Thon Maker

[toussaud]

no, he's not going to be the next kevin durant or the next KAT. He's not number 1 propspect overall good. but he's still an extremely good prospect.

let's put his athletic ability in it's proper prospective


here is a list of all the active players in the NBA that are 7'0

Kristaps Porzingis 7'3
Tibor Pleiss 7'3
Boban Marjanovic 7'3
Meyers Leonard 7'1
Tyson Chandler 7'1 \
Roy Hibbert 7'2
Spencer Hawes 7'1
Timofey Mozgov 7'1
Alexis Ajinca 7'0
Edy Tavares 7'3
Alex Len 7'1
Dirk Nowitzki 7'0
Salah Mejri 7'2
KG - listed as 6'11 but everyone knows is 7'1

12 out of 32 teams.. a little bit more than 1/3rd of all teams in the NBA have a 7 footer on their roster at all and only 2 teams (Mavs and the Suns) have 2. ' People act like 7 footers grow on trees lol being 7 foot means something, even today. i don't care if he has one leg, he's probably going to play, and be half ass successful, in the nba if he's 7'0. People want 7'0's so bad, Greg Oden, who can't move still has people coming to watch him work out in the hopes that they can throw money at him.


8 out of the 14 players that are currently in the NBA over 7'0 tall.. or 57% were drafted in the lottery.


so he's 7 foot tall. that means something. of the 7 footers, how many of them can move like this


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wttjoWjzvm4


in their prime, i'd say 4. I'm including Dirk, and he's probably a better pure athlete than dirk is / was. Porzingis is a given, as is / was KG. Chandler in his prime,. and even now is pretty freaking athletic. Really more than anyone else.. this is the best comparison i can come up with. Tyson Chandler. ; People cdall maker raw but he's no rawer than Chanlder was coming out of high school and he was the 2nd pick in the draft. Chandler, who i played against in AAU, was RAW. he was a thoroughbred athletically but raw, had no offensive game and had no defensive fundamentals. he was 7'0 and could run like a gazelle. it took tyson chandler.. every bit of 5 years to really catch on in the NBA. Chicago gave up on him.


in short, people are looking at the fact that he isn't as good as he looks on his mix tapes and saying he's gonna suck and he's raw, and over looking the fact that he's 7'1 and if you put him in the league next year, he'd be one of the most athletic 7'0s in the NBA, no worse than 2nd or 3rd. his floor is a defensive/ rebounding power foward. his ceiling is tyson chandler with 3 point range.

[sikma42]

Off what? His #10 ranking in 247sports 2016 class, regarded as one of the best classes in the last decade? Go ahead and look up 2014s top 15 prospects, more than half are legit NBA starters. Many lotto picks.

You're crazy if you think he's going to be scooped up in the 1st round.

An athletic 7 footer with range and shot blocking ability? He's going first round.

He isn't a wing player, he isn't the next Durant. BUT - if he has the brains to focus on what his actual strengths are, he's perfect for the modern game. He can run in transition, rebounds hard, he has the makings of stretching the floor all the way to 3 (obviously needs work) and he has shot blocking instincts - whilst his ball handling isn't NBA SF level, it's very good for an NBA big and should allow him to attack closeouts.

Obviously he is raw and seems a little too focussed on perimeter play but if he accepts his role he is a very, very good prospect. He will go 10 - 20, easily.

This is my take on him as well.


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[jbent87]

How is this guy not the 3rd overall pick? Maybe 4th behind Bender. Don't guards grow on trees? you're gonna pass this guy up for Buddy Hield, because Hield dropped 40 pts in a college game? Didn't Jodie Meeks score 50 in college? Do people not want a chance at superstars? Take the chance and take this guy where his potential says he should be taken.

[Skin]

Magic will draft him with the 11th or 12th pick. Perfect match with a team that has the time to let him develop. Rob Hennigan loves to gamble on raw talent... Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, Mario Hezonja... all came into the league better known for raw potential over developed skills. Thon Maker is next.

[ET Da Gawd]

I don't understand some of the people saying he is a 2nd round guy. Any big who can somewhat handle and somewhat shoot has a case to be drafted early, just in case that upside is one day reached. Guards are a dime a dozen in this league. I'm not taking ANY guard over this guy. If he can get in this draft and then get to some individual workouts at the combine I gotta think a lot of teams are going to start thinking the same.

