2013-2014 College Basketball / '14 NBA Draft Thread

[BobThornton]

@ryenarussillo: Talked to two GM's today that couldn't believe how out of shape Vonleh was at workouts. They were really annoyed.

[sixers23]

10 times out of 10, no. Embiid has played 1 season of NCAA basketball and draws red flags from a medical stand point. If you were somehow able to guarantee that Embiid were to be the D-12/Olajuwon, then I would say yes. Until then, no. IMO, if you run a successful franchise you would never trade a key piece for an unknown commodity.

I've seen people use this argument a lot, and while it has some truth I feel that it is exaggerated. I hear a lot of people saying that picks are worth nothing and you always take the proven player, blah blah blah but I don't think thats the case at all and as a GM if you really think the player is going to be a superstar then I think you make the trade.

In this exact case, the injury is the big issue and the main reason many people probably wouldn't do it, but considering that pgs are a dime a dozen and exceptional big men are rare I would do the trade without a question, even without the guarantee that he's going to become the next Olajuwon.

Dropping MCW and coming out of this draft with both the twin towers of noel/embiid + wiggins exum or parker +10 pick is totally worth it for me with the huge upside that the roster has. We are here to build a championship caliber roster and you have to go big or go home.

Talented bigs are a hot commodity because they are so hard to find. The bust rate is really high, making the Embiid pick that much riskier. With that said, I wouldn't oppose selecting him with the 3rd overall pick. IMO, he is the best pick in the draft. While I would draft him, I would never trade the rookie of the year for a unknown commodity. It just doesn't make sense to me. I like the go big or go home attitude, but that isn't how you run a franchise. I'm all for taking risks in getting better, but it just doesn't seem worth losing MCW right now.

I think the best course of action in this draft is to take BPA (Outside of a PG) in the first round and then select role players in the 2nd. We already have a young nucleus with good chemistry. There is no need to break that up. Whoever we draft at 3 and 10 will be great additions to that.

this guy would of turned down tyreke evans for john wall trade

[CoreyGallagher]

@ryenarussillo: Talked to two GM's today that couldn't believe how out of shape Vonleh was at workouts. They were really annoyed.

Wonder how much Ryan got paid to tweet that...

[51X3RF4N]

First of all, no way the Bucks trade #2 for MCW. Simply not going to happen.

As for why would you trade the ROY who has the PG spot locked down? Because Exum is a 6'6 PG who is 4 years younger with much more upside, which a lot of people find attractive.

Would I trade MCW for #2? Yes. In a hearbeat yes. And this is coming from someone who loves MCW, was super happy with his rookie season, and thinks he could be a top 10 PG one day.

[Agnostifarian]

@ryenarussillo: Talked to two GM's today that couldn't believe how out of shape Vonleh was at workouts. They were really annoyed.

Good. Let's send him one palate of Dr. Pepper and another of Fritos and see if we can get him slide on down to #10. Vonleh looks like the second coming of Oliver Miller. Spread the word!

[BobThornton]

@ryenarussillo: Talked to two GM's today that couldn't believe how out of shape Vonleh was at workouts. They were really annoyed.

Wonder how much Bob got paid to tweet that...

I'm quoting a tweet from Ryan Russillo.

[CoreyGallagher]

@ryenarussillo: Talked to two GM's today that couldn't believe how out of shape Vonleh was at workouts. They were really annoyed.

Wonder how much Bob got paid to tweet that...

I'm quoting a tweet from Ryan Russillo.

Lol, I saw it retweeted by Pavorsky so I realized, but for some reason when I quoted you here your name is what stuck in my mind. My mistake, too early in the morning.

[LloydFree]

Can someone explain to me the fascination of trading the rookie of the year for someone who has yet to play a single minute in the NBA? I just don't get it. IMO, if you are running a team you are saying "we have one position in our core locked down, let's look for another". We have a 6'6" PG who won rookie of the year and averaged 16/6/6. I realize this was on a terrible team; however, I feel the point guard position becomes much easier the more talent there is around you. I look at it in terms of we just drafted our franchise QB. Why the hell would you trade that away?

