Official 2014 NBA Draft Thread (the race to the bottom)

[detcatinva]

after watching this kentucky arkansas game like i said before everybody on kentucy should come back next year. none of them will contribute next year except for randle

 

[toheeb27]

Adreian Payne, School me....

That would be a huge reach for the Lakers. Payne is a solid 4 with prototypical size and can even play the 5 in smaller lineups. Can stench the floor and hold his own on the defensive end. If he was a sophomore and not a senior he might be a lotto pick

Think younger Robert Horry

Not for the Lakers. Was just curious.

 

[S2J]

I wouldn't say this Kansas team has more talent than odens O state team did but we played thru oden more

The part about having more talent is up to debate but I agree 100% about Ohio State running offense more through Oden than Kansas does with Embiid.

@ bolded. Exactly. Yea its debateable, but cmon. OSU was 32-4 i believe, 2 other pros in the starting line up, and onyl lost in the final to possibly the best college team of the last decade (Florida)

@ underlined And that has nothing to do with the actual players? Maybe Oden at that point was just better.

I first turned on Embiid when i saw him miss layups at the basket. You cant teach finesse. You cant teach touch. Certain bigs have it, certain ones dont. Everyone gives him the benefit of the doubt that 'oh, he'll learn this, he'll learn that'. In my humble opinion that's 1 identifiying trait that does not change. Other examples of those types of traits are footwork, first step, foot speed (which is why i dotn think Kyle Anderson will make it). You will not drastically change those types of thing. Either got it or u dont. For Embiid only the touch applies.

 

[af.r.i.c.a.]

When projected first-rounder Australian guard Dante Exum told an Australian paper that he planned to speak with Lakers star Kobe Bryant about the transition to the NBA and signed with Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, there was a degree of concern that this could be foreshadowing. There were rumors, after all, later denied by Bryant and some executives, that as a high school phenom Bryant had threatened to play in Europe if anyone but the Lakers tried to draft him.

Now the Sporting News reports that some personnel are concerned about the same thing with Exum.

But would Exum go so far as to try to angle his way onto the Lakers, who currently have the fifth-worst record in the NBA? That’s the concern among some front-office executives around the league.

“When you hear some of what he says, it does make you wonder how the process is going to go as far as workouts and that sort of thing,” one general manager told Sporting News. “We have seen this story before, of course. I am not sure a player can have that kind of control, though.”

via NBA Draft: Is Dante Exum destined to be a Laker? - NBA - Sporting News.

Pulling that kind of stunt now as opposed to when Bryant did it in the late-90's is a different deal, now. Not only is there more reporting and more scrutiny with the internet and social media, but Adam Silver played a huge hand in the CBA negotiations towards leveling the playing field for small markets to prevent exactly this kind of thing.

Odds are that Exum will be happy no matter where he's drafted and this is a non-factor. But it's interesting that some league personnel have a concern about a possible demand from the youngster.

 

[af.r.i.c.a.]

NBA Mock Lottery

1 Milwaukee Bucks - C Joel Embid

2. Philadelphia 76ers - F Jabari Parker

3. Orlando Magic - G/F Andrew Wiggins

4. Los Angeles Lakers - G Dante Exum

5. Boston Celtics - G Marcus Smart

6. Sacramento Kings - F/C Noah Vonleh

7. Denver Nuggets - F Julius Randle

8. Utah Jazz - G/F James Young

9. Charlotte Hornets - G Gary Harris

10. Philadelphia 76ers G Zach Lavine

11. Cleveland Cavs - F Doug McDermott

12. Orlando Magic - G Tyler Ennis

13. Minnesota Timberwolves - F Aaron Gordon

14. Memphis Grizzles - G/F Rodney Hood

 

[TheBossman]

Looks like embed could be the first pick, which I love because if the sixers don't get the #1 pick we can still get Wiggins or Parker at 2 or 3. Cant see them drafting embid with Noel here.

