2007 Draft
- Thread starter no1kingsfan
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Follow the link for an explanation on the lottery process:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Draft_Lottery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Draft_Lottery
Now I am obviously on the Oden bandwagon, and I think Durant is a helluva consolation prize. But getting them still remains tough, especially if our front office does the stupid and starts trying to salvage a #8 seed. So looking down a bit if we miss our surefire superstud, one of the guys projected in the 6-10 range is Yi Jianlian, 7'0" 230lbs out of China. I knew nothing about him of course, but watch this youtube video of him and see if you aren't impressed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6plJTvMW04
Its always hard to tell because of competition level, but check out those skills and agility for a 7 footer (if he is 7'0" -- that's his listed size, but he wasn't towering over his competition in those videos, so depends if there are that many big bigs in the China leagues right now). In any case, not only skills, but just fundamental ball handling and footwork. Impressive as hell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6plJTvMW04
Its always hard to tell because of competition level, but check out those skills and agility for a 7 footer (if he is 7'0" -- that's his listed size, but he wasn't towering over his competition in those videos, so depends if there are that many big bigs in the China leagues right now). In any case, not only skills, but just fundamental ball handling and footwork. Impressive as hell.
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YJL is definitely a high risk high reward pick. could be a pau gasol, could be a tskitishvili or darko milicic (current one). good face up skills; good size, length and athleticism. lacks defensive intensity and definitely lacks strength. no back to the basket game, and an overrated finisher imo. also there isn't really any telling whether his age really is as reported. not a bad pick for a back of the lottery team, but i definitely wouldn't pick him over horford, noah, or mcroberts.
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I watched him in the worlds, and while he didn't do too much that impressive there he really stood out for his athleticism and fluidity on the court. He seemed trapped by his team in that game, but I liked what I saw.
PS: actually, his box score ended up looking pretty good against Team USA: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks (4 turnovers) in 24 minutes.
PS: actually, his box score ended up looking pretty good against Team USA: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks (4 turnovers) in 24 minutes.
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Latest from NBAdraft.net: http://nbadraft.net/
Has Kings picking 6'8 SF Julian Wright from Kansas with the 7th pick. I have a hard time believing that the Kings would pass on Jianlan, McRoberts, or Splitter for a SF, Boris Diaw comparisons notwithstanding. Of course, would be a classic Petrie aggrivating move.
Has Kings picking 6'8 SF Julian Wright from Kansas with the 7th pick. I have a hard time believing that the Kings would pass on Jianlan, McRoberts, or Splitter for a SF, Boris Diaw comparisons notwithstanding. Of course, would be a classic Petrie aggrivating move.
I still haven't seen Wright play, but I'm pretty impressed with Thabeet. The guy is HUGE and athletic, and he seems like one of those guys who is a bit lost playing against smaller players but whose impact would be felt if he were playing against more traditional centers. He never got the ball against IU, so I don't know what his offense looks like, but his hands are good, he has shotblocking instincts and he plays with intensity. The announcers said he has a great work ethic and is still picking up basketball.
So I like Thabeet, but still, his upside is pretty much Dikembe. It's Oden/Durant or bust as far as I'm concerned.
So I like Thabeet, but still, his upside is pretty much Dikembe. It's Oden/Durant or bust as far as I'm concerned.
Yeah, I'm with you...although I have been pretty impressed with Horford...they have his upside as a Horace Grant/Carlos Boozer-type player...from what I've seen, he's that with a little bit of Antionne Carr, as well. His size is damn good for the NBA at 6-9/245. Would fit well here if we got one of the mid-lottery picks around 5 thru 9.
To tell you the truth I might roll the dice on a guy like Jianlian before Horford. Actually I consider Horford not much of a roll of the dice at all -- big thing there will just be how he measures out. If he's 6'7", its best to avoid, if its a legit 6'9" then he's going to be somebody's rock. But probably not a superstar rock. He's more he solid piece. Maybe even a star piece, although we'll have to see. But not a franchise turner I think. Actually neither he or Noah. And if you're making a dive looking for that franchise stud...well, Oden and Durant are definitely just have to haves, but after that maybe you roll up the potentially revolutionary outsider before the dependable rock.
