rookie 1st team. We could have done better.

Third most productive rookie drafted in the top 10. You're right, should have drafted Len, McLemore, or Noel.

Anyways, back on topic. Boy that Stauskas sure can shoot!

He sure can shoot. Just because other teams drafted poorly doesn't excuse us for doing so.

[JDR720]

Top 4 pick not on Rookie 1st team. We could have done better.

Third most productive rookie drafted in the top 10. You're right, should have drafted Len, McLemore, or Noel.

Anyways, back on topic. Boy that Stauskas sure can shoot!

He sure can shoot. Just because other teams drafted poorly doesn't excuse us for doing so.

well we just would've picked one of the guys that did worse than Zeller did like McLemore

[mrknowitall215]

The myth about the Zeller pick is that his workout sold the front office and that they made a snap judgment on him draining long range shots unconsciously in an open gym. In reality they had been scouting Zeller all year long. The workouts I think are to see in clear focus and in real-time nuances you might not be able to detect on film - both subtle strengths and weaknesses.

It's very telling Clifford admitted to seeing "lots of tape" on Stauskas. They have 2 years of this guy, same as Zeller. These other guys working out don't provide the front office with the luxury of the larger sample size and the comfort that comes with it.

I suspect this pick will come down to Stauskas, Harris or McDermott. I'd be willing to bet money on it. The only wild card is if Randle falls to 9 and I can't see it with the Kings looking to trade out for a win-now player at 8.

I'd promise you that they've watched more tape on Gary Harris than Nik Stauskas. Reason why I believe and think that, because Harris has been in lottery discussion since 2013 while Stauskas was a outlier from the draft as a whole at that point

Well they've also seen plenty of head-to-head and like I said, Harris doesn't compliment Kemba + Neal the same way Stauskas does, and hopefully Lance Stephenson. Kemba + Neal + Harris is very small. I do think Hendo can be moved to OKC with pick 24 for pick 21. Who they would draft with 21, I don't know, maybe Napier.

Until Harris proved to be undersized, I'm positively sure that he was Cho's #1 guy out of all the wing prospects in that range. I think there may be a battle in the front office about Harris' lack of size, but I doubt Cho is budging. Like you aforementioned, I think Clifford favors Stauskas, but also as he continue to mention, it's not up to him

[MasterIchiro]

I'd promise you that they've watched more tape on Gary Harris than Nik Stauskas. Reason why I believe and think that, because Harris has been in lottery discussion since 2013 while Stauskas was a outlier from the draft as a whole at that point

Well they've also seen plenty of head-to-head and like I said, Harris doesn't compliment Kemba + Neal the same way Stauskas does, and hopefully Lance Stephenson. Kemba + Neal + Harris is very small. I do think Hendo can be moved to OKC with pick 24 for pick 21. Who they would draft with 21, I don't know, maybe Napier.

Until Harris proved to be undersized, I'm positively sure that he was Cho's #1 guy out of all the wing prospects in that range. I think there may be a battle in the front office about Harris' lack of size, but I doubt Cho is budging. Like you aforementioned, I think Clifford favors Stauskas, but also as he continue to mention, it's not up to him

I think the dip in his 3-pt shooting % Sophomore year hurts his case more than the 6' 2" thing. Conversely, Stauskas gained a ton of ground proving he's a playmaker, potential 2nd ball handler, shot creator in addition to him being a superior shooter, matching his freshman year 3-pt % and getting to the line more, getting more assists, the list goes on. One player improved measurably freshman to soph, the other regressed or stagnated. Also the health factor reappeared with Harris. I don't think it's the slam dunk you think it is but I agree 100% Clifford is behind Stauskas and does not want the same consideration Cho might want for Harris. Listening to Clifford in the post-workout interview it was like he was thinking out loud and I think we saw snippets of some of the debate points he might use in deliberations. Again, there is not an outright conflict per se but Clifford has Stauskas well above Harris whereas it's closer for the others.

[mrknowitall215]

Well they've also seen plenty of head-to-head and like I said, Harris doesn't compliment Kemba + Neal the same way Stauskas does, and hopefully Lance Stephenson. Kemba + Neal + Harris is very small. I do think Hendo can be moved to OKC with pick 24 for pick 21. Who they would draft with 21, I don't know, maybe Napier.

