Official 2013 Draft Thread - Part III

[sfam]

True. But I think focusing on the backup positions should certainly come secondary to focusing on the holes we'll have at the starting positions after next season is over. Webster is a FA this summer, Okafor and Ariza will be FAs next summer. The only long term parts of the roster that are pretty much set in stone are Wall, Beal, and Nene. Nene is interchangeable at the 4 and 5. If we've got a chance to get a long term starter at the 3, 4, or 5 in this draft, we need to take it IMO. Where we're likely to draft, the only super sub guards that I would prioritize ahead of some of the future starters are McLemore and Oladipo because they're super athletic and high upside, shoot at an elite level, and could probably play some SF in line ups with Wall and Beal. They have the potential to be top five at the SG position IMO.

I'm not crazy about Nene as the third wheel in a three player construction. Better to find a third young foundation piece to be here long term with Wall and Beal. We can worry about our depth as we go.

I don't think McLemore is there when we pick. Given my druthers, I'd rather take a guard or Big over SF, but would be happy if Bennet somehow slips. I'm not sold on Oladipo yet. Olapido might be great, but I'd go with our needs up front or with a combo guard first. And again, I'm not opposed to taking a Big, as long as we see them not as a long term project, but instead look at them as contributing this year.

Why would you rather take a guard than a SF? Wall and Beal are a lot better and more cemented in their spots than Ariza and Webster. Also, I don't think being able to contribute in year 1 is a big deal for any big we take. We've got Okafor under contract for next season and Seraphin is serviceable. The earliest we'd need any contribution from a big drafted this year is 2014/2015. We're good enough now to actually bring players along at a slower pace.

Currently we have two serviceable players at the SF spot. We only have two NBA calibur players at the guard spots. Our starters are fine, but our backups flat out kill us. We need a combo guard that can take the bulk of the minutes that don't go to Wall and Beal. The question is whether we have any confidence that we can pick up a guard with our second round, but given that EG pretty much dumps our second round picks as if they were junk bonds, I would prefer we use our first round on this.

[sfam]

McGary is a good fit at power forward.

I don't think he's a good fit at PF at all. We need a power forward with a perimeter game. I don't want McGary unless he can play center and ultimately replace Okafor.

Why not? McGary has shown really good agility, can hit a midrange, and is a great passer and rebounder. In the last game he actually drove the length of the floor on a fast break. I think PF will be his best position. If he can increase his range, he could be pretty special in a few years.

[sfam]

...First need is back up center who can eventually start.
2nd is speed true ball handing back up PG

Then in no order, back up SG and PF that can shoot.

All of those pieces are important if they are going to take this to the next level.

http://nbadraft.net/nba_mock_drafts/recent_consensus

Update. They have up taking Len, then Erick Green, then Ryan Kelly.

C, PG, stretch 4.

That wouldn't be a bad draft.

Book it, Danno!

I'd take that draft in a NY minute. It would be great if Len is available. Green might be a good combo guard for us, and I'd happily take a flyer on Kelly. At least he can shoot and rebound.

[mhd]

Erick Green is an interesting player. He's not overaged as he's a senior who just turned 22. He hit 39% last year from 3 and 82% from the FT line on tons of usage as he was VT only noteworthy player. Could be a guy to look at in the 2nd round as a potential combo guard. He also has excellent size.

[sfam]

Between Zeller or Len, what are people's thoughts? I don't see Zeller as a C except in spot duty, whereas that's clearly where Len fits best. Zeller's clearly better now, but I think Len has better upside. Who do you take if both are on the board?

[DCZards]

Erick Green is a name I brought up a few weeks back and again about a week ago. Green has good size and is much more capable of being the combo guard that the Zards need than the undersized Burke. I also think that Green, while not the playmaker that Burke is, is just as good a shooter as Burke.

Len and Green draft would be sweet. Unfortunately, I think Len will go 5-6 which means he'll probably be gone when the Zards draft.

[pancakes3]

I wouldn't have a problem with drafting green, though I recall someone saying that something about Green screams d-league when brought up earlier this year. Reggie Bullock from UNC is a MUCH better prospect though. Whoever is picking that guy up will be getting great value for their pick.

[nate33]

I don't think he's a good fit at PF at all. We need a power forward with a perimeter game. I don't want McGary unless he can play center and ultimately replace Okafor.

Why not? McGary has shown really good agility, can hit a midrange, and is a great passer and rebounder. In the last game he actually drove the length of the floor on a fast break. I think PF will be his best position. If he can increase his range, he could be pretty special in a few years.

The midrange shots he hit in the Syracuse game were a fluke. The guy shoots 44% from the FT line. Guys that shoot 44% from the FT line don't pan out to be floor-spreading power forwards. His mechanics aren't awful. Maybe he can improve so that he shoots it about as well as Okafor, but that's still only good enough for a center. On a team with John Wall, I want a much more reliable shooter at the PF spot, preferably with range out to the 3-point line.