 

[af.r.i.c.a.]

Looks like embed could be the first pick, which I love because if the sixers don't get the #1 pick we can still get Wiggins or Parker at 2 or 3. Cant see them drafting embid with Noel here.

It's gonna be a tight race between them and the bucks. Orlando/LA/Boston will be fighting for that 3rd spot but the bueuty of the lottery is technically everyone is in it to win it. I put Jabari on Philly only because i think Embid would be a better fit for the bucks. They have a good group of forwards already. The sixers need to take the surest thing left on the board. If Jabari is gone I can see them going Randle over Wiggins and doubling back for a wing with their next lotto pick.

 

[TheBossman]

I rather have Wiggins over Randle, simple because Randle doesn't have a natural spot. But I would take parker over both. With our second pick (if the pelicans don't Fuck it up) I would look at hood or young. Cant ser them taking Exum or smart unless they fall out of the top 3-4.

 

[af.r.i.c.a.]

I rather have Wiggins over Randle, simple because Randle doesn't have a natural spot. But I would take parker over both. With our second pick (if the pelicans don't Fuck it up) I would look at hood or young. Cant ser them taking Exum or smart unless they fall out of the top 3-4.

Randle is no doubt a PF. He's like Beasly but with a brain. He projecs to be a 20 10 guy who makes a few all star teams and a 2nd or 3rd option on a contender. Wiggins is a little riskier because he has more potential to be a bust #oxymoron. Orlando has more proven young talent then Philly so they are in better position to take a gamble on wiggins/exum.

 

[MarcusGarvey]

39pts so far for Wiggins against WVirginia, playing as well as I've seen so far this year.

 

[af.r.i.c.a.]

39pts so far for Wiggins against WVirginia, playing as well as I've seen so far this year.

That boy good

 

[af.r.i.c.a.]

NBA Saturday: Scout’s Take on 2014 Draft

Read more athttp://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-saturday-scouts-take-on-2014-draft/#Ym0vpAiiJblU5gu4.99

On Andrew Wiggins:

“He’s lightning quick and he has one of the best first steps that I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t get his shoulders low, he stands straight up and down and is kind of mechanical when he plays. He also has a tendency to settle for jump shots. He’s extremely athletic, though, and he can get by anyone.

“I’m not sure about his body language. He’s not a pouter or anything, but it just seems like he’s either happy or overwhelmed. I’d like to see him get angry and fired up. I really haven’t seen any competitive emotion from him.

“I think he has a high ceiling, but I don’t think he’ll be a LeBron James or Kevin Durant type of player like some people are projecting. I could see him making a major impact on a team because he is such a great athlete, he can get by anybody and he shows flashes of brilliance. Every so often, he’ll make an incredible move and then you just don’t see it again for a long time. That consistency has to improve.

“He was put in a difficult position this year because all eyes were on him and the expectations were through the roof. He failed to live up to the hype, but he can still become a very good player who has a successful career in the NBA.

“He’s still so young and has so much room to grow, so it’s difficult to say what his ceiling will be. I’ve heard some people say that his upside is Tracy McGrady or Paul George, which makes sense. I could also see him becoming a lot like Rudy Gay.”

On Jabari Parker:

“Jabari is a player who scares teams. You’re scared to pass on him because he has the ‘it’ factor, smoothness and intangibles. Nobody says a bad thing about him. Even players in the league who know him speak very positively about him. He seems like a great kid and someone who would be great in a locker room. He’s very talented.

“The reason you’re scared to take him is because there is a history of players who played the four in college whose games haven’t translated to the NBA, such as Michael Beasley or Derrick Williams. There’s some concern that he’ll struggle and become a tweener. The best thing for him is that players like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Paul Pierce have been moving over to power forward lately and thriving in the position, because it shows teams that having a player like that at the four can work.

