2013 NBA Draft

[red.]

Looks like we're tanking for Shabazz.

I need to watch more of him.

[randymoss1881]

Draftexpress, espn, and nbadraft all have James Mcadoo between 17-20 the lakers pick should fall between 19-25. Getting Mcadoo in that area is a steal to me. He would make for a great back up bigman without the pressure on him. He plaays alot better when he isnt the number one option and he would be playing with either kyrie or dion when he plays here.

[adam81king]

Draftexpress, espn, and nbadraft all have James Mcadoo between 17-20 the lakers pick should fall between 19-25. Getting Mcadoo in that area is a steal to me. He would make for a great back up bigman without the pressure on him. He plaays alot better when he isnt the number one option and he would be playing with either kyrie or dion when he plays here.

I'm a HUGE Tar Heel fan, but have never been a James McAdoo fan. What position does he play? To me, he provides less than Derrick Williams does, but at a similar (lack of) position. He's Justin Harper without a jumpshot.

[Tecumseh]

Alex Poythress is really falling down the draft boards. Kind of hard to believe he was once considered a possible number one overall pick given his play of late.

[Len]

All I know is, this team will need to make drastic fucking changes next year. Bringing in Shabazz, Noel, or Len isn't going to make this team a playoff team next year. Can only tank so much. What if we don't get one of those top 3. We will pick #4 and you know where that gets us.

All in all, our starters/keepers are showing progress and desire, our team just lacks any resemblance of an NBA Bench, and it truly shows when we have to sub out our starters.

How well is our Starting 5 +/- against the league now? I remember previous posts stating that we were #1?

[ajz20]

Updated Mannix Big Board
Great Chance we get 2 of these guys...
Chris Mannix's NBA Draft Big Board
1
Nerlens Noel
Kentucky, Freshman
6-10, 228
PF/C
Noel hasn't done much to separate himself this season -- he has failed to crack double figures in scoring in four of his last five games -- but team executives have been unwavering in their belief that the Kentucky freshman is the No. 1 pick. "He's not a guy you plug in right away and expect to carry you," said a Western Conference executive. "But he has a motor, and with bigs the hardest thing to find is a motor. Darko Milicic was one of the most talented big men you ever saw, but he didn't have a motor. It might take [Noel] some time but so what? It took Jermaine O'Neal five years to get established."

2
Shabazz Muhammad
UCLA, Freshman
6-6, 225
SFAfter dealing with eligibility issues in November, Muhammad is showing top-pick potential, averaging a team-high 19.3 points per game while scoring at least 21 points in four of his last five games. Muhammad is easily the draft's most tantalizing talent, a prototypical small forward who can score off the dribble and in traffic. He's even showing touch from the perimeter, connecting on 48.5 percent of his threes.

3
Alex Len
Maryland, Sophomore
7-1, 225
C
Despite a pair of subpar performances against Delaware State and IUPUI, Len continues to rocket up teams draft boards. NBA teams believe his strong rebounding will translate to the next level. "He's going to be a force on the boards," said a Western Conference executive. "He doesn't have so many star qualities but he can be a solid starting center."

4
Ben McLemore
Kansas, Freshman
6-5, 195
SG
The sweet shooting 2-guard is averaging 15.8 points on 48.9 percent shooting, including 41.2 percent from three-point range. "I've heard a few people compare him to Ray Allen," said an Eastern Conference executive. "I don't think he is as good a shooter but he is better athletically. He has a big body, he can come off screens, he can finish in traffic. He will be a starter in the NBA in a year or two."

5
Cody Zeller
Indiana, Sophomore
7-0, 240
PF/C
Scouts continue to be impressed with Zeller's quick feet and diverse offensive skill set but, said a Western Conference exec, "I'm still not seeing a huge improvement from last year." Rebounding is a concern: Zeller is averaging 8.1 per game, and scouts have wondered if he will be overpowered physically at the next level. "I just don't know who to compare him to," said the exec. "Right now, he looks like a risk."

6
Anthony Bennett
UNLV, Freshman
6-8, 240
PF
Bennett, 19, has surged into the top-10 behind several explosive offensive performances. Bennett has put up 20-plus points in three of his last four games and more than held his own against North Carolina's James McAdoo on Dec. 29. On the season, Bennett is averaging 19.4 points and 9 rebounds. "This kid is always on the attack," said a Western Conference exec. "He has a little Bernard King in him. He's a little small for a power forward but he is a stud."

