Who should we get in the draft?

[Earl]

mcudnik, reminds me so much of DeAndre Jordan it's not funny..

 

[Fursdon]

Draft stock: Highest rises, biggest slides - Chad Ford

Highest risers

Derrick Williams, F, Arizona Wildcats
7/1/10 Top 100 Rank: 26
3/1/11 Top 100 Rank: 4

We just did an in-depth update on Williams last week, but his stunning rise warrants even more words of praise. This is a guy who was considered a B-list prospect, a tweener, not an elite athlete and part of a dying program, but this season he's been absolutely terrific. This past week, Williams struggled a bit in losses to the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans, but he's still considered one of the top prospects in this year's draft.


Jordan Hamilton, F, Texas Longhorns
7/1/10 Top 100 Rank: 28
3/1/11 Top 100 Rank: 9

Unlike Williams, Hamilton has always been considered an elite prospect. But last year's stinker of a freshman season -- when Hamilton couldn't find a shot he didn't like -- has receded a bit into the background. He still lets lots of shots fly, but his discipline this season as a scorer has given scouts the belief that he's matured to the point that he could contribute in the NBA. That is to say, scouts believed that until the last few weeks, during which Hamilton has shot a combined 15-for-58 from the field in Texas' three losses. If the old Hamilton we saw during his freshman season is back, we could see his stock slide back to where he began.

Jimmer Fredette, PG, BYU Cougars
7/1/10 Top 100 Rank: 36
3/1/11 Top 100 Rank: 15

Fredette began the season as a bubble first-rounder. He flirted with the NBA draft last year and couldn't get anyone to bite. They complained he was too small and that he lacked explosiveness. He's still small. He's still not the world's greatest athlete. But what Fredette has done this season is remarkable. Not only is he a serious candidate for player of the year, but he's proved that he can get his shot off against anyone, in any situation. His 23-point, nine-assist game on national TV against the San Diego State Aztecs on Saturday was the icing on the cake. The competition was ranked No. 4 in the country, the atmosphere was electric, the crowd was hostile and the Aztecs did everything they could to disrupt Fredette. Not only did Fredette play well, but more importantly, he got BYU its 26th win of the season and a possible No. 1 seed in the tournament. NBA teams want winners, and, bottom line, Fredette is a winner.

Markieff Morris, PF, Kansas Jayhawks
7/1/10 Top 100 Rank: 58
3/1/11 Top 100 Rank: 22

Morris was considered a borderline second-round prospect coming into the season. His brother, Marcus, was supposed to be the real NBA prospect. But over the course of the season, some NBA scouts have come to believe that Markieff may actually be better than his brother. He's not quite the scorer Marcus is, but he's bigger, a better rebounder and shot-blocker, and he's improved dramatically on offense this year.

Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina Tar Heels
7/1/10 Top 100 Rank: 88
3/1/11 Top 100 Rank: 28

Zeller was one of the highest risers of anyone on the board this season. Coming into the season, scouts saw him as a marginal prospect at best. Now? While there is still some difference of opinion among scouts, some have Zeller ranked as a late lottery pick. Others in the mid-to-late first round. A few have him in the second, but the growing consensus is that he goes in the first if he comes out. There aren't many centers in this year's draft and Zeller is one of the best.


Biggest sliders

Harrison Barnes, F, North Carolina Tar Heels
7/1/10 Top 100 Rank: 1
3/1/11 Top 100 Rank: 7

Barnes' saga has been well documented. He came into the season as a consensus No. 1 pick in the draft. Some scouts went as far as to compare him to Kobe Bryant. His current comparison? Marvin Williams. Ouch. Some scouts still hold out hope that Barnes will break out of his shell and reclaim his spot atop the draft board, but with every game it looks more and more like we'll have to wait another year to see that Barnes.

Josh Selby, G, Kansas Jayhawks
7/1/10 Top 100 Rank: 6
3/1/11 Top 100 Rank: 19

Selby has struggled all year. First, it was a result of his NCAA suspension. Then he dealt with injuries. Then questions surfaced about how he fit in coach Bill Self's system. Whatever the problem is for Selby, scouts no longer see him as a lock for the lottery, let alone the top six of the draft. Selby most likely will be better in the NBA, as he hasn't had a lot of chances to do his thing at Kansas. But with each passing mediocre game, you have to ask whether we just had him overrated.