[stevemcqueen1]

Between Zeller or Len, what are people's thoughts? I don't see Zeller as a C except in spot duty, whereas that's clearly where Len fits best. Zeller's clearly better now, but I think Len has better upside. Who do you take if both are on the board?

Zeller for sure. I think he'll be interchangeable at the 4/5.

In an academic sense, Len's upside might be higher than Zeller's because he's taller and longer. But it's not enough for me to ignore the fact that Zeller is the same age as Len and currently a much, much, much better basketball player. Len has a very long way to go just to even the current gap between the two. And Zeller is going to keep getting better too.

Zeller is a top five pick IMO and Len is not. Zeller is a 20 year old seven footer with skills, production, NBA athleticism, and an elite feel for the game. I think Noel and Bennett are the two best prospects in the class and either Zeller or McLemore are the third.

[AFM]

Anyone who thinks McGary will be a decent pro is fooling themselves. I've watched every Michigan game and his stats are way more impressive than his skills. He's essentially a garbage player with good size. I don't see him being a successful pro.
Erick Green I would love to draft. If he's gone I'd take a look at Seth Curry. Smaller, but still a combo guard who can shoot.

[gambitx777]

Between Zeller and Len.... I'll take Olynyk. But if i had to pick, Give me Len, He has a better frame and his skills will translate better to the NBA game.

Mitch McGary, would be a nice grab in the second round, or late first if we can one, if you look at his RS and PO minutes, he saw a huge up take in minutes in the PO's and his productions showed his potential. I think he should stay in school. but, if we can steal him in the second round he could be a nice grab.

but he will probably be gone, so I say we take a shot at Tony Mitchell, Isaiah Austin, James Ennis, or Kenny Kadji, with one of our second round picks.

As for a back up PG, Jahii Carson, Erick Green, Ray McCallum, Pierre Jackson, should all be around for our second round picks.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'll take that as a no. But when you compare a player to Bird, Mullen, Nate Archibald, Pete Maravich, Rick Barry, and other all-time greats and then say Oh, I just expect him to be a role player, I get confused as to what you're trying to say. Expecting a Scott Wedman or Wally Z is a lot different. And I don't want to use a lotto pick on a bunch of those players that you said say Hello to me. If you talk to them again, tell them I'm not interested. And it's possible we're not in a position that Bill Russell's teams were in, because we don't have a Bill Russell. But if we do get Bill Russell, I'd be happier about spending a lotto pick on McDermott.

When Bird was it ISU, he averaged 30 and 15 or so. I remember a player on his team named Nix. The rest were scrubs. When I look at McDermott's pace adjusted scoring it is relatively the same as Bird's was for his era. McDermott scores 30 points per 40 minutes, pace adjusted, with everyone trying to stop him.

To EXPECT another Larry Bird is unwise because that's a high standard the few players even approach.

Wedman was a very good player. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Wedman

Wedman was a proficient shooter. He represented the Kansas City Kings twice in the NBA All-Star Game. During his time in Kansas City, Wedman gained the nickname "The Incredible Hulk" because of his extensive sessions in the weight room. On March 4, 1979, Wedman was involved in a 1-car accident in which his Porsche overturned on a rainy highway in Kansas City. At the time, doctors credited his conditioning with keeping him out of action for only a few games.

He hit a career summit in 1979-80 and 1980–81, with a scoring average of 19.0 points per game. On January 2, 1980, he scored 45 points in an overtime win at Utah for his career high. Wedman was a key to Kansas City's postseason success in 1981. Despite finishing the regular season with only a 40-42 record, the Kings caught fire in the playoffs, beating Portland ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Szczerbiak

Wedman made 2 all star teams (playing ahead of Ernie G in KC with the Kings) and won 2 championships with the Celtics. Wally Szczerbiak also made an all star team.

The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Szczerbiak 6th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft. His best year as a pro was in 2002 when he was a coaches' selection to the Western Conference All-Star team. Later he tied a Timberwolves franchise record of 44 points on April 13, 2003, since broken by Kevin Love

Ruz, nobody wanted to use a lottery pick on Faried or Millsap, either.

[hands11]

Between Zeller or Len, what are people's thoughts? I don't see Zeller as a C except in spot duty, whereas that's clearly where Len fits best. Zeller's clearly better now, but I think Len has better upside. Who do you take if both are on the board?

I guess you missed the last round on this topic recently. People either like or hate zeller.

Most people are happy considering Len.

As for Erick Green. No one is blocking that shot. High release and it come from behind his head.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Erick-Green-16580/

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I live & breath the NBA draft, yet I'll be the first too admit, I really, really do not like this draft. It'a hard for me to figure out who's not going to completely disappoint, so it's probably going to be impossible for Ernie to make the right pick.

I'm all for trading the pick.

Sure, they're might be a young Hedo Turkoglu or Quentin Richardson in the late lottery/mid 1st area... or the next Sam Dalembert available late in the first but even then your not getting a game changer.

I like a trade down not a trade out.

