Who should we get in the draft?

[TheISHT]

I wish.

 

[Silky Smooth]

Why would the Cavs have to make a trade to get into the lotto? The Cavs are a lock for a top 5 pick next year...

I'm talking about getting another pick in the lottery.

 

[tedginnjr]

Tank and get this guy.

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Looks like a poor man's LeBron.

Sorry, someone had to say it...

 

[sam_slam911]

This team doesn't need another LeBron James. We don't need another narcissistic idiot who talks in 3rd person and calls himself the king.

I'll admit that you can't properly assess any of these prospects until you see a lengthy stretch of them playing college ball. But what from what I've seen of Barnes so far, he's the anti-LeBron James.

He's a very athletic player, but not a natural athletic freak like a James or Wade. He's already got a real smooth game, alot like a young Grant Hill, with a great form on his jumper and on pulling up, hasn't been much of a distributor so far but shows great IQ for the game and from what people have said about him, he works hard on his weaknesses. And most importantly, from everything I've heard he's a very well-grounded guy and a pretty good student.

Again, you can't really assess properly at this point, but so far he's shown to be a totally different person and player to James. Even if he doesn't reach that elite level, he's exactly the kind of player we're looking to add, so that we don't have to rely on just one guy.

That said there's no reason to think we have a chance at drafting him unless the roster is totally blown up at some point this season.

 

[Adam]

Looks like a poor man's LeBron.

Sorry, someone had to say it...

i think the difference between barnes and lebron is the poise and perimeter shooting. I dont think hes half the athlete but a more rounded scorer. Hopefully he is not a complete backstabbing c**t.

 

[onyoursix7]

I don't like the idea of hedging our bets on Barnes... at best, we'd have a 25% chance of landing him. This year looks like it's going to be a heavy draft on PF and PG players, but one wing player who intrigues me a bit is Jan Vesely. Right now he's a moderately athletic energy player, but his potential seems endless. Anyone else know anything about him?

 

[JSS2306]

All I saw was the double five and the salute. I stopped watching after that...

 

[Mdog1]

I don't like the idea of hedging our bets on Barnes... at best, we'd have a 25% chance of landing him. This year looks like it's going to be a heavy draft on PF and PG players, but one wing player who intrigues me a bit is Jan Vesely. Right now he's a moderately athletic energy player, but his potential seems endless. Anyone else know anything about him?

Not to mention that personally I don't see the kid as being that good. I don't see this draft as being a great draft at all. I we are going to tank go for a big man not a wing player. If JJ pans out the way I hope (15/8-10) then drafting a solid C to go along with him is the way to go.

 

[MYoung23]

I will be keeping my eye on Enes Kanter. He is a rare top European prospect who is coming over to play college basketball for a year. He is more of a center than the other PF/C prospects Draft Express has ranked ahead of him.

 

[di0p]

Barnes or bust.

But if we have to settle, I will be hoping for

Rodney Williams - SF - Minnesota - 6'7 - 210

Strengths: Explosive, physical freak type of athlete with great length and an improving game ... Makes highlight reel plays on a regular basis, an absolutely breath taking athlete ... Outside shooting has shown solid development and he shows a promising shooting form ... Very aggressive attacking the rim and is great in the open floor ... A nightmare on back door cuts for ally oops. Also excels at crashing the glass for follow up rebound jams ... Has tremendous length (wingspan in the 7-foot neighborhood) and a great basketball body ... Already has good strength with muscle mass (which is sure to improve) giving him the ability to finish at the rim after contact ... Appears to have grown an inch or two in the past year (from 6'5 to 6'7) ... His offensive game should be able to develop considerably while in at the collegiate level ... Shows a lot of potential defensively with excellent anticipation and a great first step to jump passing lanes and get out for breakaway dunks ... Appears to have a high motor and willingness to be coached and improve ... His upside is considerable ...

Jan Vesely - SF/PF - Europe - 6'11 - 230

Strengths: One of the most intriguing international prospects … At 6’11, he is not only comfortable shooting the ball from deep (with nice form and a smooth release), but he is more than capable of handling it in transition and running the fast break … He is a very active, energy type player who plays extremely hard and rarely takes plays off … A great motor to go along with good hands and feet, allows him to play a variety of positions on the floor … Shows potential to become a full time player on the perimeter, he is capable of putting the ball on the floor and attacking the basket … Has the explosiveness to get by the defender and to finish above the rim in traffic … He is a good slasher and he moves extremely well without the ball, either using screens or cuts to get into scoring positions … He is a very good rebounder, showing good instincts and willingness to attack the glass … For a young player of his size, his passing ability might be the most surprising, he can find teammates with pinpoint passes and he can also do it off the dribble … Defensively, his length and athleticism allow him to block and alter many shots as well as get into the passing lanes … The experience that he is getting playing during key moments on the biggest European stage has done wonders to both his development and maturation … Not many 18 year olds are put in a position where they are expected to contribute on a nightly basis, but he has been asked exactly that and has performed…

 

[futuristxen]

With the lockout looming is anyone good even going to declare this year? I mean, it would be smarter to just stay in school because they have no idea what the new CBA is going to be, and they're going to be out of work for a year.

 

[MYoung23]

With the lockout looming is anyone good even going to declare this year? I mean, it would be smarter to just stay in school because they have no idea what the new CBA is going to be, and they're going to be out of work for a year.

The lockout probably wont last the whole season and rookie contracts aren't an issue.

 

[*L-Train*]

larry coon has written an article on the effects a lock-out could have on the draft next year. you have to be an insider to read it. would be nice if somebody could post it here:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/blog?name=nba_draft&id=5610548&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fblog%3fname%3dnba_draft%26id%3d5610548

 

[di0p]

Here is the article for non-insiders.

"2011 Lockout could wipe out early entrants"

Our own Larry Coon did a great job of looking at some of the potential ramifications of a lockout next summer.

Here's another one. It could utterly destroy the 2011 NBA draft.

"We're really worried," one NBA GM told ESPN.com. "The lifeblood of any draft is the underclassmen, and our scouts are hearing that many of them won't declare if there's a chance of a long lockout next year. Why go into the draft if you won't be paid and won't be allowed to play? Better to go back to college."

Dick Vitale would be happy, but a number of NBA executives are legitimately concerned. This year, the first 22 players selected in the draft were underclassmen. In our most recent 2011 Top 100, only two of the top 25 prospects are college seniors.

No one is going to get too excited if Duke's Kyle Singler and Morehead State's Kenneth Faried are the two top players in the draft -- well, except Singler and Faried.

Even agents are sweating it.

"I think it's a big reason why NBA owners may think twice about a lockout," one prominent agent said. "Most of the young kids that opt out are looking for the money and the ability to play in the NBA. They don't have a nest egg to live off. A few will come, but a lot are going to say, 'Another year of college can't hurt me.'"

The concerns aren't held by everyone, however. "I think people are overreacting," one team executive said. "Some of these kids will be able to get money from agents, endorsements or whatever. They aren't going to starve. If they're ranked high, they take a big risk by going back to school. A lockout that lasts an entire year is a worst-case scenario. Losing a month or two of ball won't kill them."

 

[The Voice]

Here is the article for non-insiders.

"2011 Lockout could wipe out early entrants"

Yeah, but would this really effect kids from the Euros and that do a Jennings like move?