Thunder 2015 NBA Draft Thread

Post #1 » by **bondom34** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 5:57 am

Screw it, after this stretch I'm thinkin draft early. If anyone has thoughts go for it.

DontH8TheBrody · Post #2 » by **DontH8TheBrody** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 6:27 am

We are missing the MVP, when he is back we will start another win streak against SA on Christmas.

One of those games tonight where I was literally stunned though, thought it was long over when we were up 10..

Bravenewworld · Post #3 » by **Bravenewworld** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 7:15 pm

Well that is clearly not an overreaction.

We see a team go from one of the last in the NBA to relevant for a play off position in the West in what? 3 weeks? Then we drop a couple games with 2/3rds of the season left and its panic mode?

Sometimes i hate the internet.

GREENE1148 · Post #4 » by **GREENE1148** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 5:32 pm

If we're not keeping Reggie, I think Kris Dunn could be a good replacement, not currently on anyones draft boards, but neither was Andre Roberson with a couple of months to go before the draft... so here goes...

Pros:

Long (6'8" wingspan), athletic, size for position (6'2" barefoot), fits the bill in terms of what Presti looks for in an NBA body.

Was a top high school recruit, hasn't just arrived on the scene out of nowhere this season with a small sample size, played AAU (and remains good friends with) Andre Drummond... and was the #2 PG on the ESPN100 in 2012...

He's having a pretty insane season thus far at Providence, massive all around impact, can get in the paint and make plays (has a solid FTr as well), he's strong on the boards and currently 3rd in the nation in assists per 40min pace adjusted. Also 3rd in the nation in Steal Percentage at 5.8%.

Layne Vashro's projection model has him at an Estimated Wins Peak of 8.6... And the top 2 comps for his current season are Jason Kidd's Freshman and Sophomore campaigns.

Cons:

Missed last season due to shoulder surgery, his 2nd before his 21st birthday, could be a future issue?

Jumper is not good, form doesn't look good to me (not that I claim to be any kind of expert), and he has yet to show the ability to consistently hit 3s... (he is shooting 38.5% on 2pt Js, which isn't bad considering majority are off the dribble, and 70.4% at the line, there's hope there)

Struggled mightily against Kentucky's size this year (like almost everyone)... but he's not shooting an overwhelmingly good percentage at the rim (62.3%)... probably needs to continue to add bulk... and from what I've seen he will often opts for the fancy play rather than the easy one.

Fouls a lot for a point guard, haven't seen enough tape to determine if that should be a problem at the next level.

Turnovers, he's 10th in the country... but there's been other prospects have this issue and it hasn't stopped them, Wall and Bledsoe come to mind.

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A lot to like about the kid though imo, could be a sleeper for our first round pick, I'll definitely keep him on my radar for now.

Here's some team highlights from their most recent game, he also plays today 7:30pm ET if anyone is interested, should be a feed available online I would imagine.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0VIugsZGa4[/youtube]

Devilanche · Post #5 » by **Devilanche** » Thu Jan 1, 2015 5:44 am

At this point, im beginning to think that Presti really loves the long wingspan.

GREENE1148 · Post #6 » by **GREENE1148** » Thu Jan 1, 2015 6:28 am

Devilanche wrote:At this point, im beginning to think that Presti really loves the long wingspan.

Yeah, I thought that was common knowledge at this point? lol, everyone on DT always refers to it.

GREENE1148 · Post #7 » by **GREENE1148** » Thu Jan 1, 2015 6:30 am

Also, Dunn had 6/8/12 with 2 steals and 4 TOs today in 32 minutes... 3/4 2pt, 0/1 3pt and 0/3 FTs... fairly similar to Elfrid Payton as a prospect imo.

babase · Post #8 » by **babase** » Thu Jan 1, 2015 9:41 am

I'd really like a guard that could actually shoot for once..

reanimator · Post #9 » by **reanimator** » Thu Jan 1, 2015 4:45 pm

babase wrote:I'd really like a guard that could actually shoot for once..

Caris Levert, D'Angelo Russell, RJ Hunter,Tyrone Wallace, Jerian Grant, Rashad Vaughn, E.C. Matthews

are your guys imo

babase · Post #10 » by **babase** » Thu Jan 1, 2015 8:21 pm

reanimator wrote:
babase wrote:I'd really like a guard that could actually shoot for once..

Caris Levert, D'Angelo Russell, RJ Hunter,Tyrone Wallace, Jerian Grant, Rashad Vaughn, E.C. Matthews

are your guys imo

Yeah I'm not really sure where OKC will end up picking, but I like Levert/Russell/Hunter the most. I liked Vaughn going into the season, but he seems like more of a volume scorer than a consistently good shooter.

