2013 NBA Draft

[maxREM]

It is the graphic Cavs.com used. :chuckles:

nba.com/cavs

Haha. Oops. Guess I was comparing it to the graphics (or lack of) on the mobile website.

Did you make it? If so, awesome work.

 

[csb669]

I am absolutely thrilled with the pick. When I watched the Draft Express scouting video pre-draft I saw a guy who showed the ability to play D when motivated and absolutely dominant offensively. In the words of Nick Gilbert, "what's not to like?"

 

[Mr. MacPhisto]

I think it was Mike Brown who said himself that he'd rather have offensively capable players to teach defense than defensively capable players that need to be taught offense. Mike Brown is good at one and not the other. If there's any improvements he can make with our players, it's on the defensive side of things. Drafting all offensive players this draft combined with one of the best defensive minds in the game is not the worst idea I can think of.

Both offense and defense do involve instincts that can't be taught, so there's a differentiator between maybe of the best on both sides in addition to their athleticism. BUT I think it is easier to teach defense than offense. Guys that choose to put in the effort and at least have some mental ability to understand where they need to be and what they need to do can be effective defenders that can be maximized in the right scheme.

A good feel for the game on offense, when to shoot, when not to, etc is a lot harder. Even if I were an offensive coach, I'd rather have a guy who has some offensive ability to start. Those that already have a shot, even if inconsistent, can learn a bit. Yet most guys can be taught defense, Drew Gooden being the exception.

 

[buzzdog]

This draft tells me that Grant's job is truly on the line, and Gilbert did tell him we had to be a playoff team "or else".

Bennett is a fine player and it can easily be argued he's the most NBA-ready player in the draft. He gives us something we didn't already have on the roster in an offensively gifted tweener-SF/PF.

Almost everyone including myself figured we'd come away from this draft with at least one true center, some people even wanted to double down on that position. But it takes years to develop that kind of player no matter who they are.

Not drafting one of the bigs this year tells me Grant doesn't have years to develop any of them. His neck is on the block and it's playoffs or bust for Gilbert.

 

[Green Lantern]

Both offense and defense do involve instincts that can't be taught, so there's a differentiator between maybe of the best on both sides in addition to their athleticism. BUT I think it is easier to teach defense than offense. Guys that choose to put in the effort and at least have some mental ability to understand where they need to be and what they need to do can be effective defenders that can be maximized in the right scheme.

A good feel for the game on offense, when to shoot, when not to, etc is a lot harder. Even if I were an offensive coach, I'd rather have a guy who has some offensive ability to start. Those that already have a shot, even if inconsistent, can learn a bit. Yet most guys can be taught defense, Drew Gooden being the exception.

Instincts and a desire to play D is what separates players. Gooden/Sasha/JJ had little BB IQ's thus their being able to grasp defensive concepts was non existing.
It would seem that Grant feels that any big he gets needs to be a experienced ,young vet who doesn't have to be groomed.

 

[Derek]

This draft tells me that Grant's job is truly on the line, and Gilbert did tell him we had to be a playoff team "or else".

Bennett is a fine player and it can easily be argued he's the most NBA-ready player in the draft. He gives us something we didn't already have on the roster in an offensively gifted tweener-SF/PF.

Almost everyone including myself figured we'd come away from this draft with at least one true center, some people even wanted to double down on that position. But it takes years to develop that kind of player no matter who they are.

Not drafting one of the bigs this year tells me Grant doesn't have years to develop any of them. His neck is on the block and it's playoffs or bust for Gilbert.

I couldn't disagree more. Not that I don't think Grant is going to be held accountable if this team fails, but I don't think this pick was made because of "NBA-readiness."

Out of the top prospects, Anthony Bennett has the most upside outside of Noel and Noel has a troublesome knee.

If playoffs were the thought when picking #1, there were other picks that would have been made (Porter, Len).

 

[MalTalm]

This draft tells me that Grant's job is truly on the line, and Gilbert did tell him we had to be a playoff team "or else".

Bennett is a fine player and it can easily be argued he's the most NBA-ready player in the draft. He gives us something we didn't already have on the roster in an offensively gifted tweener-SF/PF.