There are decent players deep into the draft. Overlooked players like John Wall's buddy CJ Leslie are projected to be available high in the 2nd round. Though I suspect in one-on-one's he will destroy his workout partners and climb the ladder into round one.

Okay granted he has no jumper and all, but otherwise fits our squad's profile of long rangy fast quick athletic active frenetic high-upside fast break high energy defenders. He's like Jan Vesely with a handle. Blazing first step for his size.

I like Reggie Bullock as a 2nd rounder with all the intangibles of a back up 3 and D type bench worker. Efficient, knows his role (post up shooter and defender) and though he has no real dribble for his SG type size, he won't need it on a squad where John Wall does most of the ballcarrying duties. Stand right there and knock 'em down. Now use the screen and hit the shot. Plus he rebounds and defends bigger than he is. Efficient. A no frills Spurs-type player.

As of right now CCJ's guy Doug (can't spell Doug without G-O-D) McDermott projects to be available with our own (not NY's) round 2 pick. Selecting him would spare us having to hear another year or five of our man in Hawai'i I like him pretty well, knowing he will have to adjust his game somewhat in the pros, still he's a coaches kid I can see him finding a role, even slimming down a little to add footspeed now that he won't have to bang in the post and can exploit his ranged skillset.

(Something I also see a guy like Anthony Bennett doing as well, who will probably transform a ton when he is in pre-combine workouts, trying to show himself as an SF-capable player. I actually like the high bodyfat % types who display real athleticism under the babyfat. They tend to get faster and stronger when they have real trainers to work with. Hidden upside).

There is somebody in every draft. There are guys who people will be kicking themselves about, no point tapping out without looking to exploit other teams' lack of insight and foresight. Every year there are a couple guys who look far better in retrospect, the signs were always there.

DJ Stephens is the somebody in this draft who is a beast.

Brandon Paul IMO also will be a household name years from now despite flying under the radar for his NCAA career.

I think I've talked enough about Zeke Marshall, but he's another who I count on making it in the NBA.

Doug McDermott just screams great player to me but I want to mention there are a lot of sleeper picks IMO in this draft.

[Ruzious]

Anyone who thinks McGary will be a decent pro is fooling themselves. I've watched every Michigan game and his stats are way more impressive than his skills. He's essentially a garbage player with good size. I don't see him being a successful pro.
Erick Green I would love to draft. If he's gone I'd take a look at Seth Curry. Smaller, but still a combo guard who can shoot.

Maybe I'm fooling myself then, because I like McGary's potential. And in today's NBA - where there are so few good traditional centers, I think he might be better off as a center - as opposed to Zeller - who might end up at PF. People seem to think of McGary as a PF, but he's a very bulky physical player and at least right around 6'10 with enough length to play center. Again, tonight should be a good test for him and I think will go a long way in determining where he goes in the draft - if he comes out this year.

Tonight's game should be fun. Pulling for Michigan, but Louisville has a way of wearing teams down.

Re Green, he's a relatively weak 6'3 shooting guard. There's a place for him in the NBA, but I don't see him being a rotation player.

Re Brandon Paul, when he's on - he's a fun to watch athletic 2-way player. But he is the definition of inconsistent. Inconsistent loses in the NBA.

[sfam]

I don't think he's a good fit at PF at all. We need a power forward with a perimeter game. I don't want McGary unless he can play center and ultimately replace Okafor.

Why not? McGary has shown really good agility, can hit a midrange, and is a great passer and rebounder. In the last game he actually drove the length of the floor on a fast break. I think PF will be his best position. If he can increase his range, he could be pretty special in a few years.

The midrange shots he hit in the Syracuse game were a fluke. The guy shoots 44% from the FT line. Guys that shoot 44% from the FT line don't pan out to be floor-spreading power forwards. His mechanics aren't awful. Maybe he can improve so that he shoots it about as well as Okafor, but that's still only good enough for a center. On a team with John Wall, I want a much more reliable shooter at the PF spot, preferably with range out to the 3-point line.

If its a fluke, he's been flukey in more than just the Syracuse game. He appears very comfortable from 10-15 feet. I've heard chatter from folks attending Michigan practices that his FT percentage problems are far more mental than anything related to his form. The big concern is he just started playing big minutes, so everything he does now is pretty much unseen before. But I think its a real stretch to write off McGary‘s potential as a PF at this point.

[nuposse04]

McGary looks WAAAYYYY too slow to be an option at pf. He seems like an average athlete at best. I think he could be a good offensive minded center...but he already seems like a liability on the defensive end.

[nate33]

Fair enough sfam. Maybe he develops a reliable midrange shot. But with a 44% FT%, I think it's going to be a long long time before he can effectively spread the floor from the PF position. He might be able to play some PF, but he wouldn't be the type of PF that is an ideal fit for Washington. I really like him as a player though. I just think he's cut out to play center, at least early in his career.

[Dark Faze]

This thread gives me anxiety. McGary is terrible.

[Benjammin]

It's not that McGary is terrible. This is not a draft with sure fire guys so almost anyone you look at will have major questions.