Wasn't able to find a great tape of BRANDON Wright (the bigger/supposedly potential superstar one). The default one they link you to at nbadraft.net is this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMB8KvQReUU
Where you can see he has serious size + mobility, looks like a wiling banger in there for boards, and shows major potential as a help shotblocker with his length and mobility. Don't get much feel for what happens though if you throw him the ball and say "create something for us". Most of his offense in there is dunks and quick hitters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMB8KvQReUU
Where you can see he has serious size + mobility, looks like a wiling banger in there for boards, and shows major potential as a help shotblocker with his length and mobility. Don't get much feel for what happens though if you throw him the ball and say "create something for us". Most of his offense in there is dunks and quick hitters.
I feel that way about guys like McRoberts, but not necessarily about Horford. I agree that it depends on the measurement, but I think he has the potential to be more than just a solid guy. It's not often you find his combination of size, IQ, hands and athleticism. Unfortunately I didn't see the Ohio State game, but apparently he dominated Oden on both ends. If he's really 6'9" I think he's right up there in the second tier in terms of upside.
More on Yi Jianlin:
First a short tape of him vs. Pau in a China/Spain international match which a) raises a question about defense; b) shows he can blow right by a major NBA player with that mobility; and c) shows that he looks to be about an inch shorter than Pau. So might actually be about 7'0", albeit thin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fVJpeo7PvE&mode=related&search=
Something else there too -- the kid has a little nasty in him, and I think might end up being the first Chinese player in the NBA ever to get a technical for showboating and hanging on the rim. That's actually a good thing, somebody's getting an aggressive guy.
Second tape is ratehr unique + probably only for he basketball afficionado. No nifty dunks, no music, just something almost like an individual workout video. Might have been prepared by an agent + sent to teams or some such. But just going through a bunchy of moves, passes, footwork etc. Again, impressive in his fundamental soundness and smoothness. For a guy his size he's completely comfortable with the ball, driving, shooting, passing. He will have to adjust to the NBA physically and I don't know about the defense, but this guy is really remarkable offensively.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lF3Vgs53o8&mode=related&search=
First a short tape of him vs. Pau in a China/Spain international match which a) raises a question about defense; b) shows he can blow right by a major NBA player with that mobility; and c) shows that he looks to be about an inch shorter than Pau. So might actually be about 7'0", albeit thin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fVJpeo7PvE&mode=related&search=
Something else there too -- the kid has a little nasty in him, and I think might end up being the first Chinese player in the NBA ever to get a technical for showboating and hanging on the rim. That's actually a good thing, somebody's getting an aggressive guy.
Second tape is ratehr unique + probably only for he basketball afficionado. No nifty dunks, no music, just something almost like an individual workout video. Might have been prepared by an agent + sent to teams or some such. But just going through a bunchy of moves, passes, footwork etc. Again, impressive in his fundamental soundness and smoothness. For a guy his size he's completely comfortable with the ball, driving, shooting, passing. He will have to adjust to the NBA physically and I don't know about the defense, but this guy is really remarkable offensively.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lF3Vgs53o8&mode=related&search=
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yea, but it's just a highlight video. brandan wright is someone you're most likely going to have to wait a little longer on, but his potential is better than anyone in the draft not named durant or oden. if he puts up some weight, there is no telling how good he could be. his athleticism and length is as good as anyone's and his handles and shot show potential for a bosh-esque perimeter game.
Nothing the matter with the kid's hops, at least when he sees that rim. But defensively...nobody ever likes to show that on mix tapes. I can guess/presume its nowehre what a guy like AK gives you. Jianlin is a scorer. Potentially a big one. Think the question will be can he hold his own on the glass and defensively with that body. At 7'0" though will have a heighth advantage, and a quickness one, on most PFs, so maybe.
Watch that first tape -- not all face up. Don't know whether he can just catch the ball in the post and post up an NBA big, but he's very comfortable in the paint and has a nifty turnaround jumper that could be trouble. Is also going to be a major force in the running game with that footspeed and the way he attacks the rim -- a consideration if Kevin is your major holdover.
No guarantees in the draft, but...
No guarantees in the draft, but...