2015 Draft Thread - Part 1

[payitforward]

At #18, both Dekker and Portis look like they'd be solid picks. Seems likely one of them will be available.

OTOH, Kevon Looney looks fantastic off his Freshman numbers and physical characteristics -- anyone have thoughts on this guy?

Aside from Justin Anderson, whom some of you have mentioned liking, a few other guys DR rates near the top of R2 intrigue me -- including Cliff Alexander (maybe his game won't translate?) and Aleksandar Vezenkov.

Vezenkov is only 19, has 4 years pro experience, and has put up terrific numbers for 2 years in a row. Then again... will he ever come over?

[Ruzious]

At #18, both Dekker and Portis look like they'd be solid picks. Seems likely one of them will be available.

OTOH, Kevon Looney looks fantastic off his Freshman numbers and physical characteristics -- anyone have thoughts on this guy?

Aside from Justin Anderson, whom some of you have mentioned liking, a few other guys DR rates near the top of R2 intrigue me -- including Cliff Alexander (maybe his game won't translate?) and Aleksandar Vezenkov.

Vezenkov is only 19, has 4 years pro experience, and has put up terrific numbers for 2 years in a row. Then again... will he ever come over?

Interesting names. To be honest, I don't know anything about Vezenkov, but I concur - his stats say you better check him out if you're a GM.

Looney is a talented guy - very athletic, aggressive, has some range on his shot - hard to tell if he'll have NBA 3 range - I wouldn't assume he will, hits the offensive boards. I know PIF prefers offensive rebounders, but I prefer defensive rebounders if I have to choose. He's not the biggest PF but has good length. I'd take him over Harrell, because he's more skilled.

I like Cliff Alexander more than I liked Thomas Robinson when he came out of Kansas - he doesn't turn the ball over as much, and he shoots a better percentage. He's even more of a moose than Robinson - dude is a wide body. You don't want to run into him when he's setting a pick. But he's probably just as raw offensively as Robinson was as a freshman.

One player who really helped himself in the postseason is Jake Poeltl - Delon Wright's teammate at Utah. He might go late lotto, but he could slide to the Wiz pick.

[Dat2U]

Lets face it guys, if Ernie is going to be making the pick, were better off trading the pick for a veteran otherwise you can count on Ernie drafting a guy were either cutting after 3 years or a guy we have no intention of keeping long term.

Hey partner... it's time.

0
Post#292 » by Dat2U » Mon Oct 13, 2014 7:27 pm

ibraheim718 wrote:
Dat2U wrote:
I pretty much guarantee less than 20 wins for the Lakers this year, who wants to do a sig bet?


I'll take that bet. 19 wins or less and you win and 20 wins or more and I win.


Deal, I'll update my sig with the bet I'll have a nice Wizards sig for you come next May.

How fitting that it's Jordan Clarkston that gets you there. He's arguably your best player now. The Ernie Grunfeld/Ted Leonsis combo, the gift that keeps on giving.

[Ruzious]

They've already traded away their 2015 2nd round pick, but at least they got Hump for it - an excellent move. But Clarkson doing so well should speak loud and clear to them before they think of SELLING another 2nd round pick.

[Severn Hoos]

Actually, isn't the 2nd rounder top 49 protected? And at this point we're unlikely to move higher than 19th / 49 in the draft, so I think we'll get to keep it. Until we sell it. Woo. hoo.

[ibraheim718]

Lets face it guys, if Ernie is going to be making the pick, were better off trading the pick for a veteran otherwise you can count on Ernie drafting a guy were either cutting after 3 years or a guy we have no intention of keeping long term.

Hey partner... it's time.

0
Post#292 » by Dat2U » Mon Oct 13, 2014 7:27 pm

ibraheim718 wrote:
Dat2U wrote:
I pretty much guarantee less than 20 wins for the Lakers this year, who wants to do a sig bet?


I'll take that bet. 19 wins or less and you win and 20 wins or more and I win.


Deal, I'll update my sig with the bet I'll have a nice Wizards sig for you come next May.

How fitting that it's Jordan Clarkston that gets you there. He's arguably your best player now. The Ernie Grunfeld/Ted Leonsis combo, the gift that keeps on giving.

I'm not a Lakers fan. It won't be a bad sig and we can haggle over the amount of time.

[Ruzious]

Actually, isn't the 2nd rounder top 49 protected? And at this point we're unlikely to move higher than 19th / 49 in the draft, so I think we'll get to keep it. Until we sell it. Woo. hoo.

