2012 NBA Draft - Part II

[dobrojim]

what about jon jenkins? best shooter in the SEC and his commodores are giving kentucky all they can handle right now.

He did very well for himself over the weekend. A guy to keep an
eye on and definitely someone I'd love to get with a second 1st
rnd if we were able to get one. Probably not good enough to draft
top 5 but close.

[dobrojim]

I think John Calipari might be relieved to see Kentucky drop a game before the NCAAs. He might be able to use the loss to refocus his team. I will be watching MKG. A few have pointed out he can't shoot beyond midrange. He said he wants to come back to college. This game was a stinker by him.

Right now, I wonder if MKG is ready to step up to be a top 2 or 3 pick.

He really did not look like anything special over the weekend.
I was expecting to see more from him. I like that he voluntary
gave up a starting slot, but when he got in the game, he wasn't
productive.

[dobrojim]

I think Barnes redeemed himself a bit on Sunday.
He looked a lot more like the player people said
was a top 5 pick. Still he settled a bit down the
stretch instead of forcing the issue.

[Ruzious]

Barton is way too athletic and productive to last until the second round, IMO. But I agree with both of you, he seems like a player.

Fwiw, both NBAdraft.net and draftexpress.com still have him as a 2nd rounder.

Yea, but once front offices catch up on watching Memphis play, plus see his athleticism in workouts and take note of his production..well, I'm just very confident he won't be there.

I feel that The Lamb from UConn, Jeremy, is becoming a little underrated on this board. Granted, he has not looked like a winning player this year at UConn, but I think some perspective is needed. This is a team whose offense has been an absolute wreck all year, which happens when you play two PGs together who only look for their own one-on-one offense. There is never an ball movement or positive action, just mostly standing around while Napier and Boatwright dribble. However, Lamb knows that they need his scoring to win, so when he does get the ball he doesn't pass it back. Not the greatest way to play, but understandable.

This is a guy who, before this year, and even in the early part of the season, showed a very-nice all around game. Passing, slashing, moving the ball, rebounding, and shooting. He just seemed to make the right play most of the time. When the 2 non-passing PGs were added to the mix, his overall game went south.

The guy I really feel that he can have a similar game/impact as is Joe Johnson. Both are excellent shooters with a good all-around game who can become a little bit of shot jackers if the offense breaks down. But when they are playing right both are all-star caliber IMO. Luckily Wall would have most the ball handling duties, so Lamb wouldn't be able to misuse his abilities as Johnson sometimes does in ATL.

Lamb's weakness is his lack of getting to the line, but that is not a strength of Johnsons either. The most important similarity is that both are extremely smooth shooters, but I think Lamb may one day be even better.

We shouldn't penalize Lab for playing with not 1 but 2 ball-hogging PGs.

Remeber, Joe Johnson is about 230 lbs. He's extremely big and strong for a guard. Strength is a weakness for UConn Lamb. And Johnson's a very good distributor - something Lamb has not shown.

Also, Lamb - being a returning starter for a championship team - you'd think he'd be a leader and exert his will over his selfish teammates. That hasn't happened and is an indication that he lacks leadership qualities and the ability to make his teammates better.

I think UConn plays Kentucky in the NCAA tournament. That should be a good chance for the UConners to redeem themselves.

[DCZards]

Like Zeller's potential, but he's just too-weak right now, I think JaVale could push him around. I wish Vesely had his skills.

He does need to get stronger. That was more evident in the
game vs FlSt. That's probably something that can be addressed
I won't say easily, but with work. They say he's a hard worker
so I think long-term, he'll get stronger.

Check out Zeller's lower body, especially his calves. They are like tree trunks. I remember Zo Mourning having a relatively small upper body when he was at G'Town, but he always had a huge lower body and calves...similar to Zeller. And we all know the muscular upper body that Zo developed. Zeller will also get a lot bigger and stronger.

[bgroban]

I think MKG will have a better NBA career than Anthony Davis and would love to see him in a Wiz uniform come next Fall, but what do I know.

[closg00]

With Jonas and Kanter going 3 & 5 last year, Zeller will likely end-up being a high lottery pick as-well. Can we trade Vesely for him, Vesely was picked 6th after all .

[The Consiglieri]

What player would you rather have on the Wizards Anthony Davis or Thomas Robinson?

I will put it to you this way: Thomas Robinson played behind Markieff and Marcus Morris at Kansas. He's in his third season of NCAA ball. He is compared by some scouting services to Kris Humphries, Derrick Wlliams, and Carlos Boozer. At best, he's like Amare Stoudemire from a couple seasons back. He will definitely be a good rebounder who should also be able to finish and score well.

Anthony Davis is two years younger (19 years old today) and already significantly better. Nbadraft.net compares him to both Marcus Camby and Chris Bosh, but their scout was worried about his thin frame. I think Davis is farther along at the same age than Alonzo Mourning. His stats are very similar to a young Patrick Ewing. His physique reminds me of a young Kevin Garnett, but Davis is probably an inch or two shorter than KG. He wreaks havoc on defense and takes few shots, but is very efficient on offense.

I think Davis has a very good handle and he will excel in transition in the NBA. He's going to be a terror of a defender in half court. I fully expect if Davis stays healthy, he is going to be a 15-yr pro and eventually a HOF player.

I think he's a Tim Duncan/KG talent.

Anthony Davis is so much better than anyone else in this draft, I can't remember there ever being a wider gulf between the best player and the rest.

