Kings 2009-2010 NBA Draft:
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If were looking for a center, there isn't one thats going to come in and make an immediate impact. Aldrich may be the most ready, but his offensive game still needs a lot of improvement. His little jumpshot is pretty consistant, but he needs work in the low post offensively. Defensively he's pretty good. He'll block some shots, and he's big enough to hold postion in the paint. With his frame he'll easily carry another 20 pounds of muscle without affecting him mobility. However, I don't think we'll get a shot at him unless we get lucky with the bouncing balls.
I do think we'll get a shot at Cousins. Now that could change if he continues to improve. I think Cousins has the bigger upside. It all depends on him. He's athletic enough. He's already weighs around 265/270 and still looks very trim. He's around 6'10" to 6'11". So he has it all. Height, weight, very long arms and he's a good athlete. He could be scarey good. Or he could let his brain get in his way and just be one of those guys thats decent but never ever reaches his potential. I'd certainly take a flyer on him though.
I do think we'll get a shot at Cousins. Now that could change if he continues to improve. I think Cousins has the bigger upside. It all depends on him. He's athletic enough. He's already weighs around 265/270 and still looks very trim. He's around 6'10" to 6'11". So he has it all. Height, weight, very long arms and he's a good athlete. He could be scarey good. Or he could let his brain get in his way and just be one of those guys thats decent but never ever reaches his potential. I'd certainly take a flyer on him though.
My lottery picks thus far....
1) Wall - He lived up to the hype and then some. He's gonna be a fun player to watch for a long time.
2) Turner - Its unfortunate he got hurt, because he was having a historic college season. A guard with those rebound and assists numbers is unheard of. He keeps getting compared to Brandon Roy, but at least in college, Roy was nowhere near this good.
3) Favors - He has not dominated as he was projected to, but sometimes it takes a year at the college level. He's still been good at what you want big men to do and has all the physical attributes. Additionally he's a true 18 year old and almost a gull year younger than Cousins and Wall.
4) Cousins - At this point I'll believe he drops when I see it. PER is not perfect, but DX has him as the most productive player in the nation and the highest in 8 years...and this is a 6'11 270 guy with a huge wingspan, great hands and good feet. Sorry but unless he's just horrifically out of shape in workouts and just an awful person, he's not dropping from the top 5.
5) Johnson - Just a really strong wing prospect. The type of player where you're in trouble if he's your best player, but you're really good if he's your 3rd best player.
6) Ed Davis - I like Ed Davis. He could be a King. Very efficient offensive player who rebounds and blocks shots. He may never be a "star" but I'll bet he's a strong starter for good teams for a very long time. His numbers might be even higher if his teams frontcourt wasn't so loaded and the backcourt wasn't so stinky.
7) Aldrich - It gets a little interchangeable here, but some team will need a center and pop Aldrich by the 7th or 8th pick. Przybilla with a jump shot is a good comparison. Also the jumper reminds me a little of McHale's release. What's interesting (to me) is that they're all from Minnesota.
8) Aminu - He's interesting, I don't really like him for the Kings, but I think he might be a very good two-way player on the right team. Even though he's a sophomore he's actually a slightly younger than Wall and Cousins.
9-10) Hassan Whiteside and Solomon Alabi - These guys both keep being quoted as high-risk high reward players, but I think they're both pretty safe prospects as athletic defensive centers because right now they are both really producing as NCAA basketball players. You couldn't say that about Diop, Saer Sene, Robert Swift etc. etc. Alabi, to me, looks a lot like Brendan Haywood with a little upside. Whiteside is the bigger risk, but I just can't get past the 5.5 blocks per game. I think his floor is Keon Clark (without the substance problems) and his upside could be Marcus Camby.
11) James Anderson - I think as the best pure SG he ends up in the lottery. Great shooter and scorer with prototypical size who can defend. He's been a bigtime player since he was a Freshman but has steadily improved each year.
12) Ekpe Udoh - I really like Udoh even though he's thrown up a couple stinkers lately. He should be on the Kings radar. My one question with him is he's an old prospect and will be 23 at draft time.
13) Avery Bradley - The numbers are't outstanding but they're not bad. When he get into workouts he'll blow people away knocking down jumpers and playing high pressure D.