So you wouldn't trade mcw for Embiid straight up?

10 times out of 10, no. Embiid has played 1 season of NCAA basketball and draws red flags from a medical stand point. If you were somehow able to guarantee that Embiid were to be the D-12/Olajuwon, then I would say yes. Until then, no. IMO, if you run a successful franchise you would never trade a key piece for an unknown commodity.

[Xepa777]

Can someone explain to me the fascination of trading the rookie of the year for someone who has yet to play a single minute in the NBA? I just don't get it. IMO, if you are running a team you are saying "we have one position in our core locked down, let's look for another". We have a 6'6" PG who won rookie of the year and averaged 16/6/6. I realize this was on a terrible team; however, I feel the point guard position becomes much easier the more talent there is around you. I look at it in terms of we just drafted our franchise QB. Why the hell would you trade that away?

I could see us drafting a PG in the 2nd, but no earlier. Deonte Burton in the 2nd would make a nice pick. He would be an awesome fit in the athletic, fast paced line-up we have right now. Also, I would expect him to contribute as a backup PG right away given his age/development and our team's lack of talent at that role.

So you wouldn't trade mcw for Embiid straight up?

10 times out of 10, no. Embiid has played 1 season of NCAA basketball and draws red flags from a medical stand point. If you were somehow able to guarantee that Embiid were to be the D-12/Olajuwon, then I would say yes. Until then, no. IMO, if you run a successful franchise you would never trade a key piece for an unknown commodity.

[PhilasFinest]

Im still not completely sold that Exum is a PG....I think its a move to try and maximize his stock where he has the biggest advantages on paper.

[ankle420breaker]

Im still not completely sold that Exum is a PG....I think its a move to try and maximize his stock where he has the biggest advantages on paper.

I recall an Exum interview at the combine when they asked about potential landing spots already having point guards and he said something along the lines of being able to run a two guard offense where they share ball-handling responsibilities.

[76ciology]

Im still not completely sold that Exum is a PG....I think its a move to try and maximize his stock where he has the biggest advantages on paper.

Yup, I actually feel the same way. Exum at PG is an intriguing prospect. But at SG? I don't know. Poor shooter version of Manu? Still lotto material but I dont think he's top 5 prospect at SG.

[PhilasFinest]

Im still not completely sold that Exum is a PG....I think its a move to try and maximize his stock where he has the biggest advantages on paper.

Yup, I actually feel the same way. Exum at PG is an intriguing prospect. But at SG? I don't know. Poor shooter version of Manu? Still lotto material but I dont think he's top 5 prospect at SG.

Yea...hes really young, and i think he can become a better shooter, especially set.....but I def see the Manu comparisons.

I think he's more Manu than Westbrook/Rose/P.Hardaway

He has a great first step, can get into the paint and his crafty and finishing around the basket...add in his ability to find the open man off of that penetration and he's a streaky 3PT shot away from being very manu like.

[CoreyGallagher]

If we do get Parker and Magic decide to take Vonleh as some mocks are now projecting I could seriously imagine us trading down for Exum. Obviously it would take quite the return, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

[snoopdogg88]

Vonleh is going to bust so so hard

God help the team that uses a top 10 pick on him

[Hardcore6erFan]

Vonleh is going to bust so so hard

God help the team that uses a top 10 pick on him

He might not reach his potential but with his height, standing reach, wingspan, and huge hands I'd be shocked if he's not a 10 year starter.

[76ciology]

Im still not completely sold that Exum is a PG....I think its a move to try and maximize his stock where he has the biggest advantages on paper.

Yup, I actually feel the same way. Exum at PG is an intriguing prospect. But at SG? I don't know. Poor shooter version of Manu? Still lotto material but I dont think he's top 5 prospect at SG.