Jeff Taylor, G/F, Vanderbilt Commodores
7/1/10 Top 100 Rank: 15
3/1/11 Top 100 Rank: 40

Taylor has caught NBA scouts' eyes for years thanks to his elite athleticism. This was the year he was supposed to break out and show a more complete game. It hasn't happened. Taylor's numbers are basically static across the board. He has shot the ball better, but most scouts still feel he's a year away.

Elias Harris, F, Gonzaga Bulldogs
7/1/10 Top 100 Rank: 21
3/1/11 Top 100 Rank: 63

Harris, most likely, would've been a first-round pick had he declared after his freshman year. Scouts were wowed by his maturity and versatile game as a freshman. His sophomore season, however, has been a bit of a disaster, and his production is down in every category. While he's still a solid prospect, he's become the poster child for why you should declare for the draft while your stock is hot.

Rodney Williams, F, Minnesota Golden Gophers
7/1/10 Top 100 Rank: 22
3/1/11 Top 100 Rank: 66

He's a phenomenal athlete. But at some point, Williams is going to have to show us he's more than that. Williams has become a lockdown defender when he wants to be. But the offensive part of his game is still very, very shaky, as is made evident by his 12.27 player efficiency rating. A 6.6 points per game average isn't going to get you drafted unless you're 7-foot-2.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/blog?name=nba_draft&id=6171205

 

[Hydroponic3385]

Keep sliding right down to the Clippers' pick, Harrison!

 

[JDeezy]

I wanted to make a minor comment on the 2012 draft here, if ya'll don't mind...

It seems that no matter what happens this draft, we won't "luck out" next year and have an historic losing streak. I think it is much more likely that we get 20+ wins with even 3 bad lottery picks and no Jamison. This year was a shock, and for good reason... but by god help us if we have the same shock, the same record next year.

I just got this feeling that our pick next year won't be top four like it most assuredly is this year.

 

[DJTJ]

Jordan Hamilton is really growing on me if our Clipps pick begins to drift down a bit. He really hasn't found out his greatest strength, and with a bit of ball handling help, he could be a quality scorer in the NBA (15-17 ppg 5-6 rebounds type of guy).

Also, is it safe to say that when you look at a big school player (Hamilton, Barnes, etc) that gaudy numbers like Jimmer's don't come around because they have a set offense and aren't running plays for him every time down the court?

 

[Gimme Some Mo]

If you haven't really thought about it, this could make you feel a little better about our chances of getting Irving (assuming he comes out)....

These are the 7 worst teams right now besides us with draft picks....


Minnesota - Flynn, Rubio
Sacramento - Udrih
Washington - Wall
Toronto - Corky Romano
Nets - D-Will
Pistons - Stuckey
Bucks - Jennings


Out of those teams, only 3, maybe 4 of them would take Irving if they had the 1st pick. The Nets, Wizards, and Bucks all wouldn't take him for sure IMO since they all have good young PG's (two of them being franchise PG's). Minnesota might because of the uncertainty of Rubio playing in the NBA. The other teams would all probably take Irving, although the Pistons could take a SF or PF since they are very weak there.

Makes me feel a little better about getting Irving. Even if we get the 2nd pick, as long as the Nets, Wiz, or Bucks land the 1st pick, we still get Irving at #2.

 

[czvo]

If you haven't really thought about it, this could make you feel a little better about our chances of getting Irving (assuming he comes out)....

These are the 7 worst teams right now besides us with draft picks....


Minnesota - Flynn, Rubio
Sacramento - Udrih
Washington - Wall
Toronto - Corky Romano
Nets - D-Will
Pistons - Stuckey
Bucks - Jennings


Out of those teams, only 3, maybe 4 of them would take Irving if they had the 1st pick. The Nets, Wizards, and Bucks all wouldn't take him for sure IMO since they all have good young PG's (two of them being franchise PG's). Minnesota might because of the uncertainty of Rubio playing in the NBA. The other teams would all probably take Irving, although the Pistons could take a SF or PF since they are very weak there.

Makes me feel a little better about getting Irving. Even if we get the 2nd pick, as long as the Nets, Wiz, or Bucks land the 1st pick, we still get Irving at #2.

The Nets pick belongs to Utah, and the Jazz would likely take Irving.

 

[AvonCavsFan]

If you haven't really thought about it, this could make you feel a little better about our chances of getting Irving (assuming he comes out)....

These are the 7 worst teams right now besides us with draft picks....