14) Greg Monroe - He looked more athletic than I've seen him before against Duke yesterday. I wonder if the system he plays in take away from him being mor of a high percentage low post scorer. The rebound and block numbers are just ok, but he also gets 1.6 steals a game. That hnits at him being a pretty active post defender.
Guys not on there:
Xavier Henry - He could arguably switch spots with Anderson as the top 2....I'm just not sure how much upside he really has.
Patrick Patterson - He'll be a solid productive pro, but I'm not sure why he's in the top 8 in a lot of spots. Undersized PF's need to be dominant to get drafted that high, and he's merely very good.
Willie Warren - He's had a terrible year. I don't even know if he's a lock for the 1st if he declares this year.
Stanley Robinson - I haven't sen him a lot, but unless he's a dominant defender I don't know why a 6'9 senior averaging 17 and 7 is ranked so high.
Devin Ebanks - People group him in with Rudy Gay as a super talent who seems to uder-produce relative to that talent...but he's not even as productive as Rudy Gay was.
1) Wall - He lived up to the hype and then some. He's gonna be a fun player to watch for a long time.
2) Turner - Its unfortunate he got hurt, because he was having a historic college season. A guard with those rebound and assists numbers is unheard of. He keeps getting compared to Brandon Roy, but at least in college, Roy was nowhere near this good.
3) Favors - He has not dominated as he was projected to, but sometimes it takes a year at the college level. He's still been good at what you want big men to do and has all the physical attributes. Additionally he's a true 18 year old and almost a gull year younger than Cousins and Wall.
4) Cousins - At this point I'll believe he drops when I see it. PER is not perfect, but DX has him as the most productive player in the nation and the highest in 8 years...and this is a 6'11 270 guy with a huge wingspan, great hands and good feet. Sorry but unless he's just horrifically out of shape in workouts and just an awful person, he's not dropping from the top 5.
5) Johnson - Just a really strong wing prospect. The type of player where you're in trouble if he's your best player, but you're really good if he's your 3rd best player.
6) Ed Davis - I like Ed Davis. He could be a King. Very efficient offensive player who rebounds and blocks shots. He may never be a "star" but I'll bet he's a strong starter for good teams for a very long time. His numbers might be even higher if his teams frontcourt wasn't so loaded and the backcourt wasn't so stinky.
7) Aldrich - It gets a little interchangeable here, but some team will need a center and pop Aldrich by the 7th or 8th pick. Przybilla with a jump shot is a good comparison. Also the jumper reminds me a little of McHale's release. What's interesting (to me) is that they're all from Minnesota.
8) Aminu - He's interesting, I don't really like him for the Kings, but I think he might be a very good two-way player on the right team. Even though he's a sophomore he's actually a slightly younger than Wall and Cousins.
9-10) Hassan Whiteside and Solomon Alabi - These guys both keep being quoted as high-risk high reward players, but I think they're both pretty safe prospects as athletic defensive centers because right now they are both really producing as NCAA basketball players. You couldn't say that about Diop, Saer Sene, Robert Swift etc. etc. Alabi, to me, looks a lot like Brendan Haywood with a little upside. Whiteside is the bigger risk, but I just can't get past the 5.5 blocks per game. I think his floor is Keon Clark (without the substance problems) and his upside could be Marcus Camby.
11) James Anderson - I think as the best pure SG he ends up in the lottery. Great shooter and scorer with prototypical size who can defend. He's been a bigtime player since he was a Freshman but has steadily improved each year.
12) Ekpe Udoh - I really like Udoh even though he's thrown up a couple stinkers lately. He should be on the Kings radar. My one question with him is he's an old prospect and will be 23 at draft time.
13) Avery Bradley - The numbers are't outstanding but they're not bad. When he get into workouts he'll blow people away knocking down jumpers and playing high pressure D.
14) Greg Monroe - He looked more athletic than I've seen him before against Duke yesterday. I wonder if the system he plays in take away from him being mor of a high percentage low post scorer. The rebound and block numbers are just ok, but he also gets 1.6 steals a game. That hnits at him being a pretty active post defender.
Guys not on there:
Xavier Henry - He could arguably switch spots with Anderson as the top 2....I'm just not sure how much upside he really has.
Patrick Patterson - He'll be a solid productive pro, but I'm not sure why he's in the top 8 in a lot of spots. Undersized PF's need to be dominant to get drafted that high, and he's merely very good.
