2015 Draft Thread - Part 1

[nate33]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AkbarRazaNaqvi/status/614286992856236032[/tweet]

The reviews on Wood was that he was a total, Nick Youngish, low bball IQ, not-very-intense player. I guess teams felt that he didn't have what it takes mentally to compete in today's sophisticated, team-oriented offenses and defenses.

He's got talent and size though. And he put up very good numbers in college. It might be worth it to bring him into camp and see if he can prove everybody wrong.

[closg00]

My fear with Oubre is he seems like he needs a really solid structure around him to succeed. We just aren't that far removed from knucklehead central for this type of pick to make sense. He may end up reaching his upside, but I would have been happier with a safe role player in Portis at 19. If Aaron White ever makes the team, it would be gravy.

This is exactly my concern, Oubre has the potential, but I see him being mis-used, not playing in the D-League and racking-up DNP.s
With Blair, Kevin, and possible Gooden gone, Portis could easily have been a pick that could have helped them team while still having up-side. Oubre could be dynamic also, but you have to worry about it happening with the Wizards.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

My fear with Oubre is he seems like he needs a really solid structure around him to succeed. We just aren't that far removed from knucklehead central for this type of pick to make sense. He may end up reaching his upside, but I would have been happier with a safe role player in Portis at 19. If Aaron White ever makes the team, it would be gravy.

This is exactly my concern, Oubre has the potential, but I see him being mis-used, not playing in the D-League and racking-up DNP.s
With Blair, Kevin, and possible Gooden gone, Portis could easily have been a pick that could have helped them team while still having up-side. Oubre could be dynamic also, but you have to worry about it happening with the Wizards.

I don't know, my thinking is we are not even in the same ballpark when it comes to team knuckleheads. We literally had arguably 3 of the top 10 in terms of knuckleheads with McGee, Young, and Blatche in the entire league, 4 if you throw in Arenas. This team has won back-to-back first round series, has many vets, and who's younger players seem to have good heads on their shoulders. I don't really see any similarities.

[Ruzious]

Well, things could be worse - We could have traded the 19th pick for Tim Hardaway, Jr - like Atlanta. We could have drafted an under 6'7 team like Boston. Or we could have drafted a team of centers like Philly. Or... we could have traded our second rounder and a future first for 1 year of Grevis Vasquez - while giving Toronto more than 6 million dollars of cap room for free. Incompetence among NBA GMs was on full display last night.

[willbcocks]

Tim Hardaway Jr is terrible. Has there ever been a player with that low steal/block rate? And he'll be needing a contact sooner than the draft pick. Total head scratcher.

[DCZards]

I wanted Portis. Oubre wasn't even on my radar since he was expected to be gone before the 19th pick, and I thought the Zards would/should be looking for a PF with range or a backup guard.

But I think Oubre will likely turn out to be a good--maybe even great--pick. He was widely considered the BPA at 15. He has a good looking jumper, is an excellent athlete and he's a tremendous defender. Yeah, he's young and raw and may not contribute much this year, but that's true of about half of the players in the top half of the draft.

Several posters here wanted EG to be bold and daring rather than play it safe. Now that he's done that some of those same people are unhappy. Go figure.

[nate33]

My fear with Oubre is he seems like he needs a really solid structure around him to succeed. We just aren't that far removed from knucklehead central for this type of pick to make sense. He may end up reaching his upside, but I would have been happier with a safe role player in Portis at 19. If Aaron White ever makes the team, it would be gravy.

This is exactly my concern, Oubre has the potential, but I see him being mis-used, not playing in the D-League and racking-up DNP.s
With Blair, Kevin, and possible Gooden gone, Portis could easily have been a pick that could have helped them team while still having up-side. Oubre could be dynamic also, but you have to worry about it happening with the Wizards.

I don't know, my thinking is we are not even in the same ballpark when it comes to team knuckleheads. We literally had arguably 3 of the top 10 in terms of knuckleheads with McGee, Young, and Blatche in the entire league, 4 if you throw in Arenas. This team has won back-to-back first round series, has many vets, and who's younger players seem to have good heads on their shoulders. I don't really see any similarities.

Yeah, the Knucklehead Era is ancient history. There aren't many teams in the league with a better, more professional locker room than ours. The only guy that's a bit dicey is Blair. I'm not worried at all.

[tontoz]

Bilas said he had Kelly as the BPA at 15 right before the pick was announced. A few of the more knowlegable posters here said much the same thing.

It was a little strange trading up for a wing but it isn't like this guy was a reach at 15.

[nate33]

Bilas said he had Kelly as the BPA at 15 right before the pick was announced. A few of the more knowlegable posters here said much the same thing.

It was a little strange trading up for a wing but it isn't like this guy was a reach at 15.

Yeah, and the cost of trading up was minimal: 2 late 2nd rounders.

[Dat2U]

Portis would have been ideal at #19 but Oubre is a fine pick and makes a lot of sense in today's NBA.

Many of you were disappointed when Ariza left, well here you go. Here's an uber athlete with 3 & D potential that plays with high energy. He shot 37% from 3 so he's ahead of were Ariza was at the same age. He's 19 so he fits well with our trio of Wall, Beal, Porter.

Here's hoping his defense will help him earn the backup SF role going into next season. He's in a good environment to contribute. Wall, Beal & Porter are becoming seasoned vets now and will definitely help the kid grow up pretty fast.

[FAH1223]

Well, things could be worse - We could have traded the 19th pick for Tim Hardaway, Jr - like Atlanta. We could have drafted an under 6'7 team like Boston. Or we could have drafted a team of centers like Philly. Or... we could have traded our second rounder and a future first for 1 year of Grevis Vasquez - while giving Toronto more than 6 million dollars of cap room for free. Incompetence among NBA GMs was on full display last night.