He might be the next giannis, idk man

[BVPN]

This dude kind of reminds me of Anthony "Magic" Randolph, another physical specimen who kept getting by on potential until people realized he couldn't really play basketball. Hopefully his career turns out better.

[deflated]

let's put his athletic ability in it's proper prospective


here is a list of all the active players in the NBA that are 7'0

<snip>

8 out of the 14 players that are currently in the NBA over 7'0 tall

Don't know where you're getting your stats but you may want to try another source. I can think of two more 7'0 players - Steven Adams and Andrew Bogut - without even trying. They're not as rare as you are saying.

[RightToCensor]

Magic will draft him with the 11th or 12th pick. Perfect match with a team that has the time to let him develop. Rob Hennigan loves to gamble on raw talent... Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, Mario Hezonja... all came into the league better known for raw potential over developed skills. Thon Maker is next.

How long do you guys plan to wait before you're ready to put all the pieces together and start contending for a playoff spot.

Thon Maker is two years away from being a rotational player in the NBA, and by the time all the players you listed all hit RFA he'd maybe probably hopefully be a star prospect.

[gom]

no, he's not going to be the next kevin durant or the next KAT. He's not number 1 propspect overall good. but he's still an extremely good prospect.

let's put his athletic ability in it's proper prospective


here is a list of all the active players in the NBA that are 7'0

Kristaps Porzingis 7'3
Tibor Pleiss 7'3
Boban Marjanovic 7'3
Meyers Leonard 7'1
Tyson Chandler 7'1 \
Roy Hibbert 7'2
Spencer Hawes 7'1
Timofey Mozgov 7'1
Alexis Ajinca 7'0
Edy Tavares 7'3
Alex Len 7'1
Dirk Nowitzki 7'0
Salah Mejri 7'2
KG - listed as 6'11 but everyone knows is 7'1

12 out of 32 teams.. a little bit more than 1/3rd of all teams in the NBA have a 7 footer on their roster at all and only 2 teams (Mavs and the Suns) have 2. '

Your data is substantially incorrect:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/

Jonas Valunciunas - 7-0, 255, TOR
Lucas Nogueira - 7-0, 220, TOR
Kelly Olynyk - 7-0, 238, BOS
Tyler Zeller - 7-0, 253, BOS
Robin Lopez - 7-0, 255, NYK
Kristaps Porzingis - 7-3, 240, NYK
Brook Lopez - 7-0, 275, BRK
Joel Embiid - 7-0, 250, PHI
Timofey Mozgov - 7-1, 275, CLE
Pau Gasol, 7-0, 250, CHI
Walter Tavares, 7-3, 260, ATL
Frank Kaminsky, 7-0, 242, CHA
Cody Zeller, 7-0, 240, CHA
Spencer Hawes, 7-1, 245, CHA
Hassan Whiteside, 7-0, 265, MIA
Nikola Vucevic, 7-0, 260, ORL
Jason Smith, 7-0, 245, ORL
Dewayne Dedmon, 7-0, 245, ORL
Steven Adams, 7-0, 255, OKC
Chris Kaman, 7-0, 265, POR
Meyers Leonard, 7-1, 245, POR
Jeff Withey, 7-0, 231, UTA
Rudy Gobert, 7-1, 245, UTA
Tibor Pleiss, 7-3, 256, UTA
Jusuf Nurkic, 7-0, 280, DEN
Karl-Anthony Towns, 7-0, 244, MIN
Andrew Bogut, 7-0, 260, GSW
Willie Cauley-Stein, 7-0, 240, SAC
Kosta Koufos, 7-0, 265, SAC
Alex Len, 7-1, 260, PHO
Tyson Chandler, 7-1, 240, PHO
Robert Sacre, 7-0, 270, LAL
Roy Hibbert, 7-2, 270, LAL
Boban Marjanovic, 7-3, 290, SAS
Ryan Hollins, 7-0, 240, MEM
Marc Gasol, 7-1, 255, MEM
JaVale McGee, 7-0, 270, DAL
Dirk Nowitzi, 7-0, 245, DAL
Salah Mejri, 7-1, 245, DAL
Donatas Motiejunas, 7-0, 222, HOU
Omer Asik, 7-0, 255, NOP
Alexis Ajinca, 7-2, 248, NOP


Only five teams have no players 7-0 or taller:

DET
IND
MIL
WAS
LAC

Here is a list of 7-0 or taller free agents who are not currently in the NBA, but have played in D-league or NBA before:

Sim Bhullar (7-5, 355, 23 years old, 1 Year Exp)
Jordan Bachynski (7-2, 250, 26 years old, rookie)
Mirza Begic (7-1, 260, 30 years old, rookie, international but entered draft)
Jaleel Roberts (7-1, 225, 23 years old, rookie)
Robert Upshaw (7-0, 250, 22 years old, rookie)
Andrea Bargnani (7-0, 245, 30 years old, 9 Year Exp)
Earl Barron (7-0, 250, 34 years old, 9 year Exp)
Justin Hamilton (7-0, 245, 26 years old, 2 year Exp)
Brendan Haywood (7-0, 263, 36 years old, 14 year exp)
Jason Washburn (7-0, 245, 25 years old, rookie, international but entered draft)
Nikoloz Tskitishvili (7-0, 225, 32 years old, 4 year exp)
Jerome Jordan (7-0, 253, 29 years old, 2 year exp)
Miroslav Raduljica (7-0, 250, 28 years old, 2 year exp)
Ognen Kuzmic (7-0, 251 25 years old, 2 year exp)
Youssou Ndoye (7-0, 250, 24 years old, rookie)
Oleksiy Pecherov (7-0, 232, 30 years old, 3 year exp)

[cedric76]

Magic will draft him with the 11th or 12th pick. Perfect match with a team that has the time to let him develop. Rob Hennigan loves to gamble on raw talent... Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, Mario Hezonja... all came into the league better known for raw potential over developed skills. Thon Maker is next.

How long do you guys plan to wait before you're ready to put all the pieces together and start contending for a playoff spot.

Thon Maker is two years away from being a rotational player in the NBA, and by the time all the players you listed all hit RFA he'd maybe probably hopefully be a star prospect.

Orlando will be in playoff next season with or without the help of a draft pick

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[Novocaine]

This dude kind of reminds me of Anthony "Magic" Randolph, another physical specimen who kept getting by on potential until people realized he couldn't really play basketball. Hopefully his career turns out better.

Randolph was talented in many ways, just lacking IQ and decision making. Put up better numbers in the SEC than this kid in high-school (and he's having a good career in Europe).

In the Hoops summit, this kind reminded me of Mohammed Sene and the likes. Seemed nowhere near ready to play basketball at that level, let alone the NBA. Must have improved by leaps and bounds this year to be talked for a lottery pick, but that seems very unlikely.

[Coeur]

Magic will draft him with the 11th or 12th pick. Perfect match with a team that has the time to let him develop. Rob Hennigan loves to gamble on raw talent... Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, Mario Hezonja... all came into the league better known for raw potential over developed skills. Thon Maker is next.

How long do you guys plan to wait before you're ready to put all the pieces together and start contending for a playoff spot.

Thon Maker is two years away from being a rotational player in the NBA, and by the time all the players you listed all hit RFA he'd maybe probably hopefully be a star prospect.

Orlando will be in playoff next season with or without the help of a draft pick

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well isn't that why everybody for Orlando thinks tbey can go high ceiling but high risk guys?

I think you got it right hoping Chriss but will go too early. I can't figure why Orlando, bucks, Nugs aren't tanking

Orlando fans seem to feel Chriss, Skal, types. They might get an ellenson/rabb type. Deyonte Davis? Hernangomez.....do they dare take anybody playing overseas? Because you are right. They will be playing better even without another guy. It's a luxury pick. But you might not be given the credit the pick deserves if they hit on it. This may be the magics last lottery pick of the decade or so. You know there will be s guy available in this draft that could be huge for your franchise

[No-Man]

KAT is 6-11 not 7 feet

[Skin]

Magic will draft him with the 11th or 12th pick. Perfect match with a team that has the time to let him develop. Rob Hennigan loves to gamble on raw talent... Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, Mario Hezonja... all came into the league better known for raw potential over developed skills. Thon Maker is next.

How long do you guys plan to wait before you're ready to put all the pieces together and start contending for a playoff spot.

Thon Maker is two years away from being a rotational player in the NBA, and by the time all the players you listed all hit RFA he'd maybe probably hopefully be a star prospect.

ORL has been collecting assets. In doing so, they've duplicated talent and stunted the development of their own players. Trading Tobias cleared up some room, but more is needed. They should let Fournier go to, imo. Let Oladipo, Hezonja, and Gordon blossom. It's going to take time, but there's no rushing a rebuild like this. However, if it works and they keep their core together, they could be in the playoffs year after year. As long as they are churning, the cream will rise to the top. Talent wise, the Magic are not far away... Skills wise, they have a lot of developing to do. The Magic can draft Thon and it wouldn't put them off course. They also have the option of FA where they don't need to rush him, if they sign a stop gap.