Heard an interview with him on Rome today. Heard a little bit of it, and when Rome asked him about the debacle in the big-12 tourney Robinson repeatedly referred to the defeat as a personal defeat, and a defeat that was his responsibility. He felt he let himself and his team down, and he was the reason they were defeated, felt he didnt come in with the right attitude or confidence, and was beaten to far too many boards by Baylor size.

I was really, really, really impressed by his sense of personal accountability. That's a wonderful thing, he came across as well spoken, disciplined, and a guy who listens to his coach and best of all, it wasn't athlete speak. It was personal, seemingly genuine, and heartfelt. He felt it was his job as the leader and best player and player of the year candidate to play like it, and he felt he didnt and it was a wake up call for what he was going to need to do to get the job for a school that wont be satisifed with anything save a 2012 NCAA championship.

Really impressed. In the end he can only do so much and as people we have our ups and downs, and he's only so good, but i still came away impressed with his mental make up. My only issue is that I dont see greatness in him, he's a nice second prize, but he's not likely to be a genuine franchise player, more of the Elton Brand/Emeka Okafor bent than the Dwight Howard/Tim Duncan if you know what I mean.

[Ruzious]

Without Henson, the Tar Heels just fell to the Florida State Seminoles in the ACC Tourney final.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball ... 1203110413

It was the first time since Maryland’s title in 2004 that a team outside the state of North Carolina won the tournament.

Florida State hit 11 of 22 from 3-point range, which turned out to be the difference. North Carolina went 5 of 20 from beyond the arc, including Kendall Marshall potential game-winning shot with 5 seconds to go.

When is the last time a team knocked off both UNC and Duke in the ACC Tourney? My guess would be the Terps did but I cannot remember them doing so.

Florida State's SG Michael Snaer might be an NBA prospect. He is like Gil when his shot is dropping.

Snaer made all but one of his five 3-pointers, while Dulkys finished 4 of 9 outside the arc in a 16-point performance. Luke Loucks and Ian Miller added 10 points apiece for the Seminoles.

What is most impressive is this was no fluke. FSU killed UNC earlier this season.

I really like Snaer for the Wiz - though I assume he plays his senior year at FlaSt. He's a hound on defense - it looks like he takes a lot of pride in his D - especially against Duke and UNC. And his offenses strengths and weaknesses make im a good fit for the Wiz. He's a knockdown shooter - catch and shoot, swish. He's not a guy that's going to create off the dribble. And he's a good athlete with enough size at the 2.

[The Consiglieri]

With Jonas and Kanter going 3 & 5 last year, Zeller will likely end-up being a high lottery pick as-well. Can we trade Vesely for him, Vesely was picked 6th after all .

Every other day or so (when I remember), I weep bitter tears that we picked after Toronto and they took Valunciunas. I wanted Valunciunas if we couldn't get Kantner and word is he's becoming a monster this season . I wonder if EG would have even taken him, he seemed smitten with Ves all along.

[kirubel94]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r56njpzZAyE


Kind of plays like gasol with much more athleticism.

[Severn Hoos]

Fab Melo declared ineligible for the NCAA tournament.

Hate to see something like this for a guy and a team that have come so far, but if he really has eligibility issues, he shouldn't be given a free pass.

I think it just became more likely that "the other Melo" might be in this year's draft. And I also think it's quite possible he lasts to pick #32 or so. That would make me happy.

[Ruzious]

Fab = not so fab right now, and right now was not a good time to become academically ineligible.

I like him as a Tyson Chandler like project - blocks a ton of shots and has good hands. His rebound rate is low, but is that partly a product of Syracuse' zone? Great size, great frame, good length. If he's their with the Wiz 2nd rounder, he's a steal. But do they want another project big man? No.

[closg00]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r56njpzZAyE


Kind of plays like gasol with much more athleticism.

Jones has had a good run. That shot of his looks really slow and ugly though.

[fugop]

Fab Melo is the second best defensive big man in the NCAAs. If he came out this year, he'd be a lottery pick. He's big, blocks a lot of shots, and draws more charges than any other big man in the NCAAs.

[truwizfan4evr]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r56njpzZAyE


Kind of plays like gasol with much more athleticism.

He reminds me of Danny Granger.

[Ruzious]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r56njpzZAyE


Kind of plays like gasol with much more athleticism.

Jones has had a good run. That shot of his looks really slow and ugly though.

I hadn't seen Jones all season - having given up on him because of his wild inconsistency, but... is it just me, or has he gotten bigger this year? Last season, I thought he was 6'10 and maybe 225. Now, he looks a legit 6'11, and I don't what his weight is - but he looks strong. Now, there's no doubt he's a PF. I'm going to be real interested to see what he measures in at. My gut feeling now is - I under-estimated this guy, and Dat was right about him. I hate saying that.

[nate33]

Fab Melo declared ineligible for the NCAA tournament.

Hate to see something like this for a guy and a team that have come so far, but if he really has eligibility issues, he shouldn't be given a free pass.

I think it just became more likely that "the other Melo" might be in this year's draft. And I also think it's quite possible he lasts to pick #32 or so. That would make me happy.

Ed Weiland has Fab Melo as the 24th best player in the draft. NBAdraft.net has him 26th. DX has him at 32. He would definitely be in a range where maybe we could package two 2nd rounders to move up and get him.

[Rafael122]

Pass on Fab. The kid has academic issues. That's all you need to know.

[Illuminaire]

Eh. Academic issues do not mean he's a bad basketball player or has personality issues. Possibly they mean self-discipline issues, but it's still a situation where you need the details to know. For instance, if he was trying to take real classes, and failed one in a weak subject, that would actually be a positive to me compared to some guys who take pretend cup-cake classes and don't challenge themselves.

You could be right, Raf. I just advocate finding out the details before passing judgment.