Until Harris proved to be undersized, I'm positively sure that he was Cho's #1 guy out of all the wing prospects in that range. I think there may be a battle in the front office about Harris' lack of size, but I doubt Cho is budging. Like you aforementioned, I think Clifford favors Stauskas, but also as he continue to mention, it's not up to him

I think the dip in his 3-pt shooting % Sophomore year hurts his case more than the 6' 2" thing. Conversely, Stauskas gained a ton of ground proving he's a playmaker, potential 2nd ball handler, shot creator in addition to him being a superior shooter, matching his freshman year 3-pt % and getting to the line more, getting more assists, the list goes on. One player improved measurably freshman to soph, the other regressed or stagnated. Also the health factor reappeared with Harris. I don't think it's the slam dunk you think it is but I agree 100% Clifford is behind Stauskas and does not want the same consideration Cho might want for Harris. Listening to Clifford in the post-workout interview it was like he was thinking out loud and I think we saw snippets of some of the debate points he might use in deliberations. Again, there is not an outright conflict per se but Clifford has Stauskas well above Harris whereas it's closer for the others.

Harris already milked the scouts with the shoulder injury excuse for his regression from the 3-point line. At least I can confirm that Chad Ford ate it up. You read all of the experts talk about Stauskas vs Harris, and they usually give the slight edge to Harris

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

Edge in the eye test based on the college game.


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[MasterIchiro]

Until Harris proved to be undersized, I'm positively sure that he was Cho's #1 guy out of all the wing prospects in that range. I think there may be a battle in the front office about Harris' lack of size, but I doubt Cho is budging. Like you aforementioned, I think Clifford favors Stauskas, but also as he continue to mention, it's not up to him

I think the dip in his 3-pt shooting % Sophomore year hurts his case more than the 6' 2" thing. Conversely, Stauskas gained a ton of ground proving he's a playmaker, potential 2nd ball handler, shot creator in addition to him being a superior shooter, matching his freshman year 3-pt % and getting to the line more, getting more assists, the list goes on. One player improved measurably freshman to soph, the other regressed or stagnated. Also the health factor reappeared with Harris. I don't think it's the slam dunk you think it is but I agree 100% Clifford is behind Stauskas and does not want the same consideration Cho might want for Harris. Listening to Clifford in the post-workout interview it was like he was thinking out loud and I think we saw snippets of some of the debate points he might use in deliberations. Again, there is not an outright conflict per se but Clifford has Stauskas well above Harris whereas it's closer for the others.

Harris already milked the scouts with the shoulder injury excuse for his regression from the 3-point line. At least I can confirm that Chad Ford ate it up. You read all of the experts talk about Stauskas vs Harris, and they usually give the slight edge to Harris

I don't care what the media experts project. They didn't predict Zeller and I don't think they can predict pick 9 this year. Ford hasn't had Stauskas in the top 10 all year long yet scouts SCOUTS in Los Angeles and Boston liked him enough to work him out well within the top 10.

[mrknowitall215]

I think the dip in his 3-pt shooting % Sophomore year hurts his case more than the 6' 2" thing. Conversely, Stauskas gained a ton of ground proving he's a playmaker, potential 2nd ball handler, shot creator in addition to him being a superior shooter, matching his freshman year 3-pt % and getting to the line more, getting more assists, the list goes on. One player improved measurably freshman to soph, the other regressed or stagnated. Also the health factor reappeared with Harris. I don't think it's the slam dunk you think it is but I agree 100% Clifford is behind Stauskas and does not want the same consideration Cho might want for Harris. Listening to Clifford in the post-workout interview it was like he was thinking out loud and I think we saw snippets of some of the debate points he might use in deliberations. Again, there is not an outright conflict per se but Clifford has Stauskas well above Harris whereas it's closer for the others.

Harris already milked the scouts with the shoulder injury excuse for his regression from the 3-point line. At least I can confirm that Chad Ford ate it up. You read all of the experts talk about Stauskas vs Harris, and they usually give the slight edge to Harris

I don't care what the media experts project. They didn't predict Zeller and I don't think they can predict pick 9 this year. Ford hasn't had Stauskas in the top 10 all year long yet scouts SCOUTS in Los Angeles and Boston liked him enough to work him out well within the top 10.

The media experts haven't really been projecting Harris to Charlotte lately, which seem like the perfect storm in the making if you ask me

[MasterIchiro]

Harris already milked the scouts with the shoulder injury excuse for his regression from the 3-point line. At least I can confirm that Chad Ford ate it up. You read all of the experts talk about Stauskas vs Harris, and they usually give the slight edge to Harris

I don't care what the media experts project. They didn't predict Zeller and I don't think they can predict pick 9 this year. Ford hasn't had Stauskas in the top 10 all year long yet scouts SCOUTS in Los Angeles and Boston liked him enough to work him out well within the top 10.