Minnesota - Flynn, Rubio
Sacramento - Udrih
Washington - Wall
Toronto - Corky Romano
Nets - D-Will
Pistons - Stuckey
Bucks - Jennings


Out of those teams, only 3, maybe 4 of them would take Irving if they had the 1st pick. The Nets, Wizards, and Bucks all wouldn't take him for sure IMO since they all have good young PG's (two of them being franchise PG's). Minnesota might because of the uncertainty of Rubio playing in the NBA. The other teams would all probably take Irving, although the Pistons could take a SF or PF since they are very weak there.

Makes me feel a little better about getting Irving. Even if we get the 2nd pick, as long as the Nets, Wiz, or Bucks land the 1st pick, we still get Irving at #2.

The Nets, Wiz or Bucks would prob. trade down with one of the other teams that wants Irving.

 

[MoFlo]

If you haven't really thought about it, this could make you feel a little better about our chances of getting Irving (assuming he comes out)....

These are the 7 worst teams right now besides us with draft picks....


Minnesota - Flynn, Rubio
Sacramento - Udrih
Washington - Wall
Toronto - Corky Romano
Nets - D-Will
Pistons - Stuckey
Bucks - Jennings


Out of those teams, only 3, maybe 4 of them would take Irving if they had the 1st pick. The Nets, Wizards, and Bucks all wouldn't take him for sure IMO since they all have good young PG's (two of them being franchise PG's). Minnesota might because of the uncertainty of Rubio playing in the NBA. The other teams would all probably take Irving, although the Pistons could take a SF or PF since they are very weak there.

Makes me feel a little better about getting Irving. Even if we get the 2nd pick, as long as the Nets, Wiz, or Bucks land the 1st pick, we still get Irving at #2.

And what would stop those teams from trading down out of the #1 pick to somebody who does need a PG, especially since there's no other true #1's out there?

 

[Gimme Some Mo]

And what would stop those teams from trading down out of the #1 pick to somebody who does need a PG, especially since there's no other true #1's out there?

Sorry I didn't write "assuming they don't trade down." You guys can think on your own. I don't need to spell everything out for you. :chuckles:

And just out of curiosity, how many times has a team with the 1st pick traded down in the NBA? I don't know, but I would guess not many. I know, I know..... "This draft is different yada yada yada yada."

And what would stop us from trading for the 1st pick if we had to do it to get Irving?

 

[hn3108]

If you haven't really thought about it, this could make you feel a little better about our chances of getting Irving (assuming he comes out)....

These are the 7 worst teams right now besides us with draft picks....


Minnesota - Flynn, Rubio
Sacramento - Udrih
Washington - Wall
Toronto - Corky Romano
Nets - D-Will
Pistons - Stuckey
Bucks - Jennings


Out of those teams, only 3, maybe 4 of them would take Irving if they had the 1st pick. The Nets, Wizards, and Bucks all wouldn't take him for sure IMO since they all have good young PG's (two of them being franchise PG's). Minnesota might because of the uncertainty of Rubio playing in the NBA. The other teams would all probably take Irving, although the Pistons could take a SF or PF since they are very weak there.

Makes me feel a little better about getting Irving. Even if we get the 2nd pick, as long as the Nets, Wiz, or Bucks land the 1st pick, we still get Irving at #2.

Who does Toronto have at PG worth keeping over taking Irving? Did I miss something?

Also, why would Sac not take him with Udrih at PG?

I would only rule Washington out. I can see any of the teams upgrading at PG

Your logic is as good as some outsiders who claim, "maybe the Cavs wont take him because they have 3 pgs"

Dude....really?

 

[Gimme Some Mo]

Who does Toronto have at PG worth keeping over taking Irving? Did I miss something?

Also, why would Sac not take him with Udrih at PG?

I would only rule Washington out. I can see any of the teams upgrading at PG

Your logic is as good as some outsiders who claim, "maybe the Cavs wont take him because they have 3 pgs"

Dude....really?

Did you even read the post? Next time you respond to someone, maybe you should actually read what they wrote first.

 

[Snowblind]

Did you even read the post? Next time you respond to someone, maybe you should actually read what they wrote first.

I feel like this can't be emphasized enough..

 

[Rondo]

kemba walker just blew my mind. kid is definition of clutch

 

[Remi]

kemba walker just blew my mind. kid is definition of clutch

One of the most ridiculous buzzer beaters I have ever seen. He made McGee look foolish. I understand hes a post player but to get your ankles broke and then have the game winner buried. Amazing

Edit: For those who didn't see.

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