7
Isaiah Austin
Baylor, Freshman
7-1, 220
PF/C
Austin can play: He scored 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds in a loss to Gonzaga last week and is averaging 14.5 points and 8.6 rebounds on the season. The question is, where? Austin is rail thin and team executives aren't sold -- yet -- on his ability to play inside at the next level. Still, his uncanny ability to score inside and out has several teams eager for the chance to try and develop him.

8
Alex Poythress
Kentucky, Freshman
6-7, 239
SF/PF
Poythress continues to show flashes of brilliance, but consistency has been a problem. He is a frequent target of Wildcats head coach John Calipari, who hounds the freshman for everything from poor defense to sporadic intensity. Scouts love Poythress' ability to play in the paint but are still looking for him to exhibit the small forward skills (ball handling, consistent three-point shooting) he will need in the NBA.

9
Otto Porter
Georgetown, Sophomore
6-8, 205
SF
Porter continues to be consistent, scoring 10-plus points in eight of his last nine games while shooting an efficient 51 percent from the floor and 43.5 percent from three-point range. Is Porter a star? Maybe. But his polished game will keep him among the top-20 in the draft.

10
Archie Goodwin
Kentucky, Freshman
6-4, 198
SG
Goodwin's athleticism continues to impress NBA scouts. "Pound for pound, his athletic ability is as good as anyone in the NBA right now," said a Western Conference personnel scout. The return of Ryan Harrow to the lineup has made Goodwin a permanent 2-guard, a position scouts believe he will play in the NBA. Said the scout, "When he gets stronger, watch out. He's really impressive."

11
Mason Plumlee
Duke, Senior
6-10, 235
PF
Plumlee has been the best player in the ACC this season, scoring (18.8 points per game) while controlling the glass (11.2 per game). "He doesn't seem to have a bad game," said an Eastern Conference GM "He's athletic, he can mix it up and he can score. If he plays like this the rest of the way, he could crack the top-10."

12
James McAdoo
North Carolina, Sophomore
6-9, 230
PF
Once a projected top-five pick, McAdoo is in a freefall, thanks to an inconsistent, sloppy and predictable game. "Teams are making him shoot from outside and are putting a body on him when he attacks the boards," said a Western Conference executive. "If you don't have another skill set, teams will figure you out. Right now, he is looking more like a tweener than an NBA power forward."

13
Trey Burke
Michigan, Sophomore
6-0, 190
PG
Burke continues to impress with his scoring (18.1 points per game) and playmaking (7.2 assists). Recently, Burke has played more under control, too: He has committed just five turnovers in his last five games. "He runs that team so well," said an Eastern Conference executive. "He sets up the offense, he knows when to look for his shot, he has great acceleration and change of pace. The only knock on him is his size. If he was a few inches taller, he would be in the top-10."

14
Michael Carter-Williams
Syracuse, Sophomore
6-6, 185
PG
Team executives continue to be enamored with Carter-Williams' size and playmaking: He leads the NCAA in assists with 10.1 per game. "You can tell the vision is there," says an Eastern Conference exec. "He breaks down defense, he makes great passes. The big thing for me is I don't see a change of direction move. He's a terrific pick-and-roll player but when I see a guy who isn't real quick when he changes direction, it scares me a little for the next level."

15
C.J. McCollum
Lehigh, Senior
6-3, 190
PG/SG
The nation's leading scorer (25.7 points per game) has turned Lehigh into a destination for NBA scouts. While McCollum's scoring continues to dazzle -- he pumped in 34 points against Bryant last week, his fourth game with 30 or more points this season -- his low assist totals (3 per game) remain a concern for scouts hoping to see more point guard skills from him.

16
Dario Saric
Croatia, 18 years old
6-10, 223
SF/PF
Saric -- who according to published reports will be able to enter the draft this summer -- is an impressive prospect. "He has a lot of Danilo Gallinari in him," said a Western Conference exec. "After Carter-Williams, he is the best passer in the draft. He can read the floor, he's tough and he is unselfish. Gallo is a better three-point shooter but Saric has a better mid-range game."

17
Rudy Gobert
France, 20 years old
7-1, 235
C
It's safe to say some of the shine has come off Gobert, a physical specimen with a 7-foot-9 wingspan who has been mediocre thus far in European competition. "He still doesn't have a great feel for the game," said an international scout. "He is not consistent. A lot of times, he looks awkward. He's a gamble to take in the lottery. I think he would be a great late first-round pick. But someone is going to take him in the mid first round because every team now is looking for those athletic centers."