GREENE1148 · Post #11 » by **GREENE1148** » Sat Jan 3, 2015 6:27 pm

Would think D'Angelo Russell will be going lottery, unless he really struggles against conference competition or gets hurt.

I Would avoid Caris LeVert at almost all costs, he can't get to the rim in the half court, only 16.6% of his shots have been at the rim and he's shooting around 40% from 2 point range... He's not good defensively, and none of Beilein's products have worked out in the NBA (hopefully McGazza can change this pattern), he may be similar to Self in the way that he hides the deficiencies of his players so well in college that they get overrated and thus drafted higher than they would be otherwise.

I like R.J. Hunter, biggest concern there is his slight build, and therefore his ability to compete defensively/contain penetration at the nba level, similar to the problems that Lamb and John Jenkins have.

Tyrone Wallace seems quite good to me, attacking the boards like a mad man, good passer and defender from what I've seen, it will be interesting to see if his improved shooting holds up in conference play.

Haven't really looked into the other 3 at this point.

I haven't done any kind of research into it, but I feel like it's much more efficient to pursue shooting in free agency than it is through the draft. Every year a great shooter seems to 'slip through the cracks' so to speak, Anthony Morrow, Marco Belinelli, Mike Dunleavy Jr etc, then you compare that to elite college shooters who often can't compete defensively, or take a couple of seasons to find their stroke from NBA range.

Probably also a good time to bring up the fact we have Alex Abrines stashed with Barça, who's shooting 48.6% from three this season between Liga Endesa and Euroleague play. Presti would obviously have a greater knowledge than I do about when he might be able to possibly bring him over.

reanimator · Post #12 » by **reanimator** » Sat Jan 3, 2015 6:46 pm

I Would avoid Caris LeVert at almost all costs, he can't get to the rim in the half court,

Not sure what game you are watching

only 16.6% of his shots have been at the rim and he's shooting around 40% from 2 point range...

This is also true of D'Angelo Russell :lol:

I expect him to be around 46 % - 50 % on 2s just like last year. He takes a high volume of 2s due to personnel.

He's not good defensively

Ummm yes he is.

Lowest DRTG on his team and a very disruptive on ball defender :lol:

Funny enough, Coach Matta is playing a 2-3 zone because of D'Angelo Russell

GREENE1148 wrote: none of Beilein's products have worked out in the NBA (hopefully McGazza can change this pattern)

How could anyone say this about rookies and sophomores? :lol:

Kizz Fastfists · Post #13 » by **Kizz Fastfists** » Sat Jan 3, 2015 7:49 pm

I'm expecting them to go big. With KD, Russ, Morrow, Roberson, Christon, Lamb, PJ3 and probably Reggie coming back along with Abrines overseas I don't see them going PG, SG or SF unless it is a draft and stash type. With Collison and Perkins being at the age they are along with being FAs and only Adams and Ibaka proven down low even with McGary and Pleiss in the pipeline I think they will end up looking for another big. Someone along the lines of Trey Lyles, Montrezl Harrell, Frank Kaminsky, Cliff Alexander and Jakob Poeltl.

I really like Poeltl coming off the bench behind Adams. They are similar players with both being very physical and aggressive. Kaminsky would be a very good stretch 4 and scoring threat off the bench almost like a Dirk lite. There is a lot of college ball left to be played to see how things shake out and who declares and who doesn't. If they expect to lose Reggie then Kaminsky could replace his bench scoring.

I could see a guard in the 2nd round. Maybe Andrew Harrison who is very big, 6'6, for a PG. He'd need some time in the D-league, but assuming Reggie is back that wouldn't be an issue. He and Semaj Christon could fight with Ish for the #3 PG spot and, in theory, who replaces Reggie as the backup in 2016-2017. Isaiah Taylor is also somewhat of a Presti style PG Melo Trimble could be an interesting pick as he is more in that combo guard mold of Russ and Reggie, but can actually shoot efficiently as a college freshman. Guillem Vives could be a draft and stash option.

GREENE1148 · Post #14 » by **GREENE1148** » Sat Jan 3, 2015 8:09 pm

Russell = 41 attempts at the rim in 423 mins
LeVert = 27 attempts at the rim in 475 mins

Russell = 47% on 2s
LeVert = 43.4% on 2s... 43.6% for his career

Then there's the fact that Russell is 2.5 years younger than LeVert, he's a far superior prospect at this point, shouldn't even be a conversation.

So LeVert is arguably (wouldn't really rely on individual ORating/DRating to tell you too much) the best defender on a crappy defensive team, doesn't really convince me of much.

Beilein wasn't the guy that coached Joe Alexander at Virginia?