“Still, there are questions about Parker’s body and athleticism. He’s not the quickest guy and his athleticism has been questioned. He’s had some explosive moments, but there are a lot of times when he doesn’t look like a good athlete. Teams will likely want to change his body and conditioning once he gets to the NBA.

“He was shooting the ball really well early in the season, which skewed his numbers, but he has come back down to earth lately. I think he’ll be a very good player in the NBA, but I don’t know if he can be a franchise-changing savior that some people peg him to be. My NBA comparison for him is Paul Pierce.”

On Joel Embiid:

“He has had the biggest impact on this draft so far. Entering the season, the conversation was about Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and Julius Randle, and then scouts starting falling for Embiid. Scouts were falling in love with him and then looking over their shoulder hoping that no other teams were noticing how great he looked. Obviously, he kept improving and the secret got out.

“He’s able to do so many things at his size that nobody else can. He has amazing footwork, great athleticism, nice touch and a beautiful stroke on his shot. He may have the highest upside in the draft because he still has so much room to grow.

“His footwork reminds me of Hakeem Olajuwon and his power, outside shot and skills remind me a little of Patrick Ewing. He could be really, really good.

“I do think the pressure of being hyped up as the consensus No. 1 pick did start to get to him a little bit. He hasn’t been the same player recently. Yes, he’s had the health issues, but he doesn’t seem as loose and his demeanor has changed. A team will definitely have to look into his background and learn about him before using such a high pick on him.

“The back issue is kind of scary too for a big man. You never want to see that in a young center. The team that picks him will have to look into that and make sure it’s not something that’s going to limit him.”

 

[af.r.i.c.a.]

On Dante Exum:

“I have seen him play live a limited number of times, but I have to say that he’s really intriguing. He has a legitimate chance to go No. 1 in this draft. He’s that good. His upside is enormous. I won’t be surprised if he goes No. 1 on draft night. If we land the No. 1 pick, he’s a guy who we’re seriously going to look at.

“There is nothing that suggests that he won’t be a great player. He’s athletic, he can shoot and he can handle the ball. He’s incredibly versatile. He really can play three positions, which is attractive to a lot of teams. I’m excited to watch him develop and see what kind of player he becomes.

“He hasn’t played against great competition yet, but he’s a phenomenal prospect and I think his game will translate well to the NBA. I think he’ll be an All-Star in this league.

“When I see him, I think his upside is Anfernee Hardaway. I could see him being a similar type player, someone who is able to impact a game in many ways and cause a lot of problems for opposing teams.”

On Julius Randle:

“He’s a man, and he won’t get pushed around by other players. He has the ability to face up and take guys off of the dribble. Right now, he’s left-hand dominant, so he must work on his right hand and keep improving his jumper if he wants to take the next step and really wreak havoc.

“I really think he’s someone who will benefit from playing with a better team. If you watch Kentucky, their point guard play and shooters have been bad, which has made things really tough for him. The team is a mess. It’s a chaotic situation since there isn’t much leadership and the group is so inexperienced.

“He should be able to play in the league for a really long time, but the question is how good will he be?

“People around the league are really interested to see how he measures out – how tall and how long he is. You’d love if he could play the three to utilize his ball handling and skills, but that’s not his game.

“When I look at Randle, I see some Jamal Mashburn and some Paul Millsap.”

On Marcus Smart:

“He’s one of those guys who has been over scouted. It’s tough being under the microscope for two seasons. He’s had to deal with tons of pressure. With that said, you could put him in an NBA game right now and he’d be alright.

“He’s a great athlete, very strong, and I really like his game. His shooting will come along, the question is how much? He’ll benefit from having NBA talent around him at the next level; that should help him as a facilitator and he won’t have to carry the scoring load like he is now.

“Look how bad that team was without him. I think that says a lot about his impact on a team. When I see him, I see a mix between Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups in terms of his body type and leadership and fire. I think he’s going to be a very good player. He has All-Star potential.