Yea...hes really young, and i think he can become a better shooter, especially set.....but I def see the Manu comparisons.

I think he's more Manu than Westbrook/Rose/P.Hardaway

He has a great first step, can get into the paint and his crafty and finishing around the basket...add in his ability to find the open man off of that penetration and he's a streaky 3PT shot away from being very manu like.

Yup. He's a good all around player, thanks to his skillset, size and quickness. But he just doesn't have an elite facilitating ability to be a great facilitating PG like Rondo, Cp3 or Nash. An elite shooting perimeter shooting ability nor an elite leaping ability to be a good volume scorer like Westbrook or Rose. Potentially, he can be very good at all facets of the game, reminds me of how Manu was back then.

A player I'd like to have. But a player I wouldn't want to use my top 3 pick with.

[Iscull]

So you wouldn't trade mcw for Embiid straight up?

10 times out of 10, no. Embiid has played 1 season of NCAA basketball and draws red flags from a medical stand point. If you were somehow able to guarantee that Embiid were to be the D-12/Olajuwon, then I would say yes. Until then, no. IMO, if you run a successful franchise you would never trade a key piece for an unknown commodity.

Well thank god you don't run the sixers

And the same for you. Listen, neither of us are NBA scouts so we can't say that one or the other is right. It is mere opinion. I'm not saying MCW is going to be our Magic Johnson. I am just saying he is a key piece to our future and it isn't worth gambling away for a HUGE risk. Bigs with back problems tend to have short careers, (Bynum/Oden) are just two prime examples.

[Iscull]

I've seen people use this argument a lot, and while it has some truth I feel that it is exaggerated. I hear a lot of people saying that picks are worth nothing and you always take the proven player, blah blah blah but I don't think thats the case at all and as a GM if you really think the player is going to be a superstar then I think you make the trade.

In this exact case, the injury is the big issue and the main reason many people probably wouldn't do it, but considering that pgs are a dime a dozen and exceptional big men are rare I would do the trade without a question, even without the guarantee that he's going to become the next Olajuwon.

Dropping MCW and coming out of this draft with both the twin towers of noel/embiid + wiggins exum or parker +10 pick is totally worth it for me with the huge upside that the roster has. We are here to build a championship caliber roster and you have to go big or go home.

Talented bigs are a hot commodity because they are so hard to find. The bust rate is really high, making the Embiid pick that much riskier. With that said, I wouldn't oppose selecting him with the 3rd overall pick. IMO, he is the best pick in the draft. While I would draft him, I would never trade the rookie of the year for a unknown commodity. It just doesn't make sense to me. I like the go big or go home attitude, but that isn't how you run a franchise. I'm all for taking risks in getting better, but it just doesn't seem worth losing MCW right now.

I think the best course of action in this draft is to take BPA (Outside of a PG) in the first round and then select role players in the 2nd. We already have a young nucleus with good chemistry. There is no need to break that up. Whoever we draft at 3 and 10 will be great additions to that.

this guy would of turned down tyreke evans for john wall trade

No need to talk in third person, I'm right here. Also, hindsight is always 20x20.

I wouldn't trade Chris Paul for Andrea Bargnani. Or Brandon Roy for Greg Oden. Would you? You guys act like bigs with the first overall pick always produce. In the past 8 years 2/5 bigs chosen 1st overall went on to produce to their expectations (Davis and Griffen), while 3/5 busted. (Bennet, Oden, Bargnani).

[Iscull]

So you wouldn't trade mcw for Embiid straight up?

10 times out of 10, no. Embiid has played 1 season of NCAA basketball and draws red flags from a medical stand point. If you were somehow able to guarantee that Embiid were to be the D-12/Olajuwon, then I would say yes. Until then, no. IMO, if you run a successful franchise you would never trade a key piece for an unknown commodity.

Thank, I appreciate the really intuitive response. You contribution to the conversation is incredible.