The media experts haven't really been projecting Harris to Charlotte lately, which seem like the perfect storm in the making if you ask me

Well they still don't have Stauskas in the top 10 and nowhere near 6, 7, 8 or 9.

[mrknowitall215]

I don't care what the media experts project. They didn't predict Zeller and I don't think they can predict pick 9 this year. Ford hasn't had Stauskas in the top 10 all year long yet scouts SCOUTS in Los Angeles and Boston liked him enough to work him out well within the top 10.

The media experts haven't really been projecting Harris to Charlotte lately, which seem like the perfect storm in the making if you ask me

Well they still don't have Stauskas in the top 10 and nowhere near 6, 7, 8 or 9.

Yes they do. The majority of them have Stauskas at either #8 to the Kings or #9 to the Hornets at this point. The current smokescreen is that the Hornets are most interested in McDermott, but will take Stauskas if he is taken before them

[MasterIchiro]

The media experts haven't really been projecting Harris to Charlotte lately, which seem like the perfect storm in the making if you ask me

Well they still don't have Stauskas in the top 10 and nowhere near 6, 7, 8 or 9.

Yes they do. The majority of them have Stauskas at either #8 to the Kings or #9 to the Hornets at this point. The current smokescreen is that the Hornets are most interested in McDermott, but will take Stauskas if he is taken before them

Ford doesn't have Stauskas at 8 or 9. He's at 13!!! I think the need for shooting is for real but the interest in McDermott is a smokescreen. MKG is the reason. Cho is really married to that pick. Same reason Zeller ain't goin' nowhere imo.

[mrknowitall215]

Well they still don't have Stauskas in the top 10 and nowhere near 6, 7, 8 or 9.

Yes they do. The majority of them have Stauskas at either #8 to the Kings or #9 to the Hornets at this point. The current smokescreen is that the Hornets are most interested in McDermott, but will take Stauskas if he is taken before them

Ford doesn't have Stauskas at 8 or 9. He's at 13!!! I think the need for shooting is for real but the interest in McDermott is a smokescreen. MKG is the reason. Cho is really married to that pick. Same reason Zeller ain't goin' nowhere imo.

If there's any pick that Cho isn't married to, it's MKG. MKG just sought of fell into their lap after they were robbed of the #1 overall selection to take Anthony Davis following a 7-59 season, thanks to David Stern

Ford may have Stauskas at #13 right now, but DraftExpress has him at #9 to Charlotte

[MasterIchiro]

Yes they do. The majority of them have Stauskas at either #8 to the Kings or #9 to the Hornets at this point. The current smokescreen is that the Hornets are most interested in McDermott, but will take Stauskas if he is taken before them

Ford doesn't have Stauskas at 8 or 9. He's at 13!!! I think the need for shooting is for real but the interest in McDermott is a smokescreen. MKG is the reason. Cho is really married to that pick. Same reason Zeller ain't goin' nowhere imo.

If there's any pick that Cho isn't married to, it's MKG. MKG just sought of fell into their lap after they were robbed of the #1 overall selection to take Anthony Davis following a 7-59 season, thanks to David Stern

Ford may have Stauskas at #13 right now, but DraftExpress has him at #9 to Charlotte

Well Ford is the loud mouth in the room (so is Bilas) and neither of them are sniffing Stauskas at 9. I'd say the smokescreen is whoever they see going to the Hornets. We're talking ESPN and its numerous contacts in offices around the league.

[mrknowitall215]

Ford doesn't have Stauskas at 8 or 9. He's at 13!!! I think the need for shooting is for real but the interest in McDermott is a smokescreen. MKG is the reason. Cho is really married to that pick. Same reason Zeller ain't goin' nowhere imo.

If there's any pick that Cho isn't married to, it's MKG. MKG just sought of fell into their lap after they were robbed of the #1 overall selection to take Anthony Davis following a 7-59 season, thanks to David Stern

Ford may have Stauskas at #13 right now, but DraftExpress has him at #9 to Charlotte

Well Ford is the loud mouth in the room (so is Bilas) and neither of them are sniffing Stauskas at 9. I'd say the smokescreen is whoever they see going to the Hornets. We're talking ESPN and its numerous contacts in offices around the league.

Sure Ford has a sniffle that the Hornets are gauging Stauskas. The following chat was as recent as yesterday

AJ (NC): What are the Hornets thinking with the 9th pick?

Chad Ford: Doug McDermott. Doug McDermott. With a little Nik Stauskas and Gary Harris throw in. They want a shooter who can play now.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/ ... -chad-ford

I agree that McDermott may very well be the smokescreen while Cho & Co. battle it out between Stauskas & Harris though