It's obvious the range of interest in Maker is all over the place... even on these boards. I'd make the prediction that he's going to be drafted higher than people think. We'll see. If the Magic could get him in Round 2, of course I'd love that. Just don't think that's reasonable to imagine.

[Devilzsidewalk]

.

It's obvious the range of interest in Maker is all over the place... even on these boards. I'd make the prediction that he's going to be drafted higher than people think. We'll see. If the Magic could get him in Round 2, of course I'd love that. Just don't think that's reasonable to imagine.

It might be reasonable though; Maciej Lampe #neverforget

[whitehops]

ah yes, the intriguing KD/giannis/porzingis/dirk comparisons.

i could talk about this for a while so i'm only going to touch on a few points.

first, his shot. not only does he not look natural when he shoots, but he shot 32% from the high school 3-point line. that is mediocre at the high school level, and the nba line is considerably farther back. he also only shoots ~70% from the line so his shot has a ways to go to be effective from 3 at the nba level. to even remotely compare his shot to porzingis, dirk or KD coming out is ridiculous.

second, his level of competition. he's essentially playing AAU ball against kids that are younger than him. if he went to college he would've at least been playing structured ball against his peers (and guys a couple years older). he could've learned how to actually play a little bit of fundamental ball. even the tier 2 or tier 3 leagues in europe blow the high school competition out of the water.


he seems to play hard which is a good sign for his development, because he's gonna need a whole bunch of development before he contributes in the nba. i'm not saying a team won't draft him at x spot because it only takes one team, all i know is he won't be in a team's rotation for a few years at least.


if i had to guess now i think it's much more likely his career goes the way of jonathan bender, anthony randolph, perry jones, austin daye or the many other tall and skilled players that got hyped up in high school than KD/giannis/porzingis/dirk.

[Zombiesonics]

His level of competition ? He plays in the hardest prep circuit on the globe. He is a 5 star in a loaded hs class, not sure what any of you guys are missing.

Could he benefit from college ? Sure, but honestly honing his skills in the dleague would be better for his development. Being coached by actually pros/ skill developments guys and having league trainers is better than 5 monthes playing in NCAA which has entirely different rules than the NBA

Also the "kd Garnett" comps need to stop, he isn't that sort of can't miss prospect . It's lazy to say this because that hype died a long time ago, still a very good prospect. He has upside in both ends of the floor, enough to be selected 20-30.

[Zombiesonics]

.

It's obvious the range of interest in Maker is all over the place... even on these boards. I'd make the prediction that he's going to be drafted higher than people think. We'll see. If the Magic could get him in Round 2, of course I'd love that. Just don't think that's reasonable to imagine.

It might be reasonable though; Maciej Lampe #neverforget

I remember "massage lamp" being a running joke in my house after watching that draft .

[Skin]

Probably going to be the funnest guy to track leading up to the draft. Bookmarking this thread cause no matter either take you have... someone is gonna eat crow.

I say, easily a Top 20 pick. Lottery probable. Career comparison - Jermaine O'Neal. Drafted out of HS. The team that drafts him might not be the team that gets the most out of him.

[doordoor123]

Probably going to be the funnest guy to track leading up to the draft. Bookmarking this thread cause no matter either take you have... someone is gonna eat crow.

I say, easily a Top 20 pick. Lottery probable. Career comparison - Jermaine O'Neal. Drafted out of HS. The team that drafts him might not be the team that gets the most out of him.

Yeah haha. I think the most realistic comparison is somewhere between Jermaine O'Neal and Kwame Brown. I'm super afraid of his hands. I think he trusts them more than he should. Sometimes his handles work out (which makes him look really good), but other times he just loses the ball. Even on lobs, he can't dunk with one hand and when he tries to do two-handed dunks he still loses the ball. I also think it's why he won't have a soft touch too. His career is going to be shooting, maybe post fades and shot blocking. If his hands are as bad as I think, the only way I see him fitting in is to be able to play defense really well. I think his best shot is to try to become Celtics Kevin Garnett, but we'd have to hope he can get that strength and be that smart. Then again, if he can shoot threes consistently it fits in well with this new NBA. Hard to block a 7 footer on the wing and hard to play against a mobile 7 footer when he's on defense.