18
Steven Adams
Pittsburgh, Freshman
7-0, 240
C
Adams' roller coaster season took another dip this week against No. 14 Cincinnati, when he went scoreless in 24 minutes. Adams has tremendous physical tools but, so far, has not been able to put them together. "You just know he is going to get better," said an Eastern Conference exec. "But right now he is just a big, strong, raw body. He looks lost. He looks like he is wondering where he should be on the floor. He doesn't have enough experience. As enticing as he is, if I were him, I would stay in school another year."

19
Le'Bryan Nash
Oklahoma State, Sophomore
6-7, 230
SF
Nash didn't help his stock with a nine-point (on 4-of-13 shooting) effort against Gonzaga this week. And several scouts have expressed concern about his effort. "I think he has a dog in him," said a Western Conference executive. "I don't think you can trust him. He drifts in games. He plays hard one minute and then he takes 10 minutes off. Superstars should be leaders. He shouldn't have issues like that."

20
Marcus Smart
Oklahoma State, Freshman
6-4, 225
PG/SG
Scouts love Smart's sturdy frame -- "He has an NBA-body," says an Eastern Conference exec -- and he is starting to show he has a pro game to go with it. He chipped in 23 points and six assists in a loss to Gonzaga and is averaging 13.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists on the season. "He is a very good defender," said the exec. "He doesn't have great speed but he has a knack for fighting through picks. He is someone to watch."

[B3team]

19
Le'Bryan Nash
Oklahoma State, Sophomore
6-7, 230
SF
Nash didn't help his stock with a nine-point (on 4-of-13 shooting) effort against Gonzaga this week. And several scouts have expressed concern about his effort. "I think he has a dog in him," said a Western Conference executive. "I don't think you can trust him. He drifts in games. He plays hard one minute and then he takes 10 minutes off. Superstars should be leaders. He shouldn't have issues like that."

If we got Nash with the LAL pick- that would be incredible.

[D-Wreck]

I've seen a couple people mention Nash. What am I missing? I don't see him as a player I'd want at all.

[MGMT]

I've seen a couple people mention Nash. What am I missing? I don't see him as a player I'd want at all.

I feel the exact same way. I see absolutely nothing special in addition to having no jumper. Besides his build I don't see what he offers.

[adam81king]

I feel the exact same way. I see absolutely nothing special in addition to having no jumper. Besides his build I don't see what he offers.

I agree. I think some people may be interested based on his build, and his name being similar to a former Cavalier. That's all I can see being of any interest.

[AMC]

I am going to say that Isaiah Austin is the best player in this draft.

Not too many have seen him play, but I think by the end of the collegiate basketball season, he will be on the top of many draft boards. People point out that he is too skinny, but the same was said about Durant.

The kid can do everything.

[adam81king]

I am going to say that Isaiah Austin is the best player in this draft.

Not too many have seen him play, but I think by the end of the collegiate basketball season, he will be on the top of many draft boards. People point out that he is too skinny, but the same was said about Durant.

The kid can do everything.

Depending on where he goes, I agree that he COULD end up as the best player in this draft. I do think his best position is as a PF, though. If he's miscast as a center, I think he'll be far too overpowered and it won't play to his strengths. As a PF, I think he has the potential to be a Dirk Nowitzki. Or, he could be more like Andrea Bargnani in the wrong situation. Hopefully his physical makeup doesn't make him more like Jonathan Bender.

[D-Wreck]

I love the idea of Austin on this team. 7 footer with athleticism and can score inside and out. Just need to see him do it consistently at Baylor.

I'd like to see him become more of a shot blocker and also make a few more FTs. He has progressed nicely so far though.

[pr26]

I am going to say that Isaiah Austin is the best player in this draft.

Not too many have seen him play, but I think by the end of the collegiate basketball season, he will be on the top of many draft boards. People point out that he is too skinny, but the same was said about Durant.

The kid can do everything.

Yeah, but you can get away with being skinny and playing SF. This kid's being talked about as a center.

My pet cat in this draft is Anthony Bennett. Don't think he's worth a #1 overall over over some of the high potential prototypical guys, but it would not surprise me in the least if this kid is the best player from this class 5 years from now.

[MGMT]

D-Wreck I remember when I was still posting at CavsFanatics I was always agreeing with you. That's translated here quite well lol

I wish Baylor's coach wasn't a stiff as an offensive mind. Austin could be dominating for a half getting whatever he wants offensively. Then, in the second half he will just have him wander at the top of the key.

I'm not one to judge whether or not someone's physique has the capability to bulk up; however, if the appropriate people determine he can I don't see how you don't take a chance on this dude. His offensive game for a big his age is more advanced that anyone. Agree about him as a defender/shot blocked but if we are willing to be patient with Tristan developing offensively then cant we be patient with Austin developing defensively?


Love this cat.