If we had 2 high picks in 2012, who would you want?

[Dr. Gymbo]

I'm going to be very interested in watching Anthony Davis this season. Yes, he's a big right now listed as a PF due to his size. But, according to reports prior to a growth spurt he was playing as a SG. If he can continue to develop his handles and develop a solid mid-range and/or beyond game, why couldn't he play as a SF for us? Of course, his abilities defensively would be another issue. Does he have the lateral speed and footwork to keep up with SFs? He's not huge, weight-wise right now. Admittedly, I haven't watched very much of his HS highlights.

I really enjoy players that have such extended versatility. It never hurts having another potential ball-handler out there on offense. Just something to think about.

 

[The Oi]

I really enjoy players that have such extended versatility. It never hurts having another potential ball-handler out there on offense. Just something to think about.

I remember we went through this with Perry Jones last year too. Yeah, I guess it's great that the guy can handle the ball...but he's almost 7 feet tall now and I don't think he has elite Kevin Durant/Dirk Nowitzki shooting skills. He DOES have a sweet shot though. But unless he develops an absolutely incredible shot over the next year...how much do you really want him pounding the ball out there?

I think fans sometimes get hung up on these novelties in certain guy's games, and they're just skills that aren't going to be applicable once a guy hits the pros. They're gonna phase that skill out in college and it'll probably be irrelevant when he's in the NBA.

Sure, perhaps it'll be helpful for him to grab a ball in the high post and dribble a few steps to the basket to dunk or even to cross a guy up near the elbow every once in a blue moon. He could even make a sweet move on the fast break that gets the crowd into it.

But the guy isn't going to be running point-forward...you'd be taking him away from the board, the paint and finishing on alley-oops on the break..., which are probably his greatest strengths at this point.

 

[Adam]

With davis i think he really has to aim to be a modern garnett, but will need to show a toughness that transcends his lack of strength and a fadeaway he can score over anyone

 

[Damage]

Before we see anyone play?

Drummond and Brad Beal. Can't wait to see him play against UF

 

[The Oi]

With davis i think he really has to aim to be a modern garnett, but will need to show a toughness that transcends his lack of strength and a fadeaway he can score over anyone

That sounds like a perfect comparison. Certainly put up KG-esque numbers last night. I'd say that personally- at this point- he's the guy I'm most interested in for the Cavs. Things might change, once Rivers and Drummond get it going. As for Davis...He has everything you ask for in a young big: supreme athleticism, length, a beautiful stroke, and very smooth getting to the basket from just outside the paint. And it looks like he can't help but play good defense too. So long as he's not pounding the ball too much, he could very well be a Garnett style player.

Davis and Drummond are both freaks of nature with that ball-handling and passing. Where Davis should probably be aiming to be KG...Drummond seems to have a little more Amare in him. Can't go wrong with either one I think.
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Anyways...from what I've watched, Anthony Davis looks like he could be an absolute monster if someone could convince him to get rid of that unibrow.

 

[Silky Smooth]

So if we are lucky enough to draft Anthony Davis can we play him at PF and put Thompson at C?

 

[The Oi]

So if we are lucky enough to draft Anthony Davis can we play him at PF and put Thompson at C?

I don't think Thompson has the size to be a C. His game may mirror AV's, but AV is pretty stout and has two inches and thirty pounds on TT. That's why AV can play center.

Davis is also pretty thin right now and might have trouble with some of the more physical, skilled guys in the league. And there's more offensively skilled guys at PF nowadays than Center. There are definitely physical guys at Center, but they're not real offensively skilled. Dwight Howard would be one of the few exceptions. Thus, I'd say...reverse it.

Tristan Thompson- PF
Anthony Davis- C

 

[Chris]

I'd put neither at C, you'd have just drafted another player at a position you don't have a glaring need. Which is fine if you think the guy is going to be a stud.

 

[The Oi]

I'd put neither at C, you'd have just drafted another player at a position you don't have a glaring need. Which is fine if you think the guy is going to be a stud.

True. I think TT is a 6th man or a hustle guy anyways. I'd think the goal for him is to learn from AV while he's still in Cleveland. I don't think TT precludes you from taking Davis, and I don't think a TT/ Davis combo precludes you from taking ene or two more bigs after that over the next couple years. Somewhere in there you need an elite scoring SG/SF though.

I'd bet as the year goes on the top five includes some order of Drummond, Davis, Rivers and a couple of the other guards that are sitting in the 7-15 area right now. I want to see more of Beal though, haven't seen any of him yet.

I really like Henson if the Cavs end up with the Kings pick this year. Loved that kid from the first time I saw him.

 

[elcheato]

Harrison Barnes looked mediocre last year. Unless he learns how to dribble, he will be a role player in the NBA. The guy could not create his offense at all last season.

As for Rivers.... We will see how good he is, but pairing him with Kyrie could be a bad fit, especially defensively. Two smaller, skinny guards in the backcourt that aren't known for their defense at all scares me.

Late response on this, but I completely agree with you on Barnes. He just doesn't seem to have a star quality to him.. I think he'll end up as just a solid role player, would not want to use a high pick on him.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Depth in the front court is never a bad thing. Scrappy teams without superstars can make long runs in the playoffs if they go four deep at the 4/5. The Cavs in 2007 had little else besides a deep frontcourt and LeBron when he was still motivated to take on the world.

My come away from the UConn game last night is that Lamb floats through most of the game. Granted he was playing an Ivy League team, but he was usually flat-footed defensively and floated around offensively, only occasionally pushing himself to break into a full sprint in the transition game. He looked like Larry Hughes. Hugely disappointing display from the guy who I have been eyeing as the future 2 guard of the Cavs.

 

[The Oi]

I'm really hoping that Beal is what he's cracked up to be, because he'd be perfect to put next to Kyrie. If you can free up a deadly shooter on picks and just wearing his man out on the perimeter, you can make the entire team better.

 

[The Oi]

Rivers looks good again. He forced a couple bad shots, but since then has settled down and made a couple nice passes off of a drive and a couple double teams. And at least against a lesser team, I don't buy the defensive concerns. He's giving great effort out there. The test will be when he's going up against the NBA talent guys.

Curry and the Plumlees have both been very good. The Plumlee post moves are really impressive.

 

[bigfoot5415]

I'm really hoping that Beal is what he's cracked up to be, because he'd be perfect to put next to Kyrie. If you can free up a deadly shooter on picks and just wearing his man out on the perimeter, you can make the entire team better.

Agreed. He shot 1-for-6 in his opener from 3. I wouldnt look to much into it though, it was his first college game. Barnes, Rivers, and Gilchrist all looked solid. Beal and Gilchrist are sliding down the boards to late lottery picks. I truly believe we will wind up with one of them and Barnes

 

[Believeland-OH]

For those who are Rivers fans:

Madison Square Garden hosted a doubleheader on Tuesday between Michigan State and Duke, followed by Kentucky and Kansas.

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, the NBA general managers in attendance were raving about Kentucky's Anthony Davis and Michael Gidd-Gilchrist, along with Thomas Robinson of Kansas.

The GMs who spoke with Austin Rivers were reportedly less enthusiastic about Austin Rivers.

According to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express, NBA GMs Neil Olshey, Sam Presti, Bryan Colangelo, Kevin O'Connor, Billy King, Mitch Kupchak, John Hammond, Chris Grant were in attendance. John Paxson, Masai Ujiri, Tim Connelly, Tommy Sheppard, Ed Stefanski, Travis Schlenk, Kevin Pritchard, Doc Rivers and Avery Johnson also were at MSG.

Via Chad Ford/ESPN (via Twitter)