Also, do you still honestly believe that Trey Burke is going to be worth of a top 10 pick? THJr has been one of the worst defensive players I've ever seen in the league, 'Nik Rocks' though I guess.. lmao, even McGary has been bad in the D League, high usage low efficiency bigs aren't an NBA commodity.

I expected you to be butthurt about someone being low on a Michigan guy, but I still don't really understand it, it's an absolute credit to Beilein's coaching and their program that they're prospects are getting overhyped.

reanimator · Post #15 » by **reanimator** » Sat Jan 3, 2015 8:30 pm

GREENE1148 wrote:Russell = 41 attempts at the rim in 423 mins
LeVert = 27 attempts at the rim in 475 mins

Russell = 47% on 2s
LeVert = 43.4% on 2s... 43.6% for his career.

UM SOS= 135

OSU SOS= 322

Like I said, Levert's numbers will climb while Russell's will fall.

Let's talk about Russell going

10-37 FG 27%
3-16 3 pt 18 %
11 ast/6 to

against UL and UNC. 4-16 against Iowa.

So LeVert is arguably (wouldn't really rely on individual ORating/DRating to tell you too much) the best defender on a crappy defensive team, doesn't really convince me of much.

OSU and UM are similarly defensive, according to Kenpom.

Levert leads his team in DRTG playing man to man

Russell is near the bottom of his team in DRTG playing a zone :lol:

Then there's the fact that Russell is 2.5 years younger than LeVert

You need to redo your math

Levert DOB : 8/25/94

Russell DOB: 2/23/96

Beilein wasn't the guy that coached Joe Alexander at Virginia?

Huggins, dude.

GREENE1148 · Post #16 » by **GREENE1148** » Sat Jan 3, 2015 8:46 pm

reanimator wrote:OSU and UM are similarly defensive, according to Kenpom.

Levert leads his team in DRTG playing man to man

Russell is near the bottom of his team in DRTG playing a zone

I never argued that Russell was a good defender did I? Please show me where I did if so.

So, he's a year and half younger, point stands though, what was Caris LeVert up to a year and a half ago? Had just averaged 2.3ppg on 31% shooting right?

reanimator wrote:Huggins, dude.

Oh, my bad then, thought he spent 2 years under Beilein and his final one under Huggins.

reanimator · Post #17 » by **reanimator** » Sat Jan 3, 2015 9:04 pm

GREENE1148 wrote:
reanimator wrote:OSU and UM are similarly defensive, according to Kenpom.

Levert leads his team in DRTG playing man to man

Russell is near the bottom of his team in DRTG playing a zone

I never argued that Russell was a good defender did I? Please show me where I did if so.

So, he's a year and half younger, point stands though, what was Caris LeVert up to a year and a half ago? Had just averaged 2.3ppg on 31% shooting right?

Because he was 17 (not 18) playing behind 3 1st round picks :lol:

BadWolf · Post #18 » by **BadWolf** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 3:13 pm

So anything in need if they keep the pick?
Backup pg (Dunn is very intriguing here)?
Another try at off guard? Position looks OK-ish with Roberson, Morrow, Waiters. Far from ideal, a 3 and D specialist would be nice. Supposedly they're are guys like that in the draft (grant?)
Better back up SF? Singler might be gone and PJ is in the doghouse.
There's not much need upfront imo.

kd 35 · Post #19 » by **kd 35** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 3:34 pm

BadWolf wrote:So anything in need if they keep the pick?
Backup pg (Dunn is very intriguing here)?
Another try at off guard? Position looks OK-ish with Roberson, Morrow, Waiters. Far from ideal, a 3 and D specialist would be nice. Supposedly they're are guys like that in the draft (grant?)
Better back up SF? Singler might be gone and PJ is in the doghouse.
There's not much need upfront imo.

Yeah it's a bit odd that we are suddenly oozing with legitimate post players. That used to be the main critique of this team. I'd say we are in good shape at PG, PF, and C. I also think the guys at the 2 can get it done by committee. I see Presti looking for an upgrade at back-up SF now that we've seen what life is like without Durant.

The pick is top 18 protected right? Correct me if I'm wrong, but if the season ended today, we'd be picking at 19 so the pick would be going to Cleveland. We are one game up on the Wizards for 18. Mini-tank? :lol:

Kizz Fastfists · Post #20 » by **Kizz Fastfists** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 1:20 am

Presti would prefer to give up the pick this year. They already have 13 players under contract for next year. That does not include Kanter, Huestis, Semaj or Singler. I'm assuming they are going to re-sign Kanter which would take them to 14. Then one of Huestis or Semaj will be the 15th player. They also have the rights to Abrines and he could end up coming over next year. That doesn't leave much room for a draft pick. If OKC does end up with a pick I expect it to be a draft and stash type and not someone who will take up a roster spot this year.