Oh cool, I didn't realize that. We could get one of the UNC bigs - Brice Johnson or Meeks. Or they get enough money for Ted and Ernie to eat out in style this summer.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

At #18, both Dekker and Portis look like they'd be solid picks. Seems likely one of them will be available.

OTOH, Kevon Looney looks fantastic off his Freshman numbers and physical characteristics -- anyone have thoughts on this guy?

Aside from Justin Anderson, whom some of you have mentioned liking, a few other guys DR rates near the top of R2 intrigue me -- including Cliff Alexander (maybe his game won't translate?) and Aleksandar Vezenkov.

Vezenkov is only 19, has 4 years pro experience, and has put up terrific numbers for 2 years in a row. Then again... will he ever come over?

Interesting names. To be honest, I don't know anything about Vezenkov, but I concur - his stats say you better check him out if you're a GM.

Looney is a talented guy - very athletic, aggressive, has some range on his shot - hard to tell if he'll have NBA 3 range - I wouldn't assume he will, hits the offensive boards. I know PIF prefers offensive rebounders, but I prefer defensive rebounders if I have to choose. He's not the biggest PF but has good length. I'd take him over Harrell, because he's more skilled.

I like Cliff Alexander more than I liked Thomas Robinson when he came out of Kansas - he doesn't turn the ball over as much, and he shoots a better percentage. He's even more of a moose than Robinson - dude is a wide body. You don't want to run into him when he's setting a pick. But he's probably just as raw offensively as Robinson was as a freshman.

One player who really helped himself in the postseason is Jake Poeltl - Delon Wright's teammate at Utah. He might go late lotto, but he could slide to the Wiz pick.

Looney is one player I plan on really doing some research.

Noticed him a while back...

Is he a Moe Harkless? Is he sort of like a refined (college version) Kawhi Leonard? Is he like the Morris twins? Whatever he is we'll be calling him successful at the next level is my GUESS at this time.

[Ruzious]

I think of Looney as more of a pure PF than the others CCJ mentioned - though he can step out and hit jumpers.

Cameron Payne is an interesting small guard likely headed to the draft. He's like poor-mans Damion Lillard. One played at Murray State; the other at Weber State. Who knew there were states named Murray and Weber? Payne doesn't have the athletic explosiveness that Lillard has, but his college stats compare favorably. The advantage of having a PG Wall's size is that you can entertain the idea of playing him with a small guard.

[dckingsfan]

Moussa Diagne is Ernie's pick - take it to the bank!

[payitforward]

With 5 of the top 35 picks, Philadelphia controls this draft. If they want the #1 pick, they have the assets to trade up 2 spots to get it. If they want another high lottery pick to go w/ their #3, they have the assets to get that as well.

Or, if they use their #s 3, 16 & 19, they might wind up w/ either D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay), Sam Dekker, and either Bobby Portis or Kevin Looney.

Then, near the top of R2, they might be able to get Cliff Alexander and take a flyer on Vezenkov.

They'd only have 3 picks left after that haul.

(Obviously, it's unlikely they'll bring in as many as 5 rookies -- instead they'll optimize picks to get the guys they want, then trade other picks forward to next year, when once again extra picks can help them optimize that draft).

[No-Man]

I really don't see how Kaminsky can guard NBA 4's at this level, he'll have to play C

Its completely the other way around, he is mobile and quick, but he has no strength to defend de C
He is going to struggle regardless, but he will be better as a PF.

[No-Man]

People are, like always blind by Dekker, who is a good player and a good athlete, but his late production is fools gold.
The guy has no handle to drive and his shot is extremely irregular, he is a good athlete and a team player, but his game reminds me of Jan Vesely or Victor Claver, while been smaller than those guys, he just doesn't have any skill.
I´d probably take a flier on him with a late 1st or early 2nd, because he plays hard and is a good athlete, but he has no business been named in the top25, not with all the guys out there.

Cameron Payne is leaning towards declaring, if Dunn is not there at 18, he is a guy I´d target for Washington.

[Dark Faze]

I really don't see how Kaminsky can guard NBA 4's at this level, he'll have to play C

Its completely the other way around, he is mobile and quick, but he has no strength to defend de C
He is going to struggle regardless, but he will be better as a PF.

He's college quick, not NBA quick.

Especially today with so many SF's playing as stretch 4's...dude has no shot to successfully defend drives by PF's consistently at this level.