“A lot of people have asked me if I’m concerned about the ‘fan pushing’ incident. Not at all. Honestly, I kind of liked it. I love that he gets fired up, that he gets that competitive. Others may not have liked it, but I love the intensity.

“His decision to go back to school this year says a lot about who he is. The biggest fear for an NBA team is that we’re going to draft a kid and then he’ll lose his hunger right when he gets a paycheck. I’m not worried about that with Smart. He had a chance to get a payday last year and turned it down because he wanted to stick with his team and keep improving at the collegiate level. That says a lot about him.”

On Noah Vonleh:

“Vonleh is a very interesting player. He needs time to develop, but he could end up being really good. I would definitely say he has All-Star potential. The upside is there.

“He can score with both hands, he has an outside shot and he’s a long, great athlete. He hasn’t had the chance to be a go-to guy at Indiana because their point guard shoots the ball a lot, but this is a kid who has all of the tools to be very special and he’s so young.

“Because he just turned 18 years old in August, it’s easy to see why a team would fall in love with him. He’s younger than a lot of the other prospects at the top of the draft, and he just has so much potential.

“He hasn’t gotten the same amount of attention as some of the other players on this list, but he’s definitely someone to keep an eye on. A few years from now, he could be one of the best players from this class and an All-Star. The tools are there for him to be great.”

Read more athttp://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-saturday-scouts-take-on-2014-draft/#Ym0vpAiiJblU5gu4.99

 

[S2J]

Players im high on: Parker, Smart,Vonleh

Players im skeptical of: Randle, Embid

People mention Jabari possibly bein a tweener, but seeing his game he's clearly a 3. Most above avg sized SF play the 4 in college. Melo played the 4 at Cuse.

Randle is the real tweener. He doesnt have the quickness and handles of Antoine walker or mashburn,which i think r the players people wish he could be.

Instead, he's a lot like a lot of failed undersized PFs: corliss williamson, lee nailon, derrick williams, LarryJohnson (not a fail, but he was limited by his size)

 

[A$AP_A$TON]

I'm not crazy about Embiid, I stated in another thread it just seems like every thing he does, especially offensively is a fluke. Like he might make a good post move but could he do it again. Idk, he could turn in to an all star one day.

 

[A$AP_A$TON]

And Randle kinda reminds me if Ron Artest. They got similar movements on the court. I think in his prime Ron was a better perimeter scorer than Julius. But then again Julius has been groomed to play in the post.

 

[t_m_a_c_f_a_n73088]

I'm not crazy about Embiid, I stated in another thread it just seems like every thing he does, especially offensively is a fluke. Like he might make a good post move but could he do it again. Idk, he could turn in to an all star one day.

I'm not crazy about embiid either. I think the biggest thing scouts think with him is he hasn't been playing that long and if he's this good already what can he become. Idk I've definitely been wrong before but I don't see it

 

[t_m_a_c_f_a_n73088]

Players im high on: Parker, Smart,Vonleh

Players im skeptical of: Randle, Embid

People mention Jabari possibly bein a tweener, but seeing his game he's clearly a 3. Most above avg sized SF play the 4 in college. Melo played the 4 at Cuse.

Randle is the real tweener. He doesnt have the quickness and handles of Antoine walker or mashburn,which i think r the players people wish he could be.

Instead, he's a lot like a lot of failed undersized PFs: corliss williamson, lee nailon, derrick williams, LarryJohnson (not a fail, but he was limited by his size)

I'm with you on everything but smart. I think he'll be good but I'm taking Exum over smart

 

[MarcusGarvey]

Watching Parker now, reminds of a combination Pierce (ability to pass) and Melo (get buckets!). So smooth

 

[MarcusGarvey]

Players I'm high on:

Wiggins, Parker, Embiid

Down: Gordon, Harrison twins, Slo-Mo Anderson

Embiid is going to be nice in the pros, he can run chew gum and has a soft touch, the rest will come with repetition.