Thunder 2015 NBA Draft Thread

[Old Man Game]

I really liked the draft. I'm higher on Johnson than most people are. I see him as a Zach Randolph type with a floor of Kendrick Perkins BEFORE the knee injuries. He's not afraid to bang in the paint and can score and rebound in the paint, however, he doesn't play above the rim and isn't a shot blocker. With some development I think he has double-double potential if he develops and gets a shot at 25+ minutes a night. If they don't resign Kanter and go into the season with Dakari and Adams as the centers I wouldn't be upset about that. I would be upset about not getting a return for Reggie, but that's a different issue I'll address if for some reason they don't retain Kanter.

I'd pump the breaks a bit. Dakari is a high energy garbage man at best at the NBA level. Can still be a valuable rotation player if he pans out but him and Zach Randolph do not belong in the same sentence in this context.

[Bravenewworld]

I really liked the draft. I'm higher on Johnson than most people are. I see him as a Zach Randolph type with a floor of Kendrick Perkins BEFORE the knee injuries. He's not afraid to bang in the paint and can score and rebound in the paint, however, he doesn't play above the rim and isn't a shot blocker. With some development I think he has double-double potential if he develops and gets a shot at 25+ minutes a night. If they don't resign Kanter and go into the season with Dakari and Adams as the centers I wouldn't be upset about that. I would be upset about not getting a return for Reggie, but that's a different issue I'll address if for some reason they don't retain Kanter.

I'd pump the breaks a bit. Dakari is a high energy garbage man at best at the NBA level. Can still be a valuable rotation player if he pans out but him and Zach Randolph do not belong in the same sentence in this context.

I think by the Randolph thing, he was speaking in the manner of how he will score, i dont think he was suggesting he would be a 20/10.
Someone who muscles their way in to the paint, barely jumps, and forces shots in an ugly manner.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Exactly. Dakarti is a below the rim player in the same way that Randolph is. He's not going to wow you with athleticism or go up and grab a lob pass from Russ. He's going to get the ball on the block and back his man in and then put it in the hole. He's going to get his boards by getting position and blocking the other guy out not by jumping out of the gym to grab the ball at it's highest point. He's going to be an old school big man who uses his body to bang around not a finesse guy like Kanter.

I said Kendrick Perkins for a reason also. Both of Perkins and Randolph play similar styles. Randolph developed more offensively, especially in the mid-range, but they both are physical players who make their money pushing people around. I'm not looking for Johnson to become an all-star, but he could become a very solid rotation player. I thought by mentioning both players I made it clear I was talking about his style. If Johnson develops and gets 25 minutes a night I could see him peaking as a 12-10 guy who plays hard, but is never a rim protector and because of that remains a target of drivers which could limit him due to fouls.

[Bravenewworld]

Yah, i got the comparison you were making and i think its solid. The video i have seen reminds me a bit of ZBo.

Randolph scores in a very unique way.
Its not even similar to how most low post big men who muscle their way in, score. Shaq, Perkins when he could score, Hibbert when he played post, etc.
There's just not many players who score like he does. Its a......an eloquent chaos. He barely jumps, he often has this weird toss in that just looks terrible, but he manages to make the shot regularly. His offense is a lot like Marion's in the sense that you get confused watching it... "How the hell did he make that?" and not even in some impressed way... more like a confused dog with his head tilted.
Its so opposite of fineness that you wonder if hes actually skilled but of course you know he is, so the questions just keep coming up.
The even weirder thing about his offense is if you take him a bit further from the basket, he actually has a beautiful jump shot. Its just when you get into the dunk, layup, hook range is where we see him take that weird no jump, often bank, shot.

I will say that i don't ever see him (Dakari Johnson) getting 25mpg though. I think Presti plans on keeping Kanter and Adams, and i think both are loyal enough to stay with OKC. Mainly Adams, i think he will be willing to take a bit of a cut to stay.
But Dakari really shouldnt need to play so many minutes, hes a specialist big man that will just wreck other teams low post, but there are only a handful of teams that we can really use him with. Memphis, Wolves, Rockets, Cavs, Spurs, Clippers..... i imagine im missing one or two.


[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p4VDls4Ecg[/youtube]

The first segment of that video, is pure young Randolph.... i mean, it looks just like him and how he scores.

I thought by mentioning both players I made it clear I was talking about his style.

Yah, you'd think but ive learned a lot of the time you really have to spell it out for people.
They simply hear you mention "Zach Randolph" and instead of paying attention and realizing youre referencing an aspect of his game they simply think you're making a general comparison.

[Zagor]

I don't agree on comparison with ZBo.
Young-old ZBo was/is very skillful player, his legs are so nimble. I remember last year when some people tried to compre Randolph and Randle, and then one scout said that he remembers how he watched ZBo in high school. He said even at that time it was clear how skilled is Randolph, he couldn't jump but legs work was so perfect. Randle used only his brute strength.
People think Randolph is some bully who score only with help of his strength. No, key is in his soft hands and nimble legs.

For me, roof for Dakari is Kendrick Perkins with much more rebounding and more put up slam dunks. That is good value for 48 pick.

[Old Man Game]

Here's another comp for Dakari, how about Reggie Evans? Low skill, high energy, physical garbage man that's carved out a very nice career for himself.

[Old Man Game]

Yah, i got the comparison you were making and i think its solid.
...

I thought by mentioning both players I made it clear I was talking about his style.

Yah, you'd think but ive learned a lot of the time you really have to spell it out for people.
They simply hear you mention "Zach Randolph" and instead of paying attention and realizing youre referencing an aspect of his game they simply think you're making a general comparison.

Oh I got where he was going. I just didn't think it was an apt comp and still don't. Bringing up Zbo just because both are physical and can't jump is like comparing a lincoln towncar to a corvette because both have 4 tires and V-8s. There's so much more to Zach's game than that.

[Bravenewworld]

Yah, i got the comparison you were making and i think its solid.
...

I thought by mentioning both players I made it clear I was talking about his style.

Yah, you'd think but ive learned a lot of the time you really have to spell it out for people.
They simply hear you mention "Zach Randolph" and instead of paying attention and realizing youre referencing an aspect of his game they simply think you're making a general comparison.

Oh I got where he was going. I just didn't think it was an apt comp and still don't. Bringing up Zbo just because both are physical and can't jump is like comparing a lincoln towncar to a corvette because both have 4 tires and V-8s. There's so much more to Zach's game than that.

But again, he was not suggesting that their games were overall similar, simply the 6 foot or closer range type under the basket, low post play. Which they are nearly exact to one another when you watch the provided videos. The first four or five minutes of DJs scouting video looks exactly like a zbo low post highlight video. And it is a unique way of playing the post, not many low post players play with that style. In terms of low post offense, you cant find a better comparison.

[SOUL]

An avatar of your new pick if anybody wants it:



http://i.imgur.com/vDiyCGV.png

[spearsy23]

Johnson's 'moves' (if you can call them that) look similar to Randolph. His ability to use those moves does not.

[bondom34]

An avatar of your new pick if anybody wants it:



http://i.imgur.com/vDiyCGV.png

Thanks!