I agree. With Grunfail in charge we averted a complete disaster at least

[barelyawake]

I wanted Portis. Oubre wasn't even on my radar since he was expected to be gone before the 19th pick, and I thought the Zards would/should be looking for a PF with range or a backup guard.

But I think Oubre will likely turn out to be a good--maybe even great--pick. He was widely considered the BPA at 15. He has a good looking jumper, is an excellent athlete and he's a tremendous defender. Yeah, he's young and raw and may not contribute much this year, but that's true of about half of the players in the top half of the draft.

Several posters here wanted EG to be bold and daring rather than play it safe. Now that he's done that some of those same people are unhappy. Go figure.

The Rockets, the team with the third or fourth best record in the league, is trying to dump their players to clear space for a third star. That's bold (and smart). I wouldn't call moving up a few spots in the draft "bold."

[barelyawake]

Portis would have been ideal at #19 but Oubre is a fine pick and makes a lot of sense in today's NBA.

Many of you were disappointed when Ariza left, well here you go. Here's an uber athlete with 3 & D potential that plays with high energy. He shot 37% from 3 so he's ahead of were Ariza was at the same age. He's 19 so he fits well with our trio of Wall, Beal, Porter.

Here's hoping his defense will help him earn the backup SF role going into next season. He's in a good environment to contribute. Wall, Beal & Porter are becoming seasoned vets now and will definitely help the kid grow up pretty fast.

What made Ariza special (to us) was his leadership, determination and basketball IQ.

[TheSecretWeapon]

YES I am ok with Aaron White! 6'9 Rebounds well, plays solid D, high energy effort guy, He can stretch the floor a bit too.

You mean "rebounds poorly", right? 9.5 per 40 minutes -- Oubre out-rebounds White!

Still... not a terrible pick -- especially given that the guy I'd have taken, Cliff Alexander, wasn't even drafted. Lets look back later and see whether that was a mistake.

For what it's worth, I had Alexander with a first round grade. It'd be nice to bring him to training camp.

[barelyawake]

YES I am ok with Aaron White! 6'9 Rebounds well, plays solid D, high energy effort guy, He can stretch the floor a bit too.

You mean "rebounds poorly", right? 9.5 per 40 minutes -- Oubre out-rebounds White!

Still... not a terrible pick -- especially given that the guy I'd have taken, Cliff Alexander, wasn't even drafted. Lets look back later and see whether that was a mistake.

For what it's worth, I had Alexander with a first round grade. It'd be nice to bring him to training camp.

Snowcones in hell. We all three agree on something.

[jivelikenice]

No complaints about the Oubre pick on my end. I liked Portis also but its obvious based on the trade up (which Ernie rarely does in Rd 1) that Oubre had to be rated very highly on their board. It also is a shift away from how they typically draft and fill out the roster (plugging holes in the depth chart). They the truly went BPA versus acting like they were one piece away. We also still have the TPE, MLE, or Nene's deal to find a 4.

[payitforward]

Well, things could be worse - We could have traded the 19th pick for Tim Hardaway, Jr - like Atlanta. We could have drafted an under 6'7 team like Boston. Or we could have drafted a team of centers like Philly. Or... we could have traded our second rounder and a future first for 1 year of Grevis Vasquez - while giving Toronto more than 6 million dollars of cap room for free. Incompetence among NBA GMs was on full display last night.

It sure was! Atlanta got Tim Hardaway and 2 future R2 picks for the #15 pick. How did they convince themselves to do that?

Boston and Philly must be in trade talks right now!

[TheSecretWeapon]

Ran Oubre through my statistical doppelganger machine looking for "most similar" guys. Closest match was PJ Tucker's freshman year, but not really all that close a match. Where 100 is an exact match, Tucker's "similarity" was only an 85.

Going down from there, here are the other "most similar" from previous years -- Victor Oladipo (SO), Luther Head (SO), Quincy Miller (FR), Danny Green (FR).

His closest match this year was actually Myles Turner, who's a PF/C.

White's statistical similars were SFs and SGs. His closest match was also an 85 -- that was Quincy Pondexter (SR). After that, Jeff Taylor (SR), Elias Harris (SR), Cory Jefferson (SR), Perry Jones (SO), Andre Emmet (SR), Jon Leuer (JR & SR).

[payitforward]

You mean "rebounds poorly", right? 9.5 per 40 minutes -- Oubre out-rebounds White!

Still... not a terrible pick -- especially given that the guy I'd have taken, Cliff Alexander, wasn't even drafted. Lets look back later and see whether that was a mistake.

For what it's worth, I had Alexander with a first round grade. It'd be nice to bring him to training camp.

Snowcones in hell. We all three agree on something.

Someone will certainly bring Alexander into camp. I can't understand how he was not drafted -- one of the top recruits out of high school a year ago and, though he didn't live up to that rep, the kid put up very good numbers: 12 boards per 40 minutes (incl. 4.5 offensive) and .60 TS%. He has no 3-ball. Definitely worth a shot in R2.

Hands' guy Michael Frazier went undrafted as well.

[Ruzious]

For what it's worth, I had Alexander with a first round grade. It'd be nice to bring him to training camp.

Snowcones in hell. We all three agree on something.

Someone will certainly bring Alexander into camp. I can't understand how he was not drafted -- one of the top recruits out of high school a year ago and, though he didn't live up to that rep, the kid put up very good numbers: 12 boards per 40 minutes (incl. 4.5 offensive) and .60 TS%. He has no 3-ball. Definitely worth a shot in R2.

Hands' guy Michael Frazier went undrafted as well.

I mentioned a week or 2 ago - there were reports that Alexander had a very bad attitude.

And as promised: Down goes Frazier! <sorry>