Willie Warren - He's had a terrible year. I don't even know if he's a lock for the 1st if he declares this year.
Stanley Robinson - I haven't sen him a lot, but unless he's a dominant defender I don't know why a 6'9 senior averaging 17 and 7 is ranked so high.
Devin Ebanks - People group him in with Rudy Gay as a super talent who seems to uder-produce relative to that talent...but he's not even as productive as Rudy Gay was.
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First off. Where Cousins is concerned, SHHHHHHH! Keep it quiet will you. Other than that I pretty much agree with your analogy. I was getting ready to do a little post on Anderson, who I really like. I also agree on Warren. My god he's dropped off the map. I agree, if he keeps playing like this he'll slip into the second round. Hmmmm, I wonder, did they happen to lose a big time player of their team and its affecting his game. Anyway, its dinner time, so I have to run. I'll comment more later..
If I were to list my favorite Bigs in order, and I'm just talking about my favorites. Not how any mock draft has them ranked. They would be:
1. DeMarcus Cousins
2. Cole Aldrich
3. Derrick Favors (purely on potential)
4. Ekpe Udoh
5. Soloman Alabi
6. Hassan Whiteside
7. Jarvis Varnado
8. Ed Davis
9. Art Parakhouski
10. Greg Monroe
11. Dexter Pitman
12. Keith Benson
13. Charles Garcia
14. Omar Samhan
15. Renardo Sidney (Hasn't played this year, so he's here purely on potential)
Thats my top 15 at the moment, which could change, at least in order.
Some players I really like that don't get a lot of press are:
1. Damion James
2. Lance Stevenson (has serious temper issues, but he can play)
3. Gordon Haywood (A bit undersized for a PF, but a real hustle guy)
4. Paul George
5. Matt Bouldin
6. Ravern Johnson
7. Patrick Christopher
Most are just real hustle guys that help a team win.
So you think Ed Davis is a little overvalued relative to the draft position he's been in? Any reason why?
I think what your list shows is that if you're looking to beef up your frontcourt (with defense in particular), this is a very deep draft. This is not to disparage JT or Hawes, but the prospects they were in college if they came out this year, I don't think they crack the lottery. Maybe not even the top 20!..and that's just because there a lot of really productive, talented big guys. So potentially that means if we somehow acquired another mid to late first we'd be able to draft a PF/C combo that upgrades both spots.
I think what your list shows is that if you're looking to beef up your frontcourt (with defense in particular), this is a very deep draft. This is not to disparage JT or Hawes, but the prospects they were in college if they came out this year, I don't think they crack the lottery. Maybe not even the top 20!..and that's just because there a lot of really productive, talented big guys. So potentially that means if we somehow acquired another mid to late first we'd be able to draft a PF/C combo that upgrades both spots.
Is it just me or is anybody kinda scared if we draft Cousins he might hurt the growth of Donte because they both are goof balls/immature? 
Donte seems like a good natured goofball. Word on Cousins is that he's a ****.
On the other hand he's a **** putting up 16/10/2 a game in only 20 minutes. I'd take that risk. I mean, I was a **** when I was 19. Since then I've mellowed somewhat.
Still...Whats the point of getting a 20/10 guy if he ends up being a Z-Bo.
Hard to say where Hawes would go today. Too many variables. Were judging him on how he's been playing for us. But if he had stayed in college he might be looking like a sure fire winner right now. I've only seen Ed Davis play maybe 5 or 6 times this year so far, and he's really done nothing to make me stand up and go wow. He's been solid, but not spectacular. At least when I've been watching. I think he'll be a solid player, but I don't see star quality.
Yep, I'm leaning toward defenders in the draft. I think Cousins and Aldrich are both nice comprimises between offense and defense. Their both able to defend, and their both able to score. The next best comprimise would be Udoh. He's a pretty savy offensive player and just takes whats there. But he's a terrific defensive player. He doesn't have the body that either Aldrich or Cousins has, but has a good frame and wide shoulders that could grow into a similar body.