Almost everyone including myself figured we'd come away from this draft with at least one true center, some people even wanted to double down on that position. But it takes years to develop that kind of player no matter who they are.

Not drafting one of the bigs this year tells me Grant doesn't have years to develop any of them. His neck is on the block and it's playoffs or bust for Gilbert.

-OR-

Grant has Gilbert's complete trust, as Dan buys into the system. This allows Grant to pick who he has assessed as the best player available without fear of repercussion from a trusting, patient owner. You know who else passed on those "great" center prospects? Just about everyone who could draft them. The first center off the board was Cody Zeller. That should tell you that Len and Noel were likely more hype than substance.

If Noel and Len were both grabbed right after Cleveland drafted, I'd have serious reservations. But the fact that Len fell to 5 and Noel fell to 6, where he was promptly traded in a questionable deal for NO, is evidence these guys weren't the stand alone best prospects in the draft. Cleveland had the luxury of getting the guy they wanted, and now we need to wait to see if they got the right guy.

But Bennett wasn't picked to get us to the playoffs this year. I highly doubt his presence would do a damn thing to get us any closer this year. If getting into the playoffs was Grant's only worry, he would've traded the #1 overall pick for a guy like Pierce. But thankfully, he didn't. And he didn't because he is worried about what this roster looks like in 5 years, not what it looks like in May.

 

[Jack Brickman]

I couldn't disagree more. Not that I don't think Grant is going to be held accountable if this team fails, but I don't think this pick was made because of "NBA-readiness."

Out of the top prospects, Anthony Bennett has the most upside outside of Noel and Noel has a troublesome knee.

If playoffs were the thought when picking #1, there were other picks that would have been made (Porter, Len).

Yeah I think Porter would have been the pick if the mandate was "playoffs or you're fired." He would have fit this team like a glove and been able to contribute immediately, but I think the main concern with Porter was upside. While I think he certainly could develop into a star (although not a superstar), Porter's destiny is probably as a Shane Battier in his prime type elite role-player.

 

[rabman_gold]

Once upon a time, Portland had a future all-star at the shooting guard position. The draft came along and with the #2 pick, were given a chance to draft a really good player with their pick. They believed in their future that "you can't have guys at the same position with such a high draft pick. Let's draft for position." Their name was called and they selected Sam Bowie over Michael Jeffery Jordan.

Does that teach you guys anything? I think we eventually fill the center spot sometime this summer, since I don't even think they're expecting Andy to last as the big kahuna.

I have my reservations for what I think about this draft, but I'll put that into another thread. Cheers!

 

[shoes22]

Once upon a time, Portland had a future all-star at the shooting guard position. The draft came along and with the #2 pick, were given a chance to draft a really good player with their pick. They believed in their future that "you can't have guys at the same position with such a high draft pick. Let's draft for position." Their name was called and they selected Sam Bowie over Michael Jeffery Jordan.

I have my reservations for what I think about this draft, but I'll put that into another thread. Cheers!

This Portland example is not at all relevant. No one thinks that Bennett is going to become some transcendent talent.

 

[Futuredome]

This Portland example is not at all relevant. No one thinks that Bennett is going to become some transcendent talent.

no one?

 

[MirORich]

I think Uncle Drew and Bill Russell put in a call to Chris Grant and reminded him that the game has always been and will always be about buckets. With Kyrie, Dion, Bennett, and Karasev's ability to score from just about anywhere on the floor and Andy and Tristans junkyard dog second efforts, oops, putbacks, and cuts, we will be scoring a lot of buckets next year. The Q is going to be rocking

 

[Len]

Assemble the team:

<Bennett

 

[trenticalx]

Looks like the Heat picked up Myck Kabongo. I really was hoping we were going to bring him in. If they get Oden too, Im gonna be pissed. They are both nice, low risk-high reward pickups.

 

[catfish]

I dont know if this was ever placed in this forum prior to the draft. I certainly didnt see it. This was the real Peltop draft rater which was comparable to the Hollinger one that we used to place emphasis on. For some reason he didnt publicize it but makes our picks look that much better.

Based on the combination of my WARP projections and my own scouting, here's my subjective draft board:

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