[No-Man]

Looney is basically a weaker Joe Smith.
He is a rebounding PF with no strength to play or rebound, right now he is years behind playing in a competitive team.
He needs to get a shot and perimeter game, to be a stretch PF that is his only possible role in the pros, he has huge bust potential.
I think in the late twenties is okay, but I won't touch him in the top20.

[Kanyewest]

People are, like always blind by Dekker, who is a good player and a good athlete, but his late production is fools gold.
The guy has no handle to drive and his shot is extremely irregular, he is a good athlete and a team player, but his game reminds me of Jan Vesely or Victor Claver, while been smaller than those guys, he just doesn't have any skill.
I´d probably take a flier on him with a late 1st or early 2nd, because he plays hard and is a good athlete, but he has no business been named in the top25, not with all the guys out there.

Cameron Payne is leaning towards declaring, if Dunn is not there at 18, he is a guy I´d target for Washington.

I'm not sure if Dekker's career will pan out that well but if he can shoot 5 of 6 from 3 point range (even if it is college)- then I would have to say he has to be more skilled than Vesley.

[No-Man]

People are, like always blind by Dekker, who is a good player and a good athlete, but his late production is fools gold.
The guy has no handle to drive and his shot is extremely irregular, he is a good athlete and a team player, but his game reminds me of Jan Vesely or Victor Claver, while been smaller than those guys, he just doesn't have any skill.
I´d probably take a flier on him with a late 1st or early 2nd, because he plays hard and is a good athlete, but he has no business been named in the top25, not with all the guys out there.

Cameron Payne is leaning towards declaring, if Dunn is not there at 18, he is a guy I´d target for Washington.

I'm not sure if Dekker's career will pan out that well but if he can shoot 5 of 6 from 3 point range (even if it is college)- then I would have to say he has to be more skilled than Vesley.

thats fools gold, he is been insanely hot for 2-3 games, but his body of work the last 2-3 years says otherwise.
Vesely was a stud in Partizan, doing many more small things, and he is now tearing it up in Turkey.

[pancakes3]

I really don't see how Kaminsky can guard NBA 4's at this level, he'll have to play C

Its completely the other way around, he is mobile and quick, but he has no strength to defend de C
He is going to struggle regardless, but he will be better as a PF.

He's college quick, not NBA quick.

Especially today with so many SF's playing as stretch 4's...dude has no shot to successfully defend drives by PF's consistently at this level.

I mean, do you think Kaminsky is quicker than Cody Zeller?

Outside of us drafting Trey Lyles like DX predicts, I have no idea what to do with the pick. There are 3 solid PF's in Portis, Looney, and Harrell available in the late-teens and early-20's that we can draft for when Nene breaks down but we've also got the best depth there between Seraphin, Hump, Gooden, and Blair. Should we burn a 1st rounder for the chance of a future starter or should we bolster the backcourt with Cameron Payne, Delon Wright, or Tyus Jones? Or just do BPA and hope for the best?

Dekker is absolutely fool's gold. Great college player, but he's got 3 years worth of tape and percentages saying that he's not going to translate.

[Dark Faze]

Cody Zeller is extremely athletic. Like a 40 inch vertical and some great athletic numbers at the combine IIRC.

Sam Dekker projects better than Parsons did and has a better eye test. And other than his three point percentage falling from his freshmen season, his per 40 numbers have basically been the same very year--really good efficiency. Takes smart shots, plays good defense.

I mean if you want to argue someone else should be the pick thats fine. We should be drafting BPA in any case. This is definitely the kind of draft where you want to look back at stuff like 2011 where great talent went late--look at attributes those guys had, short comings they seemed to have at the time, why and how it worked out. Maybe something wasn't sexy and you underrated them.

Mock drafts have Myles Turner going around the 15 range. I doubt its true, but if we're only four or so picks away from a potential future PF like that, then we need to find a way to move up. That's a kid who's got an incredible amount of potential who's stock has fallen based on his tournament performance. If there's a trade that can be made, I think I'd move a protected 16' pick to move up, allstar potential PF imo.

[payitforward]

Dekker will be gone before we pick -- especially if we keep winning! & wind up picking behind OKC & maybe even Toronto -- so how he turns out matters little to us.

Yes, you always take the BPA. That guy is the most valuable asset. The problem is to figure out who that guy is!!

Jones looks terrific. Not as convinced by Payne. Delon Wright might turn out absolutely great -- but he'll be 23 in 3 weeks, so his numbers might just reflect a man among boys.