Favors is there on press clippings and potential that comes with them. Also because he plays on Georgia Tech, which has very bad guard play. I would love to see him play on a team like Kentucky or Kansas. Alabi and Whiteside are both very good defensive players, but I think they're going to struggle for a while offensively in the NBA. I like Jarvis Varanado a lot. He's a terrific defensive player and his offense is decent to good. I have him listed lower simply because of his slight build and his being only 6'9". He may be the best shotblocker of the group. I would have Parakhouski listed higher if he played in a big conference. He's big, he's strong, and he's skilled. He's a decent athlete. And he flat dominates in the conference he plays in. I mean the guy is a automatic 25 and 12 with 2 blocks every single game. Unfortunately he plays in a weak conference, and is on an average team talent wise. He's someone that if we had another 1st round pick in the lower rounds that I would take a flyer on.
Greg Monroe is playing better this year than I expected, but he still scares me. He could be one of those guys that surprises everyone and is a better pro than a college player. Pittman has the size for sure, but he's very inconsistant. He's someone that in time could be a decent to good center. It will depend on which team drafts him. I think he's a better fit on a halfcourt type team. Benson, Garcia and Samham have all shown that they can play. At times Benson has been dominating. Garcia is probably the most skilled of the three. He can pass, shoot, rebound and defend. The problem with him is he just does these things when he feels like it. All three play in lesser conferences, but better conferences than Parakhouski.
There are some other bigs that I've only seen once, or not at all that could be added to the list at some point. Larry Sanders of VCU is one player that for some reason I haven't been able to catch. I've only seen Michael Washington form Arkansas once. He had a nice game but not a great game.. Sidney I threw in for the same reason that I had Favors there. Sidney hasn't played this year, at least as far as I know, because of entrance qualication problems. But he came highly touted, with great press clippings. The predraft workouts are going to be very important to him. There's still a long way to go. And, I agree, it would be nice to have another 1st round pick.
Yep, I'm leaning toward defenders in the draft. I think Cousins and Aldrich are both nice comprimises between offense and defense. Their both able to defend, and their both able to score. The next best comprimise would be Udoh. He's a pretty savy offensive player and just takes whats there. But he's a terrific defensive player. He doesn't have the body that either Aldrich or Cousins has, but has a good frame and wide shoulders that could grow into a similar body.
Favors is there on press clippings and potential that comes with them. Also because he plays on Georgia Tech, which has very bad guard play. I would love to see him play on a team like Kentucky or Kansas. Alabi and Whiteside are both very good defensive players, but I think they're going to struggle for a while offensively in the NBA. I like Jarvis Varanado a lot. He's a terrific defensive player and his offense is decent to good. I have him listed lower simply because of his slight build and his being only 6'9". He may be the best shotblocker of the group. I would have Parakhouski listed higher if he played in a big conference. He's big, he's strong, and he's skilled. He's a decent athlete. And he flat dominates in the conference he plays in. I mean the guy is a automatic 25 and 12 with 2 blocks every single game. Unfortunately he plays in a weak conference, and is on an average team talent wise. He's someone that if we had another 1st round pick in the lower rounds that I would take a flyer on.
Greg Monroe is playing better this year than I expected, but he still scares me. He could be one of those guys that surprises everyone and is a better pro than a college player. Pittman has the size for sure, but he's very inconsistant. He's someone that in time could be a decent to good center. It will depend on which team drafts him. I think he's a better fit on a halfcourt type team. Benson, Garcia and Samham have all shown that they can play. At times Benson has been dominating. Garcia is probably the most skilled of the three. He can pass, shoot, rebound and defend. The problem with him is he just does these things when he feels like it. All three play in lesser conferences, but better conferences than Parakhouski.
There are some other bigs that I've only seen once, or not at all that could be added to the list at some point. Larry Sanders of VCU is one player that for some reason I haven't been able to catch. I've only seen Michael Washington form Arkansas once. He had a nice game but not a great game.. Sidney I threw in for the same reason that I had Favors there. Sidney hasn't played this year, at least as far as I know, because of entrance qualication problems. But he came highly touted, with great press clippings. The predraft workouts are going to be very important to him. There's still a long way to go. And, I agree, it would be nice to have another 1st round pick.
Not to take all the blame away from Z-Bo, but he had a really crazy childhood and then spent his NBA formative years with the Jail Blazers when they were at their worst. Then he was given a max contract at age 24 giving him little incentive to work on his problems.
I just mention that because Cousins I think just has some attitude and motivation issues but the major problems can be avoided. Plus he's at least 2 inches taller and has a lot more defensive potential.
I just mention that because Cousins I think just has some attitude and motivation issues but the major problems can be avoided. Plus he's at least 2 inches taller and has a lot more defensive potential.
I'm more than willing to take the gamble on Cousins. He lets his temper get the best of him at times. But he is improving. Calipari is having a good influence on him. He got a pretty good tongue lashing from Calapari in the last game for getting a stupid technical. By the way, Z-Bo isn't doing so bad this year, is he?
No he's not...which is what makes you wonder what might have happened if he had a better environment upon entrance. I'm all aboard with Cousins if we can get him.
Sheed's a dummy, Stephen Jackson is borderline crazy, Rodman was a flake of epic proportions, Robert Horry was lazy, Shaq's been operating at 70-90% for 8 years, Webber blew up the bridge in Golden State. A lot of these guys had attitude problems and a lot of it has to do with authority issues, which you might see with Cousins.
I think the key is that either the player needs to be social enough to bond with teammates or be unselfish about stats in the pursuit of victories. Essentially, that he be a good teammate. Its up to the coach to find a way work with a super-talented player, who's a good teammate but may have an attitude problem.
Sheed's a dummy, Stephen Jackson is borderline crazy, Rodman was a flake of epic proportions, Robert Horry was lazy, Shaq's been operating at 70-90% for 8 years, Webber blew up the bridge in Golden State. A lot of these guys had attitude problems and a lot of it has to do with authority issues, which you might see with Cousins.
I think the key is that either the player needs to be social enough to bond with teammates or be unselfish about stats in the pursuit of victories. Essentially, that he be a good teammate. Its up to the coach to find a way work with a super-talented player, who's a good teammate but may have an attitude problem.
I agree with you 100%. I think sometimes fans forget that their dealing with 18 or 19 year old kids. I don't know about you, but I was an idiot when I was a 18 year old. The good old US Marine Corps took care of my authority figure problem. Anyway, I think its foolish to condemm a young man for some stupid things he does when he's that age. And your right! Getting a player like that into the right environment is sometimes critical to that players future.
Anyway, I think its foolish to condemm a young man for some stupid things he does when he's that age. And your right! Getting a player like that into the right environment is sometimes critical to that players future.
I agree with you 100%. I think sometimes fans forget that their dealing with 18 or 19 year old kids. I don't know about you, but I was an idiot when I was a 18 year old. The good old US Marine Corps took care of my authority figure problem. Anyway, I think its foolish to condemm a young man for some stupid things he does when he's that age. And your right! Getting a player like that into the right environment is sometimes critical to that players future.
Anyway, I think its foolish to condemm a young man for some stupid things he does when he's that age. And your right! Getting a player like that into the right environment is sometimes critical to that players future.
Well..My point was that we'd get an allstar cancer.
But who knows, Cousins is young and could mature. A lot of prospects have the attitude knock on them coming out.
For the record I'm on the bandwagon. Doubtful he'll be there when we pick (I could see him going top 5, easy), but if he ends up a King I'll be psyched. I'd love for us to get a 6'11 brusier in the frontcourt.
Has anyone heard of Art Parakhouski?
Big Belorussian dude from Radford. 6'11'' 260 lbs.
Averages 22.6pts and 12.6 rebounds.
Sure, he doesnt play in a strong conference, but here are his performances against notable teams:
vs. Duke - 23 pts, 14 reb, 3 blk
vs. Kansas - 21 pts, 13 reb, 2 blk
vs. Louisville - 14 pts, 8 reb, 2 blk
vs. George Mason - 34 pts, 12 reb, 5 blk
Here is his draftexpress review:
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Artsiom-Parakhouski-5690/
Big Belorussian dude from Radford. 6'11'' 260 lbs.
Averages 22.6pts and 12.6 rebounds.
Sure, he doesnt play in a strong conference, but here are his performances against notable teams:
vs. Duke - 23 pts, 14 reb, 3 blk
vs. Kansas - 21 pts, 13 reb, 2 blk
vs. Louisville - 14 pts, 8 reb, 2 blk
vs. George Mason - 34 pts, 12 reb, 5 blk
Here is his draftexpress review:
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Artsiom-Parakhouski-5690/